The Halloween Podcast

Actor Curtis Andersen, who played Gordy on Sabrina the Teenage Witch, joins Meghan and Lyle for a trip through Halloween horror! Curtis puts together a movie watch list every year leading up to Halloween, so we're talking about some of his annual go-tos alongside a few films that earned an important place in horror history. How did horror movies become such a big part of the way we celebrate Halloween? We're talking scary movie traditions, Halloween nostalgia, and the films we find ourselves coming back to when October rolls around. Plus, Curtis shares his own Halloween memories and traditions along the way. 29 days until Halloween! Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website: https://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email: Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line: 731-400-0472 Support the show on Patreon to get the full countdown experience including exclusive shows and giveaways, early listening access, and behind-the-scenes content: https://www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode discusses murder, cannibalism, and harm to children and animals. Parental discretion is advised before listening with children. Today, Meghan and Lyle sink their teeth into “Wonderful Sausage,” a particularly gruesome tale collected by Alvin Schwartz in Scary Stories 3: More Tales to Chill Your Bones (1991), with unforgettable illustrations by Stephen Gammell. What makes Samuel Blunt's sausages so wonderfully delicious? You might wish you hadn't asked! Lyle also traces the story's folkloric roots to the Ozarks and Louisiana as we explore where this deliciously disturbing tale came from. 30 days until Halloween! Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website: www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Facebook: www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram: www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email: Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line: 731-400-0472 Support the show on Patreon to get the full countdown experience including exclusive shows and giveaways, early listening access, and behind-the-scenes content: www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Lyle is taking Meghan back to his childhood with a Halloween cassette she had never heard before: Peter & the Werewolf! This vintage Fun World recording combines spooky storytelling with the wonderfully eerie sound effects that made Halloween so much fun for Xennial kids. Join us as Lyle shares his memories of this childhood favorite and Meghan discovers what she's been missing all these years. It's a little Halloween nostalgia, a little old-fashioned storytelling, and a reminder that sometimes the simplest things can still give us a good scare! 31 days until Halloween! Listen here: https://youtu.be/PObR0pNFa2s?is=HQA9hcgUis_ZZ7FO Website: www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Facebook: www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram: www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email: TheHalloweenPodcast@gmail.com Haunt Line: 731-400-0472 Support the show on Patreon to get the full countdown experience including exclusive shows and giveaways, early listening access, and behind-the-scenes content: https://www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jason Marsden joins us for today's Xennial Countdown to Halloween! You know Jason from an incredible list of films and television shows, including A Goofy Movie, Eerie, Indiana, and very importantly around here Hocus Pocus. We had an absolute blast talking with Jason, who is genuinely one of the nicest guys you could hope to meet. We get into some of those Xennial favorites, spend plenty of time talking Hocus Pocus and Eerie, Indiana, and hear a few stories along the way — but we're not spoiling those here. You'll have to listen! 32 days until Halloween! Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website: www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Facebook: www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram: www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email: Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line: 731-400-0472 Support the show on Patreon to get the full countdown experience including exclusive shows and giveaways, early listening access, and behind-the-scenes content: www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today on the Xennial Countdown to Halloween, Meghan and Lyle are heading to one of the strangest little towns of the early 1990s: Eerie, Indiana. Premiering on NBC in 1991, the series followed 13-year-old Marshall Teller as he tried to document the increasingly bizarre things happening around him in a place where almost everyone else seemed perfectly happy to accept the weirdness as normal. Meghan remembers watching Eerie, Indiana as a kid—most likely during its later run on The Disney Channel—but remembers surprisingly little about it, so she and Lyle revisit what made this short-lived series so unusual. They look at its place just ahead of the huge 1990s kid-horror boom, its distinctly Xennial world, and the surprising amount of social satire hiding beneath all that small-town weirdness. 33 days until Halloween! Watch it here: Tubi Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website: www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Facebook: www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram: www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email: Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line: 731-400-0472 Support the show on Patreon to get the full Countdown experience, including exclusive shows and giveaways, early listening access, and behind-the-scenes content. www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Buttons and Rusty are heading into Halloween for the first time, and the young bear and fox quickly discover that humans have some very strange October traditions. Meghan revisits a childhood favorite filled with trick-or-treating, witches, a pair of criminals, and one ridiculously catchy title song. And given her mild childhood obsession with “woodland animals” — something friends and family can readily attest to — putting a bear and a fox into a Halloween special was really stacking the deck. Meanwhile, Lyle experiences Which Witch Is Which? for the first time. 34 days until Halloween! Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5UywgN_D6s&t=836s Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website: www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Facebook: www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram: www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email: Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line: 731-400-0472 Support the show on Patreon to get the full Countdown experience, including exclusive shows and giveaways, early listening access, and behind-the-scenes content. www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Garfield loves food, hates Mondays, and discovers that Halloween may be the perfect holiday for one very important reason: candy. Today, Meghan and Lyle are watching Garfield's Halloween Adventure for the first time. Neither grew up with this 1985 special, but after hearing generations of Xennials talk about creepy old houses, ghostly pirates, and one surprisingly spooky Halloween night, it was time to find out what they missed. We're talking homemade costumes, trick-or-treating, Lou Rawls, Garfield's questionable candy ethics, and the moment this funny neighborhood Halloween adventure turns into a genuinely creepy ghost story — with a little Halloween history along the way. 35 days until Halloween! Watch it here: LINK Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website: www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Facebook: www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram: www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email: Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line: 731-400-0472 Support the show on Patreon to get the full countdown experience including exclusive shows and giveaways, early listening access, and behind-the-scenes content: www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Who ya gonna call? For Xennials, Ghostbusters was far more than a 1984 movie. The film became a full-blown childhood phenomenon, with its unmistakable logo, proton packs, Ecto-1, ghosts, toys, cartoons and one of the most recognizable theme songs of the decade. Today, Lyle and Meghan revisit the original Ghostbusters and The Real Ghostbusters, looking at the strange combination of comedy and the supernatural that made the franchise so much fun—and helped it find a permanent home at Halloween despite the movie having nothing whatsoever to do with the holiday. And with both animated Ghostbusters series that debuted in 1986 celebrating their 40th anniversaries this year, the timing couldn't be better. 