Strange Matters Podcast

This episode of Strange Matters presents a particularly disturbing crime that took place in the early 20th century, in France. The story involves two sisters who worked as maids for an upper class family. The Papin Sisters had been employed by the family for seven years, and had been described as idyllic workers. Things weren’t as perfect as it seemed, however. A sudden and gruesome act by the sisters would shock the country of France, and would be regarded as one of the worst crimes committed in the century. This episode will go over the history and background of the Papin Sisters, the details of their terrible crime, and the aftermath of the event that would quickly become the top story of its time. Click here to check out Strange Matter’s episode on the condition known as Shared Psychosis.

Transcribed - Published: 18 June 2019

This episode of Strange Matters details an area of Lake Michigan that has become quite infamous for a number of strange and deadly incidents. For more than a century, there have been cases of unexplained shipwrecks, disappearances, plane crashes, and mysterious lights in the sky, all over Lake Michigan. As the strange stories and legends of unanswered mysteries of the lake grew, the region where all these incidents occurred would be nicknamed the “Lake Michigan Triangle.” This episode will present a number of the mysterious and dark events that have all occurred over the waters of Lake Michigan.

Transcribed - Published: 15 May 2019

This episode of Strange Matters talks about a weird weather phenomenon that happened in 1994. In a small city in the state of Washington, the people were surprised by what happened during some rainstorms. Instead of seeing the familiar regular rain, the folks of Oakville had to deal with the sky opening up and dropping “blobs” on them. What these blobs were has remained a mystery for decades now. This episode presents the details of what happened when the blobs starting to rain down, and the possible theories that have been put forth by the Oakville citizens to try and make some sense of this strange event.

Transcribed - Published: 14 May 2019

Fate. Death. The Fox. The various nicknames signed by a man who sent out ransom notes regarding the kidnapping of a twelve year old girl named Marion Parker. This episode of Strange Matters discusses the terrifying and disturbing events surrounding an infamous kidnapping case that took place in Los Angeles in 1927. A young girl named Marion Parker was abducted by a smooth talking man, right from her own school. Meanwhile, her father would be contacted by the same man demanding ransom money. This individual would become commonly known as The Fox. This disturbing case would ultimately be referred to at the time as the “Crime of the Century.” This episode goes over all the details of the kidnapping, the investigation of the police trying to figure out who the Fox was, and the tragic outcome of this dark crime.

Transcribed - Published: 8 May 2019

This episode of Strange Matters talks about the phenomenon known as Time Slips. Time Slips refer to events in which a person supposedly either leaves their own timeline to get a glimpse of something in the past or future, or sees something in the present of a person or object from another time era. This episode goes over details of these so called “Time Slips,” as well as presents various stories of people who have said to experienced such things.

Transcribed - Published: 17 April 2019

This episode of Strange Matters presents the strange events surrounding the death of a man named Hugues de la Plaza, who would die under mysterious and controversial circumstances. Hugues would be found alone in his locked apartment having died from several fatal knife wounds. Despite there being a number of unusual facts surrounding his death, such as no bloody knife ever being found at his apartment, the police would rule his death a likely suicide. The investigation and resulting backlash of Hugues’ death would spark controversy and debate over how the police conducted themselves, and over what exactly happened the night that Hugues de la Plaza died. This episode covers the details of the night of his death, the police and medical investigation that followed, and the different sides of the story that have been put forth to attempt to solve this strange case.

Transcribed - Published: 9 April 2019

In an isolated region of Siberia known as the Valley of Death, there are stories of strange metal objects buried in the ground. The nomadic tribes of the area who first encountered them centuries ago called these metallic structures “cauldrons.” The exact nature and purpose of these cauldrons are a mystery. Some stories say that they were caused by frequent meteorites of the area, some believe that the objects are alien in nature. Could these objects be parts of space ships, or part of some underground base or structure? Or are they all just a folk story, and the cauldrons don’t actually exist at all? This episode will detail possible answers to these questions, as well as detailing the history of these mysterious cauldrons buried in the Valley of Death.

Transcribed - Published: 28 March 2019

This episode of Strange Matters discusses the odd and unexplained events surrounding the death of a woman named Cindy James. Cindy was a Canadian woman who had been experiencing harassment, stalking, and physical attacks for years leading up to her death. Despite what would look like to an outsider as a serious threat, the authorities found some inconsistencies in Cindy’s story that made them question whether all of it was real, or some kind of set up by the woman herself. The bizarre nature of the scene of her death has left open the question whether Cindy was murdered, or took her own life. This episode will detail Cindy’s backstory, the timeline of events leading up to her death, and the possibilities and theories surrounding this strange story.

