We’ve all seen it in movies and TV shows, someone is near death and someone screams, “Don’t go towards the light!” But what if we should never go into the light after we die…? We’re discussing the Soul Trap Theory in this mini tale, where we’ll be second-guessing who exactly is behind “the light” and what happens if you choose to go into it. Trust us, you’ll want to do some deep meditation after this and maybe rearrange your postmortem plans.

For pictures and more information, please follow us on Instagram @thespectralpod. If you want to send us a story or recommendation, email us: spectralpod@gmail.com.

Please rate and review on your favorite listening platform. The ghosts and I will be eternally grateful. We hope you keep listening! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all other listening platforms.

Sources:

Arsena, Pamela. “The Reincarnation Soul Trap: Illusory LIght or Divine Gateway.” Pamela Arsena, 04 June 2023, https://pamelaarsena.com/the-reincarnation-soul-trap-illusory-light-or-divine-gateway/.

S, Harshita. “Exit the Cave - A primer to the after-death Soul Trap Theory.” Medium, 10 Feb. 2023, https://medium.com/@Synchronised_universe/exit-the-cave-a-primer-to-the-after-death-soul-trap-theory-6afe1ff6a7a2.

For this week’s episode, we’re trading our mics for easels and diving into the world of haunted paintings. We’ve curated a collection so deadly it includes: a rendition of polar bears that reportedly drove a university student to take their own life, subjects within a painting disappearing, a serial killer clown portrait, and more. Put on your smock with us and explore the history behind these paintings and how they started tormenting their owners. Also…Philippines, babe, are you okay?

For pictures and more information, please follow us on Instagram & Threads @thespectralpod. If you want to send us a story or recommendation, email us: spectralpod@gmail.com.

Please rate and review on your favorite listening platform. The ghosts and I will be eternally grateful. We hope you keep listening! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all other platforms.

Sources:

Cristina, Maria. “Spooky Art: The Dead Mother by Edvard Munch (Interpretation and Analysis).” Medium, 24 Oct. 2021, https://maria-cristina.medium.com/spooky-art-the-dead-mother-by-edvard-munch-interpretation-and-analysis-3fa6d5b45ad.

“Flight 1 And The Curse of Arshile Gorky.” Artlyst, 26 Apr. 2015, https://artlyst.com/news/flight-1-and-the-curse-of-arshile-gorky/.

Gomez, Jerome. “Behind the Curse of Juan Luna’s ‘Portrait of a Lady’.” Esquire, 20 Jan. 2017, https://www.esquiremag.ph/culture/books-and-art/crimes-and-punishment-a1549-20170120-lfrm3.

Hawthorn, LJ. “3 More Horrific Haunted Paintings.” The Hawthorn Files, 25 Jan. 2023, https://thehawthornfiles.com/2023/01/25/3-more-horrific-haunted-paintings/.

“Manila Film Center.” Filieye, 06 Aug. 2018, https://filieye.wordpress.com/2018/08/06/tragic-theater/.

Sweet, Laurel J. “Gacy painting turns Stone cold.” Wicked Local, 01 Dec. 2005, https://www.wickedlocal.com/story/observer-advocate/2005/12/02/gacy-painting-turns-stone-cold/39179098007/.

“The curse of ‘Mi Novia’.” Filieye, 22 Mar. 2019, https://filieye.wordpress.com/2019/03/22/the-curse-of-mi-novia/.

Welcome to Spectral’s Top 10, where we bring you the most unsettling, creepy songs the music industry has to offer. We’ve got a great set list for you this evening, ranging from songs fueled by ghostly encounters to love songs between the live and the decomposed. And don’t miss Alexis sharing the true meaning of the name AC/DC. Thanks for tuning in! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all other platforms.

For pictures and more information, please follow us on Instagram & Threads @thespectralpod. If you want to send us a story or recommendation, email us: spectralpod@gmail.com.

Please rate and review on your favorite listening platform. The ghosts and I will be eternally grateful. We hope you keep listening!

