The Fantastic Story Society

19/02/2024

I just released my first attempt at a video blog. Let me talk story and movies (with the help of Max Timm & the International Screenwriters' Association. I discuss one of my favorite movies - "The Fugitive." I would love for this video to find an audience, which is super hard to do in the vast emptiness that is YouTube. So, if you have friends who love movies, please do share! Link in the comments below:

05/02/2024

I'm exciting to be talking TV with Max Timm & Jen Grisanti in about a half hour, LIVE here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYOb08GetDs

24/07/2023

Chat with Colin Dickey, folklore/legend/ghost story (and now secret society) author live at 4pm PT / 7 ET! Head over to YouTube if you want to comment live while we chat!

From beloved cultural historian and acclaimed author of Ghostland comes a history of America's obsession with secret societies and the conspiracies of hidden...

12/04/2023

We will be hosting a LIVE conversation with Cassie Carpenter, a paranormal tour guide who walks Hollywood Blvd and also takes people on a bus tour through downtown LA. We'll be learning about her as a tour guide while hearing lots of great tales of haunted Los Angeles.

21/10/2022

We sit down with one of the premiere experts in how cults operate and how to help someone get out. You can currently catch him on “The Vow” on HBO. With us, we discuss his work with escaping NXIVM members & his work with the Branch Davidians and FBI in Waco.

We sit down with one of the premiere experts in how cults operate and how to help someone get out. You can currently catch him on “The Vow” on HBO discussing his work with escaping NXIVM members + …

27/09/2022

Documentarian Jay Bachochin enjoys hiking a vast wilderness in Wisconsin, but a number of unexplainable experiences there have opened his eyes to the nature of reality and what's possible in our known and unknown universe. Check out more here: https://voicesfromthegrave.wordpress.com/2022/09/27/fss-33-jay-bachochin-hiking-kettle-moraine-looking-for-bigfoot-or-fairies-or-the-beast-bray-road/

18/08/2022

We had a great time speaking with Tim Ellis, co-creator of the Michigan Paranormal Convention, author, storyteller, historian and all around great guy. Listen to his origins as a folklorist & get a preview for the big upcoming event in Sault Ste. Marie here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fss-32-tim-ellis-mi-paracon-a-ufo-collision-over/id1482640950?i=1000576441922

03/01/2022

The induction list for members of the Fantastic Story Society (their membership number is their episode number)

30/12/2021

Gotta say, we finished the year strong! Great conversation with David Farrier, from Netflix's "Dark Tourist" and current co-host of "Armchaired and Dangerous" with Dax Shepard & Monica Padman. Listen at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fss-23-david-farrier-dark-tourist-conspiracy-theory/id1482640950?i=1000546467868

14/11/2021

It was an absolute thrill for board game nerds, Scott Markus & Max Timm to chat with Rob Daviau, game designer behind so many of their favorite games, including Betrayal at the House on the Hill, Risk Legacy and so many more. Listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fss-21-designing-board-games-storytelling-with-rob-daviau/id1482640950?i=1000541666833

‎Show The Fantastic Story Society, Ep FSS 21: Designing Board Games & Storytelling with Rob Daviau - Nov 12, 2021

17/10/2021

What a fantastic experience this was! Not only did Scott Markus & Max Timm get to interview Lisa Van Buskirk of American Ghost Walks at a haunted restaurant, Tempest Oyster Bar, but they then conducted a paranormal investigation after. Check out the interview & investigation here: https://voicesfromthegrave.wordpress.com/2021/10/17/fss-19-lisa-van-buskirk-madisons-haunted-oyster-bar-a-paranormal-investigation/

We chat w/ American Ghost Walks Madison tour guide Lisa Van Buskirk on location at a haunted site… a former funeral home-turned high-end oyster bar. After the chat they go on a paranormal inv…

07/08/2021

The official induction page for Carlos Alazraqui....our 18th member of the Fantastic Story Society. If you're a fan of zombie movies and/or horror/comedies, give this episode a listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fss-18-carlos-alazraqui-from-reno-911-wrote-a-zombie-movie/id1482640950?i=1000530716913

