Astonishing Legends

In tonight’s dead letter… a VFW canteen worker in Michigan has a close encounter with a mysterious cowboy, complete with vintage attire and dollar coins. The stranger asks her to champion his cause of getting “shell shock” recognized for a Purple Heart. After the encounter, the letter he provides vanishes and the general he mentions turns out to be from the Civil War. Links: Jim Harold’s Roadhouse Saloon Campfire STory https://jimharold.com/the-roadhouse-saloon-from-the-files-of-jim-harolds-campfire/ The VFW https://www.vfw.org/ Shell Shock https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shell_shock PTSD https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-traumatic_stress_disorder PTSD as a Criteria for a Purple Heart https://www.dvidshub.net/news/520197/purple-heart-criteria-exclude-ptsd-defense-officials-say https://www.mghclaycenter.org/hot-topics/denying-purple-hearts-veterans-ptsd-2/ https://www.disabledveterans.org/purple-hearts-for-ptsd/ The ‘Seated Liberty’ Dollar https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seated_Liberty_dollar Some for sale on Ebay https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=seated+liberty+dollars+1840-1873&_sacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p4432023.m570.l1311 ‘The Edge of Tomorrow’ movie which references Verdun as an Alien Battle Site https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edge_of_Tomorrow Unsolved Mysteries: Paranormal Rangers https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22336540/

In tonight’s dead letter, a listener recounts a childhood filled with unexplained phenomena in their 1940s Michigan home. From persistent footsteps and unsettling noises like dragging chains and hammering to a menacing presence in their bedroom, the haunting escalated over the years, driving them to seek refuge upstairs. But even then, the activity followed, with something heavy repeatedly stomping on the cast iron cover of the well room just outside their window. Pers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_lightning Search this page for more on the Jacob Marley quote, “I wear the chain I forged in life…” https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/christmascarol/quotes/character/jacob-marley/ Witch Ride/Sleep Paralysis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis Stephen Prozak Shippy https://www.strangemusicinc.com/artists/prozak https://www.youtube.com/@HauntedSaginaw/featured Iron in Folklore https://diabolicalconfusions.wordpress.com/2011/02/15/iron-in-folklore-superstitions-explained/ Email your stories to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com

Alright Astonishing Legends listeners, buckle up! In this special AMA episode, Scott and Forrest are answering your burning questions! We're diving headfirst into everything from the implications of sentient Tesla bots inheriting fortunes (and causing chaos) to the latest updates on the search for Amelia Earhart's lost plane. We’re also exploring listener questions and thoughts on future stories and the state of Astonishing Legends. We discuss the intricacies of researching paranormal topics, sharing insights into why some stories captivate while others fizzle. There are also several business questions answered from curious fans. And delving into some of our own paranormal experiences, we share thoughts on the cases that have profoundly shaped our perspectives. So join us as we explore the strange, the unexplained, and everything in between, all thanks to the incredible support of YOU, our listeners! And Scott will be appearing with Rich Hatem in Washington D.C. in just a few weeks! IN the D.C. area? Get TICKETS HERE And check the Richard Hatem's Paranormal Bookshelf feed in the coming week for a sit-down he did with him about his 'Light in the Dark' Tour.

In tonight’s dead letter… Listener, Isla recalls a childhood park trip in Australia where she and a friend went exploring after her mom’s car broke down in the bush. They wandered too far from the car and observed a void-like, spear-bearing figure on the bank. The bush fell silent and the wind carried songs in an ancient language as they fled back to the car without looking back. Years later Isla still feels watched whenever she strays off the path. The Movie ‘Get out’ (referring to ‘The Sunken Place’ from the letter) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5052448/ Artlandish Aboriginal Art Website https://www.artlandish.com/ Goddard & Wierzbicka (2015) Article on ResearchGate https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283206413 Wikipedia – "The Dreaming" https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Dreaming&oldid=1297566697 Petrichor https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petrichor SAS Survival Handbook https://a.co/d/6oSBMlQ ‘Songlines’ by Bruce Chatwin https://a.co/d/6kqf1Oc ‘Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions’ by Edwin A. Abbott https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flatland Email your stories to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com

