What makes an urban legend truly scary? Maybe it’s the tiny possibility that it actually happened.

In this episode of The Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks sits down with horror writer M. Lee Goodson to talk about urban legends, cryptids, psychological horror, and the strange path that led her from inspirational writing to stories where things tend to go considerably darker.

M. Lee discusses her love of The Twilight Zone, Edgar Allan Poe, and Dean Koontz, as well as her weekly Legend of the Week posts exploring strange folklore, regional monsters, and creepy stories from around the country. They dig into why nearly every town seems to have its own frightening legend, how real experiences can make fictional horror feel more authentic, and why the best urban legends work because there’s always that lingering thought: what if it’s true?

The conversation also covers Bigfoot, the Wendigo, Texas cryptids, the mysterious Horizon City Monster, werewolves, The Blair Witch Project, and M. Lee’s surprisingly unique favorite monster—the Basilisk.

If you love cryptid lore, creepy folklore, urban legends, monster mythology, psychological horror, paranormal stories, and conversations with indie horror writers, this episode is for you.

Links:

Website: https://www.mleegoodson.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mleegoodson

M. Lee Goodson, M. Lee Goodson interview, The Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks, urban legends, cryptids, Texas cryptids, horror author interview, psychological horror, Twilight Zone horror, Edgar Allan Poe, Dean Koontz, basilisk mythology, Bigfoot, Wendigo, Horizon City Monster, werewolf stories, Blair Witch Project, creepy folklore, paranormal legends, monster lore, horror writing, indie horror author, Horror Writers Association, HWA Texas, folklore podcast, horror podcast

#MLeeGoodson #TheNightCrewPodcast #BradRicks #UrbanLegends #Cryptids #CryptidLore #MonsterLore #TexasCryptids #PsychologicalHorror #HorrorWriter #IndieHorror #HorrorPodcast #AuthorInterview #EdgarAllanPoe #TwilightZone #Basilisk #Bigfoot #Wendigo #Folklore #Paranormal

What’s worse than a cursed object bringing bad luck? A cursed object that seems to know you’re there.

In Episode 2 of the Cursed Objects series, Brad Ricks dives into three of the most infamous supposedly haunted objects in modern paranormal lore: Annabelle, Robert the Doll, and the Dybbuk Box.

First, forget the creepy porcelain face from The Conjuring. The real Annabelle doll is a seemingly harmless Raggedy Ann surrounded by stories of unexplained movement, disturbing messages, claw marks, demonic manipulation, and the controversial paranormal investigations of Ed and Lorraine Warren.

Then it’s off to Key West to meet Robert the Doll, the century-old sailor doll whose reputation has become so powerful that visitors still send letters apologizing for photographing him without permission—often after blaming Robert for accidents, injuries, divorces, lost jobs, and other sudden misfortunes.

Finally, Brad opens the story of the infamous Dybbuk Box, a supposedly haunted wine cabinet associated with nightmares, illness, possession, Hollywood movies, and paranormal television. There’s just one problem: the man who created the story later admitted that he invented its haunted history himself.

So why do these stories continue even after the evidence falls apart?

This episode explores haunted dolls, demonic objects, paranormal investigations, Jewish folklore, dybbuks, the psychology of seeing faces and intent in objects, and the strange way a frightening story can become more powerful than the truth behind it.

If you love true paranormal stories, haunted objects, demonology, creepy dolls, urban legends, occult history, and horror stories that blur the line between folklore and fact, this episode belongs on your playlist.

Annabelle doll, real Annabelle doll, Robert the Doll, Dybbuk Box, haunted dolls, cursed objects, haunted objects, Ed and Lorraine Warren, Warren Occult Museum, Annabelle true story, Robert the Doll curse, Robert the Doll Key West, Dybbuk Box true story, Kevin Mannis, Zak Bagans, Jewish folklore, dybbuk folklore, paranormal investigation, demonic objects, possessed dolls, cursed dolls, paranormal stories, urban legends, occult history, horror podcast, The Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks

#CursedObjects #Annabelle #AnnabelleDoll #RobertTheDoll #DybbukBox #HauntedDolls #CursedDolls #HauntedObjects #Paranormal #ParanormalStories #Demonology #EdAndLorraineWarren #TheConjuring #JewishFolklore #UrbanLegends #OccultHistory #TrueHorror #HorrorPodcast #TheNightCrewPodcast #BradRicks

Can an object actually be cursed—or are we just very good at turning tragedy into a story?

In the first episode of a brand-new Cursed Objects series on The Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks digs into six of the most famous allegedly cursed artifacts in history: the Hope Diamond, the Koh-i-Noor, the Curse of Tutankhamun, the mysterious Basano Vase, the Delhi Purple Sapphire, and the Black Orlov Diamond.

