Digging Into the Paranormal With Chillers & Thrillers Podcast

If you enjoy podcasts about the paranormal or are searching for one to add to your rotation, then allow me to introduce you to Chillers and Thrillers. Creator and host “M” likes to keep the mystery alive, so they only go by their first initial. M launched the project in 2023 after noticing that most spooky podcasts overemphasized gore or comedy in their retellings of accounts. M set out to produce a show that shared true eerie stories in a family-friendly way. Over the course of just two years, Chillers and Thrillers’ reach has grown to thousands of downloads monthly and its audience continues to expand.

People submit their real-life, preternatural experiences for M to share on air. Episodes cover a wide range of hair-raising topics, including dopplegӓngers, cursed objects, and kids who see dead people. To give you a look behind the curtain, I interviewed M to gain more insight on their background, inspiration for the podcast, and more. Learn about the magic that goes into making Chillers and Thrillers! 

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Q: Thank you, M, for joining us on Vamp Jenn’s Corner! Before we dive into the podcast, I wanted to ask about how your upbringing led to your interest in the paranormal. Being from Brazil and growing up hearing tales of the supernatural, what stories stood out to you the most?  

A: Thank you so much for having me, Jen! My childhood and cultural background absolutely shaped my fascination with the paranormal. Brazil is a true melting pot of cultures and religions, and it’s very common for people’s spiritual and religious beliefs to overlap. While the majority of the population is Catholic, there’s also a strong influence from Umbanda—a religion brought to Brazil by enslaved Africans that centers on spiritual deities, offerings, and spells. It’s not unusual in Brazil to see these offerings, known as macumbas, left at street corners or on beaches, and everyone knows better than to touch them.

Brazil also has a large Spiritist movement, which originated in France with the philosopher Allan Kardec. Spiritism blends Christian ethics with ideas of reincarnation and spirit guides, and it has had a major influence on Brazilian spirituality. Both sides of my family are very large and have always been open to the spirit world and the afterlife. My parents have had their own experiences (which I’ve shared on the podcast) including my mother being visited every night by the spirit of a man while she was pregnant with me, and my parents receiving what turned out to be a cursed baby blanket for my sister. 

One story in particular that always stood out to me, was one I just featured in the podcast. My mom grew up on a farm with her family [and] had a young cousin who would spend hours under a tree. She told everyone there was a young girl who lived in the tree who was her friend, and the young cousin knew very old children’s songs no one in the family had taught her. Over time, this little girl became so obsessed with her “friend” that she wanted to die just so she could be with her forever. The girl’s father, my mom’s uncle, ended up cutting down the tree and she never saw the girl again.

Q: To me, as a Latina, I feel that many Latin American countries have their own accounts of the supernatural. It seems that magic and spirituality are intrinsic to LATAM cultures. Why do you think this is, and do you feel it’s important to preserve these elements?  

A: I completely agree. My family immigrated to Canada, and it was always interesting to me to see the differences between cultures and their beliefs. It seems like Latin Americans are more open to the otherworld – a slew of bad luck would very much be a curse or evil eye, or strange occurings in the house warrant a prayer and lighting a white candle while Canadian friends of mine scoffed at the thought. Latin America is also this incredible fusion of Indigenous traditions, African spirituality, and European influence, all of which view the world as something more than just physical; there’s always a spiritual layer underneath everyday life.  As much as Europeans denigrated enslaved and Indigenous cultures, they still ended up incorporating many of their traditions into everyday life, something we don’t see as much in North America.

For many of us, the supernatural isn’t something separate or “other”; it’s simply part of how we understand the world. Stories about spirits, blessings, and curses are often passed down through families not just as superstition, but as cultural memory as well. I think we all have an elderly relative who would light candles in prayers for others, or an aunt that would provide offerings to the saints. 

I absolutely believe it’s important to preserve these elements, because they’re part of our identity and collective imagination. They remind us that there’s still mystery, wonder, and reverence in life. Many of us are first-generation immigrants or immigrated to North America at a very young age. Holding onto those stories keeps us connected to our roots. 

Q: How did the idea for Chillers and Thrillers originate?

