Matt, Katie, and EJ conclude their investigation of the Curse of the Crying Boy, a haunted painting with the power to burn whatever it touches. The Sun offers to burn Londoner's copies of the painting in a public pyre, claiming it will finally rid them of the curse. But as the story spreads, some people claim that the remaining pictures of crying children are still jinxed. Is it true, or is there some more mundane explanation for why these pantings refuse to go up in flames?

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Matt, Katie, and EJ break down the latest in Fortean news. A modern-day witch trial unfolds in Hanover, PA as a New Age shop challenges a 160 year old law. Ufologists investigate a possible weapon on Mars. And a newly-identified squid shows up in the most unlikely place. Plus, an Australian-themed exorcism.

• Hanover witch trials

https://www.witf.org/2026/07/18/pennsylvania-tarot-reading-lawsuit-advances-after-judge-denies-motion-to-dismiss/

https://www.wgal.com/article/york-county-lawsuit-challenges-pennsylvania-165-year-old-fortune-telling-ban/73369978

• Cindy Crawford’s daughter was possessed and had an exorcism

https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/kaia-gerber-claims-she-had-exorcism-as-a-possessed-child/

• Alien object on Mars

https://www.gbnews.com/science/space-breakthrough-object-mars-life

https://www.yahoo.com/news/science/articles/mysterious-mars-object-stirring-extraterrestrial-143101720.html

https://www.ufosightingsdaily.com/2026/07/nasa-mars-rover-finds-alien-missile.html

• New squid found in 70 year old collection

https://spacedaily.com/t-sperm-whale-stomach-new-squid-family-mobydickia/

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In England in the 1980s, a new haunted object exploded onto the occult scene. This was a painting of a crying boy, a painting allegedly possessing such a dark and powerful energy that it was indestructible. Even after a housefire gutted their home, the owners of the painting swore that it remained unharmed, as if the painting itself had been the cause of the blaze.

The most terrifying part: the painting was one of a thousands, and all of them were cursed. This series of paintings of crying children have become synonymous with catastrophe, from death to destruction. Some even claimed the child depicted in the painting was the devil himself.

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Pre-order Ana Must Die (Again) by EJ Green:

https://zandoprojects.com/books/ana-must-die-again-paperback

Matt, Katie, and EJ conclude their investigation into Mokele-Mbembe and the living dinosaurs of Africa. New investigator William Gibbons experiences a terrifying attack in the jungle, and converts to Christianity. Now empowered by God, he leverages Young Earth Creationism and cryptozoology in his future expeditions. Meanwhile, more and more researchers fail to capture evidence of dinosaurs, even as Werner Herzog and Steve Boyes track mysterious ghost elephants in Angola. What do these real animals tell us about the living dinosaurs of the Congo? And are there any surviving sauropods out there?

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Matt, Katie, and EJ tackle the latest in Fortean news. This month, we dive into the New Apostolic Movement, as small town church wages war with their neighboring bookstore, claiming that it's full of demons. Plus, an alien steals James Franco's lunch, and Jimothy the raccoon continues his antics.

The Demon Next Door

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/08/charismatic-christian-church-tennessee/687624/

James Franco's alien:

https://www.irishstar.com/culture/entertainment/james-franco-addresses-alien-footage-37437551

https://www.snopes.com/news/2026/07/16/james-franco-alien-footage/

Jimothy the raccoon:

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/meet-jimothy-seattles-internet-famous-raccoon/

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Matt, Katie, and EJ continue their investigation into the neo dinosaurs of Africa. Today, we're discussing the history of the theory of evolution, and how it shaped the way some cryptozoologists think today. From Darwin's finches to a Tennessee classroom, the push and pull of evolution and creationism has been an undercurrent throughout the modern history of America. But as the dogmatic movement of intelligent design sets its sights on the American educational system, it's cryptids that are in the crosshairs.

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Matt, Katie, and EJ continue their investigation of Mokele Mbembe and the legends of neodinosaurs in Africa. Roy P. Mackal and James Powell travel to Lake Tele to investigate rumors of sauropods. They never actually see one, but they talk to lots of people who have... after buying them a drink and offering them supplies of course. Mackal is convinced and launches a second expedition. Meanwhile, rival cryptozoologist Herman Regusters stakes out the lake with audio and video equipment, hoping to catch a glimpse of the mysterious dinosaur.

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Matt sits down with author and filmmaker Adam Gorightly for a conversation on aliens, government disinformation, and conspiracy theories. Adam's new movie, Saucers, Spooks, and Kooks follows the story of scientist Paul Bennewitz, who was targeted by a mind-bending counterintelligence campaign that gave rise to enduring UFO lore. The themes of this incident spread into the 1980s UFO scene, and eventually found their way to movies and shows like the X-Files, captivating a new generation of believers. Tropes like the "Greys," underground "Reptilian" bases, and crashed saucers have had an enduring influence on popular culture and still determine how we see the UFO phenomenon today.

Watch Saucers, Spooks, and Kooks: https://saucersspooksandkooks.vhx.tv

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