Ding Dong Darkness Time

That's right, Ding Dongs. The Queen is starting a SECOND podcast. It's specifically geared toward historical true crime (cases prior to 1980, and going back as far as human history itself). After a brief introduction, Allison will plunge you right into 1908 and the world of infamous Midwest female serial killer, Belle Gunness, who was reeling in and extinguishing scores of lonely hearts on her Indiana farm for a good few years before the whole operation went up in flames. Literally. Links to the main website, social media, Patreon, merchandise, and more -- ⁠https://linktr.ee/warpedcortexmedia⁠ RESOURCES https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/562322/belle-gunness-murders https://murderpedia.org/female.G/g/gunness-belle.htm https://nypost.com/2018/05/05/how-a-farm-girl-became-the-butcher-of-lonely-men/ https://www.amazon.com/Hells-Princess-Mystery-Gunness-Butcher-ebook/dp/B06XFS39KS"Frogs Legs Rag" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Credits:Main Theme Music -- Ken DicksonMain Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson

Coming March 1st, a historical true crime podcast hosted by the Queen Ding Dong herself, Allison Dickson.

The topic of Gone Girl was an inevitable for this show. The 2012 bestselling phenomenon by Gillian Flynn blew millions of readers away with its stunning plot twist, but it also caused one of the biggest plot twists in Allison's own life. This episode, featuring Jayson Blair of the Silver Linings Handbook, explores the dark and faceted marriage of Nick and Amy Dunne, and they discuss the way so many of its themes resonate in real human psychology and relationships. Listen to Jayson Blair's show, The Silver Linings Handbook Podcast: https://silverliningshandbook.com/ Essay by Gillian Flynn: "I Was Not a Nice Little Girl" https://medium.com/@Powells/i-was-not-a-nice-little-girl-c2df01e0ae1

Recently, Allison appeared on the Silver Linings Handbook with Jayson Blair to discuss our collective fascination with darkness. Why do some of us love things like horror stories and true crime? And are we doing ourselves disservice by avoiding those things entirely? All that and more in this talk. Listen to Jayson's show here: https://silverliningshandbook.com/

As we prepare to hunker down to stuff our faces with delicious delights this holiday season, Allison and her trusty movie buddy Josh from Press Play and Scream bring you a rousing discussion on the diabolically epicurean 2022 masterpiece, The Menu, starring Anya Taylor Joy, Nicholas Hoult, and Ralph Fiennes.

For the ultimate Halloween celebration, it seemed an opportune time to discuss  another well-known trope of the season. This week we're joined by Nathaniel Dickson, the eldest spawn of our host! Nate has dabbled in the craft for the last several years, and they're here to bring all their practical knowledge and insights into things like tarot cards, crystals, spells, divination, manifestation, Dungeons & Dragons, and yeah, maybe that one time they hexed their ex. Don't worry, it was warranted. Happy Halloween! Additional Info:Nate's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/honiemoth/J&J Crystals in Charlevoix: https://jjcrystalrocks.com/Show Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comMusic -- Spencer Morelock, Ken DicksonDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

This week of spooky month, Allison and Jayson Blair of the Silver Linings Handbook podcast sit down for a thoughtful discussion on the long history and complex culture surrounding another one of our universal monsters: the werewolf. From symbolizing the harmony between person and beast in various indigenous cultures, to the fear of our own animalistic natures in Ancient Greek and European history and folklore, the werewolf offers us a chance to confront not only our anxieties regarding change and control, but a chance to embrace transformation and potentially even make friends with the parts of ourselves we're afraid to confront. And how in the pursuit to understand this world and each other, the stories we tell about our monsters are vital to maintaining our humanity. Additional Info:Jayson's Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-silver-linings-handbook/id1665733166Follow Jayson on Twitter:https://twitter.com/jaysonblair7Join the Silver Linings Handbook Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/1361159947820623Show Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comMusic -- Spencer Morelock, Ken DicksonDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

Last year, friend of the show Brett from The Prosecutors podcast came on to talk with Allison about ghosts and his time as a paranormal investigator. This time, they're going all in on a discussion of a different form of the restless dead: ZOMBIES, those flesh-craving ghouls that have a lot more going on with them historically and culturally than meets the eye.From folklore born during the enslavement of West Africans in Haiti to the shambling, brain eating automatons of George Romero lore and so much more in between, the zombie is the perfect mirror of the social anxieties of the time.Also stick around to hear their picks for the perfect zombie apocalypse weapons and vehicles.Show Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comMusic -- Spencer Morelock, Ken DicksonDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

We're getting tropey with it this October, with a series of episodes on some core spooky creatures and lore. And no such event would be complete without a comprehensive discussion on everyone's favorite bloodsuckers, VAMPIRES! Josh from Press Play and Scream joins the show and together, he and Allison cover the gamut, beginning with the origins of the lore and mythology before delving into the popular culture and discussing some of their favorite vampire movies and theories about what real vampirism might look like in this wild modern world of ours.Additional Info:The Press Play and Scream PodcastShow Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comMusic -- Spencer Morelock, Ken DicksonDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

This week, Allison sits down with famed author Ed Kurtz to discuss his new anthology, IN THE COLD, COLD GROUND coming soon from Cemetery Dance, but then he sticks around a little longer to open up about his love affair with cinema, and in particular the never-seen low/no budget weird wonders of yesteryear and today. What makes us love "bad art?" What even does that mean? And what is behind his drive to scour through the depths of Tubi and even VHS in search of hidden treasures?All that and more in this riveting discussion you won't want to miss.Additional Info:Ed Kurtz BooksOrder IN THE COLD, COLD GROUNDAvoid Rotten TomatoesShow Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comMusic -- Spencer Morelock, Ken DicksonDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

