Paraskevidekatriaphobia

Paraskevidekatriaphobia — that’s the fancy name for being scared of Friday the 13th, and the guy who coined it, psychotherapist Donald Dossey, reportedly said if you can pronounce the word you're cured. I'm Haystack, and I spent the segment laughing at the idea that years of gut-level dread could be fixed by a spelling bee. We joked about where the superstition even came from — Bible, ancient myths, or Jason Voorhees sneaking in — and pointed out some folks genuinely won't leave the house, work, or travel on Friday the 13th. Wildly, this was the third Friday the 13th of the year, so the calendar's apparently trying to mess with us. I also roasted local panic-level problems — like merging onto 49 during rush hour being way scarier — and my co-host rambled through classic superstitions: cracked mirrors, rabbit’s feet, black cats, spilled salt, the whole lucky/unlucky circus.

Takeaways:

• I joke that Friday the 13th anxiety has a real name—Paraskevidekatriaphobia—and some claim just saying it cures you.
• I point out some folks won't travel, go to work, or even leave home on Friday the 13th, using it as a legit excuse.
• I tease that 2026 threw us three Friday the 13ths this year, like the calendar is trolling everybody for fun.
• I compare superstitions' murky origins—Bible, old myths, or Jason Voorhees—and leave the spooky stuff up to you.
• I confess that, personally, surviving NW Arkansas rush hour merging onto Highway 49 is way scarier than any curse.