Mercury's Beth's Spooky Time Halloween Special & Ghastly Women Joins Mercury

 Today, we offer you, dear reader, two superb podcasts from the Mercury Podcast Network. Mercury is special because, like Ear Worthy, it is a massive supporter of independent podcasts. 

Let's hear their story before we get to the two podcasts. 

Mercury Podcast Network was born from the lived experience of its founder, Liam Heffernan. Like many independent podcasters, Liam began his journey recording shows from a home office in England. Over time, he produced podcasts for others, but his true passion remained with his own projects, the creative work that brought the most joy and personal growth.

The challenge, however, was one familiar to countless indie creators: while the shows were strong in content, they lacked the time, visibility, and strategy to grow into sustainable ventures. Promotion and monetization often felt out of reach.

Through years of navigating the ups and downs of podcasting, Liam noticed a striking gap in the industry. At one end sit the massive, celebrity-driven shows that dominate listener attention and advertising dollars. At the other, countless small podcasts struggle to find their footing. But in the middle exists a vibrant tier of talented, independent creators, shows too good to be overlooked, yet too small to attract traditional network support.

Mercury was designed to serve this overlooked community. Its ambition is clear: to build an ecosystem for independent podcasters to create, collaborate, grow, and earn. Mercury is a big network with an independent spirit, tearing down gatekeepers and giving a platform to the best indie shows. Unlike larger networks burdened by high costs, Mercury is built to grow sustainably, providing the right support without compromising independence.

Today, Mercury is home to a diverse slate of standout podcasts — from history and true crime to film, food, and storytelling. Shows include America: A History, Spooky Story Time, Verbal Diorama, Second Helpings, Bingewatch, People Who Read People, Douze Points, 5 Random Questions, Dad’s Bedtime Stories, OffScreen, If You Were in Charge, Sexonomic, You’ve Got Mail, and PastMaster.

Mercury’s mission is simple but ambitious: to level the playing field, empower indies, and make space for voices that deserve to be heard.

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Beth's Spooky Story Time Halloween Special 

Turn off the lights… if you dare. From paranormal horror to creepy true crime, Beth’s Spooky Story Time is where your worst fears come alive as soon as the kids are asleep. This Halloween, Mercury Podcast Network is proud to present a chilling three-part special that takes listeners deep into the personal, supernatural experiences that shaped Beth’s life.

 Beth’s Spooky Story Time combines psychological terror, supernatural elements, and immersive sound design to create a truly unsettling listening experience.

Launching exclusively on Patreon in full on Sunday 26th October, the episodes will then also roll out across Halloween week: Part 1 drops Sunday 26th October, Part 2 on Wednesday 29th October, and Part 3 on Halloween night, Friday 31st October on all podcast platforms.

 Sunday 26th of October, part 1: When Beth’s family moved into a sprawling World War II house, it seemed like a dream come true: bigger rooms, a huge garden, and even secret crawl-space cupboards for the kids to play in. But almost immediately, the house felt… different. Beth’s younger sister claimed she had a new friend named Belinda who lived in the cupboard, and soon “Belinda” became the family’s go-to explanation for every unexplained noise, missing object, or unlocked door. As Beth grew older, the eerie occurrences intensified, from seeing a pair of stocking-clad feet descend the stairs and vanish, to witnessing impossible events that defied explanation. This episode recounts the moments that sparked Beth’s lifelong obsession with the supernatural.

Wednesday 29th of October, part 2: Curiosity got the better of Beth and her sister Rhianne. Raised on ghost stories and their Nana’s warnings, they decided to experiment with homemade Ouija boards. What began as a playful, weekend pastime quickly escalated. In this episode, Beth describes the night things went horribly wrong: six teenagers gathered around the dining table, candles flickering, a webcam recording—and the spirit they contacted was manipulative, violent, and disturbingly specific. From the planchette’s frantic movements to a light turning on in a locked garden shed, this chilling encounter ended their Ouija experiments for good and left questions that remain unanswered to this day.

Friday 31st October, part 3: Three years after leaving her parents’ haunted house, Beth returned to look after her younger sister, bringing along her skeptical boyfriend, E. One night, the sound of shattering glass shattered the calm as curtains in a locked room moved as if someone had entered. Convinced the house was being broken into, Beth and E rushed upstairs, only to discover no one was there. The police confirmed all windows were intact, leaving both shaken and questioning what they had just experienced. In this episode, Beth confronts the lingering darkness of her childhood home and explores the unsettling possibility that some things follow us, no matter how far we go.

With new episodes twice a week, Beth’s Spooky Story Time is a must-listen for anyone who loves their scares true, personal, and spine-tingling.

Listen exclusively on Patreon from Sunday 26th October

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/bethsspookystorytime 

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/spooky-story-time/id1808639005

Mercury Founder Liam Heffernan says: “Beth’s Spooky Story Time is the perfect example of the high-quality, independent storytelling Mercury champions. Her Halloween special is terrifying, immersive, and deeply personal; the kind of podcast that stays with you long after the lights are back on.” 

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 Ghastly Women Podcast returns for a new season

Here's more Mercury News: "Esther and Lily are back!" 

Award-winning comedy podcast Ghastly Women has returned for a brand-new season of chaos, rants, singing, and sheer unhinged insanity, and this time they’re in a swanky new studio… but don’t be fooled, this is perhaps the filthiest, ghastliest, and most hilarious season yet.

The new season is available to watch and listen to right now, and begins with one of the hottest topics of the year - Kendra Licari, who featured in Netflix documentary Unknown Number and was sentenced to 19 months in prison for cyberbullying her own daughter.

Ghastly Women has also been acquired by Mercury, joining its fast-growing roster of the world’s best independent podcasts. With Ghastly Women joining PastMaster, and more to come in 2026, Mercury has its sights firmly set on taking over the comedy charts

Alastair Clayton, Producer, explains: "We started making this show, as with many things, during the COVID-19 pandemic and, as we found our feet with it, always played it by ear as to where it would go and for how long. Now, as we join the wonderful Mercury network and enter our 8th series, I really feel like the show continues to be the absolute best representation of two of the most unhinged hosts in comedy podcasting out there right now."

Clayton continues: "Esther and Lily continue to make me laugh every single time we record whilst always remaining relatable and endlessly entertaining to listen to and now, to watch as well! I can’t wait to see where Ghastly Women goes from here."

Liam Heffernan, Founder & CEO, Mercury Podcasts says: "Ghastly Women is one of the funniest podcasts in the world, delivering a unique blend of true crime and comedy. Esther and Lily are exceptional comedians and podcasters, and two of the most down-to-earth people I’ve ever met, so when I had the chance to bring them to Mercury it was a no-brainer."

What began as an attempt to highlight the strength of women through the lens of those who've done ghastly things has transformed into an unpredictable journey through Lily's perverse ramblings and Esther's Tudor-inspired musical interludes.

In each episode, they aim to discuss a notorious woman, but often get delightfully sidetracked. Along the way, they explore their fictional cult fantasies, belt out an array of tunes, and employ a hilariously problematic grading system that defies all logic.

In 2025, the show won a Golden Lobe award and was featured at the Cheerful Earful comedy festival. It consistently features among the top stand-up podcasts in the UK.

Check out Ghastly Women. The show is delightfully irreverent. The opening of one recent episode begins with: "Put your tits away, or get them out." I mean, you have to listen after that introduction.