The Night Crew Podcast

In this episode of The Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks sits down with S.E. Howard for a fun, insightful, and creepy conversation about her journey from paranormal romance to psychological horror, the craft of writing unsettling fiction, and her chilling latest novel, What Lies Unseen. They talk about haunted abilities, communicating with the dead, building dread, writing believable fear, surviving the messy middle of a manuscript, and why horror gives writers the freedom to break every rule. Sara also shares the inspiration behind The Vessel, her love of ghost stories, supernatural horror, psychological suspense, and even dives into terrifying cryptids like the Not Deer. If you love indie horror authors, author interviews, haunted house fiction, ghost novels, dark fiction, occult horror, and behind-the-scenes conversations about the writing life, this episode is packed with everything that makes horror fans hit play. Plus: spiders, swearing, creepy folklore, and enough laughs to make the darkness even more fun.
Links:
Website: https://www.sehoward.com/
Facebook and Instagram: https://www.facebook.com/sehoward.author/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/s-e-howard
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20459698.S_E_Howard
 
 
Hashtags:#SEHoward #WhatLiesUnseen #TheVessel #TheNightCrewPodcast #BradRicks #HorrorPodcast #PsychologicalHorror #SupernaturalHorror #GhostStory #HauntedHouse #IndieHorror #IndieAuthor #AuthorInterview #DarkFiction #OccultHorror #ParanormalHorror #Cryptids #NotDeer #HorrorBooks #WomenInHorror

What happens when hunger becomes something far worse than survival? In this chilling episode of The Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks dives deep into the terrifying legend of the Wendigo, one of the most haunting creatures in Native American and First Nations folklore. This episode explores the Algonquin origins of the Wendigo myth, its connection to winter, isolation, cannibalism, and the horrifying idea of endless, unsatisfied hunger. Brad also unpacks the lore surrounding Wendigo psychosis, the creature’s terrifying appearance, how it hunts, and what folklore says you’d have to do to survive an encounter. From dark folklore and cryptid legends to horror history, monster lore, and the Wendigo’s influence on books, movies, and horror games, this is a must-listen for fans of creepy legends, supernatural horror, mythological monsters, and true folklore deep dives. If you love stories about the things waiting in the woods, this episode is for you.
Hashtags:#Wendigo #TheWendigo #NativeAmericanFolklore #FirstNationsFolklore #AlgonquinLegend #Cryptid #MonsterLore #Folklore #DarkFolklore #HorrorPodcast #TheNightCrewPodcast #BradRicks #SupernaturalHorror #Mythology #UrbanLegends #HorrorStories #CreatureFeature #CryptidLore #ScaryStories #HorrorCommunity

In this episode of The Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks sits down with Ali Toothman to talk about her writing journey, her emotionally raw revenge horror novel Libby Lives, and how horror became both an escape and a form of healing. Ali opens up about starting with poetry and flash fiction, battling imposter syndrome, navigating the indie horror world, and why writing dark, violent, and psychologically intense stories can be deeply cathartic. They also dive into psychological horror, revenge horror, indie publishing, audiobooks, author life, and the growing excitement around ShiverCon. Plus, Ali talks favorite monsters, the Rougarou, dark romance, reading across genres, and the reality of building a career in the horror community. All great topics for fans of indie horror authors, women in horror, psychological thrillers, extreme horror, bookish podcasts, and behind-the-scenes conversations with rising voices in the genre.
 
Ali's links:
Website: https://alitoothmanauthor.bigcartel.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CYurFvP7o/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alis.booknook
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alitoothmanhorror
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@alis.booknook
 
 
 
Hashtags:#AliToothman #LibbyLives #TheNightCrewPodcast #BradRicks #HorrorPodcast #IndieHorror #IndieAuthor #WomenInHorror #RevengeHorror #PsychologicalHorror #PsychologicalThriller #ExtremeHorror #HorrorBooks #BookPodcast #AuthorInterview #WritingCommunity #AmWriting #AuthorLife #ShiverCon #Rougarou

