Podcast Summary
A Spooky Tradition: The Hosts Share a Classic Horror Story: The hosts of Stuff You Should Know share a classic horror story during their annual 'Spooktacular' episode, acknowledging potential offensive language and outdated themes but embracing the tradition of sharing spooky tales.
The hosts of Stuff You Should Know, a podcast by iHeartRadio, share their love for spooky, ad-free, public domain horror stories during their annual "Spooktacular" episode. This year, they chose "Lost Hearts" by M.R. James, which was published in 1811. The story is set in Lincolnshire and describes a tall, red brick house with wings, cupolas, and a park filled with oaks. The hosts acknowledge that the story contains outdated terms like "gypsy" and "Chinaman," which they will explain later. They encourage listeners to dim the lights and gather the kids for the spooky tale. Despite some potentially offensive language, the hosts assure listeners that the opinions expressed in the story do not represent their own. The hosts also mention that the story contains a few spooky dates and a xenophobic character. Overall, the "Spooktacular" episode is a tradition for the hosts to share their love for classic horror stories, even if they contain outdated language and themes.
Mr. Abney welcomes his young cousin with curiosity and kindness: Mr. Abney, a recluse, surprises neighbors by showing kindness to his young cousin, asking about his age and showing curiosity, while Stephen, an inquisitive boy, is eager to learn about the hall's mysteries
The austere and reclusive Mr. Abney, who was known for his love of ancient literature and solitude, welcomes his young cousin Stephen Elliot into his home at Asworthy. Despite neighbors' surprise, Mr. Abney shows kindness and curiosity towards Stephen, asking his age twice upon their first meeting. Mrs. Bunch, a long-time resident of the hall, becomes a friend to Stephen and shares information about the house and district. Stephen, an adventurous and inquiring boy, is eager to learn about the mysteries of the hall, including the origin of the temple at the end of the Laura Walk and the identity of the old man in the picture on the staircase.
Mrs. Bunch's tales of mysterious children: Mrs. Bunch's stories of two vanished children, an odd girl and a boy named Ernie Gertie, sparked Stephen's curiosity and led him to explore the past of the Abney household, uncovering more mysteries.
Mrs. Bunch, the housekeeper at the Abney farm, shared stories of two mysterious children who had lived there years ago. A little girl named only as "the odd child" disappeared without a trace, and a boy named Giovanni, or "Ernie Gertie," showed up with a musical instrument. Both children left as suddenly as they arrived, and their fates remained unknown. Mrs. Bunch's accounts provided Stephen with intriguing insights into the past of the Abney household, fueling his curiosity and leading him to further investigate these enigmatic cases. The abandoned bathroom at the top of the house, where Stephen had a curious dream, added another layer of intrigue to the mystery.
Stephen encounters strange occurrences during the spring equinox: During the spring equinox, Stephen experiences eerie events and the community takes steps to protect him from unknown dangers, leaving him puzzled and frightened.
Stephen, a young boy, experiences a series of eerie events including seeing a decaying figure in the bath and finding mysterious slits on his nightgown. The community around him, including Mrs. Bunch and Mr. Abney, become concerned and take steps to protect him during the spring equinox. The incidents leave Stephen puzzled and frightened, and he begins to notice strange occurrences around the house. Mrs. Bunch believes the marks on his nightgown resemble claw marks, reminding her of a Chinese trend of wearing long, pointed fingernails. The community's concerns and the mysterious occurrences add to Stephen's sense of unease and fear.
Unexpected Visitor and Strange Invitation: An uninvited guest's claim of rats talking and a mysterious invitation led Stephen to discover hidden secrets in Mr. Abney's library.
On a Friday night in March 1812, Mrs. Bunch's usual routine was disrupted by the unexpected arrival of Mr. Parks, who claimed to have heard rats talking in the wine cellar. Stephen, who was present, knew it was a joke but was intrigued by the mysterious situation. Later that day, Stephen received an invitation from Mr. Abney to visit him in his study that night, promising to reveal something important about Stephen's future life. This new excitement led Stephen to stay up late, discovering a brazier, a silver cup of wine, and some papers in Mr. Abney's library. Overall, these strange events hinted at hidden secrets and intrigues within the household.
Encountering Ghostly Figures and Ancient Beliefs: Stephen experiences fear from a ghostly boy and learns about ancient beliefs granting spiritual enlightenment and control over elements
The character Stephen encounters strange and mysterious occurrences in the night, including seeing two ghostly figures of a boy and a girl. The boy, with long nails and a gaping chest wound, instills great fear in Stephen. The ancient belief, as revealed in Mr. Abney's study, is that by absorbing the personalities of certain people, an individual can gain spiritual enlightenment and control over elemental forces. This explanation helps Stephen understand the rituals and strange occurrences he has witnessed. The text suggests a theme of the supernatural and the power of ancient beliefs.
Mr. Abney's quest for immortality: Believing in immortality through absorbing young lives, Mr. Abney took three lives, but ultimately met his end.
