Dark History & Esoterica
Uncover the legends, hauntings, and cultural beliefs that shape how we understand fear, mystery, and the unseen world.
Booking is simple. Email your preferred date, location, group size, and which program(s) you’re interested in. Rissa will follow up with availability, pricing, and next steps.
Haunted York
Follow the echoes of York’s past as we explore chilling tales rooted in real history. This guided journey blends documented hauntings, forgotten tragedies, and eerie local lore, revealing why certain places in Downtown York still refuse to let their stories rest.
Ghouls' Night Out
Uncover York’s women’s history through tales of resilience, tragedy, and lingering feminine spirits. This walking tour weaves together overlooked stories, historic women’s lives, and the ghostly echoes they left behind, offering a powerful look at the city's past.
Quirky York
Discover the odd, charming, and unexpected side of York through tales that mix history with delightful eccentricity. From bizarre inventions to unusual characters and forgotten foods and drinks, this talk showcases the wonderfully peculiar stories that make York unforgettable.
History of PA Witches
Trace the real history of witchcraft in Pennsylvania, far beyond the myths and headlines. Through records, folklore, and lived tradition, this talk reveals how belief shaped early communities.
PA Cryptids
Meet the Keystone State’s strangest creatures, from river monsters to forest beast and things with wings. Blending history and eyewitness stories, this talk uncovers why these beings linger in public imagination.
PA Urban Legends
Journey through PA’s unforgettable tales of haunted roads, elusive creatures, and whispered local lore. This spirited survey reveals how regional anxieties and community identity shape these enduring legends.
History of Superstitions
Trace black cats, broken mirrors, and other iconic superstitions back to their cultural roots in this fast-paced historical deep dive. An engaging overview of the cultural, religious, and psychological origins of superstitions and their lasting influence on modern life.
Full Moon Lore
Discover how cultures across the world have interpreted the full moon as omen, guide, and mystery. This talk traces lunar rituals, fears, and celebrations to reveal why moonlight still captivates us.
Uncanny: History of Dolls in Magic & the Supernatural
Explore the eerie history of dolls as vessels for magic, protection, and fear across global traditions. This program examines how these human-like figures became powerful symbols in ritual, spooky folklore, and hauntings.
Love Never Dies
Experience haunting tales of devotion that transcend mortality, from spectral lovers to unfinished romances. This poignant, emotional program explores why love may linger long after life ends.
Lore of the Werewolf
Travel through centuries of shapeshifter stories, from medieval terrors to modern transformations. This cross-cultural exploration uncovers what wolves, and our fears of them, say about humanity.
Ouija
Discover the surprising Maryland origins of the Ouija board and its rise to American superstardom. This historical exploration demystifies the myths and examines the folklore and science surrounding spirit communication.
Creepy Little Christmas
Meet the wild winterfolk who once roamed the darkest nights with gifts, warnings, or punishment. This festive program examines how these creatures shaped holiday traditions both merry and macabre.
Between the Worlds: Liminal Spaces
Uncover why legends say thresholds and in-between places attract the mysterious. This reflective program blends psychology, symbolism, and cultural stories to explore these potent edge spaces.
Mothman
Investigate the Mothman sightings that electrified Point Pleasant and sparked international fascination. This talk analyzes witness accounts, symbolism, the Chicago sightings, and how the legend continues to evolve. Created with Lon Strickler.
About the Evil Eye
Trace the Evil Eye across continents, unraveling its symbolism and powerful protective traditions. This talk reveals why this ancient belief remains so culturally persistent worldwide.
History of Divination
Explore humanity’s earliest attempts to interpret signs, messages, and fate across thousands of years. This overview illuminates the universal need for meaning in chaos, and how divination soothes uncertainty.
History of Tarot
Follow tarot’s journey from a 15th-century card parlor game to a modern tool for insight and divination. This talk separates myth from mystery, while examining how the cards became cultural icons.
Grave Obsessions
Step into the ornate and emotionally charged world of Victorian mourning customs. This richly illustrated talk reveals how a culture obsessed with death reshaped funerals, grief, and remembrance. Created in collaboration with Dr. Zoe Copeman.
the Goth Girl
Trace the evolution of the “goth girl” into modern subcultural icon. This talk explores aesthetics, rebellion, music, and identity to reveal why this archetype holds such enduring power in pop culture.
History of MD Witches
Uncover Maryland’s complex witchcraft past, from regional accusations to execution, to surviving folk practices. This research-rich program clarifies fact from fiction and explores how these histories still echo today.
Hell House
Unravel the unsettling history and folklore surrounding Ellicott City’s infamous Hell House site. This program blends local myth, real events, and cultural memory to show how one abandoned property became a lasting urban legend.
MD's Cemetery History
Walk through Maryland’s burial history, from early Native traditions to Victorian symbolism and modern memorials. This talk offers a thoughtful look at how memory and culture shape our burial customs.
MD Cryptids
Travel deep into Maryland’s wild backstory of mysterious beasts and uncanny sightings. This program explores cultural context, historical records, and the witness accounts that give these creatures life.