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Perry Carpenter & Mason Amadeus | Realm

Digital Folklore is an immersive audio adventure that takes place inside a fictional universe, but explores the real-world truths behind various expressions of internet culture and how each holds up a mirror to the society from which they emerge.

This podcast is great for audio fiction fans who really really want to enjoy interview-based shows, or for listeners who love expert interviews and insights but long for something unique and unexpected.

Join Perry Carpenter and Mason Amadeus as they explore the wild and wonderful world of online folklore, encountering a wide range of characters—both real and fictional—who provide a wealth of folkloric insight while simultaneously creating new lore. With topics ranging from the absurd to the unsettling, the Digital Folklore podcast is an accessible and entertaining way to learn about folkloric concepts and societal truths. Oh...and be sure to listen carefully—you never know what you might find.

Digital Folklore

Hey listeners, Perry Carpenter here. I've got something exciting that I think you'll be interested in. It's the audio version of a newsletter that I recently started.

The newsletter is called Deceptive Minds, and it's all about how we are fooled, how we fool ourselves, and what we can do about it.

I'm dropping the first two episodes/issues in this feed so you can decide if you like it and might be interested in subscribing to the ⁠audio⁠ or ⁠print⁠ versions.

Oh -- and while I've got your attention, I'd love for you to check out my new website ⁠⁠The Deception Project⁠⁠ at ⁠⁠https://thedeceptionproject.com⁠⁠. I've got a few fun things planned that should be landing there soon.

So stay tuned.

Thanks!

Perry
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Introducing: Deceptive Minds (the audio experience)

This is the 2nd of 2 sample episodes/issues of Perry's new audio newsletter, Deceptive Minds. If you enjoyed these and want to receive future editions, please subscribe here. 

----

Hey friends! Here's issue 2 of Deceptive Minds: a newsletter about how we are fooled, how we fool ourselves, and what we can do about it.

🔥 Since starting this newsletter last week, we're already closing in on 3,000 subscribers to the print edition! 🔥 Huge thanks to everyone who's jumped in early!

This week, I'm diving into what I call the “artifacts of deception,” and why the flashy stuff (deepfakes, fake emails, cloned voices) isn’t the real trick you need to watch for.

Hope you enjoy this exploration into the hidden mechanics of how deception *really* works.

Here we go…

— Perry

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Artifacts of Deception (Deceptive Minds - issue #2)

COMING JAN 2023. Monsters, memes, internet urban legends, conspiracies, viral crazes and how each holds up a mirror to the society from which they emerge.
Digital Folklore is a fully immersive, sound designed podcast that uses storytelling, voice acting, interviews, and scripted narrative to analyze various expressions of internet culture - from scary stories to cat memes - through the lens of academic folklore. With topics ranging from the absurd to the unsettling, the Digital Folklore podcast is an accessible and entertaining way to learn about folkloric concepts and societal truths.
Hosted by Perry Carpenter and Mason Amadeus.

Season 1 drops mid-January, 2023. Subscribe or follow so you don't miss out! You can sign-up for our newsletter and learn more about the show at https://digitalfolklore.fm.
Support us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/digitalfolklore
Find us on the socials:

Twitter: @digiFolklorePod

Facebook: DigitalFolklorePod

Instagram: DigitalFolklorePod

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Introducing: Digital Folklore

Hey folks! We're excited to share with you a sneak peek of episode 1.

This episode introduces us to two "monsters" who were birthed on the internet, but couldn't be contained there. Their names are Slenderman and Momo, and they are great examples of a few key folkloric concepts. So join us as we take a look at Slenderman and Momo and learn about ostension, monster theory, moral panics, and the defining traits that make something folklore as opposed to just a simple online expression of creativity.

