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Before exorcisms became horror movies, a Wisconsin priest was performing them. In 1928, Father Theophilus Riesinger entered an Iowa convent to confront what witnesses believed was demonic possession. Nearly a century later, the question isn't just what happened in that room. It's which version of the story to believe. In episode seven of Weird Wisconsin, I explore Riesinger's exorcisms and the woman commonly identified as Anna Ecklund or Emma Schmidt. The pamphlet Begone, Satan! describes a victory over demonic forces. A lesser-known account tells a more complicated story, with repeated exorcisms, controversial revelations and predictions about the end of the world. Dr. Joseph Laycock, a religious studies scholar at Texas State University, examines these conflicting accounts, the extraordinary claims they contain and the questions the surviving documents leave unanswered. Reports of unfamiliar languages, reactions to sacred objects and a woman clinging to a wall helped make this case notorious. But how much can we establish about what actually happened? Catholic priest Father Edward Looney provides the religious perspective, explaining the distinctions between possession and oppression, what separates a formal exorcism from a blessing, and how the Church evaluates requests for an exorcism. Together, these conversations explore the history, faith and uncertainty surrounding Riesinger's most famous case, along with the influence of exorcism stories on films like The Exorcist. 🎧 Listen everywhere Follow Weird Wisconsin: Facebook Instagram TikTok YouTube Featured in This Episode: Father Edward Looney Catholic priest and author YouTube Facebook Dr. Joseph Laycock Religious studies scholar, Texas State University Faculty Profile Books Episode Artwork by Rachal Duggan Instagram Website Original Theme by Tyler Quinn Website

Introducing Vinh Giang: How to Communicate So People Actually Listen to You from On Purpose with Jay Shetty. Follow the show: On Purpose with Jay Shetty Communication expert Vinh Giang joins Jay to share practical tools from his first book, Before We Forget How to Connect, to help you become a more confident communicator and build deeper, more meaningful connections. Vinh explains how to become a better listener, avoid common communication mistakes, and speak so people actually pay attention. From sounding confident when you're nervous to speaking up in meetings, navigating difficult conversations, and making a great first impression, Vinh shares simple techniques to help you communicate more effectively and connect with people in every area of your life. With Love and Gratitude, Jay Shetty Instagram Teen Accounts: Built-in protections for teens. JAY'S DAILY WISDOM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX Join 900,000+ readers discovering how small daily shifts create big life change with my free newsletter. Subscribe here: https://news.jayshetty.me/subscribe Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast What We Discuss: 00:00 Introduction 00:25 Before We Forget How To Connect 01:52 The High-Low Buffalo Icebreaker 02:45 Sharing Personal Highs 05:15 Sharing Personal Lows 11:40 Sharing Personal Buffalos 13:40 Escaping Small Talk 16:10 Overcoming Self-Judgment 17:58 Sharing Wins Without Sounding Arrogant 19:50 Communication Beyond The Script 20:40 Gen Z's Communication Struggles 23:20 Last Word, Last Letter Game 27:20 The Four Modalities Of Listening 29:50 The Three Follow-Up Questions Rule 35:50 How Do You Make A Great First Impression? 40:10 Reading the Room, Not Formulas 44:10 Finding Your Unique Voice 49:00 Life As A Book: New Chapters 50:40 Building Executive Presence 53:20 Fix Your Resting Blank Face 58:30 Filming Yourself For Self-Awareness 01:02:20 When Your Mind Goes Blank 01:06:10 The Power Of The Pause 01:09:30 How Can You Sound Confident When You’re Nervous? 01:14:40 From Texting Chemistry to Real-Life Connection 01:18:40 How to Communicate Better During Arguments 01:20:20 Learning to Speak Up In Meetings 01:25:45 How to Join a Conversation Without Feeling Awkward 01:28:20 Leaving A Conversation Gracefully 01:31:4 Embracing Vulnerability Episode Resources: Book | https://vinhgiang.com/before-we-forget-how-to-connect Website | https://vinhgiang.com/ YouTube | https://youtube.com/@askvinh Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/share/1CCPX1ChrP/?mibextid=wwXIfr LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/vinhgiang Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

