Psychology of the Strange

What happens when the line between good and evil stops being clear? Season 3 is about thresholds the thin places where fear, folklore, and morality blur.

In this new season of Psychology of the Strange, I explore the psychology behind liminal spaces, dark myths, and the figures who live between good and evil. From ancient folklore to modern horror, each episode uses story and psychological science to ask...

Moltbook is a new social platform where artificial intelligence talks to artificial intelligence. No humans posting, no prompts guiding the conversation. We’re allowed to watch, but we’re not allowed to post.

And something about that feels deeply unsettling.

In this episode of Psychology of the Strange, I explore why Moltbook has captured so much attention, discomfort, and fascination. From...

Why do winter myths across cultures share the same psychological patterns?

In this closing episode of Psychology of the Strange Season Two, we explore how fear functions as a social force—shaping morality, identity, and survival during prolonged darkness, scarcity, and isolation.

This episode brings together the core themes of the season: winter folklore, psychological fear ...

In this episode of Psychology of the Strange, we explore one of the most disturbing and enduring mysteries of the 20th century: the Dyatlov Pass Incident.

In February 1959, nine experienced hikers vanished in the Ural Mountains under conditions they were fully trained to survive. What rescuers found weeks later defied logic—

a tent cut open from the inside, bodies scattered ...

What happens to the human mind when hunger becomes unbearable, winter cuts off all escape, and survival demands the unthinkable?

In this episode of Psychology of the Strange, we explore the Wendigo—one of the most haunting and psychologically complex winter legends in North American folklore. Often depicted as a supernatural monster stalking frozen forests, the Wendigo is rooted in Indige...

In this episode of Psychology of the Strange, we journey into the cold, liminal nights of winter Wales to meet Mari Lwyd...the eerie Grey Mare who knocks at the door with a horse’s skull, snapping jaws, and a song that demands an answer.

Through immersive storytelling and psychological insight, this episode explores the Mari Lwyd folklore, its origins in Welsh winter traditions, and why rituals involving...

Across Eastern Europe, children born during the Twelve Nights of Christmas were said to be marked by winter itself caught between worlds, watched by spirits, or destined for a second, shadowed nature. In tonight’s episode, we explore the legend of the “winterborn,” those liminal children whose quietness, stillness, or difference became the source of unsettling tales.

But beneath the folklore lies somethi...

Fear doesn’t always arrive as a threat.

Sometimes it arrives as attention.

On a winter night, a woman and her teenage daughter begin to notice a figure standing outside their home. It doesn’t approach. It doesn’t knock. It doesn’t try to enter. It simply watches.

What follows isn’t a story about violence or intrusion, but about something quieter and often more disturbing: the ...

The Yule Log is one of the oldest winter rituals in Europe—a carved beam of wood burned slowly through the longest nights to protect the household and usher in the return of the sun. But beneath the folklore and tradition lies something deeply human: our need to create meaning, especially in seasons marked by scarcity, darkness, and uncertainty.

In this bonus episode, we explore the origi...

Elf on the Shelf is often dismissed as a modern, commercial tradition cute, harmless, and far removed from older winter folklore. But while researching the Yule Lads, I started noticing something unexpected happening in my own home.

Today’s elves don’t just watch. They move. They make messes. They steal food. They leave evidence behind.

In this short bonus reflection, I explore how Elf on t...

The Yule Lads are often remembered as mischievous Icelandic tricksters of thirteen strange figures who descend from the mountains each December. But behind the playful reputation lies a much older, darker tradition rooted in scarcity, winter anxiety, and the human tendency to project fear onto the unknown.

In this episode, we explore the folklore behind the Yule Lads and their monstrous parents, uncoveri...

When the tide pulls back farther than it should, old things rise from the sea. In the windswept folklore of the Orkney Islands, that warning is tied to a single creature: the Nuckelavee (a skinless, relentless being said to crawl out of the ocean on the darkest nights), bringing with it illness, fear, and the sense that something ancient is watching from the shoreline.

In this episode of ...

I delve into the chilling legend of Huggin' Molly, a ghostly figure that has haunted the quiet town of Abbeville, Alabama for generations. The origins of this ghost are shrouded in mystery, and those who dare to speak of her do so in hushed tones. Join me as I uncover the dark and tragic history of Molly Crenshaw, a once-beautiful woman whose life took a horrific turn, ultimately transforming her into the entity known as Huggin' Mo...

This episode is not for the faint of heart and may contain some graphic language.   I explore the  realms of trepanation, dreams, and self-exploration through various historical and contemporary stories. It begins by unraveling the ancient practice of trepanation, delving into its medical and mystical aspects. The narrative then shifts to the swinging sixties, where individuals like Amanda Feilding and Joey Mellen championed self-t...

Exploring alien encounters and the mysteries that surround them. I tell the account of John, a truck driver, when one fateful night his life took an inexplicable turn. Hear the eerie details of his encounter with beings from beyond, leaving him haunted by the unknown.

Are we alone in the universe? From benevolent extraterrestrials to sinister invaders, considering recent claims of mummified aliens found in Peru 

But what about the ...

 In the late 1800s, Alexandra David-Neel embarked on a remarkable quest for forbidden knowledge. From Freemasonry to Theosophy, from opera singing to anarchist pamphleteering, her life was a whirlwind of intrigue. Her fascination with the mystical and the unknown led her to Asia, where she delved into the secrets of Tibetan monks and their astonishing practice of creating tulpas—sentient thoughtforms born from the fusion of Tibetan...

Take a trip down the rabbit hole with me with the curious and sometimes perplexing world of Alice in Wonderland Syndrome (AIWS). Imagine lying in bed, ready to sleep, when suddenly, the room around you starts to twist and change. Everyday objects seem to warp in size, and you might even feel like your own body is transforming. We'll delve into personal accounts from individuals who've experienced AIWS, offering a glimpse into their...

The mysterious realms of sleep paralysis, explore the chilling tales of the night hag, boo hag, and other entities that have haunted cultures worldwide. But the eerie journey doesn't stop there – we'll also shed light on the phenomenon of Sudden Unexpected Nocturnal Death Syndrome that leaves us questioning the thin veil between the realms of sleep and the unknown. Get ready to unravel the secrets that lurk in the darkness of the n...