A: I’ve always loved hearing scary stories. When I was little, my mom worked as a cleaning lady and often took us along to her jobs, which meant long subway rides across Toronto to the homes she cleaned. To pass the time, she’d tell me stories about her childhood on a farm in Brazil, many of them supernatural. Those moments became some of my favorite memories.

I also grew up watching Are You Afraid of the Dark? every week, along with old episodes of The Twilight Zone. And when we finally got home internet access, I’d spend hours on message boards reading true scary stories, which later evolved into reading paranormal encounters on Reddit and other sites. Some were so good I’d save them in a Google Doc just to reread or share with friends.

As I got older, I listened to a lot of podcasts but struggled to find one that told true ghost stories without gore, true crime, comedy, or skepticism and I figured I couldn’t be the only one looking for that. When I created Chillers & Thrillers, I was inspired by those subway rides with my mom and the campfire vibe of Are You Afraid of the Dark? I wanted to recreate that cozy, eerie feeling of sitting around a fire or curling up on the couch while someone tells you a story that gives you just enough of a chill.

I’ve always loved the look and mood of vintage black-and-white movies, the shadows, the atmosphere, the elegance of the unknown. I try to give Chillers & Thrillers that same timeless, cinematic vibe: stories that feel classic and mysterious, like something that could’ve aired in another era.

Each episode is built around a theme (a format influenced by The Twilight Zone) where I, your host, introduce the idea and then let the stories speak for themselves. I also wanted the podcast to be something families could enjoy together, so I keep it free of true crime and gore, making it family friendly. And I stay anonymous because I like the idea that listeners can imagine me however they want – just a comforting voice in the dark, there to give you a little chill before you fall asleep, or as you go about your day.

Q: People submit their true encounters with the paranormal for you to share on your podcast. How do you choose which stories to feature? Also, how do you approach retelling these accounts while staying true to and respecting the individual’s experience?

A: When I am going over stories, I always want to be respectful of the person and grateful they feel comfortable sharing it with me. As many of us know, people tend to [make] believers of the paranormal the butt of the jokes. Most of the listeners who have shared their stories have encouraged me to edit it to make it easy to narrate, but I never remove aspects or parts of their stories. I’ve been in a very fortunate position to be able to share every story that has been shared with me! The only thing I edit out is curse words, so I replace them with a PG friend term, haha.

When I share someone’s story, my goal is always to honor their experience, not to sensationalize it; I narrate the experience as if I actually went through it. These are real people who’ve gone through something that, to them, was deeply unsettling or even life changing and I try to match the emotions as faithfully as possible. I avoid adding dramatic embellishments or skepticism. Instead, I focus on atmosphere, empathy, and tone which lets the story speak for itself.

Q: Since we’re in the middle of spooky season, do you have any special ways you like to celebrate Halloween?

A: Yes! I absolutely love Halloween; it’s my favourite holiday. Living in Ontario, Canada, makes it feel especially magical this time of year, with the changing leaves, pumpkin patches, and that perfect crisp, fall air. Starting October 1st, I dive right into spooky season by rewatching some of my favourite scary movies like The Exorcist, Dead Again, and Candyman and binge watching “The Haunting of Hill House”.  Every weekend leading up to Halloween, I try to do something festive whether it’s baking, crafting, or another Halloween-themed activity, all while listening to other paranormal podcasts. It’s my way of really soaking in the season and keeping that eerie, nostalgic October energy alive.

Q: What do you have in store regarding the future of your Chillers and Thrillers podcast?

A: Over the past two years, I’ve been so grateful to watch Chillers & Thrillers grow and find its audience. A few months ago, I celebrated 50,000 downloads, a huge milestone for an indie show, and recently launched the podcast’s Patreon. I’m now focused on collaborating with other independent paranormal podcasters and finding ways we can lift each other up in the community and continue the growth of the podcast and the Patreon community as well. 

My goal for the next year is to keep building momentum and help Chillers & Thrillers become a true mainstay in the paranormal podcast space. And who knows, maybe in a few years, I’ll be the Latina paranormal version of Mr. Ballen.

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I hope you enjoyed this interview with host M. Tune into Chillers and Thrillers wherever you hear your podcasts. Here’s a teaser!

Where to Stalk

Chillers and Thrillers Buzzsprout

Chillers and Thrillers Instagram

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