Ghost Bites

Brew Crime

Ghost Bites is a weekly podcast from Mike and J.T. of Brew Crime, for quick, 5–10 minute dives into the haunted, spooky, and paranormal. Get your weekly dose of all things creepy, served with a side of laughs. It's the perfect podcast for anyone looking for a fun and frightening experience that won't take up their whole day.

  1. HH06 Bramshill House: The Bride in the Box and 14 Ghosts

    3D AGO

    HH06 Bramshill House: The Bride in the Box and 14 Ghosts

    Today on Ghost Bites, Mike and JT check into Bramshill House in Hampshire, England, reputedly one of the country's most haunted stately homes with over 14 specters. Mike details the house's magnificent Jacobean history, its famous owners (including a Lord Zouche and an exiled King of Romania), and the legendary ghost: The Mistletoe Bride (or White Lady). Mike covers the tragic tale of the bride who hid in an antique chest during a game of hide-and-seek, only to be found 50 years later as a skeleton in a wedding dress. JT dissects the bride's baffling choice of hiding spot, questions the sheer audacity of being haunted by a 'Green Man' and a 1920s tennis ghost, and reflects on the eternal trauma of a love story ruined by a faulty spring-loaded lid. To listen to all of the Haunted Holidays songs, head to the link here and leave us a like and comment: https://tinyurl.com/GhostBitesHauntedHolidays Sources ●    Burials & Beyond. (2019, December 21). The Bramshill House Bride, or the Legend of the Mistletoe Bough. Retrieved from https://burialsandbeyond.com/2019/12/21/the-bramshill-house-bride-or-the-legend-of-the-mistletoe-bough/ ●    Cope Collection. (2018, October 31). The Bridal Chest of Bramshill, or, A Ghost Tale from the Cope Collection. University of Southampton Special Collections. Retrieved from https://specialcollectionsuniversityofsouthampton.wordpress.com/2018/10/31/the-bridal-chest-of-bramshill-or-a-ghost-tale-from-the-cope-collection/ ●    House and Heritage. (2018, June 25). BRAMSHILL PARK. Retrieved from https://houseandheritage.org/2018/06/25/bramshill-park/ ●    US Ghost Adventures. (n.d.). The Bramshill House Bride. Retrieved from https://usghostadventures.com/haunted-stories/25-days-of-christmas/the-bramshill-house-bride/ ●    Wikipedia. (n.d.). Bramshill House. Retrieved October 14, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bramshill_House ●    Wikipedia. (n.d.). Legend of the Mistletoe Bough. Retrieved October 14, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legend_of_the_Mistletoe_Bough Intro Music by - Jayme McDonald (Chatterless) ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Linktree ⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    17 min
  2. The Yule Cat

    6D AGO

    The Yule Cat

    Today on Ghost Bites, Mike and JT venture to Iceland to confront the most terrifying holiday figure—one who isn't interested in coal or spanking, but in your wardrobe: the Yule Cat (Jólakötturinn). Mike details the cat's monstrous size ("bigger than a house"), its association as the pet of the man-eating troll Grýla, and the bizarre rule that dictates its victim: anyone who does not receive new clothes before Christmas Eve. JT critiques the sheer absurdity of the cat’s mission as "holiday fashion police," breaks down the underlying economic anxiety of wool-processing, and praises the cat's commitment to high-stakes sartorial enforcement. It’s an episode about horror, high fashion, and the constant fear of wearing last year's socks. Sources ●    J. M. (2021, December 1). The Yule Cat of Iceland: A Different Kind of Christmas Tradition. Medievalists.net. Retrieved from https://www.medievalists.net/2019/12/09/frau-perchta-the-belly-slitter/ ●    Nordic Visitor. (n.d.). Christmas in Iceland with the Yule Lads. Retrieved from https://www.nordicvisitor.com/blog/the-13-yule-lads-of-iceland/ ●    Smithsonian Magazine. (2016, December 19). Each Christmas, Iceland's Yule Cat Takes Fashion Policing to the Extreme. Retrieved from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/each-christmas-icelands-yule-cat-takes-fashion-policing-extreme-180961420/ ●    US Ghost Adventures. (n.d.). The Legend of the Yule Cat. Retrieved from https://usghostadventures.com/haunted-stories/the-legend-of-the-yule-cat/ ●    Wikipedia. (n.d.). Yule cat. Retrieved October 9, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yule_cat ●    ZME Science. (2024, December 17). The Yule Cat: Forget Santa, Embrace the Dark Side of Icelandic Christmas. Retrieved from https://www.zmescience.com/feature-post/yule-cat-christmas-repubz/ Intro Music by - Jayme McDonald (Chatterless) ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Linktree ⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    14 min
  3. Belsnickle

