The Wild Wild West & Queen Swan

This Week on Wonderlust:

Welcome back, Wonderers! And Happy Pride! In today’s episode, we celebrate pride by diving into Queer History and True Crime! Sarah talks about the gender nonconformists of the Wild West, and Emily teaches us about William Dorsey Swan, a former slave and the very first drag queen.

To start us off, Sarah tells us the life story of Mr. Harry Allen, one of the most notorious men of the Wild West in the 1800’s. He was a known ‘rabble-rouser’ who found himself in and out of trouble with the law, but mainly made headlines for being asserting his gender identity as a man. Next up isthe story of Bert Martin, who was arrested in Nebraska for stealing a horse. After 11 months in jail, Bert was outted for ‘not being a real man’ and treated horrifically by the press and Nebraska governor at the time.

Interestingly enough, Emily’s story about William Dorsey Swann also dates back to the 1800’s! William Dorsey Swann was born in Maryland in 1858, and survived slavery, the Civil War, racism and countless other hardships. However, this inspirational man grew up to be one of the first Americans to actively fight for queer rights. He also was the first man to call himself a ‘Queen of Drag’.

The Mystic Sisters also kick off a new segment of ‘Or are you normal?’ where we entertain everyone with weird tidbits about our lives. Like do you keep your shoes on in the house to make sure you stay productive or are you normal? And we are looking for submissions! So if you have any you’d like to share, please reach out to us on social email or email listed below!

Thanks so much for listening to our rambles & wonderings! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate & subscribe. Also be sure to keep an eye out for us on social media!

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A Conspiracy of Joy & The Stone Tape Theory

This Week on Wonderlust:

Welcome back, Wonderers! In today’s episode, we dive into our Paranormal and Supernatural Sister Subjects! This week’s Sister Subjects will be a two parter, so in this first part, Sarah dives deep into the Stone Tape Theory.

We’re back! We took a mini break while we both went on vacation, but we are so glad to be back with our wonderers and are ready to hit the ground running. We catch you all up on our various recent adventures, including Emily’s trip to the Spite House in Boston, that we mentioned in Episode 7. Sarah then tells us all about the Stone Tape Theory, or the theory behind residual hauntings and how objects could possibly store residual energy to create the hauntings. We also swerve into the related topics of time slips, skeptic negativity and the wonderful documentary called I am.

Thanks so much for listening to our rambles & wonderings! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate & subscribe. Also be sure to keep an eye out for us on social media!

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Trauma DOT com & Lightning be Flogging People

This Week on Wonderlust:

Welcome back, Wonderers! In today’s episode, we dive into our Science and Nature Sister Subjects, otherwise fondly known as Snature. Sarah delves into the study of Epigenetics and inherited trauma, while Emily teaches us all about the powerful force of lightning and the amazing story of Edwin Robinson!

Sarah discusses the scientific studies and evidence behind Epigenetics, or the study of how external influences can cause changes in how your body reads a DNA sequence. We discuss the findings from studying mice, but also from studying the descendants of POWs and holocaust survivors. Research shows that the trauma you experience in your life can also be passed down through your children and grandchildren. Things get real and emotional when we discuss how this also applies to the continual trauma of systemic racism, abuse, and genocide– not only mentally and physically affecting those directly involved, but also their descendants to come.

Emily switches gears and teaches us about the fascinating and powerful world of lightning. We dive deep into the science of lighting, and how it really works. Emily also regales us with some fascinating lightning tales, such as the miraculous tale of Edwin Robinson. After losing his eyesight and hearing in an accident, Zeus decided to help a buddy out by striking him with lightning. Edwin came to after this strike, and to his astonishment he could see and hear again after nine years! If only we could also be so lucky.

Thanks so much for listening to our rambles & wonderings! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate & subscribe. Also be sure to keep an eye out for us on social media!

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Sarah’s Sanctuary for Spinsters & A Premium Chemical Soup Cocktail

This Week on Wonderlust:

Welcome back, Wonderers! In today’s episode, we bravely (if we do say so ourselves) take on the Sister Subjects, History and True Crime. Our wonderings include the stories of Operation Pizza Roll and the true horrors of the Flint Water Crisis.

Sarah dives right in to the fascinating guerrilla skeptic sting, Operation Pizza Roll. Yes, that is the real name. Skeptic Activist Susan Gerbic and Mentalist Mark Edward, along with their dedicated team of guerrilla skeptics, organize an elaborate scheme to catch celebrity psychic medium, Thomas John, in the act of a hot reading. Through hard work and fake social media profiles, the sting aimed to show that Thomas John does not get his information from the beyond, but instead from meticulously searching the internet for info on his clients.

Next, Emily explores the systemic issues that lead up to the truly horrifying events of the Flint Water Crisis. Considering that this story tells the tale of a government changing the city’s water supply to a toxic river in order to save some money, it sounds more like the plot to a dystopian novel than real life. If only. Unfortunately, this appalling crisis actually happened in Flint, Michigan in 2014.

Thanks so much for listening to our rambles & wonderings! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate & subscribe. Also be sure to keep an eye out for us on social media!

insta: wonderlust.pod • email: thewonderlustpodcast@gmail.com • thewonderlustpodcast.com

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JB Rhine is an Ass & Shrimp on the Barbie

This week on Wonderlust:

Welcome back, Wonderers! In today’s episode, we dive into our spooky Sister Subjects– the paranormal and supernatural. Our wonderings include an overview into the paranormal world of Parapsychology and mysterious story of the Green Children of Woolpit.

Sarah skims the surface of the wide world of the mysterious and supernatural with an exploration into Parapsychology, the scientific study of the paranormal. Parapsychology includes the study of extrasensory perception, telepathy, near-death experiences, clairvoyance, and more. The term parapsychology was coined by Joseph Banks Rhine in the 1920s, and has come a long way since then. Although, Sarah and Emily still think it has even further to go in understanding the inexplicable and paranormal.

Emily then takes us back in time, all the way to 12th century England, in the small town of Woolpit, not too far where Emily and Sarah spent their magical years in England. Local legend says that two children, a brother and sister, otherwise known as the Green Children, appeared in Woolpit wearing strange clothes, speaking an unknown language and most notably, sporting bright green skin. To this day no one is sure where the Green Children came from, but Emily takes us on a wild ride through all the known theories, and even sprinkling in a few of her own.

Thanks so much for listening to our rambles & wonderings! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate & subscribe. Also be sure to keep an eye out for us on social media!

insta: wonderlust.pod • email: thewonderlustpodcast@gmail.com • thewonderlustpodcast.com

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A Couple of Slippery Bitches: Time & Octopus Teachers

This week on Wonderlust:

Welcome back, Wonderers! In today’s episode, we dive into our Sister Subject Snature, otherwise known as Science & Nature. Our wonderings include the complexities of time and time travel, followed by a fascinating exploration of octopuses, and Emily’s emotional viewing of My Octopus Teacher on Netflix.

Following a lead submitted by the father of the Mystic Sisters, Sarah takes on the hefty challenge of learning all about time. Sarah does not pretend to be an expert, so if you want to learn complex science from a complete novice, please take a listen! She conveys all she learned about Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, worm holes, the grandfather paradox and much more. Sarah also recounts some of the most interesting stories of supposed time travel, from time slips, to the intriguing story of ‘time traveler’ Andrew Carlssin.

Next, Emily, despite her misgivings about bodies of water, dives deep into the ocean to teach us more about octopuses! She blows our minds as she recounts all she’s learned about the impressive intelligence of the octopuses, and their unique and almost alien-like bodies. Emily also describes the interesting and heartwarming story of the Netflix documentary, My Octopus Teacher, which everyone should go and watch for themselves.

Thanks so much for listening to our rambles & wonderings! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate & subscribe. Also be sure to keep an eye out on social media!

insta: wonderlust.pod • email: thewonderlustpodcast@gmail.com • website: thewonderlustpodcast.com

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La Baker & The Dungeon of DeWitt

This Week on Wonderlust:

Welcome back, Wonderers! In today’s episode, we dive into our Sister Subjects, History & True Crime, by celebrating the bravery of women! Our tales include the inspirational spy adventures of Josephine Baker, followed by horrors the Dungeon of DeWitt.

Sarah recounts tales of the already fascinating life of Josephine Baker, and specifically, her work as a spy during World War II. Josephine Baker was an American-born, international entertainer who rocketed to stardom in France during the 1920s. During World War II, Baker courageously used her charm and star power to collect intelligence for the Free French Forces. She also entertained at Axis embassies, safely delivered top secret documents to the resistance, provided shelter from the Nazis for her fellow freedom fighters, and so much more. Josephine Baker’s determination & heroism is the kind of tale everyone needs to hear!

Next, Emily switches with the terrifying tale of The Dungeon of DeWitt. After literally stumbling across the scene of the ghastly true crimes, Emily recounts the horrors of convicted serial kidnapper and rapist, John Jemelske. Over the course of fifteen years, the rapist attacked and kidnapped children & women near Syracuse, NY. He then forced the victims into his concrete basement bunker for months– or even years at a time. Jemelske’s crimes were unimaginably cruel and heartless. However, the courage and tenacity displayed by the survivors of the Dungeon of DeWitt, is truly awe-inspiring.

As always, in addition to our Sister Subjects, we also divulge the ever-present oddities of our daily lives. These delightful tangents include, but are not limited to, Emily’s new DJ career, some spooky developments at Sarah’s house, & the proper ways to compliment a man– according to the internet.

Thanks so much for listening to our rambles & wonderings! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate & subscribe. Also be sure to keep an eye out on social media!

insta: wonderlust.pod • email: thewonderlustpodcast@gmail.com • website: thewonderlustpodcast.com

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She of the Snaky Skirt & Creepy Mr. Kellum

This Week on Wonderlust:

Welcome back Wonderers! In today’s adventure, we explore the supernatural/paranormal with the tales of La Llorona and childhood imaginary friends.

Inspired by local New Mexican ghost stories, Sarah takes a deep dive into the well-known spooky tale of La Llorona. Dating back to pre-hispanic and Aztec times, Sarah examines the murky history and different versions of spectral Weeping Woman in Latinx culture. We also examine the eery similarities to tragic tales in Hebrew and Greek Mythology. But we can’t talk about La Llorona without discussing some ghostly encounters with her! Also, check out Instagram for a particularly spooky video!

Emily then takes us on a fascinating and equally creepy adventure into the chilling world of imaginary friends– particularly the imaginary friends who seem to be more paranormal than imaginary. She starts off strong with the shiver-inducing story of the ‘imaginary friend’ Mr. Kellum. Mr. Kellum befriends a three-year-old, and may or may not be the ghost of a long dead neighbor. We also discuss the general creepiness of kids and their imaginary friends(ghostly origins or not), in addition to the developmental benefits having an imaginary friend has for young children.

Thanks so much for listening to our rambles & wonderings! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate & subscribe. Also be sure to keep an eye out on social media!

insta: wonderlust.pod • email: thewonderlustpodcast@gmail.com • website: thewonderlustpodcast.com

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Petty Spite Houses, & a Dash of Thalassophobia

This Week on Wonderlust:

Welcome back, Wonderers! In today’s podcast, we explore Spite Houses and The Strid.

Sarah revels in the pettiness of homeowners past, and discusses of some of the nation’s most infamous Spite houses– houses literally built for no better reason than to piss of your neighbors. We also discuss spite walls, spite houses, and the wonderfully spiteful giant middle finger statue on a bayou in Florida (of course). Certainly a new, beautiful level of pettiness and spite to aspire to in life.

Next, Emily dives even deeper into her Thalassophobia, ie, her very reasonable fears of bodies of water. She tells us the terrible tales, dating back hundreds and hundreds of years, of an innocent-looking, yet deadly, river in England– The Strid. A river so calm and peaceful looking, and yet, may also be responsible for the deaths of anyone who has ever entered its depths. Some say, it’s claimed to be the most dangerous stretch of running water on earth. Some say it’s nothing but a spittling stream. All we know is, it’s called the Strid.

Thanks so much for listening to our rambles & wonderings! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate & subscribe. Also be sure to keep an eye out on social media!

insta: wonderlust.pod • email: thewonderlustpodcast@gmail.com • website: thewonderlustpodcast.com

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Bunnyman & An Axed Ax Murderer — A Mystic Sisters Easter Special

Happy Easter Wonderers!

Welcome to The Wonderlust podholiday special! This week Sarah takes on the festive topic of Bunnyman, the creepy urban legend of the ax wielding bunny from the Virginia area, before diving into the mysterious story of the Pollock Twins– twin sisters who might be reincarnations of their older sisters who passed away before they were born. Emily then discusses yet another one of her fears of the natural world, caves, and the mysterious murder of murderer Joseph Henry Loveless. 

Thanks so much for listening to our rambles & wonderings! If you like what you hear, please take a moment to rate & subscribe. Also be sure to keep an eye out on social media!

insta: wonderlust.pod • email: thewonderlustpodcast@gmail.com • website: thewonderlustpodcast.com

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