[intro music]
Christine Schiefer: Happy birthday, Leona!
Em Schulz: Oh, oh! [laughter]
Christine Schiefer: Did you forget?
Em Schulz: I forgot what day this comes out. I just...
Christine Schiefer: I actually did too.
Em Schulz: Okay. Okay.
[laughter]
Christine Schiefer: Until I said, October 1st. Oh, wait a second. I was in a lot of pain that day two years ago.
Em Schulz: You sure were. And the day before, if I recall.
Christine Schiefer: And many day. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Umm, but...
Em Schulz: You, umm.
Christine Schiefer: Happy, this is such a big important day for me, for all of us 'cause it's Halloween season.
Em Schulz: Mm-hmm.
Christine Schiefer: October 1st. What a great month. But it's also our little, uh, our little darling demon's birthday. So happy.
Em Schulz: Darling demon.
Christine Schiefer: Two years old.
Em Schulz: I like to think if, umm, paparazzi cared about podcasters, she would be known as the darling of demons or something.
[laughter]
Em Schulz: That'd be precious.
Christine Schiefer: She makes the face for it, which is like this, like, you know, side eye.
Em Schulz: Be careful your... She... Her face is...
Christine Schiefer: As she like plans to run this traffic.
Em Schulz: Her face is identical to yours, so.
Christine Schiefer: Exactly. And everyone's like, yeah, Christine, we've seen that our whole lives. So welcome to the club. And I'm like, ohhh.
Em Schulz: Yeah, you gotta watch your words when you judge her face 'cause you make the exact same ones.
Christine Schiefer: Ooops! [laughter]
Em Schulz: Oh, I remember last time I was at your house, there was a moment where both of you looked at me the same way and I was like, Oh my God, there's two of them. I hate it.
Christine Schiefer: Oh, that, I'm sorry. That must be really frightening.
[laughter]
Em Schulz: It was like a curse was being put on me.
Christine Schiefer: Yeah. Yeah. It's a hex.
Em Schulz: Umm, well, yes. Happy spooky season. Oh, are we, should we do the PSA I? Because I just caught myself that we are trying to get rid of spooky.
Christine Schiefer: Okay. Okay. Here. I, I, I feel like, okay, so.
Em Schulz: What's happening?
Christine Schiefer: There isn't a recent, or I just feel like we should frame it in a more like, umm, [laughter] and I'm trying not to insult your, the way you explained it as get rid of spooky, but, uh, [laughter] frame it in a more...
Em Schulz: Fair enough.
Christine Schiefer: Erudite way. I don't know. Umm, basically the term has, uh, as some people have pointed out, and as you know, a lot of us didn't really realize for a long time has, umm, some pretty strong, uh, negative and racial, uh, undertones and, uh, can be tied to a slur. And so there was an article that came out recently that said, like, you know, before you use that term, uh, you know, maybe learn, think twice basically was the, was the point of the article. So we are trying to get away from that term. Umm, spooky, I know that like, genuinely people just use it and we use it all the time. Umm, as just like a creepy, scary, I don't know. So we should try to find a word that has that same, like, I don't know.
Em Schulz: Je ne sais quoi.
Christine Schiefer: Je ne sais quoi about it when it relates to Halloween. I wish it was.
Em Schulz: It's one of, it's one of my favorite words too, but...
Christine Schiefer: I know it's tough.
Em Schulz: You gotta retire it, I guess. Gotta retire it.
Christine Schiefer: We gotta try to, we gotta try to move away from it.
Em Schulz: I'm trying to, I'm trying to figure out eerie? Creepy? I don't know the right one, the one that feels right yet so.
Christine Schiefer: It's hard 'cause it has its very own specific meaning. I feel like that, uh, you know, I mean as far as like the Halloween-related definition.
Em Schulz: Mm-hmm.
Christine Schiefer: Umm.
Em Schulz: Yeah. Yeah.
Christine Schiefer: It almost implies like a little bit of like cutesyness to it. Like, not cutesy, but like.
Em Schulz: Well it does. Which is like the, one of the backhands to it of like, Oh, now it's cute even. It like has some not so cute meaning to it.
Christine Schiefer: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Makes it feel actually weird. Yeah. Uh, so anyway, you know, it's hard.
Em Schulz: Anyway, we're starting out it, we're educating everybody this October 1st.
Christine Schiefer: Including ourselves.
Em Schulz: So now you've had your, I've had your first PSA now for the next 31 days. We are all going to practice and be experts by next Halloween for sure. So.
Christine Schiefer: Yes. Uh, maybe we can say spectral? I don't know.
Em Schulz: Okay. And I, I, I see where you're going. I don't know if it's in the right direction, but I'll follow you in that direction.
Christine Schiefer: Yeah.
Em Schulz: We could do spectral.
Christine Schiefer: Yeah. Yeah. This, this is definitely, umm, I mean maybe we can come up with a new word, you know. Uh, I don't know. Uh. You guys...
Em Schulz: Blagaglehgerstercrackin.
Christine Schiefer: Oh, that is, is cute. For sure.
Em Schulz: It rolls off the tongue. I tell you.
Christine Schiefer: It's really cute and we can never say it again 'cause I'm sure we won't remember how, but we can try. [laughter]
Em Schulz: Well, for Halloween season, umm, I wanted to show you that, uh, I ha-have been, I'm, I'm trying to wear, uh, Halloween clothing for every episode.
Christine Schiefer: [gasp] Uh, that is so cute, Em.
Em Schulz: Umm. Thank you for those. Umm, just listening, I, this is a TikTok purchase, obviously.
Christine Schiefer: Obviously.
Em Schulz: Umm, I don't know about anyone else's algorithms, but it is a viral on my phone and...
Christine Schiefer: I thought I saw that somewhere. That explains where I've seen it. Okay. [laughter]
Em Schulz: It, it, I, I don't, if it's not viral for anyone else, it was viral for me until I succumbed and, and you know, I, it worked. But this is a, it's a very simple embroidery sweatshirt of the three classic Pillsbury Halloween cookies.
Christine Schiefer: Yep.
Em Schulz: And I love her. And my goal for each of our recordings in October is to wear something different in the, I almost said the about the word.
Christine Schiefer: I know it's hard.
Em Schulz: Spectral.
Christine Schiefer: Spectral.
Em Schulz: Something spectral. Umm, so anyway, this is day one of me trying to look all creepy.
Christine Schiefer: I see. I thought about it and I just couldn't, I don't know. I didn't pull it together, you know, uh, on time. And I, I do apologize. So, uh, starting now, I will try to remember to wear the proper attire for our upcoming recordings this month.
Em Schulz: Well, you've already got that face, so you're like you're fine.
[laughter]
Christine Schiefer: Okay. All right. Relax. [laughter]
Em Schulz: Ahh. Anyway, if for some reason, this is your first time ever tuning into a listener's episode. This is, uh, where we tell your stories that you send in.
Christine Schiefer: You know, they've already left 'cause they're like, what is this woke bullshit? [laughter] Like, let's just start the podcast like.
Em Schulz: Yeah. We came in hot.
Christine Schiefer: Let's relearn our history. We came in very hot.
Em Schulz: Look, we, we have a platform. Umm...
Christine Schiefer: And you know, listen, it's about mostly about educating ourselves as well along the way. So don't worry. We're not trying to be...
Em Schulz: It's more of an we use the po...
Christine Schiefer: Preachy.
Em Schulz: I, first of all, I apologize about all the times I've been interrupting you today. I don't know what's going on here today.
Christine Schiefer: It, listen, it's okay. I feel like I'm on a different plane than usual. So I think maybe we're like on different, uh, timelines, you know.
Em Schulz: We'll find each other again. We always do.
Christine Schiefer: Someday.
Em Schulz: Umm, but no, I think we also, I at least use this podcast often as like an accountability, uh, tool for myself. So I'm like...
[laughter]
Christine Schiefer: That's a great idea.
Em Schulz: I said it, I said it to the masses so I better fucking get it together.
Christine Schiefer: Yeah. We gotta, we gotta step up. You know?
Em Schulz: Umm, oh, for those of you who are new here, welcome to our listeners episodes where we tell your true crime and paranormal stories.
Christine Schiefer: Mm-hmm.
Em Schulz: Which you can submit on our website, andthatswhywedrink.com. And uh, it's the first of every month and we've got a few for you, for you this, this season. And...
Christine Schiefer: Yeah. I just wanna point out Eva beforehand kind of gives us like sometimes a little rundown. Umm, and she said, 'cause she picks the stories and we don't know them in advance. And she said, Oh, well I already accidentally like, let it slip last time that this series of stories has. And I was like, Eva, don't say it again. 'Cause we don't fucking remember.
Em Schulz: It's like, she's new here. It's crazy.
Christine Schiefer: Like like, she's new here thinking we heard what she said one time. [laughter]
Em Schulz: Oh, I also realized, by the way, we've already recorded, umm, future October episodes and so people might be seeing this for the first time and we just never mention it. I have myself a little backdrop for, uh, the spectral season.
Christine Schiefer: True, yes. You had very scary little situation with an owl back there.
Em Schulz: Owl. Oh, by the way, do you wanna know what her name is?
Christine Schiefer: Oh, uh, Hootenanny.
Em Schulz: [sigh] That's her last name. I think now.
Christine Schiefer: Oh. Okay. What's her first name?
Em Schulz: So I got her at, uh, a CVS on Alameda Avenue. So her name is...
Christine Schiefer: Why do you shop only at CVS? It's my favorite thing about you.
Em Schulz: I, I just love her.
Christine Schiefer: Your clothes, your decor.
Em Schulz: When I, when I first moved to LA and I, uh, was not as fortunate as I am today where I can go to Target, I really could only like at best go to a CVS on like...
Christine Schiefer: I get it. I fucking love CVS.
Em Schulz: A day where I wanted to be... I wanted to be all shoppy. And so also when I was in a moment where I had incredible depression and so I was usually only up at 3:00 AM So if I wanted to do any shopping, it had to be at CVS.
Christine Schiefer: Yeah.
Em Schulz: But, umm, when I was not having good times and I live near a CVS I every Friday, I would treat myself to something in the toy section at CVS.
Christine Schiefer: That's delightful.
Em Schulz: Uh, so anyway, I've, I've fallen in love with her. She's fallen in love with me. Umm, story of for the ages, but, uh, I found her, this little owl at, uh, a CVS on Alameda. And her name's Owlameda.
Christine Schiefer: Owlameda... Wait, that's cute. I love her. Isn't it Alameda?
Em Schulz: I don't know.
Christine Schiefer: I think it's Alameda. Stop being Alameda.
[laughter]
Em Schulz: Not just saying street names to people all the time. This is the first I've ever had to say it out loud. I do think it's actually Alameda. I don't know.
Christine Schiefer: It is. I'm almost positive.
