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Dark House

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House Beautiful

At the crossroads of true crime, interior design, and the paranormal, Dark House explores beautiful homes that can’t seem to escape their dark histories. Hosts and House Beautiful editors Hadley Mendelsohn and Alyssa Fiorentino dig into the twisted backstories of four infamous homes, and uncover the strange stories suggesting some inhabitants never left—and that perhaps history isn't the only thing haunting them. Featuring guest interviews with authors, set designers, psychic mediums, and paranormal investigators, Dark House uncovers why these residences, and the stories they tell us, are so important.

#43

Waco Siege Part 2: Feat. Cult Scholar Daniella Mestyanek Young

Following their investigation into New Mount Carmel Center, Hadley and Alyssa resume their discussion of the infamous 1993 Waco siege. Hoping to better understand the actions of those embroiled in the conflict, they’re joined by author and cult scholar Daniella Mestyanek Young, who, as a cult survivor and Army veteran with a Masters in Organizational Psychology, provides valuable insight into the perspectives of each side. Speaking to her own experiences, Daniella talks about growing up in the Children of God cult as well as her time serving in the Army, and the parallels she’s noticed between those two chapters in her life. The hosts also pick her brain on all things coercive control, including how cult leaders utilize isolated locations and strict living conditions to control their followers. Wrapping up the episode, Alyssa and Hadley reflect on the stories they shared this season. SWEEPSTAKES *IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE: Following @Darkhousepodcast and liking Darkhouse’s ‘Uncultured’ Memoir sweepstakes post is required to enter Darkhouse’s ‘Uncultured’ Memoir Sweepstakes and does not necessarily signify an endorsement of the brand or post.* NO PURCH. NEC. TO ENTER OR WIN. Darkhouse ‘Uncultured’ Memoir Sweepstakes. Sponsored by Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. From 11/15/23 at 12:01 AM (ET) - 11/22/23, at 11:59 PM (ET), follow @Darkhousepodcast on Instagram and like Darkhouse’s ‘Uncultured’ Memoir sweepstakes post. Open to US, DC, & Canada (excluding Quebec) residents from age of majority. Void in Puerto Rico. Subj. to rules at https://www.housebeautiful.com/promotions/sweeps/a45701029/darkhouse-uncultured-memoir-sweepstakes-2023/. CREDITS Alyssa Fiorentino - Co-host & Producer Hadley Mendelsohn - Co-host & Producer Jessy Caron - Producer & Audio Editor To advertise on the show: [https://www.advertisecast.com/DarkHouse] (https://www.advertisecast.com/DarkHouse) or email us at sales@advertisecast.com. RELATED LINKS ‘Uncultured: A Memoir’ by Daniella Mestyanek Young: [https://amzn.to/497qeIQ] (https://amzn.to/497qeIQ) ‘Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism’ by Amanda Montell: [https://amzn.to/406FPnQ] (https://amzn.to/406FPnQ) “Joaquin Phoenix and Rose McGowan Spent Their Early Years in a Religious Cult. Then it Became Infamous.” Esquire (ARTICLE): [https://bit.ly/3Q7gTb9] (https://bit.ly/3Q7gTb9) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [podcastchoices.com/adchoices] (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) ... Read more

15 Nov 2023

1 HR 09 MINS

1:09:23

15 Nov 2023

#42

Waco Siege Part 1: New Mount Carmel Center (Waco, TX)

Alyssa and Hadley turn their attention to New Mount Carmel Center, an isolated ranch just outside of Waco, Texas where a 51-day standoff between the FBI and the Branch Davidians—a religious cult led by self-proclaimed prophet David Koresh—came to a disastrous end on April 19, 1993, when the group’s massive compound burned to the ground with 76 Branch Davidians still inside. Setting out to understand what led to the government’s siege of Mount Carmel, the hosts go back to the beginning, reviewing the tumultuous history of the cult and their property. They also examine the harsh living conditions that Koresh’s followers were subjected to while living there, and how the compound's rudimentary design and construction played a significant role throughout the conflict. Finally, Alyssa and Hadley uncover what happened to Mount Carmel after the fire, how the remains of the compound became a macabre tourist attraction, and the chilling sounds that visitors and caretakers have reported hearing on the grounds since. CREDITS Alyssa Fiorentino - Co-host & Producer Hadley Mendelsohn - Co-host & Producer Jessy Caron - Producer & Audio Editor To advertise on the show: [https://www.advertisecast.com/DarkHouse] (https://www.advertisecast.com/DarkHouse) or email us at sales@advertisecast.com. RELATED LINKS ‘Waco: David Koresh, the Branch Davidians, and A Legacy of Rage’ by Jeff Guinn: [https://amzn.to/3FtvqZL] (https://amzn.to/3FtvqZL) “The Bizarre History of the Branch Davidian Headquarters in Waco, Texas” House Beautiful (ARTICLE): [https://bit.ly/40o8CVb] (https://bit.ly/40o8CVb) “The Ghosts of Mount Carmel” (ARTICLE): [https://bit.ly/3M9U4m3] (https://bit.ly/3M9U4m3) “Branch Davidian Compound, Mount Carmel Center” (VIDEO): [https://bit.ly/3Q7gBRB] (https://bit.ly/3Q7gBRB) “David Koresh SERMON” (VIDEO): [https://bit.ly/45IZL15] (https://bit.ly/45IZL15) “The Sinful Messiah: Read the series” Waco Tribune-Herald (ARTICLE): [https://bit.ly/3Mf4lNT] (https://bit.ly/3Mf4lNT) “The hounds of Waco” Salon (ARTICLE): [https://bit.ly/497qMyo] (https://bit.ly/497qMyo) “End Of Days” BBC Radio 5 Live (PODCAST): [https://bit.ly/409UKNP] (https://bit.ly/409UKNP) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [podcastchoices.com/adchoices] (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) ... Read more

