And That's Why We Drink - Listener Stories: Vol. 119 (featuring Guest Host Xandy Schiefer)

Episode Date: September 1, 2026

Calling all Libras! It’s officially September so we’re remixing it up today with guest host Xandy Schiefer while Em is away. Today Eva collected a batch of classic ghost stories for us which remind us that sometimes the black of night is better than whatever may be calling from the vents, and to not trust the feelings in the fog. And is the purple gorilla Bonsai Buddy the newest Mandela Effect? Let us know… and that’s why we drink!Check out more from Xandy and Christine on Beach Too Sandy Water Too Wet or on socials at @beachtoosandy, and catch Xandy on Instagram at @xandyschiefer___________________Get 50% off your order at https://DailyLook.com with code DRINKTry ZipRecruiter to post your job FOR FREE at http://ziprecruiter.com/DRINK 4 out of 5 employers who post on ZipRecruiter get a quality candidate within the first day.Go to https://oseamalibu.com and get 10% off your first order with code DRINK.Get 40% off select Lola Blankets products at https://Lolablankets.com by using code DRINK at checkout. Experience the world’s #1 blanket with Lola Blankets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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At Real Canadian Superstore, when you're ready, we're ready, with a whole world and more. Guys, we're having a real crisis over here at the Schultzforth Manor. Just kidding, I'm on the Canadian border right now. But I'm telling you back home, things are rough. I have discussed in the past, Christina and I, that we love our Lola blankets. They are the classiest things we own. I like, will not so casually leave it on the couch. So when my mom comes to visit, it looks like we're elegant, like just money bags over here.

Well, it got in the wrong bin. ended up in the garage. Allison's a woodworker and sawdust got everywhere on it. Even though it is the swankiest, classiest, most elegant thing that's ever been in my home, it's machine washable. You really have to try a little blanket for yourself. Not only is it classy and machine washable, it is the softest thing you'll ever touch. I don't even, I can't, I don't think I've ever touched a softer thing to be able to compare it to. It is so soft. You know when you're in a store and you're touching blankets and then you go, oh, you got to try this one to the person that you went to the store with? That's the blanket. It's double hemmed for durability. It stays flawless with no pilling, no shedding, even after

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Oh, and welcome to, and that's why we drink, but things have been remixed. Because instead of the M. Schultz today, I've brought a special friend to the studio. This is my brother, Zandi Schiefer. Hi, everyone. He's my brother co-host over at Beach Two Sandy. and we have a dream of doing a ghost hunt together someday. Or at least I do. And I've slowly Stockholm syndromeed him into wanting to do it too.

It's been a long time. So I figured when this opening became available, I would bring you just to see how you manage kind of this type of content before. Who would to test? Yeah, it's actually an interview on camera. As if I haven't been on this show before. Yeah, but like. It's only been like 10 years since.

Your resume is really outdated. That's so true. When did you last go? Go what? On the show. Oh, it's been, I don't even remember. Probably eight years ago. Like, probably.

Are you serious? I don't know. Like, when we were in L.A. still. I feel like I also don't talk about you much, no offense. That's okay. I think it's just because I talk about you to you so often that when you're not here, it's like, well, I'd rather talk about something else. Okay.

Sorry. I didn't like make it any better. I guess what I mean is you and I already make so much content. We do. That it's like what else is there left to say? We lay it all out there for the people. Okay. Well, we already got our match.

Oh, what are you drinking today? I just said it. Drinking my strawberry oat macha. Hey, that's what I'm drinking. Because I literally said, I'll have what she's having after she ordered hers. Yeah, at our local cafe. So we're really fun to be around. You're going to love this episode.

I'm nervous. Well, it's the September listeners episode. Oh, that's my birthday month. I know. Libra's rise. Libra's. And that's why. Slowly, though, I'm old.

Virgo's, yeah, you weren't quite so creaky on your last listener episode. That was what you were wearing a robe. I remember. Oh, dear God. Yeah, that was a lot of time. I miss that robe. That was my Yoshiki robe. Now you're in the fucker.

Yeah. Now you're in that cool shirt you got in the women's department. Oh, yeah, yeah. I went to the coffee. I love this shirt. I went to the coffee shop today. Oh, yeah. Why do you drink?

Oh. And what do you drink? Jesus, I don't know. This is the energy that I'm nervous. This show is a lot more. You didn't say I had to prepare anything. Intense. I was one of the first listeners,

but it's been so long since I tuned in. Probably nine years since I listened. This must be what it's like for every guest on the show because we don't prepare anyone and we bring this energy to them. And I think imagine M also being here and bringing this energy. I think you'd be even maybe more upset. And I'm sorry about that, but. Oh, yeah.

And I'm furious right now. Yeah, I can tell. I can tell. I'm drinking a strawberry oat macho latte. That's right. And I don't know. I'm drinking it. I'm feeling myself.

I love this. And I love my. Tell them about the fit. My fit, I am wearing a shirt that I got off the women's rack at Marshalls. It looks great. I love the crop on it. Compliments all day, every day. Yeah.

I got a compliment on it today. And of course, as I always say, I said, women's racket Marshall. Yep. And they all laugh. They all swooned. Yeah. Yeah. Someone put it on TikTok.

It went viral. Yeah. Now he's a millionaire. Yeah. It's about time. My pants are from the thrift store. My belt is from a vegan leather company called vegan leather company. That's cool.

My shirt is, it has tigers on it. And I bought it during a depressive episode off a TikTok shop. Oh. So that was a regretful purchase, but now I wear it anyway, even though it's peeling off. And that's where I'm at. And I'm also drinking a strawberry oat matcha because we're the same person in a lot of ways. Twinning. Twinning.

Oh, we're twins. Did we say that yet? Did we say that yet? Yeah. We were born. It was like I was in the womb two years longer. Well, I ate him. Is what happened?

