Jackalope Carnival: A Sideshow of Stories

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Mysteries, legendary creatures, historical oddities, strange occurrences and spooky stuff all are fair game in this carnival sideshow of stories. Eric and Bekah are your guides to the unknown! Step right up! It's a Jackalope Carnival! Jackalope Carnival has a new episode every two weeks.

Jackalope Carnival


    • Dec 21, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 37m AVG DURATION
    • 40 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Jackalope Carnival: A Sideshow of Stories

    Christmas Episode '23: Santa's Friends Are Not Okay

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2023 35:04


    In our 4th Christmas episode, which may or may not have been done under the influence of holiday cheer, we take a look at some of the dark and devilish company that Saint Nicholas keeps in France, Belgium  and regions of Germany. They say you can judge someone by their friends, but we'll give Saint Nick a pass.  We have to, you don't want to get on his bad side. 

    Mermen, hidden knowledge, shape shifting dolphins and a conspiracy of lemurs

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2023 30:13


    Maryland Civil War Stories: Ghost and Otherwise

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2023 40:59


    Ghosts a plenty. Ghost-o-rama, Plethora of hauntings here. Boooooy Howdy. Also: Eric talks about his connections to the Civil War. Bekah wonders if her cold is making her manifest ectoplasm. 

    Channeling for Fun and Prophet

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2023 34:21


    Bekah and Eric are back for the next season of Jackalope Carnival! In this episode there's Ouija boards, automatic writing, earnest but (probably) poorly pronounced Mandarin and voices from the spirit world telling a famous poet to get over his ex. It's another wacky time at the Jackalope Carnival! 

    Wing-ed Har-binge-rs: Scary Sky Creatures!

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2023 44:09


    DOOOM! DOOOOOOOOOM! Were Chernobyl and the eruption of Mt Saint Helens prophesied  by winged  har-binge-rs? Or is it Har-bing-ers? Find out on this episode of Jackalope Carnival where we look into the Black Bird of Chernobyl and Batsquatch. 

    Worst Valentine's Day Episode Ever

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2023 38:45


    In this pretty inappropriate,  and not particularly family friendly episode,  Bekah and Eric look to Sylvester Graham and John Harvey Kellog  to  talk  about past diets that were intended to keep one's vision 20/20 and palms bald as cue ball.  Hey, Whitney Houston called it the Greatest Love of All.Happy Valentine's Day from Jackalope Carnival.  

    Ghost Ships: Murdered by Pirates is Good

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2023 47:08


    Jackalope Carnival again takes to the high seas in search of abandoned ghost vessels, ghosts on ships and ships that are ghosts. Also: phantom ships, missing crews and ruddy men who leave their shoes lying about in strange places shouting with Scandinavian accents through megaphones. Don't worry, Bekah and Eric have it all under control and ship shape. As much as a Jackalope Carnival can be...Also: what do Edgar Allen Poe, Richard Wagner and Sponge Bob all have in common?

    Out of Body Experiences, Psychic Spies and Dangerous Artichoke Aliens

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2023 51:06


    Did the government open doors it couldn't close? Do dangerous aliens wear hot pants in the produce aisle? Why do they wave artichokes about? Good thing the Men in Black got there just in time! We will literally mention all of this, but why exactly did the U.S. government spend tens of millions of dollars to hire psychic spies at a suburban Maryland army base? 1950s Yogis in ashrams, radio executives doing astral projection and the normal random abnormality that is a Jackalope Carnival. 

    MORE Jackalope Carnival Holiday Special 2022!!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2022 27:53


    Our second helping of international Christmas folklore and fun At one point, Bekah tries to convince Eric that if you beat a log with a stick while screaming at it, it will poop candy into your bed. So far the results are inconclusive...Happy holidays everyone!!

    Jackalope Carnival Holiday Special 2022!!

    Play Episode Play 29 sec Highlight Listen Later Nov 30, 2022 35:52


    Are werewolves and ghosts only for Halloween? What are the "stretchy pants days of December" and why do mischievous little  men crawl from underground to sour my milk? A very happy holidays from Jackalope Carnival to you!!!

