Alferd Packer, Cannibal, Worst Dinner Guest Ever.

Alferd Packer, Cannibal, Worst Dinner Guest Ever.

Author: Jackalope Carnival November 23, 2020 Duration: 36:44
Send us Fan Mail Join Jackalope Carnival for a very special Thanksgiving episode as we tell the unfortunate story of Colorado's infamous Alfred "Alferd" Packer and find out which university dining hall bears his name. "There's cannibalism and then there's overdoing it on the cannibalism" -Bekah about Alferd Packer, convicted cannibal Also: jokes about cannibalism, when and where you can make said jokes and a little town in Yukon territory where you can have your drin...

Ever wondered why certain legends persist or how a single strange event can ripple through centuries? Jackalope Carnival: A Sideshow of Stories is a podcast that explores exactly that, digging into the curious corners of history and culture where fact and folklore blur. Hosts Eric and Bekah act as curious guides, less interested in proving or disproving the unknown than in examining how we, as people, choose to interpret it. Each episode is a deep dive into a specific tale-be it a historical oddity, a cryptid sighting, or an enduring mystery-framed not just as a story, but as a window into human belief, fear, and imagination. The tone is conversational and engaging, feeling more like a discussion between friends who’ve found something fascinating than a formal lecture. You’ll hear them piece together narratives from historical accounts, cultural context, and sometimes a dash of the speculative, all while maintaining a respectful yet playful curiosity about their subjects. This isn’t just about spooky stuff; it’s about understanding the why behind the story. The podcast naturally finds its home at the intersection of history, culture, and society, asking what these tales say about the times and places from which they sprang. New episodes of this engaging podcast are set to return in mid-September 2025, offering fresh explorations into the weird and wonderful. So if you’re drawn to the strange threads woven into the fabric of our world, pull up a seat and listen in.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 49

Jackalope Carnival: A Sideshow of Stories
Podcast Episodes
Creepy Cures: Medicinal Leeches as a Unifying Principle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:23
Send us Fan Mail For thousands of years leeches were the medical go to for all that ailed you. And like the modern pharma companies of today, they were big business. Let's explore the history of leeches for health and pr…
The Jersey Devil/ Ben Franklin Connection [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:08
Send us Fan Mail This week Bekah uncovers a colonial era conspiracy! Eric makes the claim that, like the turkey, the Jersey Devil should be an official creature of the U.S.A. Come for actual accounts of cryptids from the…
These Are Your Grandpappy's Bigfoot Stories! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:29
Send us Fan Mail This week Bekah and Eric talk about the lore of everyone's favorite American hairy bipedal cryptid (besides Zach Galifianakis). Our stalwart scholars comb the archives specifically to find pre-Patterson/…
Ancient Curses, Lead Poisoning and a Big Blue Mustang in Denver [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:32
Send us Fan Mail In this episode we look at cursed objects and curse tablets. Did a statue really kill it's maker? Have a listen and learn an ancient Roman incantation that curses a musician's "little buttocks" (direct q…
The Man from Taured's Frequent Flyer Miles [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:10
Send us Fan Mail Who was the man from Taured? What is the Mandela effect and why does Good Housekeeping care? How can you find cheap interdimensional travel? Does facial hair have any moral significance? All of this and…
Electronic Voice Phenomena: The Ghost in the Machine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:49
Send us Fan Mail Can we hear ghosts? This episode explores the history of EVP or Electronic Voice Phenomena and the early pioneers in that field including Friedrich Jürgensen and Konstantin Raudive. Bekah makes recording…
Ouija Boards in the Local Convenience Store [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:50
Send us Fan Mail In this episode Jackalope Carnival explore the history and lore of contacting the spirit world. Warning: this episode contains detailed accounts of a historic 7-11 in Baltimore with Ouija board connectio…
How you doin', Mothman? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:55
Send us Fan Mail Our inaugural episode! It's a Jackalope Carnival! Bekah and Eric are longtime friends and aficionados of all things odd, mysterious and downright strange. This week they talk about their favorite cryptid…