The Strange, Dark & Mysterious delivered in podcast format. Follow the MrBallen Podcast on Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes publish twice a week—every Monday and Thursday. Prime members can listen to new episodes 1-month early and all episodes ad-free on Amazon Music. Wondery+ subscribers can listen ad-free in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts.
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Podcasting since 2008! - It really is all true! Quirky, bizarre, and unusual stories from the Flip Side of History.
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High Strangeness comes in all shapes & sizes. Our job is to step into the shadows and find these topics, and bring them into the light to dissect and inform the world at large. Join Shane, John & Josh as we delve into the world of the Strange, bizzare, and paranormal, and try to laugh at it all as we unravel the synchronicities found in this world...as well as out of. Open the Gates...s
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British reviewer Mathew Buck discusses films alongside guests, including the latest releases, as well as interviews and more!
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The Promise Keeper (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)
33:29
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33:29On a night in 1984, a college freshman listened to the music blaring through a night club. She grabbed her date’s hand and rushed out onto the dance floor. Her first year of college had its ups and downs, but it was nights like these that she’d grown to love – nights when she could stay out as late as she wanted with whoever she wanted. She and her…
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Today’s podcast will feature 2 stories about unexplainable phenomena. The audio from both of these stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just called "MrBallen," and has been remastered for today's podcast. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #2 -- "Voices" -- I had to put a special disclaimer on this …
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Death of a Salesman (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)
37:04
37:04
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37:04On a June night in 1997, Kathy Peters was asleep at her home in Mirror Lake, a quiet neighborhood of Sarasota, Florida. Around 3:45 AM, she was awakened by a strange noise. It was unlike anything Kathy had ever heard – a faint, eerie, rattling hiss. After a few seconds, the sound faded and Kathy tried to go back to sleep, but now she was too anxiou…
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Today’s story comes out of China, and it is a brutal story. There’s just no way to tell it without being sort of graphic, so with that in mind, this is definitely a mature audiences only type of story. That said, it is a fascinating story, and the ending is something that very few of you are going to see coming. It's going to feel kind of predictab…
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The Titanic is supposedly unsinkable, a cat is jailed, clothing seems to instantly combust, shoes for postmen are designed to minimize dog bites, a tastier spinach, and much more! Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/retrocast-33-podcast-238/ You can follow the Useless Information Podcast on…
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You Can't Cross That Line (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)
29:49
29:49
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29:49This is a special bonus episode of "You Can't" I’m going to tell two stories that prove that no matter what we think science can tell us about the natural world, the wilderness still holds secrets we cannot understand. For 100s more stories like these, check out our main YouTube channel just called "MrBallen" -- https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallen I…
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The Good Neighbors (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)
39:48
39:48
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39:48It was a frigid December day in a small logging town in Maine, roughly an hour’s drive from the US-Canadian border. And despite the falling snow, Christmas shoppers were out in full force. While most of the shoppers hurried from store to store, a small crowd had gathered in front of the police station. The shoppers watched as an officer stapled a p…
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Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction. And today’s podcast features 3 stories that demonstrate that. The audio from all three stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just called "MrBallen," and has been remastered for today's podcast. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #3 -- "The Oklahoma Proble…
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Kat Torres has the insta-perfect life. She is rich, gorgeous and not ashamed to share it. Her posts about witchcraft and “alien baths” drew in over a million followers, all chasing the dream of a lifestyle like hers. But as she gathers more followers around her, the secrets beneath her fame grow darker and more dangerous. One woman sets out to brin…
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On a night in March of 2017, a bonfire lit up the yard at a house party in Youngstown, Ohio. A group of friends in their 20s and 30s sat around the fire, drinking beer, talking, and having a good time. And as the night went on and they kept partying, they couldn’t imagine that this bonfire would soon help police solve one of the most horrific crime…
