Appalachian Spooky Hour

Join us as we read spooky Halloween tales submitted by users across the internet! From Reddit to Buzzfeed, we share with you some real life scary stories, that all center around the spookiest time of year.

We collected some of these stories from the following posts on Reddit: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

On October 31st, 1981, a 76 year old nun was raped and murdered inside her convent in Amarillo, Texas. The crime was pinned on 17 year old Johnny Frank Garrett, who lived across the street from the St. Francis Convent. Did the teenager really commit this horrific crime? Or was he simply an easy target when police fumbled the case? Join us as we go Appalachia adjacent in our first episode of the 2026 spooky season, to discuss the case and the outcome!

In 1951, in the small town of Fountain City, Tennessee, 27 year old Mary Hankins was murdered inside her own home. Was it a robbery gone wrong? Or simply a needless murder committed by a stranger? Join us as we dive into this unsolved case, and discuss the possible scenarios that led to this heinous crime.

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Join Sam, Shell, and Mandi in a special Q&A episode, where we answer questions that listeners submitted! Trust us, it's a spooky good time!

Trenny Gibson went missing from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on October 8th, 1976. She has never been found. Did she take off of her own accord to start a new life somewhere (at just sixteen years old)? Did she become the victim of foul play? Or did she simply get lost in the woods? Join us as we discuss the most likely scenarios, and what happened the day that Trenny disappeared.

On New Years Day, 1889, Fannie Heldmann drowned herself in the Reedy River. Was it because of an arranged marriage she did not want to be part of? Or did she suffer from an undocumented mental illness? And does her spirit still haunt the local cemetery in Greenville, South Carolina? Let's dive in and explore her life, and possible afterlife.

In the 1950s, Georgia restaurant owner Anjette Lyles became notorious. Not for her food, but for becoming a cold blooded killer. Join us as we dive into the crimes she committed, and how she managed to avoid becoming the first white woman in Georgia history to be put to death. Was she influenced by the occult? Did she suffer a mental illness? Or was she just evil? Let's talk about it!

Join us in this special episode, where we sit down to chat with horror director Daniel Byers and actress June Schreiner about their upcoming horror film, Dark Hollow! We discuss everything from the film, which takes place in Appalachia, to whether or not they believe in ghosts.

Don't forget to check out https://darkhollowmovie.com/ to watch the trailer, and to find out where you can find the film when it releases on September 4th, 2026!

A big thank you to Daniel Byers and Kethryn Cavender for giving us the opportunity to screen their film, and share it with all of y'all!

Just what ARE those strange lights that sometimes appear in bogs, swamps, and along old railroad tracks? Often seen by travelers or those who are lost, are they a helpful being trying to help you find your way? Or are they something much more malevolent? Join Sam and Shell as they explore the possibilities!

For more cool facts, information, and stories, check out the Appalachian Cryptid Field Guide!

This week we venture back to a familiar location in Kentucky: Mammoth Cave. We're there to explore the famous TB hut, and to determine whether or not the spirits of long deceased patients still linger. Did some folks go beneath the ground for a cure, only to remain there over a hundred years after their deaths? Let's find out!

Pity-Pat episode (featuring Charles' story)

The Ghost of Mammoth Cave episode