Transcribed - Published: 11 March 2019

This episode of Strange Matters discusses the infamous murder case known as the Gregory Affair, which details the disturbing murder of a young French boy, Grégory Villemin. In this unsolved case that continues to intrigue the French public to this day, a family would be taunted with threats of vengeance from a mysterious individual who was only known as “The Crow.” This person would seemingly carry out his revenge by abducting and murdering the family’s four year old son, Grégory. After this grisly crime, a web of accusations and suspects would spin out of control, causing even more deaths in the chaotic aftermath. This episode will detail the history of the case, the strange investigation that followed, and the suspects of who could have carried out the terrible crime.

Transcribed - Published: 1 March 2019

This episode discusses one of the most sadistic and cruel killers in American History. David Parker Ray, commonly known by his nickname of the Toy Box Killer, was a suspected serial killer, rapist, and torturer of women. His crimes are believed to have spanned several decades. David Parker Ray earned his notorious nickname because of the personal torture house he built, a customized truck trailer that was filled with dozens of weapons and tools used to inflict harm. This sound proof trailer, the place where he would imprison women for days and weeks at a time, was referred to by David Parker Ray as his “Toy Box.” This episode goes over the history of David Parker Ray and details of his crimes, as well as the events and investigation that would eventually bring about his downfall.

Transcribed - Published: 30 October 2018

This episode of Strange Matters presents a number of legendary monsters found in various cultures and folklore from around the world. Some of these monsters date back hundreds of years, while others have more recent origins. This episode discusses the history and legacy behind these monsters, as well as some of their cultural impact on the locals. The monsters discussed within the episode includes the Aswang from the Philippines, The Orang Minyak of Malaysia, the Popobawa of Tanzania, and the Grootslang of South Africa.

Transcribed - Published: 2 October 2018

This episode of Strange Matters presents the mystery behind the unidentified remains of a woman who is only known by her nickname, the Lady of the Dunes. This body would be found in 1974 in the sand dunes of Massachusetts, and would start an investigation that would go on for decades. Over the years there have been several different ideas and leads to go on, but unfortunately both the identities of the woman and the person responsible for her death is still a mystery to this day. This episode discusses the details of the case, as well as the possible suspects and leads in the investigation that have been covered up to this point.

Transcribed - Published: 20 September 2018

This episode of Strange Matters discusses the strange and disturbing trend of cow mutilations. For years, dead cows have been discovered in unnatural and unexplained ways. These cattle remains are often found with body parts removed, their internal organs missing, and their blood completely drained. What is causing this has been plaguing ranchers for decades, as no clear answer has been brought forth that can make any sense of this mystery. This episode covers the history of these cow mutilations, as well as presenting the many different theories concerning just exactly what is behind it all.

Transcribed - Published: 12 September 2018

This episode of Strange Matters discusses the sudden and mystifying disappearance of two Dutch girls, Kris Kremers and Lisanne Froon, who went missing in Panama after they had set out on a hike. A long and exhaustive search of the area where the girls should have been turned up empty for weeks, as teams from both Panama and the Netherlands searched the trails for any signs of the missing hikers. As the investigation continued, clues would be found that revealed a slight amount of information about the lost girls, but at the same time brought up even more unanswered questions as to what had actually happened. As this case caught international interest, ideas and theories surrounding this mystery arose in an attempt to give some any of explanation behind this case. This episode covers the events that lead up to and followed the disappearance of Kris and Lisanne, as well as presenting the multitude of possible theories that have been brought forth by both investigators and mystery lovers alike around the world.

Transcribed - Published: 29 August 2018

This episode of Strange Matters discusses the discovery of the unidentified remains of a woman found in Norway. This body would come to be known as the Isdal Woman. The circumstances behind her death were quite strange, as her burnt body was found in a remote location in a region known as Death Valley. However, the mystery behind this woman would only grow as the police attempted to piece together the puzzle behind the unknown stranger. This episode includes the unusual details surrounding the death of the Isdal Woman, along with the intensive investigation that followed.

Transcribed - Published: 8 August 2018

This episode of Strange Matters presents the disappearance of Lars Mittank, and the strange series of events that lead up to the man’s sudden vanishing. Lars was a young German man who was on a holiday vacation with some friends. Though described as the average, normal person, Lars would exhibit a few instances of strange behavior during this trip that was quite uncharacteristic of him. Lars would ultimately last be seen sprinting frantically out of an airport in Bulgaria right before his flight home, and no trace of him has ever surfaced since. In this episode the backstory leading up to this bizarre disappearance is discussed, along with any possible ideas as to what in the world happened that could cause such a strange mystery.