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Today’s podcast will feature 2 borderline unbelievable stories that remain a mystery to this day. The audio from both of these stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just called "MrBallen," and has been remastered for today's podcast. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #2 -- "The Quarterback" -- Famou…
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Need help? Try renting a wife! They would do anything from A to Z, except for X! A true story from the early 1980s in which some ambitious women decided to market what they did best: being a wife. Includes an interview with Jane Hanne Nevensmith, who ran a successful Rent-A-Wife business in Massachusetts. The 2022 interview with Jane Nevensmith men…
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The Crawlspace (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)
35:39
35:39
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35:39On a cold winter day in 2013, police officers rushed through the dense woods outside of a small town in Kentucky. They weaved their way through the trees, keeping their eyes peeled, and finally, one of them shouted out. He saw what they were looking for in the distance. The other officers quickly followed him into a clearing, and there, they saw a …
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This story is a fan favorite from MrBallen's Medical Mysteries. One night in 1944, over 300 patients at a mental hospital in Oregon become violently sick after eating dinner. Many of them die. An investigation is quickly launched to determine the source of this deadly illness. Was there something wrong with the food itself? Or could it have been th…
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The Business of Death (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)
34:00
34:00
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34:00In 2002, two days after Halloween, a police officer stepped out of a house in the small town of Navasota, Texas. He shielded his eyes from the early morning sunlight, then ducked under the band of yellow tape that surrounded the house. The officer had been working all night and really needed a break. So he went down to the sidewalk and lit a cigare…
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Today’s podcast will feature 2 sailing horror stories. The audio from both of these stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just called "MrBallen," and has been remastered for today's podcast. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #2 -- "Survivor’s Guilt" -- Sailors have many "customs of the sea," but the…
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Murder on Steroids (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)
34:37
34:37
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34:37On a summer night In 2013, newlyweds Joe and Olga Connell walked into their condominium in Wilmington, Delaware. Joe flipped on the light and sat down on the couch, while Olga headed to the bedroom to get changed. Suddenly, Joe heard a loud scream. He got up, and ran down the hall to the bedroom. There, he found Olga sitting on the floor yelling an…
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Today’s podcast will feature 3 stories about people who vanished without a trace. The audio from all three stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just called "MrBallen," and has been remastered for today's podcast. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #3 -- "Not Human" -- Child goes missing on an old lo…
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A man discovers the Roman Ruins of his youth have been torn down, a violin made from a lobster claw, an electric chair that electrocuted itself, and much more! Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/retrocast-32-podcast-236/ You can follow the Useless Information Podcast on these platforms: Fa…
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You Can't Leave That Way (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)
29:52
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29:52This is a special bonus episode of "You Can't" Today's story is about a woman who goes missing from a psychiatric hospital in 1900. Now at first, this story will seem like a pretty ordinary missing person case. That is, until you reach the very end. Lets just say, this story has one heck of a plot twist. For 100s more stories like these, check out …
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On a night in 2013, a woman in her 30s named Erin heard loud banging on her front door. She opened the door and saw her best friend Robin standing there. And she could tell right away that Robin was scared. She was shaking, tears were running down her face, and she had scratches on her arms. Erin led Robin inside to the couch, and asked her what wa…
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In today’s story, you very likely will at some point go, “Okay, I know where this is going." But you won’t. Because the ending to this story is so random that it actually took 100 years to piece together what actually happened. Story name, preview & link to original YouTube video: #1 -- "Under the Bricks" -- It took 100 years to piece together what…
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On a day in 2001, a veteran homicide detective put on his gloves and stepped into a cluttered bedroom. He’d been working a murder case for months, but he still had no clear evidence pointing to any of his suspects. But a tip from an informant had led him to this bedroom, and he hoped he would find something useful. The detective searched the room, …
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Today’s podcast will feature 3 horror stories about people’s run-ins with unidentified beings. The audio from all three stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just called "MrBallen," and has been remastered for today's podcast. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #3 -- "Saran Wrap" -- A credible parano…