Em Schulz: Well, her name is Owl-Ameda because.
Christine Schiefer: Oh, so don't fucking mispronounce it everyone.
Em Schulz: 'Cause I'm doubling down, so.
Christine Schiefer: Okay. Listen, I'm not, I am just trying to protect you from, I used to say tweets. We don't really even have those anymore. So I guess, uh, from from X I'm trying to protect you...
Em Schulz: Alameda. It is Alameda.
Christine Schiefer: From the corrections.
Em Schulz: I think I've just, I think I've always heard people say it so off the cuff that I just kind of just, it, it's somewhere Alameda meda...
Christine Schiefer: You don't really about it until you have to say it out loud. So Alameda is cute. Alameda is cute. Whatever you wanna name her is it is your owl.
Em Schulz: I I also thought about naming her Owllison, but that was all too close to home.
Christine Schiefer: That's, I thought that's where you were headed. That's kind of cute too. I like Owlameda or Owllison.
Em Schulz: But Owlameda Hootenanny is a great name.
Christine Schiefer: Owlameda Hootenanny is a power move.
Em Schulz: I love her.
Christine Schiefer: Owlameda Hootenanny. Actually, now that you say it, that like, together. Forget it. That's...
Em Schulz: Someone write a, write a book about her.
Christine Schiefer: No T-TM. I'm gonna write the book.
[laughter]
Christine Schiefer: Don't you dare. Owlameda Hootenanny living in Burbank, California.
Em Schulz: That's the truth.
Christine Schiefer: Oh, love it.
Em Schulz: Alright.
Christine Schiefer: Okay. Anyway, we.
Em Schulz: We've officially, yeah, we've officially hit the 10 minute mark and I just talked for way too long. So you go first.
Christine Schiefer: Oh, okay. Uh, happy birthday, Leona. Here's your first story. This one is called "The House on Pine: 'That's not mom.'"
Em Schulz: Ooh. Oh shit.
Christine Schiefer: Leona you can't listen to this yet. 'Cause...
Em Schulz: Owlameda cover your ears.
Christine Schiefer: Owlameda. [laughter]
Christine Schiefer: Okay. This is from Ash, she/her. It says, "Hello Eva, Christine, Em for babies, human babies, lemon insects in their abodes and the undead that haunt Christine. Sorry. Umm, it's okay. It's not your fault. So now that I've finally caught up, I'm not crying. You're crying. I think it's time to send in my stories. The house I grew up in was so haunted that anyone who spent any time there experienced something. We have ghosts, demon dogs, top hats, Phantom cats."
Em Schulz: What? [laughter]
Christine Schiefer: I feel like that should, that should get some more explanation, but okay.
Em Schulz: I feel like that's like the, like that stupid Disney movie, the bed, bed Doorknobs and Broomsticks or something.
Christine Schiefer: Oh.
Em Schulz: What's the movie? But it feels like just like.
Christine Schiefer: Like a Fantasia.
Em Schulz: Yeah, like phantom hats.
Christine Schiefer: My Nightmare.
Em Schulz: Just kind of swinging around.
Christine Schiefer: Oh, this hat's just like come into life and singing. I don't know.
Em Schulz: Eugh.
Christine Schiefer: "Top hats. Phantom cats, witches, cryptids, and finally the thing that pretends to be my mother."
Em Schulz: [gasp] Oh my God.
Christine Schiefer: That sounds almost scarier than Fantasia. [laughter] So you're, uh getting me good here, Ash. Oh, it says, "My older sister and I had a swing set in the backyard and we're entertaining ourselves as my mother went to the store. My sister gets my attention and says, 'Mom's home and she needs help.' I remember thinking it was strange for mom to park in front of the house, but I ran inside all the same. The phone was ringing, so Kay went to the kitchen to answer it. As I went to the front door to help mom bring in the groceries, except mom isn't outside and her car isn't here. I walked back down the hall and see Katie looking pale. It was mom on the other line, still at the store, wanting to see if she needed to pick something up. Katie said mom had come out to the porch recognizable by her long blonde hair and beckoned us in with her, Come here motion. She didn't remember seeing mom's face." I feel like I've heard that where it's like a doppleganger doesn't, like the face is almost too specific that like, they kind of hide that from you.
Em Schulz: I've always heard thought... I've always heard it's 'cause the eye's the windows to the soul.
Christine Schiefer: [gasp] Yeah. Right. It's like there's something...
Em Schulz: And they know they can't, they can't recreate a soul.
Christine Schiefer: Yes. There's something recognizable there that, that they try to cover up.
Em Schulz: Eugh.
Christine Schiefer: "Our house has one long hallway that ends in my parent's room. One time I saw my mom from down the hall, walk across her room and thought nothing of it until it clicked that no one can walk across the room as my parents had a massive bed that took up a majority of the space."
Em Schulz: Ugh.
Christine Schiefer: "One time during a break from college, yes my parents still live there. I was still on dorm time and was taking a shower at 2:00 AM. The bathroom is right off the kitchen and at the other end of the hallway from my parent's room. My father was outta town and the house was quiet and dark. So I easily heard my mom walk down the hallway and into the kitchen. As she passed the bathroom door, I heard her make a very distinctive throat clearing, she does very time she wakes up. I dressed quickly and called through the door. Sorry mom, I didn't mean to wake you. When she didn't answer, I knew I was in trouble. So I popped my head out of the bathroom and looked into the dark and empty living room, kitchen and hallway. The next morning, my mother confirmed that she had slept very soundly that night with no disturbance. Unfortunately, I was extremely disturbed."
[laughter]
Em Schulz: Yeah.
Christine Schiefer: Me too.
Em Schulz: I beg to differ.
[laughter]
Em Schulz: Oh my god.
Christine Schiefer: When I was very little, my parents had a couple come over for the evening for dinner and a movie. My father retired early to the bedroom, leaving my mother and their friends who unfortunately fell asleep on the couch.
[laughter]
Christine Schiefer: That's Em coming over to my house...
Em Schulz: You know what?
Christine Schiefer: Like oh, thanks for inviting me to the movie. Goodnight.
[laughter]
Em Schulz: You know what that is the sign that you feel very safe at someone else's house...
Christine Schiefer: That's true.
Em Schulz: And you're not strangers. These are real friends.
Christine Schiefer: Yeah you're not like sitting on the edge of the couch uncomfortable...
Em Schulz: Waiting to go home.
Christine Schiefer: You are like fucking lounging. Yeah.
Em Schulz: Yeah. It's like I found exactly the cozy spot. I don't give a shit who sees, I'm out.
Christine Schiefer: Yeah. I don't care who bought this at Ashley Furniture, it's my bed now and I'm sleeping here.
Em Schulz: I also... I love that both of them fell asleep.
Christine Schiefer: I do too! I'm like, are these two people, like, is this their emo, they just kind of bop around and nap at the same time.
Em Schulz: Right? Like they couldn't have possibly at the exact same moment synchronously, like both fell asleep. Like someone, someone saw that the other one already fell asleep and went... [laughter]
Christine Schiefer: Me too.
Em Schulz: Well, I guess I'm here too. [laughter]
Christine Schiefer: Yeah. Like instead of being like, Honey, let's go home and go to bed. It's like, I guess we're both in down for the count. [laughter]
Em Schulz: So if you are in I'm in. Yeah.
Christine Schiefer: Umm, that just cracks me up. Uh, wow. What an interesting, I wonder if they ever got invited back. Umm.
[laughter]
Em Schulz: I hope so. It sounds like that couch was incredibly, [laughter] incredibly uh, uh, intoxicating.
Christine Schiefer: "Mom had already seen this movie and since it was late, decided to let them sleep and went to bed. It's important to note that the early 2000 meant 16 billion remote controls for... For everything from the DVD player to the speakers." Oh remember? And then there's one for the fan.
Em Schulz: Mm-hmm.
Christine Schiefer: And some people had one for the blinds. And some people it's like, oh God, well everything's going crazy.
Em Schulz: And well... Even like that. Umm, everyone that was, that grew up in the '80s or '90s has the, like the, that one glass cabinet of all the stereo systems that like your dad never let you touch.
Christine Schiefer: [laughter] Nope.
Em Schulz: There was like four remotes to that too. So yeah.
Em Schulz: And I'm like, did you ever even use that? I don't know. Probably not.
Em Schulz: Never. I don't remember a single goddamn time the thing was ever used.
Christine Schiefer: No. I'm like, I just wanted to turn the knob, but I can't even do that 'cause it's awful.
Em Schulz: Everyone wanted to turn the knob.
Christine Schiefer: Anyway, so 16 billion remotes. "My mother is not a patient woman and always opted to go to the TV and manually turn everything off. Sometime later Patty wakes up to use the restroom and wakes Paul as she jostles the China Cabinet to leave. Paul sees my mother sitting across from him, her long blonde hair obscuring her face, highlighted by the TV she is facing."
Em Schulz: Mmm.
Christine Schiefer: "He says, 'Oh, Caprice, I'm so sorry. We fell asleep.' My mother sighs with irritation and suddenly the entire entertainment center turns off."
Em Schulz: [gasp]
Christine Schiefer: "Paul stammerers out, 'Caprice. Really. I'm sorry.' There is a pause until Patty opens a bathroom door flooding the living room with light and reveals an empty couch adjacent to theirs."
Em Schulz: [gasp] Oh my God.
Christine Schiefer: "'Can we please go to bed?' She asked. Paul knew the thing that had sat across from him couldn't be my mother as he didn't hear the delicate chime of China with her departure."
Em Schulz: Oh my God.
Christine Schiefer: Oooh. Uh, this is the last one, but it says, "This is possibly the worst one." Save the worst for last. You know how we do.
Em Schulz: It's like that, that last one felt pretty bad. So.
Christine Schiefer: Yeah. I'm not looking forward to this. "My father travels for work and during..." Your father is always out of there. He's like, Fuck this. I don't wanna see this doppelganger.
Em Schulz: I was gonna say, can you imagine living in a house where you don't know if your wife is your wife or a demon? [laughter] It's like I would never be there.
Christine Schiefer: He's like, I'm going on a business trip. I'm going to bed.
Em Schulz: Well also, why is your mom so weirdly comfortable with this?
Christine Schiefer: Like yeah why are you still, I don't know...
Em Schulz: Has she ever seen herself in the house? Is that why's like's? She's like not freaked out.
Christine Schiefer: That's a good question, I would like to know if she's seen herself. That's a great question. "This is possibly the worst one. My father travels for work and during the summer my mother would bring her sister and her five kids in from out of state for a week or more. We were all thrilled and would set out pallets on the living room floor and eat junk food and watch Toonami." Awww. "My mom and aunt would sleep in my parents' bedroom, my mom in her usual spot facing the closet and my aunt in my father's facing the long hallway. My mother slept very little that night. Hearing us kids creep down the hall as quietly as we could to use the bathroom. And the next morning my mom rolled over to complain about how active us kids were. My aunt looked over at her eyes wide and said, 'That wasn't the kids.'"
