13 Scary Podcasts That'll Seriously Creep You Out

Nothing says Halloween like getting the pants scared off you by a podcast.

1. The No Sleep Podcast

thenosleeppodcast.com

If you're looking for the kind of internet/creepypasta/urban legend stories that make you feel like you're sitting around a campfire, then you want to check out this podcast. Each episode contains readings (often first-person for added spookiness and authenticity) of scary and unsettling horror stories. The podcast was inspired by r/nosleep on Reddit, so fans of those stories will feel right at home here.

2. Lore

lorepodcast.com

Lore prides itself on finding real-life stories that are still as creepy as anything you could dream up. If you enjoy the podcast, you can also check out the TV series on Amazon Prime.

3. Snap Judgement Presents: Spooked

wnycstudios.org

While Lore tends to focus on history, Spooked foregoes fact-checking and goes straight to the source. Each story is told by the actual person who experienced it, which adds an extra layer of authenticity to the supernatural tale you're hearing that week.

4. The Moonlit Road

itunes.apple.com

This podcast features more spooky stories (written and acted out), but the spin here is that they're all set in or inspired by the American South. So if driving along a country road at dusk always gives your spine a little shiver, this is the podcast for you.

5. Alice Isn't Dead

nightvalepresents.com

If you're looking for a more immersive, serialized story (as opposed to one-off short stories), then check out this podcast from the creators of Welcome to Night Vale. It's about a trucker who is searching for her missing wife, whom she believes is still alive. There are all kinds of supernatural encounters along the way, all presented as a kind of diary monologued over CB radio.

6. Unexplained

acast.com

Unexplained gives you an almost scientific look at real-life phenomena and mysterious events that are...well, unexplained. Episodes cover all kinds of subjects, like a girl in India who started to remember past lives.

7. My Favorite Murder

myfavoritemurder.com

If you're a true-crime enthusiast, then you might already know about My Favorite Murder. Hosted by comedian Karen Kilgariff and TV host Georgia Hardstark, the podcast looks at different true-crime cases in each episode. MFM takes a lighter approach, with the two hosts chatting and cracking jokes, so it's less about creepy ambiance and more about fascination with the murder cases themselves.

8. The Apex & the Abyss

acast.com

If My Favorite Murder isn't spooky enough for you, give The Apex & the Abyss a try. It also focuses on true stories — often true-crime cases — but takes a darker tone.

9. The Black Tapes

theblacktapespodcast.com

If you jump in without any background information, you might think The Black Tapes is an actual NPR series about a reporter trying to dig up the truth about a paranormal investigator. It's all fiction, of course, but it SOUNDS very, very real.

10. Anything Ghost

anythingghost.com

Yes, the name is a silly pun, but that doesn't mean this podcast is light and breezy. It features listener-submitted ghost stories, which means that every story you hear — whether it's a call-in from the listener or an email read by the host, Lex Wahl — actually happened to someone. If you specifically want to hear stories about supernatural encounters, this is a good place to start.

11. Knifepoint Horror

knifepointhorror.libsyn.com

Most horror podcasts use music and sound effects to enhance the scares and get a reaction out of listeners. Knifepoint Horror takes a more minimalist approach, relying on the unsettling stories and host Soren Narnia's narration to get the scares across.

12. Homecoming

gimletmedia.com

Homecoming won't feel like a horror story in the traditional sense. It's unsettling and strange, and that surrealism will almost surely affect you in some way, even if it doesn't make you jump out of your seat. The major draw to this podcast, though, is the cast: Oscar Isaac, Catherine Keener, and David Schwimmer are just a few of the stars who voice the story. It's also being made into a TV series on Amazon Prime soon.

13. The Message

themessagepodcast.com

If ghosts and murders don't scare you, then perhaps aliens will. The Message combines sci-fi with horror for a harrowing story about extraterrestrial contact, all under the guise of an NPR-style news program. If you like it, you can also check out the follow-up podcast, Life After.