Astonishing Legends

In tonight’s dead letter from listener Amanda, the boundary between an adorable trusted holiday icon and nocturnal terror is tested in the deep woods near the Allegheny National Forest. A massive silhouette of something that shouldn’t exist peering over the hood of a car sparks a lifelong mystery. Amanda may have been a child when she saw this, but her mom and grandmother were both also eyewitnesses. References and Links: The History of Warren, Pennsylvania The Folklore of the Celtic Púca Flemish Giant Rabbits: Facts and Size The Psychology of Childhood Memory and Trauma We're looking for more stories! Send your Dead Letter to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com!

This episode dives into one of the strangest modern consciousness experiments ever proposed. Starting with cognitive scientist Donald Hoffman’s provocative idea that reality may function like a computer desktop interface — an evolutionary illusion designed for survival rather than truth. We’ll explore a bizarre experiment popularized by Danny Goler in which participants under the influence of DMT have claimed that lasers can help random patterns resolve into stable, angular symbols under the right conditions — as if making the hidden code behind reality visible. Are these visions simply the brain’s hyper-connected visual cortex generating patterns, or could they represent the possibility that our everyday reality may be a carefully rendered illusion? Visit our website for a lot more information on this episode.

In tonight’s dead letter… we travel back to 2010 to a hotel in the heart of Camden in the UK. Two brothers looking to soak up some local punk history find themselves sharing a room with something entirely unexpected. Sometimes the most mundane late-night activities—like eating pizza and watching TV—are the perfect backdrop for the impossible to slip through. Reference Links: Historical Hauntings of North London Camden's history We're looking for more stories! Send your Dead Letter to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com!

In tonight’s dead letter, we dive into a bizarre encounter that proves the unexplained doesn't always wait for a dark and stormy night on boot hill. Sometimes just an ordinary walk home from a university class can transform into an unforgettable and unsettling experience. Could a seemingly mundane moment on a city sidewalk be the cover for a highly advanced technological test, or is it something far more supernatural? Join us as we explore the invisible boundaries of our own minds and discuss what happens when an unseen force aggressively demands to cross them. Göbekli Tepe - Britannica Noveto Systems 'SoundBeaming' - AP News Havana Syndrome - Wikipedia Nina Kulagina - Wikipedia Weird or What? with William Shatner: Mind Control (Season 3, Episode 10) - IMDb We're looking for more stories! Send your Dead Letter to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com

In the final chapter of our Scole series, the story stops looking like a séance and starts feeling like science fiction. What began with classic Spiritualist phenomena — messages from the dead and movement in the dark—escalates into self-developing film, unexplained voices on sealed recorders, and a crystal device built for two-way contact. Then a black-eyed, Grey-like figure appears on video, and the entities claim to be inter-dimensional beings and time travelers. With ominous warnings and a sudden end to the experiment, we’re left with the question: did they prove life after death… or open something they couldn’t control? Visit our website for a lot more information on this episode.

In tonight’s dead letter, a routine hike along a converted railroad bed transforms into a standoff with the inexplicable for Patron and Listener Zed. Standing in an open clearing along the path is a solitary, towering object that seems to possibly be a tree, but for some reason it’s hard to tell. When Zed and his hiking partner attempt to rationalize the sight, they are met not with answers, but with a wave of paralyzing dread and the distinct impression that the object is aware of them. Reference Links Wadhams to Avoca Trail | Michigan Trails The Van Meter Monster - Astonishing Legends Mantis Men - Astonishing Legends Indrid Cold (The Smiling Man) - Cryptid Wiki Communion (1989) - IMDb We're looking for more stories! Send your Dead Letter to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com

This week, we return to the pitch-black depths of the Scole Experiment, where a sealed room in rural Norfolk became the testing ground for an impossible claim: that voices from beyond could speak through a crude, powerless device that shouldn’t have worked at all. What began as a strange experiment in energy and communication quickly drew the attention of the Society for Psychical Research — seasoned skeptics, scientists, and even magicians determined to expose any trickery. Instead, they found themselves confronting an event that challenged physics, belief, and their own assumptions. Was this the realization of a long-dreamed-of “spirit phone,” or a masterclass in deception? Visit our website for a lot more information on this episode.

