Weird Darkness: Paranormal & True Crime Stories

Latest Episodes:

CARL PANZRAM: A Man Too Evil To Live May 23, 2026

Show notes

Carl Panzram was a force of pure destruction—two decades of murder, arson, and brutality, all capped off with a chilling memoir where he made one thing clear: he never felt a shred of remorse.
EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources and full transcript): https://weirddarkness.com/CarlPanzram
FEATURED STORIES IN THIS EPISODE: He was described as a man “too evil to live”. We’ll look at the brutal life of crime of Carl Panzram, a man some said was the personification of rage. (Too Evil to Live) *** Did a Nikola Tesla experiment cause the Tunguska Blast? (Tesla’s Death Ray) *** Bizarre happenings were centered around the Eddy home. The house was reported to be infested with supernatural beings of such numbers that had never been reported before, or since. The events were so powerful and strange, people came from all over the world to witness them. (People From Other Worlds) *** A woman’s newfound ability to astral project has her coming face-to-face with someone she never expected to see. (Astral Projection and Mom’s Message) *** The Mountain Meadows Massacre has been hailed by historians as "the most hideous example of the human cost exacted by religious fanaticism in American history until 9/11." Ironically, it too occurred on September 11th – in 1857. (The Mountain Meadows Massacre) *** If you spend the night amongst the dead in a graveyard, don’t be surprised if something supernatural happens to you. (I Spent The Night In a Graveyard) *** An old man regrets not obeying his wife’s dying wish. (The Stubborn Piano) *** Over 200 lobotomies were performed at the Ridges Asylum – without anesthesia or an operating room. Is it any wonder why it’s now considered to be haunted? (The Ridges Asylum) *** A Vietnam veteran has his first paranormal investigation in a Nevada town with a population of more dead souls than alive. (Marine Protectors) *** In a quiet Virginia cemetery is a peculiar tomb that has mystified visitors for nearly two hundred years. Who is buried there? No one seems to know. (The Grave of the Female Stranger) *** Demons hitchhiking, reports of a mysterious entity, strange suicides…
CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = The Foreboding
00:00:59.848 = Show Open
00:04:02.608 = Carl Panzram: Too Evil to Live
00:10:43.630 = Tesla’s Death Ray ***
00:19:43.660 = People From Other Worlds
00:37:29.686 = Astral Projection and Mom’s Message ***
00:42:45.987 = Mountain Meadows
00:50:16.392 = Walking Sam
01:00:41.858 = I Spent The Night in a Graveyard ***
01:08:01.164 = The Stubborn Piano
01:11:34.864 = Ridges Asylum
01:23:14.400 = Marine Protectors ***
01:26:23.184 = Grave of the Female Stranger
01:31:07.800 = Show Close
*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad break
LISTEN ON PODCAST APPS:
Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://weirddarkness.com/wdapps
*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*
SOURCES and RESOURCES:
“Carl Panzram: Too Evil to Live” by Orin Grey: http://ow.ly/KxrA30mP1GM
“Tesla’s Death Ray”: https://tinyurl.com/v7scbe7
“People From Other Worlds” by Troy Taylor: https://tinyurl.com/u6snqa3
“Astral Projection and Mom’s Message” by CuriousDee: https://tinyurl.com/rkwkbd3
“The Mountain Meadows Massacre”: https://tinyurl.com/sdgbvsv
“Walking Sam” by Brent Swancer: https://tinyurl.com/rkbd29c
“I Spent a Night In a Graveyard” by Michael McKean: (link no longer available)
“The Stubborn Piano” by J. Mason Brewer: (link no longer available)
“The Ridges Asylum” by Shannon E. Brown: (link no longer available)
“Marine Protectors” by Weirdo family member Pam Ennis, submitted at WeirdDarkness.com
“The Grave of the Female Stranger” by Orrin Grey: http://ow.ly/NkQS30mMhhZ
(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)
WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
Originally aired: October 24, 2021

