Superstitions

Every Wednesday, meet us at the intersection of chaos and fate. We’ll briefly explore the origins of some of history’s most well-known superstitions. Then, we’ll dive into a fictional story that illustrates what might happen if you fail to adhere to these strange beliefs. Can we truly sway supernatural forces to work in our favor? Or are these eerie codes of conduct simply about exerting control in an unpredictable world? Superstitions is a Spotify Original from Parcast.

Society & Culture
Fiction
History
1
666
45 min
2
William McKinley’s Red Carnation
38 min
3
Throwing Back the First Catch
35 min
4
The Curse of the Colonel
35 min
5
The Queen’s Superstitions
35 min
6
Christening Ships
36 min
7
The Curse of the San Francisco Giants
29 min
8
Mirror in the Bedroom
35 min
9
The Cheese of the Dead
37 min
10
The Ides of March
Ever since Julius Caesar allegedly ignored warnings about the 15th of March, that date has been doomed. In today’s story, a vogue ballroom competition — not the Roman Senate — sets the scene for a legendary showdown.
36 min
11
The Murray State Shoe Tree
Students at this Kentucky university partake in a tradition meant to bring good luck. But in today’s story, one impassioned professor doesn’t quite get it — and undoes the work of generations.
33 min
12
The Royal Touch
They say that French royals had a special gift bestowed by the divine. Anointed with holy oil, they could change a person’s life with just one touch. But as Remy is about to find out, with a royal touch… comes royal responsibility.
36 min
13
Astrology of Love: Karmic Nodes
In our final look at star-crossed lovers, Daisy is a gardener who likes following rules. She can read the soil just as well as she can interpret a star chart.
34 min
14
Astrology of Love: Moon Signs
Your moon sign reflects the deepest, most hidden part of yourself. Hidden even, sometimes, from your own understanding. Today’s couple seemed to be a perfect match. But only too late did they realize why they were doomed from the start.
28 min
15
Astrology of Love: Rising Signs
There’s something a little mysterious about first impressions. Those indelible first seconds with a new acquaintance can be delicious… or disastrous. In today’s story, can two musicians with incredible chemistry keep the heat of their first spark?
30 min
16
Astrology of Love: Sun Signs
Is the fate of our love lives written in the stars? This month, we’re telling the stories of four astrologically interesting couples, exploring the best and worst matches in the Zodiac.
40 min
17
Setting Keys on a Table
If you lose your keys, it might be chalked up to bad luck. But in Sweden, you can get worse luck if you set your keys on the table.
29 min
18
Rats Abandoning Ship
Some believe rats contain souls of the dead. Others believe that where there are rats, there is death. Either way, if you see these rodents abandoning a ship, you may want to consider joining them.
34 min
19
Breaking a Mirror
Mirrors are said to reflect not only your physical appearance, but your soul as well. In today’s episode, a physical trainer confronts himself in a special mirror… and changes his life for seven years.
41 min
20
Charles Dickens' Superstitions
For our last episode of the year, we'll tell you a Christmas Story. One about a famous author who had a very *particular* set of superstitions.
42 min
21
Exchanging Cursed Gifts
Today, you’re invited to a very special gift exchange… where cursed presents throw a party into chaos.
38 min
22
The Wizard of Oz Production Curse
From poisonous makeup to drug-addled stars, the set of the 1939 film "The Wizard of Oz" was rife with misfortune. Rumors said that a curse had settled over the production, which has affected every version of the Wizard of Oz made after it.
42 min
23
Full Moons
For thousands of years, our ancestors have looked to the sky for answers about the world around us. So when people go mad, it may not be their fault. Just ask the full moon.
38 min
24
Vampire Panic
Bloodsucking fiends appear in the folklore of every culture on the planet. But for some, they were more than just horror stories.
36 min
25
Scottish Kale Divination
What if you could learn everything you needed to know about your one true love just by uprooting a stalk of kale?
39 min