Dairyland Frights

Re-Release Rissa from Tea and Smoke - Spooky Yuletide Tales: Exploring Christmas Myths and Creatures

Join host John and his favorite guest, Rissa, as they delve into the eerie and lesser-known traditions surrounding Christmas. Discover the dark origins of the winter solstice and how it was once a time for terrifying tales and ominous figures. This episode explores the chilling legends of Christmas monsters that lurk in the shadows of history.
Rissa introduces us to the infamous Krampus, the Christmas demon who punishes naughty children, and Bell'nickel, the cranky enforcer of good behavior. The discussion takes a fascinating turn with tales of Iceland's Grya, the ogress with a penchant for eating her husbands, and her naughty offspring, the Yule Lads. Learn about the peculiar Yule Cat, who devours those who fail to receive new clothes for Christmas, and the judging Yule Goat, who assesses your holiday decorations.
The conversation doesn't stop there. Rissa shares the whimsical tradition of Spain's Tió de Nadal, the Christmas log that "poops" out gifts and candy when beaten with sticks. The episode also explores the mysterious Mari Lwyd, a rhyming horse skeleton that challenges you to a battle of wits.
From the mischievous Nisse of Sweden to the Mediterranean's Christmas vampires, this episode is packed with fascinating tales that reveal the spooky side of the holiday season. Rissa's captivating storytelling will give you a new perspective on Christmas traditions and a deeper appreciation for the rich tapestry of folklore surrounding this time of year.
00:00 - The Dairyland Frights podcast features guest Rissa. And one of my favorite guests
01:14 - John: Why don't we talk about some Christmas traditions
01:53 - Winter and the winter solstice especially were terrifying times of year
04:23 - There's a lot of debate about the actual origin of the Krampus
09:26 - Another Christmas tradition that comes from Germany is the Bell'nickel
13:31 - Fruit baskets were very traditional for so long because they would keep forever
16:01 - Iceland has many strange Christmas creatures, some very scary
20:02 - Christmas isn't the same anywhere. Even in the United States, we celebrate differently
21:15 - I have a question. Isn't there a story about an elf on Christmas
21:33 - Yule goat comes to judge you on decor and home age
24:44 - So I have a question about the porridge and the butter. Um, do they need real butter or can I use margarine
26:27 - Bel Nickel demanded something from you that was truly a token of appreciation
28:46 - So let's chec ono those Christmas vampires. They come later. They don't come early, like Krampus
32:00 - John: The Christmas log poops out candy for children in Spain
34:39 - The Mari lw is a rhyming horse skeleton that comes singing to your door
38:32 - John says he thinks Krampus should show up on Black Friday
39:41 - Mistletoe is a parasitic plant. And for that reason, people historically thought it was fertile
40:58 - There was a St. Nicholas. There was. Um, um, there was a true Saint Nicholas
42:39 - Like Germany, some people use candles on their Christmas trees
References:
https://www.teaandsmoke.com/
Krampus[Krampus on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krampus)
 
Bellnickel[Belsnickel on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belsnickel)
 
Yule Cat[Yule Cat on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yule_cat)
 
The Office[The Office TV Show](https://www.nbc.com/the-office)
 
The Santa Chronicles[The Christmas Chronicles on IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2990140/)
 
Mari Lwyd[Mari Lwyd on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mari_Lwyd)
 
Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol[A Christmas Carol on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Christmas_Carol)

Christmas Show: Allegedly True Paranormal Stories Revolving Around Christmas

Ghosts, curses, apparitions, and chilling hauntings that only appear during the holiday season… If you love ghosts, cryptids, mysteries, and real paranormal encounters, this is the perfect holiday episode for you.
Christmas may be a time of joy, family, and warmth—But for some places in the world, it’s also the season of ghosts.
In this episode, we dive deep into real-life paranormal encounters that allegedly occur only during Christmastime. From haunted mansions to cursed bridges, phantom carolers, and headless horsemen, these stories prove that the holidays can be just as eerie as Halloween.
Join host John as we uncover terrifying yuletide hauntings that stretch across centuries and continents.
👉 Follow Dairyland Frights on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts!
👉 Support bonus episodes on Patreon for even deeper investigations.
👻 Featured Christmas Ghost Stories
We explore shocking, chilling tales, including:
🎩 The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall
One of the most famous ghost photos ever captured—and the tragic story behind the woman in the brown dress.
🦌 The Ludington Christmas Hauntings
Eccentric socialite Vera Stark allegedly still roams the grounds in… nothing but a fur coat.
🌿 The Mistletoe Bride
A centuries-old wedding game gone horribly wrong—and a discovery made 50 years too late.
🔔 The Brooklyn Christmas Poltergeist (1878)
Doorbells, banging, and a flying brick that left police stunned.
🐴 The Headless Horseman of Roos Hall
A phantom coach that terrorizes England every Christmas Eve.
🐕‍🦺 Sir Geoffrey de Mandeville & His Headless Dog
A medieval curse and a ghostly knight roam the fog every six years on Christmas Eve.
🎄 The Alcatraz Christmas Ghost
A phantom figure who crashed a 1940s holiday party on “The Rock.”
🤡 The Christmas Murder of David Fee
A tragic case from 1890 that left a ghost wandering Bastion Square.
🕯️ The Spirit of Gilbert the Highwayman
A murdered outlaw who returns each Christmas Eve in search of a coach that never arrives.
👑 Anne Boleyn’s Christmas Return
The executed queen’s somber apparition crossing a bridge at Hever Castle—but only on Christmas Eve.
🏨 The Crescent Hotel’s Mischievous Ghosts
Victorian spirits that move the Christmas tree and gifts across the room.
🎶 The Singing Ghost of Hotel Bethlehem
A spectral opera star is said to return to perform Christmas carols.
⭐ Why These Stories Matter
These tales remind us that the holidays carry deep emotion—love, loss, tragedy, and hope. Whether you believe in ghosts or simply love a chilling story, these “Christmas hauntings” offer a fascinating look at how history, folklore, and the supernatural blend together.

Wisconsin Hauntings, Cursed Dolls & Paranormal Encounters with Star Creepy Shit Podcast

In this chilling and wildly entertaining episode of Dairyland Frights, host John Radtke sits down with Wisconsin’s own Star, host of the Creepy Shit Podcast, for a deep dive into true paranormal encounters, haunted locations, cursed objects, and the darkest legends lurking in the Midwest and beyond
From haunted cemeteries and ghostly encounters in Wisconsin to infamous cursed dolls like Annabelle and Robert the Doll, this episode blends personal experiences, folklore, skepticism, and genuine fear, all with a conversational, darkly fun tone that paranormal fans love.
🕯️ What We Cover in This Episode
🔮 Star’s Paranormal Origin Story
How childhood exposure to The Addams Family and Unsolved Mysteries sparked a lifelong fascination with the paranormal
Why Star gravitated toward creepy storytelling instead of true crime
Launching the Creepy Shit Podcast* and embracing the weird unapologetically
🏨 Real-Life Paranormal Encounters
A rotating chandelier at the historic Brayton Inn (Oshkosh)
The mischievous ghost “Eddie” at The Stone Cellar (Appleton)
Lights flickering, unseen presences, and unexplainable physical sensations during investigations
Creepy shit podcast
👶 Haunted Objects & Dark Energy
Haunted dolls, cradles, and cursed artifacts
Why energy “knows no bounds” and can travel during podcast interviews
Protection rituals, sage, and cleansing practices for paranormal investigators
Creepy shit podcast
😈 Cursed Dolls & Infamous Hauntings
Annabelle: Real or hype?
Robert the Doll: Why asking permission matters
The Demon House (Gary, Indiana) and disturbing firsthand accounts
Why some haunted locations should never be treated as tourist attractions
Creepy shit podcast
🪦 Wisconsin’s Most Haunted Cemeteries
Riverside Cemetery (Appleton) & the legend of Kate Blood
Glenbeulah Cemetery – headless apparitions and glowing graves
Spiritland Cemetery (Plainfield) and its connection to Ed Gein
Whitewater’s Witch Triangle, spiritualism history, and grave desecration cases.
🦇 Cryptids & Urban Legends
Wisconsin sightings of Mothman
Beast of Bray Road folklore
The terrifying Bloody Bride Bridge (Sheboygan)
Why cemeteries may act as paranormal portals
Creepy shit podcast
⚠️ Paranormal Warning
This episode discusses disturbing paranormal activity, cursed objects, satanic rituals, and violent historical events. Listener discretion is advised.
🎧 Listen & Connect
🎙️ Dairyland Frights Podcast – Hosted by John Radtke
🎧 Guest Podcast: Creepy Shit with Star
📸 Follow Star on Instagram for daily creepy stories
⭐ Rate, review, and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts

Spooky Galveston: Ghost Tours, Haunted History & Real Paranormal Encounters

Welcome back, spooky friends! In this chilling episode of Dairyland Frights, John sits down with GIn from Spooky Galveston Tours—a lifelong paranormal experiencer, historian, tarot reader, and one of the most knowledgeable ghost tour guides in the entire state of Texas.
From pirate legends to the hauntings of the 1900 Storm, and from shadow figures to headless apparitions roaming the train yard, this episode delivers a jam-packed journey through one of America’s most haunted coastal cities.
Whether you love ghost stories, true history, or eerie firsthand encounters—this is an episode you cannot miss.
👻 Episode Highlights
Gin’s haunted childhood home — mobile toys turning on by themselves, doppelgangers, shadow figures & more
Why Galveston is one of the most haunted cities in the U.S.– the 1900 hurricane, plagues, pirates, shipwrecks & historical trauma
The real story of Jean Lafitte — pirate, legend… vampire?
The heroic ghost of the Hutchings-Sealy Building, which saved 50 people during the storm
Galveston Railroad Museum hauntings, including the famous headless William Watson
Horrifying industrial tragedies at the Armour Meat Packing Company
The mysterious “face in the UTMB building” that kept returning
Why Galveston has the most haunted Walmart in America
Jen’s scariest personal ghost encounters — including a vanishing man who ran straight at her
How ghost tours preserve true history—not myths
The challenges of being a ghost tour guide in a highly competitive (and sometimes inaccurate) market
🏝️ Why Galveston Is So Haunted
Galveston is home to:
The deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history (1900 Storm)
Multiple yellow fever epidemics
A port that brought in over 750,000 immigrants
Civil War battles, pirates, industrial tragedies, fires, and more
The result? A city layered with trauma, heroism, and decades of reported hauntings.
Jen takes listeners deep into the real history—not the sensationalized myths—to reveal why certain buildings, blocks, and streets remain paranormally active.
🔮 About Gin & Spooky Galveston Tours
Gin blends historical research, personal paranormal experiences, and years of ghost tour guiding to deliver some of the most accurate and compelling tours in Texas.She specializes in:
Ghost tours
Historical walking tours
Hurricane 1900 tours
Cemetery tours
Architecture & red-light district tours
Tarot readings
INSTAGRAM Spooky Gin
FACEBOOK Spooky Gin

Getting Freaky with Tommy from Let’s Get Freaky Podcast

A paranormal deep dive across the pond — ghost stories, haunted houses, cryptids, UK pub spirits, and why the paranormal “looks back.”
In this chilling and high-energy episode of Dairyland Frights, John welcomes Tommy, host of the UK hit Let’s Get Freaky Podcast, for a transatlantic paranormal conversation packed with ghost stories, cryptid encounters, haunted history, and personal experiences that shaped both podcasters’ passion for the unexplained.
Tommy shares terrifying childhood encounters inside his haunted family home, including a full-body apparition, strange noises, missing objects, and a mysterious Shakespeare-looking man who appeared beside his bunk bed. We explore how these early experiences sparked his lifelong fascination with the paranormal and led to the creation of his 300-episode podcast.
The pair dive into:
Haunted houses in the UK vs. the Midwest
The mysterious woman in white and UK pub hauntings
Modern hauntings caught on camera
Why some spirits follow you home
Dogman, Bigfoot, the Beast of Bray Road, and cryptid-alien theories
Paranormal investigation dangers and attachment stories
Mediums, shadow figures, and ghosts showing up during podcast interviews
The eerie idea that when you look into the paranormal, it looks back
This episode blends scares, humor, folklore, and real-life encounters, perfect for fans of ghosts, cryptids, and the unexplained.

Sweet and Spooky – Paranormal Adventures with Shanena

In this chilling yet heart-warming episode of Dairyland Frights, host John Radtke welcomes Shanena, the paranormal investigator and creator behind Sweet and Spooky. Together, they explore Shaneen’s eerie encounters, from playful spirits to chilling investigations at the Whaley House, Gettysburg, and Pennhurst Asylum.
Shanena reveals how she conquered her childhood fear of ghosts, what really happens when you open communication with the other side, and the importance of setting boundaries with spirits (especially in haunted jails 👀).
Plus—John dives into the haunted history of the McPike Mansion in Alton, Illinois, one of America’s most haunted homes, where ghosts still roam its crumbling halls. They discuss shadow figures, mysterious scents of lilac, moving objects, and the fascinating legends that keep the mansion alive.
From Ouija boards and haunted lighthouses to ghost hugs and creepy EVPs, this episode delivers the perfect blend of sweet and spooky!
👁️ Featured Guest
Shaneen – Sweet and Spooky📸 Instagram: @sweetandspooky🎥 TikTok: @sweetandspooky🕯️ Paranormal Investigator | Event Organizer | History Lover
📍 Locations Mentioned
Whaley House (San Diego, CA)
St. Augustine Lighthouse (FL)
Gettysburg, PA
Pennhurst Asylum (PA)
Queen Mary (CA)
Preston Castle (CA)
McPike Mansion (Alton, IL)

Sci-Fi, Survival & Hope with Author Aaron Ryan

In this episode, host John welcomes back award-winning author Aaron Ryan, creator of The Dissonance Saga and the upcoming Talisman Series. Together, they explore the dark corners of imagination, morality, and survival — from terrifying alien invasions to the power of hope in a collapsing world.
Aaron shares how The Dissonance Saga began as a trilogy and grew into a six-book epic of human endurance against monstrous Gorgons that paralyze their victims with a glance. He reveals the real-life fears and cinematic influences behind his stories — from Clash of the Titans to Lord of the Rings — and how his new Talisman trilogy continues his exploration of faith, redemption, and cosmic bargains.
They dive deep into:
👁️ The terrifying origins of the Gorgons and why fear fuels creativity
🧬 How science fiction can mirror real-world crises like AI and genetic engineering
💀 Why humanity—not monsters—is often its own worst enemy
💫 The importance of hope as the central theme in dark fiction
🎥 The challenges of adapting his novels (Dissonance, Forecast, The End) into award-winning screenplays
Aaron also talks about his creative process, his struggles with writer’s block, and the personal moments that shaped his characters — from flawed heroes to wise mentors like Pastor Rosie, who appears across his connected “Ryanverse.”
👻 Episode Highlights
“I wanted to reinvent the wheel — something terrifying, but rooted in humanity.”
“Hope is the only thing stronger than fear. Without it, everything collapses.”
“AI can’t write emotion. It can’t feel loss or faith — that’s why human stories matter.”
“The Gorgons came from my childhood fear of Medusa. That’s where the nightmares began.”
“Fiction lets us explore moral questions safely — what we could do, and what we shouldn’t.”
🔮 About Aaron Ryan
Aaron Ryan is the author of The Dissonance Saga, The End, The Phoenix Experiment, and the upcoming Talisman Series. His work blends high-concept science fiction with human emotion, tackling moral dilemmas, faith, and the endurance of hope in apocalyptic worlds. His screenplay adaptations have won multiple festival awards and are currently in development.
📚 Find Aaron at:🌐 AuthorAaronRyan.com📘 Facebook Group: Author Aaron Ryan Group for giveaways, sneak peeks, and news.🛒 Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Smashwords & Google Play.
🎧 Listen Now on Dairyland Frights
Join John as he and Aaron venture beyond the paranormal and into the cosmic unknown — where aliens, ethics, and the human heart collide.
🎙️ “The Dissonance Saga is an alien invasion story — but at its core, it’s about us.”

Maryam the Psychic: Aliens, Spirits & Lost Pets—Unveiling the Unseen

In this extraordinary episode of Dairyland Frights, host John Radtke sits down with Maryam the Psychic — a natural-born clairvoyant, medium, and spiritual teacher with over 25 years of experience helping people and pets alike. From remote viewing across the world to communicating with extraterrestrials and rescuing lost animals, Maryam opens up about her incredible journey into the unknown.
She reveals how her mother nurtured her psychic gifts from childhood, explains what it takes to safely travel between dimensions, and dives into dark vs. light energies, alien abductions, curses, Ouija boards, and even messages from the other side. Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, this episode will challenge what you think you know about the paranormal world.
👁️‍🗨️ Highlights
How Maryam discovered her psychic gifts as a child
What it means to remote view locations across the globe
The truth about dark energy, “evil,” and spiritual balance
Maryam’s encounters with alien abductions and higher beings
How to protect your energy and raise your vibration
The truth about cursed objects and Ouija boards
Her work with One Planet Rescue to help find missing pets
Reading celebrity pets for Demi Moore, Kat Dyson, and more
Why everyone has psychic abilities—and how to develop yours
How Maryam balances authenticity, emotional health, and truth in her readings
🔮 Guest Links
🌐 Website: maryamthemedium.org
🎥 YouTube: True Crime Psychic Eye, Behind the Hauntings, Ask the Aliens
📱 TikTok & Instagram:maryamfaresh
📧 Email: maryamthemediummail@gmail.com

