Acadia After Dark

From the fog-drenched streets of Bangor to the quiet stacks of an independent bookstore where stories and stranger things tend to gather, tonight’s episode brings you a conversation steeped in creativity, hauntings, and the peculiar magic of Maine. Reverend Redbeard sits down with author and bookseller Fox Emm, co-owner of Pro Libris, whose work blends sensuality, fear, and the uncanny with a voice that feels right at home on this coast. Together they wander through Fox’s writing, the life of running a bookstore, and the odd moments that come with it, including a childhood encounter with a ghost and the unsettling discovery of cremated remains tucked quietly among the shelves. If you’re drawn to spooky tales, strange happenings, and the people who keep Maine’s literary lanterns burning, this conversation will feel right at home. You can find Fox Emm and their work here https://foxemm.com/ The Fogcast is an Acadia After Dark production. Our title theme is written and performed by local Maine legends, Pine Tree Riot. New episodes of the Fogcast go up every Monday. If you want more, you can find us on social media or head over to acadiaafterdark.com, where you’ll find info about all of our shows, news, and other surprises. Finally, if you’d like to support the show and help keep the lights on, there are a few ways to do that. You can join us in the darkness over on Patreon and become a Lantern Holder, which gets you early access to ad‑free episodes, digital bonuses, and exclusive content like The Lantern Logbook. If a monthly commitment isn’t your thing, you can visit our merch store and pick up something nice before you hit the trails. Keep those lanterns lit and stay safe out there. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Good evening hikers, Tune in for a special live Fogcast where I will be playing The Holyburn Witches, a horror game set right here in Maine. I will also be sharing some news about the channel, talking about the upcoming Lantern-lit Symposium, and discussing Maines ties to the Salem witch trials. Once a month we will host a special live edition of the Fogcast where listeners can chat live, ask questions, and step a little further into the woods. The Fogcast is an Acadia After Dark production. Our title theme is written and performed by local Maine legends, Pine Tree Riot. New episodes of the Fogcast go up every Monday. If you want more, you can find us on social media or head over to acadiaafterdark.com, where you’ll find info about all of our shows, news, and other surprises. If you’d like to support the show and help keep the lights on, there are a few ways to do that. You can join us in the darkness over on Patreon and become a Lantern Holder, which gets you early access to ad‑free episodes, digital bonuses, and exclusive content like The Lantern Logbook. If a monthly commitment isn’t your thing, you can visit our merch store and pick up something nice before you hit the trails. Keep those lanterns lit and stay safe out there. 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com/pal/d/4828507233189888 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the Fogcast is taking a brief rest from its usual wanderings through the strange and storied corners of Maine. But rather than leave you without something eerie to explore, we’re using this pause to introduce a new member of the Acadia After Dark family. The Maine Book of Secrets is a podcast devoted to true accounts from the mysterious, uncanny, and unexplained edges of the Pine Tree State. Hosted by researcher and founder Chris Julian and evidential medium Autumn Tierney, and produced behind the scenes by Reverend Redbeard, the show dives into the weirdest news from around Maine, recent events that defy easy explanation, and firsthand encounters sent in by listeners. In this episode, you’ll hear the very first installment of the Maine Book of Secrets—a debut steeped in curiosity, folklore, and the strangeness that seems to cling to this state like fog to the coast. Settle in for a journey into Maine’s shadowed places, then stick around afterward for a few Fogcast updates. If the Maine Book of Secrets catches your interest, you can explore more at acadiaafterdark.com/mainebookofsecrets, where you’ll find host bios, episode archives, and a place to share your own encounters with the strange side of Maine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bangor has always had two faces—the quiet New England city everyone knows, and the older, stranger one Stephen King carved out of its bones. In this episode, we step straight into that shadow‑twin as the town prepares for a three‑day celebration honoring the man who turned its streets into legend. Nit‑Noi Ricker joins us to reveal how a simple idea grew into a full‑blown festival: carnival games with a sinister wink, scavenger hunts through King’s real‑world haunts, a pet parade with echoes of Pet Sematary, and a Dollar Baby film showcase resurrecting rare cinematic ghosts. We talk about community, mythmaking, and the eerie way King’s imagination still shapes Bangor’s heartbeat. If you’ve ever felt that pull toward Derry—toward the fog, the storm drains, the places where stories cling to the brickwork—this is your sign. Make the trip. See the celebration in person. Some towns don’t just host events… they summon them. Light your lantern and join us for a journey into the version of Bangor that doesn’t show up on any map. You can find out more about the event here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/stephen-kings-79th-birthday-carnival-tickets-1989221950402 New episodes of the Fogcast go up every Monday. If you want more of the show, you can find us on social media or head over to acadiaafterdark.com, where you’ll find info about our episodes, news, and more. Finally, if you’d like to support the show and help keep the lights on, there are a few ways to do that. You can join us in the darkness over on Patreon and become a Lantern Holder, which gets you early access to ad‑free episodes, digital bonuses, and exclusive content like The Lantern Logbook. If a monthly commitment isn’t your thing, you can visit our merch store and pick up something nice before you hit the trails. Keep those lanterns lit and stay safe out there. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are stories in Maine people don’t tell in daylight. Stories whispered on long drives home, or passed down around woodstoves in the dead of winter. Now, they finally have a home. The Maine Book of Secrets is collecting real encounters from real Mainers — unexplained lights, impossible footprints, haunted houses, creatures out of place, and moments that never left you. Send us your story. Because some secrets deserve to be heard. Visit acadiaafterdark.com/mainebookofsecrets for more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The North Atlantic is a restless place. Its forests brood, its coastlines whisper, and its old stories cling to the fog like something with claws. In this episode, I am joined once again by Chelsea and Evan Carr Kinnear of It Came From the Maritimes for a journey through the shared folklore of Maine and Atlantic Canada — a region where the boundary between land, sea, and legend has never been clean. Together, we wander through tales of things that move beneath the waves, watch from the treeline, and linger in the corners of old logging roads and fishing towns. Creatures born from saltwater, superstition, and centuries of storytelling rise to the surface, along with the strange encounters that keep these traditions alive today. From ghost‑ridden coastlines to deep‑woods mysteries, from ancient fears to modern sightings, this conversation explores the living folklore of the North Atlantic. Nothing here is told straight; everything is filtered through fog, memory, and the uneasy feeling that some stories are still unfolding. If you’ve ever felt watched in the woods, heard something move in the dark, or wondered what else shares these rugged coastlines with us, step in. The fog is thick tonight. Find Chelsea and Evan here https://www.facebook.com/itcamefromthemaritimes/ If you enjoy the show please leave a rating as it helps others find us out here in the fog. New episodes of the Fogcast go up every Monday. Become a Lantern Holder on Patreon to gain early access to ad free episodes, as well as digital extras and exclusive content. Visit acadiaafterdark.com for more horror from the fog soaked woods of Maine. Keep those lanterns lit and stay safe out there hikers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Maine is a state built on long roads, old stories, and the kind of history that never quite settles. In this episode of the Fogcast, I sit down with Adam Begin — host of Historically Haunted, tour guide, storyteller, and lifelong explorer of the darker corners of the Pine Tree State. From Lewiston’s mill blocks to the filming sites tucked around Bangor, Adam shares the ghost encounters, local legends, and personal experiences that shaped his path into podcasting. We talk about the realities of running tours across a state this massive, the frustrations of modern recording platforms, and the strange comfort that comes from embracing Maine’s macabre heritage instead of shying away from it. It’s a conversation between two creators raised in the same woods, following different trails toward the same mysteries — history, hauntings, and the stories that refuse to be forgotten. You can find Adam here https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086114496799 If you enjoy the show please leave a rating. It helps the show reach more ears out there in the dark. Background music and sound effects are from Epidemic Sound, and our title song is courtesy of Pine Tree Riot. New episodes of the Fogcast go up every Monday. If you want to help support the show, consider joining us on Patreon and becoming a Lantern Holder tonight. And if you want more of the world we’re building, head over to acadiaafterdark.com for news, articles, merchandise, and more horror from the dark places between the pines. Keep those lanterns lit, and stay safe out there. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this return to the fog‑shrouded wilds of Maine, I welcome back researcher and storyteller Nomar Slevik—now a four‑time guest and an undeniable fixture in the Acadia After Dark canon. Together we wander through decades of strange history: from the Johnny Cash alien‑abduction monument in Somesville, to the haunted archives behind In the Pines, to the unsettling disappearance of Virginia Douglas in 1980—a case where the truth may still lie in Massachusetts. Nomar opens his research vault, sharing updates on UFO file releases, the bizarre 1952 Francis Swan communications, and a chilling 2009 encounter with an eight‑foot spindly entity that dissolved into the night. The conversation drifts through cursed lands, goblin sightings during the Kentucky floods, and the ethics of collecting stories from experiencers who carry trauma like a second skin. We also dive into modern horror cinema—its triumphs, failures, and the strange new era where YouTube series dethrone Hollywood giants. From Good Boy