Resources:

Bartlette, DeLani R. “Diane Downs: Hungry Like the Wolf.” Medium, 11 May 2021, https://delanirbartlette.medium.com/diane-downs-hungry-like-the-wolf-22905cecdd97.

Bruce Springsteen All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track

Burchard, Jeremy. “How the Ghost of Hank Williams Inspired David Allan Coe’s ‘The Ride’”. Wide Open Country, 26 Mar. 2020, https://www.wideopencountry.com/how-the-ghost-of-hank-williams-inspired-the-ride/.

“David Allan Coe.” Legendary David Allan Coe, Accessed 10 Apr. 2024, https://www.legendarydavidallancoe.com/.

Holland, Oscar and Palumbo, Jacqui. “Lil Nas X’s unofficial ‘Satan’ Nikes containing human blood sell out in under a minute.” CNN, 29 March 2021, https://www.cnn.com/style/article/lil-nas-x-mschf-satan-nike-shoes/index.html.

Kettler, Sara. “Was Caril Ann Fugate Really Charlie Starkweather’s Murderous Accomplice?” A&E, 29 Nov. 2023, https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/charles-starkweather-killing-spree.

Mamo, Heran. “Dave Grohl, Lindsey Buckingham & More Featured on Halsey’s ‘If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power’ Album.” Billboard, 25 Aug. 2021, https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/halseys-if-i-cant-have-love-i-want-power-album-features-9620019/.

“Nebraska”. All Music, Accessed 10 Apr. 2024, https://www.allmusic.com/album/nebraska-mw0000650804.

Pallardy, Richard. “Elizabeth Bathory.” Britannica, 30 Apr. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Elizabeth-Bathory.

Perchick, Michael. “The Way: How a Salado couple’s tragic story inspired a chart-topping song.” WUSA 9, 27 July 2017, https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/the-way-how-a-salado-couples-tragic-story-inspired-a-chart-topping-song/269-459113059.

Denver’s International Airport has been the center of SO many conspiracy theories. After opening behind schedule in 1995, the airport has garnered suspicions from locals since day 1, and the theories of what’s hidden in Denver’s walls have only gotten crazier. From secret societies to haunted horse sculptures, we’re tackling all of Denver’s wildest theories. #JustBeingaLizard

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all other platforms.

For pictures and more information, please follow us on Instagram & Threads @thespectralpod. If you want to send us a story or recommendation, email us: spectralpod@gmail.com.

Please rate and review on your favorite listening platform. The ghosts and I will be eternally grateful. We hope you keep listening!

Resources:

Anas, Brittany. “Why The Denver Airport Started Embracing Its Conspiracy Theories.” Forbes, 30 Oct. 2023 https://www.forbes.com/sites/brittanyanas/2023/10/30/why-the-denver-airport-started-embracing-its-conspiracy-theories/?sh=2ae7bac47b76.

Bahr, Sarah. “Chasing Conspiracy Theories at the Denver Airport.” The New York Times, 17 May 2023, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/03/insider/chasing-conspiracy-theories-at-the-denver-airport.html.

Erbland, Kate. “6 Strange Conspiracy Theories Surrounding the Denver Airport.” Mental Floss, 08 Jun. 2023, https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/61740/5-weird-conspiracy-theories-surrounding-denver-international-airport.

Hernandez, Esteban L. “DIA’s legacy of conspiracy theories.” Axios, 23 July 2023, https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2023/07/23/denver-airport-conspiracies-theories.

Humphries, Monica. “6 conspiracy theories people believe about Denver’s airport, debunked.” Business Insider, 23 Nov. 2022, https://www.businessinsider.com/denver-international-airport-conspiracy-theories-debunked-2021-10.

Visit Denver Staff. “Myths and Legends Behind Denver International Airport.” Denver, 07 May 2021, https://www.denver.org/blog/post/myths-denver-airport/.

