The Confessionals

Latest Episodes:

810: The Pagan Rituals an FBI Agent Saw Nov 18, 2025

Show notes

An FBI Agent goes undercover inside America’s darkest pagan cults… and discovers something far more sinister than criminal activity. Rituals. Blood offerings. Blóts. Pagan ceremonies that weren’t just symbolic, something was responding.
In this exclusive interview, a retired federal agent, Scott Payne, recounts the supernatural encounters he experienced while infiltrating extremist groups who blended ideology with occult ritual. What started as an investigation into domestic terror slowly revealed a deeper war, one not fought with weapons, but with spirits, influence, and ancient forces still active today.
Inside these pagan rituals, the Kingdom of Darkness wasn’t just present… it looked back.
If you’re interested in the supernatural world behind real investigations, spiritual warfare, cults, rituals, and the hidden battle influencing culture today, this is an episode you won’t forget.
Please pray for Tony's wife, Lindsay, as she battles breast cancer. Your prayers make a difference!
If you’re able, consider helping the Merkel family with medical expenses by donating to Lindsay’s GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b8f76890
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The Counter Premieres 7 PM CST 11/18/25
The Counter (YouTube): WATCH HERE
The Counter (Full Episode): WATCH HERE
Tony's Recommended Reads: slingshotlibrary.com
If you want to learn about Jesus and what it means to be saved: Click Here
Bigfoot: The Journey To Belief: Stream Here
The Meadow Project: Stream Here
Merkel Media Apparel: merkmerch.com

My New YouTube Channel
Merkel IRL: @merkelIRL
My First Sermon: Unseen Battles

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Scott Payne
Instagram | Code Name: Pale Horse
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Produced by: @jack_theproducer
OUTRO MUSIC
Joel Thomas - Adiós
YouTube | Apple | Spotify

RELOADED | 132: Hollow Earth and What Lives Within | Think Tank Nov 17, 2025

Show notes

In Episode 132: Hollow Earth and What Lives Within, we “dive in” to hollow Earth with another edition of the Think Tank! Is a hollow Earth really possible? If so, why is it there? Who lives inside of it? What is it being used for? These thought-provoking questions and many more will be covered as Justen Faull, Wes Faull, Chad Riley, and Jim Wilhelmsen join The Confessionals to discuss the mysterious hollow Earth.
Please pray for Tony's wife, Lindsay, as she battles breast cancer. Your prayers make a difference!
If you’re able, consider helping the Merkel family with medical expenses by donating to Lindsay’s GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b8f76890
Become a member for ad-free listening, extra shows, and exclusive access to our social media app: theconfessionalspodcast.com/join
The Confessionals Social Network App:
Apple Store: https://apple.co/3UxhPrh
Google Play: https://bit.ly/43mk8kZ
Tony's Recommended Reads: slingshotlibrary.com
If you want to learn about Jesus and what it means to be saved: Click Here
Bigfoot: The Journey To Belief: Stream Here
The Meadow Project: Stream Here
Merkel Media Apparel: merkmerch.com

My New YouTube Channel
Merkel IRL: @merkelIRL
My First Sermon: Unseen Battles

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CONNECT WITH US
Website: www.theconfessionalspodcast.com
Email: contact@theconfessionalspodcast.com
MAILING ADDRESS:
Merkel Media
257 N. Calderwood St., #301
Alcoa, TN 37701
SOCIAL MEDIA
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Twitter: @TConfessionals
Tony's Twitter: @tony_merkel
Produced by: @jack_theproducer

