Show Notes
In this episode of Haunted History Chronicles, I’m joined by authors Andrea Janes and Leanna Renee Hieber, the minds behind America’s Most Gothic, to explore the chilling truth behind Gothic tropes — and the real people whose lives were even darker than fiction. Fog-drenched mansions, oppressive family dynasties, forbidden rooms, madness, obsession and death… we tend to associate these with novels and cinema. But Andrea and Leanna reveal how many of the Gothic’s most enduring themes are rooted in documented history, lived experience, and genuine tragedy. From vampire panics and cursed landscapes to women silenced, punished or driven to the edge, this conversation uncovers the unsettling overlap between reality, folklore and the supernatural and how these are not imagined horrors — they are echoes of lives shaped by fear, power, repression and loss. Brooding, atmospheric and deeply human, this episode asks why the Gothic continues to haunt us — and what it reveals about the darkness woven into history itself. Settle in… some stories are meant to linger. My Special Guests Are Leanna Renee Hieber and Andrea Janes: Leanna Renee Hieber is an actress, playwright, artist and the award-winning, bestselling author of Gothic Victorian Fantasy novels for adults and teens such as the Strangely Beautiful, Eterna Files, Magic Most Foul and the bestselling Spectral City series. She grew up in rural Ohio inventing ghost stories, graduating with a BFA in Theatre and a focus in the Victorian Era from Miami University. Her books have been translated into many languages and have been selected for multiple book club editions. An enthusiastic public speaker about the history of the Gothic novel, she loves nothing more than a good ghost story and a finely tailored corset, wandering graveyards and adventuring around New York City, where she also works as a ghost tour guide for Boroughs of the Dead. Andrea Janes tells ghost stories for a living. She is the co-author of A Haunted History of Invisible Women and the owner and founder of Boroughs of the Dead, a boutique tour company dedicated to dark and unusual walking tours of New York City. She is currently at work on a Middle Grade historical fantasy novel set in New Amsterdam. Her personal obsessions include weird history, slapstick comediennes, witches, ghosts, all things nautical, and beer. She lives in Brooklyn where she can usually be found by the ocean or near a cemetery. If you value this podcast and want to enjoy more episodes please come and find us on https://www.patreon.com/Haunted_History_Chronicles to support the podcast, gain a wealth of additional exclusive podcasts, writing and other content. Links to all Haunted History Chronicles Social Media Pages, Published Materials and more: https://linktr.ee/hauntedhistorychronicles?fbclid=IwAR15rJF2m9nJ0HTXm27HZ3QQ2Llz46E0UpdWv-zePVn9Oj9Q8rdYaZsR74I NEW Podcast Shop: https://www.teepublic.com/user/haunted-history-chronicles Buy Me A Coffee https://ko-fi.com/hauntedhistorychronicles Guest Links Websites: https://www.leannareneehieber.com/ https://boroughsofthedead.com/ Link To Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Americas-Most-Gothic-Haunted-Stranger-ebook/dp/B0DLQYQ8SP?ref_=ast_author_dp_rw&th=1&psc=1&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Tfe2CbhauvI79PMeZoax5oJeBLDS6lgWTrfrorAjyYbTnh4LnoaqNYXDS9p3A0D0fSTJq5Xv0AhH5CP8KlAY4NaC5JEfQjb984-V4QxnaFLMNgRzQbjU4YXixVTN7OM7TvNMXpnIYyK6iznTDVCezw.t3aAtxJmgJ0_c4hspGHjj8k3H1dTpO-ERp7y6hiN_eE&dib_tag=AUTHOR
More from Haunted History Chronicles
What if understanding a haunting means looking beyond the ghost? A shadow glimpsed in an empty room. An object moving without explanation. A sudden sensation that someone, or something, is watching. For centuries, experiences like these have inspired ghost stories, fuelled investigations and divided opinion. But what actually makes an experience a haunting? Is it something within the environment, something about the person experiencing it, or an interaction between the two? And perhaps just as importantly, how do we begin to separate what happened from what we believe happened? In this episode of Haunted History Chronicles, I'm joined by Dr Brian Laythe, forensic psychologist, paranormal researcher and co-author of Ghosted! Together, we explore Haunted People Syndrome, the significance of transliminality, the influence of belief and expectation, and what research into electromagnetic fields might actually tell us about unusual experiences. We also consider the challenges of investigating hauntings scientifically, the limitations of popular ghost-hunting technology, and why understanding the people involved may be every bit as important as studying the places themselves. Because behind every haunting is an experience. Behind every experience is a person trying to make sense of it. And somewhere between the evidence, the interpretation and the unexplained lies a far more complicated story than simply asking whether ghosts are real. My Special Guest: Dr Brian Laythe is a social psychologist, forensic psychologist