EPISODE · Oct 27, 2025 · 1H 56M
S5 E29: The Djinn - Ancient Horrors of Smokeless Fire
from That Would Be Rad · host Woody Brown and Tyler Bence
The Djinn – Ancient Horrors of Smokeless FireWhat came before ghosts?Before demons?Before the monsters we tell around campfires and in dark basements?This week—for our HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR finale—we turned our eyes to something far older.The Djinn.Ancient beings said to be created from smokeless fire—not angels, not demons… something in between. Hidden. Watching. Whispering.Throughout this episode, we’ll uncover the origins of the Djinn, and then descend into the chilling encounters people still swear are happening today.🔥 This episode, we’ll explore:Wadi al-Jinn (Saudi Arabia) – where cars are pulled uphill in neutral… and locals refuse to stay after dark.Abu Fanous – The Desert Lantern – a lonely flickering light that lures travelers off the path, and into nothingness.Ghoul-like shapeshifters, haunted wells, crossroads, and abandoned places said to belong not to men… but to those made of fire.The Possession of “Sania” (Pakistan) – a six-year-old girl, a voice that wasn’t hers, and the whisper that never left the hallway.Jinn Alley – Saudi Military Base – soldiers reporting voices, shadows, and orders from things they can’t see.The Haunted Hospital of Irqah (Riyadh) – abandoned after war and fire; stormed by hundreds; claimed by jinn.The House That Burned 11 Times – a family forced to flee as fire after fire erupted with no cause… until they left.East London Jinn Cases – psychiatrists documenting patients speaking unknown languages, describing red-eyed figures no one else could see.Zār Rituals (Iran, Sudan, Egypt) – ancient ceremonies where jinn are not exorcised… but negotiated with.🔥 We’ll dive into:What the word “Djinn” really means—and why it shares a root with genius, embryo, and insanity.The types of Djinn: Ifrit, Marid, Ghoul, Jann, Shayatin.Why some are said to fall in love.Why others only want to watch us burn.How mirrors, iron, salt, fire, and the Qur’an all play a role in djinn lore.Why Western culture made them into funny blue wish-granters……and why the original stories are nothing like Aladdin.From sleep paralysis shadows…to voices in languages never learned…to lights in the dunes that lead you off the path…Join us, as we step into the world of the Djinn—the ancient horrors of smokeless fire.Happy Halloween. Stay strange. Be Rad.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
What this episode covers
The Djinn – Ancient Horrors of Smokeless FireWhat came before ghosts?Before demons?Before the monsters we tell around campfires and in dark basements?This week—for our HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR finale—we turned our eyes to something far older.The Djinn.Ancient beings said to be created from smokeless fire—not angels, not demons… something in between. Hidden. Watching. Whispering.Throughout this episode, we’ll uncover the origins of the Djinn, and then descend into the chilling encounters people still swear are happening today.🔥 This episode, we’ll explore:Wadi al-Jinn (Saudi Arabia) – where cars are pulled uphill in neutral… and locals refuse to stay after dark.Abu Fanous – The Desert Lantern – a lonely flickering light that lures travelers off the path, and into nothingness.Ghoul-like shapeshifters, haunted wells, crossroads, and abandoned places said to belong not to men… but to those made of fire.The Possession of “Sania” (Pakistan) – a six-year-old girl, a voice that wasn’t hers, and the whisper that never left the hallway.Jinn Alley – Saudi Military Base – soldiers reporting voices, shadows, and orders from things they can’t see.The Haunted Hospital of Irqah (Riyadh) – abandoned after war and fire; stormed by hundreds; claimed by jinn.The House That Burned 11 Times – a family forced to flee as fire after fire erupted with no cause… until they left.East London Jinn Cases – psychiatrists documenting patients speaking unknown languages, describing red-eyed figures no one else could see.Zār Rituals (Iran, Sudan, Egypt) – ancient ceremonies where jinn are not exorcised… but negotiated with.🔥 We’ll dive into:What the word “Djinn” really means—and why it shares a root with genius, embryo, and insanity.The types of Djinn: Ifrit, Marid, Ghoul, Jann, Shayatin.Why some are said to fall in love.Why others only want to watch us burn.How mirrors, iron, salt, fire, and the Qur’an all play a role in djinn lore.Why Western culture made them into funny blue wish-granters……and why the original stories are nothing like Aladdin.From sleep paralysis shadows…to voices in languages never learned…to lights in the dunes that lead you off the path…Join us, as we step into the world of the Djinn—the ancient horrors of smokeless fire.Happy Halloween. Stay strange. Be Rad.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
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S5 E29: The Djinn - Ancient Horrors of Smokeless Fire
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