Why are you afraid of the Dark?

Summary

Who Smarted? – "Why Are You Afraid of the Dark?" (January 14, 2026)

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Episode Overview

This episode of Who Smarted? dives into a relatable and sometimes giggle-worthy topic: the fear of the dark. With their signature humor and interactive approach, the podcast hosts Trusty Narrator and Chet Nickerson unpack why so many kids (and even some adults) feel afraid when the lights go out, what’s really hiding in our imaginations versus our rooms, the science behind the fear, and practical tips for overcoming nyctophobia. It’s an enlightening and funny journey touching on psychology, history, biology, and bedtime routines—perfect for curious minds who want to understand (and maybe conquer) their nighttime jitters.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: Fear of the Dark is Normal

• Trusty Narrator admits to being afraid of the dark, sparking friendly teasing from Chet but also offering reassurance to listeners that they're not alone.

  • Quote: “The truth is, smarty pants, when it comes to the dark, I'm a bit of a scaredy pants.” (00:54)

• Chet Nickerson: “Let me just say, the dark is nothing to be afraid of.” (01:36)
  Yet, Trusty disagreements illustrate how fear can persist despite logic.

2. Why the Dark is Scary: Imagination & Evolution

• Chet explains it's not what’s in the dark, but what we imagine:

  • Quote: “The reason why the dark seems scary isn't because of what's hiding in the dark. It's because of what's hiding in your mind.” (03:16)

• Children’s imaginations are stronger, making them more susceptible to fear when they can't distinguish fantasy from reality (03:39–04:06).

• Evolutionary tie-in: Fear of darkness stems from ancient times when humans had to be cautious of predators at night.

  • Quote: “Some researchers believe the fear of the dark dates way, way back to our earliest ancestors.” (06:34)

3. The Science of Nyctophobia

• Fear of the dark has a scientific name:

  • Nyctophobia – from Greek for “night” (04:41–04:49).
  • Less common terms: “scotophobia” & “lygophobia.”
  • Chet: “It's believed three out of every four kids between the ages of three and 12 are afraid of the dark.” (04:49–05:00)

• Physical signs of severe fear (nyctophobia or lygophobia) include difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, dizziness, sweating, increased heart rate, and nausea (07:21–07:41).

4. What Makes Fear Worse or Better

• Triggers for fear: Family history of phobias, anxiety, exposure to scary movies/games/stories, bad weather (05:56–06:23).

• Tips for Coping:

  • Nightlights can make the dark less intimidating (True or False? True!) (08:17–08:19).
  • Avoid screens before bed; blue light can be too energizing (13:16–13:24).
  • Sleeping with lights on or avoiding sleep doesn’t help; positive routines do (08:37–09:09).
  • Positive affirmations (like “I will be okay in the dark”) help retrain the brain (09:19–09:47).
  • Deep breathing exercises offer calm and control (09:47–10:27).

5. Adults Fear Too!

• The hosts normalize that fear of the dark isn’t just for kids.
  • Quote: “Fear of the dark can affect anyone at any time in their life. And believe it or not, the number of adults who claim to be afraid of the dark have actually increased in recent years.” (10:49–11:02)

6. Fun Stuff in the Dark

• Flip the narrative: The dark is home to awesome things:
  • Fireflies (11:28)
  • Constellations: “Constellations are pictures in the sky made by groups of stars.” (11:34–11:54)
  • Holidays like Hanukkah & Christmas use light to brighten the darkest seasons (12:25–12:38).
  • Cuddling with a stuffed animal, playing with glow sticks, or a whispered bedtime story (12:50–13:16).

7. How Our Eyes See in the Dark

• Human eyes adapt gradually thanks to rods (more light-sensitive) and cones (color/detail sensors).

  • Trusty: “The cones and rods in your eyes work together to help you see if there is some level of light to work with.” (16:18–16:26)
  • Quiz: Rods have more light sensitivity than cones (16:32–16:40).

