Shows
The ISA PodcastAuthor/Showrunner DJ MacHale on Unlocking Stories & Taking Control of Your Writing CareerJoin us for a captivating evening with D.J. MacHale, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Pendragon series and creator of the cult-favorite TV show "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" From bestselling books to iconic screen moments, D.J. has spent his career crafting stories that resonate across generations. In this exclusive event, he'll share how he bridges the worlds of publishing and television — revealing the creative decisions, challenges, and unexpected turns that come with telling stories across different mediums. Whether you're a writer hoping to sharpen your skills or a fan eager for a...
2025-07-221h 20
The Fantastic Story SocietyFSS: Hallowwen Special, "Famously Haunted: Hollywood" Tubi Documentary ReactionOne of our co-hosts, Scott, was recently featured on the Tube documentary, Famously Haunted Hollywood. We go over the stories featured in the documentary: The Black Dahlia, The Manson Murders, Comedy Store, Peg Entwhistle, The Cecil Hotel.
2024-11-041h 02
The Fantastic Story SocietyFSS 53: Chicago Ghost Tour Guide Tony Szabelski Talks Haunted Lincoln ParkTony Szabelski is a flat-out Chicago ghost tour guru. He leads tours over 300 times a year throughout the city and surrounding suburbs. Perhaps his favorite area is Lincoln Park, essentially a forgotten cemetery, full of ghost stories. Take a tour at AmericanGhostWalks.com
2024-10-0339 min
The Fantastic Story SocietyFSS 52: Michael Alexander's Life in Music, Side Hustles & a Helluva Ghost StoryMichael Alexander is always hustling within the creative field. He's a musician with history as a performer/songwriter, booker, venue owner and now a manager. Of course, creatives often utilize side hustles and Mike loves his sports cards. Plus, an intense ghost story
2024-10-011h 04
The Fantastic Story SocietyFSS 51: Comedy Night! Yakov Smirnoff, USSR to Hollywood to the White HouseYakov Smirnoff started out as a comic in Soviet Russia before coming to America and taking the comedy world by storm. He went from stage to the big screen and eventually to the White House as a Reagan speech writer.
2024-05-1450 min
The Fantastic Story SocietyFSS 50: Faun Mann, from Military Broadcasting to True Crime DocumentariesFaun Mann got her production start while in Korea working in radio & TV for the military. Once she was stateside, she knew she wanted to get into television, where she's been ever since. Currently, she's working within the popular genre of true crime.
2024-04-1846 min
The Fantastic Story SocietyFSS: Paranormal European Travel - Ireland legends & Faery Lore Above Knockma Hill & at Kilkea Castle & the Hellfire ClubScott (and his wife Wendy) fill Max in on their adventure across the Emerald Isle, discussing the haunted hot spots and legendary tales they discovered along the way... also the adventures of driving on the other side of the road.
2024-03-1555 min
The Fantastic Story SocietyFSS BONUS Episode! Talking Horror Movies & Haunted Chicago with Jackson SchreiberBig thanks to the horror blog wonderfullyweirdandhorrifying.com for making this conversation happen. What did you think of "Hereditary?"
2024-02-1649 min
The Fantastic Story SocietyFSS: Paranormal European Travel - Portugal, Sintra's Knights Templar ConnectionJoin us for an international travel episode as co-Host Scott Markus & his wife headed to Portugal and visit the most famously haunted location in Portugal & visit a city that has a long mystical connection to folklore and witchcraft.
2023-12-1937 min
The Fantastic Story SocietyFSS 46: Halloween Special - Paranormal Investigation at Madison's Masonic TempleHappy Halloween! What better a way to celebrate than to go looking for ghosts! Let's combine that with all the paranoia about secret societies and do a paranormal investigation at a massive Masonic Temple near a state capitol building!