And then she's like, what? Like spit me back up. into our mom's womb. That's what that song is about. Which song? That lullaby. No. That German lullaby.

No, what I mean is that song, um, chew me up and spit me out. What? That's a song from like the 90s or something. Chew me up and spit me out. Yeah. Is that the name of the song? I don't know what the name of it is. I feel like I know the song.

I'm sure you do. Chew me up. And spit me out song by. Oh, cobra starship is not the one that I meant. Okay. The internet isn't helping me right now. So let's maybe pretend that I'm not somehow on Harry Potter fan fiction. That's, yep, not what I wanted about this.

Yeah. I'm not exploring out. The chapter title is, nope, I'm not going to read it up. I know what you're trying to say. Like, I know that there's a song that you're referring to that exists. Spit me out. That one. Yeah.

I know. Maybe it doesn't see. It doesn't. I found it. Thank God. Nope, I didn't. Oh, thank nobody. Okay.

Collective soul. That's on. Collective soul, December. By Collective Soul. Oh my gosh. I do love that song. How does it go? Like that part.

Hold on. Hold on. And spit me out. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. I was singing this in the room. Oh, my. God. That's got transported to the beach water park. Oh my god. Congratulations.

Turn your head now, baby. Just spit me out. Yeah, that's the one. There we go. There we go. Oh my God. We got there. And I'm supposed to drive to October Fest in like an hour. How are we going to get through this? This is the September listeners episode. Alexander, I would love for you to read this ghost story. It was sent in by Lenore. She, Her. Sorry. That's such a perfect name for a ghost story. I know. It's a beautiful name.

Yeah. This one's called answering the call for a quantum physicist perspective. Oh, it's not even a ghost story. It's apparently I answered. Maybe I should read this one first because it sounds like something I would ask. So it's probably something I should read the answer to. And then I'll give you the next one. Well.

Answering the call for a quantum physicist perspective on ghosts altering the perception of time. Okay. Clearly this was something I asked about. I don't think am that anything to do with this. Lenore, what, what are you doing here? What do you really? I think I invited this. No, I know.

I know. But like you're still being encouraged by people like, I know they don't stop. Yeah. Well, stop it. Hi, pals. I was catching up on ATWWD this morning. And in episode 429,

the question of how quantum physicists might explain chronological inconsistencies when in a space inhabited by a ghost was brought up. As a woman who is months away from getting her PhD in quantum physics. Oh, exciting. I feel like I might be able to provide some ideas for you. Firstly, and in my opinion, the most boring option, so I'm getting it out of the way, is the theory of parallel timelines. Not only do I think this one is a little played out, but it doesn't work so well if you can point to a specific person who has passed and claim they're the spirit altering time in that space. So it would be more for a case of stumbling into a situation where time is altered and assuming the cause is supernatural in nature.

In this case, you might suppose a ghost is a resonance, something that made the jump from their timeline to yours from a parallel timeline where their situation. is still playing out. So, like, they were still alive or so, like, in a scenario where they were dead in this one, but we're alive in this one, I assume. Sorry, I feel like I've lost everybody. Wow. Somewhere M is at a wedding or something also lost, just feeling the energy of what I'm reading out loud.

Okay. This would produce an interference effect. Think of it as a ripple or an echo, not the moment itself, but a direct byproduct, which skews our perception in that location. My second slightly more favorite thought is that a very important. localized anomalies. Quantum theory allows us to consider vacuum fluctuations and is Eva pranking me. Vacuum fluctuations and violations of energy from their classically accepted perception in small scales. If a ghost is considered to be a localized field

disturbance, it wouldn't be unheard of for it to interact with space and time in abnormal ways. This could cause distortions of time perception to a person experiencing one of those pockets. Like, is that where my cognitive distortions come from? Totally. It's a ghost. It's a ghost. Oh my God. It explains so much. Yeah.

General relativity suggests that gravity affects time, i.e. time travel could absolutely be happening currently, but the person experiencing it wouldn't be able to make it back to their present for thousands of years because of the difference in the gravitational pull. What the? In going versus coming. So don't despair just because you haven't had your future self tell you they've figured it out. So this field disturbance. that was all at parentheses.

So this field disturbance would be able to cause distortions in time perception. Now, onto theories I find more appealing. Okay. I need a pause. Remember when you were going to have me read this? Like, I'm sorry. I can't believe this is what is number one. I'm so happy.

I don't have no clue what I asked or what the fuck this question was. I'm like, I'm ready. Whatever's coming next? I'm so excited for it. There's not even that much left. So this must be like concise. And then I think. I mean, the way Eva pitched this entire series of stories was classic ghost stories.

So I think after this, maybe we'll get into the ghosts. But, man, this is exciting. We are getting into the ghosts. I guess we're getting, like, really in it. Yeah. Whoa. Carlo Rovelli is a physicist who proposes time is not fundamental, but emerges from the relationship between quantum events.

Right. Yeah, I say that. You say that all the time. Wait, do you think he took that from you? Probably. What the fuck? In this thought, the ghost would interfere. could interfere with these processes, particularly in locations which have experienced high

emotion or energy, thus disrupting the flow of time. This could be portrayed and perceived time slips, repeating events or strange chronology in haunting places like the haunting of Hillhouse or scattered like the rest is confetti speech. I don't remember that very well, but. Yes. Great series. There is also the theory of quantum entanglement, suggesting that time and space are more flexible at the quantum level than we perceive.

think of it as a tapestry woven together where particles can instantly influence each other across space, right? That's exactly. If we were to imagine a ghost as a residual entanglement, they could still be part of that connected particle. In that case, if the entanglement were unusually strong, again, high emotion or energy, it might have the ability to drag localized time perception. I swear I tried to keep this tight, but it's all too interesting to be cut and dry. Keep asking the questions and keep your mind expanded for the space answers need. There are more than enough possibilities to fill it.

