The Dark Carousel Podcast

For four years, Sparky has poured everything he has into the world of haunting. What started as a passion became an obsession, and that obsession became a legacy. From the legendary halls of Spooky World to the twisted nightmares of Fright Kingdom, Sparky has dedicated countless hours to perfecting his craft, creating unforgettable scares, and becoming a character that audiences never forget. Behind the makeup, the costumes, and the screams is a haunter driven by pure passion and an unwavering love for Halloween.

Join us as we dive into the story behind the monster, the sacrifices made along the way, and the journey that continues to push him forward. This is more than a haunt career. This is a way of life.

The nightmare continues.

🎠 This Carousel Will Never Stop Spinning. 🎠

The Journey Begins | Part 1

Before there was Skar.

Before there was Jingles.

There were simply two people who discovered a passion that would change their lives forever.

In Part 1 of this special two-part conversation, we sit down with Landen Gessner and David Amador to learn who they are beyond the costumes. We explore how they first found the haunt industry, what inspired them to become scare actors, the experiences that shaped them, and why haunting became more than just a hobby.

From their first nights in a haunted attraction to the friendships, challenges, and unforgettable memories they’ve built along the way, this episode is about the foundation of their journey.

Before you know the characters…

Get to know the people.

Welcome to the beginning of their story.

https://www.instagram.com/loi_jingles_the_jester?igsh=MWsydXAzaTZ6ZWE2OA==

🎠 EPISODE DESCRIPTION 🎠

What does it take to help run one of the most respected haunted attractions in the country?

In this episode of The Dark Carousel Podcast, we sit down with Brit Nussear, General Manager of Markoff’s Haunted Forest, along with longtime haunt visionary Paul, whose journey with Markoff’s spans more than 30 years.

Together, we explore the passion, dedication, and relentless work that goes into creating unforgettable haunted experiences. From managing the daily chaos of a world-class attraction to building a culture driven by creativity and teamwork, Brit shares what it’s really like being at the center of one of the industry’s most beloved haunts.

Paul reflects on three decades of growth, challenges, lessons learned, and the evolution of Markoff’s Haunted Forest from its early days into the legendary attraction it is today.

This isn’t just a conversation about scares and Halloween. It’s a conversation about leadership, sacrifice, perseverance, and the people who dedicate their lives to creating moments that guests remember forever.

At its heart, this episode is about the love of haunting. The passion that keeps people building, creating, dreaming, and pushing forward year after year.

Because behind every scream, every set piece, every character, and every unforgettable night in the woods, there are people who truly love what they do.

Step behind the curtain and discover what haunting means to those who have devoted their lives to it.

https://www.instagram.com/perfectlyhaunted

Sometimes all it takes is one question.

When we sat down with Azazel, we expected to talk about haunting, characters, scares, and the road that brought him from Savannah, Georgia into the haunt world. We got all of that. What we didn’t expect was a moment that hit every one of us right in the chest.

One question.

One answer.

And suddenly the conversation became something much bigger.

This episode dives into the passion behind the paint, the friendships built along the way, the struggles, the victories, and the reason so many of us keep coming back to this crazy world year after year. It’s about entertaining people, creating memories, and finding a place where you truly belong.

Whether you’ve been haunting for decades or you’ve never stepped behind a mask, Azazel’s story is a reminder that passion isn’t something you find overnight. It’s something you fight for, build, and carry with you through every chapter of your life.

This was more than a conversation about a character.

This was a conversation about heart.

Sometimes the mask tells a story. Sometimes the person underneath tells an even better one.

🎠 This Carousel Will Never Stop Spinning.

Some stories begin with a plan.

Others begin with an accident.

What started as an unexpected creative spark eventually grew into Macabre Intentions, one of the haunt industry’s most recognizable names in custom costume and character design. Founded by Joseph Goratowski, Macabre Intentions wasn’t born from a master blueprint or years of business strategy. It grew organically through passion, experimentation, and a relentless drive to create something unforgettable.

From post-apocalyptic wastelands and industrial nightmares to cyberpunk horrors and cinematic creatures, Joseph’s work blurs the line between costume and living nightmare. Every creation tells a story. Every monster feels as though it existed long before the lights came on and will continue roaming long after they go dark.