Better late than never! Back in Episode 29, Allison and her fellow cinephile Josh Bermont discussed director Martin McDonagh's amazing debut crime film, IN BRUGES, starring Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson. Now you can listen to the rest of that discussion, as they dig into the latest film by this legendary trio, THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN, which came out in 2022. Unlike In Bruges, which is a contemporary story about two assassins holed up in a very storybook medieval town, Banshees takes place in 1923 on a remote island off the coast of Ireland, and involves an odd feud between two old friends. Yet somehow, the two make perfect bookends on a thematic level. And similarly, be sure to check out the In Bruges discussion if you haven't already!IMDB on The Banshees of Inisherinhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt11813216/Episode 29: In Brugeshttps://dingdongdarknesstime.buzzsprout.com/1871782/12731855-25-ding-dong-movie-time-apocalypse-now-and-the-hearts-of-darknessThe Press Play and Scream Podcasthttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/press-play-and-scream/id1589942694 Join the Ding Dong Darkness Time Patreon!https://www.patreon.com/DingDongDarknessTimeShow Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comMusic -- Spencer Morelock, Ken DicksonDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

In the last episode of their coverage on multi-level marketing companies, Allison and Beverly delve into the darkest of the dark side of these schemes, selecting several personal accounts found online as well as talking a little bit about one particularly gnarly company the Feds shut down back in the early seventies for deceptive trade practices, among other things: Holiday Magic. There might have been coffins and crucifixions involved.Finally, Allison delivers one final definitive statement about MLMs and their ties to a well known family annihilation case that not nearly enough people talk about. Additional Info:MLM Horror Stories on Reddithttps://www.reddit.com/r/antiMLM/comments/wkc8q0/whats_the_saddest_mlm_horror_story_youve_had/Holiday Magichttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holiday_Magichttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pit:_A_Group_Encounter_DefiledThe Dream Podcast Season 1 Learn more about guest Beverly Bambury!https://www.beverlybambury.com/Join the Ding Dong Darkness Time Patreon!https://www.patreon.com/DingDongDarknessTimeShow Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comMusic -- Spencer Morelock, Ken DicksonDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

Allison and Beverly are BACK to tie up some loose ends from the original Amway episode with this first Ding Dong Ditch episode that has a guest! We dissect an interesting listener review as well as further flesh out the political influence of Amway and how it came to write the book on current laws governing the industry. Finally, we hope to clarify the discussion of politics in general as it relates to this show, but in particular topics such as these.Additional Info:The Dream Podcast Season 1Join the Ding Dong Darkness Time Patreon!https://www.patreon.com/DingDongDarknessTimeShow Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comMusic -- Spencer Morelock, Ken DicksonDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

Recently, news reported on the raid of a YouTuber's home by the Pinkerton agency in the recovery of some potentially ill-gotten gains.Magic: The Gathering cards...yeah...Anyway, you've probably heard of the Pinkertons before. They have a history so rife with blood they should probably be called the Reddingtons. From protecting trains and stage coaches to spying on the Confederacy during the Civil War, and throwing bricks and sticks of dynamite at striking workers, hundreds have died at the hands of this organization that predated modern law enforcement. Let's dive in, shall we?Join the Ding Dong Darkness Time Patreon!https://www.patreon.com/DingDongDarknessTimeShow Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comMusic -- Spencer Morelock, Ken DicksonDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

It was a billed as the biggest sensation of its time in 1986 when famed TV journalist Geraldo Rivera brought us a 2 hour live special all about the infamous Chicago gangster Al Capone and the secret tunnels and vaults discovered beneath one of his old hotels. The idea was Capone had stashed away some of his ill-gotten gains down there, and the world was going to all to witness together a time capsule from a bloody era of American history being opened with the help of a team of excavators and dynamite.And well... you can learn all about what happened in this episode Allison joined on the totally tubular 80s High podcast hosted by Ben and occasional Ding Dong Darkness Time Co-host Chris (aka King Ding Dong). Once you've enjoyed this one, stick around and listen to everything else they have to offer!Additional Info:https://the80shigh.podbean.com/Join the Ding Dong Darkness Time Patreon!https://www.patreon.com/DingDongDarknessTimeShow Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comMusic -- Spencer Morelock, Ken DicksonDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

Allison and Josh from the Press Play and Scream podcast are back yet again to jibjab about some wacky flicks! This time, they're taking on the brilliant playwright turned cinematic auteur, Martin McDonagh's brilliant 2008 bleak comedy film, In Bruges. Starring Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as two hitmen who, after a job gone horribly wrong, are ordered to await their fate in the picturesque medieval Belgian village. But while they're there, they find some very unexpected ways to reflect on and redeem themselves of a life of crime.Also, you don't want to miss Josh's various accents.Additional Info:In Bruges on IMDBhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780536/Show Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comMusic -- Spencer Morelock, Ken DicksonDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

She was one of the last of the blonde bombshell stars of the 20th century, a singer, actress, comedian, and a cunning rival of Marilyn Monroe. Her life was cut tragically short on a late summer night in 1967, and her death left an unusual legacy that you probably encounter every day without realizing it.Additional Info:https://allthatsinteresting.com/jayne-mansfield-deathhttps://www.ranker.com/list/jayne-mansfields-car-accident/kellie-kreiss?utm_source=newsletters&utm_medium=weirdhistory&utm_campaign=wh_active&utm_content=%7Bdate%28%27yyyyMMdd%27%29%7Dhttps://ricelawmd.com/all-about-mansfield-bars-and-their-dangers-to-drivers/Show Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comMusic -- Spencer Morelock, Ken DicksonDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