• Fun science trivia:

  • Best animal night vision: Deer!
    • Quote: “Deer have the best night vision.” (17:14–17:22)
  • Deer are “crepuscular”—active at dusk and night (17:25).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Setting up the humor and relatability:

  • Trusty Narrator: “I see. Or rather, I don't see because I'm in the dark." (02:10)
  • Chet Nickerson, cracking jokes about monsters and dirty underwear: “When you're a kid, you can imagine all kinds of things living under your bed, but in reality, it's just a pair of dirty underwear. Eugh. Now that's scary.” (04:11–04:23)

• Practical advice for kids (and adults):

  • Chet: “A nightlight is a great way to help with the fear of the dark. And, quite frankly, it's not a bad idea to have even if you're not scared of the dark, so you can see where you're going in case you have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night.” (08:18–08:37)
  • Trusty Narrator on affirmations: "If you repeat something like, I will be okay in the dark, your brain will actually start to believe it." (09:19–09:47)
  • Chet: “Deep breathing is also a great way to cope with being in the dark … breathe in through your nose … hold … then breathe out slowly through your mouth as if you're blowing on some hot soup.” (09:47–10:27)

• Inclusion of relatable rituals:

  • Trusty: "Cuddling with a stuffy can also make it much easier to go to sleep in the dark." (13:02–13:09)

• Science trivia delight:

  • Chet: “Nope. Smarty pants. Any idea which animal has the best night vision and why?... You said oh Dear, oh, dear. Deer have the best night vision.” (17:00–17:22)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• Introduction and admission of bedtime fear: 00:30 – 01:21
• Imagination vs. reality in the dark: 03:16 – 04:23
• Definitions of nyctophobia & lygophobia: 04:41 – 05:00
• Why some people are more afraid of the dark: 05:56 – 06:23
• Historical/evolutionary reasons: 06:34 – 06:58
• Signs and symptoms of true nyctophobia: 07:21 – 07:41
• Nightlight and coping mechanisms: 08:17 – 10:27
• Adults and fear of the dark: 10:44 – 11:02
• Looking for positive things in the dark: 11:17 – 13:16
• How eyes adapt to darkness (biology): 15:37 – 16:46
• Animals with best night vision (deer): 17:00 – 17:25

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Conclusion

Who Smarted? wraps up its look at darkness with reassurance that fear is normal, manageable, and sometimes even a little bit funny. By understanding the science behind our fears and developing positive bedtime habits, listeners can turn darkness into a source of wonder—not worry. The episode’s blend of humor, science, and actionable advice makes the topic engaging and non-threatening, leaving kids feeling much smarter and safer after lights out.

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Sample Closing Quote:
Chet Nickerson: “And best of all, Trusty is no longer afraid of the dark. So lights out. Ah. What was that?” (17:36–17:48)

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For further listening: Check out episodes on fireflies, stuffed animals, and constellations mentioned during the show!

Transcript

[Jane Lindholm]

Kids, you have a lot of questions.

[Chet Nickerson]

Is a crocodile a dinosaur? Why do people vote?

[Jane Lindholm]

How does your food turn into your poop?

[Trusty Narrator]

But why?

[Jane Lindholm]

A podcast for curious kids has answers. I'm Jane Lindholm. Join me as we dig deep into everything from science to history, nature, emotions, and sometimes even the weird.

[Chet Nickerson]

Why are jellyfishes made of jelly? Or are they made out of jelly? Find.

[Jane Lindholm]

But why? Wherever you get your podcasts.

[Trusty Narrator]

And now it's time for who's Smarted? Psst. Hey, smarty pants. Guess what I'm doing? If you said flicking my bedroom light switch on and off, you're right. And why am I clicking the lights on and off? Well, it's because it's bedtime. Time to turn out the lights. But the light switch is on one side of the room while my bed is on the other side. Which means once I click off the lights, I have to run to my bed in the dark. Which I'm not a fan of. The truth is, smarty pants, when it comes to the dark, I'm a bit of a scaredy pants.

[Chet Nickerson]

This is Chet Nickerson reporting live from the trusty narrator's bedroom, where it's just been revealed. The trusty narrator is afraid of the dark.

[Trusty Narrator]

Gee, Chet, thanks. Did you really have to report that to everyone?

[Chet Nickerson]

Well, unless I'm mistaken, you just told all the smarty pants about it on a popular kids educational podcast. So it wasn't exactly a secret. Good point, but trustee is an award winning news, sports, weather and traffic reporter. And your best friend. Let me just say, the dark is nothing to be afraid of.

[Trusty Narrator]

I know, but also, it kinda is. What do you think, smarty pants? Are you afraid of the dark? And if so, why? What makes the dark so scary? And why do some people fear the dark and others don't? And what are some ways you can get over being afraid of the dark?

[Chet Nickerson]

Are you talking to me or that dark shadow moving in the corner?

[Trusty Narrator]

Dark shadow? What dark shadow?

[Chet Nickerson]

Oh, wait, that's just me waving my microphone around. Sorry. See? Nothing to be afraid of.

[Trusty Narrator]

I see. Or rather, I don't see because I'm in the dark. But either way, get ready for a big whiff of science and history on who smarted?

[Chet Nickerson]

Who's smarted? Who's smart? Is it you? Is it me? Is it science? Or history? Listen up, everyone. We make smarting lots of fun. But who's smarted?

[Trusty Narrator]

What are those sounds? Huh?

[Chet Nickerson]

Oh, that's just me doing a quick mic check.

[Trusty Narrator]

That's how you test your mic.

[Chet Nickerson]

Sure. And relax Trusty Widja, I told you there's no reason to fear the dark.

[Trusty Narrator]

I know, I know. But there's just something about nighttime and the dark that makes it scary. Right, Smarty pants? Things never seem as scary in the daytime or the light. That's because anything can be hiding in the dark.

[Chet Nickerson]

Really? You think turning out your light suddenly causes something to be hiding in your bedroom? The reason why the dark seems scary isn't because of what's hiding in the dark. It's because of what's hiding in your mind.

[Trusty Narrator]

What was that?

[Chet Nickerson]

That was just me playing a little music. Sting for dramatic. What you need to understand is humans tend to imagine all kinds of scary things they can't see in the dark. And kids are more likely to be afraid of the dark than adults, because kids usually have more active and stronger imaginations. This might come in great when playing a game with your friends, but not so great at bedtime, Especially if they have a hard time telling the difference between imagination and reality.

[Trusty Narrator]

Ah, I see. I guess that's why I used to think there was a monster under my bed.

[Chet Nickerson]

Exactly. A monster, an evil clown, an octopus creature. When you're a kid, you can imagine all kinds of things living under your bed, but in reality, it's just a pair of dirty underwear. Eugh. Now that's scary.

[Trusty Narrator]

Sorry, those must have fallen out of the hamper. Anyway, smarty pants, since so many people are afraid of the dark, fear of the dark must have a name. Is it nyctophobia? Night phobia or darkophobia? If you said nyctophobia, you're right. The word nyctophobia comes from the Greek word for night.

[Chet Nickerson]

Fear of the dark is sometimes called scoutophobia, but that isn't clinically recognized. There's also lygophobia, which is a severe fear of the dark. But while anyone, including trusty narrators, can be afraid of the dark, it's most common among children. It's believed three out of every four kids between the ages of three and 12 are afraid of the dark.

[Trusty Narrator]

Wow. And how many trusty narrators are afraid of the dark?

[Chet Nickerson]

One out of one.

[Trusty Narrator]

Right. Anywho, what can happen to you if you are afraid of the dark?

[Chet Nickerson]

Well, for one thing, it can have you standing next to your light switch, flipping it on and off over and over. But more likely, being afraid of the dark can make it hard to sleep, which can lead to you being tired the next day, which is not ideal for kids in school or adults driving cars or at work.

[Trusty Narrator]

Very True. So why are some people more afraid of the dark than others?

[Chet Nickerson]

Look, anyone can be afraid of the dark, but people are more likely to develop nyctophobia if they suffer from anxiety or have a family history of phobias. Many people also become afraid of the dark after watching a scary movie or playing a scary video game, or hearing an upsetting story. Or if the weather outside is frightening.

[Trusty Narrator]

Smarty pants. That's why it's a good idea to stick to content that isn't scary before bed. Something like who smarted but not the ghost Episode trustee.

[Chet Nickerson]

You might be interested to know that some researchers believe the fear of the dark dates way, way back to our earliest ancestors.

[Trusty Narrator]

What? How could that be? They weren't watching scary movies or playing zombie video games before bed.

[Chet Nickerson]

No, but they were living and sleeping outdoors where predators roamed at night.

[Trusty Narrator]

Yikes. They didn't need to watch scary movies. They were living in one.

[Chet Nickerson]

But here's the thing. Most humans tend to feel uncomfortable in the dark, even if they aren't really afraid of it. It's just sort of hardwired into our minds.

[Trusty Narrator]

Chet, what are some ways to know if you have nyctophobia or even lygophobia, besides being afraid of the dark? Of course.

[Chet Nickerson]

Signs of nyctophobia include difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, dizziness and or headaches, extreme sweating, feelings of dr, increased heart rate, shortness of breath, as well as intense emotions, nausea or vomiting while thinking about the dark. If you or anyone you know are experiencing any of these symptoms, you might want to see a doctor who can refer you to a specialist. Oh, and turn on the lights. Wow.

[Trusty Narrator]

Those are some serious symptoms. I wouldn't say I have all that, but the dark definitely has me feeling uneasy. What are some things I or the smarty pants can do to help overcome a fear of the dark? Smartypants, do you have any ideas? Go ahead, shout out what you do to help the dark seem less scary. Uh huh. Uh huh. I'm hearing some good answers. Oh, I gotta try that one. Smartypants, true or false? Sleeping with a nightlight can help you feel more comfortable in a dark room. The answer is true.

