As luck would have it, we’re not the only ones partial to sharing stories designed to set the hairs on the back of our necks on end, a fact attested to by the glut of disturbing and nightmarish podcasts available to download – not just for Halloween, but all year round. So turn the lights down, grab yourself a blanket and a pumpkin latte, and settle in to submit to a dose of serious spooking. There’s nothing quite like a bone-chilling tale and there’s no time better for it than in the run up to All Hallows Eve. Lock those doors and make sure the kids are tucked up – these are strictly for the grown ups. Shudder.
No Sleep podcast
Warning: this is not the cutesy stuff of mild spookiness for the Halloween horror dabbler. No Sleep started life in 2010 as a Reddit forum dedicated to new writing about frightening experiences. As it turned out, there was quite a volume of aspiring authors ready to unleash the darkest recesses of their imaginations on the world – so much so, in fact, that one member suggested a podcast, where the best entries would be read by a narrator (No Sleep has an array of contributing actors on its books).
Today, there is a new episode, presented and produced by David Cummings, every fortnight and it is genuinely chilling stuff. If, like some of us (ahem), you are of the suggestible imagination and find yourself checking over every corner of the house prior to bedtime after just one episode, it might be worth swerving this (it does, after all, come with the warning that you listen at your own risk, and there are trigger warnings attached to episodes). But if you get a genuine thrill from horror, this is the place to chill yourself to the bone with some of the best new writing; some of No Sleep’s writers have gone on to become published authors, notably Dan Auerbach and the aptly named T.W. Grim. Submissions remain open, so if you are in the midst of penning a disturbing, unsettling or just downright petrifying tale, this is the place to send it, in hope of it getting aired.
Jim Harold’s Campfire
‘Jim Harold’s Campfire is perhaps the best tool we have currently in existence to hear real-life scary stories from other human beings since the actual campfire was invented.’ So wrote Den of Geek, reigning arbiter of everything pop culture. Indeed, Jim is no stranger to spreading the spooky word and in doing so making the hair on the back of our necks stand to attention: he is also responsible for the Paranormal Podcast, and his Campfire project has even been turned into five bestselling books.
And no wonder. He shares ‘stories of ordinary people who have experienced extraordinary things’, and for ‘extraordinary things’, read ghosts, UFOs and the supernatural, all told by the people who have allegedly come face-to-face with these phenomena themselves. It features haunted nunneries, people vanishing into thin air, terrifying night-time encounters with ‘entities’ (never has a word been so creepy) and tales of possession by evil spirits. In other words, these are exactly the kind of campfires stories that are handed down family and friend groups, terrifying the living daylight out of generation after generation. We love this podcast for taking us right back to teenage years.
The Cult Classic Horror Show
This is a light-hearted look at what makes us scream – notably often actually about the movie Scream – all presented by Danny and Scotty Bohnen, The Rob Oneal and Carmelo Chimera, who successfully invite listeners to feel like they’ve joined them for a beer and a chat over favourite movies. The perfect podcast for the self-confessed horror movie nerd.
There are 225 episodes and counting of this light-hearted look at what makes us scream – notably often actually about the movie Scream – all presented by Danny and Scotty Bohnen, The Rob Oneal and Carmelo Chimera, who successfully invite listeners to feel like they’ve joined them for a beer and a chat over favourite movies. The perfect podcast for the self-confessed horror movie nerd.
Lore
‘Sometimes the truth is more frightening than fiction’. That is the entirely apposite tagline for Lore, the podcast that delves behind the darker side of history to serve listeners up an ice-cold dish of true nightmares from years gone by. Its disturbing tales, dredged up from dark pockets of our collective past, are so wrong that they are right – and 225 million listeners agree. So too does the Academy of Podcasters, which named it best history podcast, adding this to a run of accolades, including having been twice crowned best podcast on iTunes in both 2015 and 2016.
Released every two weeks on a Monday, the episodes take a different theme each week, the research all garnered from real documented stories. They range from the folklore and legends surrounding elves – notably in Iceland – to the methods used to out suspected witches in Colonial New England, to alleged encounters with the devilish Victorian creature of British legend, Spring-heeled Jack. For those who require a visual element to their creepy thrills, Lore has been adapted for TV with the help of Gale Anne Hurd, who wrote The Walking Dead. If listening on your commute, do try not alarm your train carriage by screaming too loud.
Alice Isn’t Dead
If you like creepy small town tales in the manner of Twin Peaks, this one will chill you to your very core. A single tale told across three series, it follows a truck driver’s odyssey across America as she searches for her wife – the titular Alice – who has long been assumed dead.
Presented as a series of audio diaries, the protagonist experiences serial murderers and towns that have been forgotten, the whole story adding up to a conspiracy much larger than that of Alice herself. This is the stuff of creeping unease that quickly becomes all consuming.
Haunted Places
This podcast does exactly what it says on the tin. Each week, host Greg Polcyn takes his listeners on a hair-raising tour of a new location, each and every one said to be haunted by the lingering spirit of a departed soul.
The compelling narration reels listeners in, until you find yourself in its grip, powerless to do anything but listen. Featuring tales of the supernatural, of eerie legend and of weird histories, expect to be taken around haunted cemeteries, houses and even whole haunted islands. Perfect Halloween fun.
The Magnus Archives
This popular weekly horror fiction podcast dives into the archives of the fictional Magnus Institute, uncovering tales of the eerie and supernatural. It's known for its intricate storytelling and has garnered a significant fanbase for its spine-chilling content.
Nighty Night with Rabia Chaudry
Combining horror fiction with true crime elements, this podcast explores dark, chilling stories inspired by real-life cases and classic literature. Rabia Chaudry, well-known for her work on Serial, brings a unique twist to the horror genre.
Spooked
From the creators of the Snap Judgment podcast, Spooked presents real-life supernatural stories told by the people who experienced them. With high production value, it’s an engaging listen that brings personal ghost stories to life.
Scare You To Sleep
This podcast offers a blend of eerie storytelling, soothing yet unnerving narration, and immersive soundscapes. Host Shelby Scott creates a unique experience by mixing classic horror tales, listener submissions, and original creepy content. The calming yet unsettling tone is designed to draw listeners into a world of ghost stories, paranormal encounters, and spine-chilling experiences, making it a perfect night time companion for fans of the macabre.
width="100%">
Radio Rental
Hosted by Rainn Wilson as the eccentric character Terry Carnation, this podcast features real-life bizarre, unexplained, and downright creepy stories told by those who experienced them. Each episode feels like a trip into a vintage video store of the strange and supernatural, blending real accounts with fictional elements to enhance the eerie atmosphere. It's a thrilling and darkly humorous dive into the world of the uncanny.
