#86: Chasing Ghosts and Weird Moments in History with Marc Hartzman
I’ve always been fascinated by the oddities in life. Heck, it’s probably why my book has “weird” in the title—life’s just a bit more fun when there’s some strangeness involved.
That’s why I’m so excited to chat with Marc Hartzman, a person ABCNews.com called “one of America’s leading connoisseurs of the bizarre.” Marc has deeply researched all kinds of entertaining topics, from the disembodied head of Oliver Cromwell to the tallest folks to ever live.
He’s focusing on the supernatural in his latest book: Chasing Ghosts: A Tour of Our Fascination with Spirits and the Supernatural. You’ll learn all about paranormal investigators like Ed and Lorraine Warren (who inspired The Conjuring franchise), famous ghosts like the Bell Witch of Tennessee and the Greenbrier Ghost of West Virginia, haunted sites like the Stanley Hotel and the Winchester Mystery House, plus a whole lot of other spooky subjects.
We’ve got plenty to talk about in this eerily enjoyable episode (look at that alliteration!) so grab a seat and some Halloween candy and dive in.
Marc with Sultan Kösen, the current tallest man in the world at 8 ft 3+1⁄4 in
Highlights of our conversation include:
The people in history that first got Marc interested into the oddities and strange stories throughout time, including plenty of tall folks. (4:00)
How Marc decides what topics go from articles or fun facts into full-fledged books, including the embalmed head of Oliver Cromwell, Mars, and ghosts. (11:45)
A look inside some of the coolest ghost tours Marc has been on. (17:54)
Some of the odd and fascinating ad campaigns Marc has worked on as a creative director. (21:13)
Tips for doing research without getting TOO bogged down in things. (26:55)
The most interesting things Marc has learned from his research. (30:15)
The top three weirdest news stories in all of history, including a fartiste — a man who did all kinds of farting tricks and was the highest-grossing act at the Moulin Rouge. (38:50)
Where to find Marc Hartzman:
Pick up a copy of Chasing Ghosts: A Tour of Our Fascination with Spirits and the Supernatural at marchartzmanbooks.com.
Read some wacky news at weirdhistorian.com.
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