
Behind the Scenes Minis: Murder and Home Decor
Holly discusses the strange reassurance she finds in examining historical crime stories. Tracy talks about the way Lenormand cartomancy decks differ from tarot.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
3 Nov 202322min

Marie Anne Adelaide Lenormand, The Empress’s Oracle
Lenormand was a fortune-teller in France in the 19th century. She was hugely influential, because despite her work being illegal, very important and powerful people consulted her for cartomancy readings. Research: "Marie Anne Lenormand." Encyclopedia of World Biography Online, vol. 38, Gale, 2018. Gale In Context: U.S. History, link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1631010818/GPS?u=mlin_n_melpub&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=13b27256. Accessed 5 Oct. 2023. “Madmoiselle Lenormand.” Chambers's Journal of Popular Literature, Science and Arts, Volume 3. W.R. Chambers. 1845. https://books.google.com/books?id=TodTAAAAYAAJ Delistraty, Cody. “The Surprising Historical Significance of Fortune-Telling.” JSTOR Daily. 10/26/2016. https://daily.jstor.org/surprising-historical-significance-fortune-telling/ Goodrich, Frank Boott. “The court of Napoleon.” New York, Derby & Jackson. 1857. https://archive.org/details/courtofnapoleon00good Greer, Mary K. “Mlle. Lenormand, the most famous card reader of all time.” Mary K. Greer's Tarot Blog. https://marykgreer.com/2008/02/12/madame-le-normand-the-most-famous-card-reader-of-all-time/ Gronow, Rees Howell. “Celebrities of London and Paris: Being a Third Series of Reminiscences and Anecdotes of the Camp the Court and the Clubs : Containing a Correct Account of the Coup D'état.” Smith, Elder & Company, 1865 Harvey, David Allen. “Beyond Enlightenment: Occultism, Politics, and Culture in France from the Old Regime to the Fin-de-Siècle.” The Historian , SPRING 2003, Vol. 65, No. 3. Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/24452371 Howitt, William. “Mademoiselle le Normand, The Parisian Sibyl of the Revolution.” The Spiritual magazine. London, F. Pitman [etc.]. 1860. Irving, Washington. “The journals of Washington Irving (hitherto unpublished).” Boston. Bibliophile Society. 1919. https://archive.org/details/journalsofwashin03irvi/ Jewett, J.P. “Remarkable Women of Different Nations and Ages.” 1858. https://archive.org/details/remarkablewomen00unkngoog/page/n220/ Le Normand, M. A. “The oracle of human destiny: or, the unerring foreteller of future events, and accurate interpreter of mystical signs and influences; through the medium of common cards.” London. C.S. Arnold. 1825. https://archive.org/details/b29337926/page/n24/mode/1up Levi, Eliphas. “Dogma et Rituel de la Haute Magie.” Translated by A. E. Waite. Vol. 2. Originally published by Rider & Company, England, 1896. O'Meara, Barry Edward. “Napoleon in Exile, Or, A Voice from St. Helena.” W. Simpkin and R. Marshall, 1822. Rogers, Charles. “Memorials of the earl of Stirling and of the house of Alexander.” 1877. https://books.google.com/books?id=zXABAAAAQAAJ Shelley, Lady Frances. “The diary of Frances, Lady Shelley.” Vol. 1. 1912. https://archive.org/details/diaryoffrancesla0001shel/ Sylverne, Stephanie. “Good Fortune: How Empress Bonaparte Popularized the Tarot Card Trend and Made Her Cartomancer a Household Name.” Mental Floss. 11/1/2017. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/509667/good-fortune-how-empress-bonaparte-popularized-tarot-card-trend-and-made-her-cartomancer-household The National Magazine. “Mademoiselle le Normand.” 1853. https://archive.org/details/sim_national-magazine-devoted-to-literature-art-and-religion_1853-05_2_5 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
1 Nov 202339min

