Last week we started in on the story of Gene Otto and Robert the Doll with our #1 fan-- Sarah's Mom. Some theories were thrown out there for the reasons why this doll generally eeks the heck out of people, and possibly why it might also appear to move and cause mischief at times. Today, we continue our discussion and see if we change our minds at all. So let's jump back into the nonsense on this episode idiopathic..
Co-Host Info: Dr. Sarah Kashdan is a registered naturopathic doctor and licensed acupuncturist in Fort Collins Colorado. Dr. Kashdan practices a whole-body multisystem approach to healthcare using several modalities such as diet, lifestyle, nutrition, and herbal medicine. Dr. Kashdan also has degrees in environmental health and toxicology and is a certified mold-literate provider. Dr. Kashdan can be found at Rocky Mountain Natural Medicine. Her instagram is @coloradonaturedoc
Gene Otto was born in 1900 in the Florida Keys, he passed away in the 1970's after a life spent making art. What he's probably best known for though, isn't his art but his childhood and lifelong companion: Robert. See, Robert was a nearly 4 foot tall stuffed doll and like many toys of this era, he's creepy as they come. Oh.. he's also cursed? Or a demon? I don't know, but when weird things started happening in Gene Otto's home, it was pretty easy for everyone to see the doll had something to do with it. Even after Gene passed, Robert has maintained a sort of reverence and respect amongst Key West folks, and even beyond. So how does a 1900's kid manage to avoid polio but wind up with a best friend who is a posessed doll? Well, here's hoping we find out on today's special episode of Idiopathic!
References
1. News ABC. Divers find underwater hospital, cemetery off coast of Key West. ABC News. Accessed February 21, 2025. https://abcnews.go.com/US/divers-find-underwater-hospital-cemetery-off-coast-key/story?id=99011906
2. Luhrmann TM, Alderson-Day B, Chen A, et al. Learning to Discern the Voices of Gods, Spirits, Tulpas, and the Dead. Schizophr Bull. 2023;49(Suppl 1):S3-S12. doi:10.1093/schbul/sbac005
3. Robert Eugene “Gene” Otto (1900–1974). Accessed February 14, 2025. https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LH8K-CX3/robert-eugene-%22gene%22-otto-1900-1974
4. Robert The Doll: The Real Story Of Key West’s Haunted Toy. Accessed February 14, 2025. https://allthatsinteresting.com/robert-the-doll
5. Robert the Haunted Doll. Historic Houston. April 23, 2015. Accessed February 14, 2025. https://historichouston1836.com/robert-the-haunted-doll/
6. Robert’s Story | Robert the Doll. February 6, 2024. Accessed February 14, 2025. https://robertthedoll.org/story/
7. Eyman S. The legend of Otto’s doll. The Palm Beach Post. Accessed February 14, 2025. https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/2017/10/19/the-legend-otto-s-doll/7356820007/
8. The Story Behind the World’s Most Terrifying Haunted Doll - Atlas Obscura. Accessed February 14, 2025. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/story-behind-robert-the-doll
9. Di Natale AF, Simonetti ME, La Rocca S, Bricolo E. Uncanny valley effect: A qualitative synthesis of empirical research to assess the suitability of using virtual faces in psychological research. Computers in Human Behavior Reports. 2023;10:100288. doi:10.1016/j.chbr.2023.100288
10. Said S, Kang M. Viral Encephalitis. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2025. Accessed February 22, 2025. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470162/
11. Krubiner CB, Schwartz DA. Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers in Pregnant Women and the Vaccine Landscape: Comparisons Between Yellow Fever, Ebola, and Lassa Fever. Curr Trop Med Rep. 2019;6(4):186-196. doi:10.1007/s40475-019-00194-x
12. Simon LV, Hashmi MF, Torp KD. Yellow Fever. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2025. Accessed February 21, 2025. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470425/
13. Piket C. Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1899. January 14, 2013. Accessed February 21, 2025. https://www.miami-history.com/p/yellow-fever-epidemic-of-1899
Additional Resources
Episode 6: The Human Hair Version and the Worst Social And That's Why We Drink: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEuKGLJpzas
REMASTERED – Episode 15: Unboxed - Lore Podcast: https://www.lorepodcast.com/episodes/remastered15
The Curse of Robert the Doll | Episode 105 | Sinisterhood: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3ZIsmDGzyE
Today, we're getting into a chilling tale that inspired the 2005 film "The Exorcism of Emily Rose." In 1976, a young German woman named Anneliese Michel faced a harrowing ordeal marked by visions, voices, and seizures. Convinced she was possessed, her family turned to the Catholic Church for an exorcism. What followed were 67 intense sessions, ultimately leading to Anneliese's tragic death at 23 due to malnourishment and dehydration. Join us as we explore the thin line between faith and tragedy in this haunting real-life story, right here on Idiopathic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moA9bhSiZRg (And That's Why We Drink)
https://astonishinglegends.com/al-podcasts/tag/Anneliese+Michel (Astonishing Legends)
https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-anneliese-michel/23105422/
https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-anneliese-michel/24221407/
https://www.unilad.com/music/chilling-photos-anneliese-michel-exorcism-emily-rose-728475-20230209
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29fpnF1DWoQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN2HtbycnhU
Last week we covered the story of Roland Doe, the account that inspired a movie that still scares the hell out of me-- the Exorcist. The exorcist movie is based on a book by the same name written by William Peter Blatty. According to him, the novel was based on the accounts recorded by a catholic priest present at the exorcisms.
We once again have two questions to tackle here-- (1) what could be behind the alleged 'possession' of Roland Doe; and (2) are there any scientific reasons that would explain how an exorcism might 'work' outside of the usual explanations? In part one, we started in on some of those, so let's see if we can continue to untangle these threads on today's episode of Idiopathic...
