Urban Legends
Luke Mordue examines the historical impact of the stories that haunt our society, tales that have gripped towns and cities worldwide for centuries as actual events - Urban Legends. First, hear the tales retold as short stories before delving into the history of the legend, dissecting its cultural significance, factuality, and origins.
Released Fortnightly.
Episodes
53 episodes
The Kraken
The Kraken belongs to a 600-year tradition of Scandinavian sea monsters; creatures so vast that medieval sailors mistook their backs for islands and landed on them.The word itself is said to have first appeared in a Norwegian glossary in...
Jersey Devil
In this chapter, we delves deep into the urban legend of the 'Jersey Devil'. From its roots in the Pine Barrens and the Leeds family story into the 1909 wave of sightings, when strange tracks, alleged attacks, and public fear spread across Sout...
Skinwalkers
Some stories are kept secret for a reason, and among the Diné, the figures outsiders call 'skinwalkers' is one of them.In this chapter, we examine how this subject sits within Diné teachings about witchcraft rather than monsters, why ma...
The Satanic Panic
**Trigger Warning: This chapter involves harm to children.**In this chapter, let's delve into the urban legends that brought forward what is now known as 'The Satanic Panic‘, from the first sensational cases and flawed investigati...
Mermaids
From ancient carvings and medieval manuscripts to shipwreck songs and seaside myths, 'Mermaids' have haunted human imagination for centuries.Over the years, they have been a symbol of beauty, danger, sin, and even salvation. But where di...
Banshee
Let's trace the eerie wail of one of Ireland’s most enduring legends, the 'Banshee'.Often dismissed as myth or metaphor, the Banshee is more than just a ghostly woman who cries in the night. Her story shifts across time and region, tangl...
A Stranger Calls
In this chapter, we answer the chilling call of a legendary urban legend that has left us with frayed nerves for generations: the ominous words, "The call is coming from inside the house." Join us as we unravel the origins, eerie n...
The Dead Boyfriend
In this harrowing chapter, we plunge into the chilling world of a spine-tingling urban legend that has fueled fear and fascination - the horrifying tale of 'The Dead Boyfriend' hanging above the car. Join us as we delve into the or...
Poisoned Halloween Candy
**Trigger Warning: This chapter involves harm to children.**In this chapter, we unwrap a notorious urban legend that has cast a sinister shadow over Halloween for decades, 'Poisoned Candy'. Join us as we delve into t...
Mothman
Let's soar through history to unravel the spine-tingling mysteries and explore the enduring fascination surrounding this enigmatic creature. We'll unravel the origins of this cryptid, delving into the eerie accounts of sightings that first grip...
The Smiling Man
'The Smiling Man’ was a short story that sent shivers down the spines of countless readers on Reddit, telling the harrowing encounter of a man who crosses paths with a mysterious, grinning figure during a quiet nighttime stroll. But what makes ...
Shadow People
This chapter enters the mysterious and unsettling world of shadow people. Join us as we explore the origins and apparent encounters whilst delving into the depths of human psychology to understand the enduring fascination with these elusive, sh...
Santa Stuck in Chimney
Get ready for a festive, yet perplexing journey into the world of urban legends as we explore the mysterious tale of Santa stuck in chimney. Join us as we investigate the origins, variations, and enduring fascination with this quirky holiday my...
Goatman
In the wooded outskirts of Maryland, beneath an old railway bridge in Prince George’s County, locals have long warned of a figure that should not exist.In this chapter, we examine the urban legend of the ‘Goatman’, a creature said to hau...
Mercy Brown
In this chapter, we examine one of America’s most famous vampire cases, the story of 'Mercy Brown'.During the tuberculosis spread of the 19th century, grief, fear, and limited medical understanding gave rise to the belief that the dead c...
Q&A With Luke Mordue
This week’s chapter steps away from the archive and into the inbox as creator Luke Mordue answers the listener questions over the years. If you have any questions you want answer, you can drop us a text, an e-mail, or DM on our social media acc...
Humans Can Lick Too
In this chapter, we trace the evolution of the haunting ‘Humans can lick too’ Urban Legend. From early cautionary tales about young women alone at night through to its modern form shaped by fears of home invasion, serial killers, and the thin l...
Halloween Hanging
Each Halloween, stories circulate of decorations that look disturbingly real, until someone realises theres a very good reason for that.The 'Halloween Hanging' story is often dismissed as an Urban Legend as scattered reports over the yea...
Annabelle
In this chapter, we explore a story that’s grown far beyond its origins, from a simple Raggedy Ann doll to a symbol of modern horror. The legend of 'Annabelle'.Join me as we trace her history alongside Ed and Lorraine Warren,...
Knife in the Briefcase
In this chapter, we investigate the ‘Knife in the Briefcase’ urban legend, a chilling tale that has circulated in cities across the world. Rooted in warnings about predatory strangers, it tells of women lured into vulnerable situations by a man...
Chupacabra
Livestock found drained of blood. Puncture wounds with no clear cause.In this chapter, we investigate the 'Chupacabra', one of the most infamous cryptids in modern folklore. However, beneath the sensational headlines and pop culture port...
The Pet Snake
**Trigger Warning: This chapter involves harm to children.**Join us as we explore a strange and unsettling tale that slithered its way into urban legend, 'The Pet Snake'.At first glance, it's a strange story of an affection...
Kuchisake-Onna
Today we turn to one of Japan’s most enduring and disturbing legends, 'Kuchisake-onna', also known as 'the Slit-Mouthed Woman'.This tale of a disfigured woman who asks a chilling question has stalked schoolyards, late-night streets, and ...
