Each Christmas, Santa delivers Raggedy Ann and Barbie dolls to homes across the world. Little girls play mommy to robot babies that cry, eat and wet themselves. For many adults, it’s a recipe for the creeptastic heebie-jeebies. Thanks to Hollywood horror movies, we know those blank-faced baby dolls can turn into haunted and homicidal toys at any moment. Natalee explores the psychological foundations for why their level of resemblance to real children is uncanny and unsettling to our brains. Miranda tells the original story behind the Annabelle doll made famous in several horror films. Pull up a tea party chair and get ready for some googly-eyed insight into the oldest toy of all time.

Website and blog: lightthefright.com

Love can build a bridge, but you might not be able to cross it if you have gephyrophobia. People who are scared of crossing bridges may be frightened of their car going over the edge, the wind blowing them off it, or the bridge collapsing. Natalee tells you about the tallest, longest, scariest bridges and shares some techniques to get you across them. Miranda takes us back to Florida in the 80s for the tale of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge collapse.

Should you be frightened by these furry flying mammals? Do vampire bats want to suck your blood like Dracula? In this episode, Miranda tries to convince you bats are cute and cuddly creatures, while Natalee explains how they might give you rabies or burn down your city. Early vampire lore gave bats a bad rap, but the scariest, battiest part of their history might be World War II’s Project X-ray. Photo blog, show notes and sources: lightthefright.com

Grab your flashlight! It’s time to explore the inky darkness. When the sun sets and the lights go out, are you afraid of the dark? This innate and ancient fear continues to spook children and adults. Come explore its links to crime, lore, evolution and insomnia. Miranda shares case of Daniel LaPlante, a true-life bump in the night turned waking nightmare. Stay tuned for therapeutic options to help you ditch your night light and brave the dark. Get photos and sources at: lightthefright.com

This episode is electric! When the thunder rolls and the lightning strikes, many people experience extreme fear responses.  In fact, astraphobia is America’s third most common phobia. It is clinically diagnosed in both humans and animals.  As always, Natalee and Miranda will shock you with the facts and thrilling anecdotes before soothing the sting with therapeutic options for zapping this fear.  Grab your weighted blanket, pull the shades and crack into this natural wonder. Sources, photos and playlist: lightthefright.com

Quit clowning around! Why do these goofy pranksters horrify us so? When did clowns go from harmless harlequins, bringing joy and laughter, to grotesque, sinister goons? Miranda and Natalee explore public relations disaster that is the modern history of clowns: from Killer Clown John Wayne Gacy (whose alter ego Pogo the Clown had a rope trick or two up his sleeve) to the murder of Marlene Warren by her husband’s clown-costume-clad lover Sheila Keen. Grab your red nose and join them for an uncanny episode doused in Hollywood horror.

Are you tall enough to ride this ride? If so, we ask that you please keep your arms and legs inside your seat while this podcast is moving. The girls are joined by lovely guest host Shelby for Coasterphobia: fear of rollercoasters. Mix up an Off the Rails Champagne Cocktail with delicious aromatic bitters, compliments of Blackwater Bitters Co. (recipe on our website), and join us for a wild ride and a rollercoaster of emotions.

Website and blog: lightthefright.com

Promos: @3spookedgirls   @truecrimedeadline

Bitters by: @blackwater_bitters

Let’s talk some trash! In our most unhygienic episode yet, we bring you two extreme hoarding cases. Both ended in death and one in a murder charge.  While decluttering, organizing and Marie Kondo-ing your home might bring you joy, people with Disposophobia experience debilitating levels of anxiety, sadness, worry and confusion. We take you into a hoarder’s mind to see what neuroimaging and brain chemistry tell us about their compulsion to add to their piles and their inability to part with even the most trivial items. As always, we leave you with tips to help yourself or a loved one climb this trash mountain of a struggle.

Website and blog: LightTheFright.com

Promo: NefariousPodcast.com

For our first Fright Bite, we watch and discuss the elevated horror film Hereditary! Is it demonic possession or mental illness that is hereditary in this family? Or both? There are myriad frightening things about this movie: cults, demons, gruesome deaths… But the scariest part may lurk in the mysteries in the brain, genetics, and our susceptibility to influence. Listeners beware: there are spoilers galore!

Website and Blog: LighttheFright.com

Promo: @LeviPage

Are you concerned about having your brains eaten by a zombified corpse? Are you terrified of transforming into a mindless, cannibalistic monster? In a zombie apocalypse, humanity decays and civilization crumbles. It’s wise to have your survival skills sharpened and your pack ready. Miranda and Natalee help you prepare for when the gore hits the fan. They also tell you about seemingly healthy humans who mysteriously became zombies.

Website and blog: lightthefright.com