Em Schulz: [gasp]
Christine Schiefer: Hah! "She told my mom how something would start at the far end of the hallway and slowly walk down until the sound faded away. Then it would start at the end again. Each time getting closer and closer to the open door of my parents' bedroom, my aunt kept her eyes closed and tried to ignore it until it got to the very threshold of their bedroom and she heard the muffled sound of footsteps on carpet."
Em Schulz: Oh my god!
Christine Schiefer: Oh my god! "The rug barely extended past the foot of the bed. My aunt knew that whatever stood before her was not a child and she knew she shouldn't look, but curiosity got the better of her."
Em Schulz: Girl.
Christine Schiefer: Girl. "She peeled one eye open and saw my mother standing over her!" Stop. This is scaring me up.
Em Schulz: I actually hate this so much.
Christine Schiefer: I'm so afraid of Caprice and her doppelganger. [laughter] Also with a name like Caprice, I'm like, you...
Em Schulz: It... It already sounds like some exotic phantom that you only read about in castles.
Christine Schiefer: Yes. It sounds like a character like Clarice, but Capri...
Em Schulz: Yeah.
Christine Schiefer: It sounds like it's part of a horror movie. "She peeled one eye open and saw my mother standing over her stiff and still, long blonde hair and the face of an owl."
Em Schulz: Owlameda!
Christine Schiefer: Owlameda! What the hell are you doing there with your French braids hanging over this poor lady?
Em Schulz: She said... She said, girrrl, I've known I was gonna be in this story the whole time.
Christine Schiefer: She's like, I've been waiting for my cameo. Okay. It says, "Okay, thanks y'all. If you like this one, I have several others from The House on Pine, but that's a story for another time."
Em Schulz: Of course, [laughter]
Christine Schiefer: Love it.
Em Schulz: Wow. Hey, guess what? That's terrible. I fucking hate that.
Christine Schiefer: Guess what? Blaise is gone for five days, uh and my parents are leaving town. So I am home completely alone for the next five days.
Em Schulz: With a baby?
Christine Schiefer: I don't love it... With the baby. Yes.
Em Schulz: First of all, that sounds scary on its own.
Christine Schiefer: I'm terrified. [laughter],
Em Schulz: But also...
Christine Schiefer: Like Blaise does it all the time because I'm always traveling, but I'm not used to like him being gone for a long period of time. And usually at least my mom comes over during the day to like keep me company. But not this time.
Em Schulz: Oof! Is Xandy home or something, or is your sister home?
Christine Schiefer: Xandy is home, so maybe I will drag him into my bullshit. We'll see.
Em Schulz: You're like, please come over. Because I, I...
Christine Schiefer: Help me.
Em Schulz: Because Leona on her, on her birthday, October 1st keeps pointing up to the stairs and saying, Hoo hoo. [laughter]
Christine Schiefer: Hoo hoo! [laughter]
Em Schulz: Umm. Wow. So, and also the, the face of an owl really threw me. 'Cause I just don't that, I don't know if that means, I'm trying to analyze it in my head and I feel like other maybe like, it felt like, Oh, I can show more of my true self?
Christine Schiefer: Mmm.
Em Schulz: Because these people have seen me before versus those people who crashed on the couch. They, I'll start easy on them and just make them think that I'm someone else.
Christine Schiefer: Interesting.
Em Schulz: But... But even like the, it seemed like they were just using her facade, but not even trying to mimic a behavior. Or maybe it was like a black-eyed children thing where they know I'm supposed to stare at the TV. I don't know how to react to, like, people talking to me though.
Christine Schiefer: Oh, like this is me being a human, I think.
Em Schulz: Yeah. Oof.
Christine Schiefer: Yeah. I wonder. But that like, it almost seems like it's trying to show itself, though. Like what does it want? You know what I mean?
Em Schulz: Yeah.
Christine Schiefer: Like, it's hovering over the bed at night. Like it's getting in everyone's face. It's like appearing on the porch and summoning the kids in. Eugh!
Em Schulz: Yeah. It wants you to feel safe around it, which I hate.
Christine Schiefer: Ugh!
Em Schulz: And why, why isn't this goddamn mom involved? Like what, what did she do to first of all be so cursed to be mimicked and doppleganged, but...
Christine Schiefer: Doppleganged. [laughter]
Em Schulz: But also how like unlucky is she? That like, someone like is tricking everyone she loves?
Christine Schiefer: I'm with her though. I would be like, this's not my fucking problem. Okay. I'm in bed sleeping, so it's not my fault. There's an owl version of myself walking around the house.
Em Schulz: I would like at least one time for like, it to be her husband she thinks she's seeing in the house. Like, just so she knows how scary it is for everybody else.
Christine Schiefer: That's true, uh...
Em Schulz: But then again, the husband's never fucking around, so that would be a shock.
Christine Schiefer: And then he's, he's traveling so he's the only smart, uh, smart one here. No, that's, that was rude. I didn't mean it like that.
[chuckle]
Christine Schiefer: He... Well, has the right idea. Let's put it that way.
Em Schulz: That's what I think. Alright, well, uh...
Christine Schiefer: Thank you, Ash. That was terrible and scary and I loved it.
Em Schulz: Thank you. What a terrible way to start Halloween. Thank you so much.
Christine Schiefer: Thank you.
Em Schulz: So this next story, I'm not even gonna tell you the topic because I think you'll figure it out on your own. And this is from Alyssa who uses she/her pronouns. Thank you for normalizing pronouns. And Alyssa says, "Hello, And That's Why We Drink crew, longtime listener, first time submitter here. I started listening during the pandemic and I'm currently," remember that time when everyone called the Panini?
Christine Schiefer: Remember when we thought that was so funny? And then immediately it was like, okay, seriously, we just wanna stop talking about it.
Em Schulz: It feels like something that as like, like it's like it gives millennial cringe. It kind of, because...
Christine Schiefer: Yeah.
Em Schulz: I feel like it's just something that we don't discuss anymore. But it was so big at one point.
Christine Schiefer: It was just like, nobody even talked about how we did it? We just all did it.
Em Schulz: This all happened. Okay. Anyway, "I started listening during the pandemic and I'm currently re-listening to the episodes where Christine is pregnant..."
Christine Schiefer: Oh!
Em Schulz: "As I'm expecting my first daughter. And hearing about someone else's pregnancy is making me feel a whole lot better."
Christine Schiefer: Yay.
Em Schulz: "And less afraid of all the craziness that is becoming a mom. So thanks for being open and sharing on the show, Christine."
Christine Schiefer: Congratulations. So exciting for your own little demon.
Em Schulz: Your own little darling Duchess of demonology.
Christine Schiefer: Whoa! [laughter]
Em Schulz: Did you like that?
Christine Schiefer: Sort of.
Em Schulz: We'll, We'll play around with it. I'm trying to think how many D's can I get in there? Hmm. Alright. "Anyways, here's my story. I am a teacher. So summers I have time alone in the house during the day when my husband goes to work and pregnancy has made me quite sleepy. This has led to some impromptu napping. And one morning I fell back asleep after my husband left with my sweet dog Scout on the bed with me."
Christine Schiefer: Mmm.
Em Schulz: "After just a few minutes of sleeping, I heard a knock at the door. Normally I would just ignore it because true crime. Duh. But for some reason my dog wasn't barking or freaking out at all. And I decided to go see who it was. When I opened the door. It was two plainly, but well-dressed teens with their heads..."
Christine Schiefer: No! Em, is this where? No, I don't wanna no, no, no. Oh my God. That's what Eva said. I remember she said, sorry. She said, there's a couple. And I said, well, there's no way we're gonna remember what the, what the other theme was. That was it...
Em Schulz: I still don't...
Christine Schiefer: Fucking Black Eyed Kids.
Em Schulz: Well, thanks Eva.
[laughter]
Christine Schiefer: Oh, well, well, well, well.
Em Schulz: Okay. Well...
Christine Schiefer: I don't like it. I don't like it at all.
Em Schulz: "When I opened the door, it was two plainly, but well-dressed teens with their heads kind of down, so I couldn't really see their faces."
Christine Schiefer: Fucking shit.
Em Schulz: "I asked them what they wanted and they gave a vague answer. I can't quite remember. So I closed the door and went back to lay down in my bed. That's when I woke up."
Christine Schiefer: Ah!
Em Schulz: "I had not, in fact, answered my door to see the strange teens. I had dreamt it."
Christine Schiefer: [gasp]
Em Schulz: "I felt relieved as it was a weird experience. And lazily drifted back into sleep, back into the dream and back into fully believing that the dream was reality."
Christine Schiefer: Oh, jeez. Oh jeez.
Em Schulz: Ooh, so now we're... Ooh, that's some nightmare in Elm Street shit. "Now I like my little house, but the emphasis is on the little, so you can see the front door from the bed when the bedroom door's open." Oh! Terrifying. I can't imagine going...
Christine Schiefer: That's not good.
Em Schulz: That talk about true crime, just like the true crime, the guy out front can just know exactly where you are. Ugh.
Christine Schiefer: Not to like, give you the worst terror of your life, but Em is just describing a nightmare scenario, but also like, I don't think that's good feng shui. Umm, you should move your bed.
Em Schulz: I don't even know anything about feng shui, but I will say the vibes are definitely off.
Christine Schiefer: Yeah. Not to like make a pregnant woman move her furniture around, because I have a fake understanding of feng shui.
Em Schulz: Can you actually like take down the wall and put it somewhere else? That would be better.
Christine Schiefer: Can you actually put the house, uh, in a different angle? Maybe just to lift it up in...
Em Schulz: Can you actually, put up the house for sale and leave?
[laughter]
Em Schulz: Oh, okay.
Christine Schiefer: Oh, poor thing. I'm sorry.
Em Schulz: "So as I'm laying in bed in this dream world, I can see that the front door is cracked open!"
Christine Schiefer: [gasp]
Em Schulz: I know it's a dream, but girl, figure it out. Uh, I think, uh, this is what I, "I think, that's strange. I better go close it before the pets get out. So I get up and start walking to the door. As I walk, my limbs feel heavy and I'm walking slower than usual. That kind of dream thing where you can never run as fast as you need to."
Christine Schiefer: Hmm, I hate that feeling.
Em Schulz: "Or punch as hard as you can." Oh yeah. That's the worst. "As I approach the door, the strange teens from earlier are suddenly standing in the doorway..."
Christine Schiefer: No.
Em Schulz: "And I can see their faces this time."
Christine Schiefer: Get away.
Em Schulz: "Their eyes are..."
Christine Schiefer: Nope.
Em Schulz: "Totally black."
Christine Schiefer: Forget it.