Co-Host Info: Dr. Sarah Kashdan is a registered naturopathic doctor and licensed acupuncturist in Fort Collins Colorado. Dr. Kashdan practices a whole-body multisystem approach to healthcare using several modalities such as diet, lifestyle, nutrition, and herbal medicine. Dr. Kashdan also has degrees in environmental health and toxicology and is a certified mold-literate provider. Dr. Kashdan can be found at Rocky Mountain Natural Medicine. Her instagram is @coloradonaturedoc
References
† Archindy.org: The Criterion Online Edition—March 18, 2011. (n.d.). Retrieved February 2, 2025, from https://www.archindy.org/criterion/local/2011/03-18/devil.html
Baker, A. W., Keshaviah, A., Horenstein, A., Goetter, E. M., Mauro, C., Reynolds, C., Zisook, S., Shear, M. K., & Simon, N. M. (2016). The role of avoidance in complicated grief: A detailed examination of the Grief-Related Avoidance Questionnaire (GRAQ) in a large sample of individuals with complicated grief. Journal of Loss & Trauma, 21(6), 533–547. https://doi.org/10.1080/15325024.2016.1157412
Brodbeck, J., Berger, T., Biesold, N., Rockstroh, F., Schmidt, S. J., & Znoj, H. (2022). The Role of Emotion Regulation and Loss-Related Coping Self-efficacy in an Internet Intervention for Grief: Mediation Analysis. JMIR Mental Health, 9(5), e27707. https://doi.org/10.2196/27707
DeLong, W. (2023, August 20). The True Story Behind “The Exorcist” Is So Disturbing That The Movie Had To Leave The Worst Parts Out. All That’s Interesting. https://allthatsinteresting.com/roland-doe-the-exorcist-true-story
Demoniacal Possession | Catholic Answers Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved February 2, 2025, from https://www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/demoniacal-possession
Dimri, B. (2021, August 23). The Exorcism of Roland Doe: The Events That Inspired The Exorcist? Historic Mysteries. https://www.historicmysteries.com/unexplained-mysteries/roland-doe/21228/
Fitzgerald, C. (2022, February 17). The Terrifying Real-Life Inspiration for ‘The Exorcist.’ Thevintagenews. https://www.thevintagenews.com/2022/02/17/roland-doe-the-exorcist/
Friese, M., Binder, J., Luechinger, R., Boesiger, P., & Rasch, B. (2013). Suppressing Emotions Impairs Subsequent Stroop Performance and Reduces Prefrontal Brain Activation. PLoS ONE, 8(4), e60385. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0060385
Goldenholz, D. M., Moss, R., Scott, J., Auh, S., & Theodore, W. H. (2015). Confusing Placebo Effect with Natural History in Epilepsy: A Big Data Approach. Annals of Neurology, 78(3), 329–336. https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.24470
Is “The Exorcist” based on a true story? All about Roland Doe and the cursed film. (n.d.-a). EW.Com. Retrieved January 25, 2025, from https://ew.com/the-exorcist-true-story-explained-8727499
Is “The Exorcist” Based on a True Story? All About the Real Events That Inspired the Horror Film. (n.d.-b). People.Com. Retrieved January 25, 2025, from https://people.com/is-the-exorcist-based-on-a-true-story-8638849
jlavarnway. (2021, October 25). Demoniac: Who Is Roland Doe, the Boy Who Inspired The Exorcist? | Skeptical Inquirer. https://skepticalinquirer.org/2021/10/demoniac-who-is-roland-doe-the-boy-who-inspired-the-exorcist/
Nunn, A. V. W., Guy, G. W., & Bell, J. D. (2022). Bioelectric Fields at the Beginnings of Life. Bioelectricity, 4(4), 237–247. https://doi.org/10.1089/bioe.2022.0012
O’Connor, M.-F. (2019). Grief: A Brief History of Research on How Body, Mind, and Brain Adapt. Psychosomatic Medicine, 81(8), 731–738. https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000000717
Peña-Vargas, C., Armaiz-Peña, G., & Castro-Figueroa, E. (2021). A Biopsychosocial Approach to Grief, Depression, and the Role of Emotional Regulation. Behavioral Sciences, 11(8), 110. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs11080110
Pfeifer, J. H., & Allen, N. B. (2021). Puberty initiates cascading relationships between neurodevelopmental, social, and internalizing processes across adolescence. Biological Psychiatry, 89(2), 99–108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.09.002
Pophof, B., Henschenmacher, B., Kattnig, D. R., Kuhne, J., Vian, A., & Ziegelberger, G. (2023). Biological Effects of Electric, Magnetic, and Electromagnetic Fields from 0 to 100 MHz on Fauna and Flora: Workshop Report. Health Physics, 124(1), 39–52. https://doi.org/10.1097/HP.0000000000001624
Sato, W., Kochiyama, T., Kubota, Y., Uono, S., Sawada, R., Yoshimura, S., & Toichi, M. (2016). The association between perceived social support and amygdala structure. Neuropsychologia, 85, 237–244. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2016.03.036
Sato, W., Kochiyama, T., Uono, S., Sawada, R., & Yoshikawa, S. (2020). Amygdala activity related to perceived social support. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 2951. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-59758-x
The Exorcism of Ronald Hunkeler (1973): The Real Story Behind The Exorcism of Emily Rose. (2023, October 23). https://exorcisms.com/the-exorcism-of-ronald-hunkeler-1973/
The Ouija Board Can’t Connect Us to Paranormal Forces—But It Can Tell Us a Lot About Psychology, Grief and Uncertainty | Smithsonian. (n.d.). Retrieved February 2, 2025, from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-ouija-board-cant-connect-us-to-paranormal-forces-but-it-can-tell-us-a-lot-about-psychology-grief-and-uncertainty-5860627/
ThisWeekInLibraries. (2024, January 24). The Exorcist True Story: The Terrifying Real-Life Events. This Week in Libraries. https://thisweekinlibraries.com/the-exorcist-true-story-the-terrifying-real-life-events/
Thomson, P., & Jaque, S. V. (2014). Unresolved mourning, supernatural beliefs and dissociation: A mediation analysis. Attachment & Human Development, 16(5), 499–514. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616734.2014.926945
Tricoche, X., MacLeod, R., & Johnson, C. R. (2008). Visual Analysis of Bioelectric Fields. In L. Linsen, H. Hagen, & B. Hamann (Eds.), Visualization in Medicine and Life Sciences (pp. 205–220). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-72630-2_12
Types of Demonic Influence in the World – AIHCP. (n.d.). Retrieved February 2, 2025, from https://aihcp.net/2023/08/17/types-of-demonic-influence-in-the-world/
Vinti, V., Dell’Isola, G. B., Tascini, G., Mencaroni, E., Cara, G. D., Striano, P., & Verrotti, A. (2021). Temporal Lobe Epilepsy and Psychiatric Comorbidity. Frontiers in Neurology, 12, 775781. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2021.775781
Zhao, F., Kang, H., You, Li., Rastogi, P., Venkatesh, D., & Chandra, M. (2014). Neuropsychological deficits in temporal lobe epilepsy: A comprehensive review. Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology, 17(4), 374–382. https://doi.org/10.4103/0972-2327.144003
Additional Resources
Stuff You Missed in History Class The Possession Case of Roland Doe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Pt4B3K__Tc
Episode28 | Strange & Unexplained Podcast: https://www.strangeandunexplainedpod.com/episodes/page/8
ATWWD E32 Father Beelzebub and 4000 Salutes: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5evWB8XWIDDzklYY2z9Oqu
William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist was released in 1973. Audiences all over were shocked, some even had visceral responses to it. Reports of people fleeing mid-film, fainting, or vomiting in the theaters were shared widely.
The Exorcist book and subsequent film aren't just the products of a creative imagination though. They're based on the case of Roland Doe, which has become one of the most famous alleged instances of demonic possession in the United States.
