Espooky Tales

La Cuesta de Las Cañas is a road that leads from the municipalities of San Lucas and Santa Lucía Milpas Altas towards Antigua Guatemala. It is known for its curves and steep descent, but also for being haunted! In this episode, Cristina tells Carmen about this haunted road. 

If you have a spooky story to share, email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at the Espooky Hot Line (360)836-4486. You can also submit it on Discord!

Join the Espooky Tales Book Club for Busy People: https://substack.com/@espooky?utm_source=profile-page

Listen to Carmen and Cristina's other podcast Historias Unknown

The next book club read is Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova. If you would like to
purchase the book, check out our bookshop link https://bookshop.org/lists/espooky-book-club-list

For more spooky stories, check out the Tiktok! https://www.tiktok.com/@espookytales

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/espookytales/

Chat with us on Discord! https://discord.gg/cWk7CvVgaR

Want to be a Patron? Get longer episodes AD-FREE, listen before they are released to anyone else, get bonus episodes, exclusive stickers, virtual hangouts, and more! Support Espooky Tales. Learn more by visiting https://www.patreon.com/Espookytales

By joining, you can help Espooky Tales donate 20% funds to mutual aid.

Get Espooky Merch: https://www.bonfire.com/store/espooky-tales/

Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@espookytales

Sources

https://www.relato.gt/actualidad/muerte-e-irresponsabilidad-vial-imperan-en-la-cuesta-de-las-canas/
https://www.guatemala.com/aprende/cultura-guatemalteca/leyendas/las-leyendas-alrededor-de-la-cuesta-de-las-canas-en-guatemala
La Carretera embrujada, la cuesta de las canas, Guatemala | Relatos del lado oscuro

Cristina is joined by the one and only, Cynthia Pelayo, to talk about Something Followed Us Home, an anthology book full of Latine stories featuring Agustina Bazterrica, Monica Ojeda, Isabel Cañas, Gerardo Sámano Córdova, Leopoldo Goût, Mariana Enriquez, Cynthia herself and so many more! They talked about how the book came to be, how these stories explore identity, belonging, assimilation, history, all through the venue of horror. They also discussed Cynthia's journey as an author and shared a paranormal experience of her own. They ended with spooky recs, Cynthia's was Rooted by Leopoldo Goût and Cristina's was this book, Something Followed Us Home.

Something Followed Us Home is available 9/29/26, wherever you buy books!

If you have a spooky story to share, email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at the Espooky Hot Line (360)836-4486. You can also submit it on Discord!

Join the Espooky Tales Book Club for Busy People: https://substack.com/@espooky?utm_source=profile-page

Listen to Carmen and Cristina's other podcast Historias Unknown

The next book club read is Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova. If you would like to
purchase the book, check out our bookshop link https://bookshop.org/lists/espooky-book-club-list

For more spooky stories, check out the Tiktok! https://www.tiktok.com/@espookytales

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/espookytales/

Chat with us on Discord! https://discord.gg/cWk7CvVgaR

Want to be a Patron? Get longer episodes AD-FREE, listen before they are released to anyone else, get bonus episodes, exclusive stickers, virtual hangouts, and more! Support Espooky Tales. Learn more by visiting https://www.patreon.com/Espookytales

By joining, you can help Espooky Tales donate 20% funds to mutual aid.

Get Espooky Merch: https://www.bonfire.com/store/espooky-tales/

Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@espookytales

Carmen and Cristina share the legend of La Chaneca from Guerrero, Mexico and La Matki. They end with spooky recs, Cristina's was the movie Obsession and Carmen's was the book Blood Slaves by Markus Redmond. 

If you have a spooky story to share, email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at the Espooky Hot Line (360)836-4486. You can also submit it on Discord!

