We're off again with Ripley, this time headed into the hive. From an iconic feminist action hero to the Xenomorph Queen's monstrous power, learn how the sci-fi horror classic Aliens redefined feminine strength.

We're dipping our toes into the feminist undercurrents of Ridley Scott's Alien in this eye-opening episode. We dissect how this sci-fi horror classic subverts genre expectations, forcing viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about gender and power. Discover why Alien remains a powerful statement on women's experiences, cleverly disguised as a monster movie.

Discover Scotland's eerie green spectres: from mischievous glaistigs to tragic green ladies. Explore the folklore, superstitions, and ethical questions surrounding these female phantoms that haunt Scotland's ancient castles and fuel its paranormal tourism industry.

Discover the complex mythology of Rangda, Bali's demon queen. From ancient Hindu-Buddhist kingdoms to modern Indonesia, we explore how this fearsome figure embodies the duality of creation and destruction. Uncover the historical roots of Rangda in Queen Mahendradatta's story and examine how powerful women throughout history have been demonised for political gain.

Explore how the 19th-century Cult of True Womanhood may have influenced Edgar Allan Poe's female characters. From Madeline Usher to modern horror and the cult of domesticity to the tradwife movement, we unpack some of society’s “feminine” ideals and their surprising link to feminism. We also talk about how women in fiction still struggle to break free from being mere reflections of male narratives.

Edgar Allan Poe, known for pioneering gothic literature, had a fixation on beautiful dead women in his works. This motif reflects his personal losses and the cultural glamorisation of tuberculosis, a disease often associated with beauty and death in his time.

The Malleus Maleficarum is an infamous book that provided a framework for identifying, prosecuting, and executing witches. It’s a stark example of how one person’s misogyny can legitimise society’s violent actions against women given the right circumstances.

Like the monster girls of mythology, the monster girls of video games combine elements of human and monster, and are designed to be both alluring and terrifying. This duality plays on society’s fears and anxieties about female sexuality, power, and autonomy.

Whatever form they take, monster girls have long embodied society’s fears and fantasies about women, serving as both enthralling and terrifying symbols throughout history.

The ciguapa, who lives deep in the forest of the Dominican Republic, symbolises resistance against oppression. She challenges historical narratives… by tearing them apart.

On Mexico City’s Island of the Dolls, thousands of dolls, haunted by the spirit of a tragic girl, come to life at night. This episode explores the science of creepiness and the societal implications of gendered toy play.

The second season of Paranormal Pajama Party kicks off with the haunting story of Sarah Whitehead, the Bank Nun. An unmarried woman in Regency England, she was doomed to a life of poverty by a sexist system. No wonder her ghost is still mad.

Paranormal Pajama Party’s second season premieres on 13 May! This season offers a unique blend of spooky storytelling, historical insights, and feminist perspectives. See you soon! 👻

Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII, remains one of history’s most fascinating figures. Her story of a world-changing romance, political intrigue, betrayal, and a tragic end, has preoccupied the public imagination for centuries. Who was the real Anne? And what does her ghost’s popularity say about our culture?

The Tower of London is renowned for its haunted past. Among other ghosts, the spirits of the Countess of Salisbury, Lady Arbella Stuart, and Lady Jane Grey – all victims of tragic fates – are said to roam the grounds.

Beatrice Cenci, born in 1577 into a noble family, suffered horrific abuse from her father. Unable to obtain justice, Beatrice orchestrated his murder to escape his tyranny. Despite public sympathy, she and her family were executed, but her legacy as a figure of courage and defiance endures in art and literature.

How’s this for horror? We’re not done with Freud in part 2 of our “Coraline”-themed pj party. 😱 Learn now Coraline’s adventure reflects the Oedipus theory, the significance of gender performance throughout the film, and why horror audiences love a scary maternal figure.

Eyes are the windows to the soul. So when we see glowing red eyes, or demon-possessed all-black eyes, or – worst of all – shiny, button eyes – we know something is horribly wrong.

Cats, women, and witchcraft have a complex, intertwined history, from ancient goddesses to modern stereotypes. And that’s not just the toxoplasmosis talking.

Step into the world of the Pontianak, a fearsome ghost seeking revenge. Discover the cultural significance of this haunting legend and its reflection on patriarchal societies.

The legends of the headless mule and the almamula aren’t your run-of-the-mill monster stories – they’re straight out of the patriarchy’s playbook.

In this episode, we’re talking about everything from the 19th-century fear of premature burial, to the lack of autonomy for pioneer wives, to the inadequate representation of women in literature.

Paranormal Pajama Party explores the old hag, succubus, mare, and dab tsog, linking folklore with sleep paralysis, society, and historical persecutions. Sleep tight, listeners.

The chilling legend of Bloody Mary, said to appear in mirrors when summoned, has roots in historical figures and societal fears. Take a look into the mirror with me.

These female spirits, trapped between life and death, lure men into the depths with their beauty and… tickle them. But in a scary way.

In this classic urban legend, a male driver picks up a seemingly innocent passenger, but the journey upends life — and death — as he knows it.

“Paranormal Pajama Party” is a feminist podcast exploring classic ghost stories featuring female characters and challenging their one-dimensional portrayal in horror.