Whitewater, Wisconsin, has a reputation for witch legends, spiritualism and haunted places. Among its most recognizable landmarks is the Hamilton House, a Victorian mansion with a history stretching back to 1861 and ghost stories that have followed it for generations. But what was it like to actually live there? In episode six of Weird Wisconsin, the first installment of Wisconsin's Most Haunted, I explore the history and reported hauntings of this 23-room house through someone who called it home. DJ Phoenix lived in the Hamilton House from 1974 to 1983 while his family operated an antique business downstairs. He recalls unexplained activity throughout the house, a boy who appeared in his bedroom, a doll whose eyes seemed to glow red, and a photograph he believes captured two spirits. He also shares the increasingly troubling experiences that ultimately led his family to leave. Carol Cartwright, president of the Whitewater Historical Society, provides the historical perspective. She traces the house's owners, explains how Whitewater's spiritualist history became entangled with its witch legends, and examines claims of secret tunnels connected to the Underground Railroad. Some details have historical support. Others remain unverified. Together, these accounts explore the history, folklore and deeply personal experiences behind one of Whitewater's best-known haunted houses. 🎧 Listen everywhere Follow Weird Wisconsin: Facebook Instagram TikTok YouTube Featured in This Episode: DJ Phoenix Antique dealer, toy collector and former Hamilton House resident Website Carol Cartwright President, Whitewater Historical Society Website Episode Artwork by Rachal Duggan Instagram Website Original Theme by Tyler Quinn Website

Welcome back to This Week in Weird Wisconsin, a weekly mini episode highlighting the people, places, and events that happened during this week in Wisconsin history. This week, Wisconsin shuts down public gathering places during the 1918 influenza pandemic, and exactly 39 years later Milwaukee celebrates a World Series championship. We'll also revisit the bizarre Eagle Diamond case, where a woman sold a stone for $1 only to discover it was one of the largest diamonds ever found in America. And finally, we head to Milwaukee in 1912, where Theodore Roosevelt is shot in the chest before a campaign speech and decides to speak for roughly 80 minutes anyway. Explore this week's event: Halloween Legends & Lore at Old World Wisconsin Tickets 🎧 Listen everywhere Follow Weird Wisconsin: Facebook Instagram TikTok Original Theme by Tyler Quinn Website

Welcome back to This Week in Weird Wisconsin, a weekly mini episode highlighting the people, places, and events that happened during this week in Wisconsin history. This week, we dig into the bizarre early history of Bucky Badger, including the live badger that kept escaping and a raccoon named Regdab that somehow became part of the mascot story. We'll also revisit a major 1962 civil rights protest in Madison, the 1912 American Grand Prix raced on public roads around Milwaukee, the flood that nearly erased downtown Black River Falls, and the Milwaukee Police Band's unlikely path from whistling officers to performing with John Philip Sousa. And finally, we look back at the Peshtigo Fire of October 8, 1871, the deadliest wildfire in American history. Explore this week's events: Spiritualism in the Victorian Era at Black Point Estate October 2 in Lake Geneva Bayfield Apple Festival October 2–4 in Bayfield 🎧 Listen everywhere Follow Weird Wisconsin: Facebook Instagram TikTok Original Theme by Tyler Quinn Website

Welcome back to This Week in Weird Wisconsin, a weekly mini episode highlighting the people, places, and events that happened during this week in Wisconsin history. This week, Manitowoc holds an actual funeral for a steamship, Wisconsin's most famous Civil War eagle gets honored at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition, and the very first Smokey Bear costume makes its public debut in Wausau. We'll also revisit the first regular-season game played at what became Lambeau Field, the Treaty of La Pointe, and Wisconsin's very first State Fair—where one of the biggest attractions was a 200-pound squash. And if that somehow isn't weird enough, Mount Horeb is also preparing to burn a giant troll. Explore this week's event: Burning Troll September 26 near Mount Horeb 🎧 Listen everywhere Follow Weird Wisconsin: Facebook Instagram TikTok Original Theme by Tyler Quinn Instagram

*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:6a3a0c03-7752-4315-b8b8-6ab9b23d03ad-2" data-turn-id-container= "request-WEB:6a3a0c03-7752-4315-b8b8-6ab9b23d03ad-2" data-testid= "conversation-turn-6" data-turn="assistant"> A viral story claims cranberry growers release spiders into their marshes to control pests and that workers must be screened for arachnophobia before wading into the water. The story is a lie. But Wisconsin's cranberry marshes are definitely not spider-free. When growers flood a cranberry bed for harvest, spiders hidden among the vines rise with the water and travel across its surface toward the safety of the dikes. For a brief moment, several acres of spiders can become concentrated in one place. But they are not attacking workers, laying eggs on people or being deliberately released. The reality of Wisconsin's cranberry marshes is far more complicated and fascinating than the internet makes it sound. In this episode, we investigate how the viral story began, how cranberries are actually grown and what really happens to the spiders when a marsh is flooded. We also explore why wild cranberry wetlands can contain far more spiders than commercial marshes and whether those spiders actually help control agricultural pests. Cranberry grower John Stauner takes us inside the ecosystem of James Lake Farms. Dr. Michael Draney, professor and curator of the Richter Museum of Natural History at UW-Green Bay, explains the remarkable diversity of spiders living in Wisconsin wetlands. USDA cranberry entomologist Shawn Steffan reveals what decades of research tell us about the complicated role those predators play in a working marsh. Together, they help us separate viral fiction from the fascinating reality beneath Wisconsin's cranberry marshes. 🎧 Listen everywhere Follow Weird Wisconsin: Facebook Instagram TikTok Learn More: James Lake Farms 📍Three Lakes, Wisconsin Website Dr. Michael Draney UW-Green Bay Shawn Steffan UW Entomology Episode Artwork by Rachal Duggan Instagram Website Original Theme by Tyler Quinn Website _:empty]:hidden">

