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Some forests welcome you. Others… watch you.

In this episode of Let’s Talk Spooky, we explore two of the world’s most haunted forests: Aokigahara, Japan’s mysterious Sea of Trees, known for its silence, sorrow, and restless spirits... and Germany’s Black Forest, where werewolves roam, witches cast curses, and tall shadowy figures are said to follow wanderers home.

If you’ve ever felt the woods were watching — maybe they were.

Content Warning:

This episode contains discussion of:

• Suicide and grief (Aokigahara)
• Historical executions and violence
• Themes of isolation and supernatural danger

Listener discretion is advised.

If you or someone you know is struggling, please know you are not alone.
📞 Canada & U.S.:
National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988 (24/7, free, and confidential)

📞 For Canada (Talk Suicide Canada):
1-833-456-4566 | talksuicide.ca

📞 For listeners outside North America:
Visit https://findahelpline.com for international resources.

Sources & Further Reading:

• Wandering in Japan’s Suicide Forest, The New York Times
  https://archive.nytimes.com/lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/25/wandering-in-japans-suicide-forest/
• “The Werewolf of Bedburg” (Peter Stumpf) – 1589 trial records and historical analyses
• “The Wolf of Ansbach” – Bavarian legend and folklore (1685)
• Morbach Monster – U.S. military base accounts and shrine folklore (1988)
• “Yūrei: The Japanese Ghost” by Zack Davisson
• Encyclopedia of German Superstition and Folklore (translated editions)

Connect with Us:

• 🎧 Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts
• 📸 Instagram: @letstalkspooky
• 📩 Got a spooky forest near you? Please send us your stories!

In this chilling episode, we step behind the crumbling walls and flickering lights of some of the world’s most haunted hospitals. From the infamous death tunnel of Waverly Hills Sanatorium, to the mysterious and tragic lore of Sayama Hospital in Japan, to the silent echoes trapped inside the overgrown halls of Riverview Hospital in British Columbia, we explore what happens when pain lingers long after the patients are gone.

🧠 Topics Covered:

Dark history of Waverly Hills Sanatorium (Louisville, Kentucky)

Sayama Hospital and the cultural impact of the Sayama Incident (Japan)

The rise and fall of Riverview Hospital (Coquitlam, British Columbia)

🔗 Resources & References:

Waverly Hills Sanatorium

Waverly Hills Historical Overview: https://www.therealwaverlyhills.com

“The Haunted History of Waverly Hills Sanatorium” – Legends of America

Personal testimonies and ghost tours via [YouTube – Ghost Hunters & BuzzfeedUnsolved]

Sayama Hospital & Sayama Incident

Background on the Sayama Incident: Human Rights Now – Sayama Case

Creepy Reddit encounter near Sayama: r/Paranormal

Cultural impact and hospital myth: [r/UnresolvedMysteries]

RiverviewHospital

Riverviewhistory via BC Archives: BC Government Heritage Site

CreepyReddit tales and eyewitness accounts:

r/coquitlam– haunted places

r/Paranormal– bus ghost story

r/britishcolumbia– abandoned buildings

📲 Connect With Us:

👻 Instagram: @letstalkspooky

📩 Email Your Stories: letstalkspooky@gmail.com

🎧 Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen!

In this episode, we delve into the eerie world of garden folklore, where healing herbs and haunted hedgerows blur the lines between magic and myth. You'll hear the tragic true tale of Agnes Sampson, explore the deadly cry of the mandrake root, and wander into the modern urban legend of the Witch Garden on Widdershins Lane. We’ll also uncover ancient traditions such as moon planting, spirit gardens, and poison plots.

Topics Covered:

• Agnes Sampson and the garden that condemned her
• The Mandrake's Scream: folklore and real history
• Witch’s gardens: belladonna, henbane, and shadowy traditions
• Modern legend: The Witch Garden on Widdershins Lane

Further Reading & Resources:

1. Agnes Sampson – North Berwick Witch Trials
   https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/The-North-Berwick-Witch-Trials/
2. Mandrake Folklore & Medicinal History
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4658872/
3. The Poison Garden at Alnwick Castle
   https://www.alnwickgarden.com/the-garden/poison-garden/
4. Lunar Gardening Guide (Folkloric Perspective)
   https://www.farmersalmanac.com/gardening-by-the-moon
5. Victorian Floriography and Symbolism of Flowers
   https://www.languageofflowers.com/
6. Witch Gardens in History and Myth
   https://www.learnreligions.com/herbs-of-the-witchs-garden-2562107
7. https://www.historyextra.com/period/stuart/pendle-witches-witch-trials-what-happened/?utm_source=chatgpt.com