Spooky Isles: The Podcast

As Halloween 2025 approaches, we welcome Dacre Stoker — great‑grandnephew of Bram Stoker — to the Spooky Isles Podcast.Dacre explains why Dracula is the perfect Halloween tale: Irish folklore roots, Whitby inspirations, the “Count Wampyr” what‑if, the missing manuscript pages (including a volcanic ending), and why Bran Castle and Cruden Bay still matter.He also shares details of his upcoming Romania trip culminating in a Vampire Ball inside Bran Castle.Book your Dracula Halloween adventureMore about Dacre: dacrestoker.com · Bram Stoker Estate: bramstokerestate.comMore spooky stories: SpookyIsles.com

In the latest edition of Spooky Isles podcast, host David Saunderson talks to David Turnbull, a local tour guide from South London, who delves into the rich and eerie history of Lambeth, exploring its connections to the occult, notable figures, and haunted locations. They discuss the significance of St\\ Mary's Church, the life of Simon Forman, and the influence of the Tradescant family. The conversation also touches on the intersection of medicine and the occult, the role of Lambeth Palace as a centre for occult knowledge, and the contributions of historical figures like William Blake and Aleister Crowley. Turnbull shares insights about his tours and the upcoming release of his book, 'The Hurdy-Gurdy Man'.

In this episode of Spooky Isles, David Saunderson and Rachael Elizabeth engage with Rick Hale, a seasoned Chicago-based paranormal investigator and writer, who shares his personal journey of overcoming cancer and becoming an amputee. The conversation explores the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in the paranormal field, the importance of inclusivity, and the evolving nature of paranormal investigations influenced by trends in media. Rick reflects on his early experiences with the paranormal and how his diagnosis reshaped his perspective on life and the afterlife. In this conversation, Rick Hale shares his experiences in the paranormal field, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity for individuals with disabilities. He discusses the comfort found in spiritual connections, the ability to overcome physical limitations, and the significance of rational investigation in ghost hunting. The dialogue highlights the need for a balanced approach between belief and skepticism, advocating for a community where everyone can participate in paranormal investigations regardless of their physical abilities.

In this episode of The Spooky Isles, hosts David Saunderson and Rachel Elizabeth welcome musician and paranormal investigator Jay Hollis. They discuss Hollis's debut album, The Ghost's Companion, inspired by a childhood book of ghost stories. The conversation explores the creative process behind turning ghost stories into songs, the realities of paranormal investigations, and the infamous Enfield Poltergeist case. Hollis shares insights on evidence in paranormal research and his personal beliefs about the supernatural, while also hinting at future musical projects.

In this episode of Spooky Hours, David Saunderson interviews Darren Sarsfield, co-founder of Manchester Paranormal. They discuss various paranormal investigation techniques, including the use of new equipment like the SIS camera and the Oculus device. Darren shares his experiences at haunted locations such as Antwerp Mansion and the Ancient Ram Inn, as well as personal encounters with apparitions and poltergeist activity. The conversation also touches on the methods of investigation, the nature of paranormal phenomena, and the excitement of conducting time slip experiments. The episode concludes with insights into future investigations and the importance of trust within the paranormal team.paranormal investigation, haunted locations, SIS camera, Oculus device, Antwerp Mansion, Ancient Ram Inn, poltergeist activity, time slips, Manchester Paranormal, ghost hunting

In this episode of Spooky Isles, David Saunderson and Rachel Elizabeth chat with veteran ghost hunter Dale Kaczmarek. With nearly 50 years of experience, Dale shares insights on ghost hunting, evolving equipment, and his own encounters. They discuss the ethics of provoking spirits, scepticism toward ghost hunting apps, and the influence of historical sites on hauntings. Dale also reflects on fear, the nature of ghosts, and his belief that energy lingers after death.#paranormal #ghost hunting #DaleKaczmarek #SpookyIsles #EVP #spiritphotography #haunted #ghoststories #paranormalresearch

We talk to Kristian Lander, a filmmaker and writer with extensive experience in paranormal investigations. They discuss various methods used in investigations, the psychological aspects of tools like Ouija boards, and share intriguing stories from private investigations, including a unique case involving a child’s experiences with entities. Lander reflects on his childhood influences that sparked his interest in the paranormal and shares insights into his current projects, including a podcast series focused on lesser-known ghost stories from Nottingham.

Leon McAnally discusses his new book, A Guide to Dark Attractions, which explores dark tourism in the UK. He explains that his interest in dark attractions stems from his upbringing in a town with a rich history and his studies in travel and tourism. McAnally spent three years researching and writing the book, uncovering more than 300 places linked to death, suffering, and tragedy.

Paranormal journalist Mark Rees talk to Spooky Isles' David Saunderson about his latest book, Paranormal Cardiff. Mark explains why he chose to focus on Cardiff and the overlooked spiritualism of the Victorian age. Mark shares his favorite ghost stories from Cardiff, including the famous tale of Pete the Poltergeist. He also talks about his personal experiences with the paranormal and the challenges of investigating haunted locations. Mark recommends places to stay in Cardiff and highlights the historical significance of Cardiff Castle. He discusses his motivation for writing about the paranormal and shares his thoughts on the Ghostbusters films. The conversation concludes with information about Mark's website and future projects. You can find out more about Mark and his book at his website: https://markreesonline.com/

Spooky Isles' David Saunderson interviews Rob Kirkup, an author, podcaster, ghost hunter, and paranormal historian from Northumberland. Rob shares his journey in the paranormal field, including his investigations, books, and podcast. They explore the themes and types of ghosts in the North-East of England, including smugglers and royal connections. Rob also recounts his experiences at haunted locations, particularly Chillingham Castle. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the use of paranormal equipment and what keeps Rob motivated in his investigations.

Stuart Morriss, producer of Pareidolia, talks to Spooky Isles' David Saunderson about the new short horror film, starring Diane Franklin, Graham Cole and Carolyn Pickles, as well as other cult and horror events he has been delivering in and around London over the past decade with Misty Moon Events. Find out more about Pareidolia and Misty Moon here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/227604947300124 WEBSITE: https://www.spookyisles.com FOLLOW SPOOKY ISLES ON SOCIAL: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spookyisles/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spookyisles/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/spookyisles/

Hammer Goes To Hell: The House of Horror's Unmade Films is a new book that does what it says on the tin! Author Kieran Foster talks to David Saunderson about how he investigated the old documents and scripts in the Hammer archive at Leicester to discover what might have been. What he's created is a fun and accessible book that describes the downfall of Hammer Films in the 1970s and how despite its amazing creativity, wasn't up to recreate the magic of previous years. It's a book for all lovers of Hammer and other horror films. You can find out more about the book here: https://amzn.to/3MB91xw And Hammer films on Spooky Isles: https://www.spookyisles.com/tag/hammer-films

Spooky Isles' David Saunderson talks to Gemma Johnson, co-founder of Junior Paranormal Events, a organisation based in Greater Manchester seeking to introduce children and young people to the fun of ghost hunting! Discover more about Junior Paranormal Events at https://juniorparanormalevents.co.uk/ You can also find out more about Gemma's writing for Spooky Isles at: https://www.spookyisles.com/author/gemmajohnson/

Emma Heard, the creator of Weird Wiltshire, talks to David Saunderson about the supernatural activity surrounding Stonehenge and other spooky places in Wiltshire. Read more about Wiltshire on Spooky Isles Read Emma's Spooky Isles articles The Supernatural Side of Wiltshire and Visit Grovely Woods And Its Haunting Terrors

Today, we're talking to Andreas Viestad, co-author of Living with the Dead: How We Care for the Deceased, now published by Reaktion books. Andreas discusses how different cultures deal with death with a particular focus on funeral practices. Find out more about Living with the Dead at Reaktion Books Read more about death and cemeteries at www.spookyisles.com #death #funerals #coffins #cemeteries

Jeremy Harte, author of Cloven Country: The Devil and the English Landscape, talks to David Saunderson about the colourful folklore surrounding England's countryside, where legends depict a landscape shaped by devilish hands. You can buy Cloven Country: The Devil and the English Landscape from Reaktion Books. Discover more British and Irish folklore on Spooky Isles.

October 2023 marks the 30th anniversary of Vincent Price's death. Peter Fuller, from Vincent Price Legacy UK, discusses the 15 films the screen legend acted that were made in the UK. Vincent Price Legacy UK Website Supper with the Stars on Instagram And here is the awesome podcast that Peter mentioned during the interview: The Podcast on Nightmare Park Visit Spooky Isles at www.spookyisles.com for more Vincent Price articles!

Things are getting spookier in Durham with Halloween coming, says Andrew Ross, from Walking with the Ghosts of Durham. Andrew tells Spooky Isles about his love of ghost stories and why he started doing ghost tours in Durham. Find out more about Walking with the Ghosts of Durham: https://www.facebook.com/andyrossghostwhisperer/ Read more about ghosts in County Durham on Spooky Isles

Top UK horror poster artist Graham Humphreys talks to Spooky Isles about his new book, Nightmare on One Sheet, exploring his recent poster artwork. Read more about Horror and Fantasy Films on Spooky Isles. You can purchase Nightmare on One Sheet at Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Qcq4YU Find out more about Graham Humphreys at https://www.grahamhumphreys.com

Neil Nixon is a UFO expert and paranormal investigator, with over 40 years experience in researching the uncanny. He talks to Spooky Isles about what UK beginners to UFOs should know. Find out more about UFOs in the UK on Spooky Isles.