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Ding Dong Daddy - Part 2 - UI Podcast #235
57:58
57:58
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57:58Step into the life of Francis Van Wie, a streetcar conductor with charm, wit, and a string of marriages that captivated 1940s San Francisco, transforming a wartime distraction into a national sensation. Join the ride with the "Ding Dong Daddy"! Images, links, and transcripts for this episode can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/ding-dong-…
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Goodbye Uncle Jack (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)
36:07
36:07
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36:07Late one afternoon in the summer of 2014, a pawnshop owner was updating his inventory logs when the bell above the front door jingled. A young couple walked inside and approached the counter. The man said he had a few items to sell, then opened a drawstring bag and dumped the contents onto the counter. A collection of gold chains, rings, and watche…
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Today’s podcast will feature 3 horrifying stories that will make you wonder who or what may be lurking in the forest. The audio from all three stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just called "MrBallen," and has been remastered for today's podcast. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #3 -- "Pound Cak…
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On a morning in 2002, a man in Indianapolis, Indiana woke up in a cold sweat. His hands shook as he tried to block out the images he’d seen in his sleep, but he knew these images would not just go away – they would keep haunting him until he did something about it. He got out of bed and walked to his phone. He dialed 9-1-1 and said he needed to tal…
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Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction. And today’s podcast features 3 stories that demonstrate that. The audio from all three stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just called "MrBallen," and has been remastered for today's podcast. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #3 -- "Doctor WHO?" -- A f…
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You Can't Run From This (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)
27:00
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27:00This is a special bonus episode of "You Can't" I’m going to tell two stories about two very different haunted places. And even though these stories take place decades apart – and involve wildly different people – the message of both is the same… crossing paths with ghosts can kill. For 100s more stories like these, check out our main YouTube channe…
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Ding Dong Daddy - Part 1 - UI Podcast #234
33:10
33:10
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33:10In 1915, a man known only as John F. Kennedy appeared in Kenosha, WI unable to recall his past or even his own name. With only a few cryptic clues and a suitcase marked with the initials "R.E.J.," he embarked on a journey to uncover his forgotten life. From the kindness of strangers to the shocking revelations of his true identity, this story will …
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This story is a fan favorite from MrBallen's Medical Mysteries. In 2020, a career-driven young woman in Ohio begins to hallucinate strange sounds and feels phantom sensations in her body. She believes she’s going insane. But the real reason is far more disturbing. Listen Now: Wondery.fm/MBMM For 100s more stories like this one, check out my YouTube…
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Today’s podcast will feature 3 stories about places people were never meant to venture. The audio from all three stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just called "MrBallen," and has been remastered for today's podcast. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #3 -- "The Wail" -- Truly a place you'd never …
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Texas Shootout (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)
37:02
37:02
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37:02On an early morning in 2018, a woman in her 50s stood in the doorway of her bedroom in Austin, TX – firing off shots from her .357 revolver into the dark kitchen a few yards away. Someone in the kitchen fired back, and bullets whizzed past her and crashed into the wall. The woman saw shadows moving back and forth in the kitchen, but no matter where…
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Today’s podcast will feature 2 stories about people who have sinister intentions. The audio from both of these stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just called "MrBallen," and has been remastered for today's podcast. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #2 -- "Loana the Bloodthirster" -- A horrifying …
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A Dead Body for Christmas (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)
33:48
33:48
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33:48On Christmas morning of 2010, snow fell on a quiet suburb in South West England. But just after 9:00 a.m., the quiet was shattered by the sound of police sirens racing through town. The police cars came to a screeching stop on a wet street, and a veteran Detective Inspector stepped out into the cold. He walked towards a stone wall that separated th…
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Today’s podcast will feature 3 medical horror stories. The audio from all three stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just called "MrBallen," and has been remastered for today's podcast. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #3 -- "The Shadow" -- One man's night of terror has devastating ripple effects …
