The West London Witch

Happy Halloween!

As longtime listeners know, there is nothing I love more than a haunted house, and no Halloween is complete without a host of ghosts and ghouls!

This year, we have an extra special Halloween treat in store. Author Christopher Dodd joins us to share a hidden tale from the Canadian countryside of Mulmer County. His newly released debut book, Unseen Thing: The Mulmer Hills Poltergeist, tells the story of an ordinary farming family who find themselves at the center of an extraordinary series of paranormal events.

So dim the lights, gather your courage, summon the spirits, and get that Halloween candy ready. Things are about to get spooky!

Today, we’re heading back to my home state of California to explore the rustic charm, Gold Rush history, and darker secrets of Amador County. Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, this beautiful region is known for its historic towns, rolling vineyards, scenic countryside, and rich connection to California’s Gold Rush era. But behind the charm of the county seat, Jackson, lies a location with a much darker past: the historic Amador County Courthouse.

Today, we’re joined by Amy, a local paranormal researcher, who takes us through the courthouse’s fascinating history, its darkest chapters, and the ghostly encounters and lingering legends that have made this location a subject of paranormal curiosity.

When I first began the podcast all the way back in 2020, I was shocked to see that among our very modest listenership at the time, we had a disproportionately large number of listeners in Alaska. It's still a mystery to me to this day. However, it absolutely delighted me, and I tried to feature Alaska many times on the show as my way of thanking those unknown listeners for their early and continuing support. So while doing some research on haunted locations in our 49th state, I was thrilled to stumble upon the Alaskan Hotel and Bar. The history and haunted lore surrounding this site was so rich and prolific, I knew we needed to hear more. And I was very lucky to be connected with Joshua Adams, an architectural historian and author of The Life and Times of the Alaskan Hotel. Prepare yourselves as we check in to one of America's most haunted hotels.

Welcome to the Season Seven Premiere of The West London Witch! I am absolutely thrilled to be back with you all after our summer break! It feels so good to leave the heat and humidity of summer behind as the most wonderful time of year settles in: autumn.

And nothing gets me into the spirit of fall quite like scary stories, haunting folklore, and mysterious places steeped in history. So, for our season premiere, we’re heading into the historic Appalachian Mountains; a landscape rich with stories, traditions, legends, and more than a few things that go bump in the night.

Joining us is Amy Clark, host and producer of the Talking Appalachian podcast, who is here to pull back the misty curtain surrounding these storied mountains. Amy is uniquely suited to be our guide: her family has lived in Appalachia for generations, and she is a professor of communication studies and the author of Talking Appalachian.

Welcome back my friends and let's begin Season Seven.

The time has finally come for the Season Six Finale! As per tradition, we’re closing out with a spine-chilling tribute to Are You Afraid of the Dark? Join us as we dive into a collection of eerie urban legends and terrifying hometown horror stories. Dim the lights, grab a blanket, and prepare to be scared.

A heartfelt thank you to all of our incredible Storytellers who brought this season to life with their time, talent, and terrifying tales. To our amazing listeners; your unwavering support means everything. And to our loyal Patrons: thank you for your generosity, passion, enthusiasm. You truly are the lifeblood of The West London Witch.

While the season may be ending, the magic doesn’t stop here. All summer long, we’ll be sharing exclusive content over on our Patreon. Join me at Cobweb Cottage as I read, discuss, and review the cult horror classic In A Dark Place.

https://www.patreon.com/thewestlondonwitch

Some hauntings are easy to unravel. Others are a tangled collection of strange events that refuse to fit together. When one family found themselves caught in just such a mystery, the Eastern Connecticut Paranormal Society stepped in to piece the puzzle together; and uncovered a haunting far more complex than anyone expected.

One of my favorite cities in all of Europe is York; a medieval time capsule filled with history, mystery, and folk lore. From the ancient Shambles to towering Gothic architecture, every corner feels whimsical, magical, and historic. In this episode, we are joined by Nyx and David from York’s magical Witch’s Tour as they share the tragic tales of two women accused of witchcraft. But are these stories really about magic, or were they driven by fear, superstition, and suspicion? Join us as we explore the darker side of York’s past.

Last season, author and researcher Silvia Pettem joined us to share the incredible story of Boulder Jane Doe. Silvia's work is so industrious, so detailed, and literally life-changing, I was delighted when she agreed to come back on the show to share the incredible story of America's longest-running female fugitive, the notorious and sensationalized blonde tigress. The same year Bonnie and Clyde were gunned down in rural Louisiana, a new, murderous, gun-wielding violent blonde rose to prominence. Well, at least, that's what the newspapers would have liked you to believe. However, unlike Bonnie and Clyde, this tigress slinked away into the shadows, triggering one of the biggest and longest manhunts in U.S. history. For nearly nine decades, her story remained a mystery. That is, until Silvia broke the case.

In this fourth installment of our beloved Tales from the West London Witch Crypt series, we open the vault once more to share a fresh collection of short but chilling encounters. Over the years, I’ve gathered countless bite-sized tales of the strange and supernatural, and this anthology series gives them a home.

Join us as we dust off some of my favorite tiny, terrifying stories from around the world. These stories are unconnected, unpredictable, and guaranteed to send shivers down your spine!

When you purchase a home, you receive a document confirming ownership of the land and structure; but nothing that grants you ownership over its history, its emotions, or its enrgy. You may step into a space already shaped by something beyond your control, and learning to coexist with that can be unsettling, and perhaps even impossible.