Among many cultures, dabbling in the occult is taboo. A 'no-no' that can lead to some serious bad juju, if you will. The Exorcist shows us exactly why that is-- play with the occult and you're gonna catch a case of the demons. And the only cure for a case of the demons is an exorcism. We already know from our past story on Annelise Michele, that tragically-- exorcisms don't always cure the posessed-- but sometimes, it appears as though they do. So now, we're going to see if we can sort out just what is going on when the possessed recover through religious intervention.. on today's episode of Idiopathic!
References
† Archindy.org: The Criterion Online Edition—March 18, 2011. (n.d.). Retrieved February 2, 2025, from https://www.archindy.org/criterion/local/2011/03-18/devil.html
Baker, A. W., Keshaviah, A., Horenstein, A., Goetter, E. M., Mauro, C., Reynolds, C., Zisook, S., Shear, M. K., & Simon, N. M. (2016). The role of avoidance in complicated grief: A detailed examination of the Grief-Related Avoidance Questionnaire (GRAQ) in a large sample of individuals with complicated grief. Journal of Loss & Trauma, 21(6), 533–547. https://doi.org/10.1080/15325024.2016.1157412
Brodbeck, J., Berger, T., Biesold, N., Rockstroh, F., Schmidt, S. J., & Znoj, H. (2022). The Role of Emotion Regulation and Loss-Related Coping Self-efficacy in an Internet Intervention for Grief: Mediation Analysis. JMIR Mental Health, 9(5), e27707. https://doi.org/10.2196/27707
DeLong, W. (2023, August 20). The True Story Behind “The Exorcist” Is So Disturbing That The Movie Had To Leave The Worst Parts Out. All That’s Interesting. https://allthatsinteresting.com/roland-doe-the-exorcist-true-story
Demoniacal Possession | Catholic Answers Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved February 2, 2025, from https://www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/demoniacal-possession
Dimri, B. (2021, August 23). The Exorcism of Roland Doe: The Events That Inspired The Exorcist? Historic Mysteries. https://www.historicmysteries.com/unexplained-mysteries/roland-doe/21228/
Fitzgerald, C. (2022, February 17). The Terrifying Real-Life Inspiration for ‘The Exorcist.’ Thevintagenews. https://www.thevintagenews.com/2022/02/17/roland-doe-the-exorcist/
Friese, M., Binder, J., Luechinger, R., Boesiger, P., & Rasch, B. (2013). Suppressing Emotions Impairs Subsequent Stroop Performance and Reduces Prefrontal Brain Activation. PLoS ONE, 8(4), e60385. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0060385
Goldenholz, D. M., Moss, R., Scott, J., Auh, S., & Theodore, W. H. (2015). Confusing Placebo Effect with Natural History in Epilepsy: A Big Data Approach. Annals of Neurology, 78(3), 329–336. https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.24470
Is “The Exorcist” based on a true story? All about Roland Doe and the cursed film. (n.d.-a). EW.Com. Retrieved January 25, 2025, from https://ew.com/the-exorcist-true-story-explained-8727499
Is “The Exorcist” Based on a True Story? All About the Real Events That Inspired the Horror Film. (n.d.-b). People.Com. Retrieved January 25, 2025, from https://people.com/is-the-exorcist-based-on-a-true-story-8638849
jlavarnway. (2021, October 25). Demoniac: Who Is Roland Doe, the Boy Who Inspired The Exorcist? | Skeptical Inquirer. https://skepticalinquirer.org/2021/10/demoniac-who-is-roland-doe-the-boy-who-inspired-the-exorcist/
Nunn, A. V. W., Guy, G. W., & Bell, J. D. (2022). Bioelectric Fields at the Beginnings of Life. Bioelectricity, 4(4), 237–247. https://doi.org/10.1089/bioe.2022.0012
O’Connor, M.-F. (2019). Grief: A Brief History of Research on How Body, Mind, and Brain Adapt. Psychosomatic Medicine, 81(8), 731–738. https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000000717
Peña-Vargas, C., Armaiz-Peña, G., & Castro-Figueroa, E. (2021). A Biopsychosocial Approach to Grief, Depression, and the Role of Emotional Regulation. Behavioral Sciences, 11(8), 110. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs11080110
Pfeifer, J. H., & Allen, N. B. (2021). Puberty initiates cascading relationships between neurodevelopmental, social, and internalizing processes across adolescence. Biological Psychiatry, 89(2), 99–108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2020.09.002
Pophof, B., Henschenmacher, B., Kattnig, D. R., Kuhne, J., Vian, A., & Ziegelberger, G. (2023). Biological Effects of Electric, Magnetic, and Electromagnetic Fields from 0 to 100 MHz on Fauna and Flora: Workshop Report. Health Physics, 124(1), 39–52. https://doi.org/10.1097/HP.0000000000001624
Sato, W., Kochiyama, T., Kubota, Y., Uono, S., Sawada, R., Yoshimura, S., & Toichi, M. (2016). The association between perceived social support and amygdala structure. Neuropsychologia, 85, 237–244. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2016.03.036
Sato, W., Kochiyama, T., Uono, S., Sawada, R., & Yoshikawa, S. (2020). Amygdala activity related to perceived social support. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 2951. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-59758-x
The Exorcism of Ronald Hunkeler (1973): The Real Story Behind The Exorcism of Emily Rose. (2023, October 23). https://exorcisms.com/the-exorcism-of-ronald-hunkeler-1973/
The Ouija Board Can’t Connect Us to Paranormal Forces—But It Can Tell Us a Lot About Psychology, Grief and Uncertainty | Smithsonian. (n.d.). Retrieved February 2, 2025, from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-ouija-board-cant-connect-us-to-paranormal-forces-but-it-can-tell-us-a-lot-about-psychology-grief-and-uncertainty-5860627/
ThisWeekInLibraries. (2024, January 24). The Exorcist True Story: The Terrifying Real-Life Events. This Week in Libraries. https://thisweekinlibraries.com/the-exorcist-true-story-the-terrifying-real-life-events/
Thomson, P., & Jaque, S. V. (2014). Unresolved mourning, supernatural beliefs and dissociation: A mediation analysis. Attachment & Human Development, 16(5), 499–514. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616734.2014.926945
Tricoche, X., MacLeod, R., & Johnson, C. R. (2008). Visual Analysis of Bioelectric Fields. In L. Linsen, H. Hagen, & B. Hamann (Eds.), Visualization in Medicine and Life Sciences (pp. 205–220). Springer Berlin Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-72630-2_12
Types of Demonic Influence in the World – AIHCP. (n.d.). Retrieved February 2, 2025, from https://aihcp.net/2023/08/17/types-of-demonic-influence-in-the-world/
Vinti, V., Dell’Isola, G. B., Tascini, G., Mencaroni, E., Cara, G. D., Striano, P., & Verrotti, A. (2021). Temporal Lobe Epilepsy and Psychiatric Comorbidity. Frontiers in Neurology, 12, 775781. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2021.775781
Zhao, F., Kang, H., You, Li., Rastogi, P., Venkatesh, D., & Chandra, M. (2014). Neuropsychological deficits in temporal lobe epilepsy: A comprehensive review. Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology, 17(4), 374–382. https://doi.org/10.4103/0972-2327.144003
Additional Resources
Stuff You Missed in History Class The Possession Case of Roland Doe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Pt4B3K__Tc
Episode28 | Strange & Unexplained Podcast: https://www.strangeandunexplainedpod.com/episodes/page/8
ATWWD E32 Father Beelzebub and 4000 Salutes: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5evWB8XWIDDzklYY2z9Oqu
Last week, we heard about the sagas occurring in Amityville NY between 1974 and 1976-- a murder so horrible that it's almost preferable to believe it's the work of demonic posession and a haunting so off the walls that it's been turned into books, movies, documentaries, and goodness only knows what else-- maybe even a musical?
