AJ's List Of Spookytime Podcasts

Don't freak out, but autumn is only a couple weeks away.

With autumn comes a lot of my favorite things; brisk mornings with coffee, golden leaves falling from the trees, flannel shirts on my back and flannel sheets on my bed, and spooky stuff. Autumn is a goldmine for ghosts and ghoulies in media, and it's no secret that I'm a fan of it year-round. Ever since I was a kid I was interested in extraterrestrials, ghosts, Sasquatch, and everything in-between, and hearing "true" accounts of the paranormal has always tickled my fancy.

Having a fictional scary story is a lot of fun. I like cheesy old horror flicks and modern scary movies a lot, but having the disclaimer of "Based On A True Story" gives me the heebie jeebies more. It adds an air of believably; what if my apartment was haunted (like my last one)? What if I went missing in the woods? If I came across Sasquatch would she think I was cool?! There are quite a few podcasts that cover unusual and eerie things based in reality, and the following is a list of a few of my favorites:


-Unexplained

The music is somber and the narration soft, but the content is anything but relaxing. Host Richard McClean Smith tells true tales of unexplained events throughout history, ranging from hauntings to alien abduction to the occult to things that defy any explanation. He presents the evidence without trying to come up with explanations to the events he describes, which leaves the listener to wonder what--or if-- there could be an explanation to the unexplained.
Pairs well with: quiet, rainy afternoons spent tidying up the house with a cup of coffee.

-Astonishing Legends

Have you ever wondered what happened to Amelia Earhart? Or what the Mothman is? Do you like discussion about things that are astonishing, legendary, or astonishingly legendary? Hosts Scott Philbrook and Forrest Burgess, along with the Astonishing Research Corps (A.R.C), dive deep into mysteries and stories on a wide range of topics. Some topics are paranormal, like the Bell Witch and Resurrection Mary, some are potentially extraterrestrial, like the Kelly-Hopkins encounter and the Kecksburg incident, and others are subjects of unsolved mysteries, like Henry Plummer and the Somerton Man. While the topics are sometimes broad, they discuss them in length and leave listeners with a lot of interesting information on the what they present.
Pairs well with: internet wormholes at 3am with a pale ale.

-Haunted Places

It's an audio tour into the most haunted places on earth. Host Greg Polcyn tells stories of the ghosts and spirits that dwell in infamous paranormal locations, like Bodie State Historic Park in California and Bhangarh Fort in Rajasthan, India, among many others. There's a flair for the dramatic to the show, and there are stories that take plenty of creative license, but if you like stories "based off a true story" and old-timey radio drama, you might like this.
Pairs well with: adventurous vacation planning

-Lore

Also a show on Amazon Prime and a book series, host Aaron Mahnke explores the dark corners of history. With haunting piano music playing in the background, he tells the stories of places and things that have long been in the territory of nightmares, like poltergeists, being buried alive, lake monsters, and more, all with historical context. Each episode is a lesson not only in things that frighten us, but also a look into the human condition and the background of the places we live and visit. It's not so much an in-your-face scare as much as it's a lingering, creeping, unsettling sensation.
Pairs well with: a night in a leather armchair next to the fireplace in an old study with a glass of Syrah.

-Jim Harold's Campfire

I admit, I've only recently given this show a listen, but it hooked me. Jim Harold, a long time player in podcasting, gets calls from listeners who tell their experiences with the paranormal. There's something refreshing about a ghost story presented as an experience instead of a means to give someone the heeby-jeebies, and this podcast is just that; callers laying out what they experienced. They're the kind of stories I get at work from guests sometimes, and I think it's a lot of fun.
Pairs well with: a commute in need of some spooky talk radio.


There are a lot of great podcasts that fit the mold of "paranormal nonfiction" but this is a good starting point to get you primed and ready for haunted houses and cemeteries in the weeks to come.