Dark Academy (Southern Belles and Chilling Tales)

16 The Exorcist

In this episode of Dark Academy, we gather in the Midnight Library to discuss all things Exorcist. The whole show is the Exorcist.  Join me as we journey from the ancient ruins of Iraq and the legend of the Mesopotamian demon Pazuzu to the streets of Georgetown, where a young girl’s possession would forever change the horror genre. But the story doesn't end there. The movie was based on real events. A real demon possession? You may ask. Yes! Or so they say. We’ll explore the claims, the exorcisms, the skeptical explanations, and the events that blurred the line between faith, fear, folklore, and reality. Then step into the resulting American fear of the occult, demon possession, ouija boards and the rise of the Satanic Panic Finally, we'll close with the strange and unsettling stories surrounding the production of The Exorcist itself. From mysterious fires and on-set injuries to deaths connected to the cast and crew, many came to believe the film was cursed long before audiences ever sat down to watch it. Was Roland Doe truly possessed? Did The Exorcist unleash a new era of fear? And was the production really cursed? Grab your candle and join me in the Midnight Library circle as we explore one of the darkest stories in horror history. Topics include: The Exorcist, Roland Doe, Ronald Hunkeler, exorcisms, Pazuzu, demonology, Catholic exorcism rituals, Satanic Panic, paranormal folklore, horror history, and alleged curses.

15 The Village, Folk Magic, and Flat Earth

Step into the woods… actually, don’t. In this episode of Dark Academy, we gather in the Midnight Library to explore The Village, a film where fear isn’t just a feeling… it’s a system. A system designed to protect. To control. To keep people safe… From “Those We Do Not Speak Of” to the quiet authority of those who claim to know what’s best, The Village forces us to ask a chilling question: Can we trust the people who decide what we’re allowed to know? We start with the film itself—its tension, its love story, its carefully constructed fear, and unravel the deeper horror beneath it: not monsters in the woods, but the stories we’re told to keep us in line. Then we step beyond the screen. Into the lies we tell children to keep them safe. Into folklore and superstition designed to control behavior. Into real-world beliefs that blurred the line between protection… and harm. From childhood warnings to cultural traditions, and even true crime rooted in fear and belief, this episode explores how easily we accept what we’re told, especially when it feels like it’s for our own good. Because sometimes the scariest thing isn’t the unknown… …it’s trusting the wrong voice in the dark. So the question is: Would you rather know the truth… or feel safe believing the lie? Welcome back to Dark Academy. Grab your candle.

14 Bigfoot What Does it Take to Believe?

Something is knocking in the woods. In this episode of Dark Academy, we step beyond the firelight and into one of the most enduring mysteries in modern folklore, Bigfoot. From the forests of Bluff Creek to whispered encounters deep in the wilderness, sightings of a massive, human-like creature have been reported for decades. Footprints appear overnight. Strange sounds echo through the trees. And those who claim to have seen it are left with more questions than answers. But Bigfoot isn’t just a creature… it’s a test of belief. Why do so many people accept something that has never been proven? What does it actually take for us to believe the unbelievable? Tonight, we explore eyewitness accounts, famous evidence, psychological patterns of belief, and the theories that keep this legend alive—from scientific explanations to the truly unexplainable. So grab a blanket, get close to the fire… and listen carefully. Because something might be listening too.

13 Friday the 13th

Come join me by the fireplace. In this episode, we return to Camp Crystal Lake, right in the middle of winter, to revisit Friday the 13th and unravel why this date still gives us chills. We start with a nostalgic slasher classic: summer camp counselors, bad decisions, and a mother’s revenge. We'll dig into why this simple film still works—and why campfire stories are so popular. From there, we step off the screen and into the fear itself. Why does Friday the 13th feel cursed? Is it myth, history, coincidence, or something darker? We explore the origins of the superstition, from Norse mythology and biblical symbolism to the Knights Templar and the psychology behind paraskevidekatriaphobia. We examine real-world crimes associated with the date, including the haunting murder of Kitty Genovese and the ripple effects that helped create 911. We even look at disasters, defiance of superstition, and the people who dared to mock bad luck itself. We close out with a Final Fright rooted in summer camp folklore. Ghosts in the woods, phantom cabins, porcelain dolls (absolutely not), and the real-life tragedy that may have inspired one of horror’s most iconic stories. Is Friday the 13th truly cursed…or do we just keep giving it reasons to be?

12 Origins of Halloween: Tales from the Dark Academy Clearing

Join me at the Dark Academy clearing for a chilling journey through the origins of Halloween. From ancient Celtic rituals and headless horsemen to Victorian love charms and modern mischief, explore the eerie, fascinating, and sometimes deadly traditions that shaped our favorite spooky holiday. Along the way, encounter folklore, haunted histories, and strange customs that reveal how Halloween evolved into the celebration we know today. Gather ‘round the fire, grab a marshmallow, and beware… by listening, you are now an Inductee of Dark Academy.