Superstitions

666 May 18, 2022

It’s all come to this…. In the year 2066, the apocalypse is upon us. It begins with a house fire, and ends with a coven of witches battling for their lives against a militarized Witch Hunt.

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William McKinley’s Red Carnation May 11, 2022

It doesn’t matter if you’re the president of the United States or the president of your student body class. Every politician needs a good luck charm. Once you have one, hold onto it — because giving it away can cost you everything.

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Throwing Back the First Catch May 04, 2022

The conditions are perfect, the fish are biting, and the catch of the day is just one cast away. Just remember what your grandpa told you about respecting the lake. Otherwise your fortunes might pull a real bait and switch…

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The Curse of the Colonel Apr 27, 2022

Was a baseball team in Japan cursed by the KFC mascot? In today’s story, a young baseball player in Osaka resolves to undo the curse, and meets a mighty river kami in the process.

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The Queen’s Superstitions Apr 20, 2022

In the British monarchy, some superstitions still reign supreme… With her coronation day ahead of her, and a royal wedding soon after, Alix can’t help but feel the weight of ancient omens even as she tries to modernize the monarchy.

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Christening Ships Apr 13, 2022

Weigh anchor and pop the bubbly! Today’s superstition is a nautical drinking tradition: Toasting a ship’s maiden voyage with champagne can appease fickle sea gods, and ensure safe passage. But bad luck awaits if you scoff at tradition…

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The Curse of the San Francisco Giants Apr 06, 2022

After the Giants moved from New York to San Francisco, they suffered a losing streak that lasted over half a century. Some fans believe a curse was to blame, and that an old plaque once lost to time was at the center of it…

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Mirror in the Bedroom Mar 30, 2022

In feng shui, a bedroom mirror doesn’t simply reflect its surroundings. It responds to the energy you put into it. And in today’s story, an influencer’s boyfriend discovers what can happen when you play with ancient magic.

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The Cheese of the Dead Mar 23, 2022

If you’re a fan of cheese, you might say “cheese is life.” But one Swiss tradition takes it a step further… “Le fromage des morts” is meant to be a legacy of sorts. It’s a wedding gift meant to last a lifetime. But in today’s story, an ambitious banker bucks tradition… with rotten consequences.

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The Ides of March Mar 16, 2022

Ever since Julius Caesar allegedly ignored warnings about the 15th of March, that date has been doomed. In today’s story, a vogue ballroom competition — not the Roman Senate — sets the scene for a legendary showdown.

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The Murray State Shoe Tree Mar 09, 2022

Students at this Kentucky university partake in a tradition meant to bring good luck. But in today’s story, one impassioned professor doesn’t quite get it — and undoes the work of generations.

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The Royal Touch Mar 02, 2022

They say that French royals had a special gift bestowed by the divine. Anointed with holy oil, they could change a person’s life with just one touch. But as Remy is about to find out, with a royal touch… comes royal responsibility.

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Astrology of Love: Karmic Nodes Feb 23, 2022

In our final look at star-crossed lovers, Daisy is a gardener who likes following rules. She can read the soil just as well as she can interpret a star chart. But it turns out that even the most grounded among us can be swept off their feet, with a little help from intuition…

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Astrology of Love: Moon Signs Feb 16, 2022

Your moon sign reflects the deepest, most hidden part of yourself. Hidden even, sometimes, from your own understanding. Today’s couple seemed to be a perfect match. But only too late did they realize why they were doomed from the start.

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Astrology of Love: Rising Signs Feb 09, 2022

There’s something a little mysterious about first impressions. Those indelible first seconds with a new acquaintance can be delicious… or disastrous. In today’s story, can two musicians with incredible chemistry keep the heat of their first spark?

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Astrology of Love: Sun Signs Feb 02, 2022

Is the fate of our love lives written in the stars? This month, we’re telling the stories of four astrologically interesting couples, exploring the best and worst matches in the Zodiac. Starting with 11-year-old August, a Pisces and hopeless romantic desperate to find love at summer camp.

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Setting Keys on a Table Jan 19, 2022

If you lose your keys, it might be chalked up to bad luck. But in Sweden, you can get worse luck if you set your keys on the table.

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Rats Abandoning Ship Jan 12, 2022

Some believe rats contain souls of the dead. Others believe that where there are rats, there is death. Either way, if you see these rodents abandoning a ship, you may want to consider joining them.

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Breaking a Mirror Jan 05, 2022

Mirrors are said to reflect not only your physical appearance, but your soul as well. In today’s episode, a physical trainer confronts himself in a special mirror… and changes his life for seven years.

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Charles Dickens' Superstitions Dec 15, 2021

For our last episode of the year, we'll tell you a Christmas Story. One about a famous author who had a very *particular* set of superstitions.

