PODCAST

The Twilight Traveler

Kimberly Straub

A podcast on dark locations and darker histories

society & culture places & travel

All Episodes

18:18

The Empty Library

The Twilight Traveler ·

2025/12/02

In this episode of The Twilight Traveler, we head to Berlin to revisit the 1933 Nazi book burnings—a night when thousands of banned works were thrown into the flames in the name of ideological purity. Our journey continues to the Empty Library memorial at Bebelplatz, where a glass window reveals rows of vacant shelves below the square, a quiet but powerful reminder of the voices erased.

21:50

Chapel of the Martyrs

The Twilight Traveler ·

2025/11/18

Join me on a visit to Otranto's Chapel of the Martyrs, where rows of skulls stare from behind glass and centuries-old tragedy hangs heavy in the air. In this episode, we walk through the chapel's dim corridors, unpack the story of the 800 victims memorialized here, and reflect on what it feels like to stand in the presence of their preserved remains.

18:44

Sloss Furnaces

The Twilight Traveler ·

2025/11/11

Once a roaring symbol of Birmingham's industrial might, Sloss Furnaces now stands silent, its towering stacks and rusted machinery a grim reminder of the men who toiled, and sometimes perished, within its fiery depths. In this episode, we explore the dark history surrounding one of Alabama's most infamous landmarks.

29:29

Franklin Castle

The Twilight Traveler ·

2025/11/04

In this episode, we're heading to Cleveland, Ohio to visit the mysterious Franklin Castle, a mansion steeped in tragedy, rumor, and restless spirits. Together, we'll explore its shadowy halls, uncover the truth behind its haunted reputation, and see why this house continues to capture the imagination of ghost hunters and skeptics alike.

22:34

Castle Mountain Internment Camp

The Twilight Traveler ·

2025/10/28

In today's episode, we'll explore the Crystal Mountain Internment Camp at Canada's Banff National Park, where "enemy aliens" were once held during World War 1. We'll visit the First World War Internment Exhibit and uncover the difficult truths behind Canada's mountain paradise.

21:51

The Broad Street Cholera Outbreak

The Twilight Traveler ·

2025/10/21

In this episode, we're heading back to 1854 London, where a simple water pump became the source of terror. Join me as I trace the deadly path of the Broad Street cholera outbreak and visit the replica Broad Street Pump that still stands as a reminder of one of London's most tragic moments in public health history.

24:47

The Pope Lick Monster

The Twilight Traveler ·

2025/10/14

This week, we're heading deep into the eerie woods of Louisville, Kentucky - home to one of America's strangest legends: The Pope Lick Monster. From chilling sightings on the infamous Pope Lick Bridge to the local Goatman Festival that celebrates the myth, we're exploring how folklore, fear, and tragedy collide.

20:22

The Kansas City Massacre

The Twilight Traveler ·

2025/10/07

On June 17, 1933, a routine prisoner transfer outside Kansas City’s Union Station turned into a deadly ambush that shook the nation. In this episode, I uncover the story behind the Kansas City Massacre — a violent shootout that claimed the lives of four law enforcement officers and led to major changes within the FBI. Then, I visit Union Station itself to explore how this beautiful landmark still bears the weight of its dark past.

18:59

The Island of the Dolls

The Twilight Traveler ·

2025/09/30

This week, I drift through Mexico's Xochimilco canals to uncover the eerie legend of the Island of the Dolls. Once home to a recluse who decorated the trees with discarded dolls to ward off restless spirits, the island now draws curious travelers seeking both beauty and unease.

19:59

Seneca Village

The Twilight Traveler ·

2025/09/23

This week on The Twilight Traveler, I uncover the story of Seneca Village, the 19th-century Black community in Manhattan that was destroyed to make way for Central Park. We’ll explore the history, the displacement, and how the new Central Park exhibition works to honor what was lost.

29:21

The Haymarket Affair

The Twilight Traveler ·

2025/09/16

In this episode, I journey to Chicago's Haymarket Square, where a labor rally in 1886 turned into one of the most infamous tragedies in U.S. history.

