The Sinister Hat Man Phenomena is experienced all around the world. The popular shadow figure lurks in people’s homes, watching them sleep and peering around corners. Why is this particular shadow figure wearing a hat and trench coat? Is it different than other shadow men? Could The Hat Man be tied to sleep paralysis? We discuss all of this and more!

The Hat Man

Believing the Bizarre is a paranormal podcast that dives into the unknown and the unusual every Tuesday.From UFOs and hauntings to conspiracies and cryptids, we discuss a variety of paranormal topics and decide where they land on our Believability Scale - Believable, Viable, Skeptical, or Unbelievable.We also accept and discuss listener-submitted paranormal encounters.If you love creepy stories and horror content mixed with humor and a keen eye, we are the paranormal podcast for you.Check out Believing the Bizarre - a podcast as bizarre as you are.

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Sleep Paralysis Stories: Volume 1Over the years we have had tons of listeners submit potential sleep paralysis stories, so we decided to combine a handful of them into a new, unique listener submission collection - sleep paralysis stories!Sleep paralysis is a terrifying experience where individuals find themselves conscious but unable to move, often accompanied by hallucinations of shadow figures, entities, and the infamous "old hag."Theories range from supernatural encounters to a dream-like state caused by the brain's inability to control the body during sleep. People from various locations have shared their unsettling experiences, highlighting the fear and helplessness felt during these episodes.Some individuals, like Madison, have had sleep paralysis for years, with recurring visions of a woman in a 1920s dress and the mysterious "Hat Man." Despite the initial terror, Madison eventually found comfort in these encounters, particularly during a difficult period in her life when a shadow figure appeared to offer support. Alex, on the other hand, had a particularly vivid experience involving a menacing dog and a shadowy figure, leaving him questioning the line between reality and dreams.Zacharia, a 15-year-old living in an old San Francisco house, has been sensitive to the paranormal for years. He has seen balls of light, experienced unexplained occurrences, and even encountered an apparition he calls "George."Recently, Zacharia has been experiencing nightly episodes of sleep paralysis, accompanied by strange noises and a feeling of being weighed down, leading him to believe that a poltergeist may be responsible.Kieren, who has had various paranormal encounters, including UFO sightings and experiences with spirits, learned about sleep paralysis through his studies as a biology major.While his first experience was relatively tame, a subsequent episode involved a shadow person appearing in the corner of his eye. By reminding himself that it was a trick of the mind and focusing on relaxing his muscles, Kieren was able to make the shadow disappear and regain control of his body.Patreon: Support Believing the Bizarre and get tons of extra content by joining our Patreon.For updates, news, and extra content, follow Believing the Bizarre on social media:InstagramFacebookTwitterDiscordWant to discuss the episode on the day it drops with Tyler and Charlie? Follow on Twitch and check out the extended Twitch streams every Tuesday.Shop Merch: You can rep Believing the Bizarre and buy some unique merch

Sleep Paralysis Stories: Vol 1

It's time for a new monthly segment! On the fourth Friday of every month, you can expect Bizarre News and Blind Rankings.This month in Bizarre News, we discuss a wide variety of topics. From a puzzling earthquake in Turkey followed by a dazzling display of UFOs, to a mysterious neon blue cloud hovering over Quincy, Massachusetts, we explore the strange and the supernatural.But that's not all! We also delve into the fascinating world of paranormal curiosity, as we reveal which U.S. state tops the charts for ghostly searches. West Virginia, with its rich history and eerie landscapes, takes the crown as the epicenter of the otherworldly.Next, we venture into the cosmos, where scientists may have stumbled upon evidence of hyper-intelligent civilizations living in theoretical Dyson spheres. Could these advanced beings be harnessing the power of stars and black holes?We'll explore the tantalizing possibilities. Finally, we'll take you on a journey into the heart of the Angeles National Forest, where a hiker's recent encounter with a set of mysterious tracks has sparked a frenzy among Bigfoot enthusiasts. Also, we finally have Producer Ben on the main feed and are playing Blind Rankings.This month, Ben has chosen 8 Alien Abduction stories that must rank, but the catch is, we don't know the list of abductions when we start ranking them.We hope you enjoy these new segments!Patreon: Support Believing the Bizarre and get tons of extra content by joining our Patreon.For updates, news, and extra content, follow Believing the Bizarre on social media:InstagramFacebookTwitterDiscordWant to discuss the episode on the day it drops with Tyler and Charlie? Follow on Twitch and check out the extended Twitch streams every Tuesday.Shop Merch: You can rep Believing the Bizarre and buy some unique merch

