Just A Story: Urban Legend Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Ep 49: Death Becomes Her: Halloween, The Day of the Dead, and Santa Muerte Oct 22, 2016

Show notes

Halloween is often described as the one night of the year when spirits can return to the earth and interact with the living. That's a very simplified version of a vast, multicultural tradition that has existed, in one form or another, since the earliest written records. Spirits, vague ideas of otherworldly intruders, have been visiting for centuries, and over the years they've been understood as ancestors, demons, eerie informants, and hostile haunts. Join us this week as we explore Halloween rituals through the ages and the evolution of the otherworldly visitors they invited to join. We conclude the episode by shifting our focus from the living's relationships with the dead, to their relationships with Death itself, as we discuss Santa Muerte. Website: justastorypod.com - For more on what was discussed in the episode: links, citations, images, and more Twitter: @justastorypod Email: justastorypod@gmail.com

Ep 48: Halloween Hanging: Can You Save Her Oct 15, 2016

Show notes

It's the time of year when well-meaning suburbanites stage miniature shock and awe campaigns on their front lawns. The sweet retirees on the corner are building a graveyard. Across the street, a soccer mom is arranging a life-sized skeleton in a lawn chair. The is a zombie invasion, comprised of wax dummies just one block down. So who would notice, could notice, the body hanging from a noose fastened to a tree? It's just one more macabre Halloween decoration, right? If it wasn't, if it was a corpse, that would ruin all the fun; that would make us question everything we know and love about this harmless holiday. Well, according to the legend of 'The Halloween Hanging,' it was a corpse; and that is exactly what we will be questioning on this episode. We will explore some dark territory, looking staged suicidal hangings, homicidal hangings and the history of hanging as a method of execution. We will also discuss the phenomena of crime scene staging, and try to reach our own verdict on the case of the mysterious death of Rebecca Zahau. Special Guest Story Teller Robert Chauncey, Creator of The Tunnels Podcast Check it out Here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tunnels-podcast/id1139556079?mt=2

Ep 47: He Mixes It With Love and Makes the World Taste Good; Halloween Spec 2 Oct 08, 2016

Show notes

Pull up a chair, x-Ray that Snickers bar, and pour yourself some wine; it's time to talk about poisoned candy. Trick or Treat. It didn't begin as a question. In the early days it was a threat, more, 'do it, or else,' than 'what do you have for me?' Join us this week as we explore the rich history of the trick-or-treat tradition in America. Spoiler, contrary to whatever you might have heard from Max in *Hocus Pocus* it was not invented by the candy companies. We'll also discuss the tale of 'The Man Who Killed Halloween' and the way he brought the legend of "The Halloween Sadist" to life.

Ep 46: You Can't Reason With A Headless Man: 1st Halloween Special Oct 02, 2016

Show notes

We are pleased to announce a month of spooky Halloween legends, here on Just A Story! We kick off the celebration of the month of hocus pocus and haunts by discussing the origin of the American ghost story's form and traditional substance. Join us this week as we take a look at the classic Washington Irving short story, "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," and its central character, the Headless Horseman. We'll also examine the connection between this literary specter and Ohio's headless motorcyclist, and his possible historic origins.

Ep 45: A Bitter Pill Sep 24, 2016

Show notes

We may take its existence for granted today, but the birth of the birth control pill was a long labor of love, belief, and scientific ingenuity. It seems no matter what side of the argument you may be on, we all have strong feelings about contraceptives and reproductive rights. Join us this week for a discussion of how the Pill went from an idea, to an experiment, to a controversy, to a right; over the last century. We'll meet the colorful cast of characters who made it their mission to make motherhood a choice, explore common myths about birth control and the various ways we've tried to keep the stork away throughout history. EXPLICIT WARNING (We talk about sex....) A wonderfuly vulgar opening from Unbuttoned History, check them out: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/unbuttoned-history/id633437365?mt=2

