Send us a text This week's episode is perfectly-timed for Halloween! Learn about Rolling Hills Asylum as a haunted attraction and what draws people to the site. Find out about the staff and patients who lived at the poor farm and whose spirits are said to roam the halls still. Discover what is so creepy about the "Christmas Room" and what happens t…

Send us a text This week we discuss the history of Rolling Hills Asylum, which was known as the Genesee County Poor Farm while it was in operation. Learn about the historical context that shows why poorhouses started in New York. Find out about the doctor that exposed the horrific conditions that poor and mentally ill folks were living in. Finally,…

Send us a text This week's episode tells the stories of six survivors of Ireland's Magdalen laundries and orphanages. Learn what their typical work day was like, what punishments they experienced, and what the long-term consequences were of incarceration at the laundries. My main sources for this episode include the 1998 documentary Sex in a Cold C…

Send us a text This week's episode discusses the history of Magdalen Asylums (also called Magdalen Laundries) in England and Ireland. Focus lies primarily on the history of these laundries in Ireland. Find out how and why these asylums started, how many there were of them in England and Ireland, and what finally brought them to a close. My primary …

Send us a text This week's episode features the story of "Tammy," a survivor of Goodna/Wolston Park Mental Hospital, in her own words. The focus of her story lies in the aftermath of her time spent in institutions and how her hospitalization has affected the rest of her life. Trigger warnings for this episode include the use of explicit, outdated, …

Send us a text This week's episode tells the story of Jean, who later went by Erin, and her experience at multiple adolescent treatment facilities in Queensland, including Goodna/Wolston Park Mental Hospital. She also discusses the lasting effects her childhood had on her life. Trigger warnings for this episode include mention of sexual abuse, phys…

Send us a text This week's episode examines the history of Goodna Mental Hospital, which also went by Brisbane Mental Hospital, Brisbane Special Hospital, and Wolston Park Mental Hospital during the years between 1937 and its closure in 2001. Find out what controversial treatments were used there and why the treatments took an almost 10 year hiatus…

Send us a text This week's episode discusses the early history of Woogaroo Lunatic Asylum/Goodna Hospital for the Insane. Find out why the asylum had to be moved and rebuilt several times during its early years. Learn about the superintendents that were crucial to shaping the future of the hospital. Discover what "treatments" were offered to return…

Send us a text This week we head down under to Queensland to learn about Ipswich Mental Hospital, which went by many other names during its 120 year history. Find out which name is the reason this hospital was selected (I promise you'll be able to tell!). Discover how the area went from a formal penal colony to discovering coal to housing a small b…

Send us a text This week we travel to South Korea to the defunct Gonjiam Psychiatric Hospital, which was once named the third most haunted place in South Korea and one of the freakiest places in the world. Learn about the legends and myths surrounding the facility, as well as the very real history of mental health treatment in 20th century South Ko…

Send us a text This week's episode concludes the series on Seacliff Mental Hospital and the story of New Zealand writer Janet Frame. Find out why Frame was sent to Seacliff, how many psychiatric hospitals she would be admitted to, and how her writing actually saved her life. The main source for this episode is Janet Frame's autobiography An Angel a…

Send us a text This week's episode examines the childhood and young adulthood of New Zealand writer Janet Frame. Learn what it was like for Frame growing up during the Great Depression and World War II, all while hoping to learn to develop and perfect the craft of writing. This episode includes excerpts from very early in her writing career. The ma…

Send us a text This episode features one of Janet Frame's short stories, "Gorse is not People," which was featured in The New Yorker on August 25, 2008. Link here: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/09/01/gorse-is-not-people References to this work are from part two of Janet Frame's autobiography, An Angel at my Table. Check out our Patreon: h…

Send us a text This week's episode discusses the life, crime, and escapes of Lionel Terry. Find out what brought him to New Zealand and why he committed this hate crime. Learn about how he escaped from both Sunnyside Mental Hospital and Seacliff Mental Hospital multiple times and who finally convinced him to stay. Trigger warning for strong racist …

Send us a text This week's episode examines the history of Seacliff Mental Hospital after the tenure of Sir Truby King until the closure of Seacliff and Cherry Farm. Learn about how people who had been diagnosed as "mentally defective" were treated. Brace yourself for the deadly and devastating event that finally caused administration to call for a…

Send us a text This week's episode looks at the history of Seacliff Lunatic Asylum during the tenure of superintendent Dr. Truby King. Find out what improvements he made to the asylum and what clinical interests sidetracked him along the way. Learn some of the reasons why he became infamous in New Zealand and some of the reasons why we should revie…

Send us a text This week's episode examines a lot of history that led to the construction of the Seacliff Lunatic Asylum in New Zealand. Learn why New Zealand had six asylums built within a 20 year span in the mid-1800s and still required more space. Find out why the architect of Seacliff fled to Melbourne following construction of the asylum. My m…