Wenzel, John. “The definitive guide to Denver International Airport’s biggest conspiracy theories.” The Denver Post, 31 Oct. 2016, https://www.denverpost.com/2016/10/31/definitive-guide-to-denver-international-airport-conspiracy-theories/.

We’re traveling to the misty hills of Ireland and diving into the commonly misunderstood Celtic lore of banshees, including a couple firsthand experiences. The banshee’s mournful cry and sometimes ominous presence can haunt you, protect you, or warn you.

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all other platforms.

For pictures and more information, please follow us on Instagram & Threads @thespectralpod. If you want to send us a story or recommendation, email us: spectralpod@gmail.com.

Please rate and review on your favorite listening platform. The ghosts and I will be eternally grateful. We hope you keep listening!

Resources:

Brent, Harry. “Exploring Irish Mythology: The Banshee.” Irish Post, 18 Aug. 2021, https://www.irishpost.com/life-style/exploring-irish-mythology-banshee-170287.

Marrs, Delaney. “In Search of the Irish Family Banshee, Her Cry Echoing Across Generations.” Folklife, 30 Oct. 2023, https://folklife.si.edu/magazine/irish-banshee.

“Norman invasion of Ireland.” New World Encyclopedia, Accessed 16 Mar. 2024, https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Norman_invasion_of_Ireland.

O’Hart, John. “Irish Pedigrees.” Roots Web, Accessed 17 Mar. 2024, https://sites.rootsweb.com/~fianna/surname/old.html.

“Six authentic recordings of keening from Ireland and Scotland (1955-1965).” The Folk Revival Project, Accessed 16 Mar. 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgts7_b1JWY&ab_channel=TheFolkRevivalProject.

The Newsroom. “Ghost stories special Part 3 Banshee Tales.” Derry Journal, 30 Oct. 2014, https://www.derryjournal.com/news/ghost-stories-special-part-3-banshee-tales-2260476.

“Whelan Family History.” Ancestry, Accessed 15 Mar. 2024, https://www.ancestry.com/name-origin?surname=whelan.

What do serial killers, the Black Dahlia, and low water pressure have in common? The Cecil Hotel. We’re taking our first deep dive into true crime with the tragedies surrounding the Cecil Hotel, and it’s gnarly. The Cecil is infamous for being a lawless, dark place, so we’re going decade by decade to give you some of the Cecil’s most notorious mishappenings. Check out the Netflix documentary we reference: Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel.

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all other platforms.

For pictures and more information, please follow us on Instagram & Threads @thespectralpod. If you want to send us a story or recommendation, email us: spectralpod@gmail.com.

Please rate and review on your favorite listening platform. The ghosts and I will be eternally grateful. We hope you keep listening!

Resources:

Callaghan, Chris. “The Curse of The Cecil Hotel.” American Ghost Walks, Accessed 03 Mar. 2024, https://www.americanghostwalks.com/articles/the-cecil-hotel-haunted-los-angeles.

Henry, Grace. “What happened in the Cecil hotel? History explained.” RadioTimes, 15 Dec. 2023, https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/documentaries/true-crime/cecil-hotel-history-deaths-serial-killer-stays-netflix/.

Hutton, Alice. “The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel: Gruesome history of hotel where mysterious death of Elisa Lam took place.” The Independent, 11 Feb. 2021, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/the-cecil-hotel-netflix-elisa-lam-los-angeles-b1800647.html.

Khouri, Andrew. “Once a den of prostitution and drugs, the Cecil Hotel in downtown L.A. is set to undergo a $100 million renovation.” Los Angeles Times, 01 Jun. 2016, https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-cecil-hotel-20160601-snap-story.html.

Kranc, Lauren. “The Former Cecil Hotel Manager: ‘I Believe in Ghosts… But I Don’t Think They Run the Show Over There’.” Esquire, 10 Feb. 2021, https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a35463537/cecil-hotel-manager-amy-price-elisa-lam-interview/.

