Listener Stories: Vol. 105

Summary

Podcast Summary: And That's Why We Drink – Listener Stories: Vol. 105

Release Date: July 1, 2025

Hosts: Christine Schiefer & Em Schulz

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Introduction to July: The Month of Julius Caesar

In this episode, Christine and Em kick off the month of July by delving into the historical roots of its name. They discuss how Julius Caesar's influence led to the month bearing his name, seamlessly blending humor and historical tidbits.

• Christine (02:11): "Historically, July was named after Julius Caesar, reflecting his impact on our calendar system."

• Em (03:06): "Most months are named after Roman gods, but July and August are exceptions, thanks to the Caesars."

Their playful banter sets a lighthearted tone as they transition into the core of the episode—listener-submitted ghost and true crime stories centered around the theme of swimming pools.

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Listener Story 1: Brian’s “Can Ghosts Swim?”

Brian shares a chilling account of encountering a ghost in a swimming pool during a sweltering Texas summer.

• Brian (07:36): "Back in the summer of 2020, I was the last one out of the pool when I saw my sister swimming, tailed by a pitch-black figure."

• Christine (07:00): "I imagine they can move through water without needing to swim, much like walking through walls."

Brian describes seeing a figure resembling the "Hat Man," a common ghostly apparition, swimming alongside his sister. The figure’s ability to keep pace with her raised suspicions, especially since no one else witnessed the presence.

• Em (09:42): "The goggle man, the hat man—why would they remove their hat just to swim?"

The story concludes with Brian recounting another eerie incident where he was tickled by a ghostly figure in the pool, leading to lasting PTSD and a newfound fear of tanning.

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Listener Story 2: Margot’s “My Summer at a Haunted Boarding School”

Margot recounts her unsettling experiences while teaching at a haunted English boarding school.

• Margot (21:32): "Every once in a while, I'd hear a banging noise coming from inside the walls while preparing lessons."

• Christine (23:11): "This was starting to feel too much like the beginning of a horror movie."

One night, after hours, Margot and a few colleagues decide to chill by the indoor pool with beers and music. The atmosphere shifts dramatically when the music distorts into static, lights go out, and a cold draft sweeps the area—only for them to realize it wasn’t raining but something more sinister. The following day, as Margot shares her story, the lights abruptly shut off, intensifying the haunting experience.

• Em (24:33): "I feel so scared."

Margot’s tale underscores the pervasive sense of dread and unexplained phenomena at the boarding school, leaving listeners with lingering unease.

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Listener Story 3: Autumn’s Past Life Account

Autumn delves into memories that suggest a past life as Julius Caesar, intertwining personal trauma with historical intrigue.

• Autumn (26:46): "One day my mom told her friend that I acted like someone who had come close to drowning because of my fear of water."

• Christine (27:07): "She told her friend that my older sister had been in a car accident when I drowned."

Autumn shares a deeply personal story of how, as a child, she recounted a traumatic near-drowning experience that she doesn’t remember, hinting at past life memories influencing her present fears and behaviors.

• Em (29:17): "That's definitely too intense for a three-year-old to articulate."

This narrative explores the concept of reincarnation and how past traumas might resurface in current lives, adding a layer of mystery and introspection to the episode.

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Listener Story 4: Bridget’s “A Psychic Predicted My Childhood Home Burning Down”

Bridget presents a harrowing tale of how a psychic's prediction seemingly led to a family tragedy.

• Bridget (31:00): "In May 2003, a psychic predicted that our house would burn down. Shortly after, an electrical accident caused a fire, devastating our family."

Bridget details the sequence of events where a neighbor, convinced by a psychic's warning, initiates measures to protect their home. Ironically, the actions taken by a family member during a crisis inadvertently lead to the stove being left on, causing the fire. The story intertwines themes of fate, coincidence, and the unintended consequences of believing in supernatural predictions.

• Em (42:17): "At some point, someone's gonna drag you off your property."

The account raises questions about the efficacy and ethics of psychics, as well as the fine line between foresight and self-fulfilling prophecies.

---

Listener Story 5: Delaney’s “Physically Touched with Marks”

Delaney shares a poignant story of surviving an electrical accident and the lingering ghostly experiences that followed.

• Delaney (45:39): "I was shocked in a puddle for about 45 minutes, which left me with PTSD and a severe dairy allergy."

• Christine (49:35): "That is absolutely heartbreaking."

Delaney recounts the tragedy of losing her sister in the same accident and how, years later, she began experiencing ghostly sensations, like handprints appearing on her sunburned knees and hearing a favorite song playing mysteriously.

• Em (48:05): "It's definitely too late. I have a feeling the sunburn and suntan have gone away since."

This story highlights the long-term psychological and supernatural repercussions of traumatic events, blending real-world horror with paranormal elements.

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Listener Story 6: Jackie’s “Breaking into Wallace and Other Ways to Fall Asleep”

Jackie offers an unconventional technique for falling asleep, inspired by childhood pool experiences.

• Jackie (51:04): "When I was younger, I'd swim to the bottom of our deep pool, flip onto my back, let the air out of my lungs, and slowly sink to sleep."

Christine discusses how this method, rooted in sensory deprivation and relaxation, has surprisingly become an effective sleep aid for Jackie. The hosts reflect on the eerie parallels between Jackie’s technique and the ghostly themes of the episode.

• Christine (53:27): "To fall asleep today, I pictured myself slowly letting the air out of my lungs and sinking to the bottom."

This segment interweaves personal anecdotes with practical advice, offering listeners a unique approach to overcoming insomnia.

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Hosts’ Reflections and Thematic Insights

Throughout the episode, Christine and Em provide insightful commentary on each story, exploring the intersections between past lives, supernatural encounters, and the lingering effects of trauma.

• Em (35:41): "Psychics can be a channel, so I don't think this was just a coincidence."

• Christine (42:33): "Maybe the psychic needed to learn some boundaries and social skills."

Their discussions often delve into the psychological underpinnings of the stories, questioning the nature of ghosts, the reliability of psychics, and the ways in which past experiences shape current beliefs and fears.

---

Conclusion: Embracing the Spooky Season

As the episode draws to a close, Christine and Em reflect on the whirlwind of listener stories and the swift passage of time, noting that spooky season is just around the corner.

• Em (56:08): "We are only two, three episodes away from spooky season Halloween."

They encourage listeners to continue submitting their own stories, fostering a community of shared experiences and mutual support in facing the world's inherent fears.

• Christine (56:29): "If you have your own story to submit, you can go to our website at thatswhywedrink.com."

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Notable Quotes:

• Em (03:06): "Most months are named after Roman gods, but July and August are exceptions, thanks to the Caesars."

• Brian (07:36): "Back in the summer of 2020, I was the last one out of the pool when I saw my sister swimming, tailed by a pitch-black figure."

• Margot (21:32): "Every once in a while, I'd hear a banging noise coming from inside the walls while preparing lessons."

• Autumn (26:46): "One day my mom told her friend that I acted like someone who had come close to drowning because of my fear of water."

• Bridget (31:00): "In May 2003, a psychic predicted that our house would burn down. Shortly after, an electrical accident caused a fire, devastating our family."

• Delaney (45:39): "I was shocked in a puddle for about 45 minutes, which left me with PTSD and a severe dairy allergy."

• Jackie (51:04): "When I was younger, I'd swim to the bottom of our deep pool, flip onto my back, let the air out of my lungs, and slowly sink to sleep."

---

Final Thoughts:

"Listener Stories: Vol. 105" on And That's Why We Drink offers a compelling blend of ghostly encounters, true crime experiences, and personal traumas, all framed within the thematic backdrop of July. Christine and Em's engaging storytelling, coupled with their thoughtful reflections, provide both chills and comfort to listeners navigating the eerie and the unexplained. Whether you're a seasoned fan or new to the podcast, this episode promises to leave you both spooked and captivated.

Transcript

[Christine]

Thanks for selling your car to Carvana. Here's your check. Whoa.

[Em]

When did I get here?

[Christine]

What do you mean?

[Em]

I swear it was just moments ago that I accepted a great offer from Carvana online. I must have time traveled to the future. It was just moments ago.

[Christine]

We do same day pickup. Here's your check for that great offer.

[Em]

It is the future.

[Christine]

It's.

