The award-winning podcast (also a TV show & book series) about dark historical tales. Each episode explores the mysterious creatures, tragic events, and unusual places that fill the pages of history. Because sometimes the truth is more frightening than fiction.
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Sep 28, 2026 · 23:31
Folklore is often about powerful beings that deserve our fear and respect. Which is why one big category of legends around the globe is about someone very close to home. Narrated…
Sep 24, 2026 · 2:05
Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (Lore 315: All Shook Up) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: Episode 32:…
Sep 21, 2026 · 26:13
Folklore usually depends on the little things. The daily struggle to survive, the terror of a new location, or even violence and crime. But even when the events are bigger than…
Sep 14, 2026 · 26:40
The American heartland might not be as ancient as New England, but it can hold its own when it comes to dark history and terrifying tales. Narrated and produced by Aaron Mahnke,…
Sep 10, 2026 · 2:01
Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (Lore 314: Hive Mind) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: Episode 166:…
Sep 7, 2026 · 27:04
Not all big stories are about equally large characters. In the world of folklore, sometimes even the littlest players have a massive stage to perform upon. Narrated and produced…
Aug 31, 2026 · 30:02
Everyone loves a good ghost story, but literature and spirits have a relationship that is older than some might think. Narrated and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with writing and…
Aug 27, 2026 · 2:08
Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (Lore 313: Tall, Tall Tales) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: Episode 7:…
Aug 24, 2026 · 26:59
Some folklore thrives in the depths of our world—whether that's across the ocean waves or along the docks of an ancient harbor town. But a few have risen to great heights, giving…
Aug 17, 2026 · 27:20
Folklore has had many uses over the centuries. But while some has been used to educate or entertain, one pocket of legends has become a dangerous tool for sorting the good from…
Aug 13, 2026 · 1:59
Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (312: Episode To Serve Man) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: Episode 18:…
Aug 10, 2026 · 27:12
A lot of folklore is frightening, but some of it is definitely hard to swallow. Let's sink our teeth into some terrifying tales from history today. Narrated and produced by Aaron…
Aug 3, 2026 · 26:57
The huge number of dangerous creatures in Australia is terrifying, for sure. But if the legends are true, there's a lot more to be afraid of than spiders and birds. Narrated and…
Jul 30, 2026 · 2:10
Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (311: Twice Upon a Time) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: Episode 72:…
Jul 27, 2026 · 31:31
Folklore is full of stories about people who seem to have lived more than one life. Which is why these true tales from history are so incredibly bizarre. Narrated and produced by…
Jul 20, 2026 · 25:06
The vast oceans of our planet are more mysterious to us than the surface of Mars. And because of that, they have become the place where dark legends dwell beneath the surface.…
Jul 16, 2026 · 2:08
Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (310: Thunderstruck) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: Episode 74:…
Jul 13, 2026 · 34:20
While most folklore has a thrilling quality to it, there are some tales that are a bit more shocking. Just be careful where you stand while we explore them. Narrated and produced…
Jul 8, 2026 · 28:51
Although my new history book, EXHUMED , arrives on August 6th, you get to hear a whole chapter early! Enjoy this delicious sample from EXHUMED , and be sure to lock in your copy…
Jul 6, 2026 · 26:11
The American South might have its charm, but it also has a tragic history that lingers in the shadows to this day. Narrated and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with writing by Alex…
Jul 2, 2026 · 2:34
Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (309: Party Favors) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: Episode 81:…
Jun 29, 2026 · 32:02
Parties promise us a break from the mundane or troubling. But a few celebratory gatherings in history have turned the tables, delivering something far more frightening. Narrated…
Jun 22, 2026 · 25:10
Over the centuries, it has become common to refer to traumatizing or frightening experiences as "a nightmare." The true origins of that notion, though, are the most terrifying of…
Jun 18, 2026 · 2:11
Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (308: Without a Trace) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: Episode 40:…
