In 1977, a quiet London suburb became the stage for one of the most infamous hauntings in modern history. Furniture moved on its own. Voices came from nowhere. And a family found themselves at the center of a media storm that blurred the line between the paranormal and the explainable. Join Ali and Lana as they unravel the chilling story of the Enfield Poltergeist — and decide for yourself what really haunted 284 Green Street.

Step right up—this week we’re diving into the strange world of sideshows and human curiosities. From P.T. Barnum’s “wonders” to the real people behind the spectacle, we explore both the darker side of exploitation and the stories of empowerment and scientific advancement that emerged from it.

In this chilling installment of An Almanac of Ominous Things, we unravel the strange and unsettling threads that tie Charles Manson to the shadowy world of the CIA. From whispers of MKUltra experiments to suspicious connections in Haight-Ashbury, we explore the coincidences—and possible cover-ups—that suggest Manson’s descent into cult leadership may not have been entirely his own design. Was Manson simply a manipulative drifter who found power in chaos, or was he entangled in a much larger web of government experimentation?