08 Nov 2023

1 HR 26 MINS

1:26:49

08 Nov 2023

#41

Ammons House (Gary, IN) Feat. Psychology Professor Karl Rosengren

Hadley and Alyssa investigate the Ammons House, a modest, single-story home in Gary, Indiana where, in the spring of 2011, Latoya Ammons and her three young children were reportedly possessed by demons. After unpacking the history of the region, the hosts dig into the Ammons family’s case, from the first signs of paranormal activity to the extreme behavior that eventually led Latoya to flee the home and seek medical attention for her children. They also review reports made by healthcare professionals, law enforcement officers, and government workers whose eyewitness accounts point to two chilling possibilities: either the Ammons family suffered a psychological phenomenon, or the house really was infested by something evil and otherworldly. Hadley and Alyssa also discuss what happened to the house after Ghost Adventures host Zak Bagans bought it in 2014. Later, they’re joined by Karl Rosengren, a professor in the Brain and Cognitive Sciences and Psychology departments at the University of Rochester, to discuss how belief in the paranormal and magic affect early childhood development, the psychology behind superstition, and more. CREDITS Alyssa Fiorentino - Co-host & Producer Hadley Mendelsohn - Co-host & Producer Jessy Caron - Producer & Audio Editor To advertise on the show: [https://www.advertisecast.com/DarkHouse] (https://www.advertisecast.com/DarkHouse) or email us at sales@advertisecast.com. RELATED LINKS “Paranormal activity: Do Catholics believe in ghosts?” U.S. Catholic (ARTICLE): [https://bit.ly/3QDiqak] (https://bit.ly/3QDiqak) “White flight followed factory jobs out of Gary, Indiana. Black people didn't have a choice” The Guardian (ARTICLE): [https://bit.ly/3FyLSry] (https://bit.ly/3FyLSry) “Resilient Midtown Tour to explore Gary’s historic district on foot” Indiana University Northwest (ARTICLE): [https://bit.ly/3s74nQX] (https://bit.ly/3s74nQX) “The exorcisms of Latoya Ammons” Indianapolis Star (ARTICLE): [https://bit.ly/406svzQ] (https://bit.ly/406svzQ) Demon House (MOVIE): [https://bit.ly/3s2BHse] (https://bit.ly/3s2BHse) “We almost lost our lives': Woman possessed by demons in 'portal to hell' house that terrified even the police chief reveals new details of her family's terrifying ordeal” Daily Mail (ARTICLE): [https://bit.ly/3s2qzf8] (https://bit.ly/3s2qzf8) “Childhood trauma and the development of paranormal beliefs” PubMed (STUDY): [https://bit.ly/3Q0Ge6o] (https://bit.ly/3Q0Ge6o) “Exorcism is something we can’t quite quit” Los Angeles Times (ARTICLE): [https://bit.ly/3tSUKpm] (https://bit.ly/3tSUKpm) Silhouette in the Ammons House window (PHOTO): [https://bit.ly/3QsAYtJ] (https://bit.ly/3QsAYtJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [podcastchoices.com/adchoices] (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) ... Read more

01 Nov 2023

1 HR 37 MINS

1:37:39

01 Nov 2023

#40

The Amityville Horror House (Amityville, NY)

Tackling the story most requested by Dark House listeners, Alyssa and Hadley come face to face with 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville, New York, the Dutch-Colonial house that inspired The Amityville Horror. The best-selling-book-turned-hit-movie tells the dramatic tale of George and Kathy Lutz, a young newlywed couple who purchased 112 Ocean Avenue in December of 1975, just a year after previous owners Ron and Louise DeFeo and four of their children were brutally murdered in the home. Having fled from the house only 28 days after moving in, the Lutzes told friends and neighbors that "unseen forces" drove them out. Looking to understand why today—despite the fact that the movie remains a classic—the Lutz's story is widely regarded as a hoax, the hosts dig for nuggets of truth buried under a mountain of lies and internet theories. They take a closer look at the DeFeo case and what could’ve possibly motivated Butch DeFeo, Ron and Louise’s eldest son, to commit such a heinous crime, as well as what exactly the Lutzes said happened to them in those 28 days living at the house, and how their credibility has been called into question since. Plus, they discover why the next family to move in after the Lutzes was also forced to abandon the home. CREDITS Alyssa Fiorentino - Co-host & Producer Hadley Mendelsohn - Co-host & Producer Jessy Caron - Producer & Audio Editor To advertise on the show: [https://www.advertisecast.com/DarkHouse] (https://www.advertisecast.com/DarkHouse) or email us at sales@advertisecast.com. RELATED LINKS Amityville Horror (MOVIE): [https://amzn.to/3EyXTgi] (https://amzn.to/3EyXTgi) ‘The Amityville Horror’ by Jay Anson: [https://amzn.to/3ZbAqLP] (https://amzn.to/3ZbAqLP) ‘The Golden Avenue: The History and People of Ocean Avenue, Amityville, NY: The History and People of Ocean Avenue, Amityville, NY’ by Doug Robinson: [https://amzn.to/3RjQ9GC] (https://amzn.to/3RjQ9GC) ‘My Amityville: Memories of a Golden Time’ by Doug Robinson: [https://amzn.to/44JnJc8] (https://amzn.to/44JnJc8) ‘High Hopes: The Amityville Murders’ by Gerard Sullivan and Harvey Aronson: [https://amzn.to/489vefp] (https://amzn.to/489vefp) “Why Do We Have To Rely On The Federal Government To Protect Us?” United For Justice In Policing Long Island (BLOG POST): [bit.ly/3PfN9ID] (http://bit.ly/3PfN9ID) “The Confession Takers” Newsday (ARTICLE PDF): [bit.ly/45NfaOV] (http://bit.ly/45NfaOV) “'Amityville' Prisoner Says Movie Money Tainted Defense” The New York Times (ARTICLE): [bit.ly/3RjBrzA] (http://bit.ly/3RjBrzA) “BEHIND THE BEST SELLERS” The New York Times (ARTICLE): [bit.ly/3PiVQlk] (http://bit.ly/3PiVQlk) The Amityville House of Horror (VIDEO): [bit.ly/3EUTC7j] (http://bit.ly/3EUTC7j) “Ex-resident of house debunks much of Amityville ‘horror’” The Seattle Times (ARTICLE): [bit.ly/3PBeLJC] (http://bit.ly/3PBeLJC) My Amityville Horror (MOVIE): [https://amzn.to/45PCz22] (https://amzn.to/45PCz22) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [podcastchoices.com/adchoices] (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) ... Read more