Whoa. Did we just now enter another? Alexander and I were just talking. I'm honest. I hope not. I'm kind of, well, I thought I've been saying that for years and it keeps happening.

You know, it's like when does it stop? Wow, that was just so, Lenore, I'm honored to know you, and I'm honored that you took the time to write that out. Truly,

thank you. That's a nicer thing than she's a nicer thing than she's ever said to me before. That's a nicer thing than I've ever said to anyone, yeah, honestly. Wow, that was crazy. And Lenore,

like, you're just a stunt I just I would love to talk to you about this forever so if you're looking for applications yeah applications for what I don't know the yap at me to yap at someone well best of luck with your defense and whatnot I know congratulations in advance very exciting and thanks for making the world a cooler place I've said it before I hate to cook but you know what Allison hates Allison hates to shop, which is, by the way, such a sin to me. But I get it. Sometimes people just don't have the time. Sometimes people don't want to walk around forever and just hope that you find the right thing. Sometimes you just don't have the time. I mean, Christine is a full-time mom. You know, like there's a lot of people out there who have a lot of priorities and shopping comes all the way at the bottom. And so sometimes you just don't have clothes that make you feel good or clothes that you mean to get and you just can't get on your own or maybe you don't know your own style. I mean, there's so many reasons. And that's why Daily Look is such a dream come true for people. like Allison, for people like Christine, for people who just need a little help for whatever reason, and getting into some clothes, and make them feel good. Daily Look is the number one highest rated

premium personal styling service for women. And with Daily Look, you get your own dedicated personal stylist to curate a box of clothes based on your body shape, your preferences, your lifestyle. It is not an algorithm. It's a real person helping you out. And you can head to dailylook.com and use code drink for 50% off your first order. One of the best things about it is they will send you up to 12 premium pieces per box. You fill out a quiz. You know I love a quiz. including your price and lifestyle preferences, and then you buy what you love and you send the rest back. So you don't even have to worry about returns the same way.

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and make sure you use our promo code drink so they know that we sent you. One last time, Dailylook.com promo code drink. I've got an email here. This is from Jacob, he, him. And the subject is they won't stop smiling. So I'm okay.

These two idiot siblings won't stop smiling and laughing at their own dumb jokes. It's probably about us. One time I was with a group and like just said a friend's house and my one of our clips from Bichu Sandy popped up is like a recommendation. so someone clicked on it. No. And they played it and I laughed at my something I said. So cringe.

No one else was really laughing. It's always funny when you're like, oh, like he's like, oh, like, oh, well, you find it funny. I'm like, you know, I really do. It's more affirming to me when I laugh at our own reels than when anyone around me does because I'm like, I literally don't care if you guys find it funny. Like I care. It's not. It's so freeing to finally get there. Anyway, I do.

I very much laugh at myself all the time. Because I'm so fucking funny. I hope that's not what this is about. Anyway, hi, Zandi. How did they know? No, I'm just kidding. It doesn't say that. Okay.

For some reason. It says, hello M. Oh, Christine, and Eva. I've listened to every episode and honestly can't get through the week without listening to an episode. So on that note, let's crack into it. Back in 2012, my family and I moved into a house in Carmichael, California, about 20 minutes from Sacramento.

When we first walked in, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. except the eerie feeling of being watched, especially in the back of the house where the bedrooms were located. Every time I walked down that hallway, it felt like I was entering someone else's territory like I wasn't welcome. Now, this is the part of the story

you've probably heard a million times. Enteres. The woman in white. What? The fuck? The story I've heard a million times. I don't remember this one. Oh, boy. Alexander, get what the fuck?

Let me get Lenore on the phone. What timeline am I in? Someone's pulling the gravitational local... There's a localized disturbance. There's a disturbance to the localized energy. Okay. The woman in white or person in white, since we can't assume their pronouns. Oh, beautiful.

We had multiple unexplained incidents in the house. Drapes wushing up as if a gust of wind swept through, despite all windows and doors being closed. The sound of footsteps in the back rooms when I was home alone and doors closing on their own. It wasn't until. I saw her that everything made sense. No. In 2022, I injured my leg and needed surgery.

ACL repair, meniscus tear. I got my knee kicked in at a Curewela concert, but that's a story for another time. I was basically confined to my bed for three weeks. My room is at the end of the hall. The left wall shared with my mom's room and the front wall, where the door is, shared with my sister's room. One day, during recovery, I was propped up in bed, home alone, talking to my mom. on the phone. I was probably rambling to get her off the line so I could resume my show when I suddenly got the feeling I was being watched. That's when I saw her. I'm not going to downplay this.

This wasn't a, hmm, did I see something moment? This was a straight out of a horror movie situation. You know the kind. The main character looks toward a doorway and sees half a body, one eye peeking around the corner and an old pale hand gripping the doorframe before slowly slipping out of view. that kind of situation. I was in a mix of shock. Haunting of Hillhouse. We just discussed it. That's true.

Ugh. creepy. Creepy. I was in a mix of shock and disbelief for several reasons. One, I thought my mind was playing tricks on me. Two, if it was real and someone was in the house, I was alone, unable to run, and had no idea what their intentions were. Three. Right.

You're literally. Yeah. Your leg. Recovering in bed. It's not even sleep paralysis. It's. Oh my God. You're right.

You can't even like move your pinky and get out of it. Your whole leg is just... You're just like, well, you're screwed. You're trapped. Three, I could finally put a face to the activity happening in the house. The woman was old, frail, with long hair down to her midsection and wore white silk nightgown. No. The creepiest part, she was smiling.

No. Not a kind smile, but a sinister one. I interrupted my mom mid-sentence. I would argue this lady interrupted your mom. Fair, yes. Interrupted you mid-life and mid, like, trying to recover for more. It's horrific injury, but okay, sure, yeah, you interrupted. Is someone there?