Bizarre News and Alien Abduction Blind Ranking

The Contorting Entity HugoIt's listener submission time again! The listener has requested to stay anonymous, so as always, we got a Sophia story!From a young age, Sophia possessed an innate sensitivity to the paranormal, able to sense the emotions and energy of those around her, including spirits. Despite her belief in ghosts, she had never directly encountered a shadow person until she was 12 or 13 years old. In her bedroom, she began to feel a presence watching her, which she eventually named "Hugo." Initially, the presence seemed benign, but after a series of unsettling events, including a lotion bottle mysteriously moving and recurring dreams of Hugo clinging to her wall with large, black eyes, Sophia's fear grew, forcing her to seek refuge in her sister's room. Sophia's family home in Georgia, shared by her parents, sister, and grandparents, held its own secrets. She always felt nervous in her grandparents' house, hearing strange noises at night that were dismissed as the settling of an old house.As a young adult, while living in a nearby mother-in-law suite with her fiancé, Sophia experienced intense feelings of panic and unease when alone in the main house, particularly while using the bathroom. These feelings eventually subsided, only to be replaced by scratching sounds and other unexplained occurrences.One morning, while Sophia's grandfather was confined to a hospital bed in the living room, she heard knocking and footsteps while showering. The footsteps ran down the hallway towards the spare rooms, but the door, known for its loud creak, never opened. When Sophia emerged from the bathroom, she found the door still shut and her grandfather claiming to have heard nothing.Shaken, she quickly left the house, marking the end of her personal encounters in the family home. Despite the passing of her grandfather, Sophia's grandmother (Nanny) continues to reside in the house, claiming to have friendly encounters with ghosts.Both Sophia and her Nanny have experienced moments that felt like the presence of her late grandfather, leaving them to wonder about the reality of their experiences. Though the fear was genuine at the time, Sophia now reflects on these events with a sense of curiosity and wonder, forever changed by her journey through the paranormal.Patreon: Support Believing the Bizarre and get tons of extra content by joining our Patreon.For updates, news, and extra content, follow Believing the Bizarre on social media:InstagramFacebookTwitterDiscordWant to discuss the episode on the day it drops with Tyler and Charlie? Follow on Twitch and check out the extended Twitch streams every Tuesday.Shop Merch: You can rep Believing the Bizarre and buy some unique merch

The Contorting Entity Hugo

This week on Believing the Bizarre we have three incredibly alien encounters that took place in France.Our first story takes place in the summer of 1944, when 13-year-old Madeleine Arnoux was on a bicycle ride to pick up food from a nearby farm. During a brief rest in a meadow, she stumbled upon a strange, metallic craft and tiny humanoid creatures dressed in brown one-piece suits. Frozen in fear, Madeleine eventually fled the scene, keeping her encounter a secret for nearly 30 years before finally sharing her story with the world.Fast forward to 1954, when railway worker Marius Dewilde experienced a chilling encounter near his home in Nord, France. One night, his dog's incessant barking led him to discover a strange object and two small humanoid figures near the railroad tracks.Paralyzed by a beam of light from the object, Marius helplessly watched as the beings boarded their craft and ascended into the night sky. In the aftermath of the incident, investigators discovered physical evidence supporting Marius's account, solidifying his place in UFO history.Our final story takes us to the picturesque region of Valensole, France, where farmer Maurice Masse had a close encounter of the third kind in July 1965. While taking a cigarette break, Masse noticed an oval-shaped object landing in a nearby lavender field, accompanied by two humanoid figures.When one of the figures raised a cylindrical device, Masse was struck by a beam that left him paralyzed on the ground. As the figures boarded their craft and flew away, they left behind physical evidence that would later support Masse's incredible story.These three extraordinary French alien encounters serve as a testament to the enduring mystery and allure of UFOs in France and beyond.Patreon: Support Believing the Bizarre and get tons of extra content by joining our Patreon.For updates, news, and extra content, follow Believing the Bizarre on social media:InstagramFacebookTwitterDiscordWant to discuss the episode on the day it drops with Tyler and Charlie? Follow on Twitch and check out the extended Twitch streams every Tuesday.Shop Merch: You can rep Believing the Bizarre and buy some unique merch

Madeleine Arnoux, Marius DeWilde, and Maurice Masse Alien Encounters

We are so excited to interview the paranormal podcaster himself, Jim Harold. Another Northeast Ohio paranormal podcaster, Jim Harold is a podcasting pioneer - starting all the way back in 2005.In this interview, we get into why he got into podcasting, some of his favorite stories, any campfire stories that were less than believable to him, retro causality, and more. Jim Harold hosts the Paranormal Podcast along with Jim Harold's Campfire.Additionally, Jim Harold releases books that include stories told to him on the Jim Harold's Campfire Podcast, and his newest book - Volume 6 - just dropped May 7th, 2024.Pick up your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/True-Ghost-Stories-Harolds-Campfire-ebook/dp/B0CTHQSX85/Make sure to check out both The Paranormal Podcast and Jim Harold's Campfire. By the way, you can now expect a new interview with someone in the paranormal world every second Friday of the month!Patreon: Support Believing the Bizarre and get tons of extra content by joining our Patreon.For updates, news, and extra content, follow Believing the Bizarre on social media:InstagramFacebookTwitterDiscordWant to discuss the episode on the day it drops with Tyler and Charlie? Follow on Twitch and check out the extended Twitch streams every Tuesday.Shop Merch: You can rep Believing the Bizarre and buy some unique merch

The Hat Man

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