Fear From the Heartland — A Horror Fiction Anthology and Scary Stories Podcast

The lights are low. The previews are over. The film begins… In this haunting episode of FFTH, what begins as an investigation into a missing audience spirals into something far more disturbing. Inside an aging suburban theater, the shadows stretch too long, the air buzzes with forgotten memories, and the screen holds more than a story—it holds a secret. One that shouldn’t be seen. One that refuses to fade. So grab your popcorn, but don’t get too comfortable. Because once this film starts, there’s no guarantee you’ll make it to the credits.

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Some names should never be spoken. And some promises echo louder in the dark. In this haunting episode of From Folklore to the Heartland, journey into the shadowed wilds of Slavic legend and twisted fairy realms, where ancient beings still barter in blood and gold—and the price of love may be far more than you’re willing to pay. Guided by the bone-cracking footsteps of Baba Yaga herself, host PJM presents a tale where nothing is what it seems, and survival hinges on memory, sacrifice, and the oldest kind of magic.

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When the dead start walking the streets of New Orleans, only one man seems to notice something's terribly wrong—and he's just unpacked his last moving box. In a city known for its mysteries, something ancient has awakened… something that doesn't fear bullets, boundaries, or the light of day. From abandoned mausoleums to back-alley bars, whispers grow louder: of shadows with no eyes, of men who shouldn’t be breathing, and of a darkness older than the city itself. As tourists vanish and the line between folklore and fact begins to blur, one investigator finds himself drawn into a hidden war between life and death—where faith, folklore, and fear collide.Step into the quarter, if you dare… but know this: in this city, not everything that dies stays buried.

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Two voices. One question: Would you listen if it sounded like someone you loved? When the wind howls and the light begins to flicker, something ancient stirs just beyond the threshold. In tonight’s episode, FFTH delivers a pair of haunting tales where isolation breeds temptation, and grief becomes the perfect bait. From the cliffs of a storm-battered lighthouse to the soot-choked hearth of a woodland cottage, the voices are calling — soothing, familiar, impossible to ignore. But in places where the veil wears thin, not everything that speaks should be answered.

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War never truly ends—it just changes shape. In this episode of Fear from the Heartland, the battlefield isn’t a jungle, a desert, or a distant warzone. It’s closer. Too close. When an unstoppable force begins its quiet invasion, one man finds himself fighting a war no one else seems to see, a war where the enemy is small but merciless, methodical, and multiplying. Paul J. McSorley delivers a chilling performance in tonight’s story, where paranoia meets reality and the line between past battles and present horrors begins to blur. Prepare yourself for an episode that will leave you questioning just how much control we really have over the world around us.

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Step behind the curtain and into the shadows—where deception, desire, and darkness intertwine. In this chilling episode of Fear From The Heartland, host Paul J. McSorley guides you through a labyrinth of human ambition, temptation, and deadly consequences. When trust is a fragile illusion and passion masks something far more sinister, who will be left standing when the final act unfolds?

With gripping performances and an atmosphere thick with suspense, this episode will leave you questioning just how well you truly know the ones closest to you. Tune in—if you dare—and discover what happens when the line between performance and reality disappears altogether.

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Step into the fiery depths of Hell's most twisted bureaucracy in the spine-chilling and darkly humorous season opener of Fear from the Heartland. Hosted by Paul J. McSorley, this episode invites you into a world where ambition clashes with cunning, chaos battles order, and failure is met with unthinkable consequences.

Follow the journey of a veteran demon as he faces a trial like no other—a harrowing encounter with Hell’s own brand of corporate hierarchy, where every misstep could lead to eternal torment. With razor-sharp wit, grotesque imagery, and a devilishly clever narrative, this story will leave you questioning what it truly means to win in a world built on loss.

Dare to descend and discover the horrors that await in this darkly imaginative tale of power, punishment, and the eternal struggle for control. Tune in, if you dare… but remember: in Hell, the rules are always subject to change.

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Step into the past, glimpse the future, and lose yourself in the extraordinary. In this special episode of Fear From the Heartland, host Paul J. McSorley invites you to revisit two timeless tales from the show's first season, both masterfully penned by J.C. Fields. These thought-provoking stories explore the boundaries of time, reality, and the human spirit, challenging perceptions of what it means to alter the unalterable. With moments of suspense, mystery, and existential wonder, this episode promises a journey that will linger in your thoughts long after the final word is spoken. Tune in for a gripping reminder of why time itself is the ultimate enigma.

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Introducing How to Stand Up to Project 2025 and Save Public Education from Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams.

Follow the show: Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams

Stacey talks to Kate Nazemi, a local education activist and parent, and Jon Valant, director of the Brown Center on Education Policy at the Brookings Institution, about the future of public education during a second Trump Administration. They break down Project 2025’s education policy prescriptions, the threats to the Department of Education, and what changes a President can and cannot make. Then, they discuss how to best get involved at the local level to make change in your community – from attending local school board meetings, to writing to your local representatives. 

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email [email protected] and include the name of the podcast.

We want to hear your questions. Send us an email at [email protected] or leave us a voicemail at 213-293-9509. You and your question might be featured on the show.

Learn & Do More: 

• Check out the work of Advocates For Inclusive Education @afiebucks on Instagram, or at their website
• Make a list of people in your network and community that are working to do good, or could be potential partners for good.
• Follow the work of Jon Valant and The Brown Center on Education Policy at the Brookings Institution, or check out Chalkbeat, a nonprofit newsroom devoted to covering education across the United States.

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

Welcome to the Season 5 finale! 

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