Haunted History

On a cold, snowy night, you hear it—a faint melody drifting through the air. The sound is beautiful yet unsettling, as if the voices belong to another time. You step outside, expecting to find cheerful carolers braving the winter chill, but there’s no one there. The singing fades, swallowed by the wind, leaving only questions behind.  Who—or what—sings these haunting songs? Light the fire, settle in, and join us as we explore the darker side of Christmas.Anote: In today's episode we explore the chilling legend of phantom carolers—ghostly singers who haunt the winter nights. While not based on historical events, these tales are rooted in folklore and passed-down traditions, offering a glimpse into the eerie side of holiday storytelling. Join us for a journey into the darker corners of Christmas lore.Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios, with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe. Special thanks to this episode's guest, actor and voice artist Derek Brown, for narrating and bringing these tales to life.Connect with us on our socials:• Follow us on Instagram• Follow us on TikTok• Follow us on FacebookVisit us at www.hauntedhistorypod.com to learn more.Episode Reference Material How Ghost Stories Became a Christmas Tradition in Victorian EnglandWhy Do People Tell Christmas Ghost StoriesAfter Supper Ghost Stories Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/haunted-history--6354060/support.

It was Christmas Day, 1929 and the Lawson family were preparing to celebrate. There was a cake being baked, hunting traditions being honored, and a family gathering in what should have been a joyful, peaceful holiday. But beneath that calm veneer, something far darker stirred.   By the end of the day, the Lawson farmhouse would become the epicenter of a nightmare—a scene so gruesome it would stain the memory of Christmas forever. What drives a man to turn on his own family? What breaks inside someone to twist love into destruction?  The answers, if they ever existed, are buried in time, along with Charles Lawson’s final, haunting secrets. This is the story of a family frozen in their final moments, of a crime that defies understanding, and of a legacy that still echoes nearly a century later.  Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe.Connect with us on our socials: • Follow us on Instagram• Follow us on TikTok• Follow us on FacebookVisit us at www.hauntedhistorypod.com to learn more. Episode Reference MaterialWhite Christmas, Bloody Christmas by Trudy Smith The Meaning of our Tears by Trudy SmithThe Lawson Family Murders by Criminal (Phoebe Judge)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/haunted-history--6354060/support.

The house looms before you, shrouded in shadows, its countless windows like unblinking eyes. As you step inside, the air grows heavier, and the walls seem to shift around you. Staircases spiral into ceilings, doors open to nowhere—this is no ordinary home.   This is the Winchester Mystery House, built by a woman haunted by grief and guilt, endlessly constructing to escape the spirits she believed were hunting her. Tonight, the house is waiting. Are you ready to step inside? Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe.Connect with us on our socials:• Follow us on Instagram• Follow us on TikTok• Follow us on FacebookVisit us at www.hauntedhistorypod.com to learn more. Episode Source Material All Things Interesting: Was Sarah Winchester?  Winchester Mystery House History The Winchester Mystery House: California’s Original Haunted Mansion?  The True Story of the Winchester Mystery House, the Creepiest Mansion in the U.S.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/haunted-history--6354060/support.

On Christmas Eve, 1945, the Sodder family home in Fayetteville, West Virginia, erupted in flames. Amid the chaos, George and Jennie Sodder managed to rescue four of their ten children, but five others—Maurice, Martha, Louis, Jennie, and Betty—were believed to have perished in the fire. Yet, no remains were ever found. What begins as a tragedy soon twists into one of history's most chilling unsolved mysteries. Cryptic clues surface—a strange phone call, a missing ladder, cut wires, and a suspicious insurance salesman with veiled threats. Eyewitness accounts suggest the children may have been seen alive, far from the smouldering ruins of their home.Were the children victims of the flames—or of a more sinister plot?Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe.Connect with us on our socials:• Follow us on Instagram• Follow us on TikTok• Follow us on FacebookVisit us at www.hauntedhistorypod.com to learn more.Episode Source MaterialWhat Happened to the Sodder Children, the Siblings Who Went Up in Smoke in a West Virginia House Fire? by Smithsonian MagazineWhat Really Happened to Children by Niles Jackson for the Sunday – GazetteMystery of Missing Children Haunts W. Va Town by Stacy HornWhere are the children? by Audrey StantonThe Sodder Children by CasefileChristmas Eve Tragedy by Autumn D.F. HopkinsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/haunted-history--6354060/support.