2023-10-3056 min
The Fantastic Story SocietyFSS 45: IAmNotAStalker's Lindsay Blake on Filming Locations & Some Strange LA Crims storiesWriter/researcher Lindsay Blake has made a career out of a passion - finding where her favorite shows were filmed (starting with "Scream"). Geek out with us as we talk about unique locations across LA including hidden gems & strange LA crimes.
2023-10-231h 12
The Fantastic Story SocietyFSS 44: Rita Mae Moore, Haunted Lake Geneva & the curious ghosts at Baker HouseHaunted history tour guide, Rita Mae Moore, grew up with a ghost hunting mom before working in the police force and having some paranormal experiences there. Today, she's a tour guide & two-time author of a fantasy book series.
2023-10-191h 06
The Fantastic Story SocietyFSS: Road Trip Through Roswell w/ Max & ScottMax & Scott take a road trip across America to join the WGA picket lines in Hollywood. On the way, they stop at some unique locations associated with unique histories, stories & legends.
2023-10-1749 min
The ISA PodcastFSS: Road Trip Through Roswell w/ Max & ScottThe ISA's Max Timm & Scott Markus take a road trip across America to join the picket lines in Hollywood. On the way they stop at some unique locations associated with unique histories and stories.
2023-09-2550 min
The Fantastic Story SocietyFSS 42: Colin Dickey - Secret Societies & Truth Behind Famous Ghost StoriesColin Dickey is a wonderful writer and spectacular researcher. His work reveals hidden or lost truths behind famous stories we've all heard. His latest book is Under the Eye of Power: How Fear of Secret Societies Shapes American Democracy.
2023-08-151h 16
The Fantastic Story SocietyFSS 41: Comedy Night! Patti Vasquez, Stand-Up Comic, Screenwriter & Mom Breaking into Hollywood while living outside of LAAs we call into session this meeting of the Fantastic Story Society, we are thrilled to induct a new member. Her life as a writer and performer has evolved on stage in front of an audience, from Leprechauno to pregnant party girl to Mamacita, the diaper diva. She’s a staple of Chicago radio, having hosted shows on the city’s biggest stations. You can currently drive home with here everyday at WCPT 820am. You also might catch her on the random episode of the series Chicago Fire. Oh & she even ran for public office recently and is an advo...
2023-08-011h 08
The Fantastic Story SocietyFSS 40: Cassie Carpenter, LA & Hollywood Ghost Stories: Warner Pacific Theater & the Hillview Apts SpeakeasyCassie Carpenter regularly leads tours of Haunted Los Angeles and Hollywood. After attending a haunted University in Southern California to major in theatre, it's only fitting! In this episode, we discuss a number of her favorite haunted LA locations.
2023-04-2141 min
The Fantastic Story SocietyFSS 39: Jason Woliner's True Crime...ish Series Paul T. Goldman, Borat & His Daring Escape from a Debutante BallComedy director Jason Woliner has worked on some of our favorite comedies, from What We Do in the Shadows & Last Man on Earth to New Girl & the Borat sequel. He's back with the infinitely fascinating crime mystery Paul T Goldman, now streaming on Peacock.
2023-02-2359 min
The Fantastic Story SocietyFSS 38: Christopher Hatton's "Raven's Hollow," Edgar Allan Poe & Being Haunted by an Aggressive GhostsSci-Fi & horror writer-director Christopher Hatton joins us to discuss a variety of topics including Edgar Allan Poe, Singapore spiritual beliefs, Area 51, his own terrifying ghost story & his newest movie: Shudder's paranormal mystery "Raven's Hollow."
2022-12-291h 22
The Fantastic Story SocietyHALLOWEEN SPECIAL - Screenwriter Jim Hart (Contact, Dracula, Hook): a UFO Witness & the Ghosts of the Murdered LoversScreenwriter Jim Hart may be known for some modern classics like Bram Stoker's Dracula, Hook, Contact and may others, but it's also a witness to multiple strange events in the sky and stayed in an absurdly haunted house while in college.
