Strange Matters Podcast

In this special two-part episode of Strange Matters several cases of mystery and murder are discussed, with each  disturbing story taking place on Halloween!  In the two parts of this episode four dark cases are presented, including the story of a man vanishing into the desert leaving behind only cryptic clues, a toddler stolen from her crib, an unidentified Jane Doe murdered, and even a deadly instance of Trick or Treat.   Enjoy listening to these disturbing and unusual Halloween cases of Mystery & Murder!

Part II of this episode can be heard on Patreon for all of the supporters of Strange Matters!

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In this episode of Strange Matters we present a collection of creepy and unexplained stories that have been sent in to us by our listeners.  In Part V of our Listener Story series, we share scary stories that include night terrors, dark figures like the Hat Man and Slenderman, and even human night prowlers.  Each of these stories involve personal encounters and experiences that can not be easily explained, and are sure to give anyone listening the chills.

Thanks to our listeners Alex, Sara, Bri, Bobby, Josh, & Luke!

Click here to check out the rest of our Listener Story series!

The post Creepy & Unexplained Listener Stories V appeared first on Strange Matters Podcast.

In this episode of Strange Matters we discuss a wide variety of creepy and unexplained activity all coming from British Columbia.  This region of Canada is well known for its long history of bizarre stories and events.  From UFO sightings, to haunted islands, and even its own legendary cryptid, British Columbia is a treasure trove for anyone who is interested in the strange and unusual.

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To wrap up the month of September we have a special guest episode where we interview Stephanie Craig on one of her favorite legends, The Gates of Hell in Stull, Kansas. Stephanie is a fellow podcaster, traveler and history fanatic so be sure to check out her website www.historyfangirl.com.

Stull is the very definition of a small town with just a few inhabitants and a small number of buildings within the city limits. However the lore that is interwoven into the history of Stull reaches far and wide, as it is said to contain one of the Gates of Hell. Its believed that on Halloween and the Spring Solstice the Devil comes to Earth through this gate to summon the spirits of those who died in violent ways. While some of the legends might be thought to be far-fetched, there are numerous rumors of strange encounters that have occurred on the cemetery property in Stull, including the demolishing of the church in a most mysterious manner.

The post The Gates of Hell – Stull, Kansas appeared first on Strange Matters Podcast.

Blair Adams was a seemingly normal man living in Canada, working at a construction company and appearing content in life.  One day, without warning, everything about Blair’s life mysteriously changed.   In just a few days Blair emptied his savings account, quit his job,  made several attempts to flee the country, all before being found dead half-naked in a parking lot in Knoxville, Tennessee.  What caused his sudden paranoia,  who he was running from, and the ultimate motive for his bizarre death is still unknown to this day.

What caused this man to turn his life upside down without warning?  What scared Blair so badly that he did everything he could to escape Canada, and then to keep running once he did.  Who killed Blair, and for what reason?  This episode discusses the unusual story behind this case, and the popular theories behind the many strange events that happened in Blair Adam’s final days.

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Albert Fish is one of the most horrific serial killers of all time. Despite an alleged lower kill-count than other notorious killers, the brutality of his crimes takes him to an all new level. He is most famous for his quote: “I like children, they are tasty”. However as a boy, Fish was set up for failure. With a family history of psychiatric illness, significant childhood trauma and even physical trauma to his central nervous system, he would go on to develop a sadomasochistic desire for pain. His numerous paraphilias developed over the years along with his bizarre religious delusions. This could be the darkest episode we have ever done at Strange Matters Podcast.

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Located in the northeast region of Wisconsin, the Summerwind Mansion is one of the oldest and most popular tales of a haunted house in America.  Beginning in the early 1900s, several owners who have lived at Summerwind have experienced unexplained and disturbing paranormal activity.  From ghostly apparitions, creepy voices and shadow figures, corpses found in hidden crawlspaces, and the house’s apparent ability to change its shape, the Summerwind Mansion remains as a favorite scary legend among the locals.

Though the house is now just a site of burnt ruins, the mansion had a dark history of paranormal events.  Three different owners experienced strange and disturbing occurrences during their stay.  The first owner, Robert Lamont, was so startled by the sudden appearance of a spirit that he fired his pistol at it.  The Hinshaw Family lasted only six months before being driven away by the wide range of disturbing and frightening experiences, to the point that the husband and wife had mental breakdowns.  Finally a man named Raymond Bober wrote a book detailing his time staying at the mansion, claiming that the dimension and layout of the house would change overnight without any explanation.

Is there any legitimacy to the claims of the haunting at Summerwind?  Are all these events just a coincidence, or is there something unknown underlying and tying together the plights of these three owners?  Listen in and hear all about this fascinating haunting!

The post The Summerwind Haunting appeared first on Strange Matters Podcast.

Massive tax debt, divorce, the death of your brother, the collapse of your business… its enough to drive anyone mad. Ben McDaniel experienced all these things yet teetered on the edge of his sanity. To regroup he took a long sabbatical at his parents vacation home in Florida. During this period of recovery he rediscovered his lost passion of SCUBA diving. At Vortex Springs he began to log many hours of diving in order to gain an advanced certification. Vortex Springs had a checkered history. In the 90s, it has claimed the lives of many divers who thought themselves skilled enough to explore the deepest depths of the underwater cave. In order to prevent more deaths a gate was put up and a sign was posted at the entrance to ward off individuals who thought to highly of their own capabilities. McDaniel was one of those individuals. On August 18th he dove down into the abyss and never resurfaced. Most people immediately assumed he was simply another life to be claimed by the underwater cave but others suspect a variety of theories including murder and that maybe he even could have framed his own death to escape the burden of his previous life.

The post Death in the Depths appeared first on Strange Matters Podcast.

Around the same time that reports of the Mothman were surfacing, another mysterious creature had been sighted nearby. Encounters with a strange creature now known as Indrid Cold, a humanoid creature with strange features including an unusually large, frozen grin, were spreading around the area. While sightings were not as prevalent as with the Mothman, they were no less unsettling. Sometimes Cold would simply stare at passers-by, other times he would give chase and even engage in conversation. Just about everyone reports feeling at best, uncomfortable, at worst horrified for their life. However it is unclear at this time whether or not Cold actually possessed any nefarious intent or whether he was simply observing humankind. Furthermore no one truly understands Cold’s purpose for visiting our planet or whether or not this was even an alien in the first place. While some witnesses claim that Cold revealed all to them and even took them to their home planet, other simply report being terrified. Could this mysterious “Grinning Man” be an alien from another planet or even a government “Man in Black”? Is he a single entity or a community or species? Or was Point Pleasant West Virginia simply a hot spot for paranormal activity at time?

The post The Grinning Man appeared first on Strange Matters Podcast.

“It’s a bird! It’s a plane! Wait what is that really? Oh no it’s following us, run for your lives!” This is probably what a young couple was thinking in Point Pleasant, West Virginia back in the sixties when they first encountered what is now well-known around the world as the legendary Mothman. There were practically no reports of similar creatures until 1966, when suddenly there were dozens of sightings of this horrific, flying abomination. Residents of this small town were so petrified they actually held a town hall meeting so that citizens could publicly express their concerns and share tales of their encounters. Since then similar sightings have been reported all over the world; all to often the sightings precede some sort of cataclysmic event, leading some to think that it is an omen of bad things to come. While it is not one of the most popular cryptids of our time, it certainly produces arguably more convincing evidence then others of its kind. Explanations for these sightings range from large cranes or owls all the way to angels, genetic hybrids and flying military machines, however we must accept that mankind may never know the true identity of the Mothman.

The post The Mothman appeared first on Strange Matters Podcast.

In this episode of Strange Matters the sudden and mysterious disappearance of Thelma Krull is discussed.  Thelma was a 57 year old grandmother living in Winnipeg, Canada.  On the morning of July 11th, 2015, she left for her usual morning walk.  At some point in her walk along quiet neighborhood roads and local parks, something unexpected must have happened.   As a result, Thelma Krull would never be seen again.

The case of Thelma Krull is strange and unusual in several ways.  It is rare that an established member of the community could just vanish during the day while walking along public pathways.  Leaving virtually no evidence or clues behind, both family members and Law Enforcement were left with nothing but speculation on what happened to the missing woman.   To this day there is still no definitive answer as to what caused the sudden and unexplained disappearance of Thelma Krull.

The post The Mysterious Disappearance of Thelma Krull appeared first on Strange Matters Podcast.

In this episode of Strange Matters we discuss the phenomenon of Cynocephaly, the bizarre characteristic of humans that possess a dog-like head.  Creatures of cynocephaly have been recorded in human history for thousands of years, dating back to the Ancient Greeks and Egyptians.  Tales of these human/dog mixes have been seen throughout the middle ages and even up to the modern day.  The origins of these mysterious beings remain a mystery, as well as to why stories of them exist all over the world.

Though commonly believed to be a mere myth, some have come up with several logical reasons behind the origins of these creatures to explain their existence and persistence throughout history.  Some theories suggest ancient people mistook certain animals to be cynocephali, while others think people portrayed as these half-dog beasts were simply how civilized societies represented foreigners and barbarians.  Whether there is any realistic explanations for these fantastical creatures will forever be unknown, but the legends of cynocephaly continue to be an intriguing historical mystery!

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In this episode of Strange Matters the bizarre and unusual topic of crimes involving sleepwalking murders is discussed.  Though hard to imagine, in rare instances of homicide crimes an individual is actually capable of brutal and violent murder, all the while remaining asleep.  Though many have tried and failed to use the “sleepwalking defense” through the years, for a select few cases the actions of the killer, and the science behind the condition, do show that a person is perfectly capable of murdering others while sleepwalking.

The idea that people were capable of killing in their sleep has been around for hundreds of years, but very rarely has it been successful in defending the accused.  Many have tried to claim they were in a parasomnia state at the time they committed murder, but due to the scientific and behavioral studies of the modern world it is known their actions could not have been done while sleepwalking.  However, there are a small number of cases where the most likely and agreed upon theory is that the murderer was actually asleep during the entirety of their crime.

The post Sleepwalking Murders appeared first on Strange Matters Podcast.

Listen to this special collaborative episode between Strange Matters, Don’t Break the Oath, Zeng This, and Knock Once For Yes Podcasts!  Each of the podcasts and their host discuss a number of local urban legends, mysteries, and unexplained events.

From a morbid group of sisters who had a dark reputation for murder, a cemetery vampire, unexplained UFOs, and some  ghostly hauntings, check out this episode to hear a range of interesting and creepy stories!

Big thanks to the hosts of Don’t Break the Oath, Zeng This, & Knock Once For Yes podcasts for working with us on this episode!

The post SPECIAL – Local Legends Collaboration appeared first on Strange Matters Podcast.

In this episode we discuss some of the most convincing, interesting and disturbing reports of real-life zombies. The first story is about a Haitian man named Clairvius Narcisse. At the age of 40, Narcisse died under mysterious circumstances and was buried. 18 years later and much to his sister’s horror, he reappeared and greeted her in a marketplace. Most people believe he was cursed by a witch doctor who used tetrodotoxin to make him appear dead. Once buried, the witch doctor (known as a “bokor”) revived and enslaved Narcisse on his plantation. While far-fetched, this story is likely plausible as there exists a strong cultural belief in zombies in the Haitian culture. This in conjunction with the toxins he was exposed to could possible have created a placebo effect convincing Narcisse that he was a real-life zombie.