Welcome back to This Week in Weird Wisconsin, a weekly mini episode highlighting the people, places, and events that happened during this week in Wisconsin history. This week, we dive into three Lake Michigan disasters, including a shipwreck still carrying its iron ore and a schooner that floated upside down for nearly two weeks. We'll also revisit one of Green Bay's largest fires, the recovery of a 3,000-year-old canoe from Lake Mendota, and one of the darkest cases in Wisconsin conservation warden history. Thankfully, we'll balance all of that out with three days devoted entirely to cheese—and a parade led by actual cows. Explore this week's event: Green County Cheese Days September 18–20 in Monroe 🎧 Listen everywhere Follow Weird Wisconsin: Facebook Instagram TikTok Original Theme by Tyler Quinn Instagram   _:empty]:hidden">

For more than 150 years, a 1,600-pound piece of Ireland has been sitting in the foundation of Saint Bernard's Church in Watertown, Wisconsin. The stone came from the Rock of Cashel, one of Ireland's most famous historic sites. According to legend, the rock was created when Saint Patrick banished the devil from a nearby mountain. While escaping, the devil transformed into a winged giant, bit off part of the mountaintop, broke his teeth and spat the rock ten miles across Ireland. But how did a piece of that rock end up in Wisconsin? In this episode, we trace the stone's journey from Ireland to Watertown. Its story involves a Civil War chaplain, a collapsed medieval tower, a debate in British Parliament and a three-month journey across the Atlantic. When the stone was finally placed into the church's foundation in 1873, as many as 10,000 people gathered to witness it. Then, somewhere along the way, almost everyone forgot it was there. With help from Irish historian Dr. Thomas Patrick Nelligan and Marquette University historian Dr. Timothy McMahon, we uncover the history, folklore and nearly forgotten meaning behind Wisconsin's stone from the devil's mouth. 🎧 Listen everywhere Follow Weird Wisconsin: Facebook Instagram TikTok Learn More: The Standing Stone with Dr. Thomas Patrick Nelligan Website Dr. Timothy G. McMahon Marquette University Rock of Cashel 📍Cashel, County Tipperary, Ireland Visitor Information Saint Bernard's Church 📍Watertown, Wisconsin Website Episode Artwork by Rachal Duggan Instagram Website Original Theme by Tyler Quinn Website If you enjoyed this episode, follow the Weird Wisconsin Podcast on your favorite podcast app, leave a rating or review, and share it with someone who loves Wisconsin history, mysteries and folklore.

Welcome back to This Week in Weird Wisconsin, a weekly mini episode highlighting the people, places, and events that happened during this week in Wisconsin history. This week, we uncover how the remnants of the deadly Galveston hurricane reached Wisconsin, look back at the first automobile race at the Milwaukee Mile, do some goat yoga at a historic stagecoach stop, explore a piece of medieval Ireland hidden in Watertown, and dive into two recently recognized Door County shipwrecks. We'll also revisit John Muir's Wisconsin roots and one of the state's forgotten aviation pioneers. Along the way, I'll also point you toward a few places and events where you can experience these stories for yourself. Explore this week's events: Goat Yoga at Wade House https://calendar.wisconsinhistory.org/events/month/2026-09/ Wisconsin's John Muir Exhibit https://calendar.wisconsinhistory.org/events/month/2026-09/ Stone Age Astronaut Book Launch at Boswell Book Company https://calendar.wisconsinhistory.org/events/month/2026-09/ 🎧 Listen everywhere Follow Weird Wisconsin: Facebook Instagram TikTok Original Theme by Tyler Quinn Instagram

Welcome back to This Week in Weird Wisconsin, a weekly mini episode highlighting the people, places, and events that happened during this week in Wisconsin history. This week, we head to Prairie du Sac for the wonderfully ridiculous Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw, revisit the deadly 1860 sinking of the Lady Elgin on Lake Michigan, and uncover the story of the Phoenix, a burning steamship carrying Dutch immigrants to Wisconsin in 1847. Along the way, I'll also point you toward a couple of places and events where you can experience these stories for yourself. Explore this week's events: Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw & Festival https://wiscowchip.com/ Wisconsin Maritime Museum — Think & Drink: Tragedy of the Phoenix https://www.wisconsinmaritime.org/event/think-drink-tragedy-of-the-phoenix/ 🎧 Listen everywhere Follow Weird Wisconsin: Facebook Instagram TikTok Original Theme by Tyler Quinn Instagram