2022-10-301h 08
The Fantastic Story SocietyFSS 36: John Cox on the Psychic Battles, Seances & Strange Death of Harry HoudiniLife-long Harry Houdini researcher John Cox join us to discuss the origins of Houdini's battles with fraudulent mediums, his odd death, the 'final Houdini seance,' and his time in Delavan, WI... all without getting stung by a single wasp!
2022-10-271h 13
The Fantastic Story SocietyFSS 35: MJ Dickson on British Ghosts, South African Cryptids & Aleister CrowleyMax & Scott dive into working on ghost hunting TV shows with producer and investigator MJ Dickson, who has looked into paranormal stories & haunted locations across the globe. Her fantastic story alone is worth tuning in for!
2022-10-101h 18
The Fantastic Story SocietyFSS 34: Rick Alan Ross, How Cults Work & Deprogramming Former MembersWe sit down with one of the premiere experts in how cults operate and how to help someone get out. You can currently catch him on “The Vow” on HBO discussing his work with escaping NXIVM members + his work in Waco.
2022-09-281h 25
The Fantastic Story SocietyFSS 33: Jay Bachochin, Hiking Kettle Moraine & Looking for Bigfoot... or Fairies or the Beast Bray RoadDocumentarian Jay Bachochin enjoys hiking a vast wilderness in Wisconsin, but a number of unexplainable experiences there have opened his eyes to the nature of reality and what's possible in our known and unknown universe.
2022-09-121h 19
The Fantastic Story SocietyFSS 32: Tim Ellis, MI ParaCon & a UFO Collision Over Lake MichiganAuthor, radio host and co-founder of the Michigan Paranormal Conference, Tim Ellis, discusses his origins in ghost hunting, which eventually lead him to start one of the largest "ParaCons" in the country.
2022-08-181h 07
The Fantastic Story SocietyFSS 31: Dobie Maxwell, Stand-Up Comedy, UFOs & Bank RobberiesStand-Up comic Dobie Maxwell has lived through it all in his comedy career, from meaningful chats w/ Rodney Dangerfield & George Carlin to driving the getaway car after a bank heist (without knowing it), but he's still looking for his first UFO encounter.
2022-07-181h 09
The Fantastic Story SocietyJohn Champion & the Importance of Star Treks' StorytellingStar Trek has continued to evolve and stay relevant in pop culture as one of the most storied titles in television history. "Mission Log" podcast co-host John Champion joins to talk Trek, skepticism & an upcoming event that's free & open to the public.
2022-06-2155 min
The Fantastic Story SocietyFSS 29: Luke Epplin & Our Team, "the Best Baseball Story in the World"Luke Epplin discovered the most impressive baseball story most people haven't heard of and the four men & one woman who lived heroic lives behind the scenes.
2022-06-141h 02
The Fantastic Story SocietyFSS 28: Filmmaker Adam Ridley & HBO's Murders at Starved RockWas the right person arrested for killing 3 women in Illinois in 1960? Documentary filmmaker Adam Ridley sheds some light on this mysterious case as co-executive producer of HBO's Murders at Starved Rock true crime limited series.
2022-05-1356 min
The Fantastic Story SocietyFSS 27: Haunted Galena Conferece, Prankster Ghosts at the Dowling House & DeSoto Hotel's Woman in BlackWe look ahead to the Haunted Galena Paranormal Conference and tell stories of tragedy at Berry Tavern, the Prankster Ghosts at the Dowling House & DeSoto House Hotel's Woman in Black with guest Theodore Williams.
2022-03-2546 min
The Fantastic Story SocietyAward-Winning Screenwriter Mugs Cahill, Irish Lore & Haunted LighthousesMugs Cahill's new supernatural pilot "Nantucket" recently won the Grand Prize for Table Read My Screenplay contest & was a finalist at the Big Apple Film Festival & Vancouver Women’s Int'l Film Festival. We talk to her about her research and Irish lore.