    Urban Legend -or- is it? The Bunny Man and More.

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2022 40:11


    This all totally happened to my friend's cousin back in the 80s...Bekah and Eric talk about stories that sound way too unbelievable to be true.But of course, this is Jackalope Carnival, nothing is ever that simple...Lederhosen bars in downtown Baltimore, a real life murderer who came through the  bathroom mirror, a man in a bunny suit who takes the problem of suburban sprawl into his own paws, a nun in go-go boots, a purse stolen by squirrels, THAT WOMAN WITH NO PANTS IN THE CROSSWALK!& the second sketchiest motel in Missouri. It's all at the Jackalope Carnival! 

    To Owl or Not to Owl- That is the Question...

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2022 43:00


    Owlman, Hopkinsville Goblins, Eurasian Eagle Owls, Barred Owls, Barn Owls & carnies- you can't tell the players apart without a program! Bekah and Eric talk all about owls. Who? Jackalope Carnival- that's who! 

    Legends of British Rock(s)!!!!!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2022 39:59


    We countdown five LEGENDS OF BRITISH ROCK(s)!!!!But if you came looking for Zeppelin or The Beatles...um, wellllll....The stones don't really roll this week. But they do house a troop of monkeys tasked with keeping the Empire intact. Bekah talks about the Stone of Destiny heist and Eric dons a pith helmet while they countdown legends IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER!! 

    S3E2 Accidental Time Travel- Your Timeslip is Showing!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2022 39:15


    Don't you just hate it when you're taking an elevator from the office to go home and you accidentally end up in one of the bloodiest battles in American History? Or how about when you put in a full day's work, go to clock out and find that you've only been at work for ten minutes? Eric refuses to besmirch thrice, Bekah makes a shocking confession!!! Time anomalies and the regular utter nonsense abound on this episode of Jackalope Carnival ! 

    S3E1 You Wouldn't Have Heard of It, They're totally Underground

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2022 44:26


    Jackalope Carnival Is Back!!!!Eric and Bekah are excited to be back in the studio for you! This week they're going to get deep, like subterranean...We missed you, it's good to be back- IT'S A JACKALOPE CARNIVAL! 

    Jackalope Carnival Holiday Special 2021!!

    Play Episode Play 17 sec Highlight Listen Later Dec 22, 2021 25:18


    Our gift to you, dear listeners! We countdown 12 Christmas tales, traditions and trivia from around the world. Thank you for all the support! Happy Holidays! Bekah & Eric 

    S2E12 UFO Religions, Sparkly Disco Clothes and the United States Supreme Court

    Play Episode Play 22 sec Highlight Listen Later Dec 21, 2021 36:26


    No, really, it's all in there. Every single bit of it and more...Eric and Bekah will return for Jackalope Carnival season 3 in early Spring of 2022!

    S2E11 Moon-eyed People and the Menehune: Choose Your Own Adventure!

    Play Episode Play 30 sec Highlight Listen Later Dec 2, 2021 42:53


    Join us  for a special "Choose your own Adventure"  episode of Jackalope Carnival! As we investigate  stories of  moon-eyed  people from  North Carolina and the menehune of  Hawaii. How far back do these stories go ? Can you figure out their mystery?  Are aliens always an option?  You decide! 

    S2E10 Werewolves and cheese

    Play Episode Play 60 sec Highlight Listen Later Nov 17, 2021 47:41


    Two of history's most well documented werewolf sightings! And cheese! How did Barry Manalo get involved in all of this?  Hold on to your leisure suit, it's another episode of Jackalope Carnival! 

    S2E9 There's No Alligators in MY Sewers!

    Play Episode Play 31 sec Highlight Listen Later Oct 14, 2021 30:29


    The Jackalope Carnival crew is hot on the trail of one of America's most enduring urban legends. On the way there's a troop of monkeys set loose on Manhattan in a possible advertising campaign gone wrong, a zebra cobra endures a Carolina winter, Chuck Norris (allegedly) joins an urban safari and a man with a good heart makes some unwise feline decisions. Our usual brand of historical wackiness.

