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.
Episode 32: Tampered
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.
Episode 31: Lost and Found
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.
Episode 30: Deep and Twisted Roots
When two boys discovered a macabre surprise while playing in a Connecticut gravel pit, they uncovered more than a piece of the past. Their discovery echoes stories that are much older, stories with roots that reach far deeper than anyone might imagine.
Researched, written, and produced by Aaron Mahnke.
Episode 29: The Big Chill
Thanks to the writings of Stephen King, the state of Maine has become known as a place of fictional horror and tragedy. But it's at the real-life intersection of Maine's harsh winters and deadly coastline that we find the most tragic stories of all. Stories that no one would want to experience for themselves.
Researched, written, and produced by Aaron Mahnke.
Episode 28: Making a Mark
Stories leave a mark on us. They can act like scars or decoration, always there, always reminding us of things that happened. But in some cases, those stories leave behind literal, physical marks. Or do they?
Researched, written, and produced by Aaron Mahnke.
Episode 27: On the Farm
Safety is a basic human need, and we build a lot of our life around achieving it. This is nothing new, really; humans have always sought safety in a dangerous world. And because of that, it’s those moments when safety is shattered that haunt us the most.
Researched, written, and produced by Aaron Mahnke.
Episode 26: Brought Back
Humans have been obsessed with escaping the grasp of death for thousands of years. It’s impossible, of course, but we dream of it nonetheless. Which makes the events in a small Caribbean village all the more horrifying.
Researched, written, and produced by Aaron Mahnke.
Episode 25: The Cave
Over the centuries, all sorts of methods have been used to govern people. And while some have been just and humane — such as most modern legal systems — others have been more unusual. Social fear, religious tyranny, and military might. However, few examples stand out as much as the events that took place over a century ago on a small island off the coast of Chile.
Researched, written, and produced by Aaron Mahnke.
Episode 24: A Stranger Among Us
Many family traditions and treasured folktales involve strangers who visit us. What would Christmas be without Santa, after all. But strangers in general are a lot less appealing than we might believe.
Researched, written, and produced by Aaron Mahnke.
Episode 23: Rope and Railing
There are places in the world that we rarely see. Our busy lives never take us there, and as a result, they don’t come to mind when we think of chilling tales and frightening lore. But they exist, and despite their inherent light, they too hold a deep darkness.
Researched, written, and produced by Aaron Mahnke.
Episode 22: Over the Top
History is full of examples of moments in time when hysteria and fear ruled common sense. While some of these examples were valid reasons to panic and worry, others were less logical. But that didn’t make them any less dangerous.
Researched, written, and produced by Aaron Mahnke.
Episode 21: Adrift
Since the dawn of time, humans have pushed themselves to explore. When that adventure took to the seas, however, it was an invitation for tragedy. The ocean, you see, takes much from us. And sometimes it gives it back.
Researched, written, and produced by Aaron Mahnke.
Episode 20: Homestead
Home is where the heart is. It’s where we build our lives and celebrate the things we love. But it can also be the center of tragedy and darkness. On many different levels, there’s no place like home.
Researched, written, and produced by Aaron Mahnke.
Episode 19: Bite Marks
Seeing isn’t always a prerequisite for belief. In fact, oftentimes the things we believe in the most strongly are invisible to our naked eyes. But when we experience those invisible things through pain and physical attacks, our belief can become deep, paralyzing fear.
Researched, written, and produced by Aaron Mahnke.
Episode 18: Hunger Pains
For as advanced and civilized as we are, humans are still led by very basic desires. We are driven by a need for safety and shelter. We long for a community to belong to. And we hunger. But not every method of sating our desires is good. Upon occasion, those methods have become downright evil.
Researched, written, and produced by Aaron Mahnke.
Episode 17: Broken Fingernails
We leave our loved ones there after they’ve passed. We treat the space with reverence and solemn deference. Cemeteries are meant to be a final resting place. Sometimes, though, the ones who should be gone try to come back.
Researched, written, and produced by Aaron Mahnke.
Episode 16: Covered Mirrors
At the heart of every horror film is an iconic weapon. Often times they are nondescript and ordinary, but in the hands of a killer they become something more. Something that has the potential to haunt our nightmares. And sometimes those nightmares become reality.
Researched, written, and produced by Aaron Mahnke.
Episode 15: Unboxed
People can be a bit possessive. We love our things, and we cling tightly to them. But what happens when the things we own refuse to let go of us?
Researched, written, and produced by Aaron Mahnke.
Episode 14: The Others
We don’t like to be alone. We hate it. So we tell stories about others, the things at the edges of society. Things we’re not sure about. But what if those “others” are more real than we first believed?
Researched, written, and produced by Aaron Mahnke.