Just A Story: Urban Legend Podcast

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Ep 58: Let It Go Ice Queen Dec 25, 2016

Show notes

Ice Queens are all the rage these days. Aside from the popularity of "Frozen", sarcasm, snark, and apathy are kind of the hallmark of our age. But whatever, like we care. This week we'll be taking a look at the Russian folktale, "The Snow Child", from which the Christmastime figure, Snegurochka, is based. We'll be examine the construction of the modern Ice Queen trope, and the factors that psychologists say may contribute to those personality types. We will also be exploring the history of the real world Ice Queen of Russia, Anna Ioannovna and her ice palace. For more on this week's episode, and every episode: justastorypod.com Twitter: @justastorypod Instagram: justastorypod Leave a voicemail on the Urban Legend Hotline 1-(512)-222-3375

Ep 57: Am I Pretty? The Slit Mouthed Woman Dec 18, 2016

Show notes

The legend of the Slit Mouth Woman has captured the imagination of people around the world. Many are surprised that the story only began circulating amongst the people of Japan in the 1970s. Why is that so surprising? New legends and ghost stories are constantly emerging, why is it so surprising that this is an example of modern folklore? As we will discuss this week, it may be because something about this urban phantom feels much more ancient. Join us this week as we explore the tradition of yokai and the psychology of the monstrous feminine. For more on this week's episode, and every episode: justastorypod.com Twitter: @justastorypod Instagram: justastorypod Leave a voicemail on the Urban Legend Hotline 1-(512)-222-3375

Ep 56: Snuff Films Do Not Exist! Dec 11, 2016

Show notes

We've all heard whispered rumors about snuff films, films so dark, so depraved, that real actors were actually killed on screen just for the sake of entertainment. We've also heard the resolute denial that such things happen from the most worldly of our know-it-all acquaintances. Somewhere between those two well known rumors lies the truth, and you know what they say about the truth, don't you? It's often more terrifying than fiction. Such is the case this week on Just A Story because we will be looking at unnerving murderers who documented their own crimes, from the Glamour Girl Slayer, Harvey Glatman; to the Boneyard Killers, Leonard Lake and Charles Ng, to a star-struck Canadian psychopath Lucca Magnotta. In addition to a our meandering tour of True Crime Alley, we'll be speaking to Holly Kingstown, a real life insider from the industry about how snuff and have been unjustly conflated in the modern imagination. We'll be exploring the cinematic history of gore and sexploitation flicks and the way those genres helped build the myth of snuff, as well. We'll also try to pin down a somewhat official definition of 'snuff' and see if we can find any real world examples of the stuff. Join us as we dare to explore the world of snuff, where life is cheap! Special Guest: Holly Kingstown @heidijoypj For more on this week's episode, and every episode: justastorypod.com Twitter: @justastorypod Instagram: justastorypod Leave a voicemail on the Urban Legend Hotline 1-(512)-222-3375

Ep 55: Fearful to Name: The Jersey Devil Dec 03, 2016

Show notes

The Jersey Devil is an enduring New England legend. Throughout the pine barrens of New Jersey, stories of the American chimera inspire fear and create borders between civilized people and the wilderness. It's ubiquity begs the question, where did this monster come from? This week, in addition to exploring this historical origins of the tale; we will discuss the Puritan fears about the wilderness, and the harsh measures imposed on members of that society in order to separate man, from beast. For more on this week's episode, and every episode: justastorypod.com Twitter: @justastorypod Instagram: justastorypod Leave a voicemail on the Urban Legend Hotline 1-(512)-222-3375

Ep 54: Welcome to Reality Nov 27, 2016

Show notes

This week we are taking a look at the classic legend of 'The Pin Prick Attack'. We'll also dive deep into the history of the AIDS epidemic in America, and examine the ways in which the cultural climate allowed urban legends to spread as quickly as the disease. From cautionary tales, to hero's quest, to boogeymen; we'll discuss the folklore of AIDS in the moments before science caught up with the monster. Join us this week as we remember those we've lost, the men and women who dedicated their lives to finding hope, and the stories that survived this moment of intense fear, real threat and unbelievable bravery in the face of impossible odds. In honor of World AIDS Day, we present 'Welcome to Reality' For more on this week's episode, and every episode: justastorypod.com Twitter: @justastorypod Instagram: justastorypod Leave a voicemail on the Urban Legend Hotline 1-(512)-222-3375

