Lore

Deeper Lore: 305 (42, 106, & 180)

07 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (305: Botched) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: E...

Lore 305: Botched

04 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

If the road to hell is paved with good intentions, then our journey toward a more human method of execution is a bloody highway. Narrated and produced...

Legends 78: The Stacks

27 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Folklore tells us that ghosts can be many things, but the most common view is that they are echoes of the past that are still present today. Which is ...

Deeper Lore: 304 (102, 116, & 172)

23 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (304: Cult Hero) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: ...

Lore 304: Cult Hero

20 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Few groups leave a society unsettled more than the ones that buck the system and reject the mainstream path. But a few have even managed to leave the ...

Legends 77: Full House

13 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

When you build a community on breaking the rules, it shouldn't be a surprise that the laws of death itself get violated. Narrated and produced by Aaro...

Deeper Lore: 303 (74, 87, & 220)

09 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (303: Shoot for the Stars) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore...

Lore 303: Shoot for the Stars

06 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Most of the folklore that connects us is beneath our feet. But if history is any indication, there's more than enough to be afraid of above our head. ...

Legends 76: Unfamiliar Waters

30 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Moving from the familiar to the unknown comes with a lot of risk. And if the stories about one family are true, that risk can involve a terrifying new...

Deeper Lore: 302 (73, 116, & 166)

26 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (302: Bedside Manner) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore cata...

Lore 302: Bedside Manner

23 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

It takes a lot of compassion to care for the sick and nurse them back to health. And it takes a lot of trust to allow your well-being to rest in their...

Legends 75: Precious

16 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Chasing treasure has always had an allure. But while legends of lost treasures and those who seek them are often entertaining, they also hide a darker...

Deeper Lore: 301 (21, 131, & 220)

12 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (301: Lost at Sea) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog...

Lore 301: Lost at Sea

09 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

For as much of the world as it covers, we know very little about the sea. And where there are unanswered questions, there can always be found folklore...

Legends 74: Snake in the Grass

02 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Trust holds much of the world together. When it's broken, it can lead to unspeakable crimes, which can often result in frightening legends. Narrated a...

Deeper Lore: 300 (37, 79, & 260)

26 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (300: Board Stiff) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog...

Lore 300: Board Stiff

23 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Few objects from popular culture have been as divisive and mysterious as these simple games. But before you dismiss their sensational reputation, it's...

Legends 73: For Better or For Worse

16 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We tend to see weddings as the beginning of something grand. A new start with joy and happiness as a destination. But if these popular legends are any...

Deeper Lore: 299 (21, 104, & 122)

09 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (299: Unsinkable) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog:...

Lore 299: Unsinkable

09 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Some legends spend a bit of time among us and then drift out of popularity. A few, though, stay afloat even when the world they come from slips beneat...

Legends 72: The Hills

02 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Appalachia might be a vast and varied terrain, but one thing about it is incredibly consistent: the presence of dark legends, hidden in the shadows. N...

Deeper Lore: 298 (25, 88, & 134)

26 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (298: Almost Alive) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalo...

Lore 298: Almost Alive

26 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes the more terrifying creatures we encounter are the ones we created ourselves. Don't let their antiquity fool you, though; artificial life is...

Legends 71: Homewrecker

19 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Home sweet home. We go there for safety, peace, and hopefully love. But for a very long time in some parts of the world, the home was ruled over by so...

Deeper Lore: 297 (11, 83, & 113)

15 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (297: Bloody) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: Ep...

Lore 297: Bloody

12 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Much of folklore is fun in a creepy sort of way, something that we often revel in here on Lore. But there are darker, more insidious corners of folklo...

Special Announcement: Exhumed

09 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

I'm pleased to announce that my newest book, Exhumed: Unearthing the History of the American Vampire, is scheduled for August 4th, and it's available ...

Legends 70: Something Lost

05 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We might call them the Great Lakes, but the folklore in and around them is so much greater. And—if the stories are true—much more terrifying as we...

Deeper Lore: 296 (25, 41, & 56)

01 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode—which was a rerun of Episode 12: Half-Hanged—with these three recommendations from fu...

Lore 296: Revisiting "Half-Hanged"

29 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, as the holidays draw near, the Lore team takes a well-earned break to relax with their loved ones. To give them that break, we're reissuing...

Legends 69: The Last Frontier

22 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Out beyond the edge of the known, where simply existing comes with risk, you will always find stories of threats that defy rational explanation. Narra...

Deeper Lore: 295 (54, 74, & 87)

18 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (295: Making Your Luck) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore ca...

Lore 295: Making Your Luck

15 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's all fun and games until someone has a cursed dream. The history behind these risky gambles is almost as fascinating as their eventual outcome. Na...