and researcher whose work explores the fascinating intersections between psychology, religion, belief and paranormal experience. He is the founder and director of the Institute for the Study of Religious and Anomalous Experience in Indiana and a partner at Iudicium, a forensic psychology consultancy. His research spans social and forensic psychology, the psychology of religion and ideology, and anomalistic psychology, with a particular interest in hauntings and extraordinary human experiences. In 2022, he co-authored Ghosted! Exploring the Haunted Reality of Paranormal Encounters. Brian's wider research includes studies of magical practitioners, the relationship between belief and anomalous experiences, and investigations into reported poltergeist activity, including the South Shields Poltergeist case. If you value this podcast and want to enjoy more episodes please come and find us on https://www.patreon.com/Haunted_History_Chronicles to support the podcast, gain a wealth of additional exclusive podcasts, writing and other content. Links to all Haunted History Chronicles Social Media Pages, Published Materials and more: https://linktr.ee/hauntedhistorychronicles?fbclid=IwAR15rJF2m9nJ0HTXm27HZ3QQ2Llz46E0UpdWv-zePVn9Oj9Q8rdYaZsR74I NEW Podcast Shop: https://www.teepublic.com/user/haunted-history-chronicles Buy Me A Coffee https://ko-fi.com/hauntedhistorychronicles Links For The Book Ghosted: Exploring The Haunting Reality Of Paranormal Encounters https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ghosted-Exploring-Haunting-Paranormal-Encounters/dp/1476685770/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2ZBEPLVQCF3H6&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Qt7iSreKHgkre5ZeKSJDWpsjhG0UWkgYbwKI54PQ_1A.dycuVJnLqO7bE_bjlkkZoJWcqz0xPEWZCE5gLe-_K60&dib_tag=se&keywords=ghosted+brian+laythe&qid=1792588443&sprefix=ghosted+brian+%2Caps%2C128&sr=8-1&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.95fd378e-6299-4723-b1f1-3952ffba15af Website https://www.israenet.org/
What if everything you thought you knew about Voodoo was wrong? Beyond the Hollywood curses, sinister dolls and frightening stereotypes lies a spiritual tradition shaped by resilience, powerful women, ancestral connections and the belief that death need not sever our relationships with those who came before us. This week, we return to New Orleans to explore the history, rituals and mysteries of Voodoo, from the enduring legacy of Marie Laveau to extraordinary first-hand accounts of spirit possession, sacred ceremonies and an unsettling haunting that called for the intervention of a Voodoo priestess. Dr Rory O'Neill Schmitt returns to Haunted History Chronicles to take us beyond the myths and misconceptions, drawing on the research she undertook with her mother, Dr Rosary O'Neill, for their book New Orleans Voodoo. Together, we uncover the significance of ancestor veneration, the spiritual authority of women, the symbolism of altars, charms and ritual objects, and the powerful role of music, dance and prayer in ceremonies intended to invite the spirits into the world of the living. From the history of Congo Square to the continuing spiritual legacy of Marie Laveau, this is a journey into a New Orleans where faith, folklore, history and the supernatural are closely intertwined — and where the dead are not necessarily regarded as absent, but as ancestors whose presence may still be felt. My Special Guest: Dr Rory O’Neill Schmitt is the author of six books exploring history, culture, art, and the enduring mysteries of place. Much of her work is rooted in New Orleans, where the past is never entirely past: its houses, streets, legends, and larger-than-life figures continue to inspire stories of hauntings and restless memory. If you value this podcast and want to enjoy more episodes please come and find us on https://www.patreon.com/Haunted_History_Chronicles to support the podcast, gain a wealth of additional exclusive podcasts, writing and other content. Links to all Haunted History Chronicles Social Media Pages, Published Materials and more: https://linktr.ee/hauntedhistorychronicles?fbclid=IwAR15rJF2m9nJ0HTXm27HZ3QQ2Llz46E0UpdWv-zePVn9Oj9Q8rdYaZsR74I NEW Podcast Shop: https://www.teepublic.com/user/haunted-history-chronicles Buy Me A Coffee https://ko-fi.com/hauntedhistorychronicles Guest Links: Websites: https://www.rorystoryandscreen.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASIF-xhxB34 Links to Books: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Rory-ONeill-Schmitt-PhD/author/B0H12BW2GN?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1788528634&sr=1-1&shoppingPortalEnabled=true Those interested in purchasing a signed copy of The Blood of the Baroness may contact either of these bookstores: The Garden District Book Shop 2727 Prytania Street, Suite 8New Orleans, LA 70130 Phone: 504-895-2266 Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.gardendistrictbookshop.com/ The Poisoned Pen Bookstore 4014 N. Goldwater Boulevard, Suite 101Scottsdale, AZ 85251 Phone: 480-947-2974 Toll-free: 888-560-9919 Email: [email protected] Website: https://poisonedpen.com/ Social Pages: https://www.instagram.com/roryschmittauthor/ https://www.facebook.com/roryschmitt https://www.tiktok.com/@roryschmittauthor?_r=1&_t=ZP-96rfotn9Smd
