Podcast Summary: Morbid Episode 614: Listener Tales 91: HALLOWEEN Edition!
Release Date: October 31, 2024
Hosts: Ash and Elena from Morbid Network | Wondery
Introduction to Halloween Edition
Timestamp: [02:28] – [05:19]
Ash and Elena kick off the episode immersed in the Halloween spirit, discussing their festive costumes and the fun dynamics of recording in full costume. Ash dons a sad clown ensemble, while Elena embraces her role as "Mama Meredith," complete with a high ponytail. Their playful banter sets a lighthearted yet spooky tone for the episode.
Notable Quote:
- Ash: "I can't move too much because then my hat teeters and I can't move my face. And also, I can't laugh. Really well. So this is going to be an adventure." ([03:18])
Listener Tale 1: Kara’s Ghostly Encounter with a Shadow Man
Timestamp: [05:38] – [14:08]
Kara narrates her eerie experiences in her 101-year-old family home, particularly around Halloween during her senior year of high school. She describes strange occurrences like doors closing on their own and indistinct shadows passing through. The most unsettling event unfolds when she encounters a shadowy figure attempting to "twerk" on her staircase.
Key Points:
- Recurring Paranormal Activity: Karа recounts intermittent ghostly events throughout her childhood and teenage years.
- The Shadow Man Incident: One night, Kara sees a tall shadow figure in a twerking pose, which terrifies her. Despite her fear, the figure vanishes before she can confront it.
- Family Experiences: After Kara leaves for college, her younger sister also experiences paranormal disturbances, further reinforcing the haunted nature of their home.
- Resolution: Over time, the ghostly activity ceases, leading Kara to believe that her persistent ignoring may have caused the spirit to move on.
Notable Quotes:
- Kara: "This all began four years ago during my senior year of high school, right around Halloween." ([06:23])
- Kara: "He was in full twerking position, ready to shake some ass like a teen at a prom." ([10:53])
- Elena: "Shit. Post me a pic. I can't laugh on it. Go." ([10:55])
Listener Tale 2: Chelsea’s Spiritual Closure with a Ghostly Ex-Boyfriend
Timestamp: [15:10] – [32:13]
Chelsea shares a heartfelt story about her relationship with Teddy, her ex-boyfriend who battled seizures due to a benign brain tumor. After their breakup and Teddy’s passing, Chelsea experiences various spiritual signs that lead her to seek closure through a psychic medium.
Key Points:
- Tragic Love Story: Chelsea and Teddy share a loving relationship, but Teddy's health complications lead to their eventual breakup.
- Spiritual Signs: After Teddy's death, Chelsea notices unusual occurrences in her home, such as flickering lights and books being dog-eared.
- Psychic Session: During a bachelorette party, Chelsea consults a psychic medium who accurately conveys messages from Teddy, providing her with the closure she desperately needed.
- Positive Outcome: The psychic’s insights help Chelsea move forward, leading to a supportive relationship with her current husband, David, and a growing family.
Notable Quotes:
- Chelsea: "He wants you to know that you are the love of his life, and he's so grateful for that." ([29:10])
- Elena: "This story had to be extracted from the inside of my head and put to paper." ([31:16])
- Ash: "I think this is the most beautiful thing, literally the most beautiful thing we've ever received." ([30:27])
Listener Tale 3: Megan’s Terrifying Halloween with Masked Aggressors
Timestamp: [32:19] – [45:28]
Megan recounts a horrifying Halloween night from 2014 when she and her friends encounter a group of masked individuals armed with bats and golf clubs in their neighborhood, transforming a fun night of trick-or-treating into a scene of fear and confusion.
Key Points:
- Vibrant Halloween Neighborhood: Megan describes their neighborhood as a hotspot for Halloween festivities, with extensive decorations and enthusiastic trick-or-treaters.
- Encounter with Masked Individuals: While turning back onto their street, Megan and her friends spot a lone trick-or-treater in a clown mask wielding a baseball bat, soon followed by more masked individuals carrying golf clubs.
- Surrounding Terror: The group multiplies rapidly, surrounding Megan and her friends in an empty street, heightening the sense of danger.
