Best Allison Dickson Podcasts (2023)

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Ding Dong Darkness Time

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Shakes, Supplements, and TEA: The Inside Scoop on the Beach Body MLM 1:09:44

44m ago1:09:44

1:09:44

As we continue our dive into the dark side of multi-level marketing companies, Allison was approached by someone with a lot of dirt on the health and fitness MLM, Beach Body, makers of Shakeology protein shakes, among a plethora of other products aimed at folks looking to get fit and trim. Jackie was kind enough to sit for an interview as well as p…

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Ding Dong Darkness Time

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Amway is a Scam, Bae: The Cult of Multi-Level Marketing Companies -- Part 2 1:33:48

7d ago1:33:48

1:33:48

In the second part of their dive into MLMs, Allison and Beverly pull two more beefy deceivers out of the hat: Amway and Primerica. Whereas a lot of MLMs set their hooks in women, particularly stay-at-home moms looking to make a quick buck, these companies tend to have a much broader net, and when it comes to Amway in particular, you'll find yoursel…

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Ding Dong Darkness Time

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Pyramid Worship: The Cult of Multi-Level Marketing Companies -- Part 1 1:20:59

17d ago1:20:59

1:20:59

In this first of a multi-part series, Allison and her pal Beverly start a journey of revelation and personal reminiscence through the shady world of multi-level marketing companies, beginning with a couple of the OGs from that world: Avon and Tupperware. These brands are highly nostalgic and carry a lot of cultural weight, but they are only the tip…

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Ding Dong Darkness Time

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Ding Dong Movie Time: Apocalypse Now and the Hearts of Darkness 2:03:17

29d ago2:03:17

2:03:17

In 1979, Francis Ford Coppola released Apocalypse Now, his stunning, surreal Vietnam war-fueled adaptation of Joseph Conrad's 1899 book, The Heart of Darkness. But even more harrowing than the events onscreen were the ones happening behind the camera as over a year of filming began to take its toll on everyone involved. Drugs, nervous breakdowns, m…

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Ding Dong Darkness Time

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The German Connection: 10 Countries, 10 Mysteries -- Part 2 of 2 1:49:13

1M ago1:49:13

1:49:13

We're wrapping up our global tour of the Top 10 Ding Dong Countries by bringing you a mystery from the final five. What are they? Well... we'll leave you to listen and find out, but they do all have one thing in common: GERMANY IS EVERYWHERE. This episode is bringing you Van Gogh (murder or suicide?), a possible cryptic code to a mysterious homicid…

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Ding Dong Darkness Time

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A Love Letter to Our International Listeners! 10 Countries, 10 Mysteries: Part 1 of 2 1:50:33

1M ago1:50:33

1:50:33

As promised when we celebrated the Top 10 American listener cities by bringing you an interesting mystery from each one, Allison and Chris are back to deliver 10 mysteries from the show's top listener countries! No passport needed for this epic journey. But you may want to bring a coat. It's a little chilly in some of these locales... Additional In…

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Ding Dong Darkness Time

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Ding Dong Movie Time: The Descent 1:28:26

2M ago1:28:26

1:28:26

This week, Allison and Chris descend into a discussion of one of their favorite horror films of all time, the 2005 subterranean masterpiece, The Descent. But is it really a movie about a caving adventure gone horribly awry... or is it a home invasion story? Also, which ending is your favorite? So much good discussion and more, so gear up, grab your…

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LeVar Burton Reads

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Immersive Remix: "An Equal Share of the Bone" by Karen Osborne 39:47

1M ago39:47

39:47

Hoping to make their fortune (or at least climb out of debt), a trio of space traders travel on a dangerous hunt for a space whale. "An Equal Share of the Bone" was originally published at Escape Pod. Find more of Karen Osborne's work at www.karenosborne.com. Content Advisory: Animal death. Our immersive audio is best with headphones! If you'd pref…

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Ding Dong Darkness Time

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10 Cities, 10 Mysteries -- Part 2 of 2 1:25:08

