By Pumpkin's Light

Brian Sims, known to Salem as Borah Brewington Snaggletooth XIII, joins us to discuss his journey from South Carolina to the witch city and how a one-time October gig became a decade-long calling. We explore his childhood Halloween memories, what drew him to Salem, and how he created the beloved green witch character that now spreads joy year-round on the streets. Brian shares the story behind Borah's distinctive look and sarcastic personality, reveals memorable fan interactions and milestone ceremonies he's officiated, and discusses how he balances his street performance persona with his day job. Plus, he opens up about navigating witch representation in Salem's historic context and why giving back to local children's charities through Salem's Black Hat Society has been central to everything he does.

Kaitlyn Lennox joins us to share her love of Halloween and her passion for preserving the holiday's history through Heirloom Hallowe'en, a traveling museum of rare artifacts spanning the 1830s to the mid-20th century. We explore her earliest Halloween memories, what drew her to collecting antique Halloween pieces, and how she determines what belongs in a museum-worthy collection. Kaitlyn walks us through the evolution of Halloween's visual language over time, shares some of the most fascinating artifacts visitors encounter, and reveals the forgotten traditions and party games that made early celebrations so special. Plus, she discusses the unique challenges of running a mobile exhibit and what she hopes people feel walking out of a Heirloom Hallowe'en exhibition.

Sean Keller returns to celebrate The Killer Sounds of Halloween Rises from the Grave, the fifth installment of his legendary album series featuring original Halloween songs by fake bands that sound shockingly real. We dive into what sparked this new release, the creative process behind the album, and the new sonic directions and collaborators he brought to the project. Plus, Sean shares details about hidden easter eggs woven throughout the mix, discusses the challenges of tackling boy band and Dolly Parton-inspired country sounds, and reveals where listeners can stream the album.

Miles McCabe, better known as Brick Thunder, joins us at just 20 years old to discuss his decade-long journey in the Halloween community. We explore his earliest Halloween memories, family traditions, and what draws him to the holiday, then dive into how he built a YouTube channel with over 90,000 subscribers and hundreds of unboxing videos. Miles shares the origin of the "Brick Thunder" name, his absolute favorite animatronic, and how his massive collection caught the attention of major retailers like HalloweenCostumes.com, leading to exclusive product collaborations. We discuss his transition from home haunter to professional haunter, the opening of 5 Points Haunted House in West Chicago, and what sets the attraction apart. Plus, Miles offers advice for aspiring home haunters and teases what's coming to 5 Points for the 2026 season.

J.W. Ocker, bestselling author and creator of OTIS: Odd Things I've Seen, joins us to discuss his lifelong love of Halloween and the macabre, and how that passion has shaped his career documenting America's strangest stories and locations. We explore his earliest Halloween memories, what Halloween means to him personally, and how his interest in the spooky and unusual has influenced both his nonfiction oddity research and his fictional middle-grade novels. Plus, J.W. dives deep into his brand-new book, "Chasing the Headless Horseman," sharing what surprised him about the real history of Sleepy Hollow, his most memorable research experiences, and why the Headless Horseman has maintained such an iconic grip on Halloween culture for over two centuries.

Rich Smith joins us in the lair to discuss The Romero Theatre Home Haunt, a one-night-only Halloween experience he's been creating in Lee's Summit, MO, since 2017 as a tribute to horror icon George A. Romero. We dive into Rich's childhood Halloween memories, his love of horror films, and what sparked him to transform his home into an immersive haunted experience that evolves with a new theme each year. Plus, Rich walks us through the behind-the-scenes process of building and operating the haunt, shares memorable guest reactions, and reveals what makes keeping the walkthrough exclusive to Halloween night so special.

Artist Matthew Woods returns to celebrate the sixth edition of his beloved October-to-October 13-month countdown calendar featuring his iconic character, Pumpkinhead. We dive into his creative process for designing 13 original monthly illustrations each year, how he keeps the calendar fresh while balancing seasonal relevance with a Halloween focus, and what key dates and Halloween lore made it into this year's edition. Matt also shares his vision for keeping fans in countdown mode year-round and teases what's next for Pumpkinhead and @hallowwoods.

Cris The Girl joins us to discuss her passion for Halloween hunting and decorating, and how that love has shaped her YouTube channel since 2021. We explore her earliest Halloween memories, what the season means to her personally, and how she balances keeping the spooky spirit alive year-round without burning out. Cris shares her channel origin story, how she started documenting Halloween hunting adventures, and how she navigates the high-octane frenzy of Code Orange season while staying present. Plus, she teases what's coming next for her newer channel, Cris The Hermit, which focuses on witchy and metaphysical content.

Britta Peterson, the creative force behind Eerie Elegance, joins us to discuss her decades-long passion for Halloween entertaining. We explore her earliest Halloween memories, how iconic spooky intellectual property inspired her theatrical approach to displays, and why she deliberately chooses creative spectacle over shock and gore.

Britta walks us through her creative journey, from sharing party concepts and recipes online since 1996 to publishing three books and building elaborate yard displays at her stunning 1890 Queen Anne Victorian. We dive into her creative process, how she balances hosting parties with massive yard displays, and her work raising awareness and funds for Give Kids the World Village. Plus, she shares her best advice for anyone inspired to start their own Halloween entertaining journey.

Josh Spero and TT Hernandez, the creative duo behind the Hall-Lore-Ween series, join us to discuss their passion for Halloween and how they're carrying the torch of beloved spooky book series like Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and Goosebumps. We explore their childhood Halloween memories, their Halloween aesthetic as adults, and how they collaborate across Josh's lightly eerie storytelling and TT's illustrations. Plus, they reveal the lore behind Jack-O (the iconic three-eyed jack-o'-lantern host) and tease what's coming in book three and beyond.