Rudy Eugene, also known as the Miami Cannibal is known for pouncing on an innocent, homeless man and gnawing 75% of his face off. Initially thought to be under the influence of some recreational hallucinogens, Eugene was shot and died at the scene of the crime. Later toxicology reports showed only trace amounts of marijuana in his body. This has gone down as one of the most disturbing and violent scenes in Miami as many witnesses report. But if not drugs, what could have caused Eugene to commit this horrific crime?

The post Haitian Zombification appeared first on Strange Matters Podcast.

The Keddie Cabin Murders is a disturbing quadruple homicide that took place in Keddie, California.  This infamous unsolved crime involves the murder of several family members in a cabin in the late night of April 11, 1981.  This brutal murder case is notorious not just for its dark and gruesome nature, but also for the fact that many believe the investigation was a failure and the main suspects were allowed to be let go despite the large amount of evidence against them.

Sue Sharp and her five children had recently moved from the east coast to California following a troubled marriage.  Sue would rent a cabin in the sparsely populate Keddie area, a run down town in a county that had a rampant drug problem.  On the morning of April 12, Sheila,  the oldest daughter, returned to the family cabin.  Sheila never could have imagined that when the door opened she would find three bloody corpses laying in the main room.  Even more disturbing, her younger sister Tina was no where to be found.

The police investigation has been noted as being quite poor and incompetent, law enforcement missing physical evidence and ignoring other pieces that should have been looked at further.  The following interrogations of the primary suspects was handled in a confusingly half hearted way, the men who were thought to have been the culprits were allowed to simply leave without any follow up actions to their shady statements made about the crime.  To this day the mystery of the Keddie Murders is still unsolved, but the continued work into the case has many hopeful that someday we will finally get the full story on what happened in that cabin on that fateful night.

The post The Keddie Cabin Murders appeared first on Strange Matters Podcast.

The follow up episode in the series discussing the mysterious Montauk Project!  This episode covers the amazing and wild experiments that took place in the project’s main base of operation, Camp Hero.  The Montauk Project remains one of the most daring and comprehensive secret military programs in history: experimenting in time travel, teleportation, time travel, psychic abilities, and even contact with Aliens.

The Montauk Project is a rumored series of experiments that took place in Montauk, NY in the 1970s and 80s.  A follow up to the previous Philadelphia Experiment, researchers hoped to achieve even greater feats.  Stationed at Camp Hero, the Montauk Project operated in secret to push the boundaries of human knowledge, experimenting in psychological warfare, manipulation of time and space, and dealings with extraterrestrial lifeforms.  Despite the wondrous claims of the project, very few sources of information and witness accounts exist as evidence.

Did the military secretly experiment with time travel and mind control, even using alien technology? Or is the entire project simply a hoax or myth?  Listen to the story of the Montauk Project and come to your own conclusion!

Part I – The Philadelphia Experiment

Check out other great podcast over at Dark Myths!

Featured Dark Myths podcast of the month: Bohemican Podcast

The post Montauk – Part 2 – Camp Hero appeared first on Strange Matters Podcast.

This episode of Strange Matters is the first part of a series discussing the legendary Montauk Project, a rumored series of top-secret military projects carried out by the United States government.  The Montauk Project includes experiments in psychological warfare, teleportation, and even time travel.   However, years before the Montauk Project would supposedly be created, another secret military operation took place that acted as a predecessor: The Philadelphia Experiment.  

The Philadelphia Experiment was an alleged top secret military operation that took place in 1943 at the Naval shipyards in Philadelphia, PA.  Seeking an advantage over the Germans, the US Navy used newly developed scientific equipment in an attempt to create a ship that would be undetectable to enemy radar.  The events that would actually occur during the experiment would instead baffle the observing scientists, even going so far as defying the laws of physics as we understand them.

As extraordinary and fantastic as the story of the Philadelphia Experiment is, many believe the whole thing is simply fiction.  Only a few witnesses exist who claim to know about the experiment, and there is no evidence or records that the secret project ever took place.   Is the Philadelphia Experiment a hoax? Or is it one of the greatest secret military projects in history?

Part II discussing the Montauk Project coming soon!

The post Montauk – Part 1 – The Philadelphia Experiment appeared first on Strange Matters Podcast.

This episode of Strange Matters covers the dark and disturbing series of deaths known as the Bridgend Suicides.  Over the course of several years, dozens of people, mostly young adults and teens, would suddenly and without warning take their own lives.  Almost of all these deaths were caused by hanging.  The story of the Bridgend Suicides spread globally due to the heavy media  involvement, as news spread across the world of the mysterious and deadly trend that was plaguing this small Welsh town.

Starting in early 2007,  a number of teens were found dead,  apparently from hanging themselves in areas around Bridgend, located in South Wales.  No one could figure out why the suicides continued one after another.  Worried parents grew concerned about their children, scared that they could be next.   Making matters worse, the media stirred up more attention and popularity for the events that were occurring in Bridgend, to the point of nearly glamorizing the deaths and making the recently deceased famous in the area.  Some believe that all this attention from the media may have led to even more suicides.

Over the years,  many have wondered at the cause behind the deaths.  Some blame an internet death cult of some kind.  Others state the boredom caused by the small town caused depression in the youth.  Still more came up with more outlandish explanations.   Whatever the cause, the deaths at Bridgend remain one of the most infamous suicide clusters in the modern world.

The post The Bridgend Suicides appeared first on Strange Matters Podcast.

Ross Moore approached the entrance to his brother’s house. He could tell something wasn’t right. The neighbor was used to seeing the Moore family up at an early hour, performing chores and starting their day… but not today. Ross, having a key to the house, slowly opened the door. Nothing could prepare him for what he was about to discover. He mustered up his courage and cautiously walked into the living room to discover a grizzly scene…

The Villisca Axe Murders are one of the most notorious family slayings in the United States. This small town was shaken to its core upon the discovery of the remains of an entire family of well-liked individuals. Accusations flew, crime scenes were tampered with, all chaos broke loose; but one thing was for certain: the Moore family was no more. Over the years numerous leads would be followed only to dead ends while the killer went free. Was this the work of a hitman or a cold-blooded and sadistic serial killer?

The post Villisca Axe Murders appeared first on Strange Matters Podcast.

In this episode of Strange Matters the cryptic and mysterious Shugborough Inscription is discussed.   The basis of the Shugborough Inscription are 10 letters carved onto a structure known as the Shepherd’s Monument, a mystery onto itself.   Though this sequence of letters may not seem all that intriguing at first glance, the Inscription has launched dozens of wild and diverse theories that have been proposed in the hundreds of years since its creation.

The Shepherd’s Monument was commissioned by Thomas Anson and built on his estate in Staffordshire, England.   The exact reason behind his inspiration for creating the monument is unknown, as is the explanation for the inscription carved into the base of this monument.  Over the years, many people have pondered the mysterious nature behind these letters, and have come up with a wide variety of theories.  Are these letters a code, perhaps leading to a hidden treasure? Could they be a secret message that only members of a secret society would understand?  Many believe the letters are meant to spell out a cryptic phrase or saying.  Or is the whole thing simply a joke that a 18th century prankster thought of.  The possibilities are nearly endless as all the popular ideas and explanations for the Shugborough Inscription are covered in this  history-mystery episode!

The post The Shugborough Inscription appeared first on Strange Matters Podcast.

In this follow up  to our latest Patreon episode, Strange Matters continues the End of the World discussion with several events which could lead to an apocalyptic downfall for humanity.  In this episode we talk about the dangers of Super Viruses, as well as the threat of an Artificial Intelligence Takeover.  Both of these hazards have the potential to wipe out a large portion of humanity, if not drive mankind straight into extinction.

A “Super Virus” is any virus that is considered particularly powerful, deadly, and resistant to any type of treatment.  In order for a virus to be deadly enough to pose a threat to human life on Earth, it would have to possess several key traits.  Fortunately for us, any such deadly virus in the recent years has  been  contained and quarantined, but the risks is out there that a highly contagious and fatal Super Virus could show up at any time.

Artificial Intelligence is a term describing the intelligence that can be exhibited by a machine.  The goal being worked on currently is to create an A.I. in which a robotic machine or program had the ability to learn and think, much in the same way that a human mind works.  However, while many are excited about the prospect of man creating such superhuman intelligence in a machine, others are wary of the dangers.  An Artificial Intelligence could turn hostile, thinking of humans as its competitor on Earth, causing it to eliminate mankind rather than working alongside it.

Tune in to this episode and hear all about these two deadly events which could lead to an Apocalyptic end to humanity!

The post Apocalyptic Events – Super Virus & A.I. Takeover appeared first on Strange Matters Podcast.

“On a crisp December day in 1910, Dorothy Arnold walked out of the pages of life and left behind her a mystery that outdoes fiction. There have been a thousand theories, a million rumors- but not one shred of real evidence which might explain where she went, how she went, or why.” This newspaper quote perfectly summarizes the unsolved disappearance case of Dorothy Arnold, the heiress of a wealthy New York family, who vanished suddenly and without explanation. 

Dorothy Arnold was a well known and liked socialite of a prestigious family.   The young woman had aspirations of becoming a writer, though all of her submitted works came back rejected.  Dorothy was secretly carrying out a romantic relationship with an older man, against her family’s wishes.  On one fateful day in December of 1910, Dorothy said farewell to her mother and left the house to go shopping.  The distinguished Arnold family would never see her again.

The mystery of this cases revolves around the bizarre question, how does a woman simply vanish while walking along a busy city street in the middle of the day?  There are far more questions than answers in this intriguing mystery: Did Dorothy run away?  Was she abducted, kidnapped, or murdered? Did her secret lover have anything to do with her disappearance?  Was Dorothy’s depression too great to continue living? Almost any theory is as plausible as any other due to the complete lack of evidence and clues following the young lady’s disappearance.

Listen to this episode of Strange Matters and hear all about what was called at the time the most famous Missing Persons case in American History!

The post The Lost Heiress – Dorothy Arnold Mystery appeared first on Strange Matters Podcast.

In this episode of Strange Matters the unique and interesting lives of Charles Domery and Tarrare are discussed.   Infamously known as the hungriest men who ever lived, these two individuals were cursed with a constant feeling of starvation, and an insatiable desire to eat anything possible to satisfy their endless hunger.   Capable of eating in a single meal what would normally satisfy a dozen men, there is still no answer as to what was the cause for their notorious appetite.

Both Charles Domery and Tarrare lived in Europe, born in the 1770’s.   From an early age they displayed an ability to eat a tremendous amount of food.  Both would go on to serve in the War of the First Coalition, where a shortage of food drove the men to eat anything they could get their hands on, from small living animals to even grazing on grass.   Experiments would be done on both men to test the limits of their appetite, where they performed impossible feats of eating.   Though the exact cause for Charles’ and Tarrare’s endless hunger is unknown, there are several medical explanations that may provide some clues as to what made these two men so special.   Regardless, there is little doubt that these two men stand at the top of history as the two hungriest men who ever lived.