2M ago1:25:08

1:25:08

Allison and Chris round out the shout-out to the show's most popular listener cities by bringing you some pretty heavy hitting mysteries from the Top 5! In Dallas, we bring the story of a possibly haunted landmark, the Goatman Bridge, with some chilling lore that feels true, even if it might not be. Next we travel to the Rocky Mountains of Denver, …

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Ding Dong Darkness Time

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10 Cities, 10 Mysteries -- Part 1 of 2 1:25:11

3M ago1:25:11

1:25:11

At the end of 2022, Allison and Chris decided to craft something of a love letter to the Top 10 cities that regularly tune in to Ding Dong Darkness Time every week. So we started scouring for a mystery to highlight in what might very well be your neck of the woods! We start at a bleeding house in Atlanta before traveling to the odd little enclave o…

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Ding Dong Darkness Time

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The Cult of Teal Swan Part 2 of 2: If She's An Alien, She's Not a Very Nice One 1:28:37

3M ago1:28:37

1:28:37

Allison, Chris, and Beverly are back this week to wrap up their discussion on controversial cult... or spiritual influencer Teal Swan, and forewarning, it gets a little dark as we discuss topics of abuse, assault, and suicide, and all the ways Teal has been instrumental in promoting these things among her inner circle. If you are struggling with th…

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LeVar Burton Reads

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"D.P." by Kurt Vonnegut 37:51

3M ago37:51

37:51

In a small German village, an orphaned boy lives at a home for "displaced persons," and puzzles over where he belongs. "D.P.” from the book WELCOME TO THE MONKEY HOUSE by Kurt Vonnegut. Copyright © 1950, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1968 by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. Used by permission of HarperCollins Publishers.…

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Ding Dong Darkness Time

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The Cult of Teal Swan Part 1 of 2: The Fathoms of Deceit 1:14:54

3M ago1:14:54

1:14:54

We're continuing our cults series by diving into what we've termed Cults 2.0, the online self-help gurus who've made it their mission to deliver spiritual wisdom and healing to the global masses via YouTube, Instagram, and other online platforms. And one particularly polarizing figure in this world is self-identified "social catalyst" Teal Swan. We…

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LeVar Burton Reads

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"The Destination Star" by Gregory Marlow 49:34

3M ago49:34

49:34

As a generation ship hurtles toward a distant star, one of its crew members receives a rare and precious opportunity. For more from Gregory Marlow, visit www.greganimates.com/writing.html. Content advisory: illness, deathBy Stitcher

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Ding Dong Darkness Time

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DDD15: Let's Talk About Pain 22:08

3M ago22:08

22:08

Yes that's right, Ding Dongs. Allison is back after a longer than intended hiatus. In this short episode, she talks a little bit about the circumstances behind her absence, and she can't do that without talking about the scourge of chronic pain and all the damage it can do. Not only physically, but emotionally and cognitively. Additional Info: Long…

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LeVar Burton Reads

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"Mister Dawn, How Can You Be So Cruel?" by Violet Allen 53:05

3M ago53:05

53:05

An artist works as a dream concierge, creating augmented dream packages for clients. For more from Violet Allen, visit her on Twitter @blipstress. Content advisory: mind / body controlBy Stitcher

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LeVar Burton Reads

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"The Golden Hour" by Jeffrey Ford 57:43

3M ago57:43

57:43

A time traveler is stranded in a small town. This story appears in SOMEONE IN TIME: TALES OF TIME-CROSSED ROMANCE, published by Solaris. Find more from Jeffrey Ford at well-builtcity.com. Content advisory: suicideBy Stitcher

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LeVar Burton Reads

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"The Lady of the Yellow-Painted Library" by Tobi Ogundiran 50:25

3M ago50:25

50:25

A hapless salesman flees the librarian hell-bent on retrieving her lost library book. This story appears in Africa Risen: A New Era of Speculative Fiction, published by Tordotcom in hardcover and e-book, and by Recorded Books in audiobook format. For more from the author, visit tobiogundiran.com. Content advisory: Explicit language, gore…