Jun 15, 2026 · 29:22
Dark stories often have twists, turns, and the constant fear of getting lost in the shadows. Which is a lot like one real trail that haunts American history. Let's take a journey…
Jun 8, 2026 · 25:04
One of the most common fears we have is also the product of centuries of fiction mixed with a dash of truth. The result is a genre of storytelling that is truly horrifying.…
Jun 4, 2026 · 2:10
Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (Lore 307: Revisiting "Mary, Mary") with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: Episode…
Jun 1, 2026 · 32:30
This week, as summer weaves its way into our lives, the Lore team is taking a well-deserved break. To make that possible, we're reissuing a fan favorite from nearly a decade ago:…
May 25, 2026 · 27:30
Sometimes the thing that gives a story its authenticity is the frequency with which it has been shared, regardless of the truth. And many of them turn out to be utterly…
May 21, 2026 · 2:01
Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (306: Disorienting) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: Episode 111:…
May 18, 2026 · 30:33
Some folklore can be very confusing, which can cause a lot of fear. Which was exactly the point for this specific realm of ancient belief and tradition. Just try not to get lost.…
May 11, 2026 · 26:13
The bigger the space, the more room there seems to be for ghosts. So it shouldn't be a surprise that there's lots of chills to be had in the Lone Star State. Narrated and…
May 7, 2026 · 2:07
Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (305: Botched) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: Episode 42:…
May 4, 2026 · 31:49
If the road to hell is paved with good intentions, then our journey toward a more human method of execution is a bloody highway. Narrated and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with…
Apr 27, 2026 · 26:14
Folklore tells us that ghosts can be many things, but the most common view is that they are echoes of the past that are still present today. Which is why one type of building is…
Apr 23, 2026 · 1:54
Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (304: Cult Hero) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: Episode 102:…
Apr 20, 2026 · 34:23
Few groups leave a society unsettled more than the ones that buck the system and reject the mainstream path. But a few have even managed to leave the people around them more than…
Apr 13, 2026 · 27:00
When you build a community on breaking the rules, it shouldn't be a surprise that the laws of death itself get violated. Narrated and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with writing by…
Apr 9, 2026 · 2:08
Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (303: Shoot for the Stars) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: Episode 74:…
Apr 6, 2026 · 29:01
Most of the folklore that connects us is beneath our feet. But if history is any indication, there's more than enough to be afraid of above our head. Narrated and produced by…
Mar 30, 2026 · 27:08
Moving from the familiar to the unknown comes with a lot of risk. And if the stories about one family are true, that risk can involve a terrifying new reality. Narrated and…
Mar 26, 2026 · 2:10
Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (302: Bedside Manner) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: Episode 73:…
Mar 23, 2026 · 34:01
It takes a lot of compassion to care for the sick and nurse them back to health. And it takes a lot of trust to allow your well-being to rest in their hands. Thanks to a few…
Mar 16, 2026 · 26:35
Chasing treasure has always had an allure. But while legends of lost treasures and those who seek them are often entertaining, they also hide a darker question: how much is that…
Mar 12, 2026 · 2:57
Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (301: Lost at Sea) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: Episode 21:…
Mar 9, 2026 · 31:37
For as much of the world as it covers, we know very little about the sea. And where there are unanswered questions, there can always be found folklore—usually of the frightening…
Mar 2, 2026 · 25:51
Trust holds much of the world together. When it's broken, it can lead to unspeakable crimes, which can often result in frightening legends. Narrated and produced by Aaron Mahnke,…
Feb 26, 2026 · 2:07
Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (300: Board Stiff) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: Episode 37:…
Feb 23, 2026 · 32:21
Few objects from popular culture have been as divisive and mysterious as these simple games. But before you dismiss their sensational reputation, it's worth exploring the…
Feb 16, 2026 · 27:35
