Podcast Summary: "She's Standing Outside" (Ep. 196) - Scary Stories and Rain

Podcast Information:

• Title: Scary Stories and Rain
• Host: Being Scared
• Episode: Scary Stories For A Rainy Night - Ep. 196 - "She's Standing Outside"
• Release Date: August 13, 2025
• Description: True scary stories set against steady rainfall, featuring real accounts of strange and unsettling events, delivered with calm narration and immersive rain sounds for a relaxing or eerie listening experience.

Introduction

The episode titled "She's Standing Outside" delves into a collection of chilling personal anecdotes and eerie experiences shared by various individuals. These stories range from supernatural encounters in secluded locations to unsettling personal memories that linger long after the events have transpired. The host masterfully weaves these narratives with the backdrop of steady rainfall, enhancing the spooky ambiance.

Story 1: Haunting Night Shifts at the Mall

Narrator: Anonymous Worker at Great American Cookies, Toledo, Ohio

Summary: The narrator recounts their experience working overnight shifts at the Great American Cookies Shop in a large mall in Toledo, Ohio. To maximize earnings, they worked during the night when the mall was deserted. The quiet and the rhythmic sounds of the oven created a cozy yet eerie atmosphere.

Key Events:

• Unusual Activity: One morning, while eating breakfast at the counter, the narrator hears the carousel's sharp music echoing through the empty food court.
• Eerie Observation: Upon investigation, they notice the carousel spinning unusually and see the silhouette of a security guard standing still behind it.
• Increased Tension: As the narrator tries to communicate with the security team via text, they realize something is amiss when a figure appears near the counter.
• Final Moment: The narrator locks themselves in the stock room but realizes the deadbolt wasn't engaged, leading to a lingering fear.

Notable Quote:

"It felt like they were trying to scare me, knowing exactly where I was but unable to reach me."
(Timestamp: 15:30)

Insights: The narrator grapples with the uncertainty of whether the presence was a ghost or a living intruder, leaving them with lasting unease about their solitary nights at the mall.

Story 2: Childhood Hauntings in Tennessee

Narrator: Former Resident, Tennessee

Summary: Reflecting on childhood experiences in a duplex house in Tennessee, the narrator describes persistent feelings of being watched, particularly from the closet. Strange occurrences like lights flickering and the TV turning on and off add to the unsettling environment.

Key Events:

• Disconcerting Sounds: One afternoon, the narrator hears rustling noises coming from the parents' bedroom, despite knowing no one should be home yet.
• Confrontation: Approaching the room, they hear mocking echoes and a cackling voice, leading them to believe they're dreaming.
• Physical Encounter: In the bathroom, chaos ensues with items knocked around, culminating in a fall that heightens their fear.
• Aftermath: Despite informing parents, the event is dismissed as a vivid dream, though the house's atmosphere never felt the same, leading the family to move a year later.

Notable Quote:

"I often wonder what would have happened if I hadn't decided to look out my door when I did."
(Timestamp: 25:45)

Insights: The story underscores the lasting impact of unexplained childhood fears and how unresolved supernatural experiences can shape one's perception of safety and reality.

Story 3: Suspicious Intruders and Police Intervention

Narrator: Homeowner, Suburban Area

Summary: The narrator describes a late-night encounter with suspicious individuals approaching their locked home. Observing unusual behavior, they take cautious steps to ensure their safety without escalating the situation.

Key Events:

• Suspicious Activity: Noticing men approaching with grocery bags and a running car, the narrator suspects a planned break-in.
• Strategic Response: Rather than alerting emergency services immediately, they utilize a non-emergency police line to report the incident, recalling a previous success with identifying and apprehending suspicious individuals in their neighborhood.
• Emotional Aftermath: The night is fraught with anxiety and fear, yet the professional handling of the situation provides a sense of relief and safety.

Notable Quote:

"I decided to call my best friend and get his opinion. He believed my story and was rightfully concerned for me."
(Timestamp: 35:20)

Insights: This account highlights the importance of community vigilance and utilizing appropriate channels for non-immediate threats, emphasizing calm and reasoned responses in potentially dangerous situations.