The Therapeutic Cat: Be Careful What You Bring Home | #RetroRadio May 22, 2026

Show notes

A retired widower on the verge of a breakdown takes his son's strange advice to cure his nerves by adopting a cat and imitating its every move — until the night he discovers his beloved pet is something far stranger than she appears.
Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/OTR
CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = Show Open
00:01:30.028 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “The Therapeutic Cat” (November 07, 1977)
00:45:02.263 = Beyond Midnight, “Mrs. Smiff” (1969)
01:13:22.257 = MindWebs, “An Infinity of Loving” (February 12, 1983)
01:39:53.623 = U.S. Steel Hour of Mystery, “Journey Into Fear” (June 09, 1946) ***WD
02:38:33.283 = Mystery In The Air, “Crime And Punishment” (September 25, 1947) ***WD
03:04:01.720 = Molle Mystery Theater, “Murder In City Hall” (April 05, 1946)
03:33:25.029 = Mr. Keen, “The Girl Who Sang Too Well” (January 20, 1944) ***WD
04:01:47.711 = Murder At Midnight, “Island of the Dead” (May 05, 1947)
04:28:08.239 = The Black Museum, “The Sheath Knife” (January 28, 1952) ***WD
04:57:16.252 = Show Close
(ADU) = Air Date Unknown
(LQ) = Low Quality
***WD = Remastered, edited, or cleaned up by Weird Darkness to make the episode more listenable. Audio may not be pristine, but it will be better than the original file which may have been unusable or more difficult to hear without editing.
CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0667

The Monster Wanted Cocoa (Frankenstein’s Monster) | #RetroRadio May 22, 2026

Show notes

Round The Horne, Movie Go Wrong: Frankenstein’s Monster = When intrepid Bloomsbury detective Lyndon Baines Sinkplunger travels to Transylvania in search of a missing brother named Englebert, he finds himself dodging vampires, headless knights, and a tearful mad scientist who just wants to be left alone with his cocoa.
Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/OTR
CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = Show Open
00:01:30.028 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “The Final Judgement” (November 04, 1977)
00:46:30.450 = Incredible But True, “Welcome Home” (1950-1951)
00:50:13.222 = Inner Sanctum, “Melody of Death” (April 22, 1944) ***WD
01:15:17.305 = The Key, “Child Murderer” (1956) ***WD
01:40:49.511 = Lights Out, “Dream” (March 16, 1943)
02:09:18.279 = Lux Radio Theater, “Smilin’ Through” (January 05, 1942)
03:07:43.807 = Macabre, “Edge of Evil” (January 08, 1962) ***WD
03:37:43.409 = Philip Marlowe, “Hairpin Turn” (January 28, 1950)
04:06:13.826 = Round The Horne, “Movie Go Wrong: Frankenstein's Monster” (March 10,1968)
04:17:56.834 = The Black Mass, “The Man In The Crowd” (July 29, 1964) ***WD
04:28:58.936 = Michael Shayne, “Body In The Trunk” (April 23, 1945)
04:58:28.784 = Show Close
(ADU) = Air Date Unknown
(LQ) = Low Quality
***WD = Remastered, edited, or cleaned up by Weird Darkness to make the episode more listenable. Audio may not be pristine, but it will be better than the original file which may have been unusable or more difficult to hear without editing.
CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0666

ELECTRIC POLTERGEIST GIRL: The 14-Year-Old French Girl Who Hurled Furniture Without Touching It May 22, 2026