[Em]

It's the present.

[Christine]

And just the convenience of Carvana. Sorry to blow your mind.

[Em]

It's all good. Happens all the time.

[Christine]

Sell your car the convenient way to Carvana. Pick up. Times may vary and fees may apply.

[Em]

We talk about it every time, folks. We love Eva. We love that we were able to find her so quickly. We were desperately. We were drowning when we needed somebody to come in, help us out. At the time it was just emails and social media and it very quickly turned into like, we need you to go ghost hunting in the basement. Do you mind, man? No one like Eva. And we wouldn't have found her if it weren't for ZipRecruiter. Typically you don't associate speed with quality, but in her case, we were able to find her in like 30 seconds. It's crazy. ZipRecruiter was able to do that for us. Like I said, usually speed and quality don't mix. But there is an exception to that unwritten rule. If you're hiring, you can find candidates fast who are also extremely qualified for your job. Just use Zip Recruiter. And right now you can use Zip Recruiter for [e-mail] drink. It is so easy to use. It is so helpful. I mean, really, we have. I mean, we have ZipRecruiter to thank for everything that's happened so far. Anything Eva has touched, that's ZipRecruiter's responsibility. Or was the responsibility for sure. It's also something that I'm incredibly grateful for. So thank you. ZipRecruiter experience hiring speed and quality. With ZipRecruiter four out of five employers who post on ZipRecruiter get a quality candidate within the first day. We were one of those four out of five. And if you go to ziprecruiter.com drink right now, you can try it for free again, that's ziprecruiter.com drink ziprecruiter the smartest way to hire.

[Christine]

Hello everyone. We're here to introduce July, the concept of July to all of you. It's hot as f out there, I think, depending on where you are, I suppose.

[Em]

Wasn't it Julius Caesar, who invented July. Maybe he.

[Christine]

Yeah, he said, I have a really good invention idea.

[Em]

I feel like most men today, if they knew they could just create a month about themselves, maybe that's a lot more months.

[Christine]

That's why they probably think about the Roman Empire all the time. They're like, if only I could have.

[Em]

Like, got there first.

[Christine]

I could have got my name and all this shit, you know? But if they believed in past lives like we do, then they could have just already taken that and run with it like I was Julius Caesar.

[Em]

Yeah, they all think they're the victim.

[Christine]

Maybe they do. Et tu, Brute?

[Em]

Yeah, etu. Bruce. I was also gonna say, isn't it. Isn't that the reason why all of our months are fucked up? Because two men decided to just insert themselves into the calendar year?

[Christine]

Oh, well, historians are probably having a panic attack, but I do know the Gregorian calendar. You know, he had something to do with that guy. And then I know that they're mostly named after Roman gods, I believe.

[Em]

Oh, really? I always thought. Cause, like, October, Octa's 8, November, Nova's 9. December.

[Christine]

Oh, maybe that makes more sense.

[Em]

And then July and August showed up, and everyone showed up.

[Christine]

Julius Caesar was like, give me that.

[Em]

They were like, okay, I guess we're just going to move it then.

[Christine]

Okay. January is the Roman God Janus. February is after a Roman festival. March is a God of war, Mars. And April is from up, possibly from the Latin word to open. So that makes sense. May is for Maya, June is Juno, July is Julius Caesar, and Augustus Caesar is August. So they got two fucking months, these Caesars.

[Em]

Yeah.

[Christine]

And then the rest are all for 7, 8, 9, 10. So you were right about that.

[Em]

Oh, yeah. September. Yes. Well, I like. Then we learned, like, the Greek gods have the weekdays, too.

[Christine]

That's what it was. That's what I meant. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Sure, sure, sure. That makes sense.

[Em]

So the Greek gods and two guys and the rest are just kind of numbers.

[Christine]

And I think, like, we're all going to get a 5 on our human. AP. Human geography or AP. Clearly I don't even know class. That would be AP Latin. I don't know.

[Em]

Oh, no.

[Christine]

Something unfortunately unfun. But, you know, it took me. It took us, what, 20 seconds to Google that. Like, why did I have to spend a month learning that in school only to forget it, you know?

[Em]

Anyway, welcome to July. Written by a man.

[Christine]

Oh, right. Welcome to Julius Caesar month. We're here. Okay, you know what? I'm going to stop talking about it. I was going to talk about Julius Caesar some more, but there's really not much else to say.

[Em]

We should just totally stab Caesar. That's. That's what you say.

[Christine]

We should totally. Yeah, totally stab him. Just. Just keep it amongst ourselves. Okay. We are here in July to bring you stories that you've submitted and that Eva has hand selected. This month we actually have another Patreon topic submission which I actually think has been really fun for. For Eva to pick from because it gives like, more of a guideline. So this month it's Kayla. She. Her. And she requested swimming pool ghost stories. And Eva said, oh, well, it's July, the month of Julius Caesar, famously, and he loves swimming. He loved swimming in those Greek baths, those Roman baths. You know what I mean?

[Em]

Anyway, I feel like only Kayla and like, RJ would want a swimming pool. Like, ghost. Like, what a specific request. I wonder why. Or maybe just because of summer Six stories.

[Christine]

So Eva must have found something. Well, she did say it was loosely swimming. Ghost. Swimming pool ghost related. So I don't know what that could possibly mean, but loosely swimming.

[Em]

What the hell? Yeah. What is that? Like waiting, Paddling.

[Christine]

Paddling. Yeah. I think it's like, it gives Eva a little more creativity because she's like, oh, what can I find that will align with this tangentially? So we'll see what happens. But it's been a fun new little development on Patreon, so thank you, Kayla and. And Em. Do you wanna read the first one for fun today?

[Em]

Sure, sure.

[Christine]

Okay.

[Em]

Let me give everyone a nice cough that Jack can cut out. Hang on. No one heard it because Jack just cut it out. Thanks, Jack.

[Christine]

I heard it and I feel special.

[Em]

Well, this is from Brian, who uses she. Her pronouns. Thank you for normalizing pronouns. And the subject line is, can ghosts swim? Actually, before we read on, Christine, thoughts.

[Christine]

Can go swim. I imagine that they can move through water without needing to swim. Does that make sense? Like how they could walk through walls?

[Em]

The only reason we swim is to not drown. So if you don't need to die, why would you?

[Christine]

I imagine they're not doing it to. Exactly. I don't think they're doing it to, like, avoid asphyxiating underwater, you know?

[Em]

Yeah, but. And. And then I guess the other question is how buoyant is a ghost? Like, are you going to see one at the bottom of the pool?

[Christine]

Are you going to see someone with you? Right. Like, so they can just kind of be anywhere. I feel like they don't abide by our laws of physics, which Would be.

[Em]

Scarier for you above ground, in the pool with you, or at the bottom.

[Christine]

Basically 110at the bottom. Because then it's every horror movie where it's like it's gonna come up and pull you down.

[Em]

You know, that's funny because I think the opposite of in a horror movie where, like, if they're above ground and they can get me and I can't get out because I'm in the pool.

[Christine]

Well, at least I can breathe.

[Em]

Yeah, the second one grabs my legs. That's the answer.

[Christine]

That's like terrible. Anyway, so. Well, okay, so Kayla suggested this and we already have one. This is not from Kayla.

[Em]

Right.

[Christine]

So we already have like a swimming pool ghost story. That's pretty wild. Yeah.

[Em]

Okay. Brianne says hello. I'm Christine Eva and company. Boy, do I have a treat in store for you. Let me start off by saying I'm from Texas and my parents house 170. I'm from Texas. Oh. And at my parents house. And 117 degrees aren't exactly unheard of. Yikes. 117 degrees.

[Christine]

Forget that right now.

[Em]

Just another reason to leave Texas. Oh my God. And apparently even ghosts have to beat this ungodly heat. So back in the summer of 2020, on one of those hellish days that all sort of blend together, I went out to the pool. I was the last one out of the pool. And as I walked up, I wasn't really paying attention until I saw my sister swimming in the pool being tailed by a pitch black figure. No.

[Christine]

Okay.

[Em]

My first thought would be like, well, I want to know how big it is. Because my first thought is like, what if there's a snake in the water? You know?

[Christine]

O, yeah, like an animal of some kind. Ooh.