Join the Espooky Tales Book Club for Busy People: https://substack.com/@espooky?utm_source=profile-page

Listen to Carmen and Cristina's other podcast Historias Unknown

The next book club read is Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova. If you would like to
purchase the book, check out our bookshop link https://bookshop.org/lists/espooky-book-club-list

For more spooky stories, check out the Tiktok! https://www.tiktok.com/@espookytales

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/espookytales/

Chat with us on Discord! https://discord.gg/cWk7CvVgaR

Want to be a Patron? Get longer episodes AD-FREE, listen before they are released to anyone else, get bonus episodes, exclusive stickers, virtual hangouts, and more! Support Espooky Tales. Learn more by visiting https://www.patreon.com/Espookytales

By joining, you can help Espooky Tales donate 20% funds to mutual aid.

Get Espooky Merch: https://www.bonfire.com/store/espooky-tales/

Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@espookytales

Cristina and Carmen are announcing a hot ghoul summer break! They will be back the first week of September. In the meantime, send them your duende stories!

If you have a spooky story to share, email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at the Espooky Hot Line (360)836-4486. You can also submit it on Discord!

Join the Espooky Tales Book Club for Busy People: https://substack.com/@espooky?utm_source=profile-page

Listen to Carmen and Cristina's other podcast Historias Unknown

The next book club read is Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova. If you would like to
purchase the book, check out our bookshop link https://bookshop.org/lists/espooky-book-club-list

For more spooky stories, check out the Tiktok! https://www.tiktok.com/@espookytales

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/espookytales/

Chat with us on Discord! https://discord.gg/cWk7CvVgaR

Want to be a Patron? Get longer episodes AD-FREE, listen before they are released to anyone else, get bonus episodes, exclusive stickers, virtual hangouts, and more! Support Espooky Tales. Learn more by visiting https://www.patreon.com/Espookytales

By joining, you can help Espooky Tales donate 20% funds to mutual aid.

Get Espooky Merch: https://www.bonfire.com/store/espooky-tales/

Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@espookytales

La construcción de la Catedral Metropolitana de la Ciudad de México tomó 250 años, pero según la leyenda, la ciudad sufrió un exorcismo y el demonio que la poseía quedó atrapado en las catacumbas de la catedral. (this is our "monthly" Spanish episode, Espooky Tales will be back to a normal episode in two weeks).

If you have a spooky story to share, email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at the Espooky Hot Line (360)836-4486. You can also submit it on Discord!

Join the Espooky Tales Book Club for Busy People: https://substack.com/@espooky?utm_source=profile-page

Listen to Carmen and Cristina's other podcast Historias Unknown

The next book club read is Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova. If you would like to
purchase the book, check out our bookshop link https://bookshop.org/lists/espooky-book-club-list

For more spooky stories, check out the Tiktok! https://www.tiktok.com/@espookytales

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/espookytales/

Chat with us on Discord! https://discord.gg/cWk7CvVgaR

Want to be a Patron? Get longer episodes AD-FREE, listen before they are released to anyone else, get bonus episodes, and more! Support Espooky Tales. Learn more by visiting https://www.patreon.com/Espookytales

By joining, you can help Espooky Tales donate 20% funds to mutual aid.

Get Espooky Merch: https://www.bonfire.com/store/espooky-tales/

Carmen shares the legend of El Callejon del Beso, El Grito de la Valenciana and La Casa de la Tia Aura, all from the Mexican state of Guanajuato. Cristina shares the recent case of a hermana buscadora from Penjamo, Guanajuato. They end with spooky recommendations, carmen's rec: Molka by Monika Kim and Cristina's rec: I Am Frankelda, the 2025 Mexican stop motion movie. First, they read a listener story.

If you have a spooky story to share, email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at the Espooky Hot Line (360)836-4486. You can also submit it on Discord!

Join the Espooky Tales Book Club for Busy People: https://substack.com/@espooky?utm_source=profile-page

Listen to Carmen and Cristina's other podcast Historias Unknown

The next book club read is Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova. If you would like to
purchase the book, check out our bookshop link https://bookshop.org/lists/espooky-book-club-list

For more spooky stories, check out the Tiktok! https://www.tiktok.com/@espookytales

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/espookytales/

Chat with us on Discord! https://discord.gg/cWk7CvVgaR

Want to be a Patron? Get longer episodes AD-FREE, listen before they are released to anyone else, get bonus episodes, exclusive stickers, virtual hangouts, and more! Support Espooky Tales. Learn more by visiting https://www.patreon.com/Espookytales

By joining, you can help Espooky Tales donate 20% funds to mutual aid.