The air inside Chillingham Castle feels heavy, as if the stones themselves remember the horrors that unfolded here. Beneath the grandeur of its medieval walls lies a darker tale—the story of John Sage, or Dragfoot, a man whose cruelty echoes through the centuries. On today's minisode we are exploring the history, the ghosts and the legends behind one of England’s most haunted castles.Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe.Connect with us on our socials:• Follow us on Instagram• Follow us on TikTok• Follow us on FacebookVisit us at www.hauntedhistorypod.com to learn more.Episode Source Material Chillingham Castle Official WebsiteE. Harris, Ghost Tours England, personal communication, November 18, 2024Chillingham Castle by Mark FisherVisit Northumberland Little House of Horrors: Chillingham Castle Medieval Wanderings: Chillingham CastleJohn Dragfoot Sage: The Most Evil Ghost In BritainThe Ghosts of Chillingham CastleThe Haunted Palace BlogBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/haunted-history--6354060/support.

Beneath its dazzling beauty lies a dark and twisted tale. The Hope Diamond, a gemstone of unmatched brilliance, has passed through the hands of kings, thieves, and collectors, leaving behind a legacy of wealth, betrayal, and tragedy. From its fabled origins to its glittering display in modern museums, whispers of a curse have followed the diamond for centuries. Its owners have faced ruin, madness, and untimely deaths—coincidences too chilling to ignore. Was the gem imbued with a malevolent force, or do its tragedies simply reflect the turbulent times it survived?We are diving into the shadowy history of the Hope Diamond, peeling back layers of myth and reality to uncover the truth behind its haunting reputation. Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe.Connect with us on our socials:• Follow us on Instagram• Follow us on TikTok• Follow us on FacebookVisit us at www.hauntedhistorypod.com to learn more.Episode Source MaterialSmithsonian Institution - Hope DiamondThe Hope Diamond: The Legendary History of a Cursed Gem by Richard KurinNational Geographic - Hope DiamondHistory Channel - Hope DiamondThe Curse of the Hope Diamond - Live ScienceThe Secret History Of The Hope Diamond: How Pierre Cartier Sold A Cursed JewelThe Hope Diamond Mystery & CurseThe Curse of The Hope DiamondBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/haunted-history--6354060/support.

Sarah Jane Robinson was a seemingly ordinary woman whose life took a sinister turn. Beneath her unassuming exterior lay a web of greed, betrayal, and death. Accused of a string of poisonings in 19th-century Massachusetts, Robinson’s story captivated and horrified the public, leaving a trail of unanswered questions. Was she a cunning killer driven by desperation, or was she a victim of circumstance and suspicion? Today we are exploring the twists and turns of her case and the lingering shadows of her unsettling legacy.Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe.Connect with us on our socials:• Follow us on Instagram• Follow us on TikTok• Follow us on FacebookVisit us at www.hauntedhistorypod.com to learn more.Episode Source Material The Massachusetts Borgia by Murder by GaslightThe Boston Borgia by The Morning Journal The official report of the trial of Sarah Jane RobinsonBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/haunted-history--6354060/support.

In 19th-century India, a chilling name spreads terror across the land: Thug Behram. As the leader of the infamous Thuggee cult, he is said to have orchestrated a reign of murder and mayhem, claiming over 900 lives with his silken noose. His actions, shrouded in secrecy, are driven by a fanatical devotion to the goddess Kali, blurring the line between religious faith and cold-blooded violence.  Through history, myth, and fear, we explore the dark world of Thug Behram, and ask the burning question: was his legend rooted in reality—or was it a tale spun from fear and power?Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe.Connect with us on our socials:• Follow us on Instagram• Follow us on TikTok• Follow us on FacebookVisit us at www.hauntedhistorypod.com to learn more.Episode Source Material Handkerchief, Coin, And A Reign Of Terror: India’s 18th Century Serial Killer Thug Behram Who Killed 931 People by Ajay Kumar Unveiling the Enigma of Thug Behram: India’s Notorious Serial Killer by JACK Thuggee Life: The Most Murderous Cult by Yesterday Unhinged How British Raj Ended Thuggee in India by Anurag SanghiThug: The True Story of India’s Murderous Religion by Mike Dash The Deadly Dozen: India’s Most Notorious Serial Killers by Anirban Bhattacharyya Thug Behram by Khooni: The Crimes of IndiaBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/haunted-history--6354060/support.

In 1912, a horrifying event rocked the small town of Villisca, Iowa: the Moore family and two young guests were found brutally murdered in their beds, struck down by an unknown killer with an axe. Despite extensive investigations, the case remains unsolved, leaving a shadow over the town and the house where the murders occurredHaunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe.Connect with us on our socials:• Follow us on Instagram• Follow us on TikTok• Follow us on FacebookVisit us at www.hauntedhistorypod.com to learn more.Episode Source Material The Villisca Axe Murders by Iowa Cold Cases A Neighbor Grew Worried When Iowa Family Didn’t Come Out for Morning Chores. They’d Been Murdered with An Axe Overnight by Sean Neumann for People Magazine The Villisca Murder House Official Website Man on the Train: Solving a Century-Old Serial Killer Mystery by Bill James and Rachel McCarthy JamesBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/haunted-history--6354060/support.