So we're here once more to ask ourselves, just what went on at the house on Ocean Avenue? Could there be something lurking in the air or are humans just the absolute worst? Maybe both! Well hopefully we'll shed some light on today's episode of Idiopathic..
Co-Host Info: Dr. Sarah Kashdan is a registered naturopathic doctor and licensed acupuncturist in Fort Collins Colorado. Dr. Kashdan can be found at Rocky Mountain Natural Medicine. Her instagram is @coloradonaturedoc
References
1. After 37 Years, The Original Amityville Horror Child Breaks The Silence About Their Experience In The Haunted Home. - Geek Slop. Accessed January 18, 2025. https://www.geekslop.com/life/strange/things-that-go-bump-in-the-night/2013/after-37-years-original-amityville-horror-child-breaks-silence-in-new-documentary
2. Amityville Killer Ronald DeFeo Jr. Dies In Prison - CBS New York. March 16, 2021. Accessed January 6, 2025. https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/amityville-killer-ronald-defeo-jr-dies-in-prison/
3. Amityville: Inside the Case that Rattled a Seasoned Paranormal Investigator. Travel Channel. Accessed January 6, 2025. https://www.travelchannel.com/interests/haunted/articles/amityville-case-that-rattled-a-seasoned-paranormal-investigator
4. Talbott JA. Deinstitutionalization: Avoiding the Disasters of the Past. PS. 2004;55(10):1112-1115. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.55.10.1112
5. Don’t Be Scared at These 5 Most Haunted Places on Long Island. TripSavvy. Accessed January 6, 2025. https://www.tripsavvy.com/most-haunted-places-on-long-island-ny-4173597
6. Subramaniyan M, Manivannan S, Chelur V, Tsetsenis T, Jiang E, Dani JA. Fear conditioning potentiates the hippocampal CA1 commissural pathway in vivo and increases awake phase sleep. Hippocampus. 2021;31(10):1154-1175. doi:10.1002/hipo.23381
7. Harding CF, Pytte CL, Page KG, et al. Mold inhalation causes innate immune activation, neural, cognitive and emotional dysfunction. Brain Behav Immun. 2020;87:218-228. doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2019.11.006
8. (PDF) Reconsidering evidence for psychedelic-induced psychosis: an overview of reviews, a systematic review, and meta-analysis of human studies. ResearchGate. Accessed January 18, 2025. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/386161249_Reconsidering_evidence_for_psychedelic-induced_psychosis_an_overview_of_reviews_a_systematic_review_and_meta-analysis_of_human_studies
9. Chu B, Marwaha K, Sanvictores T, Awosika AO, Ayers D. Physiology, Stress Reaction. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2025. Accessed January 18, 2025. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK541120/
10. Ronald DeFeo - Murders, Movie & Family. Accessed January 18, 2025. https://www.biography.com/crime/ronald-defeo
11. Klier C, Buratto LG. Stress and long-term memory retrieval: a systematic review. Trends Psychiatry Psychother. 42(3):284-291. doi:10.1590/2237-6089-2019-0077
12. Henckens MJAG, Hermans EJ, Pu Z, Joëls M, Fernández G. Stressed Memories: How Acute Stress Affects Memory Formation in Humans. J Neurosci. 2009;29(32):10111-10119. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1184-09.2009
13. ‘The Amityville Horror’ Was Inspired by a Chilling Crime and Apparently Haunted House. Biography. October 31, 2024. Accessed January 6, 2025. https://www.biography.com/crime/the-real-amityville-horror-facts
14. The Amityville murders | November 13, 1974 | HISTORY. Accessed January 18, 2025. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/amityville-horror-true-story-defeo-family-murders
15. The Amityville Murders: Ronald DeFeo’s Motive for Killing His Family Still Unclear - A&E True Crime. Accessed January 6, 2025. https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/amityville-murders-defeo
16. The Real Life Amityville Horror: The Murder of the DeFeo Family - Crime Library on truTV.com. December 17, 2008. Accessed January 17, 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20081217093007/http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/notorious_murders/family/amityville/1.html
17. The Real Story Behind the “Amityville Horror House.” HowStuffWorks. October 18, 2022. Accessed January 6, 2025. https://history.howstuffworks.com/history-vs-myth/amityville-horror-house.htm
18. The True Story of The Amityville Horror. SYFY Official Site. September 5, 2024. Accessed January 6, 2025. https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/the-true-story-of-the-amityville-horror
19. The True Story of the Amityville Horror House Is Scarier Than Fiction. House Beautiful. October 26, 2023. Accessed January 6, 2025. https://www.housebeautiful.com/lifestyle/a45618175/amityville-horror-house/
20. James KA, Stromin JI, Steenkamp N, Combrinck MI. Understanding the relationships between physiological and psychosocial stress, cortisol and cognition. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023;14:1085950. doi:10.3389/fendo.2023.1085950
Additional Resources
E4 Demon Pigs and a Call from - And That's Why We Drink: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e4-demon-pigs-and-a-call-from-tamara/id1204570053?i=1000381898499
HAUNTED: The Amityville House–So Supernatural: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/haunted-the-amityville-house/id1500667648?i=1000635219171
November 13th, 1974. A quiet suburban street in Amityville, Long Island. Inside the DeFeo home, six members of the DeFeo family lay lifeless, victims of a brutal massacre. The prodigal son of the DeFeos, Ronnie, is the only one left standing. This was just the beginning though as a chilling tale of familial horror unfolded before the eyes of a shocked nation. Soon after, a new family moves in – the Lutzes. They swear they experience the most terrifying things: strange noises, icy drafts, infestations of flies, and maybe even a pit to hell in the basement? The Amityville Haunting becomes a national obsession, a blend of genuine fear and media hype. We're going to explore Ronnie DeFeo, the night of the murders, and how the Amityville legend was born. So what could cause a seemingly normal young man to massacre his entire family? Was that what lead to the Lutzes haunting or were they entirely unreleated? Hopefully we can find out on today's episode of Idiopathic..
(Content Warning: This episode will discuss violence and disturbing subject matter.)
