Category: Occult
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Episode 278: Highgate Cemetery
Blurry Photober is late this year, but David is back with an episode all about Highgate Cemetery! An incredible feat of gothic greatness, Highgate Cemetery has an interesting history and hauntings to boot. David had the fortune to take a tour of the Grade I historic location, and also interviewed the tour guide, John Waite.…
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BP Bonus: The Unbinding (2023)
Flora, Derek, and Zenger return to the roundtable to discuss the new Newkirk movie The Unbinding! From the creators of Hellier, The Unbinding follows Greg and Dana Newkirk on their quest to investigate a cursed object and the entity possibly trapped within it. The boys discuss the film and share their thoughts on it. How does it compare…
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Ep 258: Nathan Isaac, The Penny Royal Podcast
Flora is joined by Nathan Isaac, host and writer of the Penny Royal Podcast for a fascinating discussion of oddities in Pulaski Co., Kentucky. Somerset, KY resident Nathan Isaac has been researching strange phenomena in and around Pulaski Co. on the Penny Royal Podcast for years. While some places might have some weird stories, Somerset…
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Ep 247: The Barnabet Axe Murders
The horror continues in Blurry Photober with a mega episode about the Barnabet axe murders. Flora is joined by authors Alan Gauthreaux and Dr. Daryl Hippensteel as well as numerous Louisianans to explore the ghastly tale of the Barnabet axe murders. Southwestern Louisiana was terrorized in 1911-12 by brutal axe murders. One young woman was…
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Ep 244: Unexpected Consequences of Hoodoo
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Dr. Jeffrey Anderson returns with a handful of stories on unexpected consequences of hoodoo! That old adage, “be careful what you wish for,” is in full effect in these real stories of unexpected consequences of hoodoo. Dr. Anderson tells several accounts of folk magic gone wrong. If you’re familiar with the W. W. Jacobs short…
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Ep 237: Time Life Mysteries of the Unknown
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Flora is joined by Ryan from Rumor Flies and Brent from Hysteria 51 to discuss the classic Time Life book series Mysteries of the Unknown. A 33-book set detailing all kinds of Forteana and weird topics, Time Life’s Mysteries of the Unknown introduced high strangeness to countless individuals around the world. The boys get together…
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Ep 231: John Dee part 2
The saga of John Dee continues in a massive second part of the episode. The second half of John Dee’s life was even wilder than his first, scrying with Edward Kelley and writing down the angelic language. Flora continues an incredibly deep dive into the polymath’s life, detailing his actions with Kelley, travels abroad, and…
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Ep 197: Who Put Bella in the Wych Elm
Blurry Photober continues with a modern maybe murder mystery that begs the question – who put Bella in the Wych Elm? A mysterious skeleton in a hollow tree kicked off an investigation in 1943, but the mystery deepened with the appearance of graffiti reading “who put Bella in the Wych Elm.” Join David and Dave…
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Ep 196: Haunted Dolls, Live
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Guest host Mark Soloff of Blastropodcast joins Flora to kick off Blurry Photober with a live show all about haunted dolls! Human figures that are said to be possessed or cursed, haunted dolls have a built-in creepiness that transcends the many stories about them. Flora and Soloff discuss what might make dolls haunted, the history…
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Ep 171: Runes
Untie the pouch of mysticism and new agery with Blurry Photos with an episode all about Runes! An ancient system of divination originating in Germania and Scandinavia, the casting of Runes is the practice of gaining insight through symbols of power. But where did it come from? Where does it derive its power? And how…
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Ep 164: The Murder of Charles Walton
The boys travel to 1945 England to investigate the strange murder of Charles Walton. An unsolved mystery since 1945, the murder of Charles Walton has been attributed to witchcraft, druidry, greed, grims, and anything in between. What happened to a poor old farm laborer from Warwickshire on a cold February day? Rumors swirled about his…
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Ep 163: Demonology
The sigils are etched and the circle is protecting as Dave and David summon an episode about demonology! The study of demons etc., demonology stretches as far back as recorded history, but how credible is it in practice and lore? The boys look at the etymology of demons, a few cultures and demons in their…
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Ep 157: Numerology
Get the abacus ready and stretch those counting fingers, David and Dave are talking numerology in this episode! A new age system of divination that supposedly has roots as far back as ancient Babylon, numerology is said to hold esoteric secrets in everyday numbers. Flora and Stecco dive into the origins of this allegedly sacred art,…
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Episode 149: The Codex Gigas
Grab your gloves and good luck charms as Blurry Photos dive into the Codex Gigas! Commonly called “The Devil’s Bible,” the Codex Gigas is a legendary medieval manuscript that’s huge, old, and… cursed? Flora and Stecco take a look at its interesting history as well as its contents and design. The real fun lies in…
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Episode 138: The Salem Witch Trials
You stand accused of wanting to learn more about the Salem witch trials! A sad chapter of American history, the Salem witch trials were a time of paranoia, hysteria, requital, and religious fervor gone awry. Flora and Stecco discuss the cultural climate leading up to this period, including witch hunts and persecution in general. How…
