Strange Matters Podcast

In the winter of 1985, a young nurse named Debbie Wolfe left her shift at the hospital and headed back to her secluded cabin in the woods.  When she did not show up to work the next day, a search began to find the missing woman.  A few days later, a bizarre and unusual discovery would start off an investigation into one of the strangest deaths you could imagine. In this episode the death and subsequent investigation of Debbie Wolfe is covered.  This unique death is made interesting by the fact that the police and detectives working the case were quite adamant that the whole thing was just a complete accident, while Debbie’s family and friends were convinced that foul play was involved in some way.  As more clues and pieces of evidence were found following Debbie’s untimely death, the amount of new questions raised would quickly outgrow what few answers were found. Was the death of Debbie Wolfe just a freak accident that somehow seems to defy much of the evidence found? Or was there a mystery killer involved setting the whole thing up? Listen to this episode and hear for yourself about all the unbelievable twist and turns that followed the mysterious death of Debbie Wolfe.

The 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!

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.  

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!    

In this episode of Strange Matters we discuss four unexplained mysteries and legendary tales.  Each of these cases involve the potential of hauntings, paranormal activity, and spiritual involvement.  From one of the world’s most haunted locations, to a mysterious  bleeding house, and two tales of malignant spirits, the topics discussed in this episode are as interesting as they are spooky.   In the Black Forest Haunting, the Lee family moved into an isolated log home set in the thickest regions of the woods.  Shortly after moving in, the family began to experience strange and disturbing activity for which they could not explain.  Loud and random sounds, lights turning on and off, mysterious break-ins,  and most disturbing of all sightings of shadow figures and ghostly apparitions in the house.   Neither the police nor home security systems could explain logically what was going on.  In desperation, the Lees turned to Psychic Investigators, ghost busters, and local shamans in an attempt to understand the bizarre nature of their home. The Atlanta Blood House makes for a strange and unique mystery.  The Winston couple shockingly discovered one day a red substance splattered and pooled all over their house.  After a quick police investigation and forensic testing, it was confirmed that the red liquid found in the Winston’s home was actually human blood.   Where this large amount of blood came from and for what reason it appeared is still unknown to this day. Lastly we cover two old legendary tales involving troublesome spirits.   The Taotaomo’na is an ancestral spirit believed to roam certain areas of Guam.  These spirits were known to be very territorial, and great care and respect must be given when passing through these lands… or else.   Finally we present the tale of La Llorona, a malevolent spirit which has been haunting Southwestern Hispanic cultures for centuries.  La Llorona was once a beautiful young woman who became a mother to two children.  However, after she committed an unspeakable crime, this woman would pass on to becoming this fearful spirit.  The legend goes that La Llorona still prowls the nights in search of young victims to claim as her own. For more podcast visit the Dark Myths Collective  

In this episode of Strange Matters we once again present a collection of creepy and unexplained personal stories that were sent into us by our listeners.  In this fourth installment in our Listener Story series, we share tales that cover a wide range of mysterious and paranormal topics.  From closet-dwelling clowns, an empty mart that seemingly comes to life at night, and even an appearance from an immodest ghost, these tales will be sure to intrigue and unnerve you! Thanks to Rob, Erica, Fallon, Levi, Kim, and Alex for sharing your stories with us!  If you have your own creepy and mysterious personal story please feel free to write to the podcast and share it with us.  

The Mandela Effect is a trendy term used to describe a particularly strange phenomenon that a large number of individuals feel they are experiencing.  Numerous different people all over the world have discovered that they share the exact same memories of certain subjects and events… Memories that in reality turn out to be completely false. Those who dig deeper into this theory have used it as evidence of such outlandish  claims as time travel, parallel dimensions, and shifting timelines.  The root of the Mandela Effect lies in circumstances when people suddenly find out that something that they believe they know from their past is suddenly changed.  This can range from song lyrics, movie lines, and even to how the way words are spelled being completely different from how they remembered in the past.  In certain people’s memories, what they used to remember clearly and  vividly  is no more, and never has been.  While many consider the Mandela Effect to be merely a case of mass misremembering or false memories, others aren’t so sure.  There are claims that due to the large amount of people sharing these similar false memories, that it could be evidence of something, or someone, tampering with our past.  These theories range from meddlesome time travelers, to people being unknowingly shifted into a different timeline in which things are much different from what they remember. So is it possible that there are multiple parallel dimensions that we are constantly switching between? Or is the Mandela Effect simply a case of  mass coincidences?  Tune in and listen to some of the theories and popular examples of the Mandela Effect in action! To Support Strange Matters please visit our Patreon Page

