Morbid Podcast – Listener Tales 109: 80's Tales!

Hosts: Ash Kelley & Alaina Urquhart
Date: April 30, 2026

Episode Overview

In this 1980s-themed installment of Listener Tales, Ash and Alaina dive into haunted house stories, brushes with infamous true crime figures, and delightful nostalgia from the decade of big hair, wild fashion, and even wilder tales. True to form, the episode serves up a mix of spine-chilling, hilarious, and heartwarming listener submissions—each uniquely flavored with 80s culture references, jokes, and plenty of authentic Morbid banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The 80s Vibe & Nostalgia

Timestamps: 01:40–05:45

• The hosts banter about their own birth years and childhoods, poking fun at each other for being "end of a decade" babies.
• Lots of jokes about 80s hair ("A whole bottle [of Aquanet] would probably be used" – Ash, 03:43) and fashion, debating who would have “slayed” hardest in 80s style.
• Radio vs. MTV, slang like “rad” and “totally tubular,” and the era’s overall aesthetic set the mood.

“You could literally, like, shoot an arrow at somebody's hair and it wouldn't penetrate.”
– Ash (03:48)

2. Listener Tale 1: "A Ghost Slept With My Grandma"

Timestamps: 06:59–21:58
Submitted by Brian

Story Highlights:

• Brian shares tales from his 80s New Jersey childhood, specifically of his grandma (“Nan,” a self-described witch/clairvoyant) and their haunted family home.
• Nan’s supernatural experiences start the very first day with the apparition of “Old Joe,” a gray-haired man in a flannel.
• The haunting escalates—door slamming, footsteps, metal-on-metal noises (“He was a blacksmith… just residual hauntings from Old Joe’s time in the house,” – Ash, 15:58), persistent dry dog food smell, someone being held down in their sleep, and even the discovery of a “vortex” in the basement.
• The house’s history is confirmed by a photo of Joe and his dog, plus local corroboration. The ending? After Old Joe gets handsy in bed with Nan, she has the house blessed. Paranormal activity ceases, and the ghost’s presence is confirmed years later by a neighbor.

Notable Quotes:

“That was the straw that broke the camel's back. Nan could tolerate cabinets slamming…her nephew getting choked out in his sleep. But she would not abide by a non corporeal cuddle buddy.”
– Ash (19:42)

3. Listener Tale 2: "Richard Ramirez Doubled Down on Visiting My Parents' Window"

Timestamps: 22:31–29:25
Submitted by Erica

Story Highlights:

• Erica recounts her parents’ LA apartment during the 80s—close to the LaBianca house—where her mom twice encountered a man climbing a tree to their second-story window.
• The first time, her father arrives home just in time to scare him off. The second time, her dad brandishes a vacuum, whacking at the man in the tree.
• After Ramirez’s arrest, both parents—long since divorced—agree the intruder was him.
• The story is dedicated to Erica’s late mother, a fellow true crime fan.

Notable Quotes:

“He brandished a vacuum...honestly, that might be good because it’s so shocking. Like, you wouldn’t think—vacuum!”
– Ash (25:22)

“Whenever I've seen that movie [The Purge], I'm like, do I get that? How do I get that?”
– Elena, about wanting full lockdown against serial killers (25:19)

4. Listener Tale 3: "Get Out—He's In Your Bedroom” and the Tater Tot-Loving Ghost"

Timestamps: 29:26–44:20
Submitted by "Violet"

Story Highlights:

• Violet, a punk college student in ‘82 Illinois, shares the saga of a terrifying home invasion after a wild party.
• Friends awaken her screaming “GET OUT, HE’S IN YOUR BEDROOM!” after seeing an intruder break in through a window.
• Police find evidence of a break-in, but nothing is stolen—leaving everyone rattled.
• Weeks later, food starts disappearing from the fridge (notably tater tots and lasagna), blamed on a possible ghost.
• The twist: previous tenants, blackout drunk, broke in one night by mistake thinking they still lived there, ate the food, and left!
• The hosts revel in the story’s “full circle” ending, emphasizing the chaotic, lawless spirit of the 80s.

Notable Quotes:

“Just drunk guys out of their minds and craving a good tot.”
– Ash (44:12)

5. Listener Tale 4: "Spirit at the Salon"

Timestamps: 45:02–51:45
Submitted by Rob

Story Highlights:

• Rob describes afternoons at his aunt’s 80s-tastic beauty salon. The vivid details—pink vinyl chairs, wood cabinets, perm solution—evoke the decade.
• He sees the reflection of a ghostly lady in curlers after hours, who’s never actually present in the room—always just in the window.
• Years later, as an adult, Rob returns home, gets his hair set in curlers, and sits under the dryer to “keep her company.”
• The moment is touching, giving Rob a sense of peace and belonging. He credits the “hair guardian angel” for his fabulous hair and fondness for salons.

Notable Quotes:

“No place feels like home to me as much as a quaint neighborhood hair salon… I like to believe that part of the reason [for my hair] is the unnamed Ghost lady is my hair guardian angel.”
– Rob (50:59/51:46 as read by Elena)

“This is my favorite story we've ever received. She's watching over the hair.”
– Elena (51:45)

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Ash and Elena lovingly roast 80s trends:

  “You could wear those to a ghost concert.”
  – Ash (04:55)

• Calling out “Mr. Steal Yo Girl”—aka Old Joe, the haunted house ghost making moves on Nan.
• Ash on serial killer home invasion fear:

  “If there’s even a whisper of serial killer vibes, I’m getting a full, like, purge-style metal box.” (25:07)

• The running gag:

  “It was the 80s.” (Throughout)

• On tater-tot theft:

  “Don't keep it so weird that you break into people's house and steal their tater tots…those are mine!”
  – Ash & Elena (52:56)

Timeline & Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-------------|----------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:17–05:44 | 80s icebreakers, style & hair nostalgia | | 06:59–21:58 | Haunted house: “A Ghost Slept With My Grandma” | | 22:31–29:25 | True crime: Richard Ramirez at the window | | 29:26–44:20 | Home invasion, scarred roommates, and the tater tot caper | | 45:02–51:45 | Heartwarming: “Spirit at the Salon”—ghostly comfort | | 51:45–53:49 | Wrap-up, favorite moments & encouragement to “keep it weird” |

Episode Tone

Upbeat, irreverent, a little chaotic—classic Morbid. Regular detours into humor, sidebars about fashion and food, and a touching, empathetic read of even scary or sad stories. Both hosts create space for the earnestness and nostalgia of their listeners.

Final Thoughts

This 80s edition packs in the nostalgia, scares, and plenty of laughs or tears ('80s fashion, haunted blacksmiths, brushes with darkness and brushes…). Even the most outlandish tales—haunted grandmas, tree-climbing serial killers, tater-tot-munching ghosts—are related with warmth, empathy, and comedy. The final tale (“Spirit at the Salon”) leaves things on a gentle, uplifting note, underlining Morbid’s gift for finding the heart in all things strange and spooky.

Note:

• Ads, intros, and outros have been omitted.
• Listener emails & photos described in detail; permission to share requested.
• For story submissions: morbidpodcast@gmail.com, labeled "Listener Tales."