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 provide a source for some viral audio clips that came from inside a Beach Body coach meeting. You'll need to prime yourself for this one. Beach Body Team Call Footage from Kiki Chanelhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WaOSRHlQYqIShow Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comMusic -- Spencer Morelock, Ken DicksonDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

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 yourself stuck in a genuine cult. We explain all the reasons why. And with Primerica, we learn that just saying you're not an MLM doesn't mean jack squat when you actually read the fine print. And you can find better, cheaper life insurance elsewhere.Stay tuned for Part 3!Additional Info:Amway Links:https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Amway/AUS/cultism.htmhttps://www.moneyaftergraduation.com/amway-is-a-pyramid-scheme/http://marriedtoanambot.blogspot.com/2012/03/how-to-be-good-amway-cult-leader.htmlhttps://www.reddit.com/r/MLMRecovery/comments/ia4ogo/amwaywwdb/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmfhttps://www.motherjones.com/politics/1998/11/tough-sell/Primerica Links:https://www.finance-guy.net/streetonomic/primerica-review?fbclid=IwAR2zhMSuCaOMSMnpyw2GnhVi_rcAjHd7pbAIXTeZ_bdaHrDd9LJgmG731tchttps://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1475922/000156459021009754/pri-10k_20201231.htm?fbclid=IwAR2W8g9gfZdXqvR666DSxdcp-JG06KtkE7G1jmLLdYs-hJ5zfWMTa8PWFe8Show Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comMusic -- Spencer Morelock, Ken DicksonDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

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 of the iceberg when it comes to the deceptive marketing practices, lost money, damaged relationships, and ruined lives that MLMs are largely known for. Additional Info:Tupperware Infohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupperwarehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownie_Wisehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-level_marketingFTC  and Other Linkshttps://www.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/documents/public_comments/trade-regulation-rule-disclosure-requirements-and-prohibitions-concerning-business-opportunities-ftc.r511993-00008%C2%A0/00008-57281.pdfhttps://www.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/documents/public_comments/trade-regulation-rule-disclosure-requirements-and-prohibitions-concerning-business-opportunities-ftc.r511993-00017%C2%A0/00017-57317.pdfhttps://www.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/documents/public_comments/business-opportunity-rule-535221-00006/535221-00006.pdfhttps://www.thebalancemoney.com/business-is-an-mlm-scam-1794756Elle's Younique (#Poonique) Experiencehttps://ellebeaublog.com/poonique/Travelling Jezebel's Avon Deep Divehttps://travellingjezebel.com/is-avon-a-pyramid-scheme-a-deep-dive-into-avon/?fbclid=IwAR2dNuvyksw7u9L5Luk_PL4-XqNplagF79HZjhVo3F0zo5jfjoY6-gBRTyMShow Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comMusic -- Spencer Morelock, Ken DicksonDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

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, monsoons, a near deadly heart attack... and that's only the beginning. Step aboard the boat, Ding Dongs. This journey is taking us a place where only madness dwells.Joining Allison for the discussion, and bringing his keen insights, is the always amazing Josh Bermont from the Press Play and Scream podcast. Additional Info:The Press Play and Scream Podcasthttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/press-play-and-scream/id1589942694About Apocalypse Nowhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearts_of_Darkness:_A_Filmmaker%27s_Apocalypsehttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078788/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1Join the Ding Dong Army over on Patreon!Show Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comMusic -- Spencer Morelock, Ken DicksonDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

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 homicide (YOGTZE), a pair of wicked coin heists, the possible identification of the Somerton Man, and a mysterious woman's skeleton in a nightmarish tree.Pack your bags, Ding Dongs. This is gonna be one helluva sojourn.Additional Info:Bella in the Wych Elm:https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/revealed-after-75-years-face-14329271https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_put_Bella_in_the_Wych_Elm%3FYOGTZE: The Baffling Case of Gunther Stollhttps://www.historicmysteries.com/gunther-stoll/Vincent Van Gogh: Murder or Suicide?https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Vincent_van_Goghhttps://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2014/12/vincent-van-gogh-murder-mystery The Toonie Truck Heist of 1996https://www.readersdigest.ca/culture/canadas-greatest-unsolved-mysteries/ https://www.cbc.ca/archives/the-day-thieves-drove-off-with-1-5-million-brand-new-toonies-1.5647971 https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/a-brief-incomplete-history-of-strange-canadian-industrial-thefts-1.4297601?cache=yes%3FautoPlay%3Dtrue  The saga of Canada's stolen million-dollar coinhttps://macleans.ca/economy/money-economy/the-saga-of-canadas-stolen-million-dollar-coin/  Somerton Man: Australia's most enduring mystery... solved?https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somerton_ManAstonishing Legends podcast: https://www.astonishinglegends.com/ Original four part series (Ep. 33-36) from 2017Follow up episode (Ep. 239) from August, 2022 Blue Grit Podcast: The Voice of Texas Law EnforcementHost: Clint McNear and Tyler Owen discussing topics, issues, and stories within the...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifyJoin the Ding Dong Army over on Patreon!Show Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comMusic -- Spencer Morelock, Ken DicksonDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

