Text Abby and Alan

Listen in as Abby discusses the dark origins of Valentine’s Day, tracing its roots from ancient Roman rituals to the modern celebration of love. We explore how traditions like Lupercalia influenced the holiday and examine the lesser-known stories of St. Valentine and the evolution of Cupid.

Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.

Sources

• Time Magazine article by Kat Moon: The Truth About the Connection Between Valentine’s Day and the Ancient Roman Festival of Lupercalia
• NPR article by Arnie Seipel: The Dark Origins of Valentine’s Day 
• Time Article by Rachel E. Greenspan: Cherubic Cupid is Everywhere on Valentine’s Day
• Smithsonian Magazine Article by Lisa Bitel The Gory Origins of Valentine's Day
• Historic UK article by Ellen Castelow St Valentines Day
• Good Housekeeping article by Marisa Lascala 15 Best Valentine's Day Horror Movies for People Who Want Their Hearts Racing

Join our discord for more information on Horror Book Club. 

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Text Abby and Alan

Abby is thrilled to introduce my new co-host for Campfire Tales in 2025, Alex Goleman. And thrilled to announce that we will be leaning way more into Campfire Tales this year. Sit back, pretend you're siting around a campfire and prepare to be spooked. 

 Treatment of The All Consuming Client was written by Joelle Killian and preformed by Denali Bartell. Follow @Joelle_Killian on IG.

 Deep Within was written by Travis Mushanski and preformed by Peter Papazoglou. Follow @TravisMushanski on social media.

Abandoned Sweets was written by Josh Clark and preformed by Michael Crosa. Follow josh_of_clark on Instagram. And check out the Podnooga podcast network for more from Michael. 

As always, thanks for supporting this podcast and the incredibly talented writers and narrators that we are lucky enough to work with.

Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.

Join our discord for more information on Horror Book Club. 

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Text Abby and Alan

This is part two of our conversation with the mysterious Andy, to discuss modern day theories around alien encounters, UFOs, UAP and interdimensional beings.
 
Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord.

Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Kep @pilar.kep.

Join our discord for more information on Horror Book Club. 

Use code JAWS20 for 20% off our merch shop, all summer.

Follow us on TikTok, X, Instragram and YouTube.

Join the conversation on Discord. Support us on Patreon. 

Support the show

Text Abby and Alan

Abby and Alan sit down with the mysterious Andy, to discuss modern day theories around alien encounters, UFOs, UAP and interdimensional beings.
 
Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord.

Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Kep @pilar.kep.

Join our discord for more information on Horror Book Club. 

Use code JAWS20 for 20% off our merch shop, all summer.

Consider joining our Patreon for bonus episodes, spooky literature and deep dives into horror and history. Click here to learn more.

Follow us on TikTok, X, Instragram and YouTube.

Join the conversation on Discord. Support us on Patreon. 

Support the show

Text Abby and Alan

Abby and Alan are so thrilled to present four haunting holiday horror stories. Cozy up next to a fire with a cup of hot coco, and prepare to shake in your snow boots.

Matches was written by Warren Benedetto and narrated by Jon C. Cook. Catch Jon's narration of A Christmas Carol every week, here.

Some Items Are Display Only was written by Sarah Jane Justice and narrated by Sara Luke. Follow Sarah Jane Justice on social media @SarahJaneJusticeWriting and Sara Luke @SaraLuke25.

The Snow Ones was written by Paul O'Neill and narrated by Mike Macera. Follow Paul on Instagram @Paul.on1984. Listen to Mike's band Beach Therapy anywhere you listen to music.

Spirit of The Seasons was written by Marisca Pitchette and narrated by Abby Brenker.

Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Listen to the paranormal playlist I curate for Vurbl, updated weekly! Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.

Join our discord for more information on Horror Book Club. 

Use code JAWS20 for 20% off our merch shop, all summer.

Consider joining our Patreon for bonus episodes, spooky literature and deep dives into horror and history. Click here to learn more.

Follow us on TikTok, X, Instragram and YouTube.

Join the conversation on Discord. Support us on Patreon. 

Support the show

Text Abby and Alan

From Krampus and Belsnickel to ancient pagan festivals, Abby and Alan discuss the dark origins of Christmas mythology and monsters.

Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Listen to the paranormal playlist I curate for Vurbl, updated weekly! Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.

SOURCES

• Smithsonian Magazine Article by Kat Eschner - https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/why-do-ghost-stories-go-christmas-180961547/
• All Things Interesting Article by Morgan Dunn: The Story Of Yule, The Raucous Pagan Celebration Of Winter That Inspired Christmas
• An article called The Legend of La Befana by Debra Thimmesh, on ItaliaRail.com
• Santa Claus: Real Origins and Legends on History.com
• English Heritage article by Tom Moriarty: The History of Father Christmas
• Atlas Obscura Article by Sarah Elizabeth Troop: The Monsters of Christmas
• Smithsonian Magazine Article by Colin Dickey: A Please to Resurrect the Christmas Tradition of Telling Ghost Stories

Join our discord for more information on Horror Book Club. 