Oh, my. No reply. My mom got worried. Who are you talking to? I told her I thought I saw someone in my doorway. I listened closely for a movement, nothing. Silence. Even though I knew what I saw, I pretended like it didn't bother me.

About a month later, I found out I was the only one who had seen her. Late one night, I woke up with a jolt and realized I was halfway down my bed, my legs hanging off the end. Someone or something. had yanked me down. No! I scurried back up and sat there, trying to piece together what had just happened. Not wanting to scare myself further, I eventually went back to sleep.

The next morning, I asked my sister how she slept. She sometimes deals with sleep paralysis, and she told me about her experience the night before. She's like, I sleepwalked last night, and I dreamt that I yanked someone's legs off. This is the sister saying this now. I woke up and couldn't move or call out, and there was this old woman standing next to my bed staring at me. smiling. No. Then she slowly walked through the wall into your room. No! The hair is on the back of my neck stood up. Horrified, I told her what had happened to me. Even though I encountered the entity twice, that was the last time anything physical happened in the house. I don't know if the

smiling meant she was a trickster who had her fun and left, or if she's playing the long game. Oh my God. I hope you enjoyed my story, or stories. I plan on sending more soon, especially about our in-home ghost hunting experience with a spirit box. Murder, buried, fireplace. but that's for another time. Sincerely a dedicated fan, Jacob. Now that was meant to be read by you. Oh, good. That Microsoft Sam impression at the end was top tier.

Fireplace. I've never heard anything like it, except from the actual Microsoft Sam himself. May he rest in peace, I can only assume. I, wow, I'm really, what was the gorilla's name? Rambay? No, the one on the computer that's saying, Daisy, day, that, the like,

the little helper gorilla that would pop up and was like a fucking, probably a fucking virus. I have no clue what you're talking. I think this is a time, this is a man, this is when Mandela effects really shine, isn't it? The way that is, that was its name. Its name was Mandela. Stop it.

I've never believed in Mandela effects, as you know, but I feel like I'm starting to. understand it finally because I'm like what the fuck are you even talking about we grew up in the same house with the same computer and I have no clue you're an idiot I know it's like a purple okay okay okay no it's the daisy thing but I can't so bonsai buddy that's right show me that I think I'm I'm oh I talk I email I browse I sing I laugh yeah what the fuck kind of that does more than my Siri does yeah I know what the fuck isn't i mean how is it 2026 and we have not surpassed that level of help with our devices

this is really irritating to me um okay so thank you jacob for that horrible story i'm terrified and i don't know why that lady like oh she's a trickster that's it let's just go with that oh yeah i but i just know i know her oh okay um yeah yeah let's not let's hope she never shows up. This is from Sylvan, she, they, and it's called Appalachian They Be and the entity that is still following me. What? I know, man. Whoa.

All of the titles, I guess, in here are like Fall-up Boy lyrics basically. Or Fall-Boy song titles, I should say. Now this one, Ongsiner says, hey, Eva, and Christine at all. So that's, you're in there. I am Sylvan, like Windowsill, Van. What?

I know, that's a name. I know. Okay. I mean, maybe people miss it up. I mean, yeah. I must. But like, I love this. I guess that's how you would say sill because what else would.

Yeah, but I like I love this too, parentheses Aquarius. Oh. Also that makes sense. All of it makes sense. Yes. And I started listening in October 2025. And as of now, June 2026. Oh my gosh.

Wow. I'm up to episode 327. I'm a rural mail carrier. And I have your podcast on for four to eight plus hours. six days a week. Geez. No, I'm... You good?

No, there's no way. It says, no, I am not tired of you all and absolutely love your presence. That's so kind. I very recently wrote in this story, but I was cuddling my four-year-old, born 20 days after Leona and feel like I didn't portray the story with as much justice as I could have. I finally worked up the courage and motivation to write in about one of the most influential and creepy entities in my life. I've experienced many paranormal events, but this one by far has had the biggest

impact. This is a bit longer, but I promise it's worth a read. To preface, most of the events surrounding this entity happened over many years, and it wasn't until the last couple years that I've recognized all of the synchronicity. So let's knuckle, buckle, and crack into it. This whole story begins with a nightmare I had when I was about 15. I'm standing in the kitchen of my then apartment, looking out the window to the back parking lot. My mom was in her car about to leave and shouted, find Elizabeth. In normal dream fashion, I knew exactly what that meant and immediately went to leave the kitchen to find Elizabeth. Instead of exiting to what should have been the hallway, I was met with a long, dark staircase leading down to a door surrounded by a red illuminating light. Even in my nightmare,

I was like, abs a fucking loutly not, but when I went to go back into the kitchen, everything was gone. Nothingness and black. I was forced to go down the staircase. I begrudgingly made my way down to the door, and when I opened it, there was the living room of the apartment. There was no furniture and only a vent on the floor. In real life, the only vent present in that room was one on the wall connected to my actual bedroom. All around me was a loud breathing, a red aura, and a small voice progressively getting louder saying, help me. As the voice echoed around, I knew I had to check the vent.

No, you didn't. But like if she doesn't, everything turns black. I don't know. It feels like there's no choice. But you're right. Sometimes blackness is better than whatever is in the fucking vent saying, help me, help me, help me, help me, help me, help me, help me, help me, help me, help me, help me. Somebody, somebody put that on, what's that quotes website? Where people like miss quote, Mark Twain, yeah.

Yeah, rhymezone. Yeah, rhymezone. Put it on rhymes zone. I love rhymezone. Give it to the gorilla. He'll know what to do. he'll know how to email it to someone. That thing never, you're right, it was totally a virus.

