Today we’d like to introduce you to Ayden Castellanos.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
As I know it, Susto is a cultural phenomenon in which the soul detaches itself from the body after a traumatic experience. There are different remedies for curing someone of Susto. Its literal translation is “fright.” I grew up hearing scary stories. Some were cautionary tales, and others were supposed real-life hauntings. I developed an appreciation for the paranormal and macabre through these stories shared by family at a cookout or with friends in the middle of the night. When I started listening to podcasts, I looked for a show that shared these classic stories: La Llorona, the Chupacabra, a girl who danced with the Devil. I couldn’t find one that met every mark I sought, so I did it myself. In 2019 I started Susto. A podcast about spooky folklore from Latinx and Hispanic cultures: I share these stories and explore their contexts and origins in my show. I’ve learned so much about other cultures and places around the world.
Sometimes making connections between my background and others, I didn’t know about. I dive into the historical and sociological impact of certain spirits and cryptids. Other times it’s just fun to be scared by the unexplainable. Since the show’s inception, I have been the sole creator, producer, and host. People have shared that listening to Susto reminds them of home and their upbringings. It means so much to me when I hear that. To be able to connect with people on a level of fear is special to me. It’s part of why I started the show. In Oct. 2022, I was recognized as an honoree in the inaugural class of the Gotham Film & Media Institute’s Gotham/Variety Audio Honors, presented by Wondery. I could go to New York City and sit on a panel with other honorees. It was surreal for me to be there. I from the Rio Grande Valley, a border region of Texas, to NYC because of something I created.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It isn’t always easy, but it’s so worth it. I have a full-time job, and I was also going to school for a while to complete my undergrad. I read something once like, “The thing you do after or wish you were doing during; your job is your actual passion.” And that’s what Susto is for me. A lot of late nights and days off that turn into work. I’m a one-person team. I research and produce the show, record it in my home office, and spend hours editing it down to sound design. And even after an episode is posted, I keep going. I design promotional material and deliver bonus and exclusive content to my Ghoul Friends on Patreon. But the hardest part is trying to avoid comparing yourself to others. Compare and despair is some of the most real advice I’ve gotten. Susto is about sharing stories. It’s hard not to get in my head about numbers.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My professional background is in social media and digital content.
What are your plans for the future?
I’d love to branch out to in-person events and live shows. Especially those that aren’t only during the Halloween season. As much as I love Halloween (obviously), I do this year-round. My dream is a Susto movie or a series.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/susto
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sustopodcast/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sustopodcast/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/sustopodcast
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SustoPodcast
Image Credits
Personal photo credited to “Dan Segovia”
