Loreplay

Dayna Pereira
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Dayna Pereira is the sarcastic solo host of Loreplay, serving up paranormal stories, haunted history, creepy folklore, and weird legends with a playful twist. Equal parts storyteller and skeptic, she blends dark humor, spooky vibes, and a love for the bizarre into binge-worthy episodes for fans of ghost stories, urban legends, and true crime with a paranormal twist.

  1. Krampus

    12/22/2025

    Krampus

    Forget cozy cocoa and wholesome carols—this episode of Loreplay drags Christmas straight into the Alps and leaves it screaming. In this darkly festive deep dive, host Dayna Pereira unwraps the chilling folklore of Krampus, the horned, chain-rattling nightmare who shows up every December not to deliver gifts—but to dish out consequences. Long before Santa became a jolly capitalist mascot, Krampus was roaming Alpine villages, terrorizing children, beating the naughty with birch rods, stuffing the worst offenders into his sack, and, depending on the legend, dragging them off to hell… or something arguably worse. This episode explores the brutal folklore behind Krampusnacht, the cultural role of fear in child-rearing, and why European Christmas traditions were historically less “holiday cheer” and more “behave or be taken into the mountains.” We dig into centuries-old stories of children who vanished after misbehaving, the symbolism behind Krampus’ animalistic appearance, and how pagan winter spirits survived Christianization by simply putting on a festive disguise. Along the way, we examine Krampus’ possible connections to older Alpine figures like Frau Perchta, unpack the rise (and chaos) of modern Krampuslauf celebrations, and ask the most important question of all: Why was everyone in history so comfortable terrifying children at Christmas? Dark, creepy, historically grounded—and just unhinged enough to make you grateful your parents only threatened to call Santa—this episode proves once again that the holidays used to be feral. So light a candle, lock your doors, and remember: Santa watches…But Krampus acts. Sources:National Geographic – The Dark History of Krampus Smithsonian Magazine – The Alpine Origins of Krampus Britannica – Krampus: European Folklore Jacob Grimm – Teutonic Mythology Alpine Folklore Archives (Austria & Bavaria) University of Innsbruck Folklore Studies Hilda Ellis Davidson – Roles of the Northern Goddess Maria Tatar – The Hard Facts of the Grimms’ Fairy Tales

    21 min
  2. Frau Perchta

    12/15/2025

    Frau Perchta

    n this episode of Loreplay, host Dayna Pereira ventures into the snowy, unsettling heart of Alpine folklore to meet one of Europe’s most iconic winter figures: Frau Perchta—a goddess, witch, and domestic compliance auditor who absolutely did not come to play. Known for roaming the countryside during the Twelve Nights of Christmas, Perchta rewarded the diligent, punished the lazy, and allegedly slit open the bellies of naughty children to stuff them with straw and rocks. Festive! But beneath the gore and goat-footed nightmare fuel lies a fascinating story of pre-Christian goddesses, household rituals, seasonal transition, and the Church’s long tradition of demonizing powerful women. This episode explores Perchta’s many forms—from radiant White Lady to grotesque belly-slasher—her connection to spinning, fertility, and the Wild Hunt, and how she slowly morphed from respected folkloric figure into holiday horror icon. Along the way, we unpack why medieval Europe was so obsessed with winter demons, why chores were apparently a matter of life and death, and how Perchta may have helped inspire figures like Krampus, Frau Holle, and even the concept of Santa’s “naughty list.” So grab a warm drink, finish your spinning, and prepare to be judged—because Frau Perchta is coming, and she will be checking your vibes. Sources & Further Reading Grimm, Jacob. Teutonic Mythology. (1883)Lecouteux, Claude. Phantom Armies of the Night: The Wild Hunt and the Ghostly Processions of the UndeadLecouteux, Claude. The Tradition of Household Spirits: Ancestral Lore and PracticesHutton, Ronald. The Pagan Religions of the Ancient British IslesBarber, Elizabeth Wayland. Women’s Work: The First 20,000 YearsÖsterreichisches Museum für Volkskunde (Austrian Museum of Folk Life and Folk Art) archivesEncyclopaedia Britannica – entries on Perchta, Frau Holle, and Alpine folkloreSimek, Rudolf. Dictionary of Northern MythologyKvideland, Reimund & Henning K. Sehmsdorf. Scandinavian Folk Belief and Legend

