Last Podcast On The Left
Last Podcast On The Left
"And then I let my fingers do the walking. And then I found out that there is like a whole world of paranormal activity that's happened on these island nations that are extremely specific to this world." — Marcus Parks
"The thing about Ivan Malac is that kind of, it's just you go out in the woods, and you'll come back." — Marcus Parks
"The most incredible claim came from Mini's half-sister. In 2010, she claimed that Mini had psychokinetic powers and often moved things with her mind. But this was when Mini's half-sister was 97 years old, so do with that what you will." — Henry Zebrowski
This episode of "Last Podcast on the Left" explores the intriguing and often stone-centric nature of Australian poltergeist activity. The hosts begin by setting the stage for a two-part series focusing on Australia, differentiating it from typical true crime explorations by pivoting to the paranormal. They note that Australian ghosts and paranormal phenomena are surprisingly "friendly" and less aggressive compared to American or British accounts, often manifesting as "trickster phenomena." The discussion highlights the unusual consistency of stones and pebbles being the primary projectiles in these hauntings, a detail that the hosts find both bizarre and fascinating, with no clear explanation offered in Australian folklore itself.
The first case examined is the "Large family" haunting from 1887 in New South Wales, where stones reportedly fell through roofs and walls, though they seemed to land softly. The activity coincided with Mr. Large's horse being spooked, and Mrs. Large's attribution of the events to local children. The hosts draw parallels between the seemingly erratic movements of these stones and reported UFO sightings, suggesting a possible connection or shared modus operandi. They also touch upon the concept of "apports"—objects appearing out of nowhere—which is common in poltergeist phenomena.
The episode then delves into the "Guyra Ghosts" case from 1921, focusing on 12-year-old Minnie Bowen. This case is characterized by persistent stone-throwing, wall-banging, and mysterious noises. Skeptics and authorities attempted to debunk the hauntings, with one constable claiming Minnie confessed to orchestrating the events, a confession that was later disputed due to coercion. The hosts emphasize the unique aspect of Australian hauntings where poltergeists are observed to move between houses in an area, affecting neighbors, which contrasts with the more common observation of poltergeists being tied to a person. They also explore theories ranging from local "lyricans" (mischievous children) to potential land-based energies, and the role of spiritualists in creating narratives around the phenomena.