On May 1st of 1995, a student at the University of Arizona named Bryan Hance was reading through the local college paper when he came across a full page advert which contained a cryptic mix of images, maps, languages, and equations.  Coincidentally on the same day of May 1st for the next two years, Bryan would again see these bizarre full page ‘May Day” ads of seemingly random and nonsensical images. Deciding to dig deeper, Bryan would soon find himself obsessed trying to uncover and decipher  one of the strangest coded mysteries of the modern times. Soon more light was shown onto this mystery.  These full-paged May Day cryptic puzzles went back in the local paper for decades, with additional smaller advertisements placed throughout the years as well.  Still, no one knew who was behind them or what purpose they served.  Through the years many people from all over the world have tried to crack the code behind the May Day Pages, which hides its clues in obscure historical, mathematical and geographical puzzles. Are these May Day adverts the work of a secret society as a way to get their message out?  An eccentric game which will lead whoever can solve the puzzle to a vast fortune? Or simply the rambling works of an unstable but genius madman?  Tune in and hear all the theories and ideas behind this modern cryptic mystery! View the May Day Mystery Website to view all the texts! To listen to more great podcast please visit Dark Myths Collective To hear Part II of our Cryptography series, as well as getting access to all future bonus episodes, please visit our Patreon Page

In this episode  Strange Matters tackles one of the most controversial and bizarre conspiracy theories still spreading to this day – The Flat Earth Theory.  Though it might come as a surprise to many, the shape of our home planet is still up to debate according to those who don’t buy into the “Round Earth” conspiracy.   To those holding the notion that our planet is in fact a flat plane, they believe that the world leaders, scientists, and most of all NASA are all involved in a widespread cover up to continue to fool the mass population  into thinking we are living on a globe. To a Flat Earther, you should only believe what you can see and perceive with your senses.  Since you can not see the Earth’s curvature on the horizon, it must mean that the land is flat all around the world.  In this theory, the sun and moon are relatively small spheres that travel in circles only a few thousand miles above the plane of our planet.   Surrounding Earth is a thick, impassable wall of ice that holds in Earth’s oceans, and perhaps even a massive dome above us that is illuminated by holograms giving the illusion of a starry sky, when in reality something much difference than space lies beyond our planet. Listen to this episode and hear all about the strange and bizarre ideas and conspiracies involved in the Flat Earth Theory! Check out other podcasts at the Dark Myths Collective Featured Dark Myths Podcast of September: Inward Empire  

Lt. Colonel Percival Harrison Fawcett was a man among men. A leader in the British military and an expedition who had been out on countless excursions into uncharted and enemy territory was obsessed with the idea of a lost yet wondrous city in the deep jungle of the Amazon. In the early 20th century, he set out on his third and last expedition in search of this great alleged myth. This adventure would present numerous obstacles including but not limited to vicious jaguars, reptiles and angry natives.  2 long years passed without any word from the rugged Fawcett, his son Jack and Jack’s friend Raleigh Rimell. Various different explanations have been suggested many of which have significant degrees of plausibility. Could these brave men have gone native and simply joined the Indians in the Amazonian jungle? Perhaps a strange obsession with the cult known as Theosophy had something to do with their disappearance. Listen in to this episode and find out! To Help Support Strange Matters, please visit our Patreon Page!

In 1961, a German man named Paul Schäfer formed a community in an isolated region in Chile.  Known as the Colonia Dignidad, or Dignity Colony, this large complex was constructed originally  as a place of community welfare and harmony, which promoted free schooling and health care for all.  Behind it’s barbed wire fences however, Paul Schäfer was secretly creating  a living nightmare of violence and abuse for those trapped inside. The Colonia Dignidad would operate independently and secretly for three decades.  During that time thousands of people were forced to suffer cruelties under their harsh leader.  Schäfer, a former Nazi who served in World War II, turned his “Dignity Colony” into his own personal paradise of sadism and torture.  Those who suffered the worst in that time was the young children, on whom Schäfer would turn his perverse attention to for years.  Disturbingly, both the Chilean and German governments turned a blind eye as to what was going on inside the colony, leaving their people to the whims of a deeply disturbed man. It took nearly thirty years until those on the outside finally started to stand up to Schäfer and work to take down the evils occurring inside the Colonia Dignidad.  Though the evil place was eventually disbanded, and its leader finally brought to face up to his awful crimes, thousands of innocent people were still left to  put together their shattered lives. To Help Support Strange Matters, please visit our Patreon Page!

For months, Dorothy Jane Scott had been receiving disturbing phone calls from an obsessed and violent stalker.  This mysterious caller promised Dorothy that he would soon take her, and that she belonged to him.  On one fateful night, Dorothy dropped a wounded colleague off at a hospital, and then later walked back out into the dark parking lot.  That was the last time she was seen. As strange as this event was, it is merely the beginning of what is one of the darkest and creepiest mysteries yet covered by Strange Matters.   Once Dorothy had vanished, her stalker did not simply disappear as well.  Instead, he turned his attention to her family, persistently tormenting them with conflicting knowledge of their loved one’s fate. Check out this episode where the dark and downright unnerving mystery of Dorothy Jane Scott is discussed.   All  the known theories and ideas are also presented in an attempt to make sense of it all. For more podcasts check out all the shows at Dark Myths Collective Featured Dark Myths Podcast: The Eastern Border Podcast

In the freezing winter of 1959, nine experienced hikers traveled deep into the Russian mountains.  When these hikers missed their deadline on what was supposed to be a brief journey,  a search and rescue attempt was sent into the mountains.  What the investigators discovered would become one of the most baffling and intriguing mysteries of all time, known today as the Dyatlov Pass Incident. Rescuers would eventually find the hikers, all frozen and deceased, spread out across the mountain slope and woods.  For unknown reasons, at some point in the middle of the night the hikers had all run out of their tent into the freezing cold.  Their equipment and supplies were all found intact and undamaged.  Stranger still, the hikers had not even taken the time to properly dress before scattering away from the tent.  The bodies of the hikers would eventually be found in separate locations on the mountain. To further confuse the investigators, several of the bodies showed traumatic internal damage, without any outward wounds or signs of distress. What exactly happened to those veteran hikers that night?  Were they chased out by a pack of veracious animals, or even violent humans?  Were they the unfortunate victims of a secret soviet military experiment? Or perhaps the mountain claimed them with an unstoppable avalanche. Listen to this episode as we discuss of one of our favorite mysteries as we go over all the theories, both plausible and outlandish, and also dispel some of the myths and legends that are attributed to the Dyatlov Pass Incident. Check out similar podcast at the Dark Myths Collective Support Strange Matters over at our Patreon Page    

In this episode of Strange Matters a number of infamous and legendary monsters and vile creatures of America are discussed.  Each of these monsters have become well known urban legends in their own specific regions across the country. Whether it is the dark woods of New Jersey, the creeks of Kentucky, or even the snowy lands of Michigan, rumors and stories have spread of terrifying beast lurking in the dark. The Jersey Devil is one of America’s most well known and oldest monster story.  This hybrid creature’s origin supposedly dates back before the formation of the United States even.  Combining the body parts of numerous different animals, this horrifying creature was rumored to be the spawn of the Devil itself.  This monster allegedly lurks in the deep woods of New Jersey,  scaring unsuspecting hikers with its blood curdling scream. The Dogman of Michigan is a mysterious creature that lives in the deep snowy woods of the northern state.  Combining the torso of a man with the legs and head of a canine, the Dogman has been spotted and encountered for over a century.  Whether the Dogman is actually some type of freak hybrid creature, or just the over-imagination of the locals, has been an ongoing debate for years. The Pope Lick Monster is a terrifying abomination, a creature combing the body parts of man, goat, and sheep together.  This violent monster is rumored to lure innocent victims onto the train tracks on its home bridge.  There, they are helpless to either face the oncoming train, or jump to their own demise below.  Though the Pope Lick Monster is well known to be merely a myth, the popularity and danger of its tale has lead to many unfortunate accidents. Finally there is the Beast of Bladenboro, a creature responsible for a string of attacks on people’s pets and livestock in the winter of 1954.  When its legend grew, over a thousand people swarmed to the town to try and hunt this vampire like beast.  Just as quickly as the Beast arrived, the attacks soon ceased, leaving the people of Bladenboro to wonder to this day exactly what kind of creature was behind the violent animal murders. To support Strange Matters please visit our Patreon Page Episode Ambient Music By: “Thunderbird” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

“I Think. Therefore I Am” For millennia people have pondered and questioned exactly what is reality.  Is the world around us that we perceive everyday actually real?  Or is it instead simply a trick, smoke and mirrors, a simulated reality to keep us fooled. In this episode of Strange Matters we discuss the possibility that mankind may all be living in some type of Matrix program, or simulated reality.   Sean and Eric present numerous ideas and theories describing how life as we know it may be a complete lie.  Whether we are all simply computer programs living our lives unaware of our coded nature, at the mercy of endless multiple dimensions, or perhaps just the creation of some all powerful dreaming deity, there are countless ideas one could come up with to doubt their own existence. So make the decision to take the blue pill and continue to live in blissful ignorance… Or to instead take the red pill, press play, and follow us down as we discover just how deep this rabbit hole can go. For more high quality podcasts please visit the Dark Myths Collective and check out the whole lineup.