We're back this week with even more sharks as we discuss all things JAWS with one of our favorite middle-grade authors, Ira Marcks! Is the story from the movie true? Why is this particular shark so scary? Why are we still talking about this movie almost 50 years after its release? Ira has answers to those questions and sooo much more. It's Shark Summer all summer long on Unspookable! Special thanks this week to Ira Marcks. Ira’s book’s Shark Summer and Spirit Week are available at Bookshop.org and wherever books are sold. To find out more about Ira, his work, and how your school or library ca ..read more

What's the first thing that pops into your head when you hear the word shark? Is it a sea predator with rows and rows of sharp teeth? Maybe it's a simple alternating E and F or F and F sharp played on a solo tuba? Or maybe it's a misunderstood fish whose representation in film has given them a bad name. Love them or fear them, we cannot wait to talk about one of our favorite creatures on not one, but two episodes this month. It's Shark Summer all summer long on Unspookable! Host: Elise Parisian Written by: Miden Wood Produced, Edited by: Nate DuFort Music Direction and Composition: Jesse Case ..read more

When it comes to unsolved mysteries, almost none are bigger or more widely debated than the disappearance of aviation innovator Amelia Earhart. What happened on that fateful journey? What became of Earhart and navigator Fred Noonan? And why do we struggle as humans so much with not having an answer? We'll try to answer those questions and more on this episode of Unspookable. Host: Elise Parisian Written, Produced, Edited by: Nate DuFort Music Direction and Composition: Jesse Case Logo by: Natalie Khuen You can find Unspookable on Twitter and Instagram at: https://twitter.com/ImUnspookable htt ..read more

What do you know of the legendary spirits, creatures, and figures of Japanese folklore? And how have these figures found their way into every corner of our popular culture? Unspookable producer Nate DuFort sits down this week with Thersa Matsuura to find out more while discussing her latest, The Book of Japanese Folklore: An Encyclopedia of the Spirits, Monsters, and Yokai of Japanese Myth. That and more on this episode of Unspookable. Host: Elise Parisian with Nate DuFort Created, Produced, Edited by: Nate DuFort Music Direction and Composition: Jesse Case Logo by: Natalie Khuen Episode artw ..read more

A lot of us have heard the word Illuminati, but what does it mean? Is there really a secret group of people controlling society from the shadows? There are conspiracy theories in the world today about these very questions and so much more, but where do these ideas come from? And why do people keep spreading them? Finding and agreeing on the truth can be hard sometimes and we'll talk about that and more on this episode of Unspookable.    Host: Elise Parisian Written by: Ellenor Riley-Condit Created, Produced, Edited by: Nate DuFort Music Direction and Composition: Jesse Case Logo ..read more

Last fall it felt like every other email, review, or topic recommendation we received mentioned a YouTube series that had captured the imaginations of our listeners and literally BILLIONS of young people around the world. If you haven't heard about these giant, singing, war mongering toilets with human heads, you're in for a huge surprise. We're talking Skibidi Toilets on this episode of Unspookable. Host: Elise Parisian Written, Produced, Edited by: Nate DuFort Music Direction and Composition: Jesse Case Logo by: Natalie Khuen You can find Unspookable on Twitter and Instagram at: https://twi ..read more

We get a lot of amazing suggestions from our listeners of topics to cover on the show, but there's one topic that topples the competition: Video Games. Whether it's Five Nights at Freddy's, Doors, Hello Neighbor, Garten of Banban, or Poppy Playtime, there are tons of first person horror games that you want us to cover. Elise talks to gaming writer Melissa Sarnowski about one of your favorites and the horror genre's enduring appeal for middle graders on this episode of Unspookable. Host: Elise Parisian Written, Produced, Edited by: Nate DuFort Music Direction and Composition: Jesse Case Logo b ..read more

What would you do if you woke up one day and giant portals in the sky brought about a monster apocalypse that left your hometown without any rules, grownups, or homework? Well if you’re Jack Sullivan, you’d move into your foster brother's treehouse, play video games and eat junk food, while teaming up with some former classmates to stop these monsters from taking over what is left of your world.  If any of that sounds familiar, then you no doubt know with the series The Last Kids on Earth, the #1 New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling series, with over 10 million c ..read more

Have you ever heard of The Backrooms? Maybe you've come across this strange never-ending series of liminal spaces on TikTok or on YouTube or maybe some games that you've played. The Backrooms are one of our most frequently requested topics and we were curious to explore why their flickering fluorescent lights, yellow walls, and endless mazes have captured your imaginations. That and more on this episode of Unspookable.    Host: Elise Parisian Written by: Ellenor Riley-Condit  Created, Produced, Edited by: Nate DuFort Music Direction and Composition: Jesse Case: https://www.jesse ..read more

The month of December brings a whole host of traditions for people all across the world. For us on Unspookable, this time of year brings some of the strangest creepy creatures we get to see. After all – it wouldn’t be the holidays for us if we didn’t get to throw in something spooky. So consider it your gift to us to countdown some of the weirdest, witchiest holiday traditions we could scare up on this special holiday episode of Unspookable.   Host: Elise Parisian Written by: Ellenor Riley-Condit  Created, Produced, Edited by: Nate DuFort Research by: Nate DuFort  Musi ..read more