[Chet Nickerson]

Absolutely. A nightlight is a great way to help with the fear of the dark. And, and quite frankly, it's not a bad idea to have even if you're not scared of the dark, so you can see where you're going in case you have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

[Trusty Narrator]

Okay, but while a night light will help you, which of these things will not help you with your fear of the dark. Is it A, breathing exercises, B, meditation, or C, staying awake all night or sleeping in a brightly lit room? If you said see, you're right about how wrong that is. While staying awake or sleeping with the lights on may seem like a clever way to avoid the dark, all it will do is have you feeling exhausted and sleep deprived the next day.

[Chet Nickerson]

Nope, you don't want that. Instead of staying awake all night, try repeating some positive affirmations until you fall asleep with just a nightlight on.

[Trusty Narrator]

Great ideas, Chet, but, smarty pants, what exactly is an affirmation? Is it A, counting sheep, B, saying the Alphabet backwards, or C, a positive statement? If you said, C, a positive statement, I'm positive you're correct. And the cool thing about affirmations is they can help you think more positively. So if you repeat something like, I will be okay in the dark, your brain will actually start to believe it.

[Chet Nickerson]

But that's not all. Deep breathing is also a great way to cope with being in the dark. Smarty pants. You can do deep breathing exercises by slowly breathing in through your nose, filling your chest up with air, then still holding your breath, Slowly count to five. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Then breathe out slowly through your mouth as if you're blowing on some hot soup. And then just repeat that a few times.

[Trusty Narrator]

Smartypants breathing exercises are great whenever you're feeling anxious or nervous about something. I don't know why I didn't think to try them in the dark. Maybe I just didn't want to admit that I'm still afraid of the dark.

[Chet Nickerson]

Oh, come on, Trusty. Being afraid of the dark is nothing to be embarrassed about.

[Trusty Narrator]

Well, I know it's a common fear for kids, but I'm an adult. Shouldn't I be past that by now?

[Chet Nickerson]

Nope. Fear of the dark can affect anyone at any time in their life. And believe it or not, the number of adults who claim to be afraid of the dark have actually increased in recent years.

[Trusty Narrator]

Whoa. Whoa's right. I guess it's nice to know I'm not the only adult who still feels uncomfortable in the dark. You know, I was just thinking, maybe instead of only imagining scary things in the dark, I could try thinking of fun, cool things that exist in the dark.

[Chet Nickerson]

Like bats.

[Trusty Narrator]

I mean, bats are pretty cool, but I was thinking about some things that are a little less flappy.

[Chet Nickerson]

Such as?

[Trusty Narrator]

How about fireflies, which are insects that glow at night. Ooh, we did a fun episode of who Smarted on Them. There are also constellations in the night sky. Smartypants, you know what constellations are, right? In case you're not sure, constellations are pictures in the sky made by groups of stars. Long ago, people gazed at the night sky and imagined pictures in these groups of stars. Everything from people to animals.

[Chet Nickerson]

Like bats.

[Trusty Narrator]

No, there is no bat constellation, Chet. But there are rams and dogs and goats. In fact, I can see Ursa Major out my window right now. Smartypants, do you know what animal Ursa Major looks like? If you said a bear. Great job. So even if you feel like you're alone in the dark, you're never really alone.

[Chet Nickerson]

That's a great thought, Trusty. Here's another one. Holidays like Hanukkah and Christmas are celebrated during the darkest time of the year. And those celebrations involve lights.

[Trusty Narrator]

Gotcha. So you hear that, smarty pants? When you're alone in the dark, instead of thinking of scary things, try thinking of fun things like fireflies, constellations, and holidays.

[Chet Nickerson]

Also, I couldn't help but notice you have a stuffed animal on your bed. Oops. Was I not supposed to mention that?

[Trusty Narrator]

Um. Nah, it's okay. We did a whole episode on stuffed animals. Everyone knows.

[Chet Nickerson]

Great. Because cuddling with a stuffy can also make it much easier to go to sleep in the dark. Other fun things you can do to make the dark less scary before bedtime are playing with glow sticks or whispering a bedtime story.

[Trusty Narrator]

But make sure you don't do anything that involves staring at a screen before bed. The blue light can be too stimulating. Even a smartphone in nighttime mode isn't much help. Better to stay off screens before bed.

