The unknown. In many of the stories, things are left unexplained. For example, a strange noise in the attic at night. You don't know what's making it, and that creates fear. Also, the use of common fears like the dark, being alone, and things that go bump in the night.
There are several factors. First, the characters are often relatable, so when bad things start to happen to them, we can put ourselves in their shoes. Second, the settings are usually eerie, such as an old cemetery or a deserted town. The stories also build tension gradually. They start with a normal situation and then slowly introduce strange elements, like a room getting colder for no reason or a picture on the wall changing, until it reaches a terrifying climax.
The unknown factor. A lot of the stories probably deal with things that are beyond our understanding. It could be about a portal to another dimension that suddenly appears in someone's basement. We don't know what's on the other side, and that scares us. It taps into our natural fear of the unknown and the unexplainable.
The fact that it gives people a sense of mystery and the unknown. We all like to be a little scared sometimes, and this podcast taps into that. It makes you wonder about the things that are beyond our understanding. There are stories of people having premonitions that came true in a spooky way, and these kinds of things keep the audience hooked.
They offer a form of escapism. In our normal lives, we're mostly surrounded by routine and mundane things. Listening to these scary real - story podcasts takes us into a different world, a world full of mystery and horror. It's like a mini - adventure where we can experience extreme emotions without leaving our comfort zone.
The mystery. People are naturally curious about the unknown, and ghost stories are full of mystery. They make us wonder if there's more to our world than what we can see.
The sense of thrill. When we listen to a true scary story in a podcast, it's like our own little adventure. Take 'The NoSleep Podcast'. The stories are often so vivid that we can almost picture ourselves in those situations. It gives us a rush of adrenaline in a safe way. Also, it can make our normal day seem a bit more exciting by contrast. We get to experience fear without actually being in real danger.
The way they build tension. They start slow, maybe with a normal - seeming situation, like a person walking alone at night. Then they gradually add in the spooky elements, like a cold breeze when there should be none, or a strange figure in the distance. And the fact that these are presented as true stories adds an extra layer of fear. You start to wonder if such things could really happen to you.
The use of common fears like being trapped in a spooky place. Take the forest story. People are generally afraid of getting lost in a large, unfamiliar forest. And when strange things start to happen like seeing shadowy figures, it amplifies that fear. Also, the fact that the hikers can't find a way out easily makes it scarier. It plays on our basic survival instincts.
The atmosphere created. If the podcast has spooky sound effects, like creaking doors or howling winds, it makes the story more engaging. For example, in 'Lore', they use such effects to enhance the horror of the tales.
Good narration. If the narrator has a great voice and can build suspense, it makes the scary story podcast effective. For example, in 'Lore', the narrator's tone really sets the mood.
Maybe it's the unknown elements in 'the appointment scary stories'. Often, when we don't know what's going to happen next, it creates fear.