(Sort of) The Story
Two best friends tell each other stories they heard and read that week (and also, you are here!)
35. Sort of (Off Topic): Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini (The Spiritualist and the Skeptic)
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We're getting a message from the Great Beyond. It's your great-great-great-great grandpappy? He says "'sup"?! And he also says to head over to our Patreon and sign up for the $7 tier??? Well, if that's what GGGGGP wants, I guess you'd better skedaddle on over...
We hope you enjoy this episode about Sherlock and Houdini's great and terrible friendship!
Sources:
“Sir Arthur Conan Doyle” on Wikipedia “Harry Houdini” on Wikipedia “The Spiritualist versus the Illusionist: The Battle Between Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini, Part...190. The Clip-Clop of a Woman (get this toad an inhaler)
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Hello and happy episode 190! This week Max is going to scary us with a spooky tale about a skeleton that's a little weird, and Janey is going to tell us the moral consequences of stepping on bread. Hope you don't go to hell!
Janey’s Sources - The Girl Who Trod on a Loaf
LOCATION: Denmark“The Girl Who Trod on a Loaf” by Hans Christian Andersen FULL STORYMax’s Sources - Botan-Doro, The Peony-Lantern
LOCATION...34. (Sort of) Off Topic: Julie d’Aubigny, La Maupin (literally just a girl)
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Hello and welcome to another Off Topic! This week, Max is going to tell us all about the French opera singing- dueling- disaster bisexual, Julie d'Aubigny, and the many reasons why she deserves to be added to the pantheon of "hot scary women we love but would be afraid to invite into our homes". We hope you enjoy!
Sources:
Support the...
189. Birds Are SO Uncomplicated (give them a Nintendo!)
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Hello and welcome to another episode! This week, Janey is going to tell us one of the most unhinged Norse myths we've ever heard, and Max is going to scare us with a lesson on why you shouldn't leave your children with the elderly. Enjoy!
Watch this!
Janey’s Sources - The Mead of Poetry
LOCATION: Norway“Seasonal Folktales: Myths, Magic and Folklore of the North, from Scotland to Scandanavia” by Morvern Graham The myth The Aesir/Vanir War VIDEO of the Aesir/Vanir war by Ext...188. I Am Not a Pickle (let's get dirty!)
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Hello and welcome to another week of stories! This week, Max is going to give us an origin for a story most of us know very well, and Janey is going to tell a Grimm story that is 99% sincere (and then the last sentence reminds us who we're dealing with.) We hope you enjoy!
PLEASE NOTE: Support for veterans in crisis:
National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 1-877-4AID-VET (1-877-424-3838)Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1, or t...33. (Sort of) Off Topic: How Juliane Koepcke Survived a Plane Crash in the Amazon
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Hello! This week, Janey is going off topic to talk about a woman who not only survived a horrific plane crash at 17, but then also survived 11 days in the Amazon rainforest.
If you follow our schedule, you'll no doubt notice that this week we were supposed to release a regular episode. Life got in the way, and we ended up not being able to record a regular episode in time. Thanks for listening anyway! We'll see you next week!
Sources:
“How Teenager Juliane Koepcke survived a pla...32. (Sort of) Off Topic: New York's Secret Subway
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Welcome back to another magical week of Off Topics! Today, Janey is going to tell us the story of a hot nerd who tunneled his way under the streets of New York, Mole Man-style, to help commuters get to work.
Sources:
“Secret Subway: The Fascinating Tale of an Amazing Feat of Engineering” by Martin W. Sandler for National Geographic “Alfred Ely Beach and His Wonderful Pneumatic Underground Railway” by Robert Daley for American Heritage (1961) Biographical Info: Alfred Ely Beach, from The Linda Hall Biographical Info: William “Bos...187. A Hottie Boom Body (digging for trouser treasures)
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Hello and welcome back to another episode! Today we're telling two stories that remind of us one fundamental fact of life: Italians are weird, man. (Enjoy!)
Janey’s Sources - Cannetella
LOCATION: Italy “Beauty and the Beast and Other Classic Fairy Tales” Barnes and Noble edition Andrew Lang’s “The Gray Fairy Book” “The Pentamerone (The Tale of Tales)” by Giambattista Basile Full Basile versionMax’s Sources - The Little Mouse with the Stinky Tail
LOCATION: Palermo, Sicily"Catarina the...31. (Sort of) Off Topic: Katy Perry's Biggest Controversies
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Welcome to another Off Topic season! This week, Janey is going to deep-dive into all the craziest things mega-pop star Katy Perry has ever done. From performing in yellow face to killing a nun, we're discussing all of it! Enjoy!
