XXVIII. The Spider Bite

'The Smiling Man’ was a short story that sent shivers down the spines of countless readers on Reddit, telling the harrowing encounter of a man who crosses paths with a mysterious, grinning figure during a quiet nighttime stroll. But what makes this internet legend so enduring and terrifying? In this episode, we'll peel back the layers of the story and its origins, diving into the psychology of a smile, and the creation of a modern-day urban legend.Text Me (this is 3rd party & I cannot respond, but I see all messages)Support the Show.If you have more information or a correction on something mentioned in this chapter, email us at [email protected]. For more information on the show, to find all our social accounts and to ensure you are up to date on all we do, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.urbanlegendsfolklore.com

In this chapter, we will trace the history and cultural significance of Teke Teke, examining how this legend has permeated Japanese culture and transcended borders to captivate the world. Teke Teke, a figure that haunts the darkness of Japanese folklore, is said to be the tormented ghost of a young woman who met a tragic and gruesome fate. The legend revolves around her terrifying presence, her eerie cries, and her eerie pursuit of those who dare to cross her path. But where did this legend originate, and what keeps it alive in the collective imagination?Text Me (this is 3rd party & I cannot respond, but I see all messages)Support the Show.If you have more information or a correction on something mentioned in this chapter, email us at [email protected]. For more information on the show, to find all our social accounts and to ensure you are up to date on all we do, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.urbanlegendsfolklore.com

In our final modern myth chapter this season, we embark on a journey into the heart of American folklore to uncover the legend of ‘The Hodag.’ Join us as we explore the unusual origins, strange accounts, and the enduring intrigue surrounding this mythical creature that has become a staple of Wisconsin, described a having the body of a bull, the head of a dinosaur, and the spines of a dragon.__________________Modern Myths is a series running alongside Urban Legends. Not all legends have enough information to justify a full chapter, but that doesn't mean they are not fascinating tales worth sharing. These smaller chapters will arrive in the week between Urban Legends' new chapters, giving you new content on a weekly basis during a season's run.Text Me (this is 3rd party & I cannot respond, but I see all messages)Support the Show.If you have more information or a correction on something mentioned in this chapter, email us at [email protected]. For more information on the show, to find all our social accounts and to ensure you are up to date on all we do, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.urbanlegendsfolklore.com

Our season IV finale takes us deep into the dark waters of a Scottish Loch as we uncover one of the world’s most enduring mysteries, the ‘Loch Ness Monster’. Join us as we delve into the rich history, sightings, and everlasting intrigue through the mist-shrouded waters of Loch Ness, uncovering the origins and evolution of the Nessie legend.Join us as we dive into the scientific investigations, eyewitness accounts, and modern-day expeditions aimed at solving the riddle of the monster. With it being so filled with theories, witness reports, and folklore, just what is it about the Loch Ness Monster that has elevated her to the position of Queen of the Cryptids.Text Me (this is 3rd party & I cannot respond, but I see all messages)Support the Show.If you have more information or a correction on something mentioned in this chapter, email us at [email protected]. For more information on the show, to find all our social accounts and to ensure you are up to date on all we do, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.urbanlegendsfolklore.com

In this strange chapter, we embark on a journey into the rich tapestry of Alaskan folklore to uncover the enigmatic and shape-shifting creatures known by local tribes as ‘Kushtaka’. Join us as we study what little we know of these elusive beings who can assume the form of humans or animals.__________________Modern Myths is a series running alongside Urban Legends. Not all legends have enough information to justify a full chapter, but that doesn't mean they are not fascinating tales worth sharing. These smaller chapters will arrive in the week between Urban Legends' new chapters, giving you new content on a weekly basis during a season's run.Text Me (this is 3rd party & I cannot respond, but I see all messages)Support the Show.If you have more information or a correction on something mentioned in this chapter, email us at [email protected]. For more information on the show, to find all our social accounts and to ensure you are up to date on all we do, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.urbanlegendsfolklore.com

