For thousands of years, mermaids were apex predators whose voices could kill. Then somewhere between Homer's bone-littered shores and Disney's underwater utopia, something fundamental changed. How did creatures who used their voices as weapons become princesses who'd sacrifice that voice for a boyfriend?

In this second part of our mermaid deep-dive (pardon the pun), we trace the evolution from ancient sirens to modern Disney princesses, exploring how Christianity sexualised these water spirits, how the Romantic movement made them tragic, and how capitalism turned them into merchandise. Using ecofeminist theory, we'll unpack how domesticating mermaids mirrors how patriarchal societies have learned to control both women and nature itself.

From Christopher Columbus rating mermaids' attractiveness to Ursula getting penetrated by a phallic ship, this episode reveals how the same systems that oppress people also destroy the environment — and why creatures that refuse binary categorisation make patriarchy very, very nervous.

Key moments

• 0:59 – Sirens on a bone-littered shore
• 6:30 – The siren's voice: From deadly song to sexual temptation
• 7:34 – Mermaids, Christianity, and Christopher Columbus
• 12:30 – Enter Hans Christian Andersen
• 14:48 – Disney's "The Little Mermaid": All heart, no brains
• 17:25 – Ecofeminism and environmental justice
• 22:39 – How dualism maintains oppression
• 25:53 – How boundary-crossers threaten the patriarchy

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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A Scottish lord hears a woman drowning in his loch. Every instinct tells him to dive in and save her. But his servant grabs his arm: "My lord, that's no woman."

This is the mermaid most of human history has feared – not Disney's lovestruck princess, but something far more alien and dangerous. What's truly wild is how universal these stories are. From Brazil's Iara to Japan's Ningyo, from Scotland's selkies to Africa's Mami Wata, cultures worldwide independently created tales of deadly female water spirits.

But why? Why do humans across continents and centuries keep telling the same basic story about dangerous women who live in water?

In this deep dive into global mermaid mythology, we explore ancient Greek bone-heaps, oceanic folklore, and a disturbing truth about humanity's relationship with the natural world. Because what if these stories were never really about women at all?

Key moments

• 1:02 – The Laird of Lorntie meets a mermaid
• 4:06 – Welcome to the party! Meet the mermaid
• 6:59 – The universal mermaid mythos
• 9:19 – The original sirens
• 12:36 – Why is the ocean "female"?
• 14:53 – Nature's indifference to humanity
• 18:30 – Would you rather have a shipwreck or an existential meltdown?
• 19:30 – What to do when your ocean mommy doesn't love you

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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This isn't just a vampire story; it's a chilling exposé of Victorian anxieties. In part two of our series on the women of “Dracula”, the Paranormal Pajama Party podcast plunges deeper into Bram Stoker's classic, exploring how it grapples with female power, intellectual authority, and the fragile state of masculinity.

We spend the night with the ravenous Brides of Dracula to learn what their unbridled desire suggests about society's fears of female sexuality. Then, we unpack the fascinating intellectual clash between Mina Murray and Van Helsing, and how Mina’s brilliance both saves and challenges the patriarchal order. Finally, we explore Jonathan Harker’s unsettling journey through emasculation and "re-masculinisation" – and the cost to Mina's agency.

Is “Dracula” a proto-feminist text, or a masterclass in moral panic crisis management? Tune in to decide!

Key moments:

• 1:02 – Jonathan Harker meets the Brides of Dracula
• 13:04 – Dracula's Brides... or whoever they are.
• 19:17 – Mina Murray: Lady Journalist
• 23:32 – A Man's Brain and a Woman's Heart: Van Helsing vs Mina
• 32:24 – Jonathan Harker: Damsel in Distress No More

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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Think you know “Dracula”? Think again. In this first part of our two-part deep dive into the world's most famous vampire novel, we're sinking our teeth into the real monsters of the story – and spoiler alert, it's not the Count.

Join Steph as she explores how “Dracula” reflects Victorian society's collective panic over the “New Woman” movement and female sexual autonomy. We'll unpack the tragic arc of Lucy Westenra, the novel's golden girl whose fatal flaw isn't her beauty or kindness – it's her desire for sexual agency in a world that would rather see women dead than independent.

From Social Degeneration Theory to symbolic sexual violence, we'll examine how Stoker's 1897 Gothic masterpiece channels late Victorian anxieties about women's changing roles, education, and – clutch your pearls – the revolutionary act of riding bicycles.

This episode explores themes of violence against women, symbolic sexual assault, and repressed Victorian sexuality, all wrapped up in literary analysis that's both accessible and eye-opening. You'll never look at vampire fiction the same way again.

Coming up in Part 2: Mina Murray and the men – more evidence that the patriarchy bites.

Key moments

• 00:00 – Content warning
• 01:06 – An excerpt from “Dracula”
• 09:29 – Welcome to the party!
• 16:48 – The New Woman: First-Wave Feminists on Bicycles!
• 20:06 – Social Degeneration Theory: pseudo-science meets peak Victorian anxiety
• 22:49 – Lucy Westenra's fatal flaw
• 27:16 – The "cure" for female desire (spoiler: it's violence)

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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In this spine-tingling episode, we watch the 1962 psychological thriller "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" and dive deep into the hagsploitation film subgenre it spawned. When Hollywood legends Bette Davis and Joan Crawford found themselves discarded by studios as they aged, they turned to horror – creating a film that both exploited and empowered ageing women in cinema.

We explore how society's fear of ageing women transforms them into monstrous figures on screen. From Baby Jane's disturbing childlike makeup on an elderly face to the twisted sister dynamic, this film confronts our cultural anxieties about women who dare to age visibly.

The episode also unpacks the infamous feud between Davis and Crawford, Hollywood's persistent ageism, and why these "psycho-biddy" films found devoted audiences in queer communities. We trace hagsploitation's evolution from the 1960s to contemporary examples like "X" and "The Substance," revealing how little has changed in Hollywood's treatment of women over the age of 50.

Join us as we brush the cobwebs off this terrifying tale, shedding light on what makes ageing women both feared and fascinating in horror cinema.