Not long after she started her new life in the American Midwest, Belle Gunness begun methodically luring unsuspecting suitors through personal ads to her farm...only for them to later disappear without a trace. As the police began investigating her mysterious farmhouse fire, their shocking and gruesome discovery would reveal Belle as being one of America’s most infamous female serial killers.Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe.Connect with us on our socials:• Follow us on Instagram• Follow us on TikTok• Follow us on FacebookVisit us at www.hauntedhistorypod.com to learn more.Episode Source Material A nightmare at Murder Farm: The story of one of America’s most prolific serial killers by Strange Remains  How a farm girl became the butcher of ‘lonely men’ by Larry Getlen The Story of Belle Gunness, One of America’s Most Prolific Serial Killers by Steven Casale Corpses in the Pig Pen: The Tale of Indiana’s Most Notorious Serial Killer by Lucas Reilly Castle Garden: Where Immigrants Came Before Ellis Island by The New York Historical Museum Matrimony, Inc: From Personal Ads to Swiping Right: A Story of America Looking For Love by Francesca BeaumanHeartland Serial Killers: Belle Gunness, Johann Hoch, and Murder for Profit in Gaslight Era Chicago by Richard C. Lindberg Hell’s Princess by Harold SchecterBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/haunted-history--6354060/support.

Amidst the rolling hills and dense forests of the Gévaudan region, local villagers were plagued by fear as sightings of a massive, wolf-like entity increased, leading to a whirlwind of panic and superstition.Was the Beast a mere legend fueled by the imagination of frightened townsfolk, or was it a real monster lurking just beyond the shadows?Happy Halloween! Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe.Connect with us on our socials:• Follow us on Instagram• Follow us on TikTok• Follow us on FacebookVisit us at www.hauntedhistorypod.com to learn more.Episode Source Material What Was the Beast of Gevaudan? by Joseph A. WilliamsThe French Werewolf Epidemic by Darcie Nadel Monsters of the Gevaudan: The Making of a Beast by Jay M. Smith 12 Facts About the Beast Of Gévaudan, The Wolflike Creature Who Terrorized France by January NelsonThe fear of wolves: A review of wolf attacks on humans by Norwegian Institue for Nature ResearchBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/haunted-history--6354060/support.

Today's haunting tale is of a man whose name sends shivers down the spine of history. Often referred to as the Brooklyn Vampire, Albert Fish’s gruesome crimes unfolded in the early 20th century, painting a portrait of madness, obsession, and cannibalism that blurred the lines between reality and nightmare.Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe.  Connect with us on our socials:• Follow us on Instagram• Follow us on TikTok• Follow us on FacebookVisit us at www.hauntedhistorypod.com to learn more.Episode Source Material Deranged: The Shocking True Story of America’s Most FiendishKiller by Harold SchechterPsychology of Albert Fish by Jerrod Brown, Blake R. Harris, and Steve Daniels Albert Fish by Marilyn Bardsley Albert Fish in his Own Words: The Shocking Confessions of a Child Killing Cannibal by John BorowskiBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/haunted-history--6354060/support.

On the morning of March 30th, 1922, 63-year-old Andreas Gruber was walking around his rural farmstead when he noticed a set of foot tracks in the fresh snow. These tracks led from the forest and seemed to move towards his family’s farmhouse. Curiously, or perhaps, disturbingly, they didn’t head back out.Odd things had been happening at his property lately, and this was just the most recent occurrence of many. Little did Andreas Gruber know, in less than 24-hours, he along with his entire family would all be dead.Today, on Haunted History, we are taking you through one of Germany’s most enduring unsolved murders: the killings at Hinterkaifeck!Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe.  You can listen ad-free by becoming a member of our Patreon!Connect with us on our socials:• Follow us on Instagram• Follow us on TikTok• Follow us on FacebookSources available atwww.hauntedhistorypod.com/episode36Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/haunted-history--6354060/support.

We venture back to that dark day on November 13, 1974, when Ronald DeFeo Jr. brutally murdered his entire family in their Amityville home, igniting a series of eerie occurrences and haunted legends. It was only a year later that the Lutz family's terrifying experience after moving into the house, would spark widespread fascination and fear. Let's explore the events that transformed a seemingly ordinary home into a place of horror and lasting infamy.Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe.  Connect with us on our socials:• Follow us on Instagram• Follow us on TikTok• Follow us on FacebookLearn more at www.hauntedhistorypod.comEpisode Source Material  The Amityville Murders: Ronald DeFeo’s Motive for Killing His Family Still Unclear by Francisco Alvarado The Horrific True Story of Ronald DeFeo Jr. And The Amityville Murders by Erin KellyThe Real Amityville Horror (Full Documentary) The Night the Defeos Died by Rick Osuna The Amityville Horror by Jay AnsonAmityville: Horror or Hoax? by ABC NewsAmityville, Part I by The Last Podcast on the LeftThe real story behind the infamous Amityville Horror house by Tamar Lapin The Real Story Behind the ‘Amityville Horror House’ by Dave RoosBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/haunted-history--6354060/support.