When the 6-7 Portal Opened | Slingshot Nation Nov 14, 2025

Show notes

The viral “6-7” chant has taken over culture—echoing through stadiums, classrooms, TikTok videos, and livestreams—yet almost no one understands where it came from or why it spread so fast. This video traces the trend back to its unlikely source: Philly rapper Skrilla, whose song “Doot Doot” contains the now-famous “6-7” line. What begins as a harmless meme unravels into something far darker as his openly practiced Santería, Palo rituals, animal sacrifices, and spell-casting come to light. With lyrics referencing soul-snatching and songs named for Yoruba deities, the cultural explosion suddenly appears far more intentional than accidental.
The episode explores whether the 6-7 chant has spiritual roots, ritualistic energy, or deeper meaning behind the scenes—especially when compared with passages like Ezekiel 13:18 describing those who “hunt human souls." By examining Skrilla’s practices, the symbolism behind his music, and the mysterious global spread of “6-7,” this video digs into the spiritual, cultural, and supernatural layers of a trend millions are repeating without knowing its origin.
Please pray for Tony's wife, Lindsay, as she battles breast cancer. Your prayers make a difference!
If you’re able, consider helping the Merkel family with medical expenses by donating to Lindsay’s GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b8f76890
Become a member for ad-free listening, extra shows, and exclusive access to our social media app: theconfessionalspodcast.com/join
The Confessionals Social Network App:
Apple Store: https://apple.co/3UxhPrh
Google Play: https://bit.ly/43mk8kZ
Tony's Recommended Reads: slingshotlibrary.com
If you want to learn about Jesus and what it means to be saved: Click Here

My New YouTube Channel
Merkel IRL: @merkelIRL
My First Sermon: Unseen Battles
The Meadow Project: Stream Here
Merkel Media Apparel: merkmerch.com

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SIMPLISAFE TODAY: simplisafe.com/confessionals
GHOSTBED: GhostBed.com/tony
CONNECT WITH US
Website: www.theconfessionalspodcast.com
Email: contact@theconfessionalspodcast.com
MAILING ADDRESS:
Merkel Media
257 N. Calderwood St., #301
Alcoa, TN 37701
SOCIAL MEDIA
Subscribe to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/2TlREaI
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/theconfessionals/
Discord: https://discord.gg/KDn4D2uw7h
Show Instagram: theconfessionalspodcast
Tony's Instagram: tonymerkelofficial
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheConfessionalsPodcas
Twitter: @TConfessionals
Tony's Twitter: @tony_merkel
Produced by: @jack_theproducer

Members Preview | 809: The Reaper and The Beast Nov 13, 2025

Show notes

What if, in the dead of night, you woke to find not one shadow watching you, but two plotting together in the dark? In this chilling conversation, Christina relives the night a hooded figure with glowing red eyes reached from the darkness, its skeletal hand with claw-like nails scratching deep into her arm. Behind it, a towering beast-shaped shadow with horns and burning eyes watched in silence, radiating a presence far more sinister than the Reaper itself. What she saw that night blurred the line between the living and the damned, and it never truly left her.
Please pray for Tony's wife, Lindsay, as she battles breast cancer. Your prayers make a difference!
If you’re able, consider helping the Merkel family with medical expenses by donating to Lindsay’s GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b8f76890
Become a member for ad-free listening, extra shows, and exclusive access to our social media app: theconfessionalspodcast.com/join
The Confessionals Social Network App:
Apple Store: https://apple.co/3UxhPrh
Google Play: https://bit.ly/43mk8kZ
Tony's Recommended Reads: slingshotlibrary.com
If you want to learn about Jesus and what it means to be saved: Click Here
Bigfoot: The Journey To Belief: Stream Here
The Meadow Project: Stream Here
Merkel Media Apparel: merkmerch.com

My New YouTube Channel
Merkel IRL: @merkelIRL
My First Sermon: Unseen Battles

SPONSORS
SIMPLISAFE TODAY: simplisafe.com/confessionals
GHOSTBED: GhostBed.com/tony
CONNECT WITH US
Website: www.theconfessionalspodcast.com
Email: contact@theconfessionalspodcast.com
MAILING ADDRESS:
Merkel Media
257 N. Calderwood St., #301
Alcoa, TN 37701
SOCIAL MEDIA
Subscribe to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/2TlREaI
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/theconfessionals/
Discord: https://discord.gg/KDn4D2uw7h
Show Instagram: theconfessionalspodcast
Tony's Instagram: tonymerkelofficial
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheConfessionalsPodcas
Twitter: @TConfessionals
Tony's Twitter: @tony_merkel
Produced by: @jack_theproducer
OUTRO MUSIC
Joel Thomas - Head In The Clouds
YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify

808: Fear in the Florida Swamp Nov 11, 2025

Show notes

What if the creature stalking the swamps of Florida isn’t flesh and blood at all? In this chilling sit-down, Tony and Stacy Brown Jr. retrace the night his father captured one of the most compelling Bigfoot videos ever filmed, and the haunting encounters that followed. Driven to prove the truth of what he’s seen, Stacy reveals his new docu-series, Bigfoot: The Journey to Belief; a quest to turn skeptics into believers. As they unravel stories of unseen watchers, eerie lights, and strange voices in the dark, a question emerges: are these beings beasts of the wild, or something far more supernatural?
Please pray for Tony's wife, Lindsay, as she battles breast cancer. Your prayers make a difference!
If you’re able, consider helping the Merkel family with medical expenses by donating to Lindsay’s GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b8f76890
Become a member for ad-free listening, extra shows, and exclusive access to our social media app: theconfessionalspodcast.com/join
The Confessionals Social Network App:
Apple Store: https://apple.co/3UxhPrh
Google Play: https://bit.ly/43mk8kZ
Tony's Recommended Reads: slingshotlibrary.com
If you want to learn about Jesus and what it means to be saved: Click Here

My New YouTube Channel
Merkel IRL: @merkelIRL
My First Sermon: Unseen Battles
Bigfoot: The Journey To Belief: Stream Here
The Meadow Project: Stream Here
Merkel Media Apparel: merkmerch.com

SPONSORS
SIMPLISAFE TODAY: simplisafe.com/confessionals
GHOSTBED: GhostBed.com/tony
CONNECT WITH US
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Stacy Brown Jr
YouTube | Instagram
MAILING ADDRESS:
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257 N. Calderwood St., #301
Alcoa, TN 37701
SOCIAL MEDIA
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Tony's Instagram: tonymerkelofficial
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheConfessionalsPodcas
Twitter: @TConfessionals
Tony's Twitter: @tony_merkel
Produced by: @jack_theproducer
OUTRO MUSIC
Joel Thomas - Bigfoot ft. Tony Merkel
YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify

RELOADED | 286: It Grabbed My Soul Nov 10, 2025

Show notes

In Episode 286: It Grabbed My Soul, we speak with Seth, whose experiences with lucid dreaming seem to take him into a different, interactive realm. Over time Seth has been able to take some control over his lucid dreams and change their outcomes. He tells us of his strange dream encounters, including an eerie instance when a dark humanoid figure grabbed him as he lay on his bed. Even though the figure seemed to only grab his try toes, Seth describes how he felt as though it was pulling out his soul - all while he could hear and feel a kind of electrical charge building around him!
Please pray for Tony's wife, Lindsay, as she battles breast cancer. Your prayers make a difference!
If you’re able, consider helping the Merkel family with medical expenses by donating to Lindsay’s GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b8f76890
Become a member for ad-free listening, extra shows, and exclusive access to our social media app: theconfessionalspodcast.com/join
The Confessionals Social Network App:
Apple Store: https://apple.co/3UxhPrh
Google Play: https://bit.ly/43mk8kZ
Tony's Recommended Reads: slingshotlibrary.com
If you want to learn about Jesus and what it means to be saved: Click Here

My New YouTube Channel
Merkel IRL: @merkelIRL
My First Sermon: Unseen Battles
The Meadow Project: Stream Here
Merkel Media Apparel: merkmerch.com

SPONSORS
SIMPLISAFE TODAY: simplisafe.com/confessionals
GHOSTBED: GhostBed.com/tony
CONNECT WITH US
Website: www.theconfessionalspodcast.com
Email: contact@theconfessionalspodcast.com
MAILING ADDRESS:
Merkel Media
257 N. Calderwood St., #301
Alcoa, TN 37701
SOCIAL MEDIA
Subscribe to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/2TlREaI
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/theconfessionals/
Discord: https://discord.gg/KDn4D2uw7h
Show Instagram: theconfessionalspodcast
Tony's Instagram: tonymerkelofficial
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheConfessionalsPodcas
Twitter: @TConfessionals
Tony's Twitter: @tony_merkel
Produced by: @jack_theproducer