References
1. After 37 Years, The Original Amityville Horror Child Breaks The Silence About Their Experience In The Haunted Home. - Geek Slop. Accessed January 18, 2025. https://www.geekslop.com/life/strange/things-that-go-bump-in-the-night/2013/after-37-years-original-amityville-horror-child-breaks-silence-in-new-documentary
2. Amityville Killer Ronald DeFeo Jr. Dies In Prison - CBS New York. March 16, 2021. Accessed January 6, 2025. https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/amityville-killer-ronald-defeo-jr-dies-in-prison/
3. Amityville: Inside the Case that Rattled a Seasoned Paranormal Investigator. Travel Channel. Accessed January 6, 2025. https://www.travelchannel.com/interests/haunted/articles/amityville-case-that-rattled-a-seasoned-paranormal-investigator
4. Talbott JA. Deinstitutionalization: Avoiding the Disasters of the Past. PS. 2004;55(10):1112-1115. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.55.10.1112
5. Don’t Be Scared at These 5 Most Haunted Places on Long Island. TripSavvy. Accessed January 6, 2025. https://www.tripsavvy.com/most-haunted-places-on-long-island-ny-4173597
6. Subramaniyan M, Manivannan S, Chelur V, Tsetsenis T, Jiang E, Dani JA. Fear conditioning potentiates the hippocampal CA1 commissural pathway in vivo and increases awake phase sleep. Hippocampus. 2021;31(10):1154-1175. doi:10.1002/hipo.23381
7. Harding CF, Pytte CL, Page KG, et al. Mold inhalation causes innate immune activation, neural, cognitive and emotional dysfunction. Brain Behav Immun. 2020;87:218-228. doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2019.11.006
8. (PDF) Reconsidering evidence for psychedelic-induced psychosis: an overview of reviews, a systematic review, and meta-analysis of human studies. ResearchGate. Accessed January 18, 2025. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/386161249_Reconsidering_evidence_for_psychedelic-induced_psychosis_an_overview_of_reviews_a_systematic_review_and_meta-analysis_of_human_studies
9. Chu B, Marwaha K, Sanvictores T, Awosika AO, Ayers D. Physiology, Stress Reaction. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2025. Accessed January 18, 2025. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK541120/
10. Ronald DeFeo - Murders, Movie & Family. Accessed January 18, 2025. https://www.biography.com/crime/ronald-defeo
11. Klier C, Buratto LG. Stress and long-term memory retrieval: a systematic review. Trends Psychiatry Psychother. 42(3):284-291. doi:10.1590/2237-6089-2019-0077
12. Henckens MJAG, Hermans EJ, Pu Z, Joëls M, Fernández G. Stressed Memories: How Acute Stress Affects Memory Formation in Humans. J Neurosci. 2009;29(32):10111-10119. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1184-09.2009
13. ‘The Amityville Horror’ Was Inspired by a Chilling Crime and Apparently Haunted House. Biography. October 31, 2024. Accessed January 6, 2025. https://www.biography.com/crime/the-real-amityville-horror-facts
14. The Amityville murders | November 13, 1974 | HISTORY. Accessed January 18, 2025. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/amityville-horror-true-story-defeo-family-murders
15. The Amityville Murders: Ronald DeFeo’s Motive for Killing His Family Still Unclear - A&E True Crime. Accessed January 6, 2025. https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/amityville-murders-defeo
16. The Real Life Amityville Horror: The Murder of the DeFeo Family - Crime Library on truTV.com. December 17, 2008. Accessed January 17, 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20081217093007/http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/notorious_murders/family/amityville/1.html
17. The Real Story Behind the “Amityville Horror House.” HowStuffWorks. October 18, 2022. Accessed January 6, 2025. https://history.howstuffworks.com/history-vs-myth/amityville-horror-house.htm
18. The True Story of The Amityville Horror. SYFY Official Site. September 5, 2024. Accessed January 6, 2025. https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/the-true-story-of-the-amityville-horror
19. The True Story of the Amityville Horror House Is Scarier Than Fiction. House Beautiful. October 26, 2023. Accessed January 6, 2025. https://www.housebeautiful.com/lifestyle/a45618175/amityville-horror-house/
20. James KA, Stromin JI, Steenkamp N, Combrinck MI. Understanding the relationships between physiological and psychosocial stress, cortisol and cognition. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023;14:1085950. doi:10.3389/fendo.2023.1085950
The Salem witch trials of 1692 were a series of events in colonial Massachusetts during which a wave of fear and paranoia led to the accusation, trial, and execution of 20 people (mostly women) for charges of witchcraft. The trials began when a group of young girls claimed to be possessed by witches, and the local authorities initiated a witch hunt. The accused were subjected to unfair trials that often relied on spectral evidence or hearsay from members of the community. The trials eventually ended in 1693, and they have since become a symbol of mass hysteria, religious extremism, and the dangers of unchecked authority in the pursuit of justice.
Co-Host Info: Dr. Sarah Kashdan is a registered naturopathic doctor and licensed acupuncturist in Fort Collins Colorado. Dr. Kashdan practices a whole-body multisystem approach to healthcare using several modalities such as diet, lifestyle, nutrition, and herbal medicine. Dr. Kashdan also has degrees in environmental health and toxicology and is a certified mold-literate provider. Dr. Kashdan can be found at Rocky Mountain Natural Medicine. Her instagram is @coloradonaturedoc
Additional Resources:
ATWWD EP 288: A Podcast Done via Ouija Board and a Bewitched Cow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DX6HOC-Wq6o
So Supernatural: CONSPIRACY: The Salem Witch Trials: https://sosupernaturalpodcast.com/conspiracy-the-salem-witch-trials/
Last week we learned of the Enfield Poltergeist case, wherein two preteen sisters, along with their family were tormented by an unwelcome and rather destructive entity. They were investigated, reported on, and plenty of evidence was offered up for proof of the paranormal. Skeptics, however, weren't so quick to buy it. So could the Enfield happenings have been merely schoolgirl antics? Or was there something more frightening afoot? Let's see if we can find out on today's episode of Idiopathic..
Co-Host Info: Dr. Sarah Kashdan is a registered naturopathic doctor and licensed acupuncturist in Fort Collins Colorado. Dr. Kashdan practices a whole-body multisystem approach to healthcare using several modalities such as diet, lifestyle, nutrition, and herbal medicine. Dr. Kashdan also has degrees in environmental health and toxicology and is a certified mold-literate provider. Dr. Kashdan can be found at Rocky Mountain Natural Medicine. Her instagram is @coloradonaturedoc
References
1. BBC Radio 4 - The Reunion - What it’s like to meet a poltergeist. BBC. Accessed January 12, 2025. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4GjC93L35KcswfsR13Gvj8F/what-it-s-like-to-meet-a-poltergeist
2. Moser Z. Bill Wilkins: Is The Conjuring 2 Enfield Poltergeist Based On A Real Person? ScreenRant. August 30, 2023. Accessed January 12, 2025. https://screenrant.com/bill-wilkins-conjuring-2-enfield-poltergeist-real-person/
3. Roll WG, Saroka KS, Mulligan BP, et al. Case report: a prototypical experience of “poltergeist” activity, conspicuous quantitative electroencephalographic patterns, and sLORETA profiles - suggestions for intervention. Neurocase. 2012;18(6):527-536. doi:10.1080/13554794.2011.633532
4. Chilling: Photos of the real life incident that inspired Conjuring 2. Behindwoods. June 11, 2016. Accessed January 12, 2025. https://m.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/slideshow/chilling-photos-of-the-real-life-incident-that-inspired-conjuring-2/index.html
5. Gearhart L, Persinger MA. Geophysical variables and behavior: XXXIII. Onsets of historical and contemporary poltergeist episodes occurred with sudden increases in geomagnetic activity. Percept Mot Skills. 1986;62(2):463-466. doi:10.2466/pms.1986.62.2.463
6. Cummings C, Monti J, Kobayashi L, Potvin J, Williams K, Sullivan F. Ghost Attack: The East Providence Carbon Monoxide Mass Casualty Incident. R I Med J (2013). 2018;101(1):26-27.
