S5 E26: Don't Let Them In... The Horrific Origins of The Black Eyed Kids

A knock at the door after dark should be ordinary. But what if it isn’t? For decades, people all over the world have told the same unnerving story: pale, monotone children with jet-black eyes asking to be let inside. Some call them Black Eyed Kids. Some say they vanish when refused. Others whisper that letting them in leads to sickness… or worse.From Brian Bethel’s late-night encounter in a Texas parking lot, to a 1923 Louisiana farm where a woman was haunted nightly by a black-eyed boy, these stories blur the line between internet legend, folklore, and something far more sinister.This week, we’ll hear:Brian Bethel’s infamous 1996 story that ignited the legend.Martin York’s strange illness after his encounter in rural West Virginia.The eerie 1923 “Jane” case—decades before the internet gave the kids their name.Modern variants: hotel window knocks, shopping mall stalkings, and Cannock Chase sightings in the UK.Police and military encounters that suggest this isn’t just an urban legend.We’ll explore:Why the “invitation rule” runs through vampire, demon, djinn, and fairy folklore.How Black Eyed Kids echo changelings, shadow people, and other age-old monsters.And why the sight of a child—something meant to be innocent—hits our deepest fears when it’s wrong.Join us as we open the door (carefully) to the chilling phenomenon of the Black Eyed Kids—equal parts ghost story, folklore, and modern nightmare.Stay strange. Be Rad.Got a theory or creepy kid story of your own? Send it our way—we’d love to feature it.If you loved this:Share the episode with a friend who loves urban legends.Follow/Subscribe so you don’t miss next week’s October Spooktacular.Drop us a 5★ rating and a one-sentence review on Apple/Spotify—huge help.CONNECT WITH US:📲 Instagram: @thatwouldberad — Tag us, DM us, or share your strange stories.🎙 Share a story / send a voice message: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thatwouldberadpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠✉️ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SHOW INFO:Hosts & Producers: Woody Brown & Tyler BenceRecorded At: Midnight Radio StudiosSound Wizardry: Woody Brown (Sound Design, Editing, & Music) & Tyler Bence (Mixing, Mastering, & Art Design)Outro Jam: “Ghost Story” by The Modern SocietyRAD WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR SHOW:🎧 JOIN OUR PATREON: Unlock exclusive content and help us keep the weirdness coming at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/thatwouldberad⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠☕️ BUY US A COFFEE: Fuel our late-night research at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buymeacoffee.com/thatwouldberad⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🛍 CHECK OUT OUR MERCH: Snag official RAD gear at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thatwouldberad.myspreadshop.com⁠