Spooky stories for brave little dreamers.
Snuggle up and get ready for Once Upon a Scare — a spooky (but not too spooky) bedtime podcast full of ghostly giggles, magical mysteries, and silly shivers! Each episode brings a new story designed just for kids who love a little fright before night. Perfect for ages 5–12 and anyone who dares to dream in the dark.
Do you believe in ghost trains?
Deep in the mountains, an abandoned train station sits silent all year long... until one magical night. Every year, on the very last night of summer, a mysterious train arrives at midnight. No one knows where it comes from—or where it goes.
When three brave friends—Liam, Emma, and Noah—decide to uncover the legend, they find themselves aboard the Ghost Train of Pine Valley, where friendly ghost passengers, a playful ghost boy named Charlie, and a kind old conductor are waiting for them. But this isn't just any train ride. The children must help deliver one very special package that has been waiting over a lifetime to reach its destination before the sun rises.
Filled with ghostly giggles, spooky surprises, heartwarming moments, and an unforgettable adventure, The Ghost Train of Pine Valley reminds us that the greatest journeys are guided by kindness—and that some promises are never forgotten.
Hop aboard Once Upon a Scare with Mia for a magical, spooky adventure where the ghosts are friendly, the mystery is real, and every stop brings a new surprise. But be warned... if you hear a train whistle at midnight, you just might be invited on the Ghost Train yourself! 🚂👻✨
12 Jul 2026
The Caiman Who Never Forgot (Based on a True Story from Venezuela)
What if one of the world's most feared reptiles became someone's best friend?
This week on Once Upon a Scare, Mia shares the incredible true story of La Negra, an orphaned Orinoco caiman rescued as a tiny hatchling by José Faoro in San Fernando de Apure, Venezuela. As the years pass, their extraordinary friendship grows into a lifelong bond that amazes an entire town and leaves behind a mystery that scientists still can't fully explain.
Was it loyalty? Was it love? Or was it something even more extraordinary?
Filled with fascinating history, unforgettable moments, and a heartwarming lesson about kindness, this remarkable true story reminds us that compassion can build friendships in the most unexpected places.
5 Jul 2026
The Great Garden Escape
🌱 The Great Garden Escape
What lies beyond the vegetable garden?
Join Tom the grumpy Tomato, Benny the joke-loving Banana, Carrie the delightfully silly Carrot, and Grandma Ava, the caring Avocado, as they climb over the garden fence and discover a world full of surprises! Along the way, they'll race down giant playground slides, meet a mysterious raccoon wearing a bucket, make new friends, and learn that even the biggest adventures are better when they're shared.
Filled with funny jokes, lovable characters, just the right amount of spooky suspense, and a heartwarming lesson about courage, friendship, and exploring the unknown, The Great Garden Escape is a delightful adventure for brave kids of all ages.
So grab your coziest blanket, turn off the lights, and get ready to laugh, wonder, and discover that there's a whole world waiting just beyond the garden fence!
29 Jun 2026
The Girl by the Stream
When six campers discover the legend of a girl who disappeared beside a lonely forest stream one hundred years ago, they decide to investigate the mysterious Story Rock for themselves. But when they encounter Mila, the ghostly girl whose final story was never finished, brave Bobby and his friends must help her complete the ending she has been waiting a century to write.
Join Mia for a spooky and heartwarming adventure filled with old legends, moonlit forests, mysterious scratching sounds, and the reminder that sometimes ghosts aren't trying to scare us—they simply want their stories to be heard.
21 Jun 2026
The Shadow in the Woods
Lucy and Charlie thought they left the mysterious shadow behind after their school camp adventure. But when strange footprints appear outside their home, their dog Churro starts barking at empty corners, and Lucy’s notebook begins to shake, the twins discover that the shadow has returned.
Following muddy footprints into the woods at midnight, they stumble upon a surprising secret: a pack of friendly werewolves throwing a moonlit party filled with candy, music, and dancing. But when a dark figure creeps toward the snack table, Lucy and Charlie must face the shadow they’ve feared all along.
