The Night Crew Podcast

Dark Academia and Darker Stories: Cassandra O’Sullivan Sachar on Horror Writing and Craft | Ep 36

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 [https://www.facebook.com/cassandra.sachar] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cosachar [https://www.instagram.com/cosachar] Brad's Book Crypt: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bradricksbookcrypt [https://www.facebook.com/groups/bradricksbookcrypt]   SEO Keywords / Buzzwords: Cassandra O’Sullivan Sachar, Cassandra O’Sullivan Sachar interview, The Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks, horror writing, horror professor, Edgar Allan Poe, dark academia, gothic horror, psychological horror, paranormal mystery, Frankenstein’s monster, indie horror author, horror short stories, creative writing, body horror, Stoker nominated, horror scholarship, author interview, horror podcast Hashtags: #CassandraOSullivanSachar #TheNightCrewPodcast #BradRicks #HorrorPodcast #AuthorInterview #HorrorWriting #EdgarAllanPoe #DarkAcademia #GothicHorror #PsychologicalHorror #ParanormalMystery #IndieHorror #HorrorAuthor #CreativeWriting #Frankenstein #BodyHorror #HorrorScholarship #KeeperOfCorpses #DarknessThereButSomethingMore #WomenInHorror

Succubi Around the World: The Night Demons Every Culture Feared | Ep 35

In part two of this chilling Succubus series on The Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks takes listeners on a terrifying global tour of the world’s most haunting night demons and succubus-like creatures. From Lamia and Empusa in ancient Greece to the Manananggal in the Philippines, the Pontianak in Southeast Asia, Yuki-onna in Japan, the Rusalka in Slavic folklore, and the Shtriga in Albanian legend, this episode explores the eerie pattern hiding in folklore across continents: the beautiful female spirit who appears at night, seduces, drains, or destroys. Why do so many cultures tell the same story? Is it fear, folklore, sleep paralysis, guilt, or something even older and darker? If you love monster lore, dark folklore, mythology, occult horror, supernatural legends, cryptids, and creepy deep dives into the monsters humanity can’t stop imagining, this episode is for you. Join the Facebook Group: Brad Ricks's Book Crypt https://www.facebook.com/groups/bradricksbookcrypt [https://www.facebook.com/groups/bradricksbookcrypt]   SEO Keywords / Buzzwords: succubus folklore, succubi around the world, night demons, Lamia, Empusa, Manananggal, Pontianak, Yuki-onna, Rusalka, Shtriga, global folklore, dark mythology, supernatural legends, demon lore, monster lore, sleep paralysis folklore, occult horror, mythology podcast, horror podcast, The Night Crew Podcast Hashtags: #Succubus #Succubi #NightDemons #Lamia #Empusa #Manananggal #Pontianak #YukiOnna #Rusalka #Shtriga #Folklore #DarkFolklore #Mythology #MonsterLore #OccultHorror #SupernaturalLegends #HorrorPodcast #TheNightCrewPodcast #BradRicks #DemonLore

Writing Chaos, Crime, and Carnage: Megan Stockton on Horror, Werewolves, and Breaking the Rules | Ep 34

In this episode of The Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks sits down with Megan Stockton to talk about her writing journey, her love of horror fiction, and why she prefers to break the rules rather than follow them. They dive into Megan’s approach to self-publishing, writing in multiple dark genres, and creating stories that range from crime thrillers and atmospheric horror to extreme horror, splatterpunk, and dark romance. Megan talks about books like Lovely Dark and Deep, Bluejay, Pink Neon, and Impulse, shares her thoughts on writing for yourself first, and opens up about storytelling, chaos, confidence, and finding your voice as an indie author. The conversation also covers werewolves, vampires, monster metaphors, gaming, horror influences, and what it means to build a writing career on your own terms. If you love indie horror authors, dark fiction, extreme horror, crime thrillers, author interviews, and behind-the-scenes conversations about the writing life, this is an episode you don’t want to miss. Social Links: Website: https://meganstocktonbooks.com/ [https://meganstocktonbooks.com/] Facebook: http://facebook.com/meganstocktonauthor/ [http://facebook.com/meganstocktonauthor/] Instagram: @meganstocktonauthor TikTok: @meganstocktonauthor   Brad's Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bradricksbookcrypt [https://www.facebook.com/groups/bradricksbookcrypt]     SEO Keywords / Buzzwords: Megan Stockton, Megan Stockton interview, The Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks, horror author interview, indie horror author, self-publishing, extreme horror, splatterpunk, dark fiction, crime thriller, dark romance, Lovely Dark and Deep, Bluejay, Pink Neon, Impulse, werewolf horror, vampire horror, indie author life, horror podcast Hashtags: #MeganStockton #TheNightCrewPodcast #BradRicks #HorrorPodcast #IndieHorror #HorrorAuthor #AuthorInterview #SelfPublishing #ExtremeHorror #Splatterpunk #DarkFiction #CrimeThriller #DarkRomance #LovelyDarkAndDeep #Bluejay #PinkNeon #Impulse #Werewolves #Vampires #IndieAuthor

