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Dr. Facilier may be apart of The Princess and the Frog, but his backstory deserved its own episode! This week we discuss how Voodoo inspired  one of Disney's most popular villains. Staying on theme, we then head to New Orleans to bring you the story of a socialite turned serial killer. Stay tuned! Learn More: -https://www.learnreligions.com/papa-legba-4771384 -https://www.learnreligions.com/papa-legba-4771384 -https://www.thecollector.com/voodoo-history-misunderstood-religion/ -Baron_Samedi_(folklore) -https://www.learnreligions.com/are-voodoo-dolls-real-95807 -what-is-vodou_b_827947 -slaveowner-madame-lalaurie-tortured-and-killed-her-slaves-for-fun-231571ba1f7f -https://allthatsinteresting.com/madame-lalaurie -https://murderpedia.org/female.L/l/lalaurie-delphine.htm -https://historyofyesterday.com/slaveowner-madame-lalaurie-tortured-and-killed-her-slaves-for-fun-231571ba1f7f -a-portrait-of-cruelty-madame-marie-delphine-lalaurie-982

This week we “dig a little deeper” to discuss the original stories that inspired Disney’s The Princess and the Frog. It turns out that this fascination with amphibians dates back to Ancient Rome and eventually lands into the hands of the Grimm brothers in 1810. Join us as we discuss a tale from “in olden times, when wishing still helped.” Sources: -a-summary-and-analysis-of-the-frog-prince-fairy-tale -https://thefairytalecentral.com/the-frog-prince-origins/ -https://sites.pitt.edu/~dash/frog.html#taylor -https://www.tor.com/2016/05/26/wait-what-happened-to-the-kissing-part-the-frog-king-or-iron-henry/ -https://byufairytales.wordpress.com/thefrogprince/ -works_evangeline.shtml -https://www.ranker.com/list/zack-and-addie-new-orleans/patrick-thornton -https://www.thescarechamber.com/hurricane-katrina-royalty-zack-bowen-and-addie-hall/ -https://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=2590814&page=1 -the-tragedy-of-zach-addie

This week we discuss the very sad origins of Raggedy Ann, one of history's most iconic dolls. Learn how a children's toy became the inspiration behind a horror classic and how one man took his doll obsession to the next level.  We would like to dedicate this episode to Peter the bunny. Rest In Peace, buddy. Sources: -annabelle-doll -https://fionadodwell.medium.com/annabelle-and-beyond-the-dark-history-of-raggedy-ann-dolls-a3d746fd2bbb -http://wordsworthclassics.com/author/gruelle-johnny -https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raggedy_Ann -https://medium.com/the-mystery-box/the-doll-house-of-human-corpses-b49ca89c19c8 -https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2809228/Evil-murderer-dug-little-girl-s-dead-body-mummified-corpse-taunted-ten-years-Grieving-mother-relives-nightmare-bodysnatcher-genius.html

There have been at least 45 film adaptations of his story with Disney's Tarzan being the most popular. Possibly inspired by the tale of William Charles Midlin, Rice Burroughs wrote Tarzan of the Apes in 1912. It was an instant success and even appreciated by real life Jane of the Jungle, Jane Goodall. Following in Goodall's footsteps, Dian Fossey studied the mountain gorillas of Rwanda in 1960s-1970s. It is her passion for the great apes that cost the famous primatologist her life when she was brutally murdered in in 1977. Sources: -a-brief-history-of-tarzan -https://www.rd.com/article/man-who-inspired-tarzan/ -https://www.bustle.com/articles/169419-is-the-legend-of-tarzan-based-on-a-true-story-the-answer-might-surprise-you -https://historybyday.com/pop-culture/the-men-behind-tarzan-the-real-life-jungle-man-and-the-troubled-author-who-brought-him-to-life/ -https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh_oDr8vg-Y -fatal-obsession-198609 -dian-fossey-bio -the-men-behind-tarzan-the-real-life-jungle-man-and-the-troubled-author-who-brought-him-to-life

This week we discuss the controversial origins of "Mary Had A Little Lamb." It might not be the spookiest thing we've covered, but there is tea to be spilled. Lacie then brings us the case of Mary Bell, one of the world's youngest killers. It's baaaa-zarre. -https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/sarah-hale -https://archive.org/details/storyofmaryherli00unse/page/38/mode/2up -https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/arts/literature/controversy-behind-mary-had-little-lamb.htm

This week we discuss the dark history of the world's most infamous prison. Sitting in the chilly waters of San Fransisco Bay, Alcatraz was the home of America's most difficult and dangerous criminals including Al Capone and Robert "Birdman of Alcatraz" Stroud. Over the years, 36 men in 14 different attempts would try to escape the island. Whether or not some of them were successful is still up for debate.  Sources: -https://www.bop.gov/about/history/alcatraz.jsp -https://www.alcatrazhistory.com/rock/rock-037.htm

