STAD Ep.7- The "LIGHT" Man

A little kid looks past her mom’s shoulder, smiles at the dim hallway, and says, “There’s a light man.” That’s how Eleanor’s listener submission starts, and it’s the kind of paranormal story that can go two ways fast. Pearl and Holly brace for something creepy, but what unfolds is softer, sadder, and weirdly comforting: a shining visitor who seems to know Eleanor’s private childhood memories better than anyone living ever could. 

As Liz keeps chatting with this “light man,” the details get sharper and more personal, from warnings about brushing hair too hard to a line that stops Eleanor cold. When Eleanor finally asks a question only one person could answer, the response lands like a punch and a hug at the same time: “My little bird.” The story turns into a grief-and-afterlife gut check, touching on themes people search for when they’re hurting: visitation dreams, signs from loved ones, spirit visits, and what it means when an encounter doesn’t feel scary, just real. 

We also talk candidly about our own experiences dreaming about parents, grandparents, and pets who’ve passed, that heavy-but-not-bad feeling you wake up with, and why sleep can feel like stepping onto another plane. Then we swing back into Sweet Tea After Dark chaos with podcast milestone talk, a quick zodiac tangent, and a little rant therapy about dealing with rude people in the wild. 

If you’ve ever smelled a familiar scent out of nowhere, heard a voice in your head, or woken up whispering “thank you for visiting,” you’ll feel seen here. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves paranormal podcasts, and leave a review so more listeners can find us.

Transcript

Sleepy Banter And Morning Chaos

SPEAKER_01 0:35

Welcome to Sweet Tea After Dark. I just have one question and I'm gonna make it a song. Okay. What is sleep? Baby, don't wake me.

unknown 0:51

Don't wake me.

SPEAKER_01 0:53

No more.

SPEAKER_00 0:57

Gotta do the night at the Roxberry. Head tilt.

SPEAKER_01 1:05

Oh. I'm moving out. But I'm Pearl.

SPEAKER_00 1:14

And I'm just exhausted and I'm Holly. But uh but it was funny that you came in this morning and I said hi. And you said, my name is and I said, Anigo Montoya. You killed my father, prepared to die. So we have now mushed two songs together. Or well, a song and a and a movie quote. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 1:36

That's because this is who we are. And the more tired we are, the sillier we get. Yeah, the loopier we get.

SPEAKER_00 1:44

So when this morning I was like, you know what? If I do get dementia, I think it would be okay. Because then I could just escape into another world and not have to. I wonder how funny how funny you'll be with dementia. No, that's what I'm saying. Like what when I think of dementia, I'm like, I hope if like if

Introducing Eleanor’s Listener Story

SPEAKER_00 2:05

I were to get it, I would hope I would be like Momo from Raise and Hope. That's the kind of dementia I want right there. Get a girl. Right. That was funny. I love that show. Oh my goodness. So yeah. We hope you love our show. Yeah. It's a little sorry, we're a little silly this morning, but it's a silly morning.

SPEAKER_01 2:29

It is. And then, you know, always recording in the morning for stuff that occurs at night.

SPEAKER_00 2:35

But it won't come out till the night.

SPEAKER_01 2:37

So yeah.

unknown 2:38

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 2:39

And we have a listener submission from Eleanor. Ooh, thank you, Eleanor.

SPEAKER_00 2:46

Finally, somebody listened.

SPEAKER_01 2:48

You know.

SPEAKER_00 2:51

And Eleanor should have just been an author. Right? Oh, I love that name, Eleanor. Sounds so elegant.

SPEAKER_01 2:59

You know, it does. And then I always think of I always think of uh which which one is that? Is the that house that's haunted. Dang it. The group goes there, it's like a psychology project, and then come to find out one of the women is like Oh yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 3:20

I can't remember what it's called.

SPEAKER_01 3:22

Why is it escaping me in this moment?

SPEAKER_00 3:24

We'll we'll cut we'll circle back. We'll circle back. It'll pop in your head and you'll be like, oh.

SPEAKER_01 3:29

Yeah. So when that happens, my bad, I'm sorry. But my my ADHD brain will catch up. It's okay.

SPEAKER_00 3:38

We all have to catch up.

SPEAKER_01 3:39

So this story is about Eleanor and it includes her daughter, Elizabeth. We're just gonna call her Liz. That's how she put it in here.

SPEAKER_00 3:51

So are we ready?