Special thanks to listener Michael Adams for sending us new Strange Matters Artwork used for this episode!

The post The Endless Hunger – Tarrare & Charles Domery appeared first on Strange Matters Podcast.

In this Strange Matters Short the legend of the ancient creature known as the Sirrush is discussed.  This dragon-like beast was heavily featured through the great city of Babylon.   The Sirrush was an obscure creature that was nearly lost to time, and widely believed to be merely a myth.  However, after its rediscovery there have been new theories and explanations that would instead claim that the mysterious beast was in reality an actual living animal!

Was the Sirrush a descendant of the dinosaurs, a leftover of an extinct species? Perhaps a rare breed that was brought to Babylon from a distant land? Or are all the new theories a fantasy, and the truth remains that the Sirrush is, and has always been, simply a made up myth or legend created by the ancient people of Mesopotamia.  Check out this Strange Matters Short and hear all about this strange and interesting creature!

The post The Sirrush – Ancient Cryptid appeared first on Strange Matters Podcast.

In Finland, near Helsinki, there exists a body of water over a square mile in size, known as Lake Bodom. Over 50 years ago, a small group of teenagers went out to this area to camp and enjoy a night of drinks and fun. Unfortunately the events that would occur at their campsite would fall short of anyone’s definition of fun. Sometime between the hours of 4:00 and 6:00 am, an unknown suspect, standing outside of the tent would slash and bludgeon three of the teens to death. Only one, Nils Gustafsson would survive the violent onslaught. The local police department was not only caught off guard by the gruesomeness of the crime scene, but would go on to conduct a less than thorough investigation. The unique part of this case is not just the violence but also the fact that multiple significant suspects would admit to committing the crime at different times. To this day, no one has officially been convicted of the murder of Maila Björklund, Anja Mäki and Seppo Boisman.

The post Lake Bodom appeared first on Strange Matters Podcast.

In the winter of 1985, a young nurse named Debbie Wolfe left her shift at the hospital and headed back to her secluded cabin in the woods.  When she did not show up to work the next day, a search began to find the missing woman.  A few days later, a bizarre and unusual discovery would start off an investigation into one of the strangest deaths you could imagine.

In this episode the death and subsequent investigation of Debbie Wolfe is covered.  This unique death is made interesting by the fact that the police and detectives working the case were quite adamant that the whole thing was just a complete accident, while Debbie’s family and friends were convinced that foul play was involved in some way.  As more clues and pieces of evidence were found following Debbie’s untimely death, the amount of new questions raised would quickly outgrow what few answers were found.

Was the death of Debbie Wolfe just a freak accident that somehow seems to defy much of the evidence found? Or was there a mystery killer involved setting the whole thing up? Listen to this episode and hear for yourself about all the unbelievable twist and turns that followed the mysterious death of Debbie Wolfe.

The post The Mysterious Death of Debbie Wolfe appeared first on Strange Matters Podcast.

The Bennington Triangle is a region in Vermont that has gained some notoriety in the past due to a number of people that suddenly disappeared there under mysterious circumstances. In a five year span from 1945 to 1950, the Bennington area saw a bizarre string of people vanishing, seemingly without cause or explanation. What could possibly be the reasoning behind these strange disappearances?

In this episode of Strange Matters the history of the Bennington Triangle and the surrounding area is discussed, as well as covering all the main missing person cases that the region is known for. The possible theories and explanations for each mystery is also covered.

Is it possible that there is some type of connection between the unsolved incidents, or is it just a series of unfortunate events? Check out this episode to hear all about these bizarre cases of mysterious disappearances!

The post The Bennington Triangle appeared first on Strange Matters Podcast.

Sharon Marshall was a friendly, pretty, and intelligent young girl.  Those that knew her all said she had great potential with a bright future.   What  people did not know however, was that her entire life was a lie.  Sharon was not really Sharon, in fact she had no idea who she really was.  All this girl knew in her life growing up was a constant state of deceit, abuse, and terror at the hands of one man, her father Franklin Floyd.

In this episode we discuss the twisted and bizarre family situation of Frank Floyd and Sharon Marshall.  This disturbing and confusing story involves kidnappings, abuse, and even murder.  For years the mystery of who Sharon Marshall really was has intrigued many who were invested in her story and that of her family, and fortunately in the recent years enough light has been shone on this case to finally reveal her true identity.

The post A Twisted Family – The Sharon Marshall Story appeared first on Strange Matters Podcast.

In this episode of Strange Matters we talk all about the undead monsters known as zombies.  These terrifying creatures are reanimated human corpses that have risen yet again, this time with an insatiable urge to consume living flesh.  As the popularity of zombies spread in the modern culture, many people wonder what life would be like surviving in a zombie apocalypse.  

Originally linked to Haitain folkore, where human corpses would rise by use of dark magic, the concept of zombies have changed over the past century.  In the early stages of the idea, most zombies were depicted in films and literature as simply mindless creatures who served their masters.   That all changed in the late 1960’s when suddenly zombies were shown  to be the stumbling, violent, and hungry monsters that we know and love them as today!

Along with discussing the history of zombies, we go into details about what would life be like in the zombie apocalypse.   We talk about how the outbreak might spread, the impacts it would have on society, and our thoughts on the best strategies to avoid becoming yet another unleaded being.

Finally we also go over the listener feedback sent in for our Zombie Survival Challenge!  From what the best weapon is to fight off the undead horde, the ideal settlement location and type, and general strategies to survive in a world overtaken by walking corpses, we discuss the different answers we got in response to the challenge. Thanks to everyone who participated!

The post The Zombie Apocalypse appeared first on Strange Matters Podcast.

In this episode of Strange Matters we discuss four unexplained mysteries and legendary tales.  Each of these cases involve the potential of hauntings, paranormal activity, and spiritual involvement.  From one of the world’s most haunted locations, to a mysterious  bleeding house, and two tales of malignant spirits, the topics discussed in this episode are as interesting as they are spooky.  

In the Black Forest Haunting, the Lee family moved into an isolated log home set in the thickest regions of the woods.  Shortly after moving in, the family began to experience strange and disturbing activity for which they could not explain.  Loud and random sounds, lights turning on and off, mysterious break-ins,  and most disturbing of all sightings of shadow figures and ghostly apparitions in the house.   Neither the police nor home security systems could explain logically what was going on.  In desperation, the Lees turned to Psychic Investigators, ghost busters, and local shamans in an attempt to understand the bizarre nature of their home.

The Atlanta Blood House makes for a strange and unique mystery.  The Winston couple shockingly discovered one day a red substance splattered and pooled all over their house.  After a quick police investigation and forensic testing, it was confirmed that the red liquid found in the Winston’s home was actually human blood.   Where this large amount of blood came from and for what reason it appeared is still unknown to this day.

Lastly we cover two old legendary tales involving troublesome spirits.   The Taotaomo’na is an ancestral spirit believed to roam certain areas of Guam.  These spirits were known to be very territorial, and great care and respect must be given when passing through these lands… or else.  

Finally we present the tale of La Llorona, a malevolent spirit which has been haunting Southwestern Hispanic cultures for centuries.  La Llorona was once a beautiful young woman who became a mother to two children.  However, after she committed an unspeakable crime, this woman would pass on to becoming this fearful spirit.  The legend goes that La Llorona still prowls the nights in search of young victims to claim as her own.

For more podcast visit the Dark Myths Collective

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In this episode of Strange Matters we once again present a collection of creepy and unexplained personal stories that were sent into us by our listeners.  In this fourth installment in our Listener Story series, we share tales that cover a wide range of mysterious and paranormal topics.  From closet-dwelling clowns, an empty mart that seemingly comes to life at night, and even an appearance from an immodest ghost, these tales will be sure to intrigue and unnerve you!

Thanks to Rob, Erica, Fallon, Levi, Kim, and Alex for sharing your stories with us!  If you have your own creepy and mysterious personal story please feel free to write to the podcast and share it with us.

The post Creepy & Unexplained Listener Stories appeared first on Strange Matters Podcast.

The Mandela Effect is a trendy term used to describe a particularly strange phenomenon that a large number of individuals feel they are experiencing.  Numerous different people all over the world have discovered that they share the exact same memories of certain subjects and events… Memories that in reality turn out to be completely false. Those who dig deeper into this theory have used it as evidence of such outlandish  claims as time travel, parallel dimensions, and shifting timelines. 

The root of the Mandela Effect lies in circumstances when people suddenly find out that something that they believe they know from their past is suddenly changed.  This can range from song lyrics, movie lines, and even to how the way words are spelled being completely different from how they remembered in the past.  In certain people’s memories, what they used to remember clearly and  vividly  is no more, and never has been.  While many consider the Mandela Effect to be merely a case of mass misremembering or false memories, others aren’t so sure.  There are claims that due to the large amount of people sharing these similar false memories, that it could be evidence of something, or someone, tampering with our past.  These theories range from meddlesome time travelers, to people being unknowingly shifted into a different timeline in which things are much different from what they remember.

So is it possible that there are multiple parallel dimensions that we are constantly switching between? Or is the Mandela Effect simply a case of  mass coincidences?  Tune in and listen to some of the theories and popular examples of the Mandela Effect in action!

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On May 1st of 1995, a student at the University of Arizona named Bryan Hance was reading through the local college paper when he came across a full page advert which contained a cryptic mix of images, maps, languages, and equations.  Coincidentally on the same day of May 1st for the next two years, Bryan would again see these bizarre full page ‘May Day” ads of seemingly random and nonsensical images. Deciding to dig deeper, Bryan would soon find himself obsessed trying to uncover and decipher  one of the strangest coded mysteries of the modern times.

Soon more light was shown onto this mystery.  These full-paged May Day cryptic puzzles went back in the local paper for decades, with additional smaller advertisements placed throughout the years as well.  Still, no one knew who was behind them or what purpose they served.  Through the years many people from all over the world have tried to crack the code behind the May Day Pages, which hides its clues in obscure historical, mathematical and geographical puzzles.

Are these May Day adverts the work of a secret society as a way to get their message out?  An eccentric game which will lead whoever can solve the puzzle to a vast fortune? Or simply the rambling works of an unstable but genius madman?  Tune in and hear all the theories and ideas behind this modern cryptic mystery!

View the May Day Mystery Website to view all the texts!

To listen to more great podcast please visit Dark Myths Collective

To hear Part II of our Cryptography series, as well as getting access to all future bonus episodes, please visit our Patreon Page

The post May Day Mystery – Cryptography Part I appeared first on Strange Matters Podcast.

In this episode  Strange Matters tackles one of the most controversial and bizarre conspiracy theories still spreading to this day – The Flat Earth Theory.  Though it might come as a surprise to many, the shape of our home planet is still up to debate according to those who don’t buy into the “Round Earth” conspiracy.   To those holding the notion that our planet is in fact a flat plane, they believe that the world leaders, scientists, and most of all NASA are all involved in a widespread cover up to continue to fool the mass population  into thinking we are living on a globe.