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LeVar Burton Reads

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"Wok Hei St" by Guan Un 42:45

4M ago42:45

42:45

A story of a stolen wok, magic, and manipulation. This story was originally published in Strange Horizons. You can find more of the author's work at guanun.com.By Stitcher

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LeVar Burton Reads

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Immersive Remix: "The Foster Portfolio" by Kurt Vonnegut 46:44

4M ago46:44

46:44

A financial advisor meets his new client: a hardworking, unassuming man with a curious and potentially life-changing secret.By Stitcher

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LeVar Burton Reads

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Immersive Remix: "Silver Door Diner" by Bishop Garrison 48:52

4M ago48:52

48:52

A waitress is jolted from her morning routine when she's visited by a mysterious child.By Stitcher

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LeVar Burton Reads

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Immersive Remix: "The Simplest Equation" by Nicky Drayden 34:47

4M ago34:47

34:47

A struggling college student gains new perspective on her studies from her classmate, who's come to study from another planet. Find more of the author's work at www.nickydrayden.com.By Stitcher

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LeVar Burton Reads

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Immersive Remix: "The Truth About Owls" by Amal El-Mohtar 46:47

4M ago46:47

46:47

A young girl explores her own power, and finds kinship with a bird of prey.By Stitcher

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Ding Dong Darkness Time

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DDD14: Why Do We Love True Crime? 24:04

5M ago24:04

24:04

For the final episode of 2022, we decided to close out the year on a reflection of why so many of us love the genre of true crime. Though it's important to get something out of the way real quick: this obsession is nothing new for humans. In fact, it goes back centuries. We've only become better at making and distributing it since the days of the g…

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LeVar Burton Reads

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Immersive Remix: "The Last Cheng Beng Gift" by Jaymee Goh 34:44

5M ago34:44

34:44

A family matriarch takes up residence in the Underworld.By Stitcher

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LeVar Burton Reads

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Immersive Remix: "The Usual Santas" by Mick Herron 39:00

5M ago39:00

39:00

A group of mall Santas celebrating Christmas Eve discover that there is a stranger in their midst. "The Usual Santas" appears in Mick Herron's collection DOLPHIN JUNCTION, published by Soho Press (US) and John Murray (UK), 2021.By Stitcher

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Ding Dong Darkness Time

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S3E3: Class of Cults - Doomsday Cults and The Order of the Solar Temple 50:12

6M ago50:12

50:12

Who would have guessed that the disbandment of the Knights Templar in 1309 would have led to centuries of people scrambling to lay claim to their legacy as descendants of the legendary order of Catholic knights? With a lot of mysticism borrowed from a dozen different spiritual movements, including Christianity, Rosicrucianism, and perhaps a smidge …

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LeVar Burton Reads

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"River's Giving" by Heather Shaw, Tim Pratt, and River Shaw 37:36

5M ago37:36

37:36

A mystical phenomenon brightens the dreary days of winter — until one year, when it suddenly stops.By Stitcher

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Ding Dong Darkness Time

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DDD13: Tunnels, Little Jokers, and... Cheese? Three Incredible Heists You Might Not Know About 18:13

6M ago18:13

18:13

On this Ding Dong Ditch episode, Allison does short dives on three incredible heists that netted millions of dollars in stolen assets. The robbery of the Central Bank of Forteleza Brazil in 2005 involved digging a 300 foot long tunnel from a front business into a bank vault holding the equivalent $70 million American dollars, in a case that spanned…

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LeVar Burton Reads

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"The King of Bread" by Luis Alberto Urrea 48:51

5M ago48:51

48:51

A boy discovers his father's hidden kingdom. This story appears in the anthology Small Odysseys: Selected Shorts Presents 35 New Stories, published by Algonquin Books. Find more from Luis Alberto Urrea at luisurrea.com.By Stitcher