[Em]

Because I've seen snakes in the water and they look like pitch black masses.

[Christine]

And I'm like, I don't think I've ever seen a snake in the water. And I don't want to.

[Em]

One time my mom and I were swimming and we realized the whole time we were in the pool there was a snake in the pool. In the pool?

[Christine]

Not even like in a river or something. Oh, forget it.

[Em]

No, in our pool. So let's see.

[Christine]

Do you like that sound that I just made?

[Em]

I was hoping you'd do it again.

[Christine]

But that's the sound that I would be making.

[Em]

So your sister and the pitch black figure, they were on the left side of the pool and just finished a lap and they were both swimming back the other way. Oh. What? Ew. Ugh needless to say, I was fucking shook because there's one, one man in my family, and that's my dad. And he was sitting with my mom at the table, both dry as a bone. I looked back at the pool and I see my sister swimming all by her lonesome because why wouldn't she? My mom could tell I had seen something. We are all very aware of the ghosts in our house and you will be hearing more about them at a later date. And I told them what happened. The worst part is I didn't even recognize the shadow hat man in the pool because he wasn't wearing his damn hat. Oh my God.

[Christine]

He was wearing goggles.

[Em]

Like the goggle man, the hat man. The fact that the hat man takes his hat off, that should be a real question. Why, why do they take their clothes off to go.

[Christine]

Like why even bother does it. But maybe it's detached. Maybe it has its own ghostly entity. Like maybe the hat has its own entity. And so he's like, oh, well, when I go in the water this, the hat needs to. It'll fall off otherwise.

[Em]

A great point.

[Christine]

That makes so much sense. You know physics. A ghost physics. I'm an expert.

[Em]

But yeah, I answered an important question I never knew I had. Can go swim and they can indeed. That motherfucker was doing the breaststroke. The breaststroke? That hat man. Come on.

[Christine]

She's show off.

[Em]

My sister is a pretty fast swimmer and he was keeping up with her, no problem. And since I love you guys and I can't seem to catch a break, you're getting two stories for the price of one. Oh, great. Okay. Bonus. Two years ago, I was completely alone at our house because someone had to watch the pets while my parents helped my sister move back home. I was tanning in the middle of the pool, laying Sprite eagle across my dad's Texas shaped floaty that we got him for his birthday.

[Christine]

Now that's exactly what people out of. People out of our country, like from other countries think, think America is. And they're right. Texas inflatable.

[Em]

Yeah, I bet it had like a. It was an American flag color too, for sure.

[Christine]

And it probably has like a beer holder thing, you know.

[Em]

Oh yeah. And you press a button and an eagle squawks.

[Christine]

Oh yes, certainly.

[Em]

Yeah, it's an awkward shape to lay on, but if you find the right spot, you're good. I would argue it's better than other states.

[Christine]

Yeah, it's better than like Virginia.

[Em]

Half of it's just a tiny little boy.

[Christine]

Delaware. A boy.

[Em]

I don't know. It has a long thing on it, so.

[Christine]

Oh, boy. I was like, what? I've never heard that before.

[Em]

Yeah. What's the one that's exactly a square?

[Christine]

I mean, there are a few that are pretty close, like, on the plain states, I feel are pretty close.

[Em]

That one would be boring.

[Christine]

Have you seen the Cheez it float, though? Like that? Now, that would be a good one.

[Em]

Because that makes sense.

[Christine]

Yeah, Makes sense.

[Em]

This Texas floaty is an awkward shape to lay on, but if you find the right spot, you're good. I was jamming to my music, soaking up the sun in pure bliss, and out of nowhere, some beefy man grabs my stomach and starts tickling me. What?

[Christine]

Sorry. This is really alarming.

[Em]

I just. Absolutely. And by the way, here, it says, you're welcome, M. No, thank you. No, thank you.

[Christine]

You. It's like they knew. It's like she knew you would. You particularly would be distraught about this.

[Em]

Someone alive tickling me is already what I imagined to be a nightmare, but something dead tickling me.

[Christine]

Okay, but I'm almost, like, glad it's a ghost. You know how we talk about that? You're home alone, a beefy man shows up in the pool with you. Like, I'm glad he's a ghost, I guess, but also, like, terrible.

[Em]

Either way, we do talk about that often when. When we've gone ghost hunting, too. If you hear a sound, it's like, do I wish it was an intruder all of a sudden?

[Christine]

Right? Like, is it a criminal? Is it a hat? Man, I don. Oh, my God.

[Em]

I freaked out, but did not fall off and proceeded to bitch him out for a solid two minutes. And I don't remember what I said at all, but I really let him have it, even if. I don't know if he stuck around to hear it. I still have PTSD every time I tan. Well, yeah. An exposed tummy after that. Never again.

[Christine]

Never. I cannot believe you even still go out there. I would be like, I would become a hermit for life. Really?

[Em]

My new favorite sentence, Brandon says, absolutely desecrated the vibe. Totally get it. And might I say, watch the out. Whoa. What the is up with the ghosts and tickling? Anyway, stay cool out there, but watch out. Your friend, Bri. Thank you. But also, you don't have to write.

[Christine]

So distressing. Please stop telling us. This is horrible. I. Like, I would love to come to your pool. Until I heard those stories. Now I don't want to go. Or do I? I don't know.

[Em]

I. So my. My mom's house Has a pool. And every time I was swimming out there alone at night, I swear I felt like there were a thousand eyes.

[Christine]

On me watching you, watching me.

[Em]

And also we did we. We. Our house is on a major part of a Civil War battlefield.

[Christine]

So there's just like these fucking bloody men, like, and one of them's like, I'm gonna tickle your tummy. So fucking scary.

[Em]

That was Civil War War torture, actually. That was.

[Christine]

I mean, honestly, it's good if they're not doing that, you know? What's the.

[Em]

From the office when he said, like, oh, when gangs get together, they tickle each other.

[Christine]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. For prison, Mike.

[Em]

Fuzzy fingers, Fluffy fingers.

[Christine]

I don't remember.

[Em]

He would say, they would do. They would fight with fluffy fingers and they would flip each other.

[Christine]

Yeah. Okay. I just, like, is the beefy man the hat man? Is it not the hat man? Like, I'm confused. Is it the same guy? Like, does he just hang out in the pool? You think they're different because it's like, to just see a dark shape, like. Like chasing your back and forth, basically. I wouldn't think that's a hat man. I. I feel like Hatman has very specific.

[Em]

I agree.

[Christine]

And if he wasn't wearing a hat, I don't think it was a hat man. So I feel like it must be the same guy who just wants to. Like. And the fact that he's so interactive, like, he's copying your sister's breaststroke and, like, tickling you. What a creep.

[Em]

Yeah. I think it's all one person. I. And I think you should see if.

[Christine]

Anyone died in that pool.

[Em]

Yeah, I would.

[Christine]

Besides the vibes, which have been.

[Em]

No, I totally agree with you. I think that both instances, there's just.

[Christine]

Main ghost creepy dude.

[Em]

And also when I think of a hat man, they're always kind of slender and on top of that.

[Christine]

Yeah.

[Em]

I really do feel like maybe this isn't true. I don't know. But once you commit to a ghost outfit, you really can't, like, just change things willy nilly.

[Christine]

I just feel like they're not right. Like, the Hatman's not just like, I'll go swimming today. I mean, maybe I'm wrong again. But, like, it just. I feel like Hatman shows up in the middle of the night with a big hat, you know, that's.

[Em]

He's got an M.O. for sure.

[Christine]

For sure.

[Em]

And I feel like there aren't a lot of ghosts. I feel like they stick to the blueprint theory or if they're attached to the blueprint theory. And you're used to a ghost in your house. I can't imagine them looking out the window and now they're just, like, wading in the water on an easy breezy day. Like, it feels like that feels too intelligent that we can just live in the house together.

[Christine]

Yeah, I agree. I agree. It's all really unfortunate for you, though.

[Em]

Yeah. No matter what, I don't want to be you, actually, so I'm so sorry.

[Christine]

It's Brienne.

[Em]

Yeah. I wish you luck and move eventually.

[Christine]

I wish you luck and also. But also don't, because, like, your parents have a pool and that sounds pretty cool. So it's like, I get it.

[Em]

But, like, I'll buy you a kiddie pool, girl.