Send us a text This week's episode examines the life and crimes of "Jolly Jane" Toppan. Find out why Jane is considered the first female serial killer in the U.S. and how she escaped detection for almost 20 years. The main source for this episode is Pretty Evil New England by Sue Colette. All other sources will be listed at the end of the episode t…

Send us a text This week's episode examines the past century of treatment at Taunton State Hospital and explores the changes that have occurred during that time. This episode borrows heavily from the book A Brief History of Taunton Lunatic Hospital 1854 to 2016 by Joseph Langlois. All other sources will be listed in the episode transcript. Blue Gri…

Send us a text This week's episode examines 40 years of the history of Taunton State Hospital. Find out what notorious true crime story may (or may not) have a connection to the hospital. Learn how treatment at Taunton was ahead of its time in so many ways. My primary source for this week's episode is the book A Brief History of the Taunton Lunatic…

Send us a text This week's episode explores the history of the first three decades of Taunton State Hospital in Taunton, Massachusetts. Find out why people were sent to this hospital and what major world events led to a dramatic increase of patient admissions at asylums around the state. Learn what a "magic lantern show" was and why the asylum had …

Send us a text In this week's episode, I interview photographer Christie Seyglinski. Listen to find out how she got started photographing abandoned Kirkbride hospitals and why she spent a night in an old asylum in 8th grade! Add Abandoned: Echoes of the Past by Christie Seyglinski to your wishlist now! Available soon. Follow her work on Instagram @…

Send us a text This week's episode features the story of the tragic murder of 5-year-old Edith Freeman in 1879. Learn why her parents did not mourn the loss of their daughter, whom they said they loved more than life itself, and find out why her father was sent to Danvers Lunatic Asylum in 1880. Sources are mostly drawn from newspaper articles from…

Send us a text This week's episode outlines the history of Danvers State Hospital from 1912 until it closure in 1992. Find out what happens to the site after the hospital closed down and how it is being used today. Most of my information is drawn from the Images of America book on Danvers State Hospital by Katherine Anderson and Robert Duffy. All o…

Send us a text This week's episode covers the first four decades of Danvers State Hospital (originally the State Lunatic Asylum at Danvers). Learn why people believed the land the asylum was built on was cursed. Find out what was later discovered in the abandoned hospital that had been preserved from the early days of the pathology lab. We'll also …

Send us a text This week's episode focuses on the story of Mary Huestis Pengilly, who was sent to the Provincial Lunatic Asylum in St. John, New Brunswick, at age 61. Learn about Mary's history and what possibly led to her admission to the asylum. Hear Mary's own words from her diary about her experience in the asylum -- from endearing women she me…

Send us a text In this episode, we discuss the last century of history at the Provincial Lunatic Asylum, now called the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). Find out about the murder that led to the "trial of the century" and sparked public interest in learning about insanity and psychiatry. Learn what methods of treatment were used at th…

Send us a text This week's episode covers the history of the Provincial Lunatic Asylum over the course of 50 years (1857-1907). Find out what treatments were used during the superintendentship of Drs. Workman and Clark. Learn why one group was disproportionately represented in the asylum and in Toronto jails. All sources will be listed at the end o…

Send us a text In this week's episode, we discuss the socio-political events that led to the construction of the Provincial Lunatic Asylum in Toronto, Canada. Find out why it took so long for the asylum to be constructed and why it was only half-built by the time it opened in 1850. Learn about the very turbulent first decade of the asylum's history…

Send us a text Episode 46 discusses one of Napa State Hospital's most notorious patients, Richard Allen Davis. Find out why he was sent to Napa, why he only stayed eight days, and how his life of crime effected significant change in the criminal justice system around the U.S. All sources are listed at the end of the episode transcript. Check out ou…

Send us a text Episode 45 covers the history of the new hospital buildings: how they were used during WWII and how they evolved to eventually house 4,991 patients. Find out why the Navy was using tree bark from the hospital grounds, learn why visitors are not allowed into state hospitals today, and discover how then-Governor Ronald Reagan kickstart…

Send us a text Episode 44 discusses the history of Napa State Hospital from 1901 until the demolition of the Castle in 1950. Find out how the hospital was impacted by events, like the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, WWI and WWII, and the Influenza epidemic of 1918. Learn about some of the treatments used during this time period and what finally led …

Send us a text Episode 43 covers the first three decades of "The Castle" at Napa Insane Asylum in Napa, California. Find out why tourists were drawn to the asylum and what they did while they were there. Learn what my connection is to Napa State Hospital and the rigorous process it took to get me there. My primary source for this episode is Images …

Send us a text In this week's episode, I talk to Nate Buchanan of Eerie Tours at Aradale Mental Hospital. Find out how he got started in the ghost tour industry, what drew him to Aradale, what stories get covered on the tour, and where YOU can learn more and take the tour yourself! For more information about Eerie Tours: https://www.eerietours.com.…

