5 Fascinating Podcasts About Folklore & The Paranormal
If you love learning about spirits, legends, and creatures that go bump in the night, then the podcasts listed here should be right up your alley. These audio programs explore everything from ghosts to Bigfoot to creepy true stories from throughout history. Whether you're a believer in the paranormal, a skeptic, or just a fan of Halloween, consider checking them out. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.
Podcasts That Delve Into The Unknown
| Name | Subject |
|---|---|
| Monsteropolis | The strange and unusual |
| The 13 O'Clock Podcast | Odd and unexplained phenomena |
| Lore | The darker side of history |
| New England Legends Podcast | The folklore of New England |
| Spooked | Firsthand accounts of the supernatural |
What Is Folklore?
Folklore is a broad term that refers to all of the traditional customs, beliefs, and stories of a culture or community that have been passed down for generations. Some of these stories include tales of mythical beasts like the chupacabra or ghostly figures like the Headless Horseman. Those discussing these legends can approach it from a number of perspectives. Some look at the historical value of these traditions, while others explore the phenomena, either scientific or supernatural, that may be responsible for creating them.
Fun Activities for Fans of the Supernatural
For some of us, Halloween is a year-round event. Whether you want to prepare for next October, or always enjoy bringing a little spookiness into your life, here are some fun ideas you could try:
- Listen to paranormal podcasts
- Read horror books and Creepypastas
- Get a fog machine and make your own haunted house
- Bake spooky desserts, like zombie gingerbread men
- Decorate with cauldrons and skeletons
- Use a Ouija board to hold a seance
- Make a spooky playlist on your favorite music app
A Scientific Approach To The Paranormal
In Depth
Everyone loves a spooky story. Folktales connect us to our history, and narratives of the supernatural of whatever vintage allow us to reimagine what is possible, and distract us from more pressing and banal fears. This list, presented in no particular order, looks at five podcasts that explore folklore and the paranormal.
#1 is Small Town Monsters, which focuses on small town folklore and tells stories through the words and experiences of those who were most affected by them: residents and witnesses. Beginning as a film series, STM has grown into a larger media network, with many video productions, a web series, and two podcasts under its belt, and other projects on the horizon.
The group's first podcast series, SasWhat, ran from 2014 to 2018. Concerning the Bigfoot legend, it devoted itself to investigating tales of the undiscovered primate that may or may not roam North America. It was hosted by Seth Breedlove and Mark Matzke. It has been succeeded by Monsteropolis. Helmed by the same duo, the show takes a wider look at the strange and unusual.
It was hosted by Seth Breedlove and Mark Matzke.
At #2, we've got The 13 O'Clock Podcast. It's hosted by Jenny Ashford, a horror, true crime, and paranormal writer and graphic designer, and Tom Ross. The show is a relaxed, in-depth, and sometimes humorous examination of various weird and mysterious topics, ranging from murders to creepy historical events to reports of paranormal experiences.
The show has revisited infamous crimes and criminals, such as Lizzie Borden, Richard "The Iceman" Kuklinski, and The Boston Strangler. It has explored occult figures, like Anton LaVey and Aleister Crowley. The hosts frequently delve into folklore, whether friendly characters like Santa Claus or spooky legends such as the Bell Witch. Cult movies are another major subject of discussion.
Coming in at #3, Aaron Mahnke's podcasts explore creepy and strange historical events. He first came to attention with Lore, a bi-weekly program about true life scary stories. Lingering on the creatures, people, and places of our wildest nightmares, each episode examines a new dark historical tale in a modern campfire experience. Lore has been adapted into a book series and a streaming tv show.
Lore has been adapted into a book series and a streaming tv show.
Mahnke's other podcasts include Unobscured, which presents season-long stories of historical episodes that have been distorted by myth and misinformation in popular memory. The first season concerns the Salem Witch Trials. Another show, Cabinet of Curiosities, created in conjunction with How Stuff Works, offers short tales about unbelievable, unsettling, and bizarre historical phenomena.
For #4, it's the New England Legends Podcast. The program began as a television series for PBS that investigates the ghosts, monsters, and other mysteries that animate the folklore of New England. Hosted by adventurer, author, and area native Jeff Belanger, the show began its tv run in 2013 and has since expanded into a podcast.
In the online audio version of New England Legends, Belanger is joined by co-host Ray Auger, a seasoned broadcaster. The duo covers a much wider swath of the same ground: the tall tales and spooky stories that circulate in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. Examples include the legendary beaver trout of Lake Memphremagog and the haunting of Smith's Castle.
Examples include the legendary beaver trout of Lake Memphremagog and the haunting of Smith's Castle.
Closing out the list at #5, Spooked is presented by Snap Judgment and WNYC public radio. The show presents true-life supernatural stories, told first-hand by people who can barely believe it happened themselves. It seeks to challenge skeptics, daring listeners to confront the unknown and question their own understanding of reality.
It's hosted by Glynn Washington, the grandson of a seer who says his family was haunted by ghosts. Episodes present multiple stories, organized thematically. Segments have addressed the feeling of being watched, the sensation of time being warped and stretched, the overlapping of contradictory realities, and familial curses.
