Podcast Summary: Spooked – "The Night Whistler - Classic" (January 16, 2026)

Episode Overview

In this chilling episode of Spooked, produced by Snap Judgment and KQED, host Glynn Washington introduces the haunting true story of Cheryl Langford and her family's unsettling experience in a seemingly idyllic rental home. Told in Cheryl’s own words, the episode explores supernatural encounters, family trauma, and the lingering impact of a restless spirit named "Bob." At its core, it’s a tale of seeking agency in the aftermath of upheaval—and the eerie ways history can cling to a place.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Cheryl’s Background & Fresh Start

• Cheryl, a newly single mother leaving a controlling marriage, moves into a new house with her children ("Baby Girl" and "Middle child"), and a family friend, "Borrowed Child." The family is hopeful despite past hardships, looking for a place to heal and rebuild.
  [03:24]

The House and Its Oddities

• Upon moving in, Cheryl notices the upstairs bedroom's odd lock—bolted from the outside—raising her suspicions. Nevertheless, everyone tries to settle in and move forward. [04:00]

The Whistling Begins

• Cheryl recounts her first encounters:
  • She hears unexplained, tuneless whistling emanating from the corner of her bedroom.
  • She sees a "black mist," human-height and distinct from the darkness. Each time she turns to look, both the mist and the whistling disappear.
  • Physical sensations—like someone poking her or bumping her bed—grow increasingly frequent and unnerving. [05:00-08:30]

Family Conference and Shared Experiences

• Realizing she’s not alone in these feelings, Cheryl calls a family meeting:
  • Borrowed Child, the "tough guy," is reduced to tears, revealing he’s been “poked” every night around 3 a.m. and once saw his covers pulled off by an unseen force. The most terrifying sight is of a man in a fedora, who peeks around the door frame.
  • Middle Child describes his bed violently shaking, independent of anything else in the room.
  • The kids and Cheryl realize these experiences have been happening to all of them, but no one spoke up out of fear or disbelief.
  • In defiance—and perhaps as a way to cope—the family nicknames their ghost "Bob" after a spooky character from an old movie. [09:00-13:30]

Investigation into the House’s History

• An accidental glimpse at the landlady's overdue mortgage bill and her subsequent conversations with the family raise questions about the house’s past.
• Baby Girl calls the landlady to ask: Has anyone died in the house?
  • The landlady confirms her husband died there.
  • His name, revealed to be "Robert," leaves the family stunned.
    • “Mom, the fellow that died here, his name was Robert.” – Baby Girl, [16:41]

The Spirit’s Origin Story and Escalation

• The landlady details how her husband's illness deteriorated and, out of desperation, she locked him in an upstairs room for his safety—explaining the lock and hinting at his sense of isolation and confusion.
• Cheryl finds pill capsules hidden in the window tracks, corroborating the story.
  • “The track in that room was full of pills. Every track was just like a little choo choo train, just full of capsules.” – Cheryl, [20:35]
• Subtle disturbances give way to aggression as the family prepares to move out:
  • Lights and faucets flip on, the dishwasher runs by itself, and Borrowed Child sees Bob’s apparition again.
  • On moving day, Middle Child is violently pushed down the stairs by unseen hands, and Baby Girl flees from the house after hearing a guttural growl from every corner of the haunted room.
  • Cheryl receives a panicked phone call from her mother, who, 90 miles away, senses a terrible occurrence.
    • “If you had not answered the phone, I was sending the police out there. I have never had a feeling of dread in my life. I felt like something horrible had just happened to all of you.” – Cheryl’s mother, [25:38]

Reflection and Aftermath

• After leaving, Cheryl finally feels a weight lifted, able to sleep peacefully for the first time in a year.
• She ruminates on the possibility that Bob was as lost and grasping for control as she was.
  • “I think we were both trying to gain some control…I just don’t think he knew where to turn.” – Cheryl, [27:10]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On seeking out darkness:
  “Because I never want my ghosts to sneak up on me. When instead I can sneak up on them.” – Glynn Washington [00:49]

• Naming the Ghost:
  “…we nicknamed our guy Bob, and that’s how he got his name.” – Cheryl, [13:00]

• Confirmation of Bob's real identity:
  “Mom, the fellow that died here, his name was Robert.” – Baby Girl, [16:41]

• On the trauma of being locked away:
  “He probably wondered, why can’t I get out of this room? …maybe that’s enough to keep you here on this earth if your death is traumatic enough.” – Cheryl, [21:30]

• Final push and paranormal escalation:
  “He said, ‘Mom, something just pushed me.’ He said, right before you got to that last small landing…he felt two big hands on the back of his back. He said it was very forceful and pushed him.” – Cheryl, [24:19]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Episode Theme Introduction – Glynn Washington sets the tone: [00:02 – 03:15]
• Cheryl’s Family & Moving In – Setting up the family’s dynamic and early oddities: [03:24 – 06:00]
• First Paranormal Encounters – Whistling, mist, and touches: [06:00 – 09:00]
• Family Conference & Shared Confessions – Everyone shares their experiences: [09:00 – 13:30]
• Landlady Call and Bob’s Identity – Confirmation of the haunting’s origin: [13:30 – 17:33]
• Landlady’s Story & House’s History – The ghost’s backstory, pills, the lock: [18:33 – 22:30]
• The Haunting Intensifies & Moving Out – Aggression from 'Bob' and climactic events: [22:30 – 26:30]
• Cheryl’s Reflection & Emotional Resonance – Life after leaving, parallels between Cheryl and Bob: [26:30 – 27:50]

Episode Tone

Deeply personal and suspenseful, Cheryl’s narration blends resilience, fear, and a touch of sardonic family humor. The episode maintains Spooked’s classic mix of chilling storytelling and empathetic exploration into how the past can haunt the present—literally and figuratively.

For listeners seeking an evocative, firsthand supernatural experience with deep emotional resonance, "The Night Whistler - Classic" is a quintessential Spooked episode: honest, unsettling, and unforgettable.