25 Oct 2023

1 HR 25 MINS

1:25:42

25 Oct 2023

#39

Victoria’s Black Swan Inn (San Antonio, TX)

Hadley and Alyssa venture to Victoria’s Black Swan Inn, a lush, 35-acre home and wedding venue cloaked by 100-year-old oak trees in San Antonio, Texas. Built in the mid to late 1800s on a plot of land where, 50 years earlier, 60 Mexican soldiers were killed in the Battle of Salado, the Greek Revival manor has had a plethora of owners—including many who died there. Operating today as a residence and special events venue, many guests have reported strange experiences while visiting the property. To get to the bottom of the hauntings, Hadley and Alyssa run through the history of the home, diving into the lives of all of its former occupants and their (alleged) lingering spirits. Working their way through the home’s history up to the present day, the hosts share some of current owner Jo Ann Rivera’s paranormal encounters, including one of the most sinister spectral presences they’ve ever heard of. CREDITS Alyssa Fiorentino - Co-host & Producer Hadley Mendelsohn - Co-host & Producer Jessy Caron - Producer & Audio Editor Jacob Stone - Sound Editor & Mixer To advertise on the show: [https://www.advertisecast.com/DarkHouse] (https://www.advertisecast.com/DarkHouse) or email us at sales@advertisecast.com. RELATED LINKS Victoria’s Black Swan Inn (HOMEPAGE): [https://bit.ly/46hu00n] (https://bit.ly/46hu00n) “Victoria's Black Swan Inn—Historical Dossier LSF/It Feels Evil” by Celina Sommers (BLOG POST): [https://bit.ly/3tarZUT] (https://bit.ly/3tarZUT) “Owner of San Antonio's Historic Black Swan Inn Unveils Her Paranormal Experiences” My San Antonio (ARTICLE): [https://bit.ly/467NFjb] (https://bit.ly/467NFjb) “Ungesund: Yellow Fever, the Antebellum Gulf South, and German Immigration” Southern Spaces (ARTICLE): [https://bit.ly/3PI5dvd] (https://bit.ly/3PI5dvd) ‘The Trail Drivers of Texas: Interesting Sketches of Early Cowboys’ by J. Marvin Hunter (excerpt from Christoph Wilhelm Ackermann): [https://amzn.to/48CEgSp] (https://amzn.to/48CEgSp) “Salado Creek, Battle Of” Texas State Historical Association: [https://bit.ly/46eL07b] (https://bit.ly/46eL07b) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [podcastchoices.com/adchoices] (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) ... Read more

18 Oct 2023

1 HR 27 MINS

1:27:15

18 Oct 2023

#38

Listen Now: MrBallen’s Medical Mysteries

Follow MrBallen’s Medical Mysteries wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge the first 8 episodes, early and ad-free on Amazon Music. Download the Amazon Music app today. The human body is a miracle. But when it’s not working, it can be the stuff of nightmares. On this new series from master storyteller MrBallen, we’re sharing medical horror stories and diagnostic mysteries that are surgically calibrated to make your blood run cold. From bizarre, unheard-of diseases and miraculous recoveries to strange medical mishaps and unexplainable deaths — you’ll never hear the phrase “heart-stopping” in the same way again. MrBallen’s Medical Mysteries is a first of its kind collaboration between MrBallen and Wondery, the award-winning company behind Dr. Death. Listen Now: [Wondery.fm/MBMM_DAH] (http://wondery.fm/MBMM_DAH) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [podcastchoices.com/adchoices] (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) ... Read more

17 Oct 2023

07 MINS

07:07

17 Oct 2023

#37

Listen Now: I Hear Fear

Nothing is as terrifying as the sounds we hear in the dark. The slow creak of a door opening late at night... or a whisper in a room when you thought you were alone... or a distant scream in the wind. One noise at the wrong time or place can scare us for days. Each episode of I Hear Fear plunges the listener into a tale inspired by real events, from a deadly dance party to a cursed film set. Join host and two-time Oscar nominee Carey Mulligan for six immersive stories designed to jangle your nerves and haunt your dreams. Follow I Hear Fear on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes of I Hear Fear ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus. Listen now: [Wondery.fm/IHF_DH] (http://wondery.fm/IHF_DH) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [podcastchoices.com/adchoices] (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) ... Read more

16 Oct 2023

05 MINS

05:47

16 Oct 2023

#36

Guest Interview: Hilarie Burton Morgan (Actress, Author ‘Grimoire Girl’)

Hadley and Alyssa chat with One Tree Hill star Hilarie Burton Morgan about her new book, Grimoire Girl: A Memoir of Magic and Mischief in a special Dark House minisode. The trio discuss the inspiration behind the book and Hilarie’s encounters with haunted homes, including a meaningful connection she made with a spirit “guide” while living in Wilmington, North Carolina. Plus, Hilarie shares her empowering interior design philosophy, how to incorporate magic into your everyday routine, and the case that inspired her true crime docu-series, It Couldn’t Happen Here. CREDITS Alyssa Fiorentino - Co-host & Producer Hadley Mendelsohn - Co-host & Producer Jessy Caron - Producer & Audio Editor RELATED LINKS ‘Grimoire Girl: A Memoir of Magic and Mischief’ by Hilarie Burton Morgan: [https://amzn.to/46hElcx] (https://amzn.to/46hElcx) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [podcastchoices.com/adchoices] (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) ... Read more

13 Oct 2023

1 HR 02 MINS

1:02:08

13 Oct 2023

#35

Lucy Murder House (Uniontown, AL)

Alyssa and Hadley explore the haunting past of the Hardie-Coleman House—or, as it’s better known online, the Lucy Murder House—in Uniontown, Alabama, where the remains of 13-year-old Allan Lucy were found buried beneath the front porch in January of 1994. Allan, who lived at the home with his adoptive parents, Phillip and Margaret Lucy, disappeared without a trace in May of 1985. In the months that followed, Jason Lucy, Phillip and Margaret's biological son, told classmates that his father killed Allan and buried him in the backyard. As they work to uncover what really happened, the hosts hear from former Uniontown resident David B. House, who explains why, at the time, no one believed Jason's story, and shares the rumors that were circulating about the Lucy family long before Allan disappeared. Later, in trying to understand why—even years after Allan Lucy's murderer was brought to justice—the house has still not recovered, Hadley and Alyssa discuss the environmental issues that have driven many residents out of Uniontown, and left those who remain fighting for justice of their own. CREDITS Alyssa Fiorentino - Co-host & Producer Hadley Mendelsohn - Co-host & Producer Jessy Caron - Producer & Audio Editor Jacob Stone - Sound Editor & Mixer To advertise on the show: [https://www.advertisecast.com/DarkHouse] (https://www.advertisecast.com/DarkHouse) or email us at sales@advertisecast.com. RELATED LINKS Uniontown Historic District Nomination Form (PDF): [bit.ly/3YJmg44] (http://bit.ly/3YJmg44) ‘REPORTER: Covering Civil Rights...And Wrongs in Dixie’ by Alvin Benn: [https://amzn.to/3P6yTTJ] (https://amzn.to/3P6yTTJ) Exploring An Abandoned Murder Mansion | Boy Buried Under The Porch (VIDEO): [bit.ly/3OK07xZ] (http://bit.ly/3OK07xZ) “Environmental Injustice in Uniontown, Alabama, Decades after the Civil Rights Act of 1964: It's Time For Action” American Bar Association (ARTICLE): [bit.ly/3P8tN9I] (http://bit.ly/3P8tN9I) “Uniontown is polluted with coal ash. Here’s how some UA students are helping” The Crimson White (ARTICLE): [bit.ly/3E5Ullp] (http://bit.ly/3E5Ullp) “Judge orders Uniontown to stop fighting $31M sewer fix” Alabama.com (ARTICLE): [bit.ly/45eKdTo] (http://bit.ly/45eKdTo) “Alabama sues Uniontown again over sewage issues” Alabama.com (ARTICLE): [bit.ly/3P9DW61] (http://bit.ly/3P9DW61) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [podcastchoices.com/adchoices] (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) ... Read more

11 Oct 2023

1 HR 18 MINS

1:18:46

11 Oct 2023

#34

Black Dahlia Part 2: The John Sowden House (Los Angeles, CA)

With a better understanding of the victim, Elizabeth Short, Hadley and Alyssa set their sights on the Black Dahlia’s suspected killer: prominent California doctor George Hodel. Dr. Hodel lived in the John Sowden House—Frank Lloyd Wright Jr.'s surrealist magnum opus in Los Feliz—from 1945 to 1950, until he abandoned his family and fled the country after the home was bugged by the district attorney's office. Following the trail of a popular theory, the hosts explore the history of Sowden House, from its magnificent Mayan Revival architecture and many former owners to the events and evidence that have led many to believe it was the site of Elizabeth Short’s murder. CREDITS Alyssa Fiorentino - Co-host & Producer Hadley Mendelsohn - Co-host & Producer Jessy Caron - Producer & Audio Editor Jacob Stone - Sound Editor & Mixer To advertise on the show: [https://www.advertisecast.com/DarkHouse] (https://www.advertisecast.com/DarkHouse) or email us at sales@advertisecast.com. RELATED LINKS Sowden House, 5121 Franklin Avenue, Los Angeles (PHOTOS): [https://bit.ly/3PBihm5] (https://bit.ly/3PBihm5) ‘Black Dahlia Avenger’ by Steve Hodel: [https://amzn.to/468kDj4] (https://amzn.to/468kDj4) Root of Evil: The True Story of the Hodel Family and the Black Dahlia (PODCAST): [https://bit.ly/45iciIU] (https://bit.ly/45iciIU) Historic American Buildings Survey, Sowden House (PDF): [https://bit.ly/3ZwglA1] (https://bit.ly/3ZwglA1) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [podcastchoices.com/adchoices] (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) ... Read more

04 Oct 2023

1 HR 38 MINS

1:38:51

04 Oct 2023

#33

Black Dahlia Part 1: The Biltmore Hotel (Los Angeles, CA)

Hadley and Alyssa dive into the life and gruesome death of Elizabeth Short—better known as the Black Dahlia—whose unsolved murder spurred Hollywood’s most persistent ghost story. Working to uncover whether or not the iconic Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles was the last place she was seen alive, the hosts retrace Elizabeth's final steps through her unmailed letters, stories from people who knew her, and eye-witness testimony. Having tracked her movements up to the evening of January 9, 1947, when she was seen leaving the lobby of the Biltmore, Alyssa and Hadley review all the possible sightings that may prove Elizabeth was seen elsewhere in Los Angeles the following week. They also sift through the many chilling stories of paranormal activity reported by Biltmore guests in recent years, which have many people convinced that Elizabeth’s spirit remains at the hotel. Later, the hosts learn about several top suspects in the case, including one who stands out among the rest. CREDITS Alyssa Fiorentino - Co-host & Producer Hadley Mendelsohn - Co-host & Producer Jessy Caron - Producer & Audio Editor Jacob Stone - Sound Editor & Mixer To advertise on the show: [https://www.advertisecast.com/DarkHouse] (https://www.advertisecast.com/DarkHouse) or email us at sales@advertisecast.com. RELATED LINKS Ghost Captured in the Biltmore Hotel by Ginny Myers Sain (PHOTO): [bit.ly/45UCN85] (http://bit.ly/45UCN85) ‘Childhood Shadows’ by Mary Pacios: [https://amzn.to/4532RwC] (https://amzn.to/4532RwC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [podcastchoices.com/adchoices] (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) ... Read more

27 Sep 2023

1 HR 31 MINS

1:31:06

27 Sep 2023

#32

Taylor Swift's Holiday House (Watch Hill, RI)

Alyssa—a longtime “Swiftie”—leads us in a deep dive into the history of Holiday House, Taylor Swift’s oceanfront mansion in Watch Hill, Rhode Island. The co-hosts turn their attention to “the last great american dynasty,” a track off of Swift’s 2020 album Folklore, from which we learned that, just like us, she too enjoys digging into the history of her own home and learning about the people who lived there before her. In the song, Swift sings about the fascinating life of Rebekah Harkness—an American socialite who purchased Holiday House in 1948 with her second husband, Standard Oil heir William Harkness. Following her husband’s death, Harkness spent much of his fortune hosting lavish parties, buying her own ballet company, and pissing off her neighbors in the small resort community of Watch Hill along the way. After scouring through old newspapers and reading ‘Blue Blood,’ the out-of-print biography on Rebekah’s life, Alyssa breaks down the song line by line, revealing which of the wild anecdotes mentioned in the song are true (did Rebekah really dye her neighbor’s dog key lime green??), which aren’t, and what’s missing. She also shares her own theory about the lyrics, and why she thinks they may suggest that Holiday House is haunted by Rebekah’s ghost. Later, the co-hosts discuss Swift’s own struggles since buying the home in 2013, including her many (horrifying) encounters with stalkers trying to gain access to the property. CREDITS Alyssa Fiorentino - Co-host & Producer Hadley Mendelsohn - Co-host & Producer Jessy Caron - Producer & Audio Editor Jacob Stone - Sound Editor & Mixer To advertise on the show: [https://www.advertisecast.com/DarkHouse] (https://www.advertisecast.com/DarkHouse) or email us at sales@advertisecast.com. RELATED LINKS Holiday House old postcard (PHOTO): [bit.ly/3qG8dzS] (https://bit.ly/3qG8dzS) ‘Blue Blood’ by Craig Unger: [https://amzn.to/3sjhuy9] (https://amzn.to/3sjhuy9) ‘Watch Hill Through Time’ by Chaplin Bradford Barnes: [https://amzn.to/45Bbb7B] (https://amzn.to/45Bbb7B) “Taylor Swift: A former resident of your house would like to meet you” The Day (ARTICLE): [bit.ly/44sIhpm] (http://bit.ly/44sIhpm) Watch Hill Historic District Nomination Form (PDF): [bit.ly/3OKhWx4] (http://bit.ly/3OKhWx4) Rebekah Harkness or Jane Lynch? (PHOTO): [bit.ly/3KQigt5] (http://bit.ly/3KQigt5) Daimoku - Nam myoho renge kyo - 15 minutes (VIDEO): [bit.ly/3OHG6bi] (http://bit.ly/3OHG6bi) ‘Blue Blood’ recap series by @JessiSwiftTok (TIKTOK): [bit.ly/44iUsVt] (http://bit.ly/44iUsVt) ‘Blue Blood’ analysis by @Kristina Parro (TIKTOK): [bit.ly/3qLttnG] (http://bit.ly/3qLttnG) Westerly RI including Taylor Swift's house...Ocean House Watch Hill DJI Phantom 4 Drone view in 4K (VIDEO): [bit.ly/3OJjo2B] (http://bit.ly/3OJjo2B) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [podcastchoices.com/adchoices] (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) ... Read more