Sources:
“Katie Perry vs Katy Perry: Australian designer wins trademark over popstar” by Lex Harvey and Angus Watson for CNN “Why all the fuss over Katy Perry's geisha performance at the AMAs?” By Patricia Park for The Guardian “Katy Perry Acknowledges Her Past Cultural Appropriations” by Madison Mad...186. I Hate Melon Woman (and hot singles in your slippers)
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Hello and happy September! This week, Max will tell us a baffling tale about a beautiful woman who looks like a poop tooth (yes, you read that right), and Janey will talk about the benefits of wearing a shoe on your shoes. We hope you enjoy!
Janey’s Sources - Singeli’s Silver Slippers
LOCATION: Sweden“The Giant Golden Book of Elves and Fairies”, stories and poems selected by Jane Werner, Illustrated by Garth WilliamsMax’s Sources - Dur Bibi Dur
...185. Sexy-Neutral (how do I make my bro immortal?)
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Hello and welcome to the podcast! This week, Janey is going to tell us a sweet little story about a monster that eats moons, and Max is going to tell us the worst story Janey has ever heard on this podcast. Text us your thoughts PLEASE.
Janey’s Sources - The Bakunawa and the Seven Moons
LOCATION: Philippines“Dragon Myths and Legends: Tales of Adventure from Around the World” retold by Samantha Newman, illustrated by Katarzyna Doszla BAKUNAWA and the SEVEN MOONS: The Original...184. CRAPitalism (a bottomless crone hack)
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Hello and welcome back from summer break!!! This week, Max is jumping back in with a story about an insane lizard-rock-woman who has a very nice dowry, and Janey tells a cautionary tale about the dangers of bulk trash-shopping. Enjoy!
Janey’s Sources - The Wicked Fairy Wife
LOCATION: Quebec (?)“The Wicked Fairy-Wife: A French Canadian Folktale” by Mary Alice Downie, illustrated by Kim Price “The Son of Seven Queens: An Indian Fairy Tale” (Also told on Episode 127) Read Janey's notes on Substack!Max’s Sources - The...
183. Buckets of Ducats (Buffer the Nut Fairy) from the BONUS EPISODE vault!
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Welcome to our last episode before our summer break! This week, we're unlocking one of our favorite bonus episodes, released way back in August 2023. This week, Max is going to tell us all about a gambling princess with a pear problem, and Janey is going to tell a cautionary tale of choosing stupid names for your children.
If you think you'll miss us this July, consider this your sign to join the Patreon! No matter what, we hope you enjoy!
Janey’s Sources - Fairer-Than-A-Fairy
182. Werewolves and Wendigos (a monster episode!) with Jessica Freeburg and Natalie Fowler
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Hello and welcome to a monstrously themed episode! Today we are discussing werewolves and wendigos, and finally getting some much-needed insight into the Alabama White Thang from the Monster Ladies, Jessica Freeburg and Natalie Fowler. Enjoy!
Janey’s Sources - The Wendigo
LOCATION: Minnesota, USA“Monsters of the Midwest” by Jessica Freeburg and Natalie Fowler “ZHAUWUNO-GEEZHIGO-GAUBOW (Maisaninnine, Mesnawetheno) (Jack Fiddler),” by James R. Stevens in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 13, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–, accessed May 31, 2026, “Columbus and Other Cannibals” by Jack D. Forbes “Bury My...181. Bethink About It (short king)
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Hello and welcome! This week, Janey is going to tell us a shorty-baby-cutie story about a woman who doesn't know how to bargain, and Max is going to tell us a VERY terrible story that has a small moral at the end! Good luck!
Janey’s Sources - The Sunchild
LOCATION: Greece Andrew Lang’s The Grey Fairy Book Full Free story “Letiko, La Fille du Soleil” by Caputo Nato Lamias on WikipediaMax’s Sources - “The Princess Who Stood on Her Own Two Fee...
