New episode of Squaring the Strange is out! This week we dug up some strange ways people have sent off their deceased loved ones. As a medieval person, how would you keep Aunt Edna from coming back as a vampire or a bitey undead plague-spreader? Or in the Victorian...
Vampires
‘Antlers’ and the Wendigo
The new horror film Antlers is set in a decaying Oregon town, where a single father, Frank, is seen with his young son Aiden outside a mine. What at first seems like an innocent father-son bonding moment turns dark, literally and figuratively, as we see that...
My Forgotten ‘Coast to Coast AM’ Appearance
I've been asked a few times if I've ever appeared on "Coast To Coast AM," and always said no. So I was surprised to discover I had, back in 2018. I'd totally forgotten about it. I never talked to Art Bell but if I had I'd have reminded him about his role in the...
‘Big–If True: Adventures in Oddity’ reviewed!
There's a lovely review of my new book Big-If True: Adventures in Oddity at AIPTComics: "The perfect book for anyone that loves diving into mysteries or enjoys a good investigation. It’s a very quick read, easily broken up into chapters, or even chunks at a time....
Truths and Myths Behind Halloween Scares
Halloween is coming up soon, and amid the make-believe witches, ghouls, and goblins, there are supposedly real-life villains who hope to harm on children October 31. News reports and scary stories on social media leave many parents concerned about protecting children...
Squaring the Strange Archives: : Never Sleep Again
In the latest in a series highlighting past episodes and archives of Squaring the Strange, here's a look back at a show you might have missed... Ben and Pascual begin with a nod to the band Shriekback, who provided our podcast’s theme music—see them if you can,...
Nightjar and Chupacabra Redux!
A researcher claimed that the chupacabra can be traced back to legends of the nightjar bird. I respectfully disagreed, which he then responded to, and which I then replied to. If you want to see two educated adults (one of them right and one of them wrong) kick each...
5 Halloween Scares and Legends: Facts vs. Fiction
Halloween is just around the corner, and amid the make-believe witches, ghouls, and goblins, there are supposedly real-life villains who hope to harm on children October 31. News reports and scary stories on social media leave many parents concerned about protecting...
Was Screaming ‘Dead’ Honduran Teen Buried Alive?
I think I solved the bizarre mystery of a girl who was supposedly buried alive last week in Honduras... You can read my piece on Discovery News HERE.
Issues in Self-Identifying as a Vampire
A new study finds that self-described vampires are, not surprisingly, reluctant to disclose their sanguine ways to mental health professionals. My closer look at people who claim to be (and sometimes believe themselves to be) real-life vampires can be found HERE.