In the late summer of 1944, the small town of Mattoon, Illinois, became the epicentre of one of the most bizarre mysteries in American history. Residents reported a series of gas attacks—phantom prowlers using strange fumes that caused paralysis, illness, and widespread panic. Dubbed the "Mad Gasser of Mattoon," the story gripped the town for two weeks, with chilling eyewitness accounts and physical evidence fueling the fear. Then, just as quickly as it began, the attacks stopped, leaving more questions than answers. Was it all mass hysteria, sparked by the tensions of World War II? Or was there a real attacker lurking in the shadows? Join us as we uncover the facts, explore the theories, and ask: What really happened in Mattoon?

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After a long hiatus, Haunted Talks returns, diving deeper than ever into the mysterious and unexplained! In this special episode, we unveil exciting new adventures—from spine-tingling nights at the Royal Ontario Museum to eerie ghost tours aboard a haunted ship. But that’s just the beginning. We also explore a mystery that has left historians puzzled for centuries: a groundbreaking discovery about the origins of Stonehenge’s altar stone. Could this massive six-tonne slab have travelled nearly 500 miles from Scotland? How did ancient people achieve such a feat—and why?

We share our conversation with paranormal podcasting legend Jim Harold. With nearly 20 years in the field and over 65 million downloads, he’s an important voice for fans of the supernatural. We discuss his journey from radio to full-time podcasting, the beginnings of his shows, The Paranormal Podcast and Jim Harold’s Campfire, and his favourite story, “The Mysterious Mrs. Raspberry,” from his new book, True Ghost Stories: Jim Harold’s Campfire Volume 6. (Listen to the episode to learn how to win a copy!) Join us as we talk about changing public attitudes towards the supernatural, the role of storytelling in the genre, and what keeps Jim Harold inspired after almost two decades of exploring the strange and unexplained.

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Episode 169 – Tales From the Tours – Volume 3 (Geist Podcast)
Episode 117 – German Ghosts (Geistergeflüster Podcast)