Yeah. Okay, so I knew I had to go to the vent. Oh my God. I remember my heart beating faster as I made my way to the vent. And with each step, the voice became louder and more intense. When I finally reached the vent, I looked down, saw two beautiful blue eyes, which quickly faded to an ashen black as everything went silent. Then suddenly the most demonic voice you could imagine loudly.

boomed help me that's when i woke up i was obviously shaken but vivid dreams and nightmares weren't new to me if you had a nightmare like this would you freak out or would you be like just just another day um it depends on the phase of my life no i probably freak out because i don't think i've had a one like that right like so probably i don't know how i'd act i don't think i've had a dream like that in a very long time but like a month ago because i had just um I'm working on a short film. It's in post-production right now. It's a horror film.

And I had a dream while like we were doing pre-production stuff. I had a dream that the director of the film, who's a friend of mine, was like at my place and I was hiding from him under my bed. And like he was coming after me for some reason. That's your next horror movie. It's got to be. Write that down. It's right in the brain already. And in the dream he like walking and I see his feet.

What the? I'm like walking like the very normal whatever horror trope. And then I realize, oh no, I got to get the jump on him. Like I can't just let him find me. Like I got to get the advantage. And in hindsight, I'm like, good job. Dreamy. I feel like that's pretty good move.

Yeah, I'm Carl Junging you right here. You're like fucking nailing it. Thank you. And then I, so I go and leap out from under the bed. And I wake up and I'm literally throwing myself off of my bed in real life. Did you have to pee? Yeah. Because sometimes I wonder

I always have to pee when I wake up. No matter when. Sometimes I wonder if those kind of dreams where they're like push, are you like trying to get you up to pee. Not to like totally diminish your crazy dream. But like, maybe. But that's pretty wild.

Because he did used to sleepwalk and it really did used to scare me a lot. But that was like, I usually only have those when I'm like taking a nap. Like sometimes I'll have something like that where I'm like, I like sleep paralysis happens the most to me. But that was like a little. I don't think that was a nap. Anyway, that one was weird.

Did you go back to sleep after that? No, I went over to the director's house and I dealt with him first before he could get me. You were like, I grabbed his ankles, didn't I tell you? Anyway, so I'm the director now. That's the moral of the story. We've never heard from that guy again. It's the weirdest thing. Don't check under my bed.

Oh, my God. Because I'll jump out first before you get there. Yeah, you are the horror story, I guess. You're the monster. You're the monster. Yeah, maybe that was what this was all about. Or do I. Maybe you should watch it when it comes out.

find out. End of October. Maybe we should. Okay. So, yeah, I guess you're a lot, your guests, you're a lot of promo. Oh, yeah. No, I know. Oh, I'm taking full advantage, clearly.

Take advantage. Okay. I'm crossing that off my list right now. We also never let our guests do that. So, you know, you might as well insert it while you can't. I have special privileges. I'm like, I've probably, I've been listening longer than 99% of the people that are listening to this. But what do you mean longer?

Like, as in I listened before them. I, And then stopped. Yeah. And now you don't know what you're like what's a lady in white. So like yeah. You're, yeah.

Okay. Oh, you mean that old broad I got at home? Alexander. My lady in white waiting for me. She won't stop smiling. That hag. Okay, sorry.

Stop it. Now I sound like a hag. That was pretty rough. You know, when we first met Eva, we met her in a coffee shop and she really brought it. We had so many people that came out and interviewed for Eva's spot

but she really blew us away. She knew that I was from Virginia that we had spent some time in Boston. She's also from Virginia. She's also spent time in Boston. She knew that it was at the time when I was talking about those caramel apple pops a lot and she brought a bag of those to the interview.

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Oh, for me to read, duh. It's my turn. Go. Okay. Sorry, my throat chakry is acting up today. Okay. Well, tell it to shut up. This was sent in by Hannah, Sheher, who sent in a story, subject,

glitch in the matrix or disappearing object phenomenon? Hmm. which is also called Jot, just one of those things. Oh. It's, yeah, it's like the idea that things like disappear and reappear in weird places. Cool. Like your retainer. Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm. Hi, Eva, Christine, M, and the rest of the ATWWD crew. I've been listening since 2020 and finally have a story that might be interesting enough. Back in April, I went, you know, I will say they said, might be interesting enough with three question marks. So they're kind of like she's doubting herself here. Yeah, but also is saying like, but like you should maybe pay attention. Yeah. Because three question marks tells me like, all right, I'll keep scanning.

Yeah. I realize though that like I didn't make it clear there were three questions. Oh, I see. So yeah. So it's like doubting. But like clearly Eva thinks it made the cuts. It's made it here. I might cut it after I'm done.

Yeah. The final cut. I feel about it. Has it been approved. Okay. Back in April, I went to the Renfair and bought a good luck bracelet. that you tie on your wrist until it falls off and then it's supposed to bring you the good luck classic and then you're like please fall on it's like is it still stuck on you mine was mine has been on there

since like 2008 i think that's why your life sucks i know that was a joke yeah i know i'm just like that's funny thanks i've had it tied on my ankle since then up until this week i'm sorry like what a big She made. Why? She bought a good luck bracelet that you tie on your wrist. I had it on my ankle. Girl. Oh, my God. You're breaking the rules here. Oh, my God. You are messing with something here.

God, you're like Amelia Bedelia, but a witch, you know? Like, if you were a witch, like you've topsy-turvyed the whole spell. Amelia Bedelia witch. You Amelia Bedelia did the whole spell. Holy shit. So I'm worried. Wait, what if Hannah walks on her hands? That's what I was going to do.

say. I was thinking that. It's an Amelia Bedelia thing to do. It sure is. Anyway, so have you drawn the curtains yet? Let me know. I'm nervous to read the rest after hearing about the ankle. Okay. Okay. I have had it tied on my ankle since then, up until this week. After work one day on a Tuesday, I was sitting in my car talking to a friend and I had my leg propped up on the seat and I was playing with it. But not on this thing wasn't the tightest, so I remember kind of pulling it to be a little bit tighter. Once I got home that night, I realized, the bracelet was no longer on my ankle. I thought, cool, I finally get some good luck and didn't think much of it. I didn't work again until Saturday,

so about four days had passed since my bracelet had fallen off. I was going about my business, opening the restaurant when something caught my eye. There on the floor next to a table was my bracelet. The same braid, same beads, same color, and everything. At first I thought it was kind of amusing, and then I realized I hadn't been

to work in four days and definitely had it after work the last time I worked. The part that creeped me out more, was that it was still tied. I started thinking maybe it had gotten caught in my pant leg when it fell off, but that didn't make sense because to get off my ankle, it would have had to slip completely off of my foot and not at all in my pant leg. Then I thought maybe it's the same socks as last time.

