Podcast Summary: And That's Why We Drink – Episode 406: A Nap Seance and The Christine Claw™

Hosts: Christine Schiefer & Em Schulz
Release Date: November 17, 2024
Title: A Nap Seance and The Christine Claw™

1. Personal Anecdotes and Light Banter (00:00 - 05:00)

The episode opens with light-hearted banter between Christine Schiefer and Em Schulz. Christine shares a humorous anecdote about attempting to take a nap using her Aura Ring, which monitors her biometrics. She describes how her device's condescending message about her sleep efforts led to a playful exchange between the hosts.

Notable Quote:

• Christine Schiefer [02:16]: "So it's my little aura ring. So it does like your biometrics, you know, my biometrics is what it is, what it does."

2. Discussing Travel Fatigue and Coping Mechanisms (05:00 - 15:00)

Em delves into her feelings of burnout from constant touring, detailing the exhaustion from multiple live shows and book signings in Texas. She expresses frustration about limited time at home and the strain of continuous travel. Christine empathizes, sharing her own struggles with sleep and napping.

Notable Quotes:

• Em Schulz [05:00]: "I'm in a bit of a funk. I came home and I'm just, like, so depressed..."
• Christine Schiefer [07:02]: "There's a come down from all travel and I feel like ours is so, like, heightened also..."

3. Childcare Updates and Family Life (15:00 - 25:00)

The conversation shifts to their personal lives, focusing on Christine’s daughter, Leona. They discuss milestones like potty training and the challenges of modern parenting. Em shares humorous stories about navigating daycare updates and managing Leona’s activities, highlighting the blend of responsibility and chaos in their lives.

Notable Quotes:

• Christine Schiefer [14:31]: "Leona's good. She's finally fine."
• Em Schulz [15:02]: "I feel like it's the equivalent of, like, when you get updates from, like, doggy daycare."

4. Exploring Health and Wellness Trends (25:00 - 35:00)

Christine and Em delve into current wellness trends, discussing Nerra smoothies and their impact on health. Em recounts her experience at Erewhon Grocery, detailing the ingredients of her favorite smoothie and debating the inclusion of certain supplements like turkey tail mushrooms. Their conversation highlights the intersection of health consciousness and modern dietary habits.

Notable Quotes:

• Em Schulz [12:27]: "And immunity rescue shot. Of course."
• Christine Schiefer [12:34]: "Because I'm starting to get concerned because..."

5. Adopting New Technologies and Tools (35:00 - 45:00)

Em announces her purchase of a travel microphone to continue recording while on tour, expressing excitement about integrating new technology into her workflow. Christine shares her own experiences with digital tools, emphasizing the importance of adaptability in their dynamic lifestyles.

Notable Quotes:

• Em Schulz [05:51]: "I'm very excited to try that."
• Christine Schiefer [05:53]: "I can't wait to see how that works."

6. The Haunting Griggs Mansion (45:00 - 60:00)

Transitioning to the main story, Christine and Em delve into the eerie history of the Griggs Mansion in St. Paul, Minnesota. They narrate its construction in the 1830s by Chauncey Griggs, a young and ambitious merchant who quickly rose through various industries. The mansion, renowned for its Victorian architecture, became infamous for its numerous hauntings and ghostly apparitions.

Key Points:

• Chauncey Griggs: Born in Connecticut in 1832, Chauncey moved west at 14 to attend business school and later became a lumber and coal merchant.
• Architecture: The mansion featured 24 rooms and was considered extravagant for its time, costing approximately $35,000 (equivalent to $1.2 million today).
• Hauntings: Stories of apparitions, including a thin man in a top hat, footsteps, and unexplained phenomena plagued the mansion. Notable ghosts include the caretaker Charles Wade and a maid who reportedly hanged herself.

Notable Quote:

• Em Schulz [19:26]: "This is the Griggs mansion, and we start on New Year's Eve, 1832. Everyone's celebrating... someone’s giving birth."

7. The Abduction of JC Lee Dugard (60:00 - 95:00)

Christine introduces the harrowing true-crime story of JC Lee Dugard, an 11-year-old girl abducted in 1991. The narrative intertwines with the Griggs Mansion's haunted legacy, suggesting a possible supernatural connection to the crime.

Key Points:

• Background: JC was raised by her mother, Terry, and her abusive stepfather, Carl Probin. Despite her struggles at home, JC maintained a hope for a loving father figure.
• The Abduction: On June 10, 1991, while waiting at a bus stop, JC was struck by a man with a stun gun and abducted by two strangers—a man and a woman.
• Investigation: Carl Probin was initially suspected but cleared after passing polygraph tests. The FBI launched an extensive search, but JC remained missing for 18 years.
• Haunted Mansion Connection: Reports of hauntings at the Griggs Mansion coincided with JC’s disappearance, leading listeners to theorize a possible link between the two mysteries.

Notable Quotes:

• Christine Schiefer [72:01]: "JC Lee Dugard was born in California in 1980... When she's seven, her mother marries Carl..."
• Em Schulz [85:07]: "But he gave a perfect description of the vehicle... he was able to give an exact description of the vehicle's year, color, make and model."

8. Emotional Impact and Community Response (95:00 - 105:00)

The hosts discuss the emotional toll on JC’s family, particularly her mother Terry, who struggled with guilt over a broken promise to say goodbye. They highlight the community’s involvement through vigils, flyer distribution, and media appearances aimed at keeping JC’s case in the public eye. The juxtaposition of real-life horror with the mansion’s ghost stories underscores the podcast’s theme of merging true crime with the paranormal.

Notable Quotes:

• Em Schulz [91:18]: "Every May, she became just inconsolable because June 10th was the day of the abduction."
• Christine Schiefer [97:16]: "She made her mom promise not to forget. But the next morning, Terry was running late and decided she didn't have time..."

9. Cliffhanger and Tease for Next Episode (105:00 - End)

The episode concludes with Christine promising to continue the story in the next part, leaving listeners in suspense about JC Lee Dugard's eventual survival and return. The hosts exchange light-hearted remarks and tease future discussions, maintaining the engaging and personable tone of the podcast.

Notable Quote:

• Christine Schiefer [100:56]: "I have been hoping to do for years... the kidnapping of JC Lee Dugard... that is the end of part one."

Conclusion

In Episode 406 of "And That's Why We Drink," Christine Schiefer and Em Schulz adeptly blend personal stories with a deep dive into a chilling true-crime case intertwined with paranormal elements. The hosts' dynamic chemistry and inclusion of noteworthy quotes enrich the narrative, providing both entertainment and a thorough examination of the haunting Griggs Mansion and JC Lee Dugard's abduction. The episode sets the stage for a gripping continuation, promising further exploration of the mysteries that blur the lines between murder and the supernatural.