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Scary stories are great all year round, no matter what time of year it is, but especially during the spooky season. While people like to delve into a thrilling book or watch a bone-chilling movie, many nowadays find their best horror stories told over podcasts. Harkening back to early radio shows like The Twilight Zone, here is a list of some of the best scary podcasts on Spotify, from true crime to chilling supernatural tales.
Spotify Spotlight: The Best Scary Podcasts on Spotify
1. The Magnus Archives
The Magnus Archives is a horror fiction anthology podcast from Rusty Quill that uploads new episodes weekly. Host, also known as the head archivist, Jonathan Sims examines the archives of the fictitious Magnus Institute. This is an organization that researches all things weird and abnormal. Joined by the occasional guest actor, Sims tries to update neglected supernatural stories and statements.
2. Spooked
The podcast Spooked, a series from Snap Judgment Studios, is a horror audio show that’s dedicated to featuring true-life supernatural stories. Glynn Washington, who is the founder of Snap Judgement alongside Mark Ristich, is the host of Spooked. He brings an element to every story that really recounts the horror of every moment. You can find a new episode on Spotify every Friday!
3. Old Gods of Appalachia
Old Gods of Appalachia is a horror narrative podcast, describing itself as an “eldritch fiction” story set in an alternative universe based on the Appalachian regions’ mythos. Steve Shell and Cam Collins both created the podcast and write and voice numerous characters in the story.
The podcast’s premise is that ancient, incomprehensible beings have been entombed underneath the Appalachians. These beings are then causing strange interactions with European settlers. Old Gods of Appalachia is worth a listen if you love psychological horrors with a supernatural twist.
4. Scary Story Podcast
The name Scary Story Podcast tells it how it is: a podcast full of scary stories! Here, you can find episodes on everything dark and paranormal. These short, original horror tales are written and produced by Edwin Covarrubias, who also writes the rest of Scary FM’s shows, though Scary Story Podcast is the most popular. These stories are extremely effect at standing between fiction and reality using sound effects and ambience.
5. Let’s Not Meet: A True Horror Podcast
Let’s Not Meet: A True Horror Podcast recounts true horror stories that are written by those who made it out of very real and scary situations. These are narrated and produced by Andy Tate, with the permission of those who they belong to. If you have a real scary story of your own, you can submit it to the Let’s Not Meet: A True Horror Podcast show through their email. Though, hopefully, you’ve never had to be in one of these situations!
6. Welcome to Nightvale
Welcome to Nightvale is the grandfather of narrative horror podcasts, taking the form of community updates for the small yet strange town of Nightvale. The chilling cast of this spooky podcast is Joseph Fink, Jeffrey Cranor, and narrator Cecil Baldwin. The writers have gone on to publish books, host live shows, and much more. If you’re craving classic horror story narratives, this is one of the best scary podcasts on Spotify.
7. Last Podcast on the Left
The Last Podcast on the Left is a crime podcast on Spotify that tells bone-chilling stories of both real crime and cryptic theories. With the combined humor of hosts Marcus Parks, Ed Larson, and Henry Zebrowski, these dark tales are a bit easier to hear. The Last Podcast on the Left comes out with new episodes weekly and each one will leave you curious about the next.
8. The NoSleep Podcast
The NoSleep Podcast was inspired by the Reddit community r/nosleep, where users post horror stories. Founded by David Cummings, this podcast aims to adapt these internet horror short stories into audio experiences, creating a pretty spooky anthology. Some of the authors featured in the podcast have gone on to publish full novels, including Dathan Auerbach and T.W. Grim. This podcast has gone on for 21 seasons and still continues to thrive. If you often immerse yourself in scary stories, this podcast is perfect for you.
9. True Scary Story
Another spooky podcast under the Scary FM studios is True Scary Story. Just like the Scary Story Podcast, you are taken through terrifying tales with host Edwin Covarrubias. However, unlike that podcast, True Scary Story focuses on those tales that have actually been experienced. The real-life horror stories featured in this show are all about strange and unexplained paranormal encounters.
10. Scare You To Sleep
Scare You To Sleep is a weekly horror podcast created, hosted, and narrated by Shelby Novak, a horror writer seeking a platform to showcase her own scary stories. However, her channel has since grown to accept submissions from other writers, which you can do so through the podcast’s website. There are even Guided Nightmares episodes, which act as meditation guides that let you star in your own horror story!
Closing Thoughts
With this unsettling list of scary Spotify podcasts, one of these will surely send shivers down your spine. From narrative horror stories that take place over seasons, short story anthologies sourced from the internet, and true crime retellings, there is something for everyone among the best horror stories on Spotify.