Don't worry, I did laundry in between those days. And maybe it was caught in my sock. I definitely would have felt it. Other people thought maybe my work shoes picked them up, but I always change my work shoes as I get into my car, so I wasn't even wearing them when it fell off. Then when I got home that day, I tried to put it back on my ankle to see if it could even fall off while it was still tied. Smart.

And the knot had to be loosened to get on. Lenore would be so proud of this science experience. Yes. Yes. For the life of me, I can't understand how this happened and truly believe it was some sort of glitch in the matrix or the disappearing object phenomenon and had reappeared at my work. It truly freaked me out. Anyway, thanks for taking the time to read this email. I appreciate the stories and humor you guys bring to my commutes.

Okay. Did you take the, did you take it? Did you pick it up? Did you put it back on? Yeah, what's next? Did you get, have good luck? Oh. Was it like, now you need to put it back on?

Yeah, like if it. On your wrist this time? I think that's what it's telling you. I think that's what it's telling you. You were supposed to put it on your wrist. Yeah. Or at least like call it an anklet if you're going to have it on your ankle. Right.

Right. You know. Right. But that does feel very trickster. Not to like be nitpicky. I just, when you're dealing with this like luck and the universe and things are kind of wonky with it. When it's like. charms and mischief and anything rent fare you know i just know there's mischief involved there is

mischief i've never been to a renfair and it's because i fear i fear uh the mischief i the fairies would mess with you for sure yeah and so i think they're always trying to get to me it sounds like something in that of that vein so it doesn't sound dangerous but it is i do fully believe that i mean my retainer which had literally appeared it was we would walk back into the woods there with flashlights and look everywhere for it that's how long lost it was and put stakes in the ground we did a whole grid system people were walking arm and arm we called the rangers um and they put out an apb and all points bulletin and oh thank you yeah for those who don't know yeah thanks so much for those who don't listen to my podcast like you um

would never have known that and uh yeah wow okay so let's get into this this next one is called sleep paralysis or haunted house Rebecca doesn't sound like a very fun game Fuck, Mary Kill. Sleep paralysis or haunted house. Rebecca, who uses any pronouns, primarily she hurt. Hello, everyone. I started listening to and that's why we drink in 2023 after my friend. I got you beat.

See, he's already proving his worth here. His value. After my friend showed me one of your episodes, since then I've been trying to catch up and have made it to the 2023 episodes. I've been wanting to write in for a while and always told myself I would wait. However, my dog, Arlie Quinn, 11 years old, went in for urgent dental surgery. oh no and it was the first time i had had her put under anesthesia and to be honest i was an anxious mess i was considering submitting my story as a distraction when i got a message from you all saying

i was one of the winners for the giveaway of amy bruny's book that you did what see this is what i'm saying these synchronicities finding that out help make my day easier i love amy bruny i like chat with her now and stuff online she's like such a delight i brag much no it's like she's just like such she chats with like everyone but it's like oh she's on kindred spirits and she's like very um she was on our show and it was very like I was very starstruck you know she's like one of my ghost icons um and my neighbor Troy he was like so beside oh I thought your neighbor Troy was another one of your ghost icons oh no he's just he also is obsessed with Amy Bruny it's Amy Troy and Zach Bates no um chip coffee also oh well how could I have forgotten that's insane

that you forgot. My bad, my bad, my bad. Okay, uh, da-da-da. I was considering submitting my story, wow, that's crazy. Finding that out help make my day easier. And considering I never win giveaways, I took it as a sign that everything would be okay. And it was time to submit my story. I'm going to cry. To start us off, I have narcolepsy, and occasionally I have sleep paralysis, hypnagogic hallucinations due to this. The very first sleep paralysis episode I had occurred at a dog sitting house. The house I was staying at was in the middle of nowhere and hidden from the road. I was dog sitting a 15-year-old miniature poodle for an elderly couple that only used a small portion of their home. Due to this, I almost never went into the basement, used the rest of the main floor, or went upstairs unless I absolutely had to.

I had already dog sat at their house a couple of times and never had any bad feelings there. It always felt very calm until my third or fourth time staying there. I brushed it off thinking that I was freaking myself out after consuming too much spooky content while being alone. It was New Year's Eve 2018 or 2019, and I had left the house late to go to a party with my partner that, was about 45 minutes away. After the party, I knew I was too tired to safely drive, so I took a quick power nap and returned back to the house, took care of the dog, and went straight to sleep. Normally, I would close the bedroom door, but the dog wanted to stay in the living room, so I left it open. I woke up, unable to move, staring out the windows that looked out onto their front lawn.

From behind me, I could hear the rustling of a plastic bag and remember thinking that was odd, because I wasn't expecting my partner to come by the house that morning. That's when I heard a deep chuckle coming from behind me and a deep voice that said, I'm glad the door was open. Oh, Jesus Christ. What the fuck? Especially when somewhere subconsciously deep down, like, you knew you wanted the door closed. And now you're hearing like the, I'm glad the door was open. Like, your worst, like, oh, my God.

At that point, I was somehow simultaneously viewing myself from birds I view and still staring out the window. I saw slash felt my body get lifted by my legs. and thrashed around by an invisible force, I woke up shortly after that. It sounds like that lady pulling the leg. Yeah. Following the menace.