[Christine]

There you go.

[Em]

Go somewhere else. Christine, it is summer and you know that I've got my bucket list of 10 states left, so I can hit all 50 beds. I'm on 35.

[Christine]

That's right.

[Em]

I'm very excited. I think I told you recently that I already have a trip planned to Delaware, one of my 10 states. Oh, it's going to be haunted. I have a whole. A whole plan. A whole, like, haunted trip that I'm doing. I'm going to all the spooky spots. I'm very excited. I think you'll like this one a lot. There is a place called Woodburn Mansion, which actually we covered in one of our books, but I've always wanted to see it. Apparently there's a ghost there that really likes to drink.

[Christine]

Hey, what are you. What day are you going to Delaware? I would love to join you. You just like. Like all that aside, it's just unrelated.

[Em]

Like, I don't know you. I'll just buy you a ticket. Just a surprise ticket.

[Christine]

I'll just be there just in case.

[Em]

Well, it had me thinking about all the other places we've been to together, either on tour or, you know, when we've been ghost hunting. Do you realize how many places we've gone that are connected to drinking? Like, how many haunted bars they've been.

[Christine]

I do. Why do you think I, like, really approve of the ones specifically that have drinking involved?

[Em]

I mean, hello, Bobby Mackey's.

[Christine]

Exactly. And I have this. I have this special thing just in case. Because sometimes, even though there are, you know, lore, there are legends about people who like to drink on the property. Say it's a bar or whatever, tavern. Sometimes the. The people nowadays are a little bit party poopers and they're like, we don't actually serve alcohol here, so you would have to bring your own. And yeah, for that reason, I got this special bra that we like to talk about that fills with alcohol, you know, and. And there are plenty of options, but I think we all know what I'm going to be filling with this time around.

[Em]

Is it crisp, apple flavored? Is it?

[Christine]

Yeah. Whoa. Yeah, it is.

[Em]

Might it come from an orchard?

[Christine]

Oh, my God. And it's pretty pissed off.

[Em]

Oh, my God. Is it, dare I say, angry orchard?

[Christine]

You know, imagine how nice that will feel in my bra, in my bosom, making it nice and cold during the sweatiest months of the year. And it's just like a little, little sip and I'm good to go. It's really, really good for summertime.

[Em]

Literally wrapped up in some. Some crisp apple cider. Yeah. Can't, can't, can't.

[Christine]

Also glad I took over your whole trip with my nonsense.

[Em]

I was going to say. Okay, okay, first of all, imagine Angry Orchard in. In your bra, right? But on top of that, other times we've gone ghost hunting. You brought like 10 different flasks. You could just be stocked.

[Christine]

You're right.

[Em]

Just to the nines. Just have Anger Orchard. Anger Orchard. Angry Orchard. Anger Orchard. You're going to be like a superhero with a utility belt.

[Christine]

Oh, my gosh. Yeah. There's something else about cider where it's like, oh, summertime is cider time to me. Like summer fall. Like, actually, anytime it's cider time. Who am I kidding? But there's something especially nice about like a crisp, slightly sweet, slightly tart. I've always been a cider gal. Angry Orchard. Actually, fun fact, this is totally unrelated to the vacations and all that, but that was actually the first legal drink I ever drank.

[Em]

Is it really?

[Christine]

Yep. Yeah, it holds a special place in my heart and my tummy and my bra.

[Em]

Well, should have brought it with you on all those ghost hunts. Especially because we've talked about this so many times. The ovilus that we use on ghost hunting, it's this machine that spurts out a bunch of like, ghost words. The only two words it's ever pumped out, like, ever. 90% of the time is apple and orchard.

[Christine]

We're not making that up.

[Em]

We went to so weird.

[Christine]

We went to like four different locations in the span of a couple years, and every single location, one of the most expensive, like, high quality machines. We have kept saying apple orchard. And we were like, what in the hell? Like, what is this about? And now I'm realizing, like, oh my God, the universe was telling Us all along.

[Em]

It was predicting our relationship with Angry Orchard. That's what it was doing this whole time. Bobby Mackey's was with us from the beginning saying, don't worry, Apple and Orchard are going to mean something to you.

[Christine]

They're going to mean something. Just be patient. Listen to the signs from the universe. And look how we ended up just in our blissful, crisp.

[Em]

Deliciousness. Look, if you're going to go on your own summer trip or if you're going ghost hunting and you're. You happen to find yourself in a haunted space, maybe with a empty bra that you could put a bunch of liquid in. Listen to our obelisk, Apple Orchard. And maybe Angry Orchard, you know.

[Christine]

Apple, Apple, Apple, Apple. Again, multiple times. Apple. No, I can't with this thing.

[Em]

Thank you Angry Orchard for sponsoring this segment. Don't get angry. Get Orchard. Please drink responsibly.

[Christine]

All right, so this is from Margo. She her and it's called My Summer at a Haunted Boarding School. Hi all. I'm Margot. She her. Long time listener, first time writer. I'm from Belgium. My mother tongue is Flemish. Like Christine's favorite song. Well, that's my nightmare. I always hope nobody who actually knew Flemish listened to me sing that one song by Jacques Brawl back in the day.

[Em]

That was like. It was impressive to say the least.

[Christine]

I Marie, I'm not gonna do it again.

[Em]

It was beautiful.

[Christine]

I don't really know how to properly write an intro. Well, I don't know how to sing a Flemish song, so I guess we're even. Margot. Every year I teach English at summer camp in an old English boarding. The first year I would quit this job to do that to go teach in an old. No, I wouldn't. What am I talking about? Not to teach anything. To live in a Hana boarding school, maybe, but not teach anything.

[Em]

I as long as it's English speaking and I have a chance of knowing what's going on sometimes I could do it.

[Christine]

That's fair. The first year I went there, I would soon come to realize that the school is haunted. As when I was preparing lessons in my classroom. Every once in a while I would hear a banging noise coming from what seemed like inside the walls. I didn't want to pay attention to it, so I wrote it off and just went on with my life. A couple days later I was standing in front of my classroom telling my kids a story. And all of a sudden a YouTube video I was planning on showing them started playing out of nowhere. Even though I was nowhere near my laptop. All the kids started screaming.

[Em]

Yeah.

[Christine]

Apparently they had also noticed the banging and other strange things that happened from time to time. However, the scariest experience was still to come. The kids and most of the staff had gone to bed already after a long and exhausting day in London. And the remaining staff members and I, there were about five or six of us, grabbed some beers and decided to head to the indoor swimming pool. We didn't. I know, that's how. See, that's the part I would sign up for, not the teaching one. I guess if I'm just showing you. I'm not. I'm not saying you were just showing YouTube videos. However, if that's an option, I would probably just show YouTube videos.

[Em]

I would like to sub only on those days.

[Christine]

Correct? Yeah, I'd be the substitute teacher. Let's see. We grabbed some beers, decided head to the indoor swimming pool. We didn't want to turn on the bright fluorescent lights because they'd kill the mood or desecrate it as to create the vibe, we brought a light box and a speaker to play music. We were chilling in the pool, chatting, drinking, when the music started skipping until all we could hear was static noise coming from the speaker. Goodbye. The light box went out and we heard a loud banging on the roof as if it was raining really hard. Then a cold draft came over the swimming pool. This was starting to feel too much like the beginning of a horror movie. And by the way, remember they're in indoors, so it's like a cold draft shouldn't be coming over the swimming pool. I don't.

[Em]

It feels a little like a. Like a haunted jump scare house where like it's all rigged. Like it feels all rigged where it's like.

[Christine]

Do you hear that? Oh, now there's now, now, now. Cold wind blows in. Yeah, it felt like, as you said, the beginning of a horror movie. So we all bolted out of there. Once we were back outside, we realized it was completely dry so the banging noise wasn't rain. The next day I told the story to my friends and just as I had finished telling the tale, I the lights in the room turned off.

[Em]

See ya.

[Christine]

Still creeps me out to this day. I still go to the school every year and could write many more emails about all the experiences we've had there, such as organ music coming from the lock Chapel at 3am okay, forget it. That feels vibe.

[Em]

Where's my passport? I'm leaving.

[Christine]

To go to the chapel or to leave the chapel?

[Em]

Oh, I'm leaving the. I'm getting on an airplane And I'm flying away.

