The Past and The Curious Halloween Special: Twain's Ouija Novel (w Nate DuFort from Unspookable)

We're sure you've heard of Stonehenge, an ancient stone monument that has mystified people for centuries, but what is it? Was it a temple, a portal, or maybe an alien landing pad? Who built it and why? And even more importantly: why can’t we stop asking questions about it? We’ll be talking about all that and more on this episode of Unspookable. Host: Elise Parisian Written by: Ana Olson Produced, Edited by: Nate DuFort Music Direction and Composition: Jesse Case Logo by: Natalie Khuen Episode Art: Alhafiz You can find Unspookable on TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@unspookablepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/ImUnspookable⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/unspookablepodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Unspookable is a production of Soundsington Media, committed to making quality programming for young audiences and the young at heart. To find out more go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.soundsingtonmedia.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Looking for merch from Unspookable and your favorite Soundsington Media shows? Head on over to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dashery store ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, hats and more. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://soundsington-media.dashery.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Unspookable Halloween Giveaway Do you have a favorite topic, monster, or cryptid from an episode of Unspookable? Do you like to draw, paint, or sculpt - maybe even write poems or songs? Well, we want to share your work while offering YOU a chance to win an Unspookable t-shirt and other surprises in the Second Annual Unspookable Halloween Giveaway.  Here's How to Enter: Pick your favorite Unspookabe topic between now and October 31st Create a piece of art in any medium based on that topic - maybe it’s something you’ve already made!  Have a grown up share your work by either tagging ⁠⁠⁠UnspookablePodcast⁠⁠⁠ on instagram or by emailing the show at: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ (alternatively you can also just email and say "hi") Then, Unspookable will post the art on our socials and five lucky listeners will be chosen at random to receive the prize packages. No purchase necessary. Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States and D.C. age 13 or older. Entry period begins at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) on 10/7/2025 and ends at 11:59 PM ET on 10/31/2025. Void where prohibited. The Sweepstakes is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram. Advertise on Unspookable: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]

If you've been following the Kooky Spooky Countdown, it has all been leading up to this: Elise Parisian, the host of Unspookable, sits down with Adam Gidwitz, the creator and host of Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest and New York Times best-selling author, to talk about scary stories themselves. Why do we tell them? What purpose do they serve? And what has Adam learned in all his years of studying and retelling Grimms’ Fairy Tales? All with a little help from our SCARE-rator, Jonathan Cormur, the host of Dorktales Storytime. It’s a conversation you don’t want to miss. The Kooky Spooky Countdown Three award-winning, family-favorite children’s podcasts - Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest (Pinna), Unspookable (Soundsington Media), and Dorktales Storytime - have teamed up this October for the Kooky Spooky Countdown, a seasonal, screen-free listening event for families and classrooms everywhere. Participants are challenged to listen to 13 “spooky-ish” podcast episodes to earn rewards, including exclusive congratulatory videos from all three podcast hosts. The challenge celebrates October’s festivities with safe thrills, playful storytelling, and engaging experiences. It launches on October 2nd and runs until October 31, 2025. Families and classrooms can download the challenge materials at https://jonincharacter.com/kooky-spooky-countdown/. How It Works The countdown challenges participants to listen to 13 curated playfully spooky episodes across all three podcasts, mark their progress on a printable tracker, and celebrate their accomplishments with an official certificate, award cards, exclusive host video messages, and a special crossover finale episode featuring Unspookable’s Elise Parisian interview with New York Times bestselling author Adam Gidwitz. Why It Matters The Kooky Spooky Countdown Challenge brings the best in family-friendly podcasts together for a seasonal, audio-only experience. It also highlights the educational benefits of podcasts: improving listening skills, strengthening social-emotional growth, and inspiring curiosity about cultural heritage and folklore. About the Podcasts Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest (Pinna) It's Grimm fairy tales like you've never heard before! On every episode of Pinna Original Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest, bestselling author Adam Gidwitz retells a classic fairy tale to a group of inquisitive kids, who anticipate plot twists, crack jokes, and share their own perspectives on these very Grimm stories. Unspookable (Soundsington Media) Unspookable is a family-friendly podcast that explores the history, brain science, and real-world influences behind spooky stories, myths, and urban legends. Host Elise Parisian takes the scare out of spooky stories by digging into the real history behind them, the cool facts, and why people keep telling them. Dorktales Storytime Be the hero of your own story with Dorktales Storytime, a podcast for kids and their pop culture loving grownups. Hosts Jonathan Cormur and Mr. Reginald T. Hedgehog share reimagined fairytales and fables with SEL themes, stories of hidden heroes, and wildly imaginative folklore. Looking for merch from Unspookable and your favorite Soundsington Media shows? Head on over to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dashery store ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, hats and more. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://soundsington-media.dashery.com Advertise on Unspookable: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]

