797: Ouija Boards | Skeptical Sunday

Every year around Halloween, millions of teenagers, drunk adults, and terrified believers gather around Ouija boards to contact "The Other Side." We've all been a part of it, and we know we weren't moving that little thing, but it was definitely moving. So what’s really going on here?

Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and fact-checker, comedian, and podcast host David C. Smalley break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions.

On This Week's Skeptical Sunday, We Discuss:

• How a pair of sisters playing a prank on their parents in upstate New York escalated into a spiritualism craze • that took the 19th century United States — and then the world — by storm.

The Medieval Chinese origins and evolution of what we know today as the Ouija board. • How the spiritualism craze boosted the Ouija board's adoption into millions of households • (even outselling Monopoly in 1967).

• The indelible marks the Ouija board has made on our lives — from pop culture to the law. •

• The science behind what makes the Ouija board "work." •

• Connect with Jordan • on Twitter • , Instagram • , and YouTube • . If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on Skeptical Sunday, drop Jordan a line at jordan@jordanharbinger.com • and let him know!

• Connect with David • at his website • , Twitter • , Instagram • , TikTok • , and YouTube • , and make sure to check out The David C. Smalley Podcast here • or wherever you enjoy listening to fine podcasts! If you like to get out of your house and catch live comedy, keep an eye on David's tour dates here • and text David directly at (424) 306-0798 for tickets when he comes to your town!

Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/797

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