20 Sep 2023

1 HR 33 MINS

1:33:25

20 Sep 2023

#31

Winchester Mystery House (San Jose, CA) Feat. Seance Expert Lisa Morton

Kicking off season 3, Hadley takes us to the Winchester Mystery House (aka Llanada Villa)—a sprawling San Jose mansion built by The Winchester Repeating Arms Company heiress Sarah Winchester in the late 1800s. The hosts dig into the many legends surrounding the property and investigate rumors that the home’s creepy and bizarre architectural features were an attempt to keep out unwelcome spirits. Along the way, they uncover the true story of Sarah Winchester’s life, from her reclusive lifestyle to her love of interior design, to find out what really motivated the never-ending construction of her rambling mansion, and why it was deemed valueless after her death. To learn more about the Spiritualist movement that swept the nation during Sarah’s heyday, the hosts chat with Lisa Morton, the author of ‘Calling the Spirits: A History of Seances,’ about the history of mediumship, seances, ouija boards and more. CREDITS Alyssa Fiorentino - Host & Producer Hadley Mendelsohn - Host & Producer Jessy Caron - Producer & Audio Editor Jacob Stone - Sound Editor & Mixer To advertise on the show: [https://www.advertisecast.com/DarkHouse] (https://www.advertisecast.com/DarkHouse) or email us at sales@advertisecast.com. RELATED LINKS ‘Captive of the Labyrinth’ by Mary Jo Ignoffo: [https://amzn.to/3PgyLzZ] (https://amzn.to/3PgyLzZ) 1963 KPIX Documentary: Mrs. Winchester's House (VIDEO): [bit.ly/3refp6n] (http://bit.ly/3refp6n) “Return of the ‘66” (VIDEO): [bit.ly/466hSyB] (http://bit.ly/466hSyB) Hargis Ranch in 1876 (PHOTO): [bit.ly/3sUeNDq] (http://bit.ly/3sUeNDq) The Winchester House (1985) by Trish Newfarmer (VIDEO): [bit.ly/3sTT3Yi] (http://bit.ly/3sTT3Yi) ‘The Gun That Built an American Dynasty’ by Laura Trevelyan: [https://amzn.to/45LIx4a] (https://amzn.to/45LIx4a) ‘Calling the Spirits: A History of Seances’ by Lisa Morton: [https://amzn.to/465g09h] (https://amzn.to/465g09h) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [podcastchoices.com/adchoices] (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) ... Read more

13 Sep 2023

1 HR 40 MINS

1:40:54

13 Sep 2023

#30

Guest Interview: David Dastmalchian (Actor, ‘The Boogeyman’)

Actor and horror buff David Dastmalchian joins hosts Hadley and Alyssa for a special Dark House minisode to talk about his new movie, The Boogeyman (also starring Sophie Thatcher and Chris Messina), hitting theaters June 2, 2023. David dishes on how the film adaptation differs from the original short story by Stephen King, and why King himself pushed for a theatrical release over straight-to-streaming. Plus, the actor opens up about what draws him to the horror genre, tells some scary stories about growing up in a haunted house in Kansas, and more. Later, Hadley and Alyssa share an exclusive update on Dark House season 3. CREDITS Alyssa Fiorentino - Co-host & Producer Hadley Mendelsohn - Co-host & Producer Jessy Caron - Producer & Audio Editor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [podcastchoices.com/adchoices] (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) ... Read more

31 May 2023

44 MINS

44:42

31 May 2023

#29

Listener Ghost Stories & Holiday Lore (Season 2 Finale)

In the final episode of Season 2, Hadley and Alyssa pass the mic to Dark House listeners who tell their own ghost stories. First up, Lisa takes us to her haunted childhood home in York, England. Then, Jed recalls a chilling encounter with an overprotective spirit inside an antique shop in Philadelphia. Next, Meagan shares a spectral encounter outside her family home in upstate New York. And finally, Brittany reveals the eerie baby cam evidence that’s led her to believe the former owners of her Florida home are watching over her family today. Following these personal stories, the co-hosts share their thoughts on Netflix’s ‘The Watcher’ series and get into the holiday spirit with a few Christmas-y folktales from around the world. Have a personal experience with paranormal activity you’d like to share? Reach out to Alyssa and Hadley on the Dark House Instagram account, @darkhousepodcast, or their personal accounts, @alyssafiorentino and @hadleymendelsohn. Be sure to follow all three accounts to stay up to date on all things Dark House! RELATED LINKS “The terrors of growing up in a haunted house” by Lisa Byrne (ARTICLE): [bit.ly/3W1scn8] (http://bit.ly/3W1scn8) Sleep Meditation For Women Podcast: [https://linktr.ee/womensmeditationnetwork] (https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://linktr.ee/womensmeditationnetwork__;!!Ivohdkk!kbo3bKu9-fhLCgXO1TQ7E-9WHya2mk9gkSZPdPey8utpF31xmuS4eubfGB5kP5DLY-SToTMyzkqNwzY-vL4ZBw%24) CREDITS Alyssa Fiorentino - Co-host & Producer Hadley Mendelsohn - Co-host & Producer Jessy Caron - Producer Jacob Stone - Sound Editor & Mixer Ian Munsell - Assistant Audio Engineer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [podcastchoices.com/adchoices] (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) ... Read more

21 Dec 2022

50 MINS

50:37

21 Dec 2022

#28

The Conjuring House (Burrillville, RI)