Key moments

• 02:40 – "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?" plot overview
• 07:35 – The birth of hagsploitation
• 10:52 – Hollywood's war on ageing women
• 14:39 – The double-edged sword of hagsploitation
• 19:51 – Abjection and the monstrous-feminine
• 30:28 – Screen queens and drag queens
• 32:40 – Bette vs. Joan
• 34:50 – Hagsploitation makes a comeback

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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What do the  White Witch of Jamaica’s Rose Hall and New Orleans tour staple Madame LaLaurie have in common? They're both infamous female figures in ghost lore, accused of monstrous violence during the era of slavery. But dig a little deeper, and a more disturbing truth emerges. Annie Palmer – the so-called White Witch – never existed, and Delphine LaLaurie’s real crimes were reshaped into gothic horror for public consumption. In this episode, we unpack how gendered narratives helped white societies displace guilt over slavery onto individual women.

Using the monstrous-feminine as a lens, we explore how these legends reflect colonial anxieties, racial taboos, and the fear of women wielding power. Why are Annie and Delphine the most famous symbols of slave-owning cruelty, while male perpetrators fade into obscurity?

Join Paranormal Pajama Party as we look past the ghost stories and uncover the systems that wrote these women into history as convenient villains.

Key moments

• 0:42 – A dutiful wife… and a murderess?
• 13:31 – From torture chamber to wedding venue
• 14:50 – The White Witch who never lived
• 18:26 – No villains needed – slavery was hell
• 22:53 – Delphine LaLaurie: monstrous and real
• 25:58 – When women become symbols
• 31:37 – The lady becomes a monster
  
  

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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Join me to examine one of Japan's most influential ghost stories – Botan Dōrō (The Peony Lantern). This tale of love beyond death helped establish the archetype of the long-haired vengeful female ghost in Japanese horror. When handsome samurai Shinzaburō falls for the beautiful Otsuyu, their love seems destined for tragedy. Unluckily for him, even death won't keep them apart.

We'll explore how this story evolved from a Chinese Buddhist morality tale into a cornerstone of Japanese horror, spawning countless adaptations from kabuki theatre to erotica. Learn how changing attitudes toward women's spiritual power in feudal Japan gave rise to the vengeful female ghost trope, and what samurai’s wives were up to while their husbands were out fighting each other.

This ghostly tale of passion and promises reveals the impossible standards faced by samurai women – and why even death itself couldn't free them from society's expectations.

Key moments:

• 0:48 – Botan Doro, or, The Peony Lantern
• 15:25 – Historical Japan, women, and spirits
• 17:50 – Gender roles among samurai
• 20:49 – Otsuyu as a monster girl
• 23:05 – Oyoné's emotional labour
• 25:18 – Who's the stronger samurai?
• 28:41 – A word about Rangda, Barong, and hope

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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This episode of "Paranormal Pajama Party" is spine-chilling – but not because of the paranormal parts.
We're headed back to Scotland to discuss the North Berwick Witch Trials – a dark chapter of history that inspired Shakespeare's most infamous witches and exposed the terrifying mechanisms of patriarchal violence. Meet Agnes Sampson, Gilleis Duncan, and Euphame MacCalzean – three women caught in a deadly web of royal paranoia, religious persecution, and systemic misogyny.
Set against the backdrop of King James VI's tumultuous reign, this episode exposes the brutal methods of torture, the gendered violence of witch hunts, and how a young king's insecurities fueled a campaign of femicide that would claim nearly 3,000 lives across Scotland.
From magical midnight meetings to royal wedding storms, we'll trace how these women's stories inspired centuries of witch folklore. This episode's stories serve as a reminder that the mechanisms of oppression may change, but the impulse to silence and control women remains disturbingly consistent.

Key moments

• 0:55 – King James, Anne of Denmark, and the Contrary Winds
• 10:11 – King James VI and I's chaotic backstory
• 15:33 – King James kicks off the North Berwick Witch Trials
• 17:55 – Agnes Sampson, the Wise Wife of Keith
• 19:03 – The Scold's Bridle
• 24:49 – Euphame MacCalzean and the King James Bible
• 29:20 – Margaret Aitken and Marion Walker
• 31:56 – Shakespeare starts writing "Macbeth"
• 34:52 – Witches of Scotland and Nicola Sturgeon's apology

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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What do a trickster forest goblin, a horse-faced seductress, a desert phantom, and a deer-footed avenger have in common? They’re not just the stuff of nightmares – they’re symbols of women as society’s moral guardians.

In this episode of “Paranormal Pajama Party”, you’ll meet the Shishiga, the Siguanaba, Umm al-Duwais, and the Deer Woman – female monsters tasked with warning, protecting, and punishing men who transgress societal moral codes. These ladies, while terrifying, are also a lens we can use to explore how women have been historically cast as moral guardians. From their cultural roots in folklore to their modern-day counterparts, these figures embody a paradox: women are expected to uphold society’s moral fabric yet are often demonised for doing so.

In this episode, we talk about this complex expectation of women, connecting it to the Cult of True Womanhood, the suffrage and temperance movements, and the modern-day emotional labour women continue to bear. We’ll also discuss how public figures like Greta Thunberg and Senator Katie Britt have become modern moral authorities  – and then face misogynistic backlash when they step into this role.

Why do women’s moral efforts often go unappreciated, even when they lead to positive change? Why are we expected to shoulder this burden without recognition? We unpack these questions and explore how the modern concept of emotional labour is merely a rebranded version of women’s historical role as society’s moral enforcers.

Tune in to “Paranormal Pajama Party” for a spooky yet insightful exploration of folklore, feminist thought, and the evolving roles of women in societal change.

Key moments

• 0:00 – Content warning
• 0:59 – Umm al-Duwais on the streets of Al-Satwa
• 4:23 – Meet the Shishiga, Umm al-Duwais, the Siguanaba, and the Deer Woman
• 7:27 – Female monsters as guardians of morality
• 14:28 – Women's moral guardianship paradox
• 17:49 – Burying the hatchet with Carrie Nation
• 22:04 – Emotional labour is the new Cult of Domesticity

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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Welcome to America's Most Haunted House... or is it? Tonight, we’re partying at the Myrtles Plantation, where the famous ghost of an enslaved girl named Chloe is said to roam the halls.

But as we unpack this classic Southern ghost story, we'll discover something far more unsettling than any supernatural presence – the way America uses ghost tourism to process (or avoid processing) its history of slavery.