The Murder of Pearl Bryan
The story of what happened to Pearl Bryan is horrifying and frightening. The scandalous particulars of the events that led to her murder captivated the attention of the U.S. in the late 1800s, but Pearl gets sort of lost in the shuffle. Research: “An Awful Find.” Cincinnati Enquirer. Feb. 2, 1896. https://www.newspapers.com/image/30900213/?terms=%22body%20found%22&match=1 Associated Press. “Youth’s Depravity.” The Lexington Herald. Feb. 7, 1896. https://www.newspapers.com/image/680738959/?terms=%22ANOTHER%20CONFESSION%22%20&match=1 Associated Press. “The Decapitated Woman.” Los Angeles Herald. Feb. 6, 1896. https://www.newspapers.com/image/80565627/?terms=%22pearl%20bryan%22&match=1 “Both Are Guilty!” Journal and Tribune. Feb. 8, 1896. https://www.newspapers.com/image/584194865/?terms=decapitated&match=1 “Clues Were Misleading.” Green Bay Press-Gazette. Feb. 7, 1896. https://www.newspapers.com/image/186951911/?terms=%22ANOTHER%20CONFESSION%22%20&match=1 “Does Crime Cause Physical Degenration?” San Francisco Examiner. May 11, 1896. https://www.newspapers.com/image/457505640/?terms=kiffmeyer&match=1 “Drugged With Cocaine.” Chattanooga Daily Times. Feb. 13, 1896. https://www.newspapers.com/image/604389689/?terms=%22body%20found%22&match=1 “Grades of Murder.” Indianapolis Journal. May 10, 1896. https://www.newspapers.com/image/322021567/?terms=%22alonzo%20walling%22%20 “Jackson’s Trial.” Jackson County Banner. April 30, 1896. https://www.newspapers.com/image/206893196/?terms=pearl%20bryan&match=1 “Murdered and Beheaded.” Philadelphia Times. Feb. 2, 1896. https://www.newspapers.com/image/52374183/?terms=%22body%20found%22&match=1 “The Mysterious Murder of Pearl Bryan, or The Headless Horror.” Barclay and Co. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/29569/29569-h/29569-h.htm#history “Newport’s Hanging.” Hamilton County Ledger. March 26, 1897. https://www.newspapers.com/image/353595219/?terms=%22alonzo%20walling%22%20&match=1 “Pearl Bryan’s Story.” Chicago Chrinicle. May 10, 1896. https://www.newspapers.com/image/668071687/?terms=pearl%20bryan “Pearl Bryan: Her Murderers Still Accusing Other of the Deed.” Topeka State Journal. Feb. 8, 1896. https://www.newspapers.com/image/323039676/?terms=%22JACKSON%27S%20COAT%20FOUND%20IN%20A%20SEWER%22&match=1 Rolandelli, Frank, Jr. “Mystery in Pearl Bryan Murder Still Unsolved.” Indianapolis Sunday Star. March 7, 1937. https://www.newspapers.com/image/105412793/?fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjEwNTQxMjc5MywiaWF0IjoxNjk4MTAzODA0LCJleHAiOjE2OTgxOTAyMDR9.2bQOm9f88dN8unJ91gfkigYR6z0Z5yAmvxOQirxa2xw “Scott Jackson the Murderer.” New York Times. May 15, 1896. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1896/05/15/105749337.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0 “Searching the Sewers.” The Tennessean. Feb. 13, 1896. https://www.newspapers.com/image/603549764/?terms=decapitation&match=1 “She Has a New Story.” Indianapolis Journal. Feb. 11, 1896. https://www.newspapers.com/image/321981642/?terms=pearl%20bryan&match=1 “Under Arrest.” Chillicothe Gazette. Feb. 7, 1896. https://www.newspapers.com/image/291122814/?terms=%22alonzo%20walling%22%20&match=1 “Walling Testifies.” Jackson County Banner. June 11, 1896. https://www.newspapers.com/image/206898137/?terms=%22alonzo%20walling%22%20&match=1 Young, Andrew. “Our Rich History: Shoe dealer solves ghastly murder of Pearl Bryan, found missing her head, in 1893.” Northern Kentucky Tribune. Aug. 17, 2020. https://nkytribune.com/2020/08/our-rich-history-shoe-dealer-solves-ghastly-murder-of-pearl-bryan-found-missing-her-head-in-1893/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
30 Okt 202341min

