Lore

Trick or Treat 3: Loved & Lost

October 17, 2025

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  • The episode "Trick or Treat 3: Loved & Lost" explores ghost stories rooted in powerful, enduring love and loss, featuring tales from Thailand, Tennessee, and Australia. 
  • The first story details the Thai legend of Mae Nak, whose intense love for her husband kept her spirit tethered to the world after dying in childbirth, only to be convinced to move on by a monk. 
  • The final segment focuses on the phenomenon of haunted theaters, particularly in Australia, culminating in the story of opera singer Frederick Federici, whose death on stage during a performance of *Faust* resulted in his ghost continuing to attend shows at the Princess Theater. 

Segments

Introduction to Lost Love Ghosts
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(00:01:04)
  • Key Takeaway: The theme for this special Halloween bonus series episode of Lore is the ghosts of those we’ve lost, often stemming from love cut short by death.
  • Summary: The episode is part of the ‘Trick or Treat’ bonus series, releasing extra content every Friday in October. The central theme focuses on spectral visitors whose hauntings are driven by profound love that death could not sever. Listeners are invited to explore tales of ghostly echoes resulting from lost romantic connections.
Thai Ghost of Mae Nak
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(00:01:54)
  • Key Takeaway: Mae Nak, a pregnant woman in 1850s Thailand, died during childbirth while her husband Mak was away serving in the army, leading to her spirit remaining with her home and baby.
  • Summary: Mae Nak’s spirit was so reluctant to leave her husband that she appeared daily, sweeping her steps with her deceased infant, until Mak returned and witnessed her supernatural arm stretch impossibly to grab a dropped lime. Terrified, Mak fled to a temple, prompting a monk to intervene and guide Mae Nak’s spirit to the afterlife. Her story is still honored today with a shrine dedicated to seeking guidance in love.
Gatlinburg’s Haunted Restaurant
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(00:05:59)
  • Key Takeaway: The tourist town of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is home to the Greenbrier Restaurant, haunted by the spirit of Lydia, who died by suicide there after believing she was jilted at the altar.
  • Summary: Lydia hanged herself in the Greenbrier Lodge in the 1930s after her fiancé failed to appear for their wedding, and locals buried her in an unmarked grave on the grounds. Patrons and employees report hearing crying, feeling cold spots, and seeing her apparition on the staircase. The haunting is attributed to her anger over the beam she used still being installed above the bar, though it was later revealed her fiancé had actually been mauled by a wild animal shortly after the supposed wedding day.
Unpopular Serbian Queen’s Yacht
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(00:10:40)
  • Key Takeaway: Queen Draga of Serbia, deeply unpopular due to her age and background, was violently assassinated alongside her husband King Alexander in 1903, leading to her ghost haunting her former yacht.
  • Summary: Draga married the young King Alexander against the advice of the entire nation, causing his father to resign and his cabinet to quit. After their assassination, the yacht she purchased was sold, but crews repeatedly abandoned it due to supernatural occurrences. The final straw involved an apparition of a woman with a smashed, bleeding skull smiling down at a dinner party, causing the entire remaining crew to desert.
Australian Opera Singer’s Ghost
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(00:17:13)
  • Key Takeaway: Frederick Federici, an opera singer who died of a heart attack while sinking through a trapdoor during his final performance as Mephistopheles in Faust at Melbourne’s Princess Theater in 1887, continues to haunt the venue.
  • Summary: Federici’s death was not immediately known because the audience applauded his final bow, unaware he had collapsed backstage. He is now seen sitting in the audience, often frowning if the performance is poor, but his appearance is generally considered a sign of good luck for the actors. Some claim he still appears center stage, illuminated by moonlight, raising his arms to the crowd.
Episode Conclusion and Credits
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(00:24:28)
  • Key Takeaway: The stories in this episode originated as member-only bonus content, and listeners are encouraged to support the show for ad-free access and other perks.
  • Summary: The episode concludes by thanking the writing and research team, Alex Robinson and GennaRose Nethercott. Listeners can support the show by subscribing for ad-free episodes and other benefits via lorepodcast.com/support. The Lore book series and TV adaptation on Amazon Prime are also promoted.