New Series Coming This Friday: Midnight in the Macabre

Spend the Night With the Dead: America's Haunted AirBNBs

You can rent a bedroom where a little girl in a yellow dress still hums lullabies, a miner's casita in a Texas ghost town, or a schoolhouse tucked inside a working cemetery — and every one of these haunted Airbnbs is bookable tonight. EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/AirBNB [https://weirddarkness.com/AirBNB] READ or DOWNLOAD the full transcript of this episode: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3s9xb4bt [https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3s9xb4bt] FEATURED STORIES IN THIS EPISODE: Spending the night in a haunted house is always unnerving, but would you pay for the experience? If you’re looking for a spooky escape, maybe you could try a haunted AirBNB! You might not rest in peace in these haunted homes, but you're bound to have a memorable night preparing for paranormal activity, seeking the supernatural, and greeting ghosts. (Book A Stay At a Haunted AirBNB) *** Sawney Bean, said to be the leader of a 45-member clan in Scotland, is infamously accused of murdering and cannibalizing over 1,000 people in the early 16th century. His story inspired the horror film, ‘The Hills Have Eyes.’ But did Sawney Bean ever truly exist? (The Man Who Inspired ‘The Hills Have Eyes’) *** Nestled in the Kentish Weald, the quaint village of Stalisfield boasts a thousand-year-old church and timeless tranquility. But beneath its serene surface, whispers of ancient pagan rites and dark ceremonies linger. Could the chilling past of sacrificial rituals still echo through the village today? (The Stalisfield Blade) *** As dusk fell, a pickup truck pulled up to a motel outside Tarzana. Inside, Brother Elzibah and his monks prepared for a perilous mission, recording martyr statements and arming themselves with explosives. Their target on December 10, 1958: Krishna Venta, a self-styled prophet in Box Canyon. This night promised a dramatic showdown that would mark a violent chapter in the history of American spiritual communes, and the country’s cults. (The Bizarre Story Behind The Suicide Bombing Of A Southern California Cult) CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00:00.000 = The Foreboding 00:01:41.053 = Show Open 00:04:08.300 = Book A Stay At a Haunted AirBNB 00:27:56.736 = The Man Who Inspired ‘The Hills Have Eyes’ *** 00:32:42.960 = The Stalisfield Blade 00:40:06.667 = The Bizarre Story Behind the Suicide Bombing of a Southern California Cult *** 00:51:40.417 = Show Close *** = Begins immediately after inserted ad break LISTEN ON PODCAST APPS: Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://weirddarkness.com/wdapps [https://weirddarkness.com/wdapps] *No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast* SOURCES and RESOURCES: “The Stalisfield Blade” by Ken DaSilva-Hill (used with permission) “The Bizarre Story Behind The Suicide Bombing Of A SoCal Cult” by Mattew Duersten, LAist, December 10, 2018: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4s27xpf7 [https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4s27xpf7] “The Man Who Inspired ‘The Hills Have Eyes’” source: Leah Silverman at AllThatsInteresting.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8zy3ec [https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8zy3ec] “Book A Stay At a Haunted AirBNB” sources: Lauren Mack at TimeOut.com, https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4h75fc6c [https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4h75fc6c]; Daily Barringer and Caitlin Morton at Thrillest.