7. Photographer reveals theory behind infamous Enfield haunting ‘floating child’ picture. The Independent. October 23, 2023. Accessed December 11, 2024. https://www.the-independent.com/news/uk/home-news/enfield-poltergeist-ghost-photo-proof-b2434267.html
8. Hyde D. The Enfield ‘Poltergeist’: a sceptic speaks. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/may/01/the-enfield-poltergeist-a-skeptic-speaks. May 1, 2015. Accessed January 12, 2025.
9. The Enfield Haunting. Accessed January 12, 2025. https://www.mailplus.co.uk/tv/finder/drama/390013/the-enfield-haunting
10. The Enfield Poltergeist: Why the unexplained mystery that shocked 1970s Britain continues to disturb. Accessed December 11, 2024. https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20231026-the-enfield-poltergeist-why-the-unexplained-mystery-that-shocked-1970s-britain-continues-to-disturb
11. The real story of the Enfield Haunting. The Telegraph. May 3, 2015. Accessed January 12, 2025. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/11571607/The-real-story-of-the-Enfield-Haunting.html
12. Dagnall N, Drinkwater KG, O’Keeffe C, et al. Things That Go Bump in the Literature: An Environmental Appraisal of “Haunted Houses.” Front Psychol. 2020;11:1328. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01328
Additional Resources
The Enfield Poltergeist Story – The Dark Histories Podcast: https://www.darkhistories.com/the-enfield-poltergeist-story/
ATWWD: Episode 56: Hell’s Carpet and a McDonald’s Airbnb https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43iEhDDEJdk
Keeping in theme with the SPR investigations tie, this week we're going to cover another of their cases. Today's adventure takes place in 1970's Enfield London. Unlike the last few stories where the characters actively called upon spirits-- these folks were tormented by them unwillingly. Between 1977 and 1979, sisters Janet and Margaret Hodgson seemed to be the epicenter of phantom knocking, flying objects, horrifying voices, and furniture that slid across the room all on its own. The SPR investigated and though some members (including the investigator) felt the haunting was legitimate, while others gave some serious side eye. So were these poltergeists proof of the paranormal or could this have been explained by something more earth-bound? Maybe we can find out on today's episode of Idiopathic.
References
1. BBC Radio 4 - The Reunion - What it’s like to meet a poltergeist. BBC. Accessed January 12, 2025. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4GjC93L35KcswfsR13Gvj8F/what-it-s-like-to-meet-a-poltergeist
2. Moser Z. Bill Wilkins: Is The Conjuring 2 Enfield Poltergeist Based On A Real Person? ScreenRant. August 30, 2023. Accessed January 12, 2025. https://screenrant.com/bill-wilkins-conjuring-2-enfield-poltergeist-real-person/
3. Roll WG, Saroka KS, Mulligan BP, et al. Case report: a prototypical experience of “poltergeist” activity, conspicuous quantitative electroencephalographic patterns, and sLORETA profiles - suggestions for intervention. Neurocase. 2012;18(6):527-536. doi:10.1080/13554794.2011.633532
4. Chilling: Photos of the real life incident that inspired Conjuring 2. Behindwoods. June 11, 2016. Accessed January 12, 2025. https://m.behindwoods.com/tamil-movies/slideshow/chilling-photos-of-the-real-life-incident-that-inspired-conjuring-2/index.html
5. Gearhart L, Persinger MA. Geophysical variables and behavior: XXXIII. Onsets of historical and contemporary poltergeist episodes occurred with sudden increases in geomagnetic activity. Percept Mot Skills. 1986;62(2):463-466. doi:10.2466/pms.1986.62.2.463
6. Cummings C, Monti J, Kobayashi L, Potvin J, Williams K, Sullivan F. Ghost Attack: The East Providence Carbon Monoxide Mass Casualty Incident. R I Med J (2013). 2018;101(1):26-27.
7. Photographer reveals theory behind infamous Enfield haunting ‘floating child’ picture. The Independent. October 23, 2023. Accessed December 11, 2024. https://www.the-independent.com/news/uk/home-news/enfield-poltergeist-ghost-photo-proof-b2434267.html
8. Hyde D. The Enfield ‘Poltergeist’: a sceptic speaks. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/may/01/the-enfield-poltergeist-a-skeptic-speaks. May 1, 2015. Accessed January 12, 2025.
9. The Enfield Haunting. Accessed January 12, 2025. https://www.mailplus.co.uk/tv/finder/drama/390013/the-enfield-haunting
10. The Enfield Poltergeist: Why the unexplained mystery that shocked 1970s Britain continues to disturb. Accessed December 11, 2024. https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20231026-the-enfield-poltergeist-why-the-unexplained-mystery-that-shocked-1970s-britain-continues-to-disturb
11. The real story of the Enfield Haunting. The Telegraph. May 3, 2015. Accessed January 12, 2025. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/11571607/The-real-story-of-the-Enfield-Haunting.html
12. Dagnall N, Drinkwater KG, O’Keeffe C, et al. Things That Go Bump in the Literature: An Environmental Appraisal of “Haunted Houses.” Front Psychol. 2020;11:1328. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01328
Additional Resources
The Enfield Poltergeist Story – The Dark Histories Podcast: https://www.darkhistories.com/the-enfield-poltergeist-story/
ATWWD: Episode 56: Hell’s Carpet and a McDonald’s Airbnb https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43iEhDDEJdk
In part one of the story of Helen Duncan, we learned about her life and the events that possibly lead up to her being considered one of the last women to be imprisoned under the Witchcrafts Act of 1735. Quite a feat, considering she lived nearly two hundred years after it was enacted! So did Helen have the gift of clairvoyance or was she just another pretender? And how exactly did she die? Some say it was poor health, while others think it was a result of ectoplasmic injury caused by a surprise police raid. Well, let's see if we can get to the bottom of it on today's episode of Idiopathic!