2022-03-201h 06
The Fantastic Story SocietyFSS 25: Joe Posnanski & Writing to Your Passions, Hamilton to Houdini to Baseball GreatsJoe Posnanski has made a career by being inspired by curiosity and following his own passions. That's lead to him writing numerous books, winning awards and most importantly, surrounding himself with people that fascinate him. #HarryHoudini #Baseball
2022-01-311h 21
The Fantastic Story SocietyFSS 24: Year In Review & PreviewWe take a moment to re-celebrate the guests we've had last year, from Jonathan Katz to David Farrier. We also take a look ahead to personal and show paranormal goals in 2022.
2022-01-1432 min
The Fantastic Story SocietyFSS 23: David Farrier, Dark Tourist & Conspiracy Theory AnalystWe speak with documentarian & journalist David Farrier, the host of Netflix's "Dark Tourist" and current co-host of "Armchaired & Dangerous."
2021-12-301h 15
The Fantastic Story SocietyFSS 21: Designing Board Games & Storytelling with Rob DaviauThere's more than one way to tell a story & sometimes you need a good dice roll before you can write, "the end." We speak with prolific game designer Rob Daviau. His resume is basically our game shelf, including Betrayal at the House on the Hill & Risk Legacy.
2021-11-131h 13
The Fantastic Story SocietyFSS Hall of Fame: DJ MacHale Ghost Stories, Horror & BozophobiaWe welcome back DJ MacHale, creator of the Pendragon series and Are You Afraid of the Dark for our live Halloween Special and to induct him into our Hall of Fame!
2021-11-021h 16
The Fantastic Story SocietyFSS 19: Lisa Van Buskirk & Madison's Haunted Oyster Bar + Ghost HuntWe chat with Madison ghost tour guide Lisa Van Buskirk on location at a haunted site, followed by an investigation of the building.
2021-10-1657 min
The Fantastic Story SocietyFSS 18: Carlos Alazraqui from Reno 911 Wrote a Zombie MovieStand Up Comic & comedy actor Carlos Alazraqui (Reno 911) Wrote a Zombie Mafia Comedy feature. We discuss the behind the scenes of his first feature.
2021-08-0243 min
The Fantastic Story SocietyFSS 17: Jessica Watkins, the Stand-Up Comic Who Walked Across AmericaStand-Up Comic, Jessica Watkins created a must-watch, innovative, documentary/stand-up special titled "SPECIALish" about her journey to walk across America while performing comedy.
2021-05-2456 min
The Fantastic Story SocietyFSS 16: Baseball's Ghost Stories w/ Mickey Bradley & Dan GordonCurses & superstitions are as much a part of baseball as balls & strikes. Folklore & baseball are intertwined as is the human behavior of seeking reason in chaos. Now, baseball's a melting pot of cultures, introducing new ghost stories & beliefs.
2021-04-111h 02
The Fantastic Story SocietyFSS 15: Finding 'Ohana's Nightmarchers & the Possessed Girl w/ Lopaka KapanuiHawaiian storyteller Lopaka Kapanui served as cultural & paranormal consultant on the popular Netflix action/adventure film "Finding 'Ohana." Hear his background as a storyteller, plus a truly terrifying case.
2021-03-0252 min
The Fantastic Story SocietyFSS 14: Jonathan Katz, Being Seriously Funny alongside the likes of David Mamet, Johnny Carson & Garry ShandlingJonathan Katz is perhaps best known in animated form in "Dr Katz: Professional Therapist." He's had a long career before and since as a standup comic & screenwriter. He talks about his upcoming "Dr Katz: Live" performance & finding his way in comedy.
2021-01-181h 08
The Fantastic Story SocietyFantastic Story Society Ep 13 Tea Krulos: Richard McCaslin's American Madness, the Dark Side of Conspiracy TheoryTea Krulos has written some wild true-life stories. American Madness is a deep look at the life of an eccentric "real life super hero" who was radicalized by Alex Jones & David Icke. Conspiracy Theories, Bohemian Grove & Krampus highlight this episode.
2020-12-201h 27
The Fantastic Story SocietyFSS 12 Halloween Special: Wendy Lynn Staats & Growing up Around Local LegendsWe're so excited to welcome Wendy Lynn Staats to talk about some of the local Wisconsin legends & local ghost stories she grew up with, including the Milwaukee Witch, Beast of Bray Road, Mary Buth & Haunchyville.
2020-10-261h 10The Fantastic Story SocietyMurder & Ghosts in Rockford, IllinoisHistorian Kathi Kresol uses her platform as an author to speak for the victims. Seldom is it so obvious how a writer found her voice than when you hear about the murder-suicide that took place in Kathi's home & the ghosts that remain.
2020-06-191h 04The Fantastic Story SocietyFantastic Story Society - Ep 10 - Jon Ronson & Being Tailed by a Secret SocietyJon Ronson has lived a life more exciting than one you'd think a writer could live. He gotten up close and personal with the likes of self-appointed superheroes, countless psychopaths (both in prison and in the boardroom) Nazis, Islamic Extremists, and even the Insane Clown Posse. He and a young Alex Jones infiltrated the mysterious Bohemian Grove Ceremony and his attempt to do the same at the annual Bilderberg meeting lead to the slowest car chase since OJ fled the LAPD. He's done all this while balancing his anxiety with masterful dry wit. In this episode we discuss how Ronso...
2020-05-221h 12The Fantastic Story SocietyFantastic Story Society - Ep 9 - DJ MacHale & Are You Afraid of the Dark?One of our favorite people jumped into the virtual Society studio and talked all things story, spooky, cool, and inspiring - DJ MacHale! A New York Times bestseller, author, screenwriter, producer, director - he's basically done it all where story is concerned. He even read Max's YA fantasy novel, The WishKeeper, and gave it the best review yet. We kinda like this guy. Famous for creating the 90's kids TV show (and one of Scott's favorite shows ever), "Are You Afraid of the Dark", DJ and team talk about what inspires him, why he gravitates toward the...
2020-05-081h 00The Fantastic Story SocietyFantastic Story Society - Ep 8 - Poor Maryanne Miller & Haunted Galena TourHappy 2020, everyone! It's already off to a banging, weird, and fantastic start. We couldn't be happier to have two fantastic people on as guests in our first episode of 2020 - Robyn David and Ted Williams are the hosts of the Haunted Galena Tour Company, and if you haven't heard of Galena, you're about to get a deep dive into all of the amazing history, spooky ghost stories, and how their tour company is different than most. And in one of our favorite ghost stories yet, Robyn and Ted tell the sad and true story of Maryanne Miller...
2020-03-181h 16The Fantastic Story SocietyThe Fantastic Story Society - Amelia Cotter & Chicago's Serpent MoundAre you afraid of snakes? We would venture to guess your answer is "yes". Amelia Cotter, however, wants to help you reorganize your beliefs about our serpent friends, and she does so in our seventh episode of The Fantastic Story Society. While there is plenty of fantastic ghost stories told in this episode (Amelia's telling of her one and only encounter with a ghost is excellent), we learned that there is a Native American snake mound right outside the second biggest city in the country - sweet home Chicago! Amelia, being an author and investigator, researcher and all-around fantastic s...
2019-11-301h 14The Fantastic Story SocietyFantastic Story Society - Ep 6 - Mark Warren & Wyatt Earp's Miracle on the MesaEpisode 6 of The Fantastic Story Society - My Friend, Wyatt Earp (we're not really friends with him, but we want to be) Spinning our fantastic stories toward the Old West, gunfighters, the rustic way of life, Scott and Max bring on author and Wyatt Earp scholar, Mark Warren, to perform a deep deep dive into one of the most famous (if not the most famous) characters from the American western tales. Some of the stories shared on our podcast series are purely speculative, paranormal and completely unprovable (for lack of a proper word), but Wyatt Earp and the...
2019-11-121h 20The Fantastic Story SocietyThe Fantastic Story Society - Christopher Saint Booth & The Name of the DevilIn our Halloween special episode, Max and Scott bring on writer, director, author, documentarist, and all-around rockstar paranormal researcher, Christopher Saint Booth. With over 100 horror films and paranormal documentaries under his belt, Christopher has spent nearly a lifetime investigating the weird, the odd, and the fantastic. We couldn't have considered a better guest for our Halloween special because just about every word that comes out of Christopher's mouth is a fantastic story. His untold story at the end will make you wonder if the ghosts are the ones we should really be afraid of! If you haven't...
2019-10-311h 16The Fantastic Story SocietyThe Fantastic Story Society - Ep 4 - Karl Pfeiffer & The Stanley's Pig-ManThe writer/director of the popular Amazon TV docu-series, Hellier, Karl Pfeiffer joins Society co-hosts, Max Timm and Scott Markus to talk all things fantastic. Karl's documentary, Hellier, launched on Amazon in 2019 and there is a second season coming out on Amazon Prime before the end of 2019. The series documents the accounts of small, goblin-like creatures that supposedly invaded a small Kentucky mountain town. It's absolutely worth your time to watch the 5-episode first season, especially since the next set of episodes are expected to drop soon! You can find out more at Hellier.TV. On top of...
2019-10-281h 28The Fantastic Story SocietyThe Fantastic Story Society - Ep 3 - Harold Schechter & The Killer's NeedlesTwisted tales are normally fictional, but when we find out that there is truth behind the fiction, we're that much more riveted. Join Max Timm and Scott Markus as they discuss serial killers with research expert and author, Harold Schechter. Author of over 40 books on the topic of serial killers, Harold and your co-hosts dive deep into various true crime stories about murderers we've heard of, a few we haven't, and what the mysteries are that still remain behind some history's most notorious killers. While Harold is an absolute wealth of knowledge when it comes to true...
2019-10-231h 11The Fantastic Story SocietyThe Fantastic Story Society - Ep 2 - Mike Huberty & The Woman in BlackIn this second installment of The Fantastic Story Society, we welcome a new member to the group - Mike Huberty. Long-time ghost tour guide and veteran (he owns and operates tours throughout the Midwest, including one in Max Timm's hometown of Lake Geneva, WI), Mike joins co-hosts Max Timm and Scott Markus as they dive deep into some of the fantastic stories of Mike's ghost tour business. Mike also is a member of the oh-so-fun and popular band, Sunspot, writing and performing music that is inspired by legends, myths, and all things spooky weird. Our favorite part...
2019-10-111h 27The Fantastic Story SocietyThe Fantastic Story Society - Ep 1 - Jeff Belanger & the Man-Eating TreeIn our first official episode of The Fantastic Story Society, Max Timm and Scott Markus break out the big guns with their own personal weird, wild, and of course fantastic stories AND they bring on their friend and long-time paranormal researcher, Jeff Belanger. For more than 20 years, Jeff has been exploring ghosts, monsters, history, and legends. He’s the author of more than a dozen books that have been published in six languages, and he’s appeared on PBS, the Travel Channel, History Channel, CBS, Bio, and Amazon Prime, as well as radio programs such as Coast to Coas...
2019-10-111h 21The Fantastic Story SocietyThe Fantastic Story Society - PilotWelcome to The Fantastic Story Society. Within the walls of this super-yet-not-so-secret club, you will find stories of the supernatural, paranormal, and just plain weird. In this pilot episode, co-hosts Max Timm and Scott Markus, each with their special backgrounds in storytelling and paranormal research, you'll be introduced to these two masters of ceremony by way of a few fantastic stories of their own. A shorter introductory pilot episode, Episode Zero, is just the primer for what's to come. Future episodes will highlight fantastic stories every week, but also specific special guests within various fields of the...
2019-10-0753 min