    30 min
  3. The Green Children of Woolpit

    12/08/2025

    The Green Children of Woolpit

    Tonight on Loreplay, we’re diving deep into one of the most fascinating, eerie, and unexplained medieval mysteries ever recorded: The Green Children of Woolpit. This legendary twelfth-century case from Suffolk, England, has baffled historians, folklorists, and paranormal researchers for centuries. Two mysterious green-skinned children appeared out of nowhere near a wolf pit in Woolpit, speaking an unknown language, wearing unfamiliar clothing, and describing a twilight world unlike anything in recorded English folklore. In this episode, we explore the historical accounts from medieval chroniclers William of Newburgh and Ralph of Coggeshall, examine the children’s strange behavior, and unpack the girl’s chilling description of her homeland — a dim world known as the Land of St. Martin where the sun never shines and everyone has green skin. We break down the most compelling explanations behind this unsolved historical mystery, including: Flemish refugee theoryFairy folklore and British supernatural traditionsParallel dimension theories / interdimensional slipTime anomalies and medieval “thin places”Nutritional and environmental explanations for green skinWas this a case of misunderstood medieval immigration? A brush with the fairy realm? A supernatural phenomenon? A glitch in reality? Or one of the earliest recorded examples of interdimensional travelers in British history? If you’re obsessed with unsolved historical cases, English folklore, paranormal mysteries, fairy lore, or stories that make you go “What the actual medieval hell did I just listen to?”, this episode of Loreplay is going to be your new favorite rabbit hole. Step into one of the strangest folklore mysteries ever documented: the Green Children of Woolpit, a real historical event recorded by twelfth-century chroniclers that continues to stump historians, folklorists, and paranormal researchers today. In this Loreplay episode, we uncover the truth behind the mysterious green-skinned children who appeared in Woolpit, England, speaking an unknown language and claiming to come from a land of eternal twilight. Was this bizarre medieval event rooted in fairy folklore, a parallel dimension, a hidden isolated community, or a supernatural glitch in the fabric of reality? Perfect for fans of: weird history, folklore podcasts, paranormal podcasts, unsolved enigmas, English legends, mysterious children legends, and medieval supernatural encounters. Keywords: Green Children of Woolpit, folklore podcast, paranormal podcast, supernatural folklore, weird history podcast, medieval legends, mysterious children story, English paranormal history, fairy realm folklore, historical mysteries explained.Primary Medieval Sources William of Newburgh — Historia Rerum Anglicarum (Green Children of Woolpit account)Ralph of Coggeshall — Chronicon Anglicanum (firsthand documentation of Woolpit mystery)Folklore & History Scholarship John Clark, “The Green Children of Woolpit” — Folklore JournalJacqueline Simpson — British Folklore and the SupernaturalRonald Hutton — Pagan Britain & The Stations of the SunThomas Keightley — The Fairy MythologyModern Analyses Fortean Times — “Children From the Dark: The Woolpit Mystery”Suffolk Archaeological Society PapersMedical research on chlorosis & hypochromic anemiaGeological surveys of Suffolk chalk caves & cavern acoustics