The trickster menace. Pulling my leg. Pulling my leg. She was just pulling your leg. We figured it out. Finally. Now she can go to the light. I just felt her go to the light.

That's so beautiful. Oh. You finally got the punchline. following that I was terrified to step foot into the bedroom let alone sleep in there so the next night I decided I would try to sleep in the living room with the TV on in the living room they had two recliner chairs so I got as comfy as I could and after many hours of being too scared to close my eyes I eventually fell asleep oh boy when I woke up I hallucinated an old man sitting in the recliner chair sitting next to me staring at me you would think that after that I would have decided not to return to that house but you would be wrong the job was easy they paid me well and sometimes they would have me dog sit for two to three months straight. One of those times I woke up staring out the same windows as before and unable to move while there was a massive battle slash attack happening in the front yard. This is a time slip thing like seeing a battle. Creaky. Quantum. We, Lenore. You know, all comes, I even knew what was that putting Lenore first.

That's crazy. Yes, she did. Another time I woke up to my mom's voice repeatedly telling me to come up Just like that other story, remember? Like, go get Elizabeth and, like, going downstairs and the event and all that. When I realized there was no way that was my mom talking to me, the voice went back to a deep chuckle, like, from the first sleep paralysis. Yeah, there's like an entity there that's fucking around. And said that there has to be it. What? Yeah.

Yeah. And said that said something along the lines of, I almost got you. What the fuck? Then there was the time I had a life like vivid dream that I was. transported back in time and I was trying to help solve the murder that happened there. I know, I know nothing about the actual history to this house. Lenore, seriously, because she was talking about high energy places and stuff. Yeah.

I know nothing about the actual history and haven't been back in years. Wait, is this that place down the road from the nuclear reactor? Oh, the one in Chernobyl. Yeah. Yeah, it is actually. There's like a Google Maps address here. I know that stress case. She dogs sits there.

I know that stress can be a trigger for sleep paralysis, but I've never had as many episodes than I did while staying there. Yes, there's either some sort of, yes, no doubt. Talk to Lenore. It has been a debate with my friends on whether or not this was actually a haunting. I mean, it's something. Thank you so much for all your episodes. You have kept me entertained on a multiple long drive. Stay spooky friends.

Wow. That was really upsetting. Thank you. What a trip, though. I mean, multiple trips, I guess. Multiple trips. Yeah. I wonder how many more times she's going to end up going back. I was going to say, I wonder what it takes to because honestly, I think it was after.

Where's the line? Because I think for me it would be after the recliner man. Yeah, yeah. Because then I'm like, oh, anywhere I am, if someone's just going to be there when I wake up, I don't think I'd like. Yeah. The battle is like, I think I could be like, whoa, that was a crazy experience. Like you can kind of like remove yourself from a little better. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. The guy looking at you, anybody looking at me is not going to happen. I know in the past. I have already talked about this with you guys when talking about how much we love OSIA, especially in our household. I recently went through a bit of a downsizing situation. I made Allison join in on that. And when it came to clearing things off of our nightstands and things like that,

she was like, fine, I'll get rid of everything. But I'm not taking away the OSIA. That is staying on the nightstand because she loves to do it right before she goes to bed. There's a lot of skincare products out there that, you know, claim that they're clean and simple and all this stuff. And OSIA actually is it is an award-winning best. seller for a reason. Your skin will feel different. After just one use, it deeply moisturizes. It instantly improves. It does all the things. And the look of your skin's elasticity is very important

to people that may be losing their elasticity. Me. It's very wonderful. It comes in this clean little bottle. It looks so sleek. And Osea has been delivering results that you can see and feel for 30 years. It has stayed consistent with clean, clinically tested skin care from the sea. They call it the holy grail for your skin. It's clean. It's seaweed powered. That's what I called Osea. please try it for yourself. Go to Oseaamalibu.com and get 10% off your first order with code drink. That's OSEA malibu.com code drink. All right, we have one more story.

Zandi, I'm going to give you the honor of reading this last one. Yay. It has been an honor. I would like to say that. Yay. Thank you for having me. And if you want more of this nonsense, you can always check out Beach 2 Sandy,

where we read one star Yelp reviews from the internet that are honestly sometimes just as dark as some of this content. Oh, yeah. Like sometimes darker. Sometimes the humanity of darkness of humanity really comes through in this. So, yeah, we. But if that's what you're looking for, please don't listen to our show. No, no, no, no.

I don't want you. No, no. We have a lot of fun over there. And we are, again, kind of have a very similar brain. So, you know. Yeah. So for better or worse. Yeah, it's a weird vibe.

Let you decide. You do with that information way you will. And either way, you can follow me at Zandi Schiefer. There you go. you can plug your stuff. And that's what she said. Updates coming on that film because it's going to be great. And I can't wait to share it with people.

Yeah. Yeah. Anyway, here's the last story. I love this subject already. The Rolling Fog. Ooh, okay. Sounds very Edwardian. And this was sent in by Aaron.

Aaron says this. Hello all and especially baby Gio and Juniper. I'm currently only on listener stories volume 25. I have long, I have a long way to go and I'm so enjoying it. So they probably just listened to your episode. Maybe. Because that was like halfway through the first year. Like that was really early.

That was really early. Oh, hello again. I have a long way to go and I'm so enjoying it. What a time. The difference between then and now, that's creepy. I do think about that sometimes. It's hitting me very hard in this moment, especially because of just how much we've talked about change within the last like couple of years.

Life changed just this year. Summer. It's been huge. Seasons. It's like, and then we think. Let alone from. What living at Westchester. Jesus Christ.

Yeah. The good old days. Am I right, folks? God. Oh, man. Different times. I swear to God. Back to the rolling fog.