Coulrophobia is no laughing matter. Although the actual phobia is somewhat rare, most people agree that clowns are creepy. Clowns as pranksters, jesters, jokers, harlequins, and mythologized tricksters have been around for ages, but when did they turn into the sinister beings that haunt our nightmares? This inherent creepiness was taken to an extreme with the idea of the ‘killer clown.” And some people believe this started with the arrest of infamous serial killer-John Wayne Gacy. Also known as "The Killer Clown", Gacy murdered 33 young men before burying them in his crawl space.  Sources: -https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-history-and-psychology-of-clowns-being-scary-20394516/ -https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20161019-a-surprising-history-of-the-bad-clown -https://www.businessinsider.com/why-people-are-scared-of-clowns-2013-8#in-1986-stephen-king-wrote-it-a-horror-novel-where-a-demon-attacks-children-disguised-as-a-clown-it-was-so-popular-that-it-was-turned-into-a-tv-miniseries-in-1990-since-then-clowns-have-become-a-common-horror-trope-in-movies-like-saw-funnyman-and-clownhouse-9 -https://owlcation.com/humanities/History-of-the-Medieval-Jester -https://historicengland.org.uk/research/inclusive-heritage/disability-history/1485-1660/disability-in-the-tudor-court/ -https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/john-wayne-gacys-childhood -https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/john-wayne-gacy-death

This week we sit down to discuss the not so Chinese origins of Disney's Mulan. Speaking of sitting down, we almost had to name this episode "Mulan & The Virgin Wheelchair" which goes to show just how scary this story actually is. We then bring you a very dark case of Lavena Johnson, a female soldier in the U.S Army who died under mysterious circumstances (to say the least). We hope you're ready to be uncomfortable.  Sources: -https://www.vox.com/culture/21412785/mulan-history-original-chinese-ballad-disney -https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/article-movie-real-story-of-mulan.htm -https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1596/mulan-the-legend-through-history/ -https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/why-footbinding-persisted-china-millennium-180953971/ -https://www.history.com/news/8-things-you-might-not-know-about-attila-the-hun -http://lavenajohnson.com/about/ -https://unresolved.me/pfc-lavena-johnson -https://thehueandcry.com/lavena-johnson -https://unresolved.me/pfc-lavena-johnson -https://www.donaldwatkins.com/post/the-murder-of-pfc-lavena-johnson-part-1 -https://web.archive.org/web/20081015063957/http://newpittsburghcourieronline.com/articlelive/articles/40956/1/Who-killed-Private-First-Class-LaVena-L-Johnson/Page1.html -mulan-the-legend-through-history

Arguably one of the most popular figures from Greek mythology, Hercules is a story that most of us are familiar with. Disney released their version in 1997, and the world came to know this demigod as a hero with supernatural strength who saved the world from his crazy uncle. As per usual, we are here to cover what Disney didn't (most likely couldn't) tell you. We also discuss a recent true crime case out of India, where a serial killer named Hercules took Bangladesh's rape crisis into his own hands. Hey, we're not mad about... Thank you so much to Pretzel Pete's for sponsoring this week's snack break. Check them out at https://pretzelpete.com or follow them on IG at @pretzelpetesnacks.  Sources: -https://www.worldhistory.org/article/733/the-life-of-hercules-in-myth--legend/ -https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2020/10/26/survivors-of-bangladeshs-rape-epidemic -https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/2/5/hercules-vigilante-kills-suspected-rapists-in-bangladesh -https://www.voxspace.in/2019/02/05/hercules-serial-killer/real-life-vigilantes -https://allthatsinteresting.com/marianne-bachmeier

This week we are bringing you the creepy origins of Valentine's Day. Although it is said to be a time of love and romance, the history of this holiday is actually quite dark. Like, really dark. And in 2007, February 14th was forever blemished by the brutal murder of loving mother and wife, Tara Lynn Grant. Reported missing on Valentine's Day, the investigation would lead police to a grizzly discovery that changed the life of her family forever.  Sources: -https://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day/history-of-valentines-day-2 -https://time.com/5527259/valentines-day-lupercalia/ -https://www.themidwestcrimefiles.com/post/the-murder-of-tara-lynn-grant -https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna23409987 -https://www.history.com/news/historys-oldest-known-valentine-was-written-in-prison

Welcome back! This should be a spooky spot that everyone is familiar with considering that most states have multiple "cry baby bridges." But where did this legend come from and why is it so prolific? Listen to find out.  Sources: -https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/van-sant-crybaby-bridge -https://www.hyattsvillewire.com/2021/02/23/goatman-prince-georges-county/ -https://medium.com/lessons-from-history/the-terrifying-goatman-who-haunts-maryland-4885f3814fca -https://creepycincinnati.com/2011/11/08/the-screaming-bridge-of-maud-hughes-road/ -http://www.kentuckymonthly.com/lifestyle/kentucky-s-sleepy-hollow/ -http://weekinweird.com/2011/09/03/troubled-waterways-origins-crybaby-bridge-legend/

Happy New Year! We are so excited to have Hannah back and to celebrate we thought we'd go back to our bread and butter. There are few fairy tales more classic (and scary) than Little Red Riding Hood. Her story originates from around the world with each retelling becoming more creepy than the last. Then Lacie brings you possibly one of the most horrific true crime stories to date. Albert Fish was a despicable human being who went buy many names: The Grey Man, The Brooklyn Vampire, and The Werewolf of Wysteria. You've heard what they say, watch out for a wolf in sheep's clothing.  Sources: -https://www.science.org/content/article/evolution-little-red-riding-hood -https://www.thevintagenews.com/2017/10/05/the-earlier-versions-of-little-red-riding-hood-were-violent-and-grotesque/ -http://scihi.org/peter-stumpp-werewolf/ -https://modernfarmer.com/2013/08/peter-stubbethe-werewolf-of-bedburg/ -https://www.crimemuseum.org/crime-library/serial-killers/albert-fish/