To a Flat Earther, you should only believe what you can see and perceive with your senses.  Since you can not see the Earth’s curvature on the horizon, it must mean that the land is flat all around the world.  In this theory, the sun and moon are relatively small spheres that travel in circles only a few thousand miles above the plane of our planet.   Surrounding Earth is a thick, impassable wall of ice that holds in Earth’s oceans, and perhaps even a massive dome above us that is illuminated by holograms giving the illusion of a starry sky, when in reality something much difference than space lies beyond our planet.

Listen to this episode and hear all about the strange and bizarre ideas and conspiracies involved in the Flat Earth Theory!

Check out other podcasts at the Dark Myths Collective

Featured Dark Myths Podcast of September: Inward Empire

The post Flat Earth Theory appeared first on Strange Matters Podcast.

Lt. Colonel Percival Harrison Fawcett was a man among men. A leader in the British military and an expedition who had been out on countless excursions into uncharted and enemy territory was obsessed with the idea of a lost yet wondrous city in the deep jungle of the Amazon. In the early 20th century, he set out on his third and last expedition in search of this great alleged myth. This adventure would present numerous obstacles including but not limited to vicious jaguars, reptiles and angry natives. 

2 long years passed without any word from the rugged Fawcett, his son Jack and Jack’s friend Raleigh Rimell. Various different explanations have been suggested many of which have significant degrees of plausibility. Could these brave men have gone native and simply joined the Indians in the Amazonian jungle? Perhaps a strange obsession with the cult known as Theosophy had something to do with their disappearance. Listen in to this episode and find out!

To Help Support Strange Matters, please visit our Patreon Page!

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In 1961, a German man named Paul Schäfer formed a community in an isolated region in Chile.  Known as the Colonia Dignidad, or Dignity Colony, this large complex was constructed originally  as a place of community welfare and harmony, which promoted free schooling and health care for all.  Behind it’s barbed wire fences however, Paul Schäfer was secretly creating  a living nightmare of violence and abuse for those trapped inside.

The Colonia Dignidad would operate independently and secretly for three decades.  During that time thousands of people were forced to suffer cruelties under their harsh leader.  Schäfer, a former Nazi who served in World War II, turned his “Dignity Colony” into his own personal paradise of sadism and torture.  Those who suffered the worst in that time was the young children, on whom Schäfer would turn his perverse attention to for years.  Disturbingly, both the Chilean and German governments turned a blind eye as to what was going on inside the colony, leaving their people to the whims of a deeply disturbed man.

It took nearly thirty years until those on the outside finally started to stand up to Schäfer and work to take down the evils occurring inside the Colonia Dignidad.  Though the evil place was eventually disbanded, and its leader finally brought to face up to his awful crimes, thousands of innocent people were still left to  put together their shattered lives.

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For months, Dorothy Jane Scott had been receiving disturbing phone calls from an obsessed and violent stalker.  This mysterious caller promised Dorothy that he would soon take her, and that she belonged to him.  On one fateful night, Dorothy dropped a wounded colleague off at a hospital, and then later walked back out into the dark parking lot.  That was the last time she was seen.

As strange as this event was, it is merely the beginning of what is one of the darkest and creepiest mysteries yet covered by Strange Matters.   Once Dorothy had vanished, her stalker did not simply disappear as well.  Instead, he turned his attention to her family, persistently tormenting them with conflicting knowledge of their loved one’s fate.

Check out this episode where the dark and downright unnerving mystery of Dorothy Jane Scott is discussed.   All  the known theories and ideas are also presented in an attempt to make sense of it all.

For more podcasts check out all the shows at Dark Myths Collective

Featured Dark Myths Podcast: The Eastern Border Podcast

The post The Mystery of Dorothy Jane Scott appeared first on Strange Matters Podcast.

In the freezing winter of 1959, nine experienced hikers traveled deep into the Russian mountains.  When these hikers missed their deadline on what was supposed to be a brief journey,  a search and rescue attempt was sent into the mountains.  What the investigators discovered would become one of the most baffling and intriguing mysteries of all time, known today as the Dyatlov Pass Incident.

Rescuers would eventually find the hikers, all frozen and deceased, spread out across the mountain slope and woods.  For unknown reasons, at some point in the middle of the night the hikers had all run out of their tent into the freezing cold.  Their equipment and supplies were all found intact and undamaged.  Stranger still, the hikers had not even taken the time to properly dress before scattering away from the tent.  The bodies of the hikers would eventually be found in separate locations on the mountain. To further confuse the investigators, several of the bodies showed traumatic internal damage, without any outward wounds or signs of distress.

What exactly happened to those veteran hikers that night?  Were they chased out by a pack of veracious animals, or even violent humans?  Were they the unfortunate victims of a secret soviet military experiment? Or perhaps the mountain claimed them with an unstoppable avalanche.

Listen to this episode as we discuss of one of our favorite mysteries as we go over all the theories, both plausible and outlandish, and also dispel some of the myths and legends that are attributed to the Dyatlov Pass Incident.

Check out similar podcast at the Dark Myths Collective

Support Strange Matters over at our Patreon Page

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In this episode of Strange Matters a number of infamous and legendary monsters and vile creatures of America are discussed.  Each of these monsters have become well known urban legends in their own specific regions across the country. Whether it is the dark woods of New Jersey, the creeks of Kentucky, or even the snowy lands of Michigan, rumors and stories have spread of terrifying beast lurking in the dark.

The Jersey Devil is one of America’s most well known and oldest monster story.  This hybrid creature’s origin supposedly dates back before the formation of the United States even.  Combining the body parts of numerous different animals, this horrifying creature was rumored to be the spawn of the Devil itself.  This monster allegedly lurks in the deep woods of New Jersey,  scaring unsuspecting hikers with its blood curdling scream.

The Dogman of Michigan is a mysterious creature that lives in the deep snowy woods of the northern state.  Combining the torso of a man with the legs and head of a canine, the Dogman has been spotted and encountered for over a century.  Whether the Dogman is actually some type of freak hybrid creature, or just the over-imagination of the locals, has been an ongoing debate for years.

The Pope Lick Monster is a terrifying abomination, a creature combing the body parts of man, goat, and sheep together.  This violent monster is rumored to lure innocent victims onto the train tracks on its home bridge.  There, they are helpless to either face the oncoming train, or jump to their own demise below.  Though the Pope Lick Monster is well known to be merely a myth, the popularity and danger of its tale has lead to many unfortunate accidents.

Finally there is the Beast of Bladenboro, a creature responsible for a string of attacks on people’s pets and livestock in the winter of 1954.  When its legend grew, over a thousand people swarmed to the town to try and hunt this vampire like beast.  Just as quickly as the Beast arrived, the attacks soon ceased, leaving the people of Bladenboro to wonder to this day exactly what kind of creature was behind the violent animal murders.

To support Strange Matters please visit our Patreon Page

Episode Ambient Music By:
“Thunderbird” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The post American Monsters appeared first on Strange Matters Podcast.

“I Think. Therefore I Am”

For millennia people have pondered and questioned exactly what is reality.  Is the world around us that we perceive everyday actually real?  Or is it instead simply a trick, smoke and mirrors, a simulated reality to keep us fooled.

In this episode of Strange Matters we discuss the possibility that mankind may all be living in some type of Matrix program, or simulated reality.   Sean and Eric present numerous ideas and theories describing how life as we know it may be a complete lie.  Whether we are all simply computer programs living our lives unaware of our coded nature, at the mercy of endless multiple dimensions, or perhaps just the creation of some all powerful dreaming deity, there are countless ideas one could come up with to doubt their own existence.

So make the decision to take the blue pill and continue to live in blissful ignorance… Or to instead take the red pill, press play, and follow us down as we discover just how deep this rabbit hole can go.

For more high quality podcasts please visit the Dark Myths Collective and check out the whole lineup.

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In this episode of Strange Matters we share a collection of unexplained and creepy listener stories that have been shared with us.  Each of these stories involved personal encounters and experiences that can not be easily explained. These tales range from possible UFO sightings, to direct Alien visits, creepy shadow figures, smelly co-hosts, and bizarre strangers.  Between all the different unexplained experiences shared with us, this episode will be sure to give you the chills.

Thanks to Joan, Danielle, Dan, Fallon, and Samantha for sharing their personal creepy listener stories with us!

Check out all the podcasts available at Dark Myths

For conspiracy enthusiasts we recommend listening to The Lone Gunman podcast

The post Creepy Listener Stories appeared first on Strange Matters Podcast.

Aliens… Do they really exist? Are we really all alone in the universe? Perhaps it depends on your definition of the term “alien”; perhaps your stereotypical small-bodied Grey or maybe something as simple as a microbe could define this term. But how could we know that aliens exist? Some think that crop circles are a sign that aliens not only exist but have visited earth. With reports dating back centuries, this concept is not foreign. Many crop circles are localized to southern England however they can be found all over the world.

While many suggest that they are all simply pranks or hoaxes performed by very creative and skilled artists, others think that at least a certain percentage are the result of otherworldly visitors.

Other evidence for the existence of extra-terrestrial life lies in personal reports of human abduction. Perhaps the oldest reports of these abductions occurred in 1961. “The Hill Abduction” is the story of Barney and Betty Hill who were an inter-racial couple were well educated and involved in professional organizations. These individuals would have much to lose and little to gain from fabricating a story of the sort. Nonetheless they share the tale of traveling down a country road in their car one night while following a mysterious light.

As the light approached closer Barney stopped the car and got out wielding his trusty pistol. As he got closer he was able to spot “non-human” creatures inside what appeared to be a disk-shaped flying object. He screamed “They’re going to capture us!” as he ran back to the car, however shortly thereafter both of them report slipping into a strange trance. After waking up 35 miles south of where they had originally stopped the car, they would go on to continue their lives while being plagued by strange dreams and other odd occurrences.

Another alien encounter was reported by a “Dr. Jonathan Reed”. While out in the woods one day he came upon a strange humanoid creature fighting with his beloved dog, Suzy. When the alien got the upper hand and somehow reduced his dog to a pile of dust, Reed angrily approached the creature from behind and struck it in the head, killing it.

The remains were captured in various photographs, however the authenticity of this story has been questioned.

Travis Walton, on the other hand was a logger who was in the presence of five of his buddies when he encountered aliens. Traveling in a truck down yet another country road after a long day’s work, the men spotted a strange glowing object in the distance. As they approached it, one man would describe it as “a luminous object, shaped like a flattened disk” and nearly 20 feet in diameter.

Walton got out and approached the saucer but was immediately struck by a bright blue light emanating from the craft which knocked him back onto the ground. While the other men bolted, Walton would go missing for 5 days, only to return with a tale of alien abduction. Despite this wild tale, all the men would go on to pass polygraph tests suggesting that they were telling the truth. Tune in to this podcast episode and decide for yourself: are aliens really out there?

The post Close Encounters appeared first on Strange Matters Podcast.

