The Mantawauk Caves

Alive Again is available now. Search and listen wherever you get your podcasts. Kathy Preston was just a joyous little girl when the Holocaust tore through her golden childhood in Transylvania. In this unforgettable episode of Alive Again, Kathy recounts—in stunning detail—the moment her innocence ended, hiding in a barn as bayonets stabbed the straw just inches from her face. Miraculously, she survived. But this is more than a story of hiding and escape. Kathy’s story travels through persecution, displacement, and grief—but also healing, forgiveness, and the power of memory. She reflects on the woman who risked everything to save her life, on the trauma that shaped her worldview, and on the stubborn optimism that carries her forward. From being starved and hunted as a child, to building a joyful life with children and grandchildren, Kathy’s journey is a testament to resilience—and a reminder that surviving isn’t just about staying alive. It’s about choosing love over vengeance and passing that choice forward. And now, in her 80s, Kathy speaks to school children across the U.S. about the power of resistance, survival, and the importance of love over hate.  “There are less and less people alive from the period I am from,” she tells us, “and the more people die, the less availability there is to connect with the past. I speak for the people who can’t speak for themselves.”  Story producer: Nicholas Tecosky. For more information about Kathy and her work and books, you can go to www.katipreston.com Warning: This series contains graphic descriptions of trauma, violence, abuse, and other content that may not be suitable for certain listeners. * If you have a transformative near-death experience to share, we’d love to hear your story. Please email us at [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 1 July 2025

Go listen to ALIVE AGAIN. Episodes available now. Search for ALIVE AGAIN wherever you get your podcasts. First, they prepared for a missile. Years later, it was fire that came. Annelise Cochran was working aboard a whale research vessel off the coast of Lahaina, Hawaii, when the state's missile alert system issued a terrifying false warning: a ballistic missile from North Korea was inbound. Everyone on board braced for the end. It didn’t come—but in many ways, it was a dark premonition. Five years later, Annelise found herself facing a real catastrophe. As wildfires swept through Lahaina with brutal speed, she and her friends fought for survival over eight harrowing hours. One of them didn’t make it. This episode is a haunting and deeply human story of foresight, loss, and the raw resilience it takes to face a world unraveling. It’s a powerful reminder of how community, resourcefulness, and inner strength can anchor us through the chaos of disaster. Story producer: Brent Dey. Other Resources: Annelise GoFundMe Pacific Whale Foundation Maui Mutual Aid Warning: This series contains graphic descriptions of trauma, violence, abuse, and other content that may not be suitable for certain listeners. * If you have a transformative experience to share, we’d love to hear your story. Please email us at [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 17 June 2025

Go listen to ALIVE AGAIN. Episodes available now. Search for ALIVE AGAIN wherever you get your podcasts. In June 2020, Manuel Bayo Gisbert was kidnapped by armed men and teenagers tortured, and held captive until his family paid his ransom. His story, unfortunately, is a familiar one in Mexico — where more than 116,000 people (as the official number goes) have been disappeared and possibly murdered. But unlike so many, Manuel survived. Unable to shake the ghosts of that night, he set out to photograph and interview families who have lost loved ones to cartel and government-sponsored violence. His perspective is unique in that he developed a relationship with the young men on the night they tortured him, and came to realize that they are victims too – of a much larger system.  Before his release, covered in blood with multiple broken bones and horribly beaten, Manuel’s captors started a conversation with him while on the ride back down the mountain to let him go. They talked for two hours- while he was coughing up blood and writhing in pain.  They were teenagers- they weren’t in charge of the operation. They were 15 year old boys with assault rifles— they told him that they had targeted him because he was filming and had a camera. They wanted to know if he was a filmmaker. He told them that he was, and they suggested that he make a film about this very incident. They also asked if he would invite them to the screening when he completed the movie. At that moment, he realized that these kids were victims too. And though he’d lost his dignity, and had his sense of self and autonomy was destroyed forever, he still had his humanity— but these kids did not.  These kids had lost their humanity.Now he goes back into the same neighborhoods, where he was abducted,  to interview and help families who have also missing loved ones. Besides the derivative potential of this incredible story, Manuel needs funding for the documentary he’s making about the 116,000 people that have gone missing in Mexico.  From Alive Again producer and host, Dan Bush. For more about Manuel and his work, go to: https://www.manuelbayogisbert.com * If you have a transformative near-death experience to share, we’d love to hear your story. Please email us at [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 13 May 2025