From gift shop dolls of murdered enslaved people to invented haunted histories, we'll explore how plantation tourism often makes real historical trauma more “palatable” for visitors – and why that's exactly what we shouldn't be doing. Plus: Why is it okay to run ghost tours at plantations, but not at other sites of historical tragedy?

Get ready for a thought-provoking episode about ghost stories, historical memory, and America's complicated relationship with its past.

Key moments:

• 1:17 - An encounter with Chloe at the Myrtles Plantation
• 6:34 - The Myrtles Plantation's early history
• 8:59 - America's Most Haunted House
• 13:23 - Slavery in the Mississippi-Delta
• 21:11 - The problematic truth about Chloe and Cleo
• 24:08 - How America deals with its dark history

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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Hillary Clinton and the Lizard People | 27 

Put on your tinfoil hat and grab your favourite pantsuit – “Paranormal Pajama Party” is back! In the Season 3 premiere, Steph connects the dots between confused Victorian lemur scientists and modern-day conspiracy theories about lizard people running the world. (It makes more sense than you'd think.)

Join us for a wild ride through the peculiar world of reptilian conspiracies, where we discover how theories about shape-shifting aliens somehow wound up tangled with gender politics and presidential pantsuits. Steph digs into why powerful women like Hillary Clinton keep getting cast as everything from robots to reptiles – and what our monster-making tendencies reveal about society's complicated relationship with female leadership.

From David Icke's cosmic energy smoothies to Hollywood's hangup on sinister women in power suits, this episode unpacks how conspiracy theories reflect our deepest anxieties about changing power structures. It turns out that when marginalised people start climbing the political ladder, our collective imagination gets pretty creative.

Listen now for a fascinating exploration of gender, power, and why some people think our world leaders might need a heat lamp to survive.

Key moments

• 1:16 – The Lizard King
• 8:56 – Where the reptilian conspiracy theory came from
• 19:47 – Real-world consequences of the reptilian theory
• 30:15 – Examining Hillary Clinton's complicated feminist legacy
• 39:45 – Female politicians and the double bind
• 42:09 – Politics, gender, and pop culture

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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I get it. It’s hard to be a woman. Almost as hard as it is to be a monster.

Get ready for a spine-tingling third season of Paranormal Pajama Party!

This fortnightly podcast explores folklore and the horror genre with a feminist twist. Each episode uncovers chilling tales of female phantoms, femme fatales, and supernatural beings, shedding light on the societal fears that often shape these spooky stories.

From haunted houses to vengeful spirits, Paranormal Pajama Party shoves a flashlight into the dark corners of folklore and legend, examining how society's anxieties about women manifest in these paranormal tales. The podcast is a must-listen for any fan of horror, the supernatural or women's history.

Catch up on the first two seasons now on your favourite podcast app or at paranormalpjparty.com. New episodes drop soon, so be sure to subscribe for your weekly dose of ghostly lore and feminist insights.

Don’t forget: Ghosts have stories. Women have voices. Dare to listen.

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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In this thrilling conclusion to our two-part series on the “Alien” franchise, Paranormal Pajama Party dissects the 1986 classic sequel, "Aliens."

We’re talking about Ellen Ripley’s groundbreaking portrayal of a female action hero and feminist icon, considering the ethics of care in Ripley's decision-making, and contrasting it with traditional male action heroes like Arnold.

But Ripley’s not alone in the “Alien” universe, which is the best part. We’ll examine the other diverse female characters, including tough-as-nails Private Vasquez and little Newt, discussing how they challenge gender norms in different ways.

Finally, we’ll come face-to-face with the Xenomorph Queen, the ultimate embodiment of the monstrous-feminine, exploring how she represents primal female power and fertility, and comparing her to Ripley – another mother protecting her young.

Key moments

• 0:00 – Content warning
• 1:10 – An overly detailed synopsis of James Cameron's "Aliens"
• 23:06 – Ellen Ripley, feminist icon
• 34:39 – Corporal Hicks, a feminist ally
• 35:44 – PFC Vasquez shows us another kind of feminism
• 39:40 – Why is Newt a girl?
• 42:01 – All hail the Queen Xenomorph
• 47:09 – Monsters, mothers, and monster-mothers

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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*MASSIVE CONTENT WARNING FOR THIS ONE:* This episode contains well as explicit descriptions of fictional sexual violence that is 100% a metaphor for real-world sexual violence, plus discussion of pregnancy, extremely traumatic births, death in childbirth, and abortion. Please listen with care.

On this episode of Paranormal Pajama Party, we’re unpacking Ridley Scott's 1979 classic, "Alien," and its groundbreaking feminist themes. This episode explores how the film cleverly subverts genre expectations, forcing viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about gender roles and societal power dynamics.

We'll dissect the Xenomorph's lifecycle as a chilling metaphor, examining how it puts male audiences in scenarios typically reserved for female characters in horror.

We'll also discuss how Alien employs the concept of the "monstrous-feminine" through its set design and body horror elements, tapping into deep-rooted societal fears, and how HR Giger's iconic creature design plays with phallic imagery to unsettle viewers and challenge perceptions of threat and vulnerability.

Beyond the film itself, we'll discuss how Alien reflects real-world issues facing women, from bodily autonomy to constant vigilance against potential threats. Learn why this sci-fi horror masterpiece remains a powerful feminist statement over 40 years after its release.

Key moments

• 1:10 – A synopsis of Ridley Scott's 1979 sci-fi horror film "Alien"
• 11:54 – The underlying feminist message of the Alien franchise is my Roman Empire
• 12:35 – "Alien" and the monstrous-feminine
• 14:03 – The true horror of "Alien": Rape culture in space
• 22:07 – Why "Alien" is so scary for male viewers

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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This week on Paranormal Pajama Party, we're heading to Scotland to meet its green ladies and glaistigs.

Discover the tragic tale of Dame Lilias Drummond, whose ghostly presence still haunts Fyvie Castle centuries after her untimely death. Learn about the protective yet mischievous nature of glaistigs, the goat-legged women who guard cattle and castles alike. Uncover the dark histories behind other famous green lady hauntings, including those at Crathes Castle and Longleat House.

This episode examines the complex symbolism of the colour green in various cultures, particularly its association with both life and death. We'll also talk about how Scottish tourism has capitalised on these ghostly legends, transforming haunted castles into popular attractions. Is it ethical to commodify dark history, including violence against women and children?

Tune in for a haunting journey through misty moors, ancient castles, and enduring legends.

Key moments

• 1:02 – Dame Lilias Drummond
• 6:26 – Glaistigs, AKA maighdean uiane
• 13:02 – Meet the Green Ladies
• 21:30 – Folklore, superstition, and the colour green
• 25:11 – Scotland's paranormal tourism industry
• 30:33 – Sex sells – even haunted houses

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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This episode explores the complex figure of Rangda, a fearsome demon queen in Balinese mythology.

Tourists may be familiar with Rangda’s frightening face, as a version of a ritual dance based on the Balinese myth of the widow-witch Calon Arang is popular at Bali’s many resorts.

But Rangda is a much more complex figure than these simplified and shortened performances may lead you to believe. She’s an important player in the key Balinese concept of “rwa bhineda” – unity in duality – and a reminder that binary thinking often fails to capture nuanced realities.

Tonight on the podcast, we’re tracing Rangda's origins back to the historical Queen Mahendradatta and examining how her story became intertwined with the Hindu goddess Durga.

We’ll also get into how powerful women throughout Indonesian history (and, let’s be real, world history more broadly) have been demonised for political reasons.

Key moments

• 1:07 – The story of Calon Arang
• 9:00 – Meet Rangda
• 11:31 – "Rwa bhineda", Rangda, and Barong
• 16:05 – Queen Mahendradatta and the Mataram Kingdom
• 26:29 – The Gerwani women's movement
• 30:27 – Modern Bali and Rangda

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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This episode is the long-promised part two of our exploration of “The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe. 

Poe was doing his thing In 19th-century America, at a time middle- and upper-class white women were being encouraged to join the "Cult of True Womanhood", which idealised women as pious, pure, submissive, and domestic, confining them to the private sphere while men dominated public life. It’s all very tradwife.

Tonight on the podcast, we’ll examine how this cultural ideal influenced Poe's portrayal of women in his stories, often reducing them to beautiful, passive reflections of male characters. Madeline Usher from "The Fall of the House of Usher" is a prime example of this characterisation.

This is particularly ironic because while Poe's fictional women were often two-dimensional, he was surrounded by and attracted to strong, independent women in real life. Make it make sense!

I’ve got bad news for the tradwives who aren’t allowed to listen to this blasphemous podcast: The constraints of True Womanhood paradoxically led to the rise of the “New Woman” and first-wave feminism.

Unfortunately, if you think female characters being used as set decoration for male characters isn’t still happening, you haven’t watched television, seen a movie or read a book recently.

We’ll wrap up tonight’s chat with a conversation about the ways women are still often used as plot devices or mirrors for male characters in contemporary horror and other genres.

Key moments:

• Recap of "The Fall of the House of Usher"
• Roderick as the brain, Madeline as the body
• Was Madeline Usher pregnant?
• The Cult of True Womanhood
• True Women, New Women, Suffragettes and "The Feminine Mystique"
• Contemporary examples of refrigerator women like Madeline Usher

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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Paranormal Pajama Party is pro-self-care. I mean, come on. Pajamas are right there in the name.

To be kind to myself this week, I'm not releasing a new episode. Instead, I'm sharing an episode I wrote and produced for the other podcast I make – the one people actually pay me for.

This is Monash University's What Happens Next?, episode 79: "Are Reproductive Rights Human Rights?". You'll never guess what the answer is. (You will, they are, please vote this November if you're a U.S. citizen, thank you.)

Learn more about What Happens Next? or view the transcript of this episode.

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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When you think horror, you think of Edgar Allan Poe. His stories go hard on the eerie atmosphere, intricate plots, and unhinged characters.

But it’s important to note that most of those characters are men. And among Poe’s female characters, two recurring traits stand out prominently: they’re usually beautiful, and they’re usually dead.

This episode explores Poe's fixation with beautiful dead women, tracing it back to his tumultuous life and personal losses, including those of his mother, Eliza Poe, and his wife, Virginia Clemm.

We’ll talk about how these experiences and the cultural glamorisation of tuberculosis victims influenced scary women in Poe’s works such as Madeline Usher, the unwitting villain of his well-known short story, "The Fall of the House of Usher".

Key moments

• 1:08 – "The Fall of the House of Usher" (abridged)
• 27:26 – Welcome to the party!
• 30:55 – Eliza Poe
• 32:48 – Tuberculosis and beauty
• 38:09 – Edgar Allan Poe and masculinity
• 40:30 – Virginia Clemm
• 48:46 – Poe's beautiful dead women

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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The dark history of witch hunts has some unsettling parallels with modern misogynistic violence. Tonight’s episode continues our discussion on Heinrich Kramer’s witch-hunting manual, the “Malleus Maleficarum”, with a critical look at its legacy, especially as it relates to incel culture and the manosphere.

We’ll examine the parallels between Kramer's misogynistic beliefs and the 2014 Isla Vista killings by Elliot Rodger, exploring the roots of violent ideologies in both cases. We’ll use the “path to intended violence” theory to compare the steps leading to mass violence in the 15th century and today.

We’ll also talk about the origins of the incel community, its online presence, and the dangerous ideologies that stem from extreme misogyny.

This episode discusses themes of terrorism, weapons, murder, serious injury, suicide, and pervasive sexism. Listener discretion is advised.

Key moments

• 0:59 – "Witch-Burning" by Mary Elizabeth Counselman
• 2:41 – Welcome to the party
• 7:43 – Incel culture and the manosphere
• 12:41 – The path to intended violence
• 19:14 – Hunters and howlers: Jacob Sprenger and Jordan Peterson
• 21:07 – Internalised misogyny, accusations of witchcraft, and Pearl Davis
• 23:05 – More parallels between early modern witch-hunts and modern violence against women

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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Tonight we’re burning books! Well. Just one book. And it started it.

We’re opening the pages of the “Malleus Maleficarum”, or Hammer of Witches, a 15th-century treatise on identifying, trying, and punishing witches. We get into the origins of the book and its misogynistic zealot of an author, Heinrich Kramer.

I’m not saying Kramer's obsession with women's sexuality and his book's endorsement of torture and execution led directly to the deaths of tens of thousands of women… but it definitely found an enthusiastic audience among the people who were responsible for massive witch hunts. On tonight’s episode, we’ll also talk about the tumultuous socio-political landscape of early modern Europe, exploring the theories behind this devastating moral panic.

