In this chilling new episode of The Dark Carousel Podcast, Arthur (Snagz) and Steve (Mr. Sweets) pull back the curtain with none other than AJ Good of The House of Masks, one of the most respected and controversial voices in the mask-collecting world.

From his earliest memories of Halloween to the rise of his legendary collection, AJ opens up about the passion, obsession, and raw emotion that fuels his journey. We dig into the iconic legacy of Don Post Studios, Be Something, Topstone, and other vintage mask makers, while diving headfirst into AJ’s lifelong connection to Slipknot and the darker corners of horror culture.

But this isn’t just history ,it’s brutal honesty. We ask the questions others won’t: the darkest fan requests, the weight of legacy, and what it means to let masks define your identity. At the same time, AJ shares the highs, the victories, and what this community truly means to him.

Whether you’re a diehard Slipknot fan, a vintage mask hunter, or a Halloween fiend, this episode is a blood-soaked love letter to the art of masks ,and a reminder that this carousel never stops spinning.

Step inside the airbrush world of Mandy Gibson, the makeup artist behind some of the most chilling faces at Laurel’s House of Horror. 🎨💀

In this episode of The Dark Carousel Podcast, Mandy shares her journey into special effects makeup, the thrill of airbrushing entire haunt casts, and the emotional joy of watching her creations come alive under the dim lights of the haunt. From backstage chaos to heartfelt moments, Mandy’s story paints a vivid picture of passion, creativity, and the haunting spirit that drives the industry.

🔥 Don’t miss this dive into the art of horror… because This Carousel Will Never Stop Spinning. 🔥

In this chilling episode of The Dark Carousel Podcast, we welcome Rochelle, a powerhouse haunt actress and makeup artist from Disturbia Haunted House in Chicago. For the past four years, Rochelle has been dominating the haunt scene as a performer ,and she’s still kicking ass every night she steps into character. On top of that, she’s now approaching her second year as a makeup artist, transforming fear into flesh with jaw-dropping detail and gruesome creativity.

Known for her terrifyingly immersive performances and grotesque FX artistry, Rochelle has built a reputation for bringing nightmares to life with spine-tingling precision. She takes us deep into her creative process, from crafting horrifying looks that drip with realism, to embodying monsters that blur the line between actor and nightmare.

We explore her inspirations, her most shocking haunt moments, and the raw dedication it takes to thrive in the haunted attraction world. Rochelle’s passion for haunting is more than just performance ,I t’s about creating unforgettable experiences, pushing boundaries, and living the art of fear.

⚠️ This Carousel Never Stops Spinning ⚠️

In this powerful episode of The Dark Carousel Podcast, we sit down with Scott Dieterman, the founder of Slider Dynamix and one of the most influential figures in the art of sliding within the haunt industry. From his very first sparks to building a movement that redefined how scare actors perform, Scott opens up about his journey, struggles, and triumphs.

Listeners will hear the raw emotions behind his sliding career. The adrenaline of the scare, the meaningful moments that shaped him, the funny mishaps along the way, and the deep connection he feels to haunting. Scott also reflects on training the next generation of sliders, the culture of the haunt community, and the legacy he hopes to leave behind.

Join us as sparks fly, memories unfold, and we dive deep into what sliding truly means to one of its greatest pioneers.

🎙️ The Dark Carousel Podcast

🌀 This Carousel Never Stops Spinning

Step into the shadows with us as we welcome the one and only Bladez the Clown !!!a character as chilling as she is captivating. Known for her grotesque beauty and unflinching commitment to the art of haunting, Bladez takes fear to an entirely new dimension.

Not only does she embody a horrifyingly unique clown persona crawling with decay, maggots, and menace ,but she also draws inspiration from her real-world path as an embalming apprentice. Her performance is more than a mask; it’s a visceral fusion of death’s rituals and the raw chaos of the haunt world. Every gesture, every look, every detail of Bladez carries the weight of her deep understanding of mortality and transformation.

In this episode, Bladez opens up about her haunting journey, her inspirations, her pre-show rituals, and how she uses her embalming knowledge to elevate her character into something unforgettable. Beyond the fear, she is a true artist and a deeply passionate soul ,someone who lives to create, terrify, and inspire.

This isn’t just another episode , it’s a dive into the mortuary of nightmares. 🎙️

🖤 Bladez the Clown

“This Carousel Never Stops Spinning.”

Step into the shadows with us as we welcome the one and only ZOMBAE! A haunting force who has turned fear into an art form.

In this chilling episode, Zombae peels back the mask to reveal the story behind her terrifying transformations. From the first spark that drew her into the world of haunting, to the wild nights inside attractions, to the painstaking artistry of her makeup creations, her journey is as raw as it is inspiring.

🎭 We explore the performance side of haunting: the acting, the body language, and the improvisation that bring her characters to life.

📱 We talk about her rise on TikTok, how her creativity reached a worldwide audience, and the influence she now holds in the haunt community.

💔 We get personal, what haunting has done for her emotionally, the sacrifices, the unforgettable scares, and the moments that made her realize this isn’t just a job, it’s a calling.

As the carousel spins, Zombae leaves us with thoughts on the legacy she’s creating and what haunting truly means to her at its core.

🎧 Available now on YouTube, Spotify, and all major platforms

Ladies and gentlemen, step right up…

This week on The Dark Carousel Podcast, we descend into the haunted woods with the one and only Flix the Clown. Not only is she a terrifying performer, but she’s also a master costume designer and makeup artist who pours her soul into every creation.

One of her most haunting characters is Ophelia, the Dead Bride — a tragic figure with a story as sorrowful as it is terrifying. On the day she was to be married, her bridesmaids, overcome with jealousy, pushed her into a lake. That betrayal drowned her future, leaving her to rise again as a spectral bride. The sadness of Ophelia lives in every layer of Flix’s design — from the veil to the decay, each detail carries grief and beauty hand-in-hand.

In this episode, Flix opens up about her artistry, the blood, sweat, and tears behind her craft, and the haunting balance of terror and tragedy that makes her characters unforgettable.

⚰️ The carousel never stops spinning… it spins with Flix the Clown.

Step deeper into the shadows as we return to the twisting, torch-lit paths of the Middletown Haunted Trail. In this chilling fourth installment of our Into the Trail series, we sit down with Michael McKnight ,Manager of the Haunted Trail at Land of Illusion.

Michael has walked these woods for years, not just as a leader, but as a storyteller of fear, guiding his crew to weave nightmares that linger long after the screams fade. In this heartfelt and haunting conversation, he opens up about the craft of building terror from the ground up, the family-like bond of his team, and the eerie magic that transforms a quiet trail into a living, breathing nightmare each October.

From the crunch of leaves underfoot to the distant roar of chainsaws in the dark, this episode will pull you into the very heartbeat of the trail… and remind you why some journeys are meant to be taken only under the moonlight.

This carousel never stops spinning.