Why do people hunt ghosts, and what does it say about culture, belief, and science?

In this episode of Beyond the Human, we explore the history and culture of ghost hunting, from its roots in 19th-century Spiritualism to today’s high-tech paranormal investigations. We look at how gender, media, and popular culture shape who gets recognized as a ghost hunter — and why investigations led by men are often seen as more “scientific.”

We also dive into the tools and techniques of ghost hunters — EMF meters, EVP recorders, spirit boxes — and how they blur the line between science, pseudoscience, and performance. Along the way, we discuss the difference between investigators and experiencers, the popularity of dark tourism at haunted sites, and how ghost hunting reveals deeper truths about modern belief in the supernatural.

Whether you’re a fan of paranormal TV, a practicing ghost hunter, or just curious about why people chase the dead, this episode offers a critical, anthropological look at one of the most fascinating subcultures in the paranormal world.

Topics discussed in this episode:

(4:40) - What’s in a Name?

(31:03) - Is Ghost Hunting Actually Scientific?

(50:00) - Capturing Evidence of the Paranormal

(1:06:12) - Types of Ghost Hunters

(1:15:03) - Ghost Hunting and the Senses

(1:23:09) - What Do We Think?

Resources for additional research:

Ghost Hunters (streaming on Netflix, HBO Max, and Prime Video)

Waldemar Borgoras EVP

Braithwaite, J. J., Perez-Aquino, k., & Townsend, M. (2004). In search of magnetic anomalies associated with haunt-type experiences: Pulses and patterns in dual time-synchronized measurements. Journal of Parapsychology, 68, 255-288.

Raudive, Konstantins, Joyce Morton, and Nadia Fowler. Breakthrough: An amazing experiment in electronic communication with the dead. Buckinghamshire, UK: Smythe, 1971.

Wiseman, R., Watt, C., Greening, E., Stevens, P., & O'keeffe, C. (2002). An investigation into the alleged haunting of Hampton Court Palace: Psychological variables and magnetic fields. Journal of Parapsychology, 66, 387-408.

Wiseman, R., Watt, C., Stevens, P., Greening, E., & O'Keeffe, C. (2003). An investigation into alleged "hauntings." British Journal of Parapsychology, 94, 195-211.

In this episode of Beyond the Human, we dive into one of the most mysterious and controversial medical conditions of the 21st century: Morgellons Disease. Characterized by skin lesions, thread-like fibers, neurological symptoms, and overwhelming fatigue, Morgellons has left patients and doctors divided—some calling it a legitimate infectious disease, others labeling it delusional parasitosis.

We explore the tangled history of this condition, from 17th-century medical texts to the CDC’s highly contested 2012 study. Through an anthropological lens, we unpack why Morgellons has become a “contested illness,” how medical gaslighting pushes sufferers toward alternative explanations—including nanotechnology, chemtrails, and even extraterrestrials—and what this case tells us about power, credibility, and belief in Western biomedicine.

We also unpack the leading theories behind Morgellons: Lyme disease and spirochete infections, stress and immune dysfunction, trauma, and even fringe explanations involving nanotech, chemtrails, and extraterrestrials. From fibers made of collagen and keratin to symptoms like brain fog, GI issues, and dental deterioration, the lived reality of Morgellons defies easy categorization.

Whether you're a skeptic, a sufferer, or simply curious about the boundary between science and belief, this episode offers a grounded yet empathetic exploration of what it means to live—and die—with a mystery no one can explain.

Topics discussed in this episode:

1:47 - Our Interest

8:13 - What is Morgellons?

23:19 - History and Origins

32:09 - CDC Explanation

43:16 - Alternative Explanations1:19:00 - Treatment and Community

1:23:21 - The Human Cost

Resources for additional research:

Etmuller’s Drawing

About the USPHS Syphilis Study

Skin Deep: The Battle Over Morgellons

Pi Ware, Filmmaker

The Charles E. Holman Morgellons Disease Foundation

Morgellons: The Legitimization of a Disease

Bitten: The Secret History of Lyme Disease and Biological Weapons

Lab 257: The Disturbing Story of the Government's Secret Germ Laboratory

Healing Lyme

CDC Study: Pearson, M. L., Selby, J. V., Katz, K. A., Cantrell, V., Braden, C. R., Parise, M. E., Paddock, C. D., Lewin-Smith, M. R., Kalasinsky, V. F., Goldstein, F. C., Hightower, A. W., Papier, A., Lewis, B., Motipara, S., Eberhard, M. L., & Unexplained Dermopathy Study Team (2012). Clinical, epidemiologic, histopathologic and molecular features of an unexplained dermopathy. PloS one, 7(1), e29908. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0029908

Fagen, J. L., Shelton, J. A., & Luché-Thayer, J. (2023). Medical Gaslighting and Lyme Disease: The Patient Experience. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 12(1), 78. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12010078

Middelveen MJ, Martinez RM, Fesler MC, Sapi E, Burke J, Shah JS, Nicolaus C, Stricker RB. Classification and Staging of Morgellons Disease: Lessons from Syphilis. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2020;13:145-164 https://doi.org/10.2147/CCID.S239840

Middelveen, M. J., Mayne, P. J., Kahn, D. G., & Stricker, R. B. (2013). Characterization and evolution of dermal filaments from patients with Morgellons disease. Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology, 6, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.2147/CCID.S39017

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

Subscribe to our Patreon to never miss an episode!

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:

(0:00) Intro

(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

Subscribe to our Patreon to never miss an episode!

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.