Echoes in the Dark: Original Stories, True Hauntings, and Horror Genre Explored

John Keaser Jr.

The Dark Side of Storytelling… Echoes in the Dark: Original Stories, True Hauntings, & Horror Genre Explored is a horror podcast focused on psychological and folk horror, featuring original short stories, true haunting accounts, and deep dives into the lore, films, and cultural nightmares that shape the genre. Each episode invites listeners into unsettling worlds designed to make you question the noise in the hallway, rethink old houses, and linger in the quiet dread that lives between myth and memory. The podcast is hosted by John Keaser Jr., founder of Dark Hollow Media LLC, with the occasional unhinged commentary from Macabre Bob. Echoes in the Dark blends twisted storytelling with research, realism, and just enough adult sarcasm to make your therapist concerned. Expect dark humor, creeping atmosphere, folklore-driven horror, and honest reactions fueled by caffeine, trauma, and questionable life choices. If you like your horror atmospheric, your folklore unsettling, and your jokes a little too inappropriate for HR—welcome home. Some echoes whisper.These ones bite.

Episodes

  1. 1D AGO

    The Covenant

    Send us a text 😶‍🌫️ Fear doesn’t arrive screaming.  It arrives offering solutions. In Episode 8: The Covenant, we explore the moment when fear stops being private and becomes communal — when people stop asking what’s happening and start agreeing on what must be done. 📖 This episode dives deep into Hopewell Hollow Chapters 16 and 17, where suspicion hardens into ritual and the idea of “just three” becomes dangerously reasonable. 🩸 From there, Macabre Bob traces the real-world consequences of fear made law — from the Salem Witch Trials to documented global cases where belief, authority, and panic led to executions and communal violence. 🎞️ We then break down folk horror as a genre, not as monsters or aesthetics, but as a social mechanism. Through in-depth analysis of landmark films like The Wicker Man, The Witch, Impetigore, November, Onibaba, and Häxan, this episode exposes how covenants form, scapegoats are chosen, and relief is mistaken for morality. 🕯️ This isn’t an episode about evil.  It’s an episode about agreement. 🖤 Echoes in the Dark is a horror podcast featuring original stories, true hauntings, and horror genre explored. ⚠️ Listener discretion advised. 🎧 Listen if you’re drawn to: Folk horror & psychological horrorSlow-burn dread and atmospheric storytellingHorror rooted in history, belief, and consequence🌲 Visit darkhollowmediallc.com for more from the Hollow ✍️ Writer submissions: hopewellhollow1993@gmail.com Some places don’t haunt you.  They wait. Support the show That noise you hear while you're lying in bed is just your imagination...or is it?

    53 min

  2. JAN 30 · BONUS

    The Voices That Follow You Home

    Send us a text In this chilling bonus episode of Echoes in the Dark, host John Keaser Jr. explores the terrifying idea that the most dangerous voices don’t scream — they whisper. The Voices That Follow You Home blends original psychological horror fiction, real-world encounters, and unsettling analysis to examine what happens when silence invites something in. From internal voices that guide, manipulate, and punish… to true stories of whispers heard through baby monitors, late-night voicemails, and sleepless minds — this episode dives deep into fear that feels uncomfortably familiar. This is horror rooted in isolation, insomnia, and the fragile line between your thoughts and something else thinking for you. 🎧 Headphones recommended. 🕯️ If you’re a writer with a story that won’t stay quiet, submissions are open at hopewellhollow1993@gmail.com . 🌐 Explore more episodes, stories, and upcoming projects at darkhollowmediallc.com. Some voices don’t want to scare you.  They just want you to listen. Support the show That noise you hear while you're lying in bed is just your imagination...or is it?