And we’re not done discussing the ways Kramer’s legacy has echoed throughout history. Join me next week right here for part two – the “Malleus Maleficarum” and the incels.

Key moments

• 0:58 – A neighbourly dispute
• 7:18 – Heinrich Kramer and Helena Scheuberin in Innsbruck
• 11:10 – Kramer writes the Malleus Maleficarum
• 13:17 – Why are witches female?
• 19:09 – The early modern witch trials pop off

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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Last week on Paranormal Pajama Party, we met the monster girls of Greek mythology. This week, in part two of our monster girls series, we’re considering the representation of monstrous women in horror video games.

Monster girls are female-coded creatures that blend human and monstrous elements, often portrayed as both alluring and terrifying. This duality reflects male anxieties about female sexuality and autonomy.

We’ll explore the origins of monster girls in various mythologies and their roles in tabletop games like Dungeons & Dragons, emphasising how these characters often reinforce patriarchal views by fitting into archetypes: maiden (sexual), mother (pregnant), and crone (ageing and unattractive).

We’ll also discuss the toxic culture within the gaming industry, exemplified by events like GamerGate, a harassment campaign targeting women in gaming.

Luckily, it’s not all bad news. Positive changes are occurring, with more inclusive game design and diverse representation slowly improving the industry, and legislative progress for victims of cyber-harassment.

Still, here at Paranormal Pajama Party, we’re all for more creative portrayals of female characters that break away from traditional sexist tropes (who doesn’t love and fear GLaDOS from Portal?), and for diverse voices in all areas. And we love a monster girl – they remind us that it’s okay to be angry, push back, and demand more.

Key moments

• 1:08 – Alex meets the spider woman
• 3:51 – Recap of last week's episode
• 5:39 – Meet the monster girls of video games
• 11:01 – Maiden, mother, crone archetypes and the triple goddess
• 19:35 – Psychological effects of sexualised character portrayals
• 22:06 – GamerGate and the alt-right
• 26:22 – Things start to look up

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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This week on “Paranormal Pajama Party”, we’re kicking off a two-part series on the fascinating and often unsettling “monster girl” trope. These characters are more than just staples of horror media and anime; they are complex symbols that reveal deep-seated societal fears and fantasies about women.

Monster girls have long embodied dual roles as both objects of desire and figures of dread, reflecting and reinforcing patriarchal views about femininity and power.

In today’s episode, we’ll examine the origins of this trope, tracing it all the way back to ancient Greek mythology. These myths established and perpetuated the image of women as monstrous beings, embodying chaos and nature that needed to be tamed by heroic men.

From the snake-haired Medusa to the deadly Sirens, Greek mythology is rife with examples of women who were both alluring and terrifying.

These ancient myths have left a lasting impact, shaping everything from social structures to medical care to presidential elections.

Also, I have a bone to pick about She-Hulk.

Key moments

• 0:00 – Content warning
• 1:05 – The Lernaean Hydra
• 7:15 – The monster girl trope
• 10:08 – Zeus and the monster girls
• 15:39 – Men as the "default human"
• 19:52 – Famous monster girls

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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Tonight’s special guest is the ciguapa, a legendary creature from Dominican Republic folklore.

At first glance, the ciguapa may seem like just another fantastical being, with her backward-facing feet, golden or blue skin, and mesmerising black eyes. But a closer examination reveals layers of meaning deeply intertwined with the history of the Dominican Republic and its diverse people.

This episode of Paranormal Pajama Party traces the backwards footsteps of the ciguapa through the historical context of colonialism and nationalism that’s shaped her narrative.

Key moments

• 0:58: Lost in El Cibao
• 5:31: Meet the ciguapa
• 8:54: Intersectional feminism
• 10:31: Hispaniola's history
• 13:41: Inventing the ciguapa
• 18:52: Zombies, mermaids, and maroons
• 22:37: The modern-day ciguapa

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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Get ready to uncover the chilling mysteries surrounding the infamous Island of the Dolls.

In this episode, we delve into the eerie tale of Don Julián Santana Barrera and his encounter with the spirit of a drowned young girl in the canals of Mexico City’s Xochimilco district.

But why are dolls so inherently creepy? It's more than their lifelike appearance; it's the uncanny feeling they evoke, that unsettling mix of familiar and unfamiliar.

And beneath the surface, there's a deeper exploration of gender dynamics. Dolls, traditionally marketed to girls, reinforce societal norms and expectations from a young age. There’s nothing scarier than that.

Don't miss this bone-chilling journey into the heart of Mexico's notorious paranormal hotspot.

Key moments

• 0:00 – Content warning
• 1:00 – Travel to the Island of the Dolls
• 4:04 – Don Julián and the drowned girl
• 10:29 – Why dolls are creepy – and what that means
• 17:59 – Dolls and other gendered toys

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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Welcome back to Season 2 of “Paranormal Pajama Party”! I hope you’re as excited to dive back into these stories as I am.

Set against the backdrop of Regency-era England (think “Bridgerton” and Jane Austen), this episode unravels the tragic story of Sarah Whitehead, a woman consumed by grief and desperation after the execution of her brother for forgery.

We’ll explore the complexities of life for working-class and middle-class women during the Regency period – it’s not as glamorous as romance novels led us to believe – exploring the societal constraints and injustices that shaped Sarah’s tragic fate.

From gender expectations to financial turmoil, we’ll look at how Sarah's life unravelled, and why you might still encounter her spirit haunting the Bank of England, its Underground station, or nearby Threadneedle Street in search of her lost brother.

Key moments

• 0:43 – An encounter at Bank Station
• 4:23 – Welcome to the party!
• 7:03 – There's more to Sarah Whitehead's story
• 9:19 – Life for Regency-era single women
• 12:52 – Paul's bad life choices
• 17:50 – Sarah learns the truth
• 23:11 – Penny dreadfuls revive the Bank Nun

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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Paranormal Pajama Party Season 2 trailer

Hey, boo. (Get it? Because ghosts?)

It's me, Steph, and I'm delighted to announce that Paranormal Pajama Party is back for a second season, launching next week! Pull on your favourite pyjamas, grab a midnight snack or a warm drink, and join me for another round of spine-tingling stories and spirited discussions.

