By Candlelight

Ashlin James

By Candlelight is a true crime and dark storytelling podcast exploring everything that goes bump in the night. From well-known cases and wrongful convictions to survivor stories, cults, haunted history, and the unexplained, no two episodes are quite the same. Hosted by Ashlin and Jay, recordings happen in our living room, where everyday life hums, a reminder that while the world keeps turning, those touched by these stories are left to rebuild. Some episodes are deeply researched, others conversation-driven, all are human. Join us as we explore the stories that refuse to stay quiet.

Episodes

  1. Jan 1

    Episode 4 - The Disappearance of Bryce Laspisa

    By Candlelight – Episode 4 The Disappearance of Bryce Laspisa In August of 2013, nineteen-year-old Bryce Laspisa left his girlfriend’s apartment in Northern California, telling those around him he was driving home to his parents. He never arrived. Over the next 48 hours, Bryce’s behavior grew increasingly concerning: prolonged stalling in Buttonwillow, a late-night drive toward Castaic Lake, and a mysterious crash that left his belongings behind—but no sign of Bryce himself. In this episode, Ashlin tells Bryce’s story by carefully examining the timeline, search efforts, and the theories that have followed his disappearance for more than a decade. Through a survivor’s lens, she also explores how crisis, exhaustion, substances, and internal psychological warfare can shape behavior in ways that are often misunderstood from the outside. This episode is not just about a mystery.It’s about a young man, the people who loved him, and the unanswered question of what happened after he walked away from his vehicle in the early morning hours of August 30, 2013. 🕯️ Content Warning & Listener DiscretionThis episode includes discussion of suicide, suicidal ideation, crisis states, and hospitalization for safety. If you need to pause, skip, or return later—that’s okay. Name: Bryce David LaspisaMissing Since: August 30, 2013Age at Disappearance: 19Height: 5’11”Weight: Approx. 170 lbsHair / Eyes: Red hair, blue-green eyesDistinguishing Mark: Taurus bull tattoo on left shoulderLast Known Location: Castaic Lake area, Los Angeles County, CaliforniaVehicle: 2003 Toyota Highlander, found overturned near Castaic Lake 👉 Official NCMEC Missing Poster:https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1222511/1 Please contact:Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department: 323-890-5500National Center for Missing & Exploited Children:1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) If you are struggling, please know: you matter, and you deserve support. United States:Call or text 988 — Suicide & Crisis LifelineOr go to your nearest emergency room and say (or hand them a note):“I am in a mental health crisis.” Outside the U.S.:Visit findahelpline.com to locate local resources. Please stay with us.Don’t blow your candle out.One candle loses nothing by lighting another. If you are listening as a friend, partner, parent, or loved one—your presence matters. If by some chance you are out there and ever hear this:You are not forgotten.You are not alone.You are not defined by the events of late August 2013. You matter, just as you always have.People love you and would simply like to know you are safe. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children — Bryce Laspisa (official poster) Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Media coverage of Bryce’s disappearance and decade-long unresolved case 🎙️ By Candlelight Podcast📸 Instagram: @bycandlelightpod🕯️ Listener stories and case recommendations:bycandlelightpod@gmail.com Before You Drift OffSome episodes stay with us longer than others. After listening, rest matters. Case InformationIf You Have InformationMental Health ResourcesA Note to BryceSources & Further ReadingBy Candlelight partners with Promeed to support better sleep and winding down when the stories feel heavy.🛏️ Shop Promeed: https://tidd.ly/3NuP52E✨ Use code CANDLELIGHT15 for 15% off and help support the show.

    35 min

  2. 12/25/2025

    Episode 3 - Gipsy’s Graveyard | Listener Tales Vol. 1

    Tonight’s candle is lit for our very first listener submission. In this episode of By Candlelight, we head to Crown Point, Indiana — to a place locals have whispered about for generations: Gipsy’s Graveyard. Before reading our listener’s story, we explore the local lore, the historical record, and the strange experiences people have claimed to have there over the years. Then, we read Meg’s account exactly as she lived it — a night that began as a college adventure and turned into something far more unsettling. Lost time. Disorienting sounds. A feeling of being guided the wrong way. Some places don’t need proof to leave a mark. 🕯️ Listener discretion advised. Have a story of your own? We want to hear it. Send your true crime, paranormal, eerie, or unexplained experiences to: 📧 bycandlelightpod@gmail.com Please put Story Submission in the subject line, and let us know: If we can use your real name If you’d like names changed Or if you’ve already changed them You’re welcome to include articles, links, or photos. If you send photos, please clearly state whether or not we have permission to share them on social media. If you don’t say yes, we’ll assume the answer is no. Stay connected, see behind-the-scenes moments, and keep the candle burning between episodes. 📸 Instagram: @bycandlelightpod If you enjoyed this episode, following the show, leaving a rating, or writing a review helps more than you know — especially while we’re still growing. 🕯️ As always, thank you for hanging out with us. Stay curious. Stay spooky. And remember — don’t blow out the candle just yet. You never know what may be lurking in the dark. Listener SubmissionsFollow UsSupport the Show