In this sequel to the original Ancient Mysteries, Eric discusses several mysterious cases from olden times. First is the legend of the screaming mummy. Gaston Maspero, the head of the Egyptian Antiquities Service was inspecting various different mummies found at Deir El Bahri near the Valley of the Kings. Amongst the newly-discovered, legendary leaders of Egypt was an unmarked sarcophagus belonging to an unknown mummy. However this was no ordinary mummy. Upon opening the case he discovered this mummy’s face was locked in an eternal scream. This body had been bound by his hands and feet, so tightly that there were marks on his bones. But despite this apparent torture the remains were carefully mummified and preserved. The body had also been wrapped in sheep or goat skin which is considered by the ancient Egyptians to be ritualistically unclean. While many believe this individual to be the traitor son of Ramses III who was punished for his alleged betrayal of his father, others suspect him to be a prince from the nearby rival civilization of the Hittites. Modern advancements in technology have shed some light on the details regarding this unexplained anomaly however this mystery has yet to be confirmed.

Next up is the “Devil’s Footprints” which were a line of footprints left in the snow, discovered one morning in 1855 in Devon, England. These footprints were said to have stretched over 100 miles which is more distance than any earthly creature would be able to cover in a single night. These cloven hoof prints were said to have either scaled 14 foot walls or passed directly through them and continued on the other side, unimpeded. One report states that the trail passed a two-mile stretch of the River Exe and then continued on the other side. While clergymen were eager to jump on this opportunity and claim these prints belonged to Satan himself and that he was here to collect souls of sinners, others took a more reasonable approach and attempted to rationalize the anomaly as belonging to animals. One thing is for sure: these footprints caused a significant amount of unrest in Devon in the 1850s.

Our final investigation is the mysterious disappearance of James Burne Worson. This story of a shoemaker and established citizen in his community in Warwickshire, England tells of this boastful individual’s habit of getting involved in impossible wagers. His latest bet involved him running to a nearby town and back again — a total round trip of nearly 40 miles. After setting out on this venture, with two fellows following him in a carriage to vouch for his completion of the task, Worson began running without difficulty for several miles. Then suddenly with their eyes fully upon him, he stumbled and began to fall, let out a shrill gut-wrenching scream and immediately vanished without hitting the ground. There have been very few reasonable explanations for what could have happened here, however the truth of the story is in question. Is it possible for individuals to not only go missing but to disappear entirely?

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The Family Murders is a well known and notorious series of crimes that occurred in Adelaide, Australia.  This case includes mysterious attacks, brutal murders, and a dark conspiracy surrounding a secret group of elites that preyed on the young in the city.

Five young men were mysteriously abducted in different areas of Adelaide in a span from the late 1970s into the 80s.  Disturbingly, after going missing their bodies would soon turn up, often horribly mutilated.  Who was behind these attacks and what their motives were was unknown to the families, police, and the entire community.

As the crimes went on, rumors began to circulate of an insidious conspiracy. Some members of the police, as well as the local media, began to talk about a group dubbed “The Family.”  This secretive group was made up of important members of society, who all shared the same sick and twisted violent desires.  This murderous collective was rumored to be responsible for kidnapping and torturing these young men, as well as shielding all of its members from police investigations.

Did the Family actually exists? Was it possible that this secret group of high profile men successfully orchestrated this brutal crimes and get away with it? Or was it all the work of one psychopathic killer? Listen to this disturbing episode and hear all about the Family Murders.

The post The Family Murders appeared first on Strange Matters Podcast.

In this episode we discuss a number of legendary and infamous cults, and the terrible atrocities they are known for.

The People’s Temple, lead by the notorious Reverend Jim Jones, was a socialist minded, tightly knit religious congregation.  Though the People’s Temple and Jones himself was initially known for striving for social equality, this cult would unfortunately go down in history for a more sinister event.  Jim Jones would lead his dedicated, or brainwashed, followers into what he called an act of ‘revolutionary suicide’ against the cruelties of the outside world. He convinced over 900 people to “drink the kool-aid,” in reality a mixed concoction of poison, resulting in the largest instance of mass suicide in modern history.

The Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments was a strict religious cult that was based of the Roman Catholic church.  The Movement was what is known as a doomsday cult, known for predicting the apocalypse and preparing its members for it. When the date of the end times came and went, the leaders of the movement were forced to make a new plan to prevent their mass of members from fleeing.  Instead of admitting they were wrong, those in command would set plans in motion that would see that all of their followers would perish in a fiery trap that would claim the lives of over 300 innocent people.

The Order of the Solar Temple was a secret organization that traced its origins to the Knights Templar.  This group celebrated a bizarre mix of ceremonies borrowed from Christianity, UFO religions, and the Freemasons.  Just as this group was starting to unravel from the inside, a tragic series of suicides and murders would cause it to leave its mark as one of the strangest cults in history.

Scientology is a current religious group that has reached popularity over the years for its celebrity members and strange science fiction like beliefs. The darker side of this religious cult is its supposed use of brainwashing, fraud and financial means to force its members into submission and complete loyalty.

Check out all the podcasts available at Dark Myths

Dark Myths featured podcast of the Month: Pete’s Paranormal Chronicles

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If a tree falls in the forest does it really make a sound? This philosophical conundrum raises questions about humans ability to perceive and interpret reality. What is reality? How much of what we are seeing is real and how much of it is simply our brains misinterpreting our senses?

In this episode we discuss several different haunted forests around the world. The first of which is known as Hoia Baciu, also known as “The World’s Most Haunted Forest”, also known as “Romania’s Bermuda Triangle”. This forest has been known for its mysterious UFO sightings and apparitions since the 60s when a biologist went there to examine the strange curvature of the trees that grew on the land. Instead of finding an answer to his question, he snapped several photos of UFOs and also experienced the feeling that he was not alone in Hoia Baciu. Since then people who visit this small area of land complain of unexplained nausea and vomiting, rashes, scratches and feelings that they are being watched.

The next haunted forest is known as Aokigahara which is a most beautiful 16 square mile patch of land located at the base of Mt. Fuji in Japan. Many people from all over the world travel here to catch a glimpse of its splendor, however there is another more sinister attraction. It has become Japan’s number one suicide hot spot and over the last two decades hundreds of skeletons have been found in these woods. What is it about this area that attract so many desperate individuals and erodes there will to survive? Some come with the full intent of ending their lives while others come with a back up plan in case they change their mind and decide they wish to live. However one thing is for sure, and that is that this forest has an extremely treacherous terrain that could reduce your most avid hiker to nothing more then an incapacitated, lost hope.

Our final haunted forest lands closer to our home in Virginia, United States of America. Along the Appalachian Trail many people have reported seeing the ghost of a young boy known as Ottie Cline Powell. This young boy went missing over a century ago, never to return. His body was found lifeless and frozen huddled at the top of Bluff Mountain where he had strayed over 7 miles from his schoolhouse. This sad story is believed to have resulted in his ghost wandering the AT for over a century in search of a way home to his family.

Visit Dark Myths to find other quality podcasts discussing mysteries, crimes, and more!

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In this episode of Strange Matters, three cases are presented in which someone suddenly vanished without a trace.  In each of these unsolved mysteries, the victims would be going about living normal lives, until the next moment they were simply gone, forever.

Danielle Imbo and Richard Petrone were hanging at a bar late one night with some friends. At around midnight, the pair left the bar to head towards Richard’s truck. Neither of them would ever be seen again.  This case has puzzled police and the community for over a decade, as no one can see how its possible for two people and a truck could simply go missing without a shred of evidence.

Angela Hammond was on a payphone late at night, talking to her fiance Rob. Suddenly, she screamed into the phone.  Her fiance ran to his car and raced towards to where she was, when a truck passed by with a woman inside screaming his name.  Unfortunately, Rob could not catch up and the truck would drive away, apparently taking Angela with it.  No signs of her would ever be found.

In the last case, teenage Laureen Rahn was enjoying a day with two friends in her apartment.  Later that night, Laureen’s mother came home, to find that only her daughter’s friend was still at the apartment.  Her daughter was gone, with no signs of forced entry or a struggle, and all her belongings left behind.  It’s as if Laureen stepped outside and was suddenly gone, without a trace.  Though there were a few odd leads in this case, the police could find absolutely no clues as to what happened to the missing teenager.

Visit Dark Myths to find other quality podcasts discussing mysteries, crimes, and more!

Episode music by:
“Lightless Dawn”,  “Rains Will Fall” , “With a Creation”
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The post Without a Trace appeared first on Strange Matters Podcast.

In this episode the crew of Strange Matters dives back into the realm of the paranormal and unknown, with four creepy tales of haunted artifacts, werewolves, angry poltergeists, and disturbed attic dwellers.  These stories of unwanted guests will be sure to send chills down your spine.

The first story is that of the Hexham Heads, strange stone artifacts discovered that seemed to carry with them a dark curse. Several people who had ownership of these heads, and for a few unlucky individuals who just happened to be nearby, witnessed several unexplained and disturbing encounters.  There are claims of ghostly and poltergeist activity connected with the stone heads, not to mention sightings of a werewolf creature that seems to follow them everywhere.

Next up is the infamous Man in the Attic, or the San Pedro Haunting.  This story involves a woman named Jackie who is experiencing a literal house full of horrors, including unworldly noises, moving objects, ghostly sightings, and even walls dripping human blood.  For those who agreed to investigate the house, their experiences would be much worse, and nearly fatal.  This case is one of the most famous cases of paranormal and poltergeist activity in the United States.

The Jacksonville Clowns were a bizarre case that would terrify anyone who shares a phobia of clowns.  A series of men, dressed up as clowns, was caught on several surveillance cameras approaching houses.  Whether this was a meaningless prank or perhaps something more sinister is unknown to this day.

The last case is that of the Woman in the Ceiling.  A paranoid man sets up a night vision camera in his apartment, in the process catching a woman descending from his loft’s attic space to eat his food and walk around his apartment while he slept.  Though some claim this might be a hoax, the man still swears this disturbing intruder actually dwelled in his place for some time, all the time unknown to him.

Enjoy these stories of bizarre and creepy unwanted guests!

For more podcasts discussing the paranormal and mysterious, check out all the shows over at Dark Myths

Episode Music by:

“Long Note One” , “Lightless Dawn” , “Long Note Two”
Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The post Unwanted Guests appeared first on Strange Matters Podcast.

In this story we present a collection of local myths, folklore, and urban legends that have been sent in to us by our listeners around the world!

The origins of these stories range from Austria, England, Canada, and a few in the United States.  This episode is a mixture of tales and urban legends including  a sadistic murderer, a mythical suicide pool, the haunting of the water babies, the foul smelling Honey Island Swamp Monster, as well a number of other supernatural and paranormal events.

Thanks to our listeners Raphaela, Thomas, Cody, & Kate for sharing your local urban legends with us!

Also big thanks to fellow podcast hosts Jordan, Ryan, and Sam for sending in their own stories as well. Check out their podcasts and give them a listen when you have finished with this episode!

Night Time Podcast  |  Rumor Flies Podcast  |  Inward Empire Podcast

The post Listener Stories: Local Myths, Folklore, & Urban Legends appeared first on Strange Matters Podcast.

For a conspiracy of this magnitude we had to devote an entire episode… the Illuminati is likely one of the most famous conspiracies and any celebrity in popular culture is likely to at some point during their lifetime to have their name at least mentioned as being associated with this super secret organization.

