Monsters Among Us – Season 20 Episode 6: "Ghosts, Goblins, Witches and Other Halloween Haunts"

Host: Derek Hayes
Date: October 30, 2025

Episode Overview

A special Halloween edition, this episode of "Monsters Among Us" is steeped in the nostalgia, mystery, and chill of All Hallows' Eve. Derek Hayes curates a collection of spine-tingling, first-hand accounts of the supernatural and unexplained—ranging from Halloween night hauntings and cryptid encounters to urban legends and family folklore—directly from listeners in their own voices. The tone is deliciously atmospheric, playfully spooky, and rich with both Americana and old-world lore.

Main Themes and Purpose

• Exploration of the thin veil between worlds during Halloween
• True paranormal experiences tied to Halloween traditions (ghosts, psychics, graveyards, witches, costumes, spectral animals)
• The enduring myths and modern actualities underpinning Halloween tropes
• Showcasing how the supernatural can touch the everyday, in the context of the most haunted night of the year

"But beneath the masks and the jack O lanterns, an ancient shadow still stirs, reminding us that Halloween has always been a night for the living and for the dead."
— Derek Hayes (00:52)

Key Stories and Insights

1. A Haunting Reunion and Ghostly Aftereffects

Caller: Robin, Northern California
Timestamps: 03:21–07:07

• Robin describes moving into a 1960s house imbued with the legacy of its previous family, especially one beloved granddaughter, Mary, whose name and presence are etched into walls and concrete.
• On Halloween, Robin finally meets Mary herself as a young woman visiting with friends, creating a touching full-circle moment.
• Spooky twist: The following night, Robin's son (now occupying Mary's old room) experiences chills and his dog behaves fearfully, perhaps sensing a spirit—possibly Mary's grandmother—returning to visit the room after Mary's presence rekindled a connection.

"So I believe that Mary's presence here brought back her grandmother, and she came into Mary's room looking around, possibly to find Mary again."
— Robin (06:49)

Host’s Take:
Derek speculates on ways to test for paranormal changes and notes how Halloween can act as a catalyst for unexplained happenings.

2. Fortune Tellers and Prophetic Warnings

Callers: Caroline; Recap of Christine
Timestamps: 10:57–13:15

• Caroline recounts an eerily accurate tarot reading while her husband was deployed, foretelling family structure changes she found impossible at the time, only to see them later fulfilled.
• Derek connects this with Christine’s palm reading tale (previously aired), in which a stranger foresaw her marrying twice and losing a child—details that heartbreakingly came true.
• Drives home the point: random encounters with fortune tellers can leave life-altering echoes, especially when revisited on Halloween.

"The only thing that stood out... was her telling me that I would have three kids and one wouldn't be my husband, but I wouldn't get divorced."
— Caroline (12:05)

"A lot of eerie coincidences with these two, which makes them fit for this Halloween Eve pick."
— Derek Hayes (13:11)

3. A Child’s Chilling Cemetery Insight

Caller: Sam, Southern Indiana
Timestamps: 16:52–19:34

• Sam, relating a story his mother just revealed, recounts how as an infant he was left in the car while parents visited a graveyard. Upon waking, he cryptically remarked, “Those babies were sick”—referring to three children's graves his parents had just discussed, unnerving them.
• Sparks discussion of children’s sensitivity to paranormal impressions and the elevated unease when the speaker is yourself.

"To find out that the words came from your very own mouth, as Sam here did, well, that's a unique angle that's sure to send a chill down anyone's spine."
— Derek Hayes (19:39)

4. Entering the Graveyard—And Bringing Something Out

Caller: James, London, England
Timestamps: 23:56–25:39

• James and a friend ghost-hunt in an abandoned asylum graveyard where folklore ties Jack the Ripper. They record an EVP telling them to leave, later followed by his home being plagued by unexplained nocturnal disturbances and a terrifying vision of an old woman—possibly a spirit that followed him home.

“All of a sudden I couldn't move. And I'll just keep saying this old woman coming over to me trying to attack me. And yeah, it scared the jeebies out of me.”
— James (25:11)

Host's Note:
Derek adds flavor by referencing the asylum's closure on Halloween and clarifies Jack the Ripper’s burial legend, increasing eerie authenticity.

5. Church Steps, Ghostly Footsteps

Caller: Giselle, Niagara Falls
Timestamps: 27:44–31:16

• Giselle recalls planning a Halloween party in a locked, empty church when she and her friend hear persistent footsteps overhead. Police are called but no living person is found. The footsteps resume in the officer’s presence—prompting all three to flee.

"When he looked up and he saw me, he looked up and there was a big pause and he said, well, ladies, he shut his book. 'I don't know what you're gonna do, but I'm leaving.'"
— Giselle (29:34)

6. The Boarded-Up Room: Haunted Houses in Small-Town Texas

Caller: Chris, Texas
Timestamps: 32:54–34:32

• Chris recounts a local legend: an Addams Family-esque mansion with a chained, bolted room said to be intensely haunted—strange noises, footsteps, and a sense of containment, fueling the lore of trapping “something” inside.