Welcome back to This Week in Weird Wisconsin, a weekly mini episode highlighting the people, places, and events that happened during this week in Wisconsin history. This week, we look back at the massive gathering of Civil War veterans that took over Milwaukee, raise a glass to Wisconsin's first governor, uncover the incredible story of the passenger pigeon's extinction, revisit the devastating Labor Day tornadoes of 2002, and find out how a treaty signed in Paris helped shape the future of Wisconsin. Along the way, I'll also point you toward a few places you can visit to experience some of these stories for yourself. 🎧 Listen everywhere Follow Weird Wisconsin: Facebook Instagram TikTok Original Theme by Tyler Quinn Instagram

Across Wisconsin, a weird architectural fad from the 1800s still survives. They're called octagon houses, eight-sided homes once promoted as cheaper, healthier, and more efficient than the traditional houses being built around them. At one point, nearly 100 octagon houses stood across Wisconsin. Today, only 19 remain. Why did people start building eight-sided houses? What is it actually like to live inside one? And how have these unusual homes managed to survive for more than 170 years? In this episode, I visit three very different Wisconsin octagon houses in Neenah, Hudson, and Pewaukee. We explore the bizarre origins of the octagon house craze, the families who built and lived in these homes, and the people working to preserve their stories today. Along the way, we uncover family tragedies, strange architectural quirks, stories passed down through generations, and more than a few ghost stories, including one Wisconsin octagon house where unexplained activity has been reported for nearly a century. These houses may share the same unusual shape, but after more than 170 years, each one has a very different story to tell. 🎧 Listen everywhere Follow Weird Wisconsin: Facebook Instagram TikTok If you plan on visiting any of these houses and museums, please check hours and admission ahead of time. Make sure to mention you heard about them on Weird Wisconsin. The Deacon Smith Octagon house in Pewaukee is a private residence, however Jeff is a very friendly owner and I'm sure if he has the time, he'd love to chat with you. Hudson Octagon House & Museum 📍Hudson, Wisconsin Website Neenah Historical Society & Hiram Smith Octagon House 📍Neenah, Wisconsin Website Deacon West Octagon House 📍Pewaukee, Wisconsin Learn More Episode Artwork by Rachal Duggan Instagram Website Original Theme by Tyler Quinn Website If you enjoyed this episode, follow the Weird Wisconsin Podcast on your favorite podcast app, leave a rating or review, and share it with someone who loves Wisconsin history, mysteries, and true crime.

Welcome back to This Week in Weird Wisconsin, a weekly mini episode highlighting the people, places, and events that happened during this week in Wisconsin history. This week, we revisit Wisconsin's only state-sanctioned execution, remember the day Charles Lindbergh and the Spirit of St. Louis came to Madison, uncover the deadly 1888 explosion at a Menasha paper mill, explore Wisconsin's connection to Dungeons & Dragons, and make a stop at the fascinating Paradise Springs in Eagle. Places & Events Mentioned: Inspired! The Legacy of Gary Gygax August 22 | Madison Free talks, exhibits and more celebrating Gary Gygax, TSR and Wisconsin's role in Dungeons & Dragons. A ticketed Wisconsin-themed D&D adventure follows the free program. Event Details & Registration Paradise Springs Nature Trail Eagle, Wisconsin Explore the spring house, former resort grounds, trout pond and other remnants of Paradise Springs along a short trail in the Kettle Moraine State Forest. Paradise Springs | Wisconsin DNR John McCaffery Burial Site Green Ridge Cemetery | Kenosha Visit the Wisconsin Historical Marker marking the burial site of the only person ever executed under Wisconsin state authority. Green Ridge Cemetery Camp Randall Stadium Madison, Wisconsin Walk the grounds where a massive crowd gathered to welcome Charles Lindbergh during his 1927 visit to Madison. Camp Randall Stadium 🎧 Listen everywhere Follow Weird Wisconsin: Facebook Instagram TikTok Original Theme by Tyler Quinn Instagram

Welcome back to This Week in Weird Wisconsin, a weekly mini episode highlighting the people, places, and events that happened during this week in Wisconsin history. This week, we visit the Pilot Island Lighthouse, remember Wisconsin's celebration at the end of World War II, look back at the state's first unemployment check and the Treaty of Green Bay, uncover Lake Michigan's vanished ghost ports, and explore the strange hidden history of downtown Madison. 🎧 Listen everywhere Follow Weird Wisconsin: Facebook Instagram TikTok Original Theme by Tyler Quinn Instagram