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8eubbj [https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8eubbj]; Jersey Griggs at TheDiscoverer.com, https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yttxryn6 [https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yttxryn6]; Marissa Laliberte at Reader’s Digest:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p86y2em [https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p86y2em]; Julie Pennell at Today.com, https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2kwzmdfs [https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2kwzmdfs]; Alexa Erickson at FamilyHandyman.com, https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8w39nh [https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8w39nh] (Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.) WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness. Originally aired: April 29, 2024 This episode of Weird Darkness roams from haunted rental homes you can book for the night to a Scottish cannibal legend, a Kentish village's whispered sacrifice rites, and the dynamite that ended a Southern California cult.It opens with a tour of haunted Airbnbs scattered across the United States and beyond, from Hobo Hill House in Jefferson City, Missouri — a 1910 American Foursquare where sightings of a man in a top hat drove the Clark family out and onto "The Dead Files" — to the Parks-Bowman Mansion in New Orleans, where guests booking the dead girl's bedroom report a young spirit in a yellow dress who hums lullabies and paces with a limp. The Kahn Hotel in Jefferson, Texas has logged over 300 paranormal investigations and one recording of a woman's scream followed by a gunshot; Farnam Manor in Richfield, Ohio traces its haunting to the owner's daughter drowning in a well in 1834; and a converted 1900 schoolhouse sits inside Cedar Park Cemetery in Hudson, New York, complete with an 18th-century opium wedding bed. The Creole Mansion in New Orleans, built in 1855 for Louise Vitry, and the Terlingua ghost-town casita overlooking Big Bend round out a list that stretches from Salem, Massachusetts to York, England.From there the episode turns to Sawney Bean, the legendary patriarch of a 45-member clan said to have lived in Bennane Cave along the Scottish coast, robbing, murdering, and cannibalizing more than 1,000 travelers across roughly 25 years before King James VI led a manhunt that ended in the men being executed and the women burned at the stake. Historical records first mention Bean in 1755, a century after he supposedly lived, and Scottish historian Dr. Louise Yeoman argues the tale may have started as English propaganda, with the name "Sawney" serving as a period slur against Scots. Wes Craven credited the Bean legend as the direct inspiration for his film The Hills Have Eyes.Next comes Stalisfield, a tiny hamlet in the Kentish Weald with a thousand-year-old church and The Plough Inn, where old villagers speak of pagan harvest rites tied to a flint sacrifice knife hewn from Kentish stone. The stories describe animals slaughtered on a sarsen stone and, in the darkest tellings, a golden-haired virgin tied to a stake, dismembered with the flint blade, her blood collected in a golden vessel and her ashes mixed with seed and scattered into the corners of the fields — corners locals still avoid after dark, marked by their overgrowth.The episode closes with Krishna Venta, born Francis Herman Pencovic in San Francisco in 1911, a barefoot self-styled prophet who claimed to have been born half a million years earlier on a planet called Neophrates and founded the WKFL Foundation on a 23-acre glen in Box Canyon. Two disaffected monks, Ralph Muller and Peter Kamenoff — who had taken the names Elzibah and Jeroham and accused Venta of sleeping with their wives — recorded martyr statements at a Tarzana motel and drove to the commune on December 10, 1958 with twenty sticks of dynamite in a musette bag. The blast lifted the top off the stone monastery, was heard more than 20 miles away, and killed ten people, including Venta, Cardinal Gene, and two children from the dormitories, seven-year-old Keela Baker and eleven-year-old Elwyn; survivors later scattered into other movements, among them members who died in Jonestown alongside Jim Jones' Peoples Temple in 1978.