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 Info:The Trude Espås Case: The Unsolved Geiranger Murder Mysteryhttps://www.lifeinnorway.net/trude-espas-geiranger-mystery/ https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/i8gpjz/the_20yearold_was_found_raped_strangled_and/https://www.world-today-news.com/the-police-found-rotten-clothes-in-the-trude-espas-case/SKRIM - a Scandinavian true crime podcast, Episode 043: Trude EspåsBog bodies: A 2,000 year old unsolved mysteryhttps://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20161014-a-2000-year-old-unsolved-mysteryhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/europe-bog-bodies-reveal-secrets-180962770/Steytlerville monster: The Manbatpig mysteryhttps://weekinweird.com/2011/05/11/shape-shifting-monster-terrorizes-town/ https://roadtravel1.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/shape-shifter-in-the-karoo/ https://www.skeptophilia.com/2011/04/manbatpig.html The Sanby Borg Massacrehttps://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/history-magazine/article/can-archaeologists-solve-swedens-1500-year-old-murder-mysteryhttps://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/dna-study-ancient-massacre-victims-raises-more-questions-answersPeter Bergmann: The Man Who Didn't Existhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Bergmann_case Blue Grit Podcast: The Voice of Texas Law EnforcementHost: Clint McNear and Tyler Owen discussing topics, issues, and stories within the...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifyJoin the Ding Dong Army over on Patreon!Show Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comMusic -- Spencer Morelock, Ken DicksonDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

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 axes and ropes and glow sticks, and let's explore this thing!Blue Grit Podcast: The Voice of Texas Law EnforcementHost: Clint McNear and Tyler Owen discussing topics, issues, and stories within the...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifyJoin the Ding Dong Army over on Patreon!Show Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comMusic -- Spencer Morelock, Ken DicksonDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

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, for a tale of gold prospecting and cannibalism. Did Alfred Packer merely eat his fellow campers to survive the elements during a harrowing journey to strike it rich, or were there more sinister actions afoot? The mystery endures to this day, but what do you think?While pondering that, follow us up to Seattle, where not far outside the city spawned the original modern day sighting of UFOs in 1947, by one Kenneth Arnold. Was it aliens he spied that day zooming above Mount Rainier? We can't be for certain. What we do know is if you want to know the birth place of UFOs as we know them, you need to start a little further north than Roswell, New Mexico.After that, Allison brings it back home (literally) to Dayton, Ohio, where she discusses the serial killer that once lurked in her backyard in the early 20th century: The Dayton Strangler. Finally, we end our journey at the infamous Windy City, Chicago, with a case that pits the innocence movement against the criminal justice system. The case of Anthony Porter and Alstory Simon was told in the stunning documentary, "A Murder in the Park" back in 2014, but here Allison breaks down the basics of the case that led to the state of Illinois banning the death penalty, while also bringing a lot of questions to the methods used by all who claim to fight for justice.Additional Info:The Goatman Bridgehttps://wedentondoit.com/blog/2013/10/18/back-in-the-day-goatmans-bridgeAlfred Packer Cannibalismhttps://www.onlyinyourstate.com/colorado/denver/unsolved-mystery-denver/https://archives.colorado.gov/collections/history/alfred-packer Kenneth Arnold UFO Sightinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Arnold_UFO_sightingThe Dayton Stranglerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dayton_StranglerMurder in the Park/Alstory Simon/Anthony Porterhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Porterhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Murder_in_the_ParkShow Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comMusic -- Spencer Morelock, Ken DicksonDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

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 of Sun City Center (or rather, Tampa) Florida for a cold missing person case involving a young mother named Lucinda Huels. From there we head up to Baltimore to talk about the strange death of one of the world's most famous authors, before venturing all the way out to the Pacific Northwest to discuss a kind of hilarious hole in Portland, Oregon. Then we wrap it up with a fascinating historical murder crime case out of Minneapolis/St. Paul that goes all the way back before the establishment of the state of Minnesota, and how the suspected killer ended up becoming famous enough to have his name put on buildings.Come back next week for our Top 5 cities! Additional Info:Atlanta's Bleeding Househttps://medium.com/the-mystery-box/the-bleeding-walls-in-atlanta-c92a0bc53833https://theghostinmymachine.com/2021/08/02/unresolved-what-caused-the-atlanta-blood-houses-mysterious-mess/The Disappearance of Lucinda Huelshttps://whereaboutsstillunknown.wordpress.com/2017/02/12/tinze-lucinda-huels/http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/11dffl.htmlhttps://rcccmcc.com/2019/09/12/tinze-lucinda-huels/?amp=1https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/ye4utl/lucinda_huels_was_17years_old_when_she/The Strange Death of Edgar Allan Poehttps://brightestyoungthings.com/articles/im-a-creep-im-a-weirdo-baltimore-and-d-c-s-most-mysterious-mysterieshttps://www.britannica.com/story/the-mysterious-death-of-edgar-allan-poehttps://cvm.missouri.edu/quoth-the-raven-it-was-actually-rabies/The Woodstock Mystery Holehttps://www.barronmind.com/wmh.htm https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/woodstock-mystery-hole-skb https://bridgeliner.com/%F0%9F%95%B3%EF%B8%8F-dig-into-the-history-of-the-woodstock-mystery-hole/Edward Phelan and The Oldest Murder Mystery in Minnesotahttps://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/07/17/books-thread-minnesotas-oldest-murder-mystery Show Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comMusic -- Spencer Morelock, Ken DicksonDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

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 thoughts of suicide and self-harm, there is help no matter where you are in the world. Dial 988 in the United States, or check here for your particular country's suicide prevention hotline:https://blog.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines/Chris's 80s High Podcasthttps://the80shigh.podbean.com/Beverly Bambury Publicityhttps://www.beverlybambury.com/Watch The Deep End on Hulu:https://www.hulu.com/series/the-deep-end-e052aae5-14fb-4043-bb11-94f5880421b3Teal Swan Exposedhttps://tealswanblog.wordpress.com/The Gateway Podcast and Article:https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2018/08/205915/the-gateway-teal-swan-youtube-cult-jennings-brownThe Truth About Cameronhttp://thetruthaboutcameron.blogspot.com/Growing Up With Teal Swan (Mormon Stories Podcast)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pY04M9tNEq0A former inner-circle member of Teal's speaks out:https://www.celestialhealing.com/2017/07/teal-swan.htmlShow Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comMusic -- Spencer Morelock, Ken DicksonDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

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.Welcoming friends Chris and Beverly into a lively discussion, Allison attempts to shed some light on Teal's childhood and eventually ascent to controversial modern-day guru. We also break down many of the problems of guru culture, and why it often tends to turn toxic, and why Swan in particular is dangerous to people vulnerable to serious mental illness and suicidal tendencies.But first we must ask ourselves why people are drawn to Teal's highly unorthodox techniques, and also more importantly... is this even a cult?Additional Info:Watch The Deep End on Hulu:https://www.hulu.com/series/the-deep-end-e052aae5-14fb-4043-bb11-94f5880421b3Teal Swan Exposedhttps://tealswanblog.wordpress.com/The Gateway Podcast and Article:https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2018/08/205915/the-gateway-teal-swan-youtube-cult-jennings-brownThe Truth About Cameronhttp://thetruthaboutcameron.blogspot.com/Growing Up With Teal Swan (Mormon Stories Podcast)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pY04M9tNEq0A former inner-circle member of Teal's speaks out:https://www.celestialhealing.com/2017/07/teal-swan.htmlShow Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comMusic -- Spencer Morelock, Ken DicksonDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

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-Term Effects of Chronic Painhttps://www.pathways.health/chronic-pain-long-term-effects-on-the-brain-and-body-explained/Social Security Uses Outdated Job Tables to Deny Disability Benefitshttps://wapo.st/3xuuvUSShow Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comMusic -- Spencer Morelock, Ken DicksonDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

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 gory moralist pamphlets it started as. Allison also went digging for other points of view on what draws us to stories of murder and mayhem, so tune in and let us know what interests you! Ding Dong Darkness Time will be back in January, so happy holidays to all of you, and thank you for making this an amazing year.Man of the YearWhatever happened to friendship? 49% of Americans report having three or fewer close...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifyShow Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comMusic -- Spencer Morelock, Ken DicksonDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

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 of white supremacy, The Order of the Solar Temple aspired to attain the ultimate spiritual nexus in the hopes of riding out a coming apocalypse, but as most movements of this type tend to do, it took around a decade before it all crumbled into a heap of crime, murder, and mass suicide that spanned across three countries.Learn more about this still very mysterious cult, as well as how affluence-bred boredom can be particularly detrimental to societies at large.Additional Info:https://www.encyclopedia.com/science/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/di-mambro-joseph-1924-1994https://www.ranker.com/list/order-of-the-solar-temple-cult/amandasedlakhevenerhttps://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/09/world/a-preacher-with-a-dark-side-led-cultists-to-swiss-chalets.html?pagewanted=allhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_Solar_TempleSponsor: Local Hero Press https://localheropress.com/ Man of the YearWhatever happened to friendship? 49% of Americans report having three or fewer close...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifyShow Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comMusic -- Spencer Morelock, Ken DicksonDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

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 many years and left a lot of dead bodies even more questions in its wake. Then we go back all the way to 1878 to the robbery of the Manhattan Savings Institution, with a cunning and surgical mastermind most of you have probably never heard of, but who was responsible for most of America's bank robberies over a 9 year period.And finally, if you're going to do a large scale heist in Wisconsin, what better thing to steal than some wheels of cheese? We'll talk about all the ways it's a bad idea.Additional Info:The Central Bank Heist Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banco_Central_burglary_at_FortalezaThe Great Central Bank Heist of Brazil on Netflix:https://about.netflix.com/en/news/the-documentary-3-tonusd-the-great-robbery-of-brazils-central-bank-is-nowThe High Society Bank Robber of the 1800s (George Leslie)https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-high-society-bank-robber-of-the-1800sBook: King of Heists by J. North Conwayhttps://www.amazon.com/King-Heists-Sensational-Robbery-Shocked/dp/B007BWD3PEWisconsin Cheese Heistshttps://www.vice.com/en/article/8qk84v/what-went-wrong-in-wisconsins-biggest-cheese-heistShow Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comMusic -- Spencer Morelock, Ken DicksonDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

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, including human sacrifice, abounded for years until they chose the wrong victim, an American college student on spring break.Additional Info:The Prosecutors Site: https://prosecutorspodcast.com/Show Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comMusic -- Spencer Morelock, Ken DicksonDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