    31 min
  4. The Pendle Witch Trials

    12/01/2025

    The Pendle Witch Trials

    Tonight on Loreplay, we’re headed straight into the misty hills of Lancashire to unravel one of the most infamous witchcraft trials in history — the 1612 Pendle Witch Trials. This episode dives into the crumbling social order of early-17th-century England, where famine, disease, political paranoia, and neighborly grudges created the perfect storm for witchcraft accusations. We unpack the lives of Demdike, Chattox, Alizon Device, Old Mother Nutter, and the rest of the so-called witches who were swept up in a tale of curses, confessions, and good old-fashioned government fearmongering. From “soft torture” in the Lancaster Gaol, to a ten-year-old child testifying against her entire family, to King James I obsessively hunting witches like he was trying to complete some kind of satanic Pokémon set — this story has everything. It’s eerie. It’s tragic. It’s wildly human. And in true Loreplay fashion, I’ll make you laugh at least twice before you gasp out loud.Primary & Historical Sources Thomas Potts, The Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches in the Countie of Lancaster (1613). The official contemporary account of the trials. Biased and prosecutorial, but essential.James I, Daemonologie (1597). The king’s witch-hunting bible that set the tone for the era.Academic Books & Articles Sharpe, James. The Lancashire Witches: Histories and Stories. Manchester University Press. A deep academic look at the social and political context.Barstow, Anne Llewellyn. Witchcraze: A New History of the European Witch Hunts. Helpful for understanding the larger witch-hunt framework.Goodare, Julian. “The Scottish Witch-Hunt in Context.” Manchester University Press. Contextualizes James I’s influence and policy shaping.Essex, Helen. “Re-evaluating Confessions in the Pendle Witch Trials.” (Essex Open Access Research). Discussions of coercion, interrogation, and credibility.Modern Summaries & Museum Resources The Lancashire Museums / Lancaster Castle official archives Context for the gaol, conditions, and trial procedures.The Pendle Witch Visitor Centre & Official Pendle Witches Trail Modern historical interpretations, maps, and family histories.BBC History: “The Pendle Witches.” A concise overview of events with standard UK scholarship.Secondary Sources / Journalism The Guardian: “Pendle witches: the story” Modern analysis and historical re-evaluation.History Today articles on 17th-century witchcraft and trial standards

    37 min
  5. Cropsey and The Willowbrook State School

    11/24/2025

    Cropsey and The Willowbrook State School

    This week on Loreplay, your host Dayna Pereira drags you—lovingly, chaotically, and with a full set of trigger warnings—into one of New York’s darkest intersections of myth and reality. We’re talking Cropsey, Staten Island’s OG boogeyman… and the very real institutional nightmare that fed the legend: the Willowbrook State School. From childhood dares in the woods… to abandoned tunnels… to unethical medical experiments… to the disappearances of multiple children… this episode unpacks how an urban legend stopped being folklore and started feeling uncomfortably real. Dayna dives into: The original pre–Andre Rand versions of CropseyThe creation, collapse, and absolute hellscape of WillowbrookThe hepatitis experiments (aka: “science said WHAT?”)Geraldo Rivera blowing the lid off the institutionThe disappearances that shook Staten IslandAndre Rand’s crimes, accusations, and the cases still unsolvedHow myth, trauma, and institutional failure fused into one terrifying narrativeEqual parts horror, heartbreak, and “holy-shit-how-was-this-real,” this episode is a reminder that sometimes the scariest legends are built on top of real places where real people were failed. Turn off the lights. Lock your doors. And let’s go find the line where folklore ends… and monsters begin. SHOW NOTES Trigger Warnings: This episode contains discussions of child abuse, neglect, institutional abuse, unethical medical experiments, kidnapping, and the deaths/disappearances of children. Topics Covered: History of the Cropsey urban legendEarly folklore origins of Cropsey (pre–Andre Rand)Founding and deterioration of the Willowbrook State School (1947–1987)Conditions inside WillowbrookThe hepatitis experiments conducted by Dr. Saul KrugmanGeraldo Rivera’s 1972 exposéThe disappearance cases of:Alice Pereira (1972)Holly Ann Hughes (1981)Tiahease Jackson (1983)Henry Gafforio (1984)Jennifer Schweiger (1987)The arrest and convictions of Andre RandThe 2009 Cropsey documentaryModern interpretations, hauntings, and how the legend persistsSources & Further Reading: (Note: these are clean, reputable sources suitable for show notes. No need for academic citation formatting.) “Cropsey” (2009) – Documentary by Joshua Zeman & Barbara BrancaccioGeraldo Rivera’s 1972 Willowbrook exposé (ABC/Local Eyewitness News)New York State Archives – Willowbrook State School RecordsThe New York Times coverage of Willowbrook (1960s–1980s)The Disability Rights Movement & The Willowbrook Consent DecreeNew York Daily News & Staten Island Advance reporting on the Rand casesSaul Krugman’s published hepatitis studies (1950s–1970s), archived medical journalsSupport the Show: If this episode creeped you out, educated you, or ruined your ability to walk near a storm drain ever again, leave Loreplay a 5-star review and share the episode with your favorite spooky-loving friend. Send your WTF Wednesday stories to loreplaypod@gmail.com

