Everything is built upon something else. Whether it is a mighty fortress, a simple home, or the very lives of the people around us, there’s a foundation beneath everything. But don’t let that strong, smooth layer fool you. There’s darkness down there, if you know where to look.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research by Marcet Crockett, and music by Chad Lawson.
No one likes to be sick, and yet it is one of the most dependable things in life. We will all, at some point, become ill, and when we do, the most important thing in our world will be recovery and wellness. Many simply wait for nature to take its course, but history is full of takes of those who have taken it a bit too far.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research by Robin Miniter, and music by Chad Lawson.
The way we explain the world around us is determined by the lens we view it through, especially when events sit outside the realm of the believable. And no better moment in time can illustrate that idea better than the perfect storm of fear and paranoia that descended on a New England village a handful of centuries ago.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research by Robin Miniter, and music by Chad Lawson.
Most locations have an isolated history that is unique to them and only them. But some places have served as the entry point for a bigger idea and a larger impact on history as a whole. Sadly, that sort of significance always seems to come at a price, and it’s a cost that’s difficult to forget.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research assistance from Carl Nellis, and music by Chad Lawson.
Throughout history, cultures around the world have explored the world of medicine in search of tools that can heal our bodies. We’ve used plants and minerals, of course, but the most powerful tool might also be the most taboo—and it’s been right in front of us the entire time.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research assistance from Sam Alberty, and music by Chad Lawson.
Of all the parts of life that we can depend on, one of the darkest parts is loss. That’s the trouble with being surrounded by mortal, fragile human beings; at some point, the people we love won’t be here anymore. Which is why the mourning process is the playground for all sorts of powerful bits of folklore.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research assistance from Marcet Crockett, and music by Chad Lawson.
The deepest mysteries come from the places we haven’t fully explored, or where we lack the control that makes us feel safe. And yet one of the most universally mysterious places of all is closer than you might believe. It’s the best kept secret everyone has been sleeping through.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research assistance from Sam Alberty and music by Chad Lawson.
Not everything can be perfect. Even when there’s a clean slate and we’re given the resources and tools to make something great, humans have a way of building their flaws into it. And while there are many examples of locations built on a crooked foundation, few have the haunting historical tales to back it up.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research assistance from Robin Miniter, and music by Chad Lawson.
There’s a lot in life we can count on. Death, taxes, the sunrise, and political turmoil—these are all guaranteed, safe bets. But outside that, everything else is an assumption. And sometimes we get it tragically, horribly wrong.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research assistance from Taylor Hagerdorn, and music by Chad Lawson.
Our oceans are some of the most remote regions on the planet. Because of that, people have filled that darkness and space with stories that reflect our common fears and deepest suspicious. Unfortunately, the pages of history offer less reason than we might hope for, leaving us to wonder exactly what might be out there, lurking beneath the waves.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research assistance from Marcet Crockett, and music by Chad Lawson.
We like to think we’ll see it coming. That we can plan ahead and prepare—even defend ourselves. But death comes in all shapes and sizes, sometimes so small and featureless that it slips through our carefully constructed defenses without us even knowing. And history shows us that all of us should be worried about that.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research by Carl Nellis, and music by Chad Lawson.
Humans have a tendency to collect things. From baseball cards to Twitter followers, we enjoy bringing everything into one place. But when that collection represents the very worst of humanity—both in how it’s managed and where it comes from—the act of collecting comes with dire consequences.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research assistance from Sam Alberty, and music by Chad Lawson.
We love to simplify things. Easy is better than complex, after all, and simple things are easy to understand. Sadly, though, the people around us are far from simple; they are complex and layered, with deep, hidden stories just waiting to be discovered.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research by Marcet Crockett, and Carl Nellis, and music by Chad Lawson.
The ocean is very good at taking things from us, but we are equally skilled at not forgetting. Still, no matter how many stories we tell about lost ships and vanished loved ones, it will never bring them back. At least, that’s what most people believe.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research assistance from Robin Miniter, and music by Chad Lawson.
Humanity is fueled by hope. We hope for improvement, and dream of a day when things get better than they are right now. And for a very long time, there have been certain people who have taken advantage of that hope. What they deliver instead is an unexpected dose of darkness.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research by Taylor Hagerdorn, and music by Chad Lawson.
Most of us live incredibly busy lives, and because of all that distraction, we tend to miss the little things. Whether it’s a forgotten birthday, or the small puddle of water beneath your water heater in the basement, not noticing things can have consequences. And sometimes, those details can be a matter of life and death.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research by Sam Alberty, and music by Chad Lawson.
Like a well-loved pair of shoes, or those jeans you bought in college and never gave up on, some things become worn out over time. But when that thing is a physical location, eroded away by thousands of years of human activity and deep, rich folklore, what sort of nightmares might we expect to pour in through the hole? There’s only one way to find out.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research by Sam Alberty, and music by Chad Lawson.
Every movement has a seed, that spark that sets the fire ablaze. But this spark is more than just a murder mystery, or a treasure hunt, or even a haunting unlike any other. This one is all three. Which may explain why a century and a half later, the world is still reeling from its impact.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research assistance from Sam Alberty, and music by Chad Lawson.
Each of us holds inside ourselves a precious cargo. It is the key to life, and a worthy sacrifice when important things are on the line. And yet it also sits at the center of some of our greatest fears. After all, if something’s precious, there’s always someone who wants to steal it.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research by Marcet Crockett, and music by Chad Lawson.
When tragedy strikes and poor choices haunt us, sometimes the only thing we can do is move on and build on the ashes of the past. But there are places where that hasn’t worked out so well. In fact, sometimes the worst thing we can do to history is bury it.
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research by Carl Nellis, and music by Chad Lawson.