    DEC 18

    Belsnickle

    Today on Ghost Bites, Mike and JT venture into the folklore of southwestern Germany and the American tradition of the Pennsylvania Dutch to meet Belsnickel. Mike details Belsnickel's unique role as a pre-Christmas judge who travels alone, dressed in ragged furs, wielding both a switch and pockets full of treats. Mike also covers the elaborate "Belsnickling" rituals and the character's eventual decline. JT hilariously critiques the sheer psychological terror of the Belsnickel's moral test (especially the "candy scramble"), questions why a figure of moral accountability looks like a runaway woodsman, and analyzes the extreme chaos of a holiday tradition based entirely on the fear of a gentle swat. Sources ●    Uncharted Lancaster. (2024, December 6). The Belsnickel: A Mischievous Spirit of Christmas Past. Retrieved from https://unchartedlancaster.com/2024/12/06/the-belsnickel-a-mischievous-spirit-of-christmas-past/ ●    VisitPAAmericana. (2019, December 18). What - or Who - is Belsnickel?. Retrieved from https://www.visitpaamericana.com/blog/post/what-or-who-is-belsnickel/ ●    Wikipedia. (n.d.). Belsnickel. Retrieved October 9, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belsnickel ●    WITF. (2023, December 20). Who is Belsnickel in Pennsylvania Dutch Christmas tradition? [The Spark]. Retrieved from https://www.witf.org/2023/12/20/who-is-belsnickel-in-pennsylvania-dutch-christmas-tradition/ ●    Woot & Hammy. (n.d.). Krampus, Santa's Other Little Helper, and Perchta, Christmas Terrors. Retrieved from https://wootandhammy.com/blogs/news/krampus-perchta-the-christmas-terrors Intro Music by - Jayme McDonald (Chatterless) ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Linktree ⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    10 min
  4. Perchta

    DEC 15

    Perchta

    Today on Ghost Bites, Mike and JT venture into the chilling, pre-Christian folklore of the Alpine regions to confront Perchta (or Frau Berchta), the dual-natured winter goddess. Mike details her terrifying role as the "Belly-Slitter," who roams the countryside during the Twelve Days of Christmas to enforce social and domestic order. Perchta's punishment for the lazy is grotesque: she cuts open their stomachs, removes their guts, and replaces them with straw and pebbles. JT critiques the sheer insanity of using organ-removal as a domestic punishment, questions the logistics of the required traditional meal of fish and gruel, and analyzes the extreme measures the Catholic Church took to demonize a goddess who was just a little too focused on tidiness and spinning. Source ●    Morris, S. (2014, December 22). Perchta and the 12 Days of Christmas (Part 2). Stephen Morris, author. Retrieved from https://www.stephenmorrisauthor.com/perchta-12-days-christmas/ ●    Myth Perchta. (n.d.). Perchta.Tirol. Retrieved October 9, 2025, from https://perchta.tirol/myth.en.html ●    Smithsonian Magazine. (2024, February 28). Before the Yule Lads Evolved Into Icelandic Versions of Santa Claus, They Terrorized Children Into Following the Rules. Retrieved from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/before-the-yule-lads-evolved-into-icelandic-versions-santa-claus-they-terrorized-children-into-following-rules-180948162/ ●    VICE. (2018, December 20). Meet Christmas Goddess Perchta, a Belly-Slitting, Half-Woman Demon. Retrieved from https://www.vice.com/en/article/perchta-christmas-goddess-demon-woman/ ●    Wikipedia. (n.d.). Perchta. Retrieved October 9, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perchta Intro Music by - Jayme McDonald (Chatterless) ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Linktree ⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    9 min
  5. The Tomte: Tiny Protector, Enormous Fury