Co-Host Info: Dr. Sarah Kashdan is a registered naturopathic doctor and licensed acupuncturist in Fort Collins Colorado. Dr. Kashdan practices a whole-body multisystem approach to healthcare using several modalities such as diet, lifestyle, nutrition, and herbal medicine. Dr. Kashdan also has degrees in environmental health and toxicology and is a certified mold-literate provider. Dr. Kashdan can be found at Rocky Mountain Natural Medicine. Her instagram is @coloradonaturedoc
Additional Resources
Helen Duncan, (Not) Scotland’s Last Witch |Stuff You Missed in History Class: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igW7RR5bf1w
Cheesecloth, Spiritualism, and State Secrets: The Dig: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJgzsifYzCU
When we last met, we reported on the Philip the Ghost Experiment. In that story, we mentioned the Toronto Society for Psychical Research. They were the folks who were responsible for heading up the experiment. What we didn't mention was that there are Societies for Psychical Research (SPR) all over the world. The original SPR though, was formed in the UK in 1882. Today, we're going to talk about Helen Duncan, who was investigated by the SPR in 1931. This investigation was headed up by one of the best known members of the SPR in fact, Harry Price. That wasn't the end of it though, Helen Duncan also holds the distinctive title of being the last person imprisoned under the witchcraft act of 1735. So what exactly made this woman such a fascination to psychical research and someone who'd have been labeled a witch over 200 years after the witchcraft act was passed? Well, we're going to find out that and more on today's episode of idiopathic..
References
1. Sarraf M, Woodley Of Menie MA, Tressoldi P. Anomalous information reception by mediums: A meta-analysis of the scientific evidence. Explore (NY). 2021;17(5):396-402. doi:10.1016/j.explore.2020.04.002
2. BBC - History - Scottish History. Accessed December 6, 2024. https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/scottishhistory/modern/oddities_modern.shtml
3. Helen Duncan. Accessed December 6, 2024. https://engole.info/helen-duncan/
4. Helen Duncan, Scotland’s Last Witch. Historic UK. Accessed December 6, 2024. https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/Helen-Duncan-Scotlands-last-witch/
5. Helen Duncan: Biography on Undiscovered Scotland. Accessed December 6, 2024. https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/usbiography/d/helenduncan.html
6. Beischel J, Tassone S, Boccuzzi M. Hematological and Psychophysiological Correlates of Anomalous Information Reception in Mediums: A Preliminary Exploration. Explore (NY). 2019;15(2):126-133. doi:10.1016/j.explore.2018.04.009
7. Tressoldi P, Liberale L, Sinesio F. Is There Someone in the Hereafter? Mediumship Accuracy of 100 Readings Obtained with a Triple Level of Blinding Protocol. Omega (Westport). Published online December 12, 2022:302228221146376. doi:10.1177/00302228221146376
8. Lax S, Smith DP, Hampton-Marcell J, et al. Longitudinal analysis of microbial interaction between humans and the indoor environment. Science. 2014;345(6200):1048-1052. doi:10.1126/science.1254529
9. Tressoldi P, Liberale L, Sinesio F, Bubba V, Pederzoli L, Testoni I. Mediumship accuracy: A quantitative and qualitative study with a triple-blind protocol. Explore (NY). 2022;18(4):411-415. doi:10.1016/j.explore.2021.05.009
10. Timmis K, Jebok F, Rohde M, Molinari G. Microbiome Yarns: microbiome of the built environment, paranormal microbiology, and the power of single cell genomics,,,. Microb Biotechnol. 2018;11(4):575-587. doi:10.1111/1751-7915.13274
11. Wahbeh H, Radin D. People reporting experiences of mediumship have higher dissociation symptom scores than non-mediums, but below thresholds for pathological dissociation. F1000Res. 2018;6:1416. doi:10.12688/f1000research.12019.3
12. Hampton‐Marcell JT, Lopez JV, Gilbert JA. The human microbiome: an emerging tool in forensics. Microb Biotechnol. 2017;10(2):228-230. doi:10.1111/1751-7915.12699
Additional Resources
Helen Duncan, (Not) Scotland’s Last Witch |Stuff You Missed in History Class: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igW7RR5bf1w
Cheesecloth, Spiritualism, and State Secrets: The Dig: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJgzsifYzCU
We're Baaaaaack! We took some time away, but don't worry, we haven't left for good.
In part one we learned about Philip Aylesford and the Ghost Experiment, a study that was done in the 1970’s not to prove the existence of the paranormal, but to disprove that paranormal experiences were anything but our own human minds interacting with… something?
Well, the experiment’s results have certainly been debated– everything from the researchers pulling the wool over our eyes to their creation of a thought form have been floated to explain what happened. That’s the thing though, we still don’t really even know what happened at all. All we have to go off of are some reports of strange events, video evidence of them, and the knowledge that the researchers actively made up the persona of the “ghost” they called forth.
So what the heck went on here anyway? Let’s see if we can find out on today’s episode of idiopathic…
Co-Host Info: Dr. Sarah Kashdan is a registered naturopathic doctor and licensed acupuncturist in Fort Collins Colorado. Dr. Kashdan practices a whole-body multisystem approach to healthcare using several modalities such as diet, lifestyle, nutrition, and herbal medicine. Dr. Kashdan also has degrees in environmental health and toxicology and is a certified mold-literate provider. Dr. Kashdan can be found at Rocky Mountain Natural Medicine. Her instagram is @coloradonaturedoc
Philip Aylesford’s life story is a tragic one taking place in 17th-century England. The English Civil War was raging at that time and consisted of a conflict that saw the Royalists fighting to preserve the monarchy under King Charles I against the Parliamentarians. The war ended in disaster for the Royalists, with the execution of King Charles I in 1649—a cataclysmic event for those who believed in the divine right of kings.
Philip, unfortunately, was on the side of the royalists– the side that lost in the English Civil War. When he returned, he found his home wasn’t as he’d left it and quickly fell into despair. Sadly, Philip died around 1654, apparently at his own hand. [Content warning, this portion of the story will contain brief mention of suicide.]
However, Philip would have a resurgence– in the 1970s during the Philip Experiment. The Philip Experiment is a famous parapsychology case from the 1970s in which a group of Canadian researchers attempted to communicate with our dearly departed Philly boy through collective imagination.
Annnnnnd it seems to have worked! There were some pretty strange things that went on and they were actually recorded– you can even watch them online to this day. But, of course, the results were inconclusive and remain unexplained in their entirety, which is why we’ll be trying to sort them out on today’s episode of Idiopathic..