Throughout this season, we'll explore topics and tales featuring female phantoms, villains and monsters from around the world.

Among other adventures, we'll be there for "The Fall of the House of Usher," learn the legends of Scotland’s green ladies, and hopefully, we’ll avoid getting too close to Korea’s kumiho fox spirit.

As always, each episode is a unique blend of spooky storytelling, historical insights, and feminist perspectives that will hopefully leave you both enlightened and entertained.

Mark your calendars for 13 May, grab your teddy bear tight, and tune into Paranormal Pajama Party for a season filled with unforgettable stories, feminist rage, and surprising revelations.

Stay spooky, and I'll see you – and your bunny slippers – very soon.

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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The Tower of London, Part 2: Ghost of Anne Boleyn | 13

Welcome back, as we continue our ghost tour of the Tower of London, focusing on the notorious female phantoms and femme fatales who have left an indelible mark on its history.

In our previous episode, we met the Countess of Salisbury Margaret Pole, Lady Arbella Stuart, and England's nine-day queen, Lady Jane Grey. But tonight, we turn our attention to one of history's most enigmatic figures and one of the most famous ghosts in the world: Anne Boleyn.

Anne's tragic fate and complex legacy have captured the public imagination for nearly 500 years. From her rise as a bewitching presence at the English court to her tumultuous relationship with King Henry VIII and her eventual execution, her story is steeped in intrigue and scandal. But beyond the sensationalised narratives of seduction and betrayal lies a haunting question: who was the real Anne Boleyn?

From the rise of Spiritualism in the 19th century to modern-day paranormal tourism, Anne Boleyn's ghostly presence continues to fascinate. Whether viewed as a victim, a seductress, a political pawn, or a feminist icon, her legacy lives on – and perhaps her ghost does, too.

Key moments

• 0:00 – Content warning
• 1:16 – "The Ghost of Anne Boleyn"
• 9:13 – All about Anne Boleyn
• 15:08 – Anne is sent to the Tower
• 19:40 – Anne Boleyn: Witch?
• 20:09 – Anne Boleyn: Seductress?
• 21:19 – Anne Boleyn: Feminist?
• 22:44 – Anne Boleyn: Ghost!
• 26:09 – The industry of Anne
• 27:12 – Outro

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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Tonight, we’re throwing our pajama party in the iconic Tower of London, a historic fortress that has long captured the public imagination. Renowned for its rich and often dark history, the Tower of London symbolises power, intrigue, and mystery. It’s also supposed to be one of the most haunted sites in the world – and its most famous ghosts are female.

In this episode, you’ll meet some of the ghostly apparitions said to roam its ancient corridors – Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury; Arbella Stuart, cousin to a king; and Lady Jane Grey, England’s first queen.

Their fascinating and tragic stories are proof of the resilience and courage exhibited by women throughout history, even in the face of adversity, oppression, and men’s hurt feelings.

Key moments

• 0:00 – Content warning
• 1:02 – Margaret Pole's last day
• 6:10 –Ghosts of the Tower of London
• 14:24 – Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury
• 20:18 – Lady Arbella Stuart
• 24:04 – Lady Jane Grey, the Nine-Day Queen

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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Beatrice Cenci | 11

The life of Beatrice Cenci, born into the noble Cenci family in 1577, is a tragic tale of abuse, desperation, and defiance. Subjected to unspeakable violence and cruelty at the hands of her father, Count Francesco Cenci, Beatrice orchestrated his murder alongside her family as a means of escape. Their plot, though successful, led to their arrest, torture, and eventual public execution in Rome.

Beatrice's story has been immortalised in art and literature over the centuries, symbolising the struggle against oppression and the quest for justice. From Percy Shelley's romanticised portrayal of her life to Caravaggio's possible use of her execution as inspiration for his depiction of Judith slaying Holofernes, Beatrice continues to captivate audiences as a figure of courage and defiance.

Beyond the myth and symbolism, her life reflects the harsh realities women face in a society governed by patriarchal norms. Her legacy serves as a reminder of the enduring fight for empowerment and justice.

Key moments

• 0:00 – Content warning
• 0:48 – On the Ponte Sant'Angelo
• 5:16 – Meet Beatrice Cenci
• 10:08 – Francesco Cenci's murder
• 12:03 – Arrests, torture, trial and executions
• 16:54 – Beatrice's famous portrait
• 21:14 – Beatrice, Judith, and Caravaggio

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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“Coraline” (Part 2) | 10

Welcome back to part two of our discussion on the children's horror movie "Coraline". Tonight, we’re drawing on the works of Judith Butler, Barbara Creed, and Sigmund Freud to explore its themes of gender, power, and the uncanny.

In this episode, we’ll talk about how the introduction of a male character in "Coraline". raises questions about the need for a male presence in female-driven stories.

We’ll also take a look at the way gender is portrayed (and performed) in the Other World and the real world, and what that might tell us about the expectations and fears surrounding traditional gender roles.

And finally, we’ll examine mothers in horror. Why does the Other Mother scare us, and why are scary mommies a horror genre trope?

Key moments

• 1:22 – La Belle Dame sans Merci
• 4:24 – Recap of last week's episode
• 5:28 – Coraline and Oedipus
• 7:46 – The Cat
• 9:58 – What's the point of Wybie?
• 13:55 – Gender norms in "Coraline"
• 19:01 – Scary mothers in horror

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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Tonight on the podcast, we’re unravelling the chilling tale of Coraline Jones and her mother. No, not her mother. Her Other Mother. The one with the button eyes.

Coraline – both the children’s movie and the novella – is the story of a girl battling for independence and identity. This battle is symbolic, sure, but it’s also literal – Coraline has to destroy the Other Mother from the mirror world hidden behind a tiny door.

Tonight, we’re talking about Freudian psychology and all the uncomfortable things that entails: the uncanny, the Oedipus complex, societal anxieties surrounding femininity and motherhood, and a whole lot of talk about gonads.

Crawl down the tunnel with me into the dark corners of Coraline's world, where not all that glimmers is gold, and not all mothers are what they seem.

