Radio Rental - Episode 70 Summary
Release Date: November 1, 2024
Host: Terry Carnation (Rainn Wilson)
Produced by: Tenderfoot TV & Audacy
Episode Overview
In Episode 70 of Radio Rental, host Terry Carnation delves into the eerie and mystical traditions surrounding Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). Set against the backdrop of an 80’s-inspired video rental store, Terry intertwines personal anecdotes with chilling true horror stories, providing listeners with a blend of heartfelt homage and spine-tingling suspense.
Celebrating Dia de los Muertos
Terry Carnation opens the episode by introducing Dia de los Muertos, a vibrant Mexican holiday that celebrates and honors deceased loved ones. He shares his personal connection to the holiday, setting up an altar adorned with flowers, ofrendas (offerings), and memorabilia dedicated to individuals he has lost, blending humor with heartfelt sentiment.
“Anywho, today is one of my very favorite holidays... it's a beautiful, whimsical holiday where the spirits of loved ones are believed to return home over the span of these two days.”
— Terry Carnation [01:55]
He humorously references his late wife, Zilon, and pop culture icons like Patrick Swayze and Suzanne Somers, infusing the introduction with his characteristic comedic flair.
Story 1: The Haunted Camping Trip in Elk River
The first true horror story revolves around a couple's unsettling camping trip in Elk River, Idaho.
Unnamed Storyteller recounts:
A decade-old camping expedition that begins innocently enough but quickly turns sinister as the couple notices an unusual influx of cars arriving at the campsite. The area, typically serene, becomes unnervingly crowded:
“All different groups of people just streaming down the mountain... We didn’t have smartphones back then. It’s not like we could check to see if there was some alert posted.”
— Unnamed Storyteller [04:08]
As night falls, eerie screams pierce the tranquility, seemingly coming from both the mountainside and the surrounding woods. The screams escalate into a disorienting call-and-response that suggests malevolent forces are urging the couple to leave.
“The more they happened, the less human they sounded... We knew the fire was out, we fired the truck up and started driving back down the hill.”
— Unnamed Storyteller [06:44]
The couple's desperate attempts to escape are met with supernatural obstacles, including an apparition wielding a kitchen knife and a mysterious truck that ominously follows them before vanishing without a trace.
“The truck’s gone. There’s no sign of it, like, slowing down and coming to a stop. There’s no glow of its headlights as it stopped behind that turn. There’s no evidence that truck was ever there.”
— Unnamed Storyteller [06:44]
The experience leaves the couple traumatized and pondering the supernatural elements they encountered, ultimately deciding to abandon any attempts to rationalize the inexplicable events.
“The possibility that that was a supernatural experience is absolutely valid... It was life altering to the most extreme any family could experience.”
— Unnamed Storyteller [21:46]
Terry Carnation reacts to the story with a mix of astonishment and humor, emphasizing the eerie nature of Elk River.
“Holy, holy elk. What in the real life horror movie was going on there?... I'd rather find a nice condo in Amityville.”
— Terry Carnation [21:46]
Story 2: The Ominous Rooster and Family Tragedy
The second story intertwines folklore with personal tragedy, centered around a black rooster's inexplicable behavior and its connection to a family's devastating loss.
Unnamed Storyteller shares:
During the COVID-19 lockdown in rural Michigan, a black rooster behaves unusually by crowing incessantly at night—a behavior atypical and often considered an omen in various folklores. The storyteller notices a disturbing pattern:
“I looked down, and there was this perfect imprint of a skull staring back at me... I immediately knew that something bad was going to happen.”
— Unnamed Storyteller [24:48]
Shortly after these eerie signs, the storyteller's brother falls gravely ill, culminating in his collapse due to aspirated pneumonia—a severe and ultimately fatal condition. The juxtaposition of the rooster's ominous behavior and the sudden tragedy leads the storyteller to believe in a premonition or a supernatural connection.
“I realized that on September 24th, going through my photos was the day that I saw the skull staring back at me... That was the day that the rooster crowed itself to death.”
— Unnamed Storyteller [24:48]
Despite thorough investigations, no logical explanation accounts for the rooster's demise, reinforcing the belief in supernatural intervention or premonitions.
“According to folklore and old traditions, these are some of the worst omens that you can receive from the underworld, from the cosmos.”
— Unnamed Storyteller [24:48]
The storyteller concludes by reflecting on the profound impact of such inexplicable events, advocating for the recognition of personal omens and their potential significance.
“You really need to listen to the omens. If you feel in your heart that something is going to happen, you should listen to it.”
— Unnamed Storyteller [41:22]
Terry Carnation empathetically responds to the story, expressing his sympathies while interjecting his trademark humor to lighten the heavy narrative.
“I hope that that dear family hasn't endured anything like that since my heart goes out to them... Chalupa Time for some ads.”
— Terry Carnation [41:22]
Conclusion
Wrapping up the episode, Terry ties the stories back to the themes of Dia de los Muertos, highlighting the thin veil between the living and the departed. His blend of humor and horror leaves listeners both entertained and contemplative about the mysteries that linger beyond the mortal realm.
Notable Quotes with Timestamps
-
“Anywho, today is one of my very favorite holidays... it's a beautiful, whimsical holiday where the spirits of loved ones are believed to return home over the span of these two days.”
— Terry Carnation [01:55] -
“The possibility that that was a supernatural experience is absolutely valid... It was life altering to the most extreme any family could experience.”
— Unnamed Storyteller [21:46] -
“You really need to listen to the omens. If you feel in your heart that something is going to happen, you should listen to it.”
— Unnamed Storyteller [41:22]
Final Thoughts
Episode 70 of Radio Rental masterfully combines personal narratives with folklore, creating an immersive experience that honors both tradition and the unexplained. Through Terry Carnation's engaging storytelling and the harrowing accounts shared by guests, listeners are invited to explore the shadows where reality and the supernatural intersect.
For more chilling tales and real-life horror stories, subscribe to Radio Rental on your favorite podcast platform and follow Terry Carnation on social media @ericarnation.