In this episode of The Dark Carousel Podcast, we dive into the accidental beginnings of Macabre Intentions, the sacrifices behind the art, the evolution of a creator, and what it truly means to dedicate your life to building monsters that leave a lasting impression.

Because sometimes the greatest creations aren’t planned.

Sometimes they happen by accident.

And sometimes accidents become legends.

🎠 This Carousel Will Never Stop Spinning.

For four years, Sparky has poured everything he has into the world of haunting. What started as a passion became an obsession, and that obsession became a legacy. From the legendary halls of Spooky World to the twisted nightmares of Fright Kingdom, Sparky has dedicated countless hours to perfecting his craft, creating unforgettable scares, and becoming a character that audiences never forget. Behind the makeup, the costumes, and the screams is a haunter driven by pure passion and an unwavering love for Halloween.

Join us as we dive into the story behind the monster, the sacrifices made along the way, and the journey that continues to push him forward. This is more than a haunt career. This is a way of life.

The nightmare continues.

🎠 This Carousel Will Never Stop Spinning. 🎠

https://www.instagram.com/sparkysfx

Step into a world where Halloween never really ends.

In this episode of The Dark Carousel Podcast, we sit down with Panthemerman, the performer behind one of the most recognizable Beetlejuice characters in the haunt community. From his love of classic horror to the memories that first sparked his passion for Halloween, we dive into the story behind the character and the person who brings him to life.

We talk about the nostalgia of the Halloween seasons that shaped us, the excitement of becoming someone else for a night, and the dedication it takes to create unforgettable experiences for guests. For Panthemerman, haunting isn’t just about costumes and makeup. It’s about keeping the spirit of Halloween alive and sharing that passion with everyone who walks through the doors.

Whether you’re a lifelong haunter, a horror fan, or someone who still remembers the magic of Halloween as a kid, this is a conversation filled with creativity, passion, and a deep love for the season that never truly leaves us.

🏚️ Laurel’s House of Horror

This carousel will never stop spinning. 🎠

https://laurelhaunt.com

From the legendary halls of Statesville to the nightmare-soaked world of Hellsgate Chicago, Sharky has become one of the most recognizable and unforgettable faces in haunting. But behind the cracked makeup, sharp teeth, and terrifying grin is something even more powerful… pure passion.

This episode dives deep into the dedication it takes to live and breathe the haunt industry year after year. The long nights. The physical exhaustion. The emotional connection. The art of creating fear while still bringing people together. Sharky doesn’t just play a character. She becomes part of the experience, and every single performance shows how much she truly loves what she does.

And honestly? That passion is contagious as hell.

You can feel it in the way she talks about haunting. You can see it in every detail of Sharky. It’s the kind of energy that reminds people why this industry matters in the first place.

Goddamnit… we love what she does too.

🎠 Dark Carousel Podcast

“This carousel will never stop spinning.”

This episode features Riddlez from Laurel House of Horror, but this conversation goes far beyond makeup, costumes, and scares. Behind the paint is a real person with real emotions, real struggles, real passion, and a story worth hearing.

We talk about character creation, fear, performance, haunt culture, and the emotional side of becoming someone else every night for the sake of making people feel something. Because haunting isn’t just about being scary. It’s about expression. It’s about identity. It’s about taking the pain, the chaos, the anxiety, the trauma, and the passion and turning it into art.

Don’t hold the pain.

Express the pain.

This episode dives into the reality that so many haunters understand but rarely say out loud. Sometimes the mask doesn’t hide who you are. Sometimes it finally reveals it.

Welcome to the Dark Carousel Podcast.

This carousel never stops spinning.

This week, the Dark Carousel Podcast steps directly into the nightmare world of Slashez & Scratches from Frightmare Farms in Palermo, NY.

From terrifying character creation and scare acting psychology to social media horror culture and the passion that fuels haunting season after season, this episode dives deep into the minds behind two of the most intense horror characters we’ve ever featured.

We talk movement, makeup, fear, performance, TikTok horror, haunt culture, and what it truly means to dedicate yourself to becoming the thing people fear in the dark.

This isn’t just another haunt interview.