    42 min

  3. 09/15/2025 ·  Bonus

    Episode 2 - Mini Episode - a Quick Update and Campfire Stories with Ashlin

    By Candlelight – Episode 2 Fireside Check-In & Five Urban Legends Ashlin returns with a special mini-episode to share what’s been unfolding behind the scenes at By Candlelight, how future episodes are staying on track, and a small thank-you to listeners for their patience and support. Then, gather ‘round the fire as we drift into five eerie tales that refuse to fade with time—from the Vanishing Hitchhiker to the haunted roads of Chicago’s Resurrection Mary. These stories are meant to be listened to in the dark, passed along like whispered warnings, and carried with you long after the candle burns low. This episode is part update, part gift, and part campfire confession—an intimate moment before we return to the shadows. ✨ Don’t blow out the candle just yet… you never know who might be standing at the roadside. ✉️ Share Your StoryHave a chilling encounter, a family mystery, or a true crime tale of your own? Send your stories to bycandlelightpod@gmail.com.Use subject “listener story” or “episode suggestion.” Let us know if you’d like to remain anonymous. Before You Drift OffBy Candlelight partners with Promeed to support better rest and winding down after the stories fade.🛏️ Shop Promeed: https://tidd.ly/3NuP52E✨ Use code CANDLELIGHT15 for 15% off and help support the show.

    10 min

  4. 08/21/2025

    Episode 1 Diana of The Dunes - The Story of Alice Mabel Gray

    By Candlelight – Episode 1 Diana of the Dunes: The Story of Alice Mabel Gray In our very first episode, hosts Ashlin and Jay James take you to the shifting sands of the Indiana Dunes, where a woman’s legend has lingered for over a century. Alice Mabel Gray—better known as Diana of the Dunes—left behind a life of convention to embrace solitude, scandal, and mystery along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Who was Alice? A free spirit ahead of her time? A hermit? A tragic figure bound by love and circumstance? Her story is filled with whispers of ghostly sightings, untamed independence, and the haunting beauty of the dunes themselves. Come sit by the candlelight with Ashlin and Jay, and explore how Alice Mabel Gray became a myth woven into Indiana folklore. ✨ Don’t blow out the candle just yet—you never know what’s lurking in the dark. ✉️ Share Your StoryDo you have a chilling encounter, a family mystery, or a true crime tale of your own? Send your stories to bycandlelightpod@gmail.com. You just might hear them featured in a future episode. Before You Drift OffBy Candlelight partners with Promeed to support better rest and winding down after the stories fade.🛏️ Shop Promeed: https://tidd.ly/3NuP52E✨ Use code CANDLELIGHT15 for 15% off and help support the show.

    46 min

  5. Trailer

    Episode 0 - Trailer

    Step into the shadows with By Candlelight, where every story flickers with mystery. Hosted by Ashlin and Jay, this podcast blends eerie true crime, paranormal encounters, and listener-submitted tales that blur the line between fact and fear. Each episode is crafted to draw you in—whether it’s a chilling unsolved case, a haunting that refuses to fade, or the whispered secrets of places long forgotten. With Ashlin’s storytelling and Jay’s skeptical wit, you’ll find yourself both unsettled and entertained as the candlelight dances. Subscribe now—and let the stories find you in the dark. New episodes arrive weekly, so strike a match, settle into the shadows, and remember… don’t blow out the candle just yet. Submit your stories by email:bycandlelightpod@gmail.comUse subject “listener story” or “episode suggestion.”Please let us know if we may use your name or if you’d prefer to remain anonymous. Don’t blow out the candle just yet… you don’t know what’s lurking in the dark. Before You Drift OffBy Candlelight partners with Promeed to support better rest and winding down after the stories fade.🛏️ https://tidd.ly/3NuP52E✨ Use code CANDLELIGHT15 for 15% off.

    1 min

Trailer

About

By Candlelight is a true crime and dark storytelling podcast exploring everything that goes bump in the night. From well-known cases and wrongful convictions to survivor stories, cults, haunted history, and the unexplained, no two episodes are quite the same. Hosted by Ashlin and Jay, recordings happen in our living room, where everyday life hums, a reminder that while the world keeps turning, those touched by these stories are left to rebuild. Some episodes are deeply researched, others conversation-driven, all are human. Join us as we explore the stories that refuse to stay quiet.

Information

  • Creator
    Ashlin James
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Ashlin James
  • Show Website
    By Candlelight