Transcribed - Published: 25 July 2018

This episode of Strange Matters presents a historical mystery known as the Persian Princess. In November of 2000, an amazing discovery was made when a police raid in Pakistan turned up a mummy. Though already highly unusual, what made this case even more astounding was the fact that this new mummy appeared to be unique from every other mummy ever found before. This new found mummy was claimed not to be an Egyptian, but instead an ancient Persian princess who lived 2,600 years ago. At first appearances, It looked as if this was the find of a lifetime. However, after an investigation was launched to determine the legitimacy of this so called Persian Princess, the story on this historic marvel suddenly would take a dark turn.

Transcribed - Published: 19 July 2018

In this episode of Strange Matters a number of legends and myths that all come from various Native American cultures are presented and discussed. The Thunderbird was a mighty bird which was said to have the power to create thunderstorms. Depending on the particular tribe’s version of this mythical creature, the Thunderbird could either be a protective force or a deadly menace. Even more interesting about this legendary creature is that there are still sightings and encounters with mysterious giant birds across America to this day, leading some to believe in the existence of the Thunderbird. Much like the Thunderbird, the legend of the Little People is one that is seen across a wide range of Native American societies. Though extremely short in stature, the Little People would prove to be a big problem to many tribes, with their antics ranging all the way from simple pranks… to murder. Finally, two creepy legendary creatures of the night are discussed. The Keelut was a skinless dog which possessed an evil spirit. This dark beast would stalk its prey through the snow, paralyzing and attacking anyone who was unfortunate to see it. The Baykok were once warriors and hunters of the Ojibwa who died in disgrace. Now, their restless spirits continue to roam the lands, hunting their living tribesman in the night and devouring them alive. Enjoy this episode all about the legends and myths of the Native American people!

Transcribed - Published: 11 July 2018

This episode of Strange Matters covers the unique case of a missing Polish woman named Katarzyna Zowada. Katarzyna was a young college student who would suddenly go missing without a trace or clue in 1998. For years her disappearance puzzled law enforcement, until a gruesome discovery was made that transformed this story from a simple disappearance, into one of the strangest and most disturbing crime cases of the country. For decades, the fate of Katarzyna Zowada has remained perhaps the biggest criminal mystery in Poland’s history. In this episode the dark tale of Katarzyna’s mystery is discussed, as well as the mystifying aftermath and the current fairs of the ongoing investigation.

Transcribed - Published: 21 June 2018

Strange Matters is back! In our return episode the mysterious disappearance case of Yuba City is discussed, one of the strangest group vanishings in modern history. On a cold winter night in 1978, a group of five men known by their families as “The Boys” left a basketball game and presumably traveled back home. Instead, for reasons unknown, they inexplicably drove into the mountains and would seemingly vanish into the snowy wilderness of the Sierra Nevada. When the five friends remained missing, their concerned families alerted the police. At this point law enforcement would launch an investigation that would provide more questions than answers, as everyone involved was left clueless the closer they got to solving this strange disappearance.

Transcribed - Published: 19 June 2018

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!

Transcribed - Published: 31 October 2017

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!  

Transcribed - Published: 11 October 2017

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.

Transcribed - Published: 4 October 2017

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.

Transcribed - Published: 30 September 2017

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.

Transcribed - Published: 29 September 2017

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.

Transcribed - Published: 5 September 2017

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!

Transcribed - Published: 28 August 2017

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.

Transcribed - Published: 6 August 2017

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?

Transcribed - Published: 21 July 2017

“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.

Transcribed - Published: 14 July 2017

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.  

Transcribed - Published: 7 July 2017

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!

Transcribed - Published: 26 June 2017

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.

Transcribed - Published: 21 June 2017

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!    

Transcribed - Published: 12 June 2017

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?

Transcribed - Published: 28 May 2017

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.

Transcribed - Published: 24 May 2017

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

Transcribed - Published: 9 May 2017

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!  

Transcribed - Published: 5 May 2017

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.

Transcribed - Published: 24 April 2017

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?

Transcribed - Published: 17 April 2017

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!

Transcribed - Published: 6 April 2017

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!    

Transcribed - Published: 30 March 2017

“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!  

Transcribed - Published: 9 March 2017

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!

Transcribed - Published: 1 March 2017

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!

Transcribed - Published: 22 February 2017

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.

Transcribed - Published: 18 February 2017

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.

Transcribed - Published: 10 January 2017

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!

Transcribed - Published: 5 January 2017

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.  

Transcribed - Published: 11 December 2016

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!    

Transcribed - Published: 9 November 2016