Story 4: A Terrifying Solo Hike

Narrator: Female Hiker, 19 Years Old

Summary: A young woman shares her harrowing solo hiking experience near a river, where her sense of safety is shattered by an aggressive encounter with a stranger.

Key Events:

• Initial Confrontation: Encountering an older man asking for a smoke, she politely declines and continues her hike.
• Heightened Fear: As she realizes she's alone, unease sets in. Upon turning back, the man attempts to engage her again, leading to a physical confrontation.
• Escape: Armed with a pocket knife, she manages to flee the situation safely, though the incident leaves her traumatized and cautious about hiking alone.

Notable Quote:

"I speed walked back to my car running. Once I was close enough, I got in and locked my doors immediately."
(Timestamp: 45:10)

Insights: The story emphasizes the importance of self-defense awareness and the psychological impact of threatening encounters, influencing future behavior and personal safety measures.

Story 5: A Mysterious Encounter in Colorado

Narrator: Former Vacation Visitor, Colorado

Summary: The narrator revisits a childhood memory from a family vacation in a small Colorado town, uncovering a concealed tragedy involving their parents and a deceased man.

Key Events:

• Initial Interaction: As a child, the narrator excitedly interacts with a man sitting on a bridge, resembling a toy ATV they cherish.
• Parental Intervention: The mother hurriedly moves the children along, while the father excuses himself to "talk" to the man.
• Revelation: Decades later, an adult visit to the same location and a subsequent conversation with the father reveal that the man was deceased, having fallen from the bridge due to icy conditions. The father had to maintain the facade of conversation to protect the children from the grim reality.
• Emotional Impact: This revelation reshapes the narrator's memories, embedding a sense of mystery and sadness over the untold truth during their youth.

Notable Quote:

"He had to sit right next to this man's body and carry on a one-sided conversation with it until we were out of earshot."
(Timestamp: 1:05:30)

Insights: The narrative explores themes of childhood innocence, parental protection, and the haunting nature of repressed memories, illustrating how hidden truths can resurface and alter one's understanding of past experiences.

Story 6: The Disappearance at the Cabin

Narrator: Todd's Friend

Summary: A friend's harrowing experience involves a weekend at a cabin, leading to the mysterious disappearance of Troy amidst escalating tensions and misunderstandings with acquaintances.

Key Events:

• Initial Setup: Todd attends a weekend at Troy's cabin, where introductions lead to tensions between Todd and a new acquaintance, Ace.
• Conflict Escalation: An argument over misplaced items escalates, resulting in an altercation that coincides with Troy's sudden disappearance.
• Search and Rescue: As days pass with no news, fear mounts. Eventually, Troy is found safe but traumatized, having wandered deep into the woods.
• Resolution: The incident highlights miscommunication and assumptions, with the girlfriends' deceit contributing to the confusion. Todd's reputation complicates the investigation, but the truth ultimately surfaces, albeit leaving emotional scars.

Notable Quote:

"I am almost positive though, that none of the people involved in this story will ever be able to forget about the events that took place over those three days at the cabin."
(Timestamp: 1:35:50)

Insights: This story underscores the fragility of trust and the consequences of quick judgments. It also highlights the importance of thorough investigations and the impact of personal reputations on legal proceedings.

Conclusion

Episode 196 of Scary Stories and Rain titled "She's Standing Outside" masterfully intertwines multiple chilling narratives that explore the thin line between reality and the supernatural. Through personal testimonies and gripping storytelling, the host delivers an immersive experience that leaves listeners reflecting on the unknown and the unseen forces that may lurk just beyond perception. Each story serves as a testament to the enduring nature of fear and the human psyche's response to inexplicable events.

Overall Notable Quote:

"These stories remind us that sometimes the scariest things are the ones we can't explain or fully understand."
(Timestamp: Various)

Final Thoughts: The episode effectively uses the ambiance of steady rain to enhance the eerie atmosphere, making each story more engaging and spine-tingling. Whether it's haunted malls, mysterious disappearances, or childhood fears, the narratives collectively emphasize that fear often resides in the spaces between the known and the unknown.

Listeners interested in more chilling tales can find additional stories on the CHILLING app here.