Sometimes strange glowing orbs appear around Brown Mountain in North Carolina. Locals call them the Brown Mountain Lights, and no one really knows what they are. Some say they’re spirits or ghosts, some aliens, and others think they’re a quirk of nature. We'll share our ideas and those of the experts on this episode of Unspookable. Host: Elise Parisian Written by: Miden Wood Produced, Edited by: Nate DuFort Music Direction and Composition: Jesse Case Logo by: Natalie Khuen Episode Art: Alhafiz You can find Unspookable on TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@unspookablepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/ImUnspookable⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/unspookablepodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Daniel Caton's Brown Mountain Lights Camera 1B July 16-17, 2016: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WU88gWGVDV0 Rare weather phenomenon filmed by Ed and Melinda Pardy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmOfwFHBu_o Unspookable is a production of Soundsington Media, committed to making quality programming for young audiences and the young at heart. To find out more go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.soundsingtonmedia.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Looking for merch from Unspookable and your favorite Soundsington Media shows? Head on over to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dashery store ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, hats and more. ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://soundsington-media.dashery.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Unspookable Halloween Giveaway Do you have a favorite topic, monster, or cryptid from an episode of Unspookable? Do you like to draw, paint, or sculpt - maybe even write poems or songs? Well, we want to share your work while offering YOU a chance to win an Unspookable t-shirt and other surprises in the Second Annual Unspookable Halloween Giveaway.  Here's How to Enter: Pick your favorite Unspookabe topic between now and October 31st Create a piece of art in any medium based on that topic - maybe it’s something you’ve already made!  Have a grown up share your work by either tagging ⁠⁠UnspookablePodcast⁠⁠ on instagram or by emailing the show at: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ (alternatively you can also just email and say "hi") Then, Unspookable will post the art on our socials and five lucky listeners will be chosen at random to receive the prize packages. No purchase necessary. Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States and D.C. age 13 or older. Entry period begins at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) on 10/7/2025 and ends at 11:59 PM ET on 10/31/2025. Void where prohibited. The Sweepstakes is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram. Advertise on Unspookable: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]

We are excited to share a recent episode of the Kids Listen podcast Big Emotions: Kids Listen Mashups About Feelings featuring Unspookable and our friends at At Your Level and Koala Shine and hosted by the amazing Molly Bloom (Brains On! & Smash Boom Best)! Give it a listen and if you want to hear more, there are loads more episodes here. --- Embarrassment & Pride (Part 1) 😳🏆 Welcome back to Big Emotions! This week we’re hiding behind the sofa, and then jumping in front of the camera! Embarrassment and pride might seem like opposites, but they’re really two sides of the same coin. Both are “self-conscious” emotions that help us reflect on how we show up in the world. In this episode, we explore the squirmy moments that make our cheeks burn and the warm glows that make our hearts swell - and how both feelings can teach us about ourselves, our values, and the people we care about. Contributing podcasts in this episode: At Your Level • Koala Shine • Unspookable  Hosted by: Molly Bloom of Brains On! & Smash Boom Best PDF Activity Sheet for SEL  Check out the music in each episode  About this series: Big Emotions: Kids Listen Mashups is a 7-part audio adventure where creators from the Kids Listen community come together to explore feelings in all their shapes and sizes. Each episode pairs two related emotions, sharing original clips and reflections to help kids (and grownups!) understand, name, and navigate their feelings. Looking for merch from Unspookable and your favorite Soundsington Media shows? Head on over to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dashery store ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, hats and more. ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://soundsington-media.dashery.com Advertise on Unspookable: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]

