Scary’s Voices – Sound Bites
Week Ending 18th September 2020
Sometimes, when shadows stretch and the house is quiet, I hear voices. They tell me about ghosts and creatures of the night. They whisper sinister tales making my skin crawl. Sometimes they even tell me to do things, like watch certain movies or read specific books. Where do these strange voices come from? Podcasters, of course. But I like to call them Scary’s Voices.
Welcome to Sound Bites, where I highlight the best podcasts I’ve heard through the week. Here’s a quick breakdown of my rating system:
Scream of the Week – only one podcast can take this spot each week, and it represents the best of what’s haunted my earbuds, like a 5-Star rating.
Shivers – these shows are great, and not only do I recommend you give them a listen, but I’ve marked them down to listen to again in the future.
Goosebumps – podcasts I liked and will probably try again, but they didn’t quite knock my socks off.
If I listen to something that didn’t make me scream, give me shivers or even goosebumps, they won’t be listed here.
Now let’s get to it!
My Scream of the Week goes to:
The Murder Police Podcast
I stumbled across The Murder Police Podcast the other week and only intended to listen to “The Murder of Haley McHone Part 1,” but I was so enthralled by the content I had to binge parts 2 and 3 as well. Hosts Wendy Lyons and her husband, retired police commander David Lyons, discuss homicide cases with the people who know them best, the actual detectives.
In these episodes retired homicide detective Chris Schoonover and retired District Attorney Ray Larson recount their experiences in solving the 1999 murder of a 13-year-old in Lexington, Kentucky. From the report of the missing teen, to the discovery of the body, and the eventual capture, interview, and conviction of serial killer Tommy Lynn Sells, these 3 episodes cover the entire case in graphic detail. (Please note listener discretion is advised and I urge you to take this seriously.) What I found most compelling was the type of questions Wendy Lyons posed – they were exactly the questions I would ask to gain deeper insight into police procedures and learn how crimes are solved in the real world.
This podcast is a must for True Crime fans, and I hope more episodes will be available soon! Each part of the Haley McHone case runs about half an hour in length, and you can learn more by visiting The Murder Police Podcast’s website: www.murderpolicepodcast.com
Now for the Shivers!
My Twitter friend and fellow horror movie fanatic, @MediumAtomic, suggested I listen to The Evolution of Horror, and I’m so glad I followed up on this recommendation. There are a lot of movie review podcasts, but this show goes so much deeper. Each week host Mike Muncer (also producer and senior editor of BBC Inside Cinema and BBC Inside Games) analyses how specific movies have shaped horror cinema and examine how the genre has evolved over time. Episodes feature different guest hosts who are experts in the field of cinema, including critics and filmmakers. This week I listened to “Mind & Body Pt 14” where Mike is joined by Kelli Weston to discuss David Cronenberg’s Dead Ringers (1988), then later explores David Lynch’s Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992) with guest Anna Bogutskaya. To avoid spoilers and really get the most out of these conversations, I highly recommend being familiar with the movies featured in the episodes. New content is available every Thursday, with most episodes lasting about 1.5 hours, and you can find them all on the website: www.evolutionofhorror.com
Being a proud Canadian I’m always on the lookout for other Canadian authors who lurk in the dark (and often snowy) fringes of fiction, so I was delighted to find Books North, a podcast dedicated to highlighting suspense authors from my homeland. This week I listened as host Eddie Generous discussed The Residence with author Andrew Pyper in “Episode 001” and The Swap with author Robyn Harding in “Episode 002.” The episodes focus on the writing process instead of a book review format, so even if you’re unfamiliar with these writers or book titles, you won’t find yourself lost in the Great White North. With an average runtime of 30 minutes, Books North is a great podcast to gain deeper insight into the minds of authors in the realm of suspense, all from a uniquely Canadian perspective. Links to all available listening platforms and other information can be found on the website: www.booksnorthpodcast.com
Rounding out the week, I caught up on the fantastic horror fiction of David Allen Voyles in his podcast Dark Corners. Using the dark ambient music of Mombi Yuleman as inspiration, Voyles has written and narrated a chilling tale titled “Witch-Works,” where each episode is a new chapter in the ongoing story of Daniel Thompson as he returns to his family’s farm after the death of his father. Terrifying nightmares plague Daniel, but paranormal encounters in his waking hours are even more frightening as he explores his childhood home and the abandoned Black Cat Toy Factory at the edge of the property. David Allen Voyles has a strong background in oral storytelling from his time operating a ghost tour company called Dark Ride Tours in Asheville, North Carolina, and knows exactly how to deliver a blood-chilling story. Having read and enjoyed his story collection The Thirteenth Day of Christmas and Other Tales of Yuletide Horror I had high expectations for “Witch-Works” and I was not disappointed in the least. New half-hour episodes of Dark Corners are available every other week, with the conclusion to the story scheduled to be released in October. You can catch up on the entire series by visiting www.gestalt-media.com/dark-corners/ or www.davidallenvoyles.com/media-and-events/
Everything I listened to this week was terrific, so there’s no Goosebumps rated podcasts this week and that’s a wrap for Sound Bites!
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’m looking forward to presenting you with even more Scary’s Voices next Friday.
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.
Her latest short story can be found in Don’t Open the Door: A Horror Anthology (out July 26, 2019), and other spooky tales can be found on her blog. She’s currently writing more short stories, a novel, and reading as many dark works as she can find.
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
Leave a Reply