Join Mia for a funny and spooky adventure featuring werewolf pups, disco balls, mysterious forests, and one very hungry Uncle Bob.
Perfect for brave kids who love friendly monsters, magical creatures, and spooky stories with happy endings.
17 Nov 2025
Ep. #2. The Full Moon at School
In this thrilling second episode of Once Upon a Scare, Lucy and Charlie return to school… but something feels different. Their senses are sharper, their bodies are buzzing with strange energy, and even their dog Churro knows something is wrong. The full moon is only hours away, and their secret is getting harder to hide.
When a mysterious Shadow appears in the hallway — stretching like smoke and watching their every move — the twins realize they aren’t just dealing with new powers… they might be being followed.
Things go from bad to worse during the school camping trip. Scary stories, crackling campfires, rustling trees, and the glowing full moon make it nearly impossible for Lucy and Charlie to stay in control. Every sound feels too loud. Every shadow looks too real. And somewhere deep in the forest… something howls back.
Will the twins keep their werewolf side hidden from their classmates?
Can they survive a full moon in the woods?
And what is that shadow that keeps appearing?
Find out in this suspenseful, funny, and magical adventure — packed with mystery, midnight danger, and the strength it takes to stay human when your inner wolf wants out.
Stay tuned until the end for Mia’s special message… and a hint of the spooky secrets coming in Episode 3!
27 Oct 2025
The Howling Secret
🌕 Once Upon a Scare — Spooky Stories for Brave Kids
Welcome back, brave listeners! In this brand-new season of Once Upon a Scare, Mia takes us on a mysterious, howling adventure to a rainy little town where nothing is as ordinary as it seems.
Lucy and Charlie are just two regular twins living on Hollow Creek Lane — until strange things start happening. They can smell cookies that haven’t even baked yet… hear whispers from streets away… and on one stormy night, everything changes. 🌧️🐾
With their loyal pup Churro by their side, the twins uncover a chilling family secret that’s been hidden for generations. What begins as a spooky mystery soon turns into a full-moon transformation — complete with claws, fur, glowing eyes, and a whole lot of laughter.
But being a werewolf isn’t all howls and midnight runs… it’s about courage, family, and learning how to be brave — even when your paws are shaking.
👀 Are Lucy and Charlie ready to handle the moonlight magic that runs in their blood?
Tune in to find out — because once the howling begins… there’s no turning back.
🎙️ Episode Theme: Family secrets, bravery, and the magic of transformation
🐺 Next episode: The Full Moon at School
15 Sept 2025
The Curse of the Odd Labubu
On the foggy coast of Kingston, Mila loves collecting strange little creatures called Labubus. Her brother Kaiban thinks they’re just toys—until one begins to move on its own. Dark blue, red-stained, and always grinning, this Labubu whispers in the night and waits in the shadows.
But Cocoa isn’t just a toy. It’s a trap… and part of an ancient witch’s curse.
Listen if you dare to the chilling season finale of Once Upon a Scare!
Beware the Odd Labubu—because once it chooses you, there’s no escape.
1 Sept 2025
Trina Omaira – The Apure River Tamer
Legend says that deep in Venezuela, the Apure River roars—
a wild branch of the Orinoco, swollen with rain, swirling with whirlpools, sharp-toothed piranhas, and caimans with jaws strong enough to snap a tree in half. Even the bravest men feared to cross it.
But in 1932, in the town of San Fernando, a girl only ten years old accepted a challenge no one believed possible: to swim across the furious river and survive. Her name was Trina Omaira Salerno—and her story became a legend.
With her father following nervously in a canoe, Trina plunged into the raging waters. She fought the twisting current, slipped past the dreaded piranhas, and outpaced the snapping jaws of caimans. For half an hour she battled the river, while the whole town stood on the banks, holding its breath.
And when at last she pulled herself onto the far shore—soaked, trembling, but alive—the people of San Fernando erupted in cheers that rose louder than the river’s roar.
👻 Gather close, because tonight on Once Upon a Scare, we tell the incredible legend of Trina Omaira—the child who tamed the river.