Charlie Charlie, the Playground Ouija Board With a Body Count of Claims | #WDRadio

Two crossed pencils, a sheet of paper marked yes and no, and a name spoken twice — and by the time an Italian priest was called into a Calabrian primary school, the children had already asked Charlie their questions. | July 19, 2026 ========== HOUR ONE: Just because the Ouija board is made by a board game manufacturer does not mean it should be treated like a toy – as many have discovered. *** The similar game, Charlie Charlie seems more innocent – but is so dangerous that in one school where children were playing it, they had to call in an exorcist. *** And you never know when playing any of these types of games what kind of spirit you might be inviting into our realm – but I can tell you this…. It’s never good. They might pretend to be good, but that’s far from the truth. And one particular demon has found notoriety through the Ouija board community, a demon you don’t want to risk opening a door for. It’s name is Zozo. ========== HOUR TWO: Did lost cosmonauts make it into space before Yuri Gagarin? (The Tombs in Space) *** Don't take a gift from Gracie Watson's grave... or her life-like statue might cry tears of blood. (Gracie’s Ghost) *** Did Bonnie Scott run away? Was she kidnapped? Murdered perhaps? All anyone knew was that no one had a clue where she was. She had simply disappeared without a trace. (The Murder of Bonnie Leigh Scott) *** A latchkey kid comes home to an empty house… or so they thought until they heard footsteps in another room. (The Laundry Room) ========== SUDDEN DEATH OVERTIME: People often encounter strange and frightening things when they experience sleep paralysis – but in one particular story, the horrors began well before going to bed. (Sleep Paralysis in Bangkok) *** Samuel Joselyn was buried in 1810 in a North Carolina cemetery.  Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that Samuel was actually DEAD at the time of his burial! (Buried Alive in Wilmington) *** in 1894 Rosa Lochner was a witness to murder, but she had been deaf since birth and her spoken vocabulary was limited. So how could she testify against the accused? (Murder In Pantomime) *** A boy wakes to find his previously closed curtains now open – and the only explanation involves a previous resident of the house he’s now living in. (Strange Manifestations) *** Mention the word “Chupacabra” and most people will think of a strange, hairless dog-like animal. They are never described as having the ability to fly… until now. (Winged Chupacabras) *** These UFOs aren’t shiny metallic discs or cigar-shaped spaceships. They are humanoid – and they fly without the help of a jetpack, wings, cape or even a broom to sit on. And the sightings are still coming in all throughout Mexico. (The Flying Humanoids of Mexico) *** The North Carolina Cherokee have a story about how dangerous it can be even near a calm river – where the waters can suddenly foam and a giant beast can appear on the rocks. (James and the Giant Leech) *** Supernatural women, shadowy men, odd animal sightings, and more… they can all be found at late-night truck stops if you’re not careful. (Truck Stop Horror Stories) ========== SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM TONIGHT’S SHOW: “Charlie Charlie” https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/ydpwych9 [https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/ydpwych9], and “Ouija Boards” https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/mzyfmwee [https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/mzyfmwee]by Jacob Shelton for Graveyard Shift “ZoZo the Ouija Board Demon” by Maggie Clendenin for Ranker: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/xtc8x9pe [https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/xtc8x9pe] “The Tombs in Space” posted at The Unredacted: http://ow.ly/nW5U30mwbWw [http://ow.ly/nW5U30mwbWw] “Gracie’s Ghost” by Gary Sweeney for The Line Up: http://ow.ly/arFz30mwaLc [http://ow.ly/arFz30mwaLc] “The Murder of Bonnie Leigh Scott” by Troy Taylor for American Hauntings Ink: http://ow.ly/v6wX30mwbwW [http://ow.ly/v6wX30mwbwW] “The Laundry Room” submitted anonymously to Weird Darkness “Sleep Paralysis in Bangkok” by MarkiO for YourGhostStories.com: http://ow.ly/FUOD30mwc0C [http://ow.ly/FUOD30mwc0C] “Truckstop Horror Stories” by Erin McCann for Ranker: https://tinyurl.com/wldxxnl [https://tinyurl.com/wldxxnl] “Buried Alive in Wilmington” by TheresaHPIR for Theresa’s Haunted History of the Tri-State: https://tinyurl.com/rr4cvoh [https://tinyurl.com/rr4cvoh] “Murder in Pantomime” by Robert Wilhelm for Murder By Gaslight: https://tinyurl.com/y97rswf5 [https://tinyurl.com/y97rswf5] “Strange Manifestation” by Brian Abraham posted at My Haunted Life Too: https://tinyurl.com/wmlzd22 [https://tinyurl.com/wmlzd22] “Winged Chupacabras” by Nick Redfern for Mysterious Universe: https://tinyurl.com/th8p7ox [https://tinyurl.com/th8p7ox] “The Flying Humanoids of Mexico” by Brent Swancer for Mysterious Universe: https://tinyurl.com/urxujoc [https://tinyurl.com/urxujoc] “James and the Giant Leech” by James Mooney from the book “Myths of the Cherokee”: https://amzn.to/2JHpUFo [https://amzn.to/2JHpUFo] ==========(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for material I use whenever possible. If I have overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it immediately. Some links may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.) ========== "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46 ========== WeirdDarkness®, WeirdDarkness© 2026 ========== To become a Weird Darkness Radio Show affiliate, contact Radio America at affiliates@radioamerica.com, or call 800-807-4703 (press 2 or dial ext 250). ==========

