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Artwork for Lunatics Radio Hour: The History of Horror

Lunatics Radio Hour: The History of Horror

The Lunatics Project
Space Horror
Friday the 13th
Horror Stories
Artificial Intelligence
Folklore
Dancing Plague Of 1518
Horror Films
Horror
New England Vampire Panic
Horror Literature
Superhero Horror
Alien
Demonic Summoning
Jason Voorhees
Isolation
The Wizard Of Oz
Ghost Stories
Body Horror
Horror Fiction
Exorcism

Lunatics Radio Hour is a non-fiction history podcast about the history of horror and the horror of history. Each episode explores real, documented events where fear, violence, survival, and the unknown shaped human lives and cultures. The show also traces how historical events influenced film, examining how real-world horrors became the stories and images that appear on screen.

Topics include dar... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes243Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TV & FilmHistoryFilm History

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Artwork for Lunatics Radio Hour: The History of Horror

Latest Episodes

Modern UFO reports are often associated with the 20th century, but strange objects in the sky have been recorded for hundreds of years. Medieval chronicles describe unusual celestial events, mysterious lights, and unexplained phenomena that left witn... more

In the 12th century, villagers in Woolpit, England reported a strange discovery: two children with green-colored skin who appeared suddenly near the village. The children spoke an unknown language, refused most food, and seemed unable to explain wher... more

Watch our footage from the Paris Catacombs HERE.

Beneath the streets of Paris lies one of the most disturbing landmarks in the world: the Paris Catacombs. In this episode, we explore the real history behind the underground tunnels that hold the rema... more

YouTube

This week Abby is joined by Alex Goleman to read two haunting stories about grief and death. 

Forgiving Amy was written by Mike Macera. Follow @mikemacera on Instagram and check out www.scene3.co/films

In Life and Death was written by Sam L... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Kate Rotunda
Contributor who writes for lunaticsproject.com
Lunatics Project
Episode: Episode 191 - The History of Birds in Horror
Marisca Pichette
Reader of Only The Dead
Massachusetts-based queer author
Episode: Episode 187 - Campfire Tales #9: Only The Dead
Sam Logan
Reader of Trash Talk
Writer and educator, Nashville-based (as described in transcript)
Episode: Episode 187 - Campfire Tales #9: Only The Dead
John C. Cooke
Host of the Fado podcast; storyteller on this episode
Fado podcast
Episode: Episode 185 - Listener Lore #1
Madz O'Brien
Folklore storyteller; Colorado-centric urban legends
MadzSmiled; Sonrisalibrary on Instagram
Episode: Episode 185 - Listener Lore #1
Michael Crosa
Friend of the pod; conducts an interview-style segment
Local blogger/podcaster
Episode: Episode 185 - Listener Lore #1
KL. Mill
Author and voice actor
Cursed Morsels; Krapuskiller Magazine
Episode: Episode 183 - Real Scary Stories: Midnight Visitor
Josh Hutchinson
Co-founder of the Connecticut Witch Trials Exoneration Project
Connecticut Witch Trials Exoneration Project
Episode: Episode 180 - The History of The Connecticut Witch Trials
Joseph Hare
Writer based in Barnard Castle, England, who also works at the Auckland Project Foundation.
Auckland Project Foundation
Episode: Episode 162 - Campfire Tales #6

Hosts

Abby Branker
Host with deep ties to horror history and folklore, frequently collaborates on historical analysis, storytelling, and audience engagement.
Alan Kudan
Co-host/guest known for historical context, pedagogy, and cross-topic commentary on horror history and folklore.
Alex Goldman
Co-host who contributes to film and history discussions, with a focus on storytelling and critique.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 128 ratings
  • i tried

    i really wanted to like this podcast!

    abby is wonderful and clearly does her research, but alan is insufferable. he’s condescending while also often being wrong with his “corrections” (that he interrupts her to share!)

    this could be really great, but not with alan.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Carnefox
    United States2 months ago
  • Great

    Alan =Really Good

    Abby = Great

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TING Ting 23
    United States5 months ago
  • Complex review

    Abby=good

    Alan=bad

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    devil zilla
    United Statesa year ago
  • Alan is unbearable

    Let me start by saying I’ve been listening for a while, a few years, and I love the topics. I love horror movies and history and Abby does an amazing job selecting, researching, and discussing great content. Each of the three stars go only to her. I’ve had to turn off s few episodes because Alan is literally unbearable. He does no preparation, has no background knowledge of any of the topics, comes in critical of Abby’s every word, then drops the “you’ve never heard of ____?!?!” And proceeds to ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Sarahpgh
    United Statesa year ago
  • Abby and Alan are great

    Abby and Alan have a great dynamic and really know how to keep their audience engaged.

    Audible
    5
    Amazon Customer
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Positive sentiment around guests and storytelling balance, with occasional critiques of delivery or host interplay.
Listeners praise research depth and strong host chemistry for Abby, with some frustration over co-hosts' dynamics.
The show is a strong resource for horror history and folklore, with consistently positive mentions of production quality.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 181 - Categorizing Horror Villains
Q: Tell us about hedonistic pleasure as a category and why it feels terrifying.
Hedonistic villains pursue pleasure above all else, with no moral constraints, which makes their actions feel arbitrary and devastating because the motive is pure delight at others' expense.
Episode 180 - The History of The Connecticut Witch Trials
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about the Connecticut Witch Trials Exoneration Project and the work that you guys are doing?
The project began in 2022 to clear the names of those accused in Colonial Connecticut; it culminated in legislation passed in 2023 to exonerate 11 executed individuals and to address broader injustices, with ongoing efforts to expand recognition to other New England cases and to build educational trails and resources.
Episode 149 - The Science Behind Alien Phenomena: Part 1
Q: What do you think is true about interdimensional beings?
If we only experience a limited reality, there may be other dimensions or realities we don't comprehend, possibly linked to the concept of God or non-human intelligence.
Episode 149 - The Science Behind Alien Phenomena: Part 1
Q: What's the belief behind the loss of time in UFO encounters?
This relates to special relativity, where how you experience time is based on your frame of reference and speed in relation to light.
Episode 149 - The Science Behind Alien Phenomena: Part 1
Q: How did you first get into UFOs?
I wasn't really into UFOs until 2017, when a New York Times article described a secret Pentagon program researching UFOs, which made me reconsider what I thought reality was.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A history-focused horror podcast that combines meticulous research with accessible storytelling. Across recent episodes, listeners get rich dives into folklore, real-world crimes, courtroom controversies, and the cinematic evolution of fright, from urban legends and witch trials to jump scares and spectral phenomena. The show often features expert guests—historians, writers, and folklore specialists—who illuminate how real events informed horror cinema and how culture shapes fear. A notable strength is its ability to pair rigorous, source-driven history with engaging narrative and occasional fiction readings, appealing to both serious history buffs and horror enthusiasts looking for context beyond scares.

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. My Victorian Nightmare
2. Rattled & Shook
3. Radio Rental
4. The Night Owl: True Ghost Stories
5. Otherworld

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 7 years ago and published 243 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Kate Rotunda
2. Marisca Pichette
3. Sam Logan
4. John C. Cooke
5. Madz O'Brien
6. Michael Crosa
7. KL. Mill
8. Josh Hutchinson

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