Dolls, Coffins & Tulpas

In this episode of The Unexplainers, John and Rhys kick off a new chapter as they announce the show is joining The Sonar Network in 2026. From there, things get wonderfully strange.

First, John unveils the chilling mystery of the Arthur’s Seat coffins: 17 tiny wooden coffins discovered on a hillside above Edinburgh in 1836, each containing a carved figurine in miniature burial clothes. Were they witchcraft? Memorials to lost sailors? Or a secret tribute to the 17 known victims of Burke and Hare, Edinburgh’s most infamous body-snatching serial killers?

Then Rhys segues into the world of Tulpas—mentally created entities that, with enough focus and belief, start to feel autonomous. We meet Tibetan explorers, Reddit Tulpamancers, and a blue, 18th‑century, cider-fuelled road-digging Tulpa named Ian.

Along the way, John and Rhys riff on:

• Theories behind the Arthur’s Seat coffins and why some of them vanished
• How toy soldiers may have been repurposed into the coffin figures
• The strange overlap between imaginary friends, dissociation, and creativity
• Online Tulpa communities and claims of Tulpas helping with things like math tests
• Cursed dolls, estate sales, voodoo-ish finds in Newport, and the perils of cheap cider
• Ridiculous (and slightly disturbing) Tulpa ideas: wooden Burt Reynolds, shit-octopuses, and more

If you’ve ever wondered where imagination ends and reality begins—or if your inner voice is maybe a bit too independent—this one’s for you.

Support & Links

• We’re now part of The Sonar Network – go check out the other comedy shows there.
• Support the show on Patreon (link in the show notes).
• Got a Tulpa, cursed doll story, or your own theory about the Arthur’s Seat coffins?
• Tell us what your Tulpa looks like
• Or confess your worst snakebite/scrumpy decision

Access all premium content and support the show here.

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