In this episode, our resident ghost host Mortimer Witherblight, (Mort for Short) dusts off one of his original case files from his days writing for The Pall Mall Gazette.

In this (fictional) Tale from the Shack, Mort reads directly from his own investigation notes — a rare glimpse into the Victorian paranormal world he once walked in the flesh.

If you're into atmospheric storytelling, cozy‑creepy mysteries, and the Shack’s growing cast of spectral characters, settle in. Mort has a story to tell… and he’s been waiting a very long time.

How to Help:

If Mort’s tale gave you chills or sparked a theory of your own, help our Shack community grow by:

© 2026 The Shack After Dark. All rights reserved.

We (Trina and Steph - whilst eating homemade cake) - dive into the many faces of death, tracing how cultures across time have imagined, feared, befriended, and celebrated it. Our conversation moves from ancient civilizations and their mythic personifications—often embodied as powerful female deities—to modern media’s shifting portrayals of mortality. Along the way, we explore ghost stories, symbolic animals, and the ways literature reframes death as both an ending and a mirror held up to humanity. What emerges is a thoughtful, warm, and curious reflection on how our stories about death ultimately reveal what we value about life.

How you can help:

If you enjoy spending time with us in The Shack After Dark, don’t forget to follow the show, rate the episode, and leave a comment or review—it helps more listeners find our cozy, mysterious corner of the world. Share this episode with a friend who loves eerie stories, warm banter, and a little wonder.  Your support keeps the candles lit and the tales flowing.

© 2026 The Freakin' Shack. All rights reserved

In this episode of The Shack After Dark, Trina and Steph take a deep dive into the timeless tradition of ghost stories — where they come from, why they endure, and what they reveal about us as human beings. From ancient folklore to modern hauntings, they explore how ghost stories help us process grief, confront the unknown, and make sense of the emotional truths we carry.

Links:

Yes Theory:

https://youtu.be/C_2cE21MM7s?si=t9b6hMNSSQLiK9JL 

Archaeology Now: Professor Finkle - first ghost stories

https://youtu.be/zNNaZ110ee4?si=xDjneVuCInlz2ZI1

Last Weeks Episode: The Finch Photograph

https://fshack03.podbean.com/e/the-finch-photograph-a-tale-from-the-shack/

If you enjoy hanging out with us in the Shack, here are a few simple ways to help our little community grow:

© 2026 The Freakin' Shack. All rights reserved.

Step into the Shack as Trina travels back to 1860s London, where photographer Alastair Finch made his living capturing the stillness of the newly departed. But one portrait — a simple image of a child — revealed something else lingering in the frame. Something watching. Something waiting.

Help the Shack Grow (It Really Helps Us To Keep the Lantern Lit)

We'd love to hear your family stories, eerie encounters, or cultural spirits from your culture or heritage. Your tales help shape future episodes.

You’re not just listeners — you’re part of the Shack’s growing community

© 2026 Tales from the Shack. All rights reserved.

In this Valentine’s Day special, Trina and Stéphanie open the Shack door to the tender, complicated corners of love — the words we never said, the regrets we carry, and the memories that still glow years later. Through honest conversation and personal stories, they explore how fear, hesitation, and unspoken emotions shape our relationships.

Follow, share and comment to help build our community of Shack Packers

contact us: [email protected]

During this Shack After Dark episode, we talk about personal growth and public speaking, not in the polished, confident sense, but in the learning-to-relax, it’s-okay-to-make-mistakes kind of way. Steph reflects on what she’s learned from watching me speak openly, imperfectly, and without fear of getting it wrong. We explore mindset, affirmations, and how the labels we’re given, or give ourselves, can quietly shape our identity. Along the way, we reflect on our podcasting journey so far, the lessons it’s taught us, and why engaging with our listeners has become such a meaningful part of the experience. We also wander into conversations about our expectations of becoming an adult, expectations around parenthood, and the gentle rebellion of living authentically rather than ticking boxes. No neat answers. Just reflections, laughter, and the reassurance that you’re allowed to be human while you find your way. Pull up a chair. This one’s meant to be listened to slowly.

Subscribe & contact us at: [email protected] 

In this episode of The Freakin’ Shack, we pull up a chair beside the fire and unravel the strange, enduring tale of Rumpelstiltskin.

We explore the origins and evolution of the story, tracing how it has shifted across time, culture, and interpretation. At the heart of it all is the power of names. What does it mean to know a name? Why does naming hold such weight in folklore, psychology, and identity itself?

Along the way, we reflect on how modern retellings of old tales reveal changing societal values and deep psychological truths, especially around power, autonomy, and self-knowledge.

This episode also includes a very real Shack moment: dyslexia, memory hiccups, a cough & a wandering script, and a shared determination to keep going. Steph wrestles bravely with the text, I lose our place entirely, and eventually we tag-team the reading. Not polished but very human. The story was told anyway.

We close with reflections on what Rumpelstiltskin still teaches us today, and why knowing your own name, in every sense, still matters.

Listener Invitation

We’d love to hear your thoughts.

You can share your reflections, theories, or personal stories with us at:

Copyright:

This episode discusses Rumpelstiltskin, a traditional folk tale originating from European oral storytelling and later recorded by the Brothers Grimm. As a work rooted in folklore, it exists in the public domain.

All discussion, interpretation, and commentary in this episode are original and intended for educational, cultural, and entertainment purposes under fair use principles.

In this episode of The Freakin’ Shack, Trina and Steph step into the darker woods of fairy tale history to uncover the unsettling origins of Snow White.

Far from a gentle children’s story, the original tale reveals disturbing themes including maternal cannibalism, the true role of the huntsman, and the harsh, often misunderstood reality of the dwarves. The discussion explores the symbolism of the poisoned apple, the unsettling obsession of the prince, and the brutal punishment of the Queen.

Along the way, Trina and Steph draw thoughtful parallels between this centuries-old story and modern life, touching on beauty standards, control, jealousy, and the complex dynamics of motherhood that still echo today.

This is Snow White as you’ve never heard her before. Darker, stranger, and far more revealing.

*Recorded inside the Shack

If you enjoy dark folklore, twisted fairy tales, and thoughtful paranormal discussion, follow, subscribe (on Youtube) and join us inside the Shack.

You can support us by:

Every little bit helps our tiny Shack in the woods reach new listeners.

© Copyright

All narration, and original creative content in The Freakin’ Shack is the intellectual property of the creators.

Welcome back to The Freakin’ Shack and to our very first episode of 2026!

To launch the new year, we dive into one of the darkest fairy tales ever told: Hansel & Gretel.

But be warned — the origins are grim in every sense. This episode explores:

It’s eerie, it’s fascinating, and it’s definitely one of the bleakest journeys we’ve taken in the Shack — but told with our usual warmth, humour, and just a sprinkle of spooky chaos.

Mort, meanwhile, communicates his outrage through silent dramatic gestures.. He insists his voice will return “when the world is ready once more for my brilliance.” We can’t wait.

How You Can Support the Show

Kick off the new year by helping The Freakin’ Shack grow!

Every little bit helps our tiny Shack in the woods reach new listeners — and it greatly annoys Mort when people love us more than him.

© Copyright

All stories, characters (including Mortimer Witherblight), narration, and original creative content in The Freakin’ Shack are the intellectual property of the creators.