The Succubus, Part 1: Lilith, Night Demons, and the Monster in the Dark | Ep 33

The succubus has been turned into a Halloween costume, a video game boss, and a punchline — but the original version? She's older than vampires, older than werewolves, older than the word demon itself. Tonight, the Night Crew launches a brand-new series on the world's oldest night-predator, and we start where every good monster story starts: at the very beginning. In Episode 1 of the Succubi series, Brad Ricks traces the figure of Lilith from her ancient Mesopotamian roots — the Lilitu, those wind-spirit demons carved into clay tablets four thousand years ago — through her transformation into the most famous demoness in Western folklore. We dig into the Alphabet of Ben Sira, the medieval text that gave us Lilith as Adam's defiant first wife. We meet her demon-daughters, the Lilim, and unpack the unsettling logic behind why ancient cultures believed they visited men in their sleep. And we ask the bigger question: why did Lilith survive? Why is she still recognizable today, when so many other ancient demons are forgotten? This is a deep dive into the origins, the lore, the protective amulets that are still in use today, and the reasons folklore scholars consider Lilith the proto-succubus from which an entire global mythology eventually grew. Part 1 of 4. Topics covered: the Mesopotamian Lilitu • the Burney Relief and the Queen of the Night • Lilith as Adam's first wife • the Alphabet of Ben Sira • the three angels Senoy, Sansenoy, and Semangelof • protective amulets for newborns • the Lilim (Lilith's demon-daughters) • the four queens of demons in Kabbalistic tradition • why some traditions say Lilith hunts men who sleep face-up • the universal human fear of vulnerability during sleep. Get signed copies of Brad's novels and merch at https://www.bradricks.com. Night Crew 3: Hunting Ground is coming. Follow Brad on Facebook or join his Facebook Group: Brad Ricks’s Book Crypt and TikTok at BradRicksAuthor. Subscribe, rate, and share to support the show.   SEO Tags / Keywords succubus, succubi, Lilith, Lilim, Lilitu, demonology, folklore podcast, horror podcast, night demons, Alphabet of Ben Sira, Adam and Lilith, Mesopotamian demons, Burney Relief, Queen of the Night, Jewish folklore, sleep paralysis, Brad Ricks, Night Crew Podcast, paranormal, occult, demon mythology, ancient demons, Kabbalah, four queens of demons, Samael, demon wife, biblical demons, horror author, supernatural folklore, female demons Hashtags: #Succubus #Lilith #SuccubusLore #DemonLore #JewishFolklore #MesopotamianMythology #DarkFolklore #OccultHorror #NightDemons #MonsterLore #SupernaturalLegends #Mythology #HorrorPodcast #TheNightCrewPodcast #BradRicks #AncientDemons #SleepParalysis #CreepyLegends #Folklore #LilithMythology

The Voice Behind Night Crew 2: Danielle Muething on Horror Audiobooks, Vampires, and Bringing Monsters to Life | Ep 32

n this episode of The Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks sits down with Danielle Muething, the narrator of The Night Crew 2, for a deep dive into the world of horror audiobook narration. They talk about how Danielle got started as a professional actor turned audiobook narrator, what it takes to voice a full cast of characters, how she builds fear and tension using only her voice, and what it’s like bringing monsters, succubi, hunters, and vampires to life in audio form. The conversation also explores voice acting, audiobook production, horror narration, character accents, disturbing scenes, favorite monsters, and Danielle’s own work as an author. If you love horror fiction, audiobooks, voice actors, indie horror, vampire stories, monster hunters, and behind-the-scenes conversations about how dark stories get made, this is a must-listen episode. It’s funny, insightful, and packed with creepy bookish goodness for horror fans and writers alike.   Danielle's Links: * Website: https://www.daniellemuething.com [https://www.daniellemuething.com] * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dmnarrates [https://www.facebook.com/dmnarrates] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daniellemuething [https://www.instagram.com/daniellemuething]   * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@daniellemuething [https://www.tiktok.com/@daniellemuething]     Hashtags: #DanielleMuething #TheNightCrewPodcast #NightCrew2 #BradRicks #HorrorPodcast #AudiobookNarrator #AudiobookNarration #VoiceActor #VoiceActing #HorrorAudiobooks #IndieHorror #Vampires #MonsterHunters #HorrorBooks #AudiobookLife #AuthorInterview #NarratorInterview #DarkFiction #HorrorCommunity #BookPodcast