Get Espooky Merch: https://www.bonfire.com/store/espooky-tales/

Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@espookytales

In this episode, Cristina tells Carmen about the April 20th, 2026 shooting in Teotihuacan, but also more about how this type of violence was once thought to be only a western problem and has spread to the global south, as well as discussing some conspiracy theories that popped up after the shooting.

If you have a spooky story to share, email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at the Espooky Hot Line (360)836-4486. You can also submit it on Discord!

Join the Espooky Tales Book Club for Busy People: https://substack.com/@espooky?utm_source=profile-page

Listen to Carmen and Cristina's other podcast Historias Unknown
The next book club read is Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova. If you would like to
purchase the book, check out our bookshop link https://bookshop.org/lists/espooky-book-club-list

For more spooky stories, check out the Tiktok! https://www.tiktok.com/@espookytales

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/espookytales/

Chat with us on Discord! https://discord.gg/cWk7CvVgaR


Want to be a Patron? Get longer episodes AD-FREE, listen before they are released to anyone else, get bonus episodes, exclusive stickers, virtual hangouts, and more! Support Espooky Tales. Learn more by visiting https://www.patreon.com/Espookytales

By joining, you can help Espooky Tales donate 20% funds to charity.

Get Espooky Merch: https://www.bonfire.com/store/espooky-tales/

Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@espookytales

Sources:

https://elpais.com/mexico/2026-04-21/los-25-minutos-de-panico-en-teotihuacan-un-viejo-revolver-una-mente-enferma-y-un-crimen-inspirado-por-el-mas-alla.html

https://www.jornada.com.mx/noticia/2026/04/22/estados/tirador-de-teotihuacan-llego-solo-a-cdmx-en-2018-y-nadie-volvio-a-saber-de-el

https://www.milenio.com/policia/balacera-teotihuacan-arma-usada-agresor-era-antigua-revela-fiscalia

https://www.infobae.com/mexico/2026/04/23/vegano-y-fan-de-lady-gaga-la-otra-cara-del-asesino-de-teotihuacan-antes-de-radicalizarse/

https://www.heraldousa.com/es/mexico/2026/4/21/balacera-en-teotihuacan-circula-en-redes-sociales-video-inedito-del-atacante-en-el-momento-de-los-hechos-con-mensaje-anticolonial-22381.html

https://www.isdglobal.org/digital-dispatch/how-the-true-crime-community-generates-its-own-killers/

https://www.isdglobal.org/digital-dispatch/terror-without-ideology-the-rise-of-nihilistic-violence-an-isd-investigation/

https://www.bbc.com/mundo/articles/czx9d9gxzyqo

https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/en-foco/2026/ataque-en-piramides-de-mexico-fue-una-accion-bien-planeada-de-un-seguidor-de-tiroteos-en-eeuu/

https://elpais.com/mexico/2026-04-20/un-tiroteo-en-teotihuacan-deja-dos-muertos-y-tres-heridos.html

https://www.newsweek.com/gunman-opens-fire-on-tourists-at-mexicos-most-visited-ancient-ruins-11856347

Terror struck the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida in June 12, 2016. The club was hosting their weekly Latin club when a man entered and opened fire. 49 were dead and over 50 were wounded. Over 90 percent of victims were Latinos. 

Today June 12, 2026 is the anniversary of this event and Espooky Tales is re-releasing episode 170 in light of today. 