The Illuminati is believed to be a fraternal society with roots going back to 1776 in Bavaria where it was first established. Many believe that the Illuminati was involved in the foundation of America. This organization is thought by many to have been permanently disbanded, but many still believe it is alive and thriving in modern times.

The purpose of the Illuminati is to achieve world domination through control of the world government, banks and media. The world’s ultra-rich are thought to be  the ones controlling this group however unfortunately there exists a tremendous lack of substantiated evidence to support the existence of this brotherhood. In this episode we discuss not only the details and symbols of the organization but also their alleged involvement in today’s society and popular culture. So does this organization really exist or is it nothing more than blurred shadow of a once great society? Tune in for this episode and let us know what you think!

Be sure to visit other great podcasts over at Dark Myths!

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In this second installment of Strange Matters Podcast’s series highlighting killers around the world, Sean discusses a pair of  particularly cruel and cold-hearted English serial killers.

Harold Shipman, known as Dr. Death,  was a English General Practitioner and is currently the most prolific serial killer in recorded history.  Using his position as a doctor, Shipman was able to have access to an almost unlimited supply of unsuspecting victims.  His method was to give an overdose of diamorphine, or medical heroin, to his patients.  Harold Shipman was known to forge medical records as well.  Due to his position of power, Shipman was able to go undetected for years, killing hundreds of innocent patients.  Fortunately, a few people around the doctor started to recognize a pattern around his patient’s deaths.  Shipman was finally investigated, and tested done on several of his recently deceased patients proved that they had died of overdoses that he had himself administered.

Mary Ann Cotton was a killer in the 1860’s and 70’s.  Mary was a poisoner, using arsenic to kill off multiple husbands, friends, and over a dozen children.  Her usual trick was to find a suitable man and quickly marry them, often times becoming pregnant right away.  Shortly after marriage, she would convince her husband to take a life insurance policy with her as the benefactor. Mary would then poison the husband, and usually several of the children involved as well.  This sadistic woman would repeat this process several times, until she had poisoned as many as 21 people before the authorities finally caught on to her act.

You can find the first episode of this series Here

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In this episode, Eric takes you on a tour of some of the world’s sightings of Alien cryptids. The following stories walk a fine line between what is considered a cryptid and what is actually just evidence of extra-terrestrial life.

The first encounter is that of the Enfield Horror. In 1973 in the town of Enfield Illinois multiple accounts of encounters with a strange 3 legged creature were reported all around the same time. This monstrosity, thought to be an alien, demon or genetic mutation, terrorized the town for days before disappearing never to be seen again.

One individual tells how they heard a scratch at the door, and when they went to investigate, found a hideous hairy, yet slimy figure crouched at his front door with large glowing red eyes and miniature T-Rex like arms protruding from its narrow torso. As ridiculous as this sounds, multiple independent accounts describe the creature very similarly. Is this an alien? Or another cryptid? Or simply just a case of mistaken identity?

The Musconetcong Mantis Man is another strange hybrid or genetic mutation that was sighted and described similarly within a fairly localized region in New Jersey. Some describe this 7-foot tall praying mantis as having inter-dimensional teleportation capabilities based on its ability to seemingly materialize and de-materialize in and out of thin air.

However a slightly more logical explanation would be that this giant mantis is using natural capabilities, that it’s smaller bug brethren display commonly — the ability to take on the same color and pattern as its surroundings, also known as active camouflage. Some people believe that this giant beast is some mad scientists genetic experiment gone horribly wrong; and when this unnamed mad scientist realized he could not control this creature, he simply released it into the wild, where it has dwelled for years. Another popular theory draws similarities between the Mantis Man and another well known race of mantis-like aliens.

Our final alien encounter is of a less extra-terrestrial form, however is alien in the sense of a creature that is non-native to the area in which it has been sighted. Alien big cats or “ABCs” are large black wild cats that have been sighted in Britain for almost a century. There have been several reports of people being attacked and some deceased corpses of smaller ABCs have been found. However the British government is skeptical given the existence of these beasts and believes them to be nothing more than hoaxes or misidentifications.

Others take a more primitive and paranormal approach and believe that they are demons that have taken the form of panthers and leopards. However despite the demystification of thousands of photographs, there are still a handful that remain unexplained.

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For this episode we present a number of old and mystifying structures located at different locations around the world.  Mysteries surround each of these large constructions, as the reasons behind their construction and even how they were built is still being debated to this day.

The first topic of the episode is the Coral Castle, located in Florida, U.S.  The Coral Castle is a collection of large and uniquely carved stones placed around the grounds.  Some of the stones used in the Castle weigh as heavy as 30 tons, over 10 times the weight of the stones used in the Great Pyramids!  What is so bizarre about this case is that the story goes that no one had any idea how the creator Edward Leedskalnin actually moved the stones to create his castle. Whether it was magnetism, levitation, ancient Egyptian Secrets, or just plain old mechanical creativity, Edward managed to create not just a unique complex, but a lasting mysterious legacy.

Up next is the ancient city of Nan Madol.  The ruins of the city lay in Micronesia, in the western Pacific Ocean.  What is strange about Nan Madol is that it was built in the water of a lagoon, in which scores of artificial islands were created by the people in order to erect the buildings of the city.  How these people were able to pull of such a feat is still a mystery to this day.

Finally we discuss the Goseck Circle.  Discovered in Germany, it is possibly the oldest large structure in the entire world, being several thousand years older than the Pyramids of Ancient Egypt.  The exact purpose of the Goseck Circle baffled archaeologist for years.  Some conjectured it was used as a fortification, or a place of worship, or even a setting for human sacrifice.  The newest theory behind the Goseck Circle however could completely change the way historians view the people of the Neolithic Age.

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For this episode of Strange Matters we share a number of spooky and creepy stories and encounters that have been sent into us by listeners.  These disturbing paranormal listener stories include possible hauntings, unexplained phenomena, and strange encounters.

Thanks to everyone who sent us in their personal stories!  For our next listener based episode we are looking for local myths and urban legends from all over the world.  If you know of any interesting or strange legends or stories from where you live, please feel free to share it with us at our email, or send us a message on our Facebook Page or Twitter!

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The story of the “Boy in the Box” was a tragic yet intriguing unsolved mystery that took place in the 1950’s. A young boy, not much older than 3-4 years, was found placed in a box and tossed on the side of the road. This young lad was carefully placed inside the box and left in the ditch of a country road in Philadelphia. Medical examination revealed that the cause of death was multiple blows to the head however a brown substance that coated the boys esophagus raises many questions. Despite almost 60 years of investigations the identity and story behind this boys death remains shrouded in mystery. Despite many theories, some more convincing than others, many of the investigators have died without knowing what really happened to this boy

The “Moving Coffins of Barbados” tells of a massive tomb built to house the bodies of the Chase family on the island of Barbados. This seemingly inexplicable story states that upon opening of the tomb the massive led caskets were found tossed about within the tomb without any explanation. Government officials became involved, inspected and sealed the tomb with additional layers of security but to no avail. Years later when the tomb was opened again, the coffins had been violently thrown about the inside of the tomb. Without any possible explanation, the bodies were exhumed and laid to rest in a separate location. What could possibly explain this? Could it be supernatural or possibly some sort of logical explanation exists? Perhaps we will never know, however it seems likely that this mystery could have been fabricated from the beginning. Tune in and learn all about these mysteries in our latest episode.

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In this episode of Strange Matters we present a number of particularly weird and bizarre ways that people have died.  Though there are countless ways death can occur, for this discussion the focus is on rare and unusual cases.   With that in mind Sean has collected a handful of some of the strangest ways people have died.

The first strange death covered is Spontaneous Human Combustion.  In these cases, it is reported that a person burst into flames without any obvious source of ignition or fuel.  All that is left of these people are a pile of ashes where their bodies last lay.

Next comes the strange case of dancing mania, specifically the Dancing Plague of 1518.  In this bizarre event, hundreds of people suddenly and without any reason began to dance non stop out in the streets for days at a time.  Some of these people literally danced to their own death, grooving until their bodies could not function any longer.

Another case of strange deaths occurred on two separate occasions, when disasters involving food products caused the drowning deaths of numerous people.  The Boston Molasses Disaster and the London Beer Flood are two of the only instances in which groups of unfortunate people were swept up in a spreading wave of something normally edible and ended up drowning.

Franz Reichelt steps up next with his own unique and strange death.  Franz was an inventor at heart and worked hard to create a working parachute suit pilots could wear.  Unfortunately his tests jumps were not successful.  Adamant to prove the worth of his invention, Franz decided to test his own design by jumping off the Eiffel Tower to display the effectiveness of his parachute… Things didn’t quite go as planned however, as Franz would not be remembered by his ingenious invention, but rather for his foolish death.

Click here to watch Franz’s Last Jump!

The last, and perhaps strangest, topic is a rare mental disorder known as Cotard Delusion, also called Walking Corpse Syndrome.  This illness describes an afflicted person who actually believes that they are already dead. Though extremely uncommon, this mental condition has lead several living people to unfortunately meet their own demise as they refuse to take care of their bodies, since in their own mind they are already dead.

Please enjoy hearing all about several of the most unusual and strangest ways to die!

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In this episode Sean & Eric of Strange Matters team up with The Eastern Border Podcast, hosted by Kristaps Andrejsons, to delve into all the strange events and urban legends that surround the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster.  The incident at the Chernobyl Power Plant is the worst nuclear disaster in human history so far, as  dozens of workers and emergency helpers died from lethal radiation poisoning and the entire population of Chernobyl and Pripyat were ordered to evacuate. One of the most disturbing facts to come out of this event is that it could have all been avoided if the proper safety measures had been taken, along with the fact the men in charge of the power station were not competent in their duties.

In the first part of this episode we go over the background, causes, and aftermath of the disaster.  Then for the second half of the episode we of course cover our favorite myths and urban legends that have come from Chernobyl.  Ranging from mutated men, government conspiracies, strange creatures, and even alien intervention, we discuss the stranger side of this nuclear disaster.  We hope you enjoy learning and hearing all about the dark history and legends of Chernobyl and its tragic story.

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In this Strange Matters Short, Sean presents the case of the Original Night Stalker, one of America’s most infamous and prolific unsolved serial criminals.  The Original Night Stalker (ONS) was a serial killer in Southern California who targeted lone women and couples, breaking into their homes at night and sexually assaulting and killing those inside.  Later DNA evidence proved that the ONS was also the East Area Rapist, a criminal responsible for over 50 rapes in Northern California.  After linking these two series of crimes, police discovered that this one man was responsible for dozens of rapes, attacks, and deaths, making him the worst unsolved criminal in California history.

The Original Night Stalker was one of the most brutal and terrifying killers in recent times.  Hundreds of police investigators and neighborhood watch patrols had no luck in finding or stopping this man, as he continued his attacks at will for several years.  The ONS was cunning and meticulous in his planning, he was known to prowl his target’s neighborhoods for weeks beforehand, and on several times even sneaked into his victims home’s and unloaded any guns, leaving them defenseless against him.

Who the Original Night Stalker was is still unknown, no leads or suspects have ever been found that could be responsible for these crimes. It is not even known if the man behind these attacks is currently alive or not.  Whether the identity of this criminal will ever be found, remains a complete mystery to this day.

