W.W. Jacobs

First published in 1902 by Harper's Monthly and reprinted in his third collection of short stories The Lady of the Barge (also, 1902). The Monkey's Paw is one of the most well-known, adapted, and influential horror short stories ever written.   An old war acquaintance brings a furry talisman in the shape of a monkey's paw, which promises to grant three wishes to whomever wishes upon it.   Sergeant-Major Morris: Nik Marvin (shamanagans@globular.org) Mrs. White: Miranda Friel  Herbert White: Jim Tobe  Mr. White, Stranger, Narration, Music and Sound Design: Jon Fredette

First published in 1902 by Harper's Monthly and reprinted in his third collection of short stories The Lady of the Barge (also, 1902). The Monkey's Paw is one of the most well-known, adapted, and influential horror short stories ever written.  An old war acquaintance brings a furry talisman in the shape of a monkey's paw, which promises to grant three wishes to whomever wishes upon it.  Sergeant-Major Morris: Nik Marvin (shamanagans@globular.org) Mrs. White: Miranda Friel  Herbert White: Jim Tobe  Mr. White, Stranger, Narration, Music and Sound Design: Jon Fredette

Episode 45: The Monkey's Paw by W.W. Jacobs 

Arthur Machen

Arthur Machen, the pen-name of Arthur Llewellyn Jones, was a Welsh author and mystic of the 1890s and early 20th century. He has garnered a reputation as one most influential classic horror story authors to have ever written.   Summary: Leonard, a farm hand, after a day in the city retires to his small house for the evening and, restless, decides to take his wandering thoughts out into the surrounding woods. What he comes across during his walk is perhaps the best kept secret in the village.   Narration, Sound, and Music by Jon Fredette 

Arthur Machen, the pen-name of Arthur Llewellyn Jones, was a Welsh author and mystic of the 1890s and early 20th century. He has garnered a reputation as one most influential classic horror story authors to have ever written.  Summary: Leonard, a farm hand, after a day in the city retires to his small house for the evening and, restless, decides to take his wandering thoughts out into the surrounding woods. What he comes across during his walk is perhaps the best kept secret in the village.  Narration, Sound, and Music by Jon Fredette

Episode 44: Midsummer by Arthur Machen

Vladimir Nabokov

First published in the émigré journal Posledniya Novosti in Paris in 1931. Translated by the author and his son, the story was published in English in The New Yorker in May, 1963, and later added to A Russian Beauty and Other Stories.Three men traverse an area of unknown country, the tropical hell of Badonia, in hopes of reaching the Gurano Hills and escaping Zonraki. Gregson, Cook by Nik Marvin Valiere, Narration, Sound Design, and Music by Jon Fredette

Episode 43: Terra Incognita by Vladimir Nabokov

H.G. Wells

Originally published under the title "A Moonlight Fable" in the April 10, 1909, number of Collier's Weekly. A young man acquires a hand-woven suit from his mother, and, becoming obsessed with its beauty over a period of days, he flees into the night with it. Narration, Sound Design, and Music by Jon Fredette.

Episode 42: The Beautiful Suit by H.G. Wells

Arthur C. Clarke

First published in Zenith in February 1942 and later revised and published in Future in January of 1952. Collected in The Best of Arthur C. Clarke 1937-1955. Upon discovering a terminal illness that will kill him within a year, an influential cult leader known only as "The Master" enters deep cryosleep for a century in hopes of awakening once a cure has been discovered. Narration, Music, and Sound Design by Jon Fredette.

Episode 41: The Awakening by Arthur C. Clarke

Ellis Peters

Ellis Peters (nom de plume of Edith Pargeter) was an English writer, and the short story (originally titled Guide to Doom) was first published in Alfred Hitchcocks: Stories that Scared Even Me in 1967. As a tour guide of an old fortified mansion finishes his last tour of the day, he is approached by a mysterious man who asks if he can see an infamous well within the manor. Guide: Jon FredetteMusic and Sound Design by Jon Fredette

Episode 40: The Guide by Ellis Peters

Originally posted on Creepypasta on November 23, 2009 by an anonymous author. An experiment in the early 80s attempts to establish contact with God by depriving a test subject of all senses. Narration and Sound Design by Jon Fredette.