Legends 68: Erupt

08 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Legends often contain clues about our greatest fears. Oftentimes they are small and invisible. But as today's collection of stories reveals, they can ...

Deeper Lore: 294 (34, 112, & 117)

04 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (294: Upon Reflection) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore cat...

Lore 294: Upon Reflection

01 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

She's the most famous name in horror, and the theories behind the legend are more frightening than you'd ever expect. Narrated and produced by Aaron M...

Legends 67: Northern Exposure

24 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Some stories are fascinating because they go against our expectations. And among them are a few that are absolutely chilling. Narrated and produced by...

Deeper Lore: 293 (84, 116, & 172)

20 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (293: Mother Knows Best) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore c...

Lore 293: Mother Knows Best

17 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Figures from folklore are often one-dimensional. But if the popularity of this particular woman tells us anything, it's that legends can sometimes bec...

Legends 66: Devour

10 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The stories of people who cross the line are often the most terrifying. And that fear has turned those tales into weapons of a different kind. Narrate...

Deeper Lore: 292 (90, 202, & 229)

06 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (292: Message in a Bottle) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore...

Lore 292: Message in a Bottle

03 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Our world can often feel like an open book, with every secret laid bare. But there are still locations that cling tightly to mystery, and the question...

Trick or Treat 5: Drained

31 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For the final Trick or Treat episode of the season, we're taking a tour through some of the lesser-known vampire folklore around the world. But just b...

Legends 65: Twin Spirits

27 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

At the heart of their dual history and shared rivalry, this pair of midwestern cities hides a darker common ground, and the stories that live there ar...

Trick or Treat 4: From the Beyond

24 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Humans have reached out to communicate with the dead for millennia, and as this collection of tales will show, that hasn't always gone according to pl...

Deeper Lore: 291 (111, 143, & Legends 30)

23 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (291: Dream Come True) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore cat...

Lore 291: Dream Come True

20 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We often use the phrase "dream come true" to describe wonderful things you envision for our lives. But looking at the folklore behind it, there might ...

Trick or Treat 3: Loved & Lost

17 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Our passions create powerful bonds. And it turns out that even something as permanent as death can't totally separate us from the people or places we ...

Legends 64: No Rest For the Wicked

13 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Some graves give us answers to the gaps in our understanding of history. A few, though, fill those gaps with terrifying legends that are still alive t...

Trick or Treat 2: Too Young

10 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tragic loss is often the catalyst for powerful tales that haunt us for generations. Today's collection of stories gathers some of the most chilling ex...

Deeper Lore: 290 (24, 207, & 265)

09 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (290: Growing Pains) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catal...

Lore 290: Growing Pains

06 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

They might appear to be nothing more than simple words spoken by the youngest in our communities, but there's a darkness hidden beneath many of them. ...

Trick or Treat: Lavish

03 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For the first of our weekly Halloween bonus episodes (every Friday in October), we're visiting a number of haunted castles. You might want to keep a l...

Legends 63: Dance With the Devil

29 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Humans have, historically, shown themselves to be risk-takers. But in one particular branch of folklore, many of those gambles have come at the hands ...

Deeper Lore: Episode 289 (18, 48, & 101)

25 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (289: Shake It) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: ...

Lore 289: Shake It

22 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Folklore can take many forms, but most involve words in a specific language. One exception, though, are the traditions passed down through a very diff...

Legends 62: The Little Things

15 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

While you're guaranteed to find a lot of spooky tales in the biggest, brightest cities, sometimes all it takes is a quick trip upstate to find a set o...

Deeper Lore: 288 (50, 111, & 151)

11 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (288: Doom & Gloom) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalo...

Lore 288: Doom & Gloom

08 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Folklore might be all around us, but sometimes the most frightening kind of story points in a very particular direction. Narrated and produced by Aaro...

Legends 61: Drowning Deep

01 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

One of the most iconic creatures from folklore has a terrifyingly evil nature hidden beneath its beautiful facade. Narrated and produced by Aaron Mahn...

Deeper Lore: 287 (25, 140, & 156)

28 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (287: It Takes a Village) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore ...

Lore 287: It Takes a Village

25 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If these dark tales from history prove anything, it is that powerful things often come in small packages. Narrated and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with ...

Legends 60: Operatic

18 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Some places only have a handful of dark stories to explore. Today's subject, though, is the land of a ten-thousand tales. Narrated and produced by Aar...

Deeper Lore: 286 (86, 113, & 186)

14 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (286: Lazarus) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: E...

Episode 286: Lazarus

11 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

One of the most intriguing topics throughout history has infectious disease and the way we handle it. Narrated and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with writ...

Legends 59: Apparition

04 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Folklore is often a regional thing, shifting and reshaping itself to fit the landscape and the people who live there. And nowhere is that more frighte...