Re- Release of The Legend of the Hodag & Haunted Rogers Theater

Welcome back to Dairyland Frights! Join hosts John, Megan, and Brooke as they kick off their spooky Wisconsin series with two of the state’s most chilling legends — The Hodag of Rhinelander and The Haunted Rogers Theater of Wausau.
First, Brooke dives into the strange, hilarious, and surprisingly heartfelt history of the Hodag, the bizarre horned cryptid that began as a lumberjack tall tale and ended up becoming the mascot of Rhinelander High School. You’ll learn how prankster Eugene Shepard created the hoax that fooled the Smithsonian, why lumberjacks told stories of vengeful oxen spirits, and how a fake monster brought an entire town back to life.
Then, Megan takes us deep into the dark basement of the Rogers Theater, where unseen hands push workers, projectors flicker off, and rows of empty seats start rocking violently on their own. Could the building’s strange past — once a funeral home, brothel, and furniture shop — have cursed it forever?
🕯️ Highlights
The hilarious feud between Brooke and Zak Bagans of Ghost Adventures (and why he blocked her on Twitter!)
The real history of the Peshtigo Fire and how it shaped Wisconsin’s spooky folklore
The Hodag’s rise from logging camp myth to pop-culture icon
Inside the Rogers Theater hauntings — “Bob,” the ghost in the black suit, and the day construction workers ran for their lives
Why Wisconsin’s small towns are hotbeds of supernatural lore
🏚️ Locations Covered
Rhinelander, WI – Home of the Hodag and its legendary prankster, Eugene Shepard
Wausau, WI – Site of the haunted Rogers Theater and its mysterious past
💀 About the Show
Hosted by John Radtke, Dairyland Frights explores ghosts, cryptids, hauntings, and all things eerie across the Midwest. Each episode blends storytelling, folklore, and humor — proving the Midwest is just as haunted as it is heartland.
🔗 Listen & Follow
🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere you get your chills.💬 Follow us on X, Instagram, and Facebook @DairylandFrights for photos, ghost stories, and behind-the-scenes laughs.👻 Support the show on Patreon for exclusive bonus stories and early access to episodes!

Re-Release of The Ridgeway Ghost & The Mineral Point Vampire — Wisconsin’s Most Terrifying Legends

Welcome back to Dairyland Frights, the Midwest’s creepiest paranormal podcast! In this chilling episode, John, Brooke, and Megan uncover two of Wisconsin’s most spine-tingling legends — The Ridgeway Ghost and The Mineral Point Vampire.
First, Megan brings us Paranormal News from the Holy Hill Art Farm, where a mysterious trail-cam photo captures what appears to be a tall ghostly woman wandering the cornfields near Holy Hill, sparking thousands of Facebook reactions.
Then, John dives into the bizarre story of The Ridgeway Ghost — a shape-shifting spirit said to appear every 40 years along Highway 151 between Dodgeville and Blue Mounds. With roots in 1800s mining-town violence and folklore, this ghost allegedly killed those who saw it — sometimes appearing as a man, pig, or even a ball of fire.
Finally, Brooke brings the night home with the notorious Mineral Point Vampire, a caped figure first spotted in 1981 leaping over cemetery fences and terrifying police. The sightings continued into the 2000s, with eerie encounters at lakes and apartment buildings. Was this a true vampire, a prankster goth, or something else lurking in Wisconsin’s Driftless hills?
👻 Highlights in This Episode:
📰 Paranormal News: The ghostly photo at Holy Hill Art Farm that had social media buzzing
🪦 The Ridgeway Ghost: Wisconsin’s shape-shifting phantom that might actually kill you
🐷 Pig, Woman, or Fireball? The strangest forms the Ridgeway Ghost has taken
💀 Historical Origins: Murders, mining, and madness in 1840s Ridgeway
🧛‍♂️ The Mineral Point Vampire: From police chases to lake-side terror — Wisconsin’s own Dracula legend
🧥 The “I Was Bitten by the Mineral Point Vampire” T-shirts (and why fans still want one today)
🐺 Werewolves, UFOs, and ley lines — why the Driftless Area might be Wisconsin’s paranormal hotspot
🧠 Team discussion: Are these tales real hauntings or local legends gone wild?
🗺️ Featured Locations:
Ridgeway, Wisconsin — Haunted Highway 151
Mineral Point — Graceland Cemetery & Ludden Lake
Holy Hill Art Farm — Hubertus, WI
The Walker House Inn — Mineral Point’s historic (and possibly haunted) tavern
💬 Quotes & Funny Moments:
“It can turn into a pig, a woman, or a ball of fire — Wisconsin ghosts are multitaskers.”
“Imagine a dripping-wet vampire chasing your car through the Driftless hills.”
“Ridgeway’s got seven bars and three churches — that’s how you know it’s haunted and holy.”
“Don’t send us fake trail-cam photos — we’re smarter than that!”
📸 Connect & Share:
Follow @DairylandFrights on Instagram to see the Holy Hill ghost photo, listener-submitted evidence, and spooky behind-the-scenes pics from the show.
If you’ve seen something strange in Wisconsin, message us — we might feature your story in a future episode!