Episode 39: Gateway of the Mind by Anonymous

Original Spanish title: "La escritura del dios"First published in the literary magazine Sur in 1949, and later reprinted in The Aleph. An incarcerated magician seeks a divine script that will allow him the omnipotence to free himself and avenge the destruction of his pyramid at Qaholom. Voice: Nik Marvin Narration, Music, Sound Design by Jon Fredette

Episode 38: The Writing of the God by Jorge Luis Borges

Terry Bisson

Originally published in 1991 through OMNI magazine. Two multidimensional aliens deliberate over contacting the human race once they realize their entirely made out of meat. Aliens: Mats Bennett and Jon FredetteSound Design by Jon Fredette

Episode 37: They're Made Out of Meat by Terry Bisson

Ambrose Bierce

First published in the San Francisco Newsletter of December 25, 1886 and was later reprinted as part of Bierce's collections Tales of Soldiers and Civilians and Can Such Things Be?A man from the ancient city of Carcosa awakens from a sickness-induced sleep to find himself lost in an unfamiliar wilderness.Music, Sound Design, and Narration by Jon Fredette

Episode 36: An Inhabitant of Carcosa by Ambrose Bierce

Readings of weird fiction and science fiction short stories combined with immersive sound design and music.

The readings in this podcast are very well done and high quality!

Fantastic!

This is my new favorite podcast. Keep ‘em coming!

New favorite

Readings of weird fiction and science fiction short stories combined with immersive sound design and music.

The Oddcast: Tales of the Occult, Weird, and Arcane

Written in 1981/2 and published in 1983 in an undisclosed Japanese periodical. Later added to his short story collection Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman which was published in 2006. A man recalls a frightening experience he had in his brief time as a night watchman at a school in the Niigata Prefecture. Translated by Philip Gabriel. Narration, Sound Design, and Music by Jon Fredette.

Episode 25: The Mirror by Haruki Murakami

A modern folktale which takes place in a parallel-universe New York City; mysterious lunar women are hypnotized by the moon's influence and converge at the edge of the city to undertake a clandestine task for the satellite. First written in 1968 and originally published with the rest of his cosmic tales in Le cosmicomiche (The Cosmicomics); it was translated much later in 2009 and republished in The New Yorker. Sound design, music, narration and "Qfwfq" by Jon Fredette"Diana" by Miranda FrielTranslated by Martin Mclaughlin

Episode 22: The Daughters of the Moon by Italo Calvino

Originally "Las ruinas circulares". First published in the literary journal Sur in December 1940. It was first published in English in View (Series V, No. 6 1946). An itinerant magician discovers a site of arcane, circular ruins, a forsaken temple, and finds inspiration to complete his earthly task.Narration and Sound Design by Jon Fredette. Translated by J.E.I.

Episode 15: The Circular Ruins by Jorge Luis Borges

First written around March 1921, the story was first published in the June 1926 issue of the pulp magazine Weird Tales.Summary: a man visits an isolated castle at Kilderry, where an old friend plans to drain an ancient and locally-revered swamp bog. Narration, Sound Design, and Composition by Jon Fredette

Episode 19: The Moon-Bog by H.P. Lovecraft

Thomas Ligotti

First published in Crypt of Cthulhu in 1988. A man visits a nameless town and questions his existence as reality transforms into nightmare around him, leading him to a clandestine sect of dreams and dark dimensions. Narration, Sound Design, and Music by Jon Fredette

Episode 20: The Sect of the Idiot by Thomas Ligotti

Raccoona Sheldon

Originally published in the anthology "Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact" (June, 1977) the novelette went on to win the Nebula Award that year under the pen name James Tiptree Jr.As an unprecedented sickness spreads around the globe, a scientist hurries home to be with his wife and daughter. Alan - Jon Fredette Anne - Miranda FrielAmy - Megan McIver Barney - Mats Bennett Prof. Ian McIntyre - Jim Tobe Willard Mews - Tony WolfSound File Credits (Free Sound Forum): TheScarlettWitch89azimuth413uair01Narration by Jon Fredette and Miranda Friel Sound Design and Music by Jon Fredette

Originally published in the anthology "Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact" (June, 1977) the novelette went on to win the Nebula Award that year under the pen name James Tiptree <a href="http://Jr.As" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jr.As</a> an unprecedented sickness spreads around the globe, a scientist hurries home to be with his wife and daughter. Alan - Jon Fredette Anne - Miranda FrielAmy - Megan McIver Barney - Mats Bennett Prof. Ian McIntyre - Jim Tobe Willard Mews - Tony WolfSound File Credits (Free Sound Forum): TheScarlettWitch89azimuth413uair01Narration by Jon Fredette and Miranda Friel Sound Design and Music by Jon Fredette

Episode 27: The Screwfly Solution by Raccoona Sheldon

Edgar Allen Poe

The story was first published in May 1842 in Graham's Magazine and has since been adapted in many different forms, including a 1964 film starring Vincent Price. Prince Prospero walls himself in one of his abbeys, passing the time with wealthy nobles in hedonistic masquerades, in hopes of waiting out a deadly plague known as the Red Death.Narration, Sound Design, and Music Composed by Jon Fredette.

