In this episode of the Ghost City Tours Podcast, host Tim Nealon explores the rich and eerie history of Halloween with acclaimed author and historian Lesley Bannatyne. Together, they trace Halloween’s evolution from ancient Celtic Samhain rituals to the modern celebration of costumes, candy, and haunted houses we know today.

Bannatyne unpacks the fascinating story behind the world’s favorite spooky holiday, explaining how Irish and Scottish folklore crossed the Atlantic and blended with American traditions to shape Halloween’s spirit of mischief and community. You’ll learn about:

• The pagan roots of Samhain and All Hallows’ Eve

• How the Catholic Church influenced early Halloween customs

• The rise of trick-or-treating and neighborhood celebrations

• The role of Hollywood horror films in redefining the holiday

• The truth behind myths like razor blades in apples and the Satanic Panic

• Why Halloween continues to reflect our fears, creativity, and sense of belonging

Whether you love ghost stories, folklore, or just want to know how Halloween became the cultural phenomenon it is today, this episode delivers insight, history, and plenty of spooky charm.

Guest: Lesley Bannatyne, author of Halloween Nation and A Halloween Reader Podcast: Ghost City Tours Podcast Keywords: History of Halloween, Halloween origins, Samhain, Lesley Bannatyne, Ghost City Tours, Halloween folklore, Halloween traditions, trick-or-treating history, haunted holiday, Halloween podcast

Discover how Halloween became America’s favorite night of mystery and magic—only on the Ghost City Tours Podcast.

In this episode of the Ghost City Podcast, host Tim Nealon sits down with Steve Ward—researcher, author, and longtime resident of Point Pleasant, West Virginia—to explore one of the most mysterious legends in American folklore: The Mothman. Steve has spent nearly 50 years investigating the strange events surrounding the 1966 sightings, where witnesses described a red-eyed, winged creature that haunted the TNT area. From eerie encounters and UFO activity to poltergeist phenomena and the infamous Silver Bridge collapse, Steve sheds light on the high strangeness that has made Point Pleasant a focal point for paranormal enthusiasts worldwide. We cover: -The original 1966 Mothman sightings in Point Pleasant -How UFOs, poltergeists, and Men in Black tie into the legend -The Silver Bridge tragedy and its connection to Mothman -Eyewitness accounts and physical evidence -Theories about what Mothman might really be -Why the Mothman Festival continues to draw thousands every year This episode dives deep into cryptids, folklore, and the enduring mystery of the Mothman—told through the eyes of someone who lives at the epicenter of it all. 📖 Learn more about Steve Ward & the Mothman Museum: https://www.mothmanmuseum.com/ 🔗 Follow Steve Ward: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steve.ward.5/ 🎙️Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGzPyKZjmBqCd_D4SWEhN6Q #mothman #steveward #pointpleasant #cryptids #paranormalpodcast #ghostcitytours #ghostcitypodcast #silverbridge #hauntedhistory #ufo #meninblack #highstrangeness #trueparanormalstories

In this episode, our host, Tim Nealon, sits down with Bob Cranmer—former Allegheny County commissioner and author of *The Demon of Brownsville Road*—to discuss one of the most chilling and controversial haunting cases in modern American history. Bob recounts his family's terrifying experiences living in a seemingly ordinary Pittsburgh home that turned out to harbor a dark and malevolent presence. From unexplained phenomena to physical attacks and spiritual warfare, Bob opens up about what it was like to confront pure evil—and why he believes some houses are truly cursed. We explore the history of the house, the psychological toll the haunting took on his family, and the extensive investigations that followed. Bob also shares why he felt compelled to write the book, how skeptics responded, and what he believes is really at work in demonic hauntings. This episode dives deep into the intersection of faith, fear, and the supernatural—through the eyes of someone who lived it. 📖 Learn more about Bob Cranmer and *The Demon of Brownsville Road*: [https://www.demonofbrownsvilleroad.com](https://www.demonofbrownsvilleroad.com) 📚 Get the Book: Amazon: [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FPQA6X6](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FPQA6X6) 🔗 Follow Bob Cranmer: Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/TheDemonOfBrownsvilleRoad](https://www.facebook.com/TheDemonOfBrownsvilleRoad) \#BobCranmer #DemonOfBrownsvilleRoad #ParanormalPodcast #GhostCityTours #GhostCityPodcast #HauntedHouse #DemonicHaunting #Exorcism #RealHauntings #TrueParanormalStories #SpiritualWarfare #GhostStories

In this episode, we sit down with Matt Moneymaker founder of the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO) and longtime star of 'Finding Bigfoot' on Animal Planet. Known for his decades of boots-on-the-ground research and nationwide expeditions, Matt brings a wealth of knowledge to the elusive and often misunderstood world of Sasquatch. Join Tim as we explore how Matt’s interest in Bigfoot began, why the Pacific Northwest remains a hotspot for sightings, and the patterns behind eyewitness reports. Matt shares what makes certain evidence credible, the role technology is playing in cryptid research, and why Bigfoot might not be as far-fetched as skeptics think. From harrowing late-night encounters to the psychology of belief, this conversation dives into the fine line between folklore, science, and the unknown — all from one of the most recognizable figures in the cryptozoology world. 👣 Learn more about Matt and the BFRO: [https://www.bfro.net/](https://www.bfro.net/) 🌐 Follow Matt: Twitter: [https://twitter.com/MattMoneymaker1](https://twitter.com/MattMoneymaker1) Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/mattmoneymaker\_bfro](https://www.instagram.com/mattmoneymaker_bfro) BFRO 1995 Facebook Group: [https://www.facebook.com/groups/bfro1995](https://www.facebook.com/groups/bfro1995) #MattMoneymaker #BFRO #Bigfoot #Sasquatch #FindingBigfoot #Cryptids #ParanormalPodcast #GhostCityTours #GhostCityPodcast #BigfootSighting #Cryptozoology

Featuring Patti Negri, psychic medium, “Good Witch of Hollywood,” and paranormal investigator

In this episode, we sit down with Patti Negri — known for her decade of work on Ghost Adventures, collaborations with top paranormal YouTubers, and expertise in haunted and magical objects. Patti opens up about her lifelong psychic abilities, the difference between psychics and mediums, and how science is catching up to the paranormal.

We dig into her encounters with famous haunted objects like Peggy the Doll and Annabelle, the truth about what makes a doll dangerous, and how belief itself can empower an object or entity. Patti also shares practical techniques for contacting loved ones, setting boundaries with spirits, and protecting your home from unwanted energies.

From chilling EVPs to the drama within the paranormal community, this conversation blends spooky stories with grounded insight from one of the field’s most recognizable investigators.

📕 Patti’s latest book Doll Craft: A Witch’s Guide to Poppet Magic and Haunted Dolls is available now. https://www.amazon.com/Dollcraft-Witchs-Poppet-Magick-Haunted/dp/073877748X

🌐 Follow Patti: Website: https://www.facebook.com/PattiNegriPsychicMedium/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PattiNegri

#pattinegri #ghostadventures #hauntedobjects #paranormal #psychicmedium #haunteddolls #annabelledoll #ghostcitytours #ghostcitypodcast #annabelle

Melisa Kennedy, editor-in-chief of ParaHouse Magazine, joins the Ghost City team to talk about her work bringing legitimacy to the paranormal. From investigating a haunted Carter family property in Georgia to witnessing the Phoenix Lights firsthand, Melisa shares some of the most compelling and credible encounters she’s documented.

We dive into UFO sightings, interdimensional theories, cryptid reports—including Bigfoot and the Flatwoods Monster—and how ParaHouse gives serious researchers and experiencers a platform in a field often hijacked by hoaxes.

📖 Read ParaHouse: https://www.parahousemagazine.com 📱 Follow ParaHouse: https://www.instagram.com/parahousemagazine 🎟️ Book a tour: https://www.ghostcitytours.com 🛍️ Shop merch: https://www.ghostcity.shop

#ghostcitytours #ghostcitypodcast #parahousemagazine #ufoencounters #bigfoot #flatwoodsmonster #paranormalresearch #cryptidsightings #ghosthunting

Paranormal investigator and demonologist Sean Austin joins the Ghost City team to talk about some of the darkest and most unexplainable cases he's faced—from possessions and demonic oppression to evil spirits following you home.

Sean shares his experiences with demonology, exorcisms, and developing the SPI (Spirit Phone Innovations) app to better communicate with entities. This episode gets deep into the spiritual risks of ghost hunting, and what it’s like to confront evil face-to-face.

📱 Follow Sean: https://www.instagram.com/seandaustin 🔮 SPI App: https://spiritphoneinnovations.com 🎟️ Book a tour: https://www.ghostcitytours.com 🛍️ Shop merch: https://www.ghostcity.shop