Urban Legends

For decades, stories of an unknown figure staring through bedroom windows have circulated in whispered warnings and late-night news reports, but is there any truth to it?

In this chapter, we explore the origins of the 'Killer in the Window' Urban Legend and the real incidents that connect to it. Join us as we examine how a fleeting shape outside the curtains became a modern myth about invasion, vulnerability, and...

From ancient carvings and medieval manuscripts to shipwreck songs and seaside myths, 'Mermaids' have haunted human imagination for centuries.

Over the years, they have been a symbol of beauty, danger, sin, and even salvation. But where did these beings come from, and why have they endured in so many cultures across the world?

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In the late hours of the night, a bus winds its way through the quiet streets of Beijing - a vehicle that has given rise to one of China’s most haunting modern legends. Known as the tale of the 'Midnight Bus', it tells of unsuspecting passengers, strange late-night boardings, and a ride that takes a turn into the supernatural.

In this chapter, we unravel the origins of the tale, the cultural fears it reflects, and why the ...

In the crowded streets and buzzing venues of modern life, a rumour began to spread of strangers attacking at random with needles, leaving their victims with more than just fear and discomfort. Known as 'Pin Prick Attacks', this urban legend has gripped communities with its unsettling blend of danger, anonymity, and the dread of an invisible threat.

Join us as we delve deeper into the psychology and horror of a tale that ma...

In this chapter, we investigate the ‘Knife in the Briefcase’ urban legend, a chilling tale that has circulated in cities across the world. Rooted in warnings about predatory strangers, it tells of women lured into vulnerable situations by a man whose professional façade hides something far darker.

We trace the story’s spread through history and explore its links to real crimes and cultural fears. Just how much of it is true? Let&apo...

In a quiet corner of Perry County, Ohio, lies a grave that’s become the centre of a dark fascination. Marked by a horseshoe carved into stone, this otherwise unassuming headstone has inspired decades of eerie tales, commonly known as 'The Horseshoe Grave'.

From it's original story to today, we unravel how a single symbol etched in stone became the anchor for one of America’s most haunting rural myths.

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Livestock found drained of blood. Puncture wounds with no clear cause.

In this chapter, we investigate the 'Chupacabra', one of the most infamous cryptids in modern folklore. However, beneath the sensational headlines and pop culture portrayals lies an origin story rooted in real fear. From rural Puerto Rican farms to dusty Texas backroads, we trace the legend’s spread, dissect the eyewitness accounts, and explore how one ...

The 'Thunderbird' is one of the most enduring figures in Native American folklore. A powerful, electric bird said to summon storms, strike down monsters, and keep balance between worlds. In this episode, I look at where the legend comes from, what it means to the tribes who tell it, and how it’s been reshaped over time.

We’ll explore stories from the Ojibwe, Sioux, and Menominee peoples, dive into ancient battles with unde...

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...