Em Schulz: "I'm instantly panicked and wake up again. But this time it's just one eye that opens and the rest of my body is paralyzed."
Christine Schiefer: No!
Em Schulz: [gasp] Oh!
Christine Schiefer: This is like, okay.
Em Schulz: Babe. But that's crazy. That's...
Christine Schiefer: It's just terrible.
Em Schulz: That's too much. Your one eye. Well, your the other one went, fuck this. I'm staying in dream world.
Christine Schiefer: Yeah. [laughter] That was the one I was like, "I don't think so."
Em Schulz: Oh. "I look around with my one eye open and as I realized it was all a dream again. I tried desperately to remember what reality looks like and feels like as I can feel myself slipping back into sleep." I hate that feeling.
Christine Schiefer: This is so scary.
Em Schulz: "I wake up again and in the dream and none the wiser that this is not reality. And check the entryway for the black eyed teens. They are standing there totally still just watching me with their black eyes."
Christine Schiefer: [gasp]
Em Schulz: "All the while my dog is sleeping on the bed being no help at all."
[laughter]
Em Schulz: Ugh, I, she's probably having sleep paralysis too, girl. Like she's that poor dog. Oh man. Okay. Uh, "I slowly get up from the bed and start to move toward the kitchen in the hopes of arming myself with a steak knife." Here's what I think is like the silly part to the story. If you were to watch it from like a movie perspective.
Christine Schiefer: Okay.
Em Schulz: It's like, if your bedroom door faces the outward front door that's cracked and people can see you, they're watching you get out of bed and to to, into another room to grab a knife.
Christine Schiefer: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I was like, this is an interesting choice to be try and be sneaky to grab the knife.
Em Schulz: That feels like part of a comedy. Like a, like a, uh, what's like a satire on a horror movie. [laughter]
Christine Schiefer: Like a, a very shtick, like a... I don't know. Like just a Three Stooges style.
Em Schulz: It's like, it's like, you know, Scary Movie...
Christine Schiefer: Yes.
Em Schulz: That's that's like the satire on, but I feel like there was a scene like that where she grabs a knife.
Christine Schiefer: Yeah.
Em Schulz: And the guy's like, "I can see you doing this."
Christine Schiefer: I can see you. [laughter] Uh.
Em Schulz: It's like, "I'm watching you do this." Umm, "As I walk, the weight of the dream nonsense is making me feel like I'm full of sand and I'm moving so slowly. I start to sink toward the floor. At this point, my main concern is now my body. Something is clearly wrong with me."
Christine Schiefer: [gasp]
Em Schulz: "I can barely move my legs, let alone arm myself against the intruders in my home."
Christine Schiefer: [gasp]
Em Schulz: "I'm contemplating if I should keep trying to get a knife or if I should just try to get back to my phone to call my husband. Because I'm clearly having a medical emergency when my fear wakes me for a third time. My one eye opens..."
Christine Schiefer: Your brain is being evil to you right now. Like keeping...
Em Schulz: Truly.
Christine Schiefer: You asleep when this is happening.
Em Schulz: Truly. "My one eye opens and I'm back in the real world, but still paralyzed."
Christine Schiefer: [gasp]
Em Schulz: "This time as I realized it was all a stupid dream, I'm determined to stay awake. As if it was the hardest physical task I've ever had to accomplish, I managed to open my other eye. I'm looking around my bedroom and soaking in the reality, making sure I don't fall asleep again. And my dog springs off the bed and runs to the front door. As he's whining and sniffing at the door, I swear I can hear someone slowly walking down the squeaky porch steps and away from my home."
Christine Schiefer: [gasp]
Em Schulz: "I finally move my fingers and hands, followed my arms and legs, and I can sit up in my bed firmly awakened in reality. The black eyed teens from my dreams left in dreamland, but then who was at my door?"
Christine Schiefer: Is that it?
Em Schulz: That's it.
Christine Schiefer: Oh, for God's sake. Okay. I. No. The fact that the dog was like, somebody's at the door and it's like sniffing the door afterward. Nah.
Em Schulz: I'm telling you, I think the dog also had sleep paralysis. That's what I'm thinking. You both pretty sure were in a dream together.
Christine Schiefer: I think he was, I think he was just being lazy. [laughter]
Em Schulz: Okay. Sure. That damn millennial dog, you know, those lazy kinds.
Christine Schiefer: That damn millennial dog. Oh, that's really terrifying, umm and if, uh, I were you, I would be traumatized. So, umm, so I'm sorry.
Em Schulz: There's, I mean there's, there's really nothing like that feeling of like trying to get yourself awake. And it really does feel like the hardest thing you've ever done in your life. It's...
Christine Schiefer: It's like you're just slug... It's like quicksand almost. Like, ugh!
Em Schulz: It's also, it's so frustrating 'cause even there are times where I know I'm awake and I'm having sleep paralysis and I'm just trying to, I think what I've been trying to do recently is like, scream as loud as I can. 'Cause if I'm like scream loud enough, maybe in, maybe if I scream as loud as I can in this dream, maybe my waking body will be like struggling and Allison will wake me up. Allison literally sleeps like there's a thousand bricks on top of her. She's...
Christine Schiefer: Yeah. [laughter]
Em Schulz: It's so unhelpful because like, I feel like, I feel like I can sense that I'm like actually like hitting her or something and like my hand's moving, but nothing else is, fucking homegirl doesn't even care. I think she like, would prefer me to be fully sleep paralysis so like she can just get a good night sleep.
Christine Schiefer: She's like, "I love you too, honey."
Em Schulz: But I'm fighting for my goddamn life.
Christine Schiefer: Yeah.
Em Schulz: Yeah. [laughter] I'm fighting for my life.
Christine Schiefer: Oh, uh, yeah. If I had a sleep paralysis about black eyed kids entering my home, I genuinely don't know how I would recover. I'd be so scared.
[laughter]
Em Schulz: I, I can't even imagine. And like, I also wanna, I wonder about Ash, like, are you having sleep paralysis dreams and you're at home? Like where your non mom is just showing up? Oh.
Christine Schiefer: Oh the doppleganger. Yeah.
Em Schulz: I feel like that's...
Christine Schiefer: Yeah. I wonder.
Em Schulz: A prime place to have sleep paralysis.
Christine Schiefer: Yeah. And the aunt who saw, who like kept, who saw the figure standing over her, like, that sounds very classic sleep paralysis. So I wonder if that was part of it too.
Em Schulz: Ugh, oh my God.
Christine Schiefer: Okay. Well, why not? Why not just throw another black eyed kid story in here? [laughter] 'Cause this is from Abby. I'm, I'm being really mean to our listeners today. I'm not trying to be.
Em Schulz: Yeah. Fuck you guys. But also...
Christine Schiefer: Fuck you.
Em Schulz: Here we go.
Christine Schiefer: And your lazy dog. [laughter] No, I'm just, I feel like I'm being so insulting and I'm, and like victim blaming and I'm really not trying to be, umm, I think I'm trying to be funny and it's not working, so I apologize. But anyway, this is from Abby, she/her, it's called Black Eyed Kids parenthesis BEK, spooky nightmare. "Hi friends. I'm currently on a re-listen of the early days and came across the BEK episode where it triggered a memory of my most frightening nightmare. At the time of the nightmare. I had no prior knowledge of BEK and actually had not learned about them until five years ago through podcast parenthesis, (Hey, thanks)." [laughter] I, I sense the sarcasm coming through. "To set the scene before the nightmare begins. We live in a two story house with my bedroom on the second floor. Just below my windows is where a first floor addition was. Therefore, I could easily crawl through a window and be on the flat roof of the addition. There wasn't an easy way to get up or down without a ladder, though. Trust teenage me I certainly tried." [laughter]
Em Schulz: Oh.
Christine Schiefer: "Cue the nightmare. It's evening. I'm in my room where by the way everything is normal. Throughout the dream my house is exactly as it should be, which isn't typical, at least for me. Usually there's some sort of wild dream, extra room or something, you know? There wasn't. So I'm in my room and I hear a tap on my window. I hesitantly walk over and move the shade just enough to peer out. I see a young girl with black hair and black eyes."
Em Schulz: Bye.
Christine Schiefer: "I quickly step back and attempt to scream. But this is dream world and I can't." Okay, so these are like the same fucking dreams. Like you cannot react. You have like no bodily control as these black-eyed kids are trying to enter your home. This is horrible.
Em Schulz: That's wild 'cause I always thought they could only invade your home, not your mind.
Christine Schiefer: Well, seems like they have leveled up.
Em Schulz: Can do both. Yeah.
Christine Schiefer: "But this is dream world and I can't, and I'm very aware that I can't. In a panic, I run for the door and find my mom. I hysterically explained my fear and she being the kind mom she is, replies we have to let her in." Oh my God, mom, no.
Em Schulz: Girl, no, you... What are talking about, you're simply unwell. That's what I would tell my mom.
Christine Schiefer: You're simply, I would be like, that's not my mom! From the first story, you know? [laughter]
Christine Schiefer: You're not my real mom.
Em Schulz: But also I would know it wasn't my mom because my mom would never just let somebody into the house, so. [laughter]
Christine Schiefer: Are you sure? Like a little kid. She wouldn't let in. I feel like she would.
Em Schulz: I think, especially if it was a little kid. [laughter]
Christine Schiefer: Oh, maybe not. She's like, I don't have time for this.
Em Schulz: She's like, I have a glass of wine. I need to drink. I don't know where your parents are.
Christine Schiefer: She's like, I had a kid and I did fine. So it's someone else's turn. [laughter]
Em Schulz: She's like, it's like, I'm fine. Like if you need somewhere to go, there's the backyard, but I'm busy in here. Please go.
Christine Schiefer: Yeah, you can use the pool if you need to.
Em Schulz: Yeah.
Christine Schiefer: "Immediately I begin sobbing and protesting her horrible plan. Sadly, she won the fight and went to the window to let the girl in. New dream scene, I am now in our perfectly normal living room with my mom, dad, and this scary black-eyed kid girl. I'm pleading with my horror movie and novel loving Dad to understand why she cannot be here with us. It is so obvious to me that this is the beginning of some sort of horror story, and I couldn't believe my dad wasn't on my side. While I'm begging for help, black eyed kid girl is sitting with my mom staring at me with her black void eyes."
Em Schulz: Ugh.
Christine Schiefer: By the way, remember this, this just occurred to me and it made my heart sink. This dream happened to her, to Abby before she ever knew what a black-eyed eyed kid was. Remember she said...
Em Schulz: Oh, right.
Christine Schiefer: When I first heard about this concept...
Em Schulz: Ughh, I hadn't thought about that.
Christine Schiefer: I heard about it on podcast. Eugh. "I'm so terrified and angry that they won't believe me. My dad finally speaks and says, 'You need to get over this. She's staying.'"
Em Schulz: [gasp]
Christine Schiefer: "Now go and give her a hug."