Anyway. I hope you like my story, which takes place on the state line of Indiana and Ohio. Hey. Which I've crossed many a time. That's his like, classic. That was my commute when I worked at a record label in Indianapolis. That's right. Only two hours one way.

I would drive two hours. hours one way, work for four hours, get to pick a record from the storage room as payment, as payment, and then drive two hours back. No gas money. Four hours of driving, four hours of work. No gas money, no salary. It was so worth it. And so much fun. That's how I started in music. And that's how I learned about kishi-bashi. So my life was changed too. Yeah. Oh, good times. Okay. Growing up in the Midwest, there isn't much to do, so we make our own fun. My group like to drive around in the country and try to find scary spots. Yes.

The majority of the time was spent singing loudly and driving way too fast and generally creeping ourselves out. One night, however, was different. One night, a big group of us had gone out to a railroad track that was supposed to be haunted. This track was near a tiny bridge that went over a creek. After waiting quite a while for the ghost train to pass without incident, we began to wander.

It was a clear night with a bright moon. I walked onto the bridge to look out on the creek when I felt something was off. The road leading to the bridge. comes down from a hill to a long stretch of flat straight road. I felt drawn to the hill, but did not leave the bridge. As I watched, a fog rolled in. Now fog is not something uncommon in Indiana, especially when the area you are in has fields all around.

The strange thing about this fog is that it stayed on the road. It crested the hill and flowed down the road toward the bridge. I called to my friends and they walked onto the bridge, amazed as I was. The fog moved steadily forward. forward, staying to the road. I felt calm and mesmerized watching it. A feeling my friends did not share. They were trying to get me to move off the bridge, but I felt like I was in a trance. I had no desire to move off the bridge. I wanted to watch the fog. The fog came directly up to the bridge and stopped where the bridge began. Whoa, I just realized I was literally entranced. I was like, I was like, where am I? I just got totally out of body. Okay, I'm back. Sorry. Holy shit.

Things getting foggy up in your head. like meta in the fog too. The fog stretched up before me, flowing upward, but not moving forward. It was as if it had hit a glass wall. What the f- Something wanted me to walk off the bridge. It was miming. From the old Looney Tunes, you know?

Well, like, when fog gets hands. What? Like Casper the Ghost vibe kind of like animation. Yeah, when it's like, that's unsettling and like, like, why would animators do that? Yeah. They made like things. inanimate things suddenly have hands, very fantasia vibes. I don't know.

But the miming fog just, yeah. It's freaky. That's freakier than the story. Yeah. No, not really. Something wanted me to walk off the bridge. I wanted to walk off the bridge and into the fog. As I started forward, my friends grabbed me and forced me back into the car.

I don't remember the drive to the field where we had planned to have a bonfire. My friend said I kept repeating, I want to go back. Take me back. Who are you, Zach Bacon's? This feels like a clip where they're. Aaron's like, come on, bro. He's like, no, I got this. He's like, yeah.

Let me at him. Let me at him. Let me at him. Scrappy do. I love scrappy do. Anyway, my friend said I kept repeating, I want to go back. Take me back. They did not.

When we got to the field for the bonfire, I started to come around. I helped gather wood and felt more myself. The weather had changed, though. We weren't more than five miles away from the bridge where the weather was calm. Now the wind was strongly blowing from the east. Cool. With the help of lighter fluid, we soon had a nice big fire going. The wind was blowing so strong that we had to stay away from one side of the fire.

As we warmed up, no one talked about the bridge. It was as if all my friends had discussed it and decided the subject was not to be broached. When the fire had started to burn down, I volunteered to go find more wood. As soon as I stepped out of the circle of trees, the wind stopped. I laughed and turned to see what my friend's reactions were to the wind suddenly stopping. To my surprise, in the circle of trees, the wind was still blowing. I called out and one of my friends came over. She stopped as soon as she felt the wind stopped and she saw my face.

The fog hadn't scared me at all. This unnerved me quite a bit. She turned slowly and saw that the wind was still blowing strong in the circle. We went back to our friends and told them what was happening. Of course, they didn't believe us and all had to come see. Everyone was shaken. A few of the guys went back in and tore the fire down to put it out. We then quickly left.

I've been back to the bridge again since then, but haven't seen the fog. I've since learned that where the bridge crosses the creek, two laylines cross as well. Was the fog an elemental manifestation? What would have happened had I been allowed to walk into the fog? I'll always wonder. Sorry for the long story. I hope it makes you think twice the next time you see a fog roll in. I'm definitely team milkshake, Aaron.

Oh, Jesus. Aaron, you're the best. That was amazing. Whoa. What a story. That got me. I was in it. The fog wanted me to walk off the bridge.

Wow. You know, that does. That old Casper. cartoon was fucking dark and it feels like that is some shit that would have been in there like follow me you know like just that sinister vibe like like like like this like steam coming off of a pie having a hand and that's like that's what I mean like an elemental like what they said like something suddenly having like something that is supposed to be nature or whatever like suddenly having like and that's creepy because like you can argue that there is okay here we go with me

You can argue that like trees and stuff do have an element of consciousness or whatever. So then it's like when suddenly the fog or the steam is like communicating, you're like, wait a minute. That's way creepier than just like. No, that's freaky. Yeah, anyway. Yeah, no. And it's weird because we are not that far from the Ohio, Indiana border. We could get there right now.

We could. And get another unpaid internship. True. Just like the good old days. Yeah, but this time up the ghost railway. Oh, wait. We're doing an unpaid internship already. It's called Beach Tuesday Sandy.

Just kidding. Okay, go listen to our show. Love you guys so much. And thank you, Jack, for editing this last minute. And, and? Thanks. Oh, I was going to say a little thanks. Yeah, you say thanks too.

Okay. Thank you for having me, everyone. This has been really fun. Thank you for listening to my listener story episode that I got to be a part of. It's an honor to be back. And that's we drink.