Send us a text In this episode, we discuss the history of Kew Lunatic Asylum (1871-1988), near Melbourne. Find out why the hospital stayed open for so long, even when administration called for its closure several years after opening. Learn about the story of one patient who gained international notoriety for all the wrong reasons. All sources are l…

Send us a text Episode 40 discusses the history and people of J Ward, a special unit of Ararat/Aradale Mental Hospital devoted to the treatment of the criminally insane. Learn about the early beginnings when it was built as a goldfields jail and how it became a part of the Lunacy Department. Learn about why two inmates from J Ward remain in the Gui…

Send us a text In this episode, we discuss what led to Ararat Mental Hospital finally closing in 1993, as well as what has become of the hospital in the years following its closure. All sources listed at the end of the episode transcript. Special thanks to David Waldron for allowing me to use his book Aradale: The Making of a Haunted Asylum. Check …

Send us a text In this episode, we almost finish the history of Ararat/Aradale Mental Hospital. We begin by discussing deinstitutionalization around the world and in Victoria more specifically. Learn about the one man who changed legislation to keep him locked up. All sources will be listed at the end of the episode transcript. Special shout out to…

Send us a text Episode 37 discusses the history of Ararat Hospital for the Insane and how it later became Ararat Mental Hospital and, unofficially, Aradale Mental Hospital. Learn about daily life at the hospital, as well as the attempts to improve morale among staff. All of my sources are cited at the end of the episode transcript. Check out my Bea…

Send us a text In this episode, we look at the early history (approx. 1865-1905) of Ararat Lunatic Asylum in Ararat (Victoria) Australia, and how the Victorian gold rush played a role in the creation of asylums. Learn about how increased immigration factored in to the creation of new laws and discrimination around the colony. All sources are listed…

Send us a text In this episode, we look at everything spooky from Denbigh Asylum, starting back in the 16th century with the legend of why the grounds are believed to be cursed. Hear stories from a former staff member about an "experimental" treatment turned tragic and unexplainable phenomena. All sources are listed in the episode transcript. The t…

Send us a text In this episode, Sarah reads the story "The Quietude" by Simon Thirsk from the book Dangerous Asylums, edited by Rob Mimpriss, which is based on real-life events. The narrator is the brother of a patient at Denbigh Asylum and tells the buildup to his brother's insanity diagnosis and the lasting repercussions this had on his family. C…

Send us a text Episode 33 tells the stories of three patients who resided at Denbigh Asylum, as told in the book Dangerous Asylums, edited by Rob Mimpriss. The stories are written by Welsh writers and are entitled "The Elves and the Shoemaker" (by Carys Bray), "Going Back" (Manon Steffan Ros), and "Imagining Angels" (by Glenda Beagan). Trigger warn…

Send us a text In this episode, we discuss the history of the North Wales Hospital from approximately 1945 until its closure in 1995. Then, learn what happened to the property and the buildings after the hospital closed and what the plans are for it today. Most information is drawn from Clwyd Wynne's book _The North Wales Hospital: Denbigh (1842-19…

Send us a text Episode 31 discusses the history of Denbigh Asylum (later North Wales Hospital) from 1905 to 1945. Learn about "shell shock," psychiatric capacity, and what treatments were used in Denbigh at this time. Most information for this episode was drawn from the book _The North Wales Hospital: Denbigh (1842-1995)_ by Clwyd Wynne. All other …

Send us a text Episode 30 is the first part of the history of Denbigh Asylum (later known as the North Wales Hospital) in Denbighshire, Wales, UK, from approximately 1842-1905. Most information for this episode was drawn from the book _The North Wales Hospital: Denbigh (1842-1995)_ by Clwyd Wynne. This and all other sources are listed in the transc…

Send us a text Episode 29 discusses the ghost stories and paranormal experiences that people have reported at Willard State Hospital. Find out about the televised paranormal investigations that have happened at the hospital, and why 4,000 people flocked to Willard in a day in 2015. Also, learn about 19th century "asylum tourism" and what drew peopl…

Send us a text Episode 28 discusses the lives and hospitalizations of Rodrigo Lagon, an immigrant from a wealthy Filipino family, and Ethel Smalls, New York native who divorced her abusive husband in 1930. Most of the information for this week's episode comes from the book "The Lives They Left Behind" by Darby Penney and Peter Stastny. All other so…

Send us a text Episode 27 discusses the life of Margaret Dunleavy, a Scottish immigrant to the United States and nurse, who later became a long-time patient at Willard State Hospital. Find out why Margaret was committed to Willard and what remained in her suitcases. Sources included in the episode transcript. Support the show…

Send us a text Episode 26 discusses the treasure found in the attic after Willard Psychiatric Center closed in 1995. Find out what researchers discovered that led them to learn more about the life of former patient Lawrence Marek. All sources cited in the transcript. Main source used is "The Lives They Left Behind" by Penney Darby and Peter Stastny…