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Ding Dong Darkness Time

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BONUS EPISODE: Adolfo Constanzo and the Cult of Narcosatanism: Allison's Guest Appearance on The Prosecutors 1:40:15

6M ago1:40:15

1:40:15

This special holiday week, let us all give thanks for the lovely Brett and Alice over on The Prosecutors, who had Allison on to talk about a particularly grisly cult that operated out of Mexico in the 1980s. Adolfo Constanzo and his followers perverted the religion of Palo Mayombe to aid in their drug dealing enterprise. Countless murders, includin…

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LeVar Burton Reads

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"Family Cooking" by Ana Maria Curtis 45:18

6M ago45:18

45:18

A tale of complicated family relationships and magical cooking. This story was first published in Uncanny Magazine.By Stitcher

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Ding Dong Darkness Time

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S3E2: Class of Cults -- The Long Tide of the Moonies aka The Unification Church 49:31

6M ago49:31

49:31

If you think Reverend Sun Myoung Moon was merely interested in mass marriages in baseball stadiums, then buckle up, because there is a whole lot to learn about the vast empire built by the now late religious figure who used anti-communist sentiment and Christianity to begin a following in South Korea in the 1950s, and then gain far-reaching influen…

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LeVar Burton Reads

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"Down in the Dim Kingdoms" by Tobias Buckell 44:59

6M ago44:59

44:59

An adventurer carried back spoils from a journey to the center of the earth. Now, his family joins him on a return trip, hoping to ensure their access to his fortune. This story appears in the anthology LOST WORLDS AND MYTHOLOGICAL KINGDOMS, available now in hardback, e-book and audio. Tobias Buckell's collection SHOGGOTHS IN TRAFFIC AND OTHER STOR…

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Ding Dong Darkness Time

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DDD12: Skulls, Cattle, and Lightning -- The Cults of the Neolithic Era 15:52

6M ago15:52

15:52

Life was hard in early human history. And around 10,000 years ago during the Neolithic Period, when our interests turned to gathering in stationary settlements and manipulating the earth and animals in our favor, it became particularly challenging to hold it all together in the face of elemental forces we take for granted these days. This was ferti…

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LeVar Burton Reads

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"#ClimbingNation" by Kim Fu 49:54

6M ago49:54

49:54

When an Instagram-famous rock climber comes to an untimely death, his friends and admirers gather to memorialize him. This story appears in Kim Fu's collection LESSER KNOWN MONSTERS OF THE 21ST CENTURY, published by Tin House. Content advisory: Description of deathBy Stitcher

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Ding Dong Darkness Time

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S3E1: Class of Cults -- The Ultimate Cult Primer Episode 2:18:10

7M ago2:18:10

2:18:10

If you're a psychology nerd or always wanted to be, the premier episode of Season 3: Class of Cults is all for you. Allison gathers with two of her dearest friends, Chris from 80s High, who also happens to have a psychology degree, and Dr. Bart Abplanalp, noted forensic psychologist, to discuss what cults are, what types of cults exist, and all the…

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LeVar Burton Reads

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"I Was a Teenage Space Jockey" by Stephen Graham Jones 43:36

6M ago43:36

43:36

While on a quest to beat the high score at his local arcade, a sixth grader has an unusual, life-altering experience. For more from Stephen Graham Jones, visit www.demontheory.net. Content advisory: Descriptions of violence, deathBy Stitcher

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Ding Dong Darkness Time

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DDD11: Devil's Night and Other Halloween Hijinks 18:52

7M ago18:52

18:52

Halloween is a time of great traditions. Most are wholesome, but some are destructive. The concept of Mischief Nights, usually preceding Halloween by a day or two, go back to the late 1700s in England, but they eventually popped up in the United States. And in Detroit in particular, things got particularly fiery for a number of years until the city…

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LeVar Burton Reads

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We're Back for Season 11! 3:15

7M ago3:15

3:15

LeVar Burton Reads is back November 1st with stories from Stephen Graham Jones, Kim Fu, Tobias Buckell and more, in our new immersive format!By Stitcher

