Welcome back to Sound Bites where I highlight the best horror podcasts I’ve heard through the week. If you’re looking for content to haunt your earbuds, these podcasts are just what you need.
My Scream of the Week goes to:
My Horror Confessional
As genre fans we all have our dark secrets. The worst, and almost unspeakable of all sins, is when we have failed to see certain pieces of classic horror cinema. But thankfully there’s a place to be absolved. Enter My Horror Confessional.
Each week, host Miguel Myers (aka Miguel Villa) invites guests from the horror industry to discuss a movie that’s made them a sinner. I first discovered My Horror Confessional when one of my previous podcast recommendations, Homies of Horror, were guests to talk about their sin of never seeing Videodrome (gasp!).
It was such a wonderful conversation that afterwards, I found myself scrolling through to find more episodes. I especially enjoyed “The Night of the Hunter w/Cynthia Pelayo,” as well as “The Ring w/Zachary Ashford.” The most recent episode, which I have lined up as we speak, features Laurel Hightower discussing Guillermo del Toro’s first film Cronos, and I can’t wait to hear it.
From plot points to casting choices to cultural impacts, Miguel guides his guests through thoughtful discussions after they have viewed the film in question. Most importantly, Miguel never shames his guests, but instead provides a terrific environment to share our love of horror. Since the films are tackled thoroughly, if you have sinned against an episode’s title movie, you’ll want to fix that first so the experience isn’t spoiled for you.
Episodes can be found on most podcast platforms, as well as YouTube with closed captions available. Follow My Horror Confessional wherever you roam the internet by using All My Links.
Shiver-Worthy Runner-Up:
Whispers in the Darkness
Most of us enjoy a good ghost story from time to time, but what about when they are tales of fact instead of fiction? If true spectral encounters are what you seek, then join Nigel Higgins and Juliette Smith from the Out There Paranormal team with their podcast Whispers in the Darkness.
Not only will you find wonderfully creepy ghost stories, like in episode “Tales From a Fine City” which takes a supernatural tour of Norwich, but they also provide insight into how paranormal investigators operate, especially in the episode “Questions Questions” where Nigel and Juliette answer questions from fans.
But if your time is short, and you only have time for one episode, I highly recommend listening to the “Danny Robins Interview.” This is a must for fans of Danny’s paranormal podcasts The Battersea Poltergeist and Uncanny (for those of you who haven’t heard of these shows, read on to my “Encore Recommendations”). And I suggest starting with the interview not just because I’m a huge fan of Danny’s work, but because this is a great introduction to Nigel and Juliette. They have a terrific on-air chemistry and banter that’s impossible to resist. Once you’ve tried one episode of Whispers in the Darkness, I have no doubt you’ll be back for more.
Episodes can be found on most podcast platforms, and are also available on YouTube with closed captions. Find out more about Whispers in the Darkness and the full paranormal investigation team on their website: www.outtheregroup.net
Encore Recommendations:
From Scary’s Voices and Kendall Reviews, I’d like to shout out a very special congratulations to Danny Robins on his play “2:22 A Ghost Story” winning Best New Play from WhatsOnStage Awards 2022!
If I had the power to grant podcast awards, I’d declare The Battersea Poltergeist as winner of best dramatic re-enactment and Uncanny as the “Bloody Hell Ken!” winner for scariest true paranormal encounter.
In The Battersea Poltergeist, journalist and host Danny Robins re-examines the disturbing incidents of the Battersea Poltergeist which took place in South London in the 1950s. Using original case notes, this series presents dramatic re-enactments of activity experienced by the Hitchings Family, plus includes real interview segments with Shirley Hitchings who seemed to be the centre of the poltergeist activity. Robins also talks about the case with experts from team skeptic and team believer.
Episodes are available on most streaming platforms or listen directly on the BBC’s website The Story Of The Battersea Poltergeist
Uncanny takes a different approach with each episode carefully dissecting other paranormal experiences. Subjects include poltergeist activity in a student dormitory, a haunted farmhouse, the prospect of premonitions, and even an account of a UFO, all told by eyewitnesses.
Just as with the Battersea case, Uncanny provides a balanced look at the unexplained as Danny Robins discusses the experiences with skeptics and believers. You can find Uncanny on most podcast platforms or listen directly on the BBC’s website Uncanny
That’s a wrap for this week’s Sound Bites!
As always, thanks so much to the awesome podcast listeners and creators who have been sending me terrific recommendations. Keep them coming via the comments section below, or direct messaging on Twitter or Instagram (links below). I can’t promise I’ll enjoy every podcast you throw my way, but I’ll give everyone a fair shot.
Remember, I’m all about scary things and spooky podcasts are what I’m after. Content focused on reviewing horror movies and horror books, true paranormal encounters, facts about cryptids, true crimes, and original scary stories are exactly what I want to hear.
Can’t wait to listen to all the dark podcasts you fine fiends suggest, and I hope you’ll join me next Friday for more Sound Bites.
J.A. Sullivan
J. A. Sullivan is a horror writer and paranormal enthusiast, based in Brantford, ON, Canada. Attracted to everything non-horror folks consider strange, she’s spent years as a paranormal investigator, has an insatiable appetite for serial killer information, and would live inside a library if she could.
As curator of “Scary’s Voices” on Kendall Reviews, an article series reviewing horror podcasts, Sullivan loves listening to all things spooky. If you have a horror podcast recommendation, let her know.
On top of contributing short stories to Kendall Reviews, her fiction has appeared in Don’t Open the Door (2019), It Came From The Darkness (2020), and she acted as an assistant editor for Black Dogs, Black Tales (2020). Other spooky tales and updates on her writing journey can be found on her blog.
You can follow J. A. on Twitter @ScaryJASullivan
Check out her blog https://writingscaredblog.wordpress.com
Find her on Instagram www.instagram.com/j.a_sullivan
Find her on Instagram www.instagram.com/j.a_sullivan
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