SYMHC Classics: Paris Catacombs
This 2019 episode notes that the Catacombs contain the bones of an estimated 6 to 7 million people, and explains that their history is really two interconnected stories of mines and human remains.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
28 Okt 202331min

Behind the Scenes Minis: Jack and Pearl and Patience
Holly and Tracy talk about pumpkin carving traditions and techniques. They also discuss Pearl Curran's life and the writing output of Patience.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
27 Okt 202323min

Patience Worth and Pearl Curran
Patience Worth was a popular writer in the early 20th century. But she was a 17th-century ghost, using Pearl Curran as her conduit from spirit realm to printed page. Research: Braude, Stephen E. “Dissociation and Latent Abilities.” Journal of Trauma & Dissociation. June 2000. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233449262_Dissociation_and_Latent_Abilities Cory, Charles. “Patience Worth.” Psychological Review. 1919. pp. 397-407. https://archive.org/details/psychologicalre01pratgoog/page/396/mode/2up Denny, Diana. “Written by Pearl Curran … Or Ouija Board?” Saturday Evening Post. Sept. 16, 2010. https://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/2010/09/written-pearl-curranor-ouija-board/ Diliberto, Gioia. “Patience Worth: Author From the Great Beyond.” Smithsonian. Sept. 2010. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/patience-worth-author-from-the-great-beyond-54333749/ Millard, Bailey. “Will she meet her astral guide?” Los Angeles Times. Jan. 16, 1938. https://www.newspapers.com/image/380740453/?terms=pearl%20curran&match=1 “Mrs. Pearl Curran, Known as ‘Patience Worth,” Dies.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Dec. 4, 1937. https://www.newspapers.com/image/139329811/ Prince, Walter Franklin. “The Case of Patience Worth.” Boston Society for Psychic Research. https://books.google.com/books?id=KUvOAAAAMAAJ&dq=I+am+molten+silver,+running.+Let+man+catch+me+within+his+cup.+Let+him+proceed+upon+his+labor,+Smithing+upon+me.+Let+him+with+cunning+smite+my+substance.+Let+him+at+his+dream,+Lending+my+stuff+unto+its+creation.+It+shall+be+no+less+me.&source=gbs_navlinks_s Ross, Isabel M. “Enduring Mystery of the Ouija Board reincarnation.” New York Tribune. November 23, 1919. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/data/batches/dlc_davis_ver01/data/sn83030214/00206532452/1919112301/0761.pdf Simon, Ed. “Ghostwriter and Ghost.” The Public Domain Review. Sept. 17, 2014. https://publicdomainreview.org/essay/ghostwriter-and-ghost-the-strange-case-of-pearl-curran-patience-worth/ “The Women Helping to Boost.” Cherryvale Journal. January 28, 1910. https://www.newspapers.com/image/418556008/?terms=%22pearl%20curran%22&match=1 “State Aid By Women.” The St. Louis Star and Times. January 27, 1910. Https://www.newspapers.com/image/204738278/?terms=%22pearl%20curran%22&match=1 Yost, Casper S. “PATIENCE WORTH: A PSYCHIC MYSTERY.” New York. Henry Holt and Co. 1916. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/50810/50810-h/50810-h.htm Worth, Patience. “The Sorry Tale; a Story of the Time of Christ.” Henry Holt and Company. June 1917. https://archive.org/stream/sorrytaleastory01currgoog/sorrytaleastory01currgoog_djvu.txt Simon, Ed. “Darkness Made Visible: Eamonn Peters on Imagined Literature.” The Anthology of Babel, edited by Ed Simon, Punctum Books, 2020, pp. 365–88. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/jj.2353922.22 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
25 Okt 202339min