and Sinners to the new Spielberg disclosure film, we explore how fear evolves, mutates, and refuses to stay in one genre. This episode is a lantern held high in the dark: a blend of folklore, true crime, UFO history, and the uncanny confessions people only share when the woods aren't listening. Find Nomar here https://allmylinks.com/slevik If you enjoy the show please leave a a rating. New episodes of the Fogcast go up every Monday. Become a Lantern Holder on Patreon to gain early access to ad free episodes, as well as digital extras and exclusive content. Visit acadiaafterdark.com for more horror from the fog soaked woods of Maine. Keep those lanterns lit and stay safe out there hikers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Three true Pale Crawler encounters from the deep woods of Maine — each stranger, darker, and more unsettling than the last. In this episode, we explore eyewitness accounts of tall, pale, uncanny figures stalking rural properties, cannabis grows, mountain trails, and quiet northern homesteads. These stories come straight from the people who lived them, and each one adds another piece to the puzzle of what might be hiding in the treeline. Are they an evolutionary offshoot? A mimic species? Something extraterrestrial? Or something else entirely? If you’ve ever felt watched in the woods, heard your name whispered from the trees, or seen something pale and human‑shaped where no person should be… this episode is for you. Have you had an encounter? Reach out to me in the fog. This has been a production of Acadia After Dark LLC , written, directed, and produced by Christian Leathers — also known as Reverend Redbeard. Our intro music is by local Maine folk‑punk legends Pine Tree Riot, and our background music and sound effects come courtesy of Epidemic Sound. If you want more of the show, you can find us on social media or head over to acadiaafterdark.com , where you’ll find info about our episodes, news, and more. Finally, if you’d like to support the show and help keep the lights on, there are a few ways to do that. You can join us in the darkness over on Patreon and become a Lantern Holder, which gets you early access to ad‑free episodes, digital bonuses, and exclusive content like The Lantern Logbook. If a monthly commitment isn’t your thing, you can visit our merch store and pick up something nice before you hit the trails. Keep those lanterns lit and stay safe out there. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tonight we step deeper into the shadowed heart of Maine with two members of local Maine paranormal investigation team, the Boo Fighters you haven’t met yet: John Ramsden and Jessica Betit. Jessica—librarian, historian, and keeper of the Gardiner Public Library’s secrets—helped uncover the first signs that the stacks weren’t as quiet as they seemed. And John, a new paranormal researcher with a few too many unexplainable moments under his belt, brings a steady, analytical eye to every investigation. Together, we talk about some of the most active locations in central Maine: the 1881 Gardiner Library with its shadow figures and impossible attic lights; the colonial-era halls of Fort Western; the cigar-scented basement of Governor Hill Mansion; and the cold, bat-filled sub-basement of the Vassalboro Mill. We talk about the difference between residual and intelligent hauntings, why certain objects seem to hold emotional charge, and what it means to investigate in a state where history never really stays quiet. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to sit in the dark waiting for something to answer back—or why Maine keeps producing so many paranormal stories—this episode is your trailhead. Catch them at their August 8th overnight at the historic Fort Western, and a mysterious new attraction they’re debuting at Paranormal Horror Con this September. Find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/p/Boo-Fighters-Paranormal-61584044753586/ You can also watch them here https://www.youtube.com/@UCVZwEWLHM0UxPu4_xRDJdhw If you enjoy the show please leave us a rating. New episodes of the Fogcast go up every Monday. Become a Lantern Holder on Patreon to gain early access to ad free episodes, as well as digital extras and exclusive content. Visit acadiaafterdark.com for more horror from the fog soaked woods of Maine. Keep those lanterns lit and stay safe out there hikers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A red‑shingled mansion rises out of the Bar Harbor fog like a relic from a forgotten age, its gilded trim catching what little light the night allows. Locals say the place changes after dusk — the air thickens, the windows watch, and the old servant halls whisper with footsteps no one can place. Those who pass beneath its eaves speak of silhouettes drifting behind lace curtains and soft lantern‑glows where no lanterns burn. Tonight, we step toward that wavering light and into the stories that cling to Ledgelawn’s walls, as we tell the tale of one of Bar Harbor’s most famous hauntings. If you enjoy hearing about the darker corners of Maine's past,leave a rating to help others find us in the fog and consider becoming a Lantern Holder on Patreon for early access, ad‑free episodes, and exclusive Acadia After Dark content. Visit acadiaafterdark.com for more horror from the dark places between the pines. Keep those lanterns lit and stay safe out there hikers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on The Fogcast, I sat down with Boo Fighters Paranormal for a deep dive into the paranormal from their origins in Sioux Falls to investigating the shadowed corners of Maine. We explore the explosive rise of paranormal research in Maine, the Gardiner Library’s infamous light anomaly, the Vassalboro Mill’s cascading REM‑pod event, and the team’s innovative use of music and vibration theory to provoke activity. From guttural growls caught on Ring cameras — “a guttural, ‘death metal’ style growl” — to a captured apparition of a little girl glowing in the hallway, Boo Fighters recount the experiences that pushed them from curiosity into what it has become. If you love hauntings, history, and the strange pulse of the unseen world, this is an episode you’ll feel right at home with. Catch them at their August 8th overnight at the historic Fort Western, and a mysterious new attraction they’re debuting at Paranormal Horror Con this September. Find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/p/Boo-Fighters-Paranormal-61584044753586/ You can also watch them here https://www.youtube.com/@UCVZwEWLHM0UxPu4_xRDJdhw If you enjoy the show please leave rating. New episodes of the Fogcast go up every Monday. Become a Lantern Holder on Patreon to gain early access to ad free episodes, as well as digital extras and exclusive content. Visit acadiaafterdark.com for more horror from the fog soaked woods of Maine. Keep those lanterns lit and stay safe out there hikers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bucksport, Maine is the kind of place where people wave in the grocery store, where the river moves slow, and where tragedy is supposed to be rare. But over four years, four people died or vanished under circumstances their families say never made sense — all connected to one man: David Appleby. Four deaths. One disappearance. One man whose name keeps resurfacing. Between 2013 and 2017, a quiet mill town on the Penobscot River became the center of a series of tragedies that still defy explanation. The families call them The Bucksport Four — and for more than a decade, they’ve fought for answers that never came. With David Appleby’s death in 2026, closure may never arrive. But their stories still matter. Their voices still deserve to be heard. If you have any information that could help solve this case the families have set up a website: https://www.justiceforthebucksport4.com/ If you enjoy wandering into the darker corners of Maine, please leave a rating and consider becoming a Lantern Holder on Patreon for early access, ad‑free episodes, and exclusive Acadia After Dark content. Visit acadiaafterdark.com for more horror from the dark places between the pines. Keep those lanterns lit and stay safe out there hikers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Fogcast, I sit down with Amazon‑bestselling mystery author Michael Lowell Wright, a writer shaped by the deep woods, logging roads, and folklore of inland Maine. Tonight, we explore The Golden Road, Wright’s breakout novel that blends real disappearances, Maine legend, and the eerie pull of the North Woods into a dark literary universe. Wright shares how his years as a third‑generation logger and mill worker inform the authenticity of his settings, from the moose‑haunted stretches of the Golden Road to the forgotten towns of the county. The conversation drifts through nighttime hikes in Acadia, UFO encounters near Lambert Lake, the psychology of horror, and the strange, prehistoric atmosphere of Maine’s interior wilderness. Listeners will hear about the real cases that inspired the book’s opening mystery, the hidden “Easter eggs” woven throughout the narrative, and Wright’s upcoming frontier thriller The Township. This episode is a journey into the places where the map runs out, the woods listen, and Maine turns dark. Find more of Michael's work at wheremaineturnsdark.com If you enjoy the show please leave a rating as it helps get the show in the ears of more listeners. New episodes of the Fogcast go up every Monday. Become a Lantern Holder on Patreon to gain early access to ad free episodes, as well as digital extras and exclusive content. Visit acadiaafterdark.com for more horror from the fog soaked woods of Maine. Keep those lanterns lit and stay safe out there hikers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Step off the marked trails and into the places where Maine keeps its secrets. In this episode, we explore five cryptids whispered about in logging camps, fishing towns, and the deep woods where the map fades to blank paper. From the branch‑throwing Agropelter lurking in hollow pines to the lightning‑quick Hide‑behind that stalks the dark, from Cherryfield’s unsettling Goatman to Cassie the ancient sea serpent of Casco Bay, and finally the towering, ghost‑white Specter Moose of the North Woods — these are the creatures that live between the stories and the shadows. If you enjoy wandering into the darker corners of Maine folklore, drop us a rating, and consider becoming a Lantern Holder on Patreon for early access, ad‑free episodes, and exclusive Acadia After Dark content. Visit acadiaafterdark.com for more horror from the dark places between the pines. Keep those lanterns lit and stay safe out there hikers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of the Fogcast, I sit down with writer and Mainer, Chris Moller for a conversation that drifts from the everyday to the uncanny — the way life in the Pine Tree State often does. From childhood summers in Kennebunkport to the quiet roads of Union and the Victorian bones of Rockland, Chris has lived more versions of Maine than most. We talk about the strange alchemy this place works on artists: the long winters, the isolation, the sense of