The closer it gets to Halloween, the more ghost stories I need in my life. The weather has been gray and gloomy, inspiring me to snuggle up with a cup of tea when I get the opportunity, and listen to a chilling tale. I started listening to True Crime after a long hiatus from it, and this month added in spooky stories about haunted places..

Let’s begin, shall we?

Haunted Places is my favorite – I listen to this pretty much everyday, while Wyatt is sleeping. Greg Polcyn has a wonderfully pleasant voice to listen to, even when his stories are not. I love that this podcast is a blend of storytelling followed up with history – you get a nice mix. I am also enjoying the Urban Legends included as well. My fave episode so far: The Pine Barrens, about the Jersey Devil.

I just started listening to this one, and I love it. The Grave Talks is a different format from Haunted Places – it is all interview style, which gives it a totally different feel. I have only listened to a few so far, but I’m hooked. But be prepared – every episode has two parts and to hear the second part you need to be a patron of their Patreon! I’ve been curious enough to consider it! Favorite episode so far: Eloise, which is about the asylum that used to be here in my county, about twenty miles away from where I live, and that generations of teenagers have illegally explored in their youth at one time or another. I know for a fact that my brother and his friends stumbled into the Potter’s Field one night…

Updated to add: My curiousity got the better of me and I signed up as Grave Keeper patron so I could listen to the Part 2 episodes! Well worth the $5 in my opinion!

Lore is an old favorite of mine, I’ve been listening for years. Lore is a nonfiction spooky podcast that takes a look at the darker side of history, and Mahnke always does a great job delivering the story. Also a tv series on Amazon! Favorite Episode: Black Stockings

And since we are talking about dark histories, we might as well talk about Dark Histories the podcast. Another podcast new to my lineup this month, I am enjoying podcaster Ben’s renditions of some of humanity’s darkest moments and strange happenings. Favorite episode so far: I haven’t listened to enough yet to choose

And now we start to veer into more of true crime tales. Unsolved Murders is exactly what it sounds like. It is performed by an ensemble cast which is kind of neat, considering the horrible tales they are telling. My favorite episode: Edgar Allen Poe: A Rigged Murder, about the mysterious death of Poe. Their theory about rabies is very compelling!

Redhanded is my favorite true crime pod right now. I love Hannah and Suruthi’s respectful handling of each case, and they have just the right amount of banter. I am even a patron of their Patreon. And they have begun adding in ghost stories in their special Redhaunted episodes. My Favorite Episode: Glensheen

I am imagining by next month the creepy tales will have run their course with me, but they are perfect for this time of year, if this is something that you are interested in. I know it is not everyone’s cup of tea! And it is not always mine either – but some days, I need a side of spooky with my cup of tea. And with that being said, Wyatt is off to nap and I am about to have that tea and scary story for the morning..