Season 2: Down the Rabbit Hole

📚 Episode Research & Sources:

• History.com – What Was the Dancing Plague of 1518?

• Smithsonian Magazine

📚 Episode Research & Sources:

• Atlas Obscura – Las Vegas Underground House

• Underground House Vegas Official Site

• Vegas Ghosts – Curses & Hauntings of the Luxor Hotel

• Los Angeles Time - Legionnaires Disease

This week we're haunted by a legendary spirit and a psychic octopus!

Jerry investigates the dark history of the famous Bell Witch Haunting of Adams, Tennessee—dating all the way back to 1817 poltergeist activity. Then, Brian looks into Paul the Octopus, the allegedly psychic animal whose uncanny 2010 World Cup predictions completely broke the internet.

What haunted you this week? Drop a comment on Spotify or share your thoughts with us!

📚 Episode Research & Sources:

• Reddit – r/Humboldt Eureka Inn

• Reddit – r/NoSleep Search & Rescue Series (Stairs in the Woods)

• Reddit – r/OutOfTheLoop Lore Archives

• Wikipedia – The Historic Eureka Inn

• Wikipedia – U.S. Route 101 in California

On this episode of Amigos, Afraid!, we journey through Northern California's coastal haunts, maritime tragedies, and ancient forest lore.

Jerry explores the dense old-growth redwoods of Redwood National and State Parks, investigating local cryptid sightings, the rare environmental phenomenon of albino ghost trees, and regional woodland legends like the North Coast Wolf Man.

Later, Brian travels to Crescent City, California to examine the maritime history of Battery Point Lighthouse. We detail its construction on Del Norte County's tide-locked islet, notorious Pacific Northwest shipwrecks like the Brother Jonathan, and reports of resident spirits and paranormal phenomena surrounding former lighthouse keepers.

Check out the tiktok where we visited the lighthouse!

Amigos, what haunted you this week?

📚 Episode Research & Sources:

• https://foghornpublishing.com/Digest/StoryPage.cfm?StoryKey=2613 

• https://medium.com/@burrowslizzy/the-haunting-history-of-battery-point-lighthouse-151ca5e68243

• https://delnortehistory.org/battery-point-lighthouse/

• https://www.pointpinoslighthouse.org/

• https://uslhs.org/

• https://phantomsandmonsters.com/post/hiker-photographs-7-foot-werewolf-like-canine-in-jedediah-smith-redwoods-califor

Amigos, what haunted you this week?

On this episode of Amigos, Afraid!, we analyze government UAP transparency, classic UFO crash lore, and extraterrestrial classification theories.

Brian breaks down the 1947 Roswell Incident in New Mexico, tracing the timeline from Mac Brazel's ranch discovery to the Roswell Army Air Field (RAAF) press release announcing a captured "flying disc." We examine Project Mogul weather balloon explanations, Area 51 cover-up theories, and how Roswell shaped modern alien pop culture.

Later, Jerry investigates popular ufology taxonomies and alleged alien species. We detail reported encounters with Greys, Reptilians, and Nordic aliens, discussing secret alien contact, shape-shifting conspiracies, and recent government UAP/UFO disclosure efforts..

📚 Episode Research & Sources:

• https://www.history.com/articles/roswell

• https://www.history.com/articles/roswell-ufo-aliens-what-happened

• https://www.britannica.com/event/Roswell-incident

• ABC News - Pentagon releases declassified UFO files from various federal agencies

• https://aliens.fandom.com/wiki/Alien_Species_Wiki

Amigos, what haunted you this week?

On this episode of Amigos, Afraid!, we analyze horror anthropology, survival cannibalism, and dark chapters in American westward expansion.

Jerry investigates the origin of the zombie. We trace its roots in Afro-Caribbean culture and Haitian Vodou, exploring tales of reanimated corpses, forced labor folklore, and the transition of zombification into modern pop culture, viral contagion horror, and consumer society metaphors.

Later, Brian details the tragic timeline of the Donner Party. We examine the pioneer group's 1846 journey along the flawed Hastings Cutoff, their entrapment in the winter snows of Truckee Lake (Donner Lake) in the Sierra Nevada, and the extreme cannibalistic survival choices made before rescue expeditions arrived.

📚 Episode Research & Sources:

• https://www.britannica.com/topic/Donner-party

• https://www.history.com/articles/donner-party

• https://www.history.com/articles/donner-party-survivers-rescue

Amigos, what haunted you this week?

On this episode of Amigos, Afraid!, we explore ancient demonology, nocturnal entity encounters, and dark mythological origins.

Brian details the complex history of Lilith, tracing her roots from ancient Mesopotamian Lilitu spirits to Jewish apocryphal texts. We examine her legendary role as Adam's first wife, her refusal to bow, and her transformation into a symbol of rebellion, night demonology, and matriarchal power.

Later, Jerry explores medieval European folklore surrounding Succubi and Incubi. We analyze historical accounts of nocturnal demon visitations, ties to sleep paralysis hallucinations, and how early religious scholars used demonology to explain subconscious desires and nighttime terror.