In tonight’s dead letter… Listener, Scott recounts a series of unexplained howls heard in the woods near his Alabama home. Night after night, he and his family would sit on the porch and listen, noticing patterns in the sounds. This progresses later to him being stalked by something he could not see. Alabama Bigfoot Website (via Wayback Machine) Most audio links not working: https://web.archive.org/web/20110518043255/http://www.alabamabigfoot.com/bigfoot/reports/Recordings.html RadioLab’s episode ‘Wildtalk’: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0sug8rBkpypmdnjFEQ3iA3?si=3K7sddfCRiKfLwBlj9qkkg Predators in Alabama: https://www.huntsvilleal.gov/environment/animal-services/pet-services/urban-wildlife/ Charle’s Fort’s Wild Talents (Book): https://a.co/d/8r1l6gz The Astonishing Legends Episodes on Charles Fort (if you’re curious): P1 https://open.spotify.com/episode/5kWLAh6t5REHPfKGZloOkb?si=7c98be94c8a44a06 P2 https://open.spotify.com/episode/3QhqHXilyU0DZgFxfWKtjE?si=5bb9bf4d7a444d0a The Movie ‘Spartan’: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spartan_(film) The North American Wood Ape Theory: https://www.woodape.org/ The Alaskan Killer Bigfoot Story: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaskan_Killer_Bigfoot https://www.travelchannel.com/show/alaskan-killer-bigfoot-travel-channel-atve-us Email your stories to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com

From Jonestown to Heaven’s Gate, to the Octopus Murders and the Waco Siege, the world is full of deception, manipulation, and destruction. Listen to Conspiracy Theories, Cults, and Crimes every Wednesday as we explore the real people at the center of the world’s most shocking secrets and nefarious organizations. Conspiracy Theories, Cults, and Crimes is a Crime House Original powered by PAVE Studios. Follow the show now so you don’t miss a single story. Listen and follow here: https://link.podtrac.com/nu1waeoa

This week’s Dead Letter Office is cancelled, but the show will return next week. Thank you for your patience and understanding!

In tonight’s dead letter, listener Jerri-Kay recounts a story from her childhood when her mother witnessed multiple shadow figures entering their bedroom in broad daylight. Later that night, while seemingly half-asleep, when her mom enters her room she yells that she's not her mother and points to lights that only she can see in the room, leaving the family shaken and searching for answers. Were these events positive or negative? Astonishing Legends' Shadow People Episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7wNUanfRFXoQ0QOhy5l58L?si=62193edf57854ec0 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/astonishing-legends/id923527373?i=1000355594797 Myth Fits Podcast with Kari Byron and Tori Belleci from MythBusters: https://www.youtube.com/@MythfitsPod https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mythfits/id1813405582 https://open.spotify.com/show/6SOvzD9Rc52Is6qHm0ivJt?si=f479aac0675644f8 David Weatherly's Work: https://eerielights.com/ https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B01N59JC6U/allbooks David Weeatherly on Astonishing Legends (Spotify/Apple Podcasts Links) https://open.spotify.com/episode/2RWx4nYQNZZ9b3qd04Dj8y?si=0353dbf9a2324ae1 https://open.spotify.com/episode/5p5GxpIqVX43RQwvtmTdwz?si=35384b2e23404b63 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/astonishing-legends/id923527373?i=1000495952492 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/astonishing-legends/id923527373?i=1000497668831 Documentary - The Nightmare: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-nightmare Missing 411: https://www.amazon.com/stores/David-Paulides/author/B002ALI9AA? https://open.spotify.com/episode/3TRVhzSYDB6NKiU69L5c9A?si=e6fe2e83dfe84069 https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Q0pc5e8JlBoZzDrgY1Evp?si=b451bd4ae98841be https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/astonishing-legends/id923527373?i=1000579063545 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/astonishing-legends/id923527373?i=1000580601049 Article on Light Emission After Death: https://www.sciencealert.com/we-emit-a-visible-light-that-vanishes-when-we-die-says-surprising-new-study Email your stories to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com

This week, Scott and Forrest welcome back Richard Hatem of Richard Hatem's Paranormal Bookshelf to Astonishing Legends! Join us as we delve into Richard's unique insights on paranormal literature, including odd details in famous experiences like Whitley Strieber's book, Communion and others. We'll explore Rich’s favorite episodes and get a sneak peek into his upcoming season. Plus, we'll hear about his pending tour across the US, including a stop at the Mothman Festival in just a few weeks! Visit our website for a lot more information on this episode.