The character in the text, Mr. Abney, believed that by absorbing the hearts of three people under the age of 21 and consuming them with port wine, he could achieve immortality. He had spent the last 20 years experimenting with this method, taking the lives of Phoebe Stanley, Giovanni Paoli, and his cousin, Stephen Elliot. Despite the potential hauntings from the "psychic portion" of the subjects, Mr. Abney was confident that he would not be affected and would instead enjoy an "enlarged and emancipated existence." The text ends with Mr. Abney's death, and Stephen Elliot's discovery of the papers that revealed the truth behind it. This story, titled "The Great God Pan," was written by Arthur Machen and was originally published as a short story before being expanded into a novella. It's considered a classic horror story and is often cited as one of the greatest horror stories of all time.
Discovering the truth beyond the physical world: A dedicated transcendental medicine practitioner plans to perform a minor brain operation to reveal the truth beyond the physical world, potentially with groundbreaking results, despite doubts and concerns.
Dr. Raymond, a dedicated transcendental medicine practitioner, believes he has discovered a way to lift the veil between the physical world and the real world, which he plans to do for another person through a minor brain operation. Despite Clark's doubts and concerns, Raymond is convinced that this procedure is safe and necessary to reveal the truth beyond the glamour of the physical world. This belief is rooted in Raymond's long history of dedication to his practice and his belief that he has finally reached his goal after 20 years. The stakes are high, and the outcome could potentially be groundbreaking. However, the nature of the operation and the risks involved are not explicitly stated, leaving room for intrigue and uncertainty.
A speaker shares his journey to a profound spiritual discovery: 15 years ago, a speaker made a groundbreaking discovery leading to a spiritual world beyond matter, akin to an electrician realizing telegraph wires' potential, involving brain experiments to bridge the gap
The speaker, an unnamed individual, has made a groundbreaking discovery 15 years ago, which he alludes to having reached a goal 10 years ago. He describes the experience as a long and arduous journey filled with disappointments and despair, but ultimately leading to a profound revelation. This revelation involved the perception that the world, as understood, was merely a "world of matter," and that beyond it lay a "world of spirit." The speaker suggests that this discovery is akin to an electrician realizing the true nature of telegraph wires and cables, and the potential for human communication to extend beyond the physical world. The speaker expresses regret that he cannot fully explain his findings in plain terms, but implies that the implications are vast and potentially world-changing. In the end, he suggests that his experiments involve manipulating certain nerve cells in the brain, which could allow individuals to bridge the gap between the physical and spiritual worlds and potentially encounter the divine.
Dr. Raymond's experiment to summon a deity: Dr. Raymond, despite ethical concerns, plans to experiment on Mary to summon a deity, justifying it by past actions of saving her from poverty. The setting is bizarre, and Raymond's actions hypnotize Clark, making him feel drowsy.
Dr. Raymond, despite the ethical concerns, intends to experiment on Mary, whom he raised from childhood, to summon a deity called the Great God Pan. He justifies his actions by recalling his past deeds of saving her from poverty. The laboratory setting is described as having a strange contrast of light and darkness, and Clark, who accompanies Raymond, begins to feel an odd sensation, reminiscing about a hot summer day from 15 years ago. The atmosphere is bizarre, and Raymond's actions, though questionable, seem to have a hypnotic effect on Clark, making him feel drowsy.
A transformative dream journey: Clark's dream transported him to an unknown land, encountering a formless presence and witnessing a girl's transformation, symbolizing self-discovery and the dissolution of physical and spiritual boundaries.
The man, Clark, experienced a profound and transformative dream during his sleep. He found himself transported to an undiscovered country filled with vivid sensory experiences, including the scent of summer, the sight of beautiful landscapes, and the presence of a mysterious entity. The dream dissolved the boundary between body and soul, and in that moment, he encountered a formless presence that seemed to be the essence of all things. When Clark woke up, he found himself in a laboratory, where a doctor had given a young girl a mysterious substance, leading to her unconsciousness. Despite the unsettling events, Clark remained timid and trusting, witnessing the girl's transformation and eventual recovery. Overall, the dream represented a profound journey of self-discovery and the dissolution of the boundary between the physical and spiritual worlds.
Mary's Terrifying Transformation: A mysterious event left Mary an idiot, deeply impacting Clark and serving as a reminder of the unknown forces in the world. Stay safe and enjoy Halloween!
The mysterious event that occurred to Mary resulted in her becoming a hopeless idiot, according to Raymond and the doctor. The incident left a deep impact on Clark, who was present during the ordeal. The girl's transformation was terrifying, with her face contorting in convulsions and her soul seemingly struggling within her body. Three days later, Raymond took Clark to see Mary, who was lying awake in bed, grinning vacantly. The doctor diagnosed her as an idiot, leaving Clark feeling disheartened. The incident left a lasting impression on Clark and served as a reminder of the unknown and mysterious forces at work in the world. Despite the frightening turn of events, it is important to enjoy the spooky season while staying safe and following guidelines. Happy Halloween! This text is based on a passage from a podcast, "Stuff You Should Know," and is meant to provide a brief summary of the story discussed.