Use code JAWS20 for 20% off our merch shop, all summer.

Consider joining our Patreon for bonus episodes, spooky literature and deep dives into horror and history. Click here to learn more.

Follow us on TikTok, X, Instragram and YouTube.

Join the conversation on Discord. Support us on Patreon. 

Support the show

Text Abby and Alan

Abby and Alan are thrilled to present three horrifying and hauntingly beautiful stories. Come and gather around the campfire, as we collectively grow more and more unsettled together.

Consider donating to Beloved Asheville.

Lakeland was written by Marisca Pichette, and narrated by Michael Crosa. This story was originally published in text in September 2022 by Night Terror Novels, as part of their Theatre Phantasmagoria series. Marisca's first novella, Every Dark Cloud, is forthcoming in spring 2025 from Ghost Orchid Press. Support Michael by checking out the Podnooga Podcast Network.

Black Tea, Cream Tea, Chocolate Tea, Blood was written by Elou Carroll, and narrated by Denali Bartell. It was previously published in Kaleidotrope last year and was included in Tor.com's (now reactormag.com's) Must Read Short Fiction list for September 2023. You can follow Denali on Instagram at @Denalibartell and check out their poetry collection here.

Eulogy of The Lake was written and narrated by Mike Macera. You can listen to Beach Therapy on Spotify here.

Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Listen to the paranormal playlist I curate for Vurbl, updated weekly! Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.

Follow us on TikTok, X, Instragram and YouTube.

Join the conversation on Discord. Support us on Patreon. 

Join our discord for more information on Horror Book Club. 

Use code JAWS20 for 20% off our merch shop, all summer.

Consider joining our Patreon for bonus episodes, spooky literature and deep dives into horror and history. Click here to learn more.

Follow us on TikTok, X, Instragram and YouTube.

Join the conversation on Discord. Support us on Patreon. 

Support the show

Text Abby and Alan

Get your copy of Ghostly Ghastly Tales here! And follow Anastasia Garcia on Instagram @anastasiawrites to keep your eye out for upcoming projects.

On today's episode Abby sits down with Anastasia to discuss the mythology behind La Llorona, La Lechuza and her new book of short horror stories.

Sources

• Janvier, Thomas A. “Legend of La Llorona.” In Legends of the City of Mexico, 134–138. New York: Harper and Brothers Publishers, 1910
• Library of Congress article by folklorist Stephen Winick: La Llorona: An Introduction to the Weeping Woman
• Espooky Tales article on The Owl Witch
• Texas Standard article by Sarah Asch & Raul Alonzo La Lechuza legend serves as both a cautionary tale and a story of revenge

Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Listen to the paranormal playlist I curate for Vurbl, updated weekly! Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.

Join our discord for more information on Horror Book Club. 

Use code JAWS20 for 20% off our merch shop, all summer.

Consider joining our Patreon for bonus episodes, spooky literature and deep dives into horror and history. Click here to learn more.

Follow us on TikTok, X, Instragram and YouTube.

Join the conversation on Discord. Support us on Patreon. 

Support the show

Text Abby and Alan

Abby and Alan are thrilled to present three horrifying vampire themed stories.

Consider donating to BeLoved Asheville to help our friends impacted by Hurricane Helene.

Watch our horror short on Halloween Night, here.

Leftovers was written by Warren Benedetto and narrated by Michael Crosa. Follow @WarrenBenedetto and @Podnooga on social media. 

Therapy Notes was written by Hector Carlo and read by Lissa Sweeney and Mike Macera. Listen to the Re-Shoot podcast, Beach Therapy music and follow @LissaSweeney on IG.

An Improper Suitor was written by Kate Rotunda and read by Abby Brenker and Alan Kudan.

Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Listen to the paranormal playlist I curate for Vurbl, updated weekly! Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.

Join our discord for more information on Horror Book Club. 

Follow us on TikTok, X, Instragram and YouTube.

Join the conversation on Discord. Support us on Patreon. 

Support the show

Text Abby and Alan

Abby and Alan discuss the history of the New England Vampire Panic and how it influenced some of the most prominent examples of vampire horror literature, including Bram Stoker's Dracula.

Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Listen to the paranormal playlist I curate for Vurbl, updated weekly! Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep.

Listen to our episode on the history of Samhain and All Hallows Eve.

Sources

• Smithsonian Magazine Article by Abigail Tucker: The Great New England Vampire Panic
• A NewEngland.com article by Joe Bills: New England’s Vampire History | Legends and Hysteria
• A NewEngland.com Article: Vampire Mercy Brown | When Rhode Island Was “The Vampire Capital of America”
• A History.com article on Vampire History
• How the Rise of Vampire Fiction Coincided with The Real Life New England Vampire Panic by Nat Brehmer on bloodydisgusting.com 
• Thanks to April Brenker for research help! 

Join our discord for more information on Horror Book Club. 

Use code JAWS20 for 20% off our merch shop, all summer.

Follow us on TikTok, X, Instragram and YouTube.

Join the conversation on Discord. Support us on Patreon. 

Support the show