In tonight’s dead letter… we explore the unsettling possibility that our children are not the blank slates conventional psychology suggests. Listener, Tim, recounts the evening his toddler, Mason, claimed he "wasn't always" his kid before describing a past life that ended in a tragic house fire. It is a quiet reflection on the "old soul" phenomenon and whether our children bring a bit of luggage with them when they enter this world. Reference Links The University of Virginia: Division of Perceptual Studies The Work of Dr. Ian Stevenson Monarch Butterfly Migration and Genetics - National Geographic Altered States (1980) - IMDB Defending Your Life (1991) - IMDB PLAINTEXT The University of Virginia: Division of Perceptual Studies: https://med.virginia.edu/perceptual-studies/ The Work of Dr. Ian Stevenson: https://a.co/d/0fMu7zrx Monarch Butterfly Migration and Genetics - National Geographic: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/facts/monarch-butterfly/ Altered States (1980) - IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080360/ Defending Your Life (1991) - IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101694/ We're looking for more stories! Send your Dead Letter to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com!

In a quiet Norfolk village, in the early 1990s, a seventeenth-century farmhouse became the setting for one of the most controversial paranormal investigations ever conducted. In the cellar of Street Farmhouse in Scole, a small group known as the Scole Experimental Group claimed they weren’t just contacting spirits — they were working with them. Over five years, under strict controls, they reported blue lights with apparent intelligence, physical phenomena, voices broadcast through powerless devices, and even photographic images appearing on sealed film, all allegedly guided by a collective of discarnate scientists calling themselves “The Team of Many Minds.” This episode kicks off a three-part deep dive into the Scole Experiment, beginning with the Norfolk Protocol and the impossible technology said to be designed from beyond the grave. Bibliography Books & Reports Foy, Robin P. Witnessing the Impossible: The Diary of the Scole Experiment. Diss: Campion Books, 2008. Keen, Montague, Arthur Ellison, and David Fontana. "The Scole Report: An Account of an Investigation into the Genuineness of a Range of Physical Phenomena Associated with a Mediumistic Group in Norfolk, England." Proceedings of the Society for Psychical Research 58, no. 220 (November 1999): 147–455. The Scole Experiment: Scientific Evidence for Life After Death Multimedia SCOLE: THE AFTERLIFE EXPERIMENT.Visit our website for a lot more information on this episode.

In tonight’s dead letter… Scott and Forrest explore the intersection of the safety of the suburbs and the primeval woods of the greater Akron area. Long before "Ohio" became modern slang for the weird, it was already earning that reputation through sightings of glowing red eyes that radiated their own light, but if you listen to Astonishing Legends, you already know that. Michael’s account details a terrifying standoff where when he was only 5 years old, he and his sister found themselves locked in the sanctuary of a childhood bedroom with something peering at them from outside. Reference Links Small Town Monsters Village of Mogador - Official History Minerva Monster - Encyclopedia Arctica The Ohio Valley UFO Flap of 1973 Mogador, Ohio - Wikipedia We're looking for more stories! Send your Dead Letter to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com!

In tonight’s dead letter, a simple move to a quiet farmhouse turns into a bit of an accidental science experiment between two roommates who didn't want to sound "crazy" to each other. They both lived with the same unsettling experiences for months in total silence until a conversation on their final day changed everything. It’s a fascinating look at how our surroundings—and even the very ground beneath us—might be playing tricks on our senses, either organically or spiritually. Reference Links Recommended Reading & Resources Ancient Aliens: The Alien Frequency (Season 12, Episode 8) The Maltese Falcon (1941) - IMDB Dead Mountain by Donnie Eichar NASA Technical Reports: Human Response to Vibration Vic Tandy: The Ghost in the Machine Geographic Landmarks Ggantija Temples, Gozo Hal Saflieni Hypogeum Tarxien Temples Gozo Island Send your Dead Letter to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com!

In tonight’s dead letter, listener Chris and his wife venture to the highest point east of the Rockies for a night of stargazing under the Milky Way. While lying on the summit of Black Elk Peak, Chris decides to put out a silent, mental invitation to the universe to see if anything might respond. The atmosphere shifts dramatically during their descent, leading to an incident in the dark woods that leaves the couple questioning the nature of the "entities" Chris had called upon. Scott and Forrest discuss the spiritual history of this sacred Lakota location and whether Chris unintentionally followed a protocol that opened a door to the unexplained. Reference Links Black Elk Speaks: The Complete EditionBFRO - Bigfoot LegendsUFO Reality by Jenny RandallsIn the Spirit of Crazy Horse by Peter MatthiessenCE5 ProtocolsThe Oz FactorThunderheart (1992 Film)The Age of Disclosure

This week, we revisit one of the most compelling and unsettling UFO cases on record: the Shag Harbor Incident. Often called Canada’s Roswell, but with one crucial difference — the government openly admitted it didn’t know what happened. On October 4, 1967, airline crews, fishermen, and first responders all witnessed a strange craft descend into the waters off Nova Scotia, leaving behind no wreckage, no survivors, but a thick, sulfur-smelling foam that defied explanation. Every aircraft was accounted for, and the Royal Canadian Air Force officially classified the event as a “UFO Report,” not a meteor or misidentified plane. But the mystery deepens when decades of research uncover a buried military history tied to underwater encounters and secret NATO exercises. With fresh context from our recent USO investigation, and groundbreaking research by eyewitness and investigator Chris Styles, this episode explores the possibility that Shag Harbor wasn’t just a crash, but a coordinated recovery involving technology not of this world. Visit our website for a lot more information on this episode.