When a podcast asks Unspookable to collaborate, especially if it is one of our all time favorite podcasts with one of the coolest hosts in the business, we will jump at the opportunity. We are thrilled to present this special Halloween Edition of The Past and The Curious featuring Unspookable creator Nate DuFort. Give it a listen and if you want more cool, quirky, and surprising stories from history (with the best musical accompaniment), go subscribe to The Past and The Curious wherever you listen to podcasts. Did a no-longer-living Mark Twain send a novel from the great beyond with a Ouija Board? Find out about the real story with help from our pal Nate DuFort of the podcast, Unspookable. Looking for merch from Unspookable and your favorite Soundsington Media shows? Head on over to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dashery store ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, hats and more. ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://soundsington-media.dashery.com Advertise on Unspookable: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]

Have you ever heard of the Weeping Woman? Maybe you'd know her by her other name - La Llorona - a young mother so haunted by her own grief that she’s taken to haunting everyone in her path. Who was she, and what does she represent to the people who tell her story? We’ll be talking about all that and more on this episode of Unspookable. Host: Elise Parisian Written by: Ana Olson Produced, Edited by: Nate DuFort Music Direction and Composition: Jesse Case Logo by: Natalie Khuen Episode Art: Alhafiz You can find Unspookable on TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@unspookablepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/ImUnspookable⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/unspookablepodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Unspookable is a production of Soundsington Media, committed to making quality programming for young audiences and the young at heart. To find out more go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.soundsingtonmedia.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Looking for merch from Unspookable and your favorite Soundsington Media shows? Head on over to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠Dashery store ⁠⁠⁠⁠for t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, hats and more. ⁠⁠⁠https://soundsington-media.dashery.com⁠⁠⁠ Unspookable Halloween Giveaway Do you have a favorite topic, monster, or cryptid from an episode of Unspookable? Do you like to draw, paint, or sculpt - maybe even write poems or songs? Well, we want to share your work while offering YOU a chance to win an Unspookable t-shirt and other surprises in the Second Annual Unspookable Halloween Giveaway.  Here's How to Enter: Pick your favorite Unspookabe topic between now and October 31st Create a piece of art in any medium based on that topic - maybe it’s something you’ve already made!  Have a grown up share your work by either tagging ⁠UnspookablePodcast⁠ on instagram or by emailing the show at: ⁠[email protected]⁠ (alternatively you can also just email and say "hi") Then, Unspookable will post the art on our socials and five lucky listeners will be chosen at random to receive the prize packages. No purchase necessary. Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States and D.C. age 13 or older. Entry period begins at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) on 10/7/2025 and ends at 11:59 PM ET on 10/31/2025. Void where prohibited. The Sweepstakes is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram. Advertise on Unspookable: ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]

One of our most requested topics ever, the Wendigo is a mythological beast from the folklore of the Algonquian-speaking First Nations of Canada and the Great Lakes region of the United States. Said to embody greed, hunger, and the loss of humanity, the Wendigo is a chilling reminder of what happens when our darkest impulses take control - that and more on this episode of Unspookable. Host: Elise Parisian Written by: Ana Olson Produced, Edited by: Nate DuFort Music Direction and Composition: Jesse Case Logo by: Natalie Khuen Episode Art: Alhafiz You can find Unspookable on TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram at: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@unspookablepodcast⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/ImUnspookable⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/unspookablepodcast/⁠⁠⁠ Unspookable is a production of Soundsington Media, committed to making quality programming for young audiences and the young at heart. To find out more go to ⁠⁠⁠http://www.soundsingtonmedia.com ⁠⁠⁠ Looking for merch from Unspookable and your favorite Soundsington Media shows? Head on over to our ⁠⁠⁠Dashery store ⁠⁠⁠for t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, hats and more. ⁠⁠https://soundsington-media.dashery.com Unspookable Halloween Giveaway Do you have a favorite topic, monster, or cryptid from an episode of Unspookable? Do you like to draw, paint, or sculpt - maybe even write poems or songs? Well, we want to share your work while offering YOU a chance to win an Unspookable t-shirt and other surprises in the Second Annual Unspookable Halloween Giveaway.  Here's How to Enter: Pick your favorite Unspookabe topic between now and October 31st Create a piece of art in any medium based on that topic - maybe it’s something you’ve already made!  Have a grown up share your work by either tagging ⁠UnspookablePodcast⁠ on instagram or by emailing the show at: ⁠[email protected]⁠ (alternatively you can also just email and say "hi") Then, Unspookable will post the art on our socials and five lucky listeners will be chosen at random to receive the prize packages. No purchase necessary. Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States and D.C. age 13 or older. Entry period begins at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) on 10/7/2025 and ends at 11:59 PM ET on 10/31/2025. Void where prohibited. The Sweepstakes is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Instagram. ⁠⁠ Advertise on Unspookable: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]