180. Worm It In (just so)
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Hello and welcome! This week Max is going to tell us a story that may or may not explain something we may or may not need to know (and also there's a water horse, and we know how much Janey loves that.) ALSO Janey is going to tell us about a perfect princess (and the horrible family she's attached to). Enjoy!
Janey’s Sources - The Toy Princess
LOCATION: EnglandFolk & Fairy Tales, edited by Martin Hallett and Barbara Karasek. 4th Edition. Mary De...179. Certainly Bisexual (I fish for fun!)
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Hello and welcome! It's another sleep-deprived/low-oxygen episode, so you're welcome (or we're sorry?) This week, Janey is going to tell us about a DEFINITELY 100% straight king with ZERO things to examine in his own life, and Max is going to tell us a fever dream! Enjoy!
Janey’s Sources - Fanta-Ghíro the Beautiful
LOCATION: Italy"Italian Folktales" retold and edited by Italo CalvinoMax’s Sources - Our Lady of Good Counsel
LOCATION: Italy"The Pomegranates: and Other Modern...178. Lake Sasquatch (I’m completely hare-less)
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Hello! This week we're celebrating spring's triumphant return with Max's story about what can only be described as "some sort of lake yeti" discovering the convenience of Lyft, and Janey's tale of a King in desperate need of an HR department.
Enjoy!
Janey’s Sources - The Useless Wagoner
LOCATION: Hungary“Fairy Tales of Eastern Europe”, collected and retold by Neil Philip, Illustrated by Larry Wilkes. Full Free TextMax’s Sources - White Thang
LOCATION: Alabama“Monsters of the South”...177. A Final Earthly Bone (and a tale of flying soft serves)
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Cowabunga, everybody! This week, Janey is going to tell us about a disloyal knight with a surprising secret, and Max is going to tell us an alien invasion story that teaches us all a powerful lesson (don't trust a man just because he says he's a doctor...) Enjoy!
Janey's Sources: Bradamante
LOCATION: FranceNot One Damsel in Distress: World Folktales for Strong Girls by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Susan Guevara. @DwarfismHistory on Instagram "The Story Of 'Orlando Furioso’" NPR. February 2009. “Orlando Furioso, Canto IV” on...176. Moldy Cheese Nick (red flags everywhere) with the You Two Scare Me Podcast!
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Hello and happy spoooOOOOookyy March! This week, we're bringing out our scariest Irish tales to impress Andi and Feliz, the hosts of the "You Two Scare Me" podcast! First, Max is going to break the glass ceiling of headless horsePEOPLE, and then Janey's going to remind us all of the most important rule of horror: children. are. scary.
We hope you enjoy!
Sources:
Check out the You Two Scare Me Podcast!Listen to their episode on The Irish Banshee...
175. Not Everybody Needs to Wang Chung Tonight (Grandpa has anxiety)
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Hello and welcome to another episode! This week Janey is going to tell us about a man who will go to great lengths to get his boss laid, and Max is going to tell us about an old man's fears! Enjoy!
Janey’s Sources - The Tibetan Envoy
LOCATION: Tibet“The Spring of Butterflies and Other Chinese Folk Tales”, translated by He Liyi, edited by Neil Philp “Story of Songtsan Gambo and Princess WengCheng” by Yangkyi, for Tibet VistaMax’s Sources - The...
174. Revenge of the Stories (silly together forever)
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Hello and welcome to yet another week of life! This week, Max is going to tell us the dangers of letting a good story languish on the shelf, and Janey is going to tell us about some real sillies. We hope you enjoy this shorty-baby-cutie episode!
Janey’s Sources - The Three Sillies
LOCATION: England“Favorite Folktales from Around the World” edited by Jane YolenMax’s Sources - The Story Bag
LOCATION: Korea Full free text of “The Story Bag” Th...173. Cheat On Your Cannibal Husband (the "Take My Wife" episode)
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Hello and happy Thursday! This week, Max is going to tell us a story about a salty sea-scrub whose wife deserves better, and Janey is going to tell us about a Rasputin-baby who can never die! (No one said these episode descriptions had to be helpful. Janey just gets to write whatever she wants in here! Watch this-- Pie 'a la mode' is stupid thing to call it, since "a la mode" doesn't mean "add ice cream", it just means "is trendy now". It should be called "Pies-cream", because it rhymes.)