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LeVar Burton Reads

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Immersive Remix: "Multo" by Samuel Marzioli 39:30

7M ago39:30

39:30

A man remembers a supernatural force from his childhood.By Stitcher

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Ding Dong Darkness Time

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BONUS EPISODE: I See Dead People: Allison and Brett Talk Ghosts 1:49:26

7M ago1:49:26

1:49:26

By popular demand, Ding Dong Darkness Time strays into the spiritual realm just in time for Halloween. Brett from The Prosecutors joins Allison to talk about his time as a paranormal researcher. Yes, that's right. Among being an amazing podcast host and hot shot lawyer guy, the man hunted ghosts, and he has brought with him some incredible insights…

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LeVar Burton Reads

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Immersive Remix: "Fantaisie Impromptu No. 4 in C#min, Op. 66” by Carlos Hernandez 49:22

7M ago49:22

49:22

A reporter travels to Miami to investigate the fringes of science and faith. This story appears in THE ASSIMILATED CUBAN'S GUIDE TO QUANTUM SANTERIA.By Stitcher

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Ding Dong Darkness Time

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BONUS EPISODE: The Found Footage Horror Lovefest 2:07:02

8M ago2:07:02

2:07:02

In the spirit of the Halloween season, Allison and Chris join forces to talk about their favorite subgenre of horror: found footage! And because they're a couple of oldsters, they wax about how awesome it was to experience the viral marketing campaign around The Blair Witch Project as it was coming out. But that's far from all they cover here. The …

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LeVar Burton Reads

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Immersive Remix: "Your Rover is Here" by LP Kindred 39:16

7M ago39:16

39:16

A rideshare driver must spring into action when his passenger casts a dangerous and deadly spell. Content advisory: explicit language, violence, terrorismBy Stitcher

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Ding Dong Darkness Time

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DDD10: Bloody Mary, Toilet Spirits, and Black Mirrors: Oh Scry! 19:30

8M ago19:30

19:30

It's October, peak Ding Dong Darkness Month, and this episode gets things off with a roaring start by summoning Bloody Mary and what other toilet spirits might be lurking about. What's up with that bit of folklore anyway? Sprits in the bathroom? And can you really summon a scary woman by speaking her name 13 times into a mirror? Maybe! Get ready fo…

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LeVar Burton Reads

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An Update! Plus Immersive Remix: "The Story We Used to Tell" by Shirley Jackson 34:18

8M ago34:18

34:18

LeVar Burton Reads is coming back! Plus, an immersive remix of Shirley Jackson's story about a recently widowed woman who vanishes overnight. Content advisory: violence, death “The Story We Used to Tell” is from DARK TALES by Shirley Jackson, published by Penguin Classics, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House L…

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Ding Dong Darkness Time

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DDD9: The Sodder Family Mystery 30:38

8M ago30:38

30:38

Twas the night before Christmas in 1945, and the Sodder family was settling in for the night at their Fayetteville, West Virginia home. However, in the wee hours of the night, a fire broke out, and five of the nine Sodder children were never accounted for after the blaze. Over the decades, speculation raged as the family continued to believe that t…

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Ding Dong Darkness Time

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DDD8: Royal Incest is Whack 21:48

8M ago21:48

21:48

Queen Elizabeth II has died, so this seems a great time to talk about incest in royal bloodlines. Focus is mainly on the Habsburg Dynasty of the 1600s, a family whose interbreeding was so severe, the most powerful monarchy since Charlemagne eventually extinguished itself. We're gonna talk a little about that infamous jaw too. Also... was the incest…

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Ding Dong Darkness Time

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DDD7: Humans Consuming Humans -- Mummy Edition 24:39

8M ago24:39

24:39

Let's talk about cannibalism! Specifically medical cannibalism. Humans have been using corpses medicinally for centuries. A little ground up skull for a headache. A sip of blood for the spirit. A slather of human fat for a wound. But around the 12th century, they went particularly nuts for Egyptian mummies, and for the next 500 years, it was availa…

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