Liz Meets The Light Man

SPEAKER_00 3:55

We are ready. Let's get into the tea. Red tea. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 4:00

Red tea.

SPEAKER_00 4:00

Not ready.

SPEAKER_01 4:04

So the first time Liz saw the light man.

unknown 4:09

Ooh.

SPEAKER_01 4:10

I don't think that already think to be afraid. Because she was little. She was sitting crisscross applesauce on the living room rug, carefully lining up her toy animals in a neat procession. Elephant, fox, rabbit. When she paused, tilted her head, and smiled at something over her mother's shoulder.

SPEAKER_00 4:37

Hi. That's creepy. Said Liz.

SPEAKER_01 4:41

Her mother, Eleanor, barely glanced up from folding the laundry. Hi, sweetheart. Liz responds. No, not you. Eleanor looked up then. Liz was still smiling, but definitely not at her. Her gaze was fixed just past the doorway towards the dim hallway that led to the bedrooms. There's a light man, Liz said. All matter of factly, like not a care in the world, like no big deal.

unknown 5:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 5:23

I'd be like, what?

SPEAKER_00 5:25

Like, is the light man in the room with us right now?

SPEAKER_01 5:31

Eleanor felt a small involuntary chill creep up her arms. A light man? Mm-hmm. Liz nodded. As if this were obvious. He's shiny. Not like the sun. Softer. Eleanor set the towel down slowly. What's he doing? Liz squinted, studying. Just standing. He likes you. A nervous laugh escaped Eleanor. Well, that's nice. He says you used to cry a lot, Liz added. The laugh died in Eleanor's throat. That's not funny, Liz. I'm not joking, she said, turning back to her animals. He said it was okay though. Eleanor stood, her heart beating faster than it should. Alright, that's enough imagination for today. But Liz wasn't listening anymore. The light man apparently had moved on. Over the next few days it happened again. At breakfast, Liz would glance toward the empty chair at the table and giggle. In the backyard, she'd stop midstep and wave at nothing. Once while Eleanor was brushing her hair, Liz met her eyes in the mirror and said, He says you don't brush gently. Eleanor froze. Brush suspended midair. What? He said you used to cry when your mommy brushed your hair too hard, Liz explained, wincing in sympathy. He says to be careful. Eleanor slowly set the brush down. No one knew that. No one except she swallowed the thought before it could fully form. Liz, she said carefully. What does this man look like? The little girl thought hard. Old, but not wrinkly old, happy old. She smiled. He has lines here. And she pointed at the corners of her eyes. Like he laughs a lot. Eleanor's chest tightened. Does he have a name? Liz shrugged. He didn't say, but he knows you. I'm like he knows me, right? That night,

The Old Photo That Confirms It

SPEAKER_01 8:30

after Liz fell asleep, Eleanor sat at the kitchen table with a cardboard box she hadn't opened in years. Inside were photographs, faded, curled at the edges, smelling faintly of dust and thyme. She flipped through them slowly, hands slightly trembling, birthday parties, Christmas mornings, a younger version of herself with uneven bangs and missing teeth. And then she stopped. A man stood in the photo, his arm around a much younger Eleanor, both of them mid laugh, his eyes crinkled at the corners, just like Liz had described. Her grandfather. He had died when she was eight. Eleanor stared at the picture for a long time before whispering.

unknown 9:24

No.

SPEAKER_01 9:28

The next afternoon, Liz found her again in the living room. He's back, she announced. Eleanor's heart skipped. Is he? Liz nodded, then paused. He's sad today. A cold weight settled in Eleanor's stomach. Why? He says you don't talk to him anymore. Eleanor let out a shaky breath. Liz, can you ask him something for me? Okay. Liz turned slightly as if listening. Eleanor's voice wavered. Ask him. Ask him what he used to call me. Liz went very still. For a moment the room felt too quiet, like the air itself was holding its breath. Then Liz smiled. He says, My little bird. Eleanor's knees nearly gave out. No one. Absolutely had called her that since he died.