What is it about Jamaica Inn that refuses to let people go? Standing amid the rugged landscape of Bodmin Moor, the Inn has become inseparable from tales of smugglers, travellers, ghosts and, of course, Daphne du Maurier. Yet beneath the legends lies something even richer: generations of people whose lives became entwined with the building, fragments of history still waiting to be recovered, and an extraordinary collection of paranormal reports stretching across decades. In this episode of Haunted History Chronicles, I am joined by Karin Beasant and Lisa Holman, co-authors of Jamaica Inn: The History, Hauntings and Folklore, to journey beyond the familiar legends and discover the people and stories behind one of Britain's most famous historic inns. There are some places where history never seems entirely finished. Jamaica Inn is one of them. My Special Guests Are Karin Beasant and Lisa Holman: Karin Beasant is a long-standing paranormal investigator, historian and passionate researcher of Jamaica Inn. She has spent more than a decade running the Jamaica Inn paranormal team, developing an extraordinary knowledge of the building, its history and the experiences reported there. Alongside Lisa, she also works as a paranormal consultant, helping heritage and charitable locations approach paranormal investigation in a way that protects both their history and their integrity. Karin's extensive research forms a major foundation of Jamaica Inn: The History, Hauntings and Folklore. Her determination to separate documented history from later stories is central to the book: folklore is preserved and celebrated, but not presented as established fact when the evidence cannot support it. Lisa Holman is an author and paranormal investigator who has been investigating the paranormal for nearly fifteen years and has been a member of the Jamaica Inn paranormal team since 2018. Jamaica Inn: The History, Hauntings and Folklore is her third book, and her experience as a writer helped transform years of research, archival discoveries, witness accounts and paranormal material into the finished volume. Together, Karin and Lisa combine historical research, first-hand knowledge of Jamaica Inn, years of paranormal investigation and a deep respect for the people connected with the building. If you value this podcast and want to enjoy more episodes please come and find us on https://www.patreon.com/Haunted_History_Chronicles to support the podcast, gain a wealth of additional exclusive podcasts, writing and other content. Links to all Haunted History Chronicles Social Media Pages, Published Materials and more: https://linktr.ee/hauntedhistorychronicles?fbclid=IwAR15rJF2m9nJ0HTXm27HZ3QQ2Llz46E0UpdWv-zePVn9Oj9Q8rdYaZsR74I NEW Podcast Shop: https://www.teepublic.com/user/haunted-history-chronicles Buy Me A Coffee https://ko-fi.com/hauntedhistorychronicles Guest Links For The Book Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Lisa-Holman-Author-61566861060536/ Website: https://lisaholman.co.uk/
What happens when the Devil enters the courtroom? For centuries, that wasn't simply a theological question. There were times when courts treated Satan, demons and witchcraft as very real forces capable of corrupting bodies, destroying crops, causing death and driving human beings towards terrible acts. But as society changed, so too did the Devil — and so did the law. In this episode, we follow that extraordinary transformation through centuries of legal history. From the brutal machinery of the European witch trials and the strange familiars of English witchcraft cases, to the emergence of forensic psychiatry and the increasingly difficult question of whether someone was bad, mad... or possessed. We encounter a murderer who wrote to the Devil in his own blood, the tragic case of Anneliese Michel, the Amityville murders, the infamous claim that “the Devil made me do it”, and the Satanic Panic of the 1980s. But beneath these extraordinary cases lies a much more unsettling question. When societies put witches, demons and the Devil on trial, what were they really judging? But beneath these extraordinary cases lies a much more unsettling question. When societies put witches, demons and the Devil on trial, what were they really judging? Perhaps the Devil has never simply represented evil. Perhaps, changing shape from one century to another, he has also reflected the things we fear, the people we blame, and the explanations we reach for when human behaviour becomes almost impossible to comprehend. So tonight, the Devil is in the dock. But by the end of this conversation, we may have to ask whether he was ever really the one on trial. My Special Guest Is Naomi Ryan Naomi Ryan is a criminal barrister and lover of all things macabre. After qualifying with a Masters in Law from St Catherine’s College, Oxford, she taught criminal law to undergraduates at