Why We Do What We Do

The super famous ghost-hunting couple, Ed and Lorraine Warren are the subject of some of the most popular scary stories and pop-culture media. And if history has taught us anything, it is that when people are successful in this way, it is driven by money. We dive into the history of Ed and Lorraine Warren, their ghost-hunting expoits, some of their most famous cases, and some of the darker, sketchier aspects of their lives and career. 

Recommendations
Abraham: Ghosts love candy, too (https://25thcenturygames.com/products/ghosts-love-candy-too)
Shane: Paleblood - Childhood’s Beginning and Yharnam Sunrise (https://open.spotify.com/artist/1YVTlhDkU8OcWDKNO2aC8c?si=e_iDrPDiTDWQ8Onz5jvwEA)

Holidays (10/21/2026):
Apple Day
Babbling Day
Back to the Future Day
Caramel Apple Day
Celebration of the Mind Day
Check your Meds Day
Count Your Buttons Day
Garbanzo Bean Day
Global Dignity Day
International Day of the Nacho
International Print Day
Medical Assistants Recognition Day
National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day
Reptile Awareness Day
Bullying Bystanders Unite Week
Food and Drug Interactions Awareness Week
Freedom of Speech Week
National Nuclear Science Week
National Wolf Awareness Week

Links and References: 
https://warrens.net/
https://ihorror.com/ed-and-lorraine-warren-were-the-real-monsters-during-their-investigations/?fbclid=IwY2xjawU3-7FleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mAWJyaWQRMWZYQU1BZzJoWDF5QWpic3dzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEehqsRRTst02ju-CEAI-c2HVUdzvHqswm3vDGyhEpKUr-Ni9B5m_66RFTG8so_aem_iS3LoKxeQyoYxDAyOjWGFw 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASTUApqR4Wo
https://www.shortform.com/podcast/episode/stuff-you-should-know-2026-01-06-episode-summary-the-warrens-paranormal-power-couple
https://usghostadventures.com/americas-most-haunted-trending/conjuring-controversy-unraveling-the-warrens-legacy/
https://usghostadventures.com/americas-most-haunted-trending/conjuring-controversy-unraveling-the-warrens-legacy/ 
https://nightscrawlers.ca/2019/10/10/ed-lorraine-warren-the-original-paranormal-investigators/ 
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/war-conjuring-disturbing-claims-behind-a-billion-dollar-franchise-1064364/

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Support our podcast: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast

The story of The Winchester Mansion is shrouded in a carefully curated concoction of fanciful stories. These stories have largely been exaggerated or even entirely fabricated. The house is a strange labyrinth of over 160 rooms and curious features such as doors that open to walls and stairs that lead to nowhere. The original proprieter of the mansion, Sallie Winchester, has similarly had her story mutated into something only vaguely representing her life and architectural decision. 

Links and References: https://skepticalinquirer.org/2024/08/the-truth-about-sallie-winchester-and-the-mystery-house-that-never-was/
https://www.history.com/articles/winchester-house-haunted 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.

Support our podcast: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast

What happens when you regurgitate items out of your esophagus for a magic trick? A lot of digestive juices on the stuff you just regurgitated. But, if you don't want your audience to know, you might tell them that it goo left over from a ghost! In Biology, ectoplasm is a real thing. In paranormal investigations it has been appropriated in an attempt to bring paranormal entities into normal activities. We'll unpack the science and history of the concept of "ectoplasm" in this discussion. 

RecommendationsAbraham: “Rock the Plank” - Mad Caddies (https://madcaddies.bandcamp.com/album/rock-the-plank)
Shane: Geoff John's run on Green Lantern (Blackest Night; https://www.amazon.com/dp/1401291198?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback)

Holidays (10/14/2026):Be Bald and Be Free Day
Bullying Prevention Day
Emergency Nurses Day
International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction
International Top Spinning Day
National Chocolate Covered Insects Day
National Dessert Day
National Fossil Day
National lowercase Day
National Pet Obesity Awareness Day
Spider-Man Day
Stem Cell Awareness Day
Thank Your Cleaner Day
World Standards Day
Biology Week
Bone and Joint Health Action Week
Earth Science Week
Mediation Week
Meditation Week
National Case Management Week

Links and References: https://www.biologyonline.com/dictionary/ectoplasm
https://www.popsci.com/whats-deal-paranormal-ectoplasm/
https://www.grunge.com/665457/the-strange-truth-about-ectoplasm-explained/
https://www.americanhauntingsink.com/ectoplasm
https://medium.com/the-shortform/is-ectoplasm-really-a-thing-77a7b83a0ef7
https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057/9781137027252_6
https://www.cabinetmagazine.org/issues/12/warner.php
https://daily.jstor.org/ectoplasm-and-the-last-british-woman-tried-for-witchcraft/

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.

Support our podcast: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast

We did an episode about the history of halloween a while back. This mini explores more of the myths, legends, ideas, and traditions of the tradition that eventually became Halloween. This is all about the traditions of Samhain (no mention of St. Swithuns). 

Tell us your thoughts: info@wwdwwdpodcast.com

Links and References: 
https://www.history.com/articles/samhain
https://druidry.org/druid-way/teaching-and-practice/druid-festivals/samhain-festival
https://www.hawthornandhoney.com/journal/samhain-rituals
https://www.museum.ie/en-ie/collections-research/folklife-collections/folklife-collections-list-(1)/religion-and-calendar-customs/hallowe-en-samhain 
https://heritageireland.ie/2023/09/samhain-the-roots-of-halloween/ 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.

Support our podcast: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast

We are kicking off this spooky season with a discussion about the spectres of the ocean: ghost ships! We tell a few of the both lesser and more well-known stories of ghost ships. We also talk about why they happen and how they influence our behavior. Have you seen a ghost ship?

Recommendations
Abraham: Saosin (Just Be Honest; https://saosin.com/)
Shane: Hellboy comics (Mike Mignola)

Holidays (10/5/2026):
Blue Shirt Day World Day of Bullying Prevention
Chic Spy Day
Child health Day
Day of Unity
Do Something Nice Day
Global James Bond Day
International Day of No Prostitution
National Apple Betty Day
National Consignment Day
National Kiss a Wrestler Day
National Storytelling Day
World Day of Architecture
World Habitat Day
World Teacher’s Day
Active Aging Week
Animal Welfare Week
Banned Books Week
Death Penalty Focus Week
Mystery Series Week
National Vegetarian Week
National Chili Week

Links: 
https://explorersweb.com/exploration-mysteries-ghost-ships
https://www.surfline.com/surf-news/ocean-oddities-ghost-ships/78374
https://www.hms-resolute.co.uk/the-nutshell/
https://www.adn.com/alaska-life/2023/10/29/the-mysterious-fate-of-the-baychimo-the-ghost-ship-that-haunted-the-arctic-for-decades/ 
https://www.worldofcruising.co.uk/editors-corner/mv-lyubov-orlova-ghostship-sunk 
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/abandoned-ship-the-mary-celeste-174488104/ 
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/horrifying-final-voyage-cruise-boat-22044077 
https://skybrary.aero/articles/fata-morgana 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.

Support our podcast: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast