The Fantastic Story Society: Recent Episodes
Max Timm & Scott Markus
From true crime to the paranormal, to urban legends and myths and the down-right weird, The Fantastic Story Society finds them, dissects them, and most importantly discusses such stories with an expert in the realm of the fantastic. Join historical researchers, experts on serial killers, ghost tour guides, archaeologists, and more as The Society hosts, Max Timm and Scott Markus, seek out the most bizarre stories you can imagine and try to find the voice behind the fantastic.
It's Halloween season, and the Fantastic Story Society is diving deep into the world of horror with Dr. Patrick Gonder — retired professor, horror scholar, and lifelong student of the strange. Together, we discuss the remarkable new film Good Boy, a ghost story told entirely from the perspective of a dog. Patrick shares insights into how the film's unique storytelling perspective shifts horror conventions, why animals make such fascinating protagonists, and how camera work shapes audience emotion. The conversation also spans other standout horror films like Weapons, Longlegs, The Changeling, and Trick 'r Treat, plus personal ghost encounters and spine-tingling folklore from the Philippines. This episode is packed with movie talk, folklore, filmmaking lessons, and genuine chills — the perfect companion for spooky season.
We explore: 🐕 What happens when man's best friend becomes the witness to terror 🎞️ The challenges of storytelling through cinematography 💀 Why movies like Weapons, The Changeling, and Trick 'r Treat stay timeless 👻 Real-life ghost stories from Patrick's time living above a funeral home
0:00 – Intro: It's Horror Season at the Fantastic Story Society 2:00 – Introducing Horror Scholar Dr. Patrick Gonder 3:20 – Teaching the Art of Horror & Comic Books 5:20 – Trailer Reaction: Good Boy – A Ghost Story Told by a Dog 8:00 – The Dog's Perspective: Emotion, Loyalty & Limited Dialogue 11:00 – How They Made Good Boy (and Why You Shouldn't Watch the Featurette First) 15:00 – The Visual Language of Horror – Cinematography & Storytelling 17:00 – Recent Standout Horror Films: Weapons, Longlegs, Sinners 20:40 – What Makes a Horror Movie Great? Emotion, Relationships & Atmosphere 23:40 – Revisiting the "Is Silence of the Lambs Horror?" Debate 24:20 – Patrick's Annual Halloween Watchlist 27:00 – Filipino Horror, Monsters, and the Manananggal 31:00 – Zombie Fatigue and Fresh Scares (Last Train to Busan, Slither) 32:30 – Max's Writing & Filmmaking Retreats – Helping Writers Create 37:00 – True Ghost Stories: Dogs, Spirits & Strange House Energy 44:00 – Life Above a Funeral Home – Patrick's Exorcist Experience 48:00 – "The Dog Named No" – A Perfectly Creepy Story
Chad Lewis is a researcher, author, and lecturer on topics of the strange and unusual. His background is in the field of Psychology. He did his Bachelor and Master degree work in the field- but for nearly 30 years he's traveled the globe in search of unique and bizarre stories and history.
Wisconsin is home to Dungeons & Dragons and also home to a famous cryptid known as the Beast of Bray Road. The WI Historical Society created an event that celebrates both. Check out our adventure as we 'hunt the beast' down State Street in Madison, WI.
One of our co-hosts, Scott, was recently featured on the Tube documentary, Famously Haunted Hollywood. We go over the stories featured in the documentary: The Black Dahlia, The Manson Murders, Comedy Store, Peg Entwhistle, The Cecil Hotel.
Tony Szabelski is a flat-out Chicago ghost tour guru. He leads tours over 300 times a year throughout the city and surrounding suburbs. Perhaps his favorite area is Lincoln Park, essentially a forgotten cemetery, full of ghost stories. Take a tour at AmericanGhostWalks.com
Michael Alexander is always hustling within the creative field. He's a musician with history as a performer/songwriter, booker, venue owner and now a manager. Of course, creatives often utilize side hustles and Mike loves his sports cards. Plus, an intense ghost story
Yakov Smirnoff started out as a comic in Soviet Russia before coming to America and taking the comedy world by storm. He went from stage to the big screen and eventually to the White House as a Reagan speech writer.
Faun Mann got her production start while in Korea working in radio & TV for the military. Once she was stateside, she knew she wanted to get into television, where she's been ever since. Currently, she's working within the popular genre of true crime.
Scott (and his wife Wendy) fill Max in on their adventure across the Emerald Isle, discussing the haunted hot spots and legendary tales they discovered along the way... also the adventures of driving on the other side of the road.
Big thanks to the horror blog wonderfullyweirdandhorrifying.com for making this conversation happen. What did you think of "Hereditary?"
Join us for an international travel episode as co-Host Scott Markus & his wife headed to Portugal and visit the most famously haunted location in Portugal & visit a city that has a long mystical connection to folklore and witchcraft.
Happy Halloween! What better a way to celebrate than to go looking for ghosts! Let's combine that with all the paranoia about secret societies and do a paranormal investigation at a massive Masonic Temple near a state capitol building!
Writer/researcher Lindsay Blake has made a career out of a passion - finding where her favorite shows were filmed (starting with "Scream"). Geek out with us as we talk about unique locations across LA including hidden gems & strange LA crimes.
Haunted history tour guide, Rita Mae Moore, grew up with a ghost hunting mom before working in the police force and having some paranormal experiences there. Today, she's a tour guide & two-time author of a fantasy book series.
Max & Scott take a road trip across America to join the WGA picket lines in Hollywood. On the way, they stop at some unique locations associated with unique histories, stories & legends.
Colin Dickey is a wonderful writer and spectacular researcher. His work reveals hidden or lost truths behind famous stories we've all heard. His latest book is Under the Eye of Power: How Fear of Secret Societies Shapes American Democracy.
As we call into session this meeting of the Fantastic Story Society, we are thrilled to induct a new member. Her life as a writer and performer has evolved on stage in front of an audience, from Leprechauno to pregnant party girl to Mamacita, the diaper diva. She’s a staple of Chicago radio, having hosted shows on the city’s biggest stations. You can currently drive home with here everyday at WCPT 820am. You also might catch her on the random episode of the series Chicago Fire. Oh & she even ran for public office recently and is an advocate for individuals with disabilities. She also started With Kind Words, an organization that provides consultation for healthcare providers. She’s kind of done it all. She’s fearless. She’s the newest member of the Fantastic Story Society. Welcome, Patti Vasquez!
Cassie Carpenter regularly leads tours of Haunted Los Angeles and Hollywood. After attending a haunted University in Southern California to major in theatre, it's only fitting! In this episode, we discuss a number of her favorite haunted LA locations.
Comedy director Jason Woliner has worked on some of our favorite comedies, from What We Do in the Shadows & Last Man on Earth to New Girl & the Borat sequel. He's back with the infinitely fascinating crime mystery Paul T Goldman, now streaming on Peacock.
Sci-Fi & horror writer-director Christopher Hatton joins us to discuss a variety of topics including Edgar Allan Poe, Singapore spiritual beliefs, Area 51, his own terrifying ghost story & his newest movie: Shudder's paranormal mystery "Raven's Hollow."
Screenwriter Jim Hart may be known for some modern classics like Bram Stoker's Dracula, Hook, Contact and may others, but it's also a witness to multiple strange events in the sky and stayed in an absurdly haunted house while in college.
Screenwriter Jim Hart may be known for some modern classics like Bram Stoker's Dracula, Hook, Contact and may others, but it's also a witness to multiple strange events in the sky and stayed in an absurdly haunted house while in college.
Life-long Harry Houdini researcher John Cox join us to discuss the origins of Houdini's battles with fraudulent mediums, his odd death, the 'final Houdini seance,' and his time in Delavan, WI... all without getting stung by a single wasp!
Life-long Harry Houdini researcher John Cox join us to discuss the origins of Houdini's battles with fraudulent mediums, his odd death, the 'final Houdini seance,' and his time in Delavan, WI... all without getting stung by a single wasp!
Max & Scott dive into working on ghost hunting TV shows with producer and investigator MJ Dickson, who has looked into paranormal stories & haunted locations across the globe. Her fantastic story alone is worth tuning in for!
Max & Scott dive into working on ghost hunting TV shows with producer and investigator MJ Dickson, who has looked into paranormal stories & haunted locations across the globe. Her fantastic story alone is worth tuning in for!
We sit down with one of the premiere experts in how cults operate and how to help someone get out. You can currently catch him on “The Vow” on HBO discussing his work with escaping NXIVM members + his work in Waco.
We sit down with one of the premiere experts in how cults operate and how to help someone get out. You can currently catch him on “The Vow” on HBO discussing his work with escaping NXIVM members + his work in Waco.
Documentarian Jay Bachochin enjoys hiking a vast wilderness in Wisconsin, but a number of unexplainable experiences there have opened his eyes to the nature of reality and what's possible in our known and unknown universe.
Documentarian Jay Bachochin enjoys hiking a vast wilderness in Wisconsin, but a number of unexplainable experiences there have opened his eyes to the nature of reality and what's possible in our known and unknown universe.
Author, radio host and co-founder of the Michigan Paranormal Conference, Tim Ellis, discusses his origins in ghost hunting, which eventually lead him to start one of the largest "ParaCons" in the country.
Stand-Up comic Dobie Maxwell has lived through it all in his comedy career, from meaningful chats w/ Rodney Dangerfield & George Carlin to driving the getaway car after a bank heist (without knowing it), but he's still looking for his first UFO encounter.
Star Trek has continued to evolve and stay relevant in pop culture as one of the most storied titles in television history. "Mission Log" podcast co-host John Champion joins to talk Trek, skepticism & an upcoming event that's free & open to the public.
Luke Epplin discovered the most impressive baseball story most people haven't heard of and the four men & one woman who lived heroic lives behind the scenes.
Was the right person arrested for killing 3 women in Illinois in 1960? Documentary filmmaker Adam Ridley sheds some light on this mysterious case as co-executive producer of HBO's Murders at Starved Rock true crime limited series.
We look ahead to the Haunted Galena Paranormal Conference and tell stories of tragedy at Berry Tavern, the Prankster Ghosts at the Dowling House & DeSoto House Hotel's Woman in Black with guest Theodore Williams.
Mugs Cahill's new supernatural pilot "Nantucket" recently won the Grand Prize for Table Read My Screenplay contest & was a finalist at the Big Apple Film Festival & Vancouver Women’s Int'l Film Festival. We talk to her about her research and Irish lore.
Joe Posnanski has made a career by being inspired by curiosity and following his own passions. That's lead to him writing numerous books, winning awards and most importantly, surrounding himself with people that fascinate him. #HarryHoudini #Baseball
We take a moment to re-celebrate the guests we've had last year, from Jonathan Katz to David Farrier. We also take a look ahead to personal and show paranormal goals in 2022.
We speak with documentarian & journalist David Farrier, the host of Netflix's "Dark Tourist" and current co-host of "Armchaired & Dangerous."
There's more than one way to tell a story & sometimes you need a good dice roll before you can write, "the end." We speak with prolific game designer Rob Daviau. His resume is basically our game shelf, including Betrayal at the House on the Hill & Risk Legacy.
We welcome back DJ MacHale, creator of the Pendragon series and Are You Afraid of the Dark for our live Halloween Special and to induct him into our Hall of Fame!
We chat with Madison ghost tour guide Lisa Van Buskirk on location at a haunted site, followed by an investigation of the building.
Stand Up Comic & comedy actor Carlos Alazraqui (Reno 911) Wrote a Zombie Mafia Comedy feature. We discuss the behind the scenes of his first feature.
Stand-Up Comic, Jessica Watkins created a must-watch, innovative, documentary/stand-up special titled "SPECIALish" about her journey to walk across America while performing comedy.
Curses & superstitions are as much a part of baseball as balls & strikes. Folklore & baseball are intertwined as is the human behavior of seeking reason in chaos. Now, baseball's a melting pot of cultures, introducing new ghost stories & beliefs.
Hawaiian storyteller Lopaka Kapanui served as cultural & paranormal consultant on the popular Netflix action/adventure film "Finding 'Ohana." Hear his background as a storyteller, plus a truly terrifying case.
Jonathan Katz is perhaps best known in animated form in "Dr Katz: Professional Therapist." He's had a long career before and since as a standup comic & screenwriter. He talks about his upcoming "Dr Katz: Live" performance & finding his way in comedy.
