{"podcast":{"title":"Freaky Folklore","slug":"freaky-folklore-3517572","podcast_index_feed_id":3517572,"rss_url":"https://feeds.megaphone.fm/freakyfolklore","website_url":"https://www.eeriecast.com/","image_url":"https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/46b9c7bc-4927-11eb-8165-cff325eb9479/image/Freaky_Folklore_Cover_Art.jpg?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress","author":"Eeriecast Network","episode_count":295,"summary":"Host Carman Carrion explores myriad myths both modern and ancient to discover what mankind fears - and why we fear it. From monsters old and new as well as unexplained and unsolved cases, this podcast is sure to terrify. Where does our folklore come from, and why is it so freaky?","last_synced_at":"2026-07-06T16:21:18.518164+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/freaky-folklore-3517572"},"episode":{"title":"Aufhocker – The Leaping Demon That Crushes Your Back","slug":"aufhocker-the-leaping-demon-that-crushes-your-back","published_at":"2026-04-27T08:30:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/freaky-folklore-3517572/aufhocker-the-leaping-demon-that-crushes-your-back","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/freaky-folklore-3517572","url":"https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/pdrl.fm/38cb31/tracking.swap.fm/track/JhoQDAATtO1l0y8tdKNa/traffic.megaphone.fm/ADL6297207853.mp3?updated=1777227652","audio_url":"https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/pdrl.fm/38cb31/tracking.swap.fm/track/JhoQDAATtO1l0y8tdKNa/traffic.megaphone.fm/ADL6297207853.mp3?updated=1777227652","summary":"In the dark forests and lonely roads of Germany, travelers learned to fear something worse than bandits or wild animals. The Aufhocker didn't rob you or tear you apart—it jumped onto your back and stayed there, growing heavier with every step you took. This wasn't a creature you could fight or shake off. Once it mounted you, your only hope was to reach sanctuary before the crushing weight broke your spine, drove you to madness, or forced you to your knees where you'd die slowly under an invisible burden. German folklore is filled with practical monsters—creatures that punish specific transgressions or haunt particular locations. The Aufhocker is different. It doesn't care about your morals or your past. It just waits in the darkness, and when you pass by, it leaps. And once it's on your back, every step becomes a battle between your will to survive and the inexorable weight that wants to crush you into the earth. freakyfolklore.com carman-carrion.com #Aufhrocker #GermanFolklore #FreakyFolklore #GermanMyths #LeapingDemon #DarkForests #EuropeanFolklore #Huckepack #GermanLegends #ForestDemons #Folklore #CrushingWeight EXPLORE MORE SPINE-CHILLING CONTENT: Freaky Folklore: https://www.eeriecast.com/podcasts/freaky-folklore Carman's Crypt (Original Horror): https://carmanscrypt.buzzsprout.com Deadly Intent (True Crime): https://carmancarrion.buzzsprout.com Destination Terror: https://www.eeriecast.com/podcasts/destination-terror SUPPORT THE SHOW: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/CarmanCarrion Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/carmancarrion CONNECT WITH CARMAN: Website: https://www.carman-carrion.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CarmanCarrion Twitter/X: https://x.com/CarmanCarrion Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carmancarrion/ SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW: Spotify:…","meta_description":"In the dark forests and lonely roads of Germany, travelers learned to fear something worse than bandits or wild animals. The Aufhocker didn't rob you or t…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1855,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/freaky-folklore-3517572/episodes/aufhocker-the-leaping-demon-that-crushes-your-back/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/freaky-folklore-3517572/aufhocker-the-leaping-demon-that-crushes-your-back.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}