Podcast Summary: And That's Why We Drink Episode: Listener Stories: Vol. 104
Release Date: June 1, 2025
Hosts: Christine Schiefer & Em Schulz
Description: Murder and the paranormal collide! Every Sunday, join Christine and Em for chilling ghost stories and terrifying true crime tales. Remember, the world's a scary place, and that's why we drink!

Introduction

In this episode of And That's Why We Drink, hosts Christine Schiefer and Em Schulz celebrate their birthdays amidst spooky tales and listener-submitted stories. The episode primarily focuses on six chilling accounts from their audience, with a special feature on Massachusetts's haunted locations. Despite some lighthearted banter and interactions involving their dog, Leona, the core of the episode delves deep into paranormal experiences shared by listeners.

Listener Story 1: UMass's Haunted AF

Submitted by: Christine's Patron, Ally
Timestamp: [11:21] – [19:02]

Christine and Em introduce the first story titled "UMass's Haunted AF," submitted by Ally, who attended the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. The tale is rich with eerie urban legends surrounding the campus, including:

• Pentagram Architecture: Ally mentions, “the original buildings form a pentagram” and points out that “all the benches around the school say 666” ([12:13]).
• Mysterious Staircases: A rumored count of 666 external steps on campus sparks a humorous yet unsettling discussion between the hosts about counting stairs and the potential supernatural implications ([13:00] – [14:10]).
• Ghostly Encounters: Christine recounts her experiences living in campus apartments, describing unsettling occurrences such as rattling doors and shadowy figures watching her. At one point, she shares, “I saw a shadow standing in the doorway staring at my bed” ([16:09]).
• Paranormal Activity: Christine narrates a particularly frightening night where her door slams and she feels something pounding on it, leading to a vigil against fear as "fear gives power" ([18:09] – [20:25]).

The hosts discuss the interplay between high-stress environments like college campuses and the manifestation of paranormal activities, blending humor with genuine fear.

Listener Story 2: Haunted Book

Submitted by: Lauren
Timestamp: [32:27] – [44:07]

Lauren shares her eerie experience with a haunted book titled Phone Call from a Ghost. Her story unfolds as follows:

• Duplicate Chapters: While reading the book with a friend, Lauren notices that Chapter 10 appears twice ([33:00]).
• Disappearance of Chapters: Upon taking the book home, she discovers that Chapter 10 is missing altogether, leading to confusion and fear ([34:52]).
• Supernatural Manifestations: Attempts to hide or destroy the book result in uncanny phenomena, including chapters reappearing and shifting locations within the book ([35:03] – [38:12]).
• Final Confrontation: The only resolution Lauren mentions is burning the book after repeated disturbances, effectively ending the haunting ([38:45] – [39:14]).

Em humorously reacts to the story, expressing a mix of amusement and fear, highlighting the absurdity and terror of encountering a haunted object intrinsically linked to one's childhood.

Listener Story 3: UMass's Haunted AF (Continued)

Christine and Em continue discussing the first story, elaborating on the haunted aspects of UMass Dartmouth. They touch upon:

• Presidential Sacrifices: The unsettling notion that past presidents spent nights in supposedly haunted rooms to debunk the myths, only to leave the spaces still feared by students ([13:31] – [14:45]).
• Campus Legends: Stories about missing students and the influence of historical events, such as connections to the Boston Marathon bombers, deepen the haunted lore of the campus ([14:24] – [16:00]).

The conversation intertwines personal anecdotes with the submitted story, providing a multi-layered perspective on campus hauntings.

Listener Story 4: Haunted Bathtub and a Possessed Teen

Submitted by: Miranda
Timestamp: [67:36] – [78:44]

Miranda recounts a terrifying experience involving a haunted bathtub and possession during a Ouija board session:

• Revolutionary War Cemetery Proximity: Miranda's family home, built in the 1860s across from an 1736 cemetery, sets a historical and ominous backdrop ([68:14] – [68:53]).
• Haunted Bathrooms: The haunted house features a clawfoot bathtub that remains cold despite hot water, evoking a sense of unease ([69:43] – [70:38]).
• Ouija Board Incident: During a family Ouija session, young spirits communicate that they were drowned in the bathtub. The session escalates when a teenage girl becomes possessed, speaking in unknown languages and leading to a highly traumatic experience for Miranda ([74:43] – [77:33]).
• Aftermath: The harrowing night culminates in Miranda and her family moving out, leaving behind the haunted residence ([77:33] – [78:44]).

