Hello, my name is Katie, and I am a spooky town addict.

I love, love, loooooove all things spooky. I use the term “spooky” and not “scary,” because truth be told, I’m not into the major jump scares and screams rooted in the depths of hell, so much as I like to be thoroughly creeped out, rooted in a fascination of the weird.

There are plenty of “September 30th / October 1st” memes, depicting someone in, say, a suit for the former and dressed as a witch or something for the latter, but my glee at this wide-ranging genre is very much an all-year-round sort of deal. When I was a kid, my elementary school library had exactly two (2) books based on true-life creepy things. Of those, only one was paranormal with ghosts and poltergeists and all manner of hauntings, while the other focused on cryptids (for those new to this: Bigfoot, the Loch Ness monster, gremlins, etc.). On the rare occasion that I couldn’t reread the ghost one for the thousandth time because someone else had checked it out, I’d reluctantly study the Jersey devil again, figuring that all specialties require appropriate background in parallel subjects. This is, of course, exactly like when you major in biology but have to take some required class in rocks.

The point being, baby I was born this way. Watching Alien in July? Definitely. Relistening to one of my favorite spooky podcasts just as the flowers are blooming and sparrows start to sing? Naturally. How is the darkest month of the year, December, not a perfect time to cozy up with a horror novel? (The Victorians agree.) When I was in blindingly sunny, carefree LA over the summer, in a neighborhood that was literal paradise, I walked to the beach in a black jumpsuit with a ribcage and heart embroidered on the chest, my everyday street wear, long before Phoebe Bridgers came on the scene.

Again, the category of “Halloween stuff” is super broad, and another specific angle to my taste is the “truthiness” of it all: I want the stories/media to be true. Naturally, I understand that this is a topic where the label of “true story” is often met with raised eyebrows but you get what I mean. I recently had an interesting conversation with a friend about the level of importance placed on proving certain things exist – what’s most fascinating, and what matters to me, is that a person believes it happened. When dozens or hundreds or thousands of people claim to have a similar, difficult-to-prove experience, that’s good enough for me. When they’re very adamant that before this experience they never had any interest in this stuff or that they were even downright disbelievers? The best!

That being said, there are fabulous examples of fictional spookiness, especially in the literature realm, and throughout this month as I describe some of my favorite creepy examples of all categories of art-making, there will be made-up examples as well. Stay tuned for my favorite movies and TV shows and books but for now . . . podcasts! Oh and if you’re thinking, “This feels like a LiveJournal post from 2002” and/or “But I hate spooky and scary things,” first of all, congrats on figuring out the purpose of this blog and second I’m gonna have something for you at the end! Which means you should absolutely share around.

Spooked
Naturally, one of my absolute favorite spooky podcasts has that title that says it all. An offshoot of the great storytelling podcast, Snap Judgment, Spooked made a whole series out of the original’s special Halloween episodes. Host Glynn Washington has a dynamic, booming, wraps-up-your-attention-like-an-anthropomorphic-weighted-blanket-brought-to-life-with-a-bolt-of-lightning voice that sets the scene with his own personal story of a haunted happening. If someone stitched together all of his intro stories, I would listen over and over. Are they spooky? Of course. But they’re deeeeep, deep deep, with roots in familial relationships, questioning of childhood, questioning of the self, and a general theme of the terror of how what we think of as so utterly familiar and safe is, ultimately, unstable and unreliable. Which is, of course, where the real terror lay.

Washington’s intros are pretty short, but as you can tell, pack a major punch, and still manage to give the main story its proper place at center stage. He does exactly what any good presenter does: gets the audience around the show’s fingers with a silent, subconscious statement of: “You think this is good? Wait til you hear what’s next.”

What’s next, the main stories, shift the tone a bit, only because they are people from all walks of life, not necessarily professional story tellers or performers (though there are some writers). The contrast between Washington’s smooth, perfectly timed recitation and the “average Joe”‘s tale makes the latter all the more believable. Often, you can hear the hesitation in their voices, talking about how, after years of unexplained incidents, they must admit that they’re pretty sure it was a ghost taking their car keys and hiding them to prevent a previously inevitable car accident. They don’t even realize it, but they’ve been set up for listeners to be eating out of their hand – after Washington’s first story, we believe, we believe, we believe.

Sometimes, though, you experience the joy of hearing someone who, perhaps in their daily life, isn’t showcased for their storytelling ability and realize it’s a shame, because damn, they can deliver. One of their more recent episodes was like this (“Corporal Cummings”); Jerry is a Vietnam vet with his own business that I could have listened to all day, he was such an energetic and enthusiastic tale-teller. What makes “Spooked” so great, though, is that it isn’t necessary for the person to have that particular ability. There’s a context of generosity to this podcast; you can feel the level of talent seeping from every corner of its production, from the writing to the music to the editing. Nobody can be on here and not look good with the vibe of, “Tell the truth; we’ll do the rest.” When you go to the website, check out the stunning woodcuts for each episode, each one at a level of detail that make them wall-worthy for any weirdos like me. Even their titles are funny and mischievous (“Smells Like Teen Spirits” is my favorite title; lolz). There aren’t any shortcuts here.

