This week on Chambers of the Occult, we unravel two stories soaked in terror, one beneath the dazzling glow of carnival lights, and the other behind a child's bedroom door.
J takes us deep into the twisted origin of Grady Stiles Jr., better known as Lobster Boy. From his 1937 birth in Pittsburgh to a family legacy steeped in ectrodactyly, abuse, and sideshow fame, Part One of this true crime chronicle is a haunting look at a boy raised for the stage but forged by violence. Behind the freak show smiles and applause was a child hardened by pain, destined to become both a performer and a predator. You’ll hear how his legacy began, not with murder but with manipulation, trauma, and a growing thirst for control.
Then Kai pulls back the covers on the Tallman Family Haunting, a terrifying 1980s case from Wisconsin where a secondhand bunk bed became the centerpiece of a supernatural nightmare. With glowing red eyes, disembodied voices, and shadowy figures creeping through the walls. As the terror escalated, the Tallman's did the unthinkable, fled their home, leaving everything behind. Because when evil moves in… sometimes the only way to survive is to run.
One tale begins under the big top.
Another ends under the bed.
And both will leave you questioning how close terror really sleeps.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Ruthie's Table 4
For more than 30 years The River Cafe in London, has been the home-from-home of artists, architects, designers, actors, collectors, writers, activists, and politicians. Michael Caine, Glenn Close, JJ Abrams, Steve McQueen, Victoria and David Beckham, and Lily Allen, are just some of the people who love to call The River Cafe home. On River Cafe Table 4, Rogers sits down with her customers—who have become friends—to talk about food memories. Table 4 explores how food impacts every aspect of our lives. “Foods is politics, food is cultural, food is how you express love, food is about your heritage, it defines who you and who you want to be,” says Rogers. Each week, Rogers invites her guest to reminisce about family suppers and first dates, what they cook, how they eat when performing, the restaurants they choose, and what food they seek when they need comfort. And to punctuate each episode of Table 4, guests such as Ralph Fiennes, Emily Blunt, and Alfonso Cuarón, read their favourite recipe from one of the best-selling River Cafe cookbooks. Table 4 itself, is situated near The River Cafe’s open kitchen, close to the bright pink wood-fired oven and next to the glossy yellow pass, where Ruthie oversees the restaurant. You are invited to take a seat at this intimate table and join the conversation. For more information, recipes, and ingredients, go to https://shoptherivercafe.co.uk/ Web: https://rivercafe.co.uk/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/therivercafelondon/ Facebook: https://en-gb.facebook.com/therivercafelondon/ For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iheartradio app, apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com