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Espooky Tales

Cristina & Carmen

Latin American folklore, myths, legends, haunted places,true crime and espooky cuentos del rancho. Hear the stories you grew up with like La Llorona, as well as true stories from listeners and guests. Join twins, Cristina & Carmen (formerly MJ), every other Friday as they share these tales and have a few laughs. Stay espooky!

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  • 20 episodes
  • fortnightly
  • Avg 47 min
  • English
  • #258
    Friday · 51 min

    The Case of Donato Cervantes

    In the 1980s, one man took Peru by storm when he shared his extraterrestrial experience, which included a miraculous healing. His name was Donato Cervantes. Cristina and Carmen share this story, but first they tell a listener story and end with spooky...

    • Transcript
  • #257
    October 9 · 33 min

    La Cuesta De Las Cañas

    La Cuesta de Las Cañas is a road that leads from the municipalities of San Lucas and Santa Lucía Milpas Altas towards Antigua Guatemala. It is known for its curves and steep descent, but also for being haunted! In this episode, Cristina tells Carmen...

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  • #256
    September 25 · 43 min

    Something Followed Us Home With Cynthia Pelayo

    Cristina is joined by the one and only, Cynthia Pelayo, to talk about Something Followed Us Home, an anthology book full of Latine stories featuring Agustina Bazterrica, Monica Ojeda, Isabel Cañas, Gerardo Sámano Córdova, Leopoldo Goût, Mariana...

    • Transcript
  • #255
    September 4 · 37 min

    La Chaneca

    Carmen and Cristina share the legend of La Chaneca from Guerrero, Mexico and La Matki. They end with spooky recs, Cristina's was the movie Obsession and Carmen's was the book Blood Slaves by Markus Redmond.  If you have a spooky story to share, email...

    • Transcript
  • July 31 · 2 min

    Hot Ghoul Summer Break

    Cristina and Carmen are announcing a hot ghoul summer break! They will be back the first week of September. In the meantime, send them your duende stories! If you have a spooky story to share, email Espookytales@gmail.com or leave us a voicemail at...

    • Transcript
  • #254
    July 17 · 49 min

    El Demonio En La Catedral de CDMX

    La construcción de la Catedral Metropolitana de la Ciudad de México tomó 250 años, pero según la leyenda, la ciudad sufrió un exorcismo y el demonio que la poseía quedó atrapado en las catacumbas de la catedral. (this is our "monthly" Spanish episode,...

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  • #253
    July 3 · 42 min

    El Callejon del Beso and Other Legends From Guanajuato

    Carmen shares the legend of El Callejon del Beso, El Grito de la Valenciana and La Casa de la Tia Aura, all from the Mexican state of Guanajuato. Cristina shares the recent case of a hermana buscadora from Penjamo, Guanajuato. They end with spooky...

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  • #252
    June 19 · 1 hr 11 min

    The Teotihuacán Shooting

    In this episode, Cristina tells Carmen about the April 20th, 2026 shooting in Teotihuacan, but also more about how this type of violence was once thought to be only a western problem and has spread to the global south, as well as discussing some...

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  • June 13 · 36 min

    Pulse Nightclub (Re-release)

    Terror struck the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida in June 12, 2016. The club was hosting their weekly Latin club when a man entered and opened fire. 49 were dead and over 50 were wounded. Over 90 percent of victims were Latinos.  Today June 12,...

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  • #251
    June 5 · 1 hr 16 min

    The Possession of Alba Diaz Book Club Episode

    It's a book club episode! Carmen and Cristina read the Possession of Alba Diaz by Isabel Cañas. First they recapped the book, then did discussion questions and ended by picking the next book club episode. Here is the synopsis for the Possession of...

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  • #250
    May 22 · 55 min

    Muñeca with Cynthia Gómez

    Carmen and Cristina had the pleasure of talking with Cynthia about her new book Muñeca, available 6/2/26 (WE LOVED THE BOOK). Muñeca is a vivid, surreal Gothic about a queer, Latine, working class witch who sets out to rescue a bespelled heiress and...

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  • #249
    May 8 · 39 min

    The Ghost Bride and Other Legends From Coahuila

    Carmen shares the legend of the ghost bride of Patos and other legends from the Mexican state of Coahuila. Then, they end with spooky recs. Carmen's recommendation is the book Malas by Marcela Fuentes and Cristina recommended McFarland USA and El...

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  • #248
    April 24 · 1 hr 1 min

    Gina's Exorcism

    The Satanic Panic was still very alive in the 1990s and in the midst of this, ABC's 2020 aired the alleged real exorcism of a Colombian American teen named Gina. Carmen and Cristina share the context in which her exorcism took place and then discuss...

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  • #247
    April 10 · 49 min

    El Caso de Isabel Cabanillas

    Isabel Cabanillas de la Torre era artista y muy conocida en su comunidad. Todos los vendedores de comida la conocían. También era activista en un grupo llamado Mesa de Mujeres, una agrupación centrada en la violencia de género. Asimismo, era...

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  • #246
    March 27 · 35 min

    The Double Femicide That Led to Gabriela’s law

    On June 11th, 2018, Fabian Caceres left his home and enated the double femicide of Gabriela Alcaíno Donoso and Carolina Donoso. This led to the passing of Gabriela's law in Chile, changing the way femicide is classifed forever.  If you have a spooky...

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  • #245
    March 20 · 1 hr 13 min

    The Dark Side of Cesar Chavez

    On 3/18, the NYT dropped its years-long investigation into Cesar Chavez, and in it, survivors told their stories for the first time. It revealed that he abused them when they were minors. In this episode, we share the new allegations, but also discuss...

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  • #244
    March 13 · 43 min

    The Case of Isabel Cabanillas

    Isabel Cabanillas de la Torre was an artist and so well known in her community. Every food vendor knew her. She was also an activist with a group called Mesa de Mujeres, a group that focused on gender violence. She was also a member of Puro Borde, an...

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  • #243
    March 8 · 37 min

    The Case of Ariadna Lopez

    On the 1st of November, two cyclists were biking from Ciudad de Mexico, heading south to Tepoztlan. As they rode, they turned off the regular road, there, under a bridge in the highway, in the undergrowth, they found the body of a woman. She was...

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  • #242
    February 27 · 58 min

    Chile's Bermuda Triangle and the Case of Jose Huenante

    It was a Chile focused one this time! For the paranormal segment, Carmen shared Chile's bermuda triange, el cerro moreno and Cristina shared the case of Jose Huanante, a Mapuche teenager who went missing in 2005. If you have a spooky story to share,...

  • #241
    February 20 · 51 min

    A Tragedy In A Semi-Truck

    On June 27, 2022, at approximately 6pm, Roberto Quintero and his crew were working, when they heard screams and rushed towards the commotion, which took them to Quintana Road in San Antonio, TX. There, they found a girl staggering near a semi-truck....

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Showing 1–20 of 20 episodes