Waves of illness crash against the shores of humanity. They always have, and they probably always will. But we weather the storm through advancements in medical science and the resilience of human nature. Still, no matter how hard we’ve tried, some outbreaks have left a dark stain on the pages of history.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research assistance from Marcet Crockett.
Life is a lot like a big budget movie. We click play, and then let the action wash over us. There are highs and lows, laughter and tears, and then it’s all over and the screen goes silent. The dead can’t talk back, something most people are thankful for. Still, there have been rare moments in history when that rule appears to have been broken—and the results were extraordinary.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research assistance from Marcet Crockett.
The pages of our greatest literature are full of tales of powerful wizards. People gifted with abilities that stand head and shoulder above their peers. They act as guides, ushering us into a new world with fresh possibilities. And yet they are much more than simply a tool used by storytellers. In fact, history paints a much more fascinating—and dark—picture for us.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research by Marcet Crockett, music from Chad Lawson.
The sky is a source of life for everything on this planet. Rain to quench our thirst and sunlight for our food. We don’t look up too often these days, but that hasn’t changed our dependance on it. But occasionally, the sky can be a source of something else. Something much less typical than rain or snow or sunshine. History, it seems, paints a very frightening picture of the world above us.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research assistance from Marcet Crockett, and music from Chad Lawson.
When our health is failing and our lives are at risk, trust is essential. The people who care for us often find themselves in a position of power, with our well-being entirely under their control. As history has shown us, however, there’s danger in handing that much control over to another person.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research assistance from Marcet Crockett and music from Chad Lawson.
Humans have a seemingly never-ending list of fears. The dark of night, small spaces, open water…there doesn’t seem to be an area of life that doesn’t come with a few reasons to take pause and be afraid. But the greatest of those fears might just come at the end of our lives, and for over a century, that fear drove people to unimaginable things.
Researched, written, and produced by Aaron Mahnke. Soundtrack is available here.
A Grave Mistake: The Lore Variations by
Chad Lawson is available today!
In this second Lore Trick or Treat 2017 set of stories, we explore the power of folklore and fate. A Head of Steam takes us on an eerie trip through the graveyard, while A Deadly Past shows us how sometimes our actions have a way of catching up with is.
Researched, written, and produced by Aaron Mahnke. Music by Chad Lawson.
We’ve conquered much of our world, but even with all of our great cities and urban sprawl, there are still shadows on the edge. And it’s in the shadows that the greatest threats still exist—creatures from our darkest nightmares that threaten our feeling of safety. Which has led some to strike out into the dark and hunt them.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research assistance from Marcet Crockett.
The first Trick or Treat Halloween special of 2017 features two tales. The first, A Bridge Too Far, walks us through a winter train ride that went horribly wrong over a century ago. The second story reminds us that life is a lot more complex than we’re willing to admit. Rise Above introduces us to the darkness found inside that complexity.
Researched, written, and produced by Aaron Mahnke. Music by Chad Lawson.
There’s a fine line between rationality and madness, but it’s not as easy to avoid as you might think. Throughout history, our world has played host to people who have taken their superstitions too far, but it was the chaos of the English Civil War that helped give birth to one of the worst.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research assistance from Marcet Crockett.
The sky is full of mystery. It’s big, expansive, and—despite a century of powered human flight—outside our realm of control. Which is why, for centuries, humans have expected things to come down from the sky and harm us. It might sound crazy now, but the possibilities are wide open. And that might not be a good thing.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research assistance from Marcet Crockett.
The older the country, the deeper the roots of its folklore have grown—roots that are fed by darkness, fear, and pain. And few countries hold such a variety of frightening tales, both old and modern, as the lovely Emerald Isle. But not everything that walks those hills is safe to approach.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research assistance from Marcet Crockett.
There are some locations that seem to draw humans closer. Places that are away from the bustle of everyday life, that almost seem part of our soul. We go there for solitaire, or for rest, or recreation. Sometimes, though, we don’t return.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research assistance from Marcet Crockett.
Fire is a dangerous tool. Used properly, it can transform a society, but if it isn’t respected, it can burn that society to the ground. Which is why we are obsessed with controlling it—and completely, utterly afraid of it.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research assistance from Marcet Crockett.
There are very few bits of folklore that haven’t spread around the globe over the past few centuries. Yet every now and then, something fresh and distinct pops up. But just because it’s relatively new doesn’t mean it’s safe.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research assistance from Marcet Crockett.
The bigger the city, the easier it is to miss the little details. Stories of loss, tragedy, and horrifying events have a way of vanishing beneath the bustle of everyday life. And no place is better at hiding away its dark secrets than the Big Apple.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research assistance from Marcet Crockett.
Folklore and popular culture are filled with a type of event that seems both unusual and logical: time and time again, criminals return to the source. But as one man proved a century ago, it’s not always easy to go home.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research assistance by Marcet Crockett.
Folklore and medicine often go hand in hand. In fact, for a long time they were the very same thing. But folklore has a way of leading people to tragic actions—all in the name of getting better.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with music by Chad Lawson and research assistance by Marcet Crockett.
You can tell a lot about a culture by the things it creates. Tools, exploration, weapons; all of it speaks to the priorities and character of that society. But if that’s true, then what are we supposed to assume about the mind behind one of history’s most bizarre creations?
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research assistance by Marcet Crockett.
Humans have an innate desire to fix what’s broken, and that’s a good thing. We’re not the best at it, though, and we often fail—sometimes horribly. And few examples are as powerful as the world of mental health.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research assistance by Marcet Crockett.