We tend to see weddings as the beginning of something grand. A new start with joy and happiness as a destination. But if these popular legends are any indication, that's not…
Feb 12, 2026 · 1:51
Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (299: Unsinkable) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: Episode 21:…
Feb 9, 2026 · 26:56
Some legends spend a bit of time among us and then drift out of popularity. A few, though, stay afloat even when the world they come from slips beneath the waves. Narrated and…
Feb 2, 2026 · 30:42
Appalachia might be a vast and varied terrain, but one thing about it is incredibly consistent: the presence of dark legends, hidden in the shadows. Narrated and produced by…
Jan 29, 2026 · 2:20
Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (298: Almost Alive) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: Episode 25:…
Jan 26, 2026 · 33:07
Sometimes the more terrifying creatures we encounter are the ones we created ourselves. Don't let their antiquity fool you, though; artificial life isn't always pleasant.…
Jan 19, 2026 · 26:34
Home sweet home. We go there for safety, peace, and hopefully love. But for a very long time in some parts of the world, the home was ruled over by something more supernatural…
Jan 15, 2026 · 2:35
Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (297: Bloody) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: Episode 11:…
Jan 12, 2026 · 30:27
Much of folklore is fun in a creepy sort of way, something that we often revel in here on Lore. But there are darker, more insidious corners of folklore that have used the power…
Jan 9, 2026 · 4:24
I'm pleased to announce that my newest book, Exhumed: Unearthing the History of the American Vampire , is scheduled for August 4th, and it's available for pre-order TODAY!…
Jan 5, 2026 · 27:27
We might call them the Great Lakes, but the folklore in and around them is so much greater. And—if the stories are true—much more terrifying as well. Narrated and produced by…
Jan 1, 2026 · 3:08
Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode—which was a rerun of Episode 12: Half-Hanged—with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog:…
Dec 29, 2025 · 27:58
This week, as the holidays draw near, the Lore team takes a well-earned break to relax with their loved ones. To give them that break, we're reissuing a golden oldie from over a…
Dec 22, 2025 · 28:40
Out beyond the edge of the known, where simply existing comes with risk, you will always find stories of threats that defy rational explanation. Narrated and produced by Aaron…
Dec 18, 2025 · 2:56
Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (295: Making Your Luck) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: Episode 54:…
Dec 15, 2025 · 35:02
It's all fun and games until someone has a cursed dream. The history behind these risky gambles is almost as fascinating as their eventual outcome. Narrated and produced by Aaron…
Dec 8, 2025 · 30:57
Legends often contain clues about our greatest fears. Oftentimes they are small and invisible. But as today's collection of stories reveals, they can be much bigger than that.…
Dec 4, 2025 · 2:26
Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (294: Upon Reflection) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: Episode 34:…
Dec 1, 2025 · 32:47
She's the most famous name in horror, and the theories behind the legend are more frightening than you'd ever expect. Narrated and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with writing by…
Nov 24, 2025 · 34:16
Some stories are fascinating because they go against our expectations. And among them are a few that are absolutely chilling. Narrated and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with writing…
Nov 20, 2025 · 2:31
Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (293: Mother Knows Best) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: Episode 84:…
Nov 17, 2025 · 33:21
Figures from folklore are often one-dimensional. But if the popularity of this particular woman tells us anything, it's that legends can sometimes become more powerful than real…
Nov 10, 2025 · 33:31
The stories of people who cross the line are often the most terrifying. And that fear has turned those tales into weapons of a different kind. Narrated and produced by Aaron…
Nov 6, 2025 · 2:16
Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (292: Message in a Bottle) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: Episode 90:…
Nov 3, 2025 · 36:06
Our world can often feel like an open book, with every secret laid bare. But there are still locations that cling tightly to mystery, and the questions they force us to ask are…
Oct 31, 2025 · 24:57
For the final Trick or Treat episode of the season, we're taking a tour through some of the lesser-known vampire folklore around the world. But just because they don't fit the…
Oct 27, 2025 · 29:31