Tea Krulos has written some wild true-life stories. American Madness is a deep look at the life of an eccentric "real life super hero" who was radicalized by Alex Jones & David Icke. Conspiracy Theories, Bohemian Grove & Krampus highlight this episode.
We're so excited to welcome Wendy Lynn Staats to talk about some of the local Wisconsin legends & local ghost stories she grew up with, including the Milwaukee Witch, Beast of Bray Road, Mary Buth & Haunchyville.
Historian Kathi Kresol uses her platform as an author to speak for the victims. Seldom is it so obvious how a writer found her voice than when you hear about the murder-suicide that took place in Kathi's home & the ghosts that remain.
Jon Ronson has lived a life more exciting than one you'd think a writer could live. He gotten up close and personal with the likes of self-appointed superheroes, countless psychopaths (both in prison and in the boardroom) Nazis, Islamic Extremists, and even the Insane Clown Posse. He and a young Alex Jones infiltrated the mysterious Bohemian Grove Ceremony and his attempt to do the same at the annual Bilderberg meeting lead to the slowest car chase since OJ fled the LAPD. He's done all this while balancing his anxiety with masterful dry wit. In this episode we discuss how Ronson identifies his next subjects and his goals for his writing while taking a look back at some of his biggest adventures. Wonderfully tense music, "Deadlock," provided by purple-planet.com
One of our favorite people jumped into the virtual Society studio and talked all things story, spooky, cool, and inspiring - DJ MacHale! A New York Times bestseller, author, screenwriter, producer, director - he's basically done it all where story is concerned. He even read Max's YA fantasy novel, The WishKeeper, and gave it the best review yet. We kinda like this guy.
Famous for creating the 90's kids TV show (and one of Scott's favorite shows ever), "Are You Afraid of the Dark", DJ and team talk about what inspires him, why he gravitates toward the fantastical, and shares his own personal haunted house story. It's a fun listen, so snuggle up with a device and headphones, and get your listen on.
As for our Story Society, if you haven't already you can look for and find us on Twitter @FantasticGhosty, and we're always sharing stories, news, and more on our Facebook page at facebook.com/FantasticStorySociety/
Remember, there are stories everywhere, you just need to look for them...and when you find them, give a little knock on our door and you may just be welcomed into The Fantastic Story Society.
Happy 2020, everyone! It's already off to a banging, weird, and fantastic start. We couldn't be happier to have two fantastic people on as guests in our first episode of 2020 - Robyn David and Ted Williams are the hosts of the Haunted Galena Tour Company, and if you haven't heard of Galena, you're about to get a deep dive into all of the amazing history, spooky ghost stories, and how their tour company is different than most.
And in one of our favorite ghost stories yet, Robyn and Ted tell the sad and true story of Maryanne Miller, one of Galena's resident ghosts...and she isn't too happy about how things ended for her (and she probably doesn't realize things ever did end).
Let's all take a deep breath, relax, listen to some fun stories, and we'll make our way through 2020 successfully, smoothly, and with good health.
As for our Society, if you haven't already, you can look for and find us on Twitter @FantasticGhosty, and we're always sharing stories, news, and more on our Facebook page at facebook.com/FantasticStorySociety/
Remember, there are stories everywhere, you just need to look for them...and when you find them, give a little knock on our door and you may just be welcomed into The Fantastic Story Society.
Are you afraid of snakes? We would venture to guess your answer is "yes". Amelia Cotter, however, wants to help you reorganize your beliefs about our serpent friends, and she does so in our seventh episode of The Fantastic Story Society. While there is plenty of fantastic ghost stories told in this episode (Amelia's telling of her one and only encounter with a ghost is excellent), we learned that there is a Native American snake mound right outside the second biggest city in the country - sweet home Chicago! Amelia, being an author and investigator, researcher and all-around fantastic storyteller, also dives in to a few details and elements of snake myths that do, in fact, help quell Scott and Max's snake fears...at least a little.