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 influence with conservative and far-right movements in the United States starting in the 1970s and lasting well up to today, including participation in the Capitol riot of January 6th, 2021 as well as the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the summer of 2022.This is a cult that has a firm monetary grip on media and governments across the world, and this episode only begins to scratch the surface.Also, Allison answers a listener question on how she feels about the phrase "Drinking the Kool-Aid."Additional Info:Unification Church Wiki:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unification_Church#Background_and_originsSteven Hassan's BITE Model of Authoritarian Control:https://freedomofmind.com/cult-mind-control/bite-model/List of Organizations and Businesses Owned by or Affiliated with the Unification Church:https://freedomofmind.com/exclusive-list-of-entities-closely-associated-with-sun-myung-moon/SPLC Article on Rod of Iron Ministries (Moonie offshoot cult)https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2021/10/08/rod-iron-antigovernment-christian-right-and-far-right-movements-join-freedom-festivalVice Documentary on Rod of Iron Freedom Festival:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_JhtYm3-zYHow Reverend Moon Made Sushi Big in America:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zhZnvvi_lAAccount of a Former Moonie:https://www.insider.com/to-the-moon-and-back-lisa-kohn-what-its-like-to-be-former-moonie-2018-8Show Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comMusic -- Spencer Morelock, Ken DicksonDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

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 fertile ground for the growth of cults. In this short episodes, Allison discusses three of them today and in doing so hopefully demonstrates how straight line can still be drawn between the people of prehistoric times and the people of today.Additional Info:Skull Cult at Gobleki Tepihttps://www.vice.com/en/article/7xp55b/gobekli-tepe-skull-cult-ancient-ruins-temple-ritualNeolithic Cattle Culthttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/did-neolithic-cattle-cult-build-these-sprawling-structures-180977629/ Thunder and Lightning Godshttps://symbolsage.com/thunder-and-lightning-gods/Show Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comMusic -- Spencer Morelock, Ken DicksonDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

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 ways in which every one of us is vulnerable to a cultic mindset through the manipulation of emotions and language.In order to illustrate this, we begin with a discussion on the Stanley Milgram Obedience Study and then venture on to Philip Zimbardo's Stanford Prison Experiment and its impacts on humanity's views of authority, before talking about cognitive dissonance,  personality disorders, and a myriad of other ways groups of humans can assemble in dysfunctional and destructive ways.Hopefully this will set a firm foundation for the upcoming season chock full of education on all the cults and organizations that behave suspiciously like them. Arm yourself with knowledge!Additional Info:Sponsor: Local Hero Press: https://localheropress.com Book SourcesCults Inside Out by Rick Alan Rosshttps://www.amazon.com/Cults-Inside-Out-How-People-ebook/dp/B00OZR1QNOCultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell https://www.amazon.com/Cultish-Language-Fanaticism-Amanda-Montell/dp/0062993151Chris's Podcast, 80s High: https://the80shigh.podbean.com/Dr Bart's HORR-O Horror Movie Bingo Game: https://horr-o.com/Dr Bart's YouTube Page, Ask Dr Bart: https://www.youtube.com/user/bartpsy/videosMilgram Experiment Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milgram_experimentStanford Prison Experiment Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_prison_experimentShow Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comMusic -- Spencer Morelock, Ken DicksonDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

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 banded together for the power of good.In this short episode, Allison talks about the now thankfully defunct custom of Devil's Night in Detroit, as well as how such phenomena came to be associated with Halloween in the first place. It wasn't always this way. Additionally, Allison wraps things up by talking about several other eerie or macabre historical events that have happened on or just before All Hallow's Eve.Additional Info:Devil's Night: https://www.crimemuseum.org/crime-library/organized-crime/devils-night/Devil's Night Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devil%27s_NightStrange Events on Halloween: https://www.insider.com/strange-things-happened-on-halloweenWoman Finds S.O.S. from China in Halloween Decorations: https://nypost.com/2021/02/13/us-mom-found-sos-in-decorationsand-exposed-chinas-camps/Show Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comMusic -- Spencer Morelock, Ken DicksonDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

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 into the search for the paranormal.Not only that, but there are some listener submitted personal ghost stories and encounters with the strange and unusual. We also talk a bit about the existential pursuit of evidence of the afterlife, as well as cursed objects and a few of our favorite ghost movies!There's a lot to see here. But what we really want you to do is press play and enjoy.Additional Info:The Prosecutors Podcast: https://prosecutorspodcast.com/The Haunted Alabama Black Belt: https://www.amazon.com/Haunted-Alabama-Black-Belt-America/dp/1609499441Haunted Tuscaloosa: https://www.amazon.com/Haunted-Tuscaloosa-America-David-Higdon-ebook/dp/B00XQZBLZ4Dignity and RespectI was adopted by Cult leader God Father Divine in 1962.In 1958, when I was four years...Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Reality Life with Kate CaseyThree times a week I interview directors, producers, and stars from unscripted television.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify The Enthusiasm ProjectDeep dives exploring the world of what it means to be an independent creator.Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifyShow Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comIntro and Background Music -- Spencer MorelockDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

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 discussion dives into the origins of the genre, then onto so many of the movies it's spawned, but somehow they've only barely scratched the surface. Also tune in to see which found footage movie receives their crowning jewel. Additional Info:The 80s High Podcast https://the80shigh.podbean.com/Show Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comIntro and Background Music -- Spencer MorelockDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

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 for more psychology geekery.But more than that, for most of human history, we've stared into reflective surfaces for magical purposes. What's up with that? Does it even work?Well... kind of! Herein also lies a quick rundown of some choice bathroom ghosts from Japan, including Hanako-san, Aka Manto, and that feisty little toilet licking goblin, Akaname.And what's up with bathrooms being the prime location for strange hauntings, anyway? Am I morphing into Seinfeld? Only one way to find out... Additional Info:Buy Hillary Monahan's Bloody Mary Books:https://www.amazon.com/Hillary-Monahan/e/B00JALZWQW/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1Snopes on Bloody Mary Legendhttps://www.snopes.com/fact-check/bloody-mary-story/Scryinghttp://www.fieldsofstudy.com/scryingJapanese Bathroom Ghostshttps://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/japans-bathroom-ghostsShow Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comIntro and Background Music -- Spencer MorelockDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

