Pretty Wicked

In a time long past, Akiko was known for her beauty, a treasure admired by all, yet it became her greatest curse. As the lonely wife of a distant samurai, whispers of betrayal turned her husband’s love to cruelty. His blade marred her face, and his final words cut deeper than steel: “Who will find you beautiful now?

Betrayed and broken, Akiko’s grief festered into vengeance. From her suffering rose the Kuchisake-Onna—the Slit-Mouthed Woman. Now, her spirit roams the shadows, asking a question laced with peril: "Am I beautiful?”

Her tale is one of heartbreak, revenge, and the haunting presence of a legend that refuses to fade.

Macabrium is produced by Macabrium Creative and hosted by Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown, with writing and research by Chloë Kibbe, Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown. 

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Snow blankets the Alpine villages as the nights grow long and cold. Fires crackle in hearths, and children eagerly await St. Nicholas, hoping for treats and toys. But deep in the shadows of the season lurks another figure—a creature of horn and claw, dragging chains through the frostbitten night.

For centuries, the legend of Krampus has haunted the dreams of the wicked, a grim enforcer who punishes those unworthy of holiday cheer. Is he a pagan remnant, a warning to misbehaving children, or something darker altogether?

Join us as we journey into the heart of this chilling folklore. With each twist of the tale, the line between myth and reality blurs. Lock your doors and keep the fire burning—Krampus is coming.

Macabrium is produced by Macabrium Creative and hosted by Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown, with writing and research by Chloë Kibbe, Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown. 

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On a cold, snowy night, you hear it—a faint melody drifting through the air. The sound is beautiful yet unsettling, as if the voices belong to another time. You step outside, expecting to find cheerful carolers braving the winter chill, but there’s no one there. The singing fades, swallowed by the wind, leaving only questions behind.  

Who—or what—sings these haunting songs?

Light the fire, settle in, and join us as we explore the darker side of Christmas.

Anote: In today's episode we explore the chilling legend of phantom carolers—ghostly singers who haunt the winter nights. While not based on historical events, these tales are rooted in folklore and passed-down traditions, offering a glimpse into the eerie side of holiday storytelling. Join us for a journey into the darker corners of Christmas lore.

Macabrium is produced by Macabrium Creative and hosted by Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown, with writing and research by Chloë Kibbe, Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown. 

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It was Christmas Day, 1929 and the Lawson family were preparing to celebrate. There was a cake being baked, hunting traditions being honored, and a family gathering in what should have been a joyful, peaceful holiday. But beneath that calm veneer, something far darker stirred.  

By the end of the day, the Lawson farmhouse would become the epicenter of a nightmare—a scene so gruesome it would stain the memory of Christmas forever. What drives a man to turn on his own family? What breaks inside someone to twist love into destruction?  

The answers, if they ever existed, are buried in time, along with Charles Lawson’s final, haunting secrets. This is the story of a family frozen in their final moments, of a crime that defies understanding, and of a legacy that still echoes nearly a century later.  

Macabrium is produced by Macabrium Creative and hosted by Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown, with writing and research by Chloë Kibbe, Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown. 

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The house looms before you, shrouded in shadows, its countless windows like unblinking eyes. As you step inside, the air grows heavier, and the walls seem to shift around you. Staircases spiral into ceilings, doors open to nowhere—this is no ordinary home.  

This is the Winchester Mystery House, built by a woman haunted by grief and guilt, endlessly constructing to escape the spirits she believed were hunting her. Tonight, the house is waiting. Are you ready to step inside? 

Macabrium is produced by Macabrium Creative and hosted by Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown, with writing and research by Chloë Kibbe, Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown. 

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On Christmas Eve, 1945, the Sodder family home in Fayetteville, West Virginia, erupted in flames. Amid the chaos, George and Jennie Sodder managed to rescue four of their ten children, but five others—Maurice, Martha, Louis, Jennie, and Betty—were believed to have perished in the fire. Yet, no remains were ever found. 

What begins as a tragedy soon twists into one of history's most chilling unsolved mysteries. Cryptic clues surface—a strange phone call, a missing ladder, cut wires, and a suspicious insurance salesman with veiled threats. Eyewitness accounts suggest the children may have been seen alive, far from the smouldering ruins of their home.

Were the children victims of the flames—or of a more sinister plot?

Macabrium is produced by Macabrium Creative and hosted by Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown, with writing and research by Chloë Kibbe, Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown. 

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The air inside Chillingham Castle feels heavy, as if the stones themselves remember the horrors that unfolded here. Beneath the grandeur of its medieval walls lies a darker tale—the story of John Sage, or Dragfoot, a man whose cruelty echoes through the centuries.

On today's minisode we are exploring the history, the ghosts and the legends behind one of England’s most haunted castles.

Macabrium is produced by Macabrium Creative and hosted by Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown, with writing and research by Chloë Kibbe, Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown. 

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Beneath its dazzling beauty lies a dark and twisted tale. The Hope Diamond, a gemstone of unmatched brilliance, has passed through the hands of kings, thieves, and collectors, leaving behind a legacy of wealth, betrayal, and tragedy.

From its fabled origins to its glittering display in modern museums, whispers of a curse have followed the diamond for centuries. Its owners have faced ruin, madness, and untimely deaths—coincidences too chilling to ignore. Was the gem imbued with a malevolent force, or do its tragedies simply reflect the turbulent times it survived?

We are diving into the shadowy history of the Hope Diamond, peeling back layers of myth and reality to uncover the truth behind its haunting reputation. 

Macabrium is produced by Macabrium Creative and hosted by Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown, with writing and research by Chloë Kibbe, Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown. 

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Sarah Jane Robinson was a seemingly ordinary woman whose life took a sinister turn. Beneath her unassuming exterior lay a web of greed, betrayal, and death. Accused of a string of poisonings in 19th-century Massachusetts, Robinson’s story captivated and horrified the public, leaving a trail of unanswered questions. Was she a cunning killer driven by desperation, or was she a victim of circumstance and suspicion?

Today we are exploring the twists and turns of her case and the lingering shadows of her unsettling legacy.

Macabrium is produced by Macabrium Creative and hosted by Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown, with writing and research by Chloë Kibbe, Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown. 

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