Show notes

In 1846, fourteen-year-old Angelique Cottin became known as the "Electric Girl" when she unleashed an unexplainable force that sent furniture flying, baffled scientists, and terrified priests, all while her family sought fortune from her mysterious powers.
EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources and full transcript): https://weirddarkness.com/ElectricPoltergeistGirl
FEATURED STORIES IN THIS EPISODE: In 1846, a 14-year-old peasant girl from rural France caught the attention of the country and eventually the world because of a strange current of electricity running through her. Angelique Cottin, a girl of small stature, was suddenly and uncontrollably moving furniture weighing hundreds of pounds across the room. In the end, over 2,000 witnesses saw the unexplainable phenomenon. Of the few recorded cases of psychokinesis throughout history, even fewer are as bizarre as the story of Angelique Cottin, AKA the Poltergeist Girl. (The Poltergeist Girl) *** The Codex Gigas... a colossal manuscript steeped in mystery. Not just in it’s pages, but in its origin. Is it true that a monk penned the pages after striking a deal with the devil in order to complete it? (Codex Gigas: The Devil’s Bible) *** When you think of people living in medieval times, what do you see? People with bad teeth and breath? Witches being burned? Women had no rights or jobs? People tossed their urine and feces in the street? They thought the earth was flat? Hold up… are you sure about that last one? (The Dark Ages And The Flat Earth) *** In 1941, in the quiet town of Media, Pennsylvania, a horrific crime shocked the community. Two elderly sisters, Elizabeth Watson and Belle Geary, were brutally attacked, leading to Elizabeth's death and Belle's prolonged suffering. As authorities honed in on a suspect, 14-year-old John Leeds emerged as the prime candidate. Despite his confession, his mother staunchly defended him, sparking a legal battle that gripped the nation. (The Octogenarian Murders) *** Are whales dangerous? Most would note that, given from the danger associated with such a large animal, there is a certain risk in getting close to one. But most would also note that whales have a curious, gentle temperament and physical violence from one is very unlikely. Unless, that is, you consider those times when they literally explode. (Exploding Whales)
CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = The Foreboding
00:01:01.789 = Show Open
00:04:04.658 = Poltergeist Girl
00:17:15.982 = Codex Gigas: The Devil’s Bible ***
00:26:27.659 = The Dark Ages and the Flat Earth
00:37:39.247 = Octogenarian Murders ***
00:47:11.722 = Exploding Whales
00:54:00.406 = Show Close
*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad break
LISTEN ON PODCAST APPS:
Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://weirddarkness.com/wdapps
*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*
SOURCES and RESOURCES:
“The Poltergeist Girl” by Liv Pasquarelli for Graveyard Shift: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/ydvwhbsf
“Codex Gigas: The Devil’s Bible” by Mark Miller for Historic Mysteries.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4csh764d
“The Dark Ages And The Flat Earth” by Gemma Hollman for JustHistoryPosts.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/8bkkyyt3
“The Octogenarian Murders” by Robert A. Waters for Kidnapping, Murder and Mayhem: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/63wkx844
“Exploding Whales” by Bipin Dimri for HistoryMysteries.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4aaf6kmy
(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)
WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
Originally aired: March 27, 2024

The Vial, the Hex, and the Missing Wife of Chula Vista | #WeirdDarkNEWS May 21, 2026

Show notes

A small glass vial of hemlock, hundreds of emails to online spellcasters, and a 39-year-old mother who walked out of her own home and never came back — the Maya Millete case is now in front of a San Diego jury.
SOURCES, LINKS, AND PRINT VERSION: https://weirddarkness.com/vial-and-hex/
Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://pod.link/1078714736
*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*
WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
#WeirdDarkness, #WeirdDarkNEWS

Harvard Astrophysicist Warns Alien Contact Could Crash Markets | #WeirdDarkNEWS May 21, 2026

Show notes

A Harvard scientist says first contact won't look like the movies — it will look like an AI-guided machine on our doorstep, and humanity isn't ready.
SOURCES, LINKS, AND PRINT VERSION: https://weirddarkness.com/loebwarning
Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://pod.link/1078714736
*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*
WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
#WeirdDarkness, #WeirdDarkNEWS

Land of the Living Dead | #RetroRadio May 21, 2026

Show notes

Two scientists travel toward a remote village deep in Brazil. During the journey, they become stranded near an isolated settlement — often described in logs as a mysterious airport village populated by ancient people with strange customs and rituals. What begins as a scientific expedition turns increasingly unsettling as the travelers encounter a place that seems disconnected from ordinary reality.
Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/OTR
CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = Show Open
00:01:30.028 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “Land of the Living Dead” (November 03, 1977) ***WD
00:45:56.814 = BBC Ghosts From The Past, “A Warden For All Saints” (April 29, 1992)
01:29:37.398 = Barry Craig — Confidential Investigator, “Sneak Assassin” (November 21, 1945)
01:58:53.759 = Hall of Fantasy, “Markheim” (April 24, 1947)
02:24:56.192 = Harry Lime, “See Naples And Live” (August 10, 1951)
02:50:31.703 = BBC Haunted Tales of the Supernatural, “Channel Crossing” (July 14, 1984) ***WD
03:17:06.208 = The Haunting Hour, “A Corpse There Was” (April 21, 1945)
03:41:56.690 = Hermit’s Cave, “The Black Band” (1930s-1940s) ***WD
04:06:03.980 = Mystery Is My Hobby, “Buried Treasure” (1945-1950)
04:29:32.110 = Sherlock Holmes, “Singular Affair of the White Cockerel” (December 28, 1946)
04:58:52.931 = Show Close
(ADU) = Air Date Unknown
(LQ) = Low Quality
***WD = Remastered, edited, or cleaned up by Weird Darkness to make the episode more listenable. Audio may not be pristine, but it will be better than the original file which may have been unusable or more difficult to hear without editing.
CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0665