Martin, Laura. “The Cecil Hotel’s True History Is Even Darker Than the Netflix Series.” Esquire, 10 Feb. 2021, https://www.esquire.com/uk/culture/tv/a35471517/cecil-hotel-murders-true-story/.

Meares, Hadley. “‘The Suicide’: The Hotel Cecil and the Mean Streets of L.A.’s Notorious Skid Row.” PBS SoCal, 29 Sept. 2015, https://www.pbssocal.org/history-society/the-suicide-the-hotel-cecil-and-the-mean-streets-of-l-a-s-notorious-skid-row.

Serena, Katie. “Inside The Cecil Hotel And Its Eerie History Of Death And Murder.” All That’s Interesting, 23 May 2023, https://allthatsinteresting.com/cecil-hotel-los-angeles.

“Who Was Jack Unterweger, the Austrian Serial Killer in Netflix’s Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel?” MovieMaker, 16 Feb. 2021, https://www.moviemaker.com/jack-unterweger-austrian-serial-killer-netflix-vanishing-at-the-cecil-hotel/.

In numerology, 27 means reassurance and renewal. But among young artists, 27 can be a milestone age. We’re covering the 27 Club, a group full of talent whose lives were cut way too short. Is the 27 Club a curse? Could there be something more sinister at play, like… a deal with the devil? Tune in as we go through notable members of the 27 Club and the major theories behind it. Trust us, at the end of it, a deal with the devil might not sound so crazy.

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all other platforms.

For pictures and more information, please follow us on Instagram & Threads @thespectralpod. If you want to send us a story or recommendation, email us: spectralpod@gmail.com.

Please rate and review on your favorite listening platform. The ghosts and I will be eternally grateful. We hope you keep listening!

Resources:

Benitez-Eves, Tina. “The Mystery Surrounding the 1969 Death of Rollings Stones Guitarist and founder Brian Jones.” American Songwriter, July 2023, https://americansongwriter.com/the-mystery-surrounding-the-1969-death-of-rolling-stones-guitarist-and-founder-brian-jones/.

Beaumont, Mark. “The death of Jimi Hendrix: the unanswered questions.” The Independent, 17 Sept. 2020, https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/jimi-hendrix-death-cause-theories-b451314.html.

Beringer, Brittany, Geller, Lindsay, and Pelto, Aliza. “What Is A Saturn Return in Astrology… And Should I Be Concerned?” Women’s Health Magazine, 28 Feb. 2024,

“Did he OD or did he disappear? 50 years since Jim Morrison’s demise, but mystery around his death lives on.” The Economic Times, 01 Jun. 2021, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/did-he-od-or-did-he-disappear-50-years-since-jim-morrisons-demise-but-mystery-around-his-death-lives-on/articleshow/84017607.cms?from=mdr.

Evans, Greg. “Peggy Caserta, Janis Joplin’s Love, Comes Clean (for Real This Time).” Vulture, 02 Aug. 2018, https://www.vulture.com/2018/08/peggy-caserta-janis-joplins-love-comes-clean-for-real.html.

Fields, Liz. “5 interesting facts about Jean-Michel Basquiat.” PBS, 21 Feb. 2021, https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/5-interesting-facts-about-jean-michel-basquiat/17318/#:~:text=Basquiat%2C%20who%20was%20of%20Haitian,young%20artists%20to%20this%20day.

George-Warren, Holly. “‘If I Fail, I’ll Fail in Front of the Whole World.’ How Janis Joplin Became The Singer Who Wouldn’t Settle.” Time, 26 Oct. 2019, https://time.com/5711053/janis-joplin-wouldnt-settle/.

Harris, Alex. “The Mystery and Myth of the 27 Club.” Neon Music, 13 Apr. 2023, https://neonmusic.co.uk/the-mystery-and-myth-of-the-27-club/.

Hopper, Alex. “Behind the Tragic Death of Amy Winehouse.” American Songwriter, Mar. 2022, https://americansongwriter.com/behind-the-tragic-death-of-amy-winehouse/.