[Christine]

Away from it. Got it. I didn't know if you were leaving LA to go join this haunted school. Let's see. I love that place. But I feel scared when I walk the grounds alone at night. That's the end.

[Em]

That's the end. Oh, my God.

[Christine]

Well, thanks, Marco, for that.

[Em]

Thanks. Did you ever go back? Are you still there? What?

[Christine]

Well, it said I go back every year.

[Em]

I go back over here.

[Christine]

All right, well, hey, the organ music is interesting too, because I'm like, what if the speaker was just trying to get back to the organ music? Like, you know, what if you were playing something like, disrespectful to the ghost, you know, or whatever. Maybe they were like, no more Tayo Cruz. We want organ music. I don't know why that's the bull. I'm so sorry.

[Em]

No more Flemish. Whatever song Christine loves so much.

[Christine]

I know. No more Jacques. Wow.

[Em]

Boarding school. It was a boarding school.

[Christine]

Like a summer camp at a boarding school.

[Em]

Interesting. Yeah. Because when you think haunted summer camp, you think, like, in a cabin somewhere.

[Christine]

Yeah, it's like outdoors, right?

[Em]

Yeah. Yeah. Would you go there?

[Christine]

I think I would prefer the boarding school one. As a less outdoorsy person, I would prefer my ghost be interior. Ghosts. You know, I don't want to be in a lake and see, like, a ghost. I. I don't know. I don't want to be in a lake, period, actually. So let's just leave it there.

[Em]

I mean, I guess it's like, if you have to get haunted, do you want mosquitoes there or no?

[Christine]

Right. Exactly. Thank you. Do you want to be in a lake? No. Do you want mosquito? No. Do you want to do outdoor activities and ride a horse? Absolutely not.

[Em]

With. With or without a side of spiders?

[Christine]

Do I want to do arts and crafts? 100%.

[Em]

Yeah. I get that.

[Christine]

Indoor pool and beer. Silly.

[Em]

And it sounds like this building does have air conditioning.

[Christine]

Aha. Even better. And an organ.

[Em]

Great. See? Okay, we're on board.

[Christine]

We're on board. Easy.

[Em]

This is from Autumn. No pronouns. Autumn, Autumn, Autumn, Autumn. The subject line is past life story, per Christine's request.

[Christine]

I was Julius Caesar once.

[Em]

Can you imagine if that would be hysterical if, like, we just. Things just mind melded a little too close to this?

[Christine]

Oh, no. It's like time slips in the episode. No, thanks.

[Em]

Oh, we found it in. In the actual writing. My name is Autumn. She, her. Thank you for normalizing pronouns. Autumn.

[Christine]

Sorry, I'm like, bullied you for four.

[Em]

Seconds, and I'll do it again. I've been listening since y' all had 35 episodes, and y' all are some of my favorite people ever. Christine mentioned past life stories during the October Listeners episode, and I thought I'd share mine. Autumn's been waiting since October to tell you this.

[Christine]

Well, it says 2023, so I think.

[Em]

Longer than autumn's been waiting. Two and a half years.

[Christine]

Yes, something. Something like that. One and a half years.

[Em]

Sorry, sorry. Okay. My mom tells the story, and unfortunately, my sister, about 6 at the time, and I. And I, who was 3, don't remember this because we were too little, but a little backstory. According to my mom, I used to be terrified of water to the point that I nearly choke my mother when she got me into a pool because it'd be hanging onto her neck so tightly. Ooh, that's okay. The fact, as a parent, I would be like, oh, you obviously have a past life situation. That'd be my only fun.

[Christine]

The second Leona suddenly has some, like, deep seated, like, fear of anything besides the Count from Sesame Street, I'm going to be like, is this how she died?

[Em]

I would have been like, oh, she. She was a vampire in the past.

[Christine]

Yeah. Oh, that makes sense. She lived in Transylvania. Sure.

[Em]

I don't really remember doing this to her, but I always thought. I just always thought I was a water baby. Okay. Or I wasn't a water baby. Now for the story. One day my mom was talking to her friend and mentioned that I act like someone who had come close to drowning or something because of how terrified I acted when I was around water. Well, my older sister overheard that and she came and asked me if I'd ever drowned. I looked at her and told her, yes, a man punched me here, pointing to my cheek, and I fell and drowned in a river.

[Christine]

Wait, wait, this was when she was a child, she said this?

[Em]

Yeah, I guess so. Yeah. And my sister obviously ran to tell my mom, and according to my mom, after that, I was no longer terrified of the water. Oh, like you told your story?

[Christine]

Processed it. Oh, that's nice.

[Em]

But yike. Someone punched you in the face and then I guess, knocked you out and you drowned in the river.

[Christine]

Drowned You. Jesus.

[Em]

Also, like, what a thing for, like, a three year old to say.

[Christine]

Yeah, yeah, right. It's not like, I presume you weren't watching, like, Blue Bloods. I've never watched that show. I have no idea what happens. I'm trying to think of any sort of.

[Em]

Did you pick that because water's blue?

[Christine]

Maybe I'm like, Coyo Cruz Blue.

[Em]

Like what, where, who, what year are you in?

[Christine]

What are you? Am I? I have no idea.

[Em]

So far in the past, you might as well be Julius Caesar. That's.

[Christine]

I mean, honestly, maybe that's what I'm gunning for.

[Em]

Well, Autumn says I have many other creepy stories, but those are for another time. Love y' all. Love the pod, Autumn. But yeah, again, if I ever had a three year old who gave that detailed of a dark story with that shit, I'd be like, okay, it's probably true. Shit, I don't know.

[Christine]

Like, I feel like everything Leona said, even the weird stuff we've, we've been able to explain even like the really weird stuff because it's like, oh, it was, you know, on this show or it was mentioned or like my mom said. But if, if it were something that specific as a three year old, I feel like I'd be like, okay, we don't know where this came from.

[Em]

And also I'm kind of mad at your mom because like, why weren't there follow up questions?

[Christine]

Probably to avoid the trauma. I don't know. Well, it sounds like it worked. She felt better.

[Em]

Yeah, but I'm not, I'm not talking about to feel better.

[Christine]

I'm talking about you want to find out? I know you. You don't. Yeah, it's not about the most.

[Em]

I'd be like, oh, you feel better? Great. Let's dig into this so I can.

[Christine]

I don't. I feel worse now actually.

[Em]

Look into it on newspapers dot com. I'm going to find your killer. We're going to get to the bottom of this.

[Christine]

Yeah, you're going to like re. Traumatize her all over again. Just for the story.

[Em]

Anyway, thank you, Autumn.

[Christine]

Thank you, Autumn. Let's see. I have something here. This is from Bridget. She. They. And it's called a psychic predicted my childhood home burning down. What is your psychic? An arsonist? I'm just asking for that.

[Em]

That actually would be. That was a Law and Order episode, wasn't it? When a psychic was predicting everything and it's because he was the one doing it.

[Christine]

I feel like that's a pretty good. Like they're probably on Blue Bloods too.

[Em]

You have that show, you know what? No, but me either.

[Christine]

I don't know.

[Em]

Is there a show called Blue Bloods? Because I feel like that's a great show name.

[Christine]

No, I think.

[Em]

Did you just conjure that up?

[Christine]

No, it's. It's a famous show. It's been around. It's literally on its 14th season.

[Em]

M. What is it about the Police Blue.

[Christine]

It's about the. The. Oh my God, it looks so boring.

[Em]

Well, that's why I don't know it.

[Christine]

New York Police Commissioner and the Reagan clan.

[Em]

Okay.

[Christine]

And World War.

[Em]

Don't even finish the sentence.

[Christine]

I'm sure that 3 year old watched Blue Bloods and that's how she came up with the story about being punched in the head or whatever. Okay. I'm so sorry. Let's go back to this. This is from Bridget. She. They. Hello, Christine and M and Eva. Hope you are all enjoying your time touring. This was sent in March 2022, by the way. Also, I wanted to say congratulations to Christine and welcome to motherhood. Also, happy birthday to your mom. M. Thanks.

[Em]

Wow. A lot of things going on back in the day.

