Season 3: Amigos, Afraid! (The New Era)

On this episode of Amigos, Afraid!, we examine West Coast occult history, portal folklore, and subterranean hauntings.

Brian investigates Devil's Gate Dam in Pasadena, California, exploring the dark legacy of rocket scientist and occultist Jack Parsons. We detail his role co-founding the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), his affiliation with Aleister Crowley and Thelema, and the infamous rituals performed at the gorge believed to open an portal to hell.

Later, Jerry travels to the Seattle Underground beneath Pioneer Square in Seattle, Washington. We explore the city's subterranean ruins created after the Great Seattle Fire of 1889, local paranormal encounters, and how the 19th-century Spiritualism movement sparked widespread seances and spirit communication throughout the region.

Amigos, what haunted you this week?

On this episode of Amigos, Afraid!, we sink our teeth into vampire myths, historical origins, and international folklore.

Jerry begins with the literary history of Bram Stoker's Dracula, examining the historical connections to 15th-century Wallachian ruler Vlad the Impaler (Vlad III Dracula), Transylvanian legends, and how Gothic horror shaped modern vampire mythology.

Later, Brian traces global vampiric legends across continents. We examine the mysterious history of the Casket Girls (Filles à la Cassette) in 18th-century New Orleans, Louisiana, and their association with the Ursuline Convent. We then analyze an unsettling parallel in folklore: both Mexico and the Philippines feature bloodsucking entities that detach their upper bodies from their lower torsos to hunt at night. We compare Tlaxcala's shapeshifting Tlahuelpuchi with the self-segmenting, bat-winged Manananggal.

Amigos, what haunted you this week?

For this episode of Amigos, Afraid!, we take a trip through two of Southern California's most haunted and cryptid-dense hiking destinations.

Jerry starts in the desert wash of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, investigating the history of the Anza-Borrego Sandman. We examine century-old sightings, desert folklore, and reports of a wild, ape-like Bigfoot hominid roaming the arid canyons of San Diego County.

Brian travels to Black Star Canyon in Orange County, California. We detail the dark history of the 1899 murder of James Gregg and modern urban legends surrounding the trail—including sightings of gnomes, shadow entities, and hostile local residents protecting the remote canyon road.

Amigos, what haunted you this week?

This week on Amigos, Afraid!, we explore dark history and local hauntings across the San Gabriel Valley.

Brian kicks things off in Pomona, California, with the origins of Spadra, a vanished stagecoach town founded by Uncle Billy Rubottom. We uncover the history of the Phillips Mansion, town developer Louis Phillips, and the paranormal activity surrounding Spadra Cemetery. From reported spirit apparitions and vandalized graves to the dark local story of James Greenwade, a man who attempted to poison his own family. 

Later, Jerry travels to Pasadena, California, to investigate the historic Colorado Street Bridge, widely known as the Pasadena Suicide Bridge. We break down its construction, its tragic reputation during the Great Depression, and the supernatural encounters reported beneath the arches in the Arroyo Seco—including sightings of the infamous Green Lady, ghostly figures on the pedestrian walkways, and phantom cries echoing through the canyon.

Amigos, what haunted you this week?

⚠️ Content Warning & Support Resources:

This episode contains detailed historical discussions regarding suicide. If you or a loved one are experiencing thoughts of suicide or mental health distress, please know that free, confidential support is available 24/7:

US & Canada: Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or chat online at 988lifeline.org.

Text Support (US & Canada): Text HOME to 741741 to connect with the Crisis Text Line.

California Department of Public Health - Crisis Hotlines and Warmlines 

International: Find local support and crisis lines worldwide at findahelpline.com.

Jerry returns to conclude our two-part investigation into Mt. Everest, focusing on the harrowing 1996 Mt. Everest disaster. We detail the stories of veteran guides Rob Hall and Scott Fischer, exploring the catastrophic blizzard, frozen landmarks, and unexplained phenomena surrounding the Himalayas' most dangerous peak.

Later in the episode, Brian digs into Southern California urban legends with a deep dive into Carbon Canyon in Chino Hills, California. From eyewitness accounts of the eerie Green Mist to rumors of hidden cult activity and strange local folklore, we examine the creepy history embedded in these hills.

Amigos, what haunted you this week?

Jerry is out sick this week, so Brian takes the mic solo! While Part 2 of our Mt. Everest investigation is temporarily on hold, Brian explores two bone-chilling paranormal encounters from r/nosleep.

The first story follows a hiker navigating the Los Angeles hills who stumbles directly into a hidden occult ritual and an active cult's domain. The second story uncovers a disturbing Ring camera video where a woman receives a motion alert, only to see a literal doppelgänger or mimic of herself standing on her own front porch while she is sitting inside her house.

Amigos, what haunted you this week?

We're heading high into the mountains for this week's stories. In honor of Dolly Parton and her beloved birthplace in the Great Smoky Mountains, Brian explores the mysterious folklore of the region, uncovering the ancient legend of the Moon-Eyed People—a nocturnal race said to have inhabited the Appalachian Mountains long before European settlement. Then, Jerry kicks off Part 1 of his deep dive into the lethal history and dangers of Mt. Everest, detailing the brutal conditions of the death zone and the early pioneer climbers who disappeared near the summit.

Amigos, what haunted you this week?

Halloween is right around the corner... and we're all in! This week's AA meeting is all about animals! Jerry talks about the history and lore behind black cat superstitions, detailing how medieval fear, the Inquisition, and even decrees from the Pope targeted these felines. Meanwhile, Brian reminisces on his love for Teen Wolf and breaks down a creature from the show that existed in real life and terrorized 18th-century France for years: The Beast of Gévaudan—a mysterious, massive wolf hybrid!

Amigos, what haunted you this week?

On this episode of Amigos, Afraid!, we're tackling legendary figures from two distinct corners of folklore. Brian travels to Mexico to break down the chilling sightings of La Bruja de Monterrey—a mysterious flying witch that has terrified local residents in Nuevo León. Then, Jerry explores the dark origins of The Headless Horseman, the infamous ghostly rider haunting the roads of Sleepy Hollow.

Amigos, what haunted you this week?

This week we're keeping our AA meeting in the west coast. Jerry explains the possible curse inflicted upon the line of owners of Los Angeles's Griffith Park and the many ghosts that haunt the area. Brian crosses the border to teach us all about an infamous Mexican Cryptid called El Demonio Negro - a 50 foot black shark hiding somewhere in the California Gulf.

Amigos, what haunted you this week?