Deeper Lore: 285 (16, 27, & 31)

31 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (285: Oh My) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: Epi...

Lore 285: Oh My

28 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We often think that the most frightening creatures of all are the ones that only exist within the pages of folklore. But what happens when the dangers...

Legends 58: Take a Bow

21 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We usually go looking for the most frightening legends in the shadows. Sometimes, though, they can be found where the lights are brightest. Narrated a...

Deeper Lore: 284 (19, 30, & 72)

17 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (284: Grounded) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: ...

Lore 284: Grounded

14 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The way various cultures approach death has added a dark texture to the world around us. And caught in the fabric of those metaphorical burial shrouds...

Legends 57: Long Live the King

07 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Some legends only appear to vanish over time. From wide popularity to utter obscurity, their journey teaches us something about the way we use story. ...

Deeper Lore: 283 (20, 23, & 36)

03 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (283: On the Nose) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog...

Lore 283: On the Nose

30 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Folklore often preserves something from deep in the past in a way that can still be experienced in the present. But ghosts aren't the only lingering r...

Legends 56: Ringed In

23 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

History is full of exceptions that make it very dangerous to assume—some examples of which are absolutely horrifying. Narrated and produced by Aaron...

Deeper Lore: 282 (43, 49, & 159)

19 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (282: Auld) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: Epis...

Lore 282: Auld

16 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Few cities in the world contain as much darkness, pain, and evil as the capital of Scotland. Join us for a chilling tour—but be careful where you st...

Legends 55: Different Paths

09 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Some regions of North America might have taken different routes through history to our own, but that doesn't mean the legends they've collected are an...

Deeper Lore: 281 (190, 198, & 246)

05 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode The Silver Scream (190, 198, & 246) with these three recommendations from further back in...

Lore 281: The Silver Scream

02 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We look to the theater for entertainment, distraction, and inspiration. But like so many other areas of popular culture, that glitz and glamour hides ...

Legends 54: Fairytale

26 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Humans have spent a very long time collecting and sharing specific tales. But just because the most popular ones are bright and cheerful doesn't mean ...

Deeper Lore: 280 (81, 118, & 166)

22 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (280: Flower Power) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalo...

Lore 280: Flower Power

19 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The soil of history is rich with all sorts of traditions and folklore, many of which have sprouted into deadly tools and powerful magic. At least, tha...

Legends 53: Lunacy

12 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Legends are all around us. But few topics in the world of folklore do as good a job of illuminating our flawed human nature as the stories hanging ove...

Deeper Lore: 279 (130, 176, & 205)

08 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (279: Singular) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: ...

Lore 279: Singular

05 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Even the brightest members of the fairytale world have dark and shadowy origins. In fact, one particular medieval beast developed a terrifying reputat...

Legends 52: Sunshine

28 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We might long for vacations in beautiful, sunlit settings as a break from the mundane, but just because a place is a paradise doesn't mean it has no s...

Deeper Lore: 278 (8, 111, & 215)

24 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (278: Bad For Business) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore ca...

Lore 278: Bad For Business

21 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's easy to think of folklore and the supernatural as something that sits outside our little bubble of normal life. But in many cases throughout hist...

Legends 51: Royal

14 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

All the power and privilege in the world can't guarantee safety. And if these legends are any indication, the list of risks includes the supernatural....

Deeper Lore: 277 (120, 208, & Legends 36)

10 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (Episode 277: In the Rough) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lor...

Lore 277: In the Rough

07 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Some corners of folklore sparkle more than others. But just because the subject matter is pretty doesn't mean it's safe. Narrated and produced by Aaro...

Legends 50: Settling Up

31 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

No community is a stranger to pain. To test this assertion, we're heading into one of the far corners of America to see what sort of tragedy might be ...

Deeper Lore: 276 (43, 113, & 122)

27 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (276: Heads Up) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: ...

Lore 276: Heads Up

24 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A good amount of history is nothing more than normal, everyday people doing their best to keep their heads in troubling situations. According to folkl...

A Happy Update

18 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A special announcement for a special day. Thank you to everyone who has constantly, generously, and joyfully supported this show over the years.  Her...

Legends 49: Scars

17 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Injuries often leave marks that stick with us for years. In locations designed for violence, though, scars often reach a new level of pain and darknes...

Deeper Lore: 275 (57, 155, & 81)

13 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (275: Taking Control) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore cata...

Lore 275: Taking Control

10 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Thankfully, every rule has an exception, as this tragic story from 16th century France makes painfully clear. Narrated and produced by Aaron Mahnke, w...

Legends 48: Oh Deer

03 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Roaming around a small wooded corner of folklore are four-legged creatures that might not be what they seem. These legends hold a lot of danger…and ...