Ep 44: Riddle, Mystery, Enigma: Anastasia Sep 17, 2016

Show notes

Some historical events leave scars on the minds of contemporaries that last long enough to become legends. The execution of the family Romanov in a Siberian cellar under the cover of night and the shroud of secrecy, was one such event. In 1917 the last Tsar of all the Russias, Nicholas II, was murdered along with Tsarina Alexandra, and their four daughters: Olga, Tatiana, Marie, Anastasia, and their only son, Alexei. It's almost to horrible to imagine. So the public did what the public does best. They imagined something else. What if, they asked in whispers, what if, one of them managed to escape? Then maybe, the whispers willed that hope to life. It must have seemed that way when a mysterious woman appeared in Berlin years later. Her body and memory were full of holes and badly scarred, but there was something regal in her bearing. She would become known as Anastasia, Grand Duchess, Anna Anderson, Fraud, and a puzzle for all of those who wished the fairy tale princesses of Imperial Russia to have a happier ending. Join us this week as we dive into the history of the fall of the Romanovs and ask why no one wanted to see that Anastasia's escape was just a story.

Extra: You Can't Handle the Brogue Sep 16, 2016

Show notes

An Extra to go along with Ep 43: "I Shall Become the Bat" containing the expanded story of the Gorbals vampire hunt from writer John Lees and his discussion of local Scottish urban legends.

Ep 43: I Shall Become The Bat Sep 10, 2016

Show notes

When someone says the word 'vampires' to you, what do you imagine? Do you imagine Bela Lugosi, pale and wan; swirling his impeccable cape like he's a matador? Are you lost in thoughts of sparkly, angst-ridden teen romance? Are you reminded of something truly horrific, like the acts of Peter Kurten or Richard Chase? Does your mind drift the plantations and Southern gothic sensuality a la Anne Rice? Do you think of Nosferatu and wonder if the rumors were true? Maybe you think of the white-haired, powder-skinned Count, as played by Gary Oldman. Maybe you start thinking about what a badass Gary Oldman is and forget the question. What was the question? Oh, yes, what do you think of when you hear the word, 'vampires'? Chances are whatever image comes to mind, it's somehow informed by mass media. That was the claim, at least, when a group of schoolboys took up arms against a hometown vampire in Glasgow in the 1950s. Join us this week as we explore where our ideas of vampires come from, and how we use those ideas to mask real monsters in our midst. In this week's episode we will tackle vampires in mass media, and discuss those who have been called by the same moniker when real life violence exceeded the bounds of the public's imagination. Guest stoy teller this week is the wonderful Scotsman and writer John Lees. For his blog and to find out more about some of his great horror comics: https://johnleescomics.wordpress.com/

Ep 42: Jailhouse Rock Sep 03, 2016

Show notes

Prison is a place you're meant to go when you can no longer control your actions or conform to societal norms. Because prison is meant to house those who deviate from formally instituted rules, and seek to do harm to others; those on the inside are not allowed to come and go as they please. There should be no escape from the consequences of your actions, and there should be no escape from prison. In a perfect world, this seemingly logical idea might hold true, but this is far from the best of all possible worlds. Join us this week as we explore desperate escape attempts, destructive riots and how quickly prisons can be constructed in our own minds. In this episode we discuss the legend of The Coffin Escape, the Montana State Prison Riot of 1959, and the Stanford Prison Experiment; as we ask, is the idea of 'getting out of prison', just a story? Special thanks to Ryan, of "Small Town Horror" for sharing a Crayton legend with us this week. For more of his exploration in to the legends and stories of a small town in Minnesota, check out his podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/small-town-horror/id1102878180?mt=2

Ep 41: My Baby Takes the Mornin' Train Aug 27, 2016

Show notes

One of the best surviving examples of oral tradition, or passing cultural information by word of mouth, are jokes. The classic story of 'The Baby Train' is definitely an urban legend with a punchline, even if it's a hokey one. Jaded as we are today, it's still easy to imagine your off-beat uncle recounting the story of a town full of babies, whose conception was inspired by having an unwanted alarm, an early morning train, and nothing better to do than... You know, make babies. Have there ever been microscopic baby booms? We'll explore one inspired by a dead Canadian millionaire, and take a look at how seemingly trivial things like weather, can effect population growth. Join us as we take a look at the real-life baby trains carrying New York's foundlings across America, and how they compare to this light-hearted legend Check out our other podcast Audio Dime Museum: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/audio-dime-museum-carnivale/id1096211271?mt=2 Our Guest Story teller is Melanie from Clan of the Cave Horse. For more irreverent discussion, check out their podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/caveman-mafia/id595555054?mt=2

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Just A Story: Urban Legend Podcast

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected