Scary Stories for the Soul

Houska Castle is an impressive gothic structure famous for its beautiful religious frescoes, romantic architecture, and a supposed literal gateway to Hell. How did it get there? What lives within? Let's find out.

Fear of El Cucuy derives from the fear of the unknown. So let's shine some light on what we do know about this amorphous, nightmare-inducing creature, and see if it helps dissipate that fear just a little.

New Jersey is known for many things – Atlantic City, Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, and the Jersey Devil. This demon cryptid is the last thing you want to see during your nighttime stroll through the woods. But what is the Jersey Devil? Where did it come from? And will you be its next victim?

To celebrate Women's History Month, we are releasing a newly remastered version of our episode on Lilith, the Mother of Demons. Explore the history of Lilith and why she is revered as a powerful, feminist icon. Warning: This episode mentions domestic violence and assault. Listener discretion is advised.

DISCLAIMER: THIS EPISODE MENTIONS THE SUBJECT OF SELF-HARM AND SUICIDE. LISTENER DISCRETION IS ADVISED. Aokigahara Forest is situated at the base of Mount Fuji, 2 hours west of Tokyo. But despite its beautiful scenery, and serene nature walks, that is unfortunately not what it is most known for.

In the winter of 1692, the village of Salem, Massachusetts found itself embroiled in a vicious witch hunt. A total of 185 people would ultimately be accused of witchcraft, resulting in the deaths of 14 women and 5 men. To commemorate the 333 anniversary of the Salem Witch Trials, Scary Stories for the Soul is releasing one episode a week in the month of February, following 10 of the accused. On this, the last episode of our Salem Witch Trials series, we will focus our attention on Martha Carrier, Ann Foster, and Lady Mary Phips. Sources for this episode are Wikipedia, the Salem Witch Museum, Web.Archive.Org/the Boston Public Library, Ancestors.FamilySearch.org, PressBooks.Pub, “Satan and Salem: The Witch-Hunt Crisis of 1692” by Benjamin C. Ray, “In the Shadows of Salem: The Andover Witch Hunt of 1692” by Richard Hite, the 2003 film “Salem Witch Trials” by Joseph Sargent

In the winter of 1692, the village of Salem, Massachusetts found itself embroiled in a vicious witch hunt. A total of 185 people would ultimately be accused of witchcraft, resulting in the deaths of 14 women and 5 men. To commemorate the 333 anniversary of the Salem Witch Trials, Scary Stories for the Soul is releasing one episode a week in the month of February, following 10 of the accused. This week will be focusing on Martha and Giles Corey. Resources used are Wikipedia, “Martha Corey -Salem Witch Trials in History & Literature” by Jillian Smith and Eliza Pollack, “Giles Corey -Salem Witch Trials in History & Literature” by Heather Snyder, Encyclopedia Brittanica, “Salem Possessed” by Paul Boyer & Stephan Nissenbaum, “In the Devils Snare” by Mary Beth Norton, records from the Court of Oyer & Terminer,

In the winter of 1692, the village of Salem, Massachusetts found itself embroiled in a vicious witch hunt. To commemorate the 333 anniversary of the Salem Witch Trials, Scary Stories for the Soul is releasing one episode a week in the month of February, following 10 of the accused. On this week's episode we will highlight the lives and deaths of Rebecca Nurse and Reverend George Burroughs.Sources for this episode are Wikipedia, the Salem Witch Museum, DigitalHistorySalem.Weebly.com, Famous-Trials.com, “Delusions of Satan: The Full Story of the Salem Witch Trials” by Frances Hill, “The Devil in Massachusetts” by Marion L. Starkey, “Salem Witchcraft, VOL 11” by Charles Upham, and “More Wonders of the Invisible World” by Robert Calef

To commemorate the 333 anniversary of the Salem Witch Trials, Scary Stories for the Soul is releasing one episode a week in the month of February, highlighting the lives, trials, tribulations, and deaths of 10 of the accused. In our first episode of the series we will be discussing Tituba, Bridget Bishop, and Sarah Good. Sources used for this episode are Wikipedia, “Tituba, Reluctant Witch of Salem: Devilish Indians & Puritan Fantasies” by Elaine Brenslaw, Sara Jobe's “Salem Witch Trials in History & Literature” for the University of Virginia, and The Salem Witch Museum

Thomas Edison can take credit for inventing many things, like recorded sound and motion pictures. But did you know he also had a hand trying to invent one of the very first spirit communication machines?

The Stanley Hotel has a reputation for being the most haunted hotel in the United States. Some of that is thanks to Stephen King's 1977 novel The Shining, but most of it is because it's actually really, really, really haunted.