St Hilda’s College Oxford and University College London before embarking on her career as a criminal barrister, where she both prosecuted and defended. She later moved into the Civil Service, where she has advised an array of senior government and legal figures on matters of constitutional, public and criminal law. She continues to work as an advisory lawyer whilst regularly giving talks about the darker side of legal history. Listener discretion: This episode contains a very short audio recording connected to the case of Anneliese Michel which some listeners may find distressing. It is included not for sensationalism, but to provide context for the difficult evidence later placed before the court. At the centre of this case was a young woman experiencing profound suffering, and that should never be forgotten. If you would prefer not to hear the recording, please skip ahead when advised. If you value this podcast and want to enjoy more episodes please come and find us on https://www.patreon.com/Haunted_History_Chronicles to support the podcast, gain a wealth of additional exclusive podcasts, writing and other content. Links to all Haunted History Chronicles Social Media Pages, Published Materials and more: https://linktr.ee/hauntedhistorychronicles?fbclid=IwAR15rJF2m9nJ0HTXm27HZ3QQ2Llz46E0UpdWv-zePVn9Oj9Q8rdYaZsR74I NEW Podcast Shop: https://www.teepublic.com/user/haunted-history-chronicles Buy Me A Coffee https://ko-fi.com/hauntedhistorychronicles Guest Links Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spookybarrister/
What happens when a city doesn't simply remember its dead, but continues to live alongside them? In New Orleans, cemeteries are woven into the cityscape, generations of families carry stories of the unexplained, and traditions of prayer, Voodoo and ancestor veneration keep the boundary between the living and the dead remarkably close. After our previous conversation exploring the extraordinary life and afterlife of the Baroness de Pontalba, Dr Rory O'Neill Schmitt and Dr Rosary O'Neill return to take us deeper into the city surrounding her — and into their book The Haunted Guide to New Orleans. In a city where, as Rory puts it, the cityscape can become a “deathscape”, perhaps the past is never quite as distant as we imagine. This week we return to New Orleans — a city of ghosts, ancestors, memory and mystery, where the living and the dead sometimes seem to occupy the very same streets. My Special Guests are Dr Rory O’Neill Schmitt and Dr. Rosary O'Neill: Dr Rory O’Neill Schmitt is the author of six books exploring history, culture, art, and the enduring mysteries of place. Much of her work is rooted in New Orleans, where the past is never entirely past: its houses, streets, legends, and larger-than-life figures continue to inspire stories of hauntings and restless memory. Dr Rosary O’Neill, PHD, is a senior Fulbright drama specialist and winner of nine Fulbright awards, including five to study Edgar Degas in Paris. She has published nineteen plays with Concord Publishers (Samuel French Publishers), including Degas in New Orleans and Marilyn/God, and has published six play/screenplay anthologies, three novels and seven books. She co-authored screenplays with Dr Rory Schmitt about Kate Chopin, Edgar Degas and the Baroness of Pontalba in New Orleans, and these are currently being optioned as films. Dr O’Neill is a professor emerita at Loyola University, New Orleans, and a member of the Playwrights Division of the Actors’ Studio in New York City. If you value this podcast and want to enjoy more episodes please come and find us on https://www.patreon.com/Haunted_History_Chronicles to support the podcast, gain a wealth of additional exclusive podcasts, writing and other content. Links to all Haunted History Chronicles Social Media Pages, Published Materials and more: https://linktr.ee/hauntedhistorychronicles?fbclid=IwAR15rJF2m9nJ0HTXm27HZ3QQ2Llz46E0UpdWv-zePVn9Oj9Q8rdYaZsR74I NEW Podcast Shop: https://www.teepublic.com/user/haunted-history-chronicles Buy Me A Coffee https://ko-fi.com/hauntedhistorychronicles Guest Links: Websites: http://www.rosaryoneill.com/ https://www.rorystoryandscreen.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASIF-xhxB34 Links to Books: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Rory-ONeill-Schmitt-PhD/author/B0H12BW2GN?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1788528634&sr=1-1&shoppingPortalEnabled=true Those interested in purchasing a signed copy of The Blood of the Baroness may contact either of these bookstores: The Garden District Book Shop 2727 Prytania Street, Suite 8New Orleans, LA 70130 Phone: 504-895-2266 Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.gardendistrictbookshop.com/ The Poisoned Pen Bookstore 4014 N. Goldwater Boulevard, Suite 101Scottsdale, AZ 85251 Phone: 480-947-2974 Toll-free: 888-560-9919 Email: [email protected] Website: https://poisonedpen.com/ Social Pages: https://www.instagram.com/roryschmittauthor/ https://www.facebook.com/roryschmitt https://www.tiktok.com/@roryschmittauthor?_r=1&_t=ZP-96rfotn9Smd