25:05

The Budapest Ghetto

The Twilight Traveler ·

2025/09/09

In this episode, I uncover the history behind the Shoes on the Danube memorial, a chilling tribute to the Hungarian Jews executed along the river during World War II. We’ll explore the history, symbolism, and emotional weight of this memorial, reflecting on how public memory keeps the echoes of atrocity alive.

24:34

Night Parade of 100 Demons

The Twilight Traveler ·

2025/08/19

In this episode, I explore the legend of the Hyakki Yagyō—the Night Parade of 100 Demons. Rooted in Japanese folklore, this eerie procession of yokai was once believed to roam the streets at night, punishing any human unlucky enough to witness it. Today, the myth is brought to life at the Kai Kai Festival in Toei Kyoto Studio Park, where costumed yokai wander the grounds in a theatrical reenactment of the parade. Visitors step into a dreamlike—sometimes nightmarish—world where folklore and fear

25:46

Andersonville Prison

The Twilight Traveler ·

2025/08/12

In today's episode, I journey to Andersonville, GA to visit the haunting site of the Andersonville Prison - one of the Civil War's most infamous POW camps. Known for its inhumane conditions and staggering death toll, Andersonville Prison stands as a grim reminder of wartime cruelty and human endurance.

28:35

The LaLaurie Mansion

The Twilight Traveler ·

2025/07/29

In this chilling episode, I explore the LaLaurie Mansion - a place steeped in mystery, horror, and legend. Once home to Madame Delphine LaLaurie, a socialite with a sinister secret, this grand Creole mansion holds stories of unspeakable cruelty and restless spirits. Join me as I uncover the twisted history, sift through fact and folklore, and confront the dark legacy that still haunts Royal Street today. For further reading and trip information, be sure to visit our show notes at

23:03

The Great Fire of Chinatown

The Twilight Traveler ·

2025/07/22

In the shadows of paradise, a deadly blaze tore through Honolulu’s Chinatown in 1900 — but was it truly an accident, or something far more sinister? This week, I unravel the haunting story behind the fire that consumed 38 acres, left thousands homeless, and exposed deep racial tensions and public health paranoia. Join me as I dig into the botched plague response, the controversial quarantines, and the chilling truth of how fear turned to flames. For further reading and tourist information, check out

20:53

The Death of Jennie Wade

The Twilight Traveler ·

2025/07/15

In this episode, I unravel the tragic story of Jennie Wade, the only civilian killed during the Battle of Gettysburg. For further reading and links to tourist sites, visit our show notes at thetwilighttraveler.com. And if you dig the episode, be sure to follow and leave a review.

24:53

The Nain Rouge of Detroit

The Twilight Traveler ·

2025/07/08

In this episode, I explore the legend of the Nain Rouge - the red imp and harbinger of doom that has haunted the city of Detroit, MI since its earliest days - and the annual festival that celebrated this mischievous cryptid, the Marche Du Nain Rouge. For further reading and trip information, be sure to check out our show notes at thetwilighttraveler.com. And if you dig the episode, be sure to follow, like, and leave a review.

18:24

Betty's Hope Sugar Plantation

The Twilight Traveler ·

2025/07/01

In this episode, I journey to the haunting ruins of Betty's Hope Sugar Plantation on the island of Antigua. Once a centerpiece of colonial wealth, it was built and sustained through the suffering of countless enslaved Africans. We examine the brutal legacy left behind and the echoes of exploitation that still linger in the landscape. For trip information and further reading, be sure to check out our show notes at thetwilighttraveler.com.

19:47

The Eastland Disaster

The Twilight Traveler ·

2025/06/24

In today's episode, I dive deep into the tragic story of the SS Eastland, a passenger steamship that capsized in the Chicago River in 1915 - claiming the lives of 844 people, most of them working families. For further reading and tourist information, be sure to visit the show notes at thetwilighttraveler.com.

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