In tonight’s dead letter… listener Kevin, an overnight security officer at the time, faces an unsettling experience in the silent, abandoned wing of a psychiatric hospital. He encounters an entity that isn't misty or formless, but a shimmering, blue-lit figure. The encounter takes a turn when the presence seems to pause, acknowledge him, and continue its inexplicable journey. This is not your typical haunting. Episode References & Further Reading: Waverly Hills Sanatorium: Official Site: Waverly Hills Sanatorium Wikipedia: Waverly Hills Sanatorium - Wikipedia Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum: Official Site: Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum Wikipedia: Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum - Wikipedia Kecksburg UFO Incident: Wikipedia: Kecksburg UFO incident - Wikipedia The Backrooms: Know Your Meme: Know Your Memes: The Back Rooms Corpse Candles: Wikipedia: Corpse road - Wikipedia Will-o'-the-wisps: Wikipedia: Will-o'-the-wisp - Wikipedia Fata Morgana (Mirage): Wikipedia: Fata Morgana - Wikipedia Wikipedia (General Mirages): Mirage - Wikipedia "Skinwalkers at the Pentagon" by George Knapp and Colm Kelleher: Amazon Link: George Knapp & Colm Kelleher: Skinwalkers at the Pentagon (Amazon) Astonishing Legends Episode Synesthesia: Wikipedia: Synesthesia - Wikipedia Jim Harold's Campfire Podcast: Official Site: Jim Harold's Campfire Color Symbolism in Esotericism (regarding light colors): Wikipedia: Color symbolism - Wikipedia

Humans have always scanned the skies for the unknown, from Galileo’s first telescopic observations to modern instruments peering 13 billion years into the past, always assuming that if contact ever came, it would come from space. Yet while we obsess over the heavens, we largely ignore the vast, uncharted world covering 71% of our own planet. The deep ocean, less mapped than Mars, and hostile to human exploration, has long inspired reports from sailors of strange lights and massive, fast-moving shapes beneath the waters. Today, advanced sensors, radar, and military testimony describe objects that plunge from the sky into the sea without impact, maneuver underwater at extreme speeds, and defy conventional explanation. Known as Unidentified Submerged Objects (USOs), or “Fast Movers,” these verified encounters challenge our assumptions, raising an unsettling possibility: while we search the cosmos for visitors, something unknown may have been here all along. Visit our website for a lot more information on this episode.

In tonight’s dead letter, we head to Athens, Ohio, home of the Astonishing Legends Merch headquarters — Athens is a town steeped in history and according to some accounts, one of the most haunted places in America. When an anthropology student moves into an apartment inside a renovated church, mysterious knocks soon give way to the sighting of a bizarre, tiny entity that refuses to leave. This one is outside the paranormal box, and with the benefit of history, it would appear that whatever was there…refuses to leave. LINKS: The Athens Lunatic Asylum https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athens_Lunatic_Asylum The Ridges - Ohio University History & Architecture https://www.ohio.edu/ridges Articles detailing the tragic story of Margaret Schilling and the stain she left behind, which Scott and Forrest discussed in detail. https://2020.soulofathens.com/lore-of-appalachia/stain.html https://factschology.com/mmm-podcast-articles/lost-lady-athens-asylum-ohio Wilson Hall & Room 428: Information on the infamous "sealed" dorm room that the university supposedly closed off due to paranormal activity. https://shopathensohio.com/blog/wilson-hall-and-room-428/ https://www.reddit.com/r/ohiouniversity/comments/11ntl8b/haunted_wilson_hall_room_428_ohio_university/ The Athens Pentagram Theory: A look at the theory mentioned by Scott regarding the five cemeteries that supposedly form a pentagram around the city (with Wilson Hall at the center). https://www.athensnews.com/news/pentagram-theory-conjures-up-haunted-athens/article_f0c189c8-728e-11ee-bf6c-dbb66e699980.html The Koons Spirit Room: Context on the historical spiritualism connection near Athens (Mt. Nebo) that Scott brought up. https://www.americanhauntingsink.com/koons Kirkbride Buildings History https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirkbride_Plan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Story_Kirkbride

SPECIAL PRESENTATION: They Knew Too Much about Flying Saucers “The Saucers don’t interest me anymore. When Barker asked is that because you found out they were too ordinary to be interesting? Or because what you discovered about them is too painful for you to think about?”—They Knew Too Much About Flying Saucers by Gray Barker Listen: https://www.richardhatemsparanormalbookshelf.com/ Support RHPB on Patreon here! https://patreon.com/RichardHatem?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink Get RHPB merch here! https://richardhatem-shop.fourthwall.com/?