Is The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde secretly a werewolf story? In this chilling episode of The Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks heads into Victorian London, gothic horror, and the dark psychology of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novella to explore the beast hiding beneath respectability. From duality, transformation horror, and the fear of the monster within, this episode connects Jekyll and Hyde to the same primal terror that drives werewolf mythology, the Rougarou, and the Skinwalker. If you love classic horror literature, monster lore, gothic fiction, psychological horror, and spooky deep dives into the undead and unnatural, this one’s for you.
Hashtags:#DrJekyllAndMrHyde #JekyllAndHyde #RobertLouisStevenson #VictorianHorror #GothicHorror #ClassicHorror #HorrorPodcast #MonsterLore #WerewolfLore #WerewolfMythology #TransformationHorror #PsychologicalHorror #DarkLiterature #TheNightCrewPodcast #BradRicks #BookPodcast #HorrorBooks #LiteraryHorror #MonsterStories #SpookyPodcast

Tonight on the Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks heads deep into the dark legends of the American Southwest to explore the terrifying myth of the Skinwalker. Rooted in Navajo folklore, the Skinwalker is not your typical monster — it’s a shape-shifting witch tied to taboo, fear, voice mimicry, and stories so disturbing they make the classic werewolf legend feel almost safe. From the meaning of yee naaldlooshii to the eerie encounters reported across Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah, this episode dives into one of the most chilling supernatural legends in horror history.
We also dig into Skinwalker Ranch, modern paranormal claims, Native legend versus internet creepypasta, and why this creature continues to haunt the imagination of horror fans everywhere. If you love cryptids, werewolves, folklore, paranormal stories, Native American legends, horror podcasts, and monster lore, this episode is for you. Subscribe, leave a review, and stay tuned for more nightmare fuel from The Night Crew Podcast.
Keywords/Hashtags:#Skinwalker #Skinwalkers #NavajoLegend #YeeNaaldlooshii #SkinwalkerRanch #Werewolf #Cryptids #ParanormalPodcast #HorrorPodcast #MonsterLore #Folklore #NativeAmericanLegend #Supernatural #ScaryStories #BradRicks #NightCrewPodcast

What happens when French werewolf legends cross the Atlantic and sink into the Louisiana swamp?
They become the Rougarou.
In this episode of The Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks continues the werewolf deep dive, moving from the Beast of Gévaudan and the Beast of Bray Road into Cajun country to explore the terrifying legend of the Rougarou (also spelled Loup-Garou or Roux-Ga-Roux) — Louisiana’s cursed wolf-man of the bayou.
This isn’t just another werewolf story.
The Rougarou isn’t created by a bite. It isn’t ruled by the full moon. Instead, it’s born from broken Catholic vows, skipped Lent, ignored confession, and moral failure. According to Cajun folklore, the curse lasts 101 days — and the only way to break it may be to pass it on.
In this episode, we explore:
The French Loup-Garou origins of the Rougarou
How Catholic morality shaped Cajun monster legends
Why the swamp environment changed the werewolf myth
101-day curse lore and blood-passing traditions
Silver bullets vs. prayer vs. endurance
The eerie “counting compulsion” folklore
Modern Louisiana Rougarou sightings and oral traditions
Why the Rougarou still endures in Cajun culture
Unlike European werewolves that rampage, the Rougarou stalks. It watches from the tree line. It lets the swamp trap you before it ever shows its teeth.
This episode blends werewolf mythology, Louisiana folklore, Cajun legend, Catholic superstition, swamp horror, and American cryptid history into one atmospheric deep dive.
If you’re fascinated by werewolves, the Rougarou legend, Louisiana ghost stories, Cajun horror folklore, or monster myths rooted in religion and consequence — this is one you don’t want to miss.
Because in Louisiana…
The dark doesn’t howl.
It waits.
🎧 Press play — and try to stay good. 101 days is a long time.
 
