If you've ever wondered about common beliefs about what's good or bad luck and what might be a portent of doom, then this episode is for you. In it, I look at the murky origins of superstitions and the folklore it's related to, like Jack-o-Lanterns, will-o'-the-wisp, and the fearsome Black Shuck. Halloween may be over, but my spooky theme persists.

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Some music on this episode is copyright Alex Kish. Contact him at alexkishmusic.com to get music for your own projects. Other background music is by Kai Engel, licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY 4.0). His tracks include "Remedy for Melancholy," "Wake Up," "Seeker," "Denouement," and "daedalus."

Additional Music:

"The Bee Sting" by Creepy Pizza (Bandcamp)

Used with the permission of the artist

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Omens, Charms, and Rituals: A History of Superstition