[Christine]

We were really nailing it back in March of 22. All right, I'm going to jump right into this because it's a bit lengthy. This event happened in May 2003. I grew up in a small rural town in Illinois. Growing up in my neighborhood, everyone knew everyone. All the adults knew each other and all the kids on that block. I feel like you grew up in that scenario, right?

[Em]

Yes. Yeah. Very cool vibe.

[Christine]

As a child, I never really put it together, but my parents and all the adults in that neighborhood threw a lot of block parties, quote, unquote. All the adults would typically gather onto one porch and drink, smoke and play loud music. Insert Twisted by Keith Sweat playing in the background. I don't know what that is.

[Em]

I. Keith Sweat tells me that he is meant to be a rock and roll kind of guy.

[Christine]

Feels like the name of someone's neighbor's dad would like invent as like their band name.

[Em]

You know, it's like Michael Scarn or something. Yeah, right.

[Christine]

Exactly.

[Em]

Okay.

[Christine]

Okay. This is a very well known R B singer, songwriter and producer. So I'm clearly just not cool.

[Em]

I know. Twist and Shout. Oh, twisted. Like twisted the night Away.

[Christine]

No, maybe.

[Em]

I don't know.

[Christine]

He Sweat, 1996. I. I don't know.

[Em]

I don't know. I don't. That. No, I think. I think that song's a. Whatever. Okay. Key Sweat. Great.

[Christine]

I only know Tayo Cruz. Okay, so everybody back.

[Em]

Did He Sweat ever feature on an episode?

[Christine]

Oh, my God. He's like sample. He sings this theme song, I think. Okay. Oh, help. All right. As we slowly watch our parents get drunk, all of us kids would be playing in the dark, jumping on the trampolines. Well, we did do this, but it was just like Two or three families. Like, we would all just gather at each other's house. All of us kids would be playing the dark, jumping on the trampoline, swimming in pools until 12am on a school night. Yes, that happened. And you know what? I don't know if I've ever said this on the podcast, so I'll save it for a listener's episode because it's not on the main feed. Well, it is on the main feed. Anyway, it doesn't matter. Our neighbor was a. Was our guidance counselor at school, like our next. And he called my mom. But the problem was we went to a Catholic school and he was gay. And so my mom was like, well, I won't tell if you don't tell. And so then they had this arrangement. And then we got invited to the pink party next door.

[Em]

I'm sorry, your. Your gay guidance counselor hosted a pink party?

[Christine]

Yeah, every year. And he invited all the neighborhood. Yeah, it was great. It was literally so fun. And everyone wore pink. It was great.

[Em]

That sounds amazing. Wait, are we throw a pink party?

[Christine]

Thank you. It was. It was like before it's time, you know, like before Barbie came out. Yeah. Yeah. It was really a good time.

[Em]

Oh, my gosh. Also, I love that your mom immediately was like, I'm gonna blackmail you the.

[Christine]

Shit out of you. And then every time I saw him at school, he'd be like, christine. I'd be like, I don't even remember his friend.

[Em]

Hey.

[Christine]

Oh, my God. I'd be like, see you Saturday. For our guidance counseling that I probably really actually do need. You're actually probably concerned for my welfare. Rightfully so.

[Em]

He was like, I could see with my own eyes that you live on a cemetery. Wednesday, Adams, let me help you see.

[Christine]

How deeply troubled you. I can see how you talk to your rabbit outside all day and nobody else. But I guess your mom's going to blackmail me, so no one's going to solve any of those problems anyway. Okay, let's get back to this. On a school night, on one of those nights, my mother decided to have the big party on our backyard deck. Later on, when people started to arrive, one of our neighbors brought one of their friends over. I'm sure my mom didn't care anyway. All she wanted to do was jam out girl food and drink with her girlfriends. As a mother of a toddler, I can relate to that feeling of contentment and freedom. I remember being in the swimming pool, which was right next to the deck. I was with a few of my neighborhood friends. I remember smelling food on the grill and cigarette smoke. I remember my crush. Oh, your crush was there. That's even better.

[Em]

God, that's my crush.

[Christine]

Never around during any of my shenanigans. It's probably for the best, but I would have wished for it sometimes.

[Em]

My crush was there, and it was a game changer. The day was made up.

[Christine]

The step, the. The. The stakes so high. Like, best Dave. Oh, my God.

[Em]

And when they. When they would leave, I. I would crash out. I'd be like, everyone might as well leave.

[Christine]

Yeah, get out of my house. Get out of my pool.

[Em]

What's the point of this anymore?

[Christine]

Oh, my God. I remember my crush splash me in the face. And of course, that made me want to turn around and splash him back. As I turned around to say something witty like, omg, I got caught off guard and startled when I heard this woman screaming. I looked over and she was staring at my house. She immediately stood up and told my mother that my house was in flames, my house was fine. So now she just looked a little crazy. My little sister was too young to understand what we all thought, that she was crazy. She took her words literally and thought our house was currently on fire. She was six years old, so she started to cry. Our mom asked the lady to leave because she was scaring our children.

[Em]

Oh, my God.

[Christine]

So this is the friend of a friend that somebody brought?

[Em]

Yeah.

[Christine]

Yeah. And I'm sure my mom was a little freaked out, too. As her friend escorts her off the deck, she says, oh, my gosh, what a nut job. I'm sorry. This person really needs to rein it in.

[Em]

What?

[Christine]

As her friend escorts her off the deck, this woman says, pointing to my older sister, she will cause the fire. I see the blame. My older sister was in the front yard talking with her friends. We all thought that was strange even after she left, but life went on.

[Em]

Oh, my God. I would literally. Okay, you know, the rest of the party, everyone's talking about that and being like, first of all, who brought her? Second of all, now we have to make fun of you for talking. Nice choice, crazy kook. You know, Completely.

[Christine]

Why would you bring her to a party with a bunch of kids if she's going to start, like, blaming them for arson?

[Em]

Also, like, talk about the beginning of, like, having an OCD complex. Like, for sure, if someone pointed at you and said, you're going to start a fire the rest of your life, you'd be a nightmare.

[Christine]

It's on a loop. Everybody's. It's like the. Yeah, for sure. 100. Good call. Yeah. Is your sister okay?

[Em]

I love that. Like, the irony of it would be that you'd be so paranoid somehow. That would be what causes the fire. Like, you wouldn't be able to escape it, you know?

[Christine]

Oh, yeah. It would be like, what is it? Self fulfilling prophecy.

[Em]

You'd be like 100.

[Christine]

This just has to happen now. Okay, so fast forward to September, Labor Day weekend. My younger sister and I are at my uncle's annual pig roast. More like a big Mexican reunion. Laughing emoji. My mom and her husband were on a motorcycle ride in Milwaukee. God, your parents sound like they're having the time of their lives. Oh, they were at a rest stop when my mom received a phone call from our neighbor. When she answered the phone, our neighbor said in a very hesitant voice, elizabeth. My mom's name. I don't know how to say this, but your house is on fire.

[Em]

Oh, my God. Oh, my God.

[Christine]

Our Neighbor thankfully called 911 and said, they're on the way. After that phone call, my mom headed over to get us and we all drove to our house, which was now on fire. When we pulled up to the house, my mom told us to wait in the car. I remember looking at our house and seeing all the flames and all the smoke. It was a bit traumatizing. Yeah, yeah, that's incredibly traumatizing. My mom started freaking out because she thought our nanny was inside and the nanny was the second cousin, so like a family member. Not that it wouldn't matter if they were not right. But of course that, you know, makes it more personal, I suppose.

[Em]

I don't know.

[Christine]

My mom called our babysitter, who answered right away and told her she was coming back to the house with my older sister right now. My mom thought that was strange because our nanny was practically living with us, so she was watching the house for that day. My mom was told that the fire was caused by our electric stove, and oh, my God, she was livid. After my mother and our nanny had talked to the fireman, I remember we were all in the car together and my mom asked the babysitter what happened. Our nanny, in tears, said she had accidentally left the oven on, but we'll talk about ocd. This is starting to become, like, my.

[Em]

Actual personal everyone with oven OCD is about to be like, did I turn my oven off?

[Christine]

Please be careful. Our nanny, in tears, said she had accidentally left the oven on before she left. Then she proceeded to say, I accidentally left it on because my older sister had been in a car accident.

[Em]

Oh. So, like, again, That's. See, that's what I'm talking about. Even if you try everything you can to prevent it, to be careful and.