But this isn’t just a collection of creepy legends. Brad separates the documented history from the folklore to uncover how these curses were actually built. Some were fueled by real deaths. Some were amplified by newspapers. One may have been deliberately embellished by Cartier to help sell a diamond. Another might never have existed at all.

From royal executions and colonial theft to mysterious suicides, pharaoh tombs, supposedly bloodstained gemstones, and objects people became convinced were trying to ruin their lives, this episode asks a bigger question: why do we need cursed objects in the first place?

If you love dark history, paranormal mysteries, haunted objects, occult legends, ancient curses, Egyptian mythology, true horror, and stories where folklore collides with documented history, this is the perfect place to start.

cursed objects, cursed artifacts, Hope Diamond curse, Koh-i-Noor curse, King Tut curse, Curse of Tutankhamun, Basano Vase, Delhi Purple Sapphire, Black Orlov Diamond, Eye of Brahma, haunted objects, cursed diamonds, ancient curses, paranormal objects, occult history, dark history, supernatural legends, Egyptian curse, cursed gemstones, haunted artifacts, folklore podcast, horror history, horror podcast, The Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks

#CursedObjects #HopeDiamond #KingTut #CurseOfTutankhamun #KohINoor #DelhiPurpleSapphire #BlackOrlov #CursedArtifacts #HauntedObjects #AncientCurses #DarkHistory #OccultHistory #Paranormal #Supernatural #Folklore #HorrorHistory #CursedDiamonds #HorrorPodcast #TheNightCrewPodcast #BradRicks

Lilith may get all the attention, but she was never the only queen ruling the darkness.

In this bonus episode of The Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks steps into the shadowy world of Jewish mysticism, Kabbalah, and the Sitra Achra to uncover the three demon queens who stood beside Lilith: Naamah, Agrat Bat Mahlat, and Eisheth Zenunim.

Each queen rules a different territory of human fear. Naamah corrupts through seduction and desire. Agrat Bat Mahlat commands vast armies of demons that ride through the night. Eisheth Zenunim consumes the souls of the damned. Together with Lilith, they form a terrifying map of human vulnerability stretching from the cradle to beyond the grave.

This episode explores the Four Queens of Demons, their connection to Samael, the Zohar, fallen angels, the Watchers, the Nephilim, demonic offspring, dangerous nights, forbidden desire, and the horrifying fate of souls that were meant to survive death.

Perfect for fans of demonology, occult history, dark folklore, Jewish mythology, Kabbalistic mysticism, supernatural horror, and ancient monsters hidden in religious texts.

Naamah, Agrat Bat Mahlat, Eisheth Zenunim, Four Queens of Demons, Lilith, demon queens, Jewish demonology, Kabbalah demons, Sitra Achra, Samael, Zohar, Jewish folklore, occult history, demon mythology, fallen angels, Watchers, Nephilim, succubus folklore, dark mysticism, supernatural horror, horror mythology, mythology podcast, demonology podcast, The Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks

#Naamah #AgratBatMahlat #EishethZenunim #Lilith #FourQueensOfDemons #DemonQueens #Demonology #JewishFolklore #JewishMysticism #Kabbalah #SitraAchra #Samael #TheZohar #DarkFolklore #OccultHistory #SupernaturalHorror #HorrorMythology #HorrorPodcast #TheNightCrewPodcast #BradRicks

In this episode of The Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks sits down with horror author Kayla Frederick to talk about turning nightmares, trauma, and a love of 1980s horror into unforgettable dark fiction. Kayla shares the journey behind her Rituals of the Night series, including Dead by Morning, Alive at Sunset, and the upcoming Survive at Midnight, which she describes as Heathers meets A Nightmare on Elm Street.

They also explore her deadly artist competition novel The Residency, the difference between writing a standalone novel and a long-running horror series, overcoming imposter syndrome, and why consistency matters more than waiting for inspiration. Kayla discusses her atmospheric writing style, her love of psychological suspense, and the recurring nightmare that inspired her first book.

The conversation also features 1980s movies and music, Stephen King, true crime, lucid nightmares, cliffhangers, baking cheesecakes, and Kayla’s favorite supernatural creature: the banshee. This episode is perfect for fans of indie horror, dark fantasy, supernatural horror, slasher fiction, psychological suspense, and behind-the-scenes conversations with rising horror authors.

