Lunatics Radio Hour: The History of Horror

Why do audiences jump in horror movies? What are some of the greatest jump scares in cinema history? In this episode of Lunatics Radio Hour, Abby and Alan explore the history of the jump scare, from early suspense filmmaking and the famous “Lewton Bus” scene in Cat People to the modern era of loud, fast-paced horror shocks. We break down how jump scares evolved, why they work psychologically, and the films that helped define the technique across horror history.Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.SourcesCollider Article: A Brief History of The Jump Scare by Samantha Graves Inverse Article: The Unexpected Psychology of Jump Scares by Ben Guarino An article from The Lineup by Kelsey Christine McConnell: The Hair Raising History of The Jump ScareAn Atlas Obscura Article by Gavia Baker-Whitelaw: The Startling History of The Jump ScareSupport the show

This week Abby and Alan discuss the reported haunting of the Bell Witch in Tennessee during the early 1800s. The events centered on the Bell family and centers around unexplained noises, voices, and physical disturbances. The entity, often called “Kate,” was said to target specific family members.The case became widely known and was later documented in An Authenticated History of the Bell Witch. There are also claims that Andrew Jackson visited the site. The episode reviews the reported events and their historical context.Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.SourcesAn Authenticated History of the Bell Witch by Martin V. IngramTennessee State Museum article by Tori Kleinpeter: Tennessee Legends: The Bell Witch MainStreetMediaTN.com article by Charlotte Reedy: Andrew Jackson and The Bell WitchSupport the show

This week, Abby and Alan dive into the folklore behind horror’s most contagious curses, from The Ring to Smile to It Follows.Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.SourcesBBC article by Quinn Hargitai: The Strange Power of The Evil EyeA psmag.com article on The Aye-Aye and The Finger of Death by Jason BittelCollider article by Gabrielle Grady: The Ring is Based on A Haunting Ghost StoryThe Evil Eye: The Classic Account of an Ancient Superstition by Frederick Thomas Elworthy.Yale Tropical Resource Institute Article by Eleanor Sterling, PhD Candidate: The Aye-Aye Lemur of Madagascar: Feeding Ecology, Social Behavior, and MicrohabitatJames George Frazer in The Golden BoughAn Anthropology Review article by Claudine Casser: Contagious Magic - Items that have been in contact, remain connected https://www.bellwitchcave.com/bell-witch-legend/Support the show

This week, Abby is joined by Alex Goleman for a double feature of eerie campfire tales, the kind that feel a little too real once the lights go out.“Only The Dead” by Marisca Pichette and “Trash Talk” by Sam Logan.Find more from the authors at mariscapichette.com and samloganwrites.com.Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the show

This week Abby sits down with Kate Rotunda to discuss the vast and unnerving history of mirrors. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the show

Today we are bringing you 6 hometown urban legends straight from our listeners.Follow Madz on Instagram @madzsmiled and @sonrisalibrary. And consider supporting BeLoved Asheville. Follow Abby on Substack: https://substack.com/@lunaticsprojectEmail us at [email protected] with your listener lore. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the show

This week Abby and Alan sit down with Dan Roberts to discuss the history of The Babysitter and The Man Upstairs urban legend and When A Stranger Calls (1979). Follow Dan on Substack: https://substack.com/@drob91Follow Abby on Substack: https://substack.com/@lunaticsprojectGet Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the show

Have you ever felt like someone was watching you from outside your house?  It's an (overdue) honor to present this real scary story from K.L. Mill. If you want to walk down memory lane with us, you can listen to The Man With The Axe (the very first episode of this podcast). Or watch Midnight Visitor. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the show

In 1855, a bizarre incident in Toronto escalated into one of the city’s strangest riots. After a fight broke out between clowns from a visiting circus and members of a volunteer firefighting company, tensions quickly spiraled. What began as a confrontation in a brothel turned into a mob attack that ended with the circus being burned to the ground.In this episode of the Lunatics Radio Hour, we explore the Clown Riot of 1855, the culture of volunteer fire companies at the time, and how the chaos exposed corruption within Toronto’s police force. The fallout from the riot helped push the city toward major reforms in policing and public order.Episode 182 examines how an unlikely clash between firefighters and circus performers became a turning point in Toronto’s civic history.Sources An article by Alex Dunne, on The Uncircurriculum: The Great Toronto Circus Riothttps://grandorangelodge.ca/history/BlogTo article by Alice McCurty: This weird event in 1855 sparked the creation of the Toronto Police forcePeter Vronsky – "Rogues, Scoundrels and Screws" (Toronto crime history)Adam Bunch – "The Toronto Book of the Dead"Heritage Toronto article on the circus riotToronto Public Library archivesFirst hand sources, that we will cite as we go. Thanks to April Brenker for finding those for us.Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the show

This week Abby sits down with Kate Rotunda to talk through her classifications of horror villains. You can read Kate's original article HERE. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the show

Before Salem, there was Connecticut.In this episode of Lunatics Radio Hour, Abby Brenker sits down with historian Josh Hutchinson to explore the Connecticut Witch Trials, which spanned 1647 to 1697 and led to 11 executions decades before the events in Salem.They discuss the Puritan beliefs and English laws that shaped colonial prosecutions, the role of coerced confessions and spectral evidence, and the social instability that fueled accusations. The episode examines cases including Alse (Alice) Young, Mary Johnson, Goody Bassett, Goodwife Knapp, Katherine Harrison, and the 1662 Hartford executions.Josh also shares insights from his work with the Connecticut Witch Trial Exoneration Project and discusses ongoing efforts to formally clear the names of those convicted.A factual look at one of early America’s lesser known chapters of legal and religious history.Sources discussed include:– Amanda Pitts, NBC CT https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/four-decades-before-salem-there-were-witch-trials-in-connecticut/3407226/– Research by Josh Hutchinson https://www.legendsofamerica.com/mary-johnson-witch/– William K. Holdsworth, The New England Quarterly– Godbeer, Escaping Salem– Brian Levack, The Witch-Hunt in Early Modern Europe– Carol Karlsen, The Devil in the Shape of a Woman– Connecticut Colony Code of 1642Other links mentioned in the episode: https://connecticutwitchtrials.org/trail/change.org/witchtrialshttps://endwitchhunts.org/Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the show

This week Abby and Alex present two stories for your enjoyment. In The Light of The Wisps was written by Marisca Pichette. Follow them on Instagram @marisca_write or check out their website: www.mariscapichette.com Airbag was written by Mike Macera. Follow Mike on Instagram and @mikemacera and check out his website: https://www.scene3.co/filmsGet Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the show

This week Abby and Alan discuss the real history of the Lost Colony on Roanoke Island, from the first English expeditions to the colony’s unexplained disappearance in 1590.We talk through the major historical theories, including integration with Indigenous tribes, disease, violence, the supernatural and failed rescue attempts. Finally, we explore how this mystery shaped modern horror, including references in Storm of the Century by Stephen King and American Horror Story.Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the show

This week Abby and Alan discuss Third Man Factor; real life incidents, theories and it's impact on horror and pop culture. Third Man Theory refers to the phenomena of people surviving extreme situations and claiming it's because an invisible entity came to save them. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the show

This week Abby sits down with Kate Rotunda to discuss the very unnerving history of puppets. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the show

Abby and Alan conclude the four part winter horror series. This week they discuss The Yerti and other snow cryptids. They even talk through some of the most famous instances of ice mummies. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the show

This week Abby presents two spooky stories. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the show

This week Abby and Alan continue exploring the intersection of winter and horror, this time through the lens of of isolation. Sources: A Medical News Today article by Danielle Dresdon: What to know about cabin fever.JAMA Network, scientific study by Eugene Ziskind, M.D. called Isolation Stress in Medical and Mental IllnessPubMed study from 2021, Social Isolation and Psychosis: An Investigation of social interactions and paranoia in daily life Study we found on PubMed from 2008: Psychological effects of polar expeditionsAnd another study listed on PubMed The role of circadian phase in sleep and performance during Antarctic winter expeditions from 2022Slash Film article by Danielle Ryan: The Haunted History Behind The Shinings Stanley HotelSyFy article by Josh Weiss: The Thing Oral History: Cast and Crew Reveal Secrets of John Carpenter's Sci-Fi Horror MasterpieceGet Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the show

This week Abby and Alan continue our exploration of snow horror by talking through 5 real life snow tragedies. SourcesA History.com article by Becky Little: The Dyatlov Pass Incident: Why the Hiker Deaths Remain a MysteryMuseumhack.com article by Alex Johnson: The Real Story of The Donner PartyHistory.com article 10 things you should know about the Donner party by Evan AndrewsThe True Story Behind Society of Snow, a Time article by Megan McCluskey. Piers Paul Read, Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors (1974)Nando Parrado, Miracle in the Andes (2006)An A+Etv article by Adam Janos: What Happened to The Yuba County Five?An Oregon Encyclopedia article on Mount Hood Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Follow us on TikTok, X, Instragram and YouTube.Join the conversation on Discord. Support us on Patreon. Support the show

This week Abby and Alan present a non-exhaustive look at winter folklore and mythology from around the globe. From Scotland, Norway and Germany to Japan and Native American mythology. This kicks off a multi-part series exploring the intersection of winter and horror from several different categories. SourcesSmithsonian Magazine Article by Dennis Zotigh: The Winter Solstice Begins a Season of Storytelling and CeremonyMythopedia article by Gregory Wright on CailleachArticle by Elizabeth Fabowale from OldFolklore.com: The Blizzard Spirit of The InuitThe Iroquois and The Legends of The First Snowfall, an article from Native American Mythology Worldwide. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the show

This week we take a nostalgic walk down memory lane and piece together some of our past episodes on Christmas and holiday horror. We’ve covered so many different versions of holiday horror over the last few years, and we wanted to put together a mega-Christmas horror episode that highlights everything from the history of Yule and the pagan celebrations that pre-date Christmas, to the history of a Christmas Carol, one of the most famous ghost stories of all time, and different monsters from Christmas lore all over the world. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the show

Abby sits down with our friend Kate Rotunda to talk about the intersection of feminism and horror. We start out by discussing Frankenhooker (1990) and go from there. CW: Discussion of violence against women and SA.Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the show

Abby and Alan sit down to talk through the dark history of every day expressions and sayings. From mad hatter to taking it with a grain of salt, we get into all of it. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the show

Abby and Alex pick up where they left off last week, and talk through The Wiz and Wicked, in all of it's forms. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the show

Abby sits down with Alex to talk through all things Wizard of Oz. From L Frank Baum's books which date back to 1900, to the 1939 classic MGM film and so much more. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the show

This week Abby and Alan present four modern day horror stories, all in some ways inspired by or adjacent to the Friday the 13th film franchise. Belly Bees was written by Sam Logan and narrated by Kate Rotunda. Follow Sam at samloganwrites.com. No Signal was written by Warren Benedetto and narrated by Mike Macera. Follow Warren at https://warrenbenedetto.com. The Lake was written by Jay D. Falcetti and narrated by Sara Luke. Follow Jay at @jdfalcetti and Sara at @saraluke25 on Instagram. Aluminum Canoes was written by Zachary Taylor and narrated by Peter Papazoglou. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the show

The saga concludes! Abby and Alan continue with their deep dive into the Friday the 13th horror franchise with the final four movies; Jason Goes to Hell, Jason X, Freddy vs Jason and the Friday the 13th reboot from 2009. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the show

Abby and Alan talk about the middle films in the Friday the 13th franchise: Part 5 through Part 8. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the show

Abby and Alan sit down to discuss the history and production of the first four films in the Friday the 13th horror franchise. In part one we start with the first four films; Friday the 13th (1980), Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981), Friday the 13th Part 3 (1982), Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1983). From Kevin Bacon to Corey Feldman, there is a lot to discuss between the first four movies in this series. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Use code JAWS20 for 20% off our merch shop, all summer.Consider joining our Patreon for bonus episodes, spooky literature and deep dives into horror and history. Click here to learn more.Follow us on TikTok, X, Instragram and YouTube.Join the conversation on Discord. Support us on Patreon. Support the show

Abby and Alex are so thrilled to present three haunting and spooky tales. The Summoning was written by Joseph Hare, and narrated by Denali Bartell. Check out Joseph on Instagram @josephhareifyoucare and on Substack josephhare.substack.The Bark was written by Glenn Dugan and Narrated by Mike Macera. Check out Glenn's website here, whereisglennnow.com and follow him on Instagram @whereisglennnow.Poltergeists on Presidents Street was written by LindaAnn Lo Schiavo and narrated by Alex Goleman. Follow LindaAnn on bluesky @ghostlyverse.bsky.social  and on Twitter: @Mae_Westside.Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the show

Abby and Alex Goleman are thrilled to present three haunting horror stories. First Date was written by Carver Welsh and narrated by Abby Brenker. Follow Carver on IG @carverwelsh.A Scratching at The Door was written by Jon Adcock and narrated by Denali Bartell. Follow Jon's work here. Check out Denali's poetry collection here. Division of Spoils was written by D.H. Parish and narrated by Mike Macera. Check out D.H. Parish's work here. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the show

Abby just couldn't get enough. This week is a true deep dive into the history of one of the most bizarre phantoms to haunt a major city. Reports and sightings of Spring-Heeled Jack were commonplace in Victorian London. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the show

We are thrilled to present three superhero horror stories. Interminable was written by Warren Benedetto and performed by Mike Macera. Heffalumps and Ozzles was written by Nikki Blakey and performed by Sara Luke, follow Sara on IG at @saraluke25.The Undertaker was written and performed by Denali Bartell. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the show

Abby and Alan continue their conversation about superhero history and horror. Diving into the most iconic superheroes of all time, and the best examples of superhero horror. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the show

Listen in as Abby and Alan discuss the origins of superhero horror, starting with the earliest instances of folk heros, and the very first superhero comics. From Hugo Hercules to Robinhood, the Scarlett Pimpernel and Namor the Submariner.Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the show

Written by Jacob Steven Mohr. Starring Denali Bartell, Sarak Luke and Mike Macera. Direction and sound design by Abby Brenker (with the help of Alan Kudan.)Sound engineering and mixing by Alan Kudan. Enjoy your Summer! Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the show

This week Abby sits down to discuss all things Astrology. From the earliest uses of star divination in ancient cultures, to Mercury in retrograde, and everything in between. SourcesTime Magazine article: Where Do Zodiac Signs Come From? By Olivia B. Waxman. Academic Paper from Richard Fitzpatrick as part of the physics department at the University of Texas, Austin: Ptolemy’s Almagest: Fact and Fiction. National Geographic article by Catherine Caruso: What are the ancient origins of your zodiac sign?14 Famous Predictions by Nostradamus by Robert Johnson.Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the show

We are so thrilled to present The Player, written by Forest Flynn and performed by Winston Alvarez.Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the show

Today we discuss the history of the Lincoln's, The Booth's and the intersection of the White House and the Occult. But more importantly, this history is really a reflection of a nation divided, and the aftermath of grief. It doesn't seem so far away from the current state of the state. SourcesWhitehousehistory.org article by Alexandra Kommel: Seances in The Red Room. CSUN University Library: The Edwin Booth Family CollectionNational Geographic Article by Parissa Djangi: Seances at the White HouseIn The Houses of Their Dead by Terry AlfordGet Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the show

Listen in to the final installment of our Space Horror series. We will conclude with two epic space horror stories for you.Pariah's Last Breath was written by Curtis A. Deeter and narrated by Denali Bartell. Check out Denali's work here. Follow Curtis on Facebook @AuthorCurtisADeeter and Instaram is @Curtis_A._Deeter. Orion Beckons was written by Benjamin Cooper and narrated by Mike Macera. Keep tabs on Benjamin's work here: www.MindofBenjaminCooper.com and listen to Mike's band Beach Therapy on Spotify. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the show

Abby is so thrilled to present three haunting space horror themed stories. Encounter was written and narrated by Nick Young. You can follow Nick on Instagram @zenblues  and on X: @NickYou87166031.Toy Robot was written by S.S. Fitzgerald and narrated by Jon C Cook. Follow S.S. Fitzgerald on X: @S_S_Fitzgerald. And listen to the Fadó podcast to hear more of Jon's dreamy voice on demand. A Piece of The Sky was written by Warren Benedetto and narrated by Michael Crosa. Check our Warren's website here: https://warrenbenedetto.com. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the show

Abby and Alan continue to discuss the vast history of space horror in film, with a focus on one of the most famous horror franchises of all time, Alien. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.SourcesA New Yorker article by Adam Gopnik: The War Inside H.G. Wells from 2021New York Times Article by Mekado Murphy: How ‘Alien’ Spawned So Many Others from 2017ArtNet.com article by Tim Brinkhof: As Seen on ‘Alien’: H.R. Giger’s Biomorphic NightmareWar of the Worlds Radio Broadcast transcripts by HG Wells. New Yorker Article by Dan Chiasson from 2018: “2001: A Space Odyssey”: What It Means, and How It Was MadePublicBooks.com article by Eleanor Johnson: Speaking the Monster: Ecofeminism in “Alien” and “Aliens”Support the show

Abby and Alan discuss the vast history of space horror in film and literature. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.SourcesA New Yorker article by Adam Gopnik: The War Inside H.G. Wells from 2021New York Times Article by Mekado Murphy: How ‘Alien’ Spawned So Many Others from 2017ArtNet.com article by Tim Brinkhof: As Seen on ‘Alien’: H.R. Giger’s Biomorphic NightmareWar of the Worlds Radio Broadcast transcripts by HG Wells. New Yorker Article by Dan Chiasson from 2018: “2001: A Space Odyssey”: What It Means, and How It Was MadePublicBooks.com article by Eleanor Johnson: Speaking the Monster: Ecofeminism in “Alien” and “Aliens”Support the show

