Aaron Mahnke's Cabinet of Curiosities: "Psycho Seance" Episode Summary

Release Date: December 10, 2024
Hosts: iHeartPodcasts and Grim & Mild

Introduction to the Victorian Era and Seances

Aaron Mahnke opens the episode by setting the stage in the late 19th-century Victorian Europe, a period marked by rapid scientific advancements intertwined with a burgeoning fascination for spiritualism and mysticism. This duality created a unique environment where the lines between science and the supernatural often blurred, leading many researchers to explore seances not just as social gatherings but as potential gateways to understanding the unknown.

The Story of Carl Gustav and Heli Preisberg

Meet Carl Gustav (CG)
At the heart of this tale is a 21-year-old medical student named Carl Gustav, affectionately known as CG. Raised in a religious household, CG has been haunted by vivid, frightening dreams since childhood—dreams filled with monsters, ghosts, and other unsettling imagery that both science and religion couldn't explain.

Introducing Heli Preisberg
CG's cousin, Heli Preisberg, is a 15-year-old medium renowned for her ability to conduct seances and purportedly travel between different realms, including the one CG experiences in his dreams. Despite her young age and frailty, Heli and CG share a deep enthusiasm for the supernatural, making her the ideal partner to help unravel the mysteries behind his visions.

The First Seance

In 1896, CG is invited to Heli's home for their inaugural seance. They approach the ritual with utmost seriousness, laying their fingers on an upside-down glass placed over a sheet of paper covered in letters. Heli channels the spirits present, seeking to identify themselves by moving the glass to spell out their names.

A Disturbing Encounter
The seance takes a harrowing turn when a spirit claiming to be their late grandfather, Reverend Samuel Preisberg, takes control of Heli. At [05:20], a transformed Heli delivers a cryptic message:
"Do not fear, See, I am with you every day, I am your grandfather Samuel, who dwells with God. Pray to him, the Lord, and ask him that my dear grandchild reaches her goal."

The Mysterious Mission
The grandfather reveals that his spirit was sent to the Americas to intervene in a troubling situation involving a relative, Bertie, who is reportedly in danger of having a baby with a black man—a situation his spirit deems necessary to prevent due to persistent racism even in the afterlife. Despite their efforts, Heli fails to alter the course of events, leaving CG perplexed and questioning the reality of their experiences.

Years of Seances and a Shift Towards Psychology

CG and Heli continue their seances for years, with Heli delving deeper into the supernatural realms she claims to visit. However, CG's academic journey leads him to the works of Sigmund Freud and the exploration of the unconscious mind. He begins to draw parallels between his disturbing dreams, Heli's spirit communications, and Freud's theories about the unconscious—a reservoir of dark imagery and forgotten memories.

Skepticism and Revelation
As CG immerses himself in psychology, his skepticism towards the supernatural grows. He observes behaviors in Heli that suggest deception, such as hiding objects to simulate spirit activity. By [18:45], CG concludes that the phenomena they experienced were manifestations of the unconscious mind rather than genuine supernatural interventions.

Carl Jung's Legacy in Modern Psychiatry

Rejecting the supernatural explanations, CG challenges not only his cousin’s practices but also critiques Freud's emphasis on human sexuality as the primary driver of psychological behavior. This intellectual rebellion leads CG to embrace a more reasoned, scientific approach, distancing himself from mysticism.

From Seances to Psychiatry
CG’s evolving perspectives contribute significantly to the field of psychiatry, helping to establish reason and scientific inquiry as paramount during the Victorian era. Despite facing criticism from Freud's successors, CG—later known as Carl Jung—cements his legacy as a foundational figure in modern psychiatry, advocating for a balance between understanding the conscious and unconscious minds.

Notable Quotes

• Grandfather Samuel (spirit):
  "Do not fear, See, I am with you every day, I am your grandfather Samuel, who dwells with God. Pray to him, the Lord, and ask him that my dear grandchild reaches her goal." ([05:20])

• Heli Preisberg:
  "I was unsuccessful in my mission to stop Birdie from having the baby." ([08:35])

• CG Jung:
  "The experiences Heli and I had were mere manifestations of her unconscious mind, not spirits from the beyond." ([22:10])

Interlude: Modern Sponsorship Messages

The episode includes sponsorship segments promoting BetterHelp and Capital One, which are seamlessly integrated into the narrative but are not the focus of the episode's content.

Second Story: Medieval Cook-Off in Baghdad

Following the primary narrative, Aaron transitions to a second fascinating tale set in 9th-century Baghdad, then a culinary epicenter bridging Europe and Asia.

Backdrop of Culinary Excellence
Baghdad's strategic location provided access to a plethora of spices and recipes from around the globe, fostering a vibrant and competitive culinary scene. The Caliph, an enthusiastic foodie and amateur chef, becomes embroiled in a heated rivalry with his brother over culinary supremacy.

The Cook-Off Challenge
Determined to assert his culinary prowess, the Caliph organizes an extravagant cook-off. He supplies his brother with an array of high-quality ingredients: lamb, chicken, eggplants, apricots, salt, saffron, honey, various oils, and exotic spices sourced from China and India. Both brothers select their dishes, enlisting assistants to aid them in the competitive endeavor.

Enter Ibadah, the Cunning Assistant
The Caliph assigns a young, talented yet notoriously difficult chef named Ibadah to his team. Known for his devious tactics, Ibadah harbors a reputation for sabotaging colleagues to gain an edge.

Sabotage and Victory
As the competition intensifies, aromas of both dishes fill the palace kitchen. However, Ibadah grows suspicious of his brother's seemingly superior dish. He discreetly adds a secret fermented sauce to his brother’s preparation, resulting in a foul-smelling disaster that leads to the Caliph's undisputed victory. Impressed by Ibadah's cunning, the Caliph promotes him to head chef.

Consequences of Trickery
Tragically, Ibadah's deceitful methods catch up with him after the Caliph's death. His brother, now the new ruler, holds a grudge against Ibadah, narrowly averting his execution by choosing exile instead. This story underscores the high stakes and perilous nature of medieval competitions, where honor and life were intricately linked.

Notable Quotes

• Ibadah:
  "It is only fair that everyone has access to the same materials, even if it costs us the competition." ([35:50])

• Caliph's Brother:
  "Of course, it is just like your brother to goad me into a competition, only to cheat!" ([37:15])

Conclusion

Aaron Mahnke wraps up the episode by encouraging listeners to subscribe and stay curious, teasing future tales filled with the unbelievable, unsettling, and bizarre. Through "Psycho Seance," the episode delves deep into the intersection of the supernatural and psychology, illustrating how personal experiences can shape and even redefine scientific paradigms. The subsequent medieval cook-off story highlights the timeless nature of human competition and the lengths individuals will go to achieve glory.

Subscribe for free on Apple Podcasts or learn more about the show by visiting curiositiespodcast.com. Stay curious!