Kaidankai: Ghost, Supernatural, and Dark Short Fiction · Linda Gould

The Cauldron by Mark Speed: A Dark Horror Story of Street Harassment and Twisted Justice

April 1, 2026·13 min·1 clip

A woman dragging a heavy cauldron is surrounded by a group of men who start throwing beer cans and shouting at her.

The episode opens with host Linda Gould introducing the story 'The Cauldron' by Mark Speed, noting it is the third story from his first collection. The narrative follows a young woman tasked with delivering a cauldron to her grandmother, Nanapot, but she is interrupted by a group of seven men who catcall and harass her. She tries to ignore them and continue dragging the heavy cauldron, but the men become more aggressive, throwing a beer can and approaching her. One man, described as having acne scars and smelling of cheap cologne, crosses the street and pulls off her hood, demanding a kiss. When he touches her, she reacts violently, shoving him headfirst into the cauldron, which is revealed to contain the souls of previous victims. After the story, Gould shares a personal anecdote about being catcalled by firemen as a child, relating to the protagonist's dread and stubbornness. She praises the story for capturing the anxiety of street harassment and the desire for justice, even if symbolic. Gould notes the cauldron represents generational trauma, passed down from grandmother to mother, and offers a sense of retribution. She expresses a wish that everyone could have such a cauldron, then thanks Mark Speed and encourages listeners to subscribe for weekly supernatural stories. The episode ends with a farewell and promise of another story next week.

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