36 days until Halloween! Watch it here: Netflix & Tubi Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website: www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Facebook: www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram: www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email: Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line: 731-400-0472 Support the show on Patreon to get the full countdown experience including exclusive shows and giveaways, early listening access, and behind-the-scenes content: www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Alvin Schwartz told us that “The Trouble,” from Scary Stories 3: More Tales to Chill Your Bones, was true. And behind the story that terrified a generation of young readers was a real family, a real police investigation, and a strange series of events that unfolded on Long Island in 1958. Meghan and Lyle revisit “The Trouble” and dig into the real Seaford poltergeist case that inspired it, separating Schwartz's version from the historical record and exploring the investigation that captured national attention. 37 days until Halloween! Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website: www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Facebook: www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram: www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email: Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line: 731-400-0472 Support the show on Patreon to get the full Countdown experience, including exclusive shows and giveaways, early listening access, and behind-the-scenes content. www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when Bugs Bunny takes on Halloween? Witches, vampires, monsters, potions, trick-or-treating and one extremely eventful Halloween night — Bugs Bunny's Howl-oween Special takes some of the spookiest corners of classic Looney Tunes and somehow turns them into one delightfully chaotic Halloween adventure. Meghan and Lyle head back to 1977 to revisit this spooky seasonal special, talk about how it all came together, and spend some time with Bugs Bunny, Witch Hazel and a collection of familiar faces getting into some very strange Halloween trouble. 38 days until Halloween! Watch it here: https://youtu.be/6U8NW0yJa9g?is=2vjoPAe_WMtBsiTM Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website: www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Facebook: www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram: www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email: Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line: 731-400-0472 Support the show on Patreon to get the full Countdown experience, including exclusive shows and giveaways, early listening access, and behind-the-scenes content. www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Yesterday, we revisited the original Goosebumps books that terrified, delighted, and completely took over the bookshelves of a generation. Today, we're joined by the artist responsible for the images we saw before we ever turned the first page. Special Guest Tim Jacobus, the original cover illustrator for R.L. Stine's Goosebumps series, joins us to talk about creating some of the most instantly recognizable book covers of the 1990s. Tim takes us inside his creative process and shares what went into giving Goosebumps its wonderfully weird, creepy, colorful visual identity. We also discover where some of those original paintings are today — and hear a few fantastic surprises involving the Goosebumps movie starring Jack Black that we're definitely not spoiling here. If you grew up scanning a shelf of Goosebumps books and choosing which one to read based on Tim's artwork, this is a must-listen. 39 days until Halloween! Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website: http://www.thehalloweenpodcast.com/ Facebook: www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram: www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email: Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line: 731-400-0472 Support the show on Patreon to get the full countdown experience including exclusive shows and giveaways, early listening access, and behind-the-scenes content: www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For Xennial kids, few books were as instantly recognizable as Goosebumps. That dripping logo, those gloriously strange covers, the Scholastic book fairs and book orders — and 62 original stories that helped make being scared ridiculously fun. Today, Meghan and Lyle are going back to the original Goosebumps series from 1992–1997 and remembering what it was like to discover these books as kids. From the stories and monsters that stayed with us to the unmistakable artwork that practically demanded you pick up the book, we're celebrating the original series and the particular kind of childhood horror that made Goosebumps a 1990s phenomenon. And we're not quite finished with Goosebumps yet. Tune in tomorrow for another VERY special episode when we're joined by original Goosebumps cover illustrator Tim Jacobus! 40 days until Halloween! Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website: http://www.thehalloweenpodcast.com Facebook: www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram: www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email: Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line: 731-400-0472 Support the show on Patreon to get the full countdown experience including exclusive shows and giveaways, early listening access, and behind-the-scenes content: www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Can we really call something a proper holiday if Rankin/Bass didn't make a television special for it? Today we're digging up one of the stranger corners of Rankin/Bass history with Jack O'Lantern, the wonderfully weird 1972 Halloween installment of Festival of Family Classics. It's new to Lyle, relatively new to Meghan, and packed with pumpkins, witches, warlocks, scarecrows, supernatural mayhem and enough aggressively stage-Irish folklore to make Meghan — after living in Ireland with her Irish husband and spending rather a lot of her academic life specializing in Irish and British history — want to apologize to the entire country. Tá brón orm, a chairde! We also get into the genuinely fascinating Irish traditions behind the jack-o'-lantern, including why the “turnips” carved in Ireland and Scotland are what Americans would generally call rutabagas, and discover that the real folklore is considerably creepier than Rankin/Bass's version. So grab your pumpkin, mind the witches overhead, and join us for a wonderfully peculiar bit of vintage Halloween television. 41 days until Halloween! Watch it here: LINK Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website: http://www.thehalloweenpodcast.com/ Facebook: www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram: www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email: Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line: 731-400-0472 Support the show on Patreon to get the full countdown experience including exclusive shows and giveaways, early listening access, and behind-the-scenes content: www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Some Halloween specials become childhood traditions. Others somehow pass you by completely — and then, years later, you finally discover what everyone has been talking about. Today Meghan introduces Lyle to Fat Albert's Halloween Special, a 1977 Halloween favorite that neither of us actually grew up watching. Meghan only discovered it as an adult after hearing it repeatedly mentioned among beloved classic Halloween television — and, much to her delight, she loved it. We're talking wonderfully old-school homemade costumes, Halloween mischief, Mudfoot remembering the supposedly better — and considerably less safety-conscious — Halloweens of his childhood, a spooky house near the cemetery, and the wonderfully lived-in neighborhood atmosphere that somehow made Meghan nostalgic for a Halloween special she had never actually seen as a child. Does Fat Albert's Halloween Special still work when childhood nostalgia isn't doing any of the heavy lifting? Lyle is about to find out. 42 days until Halloween! Watch it here: LINK Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website: http://www.thehalloweenpodcast.com/ Facebook: www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram: www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email: Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line: 731-400-0472 Support the show on Patreon to get the full countdown experience including exclusive shows and giveaways, early listening access, and behind-the-scenes content: www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