Website: www.authorkaylafrederick.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorkaylafrederick

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kayla.frederick77

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@kaylafrederick

Kayla Frederick, Kayla Frederick interview, The Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks, horror author interview, Dead by Morning, Alive at Sunset, Survive at Midnight, Rituals of the Night series, The Residency, After the Devil, indie horror author, supernatural horror, dark fantasy, psychological horror, slasher fiction, 1980s horror, Heathers, Nightmare on Elm Street, banshee folklore, lucid nightmares, women in horror, author podcast, horror books

#KaylaFrederick #TheNightCrewPodcast #BradRicks #DeadByMorning #AliveAtSunset #SurviveAtMidnight #RitualsOfTheNight #TheResidency #HorrorPodcast #AuthorInterview #IndieHorror #HorrorAuthor #WomenInHorror #SupernaturalHorror #DarkFantasy #PsychologicalHorror #SlasherFiction #80sHorror #Banshee #HorrorBooks

In this episode of The Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks sits down with Elizabeth DeVecchi to talk about her journey into horror writing, the strange sparks that turn into terrifying stories, and how fear itself can become creative fuel. Elizabeth shares how a quirky rescue dog inspired her debut novel A Whisper in the Dark, how her dark imagination started young, and why horror became the perfect genre for turning real-life anxieties into unforgettable fiction. They also dive into her books A Twist of the Lens and The Shadow Beside Her, writing morally gray creatures, balancing family life with creativity, using history in horror, and why sometimes the best writing advice is to just get the words down before you try to make them pretty. This episode is perfect for fans of indie horror authors, author interviews, creature horror, historical horror, psychological suspense, and behind-the-scenes conversations about the writing life. Plus: Stephen King, krakens, creepy sewers, termites from hell, and the kind of inspiration only a horror writer could love.

Website: https://www.elizabethdevecchi.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.devecchi/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themoonthesunandlittleman/

Keywords / Buzzwords:

Hashtags:

In part four of this chilling Succubus series on The Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks brings the legend into the modern world. This episode explores the terrifying connection between succubus folklore and sleep paralysis, breaking down what happens in the brain when you wake up frozen, feel a weight on your chest, and sense something evil in the room. Brad also digs into modern succubus encounter reports, the global history of the old hag phenomenon, and how the succubus transformed from an ancient night demon into a modern figure in horror fiction, anime, video games, and pop culture. If you love dark folklore, demon lore, sleep paralysis stories, supernatural horror, mythology, and creepy deep dives into the monsters that refuse to stay buried in the past, this episode is for you

Keywords / Buzzwords:

Hashtags:

In this episode of The Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks sits down with Andrew Najberg for a deep dive into horror writing, indie publishing, and the passion it takes to keep dark stories alive. Andrew talks about his journey from poetry and fiction to publishing novels like The Mobius Door, Gollitok, Extinction Dream, The Neverborn Thief, and Eat the Light, while also helping shape the horror landscape as co-owner and co-editor-in-chief of Wicked House Publishing. They dig into what makes a manuscript stand out, what small presses actually do behind the scenes, how authors can build discipline, and why horror remains one of the most powerful genres for atmosphere, fear, and emotional truth. The conversation also covers Aliens, xenomorphs, post-apocalyptic horror, publishing advice, short story collections, and the long game of becoming a better writer. This is a must-listen for fans of indie horror, author interviews, small press publishing, science fiction horror, monster stories, and behind-the-scenes conversations about how horror books get made.

Website: https://www.andrewnajberg.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrew.najberg/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewnajberg/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@andrew.najberg

Keywords / Buzzwords:

Hashtags:

In part three of this chilling Succubus series on The Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks explores the darkest turn in the legend’s history: the moment the succubus stopped being folklore and became part of the machinery of fear, theology, and execution. This episode dives into medieval demonology, the church’s obsession with incubi and succubi, the bizarre theology behind demon reproduction, and the horrifying role texts like the Malleus Maleficarum played in shaping the witch trials. Brad unpacks how beliefs about sleep paralysis, shame, sexuality, and demonic visitation were used to justify persecution, especially of women, and how the succubus became more than just a monster story. If you love dark history, occult horror, witch trial history, religious horror, demon lore, medieval folklore, and deep dives into the terrifying places where myth and real-world cruelty collide, this episode is for you.

Brad Ricks's Book Crypt:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/bradricksbookcrypt

Keywords / Buzzwords:

Hashtags:

In this episode of The Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks sits down with Cassandra O’Sullivan Sachar to talk about teaching horror writing, building a life as an author and scholar, and why horror gives writers the freedom to explore both the grotesque and the deeply human. They discuss Cassandra’s work as an English professor, her popular horror writing class, her love of Edgar Allan Poe, and the inspiration behind books like Darkness There, But Something More, Close the Door, Lake of Secrets, and Keeper of Corpses and Other Dark Tales. The conversation dives into dark academia, psychological horror, paranormal mysteries, short story writing, body horror scholarship, Frankenstein’s monster, and the importance of writing community, revision, and pushing past fear to actually get the words on the page. This is a must-listen for fans of horror fiction, author interviews, gothic literature, creative writing, indie horror authors, and behind-the-scenes conversations about the craft of writing dark stories.

LINKS: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cassandra.sachar

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cosachar

Brad's Book Crypt: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bradricksbookcrypt

SEO Keywords / Buzzwords:

Hashtags: