Horrifying History

Latest Episodes:

The Legendary Haunting of the University of Toronto Dec 13, 2023

Show notes

Universities strive to be known for their strong academics, impressive athletic programs, and outstanding educators. With that said; it is hard to find a school that doesn’t have stories about hauntings, but the University of Toronto is in a league of its own. The strange sounds that students hear when walking down this school’s halls often is a literal ghost from its past.

So get comfortable my spooky friends…you are about to hear of the legendary hauntings of the University of Toronto. But before we get started today, I want to give you a little heads up. In this episode, we talk about graphic murder and suicide. Listener discretion is advised.

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Mary King's Close: The Original House of Horrors Dec 06, 2023

Show notes

In the old section of Edinburgh, Scotland is a place now known as the Royal Mile. This is a succession of streets that form the main thoroughfare of the Old Town of the city. It runs between two important locations concerning the royal history of Scotland: Edinburgh Castle, and the Holyrood Palace. This used to be the original main street, and off this are small alleyways and courtyards to the north and south.

These alleyways are called a close, which is an old Scottish term for entry, court, or alleyway. A close is considered to be private property versus wind’s which are an open thoroughfare. Because of fear of English attacks from previous wars; the closes in Edinburgh had very dense housing. They are narrow with tall buildings on each side with the poorer living at the bottom, and the rich living up top.

Mary King Close is located underneath the Edinburgh City Chambers on the Royal Mile, and is currently is being used as a tourist attraction. This is due in part to its reputation for hauntings since at least the 17th century, and it is said to be quite the paranormal hot spot.

So snuggle in my spooky friends…you are about to hear the story of Mary King’s Close: The Original House of Horrors. But before we get started today, we wanted to give you a bit of a warning. In today’s episode, there are descriptions of graphic deaths and illnesses. Listener discretion is advised.

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Amber Alerts Save Lives, But Just Not Amber's Nov 29, 2023

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The Amber Alert system is a messaging alert system that notifies the public, and asks for their help in cases of very concerning or life threatening cases of missing children. This system started in the United States, and is currently in multiple countries around the world. The goal of Amber Alerts are to quickly disseminate relevant information about a disappearance through a variety of sources including television, radio, and even personal cellphones to increase the chances of finding a missing child.

Studies show that in 76% of child abduction cases, the child is killed within three hours after their disappearance. This system is a way to have as many people aware of a situation as possible; in hopes that someone will see something to bring a missing child home safely. As of January 2, 2023; 1127 children were brought home through the United States Amber Alert system. But sadly; the little girl that this system was named after did not have this fate.

So get comfortable my spooky friends…you are about to hear the sad story behind the creation of the Amber Alert System. But before we start today, I must give you a warning. In today’s episode we will be talking about murder, child abduction, and graphic crime scenes. Listener discretion is advised.

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Lizzie Halliday: The Worst Woman on Earth Nov 22, 2023

Show notes

A few month’s ago my mom sent me an article over Facebook Messenger. It was from a group that I wasn’t part of, and because of that all I could see was the title of “Lizzie Halliday”. I had no clue what it was and wasn’t motivated to join another group, so I asked my mom what it was about. She responded with “Lizzie Halliday: The Worst Woman on Earth”.

After speculating for a moment on what would earn a lady that title, I asked my mom, “Are you sending me a story idea?” She said she was. So Mom…today’s episode is for you.

Buckle up my spooky friends…you are about to hear the tale of Lizzie Halliday, and how she earned the title of “The Worst Woman on Earth.

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Winston and The Witch: A Case of Wartime Witchcraft Nov 15, 2023

Show notes

Winston Churchill was a man very well known in history. He was a British statesman, public speaker, and author who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1940 to 1945, and from 1951 to 1955. He rallied his people during World War II, and helped lead his country to victory. But after he rose in political prominence before World War I; Winston gained the reputation of having erratic judgement at times. People started distancing themselves from him until his response to Adolf Hitler’s actions helped develop a coalition with the United States and Russia. But after that relationship broke down; Winston was the one who warned the western world of the expansionist threat of the Soviet Union. This changed the geopolitical landscape of the world forever.

Winston was considered to be an honourable, charming, but a stubborn man. He was known to be defiant, arrogant, and a bit conceded. He was never afraid to take a risk, but he also stood firm on his beliefs. That’s why many think that he became a supporter of a woman known as the last person in Britain convicted as a witch…Helen Duncan.

So snuggle in my spooky friends…you are about to hear the tale of how former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill became forever linked to a legal case of wartime witchcraft.

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Jamie Gomez: From Porn to Cult Leader Nov 08, 2023

Show notes

There are a lot of different cult leaders out there, but many of them have a lot of the same characteristics. They are able to bind their followers to them by shared belief and practices. They boost their societal status by projecting dominance over others, either physically or mentally. They often display arrogance, and share their controversial views to gain followers. Now a great example of this is a man who the press has called the “chiseled charlatan”.

So get comfortable my spooky friends…you are about to hear the tale of Jamie Gomez: From Porn to Cult Leader. But a word of caution before we get started: today we are going to be talking about the inner workings of a cult. As part of this, we will be talking about different forms of violence and abuse - including sexual abuse. Listener discretion is advised.

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Wolf Messing: The Man Who Saw Through Time Nov 01, 2023

Show notes

It is said that a good magician never reveals their secrets, and this statement couldn’t be more true when it comes to a man from Poland named Wolf Messing. Some say he was all smoke and mirrors, and others say that he was one of the greatest psychic performers that ever existed. So who actually was this man who was said to mesmerize everyone from Josef Stalin to Marilyn Monroe?

So settle in my spooky friends…you are about to hear the tale of Wolf Messing: The Man Who Saw Through Time.

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Tuesday Halloween Traditions and Origins Oct 31, 2023

Show notes

Halloween has been around for more than a thousand years. Originally a religious observance, it has evolved over the centuries until its religious practices have all but disappeared. Today, Halloween is considered to be a holiday for dress-up and fun.

Halloween's origins have been traced back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. It was believed that on that day; the souls of the dead returned to their homes, so people dressed up in costumes and lit bonfires to ward off the spirits.

Today on Halloween; the voices of my fellow podcasters will tell you the tales behind the Halloween traditions of today.

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Monday Monster Mash Oct 30, 2023

Show notes

As humans, we are naturally afraid of the unknown. Our minds try to make concrete unknown things as a way to try to control what we don't understand. Monsters are one of the things that humans do this with.

Since ancient times, monsters have been used as a way to explain natural phenomenon, maintain power, and inspire awe or fear. But what if monsters are actually real?

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Sundays Witches Caldron...and Maybe a Vampire Too! Oct 29, 2023

Show notes

Double, double toll and trouble; Fire burn and caldron bubble... Witches are one of the most popular Halloween costumes out there. But why?

Many women believed that Halloween was the best day for divination, and they would seek out fortune tellers to discover the name of their future husbands. This along with a combination of other traditions across the millennia led to witches becoming a symbol of the holiday that celebrates the macabre.

Today; my friends from the Darkcast Network are telling the tales of witches through the centuries...and maybe a vampire too!

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