    S2E8 The Thing In The Water Isn't What It Appears To Be

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2021 47:11


    Eric and Bekah cover a lot of ground historically, geographically and in subject matter in this episode about things in the water. Eric tells the tale of two Chessies- one cryptid and one sirenid- both in the continent's largest estuary. Bekah talks of a being in the waters of the Pacific Northwest that looks very different from different points of view. Put down that mug of ergot and scan the coastline for undulating bobs, it's time for a Jackalope Carnival! 

    S2E7 Luchadores and Wrestling's Greatest Eyebrows

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2021 39:11


    In the second part of Jackalope Carnival's look at professional wrestling's checkered past, Eric finds the origins of hard core wrestling with a Wild Bull. Bekah talks of Lucha Libre from the early days to grappling clergy. More Jackalope Carnival weird history goodness! 

    S2E6 The World of Illusion!

    Play Episode Play 19 sec Highlight Listen Later Aug 31, 2021 44:10


    The stories of two fascinating stage magicians from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. One was a con man bigamist who found himself in a magical duel with the man whose identity he stole. The other was a literal snake oil salesman who rose to fame and prominence in Harlem Renaissance only to meet an untimely end on stage...or did he?! All of this and more on the next episode of Jackalope Carnival! 

    S2E5 Pro Wrestling's Carnival Sideshow Origin Story

    Play Episode Play 22 sec Highlight Listen Later Aug 17, 2021 31:20


    In this episode Jackalope Carnival meets you at the intersection of  carnivals, wrestling and... Wait what?  Judo masters? It's a strange world. We just relay the stories. 

    S2E4 Haunted Battlefields, Tunnels, Fast Food etc.

    Play Episode Play 15 sec Highlight Listen Later Jul 28, 2021 32:17


    In this very special episode of Jackalope Carnival, Bekah and Eric discuss a twice haunted tunnel in West Virginia and Bekah teaches us the difference between a ghost and a spirit.   For the record: Bekah likes her ghosts less gooey and Eric thinks that, like parakeets, fast food cannot be paranormal. 

    S2E3 Aliens stole my car!!!

    Play Episode Play 16 sec Highlight Listen Later Jul 14, 2021 40:52


    OK, not really, but one can't pass up a good show title when it pops up organically like that. This week Bekah and Eric talk about two of the most historically significant UFO cases of the 20th century: First: The extraordinary case of Betty and Barney Hill- the first UFO abduction report! Second:  The most widely witnessed UFO sighting in United States history: The Phoenix Lights  PLUS: guess which movie star made his Escape from New York to witness the Phoenix Lights in his private airplane- he he reported The Thing to air traffic control , as serious as a Tombstone. 

    S2E2 Spectral Dogs of Great Britain

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2021 35:11


    Spooky dogs chase you from your bangers and mash and make you hitch the first lorry home from the pub. If you go get  Bobby he'll probably say," Blimey lad, you trollied? Go home and have a kip!" But you don't, you don't go home and have a kip because you know you're not a nutter, but you know better than to chopsing the bloke. 

    S2E1 Cats, our aloof cosmic pals

    Play Episode Play 33 sec Highlight Listen Later Jun 2, 2021 44:26


    Jackalope Carnival is back for season two!This episode Eric and Bekah explore lore, superstitions and spiritual beliefs about our feline friends from various times and places. Does Bekah still make fun of Eric? Is there an audio Easter egg? Are there weird stories about machines that simulate being in a giant purring cat, poorly pronounced German, horses painted like zebras and a 90s all night Pokemon binge? Yeah, we missed you too ;) 

    S1E12 Fascinating Lee County SC: Amazing Gardens & Lizard Man

    Play Episode Play 51 sec Highlight Listen Later Mar 1, 2021 39:37


    The leech farm sponsor didn't work out- but fear not! This episode is an interesting conclusion to season 1. By listener request, Eric takes a deep dive into the 80s to come up with the story of the mysterious Lizard Man of Scrape Ore Swamp. Bekah talks about the amazing Mr. Pearl Fryar and his mystical topiary gardens. Know what we're doing after things open up? ROAD TRIP!!