    DEC 11

    The Tomte: Tiny Protector, Enormous Fury

    Today on Ghost Bites, Mike and JT take a deep dive into Scandinavian folklore to examine the Tomte (or Nisse), the diminutive, yet fiercely powerful, homestead spirit. Mike details the Tomte's essential job—protecting the farm and livestock—and his simple, non-negotiable demand: a single bowl of porridge with butter. JT critiques the Tomte's high-stakes payment contract, analyzes the absurdity of his extreme vengeance (which involves everything from killing livestock to crushing farmers over bad manners), and tracks his career evolution from a homicidal gnome to the modern, jolly Jultomten. It's a hilarious look at a traditional myth that proves the cost of a clean barn might just be your life. Sources ●    Hafstein, V. (2018). The Tomte/Nisse. In The Oxford Encyclopedia of Scandinavian Literature and Mythology. Oxford University Press. Retrieved from https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199580471.001.0001/acref-9780199580471-e-0498 ●    Nordiska museet. (n.d.). Tomten i folktron. Retrieved October 9, 2025, from https://www.nordiskamuseet.se/arets-händelser/jul/tomten-i-folktron Intro Music by - Jayme McDonald (Chatterless) ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Linktree ⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    10 min
  6. HH01 Iceland's Troubling Trolls: The 13 Yule Lads

    DEC 8

    HH01 Iceland's Troubling Trolls: The 13 Yule Lads

    Description Today on Ghost Bites, Mike and JT take a festive, yet deeply unsettling, trip to Iceland to explore the folklore of the 13 Yule Lads (Jólasveinar). Mike details the Lads' evolution from child-eating trolls to modern gift-givers, and introduces their cannibalistic mother, Grýla, and the giant, garment-obsessed Yule Cat. JT dissects the sheer absurdity of their crimes—from Spoon Licking to Skyr Gobbling—and critiques the administrative chaos of having thirteen Santas. It's a hilarious look at a holiday tradition that proves sometimes, the best way to get children to behave is still a credible threat of a rotten potato. Sources ●    Arctic Portal. (n.d.). The thirteen Icelandic Yule Lads. Retrieved from https://arcticportal.org/education/quick-facts/people-and-culture/3469-the-thirteen-icelandic-yule-lads ●    Arctic Portal. (n.d.). Icelandic Yule Lads. Retrieved from https://arcticportal.org/x-mas ●    Gale, T. (n.d.). The Yule Lads History. Retrieved from https://icelandicyulelads.com/yule-lads-timeline/ ●    Icelandair. (n.d.). Christmas in Iceland: The Yule Lads. Retrieved from https://www.icelandair.com/blog/the-yule-lads/ ●    Icelandic Christmas folklore. (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved October 9, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icelandic_Christmas_folklore ●    Nordic Visitor. (n.d.). Christmas in Iceland with the Yule Lads. Retrieved from https://www.nordicvisitor.com/blog/the-13-yule-lads-of-iceland/ ●    WorldStrides. (n.d.). Iceland's 13 Yule Lads. Retrieved from https://worldstrides.com/en-us/teachers/how-it-works/blog/icelands-13-yule-lads Intro Music by - Jayme McDonald (Chatterless) ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Linktree ⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    10 min

  7. TRAILER

    Haunted Holidays Announcement

    Starting December 8th and running through January 1st, Ghost Bites: Haunted Holidays. It's an absolute nightmare. That's eight episodes of pure, unadulterated yuletide terror! We're talking Belsnickel, we're talking Icelandic Yule Cats, and MUCH more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    2 min

  8. NOV 24

    15 The Exorcism of Roland Doe (Season Finale)

    This week on Ghost Bites, Mike and J.T. confront one of the most chilling and controversial cases in paranormal history: the exorcism of "Roland Doe." This 1949 case, which inspired the infamous novel and film The Exorcist, chronicles the terrifying ordeal of a young boy believed to be possessed by a demonic entity. From unexplained phenomena in his home to the violent and disturbing events that unfolded during the exorcism rites, this story is a grim reminder that some hauntings are more than just bumps in the night. Join us as we explore the real-life events that blurred the line between psychological torment and supernatural horror. Sources ●    "The Exorcism of Roland Doe." St. Louis Magazine. ●    "The Real Story Behind The Exorcist." The Washington Post. ●    "The Exorcist: The True Story Behind the Film." Smithsonian Magazine. ●    "The Exorcist: The Real-Life Case." All That's Interesting. Intro Music by - Jayme McDonald (Chatterless) ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Linktree ⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    11 min
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Trailers

Ratings & Reviews

3
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Ghost Bites is a weekly podcast from Mike and J.T. of Brew Crime, for quick, 5–10 minute dives into the haunted, spooky, and paranormal. Get your weekly dose of all things creepy, served with a side of laughs. It's the perfect podcast for anyone looking for a fun and frightening experience that won't take up their whole day.

Information

  • Creator
    Brew Crime
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Brew Crime
  • Show Website
    Ghost Bites

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