My Little Bird And The Goodbye

SPEAKER_01 10:40

Tears welled up before she could even stop them. What else does he say? She whispered. Liz listened again, her expression softening. He says you shouldn't feel bad for forgetting his voice, she said gently. He says he remembers yours just fine. A tear slipped down Eleanor's cheek. He says he was there when you had me at the hospital. You were scared. Eleanor covered her mouth, a sob escaping despite her efforts. He says he wasn't light then. Not yet, but he stayed anyway. Eleanor shook her head, overwhelmed. I don't understand. Liz frowned slightly, concentrating. He says she hesitated, as if translating something too big for her small words. He says the light part is what happens when you don't have to hurt anymore. The room fell silent. Eleanor wiped her eyes, her voice barely audible. Can you tell him that I miss him? Liz's face lit up. I don't have to. He already knows. A pause. Then softly. He says he has to go soon. The words hit harder than Eleanor expected. Go where? Liz looked toward the hallway again, her smile fading just a little. Somewhieter, she said. He says it's not sad, just farther. Eleanor swallowed the lump in her throat. Will you tell him thank you? Liz nodded. A long moment passed. And then she whispered, He says you're welcome, little bird. And just like that, the warmth in the room seemed to shift. Subtle but undeniable. Like the last glow of sunset slipping beneath the horizon. Liz blinked. He's gone. Eleanor let out a slow, trembling breath. That night, for the first time in years, she dreamed of her grandfather. Not as a fading memory or a distant voice, but vivid, warm, and laughing, just like before. And when she woke, she could have sworn she still heard him. Not in the room, not in the house, but somewhere just beyond. Soft, light, and at peace.

Reactions And All The Feelings

SPEAKER_00 13:29

Well, dang, Eleanor. I thought I was listening to an audiobook there. That was like an amazing story, but oh like Yeah, I was like, oh, to cry. Yes. That was all the feels.

SPEAKER_01 13:44

So now we have people not scared but crying at night.

SPEAKER_00 13:47

Right. We need tissues after dark. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 13:53

With your teeth. Sweet tissues after dark. Right. Dang. So there you have it. That was a crazy story.

SPEAKER_00 14:03

Visit from beyond. Yes. I'm wholeheartedly believe that we are visited from the beyond

Do Loved Ones Visit In Dreams

SPEAKER_00 14:10

because things happen and you're like you, you, you smell like a familiar smell, or you feel something, and it's just something that you know that somebody that you loved was around you.

SPEAKER_01 14:28

Yep. Yep.

SPEAKER_00 14:29

Definitely.

SPEAKER_01 14:31

I dream about my dog. Like, I believe that you get visited in your sleep. That's me. I'm just like, because I feel like you're in a whole other plane when you go to sleep. It's not, I don't know. It's weird. But I can't explain it. But I like always have felt like that because like I've dreamt of like my grandmother. I've dreamt of Laura. I've dreamt of my dog. Like all the all the people, like, and it's crazy because it'll come out of nowhere. Like I haven't even thought about it, haven't been like dwelling in that whole feeling of missing them. And then all of a sudden, like boom.

SPEAKER_00 15:12

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:12

I get a dream. And I'm like, I literally will wake up and and say out loud, thank you for visiting me.

SPEAKER_00 15:18

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 15:19

Like I didn't know I needed that. But thank you. You know, so I don't know if other people are like that, but that's my weirdness.

SPEAKER_00 15:29

I do. I have dreams of, you know, my parents, both of them passed, and like I'll have dreams and things. And I'll wake up and I can swear that like my mom was like right there. Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_01 15:45

It leaves like a very weird feeling of like, I don't want to say heavy, but it's it's like a it is kind of like a weight, but it's not yeah, it's not a bad way.

SPEAKER_00 15:57

Yeah, not a bad way.

SPEAKER_01 15:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 16:01

But if anybody's had any of those experiences, like that are just unexplainable, not not even paranormal. Like it doesn't have to be like spooky scary or anything like that. No, I mean that one wasn't scary, like it started

Share Your Own Unexplainable Stories

SPEAKER_00 16:15

out like it could have been, yeah. Ended up not being. Yeah. So like if you've had any of those experiences, like tell us about it. That's one of those things. Like, you you know, it doesn't have to be like expertly written or anything, just tell us, be like, okay, so one time I was, you know, visited by my cat from childhood. We want to hear about it.

SPEAKER_01 16:37

Right. Tell me what you were doing when it happened. Like, it does not have to, it doesn't have to read like yeah, Holly listening to an audiobook.

SPEAKER_00 16:47

I know. I was sitting here and I just kind of like, I didn't zone out, but I was just like, I I had to.

SPEAKER_01 16:52

Well, I knew there was a lot of conversations, so I was trying to have diff like a little bit of difference in voice. Yeah, as best I could.