172. I’m a Human, I’m Just Sad (relatable queen)
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Hello everyone! This week we're catching ya'll up on some life stuff and saying goodbye to an old friend. Then Max is going to tell us a horror story about an eye-catching beauty in the woods, and Janey is going to teach us all the proper comeback to someone telling you you're "too much".
We hope you enjoy!
Janey’s Sources - The Little Girl with a Big Voice
LOCATION: South Africa“Tales of the Night Sky: Stories of Stars from Aroun...171. One Jelly Meat Suit (a perma-stank situation) with Liz Gotauco!
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HELLO! Today we have an amazing guest, the Cosbrarian herself-- LIZ GOTAUCO! Liz is the creator behind the series "F*cked Up Fairytales with Liz", and the author of the hilarious book inspired by the series!
This week Max and Janey tell stories from her book, and she tells us a story about vengeful fairies and the danger of telling bad jokes (yes, we take this personally.)
We hope you enjoy!
BUY THE BOOK: "F*cked Up Fairy Tales" by Liz Gotauco
...170. I Don't Care That He's Invisible (put that man in a tower!)
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Hello and welcome to our LAST episode of 2025! On this episode, Max is going to tell us a story about a girl who can see the important things (like what kind of belt you're wearing), and Janey is going to tell us why Rapunzel should have been a man.
We hope you've had a wonderful year, and that 2026 only goes up!
Janey’s Sources - The Three Fates
LOCATION: Egypt“Fairy Tales of the Orient” by Pearl S. BuckMax’s Sources - The Invis...
169. Historical Sexting (Don't Wash)
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Hello, you dirty birds! On this very special "69" episode, we're doing a deep dive into historical love letters from two very specific historical men. First, Napoleon Bonaparte is going to teach us the meaning of "anxious attachment style", and then Max is going to read us James Joyce's love letters that are not for the faint of fart (ehem...heart...)
A million kisses!
J and M
Janey's Sources - Historical Love Letters
LOCATION: France and Ireland“Napoleon’s Letters to Jo...168. New England Bean Time (Sai! Sai! Sai!)
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Hello and welcome back! This week Max is going to tell us about how wicked smart people from New Hampshire are, and Janey is going to tell us a very cathartic story that comes with the disclaimer "I swear I like my job". Sorry about our terrible accents! Enjoy!
Janey's Sources - Mmadipetsane
LOCATION: Lesotho, South Africa“Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African Folktales” Full story (page 3)Max's Sources - Three Times and Out
LOCATION...167. Knife Brothers (welcome to Chekhov's Hole)
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This week, Janey is going to bring us the final story in The Arabian Nights, about a man who just hates this baby... and Max is going to tell us that classic story of a nameless child finding God wandering around in the woods. Wonder what'll happen!
For those of you who are in the half of the world that's moving into winter, we hope you stay warm and cozy!
Janey's Sources - The Story of Codadad and His Brothers
LOCATION: (possibly T...166. Old and wrinkly (a poisonous no-no)
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Hello and happy Halloween (eve)! Today Janey is going to scare you with a tale about the oldest, wrinkliest woman in the world, and Max is going to tell us why romance books are going to get us all killed. Enjoy!
Janey's Sources - Treasure
LOCATION: Chatsworth, Georgia, USA“Spooky Georgia: Tales of Hauntings, Strange Happenings, and Other Local Lore”, retold by S.E. Schlosser, illustrated by Paul G. Hoffman.
Max's Sources - The Zimwi
165. Examine Your Handwriting (and learn to play the oboe)
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Hello and welcome to another episode! This week, Janey is going to teach us a valuable lesson about the importance of writing complex characters, and Max is going to re-tell a cozy little comic! May your October be spooky and bright!
Janey's Sources - “W.S.” by L.P. Hartley
LOCATION: England“Roald Dahl’s Book of Ghost Stories” L.P. Hartley’s wikiMax's Sources - A Small Wild Magic
LOCATION: None / Australia“Monstrous Affect...30. (Sort of) Off Topic: Nicholas Cage and his Fabulous Wealth
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Hello and welcome to the shocking conclusion of this the 2025 Off Topic Season. This week, Max is closing us out with the truly baffling list of all the reasons why Nicholas Cage had to make those insane movies between 2009-2015. (Also Janey is REAL mouthy, so if you disagree, be sure to write in!)