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What could be more terrifying? You are in your home late at night… hoping to be alone. Then suddenly it happens… a knock at the front doorstep. You quietly walk over to the door, peer through the peep hole and see two young children, with jet black eyes.

Stories of these “black eyed children” became popular in the 1990’s. Ever since rumors and stories have been circulating and growing on the internet. These children are usually described as showing up in pairs and asking for permission to enter your home or vehicle. Most people describe their encounters as being consumed with an overwhelming since of fear and impending danger. Little is known about what happens if you invite these children into your home. However it’s likely not good. All you have to do, is turn them away.

What are these “creatures” that pose as children? What is their purpose and what do they want? Tune in for this episode where Eric shares a couple of the creepiest stories of the “black-eyed children” around!

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This follow up to the original “Apocalyptic Events” describes two utterly hopeless situations that involve the end of humanity as we know it. Eric discusses a famous end-of-the-world scenario that has been described in numerous films known as the “Gray Goo Theory:. Nanotechnology is at our  fingertips and as we develop and advance into the realm of science, the possibilities for the application of nanotech become endless. Nanotechnology is currently in use today, especially in the medical field. However the inception of nano-sized robots has led to the concept of these robots being programmed to breakdown matter on a molecular level and use this matter to construct duplicates of itself. These cold, emotionless “assemblers” are unable to differentiate between right and wrong and simply do what the only thing they know: tear apart everything and use it to produce more nanobots that then repeat the sequence. This situation would spiral out of control as more and more nanobots destroy the world and replace it with a gray flowing mass of nanobots held together by its own massive gravity. Is this possible? What can we do to stop this from ever happening?

The “Grain Situation” is a much slower process that involves the development of genetically modified or GM crops. These crops are engineered to be resistant to pesticides, insects and extreme temperatures. They require little nutrients to flourish and are capable of growing on almost any surface. In this apocalyptic event masses of genetic crops, whether it be grain or something else, take over the surface of the planet. This could lead to famine, fires and even an ice age as the fires produce massive quantities of CO2 into the atmosphere. But what are the odds of this happening? Has this event already occurred in the world? Check out this episode and find out all about these two theories for yourself!

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In this Strange Matters Short, Sean discusses the man-eating creature known as the Beast of Gevaudan.   This violent animal terrorized a region in France for several years as it killed as many as a hundred men, women, and children.   During this time the local populace was nearly hysterical with fear, forced to venture outside to make a living knowing all along that there was a huge beast roaming the area attacking anyone it can across.   In an attempt to take down this violent creature, a French officer organized large hunting parties of thousands of soldiers to patrol the area.  Professional wolf hunters were hired to track down and kill the Beast.  Despite all this, the Beast of Gevaudan evaded any attempt to kill it and continued its reign of terror.

After three years of setbacks, embarrassments, and dozens of deaths, the Beast was reportedly finally brought down by a local farmer when he shot and killed a large wolf near his village.  Through the years there have been multiple accounts and theories as to what the Beast of Gevaudan really was.  Most think it was a pack of large and man-hungry wolves, while others believe it could have been an exotic or imported predator introduced into the region.  There has been more outlandish claims of a werewolf or an ancient species still roaming the land. Whatever the true identity of the animal actually was, the Beast of Gevaudan is one of the most unique and unusual cases in history of a creature that specifically enjoyed hunting and slaying humans.

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What do Elisa Lam and Edgar Allan Poe have in common? Both of these artistic individuals died in extremely mysterious ways and have since become well known on account of their mysterious passing. In this episode we discuss the details that shroud the mysterious deaths of Lam and Poe.

Elisa Lam was an extremely talented and ambitious young woman who suffered from anxiety and depression. Her body was found in a water tank atop a hotel in which she had been staying.  However many accounts suggest that it would be extremely difficult for her to gain access to this water tank much less actually get in on her own. Does this indicate she may have been murdered? Perhaps… however what makes this case even more bizarre is the security camera footage that shows Lam dancing around the hotel’s elevator in a mechanical and somewhat disturbing manner. What exactly caused this strange behavior? Drugs? Alcohol? A mental breakdown of some sort?

Watch Elisa’s bizarre elevator footage here!

Edgar Allan Poe was a talented man who was no stranger to death growing up. After the passing of many of his loved ones, he developed an interest in writing dark and macabre stories.   Poe is well known for his famous poem known as “The Raven”. He was found in a delirious state on the side of the street strangely dressed in someone else’s clothes and later taken to the hospital. He was delirious and uttered only a few words during his stay in the hospital. Unfortunately, shortly thereafter, he died leaving us with more questions than answers. Was his death related to his erratic drinking behavior? His attending physician was quite convinced otherwise. Tune in for this episode and hear the many theories regarding the mysterious deaths of these two individuals.

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For this episode we continue our series of cryptozoology by discussing a number of legendary and mythical humanoid creatures.  Though there are a large number of alleged sightings and encounters of such human-like beings all over the world, no actual concrete proof has ever been found that can prove of their existence. Sean and Eric present the backgrounds, encounters, and any possibly evidence or theories of each of these mysterious beasts.

The infamous Yeti, or “Abominable Snowman,”  supposedly hides in the Himalayan Mountains and has been seen by local tribes for centuries. Mountaineers and adventurers claim to have seen this creature from a distance, and many times in the snowy mountains bipedal tracks have been discovered that can be linked to no known animal.

The Almas is a legend of the Caucasus mountains in central Asia.  These man sized creatures supposedly share facial features with the Neanderthal people. Could these creatures be leftovers from some ancient population, or are the sightings of the Almas merely exaggerations and folklore?

Next up is the Skunk Ape, a bizarre creature that was allegedly spotting many times in the state of Florida in the 60’s and 70’s.  This animal was described as being similar to an orangutan, but was always associated with a horrible smell that followed it.  Whether the Skunk Ape that caused a frenzy in the state was simply an escaped primate, or a strange humanoid creature that has been hiding in the swamps for decades, is still unknown to this day.

Finally we discuss the Orang Pendek, a smaller cryptid that reportedly lives in the remote forests of Sumatra.  These creatures have supposedly been spotted by locals and foreigners alike for over a century, but as yet there is still no legitimate evidence of its existence.

Is there any reasonable explanations of these humanoid creatures? Are these beasts all just myths and legends created by locals, or could there actually be something to the phenomenon of different groups of people allegedly seeing these lone creatures all over the world? Tune in and found out all about these strange and mysterious humanoid creatures!

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In this short, Eric discusses two intriguing and mysterious disappearances.

First, the story of Diane Augat… this 40 year-old woman has a history of bipolar disorder and drug and alcohol abuse. After losing custody of her children and later getting divorced her life began to spiral out of control. She was last seen in April of 1998, however a mysterious phone call, believed to be from Augat reached her mother’s answering machine. A few days later her severed finger was found. Later her belongings began to turn up all over town. Who could have murdered this woman and what was the motive?

In our second disappearance, an innocent 8 year old boy vanished while passing through a crowd of people in Britain. His remains were found over 80 miles away. His death was later linked to a place known as The Elm Guest House where rich VIP politicians and judges would go to partake in disturbing sexual parties involving young boys. However the police appear to have worked very hard to cover up evidence tying any particular individual to this guest house. Tune in to this episode and learn more details about these mysterious disappearances!

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Shared psychosis: an extremely rare condition found in the DSM IV that describes psychotic behavior exhibited by a healthy individual who is under the influence of a close friend or family member with schizophrenia. There is a lot we don’t know about the mind; however we do know that people can act in irrational ways when the neurotransmitters in their brain are not functioning properly.

Could this explain the case of the Eriksson twins? These sister were behaving strangely before darting across one of the busiest highways in the United Kingdom, known as M6. Not only did they display super human resilience when hit by vehicles traveling at very high speeds, but they continued to be defiant to the police officers and paramedics that were trying to assist them. Are their behaviors simply a product of delusion? Or could there have been something more… drugs, conspiracy or even a suicide pact?

The story of the Gibson sisters is similar however significantly less violent and more strange. These sisters grew up in social isolation due to being victimized as the only black girls in their area in Wales, England. They quickly turned toward each other and inward for comfort. They developed an unhealthy dependence upon each other and began acting in bizarre ways. Sometimes they would move in-sync almost as if they were both puppets controlled by an invisible puppeteer. They spoke to each other in their own made-up language. This strange behavior progressed into violence and crime and eventually led to the demise of one of the sisters. But what really caused her death? Listen to this episode and find out for yourself!

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This episode of the Strange Matters Podcast starts a new series, highlighting brutal and psychotic serial killers from around the world.  The purpose of this series is to dispel the common conception that the United States has both the highest number along with the worst serial killers in the world, while at the same time presenting and educating listeners of murderers that aren’t quite as well known as the popular and infamous American killers.

In this entry episode to the series, Sean presents and discusses four serial killers from different countries in Europe.  Each of these men carried out terrible crimes without showing any remorse or guilt.  Ranging from a reclusive potential cannibal, to a hammer wielding maniac, to a cold blooded ‘Terminator’ known for wiping out entire families, these men are some of the most horrific and notorious serial killers of all time.

During this episode Sean discusses the lives, crimes, and lasting legacies of each of these terrible killers.

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In this episode we discuss some of the strangest sounds ever recorded starting with underwater recordings then moving to outer space and finishing up back on earth with several mysterious “sky-quakes”.

“The Bloop” is one of the more famous underwater recordings and is thought by many to be created by some still undiscovered, deep-ocean creature. “The Julia” is a slightly more sinister recording that resembles a muffled, underwater cry for help. “The Upsweep” also remains a mystery however all of these underwater recordings share the trait that they are far louder than any noise ever created by a known animal. Many more practical theories exist including that of icebergs fracturing and dropping massive chunks of ice into the ocean. Listen and decide for yourself!

Numerous recordings from outer space have fans debating whether this is the voice of an extra-terrestrial being or simply space dust colliding with the atmosphere of planets in our solar system. In this episode we also discuss the “Frantic Caller” who calls in to Art Bell’s Coast to Coast AM radio station, warning of extra-dimensional beings that have infiltrated the United States’ military and government. Is this a simple hoax or does this terrified caller speak the truth?

Finally, we finish up with a discussion of “sky quakes” which are varying, trumpet-like sounds that seem to come from above. Many potential explanations exist for these terrifying noises; however many of them remain to be confirmed. These recordings are creepy beyond what words can describe… but what could they truly be? Are they man made noises or something more sinister? Listen to this episode and judge for yourself!

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In this episode of Strange Matters we talk about three cases of bizarre and weird science topics. First up Eric discusses the conspiracy behind the Large Hadron Collider. This underground particle accelerator was constructed with hopes of discovering the elusive Higgs Boson particle. Some believe that the discovery of this particle would create a cataclysmic event that would destroy the space-time continuum. Suspiciously, in recent years it has been plagued by a series of unfortunate setbacks. A baguette found on a circuit board caused one of the super coolers to overheat, then a strange individual was found snooping around the CERN facilities. Eloi Cole claimed to have come back from the future in an attempt to sabotage the collider. However when he was whisked away to the nearby mental institute he later disappeared. Could this individual really be from the future sent back in an attempt to save the future from its own destruction?