    16 min

  3. JAN 23

    The Year That Followed Us In

    Send us a text New Year’s is supposed to mean closure.  A reset.  A clean page. But some years don’t arrive quietly. In this full-length episode of Echoes in the Dark, host John Keaser Jr. — writer, insomniac, and horror exhibitionist — explores what happens when midnight isn’t a celebration, but a threshold. This episode features: Hopewell Hollow readings (Chapters 14 & 15) — where time, place, and memory begin to fractureAn extended Macabre Bob segment diving into real-world hauntings, midnight phenomena, and why true hauntings don’t announce themselvesA deep Horror Genre Explored breakdown of threshold horror, including in-depth analysis of:The Others (2001)1408 (2007)The Ring (2002)Skinamarink (2022)Rather than surface-level reviews, this episode delivers cinematic play-by-play analysis, psychological breakdowns, budgets, box office context, and dark, inappropriate commentary that connects each film to real human fear — control, inevitability, trauma, and places that quietly change ownership. This episode is recommended for mature listeners and includes spoiler-heavy discussion, disturbing themes, and dark humor. If you’ve ever felt like a place changed without warning…  If midnight felt less like a moment and more like a shift…  If you believe horror works best when it waits… You’re already inside. 🎙️ Listen. Like. Follow. 🕯️ Visit darkhollowmediallc.com for updates, submissions, and more from the Hollow. ✍️ Writers and authors with dark fiction, novels, or true experiences are encouraged to submit. Echoes in the Dark — because endings don’t leave quietly. Support the show That noise you hear while you're lying in bed is just your imagination...or is it?

    1h 9m

  4. JAN 9

    Night Terrors and Sleep Demons

    Send us a text Tonight, sleep isn’t rest — it’s exposure. In Episode 6 of Echoes in the Dark, John Keaser Jr. (writer, insomniac, and horror exhibitionist) drags you into the in-between: night terrors, sleep paralysis, shadow figures, and the sickening moment you wake up aware… but can’t move. We begin with two chilling Hopewell Hollow readings (Chapters 12–13), where the Hollow doesn’t just take bodies — it takes certainty, turns neighbors into suspects, and teaches fear how to speak through a crowd. Then Macabre Bob takes over with escalating night terror story readings: the corner that deepens, the weight on the chest, the voice that shouldn’t be in the room, the visitor that follows you, and the terrifying sensation of being pulled out of your body. To finish, we count down six films that weaponize sleep — from grief-made-monsters to sleep-paralysis predators to dream-territories you can’t escape — ending with the grand finale: A Nightmare on Elm Street. Because no matter how long you fight it… you will sleep. And something knows it. Listen, like, and follow.  Explore merch, episodes, and the world of Hopewell Hollow at darkhollowmediallc.com. Writers can submit novels, short stories, and scripts to hopewellhollow1993@gmail.com . Links are in the show notes. Support the show That noise you hear while you're lying in bed is just your imagination...or is it?

    1h 15m

  5. JAN 2 · BONUS

    More Hopewell Hollow

    Send us a text Step back into the woods of Hopewell Hollow in this bonus episode of Echoes in the Dark: Original Stories, True Hauntings, and Horror Genre Explored. Due to overwhelming listener demand, author John Keaser Jr. delivers something extra—an immersive reading of Chapters 9–11 from the folk-horror novel Hopewell Hollow, accompanied by exclusive author reflections that peel back the dread without revealing the end. These chapters mark a turning point as the Hollow reveals itself not as a place of superstition, but as a living system—one that remembers blood, watches from the treeline, and demands someone to blame. From ancient bargains and inhuman watchers to fear-driven hysteria and scapegoats, this episode dives deep into slow-burn psychological horror, folk horror mythology, and the terrifying ways communities fracture under pressure. If you love atmospheric horror, cursed towns, unsettling folklore, and horror stories that linger long after the episode ends, this is a journey worth taking—just don’t expect to leave unchanged.  Horror writers are invited to submit original short stories and dark folklore for potential feature on the podcast. Submissions can be sent to hopewellhollow1993@gmail.com . Listener discretion is advised. Support the show That noise you hear while you're lying in bed is just your imagination...or is it?