Go listen to Alive Again. The first 3 episodes are available now. Listen on the iHeartRadio App, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. In our inaugural episode, brought to us by producer Kate Sweeney, Peter Panagore shares not only the harrowing details of the ice climb that nearly took his life, but the profound spiritual journey that began when he flatlined. He describes his near-death experience with vivid clarity—from the moment he left his body, to the overwhelming presence of divine love, to a soul-shifting life review that changed everything he believed about self, sin, and purpose. For years following the incident, he felt himself to be keenly aware of his body as a crude vessel compared to the perfection of the other side — and in this episode, he tells the story of how he found peace with his impatience to return to the absolute solace he knows awaits us all. We explore his early mystical experiences, his crisis of faith within organized religion, and the decades-long path of integration that followed. Peter speaks candidly about what it means to live after death, how he hid his transformation for years—even while serving as a minister—and how he finally came out as a near-death experiencer. This is a conversation about memory, meaning, divine love, and the lifelong challenge of returning to Earth when you’ve already glimpsed eternity. * If you have a transformative near-death experience to share, we’d love to hear your story. Please email us at [email protected]    About Peter Panagore: Ex-Reverend Peter Panagore, MDiv, is an acclaimed author and spiritual counselor known worldwide for his best-selling book, Heaven Is Beautiful: How Dying Taught Me That Death Is Just the Beginning. His life is a testament to the power of personal transformation, having undergone profound changes following his two Near-Death Experiences. After graduating with a BA in English Literature from the University of Massachusetts in 1982, following his first NDE, he redirected his career path from architecture to studying the Classics of Western Mysticism at Yale University’s Divinity School, earning his Master of Divinity. Peter served liberal Congregational churches and their coastal communities for over two decades while privately pursuing his mystical studies and practices. During his 15-year tenure as a television writer and on-air talent for his morning inspirational spot, he reached 30 million views annually (Nielsen Ratings) on two NBC-TV News Stations across Maine and New Hampshire. His first best-selling inspirational book, Two Minutes for God: Quick Fixes for the Spirit, is a selection from his 1700 TV scripts. He has practiced single-minded meditation and Kriya yoga for forty years and teaches both.    Social Media URL: www.peterpanagore.love YouTube: @PeterPanagore or https://www.youtube.com/c/PeterPanagore Instagram: @pbpanagore Facebook: Peter Panagore, MDiv TikTok: @peterpanagore   Book Links: Heaven Is Beautiful: How Dying Taught Me That Death Is Just the Beginning Two Minutes for God: Quick Fixes for the Spirit  Chicken Soup for the Veteran’s Soul (Contributor)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 13 May 2025

ALIVE AGAIN is a weekly podcast that showcases first-hand accounts of Near Death Experiences. Our mission is to find, explore and share these stories to remind us all of our shared human condition. Coming May 13th.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 6 May 2025

Hi, Mantawauk Caves listeners! iHeartPodcasts has geared up for a riveting new podcast called Dream Sequence! When down-on-her-luck Kay Craft gets a call from her estranged genius sister Sadie inviting her to document Sadie’s new invention – a machine that records dreams – Kay can’t resist. What Kay doesn’t know is that Sadie’s come to believe there’s something alive in their dreams. Something that holds the key to the tragedy that tore them apart seven years ago. Something that can scare them to death. Tune in to this top-tier science fiction story, but don't just take our word for it, check out the trailer to decide for yourself! Listen to Dream Sequence on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 5 August 2024

Built on a foundation of historical relevance and structured by a kind of dream logic, THE PASSAGE is an immersive, psychological, 3D audio experience that invites listeners to explore the collective American psyche from the perspective of its most legendary souls. This is an ongoing audio series penned by a brilliant and diverse pool of writers and performed by an unforgettable cast of character actors. Each week THE PASSAGE takes us on a ride into the land of the dead, traveling with the Ferryman as he collects the recently disembodied and delivers them to the hereafter. Each week we meet another illustrious American spirit and listen as they tell their extraordinary and often terrifying tale in an attempt to influence the Ferryman’s final destination— be it a comfortable place of eternal light, a haunted purgatory of regret, or one of the nine rings of hell. Listen here or on the iHeartRadio app.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 7 February 2024

Hi, TMC fans! iHeartPodcasts and Grim & Mild are excited to tell you about Consumed - a brand new fiction thriller that we think will... consume you! Don't believe us? Check out this trailer to see for yourself. When you're done, head on over to Consumed starting 1/31 for weekly episodes. Show Info: When struggling journalist Sarah Simmons finds herself stranded in an idyllic New Hampshire town, her unexpected visit turns into a nightmare. Steeped in history and filled with legends, the residents of Danville soon learn that the past is not always meant to be forgotten. Their lives will be forever changed, while the hope of a future without terror rests on the shoulders of a stranger who may hold the keys to the past. This is Consumed, a brand new story set in the same universe as the award-winning hit fiction podcast, Bridgewater. Listen to Consumed on the iHeartRadio app, or wherever you get your podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 1 February 2024

