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)

In part two of our series on Dark Folklore, we descend deeper into the shadows to explore the legendary creatures that haunt our nightmares. This spine-tingling episode examines terrifying entities such as the Jersey Devil, the blood-sucking Chupacabra, and the Mare and Alp—creatures said to cause sleep paralysis and unending nightmares. As we journey through seven countries and their scariest folklore, you’ll discover different cultural explanations for these chilling phenomena. Prepare to question what truly lurks in the darkness. You may want to keep the lights on as we venture into the unknown. Due to disturbing content, listener discretion is advised.

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Episode 184 – Dark Folklore From Around the World – Part 1
Episode 104 – Vampire Hunters

We journey into the shadowy realms of freaky folklore, uncovering the spine-chilling tales of mythical creatures that have haunted human imagination across cultures and continents. We reveal stories of beings that lurk in the dark, from the infamous Mothman of West Virginia to the eerie cries of Ireland’s Banshee, each a harbinger of doom and a staple of local lore. These tales blend reality with fantasy, where mythical creatures not only foretell death but sometimes take matters into their own hands. Join us for captivating stories and heart-stopping encounters with beings that lurk at the very edges of our perception.

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Episode 139 – Engineering Legends – Toronto’s Cabbagetown Monster
Episode 132 – The Beast of Gévaudan

In our last episode, we invited you to join us in a chilling experiment during the recent total eclipse—and you didn’t disappoint. After compiling all the data our team members provided, we are poised to unveil results that are not only unexpected but also mystifying, sparking more questions than they answer. The Estes sessions—where we use audio equipment to potentially communicate with other realms—were conducted simultaneously in Toronto and just south of Ottawa, veering into areas both strangely alien and intensely personal. We can’t wait for you to hear all the details. Margo MacDonald joins us as we review the evidence collected and speculate on what it all might mean.

Today is the big day and we would love for you to join our eclipse group experiment!

To get information on the experiments, and to submit your results, go to: https://hauntedwalk.com/eclipse/

Step into the eerie shadows of a total solar eclipse with us and explore the mysterious connection between this celestial event and the supernatural. As the moon covers the sun, casting a rare darkness across North America, we dive into ancient myths, cultural beliefs, and the intriguing possibility of paranormal phenomena. This episode isn’t just for listening—we’re inviting you to join in on a simple, yet captivating group experiment. Share your findings during this once-in-a-lifetime adventure into the paranormal side of the eclipse. Don’t miss this chance to experience the extraordinary and share your eerie eclipse encounters.

To submit your results, or get more info, visit our Solar Eclipse Group Experiment page.

To find out where and when to watch, check out the Eclipse Calculator.

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Episode 173 – CN Tower – Results of the World’s Tallest Paranormal Investigation
Episode 147 – Paranormal Investigations with Phantoms of Yore