Amelia is an author, poet, and storyteller with a special interest in the supernatural, history, and folklore. Her books include This House: The True Story of a Girl and a Ghost, Maryland Ghosts: Paranormal Encounters in the Free State, and the children’s book Breakfast with Bigfoot. She has appeared on various radio and television programs, including Travel Channel’s Hometown Horror (with an all-new episode airing on December 2 featuring Amelia and her husband), and in the documentaries Scary Stories, and Tinker’s Shadow: The Hidden History of Tinker Swiss Cottage. She also appeared as a regular cast member on the show The R.I.P. Files.
Originally from Maryland, Amelia lives and writes in Chicago, gives tours with Chicago Hauntings ghost tours and, regularly presents at conferences and events. For more information, head on over to her website, www.ameliacotter.com
As for our Society, if you haven't already, you can look for and find us on Twitter @FantasticGhosty, and we're always sharing stories, news, and more on our Facebook page at facebook.com/FantasticStorySociety/
Remember, there are stories everywhere, you just need to look for them...and when you find them, give a little knock on our door and you may just be welcomed into The Fantastic Story Society.
Episode 6 of The Fantastic Story Society - My Friend, Wyatt Earp (we're not really friends with him, but we want to be)
Spinning our fantastic stories toward the Old West, gunfighters, the rustic way of life, Scott and Max bring on author and Wyatt Earp scholar, Mark Warren, to perform a deep deep dive into one of the most famous (if not the most famous) characters from the American western tales. Some of the stories shared on our podcast series are purely speculative, paranormal and completely unprovable (for lack of a proper word), but Wyatt Earp and the stories about his travels, friends, adventures, and fearless mindset are all true...which makes this episode that much more, well, fantastic. The focus on the reason behind Wyatt's hero status is what truly makes this episode so interesting, much less Mark's Fantastic Story of the episode, The Miracle on the Mesa. A must listen. Enjoy everybody, and stay tuned for more of the fantastic.
If you haven't already, you can look for and find us on Twitter @FantasticGhosty, and we're always sharing stories, news, and more on our Facebook page at facebook.com/FantasticStorySociety/
Remember, there are stories everywhere, you just need to look for them...and when you find them, give a little knock on our door and you may just be welcomed into The Fantastic Story Society.
In our Halloween special episode, Max and Scott bring on writer, director, author, documentarist, and all-around rockstar paranormal researcher, Christopher Saint Booth. With over 100 horror films and paranormal documentaries under his belt, Christopher has spent nearly a lifetime investigating the weird, the odd, and the fantastic. We couldn't have considered a better guest for our Halloween special because just about every word that comes out of Christopher's mouth is a fantastic story. His untold story at the end will make you wonder if the ghosts are the ones we should really be afraid of!
If you haven't already, you can look for and find us on Twitter @FantasticGhosty, and we're always sharing stories, news, and more on our Facebook page at facebook.com/FantasticStorySociety/
Remember, there are stories everywhere, you just need to look for them...and when you find them, give a little knock on our door and you may just be welcomed into The Fantastic Story Society.
The writer/director of the popular Amazon TV docu-series, Hellier, Karl Pfeiffer joins Society co-hosts, Max Timm and Scott Markus to talk all things fantastic. Karl's documentary, Hellier, launched on Amazon in 2019 and there is a second season coming out on Amazon Prime before the end of 2019. The series documents the accounts of small, goblin-like creatures that supposedly invaded a small Kentucky mountain town. It's absolutely worth your time to watch the 5-episode first season, especially since the next set of episodes are expected to drop soon! You can find out more at Hellier.TV.
On top of his accounts of these little goblin creatures, Karl's unique story at the end of this podcast episode about his most amazing experience while ghosthunting at the famous Stanley Hotel is enough to keep you on edge (to say the least).
Passionate about the supernatural since as far back as he can remember, Karl began amateur experiential investigation during his sophomore year of college. Shortly after, he was cast on and later won the Syfy Channel's reality competition series, Ghost Hunters Academy. He went on briefly to work with the Ghost Hunters International team on the same network. From there, he began work at the famous Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado as one of the resident paranormal investigators on the Stanley's SPI team, leading weekend public investigations. He worked there for five and a half years, conducting almost 250 investigations on the grounds.
He lectures across the country about approaches to investigation, the philosophy of science and the paranormal, as well as paranormal photography.