Em Schulz: [gasp] Honestly, fuck it. No.
Christine Schiefer: Oh, honestly, fuck you.
Em Schulz: No, thank you. With all my heart lovingly fuck you. Like...
Christine Schiefer: Lovingly and respectfully, you're not my real dad anymore. Bye.
Em Schulz: Well, you know what that's making, making me think of is like if this black eyed kid is in charge of your dream, they're directing the narrative of like, I'm here to stay, get used to us.
Christine Schiefer: Ew! They can control everyone else. Yeah. Ew!
Em Schulz: Get... I'm here to stay. Get used to it now give me a hug.
Christine Schiefer: Give me a hug. [laughter] I just want affection. Ugh. "Despite my heart beating nearly outta my chest and my brain screaming to run, I oblige. I slowly walk toward BEK girl as she rises for the hug. We embrace and as we do, she digs her nails into my back and forcefully drags them all the way up to my neck as I scream and writhe in pain."
Em Schulz: Oh my God.
Christine Schiefer: "I awake in the dark of my room, sweating and terrified. I never opened that shade again."
Em Schulz: [gasp]
Christine Schiefer: "In that summer, while repainting my room, I "accidentally" painted that window shut."
Em Schulz: Mm-hmm.
Christine Schiefer: "It's been about 15 years since the dream, and it still gives me goosecam ick. I've tried to find any meaning, psychological or otherwise behind it, but nothing really tracks. I really hope it's not an omen, though. Thanks. Love you. Bye."
Em Schulz: Oh, my God.
Christine Schiefer: I'm gonna have nightmares tonight just based on these stories and I'm gonna feel like I'm haunted all over again. This is not good.
Em Schulz: These are... Well done writing them. Everybody. That's all I gotta say.
Christine Schiefer: God, I feel Eva going like, mwahaha. Having selected this. Nonsense.
Em Schulz: Yeah. Although I do feel bad for Eva sometimes because she's clearly sitting in the dark at home.
Christine Schiefer: It's true.
Em Schulz: Reading these on her own.
Christine Schiefer: It's true. There was a brief time where I did that back at the start of the podcast and I remember feeling very unwell after hours of digging through people's submissions. So I imagine it still takes a toll.
Em Schulz: Oof. Okay, this is from Tori. Uses she/her pronouns. Thank you for normalizing pronouns, Tori. And uh, this subject is Salem Febreeze Ghost.
Christine Schiefer: Febreeze. Okay. [laughter]
Em Schulz: Febreeze. Okay.
Christine Schiefer: Okay.
Em Schulz: Okay.
Christine Schiefer: Okay.
Em Schulz: "Hello Em, Christine and Eva. I wanted to write in and tell y'all, uh, the thing that just happened to me while in Salem. I was born and raised in Massachusetts, so that meant multiple elementary school field trips to Salem. Plus I performed in a monthly shadow cast of the Rocker, Rocky Horror Picture Show, uh, in the Witch City Mall."
Christine Schiefer: How cool!
Em Schulz: "I am no stranger to Salem, but this was my very first paranormal experience." Okay. First of all, like I don't wanna, I don't know how scary it gets, but like how, maybe not lucky but dope is it that if you're gonna have a ghost experience ought to be Salem.
Christine Schiefer: Yeah. Especially growing up in like, it feel like it strikes me as, it feels like Tori's one of those people who like things happen all the time and she's like, oh, that's nothing.
Em Schulz: Yeah.
Christine Schiefer: And then like, this is gonna be like a real ghost story where she's like, [laughter] oh, my first paranormal encounter and it's like, no, not the...
Em Schulz: Wouldn't you know it.
Christine Schiefer: Yeah.
Em Schulz: "This past weekend was my birthday and my long distance friend was visiting from Cincinnati."
Christine Schiefer: Hey.
Em Schulz: "And when I finally figured out what I wanted to do, I booked us a room at the Haunted Hawthorne Hotel."
Christine Schiefer: Hmm.
Em Schulz: "I had always wanted to spend the night at this hotel and hoped that something," insert word that we're trying not to say spectral, spectral. "I always wanted something spectral to happen while we were there. Uh, rumor has it that three and six are the most haunted floors and we ended up on five. However, we were across the hall from one of the most haunted room numbers, so I'll take it."
[laughter]
Em Schulz: "While, my girlfriend was in the shower before checkout. I went down to the lobby to get her a cup of coffee and as soon as I opened our hotel room door, I was hit with a very nice but strong smell. I saw the maid's cart to my left and figured that someone had just Febrezed the hallway or something. When I get in the elevator, the smell is just as strong and I finally figured out what the smell was. Apples." Which they do have an apple Febreze that I liked quite a lot when it was out.
[laughter]
Em Schulz: Just saying.
Christine Schiefer: Probably.
Em Schulz: "When I got off the elevator I got the coffee. Uh, she wanted it black so I didn't have to do much and it took less than a minute. When I got inside the elevator, the smell was gone. When I got off at our floor, the smell was gone. Umm, it was too strong of a smell and too short of a trip for it to have dissipated that quickly. On the land where the Hawthorne Hotel was built once was an apple orchard..."
Christine Schiefer: [gasp]
Em Schulz: "Of Bridget Bishop, and Bridget Bishop was one of the first people to be tried for the crime of witchcraft and was found guilty and hanged on June 10th in nine 1962." I don't think so. I think it's maybe 1762 or 166...
Christine Schiefer: 1962. [laughter] Is that what it says?
Em Schulz: Or 1662. Yeah, says 1962.
[laughter]
Em Schulz: "1662. Apparently smelling apples throughout the hotel is something common that happens. Once I figured out that I was smelling apples in the elevator, I was shook. When we left our room, my girlfriend checked the maid's cart and neither of the Febreze scents were apple."
Christine Schiefer: Well, they're missing out on a prime opportunity there. If they wanna stock up on some apple Febreze, they could...
Em Schulz: Right?
Christine Schiefer: Get something going. Yeah.
Em Schulz: If you're... The Hawthorne Hotel and the person who like used to be there was was of the apple job in Ken world, her job is apple then like [laughter], you know what I mean? Like make it make, do something with the apples.
Christine Schiefer: Like lean into it.
Em Schulz: Totally lean into it.
Christine Schiefer: Yeah. I love it.
Em Schulz: Especially like during Halloween, like apple cider is like, you know?
Christine Schiefer: Uhh yeah. And when your friend says, I just want black coffee. Be like, okay, sure. And then put like a bunch of apple creamer in it.
[laughter]
Christine Schiefer: Be like, mmm.
Em Schulz: Yeah. Just give her an apple actually and be like, this is.
[laughter]
Christine Schiefer: Just give her an apple.
Em Schulz: This is of the culture of Hawthorne Hotel so you can get used to it.
Christine Schiefer: This is what you wanted. Right. Uh.
Em Schulz: Anyway. Thank, thank you Tori.
Christine Schiefer: Wow. Uh, that is something I have you had a ghostly smell experience before, Em?
Em Schulz: I never can tell. I really am. So, umm, I feel like smell is not my strong scent. Umm.
Christine Schiefer: Interesting.
Em Schulz: I feel like when I smell something it's only because something's either really good or really stinky.
Christine Schiefer: Mmm.
Em Schulz: And both times I wanna know what the culprit is because I either want to eat it or avoid it. Umm, so most of the time if I am playing scent detective, I don't think I've ever have... Come up with a mystery on my hands.
Christine Schiefer: Have you eaten the apple Febreze? Is that what you're trying to tell me?
Em Schulz: I've smelt it and it has made me want to go down and like, uh, go down to like a coffee shop and get apple cider, which I have done.
Christine Schiefer: I'm literally Googling it right now 'cause I kind of want some apple Febreze. Is that weird? [laughter]
Em Schulz: No, it's great. It's a great smell.
Christine Schiefer: It like looks delightful.
Em Schulz: I, umm, I just can't use it anymore. I overused it and I used it for a while as like my bathroom scent. So now I associate it with like bathroom smells.
Christine Schiefer: Oh no.
Em Schulz: Yeah.
Christine Schiefer: Yeah. I always stick to like citrusy for the bathroom. I'm like, I don't wanna go there. You know, ruin it for myself.
Em Schulz: I, uh.
Christine Schiefer: That's tough.
Em Schulz: When it come, when it comes to like phantom smells though. There have been, you know, this happened when I was at the beach with my mom where we both had the experience. I really think someone just walked in front of us and we were just smelling their perfume. But, umm, my gammy who passed away, she's had a very distinct smell and someone had to have been wearing something of hers, but we both smelt it the same time and went, that smelled just like gammy.
Christine Schiefer: Aww.
Em Schulz: I almost ran up to the people in front of us and asked like, what are you wearing? So I can buy some and like always smell her.
Christine Schiefer: Aww.
Em Schulz: But we lost them by that time. But anyway, that was the last time I smelt something and it reminded me of a ghost.
Christine Schiefer: That's cool. And it could have been, I mean, if you had asked and they were like, we don't wear perfume.
Em Schulz: Yeah. [laughter]
Christine Schiefer: You'd have been like, waah.
Em Schulz: We like to be Stiiiinky! [laughter]
Christine Schiefer: Deodorant, who?
Em Schulz: Yeah.
Christine Schiefer: Yeah, wow, that's that's creepy. I've had some experiences. Do you remember that time I smelled something when we were ghost hunting? And I made everyone stand there and you and Eva didn't smell it, I think? That...
Em Schulz: That has happened quite a lot, yeah.
Christine Schiefer: That is the only time, and I feel like it's always just like a quick waft of something.
Em Schulz: Mm-hmm.
Christine Schiefer: It's happened to me at a haunted hotel, too, where I'm like, who is smoking cigars in this place? And then I'm like, ohhh, probably nobody.
Em Schulz: Hmm interesting.
Christine Schiefer: Uhmm Okay, but apples would be a delightful smell.
Em Schulz: Oh wait, it was at, well, we can't say it. It was where we just were.
Christine Schiefer: Yeah. Yeah.
Em Schulz: And they said that you can smell cigars in a certain room, and you apparently really smelled cigars. And then...
Christine Schiefer: I was like, I feel like someone just blew a cloud of it in my fucking face.
Em Schulz: And then later that night, only I could smell cigars.
Christine Schiefer: Oh, That's right.
Em Schulz: And you couldn't smell them. And...
Christine Schiefer: They blew it up in your face. [Laughter?
Em Schulz: It was one of those things where it was creepy in the moment, but like no one will ever see that footage 'cause it just looks...
Christine Schiefer: It doesn't translate well. Yeah.
Em Schulz: That's the worst part about our tour, is that people get an hour of footage, but we were in a location for like, I mean, when you add up both times, it was like 18 hours or something of us being in a house.
Christine Schiefer: Yeah, it's hard to like translate how the energy of it and how scary it really gets, you know...
Em Schulz: Yeah.
Christine Schiefer: To people who weren't there. I wonder if we could do, maybe we could start like a, like we go ghost hunting with people you know.
Em Schulz: Mm-hmm.
Christine Schiefer: Like an in-person tour. I don't know.
Em Schulz: Can you imagine if we did a competition and someone gets to go ghost hunting with us? That'd be fun.
Christine Schiefer: I'm saying, like I think that'd be really fun.
Em Schulz: I wonder what the competition would be. We'll shop it. We'll shop it. We'll shop it.
Christine Schiefer: We'll shop it. This is called Hypnosis Experience, and this is from she/her. Okay. Kaitie.
Em Schulz: All right. [laughter]
Christine Schiefer: Sorry. Kaitie. Kaitie.
Em Schulz: Oh.
Christine Schiefer: "Hi, Em, Christine and Eva. First off, I just want to say y'all are my favorite. I am a pediatric social worker and therapist." Wow. Good for you. That's awesome. "Although I love what I do, we all need some time to decompress and practice self-care. My way of doing that is listening to ghost stories and true crime with you guys. How millennial of me, LOL. Thanks for being awesome. I was super excited when you guys mentioned how you wanted to hear hypnosis experiences. I've been so fascinated with hypnosis ever since I read Many Lives, Many Masters by Dr. Brian Weiss." Great book, by the way, as just a Christine aside, and you can get it on...
Em Schulz: Oh.
Christine Schiefer: On audio book. It's not very long and it's very interesting. "Fun fact, I attended a seminar with him and met him. He is such a cool guy with an amazing vibe. So while in grad school, I did a few sessions of hypnotherapy and a past life regression." I wanna do that so bad. "I have to say it was really helpful. Christine, since you've mentioned that you've been wanting to do a past life regression, I'll tell that story." Yay.
Em Schulz: Perfect. Okay. That works out very well for the craving you just had seconds ago. [laughter]
Christine Schiefer: I mean, look at this, just right, right in my path, like a little, like a little, a little, hmm. Pukwudgie? I don't know.
Em Schulz: Oh.
Christine Schiefer: What goes in your path? I don't know.
Em Schulz: I don't know.
Christine Schiefer: A gemstone? I feel like I have a gas leak in my house today. [laughter] I don't think the things I'm saying are sensible at all or sensical at all. Okay. Let me preface this by saying blah, blah, blah. Let me see. Uuhh. A past life regression. Okay. I'll tell that story. "Let me preface this by saying ever since I was a little kid, I have been terrified of fire and burning. Like lighting a candle with a match was extremely stressful for me. I've always felt like I knew what it was like to die by burning." Oh my.
Em Schulz: Oh my God.
Christine Schiefer: But meanwhile, I'm like, I used to like play with matches and like, you know, I probably shouldn't have put that on the show.
Em Schulz: Oh, I played with matches quite a lot.
Christine Schiefer: Okay. When you didn't respond I was like...
Em Schulz: I was...
Christine Schiefer: Okay, well now I look like the psycho, but I'm glad I'm not...
Em Schulz: No, here I'll look like a psycho. I was one of those people who used to hold a lighter and then do like the aerosol spray, to like...
Christine Schiefer: Oh yeah.
Em Schulz: Create a flamethrower. Yeah. One time my mom caught me and I was doing it in front of my friends and she came out and yelled at me in front of my friends.
Christine Schiefer: So embarrassing.
Em Schulz: Ooh, never did it again.
Christine Schiefer: Yeah. You know, that's when you know, you're in serious trouble. I once caught my window sill on fire. Umm, and my step-mom has never forgiven me and it got melted all the paint off. She's so mad.
Em Schulz: Oh shit. [laughter]
Christine Schiefer: Anyway, "I've been terrified of fire and burning. I've always felt like I knew what it was like to die by burning, but growing up in a very strict Catholic household, that would be impossible because I've only lived this life and have never been burned. Right?"
Em Schulz: Mm-hmm.
Christine Schiefer: "Additionally, I've always been fascinated with witches. I was obsessed with Hocus Pocus. Well, still am. So much so that my strict Catholic mother told me once that she was worried for my soul." [laughter]
Em Schulz: Oh wow.
Christine Schiefer: "Anyway, I scheduled my first past life regression session after three regular hypnotherapy sessions and was super excited. A few days before my regression, I had this extremely vivid dream that I was a young woman living in the woods. I felt terrified as people were knocking on my door. I finally opened the door and was taken away by people and burned alive."
Em Schulz: Hmm.
Christine Schiefer: "I woke up and was like, what the fuck? It felt so real that I was grateful I woke up. So during my past life regression session, I felt myself getting very deep in the hypnosis. The therapist led me through this and although I can't remember exactly what she said, I remember becoming very present in a forest. It was in Europe a very long time ago and I knew that I fled to live in the woods. I was a healer, but knew that it was dangerous and that people were threatened by me. I remember feeling abandoned by my parents, but due to their own fear of me."
Em Schulz: Ooh.
Christine Schiefer: Which is an interesting parallel that your mom...
Em Schulz: Yeah.
Christine Schiefer: Said like, I'm afraid for your soul and stuff if you're watching these witch shows.
Em Schulz: And like in another life, they were threatened by you maybe.
Christine Schiefer: Yeah, you are right.
Em Schulz: Hmm.
Christine Schiefer: "I remember feeling abandoned by my parents, but due to their own fear of me, what was interesting is that I saw my parents in that life, and although I didn't recognize my father, I recognized my mother as a previous coworker in this life."
Em Schulz: Can you imagine your coworker becomes your mom?
Christine Schiefer: Becoming your mom! Especially someone you don't like. Oh, that's like the ultimate punishment, man. You'd be like, "Seriously, what the fuck?"
Em Schulz: It would make... Speaking of parallels though, it would make sense that you would be with someone like in multiple lives and they would have the same type of characteristics of like, oh, we're going to like have disagreements and like do like tasks together and like, you know.
Christine Schiefer: Yes, yes.
Em Schulz: Interesting.
Christine Schiefer: That talk about like a uphill battle, uh, for your soul to learn to deal with.
Em Schulz: Yeah. Yeah.
Christine Schiefer: Oh boy. Okay. "I recognized my mother as a previous coworker in this life. She always rubbed me the wrong way. And although I was respectful, I kept, I kept as much distance as I could. Anyway, the hypnotherapist led me through that lifetime to the last moments of that life. That is when it hit me. I was engulfed in flames."
Em Schulz: Hmm.
Christine Schiefer: "I felt heat and pain, was physically choking and coughing, and literally saw the color red as my eyes were closed almost as if there was a light shining in your eyes while closed, and you can still make out the color of that light. In the moment, I knew I was burned alive in that life. I suspected it's because I lived during the witch trials and I was a healer. What was fascinating and terrifying to reflect on was how real the sensations of pain, fear, and panic were." Which is so fascinating 'cause like, if that hundreds of years ago that can like bleed into your current life that like pain and fear still.
Em Schulz: Yeah.
Christine Schiefer: Which is just so jarring to think about.
Em Schulz: I don't know enough about this kind of stuff, but if your past lives affect you today, like it'd be wild if, I mean, I, I can't imagine having something that traumatic happen in a past life and it still causing some sort of trauma.
Christine Schiefer: And as a kid.
Em Schulz: Or something.
Christine Schiefer: Yeah. And as a kid you're already scared of fire. Like you're already traumatized that you don't even know why.
Em Schulz: Oof.
Christine Schiefer: Ooh. "I was also curious about whether the dream I had prior to that influenced the regression. At the time though, I didn't put two and two together, and I really think that my subconscious was very open due to the previous hypnotherapy sessions, which led to me dreaming of a very real memory my soul had. If you're curious about if the regression helped overcome my fear of fire, that is a big hell no."
[laughter]
Christine Schiefer: Fire [laughter] I mean, I don't blame you.
Em Schulz: Fair enough.
Christine Schiefer: Also, imagining myself, not even imagining, but like re-experiencing the memory of being burned alive would also not help my fear of fire. So don't.
Em Schulz: Well, the person, the person doing the past life regression on you, like the hypnotist, like probably felt like, oh, you like accidentally caught your windowsill on fire in a past life.
[laughter]
Em Schulz: But it's like, oh no, you were a witch burned at the stake?
Christine Schiefer: Yeah. That's a little tough.
Em Schulz: Okay. That is above my pay grade, like...
Christine Schiefer: Yeah, it's above. I don't know. I haven't been trained for that one. That's, uh, that's, that's gotta be really rough.
Em Schulz: Wild.
Christine Schiefer: Fire is scary as hell. Nope. It says fire is scary as well, but I would imagine as hell also.
Em Schulz: Mm-hmm.
Christine Schiefer: "Fire is scary as well, but I feel like I have an awareness now and less anxious about burning alive or lighting a candle with a match. LOL." Okay, well that's good. Like it lowered your anxiety about it. That's huge. I will say.
Em Schulz: That's true.
Christine Schiefer: "I will say the hypnotherapy sessions I had for anxieties in this life helped tremendously." Can I, can you, can you refer me to this person, please, uh, Katie, because I need help. "10 outta 10 recommend. Wish I could share more, but that will have to wait for another day if you read this. Thanks for reading. Wishing you all the very best, Katie."
Em Schulz: Interesting.
Christine Schiefer: I want more of those stories. More past lives. Please, please.
Em Schulz: Christine's always loving about the past life.
Christine Schiefer: I just wanna know everything.
Em Schulz: And if you happen to be a cowboy in a past life, [laughter] there is a chance that she was in love with you. Just so that we're clear.
Christine Schiefer: And I will leave my partner. No, I'm kidding. [laughter]
Em Schulz: I still feel like I should do Blaise like a service and like text him and be like, "Just come home dressed like a cowboy. Just come. Just try."
[laughter]
Christine Schiefer: Or just tell Christine like you had the weirdest dream that you were living in the Wild West in a past life.
Em Schulz: Let's just play a, let's just play a silly little game where like, you know, you come home with a, you know, [laughter] your equivalent of like a steak dinner with roses and you're dressed like a cowboy. I don't know, let's just, I think you'd have a good time.
Christine Schiefer: Yeah. It's not that hard.
Em Schulz: Yeah, I think she'd feel wine and dined. That's all.
Christine Schiefer: We live in Kentucky. You can find you some cowboy boots.
Em Schulz: You could go to the Boot Barn down the road or something.
Christine Schiefer: There's like 4,000 of 'em. Come on.
Em Schulz: There you have it. Alright, this is our final story of October.
Christine Schiefer: Oooooh.
Em Schulz: Uh, this is from Nick who use a she/her pronouns. Thank you for normalizing pronouns, Nick. And the subject is, the source of my horrific nightmares is a family curse.
Christine Schiefer: Super. Oh, good.
