In this episode of Beyond the Human, we explore one of America's most infamous haunted houses: the Sallie House in Atchison, Kansas. From its 19th-century origins to modern-day ghost hunts and paranormal media fame, this house has become a hotspot for supernatural speculation.

We dive into the Pickman family’s chilling encounters that started it all and examine the strange reports that followed: shadow figures, moving objects, unexplained scratches, and disembodied voices. Drawing on over 250 hours of personal investigation experience at the house, we separate fact from fiction, challenge the popular demonic narrative, and offer a grounded, research-based perspective on what might really be going on inside 508 N 2nd Street.

Along the way, we reflect on why places like the Sallie House captivate public imagination, what kinds of people come to investigate, and whether belief in the paranormal really changes after firsthand experience.

Whether you're a skeptic, believer, or somewhere in between, this episode unpacks the mystery behind one of the most talked-about haunted houses in America.

Topics discussed in this episode:

2:33 - Introducing the Sallie House and Atchison, KS

10:33 - Uncovering the History of the Sallie House

15:11 - The Pickmans’ Story

34:26 - Us as Investigators

45:47 - Our Connection to the Sallie House

Resources for additional research:

Sallie House

The Sallie House Haunting

https://visitatchison.com/

Heartland Ghost Sightings compilation

Paranormal Witness Sn3 Ep18 - The Harpy (available on Peacock)

Ghost Adventures Sn13 Ep2 - The Sallie House (available on AppleTV)

Other Locations

Vilisca Axe Murder House

Wornall Majors House Museums

Waverly Hills Sanatorium

Missouri State Penitentiary

Myrtle’s Plantation

Stanley Hotel

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Anthropology of the Paranormal - What Can Culture Teach Us About the Unknown?

In this premier episode of Beyond the Human, anthropologists Chris and Ryan introduce a bold new approach to the paranormal - one grounded in academic inquiry, lived experience, and cultural context. Why do so many people across time and place report strange encounters? What happens when scholars take these stories seriously?

We unpack what anthropology is and how the anthropological perspective offers a unique lens for exploring supernatural and anomalous beliefs and experiences from ghost sightings and UFO encounters to spirit possession and contested illness. This episode lays the foundation for thinking critically and compassionately about the “paranormal” through cultural relativism and cross-cultural comparison while emphasizing the importance of participation to gain a thorough understanding and be able to empathize with others who have

experienced the unknown or unknowable.

Through an anthropological lens, we explore how the paranormal is defined, experienced, and made meaningful across different societies. Rather than dismissing these experiences as irrational or unscientific, we examine them as important expressions of belief, identity, and the limits of conventional knowledge. We don’t try to “prove” or “debunk” the paranormal - we ask what these stories reveal about what it means to be human.

Whether you’re a skeptic, a believer, or just curious, this episode invites you to rethink the boundaries of reality - and academia.

Topics discussed in this episode:

1:35 - Meet Chris and Ryan

6:41 - Why We Started This Podcast

10:30 - What is Anthropology?

19:09 - How to Think Like an Anthropologist

34:57 - Anthropology Meets the Paranormal

43:57 - What’s coming on Beyond the Human

Resources for additional research:

A Haunting in Connecticut special

Never Whisper at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology

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Discover Beyond the Human: Anthropology of the Unknown — a podcast exploring paranormal beliefs, supernatural experiences, and unexplained phenomena through an anthropological lens.

In this trailer episode, hosts and anthropologists Chris Daley and Ryan Goeckner introduce the show’s mission: to investigate the cultural meaning behind UFO sightings, ghost stories, psychic visions, cryptids like Mothman, and even spontaneous human combustion. Featuring expert interviews, real-life encounters, and deep dives into global folklore and modern conspiracy theories, this podcast goes beyond the strange to ask what these mysteries reveal about us as humans.

If you're curious about the intersection of belief, culture, and the unknown, start your journey here.