They're creepy, they're kooky, and for both of us, they're pretty much perfect. Today on the Xennial Countdown to Halloween, we're revisiting The Addams Family (1991), starring Anjelica Huston, Raúl Juliá, Christopher Lloyd and Christina Ricci. The Addamses had already been delightfully strange for decades by the time they reached the big screen, but for a lot of Xennials, this was our Addams Family—and Meghan and Lyle both absolutely love this film. We're looking back at what made this wonderfully macabre family so much fun to grow up with, why the movie still works more than 30 years later, and why it feels so completely at home during Halloween season. So dim the lights, practice your finger snaps, and join us at the Addams residence. 43 days until Halloween! Watch it here: LINK Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website: http://www.thehalloweenpodcast.com/ Facebook: www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram: www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email: Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line: 731-400-0472 Support the show on Patreon to get the full countdown experience including exclusive shows and giveaways, early listening access, and behind-the-scenes content: www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today, Lyle takes the lead as we return to the wonderfully unsettling world of Alvin Schwartz with “The Dream,” from 1991's Scary Stories 3: More Tales to Chill Your Bones. It's a deceptively simple little story about a woman named Lucy Morgan, a disturbing dream, and the uneasy question of whether changing your plans can really change what is waiting for you. We're talking about why this short tale is so effective, the nightmare imagery that made it memorable, and the particular kind of childhood terror Schwartz was so remarkably good at creating. 44 days until Halloween! Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website: http://www.thehalloweenpodcast.com/ Facebook: www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram: www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email: Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line: 731-400-0472 Support the show on Patreon to get the full countdown experience including exclusive shows and giveaways, early listening access, and behind-the-scenes content: www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For a generation of Xennial kids, staying on Nickelodeon long enough meant eventually crossing over into the wonderfully strange world of Nick at Nite. Suddenly we were watching television made years—or even decades—before we were born, and because so much of it was wholesome and family-friendly, it was the kind of television grown-ups could happily watch with the kids still in the room. But Nick at Nite also had a wonderfully bizarre sense of humor, especially when it took perfectly innocent old television and repackaged it like something out of a horror movie, paranormal investigation, or conspiracy documentary. This time, Lyle takes the lead with an entire episode inspired by Nick at Nite's hilarious fake horror promos and bumpers—most of which Meghan either never saw or simply doesn't remember. From The Pants That Ate Fred Mertz to The Lost Brady and other gloriously ridiculous bits of classic-TV mythology, Lyle introduces Meghan to a side of Nick at Nite she somehow missed the first time around. Then, near the end, Meghan shares her picks for the spookiest shows from the Nick at Nite lineup. It's classic television, fake scares, genuine nostalgia, and a whole lot of laughing—this one was hilarious good fun. 45 days until Halloween! Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website: http://www.thehalloweenpodcast.com/ Facebook: www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram: www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email: Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line: 731-400-0472 Support the show on Patreon to get the full countdown experience including exclusive shows and giveaways, early listening access, and behind-the-scenes content: www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For today's Xennial Countdown to Halloween, we're joined by Special Guest Justin Shenkarow, whose career is woven through some of the television that helped define a Xennial childhood. Justin takes us back to growing up as a working actor in the late '80s and '90s, from his early days in the business and a first-season holiday appearance on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to playing Simon Holmes in the wonderfully strange Eerie, Indiana and becoming the unmistakable voice of Harold Berman on Hey Arnold! Naturally, we spend plenty of time in the spooky end of Justin's résumé. We talk about what it was like making Eerie, Indiana as a kid, the wonderfully weird television being made for young audiences at the time, Hey Arnold!'s 1997 Halloween special, “Arnold's Halloween,” and some of the other spooky and Halloween projects that have cropped up throughout his career. We also look back at what Halloween was actually like for Justin growing up during the era we're celebrating. And then Justin gives us what may very well be the GOAT of all guest paranormal experiences we've heard on the podcast to date. We are absolutely not spoiling that one here—you need to hear it from him. It's a trip through spooky '90s television, childhood Halloween memories, behind-the-scenes stories and one paranormal experience we will not be forgetting anytime soon. 46 days until Halloween! Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website: http://www.thehalloweenpodcast.com/ Facebook: www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram: www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email: Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line: 731-400-0472 Support the show on Patreon to get the full countdown experience including exclusive shows and giveaways, early listening access, and behind-the-scenes content: https://www.patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For today's Xennial Countdown to Halloween, we're heading back to Hillwood for Hey Arnold!'s wonderfully spooky 1997 Halloween special, “Arnold's Halloween.” Lyle and Meghan have both seen this one before, and we're revisiting Arnold and Gerald's Halloween prank that gets wildly out of hand. We talk about the episode's clever use of classic science-fiction scares, its very '90s take on Halloween night, and why Hey Arnold! was so good at creating a world where the kids felt like actual kids—and the adults were often considerably more ridiculous. From homemade costumes and neighborhood mischief to aliens, panic and one particularly memorable water tower, this is Hey Arnold! at its Halloween best. 47 days until Halloween! Watch it here: LINK Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website: http://www.thehalloweenpodcast.com/ Facebook: www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram: www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email: Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line: 731-400-0472 Support the show on Patreon to get the full countdown experience including exclusive shows and giveaways, early listening access, and behind-the-scenes content: https://www.patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Disney's The Legend of Sleepy Hollow has been haunting Halloween television for generations. Meghan grew up with Ichabod Crane, the autumn abundance of the Van Tassel farm, Bing Crosby's unforgettable narration and, of course, the Headless Horseman thundering through those wonderfully spooky woods. Lyle, on the other hand, somehow made it to adulthood without ever seeing it. Today, Meghan introduces Lyle to this 1949 Disney classic as they explore its roots in Washington Irving's original story, its gorgeous vision of autumn, its surprisingly rich language, memorable music and one of Disney's most effective ventures into genuine Halloween scares. Does it still work for someone seeing it for the first time as an adult—or is nostalgia doing some of the heavy lifting? 48 days until Halloween! Watch it here: Disney+ Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website: https://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email: Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line: 731-400-0472 Support the show on Patreon to get the full countdown experience including exclusive shows and giveaways, early listening access, and behind-the-scenes content: www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Grinch at Halloween? Meghan says absolutely. Lyle has… objections. In 1977, Dr. Seuss brought the Grinch back to television for Halloween Is Grinch Night, a wonderfully strange special that has been part of Meghan's Halloween season since childhood. For this episode, Lyle watched it for the first time — and the 2 hosts came away with very different opinions about what they had just seen. Meghan makes the case for sour-sweet winds, monsters, eerie atmosphere and one completely unhinged Paraphernalia Wagon. Lyle has some thoughts of his own. Is this an overlooked Halloween gem, or does Meghan have several decades of nostalgia working against her? Listen to the debate, then weigh in: Does Halloween Is Grinch Night actually count as Halloween? 