Guests appearing on the full episode include:

Dr. Vivian Asimos, author of Digital Monsters and Digital Mythology and the Internet's Monster: The Slender Man

Ben Brock Johnson, Amory Sivertson, and Quincy Walters from WBUR's podcast, Endless Thread

Chelsey Weber-Smith, host of American Hysteria

Kathleen Hale, author of Slenderman: Online Obsession, Mental Illness, and the Violent Crime of Two Midwestern Girls

Season 1 drops January 16, 2023. Subscribe or follow so you don't miss out! You can sign-up for our newsletter and learn more about the show at https://digitalfolklore.fm.
🗣 Join our Discord community
💁‍♀️ Support us on Patreon
🕸 Sign-up for our newsletter, check our our merch, and learn more about the show at digitalfolklore.fm
Find us on the socials:

Twitter: @digiFolklorePod

Facebook: DigitalFolklorePod

Instagram: DigitalFolklorePod

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Digital Folklore -- Episode 1 Sneak Peek

The Internet is The New Woods (Monsters, Ostension, & Moral Panics)
This episode introduces us to two "monsters" who were birthed on the internet, but couldn't be contained there. Their names are Slenderman and Momo, and they are great examples of a few key folkloric concepts. So join us as we take a look at Slenderman and Momo and learn about ostension, monster theory, moral panics, and the defining traits that make something folklore as opposed to just a simple online expression of creativity.

Guests:

Dr. Vivian Asimos, author of Digital Monsters and Digital Mythology and the Internet's Monster: The Slender Man

Ben Brock Johnson, Amory Sivertson, and Quincy Walters from WBUR's podcast, Endless Thread

Chelsey Weber-Smith, host of American Hysteria

Kathleen Hale, author of Slenderman: Online Obsession, Mental Illness, and the Violent Crime of Two Midwestern Girls

And featuring the voice talents of:

Jordan Reed as Georgeriegegege

Colin Parker as Victor Surge

Ty from Side Character Quest

🗣 Join our Discord community
💁‍♀️ Support us on Patreon
🕸 Sign-up for our newsletter, check our our merch, and learn more about the show at digitalfolklore.fm.
📚 Check our book list for some great folklore-related books

Find us on the socials:

Twitter: @digiFolklorePod

Facebook: DigitalFolklorePod

Instagram: DigitalFolklorePod

TikTok: digitalfolklore

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The Internet is The New Woods (Monsters, Ostension, & Moral Panics)

Monsters and Mental Healthcare - Vivian Asimos & Kathleen Hale
This is the first of our 'Folk' episodes, where we share longer excerpts from our interviews!
We talk with Dr. Vivian Asimos about the importance of storytelling and narrative, what makes a monster significant, and a deeper analysis of how of Slenderman - and the circumstances around his creation - catapulted a legend into our collective consciousness.
Then, we'll hear from author Kathleen Hale about her journey to uncover details around the Slenderman stabbings in Wisconsin, the surprising insights she gained about our juvenile justice system, and a discussion about access to mental healthcare services in the United States.
We'll also meet Mason's pet raccoon (and unofficial Digital Folklore mascot) Digby!
Guests:

Dr. Vivian Asimos, author of Digital Monsters and Digital Mythology and the Internet's Monster: The Slender Man

Kathleen Hale, author of Slenderman: Online Obsession, Mental Illness, and the Violent Crime of Two Midwestern Girls

Support our Show!
🗣 Join our Discord community
💁‍♀️ Support us on Patreon
🕸 Sign-up for our newsletter, check our our merch, and learn more about the show at digitalfolklore.fm.
📚 Check our book list for some great folklore-related books

Find us on the socials:

Twitter: @digiFolklorePod

Facebook: DigitalFolklorePod

Instagram: DigitalFolklorePod

TikTok: digitalfolklore

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Monsters and Mental Healthcare - Vivian Asimos & Kathleen Hale

Hidden Meanings
You never know what you might discover if you just #KeepYourEyesOpen. Perry and Mason venture into their local pawn shop where they meet the mysterious proprietor, Todd, as well as a handful of very interesting people who happen to all be connected...
In this episode:

An opening story about a gamer who discovers their deceased father's ghost car and gets to race him again

A retelling of Ben Drowned, one of the most iconic creepypastas about a haunted copy of the classic N64 videogame Zelda: Majora's Mask.