Hi, Mantawauk Caves fans! We're excited for the season 4 return of 13 Days of Halloween. Subtitled "Penance," this brand-new story unfolds over the span of 13 days and is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. "Penance" stars Natalie Morales (Parks and Recreation, Dead to Me), and we think you'll want to join in on the spooky fun. Check out this trailer to get excited and start listening on 10/19 until the story concludes on Halloween day. Season Description: Season Four: Penance. Without warning, Sayuri has been locked up in the Pendleton Rehabilitation Center, and no one is willing or able to tell her why. Actually, getting any information from her fellow inmates or the labyrinthine bureaucracy that runs the facility seems impossible. But is the Pendleton really a prison, or something else? Starring Natalie Morales. New episodes air daily from October 19th through Halloween. Listen to 13 Days of Halloween on the iHeartRadio app, or wherever you get your podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 19 October 2023

Listen up, Mantawauk Caves fans! We're super excited to tell you about the return of the hit fiction podcast, Aftershock. Starring Sarah Wayne Callies (The Walking Dead), David Harbour (Stranger Things), and Jeffrey Dean Morgan (The Walking Dead), season two is sure to have you on the edge of your seat! Don't just take our word for it, though. Check out the trailer and hear for yourself! About Aftershock: Aftershock is a fast-paced thriller about a massive earthquake that destroys the West Coast, causing a mysterious island to rise up from the Pacific - with Sarah Wayne Callies (The Walking Dead), David Harbour (Stranger Things), Jeffrey Dean Morgan (The Walking Dead), and Tati Gabrielle (The 100). Listen to Aftershock season 2 on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 2 August 2023

Season Finale. James Fincher’s gamble pays off for Dena and his nephew. Julien faces the truth and makes the ultimate sacrifice.See omny.fm/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 31 May 2023

Season Finale. James Fincher’s gamble pays off for Dena and his nephew. Julien faces the truth and makes the ultimate sacrifice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 31 May 2023

Description: Dena prepares for the worst. Julien’s struggle to stop Fincher’s execution takes a devastating turn.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 24 May 2023

Desperate to uncover the truth, Juien’s investigation leads him a little too close to home, as old familial ties lead to shocking new discoveriesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 17 May 2023

Tyler's cryptic message continues. Julien learns what became of his friend and picks up a new trail.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 10 May 2023

Fincher is offered a deal. Julien discovers a haunting message left for him by Tyler; is it the rant of a madman or a key to the truth? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 10 May 2023

Julien takes shelter at Dena’s house. Dena gets a house call from an unlikely friend but struggles to protect her son from malevolent forces. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 3 May 2023

Julien takes shelter at Dena’s house. Dena gets a house call from an unlikely friend but struggles to protect her son from malevolent forces. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 3 May 2023

James Fincher’s time on death row has been anything but routine. Julien receives a warning. Ominous forces are closing in, and time is running out to stop Fincher’s execution.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 26 April 2023

Julien struggles to connect the dots between the Hadley murders and the dark history of the caves. His investigation takes him back to the Fowler estate, where he meets unexpected visitors and discovers a new lead. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 19 April 2023

A key piece of evidence turns up that could prove Fincher’s innocence… or guilt. Tyler goes missing. Julien’s nightmares intensify.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 12 April 2023

In order to get answers, and with only nine days left until Fincher’s execution, Julien must come to terms with his past actions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 5 April 2023

Despite the worsening nightmares and blackouts, Julien continues his investigation, connecting the dots between James Fincher’s fascination with the Mantawauk Caves and their disturbing history. The true identity of James Fincher’s nephew is revealed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 29 March 2023

With the help of Jill Campbel, a mitigation specialist working on Fincher’s case, Julien acquires logs from the Hadley brother’s murder investigation and picks up a mysterious trail left by Detective Solomon Smith. He soon realizes he's up against more than he bargained for.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 22 March 2023

Series Premiere. When Julien Solas receives word that James Fincher’s execution date has been set, he returns to Mantawauk County after 14 years to reconcile his past and uncover the truth behind the killings of two teenage boys.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 22 March 2023

Lera Lynn once again entices the listener into her dark, twisted indie rock world with her new composition “A Killer Inside,” The Mantawauk Caves anthem. With echoes of her work from True Detective, “A Killer Inside” seduces the listener to the macabre with its strikingly arranged strings, driving drums, and Lynn’s signature electric guitar. Each spin of the song reveals new twists in melody and meaning.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 22 March 2023

Julien Solas, an aspiring writer, returns home to save his friend, James Fincher, from a death sentence fourteen years after he was convicted for the gruesome murder of two teenage boys. As Julien digs into the past, uncovering dark truths about himself and his family, he must work through his own psychosis while trying to uncover the mystery behind what happened in the caves of Mantawauk County. Jonathan Tucker (Westworld) and Edi Gathegi (The Harder They Fall) star in this original, immersive audio experience that weaves together the narrative threads of social drama, supernatural horror, and psychological thriller.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcribed - Published: 15 March 2023