49 days until Halloween! Watch it here: https://youtu.be/ygSEkwRCQPM?is=Rne8XZjPOFCf7xKE Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website: www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Facebook: www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram: www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email: TheHalloweenPodcast@gmail.com Haunt Line: 704-666-1666 Support the show on Patreon to get the full countdown experience including exclusive shows and giveaways, early listening access, and behind-the-scenes content: https://www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If Die Hard Is a Christmas Movie, Is E.T. a Halloween Movie? If Die Hard is a Christmas movie, does that mean E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial gets to be a Halloween movie? Meghan is taking the case to Holiday Movie Court. Halloween isn't just a random scene in E.T. — it's established early, becomes an important part of the film, and ultimately gives Elliott the perfect cover for getting a very conspicuous extraterrestrial out of the house and through a neighborhood full of trick-or-treaters. So Meghan has a proposition: if the arguments used to admit Die Hard into the Christmas-movie club are applied consistently, E.T. has a case for admission as a Halloween movie. There's just one complication. Lyle doesn't particularly like E.T., and he's been appointed the jury. Meghan presents the evidence, Lyle delivers his verdict, and then the case goes to the court of public opinion. You are the jury on appeal. When you see this episode on our social media, tell us whether you uphold Lyle's verdict or overturn it — and give us your best argument for why. If Die Hard is a Christmas movie, is E.T. a Halloween movie? 50 days until Halloween! Watch it here: Prime Video Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website: https://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email: Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line: 704-666-1666 Support the show on Patreon to get the full countdown experience including exclusive shows and giveaways, early listening access, and behind-the-scenes content: www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today on the Xennial Countdown to Halloween, Lyle and Meghan revisit one of the most unforgettable pieces of spooky childhood reading: “The Green Ribbon,” Alvin Schwartz's eerie little tale from In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories. For generations of young readers, a simple green ribbon tied around a woman's neck was enough to inspire curiosity, dread, and perhaps a lifelong inability to look at ribbon chokers quite the same way again. Meghan and Lyle return to the story, its wonderfully unsettling illustrations, and the particular kind of childhood horror that could hide inside a book meant for beginning readers. 51 days until Halloween! Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website: https://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email: Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line: 731-400-0472 Support the show on Patreon to get the full countdown experience including exclusive shows and giveaways, early listening access, and behind-the-scenes content: www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Meghan and Lyle revisit the 1979 animated special Raggedy Ann and Andy in The Pumpkin Who Couldn't Smile — an absolute childhood favorite for Meghan and a first-time watch for Lyle. Written, produced and directed by legendary animator Chuck Jones, this sweet little Halloween story brings together a lonely boy, a pumpkin nobody wanted and an aunt who may have forgotten something important about the magic of Halloween. Meghan shares why this remains one of her absolute favorite Halloween specials, from its wonderfully autumnal imagery and memorable chase sequence to the banjo and harmonica music that still sounds like childhood October to her. Lyle brings a fresh perspective to the special, including its animation, music and whether this gentle piece of Halloween television still holds up for someone discovering it without the nostalgia. 52 days until Halloween! Watch it here: https://youtu.be/zGC5sIIxTRY?is=8M3-8oOgGznwrxJQ Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website: https://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email: Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line: 731-400-0472 Support the show on Patreon to get the full countdown experience including exclusive shows and giveaways, early listening access, and behind-the-scenes content: https://www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This time on the Xennial Countdown to Halloween, Meghan and Lyle are joined by Gerry from the Totally Rad Christmas podcast for a trip back to 1979 and The Halloween That Almost Wasn't — and Gerry actually handpicked this wonderfully strange little piece of Halloween television as the special he wanted to discuss! Meghan and Gerry bring the nostalgia while Lyle watches the special for the very first time, as they revisit an Emmy-winning cast of familiar television faces, the peculiar magic of annual holiday specials, and a Halloween adventure that could only have come out of the late 1970s. Does it still hold up without childhood nostalgia? And just how much disco does it take to save Halloween? 53 days until Halloween! Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website: https://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email: Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line: 731-400-0472 https://www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Support the show on Patreon to get the full countdown experience including exclusive shows and giveaways, early listening access, and behind-the-scenes content. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Lyle and Meghan kick off the Xennial Countdown to Halloween by heading back to the classrooms, hallways and school libraries of the late 1970s, '80s and '90s to remember what Halloween was like at school. From construction-paper decorations, spooky library books and Halloween music lessons to homemade costumes, plastic masks, classroom parties, squeaking television carts and the all-important Halloween parade, school helped turn October 31st into something that felt much bigger than a single night. They also remember how Halloween changed as we moved from elementary school into middle and high school, when innocent costume parades gave way to school dances, teenage costume drama and whispered stories about whoever had managed to get themselves sent home that year. Along the way, Meghan shares some of her own school Halloween memories—including a homemade Medusa costume and the Halloween spelling song she still hears in her head today—and considers whether spending weeks celebrating Halloween at school helped prime a generation of Xennials for the ever-expanding Halloween season we enthusiastically embrace as adults. 54 days until Halloween! Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website: https://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email: Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line: 731-400-0472 Patreon: https://www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Support the show on Patreon to get the full countdown experience including exclusive shows and giveaways, early listening access, and behind-the-scenes content. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on The Halloween Podcast, Lyle and Meghan are getting ready to kick off the Xennial Countdown to Halloween, a daily trip back through the movies, television specials, cartoons, books, music, commercials, toys, traditions, and other pieces of Halloween pop culture that made the season what it was for Xennial kids growing up in the '80s and '90s. The countdown officially begins on Labor Day, September 7, a date that felt like a dividing line for a lot of Xennial kids: the unofficial end of summer, the gateway to fall, and the point when many of us headed back to school. From there, a new episode will arrive every day through Halloween, revisiting the familiar favorites, half-forgotten gems, and wonderfully weird pieces of Halloween nostalgia that helped shape a generation of Halloween fans. 57 days until Halloween! Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website: https://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email: Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line: 731-400-0472 Support the show on Patreon to get the full countdown experience including exclusive shows and giveaways, early listening access, and behind-the-scenes content: https://www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We're back with a new Weekly Update, and Halloween season is officially kicking into high gear! This week, Lyle and Meghan catch up on the latest Halloween news, including Target pulling a controversial Halloween costume, Hershey unveiling its biggest “Hersheyween” lineup yet, and Hotel Transylvania joining SeaWorld Orlando's Halloween Spooktacular. Around the Crypt, we visit Roger's Gardens for its Moonlight Masquerade Halloween experience, talk about NXT Halloween Havoc landing on Halloween night, and check out two very different Halloween celebrations returning to the Smithsonian's National Zoo. Meghan also brings us the latest Code Orange sightings and This Week in Horror History. We also take some time to remember several people we've lost since our last Weekly Update, read two new five-star reviews, welcome a new member into the Pumpkin Room, and talk about what's ahead as the Countdown to Halloween gets closer. Plus, we welcome our newest sponsor, Dead Tired Coffee Company. Halloween Podcast listeners can use code HALLOWEENPOD to get any 12 oz bag of coffee for $20, with an equivalent discount on other products in the shop, plus a free decal. There are only 61 days until Halloween! Story Links Target Pulls Halloween Costume After Backlash:https://www.kxan.com/news/offensive-target-issues-apology-after-halloween-costume-backlash/amp/ Hershey Unveils Its 2026 “Hersheyween” Lineup:https://www.silive.com/news/2026/08/hersheyween-2026-salty-gummy-and-fruity-varieties-expand.html Roger's Gardens Opens Moonlight Masquerade:https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/story/2026-08-28/new-halloween-tradition-returns-with-moonlight-masquerade-boutique NXT Halloween Havoc Returns October 31:https://411mania.com/wrestling/nxt-halloween-havoc-announced-october-31st/ Boo at the Zoo & Night of the Living Zoo Return:https://wtop.com/local/2026/08/boo-at-the-zoo-night-of-the-living-zoo-return-to-national-zoo-this-october/ Dead Tired Coffee Company Use code HALLOWEENPOD to get any 12 oz bag for $20, an equivalent discount on other products in the shop, and a free decal. https://dead-tiredcoffeecompany.com/discount/HALLOWEENPOD The Halloween Podcast Website: https://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Patreon: https://www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast YouTube: https://www.YouTube.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email: Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line: 731-400-0472 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of The Halloween Happy Hour, Lyle and Meghan head to Waupaca, Wisconsin, to uncover the strange story of the historic Cristy House. In 1981, Gloria Bruch purchased the massive Victorian home thinking she had found an incredible bargain. What she says no one told her was that the house had sat empty for years and already had a reputation for being haunted. After moving in, Gloria and her children began reporting footsteps, voices, unexplained crying, doors moving on their own, and other strange activity. Years later, Gloria summed up the experience with one unforgettable sentence: “Unknowingly, I bought a haunted house.” Grab a drink and join Lyle and Meghan as they dig into the history, hauntings, and what eventually became of the Cristy House on The Halloween Happy Hour, from The Halloween Podcast Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website:https://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Facebook:https://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram:https://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email:Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line:731-400-0472 Support the show on Patreon:https://www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Meghan asks Lyle what Halloween lovers should consider when buying a home, and Lyle answers from his experience as a real estate agent. Does the neighborhood get trick-or-treaters? Are there nearby Halloween events? Could an HOA restrict your decorations? What about local ordinances, giant displays, storage space, and everything else that comes with being Halloween obsessed? We also head into some spookier territory and talk about stigmatized properties, deaths and murders in homes, alleged paranormal activity, old burial grounds, and what sellers and real estate agents may or may not have to disclose. Plus, Lyle shares the story of the infamous “NOT HAUNTED” house listed by his own real estate office years before he worked there. If you're looking for a home where you can truly live your best Halloween life, these are the questions you might want to ask before you sign on the dotted line. Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website:https://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Facebook:https://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram:https://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email:Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line:731-400-0472 Support the show on Patreon:https://www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Halloween season continues to pick up steam as Lyle and Meghan cover some of the biggest stories from the worlds of Halloween, horror, and the paranormal. This week, Spencer Spirit Holdings announces plans to acquire Hot Topic, John Carpenter talks about possibly returning to the Halloween franchise, and 83 neighbors come together to give an 11-year-old boy an unforgettable early Halloween celebration. We also head Around the Crypt for Disney's newest Halloween popcorn bucket, a look at how one city is considering making Halloween night safer, research into whether infrasound could help explain some paranormal experiences, and Dan Aykroyd's stories from his reportedly haunted family farmhouse. Plus, Meghan brings us Code Orange and This Week in Halloween History, and we read four brand-new Apple Podcasts reviews. Story Links Spencer Spirit Holdings to Acquire Hot Topic:https://www.retaildive.com/news/spencer-spirit-holdings-acquire-hot-topic-halloween/827283/ John Carpenter Wants to Return to Halloween:https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/584193/john-carpenter-wants-to-return-to-halloween-id-love-to-contribute/ 83 Neighbors Create an Early Halloween Celebration:https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/amp/family/story/83-neighbors-surprise-11-year-early-halloween-birthday-135350232 Disney World Halloween Popcorn Bucket:https://allears.net/2026/08/07/new-halloween-popcorn-bucket-hits-disney-world/ Tucson Considers Halloween Safety Measures:https://tucson.com/news/local/government-politics/article_e93df279-8fea-46a7-a38f-8711235cca4d.html Infrasound and Paranormal Experiences:https://www.frontiersin.org/news/2026/04/27/vibrating-pipes-restless-spirits-increased-stress-irritability-infrasound-exposure-paranormal-experiences-frontiers-behavioral-neuroscience Dan Aykroyd's Haunted Ontario Farmhouse:https://ghostbustersnews.com/2026/08/05/dan-aykroyd-offers-a-peek-inside-his-haunted-ontario-farmhouse/ The Halloween Podcast Website: https://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Patreon: https://www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast YouTube: https://www.YouTube.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email: Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line: 731-400-0472 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on The Halloween Podcast, Lyle and Meghan take a nostalgic trip back to the Scholastic Book Fair and the spooky shelves that helped shape a generation of Halloween fans. They look at the history of the fair, the excitement of choosing your own books, the unforgettable covers that drew kids in, and the way ghost stories, monsters, and haunted houses made Halloween feel like something you could enjoy all year long. Along the way, they share personal memories of Book Fair days, childhood reading struggles, books on cassette, playground ghost stories, and the titles that stayed with them long after the fair packed up and disappeared. Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website:https://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Facebook:https://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram:https://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email:Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line:731-400-0472 Support the show on Patreon:https://www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this special Scholastic Book Fair Week edition of Haunted Thursday, we revisit The Dynamite Book of Ghosts and Haunted Houses, a Scholastic paperback published in 1980 that introduced young readers to phantom hitchhikers, haunted churches, ghostly houses, and famous paranormal locations from across America. Along the way, we examine author Margaret Ronan's background, her earlier work with paranormal stories, and the newspaper trail connected to her research. The book presented its stories as true, but without a bibliography or source guide, how much can still be traced to documented history, eyewitness accounts, or folklore? Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website:https://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Facebook:https://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram:https://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email:Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line:731-400-0472 Support the show on Patreon:https://www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on The Halloween Podcast, Lyle and Meghan take a nostalgic trip back to the Scholastic Book Fair, when a colorful flyer, a few dollars, and tables full of books could turn an ordinary school day into something special. They look back at the history of the Book Fair, the excitement of choosing your own books, and the spooky shelves filled with ghosts, monsters, haunted houses, and unforgettable covers. Along the way, they revisit childhood favorites including Goosebumps, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, and other memorable Book Fair titles. Lyle also shares personal stories about struggling with reading, discovering books on cassette, staying at the Book Fair so long that he missed the bell, and starting a fifth-grade scary club beneath the playground equipment. Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website:https://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Facebook:https://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram:https://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email:Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line:731-400-0472 Support the show on Patreon:https://www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Spirit Halloween stores are officially opening for the season, the Warren Museum announces its move to Salem, and Halloween fans are already counting down the days until October 31. This week, Lyle and Meghan discuss Spirit's grand opening, Salem's 400th anniversary celebration, Ozzy Osbourne's upcoming Halloween Horror Nights haunted house, The Halloween Movie Cookbook, and tips for saving money on Halloween candy. Plus, we debut our brand-new Haunt Line segment, featuring listener stories about Ouija boards, cemetery mysteries, local legends, and the question: When does Halloween season officially begin? We also remember filmmaker John Lechago and look back at a dark moment in true-crime history. Call the Haunt Line: 731-400-0472 Story Links Spirit Halloween Grand Opening:https://www.spirithalloween.com/content.jsp?pageName=SpiritGrandOpening Warren Museum opening in Salem:https://patch.com/connecticut/monroe/amp/34549874/former-monroe-warren-museum-announces-public-opening-in-salem Ozzy Osbourne haunted house at Halloween Horror Nights:https://people.com/a-ozzy-osbourne-haunted-house-coming-to-universal-halloween-horror-nights-1-year-after-his-death-12029530 Salem's 400th anniversary celebration:https://www.salem400.org The Halloween Movie Cookbook:https://www.berkshireeagle.com/arts_and_culture/food/fork-and-folio-cookbook-review-the-halloween-movie-cookbook/article_b8261d67-158b-4e51-98cc-e63bf1f03df7.html Halloween candy savings tips:https://www.aol.com/articles/16-hacks-scoring-bulk-halloween-164500000.html The Halloween Podcast Website: https://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Patreon: https://www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast YouTube: https://www.YouTube.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email: Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line: 731-400-0472 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Before zombies were flesh-eating monsters roaming a post-apocalyptic world, they were something very different. This week, Lyle and Meghan travel back to 1943 to listen to and discuss "Profits Unlimited," a classic episode of Lights Out, one of radio's earliest and most influential horror series. Together, they explore the story's haunting atmosphere, memorable characters, and surprising moral message while comparing these early zombies to the ones that would later define the genre after Night of the Living Dead. Along the way, they share their favorite moments, discuss the evolution of zombie lore, and decide whether this forgotten radio drama still holds up more than 80 years later. Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website:https://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Facebook:https://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram:https://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email:Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line:731-400-0472 Support the show on Patreon:https://www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this special Zombie Week edition of Haunted Thursday, we examine the extraordinary case of Clairvius Narcisse, the Haitian man who was declared dead in 1962, buried by his family, and then returned nearly eighteen years later claiming he had been turned into a zombie. Along the way, we explore the origins of the Haitian zombie legend, the investigation into Narcisse's story, the controversial research of Wade Davis, and the scientific debate surrounding the case. Was it a rare medical mistake, the effects of a powerful poison, a deeply rooted cultural belief, or one of history's most enduring mysteries? Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website:https://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Facebook:https://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram:https://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email:Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line:731-400-0472 Support the show on Patreon:https://www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on The Halloween Podcast, we're joined by actor Lew Temple for a fun conversation that spans decades of an incredible career. Before appearing in some of horror's biggest films, Lew worked in professional baseball with the Seattle Mariners and Houston Astros, giving him a unique path into Hollywood. We talk about that journey, his memorable roles in The Devil's Rejects, Halloween (2007), The Walking Dead, and much more. Along the way, Lew shares behind-the-scenes stories from the set, reflects on becoming part of horror history, discusses working with Rob Zombie, and even dives into the paranormal. We wrap things up with one of our favorite lightning rounds yet, making this an interview you won't want to miss. Follow Lew Temple: https://linktr.ee/lewtemple Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website:https://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Facebook:https://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram:https://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email:Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line:731-400-0472 Support the show on Patreon:https://www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on The Halloween Podcast, we discuss the brand-new Resident Evil trailer, dive into Mars' fascinating 2026 Tricks, Treats & Trends Report revealing how Halloween has become a full season, and look at the first-ever television adaptation of Stephen King's Carrie. We also share news about new 4K releases for Sleepy Hollow and Practical Magic as Halloween favorites continue making their return. We also head Around the Crypt with Goodwill's first-ever Halloween pop-up store, the 60th anniversary celebration of It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, one final season for a beloved Ottawa Halloween fundraiser, and a brand-new Hocus Pocus trolley tour in Salem. Plus, Meghan brings us the latest retail sightings in Code Orange, we look back at This Week in Halloween History, and much more. Story Links Resident Evil Trailer https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Resident+Evil+2026+official+trailer Mars 2026 Tricks, Treats & Trends Report https://www.mars.com/sites/g/files/dfsbuz106/files/2026-07/Mars%202026%20Tricks%20Treats%20and%20Trends%20Report.pdf Summerween Report Story https://wrnjradio.com/mars-report-finds-halloween-celebrations-starting-earlier-as-summerween-gains-popularity/ Carrie TV Series https://variety.com/ (or the article you used) Sleepy Hollow 4K SteelBook https://collider.com/sleepy-hollow-4k-steelbook-release/ Practical Magic 4K Release https://collider.com/practical-magic-4k-blu-ray-release/ Goodwill Halloween Pop-Up https://www.wnem.com/2026/07/23/first-ever-goodwill-halloween-pop-up-store-arrives-birch-run-aug-14/ It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown 60th Anniversary https://parade.com/news/great-pumpkin-charlie-brown-60th-anniversary-halloween-book Ottawa Halloween House https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-orleans-hallowen-house-fundraiser-future-2026-9.7281193 Hocus Pocus Trolley Tour (Insert the Salem Night Tour link you used.) Follow The Halloween Podcast Websitehttps://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Facebookhttps://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagramhttps://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast YouTubehttps://www.YouTube.com/TheHalloweenPodcast EmailInfo@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line731-400-0472 Support the Show on Patreonhttps://www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Happy Halloween! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Can a Tesla really detect ghosts? In this episode of The Halloween Podcast, we explore the viral videos showing Tesla vehicles detecting phantom people in cemeteries and other seemingly empty locations. We trace the phenomenon back to the videos that sparked millions of views online, examine how Tesla Vision and artificial intelligence interpret the world, and discuss why these eerie dashboard figures have convinced some people that the cars are seeing something beyond human perception. Along the way, we compare Tesla's technology to the tools used by paranormal investigators, look at why cemeteries seem to produce so many of these strange detections, and separate internet legend from the science behind computer vision. Whether you believe it's ghosts, glitches, or something in between, this modern mystery proves that every generation finds new ways to tell old ghost stories. Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website: https://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email: Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line: 731-400-0472 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Bachelor's Grove Cemetery has long been called one of the most haunted places in America. Visitors have reported glowing blue lights, ghostly apparitions, phantom vehicles, a disappearing farmhouse, and the famous "Madonna of Bachelor's Grove" photograph. But was it always considered haunted? In this episode of The Halloween Podcast, we dig through decades of historical newspaper archives to trace the evolution of one of America's greatest ghost legends. What we found was surprising. The earliest articles weren't about ghosts at all. They told the story of a forgotten pioneer cemetery, years of heartbreaking vandalism, and a haunting reputation that slowly grew during the 1970s. Along the way, we explore the cemetery's history, its most famous paranormal claims, the legendary White Lady, the 1991 ghost photograph, and the fascinating question of how folklore can transform an ordinary place into a paranormal icon. Follow The Halloween Podcast Website:https://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Patreon:https://www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Facebook:https://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram:https://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email:Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line:731-400-0472 Sources Research for this episode included historical newspaper archives, local historical records, cemetery documentation, published research on Bachelor's Grove Cemetery, reports from the Ghost Research Society, and the YouTube video "Bachelors Grove Cemetery 1990's" from Real Scary Stories. Bachelor's Grove Cemetery & Settlement Research Centerhttps://www.bachelorsgrove.com Ghost Research Society - Bachelor's Grove Cemeteryhttps://www.ghostresearch.org/sites/bachelors.html "Bachelors Grove Cemetery 1990's" - Real Scary Stories (YouTube)https://youtu.be/cAOzSCtkuR0?si=VUIwMudp6HMtlPD- Historical newspaper archives from Newspapers.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There was a time when Americans packed a lunch, gathered the family, and spent the afternoon in a cemetery. It may sound strange today, but during the nineteenth century, cemetery picnics were a surprisingly common tradition. Long before public parks became widespread, beautifully landscaped rural cemeteries served as places for recreation, reflection, and community gatherings. In this episode, we explore the fascinating history of cemetery picnics, from the rise of the rural cemetery movement to the Victorian attitudes toward death that made these outings possible. We discuss why families visited cemeteries for more than mourning, how these spaces became some of the country's earliest public parks, and what ultimately caused the tradition to fade. We also uncover newspaper accounts documenting real cemetery picnics, reunions, and community gatherings that reveal just how ordinary these events once were, along with a few places where the tradition continues in a different form today. Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website:https://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Facebook:https://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram:https://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email:Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line:731-400-0472 Support the show on Patreon:https://www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on The Halloween Podcast, we cover one of the biggest paranormal stories of the year as Jason Hawes is officially listed as the owner of The Conjuring House, take a look at HalloweenCostumes.com's massive reveal of more than 100 new animatronics and inflatables, and discuss the announcement that a brand-new A Nightmare on Elm Street film is officially in development, along with Robert Englund's thoughts on the future of Freddy Krueger. We also head Around the Crypt with news about Connecticut's Forsaken Lands haunted attraction relocating, a new Choose Your Own Adventure Halloween book, and after-dark ghost tours at Australia's historic Gladstone Gaol. Plus, we remember Sam Neill and Brenda Fricker, welcome a new Pumpkin Room supporter, and read another fantastic five-star Apple Podcasts review. Story Links Jason Hawes & The Conjuring House https://www.wpri.com/target-12/who-owns-the-conjuring-house-jason-hawes-records-deed-amid-court-fight/amp/ HalloweenCostumes.com Reveals 100+ New Decorations https://horrorfuel.com/2026/07/15/video-halloweencostumes-com-drops-over-a-hundred-new-animatronics-and-inflatables/ New A Nightmare on Elm Street Movie Announced https://people.com/new-nightmare-on-elm-street-movie-announced-12019000 Robert Englund Discusses Freddy's Future https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/movies/articles/robert-englund-return-freddy-krueger-213827060.html The Forsaken Lands Relocating https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/one-connecticuts-biggest-halloween-attractions-100000803.html Choose Your Own Adventure: Fairy House Halloween https://bleedingcool.com/pop-culture/choose-your-own-adventure-preps-for-october-in-fairy-house-halloween/ Gladstone Gaol Halloween Ghost Tours https://glamadelaide.com.au/this-halloween-gladstone-gaol-is-opening-its-gates-after-dark-for-a-haunting-ghost-tour-that-delves-into-the-prisons-chilling-past/ Follow The Halloween Podcast Websitehttps://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Facebookhttps://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagramhttps://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast YouTubehttps://www.YouTube.com/TheHalloweenPodcast EmailInfo@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line731-400-0472 Support the Show on Patreonhttps://www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Happy Halloween! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What makes a scary story unforgettable? Is it a ghost that lingers long after the final page, a mysterious figure waiting in the shadows, or a tale that leaves your imagination doing the work? In this episode of The Halloween Podcast, Lyle and Meghan each count down their five favorite scary stories—but from two very different worlds. Meghan shares some of the greatest works of supernatural fiction ever written, from timeless literary classics to unforgettable campfire tales that have terrified generations. Meanwhile, Lyle takes a trip back to the golden age of radio, counting down the old-time radio horror dramas that prove you don't need special effects to create genuine fear. From haunted houses and mysterious strangers to ghostly legends, cursed objects, and stories that refuse to leave your mind, this episode is a celebration of the tales that have stayed with us long after they ended. Whether you're looking for your next spooky read or your next late-night listening experience, you may just discover a new favorite. Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website: https://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.comFacebook: https://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcastInstagram: https://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcastEmail: Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com️ Haunt Line: 731-400-0472 Support the show on Patreon:https://www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this Haunted Thursday episode of The Halloween Podcast, we investigate one of America's most infamous haunted homes: the Sallie House in Atchison, Kansas. For decades, visitors and paranormal investigators have reported unexplained scratches, shadow figures, mysterious voices, moving objects, and the spirit of a little girl known simply as Sallie. According to the legend, Sallie died during an emergency appendectomy performed inside the house, and her ghost has remained there ever since. But how much of that story is actually supported by history? For this episode, we go beyond the ghost stories and into the historical record. We trace the history of the house, uncover the Finney family who once lived there, examine Dr. Charles C. Finney's connection to the property, and search old newspaper archives for evidence of the little girl at the center of the legend. Along the way, we discover that while appendicitis was a very real and often deadly illness in Atchison around the turn of the twentieth century, the historical trail behind "Sallie" is far more mysterious than the legend suggests. Is the Sallie House truly haunted? Or has one of America's most famous ghost stories grown from a mixture of history, folklore, and unanswered questions? Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website: https://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email: Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line: 731-400-0472 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of The Halloween Podcast, we step back into the golden age of old-time radio with “The Sea Phantom,” an episode of The Hall of Fantasy originally broadcast on August 24, 1953. The story follows writer Larry Reardon and artist Don Fleming as they stay in an isolated house along the Maine coast. After hearing a mysterious woman calling from the water, the two men discover a phantom ship, a skeleton tied to the wheel, and a chilling warning that they will soon join its dead crew. We discuss the eerie ghost-ship atmosphere, Don being identified as “the man with the brush,” Larry's refusal to believe what is happening, and the surprisingly casual reaction of the townspeople when they learn the men actually boarded the ship. Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website: https://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email: Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line: 731-400-0472 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There are now just 110 days until Halloween! Welcome to this week's Halloween Weekly Update as we cover the biggest Halloween news from July 6–12, 2026. This week, we discuss why Halloween merchandise is appearing in stores earlier than ever, how extreme heat is affecting pumpkin crops ahead of the fall season, and take our usual trip Around the Crypt for a collection of unique stories from across the Halloween world. We'll also visit a Halloween-themed restaurant in Michigan, spotlight a neighborhood haunted house raising money for a children's hospital, look at a beloved Colorado home haunt taking the year off, share a DIY decorating tip from Better Homes & Gardens, discuss why Rotta the Hutt could become an unexpected Halloween costume trend, and talk about one Ohio community's decision to keep trick-or-treating on Halloween night. Stories Discussed Halloween Comes Earlier Than Ever in 2026https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/shopping/2026/07/11/halloween-comes-early-2026-decor/90835958007/ Heatwaves Damage Pumpkin Crops Ahead of Halloweenhttps://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c75ygp434l1o Around the Crypt Halloween-Themed Restaurant Opens in Michiganhttps://www.mlive.com/news/saginaw-bay-city/2026/07/a-musician-and-cook-who-loves-halloween-opened-a-restaurant-in-saginaw-and-the-menu-is-deliciously-dark.html Neighborhood Haunted House Raises Money for CHEOhttps://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-orleans-cheo-haunted-house-fundraiser-9.7262325 Colorado Home Haunt Taking 2026 Offhttps://www.dailysentinel.com/news/local/garrison-s-star-halloween-attraction-taking-year-off/article_be9e6908-9c68-5adc-8d8f-b362fdedce65.html Better Homes & Gardens Says Buy Pool Noodles Nowhttps://www.bhg.com/pool-noodles-halloween-12012546 Could Rotta the Hutt Become Halloween's Surprise Costume?https://kotaku.com/rotta-the-hutt-is-ready-to-be-the-hottest-halloween-costume-of-the-year-2000714805 Dover, Ohio Keeps Trick-or-Treating on Halloween Nighthttps://www.wjer.com/news/dover-halloween-trick-or-treat-will-be-on-october-31/ Follow The Halloween Podcast Websitehttps://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Facebookhttps://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagramhttps://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast YouTubehttps://www.YouTube.com/TheHalloweenPodcast EmailInfo@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Patreon – Inside the Pumpkin Roomhttps://www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Haunt Line731-400-0472 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of The Halloween Podcast, Lyle puts Meghan's spooky game knowledge to the test with a brand-new game show. Meghan is given a series of eerie titles and clues, and she must decide whether each one is a vintage video game, a classic board game, or something completely made up. Along the way, we explore the history behind real horror games from the 1980s and 1990s, including early Atari titles, VHS board games, haunted castles, mysterious mansions, and some of the games that helped shape the survival horror genre. Play along at home and see whether you can outscore Meghan or if Lyle's fictional games fool you too. Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website: https://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email: Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line: 731-400-0472 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this Haunted Thursday episode of The Halloween Podcast, we're heading to Washington, D.C., to explore the history and haunting legend of the Hay-Adams Hotel. Guests and staff have reported strange activity inside the elegant hotel, including lights turning on and off, doors opening and closing, swaying chandeliers, the faint smell of almonds, and the feeling of a woman nearby. Many believe that presence belongs to Marian Hooper Adams, better known as Clover Adams. But there is one major problem with that story: Clover died in 1885, decades before the Hay-Adams Hotel existed. So if Clover haunts the Hay-Adams, what exactly is she haunting? In this episode, we look at the real history of Clover Adams, her connection to Henry Adams and old Washington society, the tragedy of her death, the memorial known as “Grief,” and the timeline that makes this ghost story more complicated than it first appears. We'll also examine the haunting claims and ask whether a spirit has to be tied to a building, or whether grief, memory, and tragedy can remain attached to the land itself. Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website: https://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Haunt Line: 731-400-0472 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of The Halloween Podcast, we look at the surprising places where Halloween has been banned, restricted, or tightly controlled. From countries that outlaw public Halloween celebrations to cities with trick-or-treat age limits, curfews, mask laws, costume bans, school restrictions, and even rules about porch lights, we explore how different communities have tried to manage the spooky season. We also dig into the reasons behind these restrictions, including religion, cultural identity, public safety, crime concerns, youth curfews, and fear of Halloween mischief. Along the way, we ask the bigger question: why does a holiday built around costumes, candy, and pretend scares continue to make some people so nervous? Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website: https://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Email: Info@TheHalloweenPodcast.com Haunt Line: 731-400-0472 Support the show on Patreon: https://www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There are now just 117 days until Halloween! In this week's Halloween Weekly Update, we're covering the biggest Halloween news from June 29 through July 5, 2026. This week, LEGO unveils three brand-new Halloween sets for 2026, Universal announces that Hellraiser is coming to Halloween Horror Nights for the very first time, Spirit Halloween reveals its first wave of 2026 animatronics, and The Bradford Exchange launches a brand-new Universal Monsters Challenge Coin Collection. We'll also take a trip Around the Crypt, where we look at Disney's latest Halloween apparel, Hasbro's new Halloween-themed Star Wars Black Series figures, and why July 4 is an important date if you're planning to grow your own pumpkins this Halloween. Plus, we spotlight St. Louis Horror Con, where Lyle will be attending and promoting The Halloween Podcast, and let you know how you can stop by and say hello. Stories Discussed LEGO Reveals Three New Halloween Sets for 2026 https://jaysbrickblog.com/news/lego-halloween-2026-sets-unveiled-for-august-2026-launch/ Hellraiser Comes to Halloween Horror Nights https://ktla.com/news/universal-studios-hollywood-hellraiser-haunted-house/ Spirit Halloween Reveals 2026 Animatronic Lineup https://gizmodo.com/spirit-halloweens-new-animatronics-are-pure-nightmare-fodder-2000780179 Universal Monsters Challenge Coin Collection https://www.bradfordexchange.com/products/924538_.html Around the Crypt Disney Halloween Apparel Arrives at Walt Disney World https://wdwnt.com/2026/06/hocus-pocus-parody-pumpkin-stormtrooper-pooh-and-friends-and-more-halloween-shirts-arrive-at-walt-disney-world-resort/ Hasbro Reveals Halloween Star Wars Black Series Figures https://www.dreadcentral.com/toys-collectibles/579328/hasbro-unveils-three-spooky-new-star-wars-black-series-halloween-figures-for-2026/ July 4 Pumpkin Planting Deadline https://www.countryliving.com/gardening/garden-ideas/a71748676/pumpkin-planting-deadline/ Upcoming Event Spotlight St. Louis Horror Con (July 11–12, 2026) https://www.stlouishorror.com/ If you're attending, stop by and say hello to Lyle at The Halloween Podcast booth! Follow The Halloween Podcast: Website https://www.TheHalloweenPodcast.com Facebook https://www.Facebook.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Instagram https://www.Instagram.com/TheHalloweenPodcast YouTube https://www.YouTube.com/TheHalloweenPodcast Join Inside the Pumpkin Room on Patreon https://www.Patreon.com/TheHalloweenPod Haunt Line 731-400-0472 Thank you for listening, and we'll see you next Monday for another Halloween Weekly Update. Happy Halloween! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.