What Are The Politics of a Zombie Apocalypse? May 21, 2026

Show notes

Zombies might be relentless brain-munchers, but the real terror is how quickly bad ideas spread—rising from the dead, infecting minds, and shambling through our culture long after they should’ve been buried.
EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources and full transcript): https://weirddarkness.com/ZombiePolitics
FEATURED STORIES IN THIS EPISODE: The one great thing about a zombie apocalypse, if one were to ever take place, is that we might finally be free from the stupidity of politicians. Or… would we? (The Politics of the Zombie Apocalypse) *** We’ve heard quite a bit about supply shortage during the Covid pandemic – but how bad could it get, really? I mean, we’re not talking famine, right? We’re not going to go armed to the teeth in the streets to steel food from others, that’d be un-American. Well, tell that to the people of Richmond, Virginia in 1863 who rioted when the final straw for them was the price of bread going too high. (The Richmond Bread Riot) *** After numerous twists and turns to get into position, the fighter pilot shot a total of 64 30mm shells at an extraterrestrial spacecraft to bring it down or destroy it altogether. Most all of his shots were direct hits – but his target continued on without a scratch. (Air to Air Combat With a Flying Saucer) *** What happened at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant will forever be burned into the hearts and minds of scientists and historians worldwide. Two people died instantly from the explosion – dozens more from radiation poisoning in the months to come. But not everyone is buying the story we’ve been told. They believe something more sinister took place and that it’s being covered up. (Chernobyl Conspiracies) *** In February 2008 a contract murder took place, but there seemed to be no reason behind it. Who would want Lindsay Buziak dead – and why? (Who Killed Lindsay Buziak?)
CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = “Apocalypse” (short story)
00:19:21.004 = Show Open
00:21:58.777 = Politics of the Zombie Apocalypse ***
00:30:57.458 = The Richmond Bread Riot
00:35:24.977 = Air to Air Combat With a Flying Saucer ***
00:40:51.546 = Who Killed Lindsay Buziak?
00:48:07.599 = Chernobyl Conspiracies ***
01:02:36.686 = Show Close
*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad break
LISTEN ON PODCAST APPS:
Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://weirddarkness.com/wdapps
*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*
SOURCES and RESOURCES:
Fictional short story at beginning of episode, “Apocalypse” by Regisatra: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/49n3kdkp
“Air to Air Combat With a Flying Saucer” from Earth-Chronicles: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4z8k6ste
“The Politics of the Zombie Apocalypse” from Esoterx.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/y9ffywve
“The Richmond Bread Riot” by Jenny Ashcraft for Fishwrap: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/ysf8pnz6
“Chernobyl Conspiracies” by Colleen Conroy for Graveyard Shift: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3p59u3ax
“Who Killed Lindsay Buziak?” by Bipin Dimri for Historic Mysteries: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/fepc23da
(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)
WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
Originally aired: October 20, 2021

The St. Peters Claw Machine Rescue: $4 and an Off-Duty Cop | #WeirdDarkNEWS May 20, 2026

Show notes

An 11-year veteran of the St. Charles County Police Department spent four dollars in quarters at a bowling alley arcade to coax a little girl out of a claw machine she had climbed into for the toys.
SOURCES, LINKS, AND PRINT VERSION: https://weirddarkness.com/claw-machine-cop
Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://pod.link/1078714736
*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*
WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
#WeirdDarkness, #WeirdDarkNEWS

The Last Text from Alexis Nelson's Phone Before She Vanished | #WeirdDarkNEWS May 20, 2026

Show notes

Alexis Nelson sent her mother a Happy Mother's Day message in May 2025, and then her phone went silent for six months before anyone in her family realized something was wrong.
SOURCES, LINKS, AND PRINT VERSION: https://weirddarkness.com/alexis-nelson
Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://pod.link/1078714736
*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*
WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
#WeirdDarkness, #WeirdDarkNEWS

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Weird Darkness: Paranormal & True Crime Stories

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected