Urban Legends

Let's trace the eerie wail of one of Ireland’s most enduring legends, the 'Banshee'.

Often dismissed as myth or metaphor, the Banshee is more than just a ghostly woman who cries in the night. Her story shifts across time and region, tangled in ideas of ancestry, grief, and death itself.

This unsettling figure has followed generations through the centuries but just what is she? and what does she want with us?

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In this chapter, we explore the legend of the 'Impundulu', Southern Africa’s lightning bird. A shapeshifting blood-drinker entity that is both feared and revered across generations.

We’ll trace the story through Zulu, Xhosa, and Pondo traditions, uncovering its many forms and meanings. From deadly thunder to fairy rings and vampiric hunger, the Impundulu is as mysterious as it is terrifying.

We’ll also take a step back, loo...

**Trigger Warning: This chapter involves harm to children.**

Join us as we explore a strange and unsettling tale that slithered its way into urban legend, 'The Pet Snake'.

At first glance, it's a strange story of an affectionate reptile that stops eating, only to reveal a chilling intention. But behind the surface lies a story that speaks to our uneasy relationship with domesticated predators.

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In the 1990s, in the streets of Bangalore, India, a strange phrase began to appear on walls and doorways: 'Nale Ba''Translating as, 'Come Tomorrow.' This was all tied to the legend of a witch who wandered the streets at night, calling out to men in the voices of their loved ones.

In this chapter, I explore the urban legend of Nale Ba, where it came from, how it spread, and what it says about gender and shift...

Today we turn to one of Japan’s most enduring and disturbing legends, 'Kuchisake-onna', also known as 'the Slit-Mouthed Woman'.

This tale of a disfigured woman who asks a chilling question has stalked schoolyards, late-night streets, and the public imagination for decades. But beneath the horror lies a deeper story - one shaped by post-war trauma, shifting societal fears, and the evolution of urban myth in a medi...

A snippet of this weeks Patreon Exclusive chapter.

Legends don’t always come from ancient times. Some are crafted more recently, shaped by communities, and kept alive because they say something important about the place they come from.

In this chapter, I explore the strange story of the 'Nain Rouge', Detroit’s Red Dwarf. Said to be a demonic figure that brings misfortune, the legend has ties to French folklore, Native Ameri...

As we begin Season V, we explore one of the most unnerving figures in modern folklore: the Men in Black.

Join us as we trace the shadowy origins of these silent enforcers, following their evolution from early UFO encounters to government conspiracies and their place in pop culture. We’ll examine the strange patterns that link witness testimonies, the unsettling uniformity of their behaviour, and the psychological weight they carry a...

Season Five of Urban Legends begins 14th May.

In this new series, we uncover the strange, the sinister, and the stories that refuse to die. From serpents and spirits to courtrooms and cryptids, each episode takes you deeper into the folklore, fear, and facts behind the world’s most enduring legends.

Written and narrated by Luke Mordue, Urban Legends blends storytelling, history, and cultural analysis to explore why these tales persis...

Modern Myths is a series running alongside Urban Legends; shorter chapters delving into smaller folkloric tales shared worldwide. To listen to our past episodes and to gain access to those coming on our next season, join us on Patreon by clicking the link below.

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Get ready for a festive, yet perplexing journey into the world of urban legends as we explore the mysterious tale of Santa stuck in chi...

Join us on a journey through centuries of tradition, mystery, and the darker side of the holiday season. Krampus, the horned and devilish counterpart to Santa Claus, has long been a figure of both fear and fascination. But what are the origins of this legendary Christmas creature? In this chapter, we will unwrap the layers of this complex folklore, tracing it back to its roots in European tradition and mythology.

Let’s explore Kramp...

In this chapter, we answer the chilling call of a legendary urban legend that has left us with frayed nerves for generations: the ominous words, "The call is coming from inside the house." 

Join us as we unravel the origins, eerie narratives, and psychological terror behind this haunting urban legend. We'll explore how it has become a timeless cautionary tale, rooted in genuine fears and anxieties, as it tap...

In this harrowing chapter, we plunge into the chilling world of a spine-tingling urban legend that has fueled fear and fascination - the horrifying tale of 'The Dead Boyfriend' hanging above the car. 

Join us as we delve into the origins, gripping narratives, and psychological underpinnings of this enduring myth whilst also drawing connections to very real crimes committed over the years. 

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Join us as we dissect one of the most spine-tingling and enduring modern urban legends, 'Kidney Theft'. 

Let's delve into the chilling narratives, the origins, and the psychology behind this macabre tale of organ theft, exploring the various versions of the story and uncovering its roots in real-life fears and the fear of the unknown. 

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**Trigger Warning: This chapter involves references of Sexual Assault**

Join us as we explore the origins, the harrowing variations, and the gripping psychology behind the 'Killer in the Backseat'. Let's uncover its roots in real-life crime stories and how it has taken on a life of its own in the collective imagination, serving as a grim cautionary tale about the dangers of the night.

We'll delve into th...

Join us as we plunge into the realm of darkness and superstition to explore the enduring urban legend of 'Bloody Mary'. Peer through the looking glass into the chilling world of incantations, haunted mirrors, and the enigmatic figure who haunts our reflections.

We'll unravel the origins of this age-old tradition, tracing it back to its roots in folklore, and exploring how it has passed from one generation to the next,...

Step into the dark, shadowy world of an eerie urban legend that has chilled many for years: 'Aren't You Glad You Didn't Turn on the Lights?'. 

Join us as we delve into the unnerving stories, spine-chilling variations, and enduring mysteries behind this whispered horror.

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Modern Myths is a series running alongside Urban Legends; shorter chapters delving into smaller folkloric tales shared worldwide. To listen to our past episodes and to gain access to those coming on our next season, join us on Patreon by clicking the link below.

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In this special chapter, we're donning our spookiest costumes and lighting our jack-o'-lanterns as we explore the enchanting ...

**Trigger Warning: This chapter involves harm to children.**

In this chapter, we unwrap a notorious urban legend that has cast a sinister shadow over Halloween for decades, 'Poisoned Candy'. 

Join us as we delve into the origins, fears, and dark reality behind this enduring Halloween myth, exploring how the legend of tainted treats has become a sinister undercurrent of Halloween folklore, examining its r...

 Let's leap back in time to explore the enigmatic history of 'Spring-Heeled Jack' to unravel the astonishing tales, enduring mysteries, and fascinating legacy of one of the most bizarre and elusive figures in the annals of urban legend.

We'll delve into the origins of this notorious character, unearthing the eerie reports of his astonishing abilities and unsettling appearances, which both terrified and fascinated...