02/08/2021

Do you like zombie movies? We like movies. You know who else does? Carlos Alazraqui from "Reno 911!" We talk zombies, zombie movies and filmmaking with Officer Garcia/The Taco Bell Chihuahua himself! Listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fantastic-story-society/id1482640950

25/04/2021

is full of random chance + many cultures, so... LOTS of & talk of . Hear about that and associated with the sport as we talk with "Haunted Baseball" writers Dan Gordon & Mickey Bradley: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fss-16-baseballs-ghost-stories-w-mickey-bradley-dan-gordon/id1482640950?i=1000516646340

11/04/2021

JUST went live: a fun chat with the writers of "Haunted Baseball" & "Field of Screams," Dan Gordon & Mickey Bradley. Listen here: https://fantastic.libsyn.com/fss-16-baseballs-ghost-stories-w-mickey-bradley-dan-gordon

Curses & superstitions are as much a part of baseball as balls & strikes. Folklore & baseball are intertwined as is the human behavior of seeking reason in chaos. Now, baseball's a melting pot of cultures, introducing new ghost stories & beliefs.

30/03/2021

If you saw the movie , you were certainly impressed and maybe even moved by the scenes. For that, you have Robert Lopaka Kapanui to thank! Hear us discuss Hawaiian ghost stories including a possession case that'll really give you chills. Listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fss-15-finding-ohanas-nightmarchers-possessed-girl/id1482640950?i=1000511270065

21/01/2021

We are so excited to welcome our 1st ,

into the Fantastic Story Society. You know his legendary animated show , but did you know he encouraged heckles in his early performances? Lots of great stories, listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fss-14-jonathan-katz-being-seriously-funny-alongside/id1482640950?i=1000505632967

21/12/2020

We are so excited to welcome in Tea Krulos to the Fantastic Story Society! His recent book, "American Madness" discusses the 'real life super hero' who broke into and, well.... set it on fire. There's so much to get into in this episode including plus some holiday & talk. Listen here & Share! https://fantastic.libsyn.com/fantastic-story-society-ep-13-tea-krulos-richard-mccaslins-american-madness-the-dark-side-of-conspiracy-theory

30/06/2020

in between podcasts, feel free to tune in to co-host Scott telling some mafia-related ghost stories on his page.

This is gonna be fun! Chicago, LA/Vegas.... even Madison. Mafia-related Ghost Stories tomorrow night on the livestream!

27/06/2020

Looking to go down a rabbit hole this weekend? Great podcast double feature available through “The Fantastic Story Society” interviewing Jon Ronson on storytelling, secret societies & conspiracy theories & Go On, Scare Me Podcast chats with Waco survivor David Thibodeau.
Fantastic Story Society/Jon Ronson here: https://tinyurl.com/y94o95qj
Go On Scare Me / David Thibodeau here: https://t.co/5nahOjgZLA?amp=1 Jon Ronson Public

24/06/2020

Co-host Scott Markus does weekly storytelling sessions over at WhatsYourGhostStory. Tune in tonight!

23/06/2020

Jon Ronson has lived a life more exciting than one you'd think a writer could live. He gotten up close and personal with the likes of self-appointed superheroes, countless psychopaths (both in prison and in the boardroom) N***s, Islamic Extremists, and even the Insane Clown Posse. He and a young Alex Jones infiltrated the mysterious Bohemian Grove Ceremony and his attempt to do the same at the annual Bilderberg meeting lead to the slowest car chase since OJ fled the LAPD. He's done all this while balancing his anxiety with masterful dry wit. In this episode we discuss how Ronson identifies his next subjects and his goals for his writing while taking a look back at some of his biggest adventures. Wonderfully tense music, "Deadlock," provided by purple-planet.com Listen at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fantastic-story-society-ep-10-jon-ronson-being-tailed/id1482640950?i=1000475412967

11/05/2020

We are so excited to welcome a great friend, DJ MacHale into the Fantastic Story Society! DJ is an author several times over, perhaps best known for creating the series and penning the 10-part Book series. Listen to our latest episode here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fantastic-story-society/id1482640950

Famous for creating the 90's kids TV show (and one of Scott's favorite shows ever), "Are You Afraid of the Dark", DJ talks about what inspires him, why he gravitates toward the fantastical, and shares his own personal haunted house story. It's a fun listen, so snuggle up with a device and headphones, and get your listen on.