With Scott and Forrest on hiatus, join hosts Ed Voccola (Rick and Morty, Bless The Harts) and Chris Cullari (Blumhouse, The Aviary) for a wild trip through the world of what scares them in this special presentation of the Astonishing Legends Network's hit show Scared All The Time! In this episode (chosen by the fans!) the boys go sicko mode and come down with a case of necrotizing fasciitis...better known as flesh-eating bacteria. They cover the symptoms, the consequences, and what it takes to survive one of the deadliest diseases known to man. Plus: sepsis survivor stories! Don't love every word they say? Ok, weirdo. Here's some "chapters" to find what you DO love: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:27 - Housekeeping 00:06:49 - We’re Talking Flesh-Eating Bacteria 00:10:04 - Cabin Fever 00:16:04 - Nico gets Necrotic 00:20:00 - Necrotizing Fasciitis 00:29:31 - Tranq 00:32:49 - The History of Flesh-Eating Diseases 00:41:32 - What Happens to the Infected 00:44:50 - FEB Survivor Stories 00:49:22 - The Case of the Red Leg 00:59:37 - Gross-ish Part 1 Starts 01:00:28 - Gross-ish Part 1 Ends 01:05:45 - Gross-ish Part 2 Starts 01:11:31 - Gross-ish Part 2 Ends 01:16:33 - Elenor Follow-Up 01:22:10 - Sepsis 01:25:00 - Sepsis Survivor Stories 01:28:15 - The Fear Tier NOTE: Ads out of our control may affect chapter timing. Visit this episode’s show notes for links and references. And the show notes for every episode can now be found on our website. Want even more out of SATT? Now you can SUPPORT THE SHOW and get NEW SATT CONTENT EVERY WEEK for as little as 5 BONES — which includes our bonus video show New Fear Unlocked — by joining SATT PREMIUM.

SPECIAL PRESENTATION of The Midnight Library for Astonishing Legends Listeners - From Miranda Merrick: Welcome, Spooky Lovely! We have a fabulous evening planned for you in Highgate Cemetery! There will be gruesome finds, battling vampire hunters, rattled bones, and wandering ghosts- all shared with you by your rumored witch host! So, breathe deep, the gathering gloom, and pick out your spot in The Reading Room! We're so happy to see you! Special Thanks to Sounds Like an Earful Music Supply for the amazing music AND sound design.

SPECIAL CROSSOVER PRESENTATION of Richard Hatem’s Paranormal Bookshelf "The Ghost of 29 Megacycles" - S1:E5 "At first, he couldn't believe what was happening. A shape was beginning to form. He could clearly see the head and face of a man. O'Neill was gripped in fear. 'My God who are you?' Bill said. He was more than surprised when the figure answered: 'They call me, Doc Nick'." – from The Ghost of 29 Megacycles by John G. Fuller. Close your eyes and picture this: it's the winter of 1984. Karma Chameleon is on the radio, Ronald Reagan just announced his candidacy for a second presidential term, and a young Richard was returning home late on a Saturday night when his brother, John, caught him in the hallway and made him listen to the scariest thing they'd ever heard. In this episode, Richard explores The Ghost of 29 Megacycles by John G. Fuller. This book chronicles the development and use of the Spiricom device, an invention claiming to facilitate two-way communication between the living and the dead. As Richard immerses himself in the pages of The Ghost of 29 Megacycles, which he found in 1997, he can’t help but see himself reflected in the pages. You see, he was holed up in the Heathman Hotel in Portland, Oregon, working on The Mothman Prophecies. Through Meek's unwavering belief in the impossible, Richard finds inspiration to embrace his own sense of limitless belief, propelling him to finish the screenplay and truly bet on himself. Join Richard as he uncovers the mysteries of the Spiricom and reflects on the power of belief, in both yourself…and the paranormal. Subscribe now wherever you listen to podcasts for the next episode. Learn more about the stories, books, music, and more featured in this episode at https://www.richardhatemsparanormalbookshelf.com/