While animals have been our constant companions for thousands of years, one chapter of our long history together led to much more terrifying results.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research by Allie Steed, and music by Chad Lawson.
Episode 163: Persistence
It should come as no surprise that one of humanity’s greatest qualities is also the tool with which it has committed much darker tragedies. Even far from the wilds of the Old World, that legacy was never far behind.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research by Allie Steed, and music by Chad Lawson.
Episode 162: By Design
In a world obsessed with fairytale endings, the most iconic type of setting for those stories turns out to also be home to some of the darkest histories around.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research by Robin Miniter, and music by Chad Lawson.
Episode 161: Shell Game
Folklore is often born in moments were answers and hope seem lost, and few situations like that have generated more stories than the crucible of human conflict.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research by Sam Alberty, and music by Chad Lawson.
Episode 160: Sleight of Hand
One of the oldest beliefs in human history is also the root of countless stories in our collective folklore. But to understand the power of those tales, we need to understand the people who brought them to life.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research by Allie Steed, and music by Chad Lawson.
Episode 159: Close By
Whether intentionally or by accident, the past has a way of slipping away, slowly vanishing beneath our feet. That doesn’t mean it’s gone forever, though. But before we seek unearth it, it would be wise to remember that some things are buried for a reason.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research by Marcet Crockett, and music by Chad Lawson.
Episode 158: A Grain of Truth
Oftentimes, the truth is right in front of us, made as plain as day and easy to access. But sometimes it’s lost, and the only way to track it down is through story. But as one island in the Pacific Northwest demonstrates, digging for the truth often comes at a price.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research by Meaghan Des Roches, and music by Chad Lawson.
Episode 157: Hanging On
One of the most common features of our legends and folklore is our dreams. And one of the most common dreams, across all the pages of history, is a desire that has haunted people since the dawn of time—a desire that might just be more attainable that we realize.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research by Sam Alberty, and music by Chad Lawson.
Episode 156: Bottled Up
Humans are very good at making assumptions. But if we look a little deeper, our preconceived ideas about some of the most common bits of folklore won’t just change—they’ll transform into something terrifying.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research by Carl Nellis, and music by Chad Lawson.
Episode 155: Skin Deep
Some stories are very familiar to us, but our understanding of them is only the tip of the iceberg. Even one of folklore’s most legendary creatures has roots that are almost forgotten today—roots that are both ancient and terrifying.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research by Allie Steed, and music by Chad Lawson.
Episode 154: Adding It Up
Everywhere you go these days, there are superstitions. Many are modern, and not much more than clever word games or rhymes designed to help us remember things. But a few are older, with roots in a past that’s a bit darker than we’d like to admit.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research by Meaghan Des Roches, and music by Chad Lawson.
Episode 153: Hold On
Sometimes the past sticks around because we work hard to make sure it’s never forgotten. Other times, it stays with us because we refused to let it go. But in one American city, the past seems to have stuck around for darker reasons.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research by Michelle Muto, and music by Chad Lawson.
Episode 152: Follow the Leader
Folklore is filled with stories that evolve over time, and while the originals are full of drama and fright, it’s in the evolution that they truly come to life.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research by Allie Steed, and music by Chad Lawson.
Episode 151: By the Book
For a very long time, people have believed that our world is filled with magic. Secret knowledge and hidden truths that we can use to unlock power and privilege. It’s a belief that’s taken all shapes and forms, but there’s one common thread tying it all together: books.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research by Sam Alberty, and music by Chad Lawson.
Grimoires, by Owen Davies, can be found here.
Episode 150: Addition
History can be easy to brush aside or paint over, giving us the illusion of control. But just because we can’t see the past doesn’t mean it’s not there, active and powerful, working behind the scenes to remind us of our tragedy and pain.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research by Taylor Hagerdorn, and music by Chad Lawson.
Episode 149: Off Track
History has proven just how good humans are at improving things, from weapons and tools to medicine and education. But some advancements come at a price, while creating some horrifying folklore in the process.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research by Taylor Hagerdorn, and music by Chad Lawson.
Episode 148: Predictable
If history has shown us anything, it’s that humans are easily motivated by fear. Just what some of those fears have been, though, is more than a little frightening.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research by Michelle Muto, and music by Chad Lawson.
Episode 147: Contained
Humans have long practiced the art of building walls and fortresses in an effort to gain control or find safety. But no place is safe from the danger we bring upon ourselves, and sometimes those tragedies stay right where they started.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research by Robin Miniter and Carl Nellis, and music by Chad Lawson.
Episode 146: A Great Weight
Humans have spent thousands of years building systems to keep us as safe as possible. But eventually, each of us will have to stop and rest, letting down our guard and opening ourselves up to perhaps our darkest and oldest of enemies.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research by Carl Nellis, and music by Chad Lawson.
Episode 145: Invention
Human ingenuity knows no bounds. Along with creating all manner of new technology, and ever more complex levels of knowledge, another thing we are good at inventing is ourselves. And sometimes that alteration can become the stuff of legend.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research by Marcet Crockett, and music by Chad Lawson.