Amigos, what haunted you this week?

On this episode of Amigos, Afraid!, we examine global mysteries involving unexplained disappearances, maritime anomalies, and subterranean ossuaries.

We investigate the legendary Bermuda Triangle off the coast of Florida, Puerto Rico, and Bermuda. We analyze famous cold cases including the vanished Navy bombers of Flight 19, magnetic anomalies, and atmospheric phenomenon linked to lost ships and aircraft.

Then, we descend beneath France into the Paris Catacombs (l'Ossuaire Municipal). We detail the 18th-century origin of the underground limestone quarries, the relocation of over six million human remains from overcrowded cemeteries like Les Innocents, and reports of urban explorers becoming lost in the restricted, non-public tunnels.

📚 Episode Research & Sources:

• https://www.history.com/articles/what-is-the-bermuda-triangle

• https://www.nationalgeographic.com/premium/article/bermuda-triangle-mystery-disappearance

• https://www.usni.org/magazines/naval-history-magazine/2021/october/mysterious-disappearance-flight-19

Amigos, what haunted you this week?

Do you believe that kids are more likely to see ghosts? Could that tie into the history of Latin American legend La Llorona? On this episode of Amigos, Afraid!, we analyze the intersection of childhood innocence, supernatural sensitivity, and Latin American oral folklore.

Amigos, what haunted you this week?

On this episode of Amigos, Afraid!, we analyze iconic sleepover urban legends, mirror rituals, and traditional Latin American folklore.

Brian investigates the origin of the Bloody Mary ritual and mirror scrying. We detail how modern slumber party dare games evolved from 19th-century divination rituals—where young women looked into mirrors to catch a glimpse of their future husbands—and examine historical ties to figures such as Queen Mary I of England and Mary Queen of Scots.

Later, Jerry explores Mexican folklore and the legends of the Duende. We examine these small, goblin-like elemental spirits in Iberian and Latin American culture, exploring claims of household hauntings, missing objects, secret wall dwellers, and subtle trickster phenomena.

Amigos, what haunted you this week?

Secure, Contain, Protect! ⚠️

On this episode of Amigos, Afraid!, we dive into collaborative internet fiction, cryptids, and secret agency lore with a look at the SCP Foundation.

Brian breaks down the history of the SCP Wiki, explaining object classifications (Safe, Euclid, Keter) and how online writers built a massive universe around anomalous items, paranormal entities, and secret governmental containment sites.

Then, Brian and Jerry face off in "The SCP Olympics," selecting top entries from the SCP catalogue to debate containment breach scenarios, anomalous power scaling, and which entity reigns supreme in a head-to-head fight.

Amigos, what haunted you this week?

📚 Episode Research & Sources:

• https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-1832

• https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-546 

• https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-1111

• https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-1026

On this episode of Amigos, Afraid!, we take a historical deep dive into the origin of living history festivals, counterculture movements, and medieval combat sports.

Brian traces the origins of the original Renaissance Pleasure Faire, created in Agoura Hills, California by Phyllis Patterson and Ron Patterson alongside a group of local acting students. We detail its expansion across Southern California, its ties to 1960s counterculture, and a infamous standoff between faire organizers and local law enforcement in Los Angeles County.

Later, Jerry breaks down the medieval sports entertainment of jousting. We examine the chivalric tournaments of Europe, the evolution of full-plate armor, equestrian lance techniques, and how historic trial-by-combat evolved into modern reenactment entertainment.

Amigos, what haunted you this week?

Brian and Jerry found LOCAL GHOSTS in our area LOOKING FOR FUN. These ghosts made fools out of Brian and Jerry, it was NOT hot OR fun.

This week Jerry shared a compilation of spooky rabbit hole reddit threads to deep dive. Sit back and relax while we share some of our favorite paranormal (and one normal, but extraordinary) reddit stories about ghosts, hauntings, and time shifts!

On this episode of Amigos, Afraid!, we analyze the cultural hysteria, legal injustices, and media sensationalism surrounding the Satanic Panic in America during the late 20th century.

We examine the origins of the phenomenon, focusing on high-profile institutional cases such as the McMartin Preschool trial in Manhattan Beach, California. We detail the role of coerced child testimony, ritual abuse allegations, and pseudoscientific recovered memory therapy. Later, we explore how moral panic expanded into pop culture, targeting heavy metal music, tabletop games like Dungeons & Dragons, and sensationalized television coverage.

⚠️ Content Warning & Support Resources:

This episode contains historical discussions concerning child abuse allegations and suicide. If you or a loved one need support:

US & Canada: Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or chat at 988lifeline.org.

Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: Call or text 1-800-422-4453 or visit childhelphotline.org.

WITCH! ☝🏼 This week, Brian and Jerry take a deep dive into the dark history of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. We break down the bizarre "spectral evidence" used in colonial courtrooms, how paranoia destroyed a community, and who among us would definitely be accused of witchcraft today.

Plus, stick around for some surprise birthday messages from friends celebrating Jerry's special day!

Amigos, what haunted you this week?

On this episode of Amigos, Afraid!, we examine shapeshifting legends, animal transformation, and lunar folklore across two distinct cultural histories.

Brian investigates Mesoamerican folklore and Indigenous Mexican spiritual belief systems to detail the Nahual (Nagual)—a powerful practitioner of shapeshifting capable of transforming into animal counterparts such as jaguars, owls, or wolves. We explore the spiritual connection between animal alter egos, nagualism, and ancient Mesoamerican mythology.

Later, Jerry turns toward historical European folklore and the roots of lycanthropy. We travel across Europe and look into early medical theories surrounding modern werewolf lore.

Amigos, what haunted you this week?

On this episode of Amigos, Afraid!, we are joined by professional reader and intuitive Emanuel from Divine Tarot Manifesto for a deep dive into occult practices, divination, and spiritual readings.

Emanuel breaks down fundamental astrology concepts, explaining the spiritual significance of your sun sign, moon sign, and rising sign (ascendant) in a birth chart analysis. Afterwards, he conducts an in-studio tarot card reading for Brian and Jerry, demonstrating how intuitive readings uncover hidden dynamics, personal truths, and synchronized life events. (Lowkey drags us based on our signs...)

We love Emanuel, and if you're interested in booking a reading reach out to him on Instagram!

Amigos, what haunted you this week?

On this episode of Amigos, Afraid!, we build on last episode's shadow person discussions with a deep dive into global entity phenomena and classic Latin American lore.

Brian investigates the worldwide phenomenon of The Hat Man, a prominent shadow person silhouette wearing a fedora or top hat that thousands of individuals report seeing during sleep paralysis. 

Later, Jerry explores Mexican folklore with the origin story of La Mano Peluda (The Hairy Hand). Tracing the legend back to 19th-century Puebla, Mexico, we examine the dark story of Juan del Monte, the supernatural folklore surrounding the severed, hairy hand that crawls out of the dark, and its enduring presence in Latin American urban legends.

Amigos, what haunted you this week?

On this episode of Amigos, Afraid!, we share a chilling firsthand ghost story submitted by our close friends, twins Michael and Peter.

Exploring the phenomenon of twin telepathy and shared paranormal events, the brothers detail a disturbing shadow person sighting from their childhood home. While upstairs, Peter spotted the dark shadow of a man inside his parents' bedroom and ran after it to defend his family. Downstairs at that exact moment, Michael witnessed the same shadow figure fleeing from Peter and dashing into another room. We break down the terrifying mechanics of this dual encounter and why it stands out as one of our most unsettling listener ghost stories.

Amigos, do you have a story to share?

This week on Amigos, Afraid!, we dig into the haunted history of Yorba Cemetery in Yorba Linda, California—the historical site we explored in our previous episode. Legend has it that the spirit of the Pink Lady still wanders the grounds, appearing on certain nights in her glowing gown. Plus, we read our very first listener ghost story submitted by Jesse (@ponytr0n)!

This week, the crew (Brianand Jerry) leaves the studio for a hands-on ghost hunt at the historic Bradford House in Placentia, California. We put our gear to the test and finally conduct our very first field experiment using the Estes method to make contact with spirits. Plus, we take an unexpected, spooky detour to conduct a walkthrough of the legendary Yorba Cemetery.

Amigos, what haunted you this week?

This week on Amigos, Afraid!, we discuss two iconic ways to communicate with the spirits of the world! Jerry and Brian dive into the history, rules, and dark warnings surrounding the Ouija board, then explore the sensory deprivation experiment taking the paranormal world by storm—the Estes method. Would you be brave enough to try either technique?

Amigos, what haunted you this week?

📚 Episode Research & Sources:

• 12 Days of Christmas Carols- Here We Come A-wassailing

• The Surprising History of Christmas Traditions 

This week on Amigos, Afraid!, we dive into the depths of our employment history and spill all the tea on the wild, unpredictable, and downright crazy coworkers we've encountered over the years. From workplace horror stories to weird customer interactions, we cover it all—hope our former coworkers aren't listening! (Jk pls listen)

Amigos, what haunted you this week?

📚 Episode Research & Sources:

• Smithsonian - The Origin of Krampus, Europe’s Evil Twist on Santa

• Experiencing an Austrian Krampuslauf

• Screams of Terror and Delight: Unmasking Krampus in Southern Indiana

• The Monsters of Christmas

Get in the car loser, we’re playing Dungeons & Dragons! This week, our Dungeon Master Matt joins the show to talk all things D&D, tabletop roleplaying, and campaign building. Get an inside scoop on our weekly campaign sessions, character creation, and nerdy adventures—and maybe learn enough to give campaign play a try yourself.

Amigos, what haunted you this week?

Something really weird happened with this Halloween episode, but we're choosing to share it as is. After a mysterious glitch in the multiverse, the audio takes an unexpected turn and things aren't quite what they seem.

We're back! Join us for a full summer recap as we share our experiences, personal adventures, and stories from our time away. Thank you all for your patience while we prepared Season 2 of the podcast. We are thrilled to bring you brand new episodes, paranormal investigations, and urban legends.

Amigos, what haunted you this week?