Ep 53: All Beauty Must Die: Murder Ballads Nov 20, 2016

Show notes

Ballads are enduring relics of rich oral tradition. From literary epics like Beowulf, to the seedier broadside ballads sold at public executions; these story songs give us a glimpse at the practices and values of distant times and places. Just as we can see the heroes of the past in these narrative lyrics, so can we see the villains. Especially in the dark and twisted sub-genre of murder ballads, and perhaps even more so in the sub-sub-genre of sweetheart murder ballads. Join us this week as we explore the urban legend 'Elisa Day' and the history of songs of similar substance from Appalachia. We will consult experts from William Shakespeare to Allen Lomax as we try to understand the phenomena of murder and infatuation, and the (apparently) persistent need to sing about the combination. We'll also talk about the real-world criminal case that inspired the play and novel, "An American Tragedy" and its adherence to the murder ballad tradition Special Guest: Welcome Little Stranger http://themostwonderfulwonder.com/ For more on this week's episode, and every episode: justastorypod.com Twitter: @justastorypod Instagram: justastorypod Leave a voicemail on the Urban Legend Hotline 1-(512)-222-3375

Ep 52.2 Blood Into Ink Nov 16, 2016

Show notes

1 Year Anniversary Special - Part 2 Who are we, really? Identity is an amorphous, malleable concept that haunts human consciousness at almost every moment. Whether telling a pushy sales person that this shirt, 'just isn't me'; having a skull and crossbones inked on a forearm; or updating an online status; we are valiantly attempting to answer the question of 'who am I' for ourselves and the others we encounter. We want to show the world who we are, and be accepted, esteemed or valued for that presentation. Every detail, our style of dress, our haircut, hair color, our tone of voice, our choice of words, the scars and emblems that we ecru upon our skin throughout our lifetime; tell the story of 'us'. Where does the story stop? Join us this week for a special two-part episode that asks the question are we all, just a story? For more on this week's episode, and every episode: justastorypod.com Twitter: @justastorypod Instagram: justastorypod Leave a voicemail on the Urban Legend Hotline 1-(512)-222-3375

Ep 52.1: Blood Into Ink Nov 12, 2016

Show notes

1 Year Anniversary Special - Part 1 Who are we, really? Identity is an amorphous, malleable concept that haunts human consciousness at almost every moment. Whether telling a pushy sales person that this shirt, 'just isn't me'; having a skull and crossbones inked on a forearm; or updating an online status; we are valiantly attempting to answer the question of 'who am I' for ourselves and the others we encounter. We want to show the world who we are, and be accepted, esteemed or valued for that presentation. Every detail, our style of dress, our haircut, hair color, our tone of voice, our choice of words, the scars and emblems that we ecru upon our skin throughout our lifetime; tell the story of 'us'. Where does the story stop? Join us this week for a special two-part episode that asks the question are we all, just a story? Special Guest Story Teller: The Curator - Audio Dime Museum Music: Purple Planet Marry Lattimore - http://marylattimoreharpist.tumblr.com/ Jared C Balogh - https://soundcloud.com/jaredcbalogh For more on this week's episode, and every episode: justastorypod.com Twitter: @justastorypod Instagram: justastorypod Leave a voicemail on the Urban Legend Hotline 1-(512)-222-3375

Ep 51: ...And Justice For All Nov 05, 2016

Show notes

There's no question that there have been incredible innovations in the ways in which scientists and law enforcement gather and present evidence for trial. Expert testimony has become an almost indispensable aspect of legal proceedings. We should consider that, perhaps, we are blurring the line between circumstantial and scientific evidence. Is this a new phenomenon? Hardly. Spectral evidence has featured prominently in criminal proceedings since the days of comparing the weights of ducks and witches. From the validation of literal specters visiting people in the night, to three-buttoned double breasted suits; there are many examples of expert opinions casting long shadows in the court room. In this episode we'll examine the history of behavioral profiling and take a look at the kind of testimony that originally convicted the West Memphis Three. Join us this week as we examine the evolution of spectral evidence over time, and what happens when we try stories instead of the accused. Guest Story Teller: Joshua Zeman, Director of Cropsey and Killer Legends For more on this week's episode, and every episode: justastorypod.com Twitter: @justastorypod Instagram: justastorypod Leave a voicemail on the Urban Legend Hotline 1-(512)-222-3375

Episode 50: A Monster So Hideous with Joshua Zeman Oct 29, 2016

Show notes

Whether our parents warned about strangers with candy in windowless vans, or creepy clown gangs, or a deranged loner hiding in the woods; we were all subjected to cautionary tales in one form or another. Scare tactics are integral to parenting, apparently. We shrugged off the stories, or elaborated on the ideas and shared them with peers while holding flashlights under our chins. We may have been leery of men who looked like the silhouette on the neighborhood watch sign. We might have run out of the woods when we came upon a boot print, or imagined a sinister side to the Shriners in clown white who lead the parade. We probably never considered that these manufactured monsters might be real for longer than a moment. What if they were? This was a question addressed by filmmaker Joshua Zeman in his documentary feature, CROPSEY. He joins us this week to talk about the powerful intersection of legends and reality, and the effects that stories have on our perceptions. We'll explore why society needs to believe in monsters, and what happens when the creatures we build in our imaginations come to life. For More on this episode and other episodes: justastroypod.com @justastorypod

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