THE SHADOW, “The Crystal Globe” | #RetroRadio

A fortune-teller's crystal globe shows his clients a single vision of their own deaths — and one by one, they begin to make it come true. Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/OTR [https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/OTR] CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00:00.000 = Show Open 00:01:30.028 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “Chapter of Errors” (April 14, 1978) ***WD 00:46:44.968 = The Shadow, “The Crystal Globe” (October 03, 1943) ***WD 01:15:25.364 = Sleep No More, “Escape of Mr. Trimm” (March 13, 1957) ***WD 01:44:07.395 = BBC SpineChillers, “Rituals” (1984) 02:10:33.653 = Strange, “The Ghost Train” (September 18, 1955) 02:24:07.878 = Suspense, “Sneak Preview” (March 23, 1944) 02:53:48.488 = Tales of the Frightened, “Voice From The Grave’ (1957) 02:58:36.645 = The Creaking Door, “Don’t Take My Blood” (January 05, 1965) ***WD 03:29:31.418 = The Saint, “The Saint Goes Underground” (December 17, 1947) ***WD 03:53:55.525 = Tales From The Tomb, “Spirits of the Dead” (1960s) 03:56:08.118 = 2000 Plus, “Rocket And Skull” (October 10, 1951) ***WD 04:24:16.114 = The Unexpected, “Twilight Meeting” (1948) ***WD 04:36:22.835 = Unsolved Mysteries, “Rue Morgue Mystery” (June 17, 1942) ***WD 04:51:16.528 = Show Close (ADU) = Air Date Unknown (LQ) = Low Quality ***WD = Remastered, edited, or cleaned up by Weird Darkness to make the episode more listenable. Audio may not be pristine, but it will be better than the original file which may have been unusable or more difficult to hear without editing. CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0720 [https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0720]

The Mandrake's Shriek and the Deaths at Wicklow Manor | #RetroRadio

A film crew arrives at Wicklow Manor to shoot on location, where a centuries-old legend says a mandrake's shriek lures the heartbroken to their deaths from the tower — and within a day of filming, two men fall. Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/OTR [https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/OTR] CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00:00.000 = Show Open 00:01:30.028 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, ”Shriek of the Mandrake” (April 13, 1978) ***WDZ 00:46:51.627 = Peril, “Last Man” (1953) ***WD 01:13:31.419= Mystery Playhouse, “Fifty Candles” (July 25, 1944) ***WD (LQ) 01:43:17.831 = Price of Fear, “Out of the Mouths” (June 20, 1983) 02:10:43.064 = Adventures of Ellery Queen, “Man In The Street” (December 04, 1947) ***WD 02:39:53.920 = Quiet Please, “Dark Rosaleen” (March 13, 1949) 03:09:16.689 = Radio City Playhouse, “Deception” (November 20, 1949) ***WD 03:37:20.995 = Suspense, “Cat – Audition Episode” (October 21, 1946) ***WD 03:53:18.121 = Sam Spade, “Convertible Caper” (June 15, 1947) ***WD 04:16:34.427 = The Sealed Book, “Accusing Corpse” (April 29, 1945) 04:46:03.073 = The Shadow, “The Gibbering Thing” (September 26, 1943) 05:14:27.773 = Show Close (ADU) = Air Date Unknown (LQ) = Low Quality ***WD = Remastered, edited, or cleaned up by Weird Darkness to make the episode more listenable. Audio may not be pristine, but it will be better than the original file which may have been unusable or more difficult to hear without editing. CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0719

Mel's Hole: The Bottomless Pit That Gives Its Dead Back | #COTU

Everyone hears "bottomless pit" and braces for a sermon about hell — this one goes somewhere stranger, to the only hole in all of Scripture that keeps what you throw in. Look for this podcast on YouTube Music, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and numerous other podcast apps. Get the full list of options here: https://pod.link/1651062114 [https://pod.link/1651062114] EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources and print version): https://weirddarkness.com/cotu-melshole [https://weirddarkness.com/cotu-melshole] READ or DOWNLOAD the full transcript of this episode: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/m3k2ae6w [https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/m3k2ae6w] Weird Darkness® and Church Of The Undead™ are trademarked. Copyright © 2026.