Stewart Lee, celebrated writer and comedian, known for his sharp wit and passion for ghost stories, joins paranormal expert Evelyn Hollow. They dive into eerie childhood fears and share spine-chilling tales of haunted houses and the legendary 'red lady.' The discussion shifts to unsettling vivid dreams and the haunting figure of Black Shuck, blending personal anecdotes with folklore. They also ponder the essence of ghosts, their significance in our lives, and the fascinating phenomenon of time slips, inviting listeners to embrace the mysteries of the paranormal.
A skeptical family's encounter with a ghostly figure transforms their understanding of the supernatural and folklore's impact on reality.
Exploring nightmares reveals a connection between modern fears and collective consciousness, highlighting how shared themes can manifest across lives.
Deep dives
The Return of the Red Lady
A former skeptic recounts an unsettling experience in a Scottish Highlands house, where he claims to have seen a ghostly woman in a red robe. After chasing what he believed to be a real person into the Mel Gibson suite, he found the room empty, only to learn from the cleaner the next morning about the legend of the 'Red Lady' haunting the house. The situation escalates when the family hears a child's terrified screams during the night, only to discover the boy had been inexplicably carried to another room by the same spectral figure. This incident transforms the skeptical family's perspective on the supernatural, leaving them grappling with what they experienced.
Shared Nightmares and Cosmic Coincidence
A listener shares a chilling account of a recurring nightmare involving a frightening machine juxtaposed with idyllic imagery, which he later discovers is eerily similar to a dream described by pop star Rick Astley. Despite the two individuals being unconnected, the shared elements lead to speculation about collective unconsciousness or environmental influences shaping dreams. The podcast hosts delve into the psychological aspect of nightmares, suggesting a deep-seated fear of modernity represented by the machine versus the serenity of nature. This exploration raises questions about how shared experiences or thematic images can echo in the human psyche across different lives.
The Haunting of Black Shuck
A woman recounts her father's chilling encounter with a massive black dog, believed to be the harbinger of doom known as Black Shuck, seen in East Anglia folklore. The encounter profoundly unsettles her father, known for his tough demeanor, and it becomes even more poignant after his sudden death. The hosts discuss the dog’s rootedness in local mythology and how fear and folklore can shape perceptions of reality. They ponder whether such sightings could truly predict misfortune or are simply products of cultural conditioning and local lore.
The Mysterious Time Slip
A journalist recalls a perplexing experience in a historic hotel where she feels transported back in time, adopting the identity of a soldier amidst a crowd of uniformed men. This vivid encounter contrasts with typical time slip reports that usually position individuals as passive observers of historical events. The profoundly sensory nature of her experience, combined with a connection to her grandfather's military past, raises questions about the psychic phenomenon of time slips and the subconscious mind's role in constructing such realities. The discussion centers around the complexity of paranormal experiences, highlighting the need for deeper understanding of memory, identity, and the human experience of time.
A special Halloween episode full of new cases to investigate. Danny is joined by Evelyn Hollow and guest expert, celebrated writer and comedian Stewart Lee, a lover of ghost stories and weird folklore. Can they explain these strange real-life stories of the paranormal?
Written and presented by Danny Robins
Editing and sound design: Charlie Brandon-King
Music: Evelyn Sykes
Theme music by Lanterns on the Lake
Production manager: Tam Reynolds
Commissioning executive: Paula McDonnell
Commissioning editor: Rhian Roberts
Produced by Danny Robins and Simon Barnard
A Bafflegab and Uncanny Media production for BBC Radio 4
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