In tonight’s dead letter, we hear from our listener Sam, who shares two spooky stories. The first involves two hauntings at an aquarium in the UK. An old lady ghost with a penchant for floral perfume, and as one might expect…a fisherman. While the second features a mysterious, hunched-over shadow figure lurking in a South Carolina home. Sometimes these shorter letters are the most freaky. As we often remind our listeners, the real experiences don’t occur with a three-act structure or poignant message all the time. Instead they are just glimpses of something that you may never understand. North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher: https://www.ncaquariums.com/fort-fisher Phantosmia (Phantom Smells): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantosmia Clairalience: https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/enlighten/clairalience-to-clairvoyance-your-psychic-gifts/ Gorton's Fisherman: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorton's_of_Gloucester Trilogy of Terror (1975): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trilogy_of_Terror https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/trilogy-of-terror Homunculus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homunculus https://www.britannica.com/science/homunculus-biology Astonishing Junk Tour: https://www.patreon.com/posts/astonishing-junk-85805858?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link Email your stories to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com

In tonight’s dead letter listener Henry, a marine, recounts his experiences on guard duty in Iraq, where his platoon was stationed at an abandoned hotel near the Jordanian border. During a late-night watch, he and another marine hear footsteps in the stairwell, but a search of the building yields nothing but an unsettling encounter with glowing eyes in the boiler room. The mystery deepens when a fellow marine suggests the presence of a skinwalker, leaving the group to ponder the true nature of what they encountered in the desolate hotel. Navajo Culture https://discovernavajo.com/navajo-culture/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navajo Skinwalkers (In the Context of Navajo Culture) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skin-walker https://nativeappropriations.com/2016/03/magic-in-north-america-part-1-ugh.html The Monroe Institute https://www.monroeinstitute.org/ Jim Harold’s Campfire https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jim-harolds-campfire/id310656913 Trebil, Iraq https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trebil https://web.archive.org/web/20050716034614/https://newstandardnews.net/content/index.cfm/items/2088 The Monte Vista Hotel in Flagstaff, Arizona https://hotelmontevista.com/

In tonight’s dead letter… Josh shares a chilling encounter with a being we’ve discussed on the show numerous times. The Hat Man. For Josh he appears as a shadowy figure sitting in his bedroom in the middle of the night. What would you do in this situation? It’s easy to answer that until you’re confronted with it yourself. Josh gave into paranormal apathy, something we’ve identified at Astonishing Legends as a common reaction to the unexplainable. Is the Hat Man a harbinger of doom or change or just something that happens in our mind? Jim Harold’s Campfire https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jim-harolds-campfire/id310656913 Our Strange Skies (Rob Kristoffersen) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/our-strange-skies-ufos-throughout-history/id1546735571 Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0816692/ Hypnopompic State https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnopompia Hypnogogic State https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnagogia Send your story into deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com

In tonight’s dead letter, listener Renee shares a strange encounter in Los Angeles. Late one night, while walking her dog, she saw what appeared to be a gray alien. After a moment of shock, she looked again and saw a middle-aged African-American woman. Renee was left wondering if she had seen a psychic mask slip or if it was just a trick of the light. Send your story to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com

On September 12th, 1952, in Flatwoods, West Virginia, five boys witnessed a fiery object slowly descend from the sky and land nearby, seemingly under intelligent control. What followed became one of the strangest UFO encounters in American history. Joined by a 32-year-old mother and a National Guard member, the group were allegedly pursued by a towering, mist-shrouded, humanoid figure that emitted strange lights and sounds. And with seven direct witnesses and reports from several states, this was no isolated event. With some eyewitness still speaking up as recently as 2018. Misunderstood and mythologized for decades, the Flatwoods Monster deserves a closer, more accurate look — and that’s exactly what we’re here to do. Visit our website for a lot more information on this episode.