Key moments

• 0:00 – Content warning
• 0:54 – "The New Mother", by Lucy Clifford
• 21:54 – Welcome to the party!
• 24:25 – A synopsis of 'Coraline'
• 27:25 – Coraline's real mother
• 29:38 – Coraline's Other Mother
• 30:38 – The eyes have it
• 32:14 – The uncanny
• 36:22 – Barbara Creed and the monstrous-feminine
• 39:55 – Outro

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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Felines, Females, and Fear | 8

The relationship between women, cats, and darkness is as ancient as human civilisation itself – and that’s not just the toxoplasmosis parasites in my brain talking. Tonight, we’re diving deep into the connections between cats, women, and evil… or at least, male fear.

The episode begins with a whirlwind meet-and-greet of cat goddesses of the ancient world, from Lilith to Bastet to Hecate, then shifts to early Christianity, where cats were associated with pagan practices and seen as suspicious minions of Satan.

We’ll cover the witch-hunts of medieval Europe, when many accused witches claimed to have familiar spirits in the form of a cat, and the way these superstitions persisted into the Puritan era in America, where cats and women were both seen as symbols of evil and sexuality.

But we’re not done yet. We’ll also talk about the modern stereotype of the "crazy cat lady" – and Taylor Swift's decision to pose with her cat on the cover of Time's Person of the Year issue.

Key moments

• 0:00 – Content warning
• 1:21 – Mary Shelley's "On Ghosts"
• 3:15 – Welcome to the party!
• 7:59 – Anatolian caves
• 8:59 – Inanna in Sumeria
• 10:31 – Lilith (again!) in Mesopotamia
• 11:52 – Durga in the Indus Valley
• 12:52 – Bastet in Ancient Egypt
• 15:07 – Artemis in Ancient Greece
• 16:31 – Hecate
• 20:09 – Cats and the Virgin Mary
• 22:33 – Meanwhile, in Japan...
• 23:29 – Cats are creepy little jerks... and so are cat lovers
• 26:28 – Witches and familiars
• 30:38 – Cat ladies

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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The Pontianak | 7

The Pontianak is the Malay Peninsula’s fiercest – and most fearsome – phantom. She’s a vampire ghost known for her terrifying appearance and insatiable hunger for revenge.

This powerful entity represents a fascinating tension between traditional mystical beliefs, contemporary Islamic culture, and Western scientific viewpoints in the region.

Of course, her story also reflects the patriarchal societies she haunts. The legend of the Pontianak highlights the fear of women's power and agency, as she embodies uncontrolled passion and a defiant attitude towards societal expectations.

Despite attempts to banish or destroy her, the Pontianak remains a symbol of resistance and a reminder that monsters never truly disappear.

Key moments

• 1:06 Clever Amir
• 8:03 Welcome to the party!
• 10:09 The Pontianak and the Kuntilanak
• 13:57 The city founded by ghosts
• 15:21 Mysticism, Islam and scientific beliefs
• 16:27 Patriarchy on the peninsula
• 22:30 She's still out there

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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26.2.24
Paranormal Pajama Party
The Headless Mule | 6

Tonight’s episode tells the story of Brazil’s headless mule, or mula sem cabeça, Argentina’s almamula, and their older sister, the muladona of Catalan mythology. Hold on – we’re in for a wild ride with this one.

Imagine being cursed for eternity because you dared to defy societal norms. These aren't your run-of-the-mill monster stories – they're cautionary tales straight out of the patriarchy's playbook.

Cautionary tales are carefully crafted to serve a purpose, usually to keep people in line and reinforce the status quo. And in the case of the headless mule and her friends, they're a warning shot fired by the colonial Catholic church and the powers that be, reminding women to stay in their lane or face the horrific consequences.

Beneath the surface of these tales lies a rebellious spirit, a refusal to bow in shame and repent for actions we don’t regret. It's a middle finger to the powers that be in defiance against a narrative designed to perpetuate subjugation.

By digging into the origins of these tales, we're shining a big, bright spotlight on the power dynamics at play.

Key moments

• 0:59 – Cursed by God
• 6:23 – The headless mule and the almamula
• 12:49 – The muladona
• 14:44 – Horror as a cautionary tale
• 17:59 – Colonial Catholic patriarchal order
• 23:28 – Cautionary tales as a control mechanism

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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19.2.24
Paranormal Pajama Party
“The Boarded Window” | 5

⚠️ This episode contains spoilers ahead for “The Boarded Window”, which I read at the beginning. You can read it here (for free!) first if you’d prefer. ⚠️

In Ambrose Bierce’s popular short story, “The Boarded Window”, the mysterious former pioneer Murlock lives out his solitary existence in a one-room cabin, the standout feature of which is a single boarded-up window.

But tonight’s episode isn’t about Murlock. It’s not even about the shocking twist that made this story an instant classic. Believe it or not, this episode is about a woman.

Tough, resilient, and ultimately meeting her demise in a harrowing way, she’s the epitome of the strength and courage of women on the American frontier. And, of course, that means someone is scared of her.

In this episode, we’re talking about everything from the 19th-century fear of premature burial (taphophobia, for those in the know), to the lack of autonomy for pioneer wives, to the inadequate representation of women in literature.

We also run through the biography of Bierce, who would’ve been offended by any feminist analysis of his work. I’m fine with this.

Key moments

• 0:40 "The Boarded Window" by Ambrose Bierce
• 12:09 Welcome to the party!
• 15:29 All about Ambrose
• 19:39 Taphophobia
• 20:42 A blank canvas?
• 30:25 The real hero

(Some) Sources

•  The Boarded Window (Wikipedia) 
• Ambrose Bierce (Wikipedia)
• Ambrose Bierce's The Boarded Window: A Detailed Summary and a Literary Analysis
• A Summary and Analysis of Ambrose Bierce’s ‘The Boarded Window’
• The Premature Burial  (Wikipedia)
• Klein, M. San Francisco and Her Hateful Ambrose Bierce
• Woman's Embodied Self: Feminist Perspectives on Identity and Image
• Talley, S. Childhood and the Fear of Death in Ambrose Bierce's "The Parenticide Club" and "Visions of the Night

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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Chances are good, I'm sorry to say, you've already had a run-in with the old hag, also known as the Night Hag. She's haunted the dreams of many across cultures for thousands of years.
She's strongly connected to the mare, a spirit known for riding sleepers, horses, and even trees. To understand the cultural origins of the mare, we also have to understand the outlook of some rural farming communities, where misfortune was attributed to external forces, often targeting vulnerable individuals like older, unmarried women.
There's one more famous lady of the night to cover in tonight's episode – the succubus, who's plagued dreams since at least the Middle Ages. 
Tonight's entities are also the first we've dealt with with a real-world body count: The story of the dab tsog, and the tale of Bridget Bishop and the Salem Witch Trials show how cultural beliefs can impact lives.

