Episode 173 - The History of Isolation and Winter Horror

Episode 173 - The History of Isolation and Winter Horror

Author: The Lunatics Project January 13, 2026 Duration: 1:15:50
This week Abby and Alan continue exploring the intersection of winter and horror, this time through the lens of of isolation.  Sources:  A Medical News Today article by Danielle Dresdon: What to know about cabin fever. JAMA Network, scientific study by Eugene Ziskind, M.D. called Isolation Stress in Medical and Mental Illness PubMed study from 2021, Social Isolation and Psychosis: An Investigation of social interactions and paranoia in daily life  Study we found on PubMed from 2008: Psychological effects of polar expeditions And another study listed on PubMed The role of circadian phase in sleep and performance during Antarctic winter expeditions from 2022 Slash Film article by Danielle Ryan: The Haunted History Behind The Shinings Stanley Hotel SyFy article by Josh Weiss: The Thing Oral History: Cast and Crew Reveal Secrets of John Carpenter's Sci-Fi Horror Masterpiece Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep. Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tune into Lunatics Radio Hour: The History of Horror for a deep and often unsettling journey into the shadows of our past. Produced by The Lunatics Project, this series operates on a compelling premise: that the history of horror and the horror of history are inextricably linked. Rather than reviewing movies, each episode digs into documented, real-world events where primal forces like fear, violence, and the struggle for survival left a permanent mark on cultures and individuals. You’ll hear about the dark historical episodes and psychological phenomena that have haunted humanity for centuries, as well as the folklore born from genuine terror. Furthermore, this podcast meticulously traces the line from these factual atrocities and anxieties to the silver screen, analyzing how our most profound real-world fears are processed, shaped, and reflected in the horror films we watch. It’s an exploration for anyone curious about where our darkest stories truly come from and how the echoes of actual events resonate in the genre’s most iconic imagery and narratives. The result is a rich, thought-provoking listen that challenges the boundary between entertainment and the unsettling truths from which it often springs.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Lunatics Radio Hour: The History of Horror
Podcast Episodes
Episode 188 - The History of Contagious Curses [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:16
This week, Abby and Alan dive into the folklore behind horror’s most contagious curses, from The Ring to Smile to It Follows. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories.…
Episode 187 - Campfire Tales #9: Only The Dead [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:45
This week, Abby is joined by Alex Goleman for a double feature of eerie campfire tales, the kind that feel a little too real once the lights go out. “Only The Dead” by Marisca Pichette and “Trash Talk” by Sam Logan. Find…
Episode 186 - The Horrifying History of Mirrors [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:41
This week Abby sits down with Kate Rotunda to discuss the vast and unnerving history of mirrors. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paper…
Episode 185 - Listener Lore #1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:51
Today we are bringing you 6 hometown urban legends straight from our listeners. Follow Madz on Instagram @madzsmiled and @sonrisalibrary. And consider supporting BeLoved Asheville. Follow Abby on Substack: https://substa…
Episode 184 - The Babysitter and The Man Upstairs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:51
This week Abby and Alan sit down with Dan Roberts to discuss the history of The Babysitter and The Man Upstairs urban legend and When A Stranger Calls (1979). Follow Dan on Substack: https://substack.com/@drob91 Follow A…
Episode 183 - Real Scary Stories: Midnight Visitor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:14
Have you ever felt like someone was watching you from outside your house? It's an (overdue) honor to present this real scary story from K.L. Mill. If you want to walk down memory lane with us, you can listen to The Man W…
Episode 182 - The Clown Riot of 1855 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:04
In 1855, a bizarre incident in Toronto escalated into one of the city’s strangest riots. After a fight broke out between clowns from a visiting circus and members of a volunteer firefighting company, tensions quickly spi…
Episode 181 - Categorizing Horror Villains [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:12
This week Abby sits down with Kate Rotunda to talk through her classifications of horror villains. You can read Kate's original article HERE. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book…
Episode 180 - The History of The Connecticut Witch Trials [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:58
Before Salem, there was Connecticut. In this episode of Lunatics Radio Hour, Abby Brenker sits down with historian Josh Hutchinson to explore the Connecticut Witch Trials, which spanned 1647 to 1697 and led to 11 executi…
Episode 179 - Campfire Tales #8: Airbag [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:32
This week Abby and Alex present two stories for your enjoyment. In The Light of The Wisps was written by Marisca Pichette. Follow them on Instagram @marisca_write or check out their website: www.mariscapichette.com Airba…