The NoSleep Podcast S23E07 (August 17, 2025)

Podcast: The NoSleep Podcast
Host: David Cummings (Creative Reason Media Inc.)

Overview

This 23rd season, 7th episode of The NoSleep Podcast provides listeners with three original, atmospheric horror stories centered on the theme of getaways—whether for recovery, family bonding, or simple escape. Each tale explores the darker, more supernatural side of seeking refuge, from haunted motels to mysterious forests. The episode’s immersive sound design and unnerving tales play on classic horror tropes, bringing new twists to haunted getaways.

Key Discussion Points and Story Summaries

Framing: Local Cryptids and Welcome (00:00–05:31)

• Host D.C. (as WNSP): Welcomes listeners, references urban legend of “White Bluff Screamer” in the Cryptid Valley area, setting a regional and spooky tone.
  • “The White Bluff Screamer is a legendary cryptid believed to inhabit the region around White Bluff, Tennessee...known for her eerie, piercing screams echoing through the night...” (01:00)
• Segues into the NoSleep Podcast proper, themed for chilling “sleepless tales.”

Story 1: “Daniel the Ghost”

Author: One Thousand and One Nights
Performers: Joel from Let's Read, Jeff Clement, Mary Murphy
(05:31–10:00)

Summary

• Daniel, murdered by his stepfather at 8, becomes a ghost haunting his family home.
• Recounts years of loneliness and eerie encounters that drive new families away.
• When Lily, a terminally ill girl, moves in, Daniel and she develop an unexpected bond.
• During their meeting, it’s revealed that Daniel is not truly a ghost but actually alive, having survived burial.
  • “You’re not a ghost, Daniel.” —Lily (09:09)
  • Daniel’s emotional realization as he recalls escaping his grave (09:12–09:24)

Notable Moment & Quote

• The story upends ghost story expectations, showing trauma and loneliness in a new light.
• Daniel's tears and Lily's compassion shift the mood from haunted horror to tragic relief.

Story 2: “Motel 66”

Author: Hannah Feltz
Performers: Nicole Goodnight, Kyle Akers
(11:57–29:29)

Summary

• A woman, reeling from discovering her partner’s infidelity, drives through a storm and stops at the eerie Motel 66.
• The motel’s notable cleanliness is undercut by disturbing details—protective plastic everywhere, abandoned check-in logs with no checkout dates.
• The clerk, Stephen, is unsettlingly polite. As the protagonist tries to rest, her anxiety grows—her car is sabotaged, she’s locked in, and mysterious figures lurk outside.
• Breaking a large mirror in the room, she finds a hidden hallway with camcorders behind every guest mirror, recording the occupants—an elaborate, grotesque voyeur setup.
• She meets two versions of Stephen: a 'clean' one (ordered, guilt-ridden) and a ‘dirty’ one (disheveled, violent).
  • “We were only supposed to watch. But he wanted to touch. I swear. I only wanted to watch.” —Stephen, the clerk (24:47)
• A desperate escape sequence ensues: she flees into the night, pursued by the monstrous “Dirty Stephen,” eventually escaping in a pickup truck.
• As she flees, she discovers a photograph suggesting a long, disturbing sibling relationship between the two Stephens.

Notable Moments & Quotes

• The check-in logs hint at guests never leaving alive (17:26).
• The revealed surveillance corridor sets a skin-crawling tone (21:00–22:00).
• The duality of Stephen: “I can't argue with him. He always gets his way.” (26:06)

Story 3: “The Man in the Woods”

Author: John Beardefai
Performers: Dan Zapula, Danielle McCrae, Marie Westbrook, Aaron Lillis
(31:20–73:20)

Summary

• A family’s road trip to the woods takes a sinister turn when their daughter, Kylie, becomes withdrawn and claims to hear “the man in the woods.”
• Kylie shows signs of being possessed, displaying knowledge and strength beyond her years.
  • “I’m listening to the man in the woods. He’s talking inside my head.” —Kylie (36:46–37:12)
• Kylie is nearly led away by a supernatural stag; the mother is attacked and injured.
• The father partners with Ranger Maddie Corvin, a ranger seemingly from the 1970s (“What year do you think it is? …1975.” (52:43)), hinting at time slips or hauntings.
• The park becomes a labyrinthine supernatural space—paths double back, compasses fail, and strange, childlike dolls populate the woods.
• The rescue mission descends into the creature's lair—an underground, spider-infested cave, where the monstrous “man in the woods” tries to take Kylie.
• A frantic firefight and escape; the supernatural spell lifts, and the family flees.
• In a coda, decades later, the father meets Maddie—who had been dismissed after her own strange encounter in 1975—in a gas station, her life forever altered by the supernatural.
  • “You really want to thank me? Spread the word. Let people know that if they notice kids or animals acting strange in the woods, it might be the only warning they get.” —Maddie Corvin (71:54)
• Final chilling note: Kylie is not herself, hints of possession or lingering connection remain:
  • “Keep driving, Daddy.” (72:55)
  • “Her voice, it was speaking to me inside my head.” (73:08)

Notable Moments & Quotes

• Kylie’s eerie, flat-voiced conversation with her parents.
• The time distortion and haunted park ranger.
• “Where I’m going, there’s lots of other kids just like me.” —Kylie (45:16)
• The man in the woods described as a shape in the darkness: “Six long fingers grazed my hair as they grabbed for my head.” (64:50–65:00)

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

| Time (MM:SS) | Speaker | Quote | |----------------|--------------------|------------------------------------------------| | 09:09 | Lily | “You’re not a ghost, Daniel.” | | 24:47 | Stephen (clerk) | “We were. We were only supposed to watch. But he wanted to touch. I swear. I only wanted to watch.” | | 36:46–37:12 | Kylie | “I’m listening to the man in the woods. He’s talking inside my head.” | | 45:16 | Kylie | “The man in the woods says that I should go with it, Mommy. He says where I’m going, there’s lots of other kids just like me.” | | 52:43 | Maddie Corvin | “It’s 1975.” | | 71:54 | Maddie Corvin | “You really want to thank me? Spread the word. Let people know that if they notice kids or animals acting strange in the woods, it might be the only warning they get.” | | 72:55 | Kylie | “Keep driving, Daddy.” | | 73:08 | Narrator (Dad) | “Her voice, it was speaking to me inside my head.” |

Episode Highlights

• Atmosphere: Haunting sound design, immersive narration, and carefully selected music heighten the suspense and sense of dread.
• Central Motif: Seeking escape or refuge, whether from trauma, heartbreak, or ordinary life, can open doors to the genuinely uncanny and terrifying.
• Memorable Characters: Ghostly children, split-personality motel clerks, psychic toddlers, and time-lost rangers breathe life into classic horror setups.
• Chilling Endings: Each story closes with lingering ambiguity and fear, leaving listeners questioning what’s real—and what might follow them home.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00 – 05:31: Cryptid Valley introduction and host setup
• 05:31 – 10:00: Story 1 – “Daniel the Ghost”
• 11:57 – 29:29: Story 2 – “Motel 66”
• 31:20 – 73:20: Story 3 – “The Man in the Woods”
• 73:58 – End: Credits and production notes

Tone and Style

True to NoSleep tradition, the tone is unsettling yet gripping, blending chilling horror with emotional nuance and suspenseful pacing.

For New Listeners

This episode stands out as a masterclass in modern audio horror, exploring how the need to get away can sometimes bring people closer to true terror. Whether you’re a returning horror fan or new to the podcast, S23E07 delivers a layered, atmospheric experience with memorable characters and supernatural chills.