Next up Sean presents a series of bizarre experiments that involve transplanted animal’s heads.  A Soviet scientist named Vladimir Demikhov, who was well known for pioneering organ transplant surgeries,  also lead a series of experiments in which he created two headed dogs.  Though strange, he thought the techniques learned in this surgeries would benefit humans in the future.  His work inspired an American Doctor, Robert White, who performed several surgeries in which he transplanted one monkey’s head onto another’s body.  His hope was that with time this could lead to the ability in humans of being able to transplant heads onto  fresh new bodies.

Finally, Ethan discusses the findings of “hair-like” structures on the outer rims of black holes. World renowned physicist, Stephen Hawking, and colleagues claim that this finding means the possibility of information storage in regards to what black holes consume. As science progresses we have gone from the beliefs that all objects in black holes cease to exist after consumption never to be found again to now having good reason to believe that we may be able to extract information from the beginnings of black holes to reveal their histories and origin. Though we have come this far, we have barely scratched the surface of understanding how black holes function and the purpose they serve in our universe.

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In this episode we discuss the mysterious and bizarre death of Elfrieda Knaak.  In the early hours of the morning Elfrieda was discovered alone and locked inside the basement of a police station, suffering from severe burns from the nearby furnace.  Investigators were baffled from the start, as Elfrieda claimed she had carried out the horrible act herself in order to purify herself for her ‘psychic lover.’

While she was slowly dying in her hospital bed, Elfrieda would make increasingly confusing and strange comments.  These statements lead to more questions than answers for the police.  She claimed she burned herself to prove herself to her so called astral lover, Charles Hitchcock.  However Charles claimed he knew nothing about this situation at all.

Hitchcock would be ruled out as a suspect due to his broken leg, but many believe he still had something to do with her death, whether directly or indirectly is still unknown.  Elfrieda continued on, speaking of a mysterious woman who holds all the answers, an unknown man who threw her down, along with other weird and supernatural comments… However she was unable to answer further questions due to her increasingly worsening health.  Unfortunately Elfrieda Knaak would die from her burns before any solid leads or answers could be found, and to this day her death remains a complete mystery.

Did Elfrieda really burn and torture herself all alone?  Was somebody with her in that basement, either assisting or forcing her into the furnace? Listen and hear all about the strange twists and turns to the bizarre and disturbing death of Elfrieda Knaak.

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In this episode we discuss the creepy and bizarre tale of the Bunny Man.  This urban legend originates in Fairfax county, Northern Virginia.  This strange story begins in the 1970’s, when several people encounter an ax-wielding man supposedly dressed in a full bunny suit.  In the coming weeks suddenly dozens of people reported having encounters with this so called ‘Bunny Man.’  Police searched the woods around the area but could find no trace of who this man was.

Soon the origin story became known to the public which only caused this urban legend to spread further.  In the early 1900’s a prison bus transporting mentally insane criminals crashed.  One man, guilty of slaying his family on Easter Sunday, escaped into the woods and evaded any police search.  Soon the corpses of rabbits would be found hanging from an overpass, a landmark that would later become known as the famous Bunny Man Bridge of Virginia.  Through the decades further crimes would be pinned on the Bunny Man, including the murder of groups of teens visiting the bridge on Halloween as a scare.

In the modern day there are dozens of twists and variations on this infamous urban legend tale.  Some say the Bunny Man is a wild woodsman wearing rabbit pelts, or a chainsaw carrying lunatic who wears a bunny costume, or a man who snapped and attacks groups of bullying kids who come to his bridge.  Local historians and archivist have worked to debunk and find the truth behind this weird story.  Is there any legitimacy to this particular urban legend?  Was there an actual man wearing a rabbit suit who liked to attack others with an ax? Listen to this episode and hear all about this creepy and disturbing tale and make up your mind!

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In this episode we discuss the legend of the Navajo Skinwalker – a shapeshifting Native American witch that has reached the highest tiers of priesthood. These terrors are known to chase cars at remarkable speeds and are frequently seen spying through windows of homes in order to strike fear into their victims. The Navajo people almost universally accept the existence of these poltergeist-like creatures however sightings are rare and usually limited to those of the Navajo nationality. What is this strange menace? Is it fact or fiction? Tune into this episode and learn a little bit more about the Skinwalker!

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On this episode of Strange Matters we will be discussing two mysterious murder cases in Erdington, England. These particular murders share a striking number of similarities to each other.  The victims had the same birthday, were killed on the same day, died under similar circumstances, and whose bodies were discovered almost in the exact same area.  One might believe the murders would obviously be the work of a serial killer. However… the two murders took place 157 years apart.  

In 1817 Mary Ashford’s body was found drowned in a pit near her home.  The main suspect, Abraham Thornton, had been alone with her most of the night.  He was found with blood on his undergarments, his boots were a near match to those found at the scene of her death, and earlier suggestive comments made the night earlier led many to believe he had harmful intentions towards Mary.

In 1975 Barbara Forrest was dropped off at a bus stop to return home after a night of fun.  She never was seen actually getting on the bus however, and after a week of her missing Barbara’s body was found in a shallow ditch.  This time the main suspect was a man named Michael Thornton, a co-worker of Barbara.  He was also found with blood on him and a faulty alibi for that night.

Despite what looked like obvious motives and evidence, both men were acquitted of all crimes and let go.  The deaths of both young ladies remain a mystery in Erdington to this day.  What’s even stranger are the striking similar circumstances surrounding this case. Could there be some type of connection between these two murders?  Is this the work of a copy cat killer who was trying to duplicate the famous murder that happened over a century ago in the Erdington area?  We discuss all the possibilities to these two bizarre murder cases and why we think this mystery is so fascinating!

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Battle of Berlin, April 1945.  The last major European offensive of World War II. As Soviet troops push into the German capital, a defeated Adolf Hitler commits suicide in his underground bunker… Or did he?  In this episode of Strange Matters we discuss the claims that Adolf Hitler not only survived the battle and escaped Berlin, but went on to live for years afterwards hiding in multiple countries.  Sean presents the known facts leading up to Hitler’s supposed death, and the evidence supporting the existing fate of the German dictator.  Ethan then goes on to show the clues that could point to the case that Hitler in fact did escape Berlin, and the likely path he took on his way to freedom.  Investigators have discovered a possible escape route Hitler could have used to slip away from the Soviet and American armies.  New evidence may also show that many in the Nazi high command managed to escape from Germany and stay hidden in several South American countries.

Could Hitler really have escaped from the Red Army surrounding Berlin? If so where did he go and what was he up to?  Or is it all just false leads and Hitler actually died in his bunker?  Listen to the episode and let us know what you think!

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In our latest Strange Matters short, Eric discusses the mysterious exorcism of Anneliese Michel. This young lady was raised in a family of devout Catholics, however she eventually began experiencing strange symptoms including auditory hallucinations and a strange aversion to religious symbols. As her violent symptoms continue to spiral out of control she eventually finds a priest who is willing to attempt an exorcism. After numerous exorcisms the unimaginable happens. What really happened to Anneliese Michel? Was she truly possessed or was this simply an extreme case of psychiatric instability with a taste of religious fanaticism? Check out this episode and form your own opinions!

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This Strange Matters Short is all about the Wendigo, the legendary Native American man-eating creature.   This episode continues our series on cryptozoology, the study of beings that are considered myths and legends.  The Wendigo is a tale that was told for generations by the Algonquian people who inhabited the northern regions of the U.S and Canada.  This bizarre creature was supposedly a terror that haunted the local tribes. Hiding in the frozen woods of the North and attacking their villages, the Wendigo would kill and devour men, women, and children.  Even stranger than the story of the Wendigo is the disturbing mental disorder that plagued the Algonquian people.  This so called “Wendigo Psychosis” would spontaneously drive members of the native tribes to kill and eat anyone around them.

Is there any legitimacy to this mysterious and terrifying monster?  Why were the Algonquian people so obsessed with the possibility of falling into the practice of cannibalism?  Could the Wendigo monster really just be a tall tale describing the acts of those who became mentally ill and driven to eat their fellow tribesman?  Listen to this episode and hear all the theories about this strange creature!

If you like this episode check our our earlier discussion on the The Chupacabra!

Background & Ambient music can be found by artist on Cryo Chamber

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In this episode of Strange Matters we delve deep into the past and discuss two mysteries that have gone unsolved for ages.  First Eric presents the bizarre phenomenon of the Ever-Burning Lamps.  These strange lights have appeared in multiple places and times in history, and are claimed to be able to burn for centuries.  Though there is no physical evidence of a working lamp, there are many written records of such devices.  Are they some form of magic or supernatural ability, or are they a precursor of advanced scientific instruments?

Next Sean discusses the disastrous and apocalyptic event that is known as the Late Bronze Age Collapse.  Suddenly and violently, the high empires and nations of the Bronze Age completely collapsed without warning, every major city in the Mediterranean area left in ruins.  This is considered by many historians to be the worst societal and technological collapse in human history.  Just what caused so many advanced civilizations to fall into oblivion at nearly the same time?  Listen to our episode and decide which theory you think is most likely!

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In honor of the New Year’s holiday we are taking a break from our serious research and did things a little different.  To start off the year we put together a fun fight-to-the-death style tournament made up of 16 of our favorite monsters and villains from movies, myths, books, and more!  Sean and Eric debate which monster should win each fight, with Ethan judging on who gets to move on until we crown the winner of the tournament… the monster of all monsters! Did your favorite monster make the list? Do you agree with how the fights turned out? Which fight between what two monsters would you most want to see?  Let us know what you think!

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In this episode of Strange Matters we discuss our favorite apocalyptic events that could bring about the end of the world as we know it! Ranging from interstellar disasters to super volcanic eruptions and even a man-made nuclear event, we go over just what would happen to Earth if one of these catastrophes were to strike, the possibilities that it could happen, and how life on this planet would be effected.

Which apocalyptic event is the most disturbing? Which is the most likely for you to survive? Let us know what you think of these disasters, along with any others that interest and scare you!

Disclaimer!! We had some audio problems during the beginning of this episode, Eric’s mic wasn’t working correctly for about the first half before it kicks back in so some of his early audio is a bit distorted, hopefully you can still listen to the episode without much problem!

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In this episode of Strange Matters we discuss the infamous Roswell Incident, where a mysterious crashed aircraft of unknown origins was discovered near an Air Force base in New Mexico.

In the summer of 1947 a farmer came across a pile of debris scattered on the ground that appeared to be some kind of craft. Local Air Force officials came to inspect and recover the materials and claimed it was simply a crashed Weather Balloon.

Though many believed the explanation, there are some who came to believe that this was the first evidence of a crashed Alien space craft.  As UFO hysteria swept the country, many others in the Roswell area claimed to see other signs of alien activity, including claims of spotting dead aliens at other crash sites.

We here at Strange Matters go over the big stories and claims made my both sides, the Government and UFO enthusiast alike.  Is there any chance that this was in fact an alien craft?  Or was it simply just a experimental Air Force balloon? Listen to the episode and let us know what you believe of this bizarre tale!

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