01/05/2020

Co-host Markus is premiering a video soon (2PM Central)! Chat with him during the premiere at ! This is the location Scott talked about in EPISODE 1 of our show, the episode. Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_inoeS7qzJo

Share this video: https://youtu.be/_inoeS7qzJo Music Credit: "Labyrinth" by Sergey Cheremisinov What is WhatsYourGhostStory.com & Who is Scott Markus? WhatsY...

17/04/2020

Wanna see the next step in the journey of a script? Sometimes a concept video called a sizzle reel is made that will give people a glimpse into what the finished product will look this. This a great pitch tool when talking to buyers, network/studio executives or investors, etc. This will be a YouTube premiere with the writer in attendance. This will take place today at 2pm PST.

Share this video: https://youtu.be/OM5vEOmBgG8 Advance your writing career at https://www.networkisa.org/ Written and Directed by A. J. Bermudez In the after...

22/03/2020

So excited to tell some HAPPY GHOST STORIES live in just a few minutes (the archive will be available as a podcast). Great roundtable of fellow haunted tour guides! Tune in free!

19/03/2020

We couldn't be happier to have two fantastic people on as guests in our first episode of 2020 - Robyn Davis and Ted Williams are the hosts of the Tour Company (https://www.hauntedgalenatourcompany.com/), and if you haven't heard of Galena, you're about to get a deep dive into all of the amazing history, spooky ghost stories, and how their tour company is different than most. They're also gearing up for a fun paranormal conference that features great speakers and the opportunity to do paranormal investigations at some usually off-limits locations. Whether they're talking about the tour or the conference (http://hauntedgalenaconference.com/), you really get a feel for how magical this locked-in-time town is for Ted and Robyn.

And in one of our favorite ghost stories yet, Robyn and Ted tell the sad and true story of Maryanne Miller, one of Galena's resident ghosts...and she isn't too happy about how things ended for her (and she probably doesn't realize things ever did end). Listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fantastic-story-society-ep-8-poor-maryanne-miller-haunted/id1482640950?i=1000468820902

Let's all take a deep breath, relax, listen to some fun stories, and we'll make our way through 2020 successfully, smoothly, and with good health.

As for our Society, if you haven't already, you can look for and find us on Twitter , and we're always sharing stories, news, and more on our page at facebook.com/FantasticStorySociety/

Remember, there are stories everywhere, you just need to look for them...and when you find them, give a little knock on our door and you may just be welcomed into The Fantastic Story Society.

14/12/2019

Fantastic Story Society host, Scott Markus interviewed episode #2 guest, Mike Huberty, on stage at the Imaginarium Convention about using macabre stories as inspiration for song writing. Hear a story and some music in a clip here:

02/12/2019

Are you afraid of ? We would venture to guess your answer is "yes." Amelia Cotter, however, wants to help you reorganize your beliefs about our serpent friends in our seventh episode of The Fantastic Story Society. While there is plenty of fantastic stories told in this episode (Amelia's telling of her one and only encounter with a ghost is excellent), we learned that there is a Native American snake right outside the second biggest city in the country - sweet home ! Listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fantastic-story-society-amelia-cotter-chicagos-serpent/id1482640950?i=1000458296721

25/11/2019

Co-host Scott Markus will be appearing at this. Come out to a fantastic location, a very haunted and historic town, for a fun weekend of paranormal conversation and investigation!

We are so pleased to announce our very first Haunted Galena Conference!!! Limited space available. Details at hauntedgalenaconference.com
Join us for two days of hauntings, the paranormal, the unexplained and the curious! .