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🔥 Hashtags:
#NightCrewPodcast#Rougarou#LouisianaFolklore#CajunLegend#WerewolfMythology#LoupGarou#SwampHorror#CryptidLore#AmericanFolklore#MonsterMyth#BayouLegends#HorrorPodcast#BradRicks

What connects 18th-century France, rural Wisconsin, and the swamps of Louisiana?
A wolf that walks like a man.
In this episode of The Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks traces the chilling lineage of werewolf lore from the documented terror of the Beast of Gévaudan to modern sightings of the Beast of Bray Road, uncovering how the French Loupgarou (Loup-Garou) legend migrated across the Atlantic and evolved into the American Rougarou.
We dive into:
The real historical attacks in 1760s France that left nearly 100 dead
French werewolf trials and executions
The royal hunts ordered by King Louis XV
Silver bullet legends and wolf-hybrid theories
The migration of the Loupgarou myth into Louisiana folklore
Eyewitness accounts of Wisconsin’s upright wolf creature
Cryptid reports investigated by journalist Linda Godfrey
Why humans consistently describe a wolf that stands on two legs
Was the Beast of Gévaudan just a large wolf? A wolf-dog hybrid? A serial killer mythologized?Is the Beast of Bray Road a misidentified animal — or something older buried in the human psyche?
This episode explores the intersection of history, folklore, cryptozoology, and psychology — examining why the werewolf archetype refuses to die and how monster legends migrate, adapt, and survive.
If you’re fascinated by werewolf mythology, French folklore, cryptid sightings, the Rougarou legend, or the darker side of documented history, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.
Because sometimes monsters don’t disappear.
They migrate.
🎧 Press play… and don’t stop on Bray Road after dark.
 
Beast of Gévaudan, Beast of Bray Road, Loupgarou, Loup Garou, Rougarou legend, werewolf mythology, French werewolf trials, 18th century France wolf attacks, Wisconsin cryptid, Bray Road sightings, Linda Godfrey Beast of Bray Road, Louisiana Rougarou folklore, werewolf history podcast, cryptid investigation, upright wolf creature, real werewolf cases, European werewolf legends, American cryptids, Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks horror podcast
#NightCrewPodcast#BeastOfGevaudan#BeastOfBrayRoad#WerewolfLegend#Loupgarou#Rougarou#CryptidLore#WerewolfHistory#FolklorePodcast#MonsterMythology#Cryptozoology#HorrorPodcast#BradRicks

🕯️ Episode Description:
In this episode of The Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks sits down with horror author Blaine Daigle, a Louisiana-born writer whose work blends Southern Gothic dread, folk horror, and deeply human fear. The conversation centers on Blaine’s latest novel, Porcelain Lullaby, a chilling story of two estranged brothers, a haunted past, and an abandoned orphanage hiding the truth beneath its porcelain surface.
Blaine talks about growing up surrounded by Louisiana folklore, haunted plantations, bayous, and the legend of the Rougarou, and how that cultural atmosphere shaped his love of horror. He breaks down his writing process, the myth of rigid word-count rules, and why finishing a book matters more than writing it “perfectly.”
The discussion dives deep into themes of grief, mental health versus the supernatural, sibling bonds, and the fear of losing control. Blaine explains how Porcelain Lullaby became a culmination of everything he’s written so far, blending classic horror imagery—creepy dolls, orphanages, cracked facades—with modern emotional weight.
Brad and Blaine also talk shop: balancing teaching with writing, handling negative reviews, why horror authors shouldn’t fear tropes, the importance of editors, and why monsters like werewolves and vampires endure as metaphors for identity, repression, and transformation.
If you love Southern Gothic horror, folk horror, psychological dread, or thoughtful conversations about the craft of writing scary stories, this episode is for you.
🎧 Press play… and don’t trust anything that looks too perfect on the surface.
🔗 Guest Links:
Website: https://www.blainedaigle.com/Socials:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086562623387https://www.instagram.com/blainedaigleauthor/
 
