Tragedy is never something we plan for. It sneaks up on us like a bandit in the night, and takes away our sense of security and purpose. But throughout history, there have been places so plagued by tragedy that those who live near them consider these locations to be cursed.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research assistance by Marcet Crockett.
Our world is full of mysterious sightings, but most of them can be explained away with cold logic and common sense. When multiple reports flood in, though, the unbelievable can sometimes become undeniable.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research assistance by Marcet Crockett.
For almost as long as there have been stories of supernatural beings, there have been tales of those who hunt them. From ancient traditions to Hollywood blockbusters, these characters have filled our imaginations. But in 1969, those ideas became real.
Researched, written, and produced by Aaron Mahnke.
Dark Conclusions: The Lore Variations by
Chad Lawson is available today!
A Halloween treat to add a bit of spook to your week. Each Lore “Trick or Treat 2016” episode is a collection of two of my favorite Patreon member-only “shorts” in one place. Perfect for a rainy day, a walk in the dark, or a campfire gathering. This episode includes “In a Pickle” and “Drained”.
Researched, written, and produced by Aaron Mahnke.
We say it all the time. It’s a phrase we hang our hopes on. It represents our wants and desires. But “a dream come true” has an older, darker side as well. Darker, and a lot more creepy.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research assistance by Marcet Crockett.
A Halloween treat to add a bit of spook to your week. Each Lore “Trick or Treat 2016” episode is a collection of two of my favorite “shorts” in one place. Perfect for a rainy day, a walk in the dark, or a campfire gathering. This episode includes “Peg & Button” and “Behind the Door”.
Researched, written, and produced by Aaron Mahnke.
Civilization was transformed the moment we discovered it. We’ve built it into our religions and use it to advance our technology. Whether we take it for granted or not, there’s a darker side to this tool, and if we’re not careful, we might get burned.
Researched, written, and produced by Aaron Mahnke.
Throughout history, certain individuals have managed to rise to the challenge in the face of difficulty. But in 1827, that attitude was taken to a new—and horrific—level.
Researched, written, and produced by Aaron Mahnke.
Most of our fears can be blamed on a deeper, more instinctive anxiety: we hate losing control. And no place on earth represents that sensation more viscerally than prison. Contrary to popular belief, though, not all prisons have been created equal.
Researched, written, and produced by Aaron Mahnke.
We’ve been taught since childhood to be honest, because our actions have consequences and our words can hurt people. But the events that took place in a Scottish village over three hundred years ago took that lesson to a darker level.
Researched, written, and produced by Aaron Mahnke.
The older the city, the more stories there seem to be. Some places are home to tragedy, while others have played host to disaster or war. Few cities have it all, though, and judging by the pain those stories often reveal, that might be a good thing.
Researched, written, and produced by Aaron Mahnke.
For as long as humans have lived together in community, there has been the need for crimes and disputes to be settled by some form of court. Many of those trials have been fair, while others have been unjust. Some, though, have been downright weird.
Researched, written, and produced by Aaron Mahnke.
Humans have always wandered off into unexplored territory. It’s a key part of our identity to leave safety behind in pursuit of adventure. Those journeys, though, don’t always end in success. In fact, sometimes they end in horrible tragedy.
Researched, written, and produced by Aaron Mahnke.
For as crowded as this world has become, most people feel isolated and alone. Perhaps that’s why so many of us believe that there’s another world, just beyond the veil. But when that veil is tampered with and pulled aside, it’s hard to say what might emerge.
Researched, written, and produced by Aaron Mahnke.
The cities and buildings where tragedy has concentrated over the years always seem to hold stories. Stories of loss, of pain, and of things that refuse to move on. That quality, though, isn’t unique to places on land.
Researched, written, and produced by Aaron Mahnke.
Popular culture is obsessed with the idea of a lost humanity. Countless films, novels, and television shows all ask the same question: what would happen if only a few of us were left? Unfortunately, the answer was discovered a century ago off the coast of Mexico.
Researched, written, and produced by Aaron Mahnke.
Folklore has often developed as a response to real-world events, but the opposite has also been true. History has, upon occasion, unintentionally confirmed ancient tales. And nowhere is this more evident, or more bloody, than in the tale of one particular 16th-Century countess.
Researched, written, and produced by Aaron Mahnke.
Folklore can change and evolve over time. But when we uncover the roots of these stories, we often find that the real events at their core are the darkest version of all.
Researched, written, and produced by Aaron Mahnke.
Maybe it’s human pride, or maybe it’s just a tendency toward superstition, but humans are very good at making excuses. When things don’t go our way, or when something breaks, there always seems to be a reason why it's not our fault. And apparently, those excuses have occasionally walked among us.
Researched, written, and produced by Aaron Mahnke.
We spend every waking moment surrounded by people. People who talk to us, who interact with us, and who are very much alive an breathing. Which is why it’s that much more shocking when we stumble upon those who aren’t. And it’s more common than you’d think.
Researched, written, and produced by Aaron Mahnke.