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Exchanging Cursed Gifts Dec 08, 2021

Today, you’re invited to a very special gift exchange… where cursed presents throw a party into chaos.

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The Wizard of Oz Production Curse Dec 01, 2021

From poisonous makeup to drug-addled stars, the set of the 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz" was rife with misfortune. Rumors said that a curse had settled over the production, which has affected every version of the Wizard of Oz made after it. In today's episode, an ambitious director pushes his students too far and discovers how real the curse can be.

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Full Moons Nov 17, 2021

For thousands of years, our ancestors have looked to the sky for answers about the world around us. So when people go mad, it may not be their fault. Just ask the full moon.

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Vampire Panic Nov 10, 2021

Bloodsucking fiends appear in the folklore of every culture on the planet. But for some, they were more than just horror stories. Today’s story comes from early 18th-century Europe. A doctor tries in vain to save lives, while a monster waits in the shadows… determined to see him fail.

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Scottish Kale Divination Nov 03, 2021

What if you could learn everything you needed to know about your one true love just by uprooting a stalk of kale?

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Season of the Witch: Witch's Sabbath Oct 27, 2021

The final episode in our four-part series on witches. Our three young witches enjoy a magical retreat, and discover they all share a diabolical connection. When an innocent is threatened, they must band together before "Hell on Earth" becomes a reality.

Season of the Witch is a special storytelling series across Parcast Network. Follow Tales and Haunted Places to find more spooky stories and historical haunts!

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Season of the Witch: Broomsticks Oct 20, 2021

Where did the association between witches and broomsticks come from? An au pair named Jia is about to find out.

Season of the Witch is a special storytelling series across Parcast Network. Follow Tales and Haunted Places to find more spooky stories and historical haunts!

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Season of the Witch: Familiars Oct 13, 2021

They might take the form of innocent pets like cats, dogs, or toads. But familiars are far more than cute little witches’ companions. They’re demons from Hell — and they’re here to wreak havoc.

Season of the Witch is a special storytelling series across Parcast Network. Follow Tales and Haunted Places to find more spooky stories and historical haunts!

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Season of the Witch: The Witch’s Mark Oct 06, 2021

It’s a strange blemish that can take many forms, but always says the same thing: this woman has been touched by the Devil. When Sadie gets a mark of her own, she’s thrust into a world of witchcraft and power.

Season of the Witch is a special storytelling series across Parcast Network. Follow Tales and Haunted Places to find more spooky stories and historical haunts!

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Going Home After a Funeral Sep 29, 2021

In the Philippines, Pagpag means “to shake off dust or dirt.” The belief is that you should not go straight home after a funeral or a wake, lest an evil spirit attach themselves to you and follow you home.

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NASA Superstitions Sep 22, 2021

Just because you leave the planet doesn't mean you leave superstitions behind. Since the early days of space travel, NASA astronauts have been taught to observe specific rituals before going to space. Because if they don't, they may wind up lost in space…

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Birthday Superstitions Sep 15, 2021

From a certain point of view, birthday celebrations can be seen as a little... ritualistic. Candles, special songs, birthday cake... Where did all these practices come from? And what are they meant to protect us against?

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Cutting Your Nails Sep 08, 2021

Your luck can change drastically depending on what day of the week you cut your nails. Fortunately, there’s a playful rhyme to help you remember. And if you forget? A broken nail will be the least of your worries…

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Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit Sep 01, 2021

In a ritual that can be found around the world, invoking the rabbit on the first day of a new month brings good luck. And in this story, a teenage witch is about to discover just how much fortune she can find…

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The Evil Eye Aug 25, 2021

When you become successful, all eyes are on you. But there is one eye above all others that will always be watching, waiting to take away your success.

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Clocks Aug 18, 2021

Timekeeping devices have been around for millennia. But at what point did we stop seeing them as tools... and start seeing them as a reminder of our own mortality?

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The Yo-yo Drought Aug 11, 2021

Toys are supposed to be harmless and fun — their arrival signaling playtime, not disaster. But in 1930s Syria, one toy was thought to cause a devastation so severe, it was banned from the country. If yo-yos could control the weather… what else could they control?

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Thunder and Lightning Aug 04, 2021

Meteorology is an advanced study, but not a precise one. So when the heavens themselves seem determined to destroy you, who wouldn't turn to some seemingly ridiculous rituals?

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Whistling on a Ship Jul 28, 2021

Sailors are a superstitious lot, and refraining from whistling might sound like a typical warning from an old salt. But if you're not careful, an errant whistle can blow up a storm.

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Confetti at Weddings Jul 21, 2021

Why do we think weddings have to be commemorated with tiny flakes of paper? And what are the consequences for getting too wrapped up in the idea of "the perfect wedding"?

