Unspookable

We're back this week with even more sharks as we discuss all things JAWS with one of our favorite middle-grade authors, Ira Marcks! Is the story from the movie true? Why is this particular shark so scary? Why are we still talking about this movie almost 50 years after its release? Ira has answers to those questions and sooo much more. It's Shark Summer all summer long on Unspookable! Special thank...

What's the first thing that pops into your head when you hear the word shark? Is it a sea predator with rows and rows of sharp teeth? Maybe it's a simple alternating E and F or F and F sharp played on a solo tuba? Or maybe it's a misunderstood fish whose representation in film has given them a bad name. Love them or fear them, we cannot wait to talk about one of our favorite creatures on not one,...

Have you ever heard the name Baba Yaga? If so, what images come to mind? If you grew up with Slavic folklore, maybe you've heard tales of a child eating witch. Or perhaps you've heard stories of a kind-hearted sorceress. Good, bad, or indifferent, how can one figure symbolize so many seemingly opposing things? We'll try to answer those questions and more on this episode of Unspookable. Host: Elise...

When it comes to unsolved mysteries, almost none are bigger or more widely debated than the disappearance of aviation innovator Amelia Earhart. What happened on that fateful journey? What became of Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan? And why do we struggle as humans so much with not having an answer? We'll try to answer those questions and more on this episode of Unspookable. Host: Elise Parisian W...

What do you know of the legendary spirits, creatures, and figures of Japanese folklore? And how have these figures found their way into every corner of our popular culture? Unspookable producer Nate DuFort sits down this week with Thersa Matsuura to find out more while discussing her latest, The Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yokai of Japanese Myth. That a...

A lot of us have heard the word Illuminati, but what does it mean? Is there really a secret group of people controlling society from the shadows? There are conspiracy theories in the world today about these very questions and so much more, but where do these ideas come from? And why do people keep spreading them? Finding and agreeing on the truth can be hard sometimes and we'll talk about that and...

Last fall it felt like every other email, review, or topic recommendation we received mentioned a YouTube series that had captured the imaginations of our listeners and literally BILLIONS of young people around the world. If you haven't heard about these giant, singing, war mongering toilets with human heads, you're in for a huge surprise. We're talking Skibidi Toilets on this episode of Unspookab...

We get a lot of amazing suggestions from our listeners of topics to cover on the show, but there's one topic that topples the competition: Video Games. Whether it's Five Nights at Freddy's, Doors, Hello Neighbor, Garten of Banban, or Poppy Playtime, there are tons of first person horror games that you want us to cover. Elise talks to gaming writer Melissa Sarnowski about one of your favorites and...

What would you do if you woke up one day and giant portals in the sky brought about a monster apocalypse that left your hometown without any rules, grownups, or homework? Well if you’re Jack Sullivan, you’d move into your foster brother's treehouse, play video games and eat junk food, while teaming up with some former classmates to stop these monsters from taking over what is left of your world. ...

Have you ever heard of The Backrooms? Maybe you've come across this strange never-ending series of liminal spaces on TikTok or on YouTube or maybe some games that you've played. The Backrooms are one of our most frequently requested topics and we were curious to explore why their flickering fluorescent lights, yellow walls, and endless mazes have captured your imaginations. That and more on this e...

For those of us who have been good all year the holidays are a time for celebration and gifts... but, for for those of us who have been naughty, we may have a half goat, half demon visitor waiting to steal us away. What's that, cheery soul? Not familiar? Well then, let's tell you a little more about Krampus... Host: Elise Parisian Written by: Ellenor Riley-Condit Created, Produced, Edited by: Nate...

SCP may be one of our most requested topics ever due to its presence on ROBLOX, but many of us don't know much about this strange foundation and their mission to Serve, Contain, and Protect. We were thrilled to talk to an expert, podcast producer Pacific S. Obadiah, about all things SCP including its origins and enduring popularity in it's over 7,000 entires. That and more on today's episode of Un...

Today, we are excited to present a new project from some friends of the show. In this pilot episode of Ghost Tour, meet 15-year-olds Vern and Lee as they lead a ghost tour in Jepson, North Carolina, and meet their first real-life ghost. Writer: C. Quintana Voice-Over Artists: Darrell Brown, Whitney Dorr, Triya Leong, Imani Russell, David Shatraw, and Maura Vincent Sound Design: Chad Chenail Show R...