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Episode 128: Ouija Boards with Expanded Perspectives
Break out those planchettes and gather ’round the table, the boys of Blurry Photos are joined by the boys of Expanded Perspectives Podcast to delve into the world of Ouija Boards! An infamous, easy-to-use oracle, Ouija Boards are supposed 2-way communication devices between the living and the dead, and the Davids welcome guests Cam and…
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Episode 126: Possession and Exorcism
Blurry Photober 2015 begins with a look into the disturbing world of possession and exorcism. A controversial, creepy subject, possession and exorcism has been around since recorded history, but are demons really taking hold people? It’s something many are familiar with, but few truly understand. A person seems to lose control of him/herself, and a religious…
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Episode 118: Charles Fort
Time for a hat tip to one of the weird and wild’s #1 guys, Charles Fort! Widely considered the grandfather of research into weird, strange, occult, and out-there subjects, Charles Fort helped usher in the era of interest into such subjects which Blurry Photos thrive on. The boys dive into his life and times including…
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Episode 97: The Dracula Dossier with Kenneth Hite
Drac is back, and so is Blurry Photos’ friend Ken Hite to discuss his newest project, The Dracula Dossier! Ken has created a new edition of Bram Stoker’s classic tale of horror that tells the real story, along with an improvised spy thriller campaign for Night’s Black Agents RPG. He was gracious enough to swing by the…
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Episode 82: Curse of the Pharaohs
Flora and Stecco break the seal of the tomb and unleash the curse of the pharaohs in this episode! Stemming from a series of odd happenings, the curse of the pharaohs has threatened would-be robbers, archaeologists, and anyone connected for centuries. The boys unwrap the mystery, starting with what the curse is alleged to do,…
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Episode 80: Crystal Healing
Time to put all those tacky precious stones that are sitting in your drawer to good use, as the boys of Blurry Photos tackle crystal healing. A new age practice that has deep roots, crystal healing in its current iteration came about in the early 20th century and has stirred controversy ever since. David and…
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Episode 70: Satanism
It’s time again to leave those preconceived notions behind, as Blurry Photos take a look at Satanism. Perhaps the most misunderstood religion of our time, Satanism actually has nothing to do with overwhelming evilness and the fight for your soul. It’s sometimes labeled more of a philosophy than a religion, and the concept of the…
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Episode 65: Voynich Manuscript
The boys of Blurry Photos take a look at the infamous Voynich Manuscript in this episode! A mystery that has remained perplexing for more than 500 years, the Voynich Manuscript defies intelligence with its cryptic language and boggling illustrations. With no clear origins and no clear purpose, it has excited generations of code breakers, mathematicians,…
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Episode 59: The Dybbuk Box
You asked for it – you got it. Blurry Photos take a look at the most frightening piece of furniture out there, The Dybbuk Box. Steeped in Jewish and eBay mysticism, this little wine cabinet looks great in your kitchen and also beats you in your sleep. Coming onto the scene from an eBay post,…
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Episode 54: Wicca
Flora and Stecco seek the guidance of the goddess as they learn all about Wicca in this episode of the podcast. A relatively recent religion, Wicca has steadily gained in popularity for almost a hundred years and counting. Stereotyping, misinformation, ignorance, and fear has threatened the religion since its fractured founding, but Wiccans have prevailed…
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Episode 38: Kenneth Hite, The Nazi Occult
In this jam-packed episode, the boys of Blurry Photos conduct their first interview, announce the winner of the 2013 Miss Cryptid Contest, and announce the winner of the Miss Cryptid Sweepstakes! In an exciting turn of events, David and Dave let someone else do the talking as they welcome Game Designer/Writer Kenneth Hite. An expert…
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Episode 18: Rasputin
The boys of Blurry Photos ring in the new year with another controversial yet fascinating historical figure, Rasputin. Born a peasant in Russia’s unforgiving Siberia, Rasputin led a life that has made him a hero to some and a villain to most. David and David sift through the history of this man as well as…
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Episode 17: Illuminati
Ever enjoyed anything from the entertainment/music industry? How about a $1 bill – ever held one? Do you watch/listen to any news source? Does your car use gas? Do you eat food? If yes, then you have been inundated by the symbolism and ideas of the Illuminati. A shadowy, conspiratorial group that is said to…
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Episode 8: Witches
It wouldn’t be ___tober without an episode about witches. David and David conjure up some interesting history and origins of the witch in this episode of Blurry Photos. How long have witches been around? Have they always been the disfigured old crone that stereotyping tells us they are? Is witchcraft still practiced today? Kick back,…
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Episode 5: History of Halloween
Blurry Photos welcomes ____tober with a look into the history of Halloween. With roots dating back to the ancient Celtic celebration of Samhain, Halloween has survived centuries of attacks from religion, other holidays, and misinformation, and has grown and evolved into a very unique holiday. Listen as the Davids take you on a journey from…