Two Hot Takes – Episode 239: "Simply Supernatural.."

Date: October 23, 2025
Host: Morgan Absher (with Justin and Sam)

Episode Overview

In this Halloween-season special, Morgan and her co-hosts plunge into the simply supernatural, sharing listener-submitted stories of paranormal encounters. The episode features eerie read-alouds, candid reactions, theories on ghosts and spiritual experiences, and thoughtful reflection on the nature of the afterlife, guardian angels, and ancestral presence. The overall tone weaves between spooky, heartfelt, and irreverently funny as the team processes both scary and comforting tales.

Key Discussion Points & Stories

1. Kickoff: Personal Paranormal Experiences

• Justin recounts his first paranormal encounter — a violent swipe across his shins in bed, which felt different from a typical nightmare:
  • "It didn't feel like, oh, I just woke up from a nightmare. It was like that happened while I was sleeping or half asleep, and I sat up and I remember just sitting up in bed and just staring for a while. It's weird. Weird." (01:51)
• Morgan discusses strange happenings in her house — monitoring cameras that repeatedly pick up a “person” in the kitchen since acquiring furniture from a deceased Hollywood actress.

2. Listener Story 1: The Hanging Girl in the Carport

• Listener’s stepmom sees a shadowy figure resembling a girl hanging in the carport; the figure appears in a photo but never returns after the dad confronts it.
  • Notable quote: “My dad took one look at the photo, ran outside and yelled into the night, ‘You are not welcome here. I have enough women in my life.’” (08:27)
  • Group discusses whether confronting spirits makes a difference and the eerie specifics of the photo.
• Timestamp: [07:18 - 13:48]

3. Listener Story 2: Messages from a Deceased Dad

• After her father's sudden death, the listener receives several signs: a rare song playing at Dunkin’, seeing a uniquely colored Jeep, and a dashboard duck lighting up unexpectedly.
  • Video attached: Duck lights up when mentioning her dad.
  • "Like, I don't know what's happening right now. Oh my God." (18:35)
  • Discussion focuses on comforting "afterlife" signs and the emotional impact on major life events.
• Timestamp: [13:50 – 22:02]

4. Paranormal Electrical Phenomena

• Listener’s toy car in unfinished basement runs at 3am—without batteries. Parent so shaken they never discuss it again.
  • Conversation explores why so many hauntings involve basements and creepy childhood spaces.
• "My mom woke up my dad to go to the basement and see, but he refused. So my mom went down there and turned on the light as the car was going around the track... The next morning, she realized that the toy had no batteries inside for it to even work and do that." (25:40)
• Timestamp: [25:22 – 30:01]

5. The Shadow Lady in the Hallway

• Woman moves into stepdad’s condo and repeatedly sees a shadowy female figure in the hall. Family admits they’ve all seen her and she returns missing objects.
  • "They told me they'd both seen her multiple times... My stepdad even said that he's lost things before only to have them later show up, neatly placed on the end of his bed." (36:55)
  • Panel muses on why spirits linger—trauma, unfinished business, or benevolence?
• Timestamp: [34:00 – 39:23]

6. Third Man Factor & Guardian Angels

• Several stories highlight the “third man” or guardian angel phenomenon:
  • E.g., a whistle that saves a woman from alcohol poisoning; a mother sees her daughter accompanied by an ancestor in suspenders and a top hat, unseen by the daughter herself.
  • "Your guardian angel seems to have revealed himself to him... She told me that your angel will reveal itself to protect you from people that want to bring you harm." (48:18)
• Group discusses cultural perspectives on ancestor guardianship and the fading of memory over generations.

7. Hidden Gem Segment: Helpful Ghosts & Lost Objects

• Listeners recount items disappearing and reappearing in odd places, as if returned by playful or helpful spirits.
  • Notable: A wallet lost for days in a dorm, dreamt of hitting the listener’s chest, actually materializes on the listener’s chest upon waking.
  • "I wake up and there was my wallet laying on my chest." (68:40)
  • Morgan and Justin joke about wanting a Casper-like ghost to return lost objects.
• Timestamp: [61:21 – 69:52]

8. Protective Spirits in Old Houses

• New owners of a 100-year-old house see a man’s shadow whenever a door or window is left unlocked. The prior owner died in the 1980s.
  • The ghost appears to be keeping the family safe by prompting them to secure the house.
  • "Every time we see the man in our entryway, without a doubt, something has been unlocked or unclosed." (72:47)

9. First-Responder Encounters with Death

• Firefighter listener describes seeing/speaking to a recently deceased motorcycle accident victim, confirming details later in a police briefing.
  • "I finally heard and felt this man standing over his body. He was yelling at everyone, asking why nobody was answering him and what was going on. Until I saw him turn to me, point and tell me that he knew I could hear him." (81:16)
• Discussion covers "out-of-body" experiences near death and how some people, especially those with trauma, feel they leave their bodies.