    36 min
  6. The Greenbrier Ghost

    11/17/2025

    The Greenbrier Ghost

    In this spine-tingling (and side-splitting) episode of Loreplay, host Dayna Pereira dives deep into the unbelievable true story of the Greenbrier Ghost—the only documented case in American history where a ghost’s testimony helped convict a murderer. Yep. Court of law. Sworn statement. Medium-grade Victorian drama. Full-body chills. Travel back to 1897 in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, where newlywed Zona Heaster Shue dies under suspicious circumstances… and her mother refuses to buy the “it was natural causes” excuse that the town doctor offered while he was practically doing a speed-run autopsy in reverse. After four nights of bone-cracking ghostly visits, Zona reveals the truth: her husband killed her, and she wants justice. This episode blends historical research, paranormal evidence, Appalachian folklore, and classic Loreplay humor, taking you through everything from the shady husband’s red flags to the séance-level mother-daughter determination that cracked the case wide open. If you love haunted history, true crime with a paranormal twist, Appalachian ghost stories, or tales of women who refuse to be quiet even in death—this one’s a must-listen. Perfect for fans of: ghost stories, historical hauntings, creepy folklore, murder mysteries, supernatural investigations, Appalachian legends, true crime meets paranormal podcasts. 📚 Sources for This Episode Primary Historical Sources Greenbrier Independent Newspaper (January–April 1897) – Original reporting on Zona Heaster Shue’s death and the trial of Erasmus Stribbling Shue.West Virginia Archives & History: “The Greenbrier Ghost” – Comprehensive archival summary compiled from legal records, newspaper articles, and oral history.Court Records of the State of West Virginia vs. Erasmus Stribbling Shue (1897) – Trial testimony, including depositions referencing Mary Jane Heaster’s ghost encounters.Greenbrier County Historical Society – Local collected folklore and legal history of the case.Books & Academic References Deitz, Dennis. The Greenbrier Ghost and Other Strange Stories. – The most commonly cited narrative collection including the events surrounding Zona’s death.Humphrey, Michael. Haunted West Virginia: Ghost Stories and Legends. – Contains a full retelling with historical context about Appalachian spiritual beliefs.Ruth Ann Musick. The Telltale Lilac Bush and Other West Virginia Ghost Tales. – Canonical Appalachian folklore source referencing the cultural backdrop of the case.Kenny, Hamill. West Virginia Place Names. – Provides regional and cultural context for the people, geography, and customs of Greenbrier County.Articles, Essays & Museum Resources Smithsonian Magazine – “The True Story of the Greenbrier Ghost” (feature on folklore, legal precedent, and the trial).Appalachian History Journal – “How a Ghost Helped Solve a Murder in 1897.”National Registry of Historic Places – Greenbrier County Listings – Locations relevant to the case (courthouse, historical sites).West Virginia Folklore Journal – Entries referencing Mary Jane Heaster’s accounts and Appalachian ghost-belief traditions.Local & Cultural Sources Greenbrier County Convention & Visitors Bureau – Historical markers + local oral histories.Meadow Bluff / Livesay’s Mill Region Historical Notes – Context for the Shue residence and community in the 1890s.West Virginia State Folklorists’ Oral History Projects – Interviews with descendants and locals retelling the Greenbrier Ghost legend.