Alyssa and Hadley unravel the complicated past of 1677 Round Top Road in Burrillville, Rhode Island, the colonial farmhouse that inspired the 2013 horror film The Conjuring. After learning that a majority of the film’s plot was fictionalized, the co-hosts dig into the real story of what happened to the Perron family, who experienced non-stop paranormal activity from the day they moved into the house in January 1971. They also discuss the family’s relationship with paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, the strange things cast and crew say happened while filming The Conjuring, why homeowners at the time were upset with the film, and what happened when the Perron family returned to the farmhouse last Halloween. Turn your food waste into dirt with the press of a button with Lomi. Use the code DARKHOUSE22 to save $50 at lomi.com/DARKHOUSE22 RELATED LINKS 1677 Round Top Road Zillow 3D Tour: [https://bit.ly/3zKQGb4] (https://bit.ly/3zKQGb4) ‘House of Darkness, House of Light’ by Andrea Perron: [https://amzn.to/3W3JOhz] (https://amzn.to/3W3JOhz) Andrea Perron’s interview with the Paranormal Road Trippers (VIDEO): [https://bit.ly/3FIVtNW] (https://bit.ly/3FIVtNW) The Conjuring Houses Owner, Norma Sutcliffe, Disproves Movie and Andrea Perron's Story (VIDEO): [https://bit.ly/3zFJpcs] (https://bit.ly/3zFJpcs) “Correcting the Conjuring House History” by Kenny Biddle (ARTICLE): [https://bit.ly/3zJ3MWq] (https://bit.ly/3zJ3MWq) “Replacing Bathsheba Sherman's Headstone” GoFundMe page: [https://bit.ly/3t0mN2G] (https://bit.ly/3t0mN2G) “Homeowner disputes history of 'Conjuring' house” NBC 10 News WJAR (ARTICLE): [https://bit.ly/3DYFLgs] (https://bit.ly/3DYFLgs) “A Daycare At The Conjuring House?” TikTok by Madison Heinzen (VIDEO): [https://bit.ly/3zKStgi] (https://bit.ly/3zKStgi) “Rhode Island’s ‘Conjuring’ house sold, with one stipulation: No one can live there year-round” The Boston Globe (ARTICLE): [https://bit.ly/3sWE64L] (https://bit.ly/3sWE64L) “'Death is not the end': Member of 'The Conjuring' family returns to Burrillville house” The Providence Journal (ARTICLE): [https://bit.ly/3U5BIob] (https://bit.ly/3U5BIob) CREDITS Alyssa Fiorentino - Co-host & Producer Hadley Mendelsohn - Co-host & Producer Jessy Caron - Producer Jacob Stone - Sound Editor & Mixer Ian Munsell - Assistant Audio Engineer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [podcastchoices.com/adchoices] (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) ... Read more

07 Dec 2022

1 HR 02 MINS

1:02:12

07 Dec 2022

#27

Lemp Mansion (St. Louis, MO)

Hadley and Alyssa unearth the haunting past of St. Louis's infamous and foreboding Lemp Mansion, the former home of wealthy beer tycoon William J. Lemp Sr. and his family. The co-hosts trace the property’s history through its many stages: a Gilded Age family estate atop an elaborate underground cave system, bustling brewery offices, a tourist attraction, a boarding house, and finally, a restaurant and inn. The co-hosts uncover a pattern of tragic and untimely Lemp family deaths that took place along the way, and they also review the paranormal encounters that visitors to the mansion have reported in recent years. Turn your food waste into dirt with the press of a button with Lomi. Use the code DARKHOUSE22 to save $50 at lomi.com/DARKHOUSE22 Read ‘The History and Haunting Lemp Mansion’ by Rebecca F. Pittman: [https://amzn.to/3Y7xqPB] (https://amzn.to/3Y7xqPB) Crisis Support Warm Lines: [https://www.crisisconnections.org/wa-warm-line/] (https://www.crisisconnections.org/wa-warm-line/) [https://www.contactthecrisisline.org/] (https://www.contactthecrisisline.org/) [https://nycwell.cityofnewyork.us/en/] (https://nycwell.cityofnewyork.us/en/) CREDITS Alyssa Fiorentino - Co-host & Producer Hadley Mendelsohn - Co-host & Producer Jessy Caron - Producer Jacob Stone - Sound Editor & Mixer Ian Munsell - Assistant Audio Engineer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [podcastchoices.com/adchoices] (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) ... Read more

23 Nov 2022

1 HR 13 MINS

1:13:00

23 Nov 2022

#26

Amazon Music Presents: I HEAR FEAR

Nothing is as terrifying as the sounds we hear in the dark. The slow creak of a door opening late at night... or a whisper in a room when you thought you were alone... or a distant scream in the wind. One noise at the wrong time or place can scare us for days. Each episode of I HEAR FEAR plunges the listener into a tale inspired by real events, from a deadly dance party to a cursed film set. Join host and two-time Oscar nominee Carey Mulligan for six immersive stories designed to jangle your nerves and haunt your dreams. Listen – if you dare. Only on Amazon Music. Listen to I Hear Fear: www.amazon.com/IHF_us_pfd_AA_110122 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [podcastchoices.com/adchoices] (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) ... Read more

15 Nov 2022

05 MINS

05:47

15 Nov 2022

#25

Smurl House (West Pittston, PA)

