They Don't Stay Dead

Episode 64: Haunted and Cursed Toys

Alexa Van Blyderveen & Brittany Pondeljak Episode 64

Alexa brings the goods with multiple personal stories of haunted or cursed toys...you must decide what category the toy fits into out of:
1) a manufacturing error
2) someone was playing a prank on her
3) the toy is cursed

Brit tells us why we all find dolls a little creepy and what the uncanny valley is. She also tells the story of Letta the Doll, a haunted doll that lives here in Australia!

Horror movie review:
Aftermath & Host

Promo of the week
This week we are highlighting Bound by the Cloak, hosted by Zoe and Chandi. This is quite a special podcast that takes ordinary people and tells their extraordinary stories, all from the unique and personal perspective of their guest who have firsthand experience with the topic at hand.

Instagram: boundbythecloak
Spotify: Bound by the Cloak

Sources for today's ep:
Alexa's segment:
https://www.90stoys.com/electronic-toys/evil-furby/#heading-zmTzwmbYwsM9oZTCFTwn9
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/furby-horror-stories-creepy-toy-30460251
https://www.ripleys.com/weird-news/was-your-furby-spying-on-you/
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/talking-toy-or-spy/

Brit's segment:
https://amyscrypt.com/letta-me-out-haunted-doll/
https://paranormal-strange.fandom.com/wiki/Letta_the_Doll
https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/art/meet-australias-most-haunted-doll
https://www.facebook.com/people/Letta-me-out/100063509896168/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haunted_doll
https://westportlibrary.libguides.com/HauntedDolls
https://www.choosingtherapy.com/pediophobia/
https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/scientists-identify-possible-source-of-the-uncanny-valley-in-the-brain#:~:text=This%20phenomenon%20was%20first%20described,as%20the%20'Uncanny%20Valley'.
https://www.vice.com/en/article/wj4ngb/this-is-why-we-think-dolls-are-creepyutm_sourcetonicfbus
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/the-origin-of-our-species.html
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/ai-uncanny-valley#:~:text=Some%20cognitive%20explanations%20of%20the,them%20to%20behave%20as%20such.
http://www.historyofdolls.com/

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Music is by Darren Curtis and cover art was made with Canva

In the spirit of reconciliation They Don't Stay Dead acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.

Disclaimer: some of the content discussed may be distressing for some listener's. Listener discretion is advised.