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Mania

by Harlequin Grim

The Mania Podcast explores dark, historical stories, casting light on wicked events and individuals from before modern times. From Victorian superstitions to bizarre, Medieval witchcraft, our labyrinth of iniquity, mystery, and nightmares await. Here, the dead return to share their tales, only now the living listen.

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Episodes

  1. Malefic, 1899: The Vampire of Düsseldorf I

    This the first episode in the two part series of The Vampire of Düsseldorf. We find ourselves in early 20th century Germany to pursue a killer whose entire life and crimes were instrumental in helping the psychologist Carl Berg define the term 'sadism'. For this half, we will focus on the…

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  2. Family Blood, 1871

    After the Bender family settles in the Osage township in 1871, bodies begin popping up in nearby creeks. As suspicions mount amongst the neighbours, the truth starts rearing its head, but it will be more shocking than anybody could have imagined. Music by Luella Gren. Support the show Thank you…

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  3. Letter from the Devil, 1676

    As nuns go missing in a late 17th century Benedictine convent, Abbess Agatha must root out the evil lurking in her priory. With one particular sister's behaviour becoming terribly erratic, she suspects the Devil himself is at work. The aftermath will leave a cypher so inhumanly complex—it…

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  4. To Hold a Beating Heart: Immortal Victorian Surgeries

    Lives held by single threads. Beating hearts clutched in hands. For this Halloween finale to the second season, we pursue three remarkable procedures catalogued from the 19th century. Surgeries so groundbreaking that they were published, discussed, (and sometimes scorned), amidst scores of...

  5. Crow's Vomit & Magic Pigeons: Curious Victorian Remedies

    We've all heard of bloodletting and leeches, but what of tobacco smoke enemas, crow vomit ointments, and magic pigeons? In this surprisingly educational excursion, we explore three curious remedies from the annals of 19th and 18th century medicine. This topic was voted for by patrons of the show!...

  6. Jane Toppan the Angel of Death, 1887

    Appearing after the wake of Lavinia Fisher is one of America's deadliest serial killers from the mid 19th century. Arising from the tragic demise of her mother and subsequent abandonment by her father, Honora Kelley, (more infamously regarded as Jane Toppan), entered the world of medicine only to...

  7. The Legend of Lavinia Fisher, 1818

    Lavinia and her Six Mile Wayfarer House were a match made in Hell. Hers is a vital, bloody piece of American history that showcases the dangers of oral tradition, and how truth becomes twisted with fiction. Follow this femme fatale down a path of wanton destruction where no regret or shame…

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  8. The Truths We Bury, 1743

    A mother in rural Ireland carries the burden of a curse that she may not survive. Support the show Thank you for enjoying this Grim Theatre production! To support stories and art like this, click here.

  9. The Mortification of John Downing, 1762

    A family of eight in Wattisham, England is plagued with a deadly disease with no solution, but the real illness is paranoia. Support the show Thank you for enjoying this Grim Theatre production! To support stories and art like this, click here.

  10. The Will of Elephants, 1965

    Uncovering the sudden murder rampage of Charles Whitman. Beneath this dumbfounding act of terror are poignant questions concerning free will, the justice system, and the complex moral discussions sparked by murderers like Whitman. Support the show Thank you for enjoying this Grim Theatre...

  11. The Canary in the Belfry, 1895

    Some demons do their most gruesome work in churches. Support the show Thank you for enjoying this Grim Theatre production! To support stories and art like this, click here.

  12. The Art of Madness, 1843

    Painter Richard Dadd is the embodiment of a tragic tale, containing a bright future dashed too soon and an irreconcilable event which darkens his fate forevermore. Support the show Thank you for enjoying this Grim Theatre production! To support stories and art like this, click here.

  13. The Cannibal of St. Bonnot, 1572

    Rumours of a werewolf are spreading in a rural town in France. Gilles Garnier, a hermit on the outskirts, becomes closer to the drama than he'd like. Support the show Thank you for enjoying this Grim Theatre production! To support stories and art like this, click here.

  14. Creating Cadavers: The West Port Murders, 1828

    The city of Edinburgh undergoes a rash of killings in 1828, though the killers aren't men of passion, but enterprise. Support the show Thank you for enjoying this Grim Theatre production! To support stories and art like this, click here.

  15. Culling Innocence, 1866

    The soulless killings of Elizabeth Dyer, the "Ogress of Reading". Support the show Thank you for enjoying this Grim Theatre production! To support stories and art like this, click here.

  16. The Red Inn, 1831

    The tragedy of a servant working for a very bloody establishment. Support the show Thank you for enjoying this Grim Theatre production! To support stories and art like this, click here.

  17. Dying for Answers, 1921

    A professor and spiritualist conducts a harrowing experiment. Support the show Thank you for enjoying this Grim Theatre production! To support stories and art like this, click here.

  18. Mortal Sacrifice: A Plague Story, 1665

    A small, forgettable village in 1665 England makes an unforgettable sacrifice. Support the show Thank you for enjoying this Grim Theatre production! To support stories and art like this, click here.

  19. Becoming Evil, 1896: The White City Ripper IV

    The full killing career of H.H. Holmes, summarised and dissected. The infamous Chicago serial murderer who confessed to twenty-seven homicides is nothing sort of mysterious, diabolical, and depraved to a comical degree. On the outside, a well-to-do 1800's entrepreneur with an eye for investment...

