SPOOK!

We’re jumping ahead to Christmas with this new installment of Nicole’s True Crime Corner. On Christmas Eve, 1945, the Sodder family went to bed, excited to celebrate the holiday with each other. Shortly after, they were woken up by the smell of smoke and terrified screams. George and Jennie Sodder were able to escape with four of their children, but the remains of five other children were never recovered. Was it faulty wiring, arson, or a kidnapping/extortion scheme? It’s been 79 years since and many questions remain regarding the fates of the missing Sodder children. 

Warning: 

Episode mentions arson, child kidnapping, child death, accidental fire, and child murder. 

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Email us your spooky stories @[email protected]

If you’d like a shoutout in a future episode, email or DM us! 

Sources: 

Abbott, K. (2021, September 15). The Children Who Went up in Smoke. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-children-who-went-up-in-smoke-172429802/

Travolta, J. (2023, September 27). The Disappearance of the Sodder Children. Medium. https://thejohntravolta.medium.com/the-disappearance-of-the-sodder-children-dedda85e97a4

Wikipedia contributors. (2024h, July 10). Sodder Children Disappearance. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodder_children_disappearance

It’s a bittersweet day here at Spook!, as today marks the last story by Kristen on Are You Afraid of the Dark?. It’s a surprisingly layered tale, as Joe and Nicole discuss family trees, Melissa Joan Hart, and reflect on Kristen’s legacy of dedication to her stories.

Warning: 

Episode contains spoilers and mentions child death. 

Follow us on Instagram @spook_podcast

Email your spooky stories to [email protected]

If you want a shoutout in our next episode, email or DM us!

Sources: 

Available to stream: Paramount + and Amazon Prime Video

“Are You Afraid of the Dark?” The Tale of the Frozen Ghost (1993, August 14). IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0514418/

It’s a Lovecraftian episode of Spook! as Joe and Nicole talk about the fifth installment of Guillermo del Toro’s horror anthology show! Gather ‘round the spooky campfire as this adaptation of the prolific and somewhat problematic creator’s work is cracked open, as well as art school, hallucinations, and otherworldly beings.

Warning: 

Episode contains spoilers and mentions gore, child death, gun violence, self-harm, suicide, alcoholism, and cannibalism. 

Follow us on Instagram @spook_podcast

Email your spooky stories to [email protected]

If you would like a shoutout in a future episode, email or DM us! 

Sources: 

Available to stream: Netflix 

“Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities” Pickman’s Model (2022, October 27). IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15262250/ 

“Pickman’s Model” by H. P. Lovecraft. (1927, October). https://www.hplovecraft.com/writings/texts/fiction/pm.aspx

Get your backpacks and lunchboxes ready, because this episode of Spook! is going to boarding school! Joe and Nicole join Auggie and Jazz Wilson in this addition to Are You Afraid of the Dark?, and along the way cover topics such as school lunch, strange rules, and high frequency noises.

Warning: 

Episode contains spoilers and mentions child endangerment and animal death. 

Follow us on Instagram @spook_podcast

Email your spooky stories to [email protected]

If you want a shoutout in our next episode, email or DM us!

Sources: 

Available to stream: Paramount + and Amazon Prime Video

“Are You Afraid of the Dark?” The Tale of the Hatching (1993, September 25). IMDb. 

             https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0514422/

Ducks on a lake! Yes, there are ducks on a lake in this episode of Twin Peaks, and Joe and Nicole dissect why that may or may not be so important, along with Albert’s conduct and why Leland desperately needs therapy. So grab your tape recorders, leave a message for Diane, and dive into this episode of Spook!!

Warning: 

Episode contains spoilers and mentions murder, drug use, drug trafficking, and domestic abuse.  

Follow us on Instagram @spook_podcast

Email your spooky stories to [email protected]

If you want a shoutout in a future episode, email or DM us!

Sources: 

Available to stream: Paramount + 

“Twin Peaks” Rest in Pain (1990, April 26). IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0734831/

We have to go back! Back to…the 60s. Yes, Joe and Nicole talk about a particularly groovy episode of AYAOTD that continues Kristen’s trend of committing to her stories, and along the way discuss time travel mechanics, food fights, and school floor planning. Right on, man!

Warning: 

Follow us on Instagram @spook_podcast

Sources: 

“Are You Afraid of the Dark?” The Tale of Locker 22 (1993, July 3). IMDb. 

On July 11th, 1908, the decomposed body of a young woman was found floating in Teal’s Pond, in Sand Lake, New York. In this episode of “Nicole’s True Crime Corner,” Nicole covers the murder of 20-year-old governess, Hazel Drew; a case that would go on to inspire the show, Twin Peaks, and the fictional murder of Laura Palmer. It’s been 116 years since the crime occurred and it is still officially unsolved. Join us as we cover a long list of suspects, theories of a double life, and connections to Twin Peaks. 

Warning: 

Episode mentions murder, suicide, depression, and prostitution. 

Follow us on Instagram @spook_podcast

Email us your spooky stories @[email protected]

If you’d like a shoutout, email or DM us! 

Sources: 

Givens, M. T., & Bushman, D. (2021). Murder at Teal’s Pond: Hazel Drew and the Mystery That Inspired Twin Peaks. Thomas & Mercer.

True Crime Recaps. (2022, May 22). The True Story That Inspired Twin Peaks | Hazel Drew Mystery [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=249puIodtI8

Tonight’s episode of Spook! is about something that saddens both Joe and Nicole: a lame Kristen story from Are You Afraid of the Dark?. Jill Petterson likes fairy tales and apparently must be punished. Gather ‘round as Joe and Nicole pick apart this episode as they discuss what’s under the bed, “Be careful what you wish for” stories, and Hot Topic.

Warning: 

Episode contains spoilers and mentions child endangerment 

Follow us on Instagram @spook_podcast

Email your spooky stories to [email protected]

If you want a shoutout in our next episode, email or DM us!

Sources: 

Available to stream: Paramount + and Amazon Prime Video

“Are You Afraid of the Dark?” The Tale of the Final Wish (1993, June 19). IMDb. 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0514416/

Maybe it’s magic. Maybe it’s the latest episode of Spook!! This doozy dives into the realm of feminist horror with another tale from Guillermo’s Cabinet, and along the way Joe and Nicole discuss party etiquette, societal expectations, and some heated opinions on deodorant.

Warning: 

Episode contains spoilers and mentions animal death, gore, mental abuse, mental illness, addiction, violence, and murder 

Follow us on Instagram @spook_podcast

Email your spooky stories to [email protected]

If you would like a shoutout, email or DM us! 

Sources: 

Available to stream: Netflix 

Carroll, Emily. “Some Other Animal’s Meat” (n.d.). https://www.emcarroll.com/comics/meat/

“Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities” The Outside (2022, October 26). IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15262284/ 

It’s the Fourth of July, and Spook! is celebrating Independence by watching the tangentially related Tim Burton movie Sleepy Hollow! Gather ‘round as Nicole and Joe discuss Danny Elfman, a boring conspiracy, and many, many beheadings.

Warning: 

Episode contains spoilers and mentions gore, violence, murder, feticide, child murder, domestic abuse, torture, and animal cruelty/death.

Follow us on Instagram @spook_podcast

Email your spooky stories to [email protected]

If you want a shoutout in our next episode, email or DM us!

Sources: 

Available to stream: Paramount +

Sleepy Hollow (1999) (1999, November 19). IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0162661/

Wikipedia contributors. (2024, June 2). The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Sleepy_Hollow