Monsters Among Us

S20 Ep33: Ghosts, Ghouls, Haints, Spirits & Phantoms: Part II

Host: Derek Hayes
Date: February 17, 2026

Overview

This chilling episode, guided by Derek Hayes, delves into the timeless and universal phenomenon of ghostly encounters. Featuring firsthand accounts submitted by listeners, Derek curates a tapestry of spectral tales from across the globe, blending classic hauntings, familial spirits, haunted homes, and unexplained visitations. With stories told in the witnesses’ own voices, the episode lifts the veil on the enduring mystery of apparitions and their place in our lives—balancing chills, validation, humor, and thoughtful speculation.

Key Discussion Points & Stories

The Universality of Ghost Experiences

• Derek Hayes opens by reflecting on the upcoming 10-year anniversary of Monsters Among Us, emphasizing that stories of ghosts and spirits are among the most commonly shared across cultures and backgrounds.

  "There's one experience that seems to span that diverse group of people... A phenomenon that all believers respect equally." — Derek (02:22)

Story 1: The Blonde Woman in White

Brandon, Los Angeles, CA

• Summary: Shares his godfather’s 1970s story from New Jersey, where he encountered a mysterious blonde woman in a white dress in a friend’s house. Upon asking, the friend revealed the same figure had woken his brother the night before.
• Memorable Moment:

  “That girl woke my brother up last night and we have no idea who she is.” — Brandon’s godfather, recounted by Brandon (06:30)

• Host Reaction:

  "That's the sort of validation you seldom get your hands on." — Derek (06:44)

[03:59–06:44]

Story 2: Workplace Specter by the Cemetery

Frank, Long Island, NY

• Summary: Frank recounts a family member’s workplace in Queens where multiple people were touched or startled by an unseen entity. The business is across from a cemetery with infamous graves, adding to the lore.
• Host’s Humor:

  “No, a ghost finger in the ear. It’d be hilarious if it wasn’t so damn unnerving.” — Derek (09:18)

[07:41–09:18]

Story 3: The Lady in the Locker Room

Iris, Japan

• Summary: In high school, after an emotional Student Council election, Iris witnesses a woman with long black hair and a white dress vanish behind a locker room curtain—a figure rumored to haunt the school.
• Notable Quote:

  "I swear to you, I saw that lady. And I've always heard rumors amongst our school that there was a lady in the locker room." — Iris (13:57)

• Host’s Questions:

  “Or is it possible Emily herself attracted the spirit…” — Derek (14:52)

[11:30–14:49]

Story 4: The Ghostly Girl by the Swing

Caller, Maine (Anonymous Scholar)

• Summary: As a child in a supposedly haunted rural Maine house, the caller spots a girl in a white dress by a swing—though only boys lived there, confirming the ghostly nature.
• Notable: Witness wonders if this was sleep paralysis, but the absence of such history makes it a genuine anomaly.

[16:22–19:19]

Story 5: The Bedside Doppelganger

Wesley, No State Mentioned

• Summary: Wesley wakes at 2:30 AM to see what he thinks is his daughter beside his bed. His wife corrects him—the daughter is already in bed. He felt the weight of someone getting in but found no one there.
• Host Reflection:

  “That’s not the kind of thing you want to see as you wake up.” — Derek (22:38)

[21:10–22:38]

Story 6: The Woman at the End of the Bed Redux

Ian, San Diego, CA, & Alexis, Fort Worth, TX

• Summary:
  • Ian describes seeing a woman sitting on his bed in an ex-motel apartment, matching a previous caller’s experience almost exactly. His anxious dog becomes calm after the figure vanishes.
  • Alexis’s replayed call: Also recounts confronting a woman at the end of her bed, later learning a previous resident (an elderly woman) died there. Both describe more comfort than fear.
• Notable Quotes:

  "I didn't feel scared. It wasn't a bad presence." — Ian (26:53)
  “Can I help you?... I remember her getting up and walking out of the room...” — Alexis (27:45)

• Host Connection:

  "If you're gonna see a ghost, a grandma ghost might be the easiest pill to swallow." — Derek (28:53)

[25:00–28:53]

Story 7: Locked in the Haunted Room

Carrie, Humboldt County, CA

• Summary: Carrie recounts being locked in a storage room as a child, with the door only unlocking after she verbally pleads with the unseen occupant.
• Notable Reaction:

  “I never ever went back into that room again.” — Carrie (32:32)

• Host Reflection: Rooms used only for storage often have a spooky reputation.

[29:23–32:54]

Story 8: Generations of Ghosts and the Vanishing Photograph

Margaret, New Hampshire

• Summary: Family encounters with the ghost of a grieving woman from the property’s past, including apparitions, shadows, and a photograph of a son that disappeared—only to reappear after the ghost was addressed directly.
• Notable Quote:

  “That is my favorite picture of my son... Give me my picture back and leave me alone...” — Margaret, quoting her aunt (38:07)

• Host Interpretation:

  "It's also good to hear that whatever these things are, they seem to have a conscience..." — Derek (38:14)

[34:44–38:14]

Story 9: The Sweetly Teasing Old Woman

Chris, Western Kentucky

• Summary: Wakes up to see an elderly woman in a nightdress standing in his hallway, stares her down, and she playfully changes expression before fading away; believes it may have been a waking dream, not paranormal.
• Notable Quote:

  “Her expression on her face changes from just like a stare to a sort of like, sweetly balking at me, like maybe a grandmother, kind of exasperated with a precocious grandchild...” — Chris (41:40)

• Host Analysis: Classic border between sleep paralysis and ghost sighting.

