#13: Ancient Necromancy

#13: Ancient Necromancy

Finishing up with our October theme of “talking to the dead,” we examine necromancy in the ancient world in this episode.  While the word has been generalized in its present use to mean cover any form of magic of a sinister bent, in its original meaning, it was simply what the Latinized-Greek etymology suggests: “necro-” for …

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#12: Seances & Scandals

#12: Seances & Scandals

Hope you enjoy part two of our exploration of Spiritualism and seances. This one is particularly full of shocking, sad, and amusing tales you won’t hear anywhere else. First we wrap up last week’s story of the Fox sisters, who in many ways started the whole ball rolling.  Two surprising revelations regarding their ghostly communications are revealed …

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Episode 11: The Dead Speak

Episode 11: The Dead Speak

The 19th-century Spiritualist movement was rife with fraud and misplaced hopes, but what made people so eager to believe in the possibility of talking to the dead?  This episode looks at some early mediumistic pioneers, attractions beyond the metaphysical that drew sitters to take part in seances, and the growing pressure within the movement to …

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Spirits Rising! October Shows!

Spirits Rising! October Shows!

To thank you for all your patience through September, we’re giving you THREE Bone & Sickle episodes for this Halloween month — all about speaking with the spirits of the dead. Monday, October 8 EPISODE 11: THE DEAD SPEAK Early Spiritualism. Ectoplasmic shenanigans. Vaudevillian seance shows. A “spirit machine.  Tricks of the trade and compromising …

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Patreon Support

Patreon Support

A word on supporting Bone and Sickle via Patreon. What your donations help me accomplish… I don’t want to make a podcast like any other. I want it to be transportive, immersive, and glutted with all the ghoulish detail it deserves, and that’s what your equally lavish generosity accomplishes. Your donations help keep me on …

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Episode 10: Victorian Mummies

Episode 10: Victorian Mummies

This time round we explore the way in which the death-obsessed Victorians fetishized the equally death-obsessed Egyptians, creating a number of gothic mummy tales, which often veer into storylines that are almost necrophilic. To begin we have a look at how the Victorians interacted with mummies as artifacts.  We hear an 1899 story from Philadelphia’s …

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Next Episode

Next Episode

As mentioned, due to scheduling conflicts, the “Victorian Mummies” episode scheduled for the week of August 20 will not release on Monday. Look for it Wednesday or shortly thereafter.  Better yet, subscribe so you’ll have it as soon as it uploads.

Next: “Victorian Mummies”

Next: “Victorian Mummies”

“Victorian Mummies” will be the topic for Episode Ten releasing the week of August 20 (possibly not on Monday but a bit later as scheduling permits). Many little-known mummy tales and curious obsessions of the age to be explored!

Show Reviews

Show Reviews

Hadn’t found all the show reviews till recently.  A number of nice ones from Apple Podcasts are here, and this one, which seems only to be on Podcast Addict was very gratifying to read.  Thanks you, everyone for your thoughtful comments!