This week, Dr. Kate Cherrell shares her family’s story of a house purchased with hope, inspiration, and dreams that quickly eroded into a total nightmare.

Today we are joined by Patti Negri, known to many as the “Good Witch of Hollywood.” You might recognize her from Ghost Adventures on the Discovery Channel or her podcast The Witching Hour. As a renowned psychic medium, Patti has spent years connecting with the unseen, hosting séances, and working with clients around the world.

But beyond her impressive résumé, Patti’s work is rooted in light, positivity, and a deep commitment to helping others. Of course, a life spent exploring the paranormal comes with its fair share of spine-tingling moments; and today, she’s here to share some of her most unforgettable experiences.

Few places send chills quite like historic mansions, and White Hill Mansion is no exception. Once a luxurious and politically significant home during the American Revolution, it later fell into decades of neglect. Now the focus of an ambitious preservation effort, the mansion is also known as one of the most haunted sites in New Jersey. Today, Dawn, president of the Friends of White Hill Mansion, joins us to share the history and the hauntings of this magnificent landmark.

My favorite genre of stories we share is tales about haunted houses. Whether it’s a stately manor, a historic castle, or a modest family home, I’m fascinated by the idea of the living and the dead coexisting side by side.

Today, paranormal researcher Sadie shares the story of her very average, very normal childhood home; one that was teeming with extraordinary and very abnormal activity.

Today we journey to historic Old Louisville, Kentucky, to explore the extravagant Conrad-Caldwell House Museum. Built in 1893 and located in the elegant St. James–Belgravia Historic District, this stunning mansion is known not only for its ornate architecture and preserved collections, but also for the spirits said to linger within its walls.

With more than 10,000 square feet of rooms, corridors, and staircases, the house carries a long history of residents, staff, and stories that have never quite left. In this episode, executive director Chris Church guides us through the haunted halls, sharing the history of the home and introducing us to the spirits that many believe still call it home.

Today we are traveling to Iceland at the height of the witch craze, where sorcery was written in runes, spells were carved into wood, and magic was considered a very real, and very dangerous, force. Joined by Anna, manager of the Museum of Sorcery and Witchcraft in Iceland, we explore the magical practices that shaped everyday life and the brutal persecutions that followed during the Icelandic witch trials.

From galdrastafir and spellbooks to the uniquely male dominated executions that set Iceland apart from the rest of Europe, this episode unravels how magic became a crime, and how echoes of these trials still linger in Icelandic folklore today. A chilling, fascinating journey into a lesser-known chapter of witch history, where the line between magic and survival was razor thin.

Season’s greetings! Christmastime often conjures visions of candy canes, gingerbread, and the happily-ever-after magic many of us grew up with; especially those of us raised in the golden age of Disney musicals. But behind the glittering tiaras and sing-along soundtracks lie much older fairy tales that were never meant to be sweet or safe. This Christmas, we step into the fairy forest’s darker paths. Joined by folklorist Pauline Greenhill, Professor of Women and Gender Studies at the University of Winnipeg, we explore the grim, gory, and fascinating origins of classic and lesser-known fairy tales. So gather your cloaks, light your lanterns, and follow us over the river and through the woods. If you dare...

Today we journey to the Mid-Orange Correctional Facility in Warwick, New York; a place steeped in history and a dark and twisting past. On a sweltering July evening, members of the Spirit Seekers Society entered the crumbling halls of this former prison and reform school and encountered experiences far beyond anything they expected. Today, Becca, Emily, and Bree take us inside the walls of this historic facility, sharing firsthand accounts of what unfolded as they explored one of New York’smost intriguing and unsettling locations.

This week, we slip into the velvet dusk to explore the legends that have made vampires the most ubiquitous creatures in folklore. Today, historian and founder of Ghostoria, Emily will take us on a deep-dive into blood-soaked myths and cover some of the wildest vampire stories to date. Join us for a bite-sized tour of the undead: their fears, their hunger, their forbidden allure… and the strange truths they reflect back at us.

Step lightly. These stories still have teeth.

In this fourth installment of our beloved Tales from the West London Witch Crypt series, we open the vault once more to share a fresh collection of short but chilling encounters. Over the years, I’ve gathered countless bite-sized tales of the strange and supernatural, and this anthology series gives them a home.

Join us as we dust off some of my favorite tiny, terrifying stories from around the world. These stories are unconnected, unpredictable, and guaranteed to send shivers down your spine!

For our 100th episode we head to Britain’s most infamous haunted house: 30 East Drive. Said to be plagued by the malevolent spirit known as the Black Monk, this unassuming Yorkshire council house has terrified investigators, inspired books and films, and cemented its place as one of the UK’s most enduring hauntings.

To celebrate 100 episodes of storytelling, we’re joined by a very special guest: Bil Bungay, co-writer of The Black Monk of Pontefract and producer of the chilling feature film When the Lights Went Out. As the current owner of 30 East Drive, Bil brings unparalleled insight into the house’s dark history, its unexplained phenomena, and what it’s truly like to hold the keys to England’s most notorious poltergeist property.

From the original Farrar and Pritchard family hauntings to modern-day encounters, Bill guides us through decades of terror, myth, and mystery; revealing behind-the-scenes secrets, personal experiences, and why the legend of the Black Monk continues to grip the world.

A landmark episode deserves a landmark haunting. Join us as we step into the haunted halls of 30 East Drive… if you dare.