history pressing in from the treeline, and the way all of it shapes the stories we tell. The conversation winds through the realities of living here — the cost of groceries, the strain of post‑pandemic tourism, the impossible rent, and the way small communities hold themselves together anyway. Chris shares the balancing act of working multiple jobs, running a community auction, and carving out time to write Superlative, a Southern Gothic novel braided with Maine folklore and the ghosts of real experiences. Chris also recounts a chilling encounter on Clary Hill Road: a towering, intelligent creature with yellow eyes and a smell of rot that no known animal carries. This is an episode about Maine as it truly is: beautiful, brutal, creative, haunted, and alive with stories waiting to be told. If you enjoy the show please leave a rating. New episodes of the Fogcast go up every Monday. Become a Lantern Holder on Patreon to gain early access to ad free episodes, as well as digital extras and exclusive content. Visit acadiaafterdark.com for more horror from the fog soaked woods of Maine. Keep those lanterns lit and stay safe out there hikers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bar Island in Bar Harbor, Maine is known for its tidal crossing — a path that appears and disappears with the sea. But beneath the beauty lies a story that has haunted the community for more than a century. Revisit a historic tragedy from 1915 and the ghostly legends that followed as we explore the darker side of Mount Desert Island, where memory, tide, and folklore intertwine. If you enjoy the show please leave a rating. New episodes of the Fogcast go up every Monday. Become a Lantern Holder on Patreon to gain access to ad free episodes a day early, as well as bonus digital content and exclusive extras. Visit acadiaafterdark.com for more horror from the foggy coast of Maine. Keep those lanterns lit and stay safe out there hikers... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Fogcast, I sit down with Ryan Von Ghoulsworth—DJ, archivist, writer, and the mind behind Mutants of the East—for a deep dive into Maine’s haunted musical underbelly. A lifelong Mainer with roots in Auburn, Ryan has spent years digging through the state’s overlooked sonic history. From producing for Damnation Land to hosting WMPG’s Mutants of the East (and transforming it into a record label in 2025), Ryan has become a key figure in preserving the strange, the forgotten, and the fiercely local. All of Ryan’s links are included below so artists can connect, collaborate, or submit to the Maine Covers Maine project. https://www.mutantsoftheeast.com/ https://linktr.ee/mutantsoftheeast https://mutantsoftheeast.bandcamp.com/ If you enjoy the show please leave a rating as it help get the show in the ears of more listeners. New episodes of the Fogcast go up every Monday. Become a Lantern Holder on Patreon to gain access to ad free episodes a day early, as well as digital extras and exclusive content. Visit acadiaafterdark.com for more horror from the foggy coast of Maine. Keep those lanterns lit and stay safe out there. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CW: Descriptions of violence Is Sarah Ware still searching for justice? Or is something older wearing her shape? In 1898, Bucksport, Maine was shaken by the brutal and still‑unsolved murder of Sarah Ware. More than a century later, witnesses continue to report chilling encounters around — and beneath — the waters of Silver Lake. In this episode, we explore the life and death of Sarah MacDonald Ware, the investigation that failed to bring her killer to justice, and the decades of ghostly sightings that followed. From Almira Miles’ early claims of spectral knocks to modern encounters on the lake’s hiking trails, Sarah’s story refuses to fade. Featuring a special voiceover from Maine author and researcher Nomar Slevik, this episode seeks to uncover what might still linger in the dark waters of Silver Lake. If you enjoy the show please leave a rating on your audio platform of choice as it helps the show get in the ears of more listeners. New episodes of the Fogcast go up every Monday. Become a Lantern Holder on Patreon to gain access to ad free episodes a day early, as well as bonus digital content and the Lantern Logbook. Visit acadiaafterdark.com for more horror from the foggy coast of Maine. Keep those lanterns lit and stay safe out there hikers... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tonight’s Fogcast brought in two guests who know the darker corners of Maine better than most. Travis Hartford and Jeff Atwood, the voices behind Locating the Lost, joined me to talk about their work uncovering the stories behind missing persons and cold cases throughout New England. Their podcast blends interviews, live case discussions, and deep‑dive investigations to give a voice to those who’ve gone silent. We talked about the cases that haunt them, the rumors that swirl through small towns, and some eerie moments they’ve encountered while chasing the truth. You can find Locating the Lost here: https://www.facebook.com/locatingthelostones/ https://www.youtube.com/@locatingthelost If you enjoy the show please leave a rating and share the show with a friend. New episodes of the Fogcast go up every Monday. Become a Lantern Holder on Patreon to gain access to ad free episodes a day early, as well as digital content and the Lantern Logbook. Visit acadiaafterdark.com for more horror from the foggy coast of Maine. Keep those lanterns lit and stay safe out there. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.