    34 min
  7. The Blood Countess

    11/10/2025

    The Blood Countess

    The Blood Countess of Cachtice: Elizabeth Báthory — Monster, Myth, or Misogyny? Hey hey, my lore-loving fiends — tonight we’re heading back to 16th-century Hungary, where leeches were skincare, torture was trending, and one noblewoman’s beauty routine allegedly involved… her staff. Elizabeth Báthory — better known as The Blood Countess — has been called history’s most prolific female serial killer, accused of torturing and murdering hundreds of girls to preserve her youth. But how much of it is true… and how much was cooked up by jealous nobles, political rivals, and a patriarchal empire that didn’t love a woman with her own money and opinions? In this full-bodied (and occasionally blood-soaked) deep dive, we unravel the legend — from her aristocratic upbringing and dark castle years, to the sensational trial that never was, and the centuries of myth-making that turned her into the world’s most infamous vampire countess. Was she a monster? A myth? Or just a woman whose story bled out of control? Pour a glass of red — preferably cabernet, not chambermaid — and join host Dayna Pereira for a hilarious, horrifying, and historically accurate descent into the legend of Elizabeth Báthory. Primary Sources: • The Trial of Erzsébet Báthory (Hungarian State Archives, 1611) • Letters of György Thurzó to King Matthias II (1610–1611) • Jesuit tracts: Tragoediae Epistolae de Crudelissima Bathoryana (1729) Secondary Sources: • McNally, Raymond T. — Dracula Was a Woman: In Search of the Blood Countess of Transylvania (McGraw-Hill, 1983) • Craft, Kimberly L. — Infamous Lady: The True Story of Countess Erzsébet Báthory (2009) • Penrose, Valentine — The Bloody Countess (Creation Books, 1996) • Nagy, László — A History of Hungary (Corvina, 1998) Pop Culture & Media: • Countess Dracula (Hammer Films, 1971) • The Countess (Julie Delpy, 2009) • American Horror Story: Hotel (FX, 2015) • Castlevania (Konami Series)

    35 min
  8. The Dybbuk Box

    11/03/2025

    The Dybbuk Box

    You’ve heard of haunted dolls, cursed mirrors, and demons that slide into your DMs — but few haunted objects have ever captured the world’s attention like the Dybbuk Box. A simple wooden wine cabinet turned viral nightmare, this thing went from folklore-inspired hoax to a full-blown paranormal phenomenon involving Ghost Adventures, Post Malone, and the internet’s collective fear of “what’s in the box.” In this episode of Loreplay, Dayna Pereira dives deep into the origins of the Dybbuk legend in Jewish mysticism, the true story behind Kevin Mannis’s eBay listing, and the chaos that followed — from Jason Haxton’s museum hauntings to Zak Bagans’s on-camera meltdown and the infamous Post Malone curse. We break down the folklore, the fear, and the fine line between cultural myth and collective psychosis — because when enough people believe in something, even the internet can make it real. Mannis, Kevin. Original eBay Listing for “Haunted Dybbuk Box.” (2003, archived on paranormal-collector forums and Wayback Machine) Haxton, Jason. The Dibbuk Box. Truman State University Press, 2011. Ansky, S. The Dybbuk, or Between Two Worlds. (1914; English translation, 1926) The Jewish Virtual Library. “Dybbuk (Dibbuk).” JewishVirtualLibrary.org Zak Bagans. Ghost Adventures: Quarantine — Episode 4, “Dybbuk Box: The Opening.” Discovery+, 2020. Bagans, Zak & Haxton, Jason. Interviews via Las Vegas Review-Journal (June 2020). Post Malone on Late Night with Seth Meyers. NBC, Oct. 2018. Snopes.com. “Was the Dybbuk Box a Real Jewish Relic?” (2021). LiveScience. “The Science of Haunted Objects and the Nocebo Effect.” (2022). Haaretz. “The Real Story of the Dybbuk and How Pop Culture Got It Wrong.” (2019).Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dybbuk_box

    27 min
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About

Dayna Pereira is the sarcastic solo host of Loreplay, serving up paranormal stories, haunted history, creepy folklore, and weird legends with a playful twist. Equal parts storyteller and skeptic, she blends dark humor, spooky vibes, and a love for the bizarre into binge-worthy episodes for fans of ghost stories, urban legends, and true crime with a paranormal twist.

Information

  • Creator
    Dayna Pereira
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Dayna Pereira
  • Show Website
    Loreplay