    S1E11 Ley Lines -or- "What Folks Did Before the Internet Was a Thing"

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2021 32:44


    Hear Bekah and Eric debate about Ley Lines in this very special episode of Jackalope Carnival.

    S1E10 Scandinavian Sea Monsters and the "Feejee Mermaid"

    Play Episode Play 35 sec Highlight Listen Later Feb 1, 2021 36:16


    Sometimes the titles to these things just write themselves. Oh, also: Jackalope Carnival adheres (harkens?) to many hidden sea shanties, but does it contain one? (at the end, after the closing theme song, say?)

    S1E9: Medicinal Leeches as a Unifying Principle

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2021 39:23


    For the love of all that is healthy and holy do not take health advice solely from a podcast. But especially this podcast. And especially this episode of this podcast Talk to medical professionals instead. We

    S1E8: The Jersey Devil/ Ben Franklin Connection

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2021 35:17


    This week Bekah uncovers a colonial era conspiracy! Eric makes the claim that, like the turkey, the Jersey Devil should be an official creature of the U.S.A. Come for actual accounts of cryptids from the historical record stay to find out which American State grows the most aubergine.

    S1E7: Is Yer Grandpappy's Bigfoot Stories!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2020 40:29


    This week Bekah and Eric talk about the lore of everyone's favorite American hairy bipedal cryptid. Our stalwart scholars comb the archives specifically to find pre-Patterson/Gimlin accounts including one from President Theodore RooseveltAlso: Eric learns another language, take the quiz and find out if you're a "Mulder" or a "Scully" all on this week's circus of the absurd Jackalope Carnival!

    S1E6: Ancient Curses, Lead Poisoning and a Big Blue Stallion in Denver

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2020 36:32


    In this episode Bekah curses a musician's "little buttocks" (direct quote). Bekah and Eric also explore ancient curses, why they would be the worst version of the Wonder Twins ever, and an accursed copy of The Catcher in the Rye. In other words: the typical paranormal tomfoolery you now come to expect from Jackalope Carnival.

    S1E5: Alferd Packer, Cannibal, Worst Thanksgiving Guest Ever.

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2020 36:44


    "There's cannibalism and then there's overdoing it on the cannibalism" -Bekah about Alferd Packer, convicted cannibal Also: jokes about cannibalism, when and where you can make said jokes and a little town in Yukon territory where you can have your drink served with an actual severed human toe. Don't say you weren't warned.Happy Thanksgiving 2020 from Jackalope Carnival!!!

    S1E4: The Man from Taured's Frequent Flyer Miles

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2020 35:10


    Who was the man from Taured? What is the Mandela effect and why does Good Housekeeping care? How can you find cheap interdimensional travel? Does facial hair have any moral significance? All of this and more in the latest absurdity filled episode of Jackalope Carnival!

    S1E3: EVP- The Ghost in the Machines

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2020 29:49


    The second part of our spooky October series about contacting the spirit world. In this episode Bekah makes recordings at a former insane asylum, Eric expresses his strange judgements against parakeets.

    S1E2: Ouija Boards in the Local Convenience Store

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2020 26:50


    In this episode Bekah and Eric explore the history and lore of contacting the spirit world. Warning: this episode contains detailed accounts of a 7-11 in Baltimore with ouija board connections and a ham sandwich eating medium.

    S1E1: How you doin', Mothman?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2020 40:35


    Our inaugural episode! It's a Jackalope Carnival! Bekah and Eric are longtime friends and aficionados of all things odd, mysterious and downright strange. This week they talk about their favorite cryptids: jackalope and mothman. Come for the stories stay for Bekah making flirty passes at mothman.

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