Inskeep, Steve. “The Doors’ Jim Morrison Died in 1971, The Same Year NPR Debuted Original Programming, NPR, 1 Sept. 2021, https://www.npr.org

King, Essie. “Basquiat and Identity Politics: Challenging Conventional Narratives.” My Art Broker, Accessed 15 Feb. 2024, https://www.myartbroker.com/artist-jean-michel-basquiat/

Margaritoff, Marco. ‘Inside The Text of Kurt Cobain’s Heartwrenching Suicide Note.” All Thats Interesting, 4 Jun. 2023, https://allthatsinteresting.com/kurt-cobain-suicide-note.

McKinney, Kelsey. “Despite the huge myth, musicians don’t die at 27 - they die at 56.” Vox, 23 Mar. 2015, https://www.vox.com

Terich, Jeff. “The two songs at the heart of Robert Johnson’s devil myth.” Treble, 29 Oct. 2020, https://www.treblezine.com/robert-johnson-devil-myth-two-songs/.

“The 27 Club - A Deeper Dive into a Tragic Phenomenon.” DC Public Library, 27 Apr. 2023, https://www.dclibrary.org/

The Sound Team. “A Close Friend Reveals Details That Janis Joplin Didn’t Die Of An Overdose.” The Sound, 03 Oct. 2018, https://www.thesound.co.nz/

Ugwu, Reggie. “Overlooked No More: Robert Johnson, Bluesman Whose Life Was a Riddle.” The New York Times, 25 Sept. 2019, https://www.nytimes.com/

We're back to tell you all about the slew of strange misfortunes that occurred after the unsealing of King Tut’s tomb: including inexplicable fires, illnesses, and death that plagued some of the tomb’s excavators, early visitors, and morbid collectors. Were all the unfortunate happenings a result of the 1900's of it all--or do you believe in the curse of King Tut?

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all other platforms.

For pictures and more information, please follow us on Instagram & Threads @thespectralpod. If you want to send us a story or recommendation, email us: spectralpod@gmail.com.

Please rate and review on your favorite listening platform. The ghosts and I will be eternally grateful. We hope you keep listening!

Resources:

Al-Youm, Al-Masry. “New facts about the curse of the pharaohs revealed.” Egypt Independent, 24 Jul. 2020, ⁠https://egyptindependent.com/new-facts-about-the-curse-of-the-pharaohs-revealed/⁠.

Cavendish, Richard. “Tutankhamun’s Curse?” History Today, 03 Mar. 2014, ⁠https://www.historytoday.com/archive/months-past/tutankhamuns-curse⁠.

Donahue, Michelle Z. “New ‘curses’ emerge from Tut’s history-making tomb study.” National Geographic, 30 Jan. 2019, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/tut-tomb-discovery-solves-mystery-new-questions-curse.

Handwerk, Brian. “Curse of the Mummy.” National Geographic, Accessed 15 Jan. 2024, ⁠https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/curse-of-the-mummy⁠.

Handwerk, Brian. “Egypt’s ‘King Tut Curse’ Caused by Tomb Toxins?” National Geographic, 06 May 2005, ⁠https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/news-tutankhamun-carnarvon-mold-bacteria-toxins⁠.

History Staff. “Is the curse of King Tut real?” History Channel, 19 Sept. 2023, ⁠https://www.history.com/news/is-the-curse-of-king-tut-real⁠.

Lynch, Patrick. “The Curse of the Pharaohs Exposed.” History Collection, 24 Jan. 2017, https://historycollection.com/curse-pharaohs-exposed/.

Radford, Benjamin. “The Curse of King Tut: Facts & Fable.” Live Science, 24 Oct. 2022, https://www.livescience.com/44297-king-tut-curse.html.

“The Curse of King Tut’s Tomb.” National Geographic, 01 Aug. 2023, https://beyondkingtut.com/the-curse-of-king-tuts-tomb/.