From the Editor
Welcome to the first issue of the Chilling Tales From Beyond newsletter, a companion source of information to the podcast of the same name. I am both the host of the podcast and lead editor to this newsletter, Petros Koutoupis. By profession, I am a software developer and electronic hardware engineer. By hobby, I am many other things, including a paranormal enthusiast and skeptic. Yes, those two terms do indeed contradict one another but it is the engineering side of me that attempts to rationalize everything that I am observing or hearing and with good reason despite having experienced the unexplained first-hand (on multiple occasions).
The primary goal of this podcast (and newsletter) is to not only use it as a platform to diving deeper into the many ghostly claims out in the wild but also to invite you, the listener and the reader, to join me on this ride. We will discuss real life ghost stories, urban legends, interview paranormal investigators, attempt to debunk caught footage or audio and more.
We are just dying for you to join us……
In This Episode
In the inaugural episode of the Chilling Tales From Beyond podcast, we discuss the history of the “ghost story” and how it can be properly dated to the beginning of writing but is likely much older than that and told through oral tradition. How has the ghost story changed over time, if at all?
We also speak with our guest, Antonia Koutoupis, about her and family experiences when it comes to the paranormal. Can a trend be noticed? Does the frequency increase or occurrences amplify during times we are most vulnerable?
You can listen to this episode on:
Recommended Books
The First Ghosts: Most Ancient of Legacies
by Irving Finkel
The First Ghosts: Most Ancient of Legacies takes us back to the very beginning. A world-renowned authority on cuneiform, the form of writing on clay tablets which dates back to 3400BC, Irving Finkel has embarked upon an ancient ghost hunt, scouring these tablets to unlock the secrets of the Sumerians, Babylonians and Assyrians to breathe new life into the first ghost stories ever written. In The First Ghosts, he uncovers an extraordinarily rich seam of ancient spirit wisdom which has remained hidden for nearly 4000 years, covering practical details of how to live with ghosts, how to get rid of them and bring them back, and how to avoid becoming one, as well as exploring more philosophical questions: what are ghosts, why does the idea of them remain so powerful despite the lack of concrete evidence, and what do they tell us about being human?
In Other News…
Commentators are convinced that the ghost of Princess Diana was heard during the very recent funeral of Queen Elizabeth. You can read the article and watch the video clip over at Distractify.
Caught on Video
And to all of the skeptics out there, I would like for you to take a moment to debunk this piece of video footage. Comments are welcome below.