An exploration of what constitutes a 'folk group' and how folklore can emerge from pop culture fandoms and other established media.

A discussion with the developer of an ARG (Alternate Reality Game) where various cryptic clues are spread across the entire internet.

An interview with one of the key members of the community who solved that ARG, discussing how that community came together.

Mason purchases a bicycle...

Guests:

Dr. Sara Cleto and Dr. Brittany Warman from the Carterhaugh School of Folklore & the Fantastic

Niles Sankey, creator of the Asemblance videogame series, and owner of Nilo Studios.

Matthew Bliss, host of The Dead Drop podcast - a twice-weekly 10 minute video game news podcast.

Featuring voice acting from:

Brooke Jennett of THIRTEEN narrated the opening story.

Rich Daigle (aka Mouth Almighty) voices Todd the pawn shop owner.

🗣 Join our Discord community
💁‍♀️ Support us on Patreon
🕸 Sign-up for our newsletter, check our our merch, and learn more about the show at digitalfolklore.fm.
📚 Check our book list for some great folklore-related books

Find us on the socials:

Twitter: @digiFolklorePod

Facebook: DigitalFolklorePod

Instagram: DigitalFolklorePod

TikTok: digitalfolklore

Keep Your Eyes Open
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Hidden Meanings (Haunted Videogames, ARGs, & Folk Groups)

Perry and Mason have lost time, but discover a mysterious tape...
The gang discovers a mysterious canister in the trunk of Perry’s (new) car. It's a reel of tape, which turns out to be an interview that they did not conduct.
Tune in as Matthew Bliss (prominent ARG solver of Asemblance) and Niles Sankey (game developer of Asemblance) meet each other for the first time!
Niles dives deeper into his approach in creating the mysterious puzzles behind his game Asemblance, the experience of watching a community come together to solve it, and shares a lot of insight into the world of creating video games.

Guests:

Niles Sankey, creator of the Asemblance videogame series, and owner of Nilo Studios.

Matthew Bliss, host of The Dead Drop podcast - a twice-weekly 10 minute video game news podcast.

🗣 Join our Discord community
💁‍♀️ Support us on Patreon
🕸 Sign-up for our newsletter, check our our merch, and learn more about the show at digitalfolklore.fm.
📚 Check our book list for some great folklore-related books

Find us on the socials:

Twitter: @digiFolklorePod

Facebook: DigitalFolklorePod

Instagram: DigitalFolklorePod

TikTok: digitalfolklore

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An ARG Developer and Player Meet for the First Time - Niles Sankey & Matthew Bliss

Disturbing the remains of the Egyptian Pharaohs is known to incur a deadly curse, so why did a team of archeologists still risk inciting the wrath of King Tutankhamun by entering his burial chamber? And how many of them met a premature end for their impudence?

This episode comes to us from our friends at Pushkin Industries. It's a podcast we love called Cautionary Tales by Tim Harford. We tell our children unsettling fairy tales to teach them valuable life lessons, but these cautionary tales are for the education of the grown-ups — and they are all true. Tim Harford (Financial Times, BBC, author of Messy and The Undercover Economist) brings you stories of awful human error, tragic catastrophes, daring heists and hilarious fiascos. They’ll delight you and scare you, but also make you wiser.

