PODCAST

The Twilight Traveler

Kimberly Straub

A podcast on dark locations and darker histories

society & culture places & travel

All Episodes

27:04

Robert the Doll

The Twilight Traveler ·

2026/03/31

In this episode, we head to Key West, FL to meet one of the world's most infamous haunted objects - Robert the Doll. Kept inside the Fort East Martello Museum, Robert is surrounded by chilling stories of misfortune, strange occurrences, and visitors who say the experience doesn't end when they leave.

17:10

Leap Castle

The Twilight Traveler ·

2026/03/17

In this episode, we visit Leap Castle and step inside its most infamous room, the Bloody Chapel. Here, a priest was murdered at the altar by his own brother during a bitter family power struggle. Today, visitors still report an unsettling feeling in the small stone chapel where the betrayal took place. Join me as we explore the dark history behind one of Ireland's most chilling legends.

25:36

The New York City Draft Riots

The Twilight Traveler ·

2026/03/10

In this episode, we travel to New York City to explore the violent legacy of the New York City Draft Riots. What began as outrage over the Enrollment Act erupted into days of chaos, destruction, and racial violence that shook the city during the American Civil War. Today, the very object tied to that moment - the draft wheel - rests inside the New York Historical Society. Join us as we stand before this unassuming artifact and uncover the dark history it helped set in motion.

18:10

The Lamey Island Massacre

The Twilight Traveler ·

2026/03/03

In this episode, we visit Xiaoliuqiu off the coast of Taiwan, once known as Lamey Island, to confront a forgotten atrocity. In 1636, soldiers of the Dutch East India Company trapped Indigenous Islanders inside a cave and set it ablaze, killing hundreds. Today, visitors walk through Black Devil Cave often unaware it was once a refuge turned tomb.

22:10

The Tsavo Man-Eaters

The Twilight Traveler ·

2026/02/24

In this episode, we travel back to 1898, when two lions halted construction of the Uganda Railway, terrorizing workers in colonial East Africa. Today, their preserved bodies stand at the Field Museum in Chicago, transformed from feared predators into museum artifacts. Join me as we explore the bloody legend, the colonial history behind the railway, and what it means to come face-to-face with these lions more than a century later.

18:12

Thomas Bay

The Twilight Traveler ·

2026/02/17

In this episode, we journey to remote Thomas Bay, Alaska, where fog-shrouded waters hide the legends of the Thomas Bay Devils. From eerie sightings to mysterious disappearances, discover the chilling stories that make this wilderness a dark tourist destination unlike any other.

17:42

Old Green Eyes

The Twilight Traveler ·

2026/01/27

In this episode, we visit Chickamauga, GA where thousands of Civil War soldiers were killed or left to die in the woods. From that devastation emerged the legend of Old Green Eyes, a silent figure with glowing eyes said to roam the forest after dark. We explore the history behind the battle, the origins of the haunting, and why some believe something still lingers among the trees.

19:01

Trinity Downwinders

The Twilight Traveler ·

2026/01/20

On July 16, 1945, a blinding flash tore through the desert of southern New Mexico when the world's first atomic bomb was detonated. While the Trinity Test is often remembered as a scientific milestone, this episode focuses on those who paid its hidden cost: the Trinity Downwinders.

20:27

The Snallygaster

The Twilight Traveler ·

2026/01/13

In this episode, we sink our teeth into the Snallygaster - Maryland's favorite nightmare with wings - and the surprisingly problematic history lurking beneath the folklore. Then we visit the Snallygaster Museum, where myth, tourism, and dark history collide.

22:33

Cascades Female Factory

The Twilight Traveler ·

2026/01/06

The Cascades Female Factory operated between 1828 and 1856, serving as one of Australia's most notorious penal institutions for women. In this episode, we visit the remains of the factory to uncover the harsh realities of convict life. While the site now stands in quiet ruin, its history speaks loudly of the cost of empire and the women who endured it.

22:51

Krampusnacht

The Twilight Traveler ·

2025/12/09

In this episode, we dive into the chilling Alpine legend of Krampus - the horned, cloven-hoofed enforcer of Saint Nicholas who doesn't just reward good behavior, but punishes the naughty. From medieval folklore to modern mayhem, we trace how this demonic figure survived through the centuries to become a beloved terror of the holiday season. Then we take you straight into the heart of Salzburg's Christkindlmarkt, where the annual Krampuslauf turns the festive streets into a riot of rattling chains,

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.

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