    24 min

  6. 12/26/2025

    Santa's Slay Bells: Christmas Horror Edition

    Send us a text Winter changes things.  The nights grow longer. The cold seeps into your bones. And the stories — the bad ones — come looking for you. In this Christmas Horror Edition of Echoes in the Dark, host John Keaser Jr. — writer, insomniac, and horror exhibitionist — trades tinsel and cheer for something far older, meaner, and far less forgiving. This episode dives headfirst into holiday horror, featuring: A chilling Krampus creature feature that explores punishment, belief, and what happens when the season turns against youMacabre Bob stepping in with his own darkly comic interludes and twisted holiday commentaryA brutal breakdown of six Christmas horror films — from cult classics to modern shockers — dissected with biting sarcasm, detailed play-by-plays, effects analysis, budget talk, and unapologetic reflectionsAnd a reminder that sometimes the bells don’t jingle… they warnThis episode contains explicit language, graphic horror themes, and adult content and is intended for mature audiences only. So, dim the lights. Lock the doors.  And remember — Santa isn’t the only thing watching this Christmas. Support the show That noise you hear while you're lying in bed is just your imagination...or is it?

    1h 16m

  7. 12/19/2025 · BONUS

    We Wish You a Morbid Christmas

    Send us a text  We Wish You a Morbid Christmas a brutal bonus episode of Echoes in the Dark, where host John Keaser Jr. — writer, insomniac, and horror exhibitionist — rips the holiday cheer out of three Christmas horror films that chose violence over comfort. In this ranked breakdown, John delivers a darkly sarcastic, no-mercy deep dive into The Mean One (2022), Christmas Bloody Christmas (2022), and Christmas Evil (1980) — examining their kills, performances, cinematography, practical effects, budgets, and cult legacies. From public-domain slashers and neon-soaked robotic Santas to slow-burn psychological Christmas nightmares, this episode explores why Christmas horror works best when it strips away nostalgia and exposes what’s really underneath the tinsel. Featuring sharp commentary, detailed play-by-play analysis, and appearances from Macabre Bob, this episode is not cozy, not safe, and absolutely not for the nice list. 🎧 Listener discretion strongly advised. Support the show That noise you hear while you're lying in bed is just your imagination...or is it?

    12 min

  8. 12/11/2025

    Winter of the Wendigo

    Send us a text In Episode 4, John descends into the frozen nightmare of one of North America’s most chilling legends: the Wendigo. This creature isn’t your pop-culture antlered forest spirit—this is the real beast of Algonquin lore: a gaunt, skeletal predator born from starvation, desperation, and the darkest corners of winter. The episode opens as John sets the tone for a long, merciless season, then hands the mic to Macabre Bob, who—as always—shows up with inappropriate enthusiasm, terrible winter “safety tips,” and the subtle charm of a crypt keeper working the night shift. From there, we dig deep into the history, anthropology, and indigenous accounts behind the Wendigo: How this creature became the embodiment of hunger and greedWhy winter is its hunting seasonReal sightings and cultural storiesThe chilling psychological phenomenon of Wendigo psychosisJohn’s dark humor and storytelling guide listeners through the legend while keeping the frostbite at bay. Expect sarcasm, shivers, and a side of existential dread. The episode wraps with a call to action, updates on Hopewell Hollow, and a reminder that the Hollow Shop is open for the brave. John also invites listeners to submit their novels or short stories for review and possible feature on the show—just email hopwellhollow1993@gmail.com . If you like folklore, fear, and frost-bitten monsters, “Winter of the Wendigo” is the perfect storm. Support the show That noise you hear while you're lying in bed is just your imagination...or is it?

    57 min

  9. 11/26/2025

    Feast of the Damned (The Thanksgiving Special)

    Send us a text Tonight, we carve into a feast of fear. In this Thanksgiving special of Echoes in the Dark: Stories, Haunt, and Horrors, we’re diving headfirst into the chaos of holiday horror. From family curses and cults to killer turkeys and unhinged dinner parties, this episode celebrates the dark side of tradition with a full table of terror. We begin with new chapters from Hopewell Hollow, peeling back the secrets buried in the cold dirt of the Hollow. Then we step into the real world for a chilling true haunting steeped in Thanksgiving folklore. And finally… we dive into our holiday horror movie gauntlet — including a full breakdown of ThanksKilling, The Menu, We Are What We Are, Hereditary, The Invitation, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. It’s a stuffing-packed celebration of slasher chaos, supernatural dread, and the bizarre cinematic turkeys that have made Thanksgiving one of horror’s strangest traditions. If you like original stories, true hauntings, and unapologetically twisted horror commentary — you’re in the right place. Happy Thanksgiving.  Let’s step into the dark. Support the show That noise you hear while you're lying in bed is just your imagination...or is it?