[Christine]

Avo avoid it, it would be something.

[Em]

Random, like a car accident that would cause it.

[Christine]

What the. Apparently, my older sister and her friends were underage drinking and hit a parked car. Oh, my God. Okay, and then Bridget says, drinking and driving is terrible. Correct? It is. Don't do that, folks. Our nanny apparently was about to cook food when my older sister called her to tell her she needed to be picked up immediately because the cops were on the way. She didn't want to be arrested for underage drinking. And she was also not the one driving. Our nanny said after hearing that nothing matters, she dropped the phone, left the house, and accidentally left the stove on. That's my one and only experience with a psychic. They can be a channel. So I don't think this was just a coincidence. I don't know. Let me know what you guys think. P. S. Can't wait to see you in Denver. See something sage. Something live. Laugh, Lemon, I think we've made. Have we said that before? And we're just now remembering.

[Em]

Probably. That's just plain old horrifying. And also, the psychic.

[Christine]

Yeah.

[Em]

It really wasn't. I mean, I guess I could see, like, through the chain of events that, yes, maybe it was the older sister's fault, but it was. She didn't, like, cause the fire.

[Christine]

So unnecessary to say. She caused the fire. Like, come on.

[Em]

Yeah. Too much. Too much.

[Christine]

I think she was probably mad she was getting dragged off the property. You know, like, the last thing she says. Like, she. She's the one.

[Em]

You know, it's an occupational hazard if you're a psychic.

[Christine]

Yes.

[Em]

At some point, someone's gonna drag you off your property.

[Christine]

Especially, like, with visual. Like, I feel like what happened was she actually saw the fire, Right. Because she's pointing at the house, saying, oh, my God, the house is on fire. And everyone's like, get the out of here. I feel probably like, oh, I thought it was real.

[Em]

It feels like season one of a superhero origin story where, like, maybe the psychic didn't know her. Everything's powers yet.

[Christine]

Yeah. They're, like, not controlling their powers. Yeah.

[Em]

That's because we both have friends who have some gifts, and I feel like they've learned enough where they can tell, like, if they're seeing something or if they feel something and it's, like, happening in them. I've. I've never seen a. Yeah. It's almost like it in Smallville. There's an episode where I knew you.

[Christine]

Were gonna say Smallville. I, like, was. I felt it coming.

[Em]

I've been watching it.

[Christine]

Oh, you haven't been, like, to mention it in probably years. And I'm like, you're the only one I know who is, like, currently. That was, like, still into it.

[Em]

So I. I did. I was a big fan back in the day. But no, there's an episode where he learns that his laser eyes come in for the first time.

[Christine]

Oh, God.

[Em]

And he, like, can't control it. Yeah. But he's just.

[Christine]

Ah.

[Em]

I feel like that's what the psychic is doing, where, like, you saw a house on fire and you didn't know, like, if what you were seeing was real or not.

[Christine]

Yeah. Because if she's freaking out, like, obviously. Or she saw it in the future, knew it was gonna happen, and was like, I have to tell them. In which case, maybe she needed to learn some boundaries, which.

[Em]

Some social skills.

[Christine]

Yeah, maybe, like, learn to, like, not accuse the family members of, you know, causing future destruction.

[Em]

Hold their hand when you say it gently. Let them know.

[Christine]

Right. Like, maybe this was the beginning of, like, learning how to kind of approach something delicately.

[Em]

Something wicked this way comes. Yeah.

[Christine]

Right.

[Em]

So anyway, thanks so much for that story. And you know what? At the end of the day, I'm glad she kind of warned you. Like, at least it's better than knowing and not saying something.

[Christine]

I suppose so. Yeah. I mean, it's kind of a creepy. It's a good story either way. Unfortunately for your trauma.

[Em]

Maybe she just likes the theatrics. Maybe she's just a Gemini, and she's just like, you know what? I'm gonna.

[Christine]

Psychic.

[Em]

Yeah. Maybe I'm gonna tell them, and it's just like, I'm just gonna tell them in the craziest way for the story.

[Christine]

And then, like, maybe someday it'll actually happen and. Oh, you mean, like, maybe she was a real psychic, but she's like, I'm just gonna see. Like, yes.

[Em]

Give it some flair. Give me some flair.

[Christine]

I know you and I have tried everything under the sun for peace of mind. And, I mean, probably everything over the sun, too. And if you. Listen, dear listener, if you've also tried everything under and over and maybe within the sun, it sounds like it's time for you to try cornbread hemps CBD gummies because they're a game changer.

[Em]

Cornbread hemps CBD gummies are made to help you feel better, whether it's stress, discomfort, or just needing a little relaxation. Ding, ding, ding. Abc. All the above, actually, for me, please.

[Christine]

I'll say E all the above.

[Em]

And they're formulated to help relieve discomfort, like we said, stress, like we said, but also sleeplessness. And that, you know, is the biggest one.

[Christine]

So I think that affects, like, more people than readily admit it or realize it. You know, like just if. If you're struggling with that, give it a try. It's worth a shot. It really does work. And it's become one of my. My favorite go to's and right now.

[Em]

And that's why drink listeners can save 30% on their first order. Just head to cornbreadhemp.com drink and use code DRINK at checkout.

[Christine]

That's cornbreadhemp.com Drink and use code DRINK.

[Em]

Okay. This is from Delaney, who uses she her pronouns. Thank you for normalizing pronouns. And the story is called physically touched with marks.

[Christine]

Oh, no.

[Em]

It's a no from me. Delaney, first off, hi. Hello. My name is Delaney and I live in Northern Illinois. I'm jumping into this before I decide not to write in because of anxiety. And I was in a severe electrical accident where I was shocked in a puddle for about 45 minutes.

[Christine]

What the f?

[Em]

I kind of don't have anything to say about that.

[Christine]

Just.

[Em]

Wow.

[Christine]

Is that the whole story? Because that's shocking.

[Em]

Yeah. Wow.

[Christine]

Oh, that was not on purpose.

[Em]

Beautiful.

[Christine]

Now I'm the. I swear that wasn't on purpose. I'm sorry.

[Em]

That, that sentence alone could be the whole story. I mean, really, like, I really just have follow up questions. Oh, my God.

[Christine]

I do too.

[Em]

God, 45 minutes. And like when something bad happens and you think it feels like 45 minutes, but it's like a second 40.

[Christine]

I thought. I thought you were gonna say seconds. And even that sounds so long, you.

[Em]

Know, like, imagine if it actually was 45 minutes. It must have felt like years. Oh, my God.

[Christine]

Lord in heaven.

[Em]

I have. I obviously have ptsd and I have really strayed from water of all kinds, if possible sense. I don't blame you at all. Fast forward four years.

[Christine]

Have you even been listening to this episode? You're probably like, skip this episode. You won't even hear your story.

[Em]

As soon as you heard swimming pool, swimming pool ghosts, you were like, and I'm away from.

[Christine]

I'm out.

[Em]

Fast forward four years to 2015. I'm in Florida going to Disney. Oh, Florida has to be a scary place for you. There's a thunderstorm every afternoon. I'm in Florida going to Disney with my mom, stepdad, and three sisters. We're sitting by the pool. I'm not going on the water this entire trip and love soaking up the sun. No one is by me. I'm not even in the shade. And my end goal was to get crispy so when I go back home, I look tan for once. Anyway, everyone is done swimming and we go back to the hotel and I go to change and there were handprints on both my knees.

[Christine]

Ew.

[Em]

Like when you. Like when, like. Like as if it were covering your. Your leg so you couldn't get sunburned, I'm guessing. I guess, you know, you can put, like, stickers on and everything.

[Christine]

Oh, right, right, right. Like when people put sunscreen on as, like a shade.

[Em]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. There were handprints on my knees. My knees were sunburned, and it looked as if small hands were resting on my knees the entire. I know. For some reason I thought, grown ass, beefy man hands.

[Christine]

I do, too. But then I thought, oh, well, at least maybe we can explain it. Like, you accidentally fell asleep with your hands on your legs, but little kid hands that don't match your hands? I don't think so.