10. Dark Places: Cabin in the Woods

• Family on vacation in Utah feels overwhelming dread at night in a remote cabin. Photos develop showing demonic faces in the trees and strange cursive written by their flashlight beams. The evidence was burned.
  • "There was more than we could define in this old film photo, some looking very demonic. My mom flipped out, started crying, showed my stepdad and he burned the photo and the film." (103:07)
• Timestamp: [99:08 – 106:11]

11. Paranormal Investigator Story: Sink Hollow Road

• Jake, a seasoned investigator, recounts a case where a young girl in 1960s attire warns them to leave private property. Research that night confirms her 1963 death at the hands of her father; her spirit remains to protect visitors.
  • “She calmly explained that while it was sweet to offer, we really should be going and that her father has a really bad temper... with one final warning, she said, 'please leave before daddy comes out. You may regret it.'” (111:15)
  • "In the newspaper article was a picture of the girl that we had spoken with last night. However, the clipping was dated 1963. The article went on to describe that a quick investigation revealed a family secret..." (120:16)
• Morgan discusses the intersection of tragic human history and repeat hauntings.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On direct confrontation & spiritual boundaries:
  "Does it actually work when you say you’re not welcome here?... Most spirits, I don’t think they’re inherently evil… I think most spirits are just lost." — Justin & Sam (11:59)
• On overlooked or slow-burn hauntings:
  “It became less scary over time, but I never got comfortable with it. That eerie feeling never really went away.” — Listener (38:02)
• Comfort through signs:
  “If you’ve lost someone close to you, I truly believe they are there with you. Or at least watching over you.” — Listener (16:37)
• Philosophizing afterlife science:
  “Can they do both? … Do you have to be on the other side and then go back and hang out? … I really hope that’s a thing because I’m so curious. I want to see what happens after I’m gone—not just the next year, but the next ten, hundred, thousand, ten million years.” — Justin (39:01)
• On missing objects and playful ghosts:
  “I feel like some of these spirits are little tricksters… I think some ghosts are a little bit mischievous.” — Morgan (69:14)

Memorable Lighter Moments

• Naming the studio’s new skeleton dog and arguing about whose ghostly habits are worse—Justin’s unlocked doors or Morgan’s lost items.
• Justin and Morgan playfully debate the logic of chasing ghosts versus running away.
• Jokes about needing a helpful ghost for lost keys and their own Casper sidekick.
  • "If our ghost is listening, you can let Justin know and not me. Thank you." — Morgan (77:32)

Thoughtful/Sentimental Notes

• Generational Memory & Remembrance: Reflection on family journals, ancestor stories, and the Day of the Dead tradition from Coco; the power and importance of memory in keeping loved ones "alive."
• Signs and Synchronicity: Multiple callers and Morgan herself urge listeners NOT to despair if they haven’t received a sign from a loved one, as it may come in an unexpected moment or form.
  • “If you’ve asked your family member for a sign and you haven’t gotten it yet, it doesn’t mean that you’re not gonna get one. It just might not be the right time.” — Morgan (123:06)
• Spiritual Lessons: Some spirits linger because of trauma, unfinished business, or as protectors. There are both scary and positive “supernatural” encounters, blurring realism and comfort.

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [01:07] – Introductions and personal spooky experiences
• [07:18] – First listener story: The Hanging Girl Photo
• [13:50] – Listener story: Signs from a deceased dad
• [25:22] – Electrical hauntings and haunted toys
• [34:00] – The Shadow Lady in the Hallway
• [48:18] – Guardian angels and ancestor spirits
• [61:21] – Hidden gem segment: Ghosts returning lost objects
• [72:47] – A protective house spirit
• [81:16] – Firefighter medium encounters
• [99:08] – Cabin in the woods demonic photo
• [111:15] – Paranormal investigator: Sink Hollow Road encounter
• [129:49] – Bonus comforting “sign” stories from listeners

The Episode’s Spirit (Tone & Community Notes)

Even as the crew and guests swap chilling tales, "Simply Supernatural.." is grounded in humor, curiosity, and warmth. The show fosters community, encouraging listeners to share their experiences without judgment and to appreciate both the spooky and comforting mysteries life's most inexplicable moments bring.

Closing (Calls to Action)

• Share your supernatural stories in the comments or via Instagram/YouTube.
• For more stories (including those too wild or detailed for this episode), check out the Two Hot Takes Patreon.
• “Thank you so much for being here. Another spooky season. Until next time.” — Morgan (133:51)

For more listener stories or to join the Two Hot Takes community:

• Instagram: @twohottakes
• YouTube Channel
• Bonus content: Patreon

This summary covers all major content and significant community moments, perfect for anyone who missed the episode but loves a blend of scares, sentimentality, and signature Two Hot Takes wit.