Unspookable is a family-friendly look at the histories and mysteries behind your favorite scary stories, myths, and urban legends. Using a unique blend of storytelling, brain science, and historical context, Unspookable digs up the stories behind the scares in episodes that are as educational as they are fun. Today, we talk to co-creator and producer Nate DuFort.
Daddy's Digest (DD): What drew you to scary storytelling? Were you interested in scary stories as a child?
Nate: As much as I have always loved scary stories, what I really love is debunking them, which has always been the goal of Unspookable. I appreciate the entirety of the storytelling journey: setting a scary tone, stoking the fears, then slowly explaining those fears by talking about the psychology and the history of each subject in a way that can serve as a great conversation starter for families. When I was younger, I sought out all things scary, be it books, movies, comics, etc….but can also admit that the first time I saw The Wizard of Oz I had bad dreams for weeks.
DD: Nate, speaking as a father: what does connecting with kids mean to you?
Nate: Connecting with kids is the driving force behind so much of what I do with our children’s podcasts and beyond. It’s important for us as parents, caregivers, and media makers to pass on our knowledge and experiences while also acknowledging the ever-changing world for Gen Z and Gen Alpha children. These younger generations experience challenges unique to their age groups and our connection deepens when we listen, learn, and meet each other in the middle. I feel that multigenerational shared listening is a great starting point to those conversations.
DD: What's the one episode that Dads and their kids HAVE to hear? Tell me one episode you are obsessed with.
Nate: I love our episode on the internet phenomenon of “Momo”, as it shows that the things we see on the internet aren’t always what they appear to be – in this case a scary meme challenge being passed around was nothing more than a photo of a sculpture taken out of context. Developing strong media literacy and verifying sources of information is a big part of what we do, so I tend to go back a lot to our episodes covering conspiracies or internet-based scares.
DD: Does Unspookable have anything special planned for Halloween?
Nate: The current season is a treat, as it is our first based entirely on listener suggestions. We look into the history of the Loch Ness Monster, Siren Head, The Jersey Devil, and more to discuss why we fear the unknown, and who benefits from us being afraid. After that we have another first for the showt: we are transitioning from being a seasonal offering to releasing bi-weekly, all year round.
Unspookable has been called one of the "Best podcasts for kids of all ages" by Time Out New York, one of the "18 Best Paranormal Podcasts of All Time" by The Cinemaholic, one of the "10 Best Podcasts for Children" by the Irish Examiner, appeared across Canada on CBC Radio's Podcast Playlist and on NPR station WHYY's Kid's Listening Hour, has been featured by Podcast Magazine, The AV Club, Fast Company and more. The show is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Subscribe to Unspookable on Apple Podcasts, and follow @ImUnspookable on Twitter for more updates and exciting news!