[Chet Nickerson]

Too smart, Ed. Great. Looks like my work here is done. But I have to say, there is something I've always wondered about the dark that maybe you could help me with, Trusty. Sure, Chet.

[Trusty Narrator]

What is it?

[Chet Nickerson]

I've always wondered. How is it a room can be too dark to see in, and then if you're in it for a little while, you can suddenly see a lot better? Ah.

[Trusty Narrator]

In other words, you want to know how do your eyes adjust to the dark?

[Chet Nickerson]

Yes.

[Trusty Narrator]

Great question, Smartypants. Do you have any ideas? Well, we'll find out how it works right after this quick break. And a word from our sponsor. This show is sponsored by ixl. You know that as the trusty narrator, I'm always eager to learn new things, even if I prefer to do it from the comfort of my own home. That's why I'm excited to share a fantastic resource for homeschool families looking to start the new year with confidence. Ixl. Ixl. Is an award winning online learning platform that adapts to each child's level, making it the perfect companion for homeschooling. With interactive practice across math, language arts, science and social studies. From Pre K through 12th grade, IXL offers a personalized and flexible learning experience. What I love most about IXL is how it keeps kids motivated with challenges, awards and moments of celebration. Plus, the real time feedback and progress tracking give parents peace of mind knowing their children are learning effectively. My niece used it to stay on top of subjects that she found challenging and it was incredibly helpful to her. So if you're looking to make an impact on your child's learning this year, get IXL Now. And as a special offer for our listeners, you can get an exclusive 20% off an IXL membership when you sign up [e-mail] smarted that's 20% off an IXL [e-mail] smarted now back to who smarted now?

[Chet Nickerson]

I know bats use echoes to quote unquote see in the dark, but how are humans able to see in the dark?

[Trusty Narrator]

You're really obsessed with bats these days, aren't you?

[Chet Nickerson]

Well, bats spend their whole lives in the dark and they're not afraid.

[Trusty Narrator]

Point taken. Anyway, as I'm sure most smartypants listening have discovered, your eyes can and will adapt to darkness. Try it. Next time you're in your room, turn out the light and see how long it takes for you to start to make out shapes and objects.

[Chet Nickerson]

5 minutes and 12 seconds exactly.

[Trusty Narrator]

Great. Now, can you guess which two parts of your eyes work together to make that happen? Is it A, cones and cups, B, rods and hooks, or C cones and rods? If you said C cones and rods. Nice. And if you said cones and cups, you're probably thinking about ice cream. Anyway, the cones and rods in your eyes work together to help you see if there is some level of light to work with. By the way, which one has more light sensitivity? Is it cones, rods, or are they the same? The answer is rods. Rods have more light sensitivity than cones do.

[Chet Nickerson]

Gotcha. And I guess it just takes some time before your cones and rods adjust to the light level.

[Trusty Narrator]

Exactly. Now, smarty pants, true or false. Do humans have the best vision in the dark? The answer is not even close.

[Chet Nickerson]

Is it bats?

[Trusty Narrator]

Nope. Smarty pants. Any idea which animal has the best night vision and why?

[Chet Nickerson]

Um, cats, Mice? Sloths? Bigfoot?

[Trusty Narrator]

Oh dear.

[Chet Nickerson]

All right, so I'm way off. You don't have to make fun of me.

[Trusty Narrator]

No, I gave you the answer.

[Chet Nickerson]

Huh? You said oh Dear, oh, dear. Deer have the best night vision.

[Trusty Narrator]

Yep.

[Chet Nickerson]

But wait, aren't deer mostly out during the day?

[Trusty Narrator]

Yes, but deer are actually crepuscular, meaning they look for food when the sun is about to set and into the night. That's why their eyes can appear to be glowing at night.

[Chet Nickerson]

Interesting. Well, you heard it here, folks. And best of all, Trusty is no longer afraid of the dark. So lights out. Ah. What was that?

[Trusty Narrator]

Sorry, it's just my stomach. Care for some ice cream?

[Chet Nickerson]

Um, copper cone?

[Trusty Narrator]

A big shout out to super smarty fan Eli in northeast Maryland. We're so glad to have you smarting with us and listening along with your big brother Isaac in the car between homeschooling adventures. Keep up the great work this episode. The Dark was written by Sarah. I'm not scared, sweetie. And voiced by Adam Fear of the Dark Davis and Jerry Colbert. Technical direction and sound design by Josh. Who turned out the lights, Han. Our associate producer is Max. I can't see Kamaski. The theme song is by Brian Something After Dark Suarez, with lyrics written and performed by Adam Tex Davis, who Smarted was created and produced by Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Colber. This has been an Atomic Audio production.