Find us on Twitter @FantasticGhosty and share your own Fantastic Stories with us!
Twisted tales are normally fictional, but when we find out that there is truth behind the fiction, we're that much more riveted. Join Max Timm and Scott Markus as they discuss serial killers with research expert and author, Harold Schechter. Author of over 40 books on the topic of serial killers, Harold and your co-hosts dive deep into various true crime stories about murderers we've heard of, a few we haven't, and what the mysteries are that still remain behind some history's most notorious killers.
While Harold is an absolute wealth of knowledge when it comes to true crime, his end-of-episode story about Albert Fish is one that will leave your knees (and stomach) a little uneasy to say the least. It's the only portion of the episode we might want to warn you about - if you get easily queazy, you might want to skip his story about the killer's needles.
In this second installment of The Fantastic Story Society, we welcome a new member to the group - Mike Huberty. Long-time ghost tour guide and veteran (he owns and operates tours throughout the Midwest, including one in Max Timm's hometown of Lake Geneva, WI), Mike joins co-hosts Max Timm and Scott Markus as they dive deep into some of the fantastic stories of Mike's ghost tour business. Mike also is a member of the oh-so-fun and popular band, Sunspot, writing and performing music that is inspired by legends, myths, and all things spooky weird.
Our favorite part of the show? When he tells the hosts the most famous ghost story of Lake Geneva, WI...and long-time resident, Max, never even knew about it! (Shows how much Max is up to speed on his hometown ghosts.)
Follow the Society on Twitter @FantasticGhosty or find us on Facebook. We would love to hear your fantastic stories.
In our first official episode of The Fantastic Story Society, Max Timm and Scott Markus break out the big guns with their own personal weird, wild, and of course fantastic stories AND they bring on their friend and long-time paranormal researcher, Jeff Belanger.
For more than 20 years, Jeff has been exploring ghosts, monsters, history, and legends. He’s the author of more than a dozen books that have been published in six languages, and he’s appeared on PBS, the Travel Channel, History Channel, CBS, Bio, and Amazon Prime, as well as radio programs such as Coast to Coast AM and NPR’s Talk of the Nation. His PBS series New England Legends has been nominated for two Emmy awards, while his podcast of the same name has been downloaded over one million times. To top it all off, he’s been the writer and researcher for the popular Travel Channel ghost investigation show, Ghost Adventures, since episode 1 (which is saying something since they're on season 18)!
As our very first official member of The Fantastic Story Society, we welcome Jeff Belanger...and yes, he has a story about a man-eating tree.
Find us on Twitter @FantasticGhosty and share your own Fantastic Stories with us!
In our first official episode of The Fantastic Story Society, Max Timm and Scott Markus break out the big guns with their own personal weird, wild, and of course fantastic stories AND they bring on their friend and long-time paranormal researcher, Jeff Belanger.
For more than 20 years, Jeff has been exploring ghosts, monsters, history, and legends. He’s the author of more than a dozen books that have been published in six languages, and he’s appeared on PBS, the Travel Channel, History Channel, CBS, Bio, and Amazon Prime, as well as radio programs such as Coast to Coast AM and NPR’s Talk of the Nation. His PBS series New England Legends has been nominated for two Emmy awards, while his podcast of the same name has been downloaded over one million times. To top it all off, he’s been the writer and researcher for the popular Travel Channel ghost investigation show, Ghost Adventures, since episode 1 (which is saying something since they're on season 18)!
As our very first official member of The Fantastic Story Society, we welcome Jeff Belanger...and yes, he has a story about a man-eating tree.
Find us on Twitter @FantasticGhosty and share your own Fantastic Stories with us!
Welcome to The Fantastic Story Society. Within the walls of this super-yet-not-so-secret club, you will find stories of the supernatural, paranormal, and just plain weird. In this pilot episode, co-hosts Max Timm and Scott Markus, each with their special backgrounds in storytelling and paranormal research, you'll be introduced to these two masters of ceremony by way of a few fantastic stories of their own. A shorter introductory pilot episode, Episode Zero, is just the primer for what's to come.
Future episodes will highlight fantastic stories every week, but also specific special guests within various fields of the weird and fantastic. So stay tuned to more, and once again, welcome to The Fantastic Story Society.