Holiday traditions are sacred things. They're what makes the season joyful and bright. But I bet you didn't know that some of our most beloved holidays traditions, have their roots in Pagan practices and celebrations. Let's talk about the history of Christmas.

La Befana is a popular figure in Italian holiday folklore. The little Christmas Witch shares more than a few traits with good Ol' Saint Nick. This holiday season we're going to talk about La Befana, and see exactly why she should have a place on our mantel, right next to that Elf on the Shelf.

Forests are naturally known as fantastical places, but none hold a candle to Germany's Black Forest. Walk into the supernatural history of the Black Forest, get acquainted with some of its more spooky inhabitants, and learn about what exactly inspired the Brothers Grimm to change the world of folktales forever.

When La Casa de los Lamentos in Guanajuato, Mexico opened its doors to tourists, they knew they could make some money showing the home of a deceased serial killer. What they didn't expect, was that Tadeo Fulgencio Mejia's victims might still be lingering in the halls. Bonus Episode: When Gertrude Tredwell's father forbade her from marrying the love of her life, she kept that promise even after his death. But now, years after her own death, it seems as though Gertrude is still mourning that love in that very home she died in.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! It's time for a Scary Stories for the Soul original tale of terror: The house next to Leticia's has been vacant for years, until now. Her new neighbors, Marcelina and David, are interesting people; beautiful but aloof. But soon, Leticia starts having nightmares about the couple. Are the dreams just that, or are the vampire bites she feels every night real?

There's a tree in Guadalajara that's unlike any other. It's not the concrete slab that the tree grew out of that makes it so unique, or it's strange ability to bleed when cut into. It's the fact that deep underneath its roots is a slumbering vampire waiting to take its revenge. Get ready to learn about the Vampire of Guadalajara.

Jure Grando IS a vampire, or at least that's what the people of Kringa believe. Learn about the first man to ever be noted in historical record as a vampire, and how the village of Kringa stopped his deadly attacks.

Nellie Vaughn is NOT a vampire, and she's been spending the majority of her afterlife trying to convince people of that. Let's explore the Nellie Vaughn story, and how she got stuck with such a bad reputation.

Alleged vampire Mercy Brown has had her name cemented into American history by being the focal point of the New England Vampire Panic. But even now, almost 150 years after her death, the same question still arise: was Mercy ACTUALLY a vampire?

Warning: This episode contains instances of suicide and self harm. Listen at your own discretion.For decades the cause of Ladell Allen's suicide was a mystery, as was the reasoning why her ghost still haunted her childhood home in Monticello, Arkansas. That is, until a new homeowner made a chilling discovery about Ladell Allen and the love of her life.

The Hope Diamond is well know for its beauty, but did you know it also carries a legacy of death and misfortune? Let's discuss the lore behind the brilliant stone and its supposed body count.

Edward Mordrake was a handsome, wealthy young man with a deep secret - a parasitic, evil face lived on the back of his head, whispering atrocities so great that it eventually cost Mordrake his life.

Paintings are fraught with emotions, whether they be anger, sadness, or joy. Some paintings hold spirits and the blood of those who painted them. Sometimes when you look at a painting, it's stares right back at you.

Games are never just games, we already know that. But Robin and Christine are about to learn that lesson the hard way when they insist on playing “The Chair Game,” a supposedly haunted game form their childhoods.

Hide and seek, tag, and cooties, all staples of our childhood, right? But did you know that some of your favorite childhood games could be hiding something dark and scary in their histories?? Let's talk about it!

Agnes Sampson is one of the most well-known women who was murdered during the Scottish Witch trails, and yet there is so much of her story we don't know. Let's talk about the Agnes Sampson, the involuntary witch of Scotland. Please visit The Witches of Scotland's website to learn more about their campaign for Justice. https://www.witchesofscotland.com

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! Here's an original short story “Xochi and La Lechuza.” We also spend some time listening to some real La Lechuza encounters from Reddit users online! https://www.reddit.com/r/scarystories/comments/ch0s6j/la_lechuza_the_owl_witch_true_story/?rdt=59264. https://www.reddit.com/r/skinwalkers/comments/z247n5/anybody_hear_of_la_lechuza/

Not all owls give us warm and fuzzy feelings, like the one from the Tootsie Pop commercial's, or even Hedwig from the Harry Potter books. Some owls incite fear into the hearts of those who hear it's call. This episode we soar into the legend of La Lechuza, the shapeshifting owl witch of Latin and Hispanic American folklore.

Marie Laveau is the most popular and powerful Voodoo practitioner in American history. Let's explore the life of the woman commonly referred to as the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans.