25 Aug 2025
The Music
Tinslee loved music more than anything—his piano, his guitar, even humming little tunes before bed. But when his mom asked him to take the laundry down to the basement, he discovered something waiting in the dark… glowing eyes, a haunted melody, and a secret that pulled him deeper into the shadows.
Some say the music still plays in that house on quiet nights. But is it Tinslee… or the monster he awakened?
Grab a blanket, turn off the lights, and get ready—because this story might just follow you after the last note fades.
18 Aug 2025
The Beautiful Stranger of the Coronado Hotel
Step inside the grand halls of the famous Hotel del Coronado, where history and mystery walk side by side. In this episode of Once Upon a Scare, Mia tells the true story of Kate Morgan, a young woman who checked in back in 1892… but never checked out.
Was her passing truly a sad accident, or is there more to the mystery? Guests and staff have reported flickering lights, moving belongings, and even the soft footsteps of a woman in a long, old-fashioned dress gazing out at the sea.
Join us as we uncover the legend of The Beautiful Stranger of the Coronado Hotel—a ghostly guest who may still be waiting for someone who never came.
12 Aug 2025
Clink Clink: The Rattle Bag Monster
By Mia Yesland
When Milo’s sister’s belongings mysteriously vanish, he follows a strange metallic sound into their old, forbidden attic. What he finds is more terrifying than any video game—bags made of bones, a monster with six glowing eyes, and a race to escape before becoming its next victim. Good thing Samantha is ready for a daring rescue… even if she can’t resist teasing her little brother along the way.
4 Aug 2025
The Ghost Who Wanted Pizza
Lucas, Henry, and Norman are on a mission to feed a ghost… but not just any pizza will do. This ghost craves the weirdest, grossest toppings you’ve ever heard of — and the boys are determined to make the spookiest pie ever. Will their recipe be a hit, or will they get haunted for messing up the order? Find out in this silly and slimy adventure from Once Upon a Scare!
27 Jul 2025
Max and the Three Gems
By Mia Yesland
A forgotten village. A dark legend. And one very brave little dog. 🐾✨
In this spooky (but kid-friendly!) episode, Max the adventurous dachshund sets off to stop the return of the Demon King — a shadowy creature buried long ago beneath a cursed village. To keep the darkness sealed forever, Max must find three powerful magical gems: Courage, Wisdom, and Kindness. Along the way, he meets quirky forest squirrels, faces creepy whispers, and proves that even the smallest hero can save the world.
Can Max defeat the darkness before it's too late?
Find out… on Once Upon a Scare 👻🌫️
21 Jul 2025
The Duck’s Throne
🦆✨ The Duck’s Throne
When Ed feeds a mysterious duck at the park—despite his mom's warning—he’s whisked away to a magical jungle ruled by a golden duck on a throne! To return home, Ed must face three wild trials, including a marshmallow maze, telling a duck joke, and answering a riddle that could change everything. Will he pass the tests… or be stuck in the duck realm forever?
🎧 A fun and spooky jungle adventure perfect for ages 8–13—only on Once Upon a Scare.
14 Jul 2025
The Whistler in the Woods
The Whistler in the Woods by Mia Yesland.
When Zoe joins her class on a weekend camping trip, she expects s’mores and ghost stories—not a haunted melody in the trees. But when an eerie four-note whistle begins to echo through the forest at night… and a camper goes missing… Zoe discovers a chilling legend that might be true.
Whatever you do… don’t whistle back.
7 Jul 2025
The Fire Keeper 🔥
Mia Y's story, "The Fire Keeper," tells of three clever birds who steal fire from Babá, the King of Alligators, leading to a suspenseful adventure in the Amazon.
30 Jun 2025
The Growl Under The Bed
Two brothers, Henry and Lucas, investigate a mysterious growl under the bed on a stormy night, discovering a friendly monster named Norman who just wants cookies and a game of Uno.
23 Jun 2025
The Midnight Goat
Lily learns that the legend of the Midnight Goat is real when she ventures into the woods one night, discovering some scary bedtime stories are true.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.8 / 5
6 ratings
Spotify
4.9 / 5
15 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 32 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
51
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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