On this special encore presentation of Unspookable we are looking back at one of our favorite episodes: Whether you find them cute or creepy, it's hard not to have a strong feeling about this week's topic...Spiders. Why are so many of us afraid of these arachnids? And what does it say about us as humans that something so small can be so terrifying? We'll unravel this web and more on this episode o...

Where do our fears come from? For some of us, it’s past experiences… others, maybe a fear of the unknown… but if you're anything like the team at Unspookable, there is one man responsible for many of the characters, illustrations, and creatures, be it Cartoon Cat, Anxious Dogs, Long Horse, or Siren Head, that give us the shivers. We’re of course talking about writer and illustrator Trevor Henderso...

Do you celebrate Halloween? If so, what are some of your annual traditions? Maybe you dress up in costumes, carve a Jack-o'-lantern, go trick-or-treating? But have you ever wondered why we do these things? Or that they may be tied to rituals over 3,000 years old? We're discussing the unexpected origins of Halloween and the barrier between our world and beyond on this episode of Unspookable. Host:...

Join us as we delve into the enigmatic sleepover ritual "Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board" with the brilliant Dr. Elizabeth (Libby) Tucker, Distinguished Service Professor of English, Binghamton University. We'll uncover the ritual's intriguing history, learn its eerie chant, and discuss why rituals like this stand the test of time. That and more on this episode of Unspookable. Host: Elise Par...

Today is another special episode of the show as we learn even more about ghosts, rituals, and beyond with the author of the new book Chilling with Ghosts: A Totally Factual Field Guide to the Supernatural , the amazing Insha Fitzpatrick, on this episode of Unspookable. Host: Elise Parisian with Ellenor Riley-Condit and Nate DuFort Created, Produced, Edited by: Nate DuFort Music Direction and Compo...

Do you believe in ghosts? That's a question most of us have asked or have been asked before. How do you respond? Is it something you may have seen? Something you may have felt? Or has the presence of ghosts in popular culture and on YouTube or TikTok convinced you that they might just exist? Well, however you answer these questions, we think it's time to set aside a few minutes to discuss the poss...

On this special encore presentation of Unspookable we are looking back at one of our favorite episodes: Friday the 13th. Do you believe in luck? Do you think you're lucky or unlucky? Do you believe that there are certain days that are more prone to unlucky occurrences? In this episode we explore the origins, history, and superstition surrounding Friday the 13th. Host: Elise Parisian Written by: El...

Today is another special episode of the show as we talk to the owner, creator, and curator of the popular social channels Horror4Kids, Rainier Croft, on this episode of Unspookable. Host: Elise Parisian Created, Produced, Edited by: Nate DuFort Music Direction and Composition: Jesse Case Logo by: Natalie Khuen You can find Unspookable on Twitter and Instagram at: https://twitter.com/ImUnspookable...

On this special encore presentation of Unspookable we are looking back at one of our most requested topics: Momo. Why did this creepy sculpture go viral? What is the responsibility of the media in reporting these viral scares? And how can we protect ourselves from falling victim to these hoaxes? For media literacy resources for the whole family, please see our links below. Host: Elise Parisian Wri...

Today is another special episode of the show as we look at women rulers of ancient Egypt, what Vampires can tell us about the immigrant experience, and more with the author of the new book Snot Goblins and Other Tasteless Tales, Rob Kutner, on this episode of Unspookable. Host: Elise Parisian Created, Produced, Edited by: Nate DuFort Music Direction and Composition: Jesse Case Logo by: Natalie Khu...

What do you think of when you hear the word "psychic"? Maybe a fortune teller in a dimly lit tent? A mind reader using their powers to cause chaos? Or a superhero who can bend the laws of space and time? The mysteries of the human mind have been studied by history's greatest thinkers since the beginning of time and we will look at all of these psychic powers and more on this episode of Unspookable...

This week is a special episode with one of our favorite podcast creators. Chelsey Weber-Smith of American Hysteria sits down with the Unspookable team to revisit a late 90s toy that I think most of you will remember, one that is making headlines once again as it hits the department store shelves of July 2023. Join us as we look at the urban legends, conspiracy theories, and freaky stories that enc...