  20. At All Costs, 1888: The White City Ripper III

    After his precious trunk is discovered by local authorities, H.H. Holmes' story only gets more strange. This episode features the unbelievably true recount of a serial killer's chase with a detective, all the while carting around a ticking time bomb of a decomposing corpse worth a fortune.…

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  21. Dead Weight, 1888: The White City Ripper II

    The second episode in pursuit of the serial killer H. H. Holmes. Holmes undertakes the elaborate job of faking his own demise. As it so happens, the task of smuggling a corpse onto a public train is not the least bit unsuspicious. In this segment we explore the motives, mindset, and details…

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  22. Beyond the Pale, 1886: The White City Ripper I

    One of America's most notorious serial killers is given a fresh light. The con artist and murderer is revived so that more lifelike tales previously overlooked in his autobiography can be resurfaced amongst the overly fabricated string of tall stories about his 'Murder Hotel'. Support the show...

  23. Where No Light Persists, 1874

    In 1874, a Parisian socialite by the name of Blanche Monnier must face the wrath of her family's punishment against her. Blanche's story encapsulates themes of unendurable torture, familial betrayal, and the wastage of human potential on frivolous ideals or principles. Support the show Thank you...

  24. A Curious Collection of Ghostly Tales, 1130

    Not houses nor mansions, but mines and kitchens. Ghosts come in countless forms. This episode demonstrates some truly bizarre recounts from trusted voices within their time. Support the show Thank you for enjoying this Grim Theatre production! To support stories and art like this, click here.

  25. London: A Carnival of Gallows, 1777: All Hallow's Eve Special

    Thank you for an amazing first year of Mania! I am thrilled to present something to commemorate my wonderful listeners and the first stepping year of this dark journey. A CARNIVAL OF GALLOWS is an episode that we filmed in London while we investigated the details behind the story. It follows a...

  26. The Pied Piper from Hell, 1384

    What does witchcraft, rats, and missing children have in common? More than you might think, actually, but usually very little. That is, until a bizarre individual with cloven feet and horns visits the sleepy town of Hamelin in 1384. Support the show Thank you for enjoying this Grim Theatre...

  27. Hysteria, 1560 | DEMON III

    A phenomena which perfectly encapsulates the madness and storm of assumptions spawned by demonic possession. In this final instalment of DEMON, we explore the theme of mass hysteria and political manipulation via public exorcisms. Though demons are eternally the villain in these tales, what they...

  28. The Exorcism of Madame de Rainfaing, 1618 | DEMON II

    A widow in 17th century France may find her soul in the clutches of a demon. Support the show Thank you for enjoying this Grim Theatre production! To support stories and art like this, click here.

  29. The Possession of Jeanne Anges, 1626 | DEMON I

    A plague and the possession of a single nun will bring utter chaos to an otherwise peaceful Loudun in 1626, France. Support the show Thank you for enjoying this Grim Theatre production! To support stories and art like this, click here.

  30. The Murders of Notre-Dame, 1821

    Discover another side of the famous writer Victor Hugo and the abominable source of inspiration for one of his crowning pieces: The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. Support the show Thank you for enjoying this Grim Theatre production! To support stories and art like this, click here.

  31. Famine, 1590

    The Siege of Paris in 1590 uncovers harrowing details of a city populace when pushed beyond starvation. (This episode contains historically inaccurate information and will be revised soon.) Support the show Thank you for enjoying this Grim Theatre production! To support stories and art like this,...

  32. The Wind-Up Rider: A Night With a Headless Horseman, 1853

    One evening in 1853 of Galway, Ireland, the pleasant aroma of light rain on soil is tainted by something foul. A scent which burns the senses and forebodes of a presence far more sinister than death itself. Support the show Thank you for enjoying this Grim Theatre production! To support stories…

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  33. Without Remorse, 1560

    Will you take a stroll with me into the Čachtice Castle? I hear that Countess Báthory lives here. I wouldn’t take off your coat … it wouldn’t be safe to stay here for too long, what with the rumours and all. Support the show Thank you for enjoying this Grim Theatre production! To support stories...

  34. The Art of Resurrection, 1803

    Beginning with Luigi Galvani himself, this episode of Mania treads down a winding corridor that explores the same events which inspired Mary Shelley’s The Modern Prometheus, also known as Frankenstein, and digs at the heart of the dark realities behind the gory moments of Galvanic reanimation....

  35. Kings, Banshees & Messengers, 1770

    A sickly reverend in 1770 and an assassinated king in 1437 reveal uncomfortable truths about death, one of its particular messengers, and why their presence is found throughout history. Support the show Thank you for enjoying this Grim Theatre production! To support stories and art like this…

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  36. The Chapel of Bones, 1142

    An unsuspecting monk in the Dark Ages, Rint, struggles with his sanity as his small abbey becomes the most sought-after burial sight during a time when there seems to be more dead than living. Support the show Thank you for enjoying this Grim Theatre production! To support stories and art like...

  37. The Unsolved Murder of Eliza Grimwood, 1838

    In 1838 London, the death of a woman named Eliza Grimwood reveals a strange and unlikely murderer, and more importantly, a glaring trait of human nature. Support the show Thank you for enjoying this Grim Theatre production! To support stories and art like this, click here.

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

The Mania Podcast explores dark, historical stories, casting light on wicked events and individuals from before modern times. From Victorian superstitions to bizarre, Medieval witchcraft, our labyrinth of iniquity, mystery, and nightmares await. Here, the dead return to share their tales, only now the living listen.

HOSTED BY

Harlequin Grim

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Mania have?

Mania currently has 37 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Mania about?

The Mania Podcast explores dark, historical stories, casting light on wicked events and individuals from before modern times. From Victorian superstitions to bizarre, Medieval witchcraft, our labyrinth of iniquity, mystery, and nightmares await. Here, the dead return to share their tales, only now...

How often does Mania release new episodes?

Mania has 37 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to Mania?

You can listen to Mania on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts Mania?

Mania is created and hosted by Harlequin Grim.
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