Hillbilly horror

Hillbilly Horror Stories is a popular podcast hosted by married couple Jerry and Tracey Paulley. Since starting the podcast in 2016, they have grown an organic audience of thousands of regular listeners. The podcast, whose title speaks for itself, is available on all major platforms (Apple, Spotify, Audible, Podchaser, etc.) and is fast approaching its 500th episode. In total, the show has been listened to and downloaded over 10 million times, a phenomenal achievement. The pair have also begun a spin-off series on YouTube, Hillbilly Deadtime Stories, which has already gained over 1,000 subscribers. They are also popular on Instagram, with over 10,000 subscribers.

Jerry and Tracey Paulley hail from Kentucky. Jerry has been a fan of the paranormal since childhood, growing up in a haunted house in the town of Fairydale. His wife, Tracey, brings a lightness of touch to the show with southern twang and wit. Each episode of the show follows a similar format: Jerry will introduce a reputedly haunted place, giving its history and what is supposed to have happened there. Tracey never knows what the subject of the show is going to be.

The pair have become so successful that they have even organised a Hillbilly Horror Stories cruise for late in 2022. The trip will involve live events featuring several paranormal authors and investigators. Such success is something that few major television shows can dream of, let alone a humble Kentucky podcast, but as the old saying goes, 10 million listeners can’t be wrong.