Additional Resources:
References:
1. Olson JA, Jeyanesan E, Raz A. Ask the pendulum: personality predictors of ideomotor performance. Neurosci Conscious. 2017;2017(1):nix014. doi:10.1093/nc/nix014
2. Hosseini E. Brain-to-brain communication: the possible role of brain electromagnetic fields (As a Potential Hypothesis). Heliyon. 2021;7(3):e06363. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06363
3. Pizarro JJ, Zumeta LN, Bouchat P, et al. Emotional processes, collective behavior, and social movements: A meta-analytic review of collective effervescence outcomes during collective gatherings and demonstrations. Front Psychol. 2022;13:974683. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.974683
4. Escolà-Gascón Á, Houran J, Dagnall N, Drinkwater K, Denovan A. Follow-up on the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA) remote viewing experiments☆. Brain Behav. 2023;13(6):e3026. doi:10.1002/brb3.3026
5. Wahbeh H, Radin D, Yount G, Woodley Of Menie MA, Sarraf MA, Karpuj MV. Genetics of psychic ability - A pilot case-control exome sequencing study. Explore (NY). 2022;18(3):264-271. doi:10.1016/j.explore.2021.02.014
6. Venkatasubramanian G, Jayakumar PN, Nagendra HR, Nagaraja D, Deeptha R, Gangadhar BN. Investigating paranormal phenomena: Functional brain imaging of telepathy. Int J Yoga. 2008;1(2):66-71. doi:10.4103/0973-6131.43543
7. Peres JF, Moreira-Almeida A, Caixeta L, Leao F, Newberg A. Neuroimaging during Trance State: A Contribution to the Study of Dissociation. PLoS One. 2012;7(11):e49360. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0049360
8. Williams JM, Blagrove M. Paranormal experiences, sensory-processing sensitivity, and the priming of pareidolia. PLoS One. 2022;17(9):e0274595. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0274595
9. Shin YK, Choe S, Kwon OS. Strong evidence for ideomotor theory: Unwilled manifestation of the conceptual attribute in movement control. Front Psychol. 2023;14:1066839. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1066839
10. The Philip Experiment. Astonishing Legends. October 12, 2020. Accessed October 11, 2024. https://astonishinglegends.com/astonishing-legends/2020/10/12/the-philip-experiment
Last week, we learned how celestial beings visited Chicago Illinois through the words of a man who was sleep talking. And from his nocturnal ramblings, the Urantia Book was created.
Though the authorship of this book is still debated today, the text itself is not really widely known– which seems bananas considering these beings tell us all of the answers for how god, evolution, the universe, and so many more questions of human kind– arose and work. It even covers the meaning of life and gives a much more detailed biography of Jesus than even the bible.
Its aim is to unite religion, science and philosophy, but mostly it seems to have united scholars in questioning its veracity and content. Soooo what’s the deal? Let’s hear more about the debates and controversies on today’s episode of Idiopathic..
Co-Host Info: Dr. Sarah Kashdan is a registered naturopathic doctor and licensed acupuncturist in Fort Collins Colorado. Dr. Kashdan practices a whole-body multisystem approach to healthcare using several modalities such as diet, lifestyle, nutrition, and herbal medicine. Dr. Kashdan also has degrees in environmental health and toxicology and is a certified mold-literate provider. Dr. Kashdan can be found at Rocky Mountain Natural Medicine. Her instagram is @coloradonaturedoc
Somewhere between 1924 and 1955, celestial beings visited Chicago Illinois through the words of a man who was sleep talking. From his nocturnal ramblings, the Urantia Book was compiled.
Though the authorship of this book is still debated today, the text itself is not really widely known– which seems bananas considering these beings tell us all of the answers for how god, evolution, the universe, and so many more questions of human kind– arose and work. It even covers the meaning of life and gives a much more detailed biography of Jesus than even the bible.
Its aim is to unite religion, science and philosophy, but mostly it seems to have united scholars in questioning its veracity and content. Soooo what’s the deal? Let’s see if we can find out on today’s episode of Idiopathic..
Co-Host Info: Dr. Sarah Kashdan is a registered naturopathic doctor and licensed acupuncturist in Fort Collins Colorado. Dr. Kashdan practices a whole-body multisystem approach to healthcare using several modalities such as diet, lifestyle, nutrition, and herbal medicine. Dr. Kashdan also has degrees in environmental health and toxicology and is a certified mold-literate provider. Dr. Kashdan can be found at Rocky Mountain Natural Medicine. Her instagram is @coloradonaturedoc
In part one of our exploration into the Bloody Mary ritual we talked about Queen Mary I of England’s tragic life and bloody reign. See, Queen Mary is one of the more likely (at least in my opinion) figures that would’ve inspired this urban legend– but slumber parties have been terrified by her alluring specter for decades. So what’s going on when we go into that darkened bathroom to chant her name? How do we explain the things we see in that mirror? Is it just a trick of the mind– or could it be something much darker lurking in that reflection staring back at us? Let’s see if we can find out on today’s episode of idiopathic!
Co-Host Info: Dr. Sarah Kashdan is a registered naturopathic doctor and licensed acupuncturist in Fort Collins Colorado. Dr. Kashdan practices a whole-body multisystem approach to healthcare using several modalities such as diet, lifestyle, nutrition, and herbal medicine. Dr. Kashdan also has degrees in environmental health and toxicology and is a certified mold-literate provider. Dr. Kashdan can be found at Rocky Mountain Natural Medicine. Her instagram is @coloradonaturedoc
Clinic website: https://www.fortcollins-naturalmedicine.com
You’ve heard the stories. Stand in front of a mirror, lights dimmed, and chant her name: "Bloody Mary… Bloody Mary… Bloody Mary." If you dare complete the ritual, she’ll appear—a vengeful spirit, bloodied and terrifying, reaching out from the glass to haunt your waking days. For decades, the legend of Bloody Mary has sent shivers down our spines. But where does this dark ritual come from?
The ghost we summon in our reflections may be more than just an urban legend. Behind the superstition lies a real queen—Mary Tudor, the first woman to rule England. Her ascent to power was paved with blood, and her reign would earn her the infamous title "Bloody Mary," long before we whispered it at sleepovers. But was she truly the monster history paints her to be, or has her story been twisted into something darker over time?
Join us as we explore the eerie ritual we all know, and uncover what is going on in that darkened mirror. Is the ghostly Bloody Mary a reflection of Queen Mary I, or something else much more horrific? Perhaps we’ll find out on today’s episode of Idiopathic..
For years, we’ve struggled to connect paranormal reports with a scientific explanation. And honestly, we’ve mostly failed at it. Here at Idiopathic, we like to explore the more human side of things– the medical explanations for the strange and paranormal events recorded throughout our history. A lot of study has gone on looking outside ourselves – is there something more than just us out there in the universe? Maybe?
As a researcher, I find approaches to understanding the paranormal interesting, at least in their ingenuity. I don’t feel we know enough to conclusively say whether there’s something more to this universe than just us. I’ve had strange experiences myself that I can’t explain. So, no, I’m not going to say that I believe searching out explanations into the paranormal is pseudoscientific folly.
Perhaps there are environmental or geophysical reasons for what goes bump in the night? Maybe their explanations are mundane, or maybe they’re a new scientific avenue waiting to be explored. We just don’t know for certain and that’s half the fun!
So today, we’re going to go beneath the earth’s crust to explore the accidental marriage between the paranormal and geological sciences. So break out your pickaxe and don your helmets, for today’s episode of idiopathic…