Week 1 of our special Halloween series is about Baba Yaga, the child-eating Crone of Slavic folklore! But is she more than just a hungry witch searching for her next meal? Let's talk about Baba Yaga's place in folklore, and how she aides people in their journeys of self actualization.

We're so used to looking at ourselves in a mirror, that we never question whether that's OUR reflection staring back at us. But could that be someone, or some thing, else in the mirror? Let's talk about mirrors and their ghostly connection to the world of the dead!

The Titanic was a modern marvel meant to be unsinkable, until it met its watery grave at the bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean. This episode we talk about the lead up to Titanic's sinking, the men and women who did what they could to save the souls aboard, and the subsequent aftermath of such a tragic demise.

Has someone ever saved your life but when you turned to thank them, you were completely alone? This week we explore the phenomena known as the Third Man Effect, and how it has changed lives all over the world. We also hear the story of a man who was saved by a mysterious force and changed forever.

On today's episode we dive into the true story of sisters Christine and Lea Papin, and what led them to commit one of Frances most heinous murders to date. Disclaimer: This episode mentions instances of sexual abuse, as well as graphic violence.

Some people inherit familial traits, while others inherit family curses. Let's discuss some of the most famous generational curses in folklore. We'll also meet Maribel Padilla, who inherited something sinister after her absent mothers death.

How far would you go to speak to the ones who you have loved and lost? Let's explore the endearing story of Bess Houdini, and her search for her husband in the afterlife. And let's hear about someone who would do anything to talk to her beloved just one last time.

Lighthouses are more than just beacons for lost ships, they're also beacons for lost souls and hold more than their fair share of secrets and deaths.

Will-o'-the-Wisps have been known to both enchant and entrap unsuspecting nature lovers all around the world. This episode we'll learn about those pesky wisps and about a woman who found herself trapped in the woods with them.

Changelings are curious and dangerous creatures, capable of switching out your loved ones for one of their own without you even knowing. Let us teach you how to detect and defeat a Changeling before it's too late.

The story of Practical Paul and his misadventures with the fairy ring as told by voice actor Casey Hills. 

What better way to celebrate Christmas than by learning about Krampus, Santa's more terrifying companion. Krampus punishes naughty kids with more than just coal, a lesson that a particularly naughty child named Avery learns when he's visited by the Yule demon.

Fairy rings are portals to the world of fairies. Transporting yourself seems like a wonderful idea, but it's very much not. Dreadful consequences await those who enter or disturb fairy rings. Consequences that a man named Paul, Practical Paul to his friends, discovers during a trip to a County Mayo, Ireland.

Welcome all to the Winchester Mystery House! Here you'll learn about the elusive and withdrawn Sarah Winchester who at the behest of a medium and the spirits who visited her, built a house for spirits to reside in. You'll also hear a story about a young woman named Annie who set out to prove to her friends that she wasn't as tame and afraid as they thought, but little did she know that there are some things we should be afraid of.

An original dark fairytale in honor of Samhain. Mare is a man who has lived his whole life in Blackwood Village. The villagers think he's a demon, a dark being in league with the creatures who dwell within the forest. But it's not true, that is until, cruelty takes his best friend, and he finally gives the people what they want, a monster.

An original horror story in honor of Devil's Night! Something terrifying is happening to Alejandro's grandmother. But is her change in personality her own fault, or is someone, or something to blame?

A fear of the ocean isn't that uncommon, especially when you've heard stories of what might be floating in the endlessness of its waters. Josephine is one of those people who's afraid, and after an encounter with the fabled Flying Dutchman, she learns that her fears might just be valid.

Black Aggie is the haunted statue of a weeping woman who marks the grave of General Felix Agnus. It's said that the statue is haunted and that anyone who messes with it reaps ugly rewards. Christopher is one of those people who decided to mess with it, and reaped some very ugly rewards.

Dylan Dullahan doesn't believe in the Headless Horseman, but when he accepts a bet from his high school students, he finds out the horseman is real, and deadly.

What would you confess to if provoked by a ghost from your past? Today we talk about Shelby Helene Adelaide, the inventor of a curious confession apparatus that combined the law with the supernatural. We also hear a story as to what might have motivated her to build such a machine, and why she never invented anything else again.

It's the demon series finale! Let's talk about Valac, the demon made famous by The Conjuring series, and everything that the films got wrong and what they got right. We also hear a story about a man who just wanted a friend, so when he got one, he overlooked some suspicious and odd behavior. Sometimes trusting the wrong person can beak your heart, but trusting the right one can bring unbelievable rewards.