We’re Proud to Welcome CREEPY to the Be Afraid Media Family, Strengthening Horror’s Largest Fan-Owned Podcast Network!
When we launched Be Afraid Media earlier this year, our goal wasn’t simply to acquire brands. We wanted to build a home for the creators, communities, and voices that have been driving horror culture forward for years. After welcoming Dread Central into the fold as our first acquisition, we’re excited to take the next step by bringing CREEPY, one of the most influential and beloved horror podcasts ever created, into the Be Afraid family.
For nearly a decade, CREEPY and its creator, Jon Grilz, have helped define what horror podcasting can be. Long before Hollywood fully embraced internet-born horror, CREEPY was introducing millions of listeners to the writers, stories, and folklore emerging from online communities. Through landmark initiatives like its annual 31 Days of Horror event, its community-driven storytelling model, and a library spanning more than 1,200 episodes, CREEPY has become more than a podcast. It’s become one of the most important gathering places for horror fans and creators anywhere in the world.
Today, we’re proud to announce that Be Afraid Media has acquired CREEPY, the chart-topping creepypasta podcast created and hosted by Jon Grilz, bringing one of horror’s most influential audio brands into our growing portfolio. Variety first reported the news.
As part of the acquisition, Jon will lead the Be Afraid Podcast Network as Head of Podcasts, overseeing its direction and growth while continuing as CREEPY’s host and showrunner.
The timing couldn’t be better. Horror born on the internet, the urban legends, short stories, and shared online lore known as creepypasta, has moved from the fringes of message boards to the center of the genre conversation. Record-breaking films inspired by online horror communities have transformed how the industry views internet-born storytelling, and CREEPY has been championing those voices in audio for years.
The show pulls in more than 10 million downloads annually and has built a catalog of more than 1,200 episodes, nearly all of them sourced from and shaped by its community of fan writers. It carries a 4.5-star rating across more than 6,000 listener reviews and consistently ranks among the top horror podcasts in the United States.
CREEPY also anchors its calendar with two beloved fan events: Creepaway Camp, its halfway-to-Halloween celebration, and 31 Days of Horror, which delivers a brand-new episode every day throughout October. This year marks the tenth annual edition of 31 Days of Horror and the first under the Be Afraid Media banner.
“I’ve spent the last decade working on horror podcasts and I’m really looking forward to the chance to take what I’ve learned to help build the Be Afraid Podcast Network and make sure creators still have a voice while more and more celebrities step into the space drawing attention from independent podcasters,” said Grilz. “I truly believe we are in the golden age of horror and couldn’t be more grateful to be a part of this community.”
The whole industry is suddenly paying attention to stories that started online, and CREEPY has been the home of that kind of storytelling in audio for years. He’s one of the best in the genre, and now he’s building the network, not just a show.
“It’s thrilling to welcome CREEPY to the Be Afraid Podcast Network, and Jon Grilz to a leadership role on our team,” added Heather Luttrell, CEO of Be Afraid Media. “Our rapid growth from 16 million fans at launch to more than 30 million today is getting a lot of attention from our film studio clients, who are hungry for more access to these important audiences.”
With CREEPY joining the fold, the Be Afraid Podcast Network now includes more than a dozen shows spanning creepypasta, scripted horror, true crime, paranormal investigations, horror discussion, filmmaker interviews, and horror comedy. The lineup includes CREEPY, Hometown Ghost Stories, ScaredyCast, Slasher Radio, Post Mortem with Mick Garris, Development Hell, Dark Sanctum, Every Day is Halloween, Cult Following, Girl, That’s Scary, and more.
As we continue building Be Afraid Media across editorial, audio, streaming, merchandise, live events, and original productions, we’re committed to investing in the creators and communities that have always made horror special. CREEPY represents exactly the kind of creator-first brand we want to champion, and we couldn’t be more excited about what comes next.
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