 
🔍 SEO Keywords:
Blaine Daigle, Porcelain Lullaby, Southern Gothic horror, folk horror podcast, Rougarou folklore, Louisiana horror, haunted orphanage horror, psychological horror novels, horror author interview, Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks, writing horror fiction, indie horror authors, doll horror, supernatural vs mental health horror, grief in horror fiction, horror writing advice
🔥 Hashtags:
#NightCrewPodcast #BlaineDaigle #PorcelainLullaby #SouthernGothic #FolkHorror #HorrorPodcast #IndieHorror #Rougarou #HauntedOrphanage #PsychologicalHorror #HorrorAuthors #WritingHorror #MonsterLore #LouisianaHorror

🐺 Episode Description (SEO + Vibes):
From yak hair and spirit gum to latex nightmares and CGI abs, Hollywood’s obsession with werewolves has been messy, painful, and absolutely unforgettable.
In this episode of The Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks howls his way through the full cinematic history of the werewolf — from Lon Chaney Jr.’s tragic Wolf Man and 1950s teenage angst, through the gooey practical-effects glory of the 1980s, into modern pack politics, shirtless rebrands, and digital fur.
This episode explores how werewolves evolved from cursed monsters into cultural mirrors, reflecting everything from puberty and rage to identity, belonging, and creative transformation. Along the way, we dive into legendary films like The Wolf Man, An American Werewolf in London, The Howling, Ginger Snaps, Teen Wolf, Twilight, and more — breaking down how each era got the werewolf it deserved.
You’ll hear behind-the-scenes horror stories from makeup chairs, why practical effects still beat CGI, how Hollywood itself is basically a full moon factory, and why the werewolf remains cinema’s most honest monster.
So grab your silver popcorn bucket, check your reflection, and listen close — because when the credits roll, the beast might already be in you.
🎧 Press play… and try not to howl.
🔍 SEO Keywords:
werewolf movies, Hollywood werewolves, werewolf transformation scenes, The Wolf Man 1941, An American Werewolf in London, Ginger Snaps, The Howling, Teen Wolf, Twilight werewolves, practical effects horror, werewolf makeup effects, lycanthropy in film, horror movie history, monster movie podcast, Night Crew Podcast, Brad Ricks, creature feature horror, werewolf lore, horror film analysis, classic monster movies
🔥 Hashtags:
#NightCrewPodcast #WerewolfMovies #HollywoodHairballs #MonsterMovies #HorrorPodcast #CreatureFeatures #Lycanthropy #HorrorFilmHistory #PracticalEffects #WolfMan #WerewolfTransformation #ClassicHorror #ModernHorror #MonsterLore #BradRicks

What happens when indie horror fiction collides with slashers, cosmic dread, board game design, and one of the most terrifying monsters ever put on television?
In this episode of The Night Crew Podcast, horror author and game designer Jon Cohn joins host Brad Ricks for a deep-dive conversation into the art, anxiety, and obsession behind modern horror storytelling.
Jon talks about:
Growing up on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and why The Gentlemen remain one of the most original horror monsters ever created
Why Chucky is the most adaptable slasher villain in horror history
Writing slashers that evolve into cosmic horror nightmares
Turning folk horror, anxiety, and OCD into powerful storytelling fuel
Why finishing the thing is the most important advice for aspiring writers
The indie horror community, conventions, and why they feel like family
His upcoming novel Creed Falls Massacres—where two different horror apocalypses collide in one small town
Jon's Socials
https://www.joncohnauthor.com/
https://www.facebook.com/joncohnauthor
https://www.instagram.com/joncohnauthor
https://www.tiktok.com/@joncohnauthor
Hashtags:#HorrorPodcast #IndieHorror #JonCohn #BuffyTheVampireSlayer #SlasherHorror #CosmicHorror #HorrorAuthors #WritingPodcast #MonsterTalk #TheNightCrewPodcast #HorrorCommunity #Chucky #FinalGirls #HorrorBooks
SEO Keywords (backend / description stuffing-friendly):indie horror podcast, horror author interview, Jon Cohn interview, slasher horror discussion, cosmic horror fiction, Buffy monsters explained, horror writing advice, indie horror books, Night Crew Podcast, horror fandom podcast