Key moments

• 0:50 My paranormal run-in
• 10:29 What is sleep paralysis?
• 12:08 The night hag
• 13:46 The mare
• 19:31 The succubus
• 24:56 The Hmong and the Dab Tsog
• 28:06 Bridget Bishop at Salem

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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5.2.24
Paranormal Pajama Party
Bloody Mary | 3

If you've been a preteen at a slumber party, chances are you've heard the chilling tale of Bloody Mary. Today, we'll dissect the origins of Bloody Mary and the various interpretations surrounding her name.

Bloody Mary, the spectral figure said to appear in mirrors when her name is called 3-13 times (it's unclear and not a risk I'm willing to take), has been a staple of sleepovers and late-night dares. While some might dismiss it as a simple game, we're taking a closer look into the mirror tonight, and into the possible inspirations behind this eerie tale.

One theory ties the legend to Mary Tudor, Queen of England, whose tumultuous life and reign left a legacy of fear and brutality. Other contenders include an accused Salem witch and infamous Hungarian serial killer Countess Elizabeth Báthory.

Beyond Mary's identity, it's interesting to learn why this game is so appealing to the 10-13-year-old PJ-party crowd.

Is it a ritual for girls anxious about the transition into womanhood? Or might she represent a way for young girls to reclaim a sense of power in a world where they often feel powerless?

Key moments

• 3:29 Who is Bloody Mary?
• 11:02 Why do we play?
• 14:42 The history of the game

Sources

• Bloody Mary story (Snopes)
• Bloody Mary (folklore) (Wikipedia)
• Bloody Mary: The Mystery of Ritual and Myth
• Janet Langlois, Confessions of a Legend Hunter in the U.S.A
• Janet Langlois (interview transcript)
• Dundes, A. (1998). Bloody Mary in the Mirror: A Ritual Reflection of Pre-Pubescent Anxiety. Western Folklore, 57(2/3), 119–135.
• The Forgotten Halloween Games That Predict Who You'll Marry—And When You'll Die
• ‘Bloody Mary’: Is an English Queen Behind the Haunting Urban Legend?
• The True Story Of Bloody Mary, The Woman Behind The Mirror
• The Salem Witch Trials Victims: Who Were They?

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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29.1.24
Paranormal Pajama Party
The Rusalka | 2

Get ready for a spooky episode as Steph delves into the Slavic legend of the rusalka. Although often associated with water, these spirits are far from the mermaids we might imagine. Instead, they're more like zombies... permanently trapped in puberty. It doesn't sound fun.

At tonight's pajama party, we'll explore the origins of the rusalki and their connection to both fertility and death. We'll also discuss the in-between state these spirits inhabit, caught between girlhood and womanhood, river and field, and life and death. There will be dancing, tree-climbing, hair-styling, and a deadly amount of tickling.

Key moments:

• 1:09 Ivan and the rusalka
• 6:29 Meet the rusalki
• 9:25 The unclean dead
• 12:48 Green Week
• 14:49 Rusalki puberty

Sources from today's episode:

• Rusalka (Wikipedia)
• Slavic folklore (Wikipedia)
• Slavs (Wikipedia)
• Supernatural beings in Slavic religions (Wikipedia)
•  Ivanits, L. J. (1989). Russian Folk Belief.
• Dynda, J. “View of Rusalki: Anthropology of time, death, and sexuality in Slavic folklore”
•  Macaulay, A. “What Do Aquawomen Want?”
• Green Week (Wikipedia)

A transcript of today's episode is available here.

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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22.1.24
The Vanishing Hitchhiker | 1

Welcome to the Paranormal Pajama Party! I'm so glad you could join. Get cozy, because we’re kicking off our first-ever party with a campfire standard — the vanishing hitchhiker.

In this classic urban legend, a male driver picks up a seemingly innocent passenger, but the journey upends life — and death — as he knows it.

This episode examines the surprising connection between this modern legend and historical or mythological female figures of old. Where did the story of the vanishing hitchhiker come from? And what's her connection to the Oracle of Delphi, the New Testament, and even to Ancient Egypt's snake-headed goddess Wadjet?

Join the party and uncover the fears that society projects onto women with help from this urban legend.

Key moments:

• Picking up the hitchhiker [00:26]
• A prophetic ghost [04:36]
• Subverting expectations [06:43]
• Sibyls [10:31]
• Back to the backseat [18:03]

Sources from today's episode:

• Snopes Fact Check: The Vanishing Hitchhiker
• Beardsley, R. K., & Hankey, R. (1943). A History of the Vanishing Hitchhiker. California Folklore Quarterly, 2(1), 13–25. https://doi.org/10.2307/1495651
• Beardsley, R. K., & Hankey, R. (1942). The Vanishing Hitchhiker. California Folklore Quarterly, 1(4), 303–335. https://doi.org/10.2307/1495600
• Sibyl (Wikipedia)
• Sibyls
• Delphic Sibyl (Wikipedia)
• Wadjet (Wikipedia)
• Oracle (Wikipedia)

A transcript of today's episode is available here.

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

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From women in white to witches, have you ever noticed how often the horrors in our favourite scary stories tend to look a lot like, uh… ladies?

Paranormal Pajama Party is a podcast that brings you classic ghost stories and legends featuring female phantoms and femme fatales.

Join me, Steph, a horror fan and feminist, as we dig up the social and cultural contexts behind each ghoulish gal, and then challenge the often one-dimensional portrayal of women in horror. Turns out there’s nothing scarier than the patriarchy.

This season on Paranormal Pajama Party, you can expect witches and their familiars, the Malay Peninsula's scariest ghost, a horror story from the American frontier, Bloody Mary's origin story and more.

If you’re enjoying the show, don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review Paranormal Pajama Party to help others discover it!

View all my sources for each episode and read the episode transcript here.

Follow @ParanormalPJParty on Instagram or subscribe to the podcast's newsletter, Lights Out!