Listen in as Abby discusses the dark origins of Valentine’s Day, tracing its roots from ancient Roman rituals to the modern celebration of love. We explore how traditions like Lupercalia influenced the holiday and examine the lesser-known stories of St. Valentine and the evolution of Cupid.Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.SourcesTime Magazine article by Kat Moon: The Truth About the Connection Between Valentine’s Day and the Ancient Roman Festival of LupercaliaNPR article by Arnie Seipel: The Dark Origins of Valentine’s Day Time Article by Rachel E. Greenspan: Cherubic Cupid is Everywhere on Valentine’s DaySmithsonian Magazine Article by Lisa Bitel The Gory Origins of Valentine's DayHistoric UK article by Ellen Castelow St Valentines DayGood Housekeeping article by Marisa Lascala 15 Best Valentine's Day Horror Movies for People Who Want Their Hearts RacingSupport the show

Abby is thrilled to introduce my new co-host for Campfire Tales in 2025, Alex Goleman. And thrilled to announce that we will be leaning way more into Campfire Tales this year. Sit back, pretend you're siting around a campfire and prepare to be spooked.  Treatment of The All Consuming Client was written by Joelle Killian and preformed by Denali Bartell. Follow @Joelle_Killian on IG. Deep Within was written by Travis Mushanski and preformed by Peter Papazoglou. Follow @TravisMushanski on social media.Abandoned Sweets was written by Josh Clark and preformed by Michael Crosa. Follow josh_of_clark on Instagram. And check out the Podnooga podcast network for more from Michael. As always, thanks for supporting this podcast and the incredibly talented writers and narrators that we are lucky enough to work with.Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the show

This is part two of our conversation with the mysterious Andy, to discuss modern day theories around alien encounters, UFOs, UAP and interdimensional beings. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord.Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Kep @pilar.kep.Support the show

Abby and Alan sit down with the mysterious Andy, to discuss modern day theories around alien encounters, UFOs, UAP and interdimensional beings. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Kep @pilar.kep.Support the show

Abby and Alan are so thrilled to present four haunting holiday horror stories. Cozy up next to a fire with a cup of hot coco, and prepare to shake in your snow boots. Matches was written by Warren Benedetto and narrated by Jon C. Cook. Catch Jon's narration of A Christmas Carol every week, here. Some Items Are Display Only was written by Sarah Jane Justice and narrated by Sara Luke. Follow Sarah Jane Justice on social media @SarahJaneJusticeWriting and Sara Luke @SaraLuke25. The Snow Ones was written by Paul O'Neill and narrated by Mike Macera. Follow Paul on Instagram @Paul.on1984. Listen to Mike's band Beach Therapy anywhere you listen to music. Spirit of The Seasons was written by Marisca Pitchette and narrated by Abby Brenker. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Listen to the paranormal playlist I curate for Vurbl, updated weekly! Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Support the show

From Krampus and Belsnickel to ancient pagan festivals, Abby and Alan discuss the dark origins of Christmas mythology and monsters. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Listen to the paranormal playlist I curate for Vurbl, updated weekly! Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.SOURCESSmithsonian Magazine Article by Kat Eschner - https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-do-ghost-stories-go-christmas-180961547/All Things Interesting Article by Morgan Dunn: The Story Of Yule, The Raucous Pagan Celebration Of Winter That Inspired ChristmasAn article called The Legend of La Befana by Debra Thimmesh, on ItaliaRail.comSanta Claus: Real Origins and Legends on History.comEnglish Heritage article by Tom Moriarty: The History of Father ChristmasAtlas Obscura Article by Sarah Elizabeth Troop: The Monsters of ChristmasSmithsonian Magazine Article by Colin Dickey: A Please to Resurrect the Christmas Tradition of Telling Ghost StoriesSupport the show

Abby and Alan are thrilled to present three horrifying and hauntingly beautiful stories. Come and gather around the campfire, as we collectively grow more and more unsettled together. Consider donating to Beloved Asheville. Lakeland was written by Marisca Pichette, and narrated by Michael Crosa. This story was originally published in text in September 2022 by Night Terror Novels, as part of their Theatre Phantasmagoria series. Marisca's first novella, Every Dark Cloud, is forthcoming in spring 2025 from Ghost Orchid Press. Support Michael by checking out the Podnooga Podcast Network. Black Tea, Cream Tea, Chocolate Tea, Blood was written by Elou Carroll, and narrated by Denali Bartell. It was previously published in Kaleidotrope last year and was included in Tor.com's (now reactormag.com's) Must Read Short Fiction list for September 2023. You can follow Denali on Instagram at @Denalibartell and check out their poetry collection here. Eulogy of The Lake was written and narrated by Mike Macera. You can listen to Beach Therapy on Spotify here. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Listen to the paranormal playlist I curate for Vurbl, updated weekly! Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.Follow us on TikTok, X, Instragram and YouTube.Join the conversation on Discord. Support us on Patreon. Support the show