Christine and Em engage in a humorous yet empathetic discussion, expressing disbelief and fear over the severity of Miranda's experience. They reflect on the intense emotions and chaos that such paranormal events can induce.

Listener Story 5: Frankenstein's Furry Tried to Kill Me

Submitted by: Adeline
Timestamp: [44:24] – [56:45]

Adeline shares her spine-chilling encounter at a raw dairy farm:

• Work Environment: Em sets the stage by describing her job at a dairy farm, which involves early morning shifts and night shifts without the usual bottling tasks ([46:04] – [48:28]).
• Unsettling Walks: On a late fall night, Em experiences unnerving sounds and sights while walking back to the barn, including mysterious moos and a shadowy figure near the pasture ([49:01] – [51:22]).
• Sleep Paralysis Nightmare: Em narrates a vivid sleep paralysis episode where she encounters a grotesque, deformed entity described as a "half man, half animal" creature with "long fingers" that overwhelms her ([54:03] – [55:56]).
• Aftermath and Reflection: The traumatic experience leaves Em terrified and contemplating drastic changes, such as leaving her job, while Christine provides supportive banter ([56:05] – [56:45]).

This story blends real-life setting with supernatural terror, highlighting the fine line between mundane fears and extraordinary paranormal encounters.

Listener Story 6: Haunted College Dorm

Submitted by: Elise
Timestamp: [58:20] – [67:20]

Elise details haunting experiences at Mount Holyoke College:

• Historic Setting: The college, part of the Seven Sisters, features a haunted dorm room with a tumultuous history ([58:31] – [60:35]).
• Paranormal Activity: Elise describes repeated supernatural occurrences, such as objects moving on their own, shadows appearing, and unexplained sobs, particularly in a room off-limits to students ([60:52] – [62:13]).
• RA Encounters: As a Resident Advisor, Elise observes and experiences ghostly interactions, including a shadowy figure weeping in a locked room, leaving her questioning the boundaries between the living and the dead ([62:13] – [66:56]).
• Host Reactions: Christine and Em humorously express their disbelief and amusement over the boundary-testing nature of the story, maintaining a lighthearted tone despite the eerie content ([66:56] – [67:20]).

This account underscores the haunted reputation of historic institutions and the personal toll such experiences can have on those who encounter them.

Listener Story 7: Haunted Bathtub and a Possessed Teen (Continued)

Submitted by: Miranda
Timestamp: [67:36] – [80:36]

Miranda continues her harrowing narrative:

• Paraphernalia and Rituals: Miranda expands on the Ouija board session, describing how her family's involvement inadvertently summoned malevolent entities ([75:56] – [76:43]).
• Possession and Fright: The teenage girl in the session exhibits signs of possession, speaking in a language unknown to the participants and heightening the fear and urgency to end the session ([76:43] – [77:33]).
• Resolution and Aftermath: The family's decision to move out marks the end of their direct encounters, but the lingering fear remains palpable as Christine and Em discuss the implications of such experiences ([77:33] – [80:36]).

This continuation delves deeper into the psychological and emotional impact of paranormal activities, emphasizing the lasting effects on individuals and families.

Conclusion

In Episode 104 of And That's Why We Drink, Christine and Em Schiefer provide their listeners with a collection of spine-tingling stories that blend personal experiences with submitted paranormal accounts. From haunted universities and possessed objects to terrifying encounters at workplaces and historic homes, the episode offers a rich tapestry of fears and mysteries. Interspersed with the hosts' humor and personal anecdotes, the stories not only entertain but also explore the profound effects of the supernatural on everyday life.

Notable Quotes

• Em: “It’s 666 external steps on campus. But I never counted the way I would have wandered around counting the fucking steps.” ([12:13])
• Christine: “Sometimes things need to be redone in a fresh way, you know?” ([03:56])
• Em: “I had to grab him by the collar and drag Him. Which was not very fun.” ([09:08])
• Christine: “No, that's too story. Like, maybe you've escaped unscathed.” ([20:59])
• Em: “Maybe it's a Wendigo? Maybe it's a shadow figure? Maybe it's a criminal? Maybe it's a creeper?” ([78:21])
• Miranda: “It was the most uncomfortable and eerie experience of my life.” ([70:38])

Final Thoughts

For those who enjoy the intersection of true crime and the paranormal, And That's Why We Drink offers a compelling mix of narratives that are both horrifying and thought-provoking. The hosts’ engaging dialogue and authentic reactions make the stories come alive, providing listeners with an immersive and chilling experience. Whether you're a skeptic or a believer, this episode is sure to leave you contemplating the unknown.

Note: All timestamps are approximate and based on the provided transcript.