It's a book club episode! Carmen and Cristina read the Possession of Alba Diaz by Isabel Cañas. First they recapped the book, then did discussion questions and ended by picking the next book club episode. Here is the synopsis for the Possession of Alba Diaz: 

In 1765, plague sweeps through Zacatecas. Alba flees with her wealthy merchant parents and fiancé, Carlos, to his family’s isolated mine for refuge. But safety proves fleeting as other dangers soon bare their teeth: Alba begins suffering from strange hallucinations, sleepwalking, and violent convulsions. She senses something cold lurking beneath her skin. Something angry. Something wrong.  
Elías, haunted by a troubled past, came to the New World to make his fortune and escape his family’s legacy of greed. Alba, as his cousin’s betrothed, is none of his business. Which is of course why he can’t help but notice the growing tension between them every time she enters the room…and why he notices her deteriorate when the demon’s thirst for blood gets stronger. In the fight for her life, Alba and Elías become entangled with the occult, the Church, long-kept secrets, and each other… not knowing that one of these things will spell their doom.


If you have a spooky story to share, email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at the Espooky Hot Line (360)836-4486. You can also submit it on Discord!

Join the Espooky Tales Book Club for Busy People: https://substack.com/@espooky?utm_source=profile-page

Listen to Carmen and Cristina's other podcast Historias Unknown
The next book club read is Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova. If you would like to











purchase the book, check out our bookshop link https://bookshop.org/lists/espooky-book-club-list

For more spooky stories, check out the Tiktok! https://www.tiktok.com/@espookytales

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/espookytales/

Chat with us on Discord! https://discord.gg/cWk7CvVgaR


Want to be a Patron? Get longer episodes AD-FREE, listen before they are released to anyone else, get bonus episodes, exclusive stickers, virtual hangouts, and more! Support Espooky Tales. Learn more by visiting https://www.patreon.com/Espookytales

By joining, you can help Espooky Tales donate 20% funds to charity.

Get Espooky Merch: https://www.bonfire.com/store/espooky-tales/

Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@espookytales

Carmen and Cristina had the pleasure of talking with Cynthia about her new book Muñeca, available 6/2/26 (WE LOVED THE BOOK). Muñeca is a vivid, surreal Gothic about a queer, Latine, working class witch who sets out to rescue a bespelled heiress and loses control of her powers and her heart in the process.

It is 1968 Oakland, and Natalia Fuentes has been hearing rumors about the beautiful Violeta Miramontes. The young heiress to Spanish colonial wealth has been left paralyzed by a mysterious illness. But Nati knows a thing or two about witchcraft, and she is certain that this is the work of dark magic. Armed with a plan to break the spell and earn a handsome reward, Nati works her way into the house as Violeta’s caretaker, and immediately discovers her suspicions are true. But who cursed Violeta? And why? As feelings between the two women bloom into romance, Nati grows more and more reckless, and is forced to face her own ghosts— ones she hoped would stay gone forever.

Cynthia talked to Carmen and Cristina about the inspiration behind the magic that Nati is using, the history behind the Miramontes family living in Orinda and so much more.

Keep up with Cynthia on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/cynthiasaysboo.bsky.social

and on her website: https://cynthiasaysboo.wpcomstaging.com/

If you have a spooky story to share, email [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at the Espooky Hot Line (360)836-4486. You can also submit it on Discord!

Join the Espooky Tales Book Club for Busy People: https://substack.com/@espooky?utm_source=profile-page

Listen to Carmen and Cristina's other podcast Historias Unknown

The next book club read is the Possession of Alba Diaz by Isabel Cañas. If you want to purchase the book, check out our bookshop link https://bookshop.org/lists/espooky-book-club-list

For more spooky stories, check out the Tiktok! https://www.tiktok.com/@espookytales

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/espookytales/

Chat with us on Discord! https://discord.gg/cWk7CvVgaR


Want to be a Patron? Get longer episodes AD-FREE, listen before they are released to anyone else, get bonus episodes, exclusive stickers, virtual hangouts, and more! Support Espooky Tales. Learn more by visiting https://www.patreon.com/Espookytales

By joining, you can help Espooky Tales donate 20% funds to charity. 

Get Espooky Merch: https://www.bonfire.com/store/espooky-tales/

Find us on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@espookytales