This graphic chapter delves into one of the most haunting urban legends of the modern era, ‘The Russian Sleep Experiment.’ Step into the shadowy corridors of history as we explore the chilling tale that has captivated the minds of conspiracy theorists and horror aficionados alike.From the eerie confines of a remote research facility to the harrowing experiences of the subjects involved, we piece together the fragments of a story shrouded in secrecy and speculation. Was it a government conspiracy, a twisted scientific endeavour, or simply an urban legend spun from the fabric of collective fear?Text Me (this is 3rd party & I cannot respond, but I see all messages)Support the Show.If you have more information or a correction on something mentioned in this chapter, email us at [email protected]. For more information on the show, to find all our social accounts and to ensure you are up to date on all we do, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.urbanlegendsfolklore.com

This curious chapter explores the enduring urban legend known as ‘The Good Samaritan.’ Join us as we unravel the narratives of kindness and generosity and the apparent unsung heroes connected to this enduring myth among public figures and everyday people. With it being assigned to several public figures over the years, is there really any truth to it? __________________Modern Myths is a series running alongside Urban Legends. Not all legends have enough information to justify a full chapter, but that doesn't mean they are not fascinating tales worth sharing. These smaller chapters will arrive in the week between Urban Legends' new chapters, giving you new content on a weekly basis during a season's run.Text Me (this is 3rd party & I cannot respond, but I see all messages)Support the Show.If you have more information or a correction on something mentioned in this chapter, email us at [email protected]. For more information on the show, to find all our social accounts and to ensure you are up to date on all we do, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.urbanlegendsfolklore.com

In this fascinating, complex chapter, we journey into the history of North America to explore the haunting lore of the ‘Windigo’. Join us as we unravel the tales of this malevolent, cannibalistic spirit that has terrorised the imagination of indigenous peoples for centuries. We'll delve into the origins of this myth, tracing it back to Algonquian and other Native American cultures and uncovering its transformation into a symbol of greed and selfishness.Text Me (this is 3rd party & I cannot respond, but I see all messages)Support the Show.If you have more information or a correction on something mentioned in this chapter, email us at [email protected]. For more information on the show, to find all our social accounts and to ensure you are up to date on all we do, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.urbanlegendsfolklore.com

Step into the mystical world of Gullah folklore as we unravel the eerie legend of the ‘Boo Hag’, a malevolent spirit that is said to prey upon unsuspecting victims as they sleep, draining their energy and vitality. In this chapter, we will not only look into the psychology behind sleep paralysis but also delve into the origins of this eerie legend, tracing its roots back to West African traditions and its evolution in the Gullah culture of the Lowcountry. __________________Modern Myths is a series running alongside Urban Legends. Not all legends have enough information to justify a full chapter, but that doesn't mean they are not fascinating tales worth sharing. These smaller chapters will arrive in the week between Urban Legends' new chapters, giving you new content on a weekly basis during a season's run.Text Me (this is 3rd party & I cannot respond, but I see all messages)Support the Show.If you have more information or a correction on something mentioned in this chapter, email us at [email protected]. For more information on the show, to find all our social accounts and to ensure you are up to date on all we do, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.urbanlegendsfolklore.com

In this mysterious and tragic chapter, we delve into the history, the tragedy, and the enduring mystery of the urban legend “The Green Man”, also known as Charlie No-Face. Join us as we unravel the stories and folklore surrounding this enigmatic figure, who is both haunting and heart-wrenching. We'll explore the real-life events that inspired this urban legend and how it became a symbol of compassion and caution. You'll gain insight into the life of Ray Robinson, the man behind the myth.Text Me (this is 3rd party & I cannot respond, but I see all messages)Support the Show.If you have more information or a correction on something mentioned in this chapter, email us at [email protected]. For more information on the show, to find all our social accounts and to ensure you are up to date on all we do, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.urbanlegendsfolklore.com