SPEAKER_00 16:59

Definitely was. And I was like just sitting here, just often like thinking land, and I'm like, it's like I'm listening to an audio book over here. And then I'm like, oh yeah, we're doing a podcast. Oh, I have to talk now. But that was a good one. That was really good. Thanks, Eleanor. We appreciate you sending something in and sharing. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 17:25

That I mean, that's like not something people would be comfortable sharing with a lot of people in general, unless they were writing fiction. But yeah, you know, we appreciate it for sure. And so if you also have a story, send it in. Hold my sweet teeth podcast at gmail.com.

SPEAKER_00 17:46

Yeah,

Podcast Milestones And Support Rant

SPEAKER_00 17:47

and tell your mom and them to like listen to us and everybody. We're at 9,213 downloads. Woohoo! And we've been doing this just a little over a year.

SPEAKER_01 17:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 17:59

So I mean, in in podcast. Today's the 14th, so yeah, that's true. A year and three months. A year and three months. And in like podcast land, I think that's pretty good because we have stuck with it.

SPEAKER_01 18:12

A lot of people will start and then a few months later they're like, and truth be told, we have a lot more episodes than most people would have at this point, too, because we were we were kicking our doubling down and like really, yeah, which is why we slowed down.

SPEAKER_00 18:28

But we were the reasoning was like give them a lot so that people will stay. Right. So that was yeah, we wanted to build an audience and build a platform and like really, you know, dig into it. And we appreciate everybody that listens. Um the family members who don't support us. I don't know. Like, even if it if I had somebody that I was friends with or family with, and they were like, hey, I have a podcast. It it could be like no questions asked, no questions. I would still play it, even if I didn't agree with it. Like you could have like some radicalist, like Christian podcast. I would still listen to it, maybe on low, but I would still support you by making that episode, liking it, sharing it, doing all the things to help make it because it would help you, even if I wouldn't, it wasn't my thing. You know, I I would still try. Now, if it was something hateful, absolutely not. You can go right, you know, don't be like yourself. Don't be a dickhead. Right.

Zodiac Talk And Aquarius Men Jokes

SPEAKER_00 19:48

We're talking about we were listening to that thing the other day about um it was on Marin Altman, she does zodiac stuff, and I showed you like uh the worst men in the zodiacs to date and all that stuff. And then when she came around to Aquarius Men and she's like, no, she was like, if we eliminated Aquarius men, we would eliminate like 70% of the podcast. Yeah. Because of their their godly god complex. It's like all these like male-dominated, like, you know, podcasts and stuff with their opinions. And I thought that was like the most hilarious thing because I'm like, yeah, I see that. I I guess so.

SPEAKER_01 20:30

But also, I mean, I'm not a man, yeah. I do have an Aquarius moon.

SPEAKER_00 20:35

Yeah, I mean, I like I am good friends with the Aquarius male, and you can ask him. I do have a podcast, he does not have a podcast, but he is very opinionated, and he does have that god complex 100%. Yeah, but I will tell you one thing. I like lost my shit on him one time and yelled at him, and he didn't like it. He was like, he was like, oh, like somebody actually stood up to me and like didn't take my shit. He was like, I didn't know you could be that mean. I was like, don't buckle up, butter buckle. Because I will put up with so much stuff, but like, don't push me.

SPEAKER_01 21:22

Yeah, yeah.

unknown 21:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 21:24

So feel that to my core.

SPEAKER_01 21:29

Right. Like I don't think I have like the the whole God complex portion of that situation, but I am very independent and different. Yes. Like I don't like going to the Aquarius way. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 21:46

I mean, I that's what I'm saying. I I love an Aquarius. I I think they're great people. Um Carly is an Aquarius. Because I re for, you know, because me and my crazy brain, I remember everybody's zodiac. Francis. Yep, is an Aquarius. And like they're just like the most crazy, you know, can be kooky. But just like different fun people. Yes. Yes. Absolutely. Wonderful. We need to find out Patty's sign. When is her birthday? Um because she seems like a little fireball of a like.

SPEAKER_01 22:30

You know.

SPEAKER_00 22:31

I know she's not Sagittarius. She can't be Sagittarius. There's no way. She's gotta be like a Gemini or something.

SPEAKER_01 22:39

I'm I'm going to look. You're gonna go look.