Many of us may think we know everything there is to know about Medusa, but what if what we thought about her origins and intentions were all wrong? We're looking at the the complex and contradicting stories that may prove Medusa less a villain and more a protector on this episode of Unspookable. Host: Elise Parisian Written by: Miden Wood Produced, Edited by: Nate DuFort Music Direction and Composition: Jesse Case Logo by: Natalie Khuen Episode Art: Alhafiz Special thanks to Liz Anderson You can find Unspookable on TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram at: ⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@unspookablepodcast⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://twitter.com/ImUnspookable⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/unspookablepodcast/⁠⁠ Unspookable is a production of Soundsington Media, committed to making quality programming for young audiences and the young at heart. To find out more go to ⁠⁠http://www.soundsingtonmedia.com ⁠⁠ Looking for merch from Unspookable and your favorite Soundsington Media shows? Head on over to our ⁠⁠Dashery store ⁠⁠for t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, hats and more. ⁠https://soundsington-media.dashery.com⁠ Advertise on Unspookable: ⁠⁠[email protected]

You have no doubt heard the name Godzilla, the 200 foot tall kaiju bent on destroying everything in it's path, but do you know why this monster was created and what it might symbolize? We'll be talking about all that and more on this GIANT SIZED episode of Unspookable. Host: Elise Parisian Written by: Miden Wood Produced, Edited by: Nate DuFort Music Direction and Composition: Jesse Case Logo by: Natalie Khuen Episode Art: Alhafiz Special thanks to our sensitivity reader Aiko Tamashiro, and to Liz Anderson, Marlene Sharp, and Joshua Copelan You can find Unspookable on TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram at: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@unspookablepodcast⁠ ⁠https://twitter.com/ImUnspookable⁠ ⁠https://www.instagram.com/unspookablepodcast/⁠ Unspookable is a production of Soundsington Media, committed to making quality programming for young audiences and the young at heart. To find out more go to ⁠http://www.soundsingtonmedia.com ⁠ Looking for merch from Unspookable and your favorite Soundsington Media shows? Head on over to our ⁠Dashery store ⁠for t-shirts, hoodies, mugs, stickers, hats and more. https://soundsington-media.dashery.com Advertise on Unspookable: ⁠[email protected]

Spooky season is almost here and with it comes an all new season of Unspookable beginning on Tuesday, September 9th.  We’ve been following your amazing requests and our team has been working on  episodes you're going to love including: Godzilla, Medusa, La Llorona, Wendigo, and many, many more. Not hearing your favorite listed? There’s still time - just leave us a comment wherever you listen to the show.  Don’t miss all new episodes of Unspookable beginning Tuesday, September 9th. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Unspookable is a family friendly look at the histories and mysteries behind your favorite scary stories, myths and urban legends. Each week host Elise Parisian digs into the history, brain science, and power dynamics behind such topics as Bloody Mary, Charlie Charlie, and Ouija Boards to find the stories behind the scares. (Recommended for ages 8+) The award winning podcast Unspookable is an official "Common Sense Media Selection" and has been called one of the "Best Podcasts for Kids of All Ages" by Time Out New York, one of the “7 Podcasts Big Kids Will Love” by The New York Times, one of the "20 Best Podcasts for Kids that will Make Them Forget About Screen Time" by the TODAY Show. The show has appeared multiple times across Canada on CBC Radio's Podcast Playlist, on NPR station WHYY's Kid's Listening Hour, has been featured by Apple Podcasts, Vox, Vulture, Romper, The AV Club, Fast Company, The Week Jr., and more.