Em Schulz: Starts with "Good day." Good day.
Christine Schiefer: I guess, not so much anymore, but yeah.
Em Schulz: "To start this off, my family has a very strange affliction. It runs through my dad's side and there are at least five living family members that deal with this." [gasp]
Christine Schiefer: An affliction.
Em Schulz: Ooh.
Christine Schiefer: Yikes. At least you have people in, you know.
Em Schulz: In your corner.
Christine Schiefer: At least where there's company. Yeah.
Em Schulz: You should all be in a group chat together.
[laughter]
Christine Schiefer: We should.
Em Schulz: "We sleepwalk. And now sleepwalking is a very small part of what happens to us because we wander, we talk, we act out our dreams, and it is generally terrifying for all of us. I can only really give you specifics about what I deal with because most of my family members don't like to talk about what they dream. I have extremely vivid and repetitive dreams from the time I was very small. I have dreamt that there were unseen people near me."
Christine Schiefer: Oh.
Em Schulz: "I'm almost always in my room and I can feel them near me in the walls whispering."
Christine Schiefer: Euwwh.
Em Schulz: "I can never fully understand them. And no matter how much I look around for them, all I see is darkness."
Christine Schiefer: Eugh.
Em Schulz: "Sometimes I would hear them and feel them, and feel that I was awake." Oh. "Then my bed would shake like I was in the Exorcist and I would wake up screaming. More than once I dreamt that there were pieces of dead people hanging from my ceiling."
Christine Schiefer: Huh?
Em Schulz: "In a grotesque mobile or mobile."
Christine Schiefer: Uh!!
Em Schulz: Like the baby mobiles and all the pieces are dead body parts.
Christine Schiefer: No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Em Schulz: "And I have frequent visitations from a woman with no face. She is probably the worst thing I deal with."
Christine Schiefer: Oh, it's Ash's mom.
[chuckle]
Em Schulz: I was gonna say if she, if she's listening right now, make sure you're doing this with headphones on because if you're near those walls that talk.
Christine Schiefer: Ugh.
Em Schulz: She just heard you say that.
Christine Schiefer: Awkward. [laughter]
Em Schulz: Hope you're in the car far, far away from your home when this comes out. [laughter] "Whenever I dream of her, I'm always in my bed completely frozen and staring at a black hole in my ceiling. She slowly climbs out of the," oh my God. "She slowly climbs out one limb at a time..."
Christine Schiefer: [gasp]
Em Schulz: "And grows longer as she stretches down toward me."
Christine Schiefer: Ohhh.
Em Schulz: "She's never touched me, but she always tries."
Christine Schiefer: [gasp]
Em Schulz: "When I snap out of it, I'm usually drenched in sweat. I'm talking change my pajamas, levels of sweat."
Christine Schiefer: Oh God.
Em Schulz: "Here's where it gets really awful. I dream all of this while my eyes are open."
Christine Schiefer: Huh? Like sleep paralysis?
Em Schulz: "My body wakes up during these dreams, but my mind does not. I've been found running around my room climbing furniture and tearing things apart, all while asleep."
Christine Schiefer: [gasp] Oh, so you're acting this out.
Em Schulz: So you're acting out trying to escape her.
Christine Schiefer: That, uh, this is dangerous. Seriously.
Em Schulz: Talk about night terrors. Jesus Christ.
Christine Schiefer: Like. Yeah.
Em Schulz: "So here's the thing. I've been to doctors as have some of my family members, and this parasomnia phenomenon is so strange that I've been told my family would be a good study."
Christine Schiefer: Yeah, I would agree with that.
Em Schulz: But also how sad is that to know that like, oh, this isn't common and you're alone.
Christine Schiefer: Yeah. Well, not alone. Your whole family's.
[laughter]
Em Schulz: That's true.
Christine Schiefer: But like suffering.
Em Schulz: If I had a condition and like people couldn't tell me like, oh, this is common, even if there's no fix, but like, oh, others are like you. Like it has to feel so isolating.
Christine Schiefer: Don't worry. Yes, I would agree with that. That sounds fucking, uh, yeah, isolating is probably the best word.
Em Schulz: Your family could be a good study. And then it says "that's not how I wanted to get into a science journal." [laughter] They, uh.
Christine Schiefer: I don't, I don't know how many people wanna get into a science journal, but I certainly don't.
Em Schulz: I would love to be put into a science journal as an anomaly, but like, not in a scary way. Just in like, I'm so...
Christine Schiefer: Okay. Well a narrow window there.
Em Schulz: Fabulous and funny and good looking that like I had to be studied.
Christine Schiefer: She's like impossible. It's gotta be some sort of a family curse.
Em Schulz: This is a one and done situation. Yeah. [laughter] "They gave me some anxiety meds and told me that that was all they could do. Spoiler. They didn't help, but they did help me stop being anxious about going to bed."
Christine Schiefer: Okay.
Em Schulz: "Is that good or bad? Within a year or so, I was having the same nightmares and leaving the bed again, but now I had a harder time waking up because of the drugs."
Christine Schiefer: Oh, okay. That is a downside I didn't see.
Em Schulz: Ooh. I feel like the doctors should have warned you about that.
Christine Schiefer: Yeah. That's something I didn't see coming.
Em Schulz: I feel like the doctors even didn't see that coming, but now it makes so much sense.
Christine Schiefer: No. Yeah.
Em Schulz: "In the last few years, I feel like I have found, I may have found an answer. My dad was digging into our family history and was talking about our family name and how it's changed over the generations. He was telling me that one night over dinner, he found some extremely old documents on ancestry that date all the way back to the early years of America, and described an ancestor that once owned a sugarcane plantation in Barbados."
Christine Schiefer: Whoa.
Em Schulz: "After a big hurricane, he left the plantation to become a minister in Salem."
Christine Schiefer: Oh my god. Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God.
Em Schulz: "My dad figured out that we are directly related to Samuel Paris, the minister who helped start the witch trials in Salem."
Christine Schiefer: Yup.
Em Schulz: "And while I hate to think that anyone can lay a curse on a family, it definitely feels like it."
Christine Schiefer: And honestly, like if anyone was gonna get cursed.
Em Schulz: Uh yeah. It was gonna be your family line.
Christine Schiefer: It tracks.
Em Schulz: Sorry about that. Oh my god.
Christine Schiefer: Sorry. That sucks.
Em Schulz: And I mean, all these, like this woman, I mean like, I imagine a the witch who cursed you, maybe like trying to like reach out and grab you and...
Christine Schiefer: Ooh and also think about like the, uh, the owning the plantation. Like owning...
Em Schulz: Oh, that can't be good either.
Christine Schiefer: Enslaved people, you know, there's just so much bad there.
Em Schulz: Whew. "When I learned about it..."
Christine Schiefer: I mean you are not your ancestors, to be clear, you know, that would be bad news for all of us, but, uh...
Em Schulz: No, but it does feel like a bit of a reckless spell 'cause if I could curse somebody's family line, I would hope that I made this the spell like specific enough where I'm like, but the good people are fine. Like if you...
Christine Schiefer: Yeah. Exactly.
Em Schulz: If you changed your ways, you're on my side. Okay.
Christine Schiefer: I'll be with you. Yeah. The women are, are safe, I would say.
Em Schulz: Yeah. I feel like this is a job for Salem. I feel like you have to go there and like find a descendant of that witch to like un-hex you, you know?
Christine Schiefer: Yes. Who is the Salem one? Uh, Salem Tori.
Em Schulz: Oh yeah.
Christine Schiefer: Ask Tori. Tori spends a lot of time in Salem. Now we're just like hooking up all our listeners.
[laughter]
Em Schulz: Oh my gosh. Okay. "When I learned about it, I decided to try something. I began to write out apologies to the women who died."
Christine Schiefer: Aww.
Em Schulz: "I was so desperate and tired of having dealt with the horror of my dreams for so long. I just had to try. I couldn't keep waking up, absolutely shaking and sweating with my heart pounding, standing somewhere that I didn't go to sleep."
Christine Schiefer: Oof.
Em Schulz: Umm, "So I wrote to every single girl and woman I could find through my research who had been accused."
Christine Schiefer: [gasp]
Em Schulz: "I put them in a box under my bed, umm, and the cat sleeps next to it sometimes," that feels very witchy.
Christine Schiefer: Wow. It does.
Em Schulz: "And it stopped."
Christine Schiefer: [gasp]
Em Schulz: "I still have weird dreams sometimes where I wake up sitting upright, but I don't hear whispers. I don't see the woman with no face."
Christine Schiefer: That's amazing.
Em Schulz: "And I haven't had any dreams of bodies piling up around me. Maybe it's all in my head, but maybe somebody heard my apology. Anyway. I love to cuddle up with a sewing project, and And That's Why We Drink in my headphones..."
Christine Schiefer: Aww.
Em Schulz: "And your stories keep me company and keep me thinking that a little respect could help ease some old pain. So I don't think I'll ever visit Salem though." Okay. So ignore what I have to say.
Christine Schiefer: Okay. Well that part's not happening, but what about a, well, maybe not either, but maybe a past life regression, you know, with, uh.
Em Schulz: Yeah.
Christine Schiefer: Was it, uh, I'm trying to, I don't wanna get the names wrong with, with Katie.
Em Schulz: Yeah.
Christine Schiefer: Katie could take you in and you could learn, you know, maybe what's some, uh. Get some healing.
Em Schulz: Well, you know what's, so what's interesting is that like, I feel like, I don't know, like it, I, I think for the story it's absolutely, it feels paranormal, but also like even I feel like that could be a good psychology study for anyone of like, oh, if you're having bad dreams, maybe like talk to the dreams, like face them head on. So like, I feel like that alone...
Christine Schiefer: Yeah.
Em Schulz: Even if it wasn't a paranormal thing.
Christine Schiefer: That's a great point.
Em Schulz: Would have been good for your mind of like address it head on. But if...
Christine Schiefer: Yes. That's a great point 'cause they've said like, they've studied this, like the more you push something outta your thoughts, like the stronger it gets in your subconscious. So maybe like consciously.
Em Schulz: Running into it was a great idea.
Christine Schiefer: Yeah. Yeah.
Em Schulz: But I also think, I mean, this feels paranormal to be clear. I'm not trying to like discredit your.
Christine Schiefer: No, no. Yeah.
Em Schulz: But, but I feel like no matter what, I feel like it's a good reminder that like, if you have something you're scared of in the dream world, maybe try to face it and see if anything changes.
Christine Schiefer: Maybe there's a yeah, maybe there's a, a reason, umm, like maybe you're related to a really bad man.
[laughter]
Em Schulz: Oh my God. But like. That would be...
Christine Schiefer: That is so would devastating. I like, as somebody who...
Em Schulz: That's crazy.