SPEAKER_00 22:41

But Patty made our she made our theme music, and it's like the most wonderful music ever. So you guys can go find her page, link to ours, and like her. And her birthday is March the 20th. Okay. So she is the the Pisces of the Pisces. No, she's a um yeah, she's a Pisces. Wait. I just like lost my What's wrong with you, Holly? Let's see. Cap and then 20th to the February. She is the very end of the Pisces. Yeah, so she is a Pisces. Okay. She's a borderline Aries. There we go.

SPEAKER_01 23:26

She is border. So that's probably why she's caliente. Yes.

SPEAKER_00 23:33

Caliente. But we don't know the rest of her chart, so you can't really say because spicy Pisces. Believe me, I am on the border of Gemini, and I am not a Gemini whatsoever. I have no Gemini traits. People are like, oh, I'm on the cusp. That means nothing. That just means you're on the edge of a sign. The end of a sign. Yeah. It's the rest of your chart. Now, if you now, if I had Gemini heavy placements and other things, then I might have Gemini tendencies. But the only Gemini I have is in like Jupiter.

SPEAKER_01 24:03

So I have heavy placements and I hate people. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 24:08

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 24:09

Our job is not conducive to my people problems.

Customer Horror Stories And Pet Peeves

SPEAKER_01 24:13

But you know, if anybody wants age. I actually love peep certain people.

unknown 24:16

Right.

SPEAKER_01 24:17

I love, I love our listeners. I love people in a general sense. But there are people on this planet that I ruin people for me.

SPEAKER_00 24:31

Yeah. Yeah. We've had some uh quite entertaining customers in this past couple of weeks, and I'm like, what is wrong with people? I feel that people have gotten like brainwrought, and it's gotten worse.

SPEAKER_01 24:49

Everybody's gone crazy.

SPEAKER_00 24:51

Like I had a lady like interrupt me mid explaining something, and I just I stopped and I tilted my head and looked at her, and I went, so I'm trying to explain this to you. So hold on. Like, yeah. And she just like did not expect that to come out of my mouth, I guess.

SPEAKER_01 25:11

Literally, if if people would be quiet and listen, yeah, most of their questions would be answered before they had to ask them.

SPEAKER_00 25:17

Right. But and I'm not like a I'm just gonna talk and like drone on about stuff and you're gonna get bored with it. I'm giving you information.

SPEAKER_01 25:26

I'm giving you exactly what you need to do.

SPEAKER_00 25:28

Listen to me.

SPEAKER_01 25:29

And only what you need.

SPEAKER_00 25:30

Like you could be like, oh, can you slow down? Because I do tend to talk fast. I can slow down for you, but then when you start like interrupting me and all that, then I'm gonna get real slow and real serious. And I'm gonna be like, so we're gonna treat you like a kindergartner.

SPEAKER_01 25:48

For me, I'll forget what I was saying. And then I'm like, great. Where was I?

SPEAKER_00 25:54

Me, I just like uh do the head tilt, and I'm like, head tilts, eyes wide.

SPEAKER_01 26:02

Right. That's what I do.

SPEAKER_00 26:04

I'm like, you just asked me a question and then you interrupted me with another. Like, shut it.

SPEAKER_01 26:11

Let me answer you. Look, I wholeheartedly live that uh post I made on Facebook the other day. The what a boring planet. No fairies, no mermaids, no dragons, just bills and dickheads. That's right. So or dick holes. Dickholes. Because I I like to combine dickhead and asshole together. You are a dickhole. A dickle. There we go. A dickle.

SPEAKER_00 26:43

Now you got to hear us rant today, also. So if you stayed for that, thanks.

SPEAKER_01 26:49

Congratulations. That was well, I mean, everything's free.

SPEAKER_00 26:52

Never mind. Anyway.

Where To Send Stories And Signoff

SPEAKER_00 26:57

Yep. Reach out to us. Um, hold my sweet tea podcast at gmail.com. Click any of those little clicky clickies on any of our little places that you listen to us. You can reach out to us there too.

SPEAKER_01 27:10

And if you guys live in Louisiana, go follow Patty Salzetta music and Orphanani Band. Yep. Y'all can go out and check out the chick who made our theme music. She'd appreciate the follow for sure. And your ears will thank you. You will have the best time. Yes. So do that. And like, I mean, you can do it before or after sending us your sweet tea after dark story.

SPEAKER_00 27:42

Yes, send those in. For sure.

SPEAKER_01 27:46

Y'all stay scared. Sweet Tea After Dark is a drunken psycho bee production. And just because we're good nighting doesn't mean you can't keep frightening. Bye.