In tonight’s dead letter, Cody shares a chilling experience from a trip to Jacob City, a ghost town in Utah. While camping with friends and their dogs, they captured eerie EVPs, including one that called out Cody’s name. As the night grew darker, the dogs became unusually frightened, and a sudden, strong wind forced them to pack up and leave before their campfire got out of control. This is history, mystery, and a reminder to trust your instincts. Send your story to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com Show note links! Jacob City - Utah Ghost Town Jacob City - Utah Outdoor Activities Snapshots of Mentioned Newspaper Articles Bannack, Montana - Wikipedia Southwest Montana History: Bannack The Sheriff and Outlaw Henry Plummer Series at Astonishing Legends (Available on all podcast platforms as well and YouTube) Astonishing Legends - Sheriff and Outlaw Henry Plummer Part 1 Astonishing Legends - Sheriff and Outlaw Henry Plummer Part 2 Astonishing Legends - Sheriff and Outlaw Henry Plummer Part 3 Jacobs Smelter - Superfund Site

In tonight’s dead letter, Jordan recalls a strange encounter in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she spotted nearly a dozen silver crafts hovering over the Sandia Mountains. These objects appeared to be linked and moved in unison, with one larger craft seemingly in charge. A large black helicopter sped off in the direction of the crafts after they disappeared, leaving Jordan with a sense of wonder and the feeling that they were harmless tourists from another world, but were they? We’ll dive into it! Send your story to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com Kirtland Air Force Base - Wikipedia Kirtland AFB Sandia National Laboratories Sandia National Laboratories - Wikipedia Mirage Men - Wikipedia Mirage Men streaming: where to watch movie online? Author Nick Redfern - Amazon Watch The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch Full Episodes, Video & More | HISTORY Channel Paul Bennewitz - Wikipedia Richard L. Doty - Wikipedia

This week, we revisit a favorite Patreon Junk Drawer episode featuring Max Kelso's unsettling experiences at a Boy Scout camp in the heart of Ohio. We explore Max's first encounter as a young scout when he saw a shadowy figure watching him through the window of his cabin late one night. Years later, during a game at the same camp, Max experiences something even stranger. The Junk Drawer is a more casual, conversational show than our regular program and is usually only available to our patrons at patreon.com/astonishinglegends. It’s a great time to check out our Patreon because this Sunday, June 29th, 2025, we’re doing our first-ever live AMA on video there!

In tonight’s dead letter, Scott and Forrest share Arthur’s story. He recounts a frightening encounter in the Bronx in 1998 when while stopped at a red light he saw something, or someone that didn’t seem right. The person in the car next to him had pale skin, completely black eyes, and an impossible smile. But that’s really just the beginning of this bizarre tale. Books by David Weatherly on Amazon Astonishing Legends Private Facebook Group Astonishing Legends Episode links to Astonishing Legends Website, but all shows can be found on any podcast app. Ep 188: Strange Intruders with David Weatherly Part 1 — Astonishing Legends Ep 189: Strange Intruders with David Weatherly Part 2 — Astonishing Legends Ep 87: Black Eyed Kids Part 1 — Astonishing Legends Ep 88: Black Eyed Kids Part 2 — Astonishing Legends Ep 89: Black Eyed Kids Part 3 — Astonishing Legends Send your story to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com

In tonight’s dead letter, Scott and Forrest read a dead letter from a woman with ties to the Otoe-Missouria tribe in Oklahoma. She recounts a terrifying experience driving on Highway 60 at night when a dark fog hit the truck she was in, causing a flat tire. The story delves into local legends, the importance of oral traditions, and the listener’s theory that the area is haunted due to indigenous people buried there by settlers. They discuss the plausibility of a curse, the story's symbolism, and the mysteries surrounding the nature and effects of whatever it was they collided with. LINKS and NOTES Osage Nation Heritage Trail | Green Country Oklahoma | Official Site Ep 49: Monsters Among Us — Astonishing Legends Ep 49: Monsters Among Us — Astonishing Legends (Spotify) Ep 49: Monsters Among Us — Astonishing Legends (Apple Podcasts) Indian meridian - Wikipedia Submit YOUR story to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com

In 1850, the quiet town of Stratford, Connecticut was shaken by a bizarre and terrifying haunting that gripped the world’s attention. Reverend Eliakim Phelps and his family were tormented by objects falling from nowhere, cryptic messages, and strange effigies crafted from household items. As the phenomena escalated—turning violent and targeting the children—skeptics, spiritualists, and investigators descended on the mansion in search of answers. Was it a hoax, psychic energy, or something truly supernatural? This episode dives into the enduring mystery of the Stratford Poltergeist. Visit our website for a lot more information on this episode.