[Em]

Yeah, they were small hands resting on my knees the entire time I was sunbathing. Again, no one was around me. The way the hands were placed, it looked like the thing was facing me while resting its hands. So, like, hands facing, like, as if it's like looking at you. I cannot twist my wrists to do this, I swear. So late that night, I'm shook and I'm trying to relax. And then my sister, who passed away in the same electrical accident. Oh, my God. Her favorite song, all Apologies by Nirvana, randomly started playing on the radio in my room. It's crazy to think, but, man, I definitely hope it was her. We were only 14. We were only 14 when the accident happened. And it's forever. Forever changed my life. I'm now 26, with a beautiful daughter who bears my sister's name as her middle name. I have a lot more stories where I feel as though I hear things when visiting certain places. I just wanted to say I enjoy your podcast and I feel like we would be buddies. Team wine. Since I have a severe dairy allergy and will need an EpiPen to drink a milkshake. But much love to you both and Geo and Eva Delaney. Well, thank you, Delaney. And wow. So, so, so sorry about that. Oh, my God.

[Christine]

That is absolutely. Wow.

[Em]

Yeah.

[Christine]

Heartbreak. I mean, it's heartbreaking. And then to think, like, oh, your sister was there, but I. I like the idea that she was like, now you won't get tan on your knees.

[Em]

Yeah. It's like, next try getting tan. Everyone's gonna know that you're actually pale as shit.

[Christine]

Oh, man. I'm really sorry, Delaney. That's just. It also just sounds terrible.

[Em]

Well, if I thought they, I would say. I mean, it's definitely too late. I have a feeling the sunburn and suntan has gone away since. But it would have been cool to maybe get like a tattoo of that hand outline or something.

[Christine]

Yeah. I mean. Yeah. Wow. Wow. And this. The. The song by Nirvana. I feel song by Nirvana occasionally come up on the radio, but not. Not that one, because I don't know that one. So I feel like that's not the norm. But.

[Em]

And I like the song was apologies, like, sorry, I've ruined your suntan. Oh, oops.

[Christine]

My bad. I didn't even know. Take notice of that. Alrighty. Well.

[Em]

Wow.

[Christine]

What a doozy. I mean, pool stories. It literally happened.

[Em]

I know. And there's one more.

[Christine]

Oh, I already closed it. Okay. I was, like, ready to move on.

[Em]

Now this is our final one for Julius's month and next month, during Augustus's hour.

[Christine]

Augustus hour. He's finally going to get his time in the sun, so to speak. Here is one from Jackie. She. They. It says, breaking into Wallace and other ways to fall asleep. Oh, I'm excited for this, Sam.

[Em]

Breaking into Wallace. You know, I gotta say sorry. I. A lot of people have written in saying that I have somehow cracked the case on how to fall asleep.

[Christine]

You did.

[Em]

So I'm glad that some people are actually trying it. I've. I've had a lot of people DM me saying, you're the only reason I could sleep now. So I didn't mean to be, like, a sleep expert here, but you're welcome.

[Christine]

It's pretty wild because remember when it happened? It worked for me a couple times, and I thought maybe that's a fluke. And. And I feel like I said it on the podcast and then a bunch of other people said, no, it works. And I'm like, I don't.

[Em]

I don't know the science behind it. But anyway, I just wanted to take this moment to say I. I see your messages to me. Thank you. I apprec. Everyone supporting the plight of sleeplessness.

[Christine]

Yeah, it seems to be effective. So Jackie says in today's episode, Christine asked if there's any other weird ways people have to fall asleep. Oh, I did. Okay, so I clearly already asked this. I have a way that works great, but seems to upset people. Lol. Oh, good.

[Em]

Oh, God. Okay.

[Christine]

When I was younger, we had a very deep pool. My favorite thing to do was swim to the bottom of the deep end, which was about 12ft deep. My dad hired random people to dig our pool, and I'm pretty sure it was not built to code.

[Em]

Oh my God.

[Christine]

I would swim to the very bottom, flip over onto my back and let all the air out of my lungs. Then just look up towards the surface. Okay. You're basically Jackie dying. You're acting like one of those kids in a horror movie where you know that they're gonna become like the problem. Like they, like they're underwater not breathing. The bubbles are coming and you're like, like, cool something. You're gonna be trouble later on. I can see it.

[Em]

You nailed it, Christine.

[Christine]

Foreshadowing. Oh my Lord. I would swim to the very. Talk about a parent's nightmare of a game for their child to be playing.

[Em]

Are you kidding me? This feels like something you would absolutely have done to your parents.

[Christine]

No, I think I actually did do this.

[Em]

I feel like it. I understand that it's like a sensory deprivation thing, but it really. You are at the same time pretending.

[Christine]

To be of oxygen. Right, right, right. Okay. Wow. I would stay down as long as I could. It was so quiet and peaceful down there. I felt like I was in Ariel's grotto from the Little Mermaid. Everything was quiet and still. I would watch the sun rays breaking through and bouncing off the water. It was my own little world. Later in life as an adult, I was trying to find a peaceful mind space to fall asleep in. And I remembered this spot. So to fall asleep today, I pictured myself slowly letting the air out of my lungs and sinking to the bottom.

[Em]

Of the pool for the big sleep. Yeah.

[Christine]

Oh my God. It's not scary to me. I don't feel need air or like I'm drowning. I'm just slowly, slowly sinking, weightless, watching the surface get farther away. And eventually I'm asleep. I mean, I do see how that would work. Right? Because it's the idea of like falling backwards. Like muscles relax, you know?

[Em]

I totally get it. I totally get it.

[Christine]

My co workers were asking me the other day how I fall asleep so quickly and easily. I've been known to take a 20 minute power nap on the couch at lunch, even with everyone talking and laughing in the break room. When I told them, they looked horrified. Like they wanted to have me committed anyways. That's how I fall asleep. Try it. Or don't. Don't. Jackie, she.

[Em]

They. Oh, my God. I'll give it a shot.

[Christine]

I feel like breaking into Wallace is like this. I'm trying to think how to say it. Like, this is like breaking the walls is like sinking into a pool light. Like, it's like the 1.0. And then this is like, oh, if that's not working for you, like, try putting yourself at the bottom of a watery.

[Em]

I mean, I can also. I can very easily envision Jackie's situation because I feel like there's a lot of TV content where people have filmed looking up at the surface from inside the water.

[Christine]

It's a peaceful, calming, and you're quiet. I think you nailed it with sensory deprived. Like, I feel like that's.

[Em]

Yeah.

[Christine]

And especially if that's what you did as a kid, it's like, oh, that's just a comforting thing now.

[Em]

Yeah. I feel like with. With breaking into Wallace, I'm just.

[Christine]

Just. You used to break through walls all the time as a kid for your own.

[Em]

I was gonna say I feel like I'm. I feel like I'm just envisioning myself, exhausting myself because I'm punching a wall until.

[Christine]

Right.

[Em]

You know what I mean? It's not relaxing at all. But I don't know. I'll try Jackie's. Sure. Why not?

[Christine]

Sure.

[Em]

And that's the last. That's the last story of the month.

[Christine]

Phew. We did it. And they were all pool related.

[Em]

They were. Do you ever. Well, I guess now with Patreon people.

[Christine]

Yeah. I don't get to choose. I don't get to choose.

[Em]

What does that feel like, Losing control in that way?

[Christine]

Fantastic. Because I really don't ever remember what I said. And then everyone says, christine asked for this, And I'm like, no, I didn't.

[Em]

So that's okay. Well, nowadays, now that it's. It can be as random as swimming pools. I mean, it could be like, who knows what we're gonna get next month?

[Christine]

So don't even say a word because it's gonna happen. I'm so scared.

[Em]

I swear to God, if it's Augustus Caesar or something, I can't have any.

[Christine]

More of that nonsense.

[Em]

Well, thank you, everybody. And the fact that it's July 1st means that we are halfway through 2025.

[Christine]

So that's pretty bonkers.

[Em]

And we are now only two, three episodes listeners. Episodes away from spooky season Halloween. Wow. This is. It's flying by. And it also feels like it's molasses slow all at the same time. But thanks, everyone. We'll see you for our usual episod next time.

[Christine]

And if you have your own story to submit, you can go to our website. And that's where you drink dot com. We have a form there for you to fill out. If you would like to suggest a topic yourself, you can join our patreon patreon.com ATWDpodcast and that's why we drink.