- Hosts' Intervention: As tension peaks, Megan's mother and David (her boyfriend) arrive to confront the masked aggressors, revealing that the incidents were misinterpretations rather than actual threats.
- Emotional Aftermath: The encounter leaves Megan and her friends traumatized, leading to the cessation of their trick-or-treating activities.
Notable Quotes:
- Megan: "They were dragging their clubs and banging their bats on the concrete. Ew." ([39:38])
- Ash: "I will cut you." ([41:42])
- Elena: "Halloween's supposed to be fun and people need to consent in being scared. Don't be a dick." ([45:10])
Listener Tale 4: Bee’s Encounter with a Paper Mache Demon in Japan
Timestamp: [45:28] – [67:08]
Bee shares a spooky tale set in Goldfish Town, Japan, where she and her friend Elena experience a chilling visit from a figure in a paper mache mask. The story unfolds during a quiet evening disrupted by mysterious doorbell rings and culminates in a surprising revelation about the masked visitor.
Key Points:
- Cultural Context: Bee explains the differences in Halloween celebrations in Japan compared to the U.S., noting the adult-focused festivities.
- Mysterious Visitor: While alone at home, Bee receives unsettling doorbell rings from a figure wearing a paper mache mask with exaggerated features.
- Immediate Fear: The presence of the masked individual causes Bee to panic, prompting her to seek help from her friend Elena and supervisor K.
- Resolution: It is revealed that the masked individual was actually Elena's husband, H, who donned the terrifying mask as part of a diversionary ploy to distribute Halloween goodie bags, mending the prior Halloween incident and turning the fear into laughter.
Notable Quotes:
- Bee: "I can't tell the gender as their clothes are baggy and the fact that they are wearing a large paper mache mask with painted on wide staring blue eyes." ([50:15])
- Elena: "I will never forget them coming up the stairs. If I hadn't been so scared at the time, I would have laughed." ([53:53])
- Ash: "They attached a picture, but you know." ([57:34])
Listener Tale 5: Ash’s Childhood Halloween Prank by Her Parents
Timestamp: [67:08] – [68:54]
Ash concludes the episode with a nostalgic and humorous story about her family's elaborate Halloween pranks. Growing up with horror-loving parents, Ash and her friends faced a memorable prank involving her father disguising himself as a masked figure wielding a chainsaw, which left a lasting impression on her and her peers.
Key Points:
- Family Halloween Traditions: Ash credits her grandmother Marge for instilling a love of Halloween and spooky traditions in her family.
- The Prank Setup: During a movie night with friends watching "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre," Ash hears suspicious noises outside, leading her and her friends to investigate.
- The Prank Reveal: As tension peaks, Ash's father reveals himself as the masked figure with a chainsaw, causing a mix of fear and laughter among the group.
- Legacy and Humor: The prank becomes a legendary story among Ash’s friends, embodying her family's penchant for blending horror with humor during Halloween celebrations.
Notable Quotes:
- Ash: "What happened on Halloween five nights ago?" ([60:12])
- Elena: "My dad is awesome." ([61:32])
- Ash: "Big Wave. Big Wave. Big Wave." ([67:06])
Closing Remarks
Timestamp: [68:54] – [69:22]
Ash and Elena wrap up the episode by expressing their enjoyment of sharing and listening to spooky Halloween tales. They encourage listeners to keep embracing the weird and spooky aspects of life while maintaining a sense of fun and safety.
Notable Quote:
- Elena: "We hope you keep it weird, but not so weird that you surround children and try to scare them by banging baseball bats and golf clubs, because that's just not cool." ([67:40])
Conclusion
Morbid's Halloween Edition Episode 614 delivers a captivating blend of true crime, spooky stories, and heartfelt moments. Through the diverse listener tales, Ash and Elena explore themes of paranormal encounters, spiritual closure, terrifying confrontations, and heartwarming family traditions. The episode not only provides chills and thrills but also emphasizes the importance of community, support, and the enduring spirit of Halloween.
Enjoy listening to more spine-tingling stories on Morbid through the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts. Keep it spooky, weirdos!