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In the Mouth of the Wolf Jul 14, 2021

To bestow good luck, an American might say “break a leg.” But in Italy, there’s a different phrase: “In bocca al bupo.” The problem is, if you say thanks in return, you might end up in the mouth of a wolf…

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Lucky Number 7 Jul 07, 2021

If you look for it, you can spot the number seven everywhere. But of all the numbers, why did we pick this one to be the lucky one? And what happens when you rely on it too much?

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Sneezing Jun 30, 2021

In many cultures, it's considered polite to bless someone after they sneeze. But this dates back to a much older belief, where if you sneeze without a blessing, your soul can fly right out of your body.

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Solstice Special: Twins Jun 23, 2021

Gemini season is upon us, the season of twins. Which makes us ask: Are twins *really* telepathic? How do we explain the uncanny connection between the closest of siblings?

For more celestial stories, keep listening across Parcast Network for episodes on the Zodiac signs, constellations and more!

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Solstice Special: The Great Conjunction Jun 16, 2021

When planets align, chaos can follow. For thousands of years, the movements of those heavenly bodies have been used to understand — and even predict — earthly upheavals. History is dotted with uncanny examples.

For more celestial stories, keep listening across Parcast Network for episodes on the Zodiac signs, constellations and more!

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Crossing Your Fingers Jun 09, 2021

It’s so common that we hardly think of it as a superstition. Today, we use it to wish for luck and to excuse a broken promise or white lie. But throughout history, crossing your fingers has been used over and over to invoke the Divine.

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Your Future Grave Jun 02, 2021

If you feel an inexplicable chill, you may be coming down with a cold… or someone just walked over the patch of earth where you’re destined to be buried.

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Opening Umbrellas Indoors May 26, 2021

It’s not just bad luck. It’s an affront to ancient gods.

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Burying Bourbon May 19, 2021

If you want a bright and sunny Southern wedding, there’s only one thing to do: One month before the nuptials, bury a bottle of bourbon. But take care to dig it up on your wedding day. If you don’t, you might suffer a thunderstorm… or worse.

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Owl Omens May 12, 2021

When an owl speaks, death follows. But if they can bring doom, can they reverse it, too?

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Donate and Die May 05, 2021

Giving away clothing is an act of charity, but if your old outfits end up in evil hands, they could be used to cast a spell of harm against you. They say clothes make the man… but they can unmake him, too.

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Knocking on Wood Apr 28, 2021

Some use a table. Others, a doorframe. There are even those who jokingly use their head. Whatever wooden object is closest, you better knock on it for luck before you speak, or else you may just experience something bad… or jinx something good.

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Playoff Beards Apr 21, 2021

In 1980, the New York Islanders hockey team stopped shaving during the playoffs, and they won the Stanley Cup. That moment marked the birth of a new superstition: the playoff beard.

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Stepping on a Crack Apr 14, 2021

One wrong step can have consequences of seismic proportions...

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Burying Saint Joseph Apr 07, 2021

The real estate industry may sound like the last place to find superstitious practices, but some agents have come to rely on a special talisman to sell homes: a small plastic statue of St. Joseph.

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Wishing on a Shooting Star Mar 31, 2021

When the very sky above us lights up with a shooting star, it transports us to another world… a reality where anything is possible. And so, we make a wish. But usually, we don't think about the consequences of that wish coming true...

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The Curse of the Billy Goat Mar 24, 2021

Bad luck is everywhere in the world of sports. But perhaps a famous curse centers around the Chicago Cubs, who didn't win the World Series for 71 years... all because they insulted a goat.

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Toasting with Water Mar 17, 2021

Don’t toast with a glass of water, or you’ll wish bad luck upon the toast’s honoree and yourself. Though this European superstition sounds like an excuse to get drunk, it’s really an ancient tool to ward off disaster and death.

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Four Leaf Clovers Mar 10, 2021

For St. Patrick's Day, we're exploring the very symbol of good luck itself! Where in history does this Irish tradition come from, and what does its presence say about the land it originated from?

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Number of Steps in a Home Mar 03, 2021

You cannot avoid bad luck just by staying indoors. Especially if the number of steps in your home is a multiple of 3. In the Philippines, that is a very bad sign indeed…

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The ‘Q’ Word Feb 24, 2021

For a police officer on patrol, there's nothing better than an uneventful shift. But according to this superstition, if you ever say a specific phrase, your day is about to get a lot more... eventful.

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The First to Leave a Funeral Feb 17, 2021

Local to Iowa, this superstition adds an extra layer of tension to the loss of a loved one. Like a morbid version of tossing a bouquet at a wedding, the first person to leave a funeral... will be the first to die.