Machines, Monsters, and The Future | Slingshot Nation Nov 07, 2025

Show notes

A futuristic showdown between man-made intelligence and ancient beasts — this live episode dives into the blurred line between technology and the supernatural. From AI robots and self-driving trucks to cryptids breaching realms, the moon landing hoax, and what’s coming next — we’re pulling back The Thin Veil of Reality.
Please pray for Tony's wife, Lindsay, as she battles breast cancer. Your prayers make a difference!
If you’re able, consider helping the Merkel family with medical expenses by donating to Lindsay’s GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b8f76890
Become a member for ad-free listening, extra shows, and exclusive access to our social media app: theconfessionalspodcast.com/join
The Confessionals Social Network App:
Apple Store: https://apple.co/3UxhPrh
Google Play: https://bit.ly/43mk8kZ
Tony's Recommended Reads: slingshotlibrary.com
If you want to learn about Jesus and what it means to be saved: Click Here

My New YouTube Channel
Merkel IRL: @merkelIRL
My First Sermon: Unseen Battles
The Meadow Project: Stream Here
Merkel Media Apparel: merkmerch.com

SPONSORS
SIMPLISAFE TODAY: simplisafe.com/confessionals
GHOSTBED: GhostBed.com/tony
CONNECT WITH US
Website: www.theconfessionalspodcast.com
Email: contact@theconfessionalspodcast.com
MAILING ADDRESS:
Merkel Media
257 N. Calderwood St., #301
Alcoa, TN 37701
SOCIAL MEDIA
Subscribe to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/2TlREaI
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/theconfessionals/
Discord: https://discord.gg/KDn4D2uw7h
Show Instagram: theconfessionalspodcast
Tony's Instagram: tonymerkelofficial
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheConfessionalsPodcas
Twitter: @TConfessionals
Tony's Twitter: @tony_merkel
Produced by: @jack_theproducer

Members Preview | 807: The Secret World Beneath Tennessee Nov 06, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Tony sits down with Brian Jeffrey of Black Mass Paranormal to unravel the chilling accounts behind his footage from East Tennessee’s backcountry, a place where the woods hide more than shadows. What began as a routine investigation turned into a desperate flight through the forest as black, humanoid shapes closed in behind him. From dogman-like figures to the unnerving legends of feral people stalking the Appalachian caves, Brian describes encounters that blur the line between human and something far darker. Together, they explore the predator-like clicking sounds echoing through restricted federal land, the possibility of underground civilizations, and the horrifying question: Are these the same beings behind the missing people of East Tennessee?
Please pray for Tony's wife, Lindsay, as she battles breast cancer. Your prayers make a difference!
If you’re able, consider helping the Merkel family with medical expenses by donating to Lindsay’s GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b8f76890
Become a member for ad-free listening, extra shows, and exclusive access to our social media app: theconfessionalspodcast.com/join
The Confessionals Social Network App:
Apple Store: https://apple.co/3UxhPrh
Google Play: https://bit.ly/43mk8kZ
Tony's Recommended Reads: slingshotlibrary.com
If you want to learn about Jesus and what it means to be saved: Click Here

My New YouTube Channel
Merkel IRL: @merkelIRL
My First Sermon: Unseen Battles
The Meadow Project: Stream Here
Merkel Media Apparel: merkmerch.com

SPONSORS
SIMPLISAFE TODAY: simplisafe.com/confessionals
GHOSTBED: GhostBed.com/tony
CONNECT WITH US
Website: www.theconfessionalspodcast.com
Email: contact@theconfessionalspodcast.com
Black Mass Paranormal YouTube
MAILING ADDRESS:
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257 N. Calderwood St., #301
Alcoa, TN 37701
SOCIAL MEDIA
Subscribe to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/2TlREaI
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Tony's Instagram: tonymerkelofficial
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheConfessionalsPodcas
Twitter: @TConfessionals
Tony's Twitter: @tony_merkel
Produced by: @jack_theproducer
OUTRO MUSIC
Joel Thomas - ShutUp N Drive
YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify

806: The Alien Deception Nov 04, 2025

Show notes

Decades of UFO research unravel when Tony sits down with investigator Joe Jordan to expose what’s really behind the phenomenon. What many call “contact” or “enlightenment” turns out to be a deception that only the name of Jesus can end. Joe reveals how encounters that began with curiosity became battles for the soul, won only through Christ’s authority. The veil between spiritual and interdimensional begins to tear, revealing who’s truly in control. This conversation traces the journey from counterfeit light to the undeniable power of salvation.
Please pray for Tony's wife, Lindsay, as she battles breast cancer. Your prayers make a difference!
If you’re able, consider helping the Merkel family with medical expenses by donating to Lindsay’s GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b8f76890
Become a member for ad-free listening, extra shows, and exclusive access to our social media app: theconfessionalspodcast.com/join
The Confessionals Social Network App:
Apple Store: https://apple.co/3UxhPrh
Google Play: https://bit.ly/43mk8kZ
Tony's Recommended Reads: slingshotlibrary.com
If you want to learn about Jesus and what it means to be saved: Click Here

My New YouTube Channel
Merkel IRL: @merkelIRL
My First Sermon: Unseen Battles
The Meadow Project: Stream Here
Merkel Media Apparel: merkmerch.com

SPONSORS
SIMPLISAFE TODAY: simplisafe.com/confessionals
GHOSTBED: GhostBed.com/tony
CONNECT WITH US
Website: www.theconfessionalspodcast.com
Email: contact@theconfessionalspodcast.com
Joe Jordan
Book | CE-4 Research
MAILING ADDRESS:
Merkel Media
257 N. Calderwood St., #301
Alcoa, TN 37701
SOCIAL MEDIA
Subscribe to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/2TlREaI
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Show Instagram: theconfessionalspodcast
Tony's Instagram: tonymerkelofficial
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheConfessionalsPodcas
Twitter: @TConfessionals
Tony's Twitter: @tony_merkel
Produced by: @jack_theproducer
OUTRO MUSIC
Joel Thomas - Imposter
YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify

RELOADED | 601: Vegas Backyard UFO Crash Nov 03, 2025

Show notes

In Episode 601: Vegas Backyard UFO Crash, Ryan Burns returns to share new evidence surrounding the Las Vegas UFO crash that occurred in the summer of 2023. The narrative revolves around a family's startling experience as they witness a mysterious craft crash landing in their backyard, leading to an encounter with towering, non-human entities. The investigation gains an added layer of intrigue due to its alignment with esoteric timelines like Walpurgis Night and Beltane, contributing an aura of mysticism to the already shocking events. As Ryan dug deeper, he unveiled connections to the Bigelow Aerospace Corporation, a center for classified government programs studying UFOs, and explored the multifaceted layers of government involvement, including a peculiar military-grade storage container linked to national security.
This story weaves a captivating web into the exploration of the UFO story of the century, marked by its complex connections, esoteric undertones, and the interplay between government secrecy and extraterrestrial phenomena.
Please pray for Tony's wife, Lindsay, as she battles breast cancer. Your prayers make a difference!
If you’re able, consider helping the Merkel family with medical expenses by donating to Lindsay’s GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/b8f76890
Become a member for ad-free listening, extra shows, and exclusive access to our social media app: theconfessionalspodcast.com/join
The Confessionals Social Network App:
Apple Store: https://apple.co/3UxhPrh
Google Play: https://bit.ly/43mk8kZ
Tony's Recommended Reads: slingshotlibrary.com
If you want to learn about Jesus and what it means to be saved: Click Here

My New YouTube Channel
Merkel IRL: @merkelIRL
My First Sermon: Unseen Battles
The Meadow Project: Stream Here
Merkel Media Apparel: merkmerch.com

SPONSORS
SIMPLISAFE TODAY: simplisafe.com/confessionals
GHOSTBED: GhostBed.com/tony
CONNECT WITH US
Website: www.theconfessionalspodcast.com
Email: contact@theconfessionalspodcast.com
Kelly Hawley: Ministry Website
MAILING ADDRESS:
Merkel Media
257 N. Calderwood St., #301
Alcoa, TN 37701
SOCIAL MEDIA
Subscribe to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/2TlREaI
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/theconfessionals/
Discord: https://discord.gg/KDn4D2uw7h
Show Instagram: theconfessionalspodcast
Tony's Instagram: tonymerkelofficial
Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheConfessionalsPodcas
Twitter: @TConfessionals
Tony's Twitter: @tony_merkel
Produced by: @jack_theproducer
OUTRO MUSIC
Joel Thomas - Agartha (feat. Nergui)
YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify

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