Episode 17: The Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allen Poe

First published in the Christmas number of The Graphic in 1897. It is credited with the creation of the subgenre depicting the "impact event" of science fiction, and is referenced in Arthur C. Clarke's "Rendezvous with Rama". Summary: At the turn of the 19th century, a celestial collision in our solar system first captures the attention of the world and then threatens all life on earth. Narration, Sound Design, and Music Composed by Jon Fredette. Additional voices by Megan McIver, Miranda Friel, Mats Bennett, and voice actors from Fiverr.

Episode 18: The Star by H.G. Wells

First published in Tennyson's first solo collection, "Poems, Chiefly Lyrical" (1830) when he was around 20 years old. One of the few sonnets Tennyson penned and with this one specifically he grossly distorts the sonnet form to better fit the horrendous mythical sea creature he describes. Narration, Sound Design and Music by Jon Fredette.

Episode 23: The Kraken by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

First published in the magazine Sur in 1943. Failed playwrite Jaromir Hladik is captured during the Nazi occupation of Prague in the early stages of World War II. Awaiting his execution in prison, he seeks redemption for a wasted life through contemplating his unfinished work, The Enemies. Narration, "Hladik", Music, Sound Design by Jon Fredette. Additional Voices by Mats Bennett and Miranda Friel.

Episode 24: The Secret Miracle by Jorge Luis Borges

Jonathan Nolan

Originally published in the March 2001 edition of Esquire magazine. It was the basis for the film Memento directed by Christopher Nolan. A man with anterograde amnesia hunts for his wife's murderer. Narration, Sound Design, Music Composition by Jon Fredette.

Episode 16: Memento Mori by Jonathan Nolan

Gerald Kersh

Originally published by Esquire in 1954. Summary: While at dock, a passenger of a banana boat encounters a mad, weary traveller seeking passage away from the terrors he experienced on a lost expedition. Dr. Goodbody played by Hunter Hash.Narration, Sound Design, and Composition by Jon Fredette.

Episode 14: Men Without Bones by Gerald Kersh

Summary: In the 1940s, Russian scientists kept 5 men awake for 15 straight days. The results were horrifying. Background Information: This story was taken from the horror site Creepy Pasta, and is one of the more celebrated stories on the site. To my knowledge, the author is still unknown to this day. Narration and Sound Design by Jon Fredette.

Episode 7: The Russian Sleep Experiment by An Unknown Author

Summary: Peyton Farquhar, a plantation owner in his mid-thirties, is being prepared for execution by hanging from an Alabama railroad bridge during the American Civil War.Background Info: Originally published by The San Francisco Examiner on July 13, 1890, it was first collected in Bierce's 1891 book Tales of Soldiers and Civilians. The story, which is set during the Civil War, is famous for its irregular time sequence. Bierce's abandonment of strict linear narration in favor of the internal mind of the protagonist is considered an early example of experimentation with stream of consciousness.Narration, Sound Design, and Music by Jon Fredette. Additional voices by Tony Wolf and Megan McIver.

Episode 8: An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce

Summary: the testament of a tortured, morphine-addicted man who plans to commit suicide over an incident that occurred early on in World War I when he was a merchant marine officer and adrift on the open ocean. Written in July 1917, one of the first stories HP Lovecraft wrote as an adult. It was first published in the November 1919 edition of The Vagrant (Issue #11). Narration and Sound Design by Jon Fredette.

Episode 5: Dagon by HP Lovecraft

The best podcast episodes on global issues affecting everyone. Covering topics such as the #metoo movement, climate change, the impact of technology and some of the biggest global issues facing us right now. For anyone interested in learning more about the world, and some of the issues we're facing, pick an episode below and start listening! Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

Best Episodes on Global Issues

The best podcast episodes about true crime. For any thrill seeking podcast listeners who just can't get enough of the captivating stories of murderers and criminals. This topic has all the best episodes from many different true crime podcasts.  Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!