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Pele’s Curse Feb 10, 2021

Taking stones from the Hawaiian islands may seem harmless, but you may want to think twice before pocketing a memento. Taking a rock from the slopes of Kilauea will earn you the ire of Pele, the volcano goddess herself, and a lifetime of bad luck.

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The Royal Family’s Ravens Feb 03, 2021

The Tower of London is purported to have six ravens. But these are more than just spooky pets... Rumor has it that if any of these ravens is taken from the Tower, there will be dire consequences for the British Empire.

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Rubbing the Seatbelt Light Jan 27, 2021

The airplane seatbelt “bing” is near-iconic. But few fliers are aware that pilots perform a secret ritual before pressing the seatbelt button — believing that if they forget, the plane will suffer mechanical problems… or maybe even a deadly catastrophe.

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The 20-Year Presidential Curse Jan 20, 2021

If you look at U.S. Presidents who have died in office, a strange pattern emerges. Since 1840, those elected on twenty-year intervals meet untimely deaths, with few exceptions. Does a 19th-century death curse plague America’s highest office of political power?

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Beginner’s Luck Jan 13, 2021

It’s an advantage that newcomers and novices relish: try something new, and succeed like a natural. But what happens when beginner’s luck runs out?

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Horseshoe Over the Door Jan 06, 2021

Unassuming wall decor, or powerful protection against evil? Horseshoes are said to offer luck and fortune to those who possess them — so long as you manage to hang them right…

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New Year’s Eve Festivities Dec 30, 2020

10… 9… 8… As the clock winds down on the final moments of the year, people around the world employ charms and traditions to shore up good fortune for the future. But it’s not always our own luck that’s on the line…

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Christmas Traditions Dec 16, 2020

The roots of this festive holiday reach way back through history, with links to Nordic myths and the Roman Saturnalia. For colonists in 17th century America, celebrating Christmas was controversial… and in this telling, a despairing Puritan preacher goes so far as to try and cancel it.

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Salt for Protection Dec 09, 2020

It’s one ingredient that can cross the threshold of the mundane, offering supernatural protection against lingering spirits… And you can find it in any kitchen, every ocean, and even our bodies.

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Walking Under a Ladder Dec 02, 2020

Steering clear of an open ladder is second nature for many people. But for those that dare test this superstition, beware: It might bring more than just bad luck.

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Saying “Macbeth” Inside a Theater Nov 25, 2020

According to theatre lore, this famous play by William Shakespeare has carried a witch's curse since it's earliest performances. If you say the name 'Macbeth' inside a theater when you're not performing the Scottish Play... blood will have blood, so they say.

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Getting Pooped on by a Bird Nov 18, 2020

It might ruin your outfit — but far from ruining your day, getting pooped on by a bird is a gift from the sky. This lucky omen means things will start looking up (though you might still want to keep your head down).

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Lighting Three Cigarettes Nov 11, 2020

Whether it’s the risky “live fast, die young” appeal or the very real threat of lung cancer, cigarettes have always been considered dangerous. And lighting three from the same match might just set you on a quick path to misfortune — if not death.

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Luck of the Rabbit’s Foot Nov 04, 2020

We could all use a little extra luck from time to time… And what better way to secure some than taking it from one of nature’s craftiest tricksters — a surprisingly subversive symbol of wits and survival: the rabbit.

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Passing a Cemetery Oct 28, 2020

It's a children's game with a deadly consequence: Hold your breath while driving past a cemetery’s graves... or breathe in a spirit by mistake.

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The Poltergeist Curse Oct 21, 2020

In the 1980s, actors who had starred in the Poltergeist films started dying, leaving fans stunned. Was it just a coincidence? Or had the actors fallen victim to the very films that made them stars?

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The Number 13 Oct 14, 2020

It’s the world’s unluckiest integer, and it has even spawned its own phobia. Throughout folklore and mythology, wherever the number 13 occurs, disaster follows.

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Black Cats Oct 07, 2020

Our first episode concerns one of the most iconic superstitions: black cats, and their relationship to bad luck. Why is it that, even to this day, we associate these innocent cats with demons, witchcraft, and doom?

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This Is Superstitions Sep 18, 2020

You’ve never opened an umbrella indoors, or walked underneath a ladder. And every Friday the 13th, you take extra care not to invite misfortune: no stepping on sidewalk cracks, no clumsiness with the salt shaker. Why take any chances?

Every week on Superstitions, explore the backstories and hidden lessons inside bad omens, good luck charms, and old wives’ tales—and hear the stories of those who dare defy them.

Superstitions is a Spotify Original from Parcast. New episodes air weekly, on Wednesdays. Listen free on Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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