A lot of episodes of Spooked are available for free “wherever you listen!” but for the full experience you need to pay for a Luminary subscription. You guessed it: I happily do so. There’s a wonderful range of stories and some of my favorites borderline on “heartwarming,” I mean, I guess you’d call them “heartwarming” when you’re a woman of the dark like me because they still, naturally, involve ghosts. Then you have your “Holy shit, I’m never sleeping again” variety which I know a lot of folks are after, so those are distinguished below as well, though all are favorites.

Favorite Episodes: “The Birds” (Season 2, Episode 4); “A Boy Named Thomas” (Season 1, Episode 7); “37 Seconds” (Season 2, Episode 6); “Ghosty” (from “The Perfect Tenant,” Season 2, Episode 6; also tied for “scariest,” lol);

Scariest Episodes: “Take Me Home” (Season 5, Episode 1); “The Wraith” (Season 2, Episode 1); “Sharp Tooth Boy” (Season 3, Episode 7); “Clown Zombie” (from “Knock, Knock,” Season 1, Episode 11)

Radio Rental
Hoooo boy, what a creepfest this podcast is! Just when you think you’re familiar with every single type of scare, Radio Rental comes through with shudder-worthy happenings for which you formerly haven’t had any point of reference.

Like Spooked, it has a form of introduction by a host, but in this case, a completely separate character emerges with Terry, a video rental store owner played by none other than The Office‘s Rainn Wilson. The context of the true stories, told by us regular ol’ citizens, is that they’re videotapes from Terry’s private collection, chosen each week by him to scare the pants off of you. Wilson fully plays this out-of-touch weirdo, and it only takes a couple of episodes to feel a distinct affection for his off-putting yet charming asides – after all, you’re the one listening, so you must have something in common. Plus, the video rental aspect of it is a lovely nostalgia moment for us millennials: the cool kids worked at music stores, the odd and artsy kids were at the independent video place ran by someone like Terry, neck-deep in foreign films with long shots of big toes and shrill crescendos of string instruments and banging piano key soundtracks. The 90s theme is all over the art, made by Rob Sheridan (some millennials may remember him from his blog, which no longer exists; when Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull came out we actually had a conversation in the comments about it and I’ve never felt more fucking rad and the fact that I even typed out the name of that travesty should fill you in on what an important moment it was for me).

Radio Rental is fun because it doesn’t limit itself to any particular genre of scary story. As I said, there are new kinds of nightmares within the episodes, and the unexpectedness of what you’re hearing is often at least half of the substance of the fright. “Oh shit,” you’ll think, “. . . Now I have to worry about doppelgangers?” You do! Good luck! The stories that bend more toward the classic ghosts and hauntings often have a twist that force you to unwittingly abandon the comfort of a familiar scare for a deep canyon of ick. Time loops and the concepts of other dimensions, all touched on through these true stories, feature more frequently here than on other creepy podcast. I think even in a fictional show, those themes wouldn’t quite “work,” but when told in a simple recollection by the person to which they happened, look out: They stick.

To be fair, there’s also a healthy dose of incredibly smart, self-aware humor throughout the episodes as well. In one, a man realizes – through no fault of his own – how we ourselves can unknowingly become the stuff of nightmares to those around us. And Terry, rather than necessarily setting up the story to increase the scarier aspects, maintains a firm grip as someone running parallel to them – he’s one of us, and getting a kick out of spreading the spookiness around.

Favorite Episodes: “Laura of the Woods” (Episode 4); “Doppelganger” (Episode 2); “Dog Man” (Episode 13)

Ghosts in the ‘Burbs
I only came to this one and Nighty Night (discussed below) recently because, as I said earlier, I’m much more into the “Regular Person Tells True Scary Story” aspect than fictional, but I’m so glad I gave this one a try.

The concept is simple: The narrator, Liz Sower, lives in Wellesley, Massachusetts, and puts a notice on a library bulletin board asking for locals to contact her with their ghost stories. Each episode features one such story, read by Liz from her blog. That’s it: There aren’t any other actors, these are stories read off the page as written, the interviewee’s story mixed with Liz’s own personal life. Slowly, as you listen from the beginning (a must), the vibe of Wellesley becomes detailed and crystal clear – the money, the insecurities of the wealthy, seemingly perfect women wearing Lululemon, the public school competition, and the questioning of one’s life choices moving on from an edgy city life to the suburbs.

Yep, the format is simple, but what’s happening becomes increasingly complex and nuanced. Like Radio Rental, we drift toward the weirdest of the weird: gremlins, demons, and lizard people (oh my!). It works because of the consistency of the setting and characters; they’re not real people, but we all know them. Sower’s sidebar reactions (and affinity for pastries and lack of ability to hide her shocked or incredulous judgments of her subjects) keeps everything, no matter how unrealistic, in a gorgeously wrapped, exceedingly neat package, all of it fitting in perfectly despite its unwieldy nature.

I’m only on Episode 20 (there are 109 as of this writing), and it’s already taken a delightful, unexpected turn. Despite still being rooted in individual interviews with various Wellesley neighbors, Sower begins to get hints of something much bigger – and scarier – going on. Threads are developing between people’s tales of demons, ghosts, and aliens; something is very wrong with Wellesley. Something is coming. I was perfectly content for the stories to remain relatively singular, with Sower’s life existing as the only thread between them, but I’m so delighted by this “zooming out,” and it’s incredibly well done in its pacing. Not forced or contrived, but creeping and stalking – we’re in trouble.

Favorite Episode: I can’t say! They’re all great, but also become interwoven, so it’s hard to draw one out as a stand-alone. Just start from the beginning! Do it now!

Nighty Night
A new one! Another fictional podcast from Rabia Chaudry, famous for her work as an attorney on the Adnan Syed case featured on the first season of the podcast Serial (for you younger folks, Serial was one of the podcasts that sort of blew up the concept of podcasting in general; for a lot of people, it was one of the first they ever listened to). Chaudry has gone on to write a book and executive produce an HBO show about the case as well as have several of her own podcasts, including Undisclosed about wrongful convictions.

Nighty Night tells scary stories that are a mix of the classic and the modern. To be honest, when I heard that, I thought, “. . . Eh.” I’m not into the classics, I don’t know why. But I’m so glad I got off my high horse and gave it a listen, because these stories are so, so good. Yes, the themes are classic in a way, but Chaudry makes them into something completely new. I feel (there I go, getting back up on my horse again!) preeetttyyy well-read/watched/listened of the spooky stuff, and so far I’ve been giddily surprised and totally absorbed by these stories. The style reminds me of Poe or Shelley (I said I don’t typically care for the classics, not that I haven’t read them), slow moving screams from the deep. So far I’ve found myself nervous-laughing as the outro music plays: “Haha. Wow. Haha. Sheesh.” [stirs mashed potatoes as kitchen falls into silence]

The nerd in me absolutely loves how, after the story is told, Chaudry fills the listener in on the history of the story, whether it’s from a particular cultural legend or even her own life. (I felt a particular kinship with her over a story inspired partly by her sensitivity to smell.) I think it’s a lovely writerly addition, reassurance that everything comes from somewhere, but it’s individuals breathing life and energy into the stories we’ve perhaps been foolish enough to take for granted that makes the genius.

Favorite Episode: Only one, because there aren’t many yet as it’s a new podcast, but if I had to pick one, I’d say I reeaaaalllly loved “Undying Hunger,” but it’s very hard to choose!

“Um, what about if you hate scary stuff but feel it’s important to stay on theme?”

Oh, yes, I have something for you! Put on your headphones, because I promise there will be no raspy breathing or low moans here:

Stuff You Missed in History Class: October Episodes
This is a great podcast in general, taking a look at historical events that aren’t very well-known in the cultural milieu, so to speak. The hosts, Tracy V. Wilson and Holly Frey, are deliberate about telling stories that are culturally diverse and representative. While the tone is always appropriate, it leans matter-of-fact as opposed to deeply serious or somber.

In October, many of the subjects all have to do with, you guessed it, Halloween! This month, they tackle the story of Aleistair Crowley, an infamous occultist. They just re-released one of my favorites, Le Théatre du Grand Guignol, a theater in Paris famous for its terrifying productions. They’ve also covered the history of tarot cards, serial killer Belle Gunness, a woman who turned to soap, and way, way more. They keep the same format for these “special” episodes as all the rest, with conversation between the hosts. Again: No spooky sound effects, no creepy voices, just lighthearted (depending on your definition, I guess) history based on the stranger side of it.

Favorite Episodes: Charles Addams, Parts 1 and 2 (October 2018; yes, that Addams); Vincent Price: A Talk with His Daughter Victoria Price (October 2016); Le Théatre du Grand Guignol (October 2016); Building Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion, Parts 1 and 2 (October 2013).

Happy October friends! Stay spooky!

If you like my nonsense, more of it is available on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. I’m actually having a lot of fun on Twitter and try to keep talk about what new cool art is around/coming out soon, which helps me keep my head on and heart hopeful. Email me at whatthehellisonmyface at gmail dot com.