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A man recovers his lost diamond ring through a chance encounter, manhole covers fly in Chicago, how to divide a Cadillac 57 ways, a man is fined for barking like a dog, and much more! Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/retrocast-31-podcast-233/ You can follow the Useless Information Podcas…
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At 3:45 a.m. on a morning in 2003, police cars raced down a street in a small, sleepy English village. A Detective Inspector stepped out of his car and approached an old house that was connected to a butcher shop. The Detective Inspector was still in shock from the call he’d gotten – an 83 year-old man had been brutally murdered in his bedroom. Thi…
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Today’s podcast will feature 2 stories that prove that money is the root of all evil. The audio from both of these stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just called "MrBallen," and has been remastered for today's podcast. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #2 -- "Loan Shark" -- Student takes drastic …
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You Can't Hide Here (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)
30:56
30:56
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30:56This is a special bonus episode of our new format called, "You Can't" On a dark fall night in 2010, two detectives stood in the street in an upscale suburban neighborhood outside of Boston, Massachusetts. In the middle of the road – lit by their flashlights – lay the body of a teenage boy. These were two veteran detectives, but neither of them had …
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Trick-or Treat-or-Die (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)
36:37
36:37
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36:37On Halloween night in 1957, a group of children ran towards a brand new house in a suburban neighborhood outside of Los Angeles, California. This house had some of the best decorations on the street, and the kids all hoped the house would have the best candy, too. One of the children knocked on the front door, and a middle-aged woman in a witch hat…
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Today’s podcast will feature 3 acts of pure evil. The audio from all three stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just called "MrBallen," and has been remastered for today's podcast. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #3 -- "Obsessed" -- A rising star is confronted by a super fan (Original YouTube lin…
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When 17-year-old Abigail Roberson's photo was printed on a widely distributed poster without her consent, it set off a legal battle that would forever change the definition of privacy. Images, links, and transcripts for this podcast can be found at https://uselessinformation.org/who-owns-her-face-podcast-232/ You can follow the Useless Information …
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In the fall of 2003, two detectives were in the middle of a year-long homicide case, involving the brutal murder of a 19 year-old girl. And for the first time, they finally felt like they had a viable suspect. But when they pulled up to the suspect’s house to conduct a second interview, the detectives quickly realized the house was abandoned and th…
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Today’s podcast features 3 stories that involve people who were trapped – with “no way out.” The audio from all three stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just called "MrBallen," and has been remastered for today's podcast. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #3 -- "Rush" -- One of the most heart-bre…
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A Shot in the Dark (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)
35:12
35:12
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35:12On a spring morning in 2017, a mother of three in Evansville, Indiana logged onto Facebook and noticed a story in her news feed that made her heart start to race. Just a couple of hours earlier, the body of a young woman was found in a field one town over – and police had no clue who the young woman was. The physical description was vague, but it m…
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Medical Mysteries - "A Change in Fortune"
29:30
29:30
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29:30This story is a fan favorite from MrBallen's Medical Mysteries. On a hot September day in 1986, a family in Goiania, Brazil, suddenly begin feeling sick after a celebration. The symptoms are horrific: vomiting, diarrhea, and bleeding. But one family member suspects something far worse. Her hunch soon leads to a devastating discovery. Listen Now: Wo…
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One of Their Own (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)
36:59
36:59
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36:59On a fall night in 1987, a young woman was walking down the middle of a dark street in a rural Kentucky town. She heard a car turn onto the street behind her, and it sounded like it was driving fast, so she quickly got onto the sidewalk. Suddenly, the car screeched to a stop just a few feet away from her. The car doors flew open, and before the you…
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Several years ago, prank videos were huge on YouTube. Basically, a Prank YouTube channel would go out in public, and they would do something to some unsuspecting person and they’d film it. And that video would get tons of views on YouTube. Well, during this prank heyday, there was one YouTube channel that pulled off a prank that really stood out am…
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