    1h 26m

  10. 11/20/2025 · BONUS

    Bonus Episode 1-The House That Didn't Want New Owners

    Send us a text In this special haunted-house throwdown, John dives headfirst into the homes you should absolutely never sign a mortgage for. From the emotional trauma engine of The Haunting of Hill House to the glass death-maze chaos of 13 Ghosts, to the demon-fueled brutality of The Conjuring, this bonus episode breaks down the top three haunted-house horrors with dark humor, sarcasm, and action-packed commentary. If you’ve ever wondered what happens when architecture turns predatory, ghosts get aggressive, and demons start playing hide-and-clap at 3 a.m., this one’s for you. Come for the scares… stay for the jokes… and whatever you do—  don’t open the basement door. ⚠️ Disclaimer: This show contains dark humor, adult language, and a disturbing lack of respect for the living. Support the show That noise you hear while you're lying in bed is just your imagination...or is it?

    18 min

  11. 11/14/2025

    Roots of Evil

    Send us a text Welcome back to Echoes in the Dark: Stories, Haunts, and Horror — where the trees whisper, the hosts are sleep-deprived, and the ghosts have better attendance than your coworkers. In this episode, John Keaser Jr. digs into the chilling origins of Hopewell Hollow with readings from Chapters 3 and 4, where curses take root and the past refuses to stay buried. Then we branch out (pun intended) into real-world haunted legends of sinister trees and cursed forests — the kind that make you question every camping trip you’ve ever taken. Macabre Bob drops in with his usual blend of inappropriate charm and bad life choices, before John closes the night ranking six horror films involving killer trees, from the gloriously ridiculous (Thankskilling) to the genre-defining (The Evil Dead). Equal parts folklore, fear, and dark comedy — “Roots of Evil” dives into the places where grief, nature, and the supernatural intertwine. ⚠️ Disclaimer: This show contains dark humor, adult language, and a disturbing lack of respect for the living. Support the show That noise you hear while you're lying in bed is just your imagination...or is it?

    1h 9m

  12. 10/29/2025

    Echoes in the Dark: Stories, Haunts, and Horrors

    Send us a text In the premiere of Echoes in the Dark: Stories, Haunts, and Horrors, John Keaser Jr. explores the eerie origins of Halloween — from its ancient Celtic roots to its modern traditions of masks and mayhem. With atmospheric storytelling, dark humor from Macabre Bob, and reflections on iconic Halloween films, this debut episode sets the tone for a season of chills and nostalgia. New episodes released bi-weekly on Fridays.  Step inside… if you dare. Support the show That noise you hear while you're lying in bed is just your imagination...or is it?

    1h 7m
  • 12 Episodes

About

The Dark Side of Storytelling… Echoes in the Dark: Original Stories, True Hauntings, & Horror Genre Explored is a horror podcast focused on psychological and folk horror, featuring original short stories, true haunting accounts, and deep dives into the lore, films, and cultural nightmares that shape the genre. Each episode invites listeners into unsettling worlds designed to make you question the noise in the hallway, rethink old houses, and linger in the quiet dread that lives between myth and memory. The podcast is hosted by John Keaser Jr., founder of Dark Hollow Media LLC, with the occasional unhinged commentary from Macabre Bob. Echoes in the Dark blends twisted storytelling with research, realism, and just enough adult sarcasm to make your therapist concerned. Expect dark humor, creeping atmosphere, folklore-driven horror, and honest reactions fueled by caffeine, trauma, and questionable life choices. If you like your horror atmospheric, your folklore unsettling, and your jokes a little too inappropriate for HR—welcome home. Some echoes whisper.These ones bite.

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