Timed video
Presentation
All sources in presentation
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29. (Sort of) Off Topic: The Assassination of Kim Jong Nam
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Buckle up, babes! Janey's going to tell us about the most insane assassination you may have never heard of! Let us know if you followed this story when it happened, because Janey's never stopped thinking about it.
Sources:
“Kim Jong-nam Says N. Korean Regime Won’t Last Long”, by The Chosun Daily in 2012. “Kim Jong-il’s son reappears in Singapore one year after feeling Macau” from The Shanghaiist. “Was Kim Jong Nam in Sights of His Paranoid Half-Brother?” by Yoshihiro Makino for Asahi Shimbun. Murder at the Airport: The B...164. How Much Do Girls Eat? (I refuse to look up golfing)
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Hello and happy first episode of October!!!! This week, Max is going to tell us a wonder tale about a sexy bear and the weirdo prince who loves her, and Janey is going to give us all the CREEPS and make us want to do our laundry. Enjoy!!!
Janey's Sources - Oh Whistle, and I’ll Come to You, My Lad
LOCATION: England“Classic Ghost Stories” edited by John Grafton M.R. James Wiki “The Pilgrim’s Progress” by John Bunyan Poem by Robert Burns (Wiki)28. (Sort of) Off Topic: Mary Shelley and the Creation of Frankenstein
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It's alive! IT'S ALIVE! ("It" being another Off Topic episode!) Welcome back, gals and ghouls! This week, Max is telling us all about the teenaged mother of science fiction herself, and the lengths she went to to avoid hanging out with Lord Byron. Enjoy!
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Check out our books (and support local bookstores!) on our Bookshop.org affiliate account!
Starting your own podcast with your very cool best friend? Try hosting on Buzzsprout (and get a $20 Amazon gift card!)<...
27. (Sort of) Off Topic: Scientology, the Trouble with Ghouls
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Hello and welcome! This week, Janey is going waayyyyy off topic to talk about something that freaked her out so bad, she felt the need to make a legal disclaimer at the top!
DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for entertainment purposes only. Please check out the sources below for more information.
SOURCES:
“Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief”, directed by Alex Gibney Jenna Miscavige, former Scientologist (on Tiktok)How much Scientology costs, according to members (For Business Insider) "What allegedly happens i...163. Green and Oddly-Shaped (the Hexmaster General)
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On today's episode, Janey is going to tell us about a girl who CHOOSES to look that way (it's not an accident, so stop trying to fix her hair), and Max is going to guide us into spooOOOooky season with a story about a man with control issues. Enjoy!
Janey's Sources - Tatterhood
LOCATION: Norway“Tatterhood and other tales” edited by Ethel Johnston PhelpsMax's Sources - The Wolf Bride
LOCATION: Pennsylvania, USA“Upstate, Downstate: Folk Stories of the Mid...26. (Sort of) Off Topic: The British Premonitions Bureau
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Happy 2nd Off Topic! This week, Max is going to tell us about an organization in search of people who could predict disasters. (We have a feeling you're going to like this one.)
Sources:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/03/04/the-psychiatrist-who-believed-people-could-tell-the-futurehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Premonitions_Bureauhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society_for_Psychical_Researchhttps://www.history.co.uk/articles/the-premonitions-bureauhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4yxj6Y743Z6F32k5...25. (Sort of) Off Topic: Medieval Times
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It's open season on topics, and Janey's starting us off with a bunch of facts about the Medieval Times dinner theater that nobody asked for! (Very seriously, if any knights listen to our podcast, please call us.)
Enjoy!
Sources:
“The Untold Truth of Medieval Times" by Adam Swierk for Mashed. “How Medieval Times Survives in the Digital Age” by Christopher Reynolds for Toronto Star. “A 30-Year Career Writing and Directing for the Medieval Times” by Eric Grundhauser for Atlas Obscura. “How Medieval Times Became the Largest Breeder of Pure S...162. This One’s for the Juans (witches is tricky)
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Hello and welcome back! This week, Max is going to tell us a Filipino story about a man with questionable reasoning skills, and Janey is going to pull us kicking and screaming into spooky season. We hope you like it!
Janey's Sources - Pressed
LOCATION: Georgia, US“Spooky Georgia: Tales of Hauntings, Strange Happenings, and Other Local Lore”, retold by S.E. Schlosser, illustrated by Paul G. Hoffman. S.E. Schlosser’s websiteMax's Sources - How Juan Married a Princess