Alyssa and Hadley explore the peculiar story of 328-330 Chase Street—a duplex in West Pittston, Pennsylvania—which became the subject of media frenzy in 1986 when owners Jack and Janet Smurl told a local newspaper that a demonic presence had been terrorizing their home for years. The co-hosts review the many strange occurrences that members of the Smurl family experienced in the home, what famed paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren found hiding in Jack and Janet’s bedroom closet, the chaotic aftermath of sharing their family’s story with the public, and what happened that finally caused the Smurls to move out of their home in 1987. Turn your food waste into dirt with the press of a button with Lomi. Use the code DARKHOUSE22 to save $50 at lomi.com/DARKHOUSE22 RELATED LINKS ‘The Haunted’ by Robert Curran: [https://amzn.to/3uB5cPx] (https://amzn.to/3uB5cPx) Carin Smurl’s interview with Spaced Out Radio (VIDEO): [https://bit.ly/3zJgtjZ] (https://bit.ly/3zJgtjZ) Lorraine Warren interviews Jack and Janet Smurl (VIDEO): [https://bit.ly/3NHD4mM] (https://bit.ly/3NHD4mM) CREDITS Alyssa Fiorentino - Co-host & Producer Hadley Mendelsohn - Co-host & Producer Jessy Caron - Producer Jacob Stone - Sound Editor & Mixer Ian Munsell - Assistant Audio Engineer James Scully - Pre-production Advisor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [podcastchoices.com/adchoices] (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) ... Read more

09 Nov 2022

50 MINS

50:26

09 Nov 2022

#24

Amazon Music Presents: SUSPECT: Vanished in the Snow

For more than three and a half decades, the disappearance of 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews was a mystery – a riddle neither authorities nor her family members could solve. The residents of her cloistered Colorado hometown had scoured every inch of prairie. Jonelle’s face had been on milk cartons nationwide. Even the President of the United States had appealed to the public for help. Still, every lead had fizzled. Every person of interest had turned out to be a dead end. Then, in 2019, Jonelle’s remains were unearthed near the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. With the discovery came a troubling new question: Had the truth been hiding in plain sight the entire time? Was the man who couldn’t stop obsessing over Jonelle’s disappearance also the person who took her? From Campside Media and Wondery comes season two of SUSPECT. Former CNN reporter Ashley Fantz and executive producers Matthew Shaer and Eric Benson (Suspect, Over My Dead Body) dig into one of the most mind-bending cold cases in modern history, in an attempt to separate fact and fiction, compulsion from guilt, and true-crime fandom from a motive for murder. Hey Prime Members, listen to the Amazon Music exclusive podcast, SUSPECT: Vanished in the Snow, in the Amazon Music App. Download the app today. http://www.amazon.com/SUS_us_pfd_AA_110122. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [podcastchoices.com/adchoices] (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) ... Read more

01 Nov 2022

06 MINS

06:20

01 Nov 2022

#23

1000 Lombard Street Part 2 (San Francisco, CA)

Picking up right where they left off in the story of 1000 Lombard Street, Hadley and Alyssa discuss the strange circumstances of a tragic fire that broke out at the apartment in 1969. The co-hosts recount the steps Pat Montandon took to find closure after the passing of three close friends who each spent time at the apartment with her. They also ponder the possible connection to the fateful astrology-themed house party Montandon had thrown during her first few weeks in the home. Later, the duo is joined by Stephanie Campos, a healer, astrologist, and good witch, who helps them further unpack the apartment’s history. Campos also weighs in on the natal charts of Montandon and the co-hosts themselves, and answers some of their biggest astrology questions. Read 'The Intruders' by Pat Montandon: [https://amzn.to/3BpHdXA] (https://amzn.to/3BpHdXA) Interested in working with Stephanie? Book a session here: [https://bit.ly/3gyDcsa] (https://bit.ly/3gyDcsa) CREDITS Alyssa Fiorentino - Co-host & Producer Hadley Mendelsohn - Co-host & Producer Jessy Caron - Producer & VO Jacob Stone - Sound Editor, Mixer, & VO Ian Munsell - Assistant Audio Engineer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [podcastchoices.com/adchoices] (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) ... Read more

26 Oct 2022

1 HR 13 MINS

1:13:48

26 Oct 2022

#22

1000 Lombard Street Part 1 (San Francisco, CA)

Hadley and Alyssa untangle the many mysteries of 1000 Lombard Street, an apartment in San Francisco’s Russian Hill neighborhood where in 1968 an astrology-themed party kick-started a chain of unfortunate events and untimely deaths. The co-hosts dissect the bizarre behavior of a disgruntled tarot card reader who may or may not have cursed the apartment the night of the party. They also review the traumatic incidents that party host and then-tenant Pat Montandon, a journalist and socialite, faced in the years that followed, including the suspicious circumstances of a tragic fire at the apartment. Read 'The Intruders' by Pat Montandon: [https://amzn.to/3BpHdXA] (https://amzn.to/3BpHdXA) CREDITS Alyssa Fiorentino - Co-host & Producer Hadley Mendelsohn - Co-host & Producer Jessy Caron - Producer Jacob Stone - Sound Editor & Mixer Ian Munsell - Assistant Audio Engineer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [podcastchoices.com/adchoices] (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) ... Read more

19 Oct 2022

58 MINS

58:34

19 Oct 2022

#21

Wondery Presents: The Generation Why Podcast

The Generation Why Podcast released its first episode in 2012 and pioneered the true crime genre in the podcasting world. Two friends, Aaron & Justin, break down theories and give their opinions on unsolved murders, controversies, mysteries and conspiracies. One of the longest running true crime podcasts out there, Generation Why has a little something for every true crime listener. Follow The Generation Why Podcast on Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Or you can listen ad-free by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app. Listen here: http://wondery.fm/DH_GenWhy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit [podcastchoices.com/adchoices] (https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices) ... Read more

17 Oct 2022

08 MINS

08:13

17 Oct 2022

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#43