The Hosts

Michael Paul is the creator and main host of The Sinister District. His fascination with the unexplained and the paranormal began at a young age, eventually leading him to podcasting as a long-term passion. Over the years, Michael has hosted multiple shows across various platforms, reaching thousands of listeners and interviewing over 100+ guests.

His previous projects include The Bubble Podcast and The Treeo Podcast, where he focused on long-form conversations, guest interviews, and storytelling. Through these experiences, Michael developed strong communication and hosting skills that now define The Sinister District.

Michael’s goal goes beyond entertainment — he aims to captivate audiences and immerse them in a world where the unexplainable exists. He seeks to raise awareness of cryptid sightings and paranormal experiences while creating a space where people feel safe sharing their encounters without fear of judgment.

Creating The Sinister District

Michael and Mr. Curbs first came up with the idea for The Sinister District in 2023, during high school lunch. Michael’s original name for the show’s fictional city was “Sin City” — until Curbs reminded him that was already the name of a song — and the two settled on The Sinister District.

The show was first planned as a scripted horror audio drama, with the hosts as fictional versions of themselves caught up in events unfolding across an isolated, collapsing city. Faced with a lack of voice actors, the demands of reliable episodes and a wish for originality, Michael moved the show to the real-life interview format it has today, taking major inspiration from the radio-style storytelling of Coast to Coast AM. Listeners may still hear him slip in the old catchphrase, “What is this some kind of Sinister District?”

Music

Michael Paul also writes and releases music under his own name. His electronic releases are on Spotify, where his most-played tracks include “Fire to Your Spark,” “The Journey Never Ends,” “Same Old Ways” and “One Star Tonight.”

He is one of the composers behind The Sinister District (Original Soundtrack), the show’s first fully original instrumental score. Released on Friday the 13th, February 13, 2026, it brought together original compositions from Michael and fellow contributors Joshua L, Michael H, Kristian, Rhyme C and Neco O, and its music has been heard on every episode since Demonic Humanoids.

Listen to Michael Paul on Spotify

Background

• Born and raised in Long Island, New York
• Currently studying in Florida
• Focused on community-driven paranormal storytelling

Known For

• Interest in cryptids and the paranormal
• Long-form discussions and interviews
• Creating a welcoming, judgment-free environment
• Composing music for the show’s original soundtrack

Mr. Curbs is a longtime friend of Michael Paul and serves as the co-host of The Sinister District podcast. He has joined Michael Paul on multiple podcasting projects, including The Treeo Podcast, prior to the creation of The Sinister District.

Mr. Curbs takes a strong interest in interviewing individuals and exploring topics related to cryptids and the paranormal, allowing him to be knowledgeable on most subjects discussed on the show. His curiosity and engagement help guide conversations and expand upon firsthand experiences shared by guests and listeners.

His hope is to gain a fanbase while helping bring awareness to strange and unexplained firsthand encounters. Mr. Curbs chooses to keep his personal life private and intentionally limits the amount of personal information shared publicly.

On the Show

Mr. Curbs co-hosts The Sinister District alongside Michael Paul, sitting in on the guest interviews at the heart of every episode. The chemistry between the two hosts is a defining part of the show: episodes move between serious paranormal discussion, firsthand accounts from guests, and natural conversational moments that give the podcast its immersive tone.

Creating The Sinister District

The idea for The Sinister District goes back to 2023, when Mr. Curbs and Michael Paul came up with the concept during high school lunch. When Michael suggested calling the show’s fictional city “Sin City,” it was Curbs who reminded him that was already the name of a song — and the two settled on The Sinister District instead.

Curbs also had a hand in the show’s catchphrase history: the early line “What is this some kind of Sinister District?” was dropped after he decided it sounded stupid, though Michael still slips it in now and then.

Before The Sinister District

Mr. Curbs and Michael Paul worked together on earlier podcasting projects, including The Treeo Podcast, before launching The Sinister District.

Known For

• Interest in cryptids and paranormal phenomena
• Interview-focused discussions
• Longtime collaboration with Michael Paul
• Naming the show alongside Michael
• Maintaining personal privacy