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 the children were taken, and there were plenty of suspicious events leading up to the fire that caused them to believe that way. After the fire, things only got weirder with the investigation, including sightings of the children and a mysterious photograph sent to the family more than twenty years later.But what really happened to the missing Sodder kids? Allison does all her best to break it all down and comes up with a theory, but she realizes there are many who may not agree. This one is a bit of a head-scratcher, to say the least.Additional Info:Unresolved Mysteries Link on Reddit (Lots of links within)https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/cpvxde/the_sodder_children_new_leads/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=shareStacy Horn's NPR Articlehttps://www.npr.org/2005/12/23/5067563/mystery-of-missing-children-haunts-w-va-townSmithsonian Magazine Article:https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-children-who-went-up-in-smoke-172429802/Show Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comIntro and Background Music -- Spencer MorelockDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

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 incestuous bloodline of Queen Victoria ultimately responsible for the fall of the Romanov family in Russia? Give a listen and let me know what you think.Finally, I wrap up with some American takes on the whole inbreeding thing, and the cultural differences between that and royalty. This all but guarantees I have to talk about the blue people of Kentucky.So come on in and take a short ride on a few twisted bloodlines. This ain't an Olive Garden, but when you're here, you're family.Additional Info: That Habsburg Jaw:https://allthatsinteresting.com/habsburg-jawKing Charles II:https://allthatsinteresting.com/charles-ii-of-spainThe Habsburg Family Tree:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBOnjhEbqTMThe Blue Fugates of Kentuckyhttps://allthatsinteresting.com/fugate-family-blue-people-of-kentuckyThe Whitaker Familyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkGiFpJC9LMShow Credits:Show Credits:Show Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comIntro Music -- Spencer MorelockBackground Music -- "Division" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Ding Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

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 available at any town apothecary.Learn all about ground up mummies, whether unearthed from Egyptian tombs, or locally sourced from the neighborhood executioner and made in-house, and how people used them to treat various ailments, and even made paint pigment out of their ground-up remains.And that's only a little of what's packed into this 20-something minutes. Come for the primer on curative cannibalism and cultural exploitation. Stay for the always timely reminder as to why incest is bad.Additional Info:Smithsonian Magazine Article on Corpse Medicinehttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-gruesome-history-of-eating-corpses-as-medicine-82360284/Modern Antiquities Smugglinghttps://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-21/egypts-3-billion-dollar-smuggling-problem/10388394Peruvian Gang Harvesting Human Fathttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/nov/20/peru-gang-killing-human-fatMummy Brown Pigment Wikihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mummy_brownHistory of Consuming Human Remainshttps://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/mumia-the-strange-history-of-human-remains-as-medicine#A-controversial-practiceMummia Wikihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MummiaMummy Craze of the Victorian Erahttps://theconversation.com/why-did-people-start-eating-egyptian-mummies-the-weird-and-wild-ways-mummy-fever-swept-through-europe-177551Show Credits:Show Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comIntro Music -- Spencer MorelockBackground Music -- Ken Dickson: https://soundcloud.com/kenjamdDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

There are countless examples in true crime of the psychiatric phenomenon Folie à Deux, also known as shared delusion or shared psychosis. In this short episode, Allison goes into three very distinct cases.In 2016, an Australian family, the Tromps, took an extremely bizarre impromptu road trip that ended with all of them separated and in various states of mental agitation and catatonia.In the late 1970s, two men were incarcerated together and spent all their spare time feeding a shared fantasy of raping young girls. Once paroled, they set about putting their plans to work. Only it soon escalated to murder. Eventually becoming known as the Toolbox Killers, Lawrence Bittaker and Roy Norris were eventually arrested, but not before raping, maiming, and killing upwards of a half dozen young women and girls.Finally, learn about Mr and Mrs A, a couple who became entrapped in one of the partners' psychotic states, feeding a series of delusions that eventually led to the death of their infant son.Additional Info:Folie à Deux Wiki:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folie_%C3%A0_deuxExcerpt on Folie à Deux re: Toolbox Killers:https://books.google.com/books?id=uM5SDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA198&lpg=PA198&dq=lawrence+bittaker+and+roy+norris+folie+%C3%A0+deux&source=bl&ots=gKeolktW3s&sig=ACfU3U0NHI1d8VSCrUmTd3TCm9nDTGeEfQ&hl=en&ppis=_c&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjS68Xx_LDoAhVZCc0KHSjoARkQ6AEwAnoECAsQAQ#v=onepage&q=lawrence%20bittaker%20and%20roy%20norris%20folie%20%C3%A0%20deux&f=falseThe Story of Mr and Mrs A:https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp.2013.13010027The Mystery of the Tromp Family:https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-37293494https://www.mamamia.com.au/tromp-family/Famous Folie à Deux Murder Cases:https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/folie-a-deux-murdersShow Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comIntro Music -- Spencer MorelockBackground Music -- Ken Dickson: https://soundcloud.com/kenjamdDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

