Radio Rental: “Open for Business in October”

Episode Date: September 26, 2025
Host: Terry Carnation (Rainn Wilson)
Produced by: Tenderfoot TV & Audacy

Overview

The episode, “Open for Business in October,” kicks off the highly anticipated return of Radio Rental—a unique podcast experience blending true horror stories with irreverent 80s nostalgia and comedic flavor. Set inside the fictional world of an eccentric VHS store manned by Terry Carnation, the episode teases the unsettling tales to come, layering real people’s accounts of chilling, bizarre, and paranormal events.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Welcoming Listeners in Classic Radio Rental Style

• The ever-quirky Terry Carnation (Rainn Wilson) welcomes the audience back with his signature dry wit and nostalgia for analog media. He sets the tone for a new batch of stories, inviting listeners into “the scariest stories you've ever heard in your life, all told by real people.”
  • [00:02–00:43]
• The storekeeper reminds listeners to “be kind, rewind,” adding trademark humor before the mood shifts to eerie anticipation.

2. Teaser of Upcoming Horror Stories

• The episode primarily serves as a chilling sampler of new, real-life horror accounts, featuring snippets that capture moments of terror:
  • Encounter with Devil’s Mask:
    • “All I could see was the devil's mask he was wearing.” (Speaker A, 00:43)
    • Implies an intruder with a demonic disguise, hinting at psychological terror and home invasion.
  • Desperate Intruder Pleading for Hiding:
    • “And he starts saying, please. That's them. You have to hide me. They're coming to get me.” (Speaker B, 00:47)
    • Escalates paranoia and uncertainty—who is chasing whom?
  • Paranormal Manifestation:
    • “This wasn't a human being that I saw. There's something here in this house. Something not of this world.” (Speaker B, 00:51)
    • Suggests a move into classic unexplainable activity, conjuring a sense of dread.
  • Haunting Figure in the Hall:
    • “There was a woman moving through the hall. I stepped back, and I was completely alone in the hallway.” (Speaker A, 00:59–01:04)
    • Conveys the eeriness of seeing apparitions and the confusion of suddenly being alone.

3. The Return of New Episodes

• Terry Carnation delivers a tongue-in-cheek sign-off, playfully reassuring listeners that a full slate of fresh horror stories will launch the next week.
  • “Radio Rental is back next week with all new scary stories, so please stop whining about it.” (Terry Carnation, 01:04)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The joys of analog media. Be kind. Rewind. Never mind. You’re here for this special collection.”
  — Terry Carnation (00:08–00:15)
• “All I could see was the devil's mask he was wearing.”
  — Speaker A (00:43)
• “This wasn't a human being that I saw. There's something here in this house. Something not of this world.”
  — Speaker B (00:51)
• “Radio Rental is back next week with all new scary stories, so please stop whining about it.”
  — Terry Carnation (01:04)

Important Timestamps

• 00:02–00:43: Introduction from Terry Carnation; setting the tone and welcoming listeners.
• 00:43–01:04: Rapid-fire previews of real-life horror stories from the upcoming season.
• 01:04: Humorous sign-off promising more scares in the next episode.

Summary

This brief re-introductory episode of Radio Rental sets the stage for another season of unsettling true tales, expertly mixing suspense and comedic relief. Through quick, atmospheric vignettes, listeners are teased with the types of stories—of devilish masks, desperate intruders, and spectral visions—that await them. Terry Carnation’s distinctive voice and wit round out the episode, promising fans that the real stories (and real frights) are only just beginning.