The infamous Fox Sisters from upstate New York whose alleged communication with spirits in 1848 captivated the nation. The rapping sounds in their home were soon hailed as the voices of the dead, sparking a global fascination with the afterlife. But as their fame grew, so did the rumors of deception. What started as innocent wonder soon unraveled into a shocking revelation: the sisters' supernatural encounters were nothing more than clever tricks. Today we explore the thin line between belief and manipulation, the rise of a spiritual movement, and the lingering question—did the Fox Sisters fool the world, or did they believe their ghostly tales?Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe.  Connect with us on our socials: • Follow us on Instagram• Follow us on TikTok • Follow us on FacebookLearn more at www.hauntedhistorypod.com.Episode Source Material   History of Modern Spiritualism by the BBC The Rise and Fall of the Fox Sisters Mediums by Buzzfeed Unsolved Network  A Mentalist Explains: The Fox Sisters and the Birth of Spiritualism by Jeff Newman The History of Spiritualism by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle  How A Hoax by Two Sisters Helped Spark the Spiritualism Craze by Becky Little Maggie Fox, Co-Founder of American Spiritualism by Nancy Rubin Stuart They Spoke with the Dead by Barbara M. Weisberg  A Skeleton’s Tale: The Origins of Modern Spiritualism by Joe Nickell A Magician Among the Spirits by Harry HoudiniBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/haunted-history--6354060/support.

Today’s story is one shrouded in mystery; it’s the tale of an ambitious expedition that met with disaster, resulting in the death and disappearance of 129 souls. The many searches and recovery missions in the years that followed only produced more questions. Why were the abandoned ships found so far apart from each other? Had there been any survivors? Did the crew really result to cannibalism for survival? And were some answers found in the spirit world? Today, I’ll be telling you the tale of Franklin’s Lost Expedition.Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe. You can listen ad-free by becoming a member of our Patreon!Connect with us on our socials: • Follow us on Instagram• Follow us on TikTok • Follow us on FacebookSources available at www.hauntedhistorypod.com/episode33Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/haunted-history--6354060/support.

Even though we are away on holiday this week, we are still busy prepping for our fall season and are introducing some exciting changes which will be announced very soon! In the meantime check out this popular episode from our archive!- Megan & ChloëPoltergeist: A Cursed Movie Set Unexplainable oddities on set, a plethora of injuries and malfunctions and the deaths of four members of the cast, today we explore the curse surrounding a movie franchise that marked a generation of horror-enthusiasts, the cult-classic, Poltergeist. Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe.  You can listen ad-free by becoming a member of our Patreon!Connect with us on our socials: • Follow us on Instagram• Follow us on TikTok • Follow us on FacebookSources available at www.hauntedhistorypod.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/haunted-history--6354060/support.

When the US government launched the Apollo 11 spacecraft in 1969, two American men became the first humans to trod upon the surface of Earth’s moon. Now this story is mainly one of triumph and marks the beginning of a new great age of exploration. But what events transpired that catapulted the US government to push for this mission? And what are some of the conspiracies that have been trickling out of the cultural conversation when it comes to the infamous Moon Landing? Today I’m telling you the story  behind the Apollo 11 moon landing and the great Space Race!Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe.Connect with us on our socials:You can listen ad-free by becoming a member of our Patreon!• Follow us on Instagram• Follow us on TikTok• Follow us on FacebookSources available at: https://hauntedhistorypod.com/episode31Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/haunted-history--6354060/support.

What is now known as one of the most haunted places in America, first began as a sanctuary offering respite and care for the unfortunate. Soon however it devolved into madness, mayhem and murder. Today's story is on the history and haunting of Rolling Hills Asylum. Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe.You can listen ad-free by becoming a member of our Patreon!Connect with us on our socials:• Follow us on Instagram• Follow us on TikTok• Follow us on FacebookSources available at: https://hauntedhistorypod.com/episode30Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/haunted-history--6354060/support.

The In the early morning hours of November 29th, 1981, just off the coast of Catalina Island, the lifeless body of famous Hollywood actress Natalie Wood was found drifting in the water. What drove Natalie to meet her end that way, and who – if anyone – is responsible for her death? Today I am telling you the tale of the mysterious death of Natalie Wood. Haunted History is produced by SoundBite Studios with host Megan Alda and writer/researcher Chloë Kibbe.You can listen ad-free by becoming a member of our Patreon!Connect with us on our socials:• Follow us on Instagram• Follow us on TikTok• Follow us on FacebookSources available at: https://hauntedhistorypod.com/episode28Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/haunted-history--6354060/support.