All war is hell, but World War I was a rare breed of nightmarish, thanks in large part to the advances of the Industrial Revolution, and in particular, the advances in chemistry. In this short episode, Allison lays down a basic primer of the development of chlorine, phosgene, and other gases used on the battlefront, and then she tells a harrowing story of a Russian fortress to which the Germans laid siege with a balloon of chlorine destruction. What happened next is like something out of a George Romero flick.But the man who created these weapons, Fritz Haber, revolutionized the world in other key ways. So stick around and learn a little about that too! Additional Info:Attack of the Dead Men Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_of_the_Dead_MenTechnology of WWI: https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/240-artist-soldiers-technologyGas in the Great War: https://www.kumc.edu/school-of-medicine/academics/departments/history-and-philosophy-of-medicine/archives/wwi/essays/medicine/gas-in-the-great-warShow Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comIntro Music -- Spencer MorelockBackground Music -- Ken DicksonDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

A Norwegian man died in 1989 and his grandson had his cryogenically frozen corpse placed into a shed up in Nederland, Colorado. Hijinks ensued, and today an annual festival called Frozen Dead Guy Days is held to celebrate Grandpa Bredo. Learn about this odd American legend and more about the legitimacy (or lack thereof) of human cryonics. There's also a brief dovetail into death aversion. Will we ever be able to successfully resurrect a frozen corpse? Do we want to? Or would it be better to simply upload our consciousness into a simulation? OR HAVE WE ALREADY?Allison covers as many bases as possible in this short episode, but leaves plenty of room for future episodes!Additional Info:Cryonics Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CryonicsFrozen Dead Guy Days: https://frozendeadguydays.comLegends of America Frozen Dead Guy Days article: https://www.legendsofamerica.com/co-frozendeadguy/Crestone End of Life Project: https://informedfinalchoices.org/crestone/about-ceolp/ceolp-history/Nectome brain and memory preservation website: https://nectome.com/https://nectome.com/Show Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comIntro Music -- Spencer MorelockBackground Music -- Ken DicksonDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

Ah, Light as a Feather. That childhood slumber party staple that some would swear has some kind of actual sorcery involved. But what are its origins? Can it open a door to the spirit world? Is it even actually possible to lift a whole person with only a couple of your fingers? This short episode goes into it all. Allison even takes a moment to talk about what creepy little weirdos kids are in general, as well as how human memory works (and doesn't). You'll even get instructions on how to play a game that will apparently allow a spirit to stalk you for a few hours. Have fun! Additional Info:Light as a Feather Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_as_a_feather,_stiff_as_a_boardHow to play Light as a Feather: https://www.wikihow.com/Play-Light-as-a-FeatherHow to play MASH: https://www.wikihow.com/Play-M.A.S.HHow to play The Midnight Game https://theghostinmymachine.com/2014/03/31/the-most-dangerous-games-the-midnight-game/Show Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comIntro Music -- Spencer MorelockBackground Music -- Ken DicksonDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

Karaoke is a harmless enough pastime, but sometimes it can get you killed. This is especially true if you try to sing Frank Sinatra's classic tune "My Way" in the Philippines, where upwards of a dozen deaths can be attributed to people singing this song in one of the country's ubiquitous karaoke establishments. But in this episode of Ding Dong Ditch, Allison goes into even more incidents of karaoke rage and what combination of factors could inspire spectators or sometimes even the singers themselves, to get violent.Additional Info:Sinatra Tune Strikes Deadly Chord: https://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/07/world/asia/07karaoke.htmlKaraoke Turned Deadly Pastimehttps://www.avclub.com/karaoke-turned-deadly-in-the-my-way-killings-1845312562My Way Killings Wikihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Way_killingsWojtek the Polish Soldier Bearhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wojtek_(bear)Show Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comIntro Music -- Spencer MorelockBackground Music -- Ken DicksonDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

In 1944, a Finnish ski patrol soldier named Aimo Koivunen outran a Soviet platoon after this unit was besieged in the Laplands. It was a testament of extreme human will and endurance, and it wouldn't have been possible without... methamphetamine.Yes, you read that right. Listen on to learn more about Aimo's harrowing journey, and how meth and other amphetamines have played a vital role in militaries and wars across the globe.This is the first episode of the show-within-the-show, and we hope you enjoy these strange and/or interesting tales as they upload weekly, both between and during regular seasons of Ding Dong Darkness Time!Additional Info:The Crazy Crystal Meth Adventure of a Finnish Soldier: https://medium.com/exploring-history/the-crazy-crystal-meth-adventure-of-a-finnish-soldier-1cae54a1238fShow Credits:Graphics -- Nathaniel Dickson: http://ndickson.comIntro Music -- Spencer MorelockBackground Music -- Ken DicksonDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com

Everything's Eventual, y'all. Including the ultimate ending of our Stephen King Boogaloo! But Allison and Chris want to go out on a haunting note, so they decided to pluck their two favorite stories from King's celebrated short story collection, Everything's Eventual. While the entire catalog is worth celebrating, these are two key stories that we think go very well together, especially as they were both mentioned in King's fantastic non-fiction book, On Writing.In The Man in the Black Suit, King flexes his literary fiction muscles to the tune of winning an O. Henry Award and other major accolades in a story about a young boy who goes to the river to do a little fishing and ends up meeting the devil. And in 1408, the ultimate haunted hotel story, a man's skepticism about ghosties and ghoulies is put to the ultimate test with a bad acid trip/fever dream experience that has lived rent-free in our heads ever since we read it. The movie starring John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson is also well worth a watch. We give you the scoop on a lot of the interesting trivia you might have missed.Additional Info:80s High Podcast:  https://the80shigh.podbean.com/Credits:Show Art -- Nathaniel Dickson http://ndickson.comMusic -- Spencer MorelockDing Dong Darkness Time Media:Twitter: @dddarknesstimeInstagram: dddarknesstimeGmail: dddarknesstime@gmail.com