[40:53–45:00]

Story 10: The Cleansing That Brought the Spirit Home

Amy, Alberta, Canada

• Summary: As a house cleanser, Amy tries to banish a spirit tormenting her nephew. She later experiences the entity in her own home—described as a shadow with glowing red eyes—until she places boundaries and cleanses her space.
• Notable Quote:

  “I really feel like something had followed me home, something that was very mad that I had, you know, ruined its fun and kicked it out of the young boys room.” — Amy (48:32)

[46:27–50:58]

Story 11: If You Stand Too Close

Jimmy, Jacksonville, FL

• Summary: Jimmy wakes with a sense of presence; his girlfriend, still asleep, warns in her sleep that “if you stand too close to him, you're gonna creep him out.” She later explains she dreamed of a tall presence near Jimmy. Research reveals a former resident died in the home.
• Notable Moment:

  “Not only the experience, but her response to it. I immediately woke her up and asked her what she said and why she had said it. And she said... a tall male presence was standing next to me while I was asleep.” — Jimmy (53:24)

[53:24–54:55]

Story 12: The Family House That’s “Definitely Haunted”

Megan, Tennessee

• Summary: Tales from a generational home, including mysterious murmuring, footsteps, a cousin seeing a woman in a red dress, and the family’s casual acceptance that the ghosts are relatives.
• Memorable Moment:

  “That house was super haunted, but no biggie. It was just great grandma.” — Megan’s grandmother, paraphrased (61:58)

[56:39–63:12]

Story 13: A Cincinnati House with a Dark Past

Jacqueline, Oklahoma (story set in Cincinnati, OH)

• Summary: Family experiences unexplained voices, footsteps, shadow figures, and slamming doors during handyman work on a house. It is later discovered that the prior owner committed suicide there, and the woman now living there is frequently disturbed by loud banging during showers.
• Notable Details:

  “Eventually my dad decided...he always felt Watched. And then finally one day, he was working in the room alone...the door shuts while he's in the room.” — Jacqueline (66:16)

[64:11–70:49]

Notable Themes & Host Insights

Recurring Apparitions

Many stories involve a woman in a white dress with long hair, often described as comforting or maternal. The “woman at the end of the bed” trope recurs, suggesting a universal motif in ghostly encounters.

Children and Sensitivity

Children feature prominently as witnesses, supporting common beliefs about kids’ heightened sensitivity to the supernatural.

Skepticism vs. Belief

Several callers express skepticism or rational explanations, yet their stories defy easy dismissal—showcasing the tension between disbelief and direct experience.

“Haunted but Harmless”

A common thread emphasizes that many hauntings—especially those involving family homes—tend to be benign, even if occasionally unsettling.

Humor and Validation

Derek balances spooky with levity, referencing pop culture (“My Girlfriend is a Ghost”), and statistics about belief in ghosts, fostering a community that welcomes both believers and curious skeptics.

Selected Memorable Quotes with Timestamps

• “That girl woke my brother up last night and we have no idea who she is.” — Brandon’s godfather story (06:30)
• “I swear to you, I saw that lady.” — Iris (13:57)
• “Her expression on her face changes...sort of an ‘isn't that cute?’ reaction, like teasing me that I'm trying to be brave. And then she just fades away as I stare at her.” — Chris (41:40)
• “If you stand too close to him, you're gonna creep him out.” — Jimmy’s girlfriend, in her sleep (53:24)
• “That is my favorite picture of my son... Give me my picture back and leave me alone.” — Margaret’s aunt (38:07)
• “That house was super haunted, but no biggie. It was just great grandma.” — Megan’s grandmother (61:58)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Show Intro & Theme Setup: 02:22–03:59
• Brandon’s Story (CA/NJ): 03:59–06:44
• Frank’s Story (NY): 07:41–09:18
• Iris in Japan: 11:30–14:49
• Anonymous (Maine): 16:22–19:19
• Wesley’s Doppelganger: 21:10–22:38
• Ian & Alexis: “Woman on the Bed”: 25:00–28:53
• Carrie (CA Locked Room): 29:23–32:54
• Margaret (NH Ghost & Photo): 34:44–38:14
• Chris (KY, Hallway Lady): 40:53–45:00
• Amy (Canada, Cleansing): 46:27–50:58
• Jimmy (FL, Presence): 53:24–54:55
• Megan (TN, Ancestral Home): 56:39–63:12
• Jacqueline (OK, Cincy haunting): 64:11–70:49

Summary & Takeaway

This episode masterfully weaves tales of apparitions ranging from classic hauntings to comfortingly familiar family ghosts. Derek’s thoughtful curation and warm engagement encourage listeners—whether skeptical or convinced—to consider the enduring place of ghost stories in culture and personal experience. As Derek sums up:

"Truth be told, and all numbers aside, it all comes down to one question. Do you believe in ghosts?" — Derek (20:49)

Keep it spooky!