Episodes
Welcome back to the Nightmare Cottage. It's October, and you know that that means - Spooky Season is officially here!
Kicking off the festivities: A gentle reminder regarding the real reason for the season... FEAR! Referencing the book "Nightmare Fuel: The Science of Horror Films" by Nina Nesseth, Nym explains the human fear response in detail, and provides some example anxieties you may be exposed to at the movies.
Scary stuff, to be sure - but is it as horrifying as pure random happenstance or poorly-timed lapses in judgement? Nylene's new series, dubbed "Short stories of what the F**K?!", explores a collection of freak accidents around the world sure to ruin your entire afternoon by reminding you that everything is scary all the time and nobody is ever safe, ever.
If all that sounds like your cup of screams, then I invite you to tune in and enjoy this week's frightfully festive episode!
The Psychology of Fear by Nym
Haunted Houses
Paper Mache Masks
One of the results of Nym’s playthrough of Organ Trail.
Bizarre Accidents by Nylene
Heather Garcia (2022) Fell out of a party bus.
Hans Steininger (1567) tripped over his own 4ft beard and fell down the stairs.
Maria Chelysheva (2014), (bottom left) found her entire family dead in a cellar overcome by toxins from rotting potatos.
Dieter Strack (2012) was struck in the neck by a javelin while officiating at an athletic event in Dusseldorf Germany.
Adam Johnson (2023) suffered a fatal injury on the ice when an opponent crashed into him and accidentally cut his throat with his scates.
David Alan Kirwan (1981) jumped into Celestine Spring in Yellowstone Park in an attempt to save a dog. Neither survived.
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ABC News. (2012, August 28). Track and field official killed by Javelin.
Adams, A. (2023, October 13). Giraffe falls on family’s car and smashes windshield in 'Freak accident' at Texas Wildlife Center. People.com.
Fear. (2025, April 21). Psychology Today.
Goodreads. (n.d.). Goodreads.
McAleer, B. (2025, September 19). Athletics official died after Javelin accident at German track event near Düsseldorf. SPORTbible.
MSc, O. G. (2023, July 20). The Psychology of Fear: Definition, Symptoms, Traits, Causes, treatment. Simply Psychology.
Rinke, D. (2024, July 30). Killed by his beard: Hans Steininger. Kingsmen Premium.
Scott, K. (2003, May 29). Dishwasher fall kills woman. The Guardian.
Smith, A. (2025, April 29). No criminal charges over death of ice hockey player Adam Johnson.
Smith, R., & Faretra, J. (2024, July 25). California man suffered horror death after diving head-first into Yellowstone hot spring to save dog. The Mirror US.
Suter, L. (2022, January 31). Mother of 5 killed after falling from party bus was days away from 30th birthday: “It’s a nightmare.” ABC7 Los Angeles.
Uk, P. (2015, May 22). Girl, 8, orphaned after gas from rotting potatoes killed her entire family. HuffPost UK.