EPISODE 12 Close Encounters

The Universe is unfathomably large, but the Earth is not. We know its circumference and its mass, and even how long it has been around. So it's easy to imagine that if we were ever visited by people from another world, we'd know about it. Where could they hide? After all, this is our house and we know who's been in it, right? Well, there is actually an overwhelming number of human beings who believe quite the opposite; that extra-terrestrials have lived among us throughout history, and on several occasions have made close contact. In a more often than not divided society, aliens, UFOs, and the stories attached to them stand as a strangely unifying fascination for all of us here on Earth. In this AoE intro to E.T.s, your hosts explore the earliest claims of alien abduction and UFO sightings, and the cultural phenomenon that continues to grow around those stories to this day.

EPISODE 11 Hollow Earth

There's nothing beneath our feet besides thousands of miles of rock, soil, and molten metal, right? Maybe a handful of wriggling sightless creatures who pose no threat to the likes of us. But what if there is so much more? Rivers, vegetation, even a small star... all of the necessary ingredients for life, and perhaps thriving, advanced civilization. On this episode of The Age of Enfrightenment, your hosts take you on a journey to the center of the Earth,\ and the center of a storied tradition in scientific thought, that seems to be ripped directly from the pages of science fiction.

EPISODE 10 Creepypasta

For thousands of years, stories traveled at the speed of human beings, from one campfire to the next – mouth to ears. Today our stories travel at an average speed of 4 Megabits per second. Among them are an infinitely growing number of tales that are too chilling for common forms of media, and more often than not, claim to be true. Join the AoE for an exploration of the new breed of storytelling hardly old enough to drive in human terms, but which has already nearly claimed lives. After listening, your hosts strongly suggest that you visit the Resources page for further reading.

EPISODE 9 Horror in New Media

In a timespan of less than a few decades, video games and other forms of new media have provided entire worlds for humans to immerse themselves in. These worlds have their own laws of physics, rules, and moral codes and need not abide by those of reality. Essentially, they are ripe with the unknown – and where there is the unknown, there is so much to fear. Join the Enfrightenment gang as they welcome friend and guest Justin to explore the darker side of interactive entertainment.

EPISODE 7 Interlude: Horrors From the Womb, On the Streets, and Buried in Snow

Looking back as far as ancient myths and as recently as the 1950's, your three hosts each share stories near and dear to their sooty black hearts. On this mixtape of terror episode, prepare to celebrate Mother's Day the AoE way, meet a fiendish figure from 19th Century England, and reach a whole new level of dread toward the secrets of Cold War era Russia.
 

EPISODE 6 Witchcraft

"Double, double toil and trouble, fire burn and caldron bubble." Whether in Shakespeare, modern horror films, adorable Halloween costumes, or ancient religious texts, witches hold a special place in our collective human experience. We've seen them as healers, amusing fads, and as mortal threats, but whatever lens we choose to peek through, the undeniable fact is that they are real. Part of the fabric of history is made up of people who actually lived as either self-proclaimed or accused witches, and in most cases their stories were grim and tragic. On this introductory episode to Witchcraft, your AoE hosts explore where it came from and what it has meant to humanity.