Clowns are meant to bring joy. So why do they inspire so much fear?

In this episode, we peek behind the greasepaint to explore the origins of coulrophobia, the fear of clowns, and how these strange figures evolved from ancient jesters and rule-breaking pranksters into the painted performers we know today. We uncover deep historical roots, unsettling psychology, and the tragic story of the first modern clown. From royal courts to modern horror films, from cheerful birthday parties to eerie sightings in strange places, clowns have taken a dark and surprising journey through history. We also examine how pop culture and true crime helped shape the terrifying clown image that still haunts us.

Whether you laugh at clowns or fear them, this episode might change how you see them forever. 😱

Guest Host: Brittney Bos

When strange lights appear in the sky, we are left wondering what they are. But when those encounters become personal, when people claim they have been taken, studied, or changed, the questions grow darker.

In this episode, we continue our journey into the world of UAPs and the paranormal, exploring the stories that disturb us most. From the famous case of Betty and Barney Hill to chilling reports of livestock mutilation, mass sightings like the Phoenix Lights, and the secrecy surrounding Roswell and Area 51, we follow the trail of evidence and ask what these encounters might really mean.

Because whether these visitors are simply observing or deliberately interfering, their presence suggests intention. And that intention may not be as distant as we would like to believe.

Along the way, we confront an even stranger possibility. What if the boundaries we draw between UFOs, ghosts, cryptids, and the unexplained edges of science are illusions? What if these are not separate mysteries at all, but pieces of the same story?

Join us as we wrestle with the evidence, the fear, and the question at the heart of it all: What do they want with us?

If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like:

Episode 201 – Unidentified: Evidence and the Unknown

In this episode of Haunted Talks, we explore one of those simple-sounding but incredibly complex questions: What counts as evidence?

Using the dramatic December 2024 sightings over New Jersey as a starting point, we investigate how UAP encounters are reported, investigated, and often dismissed. From schoolyard landings and military accounts to fleeting videos and solitary experiences, we examine the fragile boundary between what is witnessed and what is believed.

We also draw comparisons to paranormal investigation, where researchers face many of the same challenges: limited tools, elusive phenomena, and the constant push to validate the unexplainable.

Because sometimes, the real mystery isn’t what happened.
It’s how we can prove that it did.

If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like:

Episode 126 – “…it’s not an aircraft.”
Episode 24 – Sounds From The Dark