7. Halloween and the Costume Enigma

Callers: Shawn (Kentucky), Anonymous (Montana), Joseph (Georgia/Oklahoma)
Timestamps: 39:25–48:56

• Shawn: Sees a professor-like figure in a white, makeup-painted plastic mask—creepy and out of place—prompting unease (39:25–41:31).
• Anonymous, Montana: Spots a shadowy, robed figure near a cow field right before seeing an ambulance load an elderly man—possibly glimpsing the Grim Reaper? (42:50–43:58).
• Joseph: Childhood sleepwalking and recurring dreams of a masked “monster” at the door coincide with his brother’s real-life sighting; decades later, cryptid lore and family puzzles persist (44:40–48:56).
  • "I could draw this out for you frame by frame as it happens." — Joseph (46:51)

8. Encounters With Witches and Devils

Callers: Dave (Michigan/Kentucky), Anonymous (PNW), Michaela (UK), Jillian (SE USA)
Timestamps: 51:01–68:44

• Dave: Appalachian granny tells tale of a shapeshifting “turkey-witch” shot with a silver bullet; a neighbor subsequently dies from a bullet wound. Classic folklore about animal-human transformation and the mysterious consequences of harming the bewitched (51:01–54:55).
  • “Honey, I’m just telling you that I’m pretty sure he was that turkey.” — Grandma, via Dave
• Anonymous, Pacific NW: Manager discovers unsettling, witchy late-night voicemails spelling out the store’s name in a raspy voice, never explained (56:57–61:03).
• Michaela, UK: Sees a troll-like shadow on Halloween, unnerving poltergeist activity, knocks at midnight, running footsteps but children asleep—culminating in a chilling household disturbance (62:37–65:40).
• Jillian, SE USA: Deeply personal reflection on her father’s lost relationship, his alleged childhood “deal with the devil,” and his subsequent downfall, with fears of supernatural consequences affecting their family (66:25–68:44).

9. Spectral Animals: Hellhounds and Bewitching Cats

Callers: Y (Arizona), A (North Carolina)
Timestamps: 71:08–88:01

• Y: Lifelong encounters with a massive, shadowy “black dog”—a recurring apparition with the chilling presence of a supernatural guardian, sighted several times in childhood and on Halloween, culminating in a daylight sighting years later (71:08–78:29).
  • "It's black because there's nothing there... the only size comparison would be a very dog-shaped horse." — Y (73:48)
• Doris Gibson (Inside Edition retro-clip): Echoes the “Halloween monster dog” legend of Bray Road, seen on Halloween 1991, tying into Y’s experience (80:01–80:28).
• A: While delivering late under a full moon, A is lured by multiple cats, encounters an uncanny, “uncanny valley” gray feline whose gaze and aura grow increasing oppressive, culminating in a telepathic warning: "stop. If you get any closer, you’ll die." He escapes, haunted by the certainty he nearly crossed an invisible, fatal boundary (81:54–88:01).

10. Classic Halloween Urban Legends (Aftershow Tease)

Caller: Anonymous – “Bloody Mary”
Timestamps: 91:39–93:39

• Recalls playing Bloody Mary as kids in a new house—immediate result: lights go out, hands felt on shoulders, and overwhelming terror. Reinforces the enduring pull and potency of folkloric ritual on Halloween.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Derek Hayes, on Halloween’s supernatural roots:
  “They say Halloween is one night a year when the veil between our world and the next grows dangerously thin… But the dead, it seems, didn’t get the message.” (00:52)
• Giselle’s police officer on the church haunting:
  “Well, ladies, I don’t know what you’re gonna do, but I’m leaving.” (29:34)
• Dave’s grandma, identifying the witch:
  “Honey, I’m just telling you that I’m pretty sure he was that turkey.” (54:37)
• A’s telepathic warning from the cat:
  “Stop. If you get any closer, you’ll die.” (87:01)
• Y on seeing the black dog:
  “It was black because there's nothing there...looking at the night sky, black because there's nothing there. Huge, like if you doubled a mastiff." (73:27)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time (MM:SS) | Segment | |:------------:|------------------------------------------| | 00:52 | Derek's Halloween historical opener | | 03:21–07:07 | Robin’s haunted house & Mary's ghost | | 10:57–13:15 | Caroline’s tarot, Christine’s palm reader | | 16:52–19:34 | Sam’s cemetery childhood psychic moment | | 23:56–25:39 | James’ asylum graveyard haunting | | 27:44–31:16 | Giselle’s church footsteps & officer | | 32:54–34:32 | Chris’ Texas "Addams Family" haunted house| | 39:25–48:56 | Costume mask stories (Shawn, Montana, Joseph)| | 51:01–56:57 | Appalachian witch (Dave) & store’s witchy call| | 62:37–68:44 | Shadow people, deals with the devil (Michaela, Jillian)| | 71:08–78:29 | Black dog legend (Y, Arizona) | | 80:01–80:28 | Bray Road beast retelling (Doris Gibson) | | 81:54–88:01 | The uncanny, telepathic cat encounter (A) | | 91:39–93:39 | Classic ‘Bloody Mary’ call (aftershow tease)|

Episode Tone & Commentary

Derek’s hosting weaves humor, folklore, and analogies, grounding the phantasmagoric tales in both historical context and contemporary relatability. The vibe is celebratory of Halloween’s weirdness but respectful of the personal and emotional weight many stories carry.

Conclusion & Call to Action

Derek closes with gratitude for the callers, reaffirms the enduring magnetism of Halloween tales, and invites listeners to the aftershow for more chilling stories, including a new take on the Bloody Mary legend.

Summary Takeaways

• Halloween remains a nexus for the unexplained, where the boundary between tale and truth shimmers.
• Personal encounters with the uncanny are as varied as the archetypes embedded in Halloween’s symbols—from witch-turkeys to spectral black dogs and devils in disguise.
• The episode is a testament to the enduring appeal of spooky storytelling and community connection, especially on the year’s most haunted night.

“Keep it spooky!”