Christine Schiefer: I, constantly struggles with my like, uh, familial history and just trying to get to grips. Like it's, that's it's a tough feeling. Like, oh, that's runs in my blood. You know? Like, that's gotta be just really rough. So, umm...
Em Schulz: I, umm, not, I don't know about a paranormal way, but, uh, my family line, at least on one side is pretty terrible through and through ever since we came to the US and I guarantee before that too. So I'm always like, what metaphorical demons are chasing me...
Christine Schiefer: Yes.
Em Schulz: And now I'm like, oh, this poor person actually has real demons...
Christine Schiefer: Yes.
Em Schulz: Well, not witches, sorry. They're not demons, but, you know, has has some real actual scary history.
Christine Schiefer: Like, demons. In the, demons in the sense of like they're haunting you, uh, from the past. Yeah.
Em Schulz: Oh God. But, wow. Okay. That's a, that's a good ass story, that's for sure...
Christine Schiefer: That is...
Em Schulz: You should tell it on a first date and see like what happens. [laughter]
Christine Schiefer: Uh, yeah. Maybe with some of the people we just set you up with. There's a lot.
Em Schulz: That's true.
Christine Schiefer: We just tried to, uh, set you up with a bunch of people.
Em Schulz: Mmm. Well how about that? Those, that was one good pile of stories. Good job Eva. Round of applause for Eva.
Christine Schiefer: Good job. That was spooky. This is like such a good...
Em Schulz: It was spectral, Christine.
Christine Schiefer: Ah! You're right. See, I mean, listen, well I'm, I'm learning, I'm learning. Umm, thank you for keeping me accountable Em. Umm uh, yes. This was a very spectral episode.
[laughter]
Em Schulz: It was very good. So like the every story was juicy and actually freaked me the fuck out. So...
Christine Schiefer: Yeah. I actually am. This doesn't happen that often anymore just 'cause we talk about stuff so much, but like, I'm actually a little bit nervous for my alone time this weekend. [laughter]
Em Schulz: I don't envy you although I'm currently alone...
Christine Schiefer: I'm gonna be calling you nonstop.
Em Schulz: Well, you know what's so creepy? I was, umm, I was in here yesterday before we recorded our episode yesterday and I came in here, something was fucking going on. I don't know...
Christine Schiefer: What do you mean?
Em Schulz: What it was. I don't know. But it was also right after I set up this whole little bit. So I was like, uhh, uh oh what's going on here.
Christine Schiefer: The Owlameda, what were you doing?
Em Schulz: She was pulling a hootenanny. She knows all about that...
Christine Schiefer: She was like shaking her head back there. Nope. Wasn't me.
Em Schulz: She's going, Who? Me?
Christine Schiefer: Who? Me?
[laughter]
Em Schulz: But no, I felt something real fucking creepy in here. And I like had to like, give like a whole little lecture out loud and be like, whoever is here, if I did not know and love you in this life, you have to get outta here. Like, you've gotta go.
Christine Schiefer: That is not, not it, not, not the energy I'm looking for...
Em Schulz: I didn't. Something didn't feel right. I don't know if it's because we're coming up on spectral season or if there's something in the air or something's in retrograde. I don't know what it is, but something felt real creepy. I don't know.
Christine Schiefer: Ooh, okay. Umm...
Em Schulz: So I'm already on edge and these stories really sent me over.
Christine Schiefer: Maybe it'll stay with you then because I'm not feeling like I wanna be part of that today. Umm...
Em Schulz: Hmm.
Christine Schiefer: So maybe you can keep it there for now.
Em Schulz: Mm-hmm. Umm huh.
Christine Schiefer: What no?
Em Schulz: No, thank you.
Christine Schiefer: Great.
Em Schulz: Enjoy your baby in the middle of the night, like saying, Mommy down the hall when like you're actually...
Christine Schiefer: She does actually...
Em Schulz: Oh my God.
Christine Schiefer: Literally, 'cause she sleep talks now...
Em Schulz: Oooh.
Christine Schiefer: Did I not tell you that? That's a fun new development.
Em Schulz: So she got that from Uncle Xandy. Is that what that is?
Christine Schiefer: From Uncle Xandy. That's exactly right. And the other day I heard her go, Here you go, mommy. And I was like, but like on the camera, you know... She's like, Here you go, mommy.
Em Schulz: My favorite thing that I have gotten to experience a couple times now, which to preface Christine is happily a mother and loves her baby very much. But I can tell when you're like, just in like sleepy mom mode...
Christine Schiefer: Uh oh [laughter]
Em Schulz: And on the phone multiple times. Now I hear. Hi Mommy. Hi Leona. Hi Mommy. Hi Leona.
Christine Schiefer: It's, it's exactly right.
Em Schulz: Hi Mommy.
Christine Schiefer: It's the whole family now is like, hi baby. Hi baby. Hi Leona. Because it's like her favorite thing and she says it if she's like, like sometimes I'll say like, Leona, we don't draw on the couch and she'll go, Hi mommy. It's sort of her way of being like, oh I didn't do anything.
Em Schulz: It's just acknowledged... Acknowledgement from any direction.
Christine Schiefer: Yeah.
Christine Schiefer: Hi mommy. Hi mommy. Hi mommy.
Em Schulz: But it's the funniest thing to hear you just like... It's such a...
Christine Schiefer: It's it's like when I'm on the phone, it's like how a dog gets like really in your face 'cause they, they realize you're paying attention to someone else. The second like, you call me, Em, Leona's like, "Hi mommy, hi mommy, hi mommy."
Em Schulz: I know. I hear her all the time.
Em Schulz: But it's like, it's just to watch one of my friends who like, I knew you way before you were a mom and now you're just like, in some moments you do have the trope of just like...
Christine Schiefer: Hi baby.
Em Schulz: A fucking exhausted mom. And it's...
Christine Schiefer: Hi baby.
Em Schulz: It's very funny 'cause I just, I just hear the defeat. You're like, hi Leona. Hi Leona.
Christine Schiefer: And it's funny 'cause at school now she tells people her name is Baby...
Em Schulz: Awww.
Christine Schiefer: Because they'll be like, they all have to say their own name. Like just to like learn each other's names and every time, every all her friends at school, at like Montessori call her baby because she says her name's baby. They're like, what's your name? She says, baby.
Em Schulz: What if it's so B-E-B-E. Bebe.
Christine Schiefer: Bebe [laughter] with an accent.
Em Schulz: Alright, well go enjoy. What do you, well, hang on real quick. Let's, let's end where we started.
Christine Schiefer: Okay.
Em Schulz: October 1st. What are you gonna do for this little birthday coming up?
Christine Schiefer: She's a little hungry caterpillar, did you get the invite yet?
Em Schulz: Oh yes. I just got the invite...
Christine Schiefer: Oh good.
Em Schulz: And uh, I obviously unfortunately won't be able to go...
Christine Schiefer: I'm sad about that.
Em Schulz: But I'm trying to come up with I'm, I I'm going to a wedding that weekend, so...
Christine Schiefer: Oh! Well that's fun.
Em Schulz: Umm, but I was trying to think of like, umm, what I can get her for her birthday and I can't do it. I looked everywhere, so I'm just gonna tell you to your face.
Christine Schiefer: Okay.
Em Schulz: I tried to find a way to send you, umm, a, I guess essentially a kid's charcuterie board, but it looked, it was, it looked like the hungry caterpillar and it was all the foods that he eats.
Christine Schiefer: Oh get out of town.
Em Schulz: I tried so hard. I tried so hard.
Christine Schiefer: That's the cutest thing I ever did hear. [laughter]
Em Schulz: But if, if you wanna steal that idea for the party and like make the hungry caterpillar out of the foods that he eats and then it's like a little kid...
Christine Schiefer: Umm, well, you should see my Pinterest. It's out of control. Really. It is. Umm, so you'll be seeing a lot of photos of that. Umm.
Em Schulz: I feel like the, the hungry caterpillar was one. Is it the Very Hungry Caterpillar?
Christine Schiefer: It's the Very Hungry Caterpillar. Yeah.
Em Schulz: And it's the hungry, hungry hippos.
Christine Schiefer: Yes. [laughter]
Em Schulz: Okay. I always felt like...
Christine Schiefer: Nailed it.
Em Schulz: I identified with that caterpillar more than most books. Umm.
Christine Schiefer: I know. It's like Salami, ice cream, popsicles, pizza. And I'm like, yes, yes, yes. I get it.
[laughter]
Em Schulz: Never no. But also I, so like this is the party I want to go to because this is where the...
Christine Schiefer: I'm so depressed because it is all food focused.
Em Schulz: Rule is eat your fucking...
Christine Schiefer: Yes.
Em Schulz: Oh, eat your heart out. Well.
Christine Schiefer: I cannot wait to send you photos of like, or these pictures from my Instagram or from my Pinterest of like what I'm planning because it's ridiculous.
Em Schulz: I can't wait. I, I'm so upset I'm not gonna go. I'm so upset.
Christine Schiefer: I'm sad.
Em Schulz: What, umm, is it her favorite book or are you just picking it for the theme?
Christine Schiefer: She really likes it and she has it in German too. Umm.
Em Schulz: Aww.
Christine Schiefer: And then there's a game on her tablet that she plays where, uh, it's a hungry caterpillar game and...
Em Schulz: Oh my god.
Christine Schiefer: It's like little fruits.
Em Schulz: Is it Snake?
[laughter]
Christine Schiefer: It's on my old Blackberry actually. It's snake. No. But, yeah I'm just...
Em Schulz: What? Umm, oh, how do you say very hungry caterpillar in German.
Christine Schiefer: Oh God. Uh, I wanna say the right but 'cause it's ridiculous. Okay. Die Kleine Raupe Nimmersatt. Which means the small caterpi-pillar who's never full.
[laughter]
Em Schulz: Ain't that the truth?
Christine Schiefer: I know. I was like relatable.
[laughter]
Em Schulz: Well, happy birthday to your little baby. This is also birthday month for you, like you said.
Christine Schiefer: Thank you, Em.
Em Schulz: So I hope you have a very spectral, happy birthday Halloween.
Christine Schiefer: You too. And it's Al's birthday coming up. We got some Libras whom we love.
Em Schulz: Mm-hmm.
Christine Schiefer: And I hope all the Libras have a happy birthday and I hope the Scorpios don't. No, I'm just kidding. I don't.
Em Schulz: I do. I'll I'll say it.
Christine Schiefer: Em does. Em does. [laughter]
Em Schulz: Christine wishes the best for Scorpios.
Christine Schiefer: I do.
Em Schulz: That's how we'll end it. Umm.
Christine Schiefer: Let's just leave it at that.
Em Schulz: Next time we see you. It will be Scorpio season and I'll be real fucking better. So, umm, can't wait to see you for the next listener's episode in a month. And...
Christine Schiefer: That's.
Em Schulz: Why.
Christine Schiefer: We.
Em Schulz: Drink.