PODCAST · society
The Midnight Seminar
by Tara & Doug
Join Tara, a historian, and Doug, a philosopher, as they dive into the dark corners of culture, horror, folklore, and all things spooky. Blending sharp historical insight with deep philosophical curiosity, Tara and Doug unravel the stories, fears, and ideas that haunt us.
Episodes
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Werewolves on Trial - Werewolves (Part 2)
Tara and Doug cover the history of the changing relationship between people and wolves, a soured connection that helped give rise to the belief in werewolves. Whether merely outsiders to a community or, if one interpretation is to be believed, sadistic serial killers, accused werewolves went to...
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Wolfmen and Magic and Myths, oh my! - Werewolves (Part 1)
Your hosts embark on their biggest exploration yet, and it's all about werewolves! This episode introduces the topic and explores the early mythology behind werewolf lore. Stops include Ancient Greece, Rome, Medieval Scandinavia, and Metal House. Resources for Series: A Lycanthropic Reader:...
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BONUS: Which is Scarier - Round 2
Tara and Doug usher in Spooky Season with another round of Which is Scarier, the game that asks you...which is scarier... Participate in the fun by playing along at home and looking for polls on Instagram (@themidnightseminar), or write in to tell us why we're wrong or right!
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All Things Odd with Author J.W. Ocker
Award-winning author J.W. Ocker joins Tara (a long-time fan) to talk about traveling to strange places, writing about horror and history, and his forthcoming book on Sleepy Hollow, a place (and legend) they both love! Check out Ocker's books! He has written middle-grade and adult horror fiction…
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Internet Horror
Take a trip down memory lane to reminisce about cursed email chains, creepypastas, and the ghosts in our machines. Doug and Tara discuss how the Internet has spawned and spread horror stories as digital folklore and, more recently, in mainstream media and entertainment. Some movies come up, but...
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Campfire Tales
Tara is joined by Dr. Christopher Smith (christopherclaytonsmith.com)--friend, colleague, and horror buff--to discuss the enduring tradition of campfire tales and even tell some of the classics. Pull up a log and enjoy a story that involves spooks, slashers, and the Boy Scouts of America. There's...
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The Monster of Lake Champlain
Tara tells Doug about her favorite American monster while also delivering a Crash Course on cryptids. If you thought monster legends were all about conspiracies and hoaxes, think again! References: The United States of Cryptids: A Tour of American Myths and Monsters by J.W. Ocker The Untold Story...
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Third Man Syndrome (Part 2)
Doug and Tara jump back into trying to decipher Third Man Syndrome, plus related matters of material and mind. This part includes a discussion of the scientific theories that psychologists have presented to help explain sensed presences and the particular case of the mysterious so-called Third…
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Third Man Syndrome (Part 1)
In this first part, Tara tells Doug about a strange phenomenon colloquially called "Third Man Syndrome," in which experiencers sense a helpful presence at their side in extreme survival scenarios. The presence helps them out of trouble and then vanishes as quickly as it came. You might not see it...
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Killer Plants (Part 2)
To the Cold War and beyond! In Part 2, Doug and Tara cover the iconic plant monsters of the midcentury and ponder the meaning of the plant-human hybrid trope, what it's like to be a plant, and what might be coming next in plant horror. Sources: T. S. Miller, “Lives of the Monster Plants: The...
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Killer Plants (Part 1)
Your hosts start discussing killer plants in mythology, history, and popular culture. Part 1 covers the roots (literal and figurative) of the genre of "botanical horror" as it developed from ancient times through the nineteenth century. There's much to ponder about the possibilities, perils, and...
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Caves: Spooks, Survival, and Science
Doug is out but will return soon; Tara is instead joined by her awesome friend Jesse, who knows all about caves. They discuss what makes caves creepy for loads of people, from mummified bats and myths of monsters who lurk in the dark to the realities of complicated rescue missions. They also talk...
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Cannibalism
This time, Tara and Doug talk about cannibalism. It's a topic filled with myth and misunderstanding, but there are important lessons along the way. The meandering conversation covers ritual cannibalism, so-called medicinal cannibalism, survival cannibalism, criminal cannibalism, and what might be...
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BONUS: Which Is Scarier?
Join Tara and Doug for a game of "Which Is Scarier?" Highlights include Doug's diatribe on snakes and Tara's admission of donating a potentially haunted doll. Play along for maximum enjoyment!
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BONUS: More On Ghosts
Doug is sick and January is weird, so please enjoy this stitched-together bonus episode made from some odds and ends from your hosts' recent conversations about ghosts! Tara walks you through clips from the cutting room floor that will give you more to think about when it comes to imagining and...
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Christmas Ghosts (Part 2)
In Part 2, Tara tells Doug about the history of holiday "ghost panics," public ghost sightings that had revelers out and about, hunting ghosts with clubs and rifles. Your two hosts play the role of reporter and even share some pranky histories of their own. Doug teaches everyone a thing or two...
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Christmas Ghosts (Part 1)
This series is all about ghosts—Christmas ghosts! In Part 1, Tara and Doug discuss some ghost basics and geek out about the English tradition of fireside holiday ghost stories. Equal parts Charles Dickens and love letter to all apparitions. References: "Introduction" in The Valancourt Book of...
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Movie Review - Thanksgiving (2023)
Tara and Doug are not always deep in reflection about the wistful carousel of eternity; sometimes, they just want to talk about horror movies. In this strange holiday special, they cover the 2023 slasher movie Thanksgiving, directed by Eli Roth. Spoilers abound. In fact, it’s an episode dedicated...
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The Darkest Time of Year (Part 2)
In part two, Tara tells Doug about the history of some harvest season holidays of yore. Rumination on death continues.
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The Darkest Time of Year (Part 1)
As the nights get longer and the breeze gets colder, Tara and Doug get philosophical on death, decay, and life in the darkest time of year. Part 1 takes a look at some cataloged reflections from historical commentators. Tara has a hard time saying goodbye to October but Doug has some peculiar...
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Vampires!
From the depth of dark folklore to the glow of the silver screen, vampires reflect the fears, questions, and concerns of the living. Long the object of scientific inquiry and philosophical debate, then forever emblazoned in iconic literature, the story of the vampire over time has forced us to...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Join Tara, a historian, and Doug, a philosopher, as they dive into the dark corners of culture, horror, folklore, and all things spooky. Blending sharp historical insight with deep philosophical curiosity, Tara and Doug unravel the stories, fears, and ideas that haunt us.
HOSTED BY
Tara & Doug
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Midnight Seminar have?
The Midnight Seminar currently has 21 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Midnight Seminar about?
Join Tara, a historian, and Doug, a philosopher, as they dive into the dark corners of culture, horror, folklore, and all things spooky. Blending sharp historical insight with deep philosophical curiosity, Tara and Doug unravel the stories, fears, and ideas that haunt us.
How often does The Midnight Seminar release new episodes?
The Midnight Seminar has 21 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The Midnight Seminar?
You can listen to The Midnight Seminar 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 The Midnight Seminar?
The Midnight Seminar is created and hosted by Tara & Doug.
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