Pull up a chair, light a candle, and settle in. I’m the Tale Teller, and since 2017 I’ve been narrating the stories that keep people awake at night: horror fiction, old folklore, real crimes and the legends that grow around them. Stories Fables Ghostly Tales is now nearly 1,000 episodes deep, and every one of them is free to play right here on the site.
New here? Start with a hand-picked episode
What you’ll hear
- Japanese true crime: real cases from Japan, each paired with the yōkai, ghost or legend that shares its shape.
- Japanese urban legends & yokai: the spirits and stories Japan still whispers about.
- Folklore from around the world: from Nordic night-hags to Scottish hauntings.
- Creepypasta, Nosleep & Reddit horror and SCP Foundation files: the internet’s scariest stories, read aloud.
- Remastered old time radio: Suspense, Lights Out, Dragnet and more, cleaned up so they’re easy to listen to again.
- Classic literature and horror fiction: gothic tales, Sherlock Holmes and original stories.
- Listener stories: true ghost stories and strange experiences sent in by you.
The series
Hyakumonogatari. Named after the Edo-period game of a hundred ghost stories told by candlelight, this series pairs one real Japanese criminal case with one Japanese myth that shares its logic. Each episode is a candle, counting down from one hundred. Explore the cases in our Japanese True Crime guide.
Mørketid. A Nordic folklore series for the long dark: one legend each from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, from the mare behind the word “nightmare” to the forest that hides people. Read the companion piece, Nordic Folklore Creatures.
How the stories are told
The true crime episodes are about real people, and I treat them that way. The cases are researched, the victims are named with care, and the worst details are handled through restraint rather than spelled out. The fear in this show comes from atmosphere, sound and storytelling, not shock for its own sake.
Listen anywhere
Every episode plays free on this site, and the show is on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, iHeartRadio and Audioboom. If you enjoy it, a quick rating or review is the best free way to help new listeners find the show.
Keep the candles lit
The show is supported by listeners on Patreon, with tea-themed tiers from the Earl Grey Enforcers to the White Tea Warlords and the Oud Night Tea Titans. Supporters are thanked by name on the show, and they’re the reason it’s still going after all these years.
Get in touch
Have a story request, a true ghost story of your own, or just want to say hello? Contact the Tale Teller or email storiesfablesghostlytales@gmail.com.