You can find Cautionary Tales on Apple, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Further reading and listening related to this episode:
Roger Luckhurst’s book, The Mummy’s Curse , is the perfect guide to every angle of the tale. Nigel Blundell’s The World’s Greatest Mistakes gives a vivid tabloid-style version, and Snopes described and then fact-checked the tale of the Unlucky Mummy. Skeptoid covers and debunks various explanations for the curse.
The Mesmeromania incident is covered in detail by Christopher Turner for Cabinet Magazine. Shankar Vedantam and Bill Mesler set it in wider context in their fascinating book Useful Delusions.
Charle’s Duhigg’s story about Target and the pregnant teenager is in the New York Times Magazine.
Academic studies on placebos, nocebos, and the BMJ article about the mummy’s curse:
Howick, J. Unethical informed consent caused by overlooking poorly measured nocebo effects. Journal of Medical Ethics. https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:07126ead-92c8-4b82-87b2-7e677aaf98b5
Colloca L, Miller FG. The nocebo effect and its relevance for clinical practice. Psychosom Med. 2011;73(7):598-603. doi:10.1097/PSY.0b013e3182294a50
Nelson MR. The mummy’s curse: historical cohort study. BMJ. 2002 Dec 21;325(7378):1482-4. doi: 10.1136/bmj.325.7378.1482. PMID: 12493675; PMCID: PMC139048.
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From Cautionary Tales: The Mummy's Curse

See for Yourself
Perry picks up Mason from his house at 4:00am (yes... four in the freaking morning) for a road trip out to the gravesite of Elijah Bond - inventor of the Ouija Board. On the way, they encounter quite a few remarkable folks with stories to tell...

Content Warnings: 
Because of dynamically inserted ads, timestamps would be inaccurate. Here's how to avoid potentially triggering content:

Suffocation: in the Hoosac Tunnel story, when you hear us talk about the "Central Shaft", skip ahead ~4 minutes.

Racially motivated violence: When you hear the phrase "Mini Lights", skip ahead ~3 minutes.

In this episode:

An opening retelling of the classic "Hook Hand Man" urban legend.

A short retelling of the history of the Hoosac Tunnel, and how Mason paid it a visit.

What it means to get to the origin of local legends, and exploration of how they change over time and the purposes they serve.

A discussion with a professional ghost tour guide.

Discussion around the importance of studying urban legends, and a retelling of the Bunny Man legend.

Guests:

Mark Muncy, author of the bestselling book Eerie Florida and other compilations of local legends.

Paul Prater, multifaceted entertainer and ghost tour guide.

Betty Aquino, a graduate student in the folklore program at George Mason University.

Featuring voice acting from:

GennaRose Nethercott told our opening story of the Hook Hand Man. GennaRose is a an author, poet, folklorist, and an associate producer and researcher for the highly acclaimed Lore podcast.

Eric Gray was the voice of AM radio host Bart Chime. Eric creates the podcast "Dumb People with Terrible Ideas" which is a hilarious, pun-filled teardown of hubris - all delivered in his iconic voice. Mason's personal favorite episode is this one about FM radio.

Ruben Basalto was the "Moon Man Dad Caller" at the beginning of the AM radio show. Ruben is a voice actor who you can hire for your next project!

🗣 Join our Discord community
💁‍♀️ Support us on Patreon
🕸 Sign-up for our newsletter, check our our merch, and learn more about the show at digitalfolklore.fm.
📚 Check our book list for some great folklore-related books

Find us on the socials:

Twitter: @digiFolklorePod

Facebook: DigitalFolklorePod

Instagram: DigitalFolklorePod

TikTok: digitalfolklore

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See for Yourself (Urban Legends, Ghost Tours, & Legend Tripping)

Perry & Mason catch up after the production of the last episode.
Things we mentioned:

We are joined again by our interview editor and all around great guy, Matthew Bliss!

Let's talk about Todd

We forecast the upcoming 'Unplugged Episode' with Ian Brodie

Mason says, "I'm gonna say absolutely nothing useful" and then shares something mildly interesting.

Listener messages and shout outs

Episode editing by Matt Bliss of MBPod.
If you want to find the extra clips and BTS snippets, join our Discord server using the link below!
🗣 Join our Discord community
💁‍♀️ Support us on Patreon
🕸 Sign-up for our newsletter, check our our merch, and learn more about the show at digitalfolklore.fm.
📚 Check our book list for some great folklore-related books
Find us on the socials:

Twitter: @digiFolklorePod

Facebook: DigitalFolklorePod

Instagram: DigitalFolklorePod

TikTok: digitalfolklore

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After the Episode | S2E8 (The Death of Meaning)

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