At the heart of their dual history and shared rivalry, this pair of midwestern cities hides a darker common ground, and the stories that live there are more than a little…
Oct 24, 2025 · 22:58
Humans have reached out to communicate with the dead for millennia, and as this collection of tales will show, that hasn't always gone according to plan. Narrated and produced by…
Oct 23, 2025 · 2:19
Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (291: Dream Come True) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: Episode 111:…
Oct 20, 2025 · 37:59
We often use the phrase "dream come true" to describe wonderful things you envision for our lives. But looking at the folklore behind it, there might be a darker, more…
Oct 17, 2025 · 24:47
Our passions create powerful bonds. And it turns out that even something as permanent as death can't totally separate us from the people or places we love. Narrated and produced…
Oct 13, 2025 · 33:51
Some graves give us answers to the gaps in our understanding of history. A few, though, fill those gaps with terrifying legends that are still alive today. Narrated and produced…
Oct 10, 2025 · 22:46
Tragic loss is often the catalyst for powerful tales that haunt us for generations. Today's collection of stories gathers some of the most chilling examples of that truth.…
Oct 9, 2025 · 2:25
Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (290: Growing Pains) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: Episode 24:…
Oct 6, 2025 · 33:25
They might appear to be nothing more than simple words spoken by the youngest in our communities, but there's a darkness hidden beneath many of them. Let's explore the…
Oct 3, 2025 · 25:05
For the first of our weekly Halloween bonus episodes (every Friday in October), we're visiting a number of haunted castles. You might want to keep a light on for this one.…
Sep 29, 2025 · 34:14
Humans have, historically, shown themselves to be risk-takers. But in one particular branch of folklore, many of those gambles have come at the hands of a very sinister…
Sep 25, 2025 · 2:19
Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (289: Shake It) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: Episode 18:…
Sep 22, 2025 · 36:12
Folklore can take many forms, but most involve words in a specific language. One exception, though, are the traditions passed down through a very different kind of communication.…
Sep 15, 2025 · 34:24
While you're guaranteed to find a lot of spooky tales in the biggest, brightest cities, sometimes all it takes is a quick trip upstate to find a set of stories that are truly…
Sep 11, 2025 · 2:35
Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (288: Doom & Gloom) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: Episode 50:…
Sep 8, 2025 · 37:30
Folklore might be all around us, but sometimes the most frightening kind of story points in a very particular direction. Narrated and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with writing by…
Sep 1, 2025 · 34:56
One of the most iconic creatures from folklore has a terrifyingly evil nature hidden beneath its beautiful facade. Narrated and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with writing by Alex…
Aug 28, 2025 · 2:28
Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (287: It Takes a Village) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: Episode 25:…
Aug 25, 2025 · 34:26
If these dark tales from history prove anything, it is that powerful things often come in small packages. Narrated and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with writing by GennaRose…
Aug 18, 2025 · 30:18
Some places only have a handful of dark stories to explore. Today's subject, though, is the land of a ten-thousand tales. Narrated and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with writing by…
Aug 14, 2025 · 2:07
Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (286: Lazarus) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: Episode 86:…
Aug 11, 2025 · 36:46
One of the most intriguing topics throughout history has infectious disease and the way we handle it. Narrated and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with writing by GennaRose Nethercott,…
Aug 4, 2025 · 31:52
Folklore is often a regional thing, shifting and reshaping itself to fit the landscape and the people who live there. And nowhere is that more frighteningly true than one…
Jul 31, 2025 · 2:14
Go deeper into the subject matter of our most recent episode (285: Oh My) with these three recommendations from further back in the Lore catalog: Episode 16:…
Jul 28, 2025 · 38:26
We often think that the most frightening creatures of all are the ones that only exist within the pages of folklore. But what happens when the dangers lurks a lot closer to home?…
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