Jack-o'-lanterns
Jack-o’-lanterns have become one of the most iconic symbols of Halloween. Their origin story isn’t exactly well documented, so tracing their roots involves some folklore, some agriculture, and literary influence. Research: Bachelor, Blane. “ The twisted transatlantic tale of American jack-o’-lanterns.” National Geographic. Oct. 27, 2020. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/the-twisted-transatlantic-tale-of-american-jack-o-lanterns?rnd=1696858487928&loggedin=true Ellis, Hurcules. “The Rhyme Book.” Longman, Brown, Green & Longmans. 1851. https://books.google.com/books?id=1DxcAAAAcAAJ&source=gbs_navlinks_s Fox, Frances. "Waialua Children Use Papaias for Pumkins to Scare on Hallowe'en." Honolulu Advertiser. Oct. 31, 1931. https://www.newspapers.com/image/258961518/?terms=jack%20o%27lantern&match=1 Christofi, N. “BIOASSAYS | Microbial Tests.” Encyclopedia of Analytical Science (Second Edition). Elsevier. 2005. Pages 265-271. https://doi.org/10.1016/B0-12-369397-7/00044-3 “How did the squash get its name?” Library of Congress. Nov. 19, 2019. https://www.loc.gov/everyday-mysteries/agriculture/item/how-did-squash-get-its-name/ Lang, Cady. “What Is Samhain? What to Know About the Ancient Pagan Festival That Came Before Halloween.” TIME. Oct. 30, 2018. https://time.com/5434659/halloween-pagan-origins-in-samhain/ National Park Service. “The Three Sisters.” https://www.nps.gov/tont/learn/nature/the-three-sisters.htm “London, Oct. 2.” The Bath Journal. October 4, 1779. https://www.newspapers.com/image/975623103/?terms=jack-o-lantern&match=1 “Paris, November 30.” The Freeman’s Journal or The North American Intelligencer. Feb. 15, 1792. https://www.newspapers.com/image/39395048/?terms=jack-o-lantern&match=1 “For This Gazette.” The Portland Gazette. Sept. 17, 1798. https://www.newspapers.com/image/904401967/?terms=jack-o-lantern Gish, Hannah. “Stingy Jack: The Origin of the Jack-O-Lantern.” Carnegie Center for Art & History. https://carnegiecenter.org/stingy-jack-the-origin-of-the-jack-o-lantern/ Grannan, Cydney. "Why Do We Carve Pumpkins at Halloween?". Encyclopedia Britannica, 25 Oct. 2017, https://www.britannica.com/story/why-do-we-carve-pumpkins-at-halloween Oliveira, Rosane. “10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Pumpkins.” University of California. Oct. 25, 2018. https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/10-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-pumpkins#:~:text=Scientists%20believe%20that%20pumpkins%20originated,food%20staple%20among%20Native%20Americans. “Will-o’-the Wisp: Monstrous Flame or Scientific Phenomenon.” Monstrum. PBS. October 5, 2021. https://www.pbs.org/video/will-o-the-wisp-monstrous-flame-or-scientific-phenomenon-dsugln/ Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Samhain". Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Sep. 2023, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Samhain Irving, Washington. “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” https://www.gutenberg.org/files/41/41-h/41-h.htm Allen, Ida Bailey. “Try Jack-o’-Lantern Halloween Supper.” Quad-City Times. Oct. 31, 1952. https://www.newspapers.com/image/301873757/?terms=jack%20o%27lantern&match=1 Huntley, Andrew. “The Jack-o-Lantern’s Origins.” Carnegie Museum of Natural History. https://carnegiemnh.org/the-jack-o-lanterns-origins/ Ott, Cindy. “Pumpkin: The Curious History of an American Icon.” University of Washington Press. 2013. Traynor, Jessica. “The story of Jack-o’-lantern: ‘If you knew the sufferings of that forsaken craythur.’” Irish Times. Oct. 29, 2019. https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/abroad/the-story-of-jack-o-lantern-if-you-knew-the-sufferings-of-that-forsaken-craythur-1.4065773 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
23 Okt 202331min

SYMHC Classics: Poveglia
This 2018 episode covers an uninhabited Italian island that has come to be called all manner of scary things, including, "plague island," "island of ghosts," and "the Venetian island of no return."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
21 Okt 202326min