Believing the Bizarre: Paranormal Conspiracies & Myths

This week, we explore the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos), a Mexican holiday celebrated on November 1st and 2nd when the gates of heaven are believed to open, allowing children's spirits to return on the first day and adults' spirits on the second day.
We discuss how the holiday originated from a combination of Mesoamerican rituals, European religion, and Spanish culture, including an ancient Aztec belief system where the dead had to overcome nine challenging levels to reach the city of the dead. Families create ofrendas (altars) with photos, favorite foods, personal items, and traditional elements like candles, salt, and bread to welcome back their deceased loved ones.
Then, we dive into several personal encounters, including stories of a woman hearing mysterious singing near her ofrenda, a man being walked home by his deceased father's friend, and a widow's husband experiencing a powerful connection with his late father through an ofrenda.

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:
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
Discord

Shop Merch: You can rep Believing the Bizarre and buy some unique merch

Here is our live Halloween special from Weston, West Virginia where we visited the very haunted Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum.

The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, North America's largest hand-cut stone masonry building, stands as a Gothic monument to both healing and horror in West Virginia.
Built in 1858 following Thomas Kirkbride's revolutionary design principles, which emphasized therapeutic sunlight and fresh air through its 900 windows, the asylum initially provided excellent care, complete with its own farm and dairy to ensure quality food for patients.
The early period was so positive that one patient described it as "heaven," not a "nut house." However, the Civil War marked a dramatic turning point, as the asylum was converted into Camp Tyler and its construction funds were seized by Union soldiers.
What followed was a descent into overcrowding and controversy, with the facility housing 2,500 patients despite being designed for just 250. The situation worsened with Dr. Walter Freeman's infamous $25 lobotomies, performed as theatrical presentations, along with other controversial treatments like electroshock therapy.
By 1994, the asylum closed its doors, but its legacy lives on through reported paranormal activity, including famous spirits like Lily, a young girl who died of pneumonia, Ruth, a man-hating female patient, and various Civil War soldiers who still supposedly roam its halls.

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:
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
Discord

Shop Merch: You can rep Believing the Bizarre and buy some unique merch

It is Bizarre News and Blind Rankings time again! This week, we cover:

Story 1 - A mysterious rectangular structure resembling a door was spotted via Google Maps on an Antarctic mountainside, sparking widespread speculation about potential hidden bases, ancient civilizations, or extraterrestrial activity. While skeptics suggest the formation is likely a natural geological feature or satellite imaging artifact, the discovery has reignited broader discussions about Antarctica's unexplored regions and what might lie beneath its icy surface.
Story 2 - A 20-year-old psychic medium from West Yorkshire named Hannah Rose maintains a collection of 14 allegedly haunted dolls, which she claims can cause paranormal disturbances including hiding objects and, in one case, scratching her arm. Having experienced paranormal encounters since age seven, Hannah dedicates herself to caring for these dolls through cleaning rituals and communication sessions, viewing her role as providing understanding homes for spirits, a calling she believes she inherited genetically from her similarly gifted mother.

Story 3 - While countless people worldwide report ghostly encounters, scientists explain these experiences through natural phenomena such as sleep paralysis, hallucinations, and the brain's tendency to misinterpret ambiguous sensory information. Historical research reveals that ghost stories have evolved from pre-1800s tales of spirits with unfinished business to more personal encounters in modern times, though the most commonly reported paranormal experiences remain unexplained sounds rather than full-bodied apparitions.

Story 4 - A 32-year-old Minnesota woman named Phoenix Nightingale suffers from acute intermittent porphyria, a rare metabolic disorder that causes severe attacks of pain and vomiting when triggered by sulfur-containing foods like garlic - the same condition that allegedly inspired vampire legends through its supposed connection to Vlad III (Count Dracula). Having endured over 480 excruciating attacks throughout her life before receiving a diagnosis last year, Nightingale now carefully manages her diet while advocating for better awareness of rare conditions, as she must avoid common ingredients like garlic that could potentially trigger fatal reactions.

Story 5 - A group of hikers in Chile inadvertently captured what appears to be a mysterious woman's face in their trail selfie, which subsequently gained viral attention on Facebook's supernatural community with over 1,400 likes. While some social media users were unsettled by the clearly defined facial features visible in the image, others remained skeptical about its authenticity, highlighting the common tension between supernatural interpretations and potential photo manipulation in modern ghost photography.

For Blind Rankings, we rank the top 7 WORST Halloween treats.

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:
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
Discord

Shop Merch: You can rep Believing the Bizarre and buy some unique merch

It's Listener Submission Collection time again and we are on volume 8! We have 5 creepy stories for you this week:
Story 1 - Three young people explore a fenced wooded area at night and see a shadowy figure, causing them to flee in fear.
Stort 2 - A woman encounters a terrifying demonic entity in her bedroom, describing its horrifying appearance in vivid detail. 
Story 3 - Children are chased by a strange black mass that makes a "Wumpf" sound and leaves a handprint on their door. The incident remains unexplained for decades.
Story 4 - Campers encounter an eerie woman at a hostel who claims she can smell their arrival and later smells blood nearby. They find animal remains the next day, adding to the unsettling experience.
Story 4 - A family moves to a haunted farm in Ohio where they experience various paranormal activities, including encounters with a mysterious "painter" and a dog-like creature that walks on two legs.

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:
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
Discord

Shop Merch: You can rep Believing the Bizarre and buy some unique merch

In this episode, we dive into the paranormal experiences of Jayd from California and Abby from Missouri.
Jayd's story begins in childhood, where she encounters shadow figures and communicates with spirits, including her late great-grandfather. Her experiences intensify after using an Ouija board, leading to terrifying encounters with malevolent entities and sleep paralysis.
Abby's tale spans several years and locations, starting with a ghostly encounter possibly linked to her grandfather's spirit. Her experiences escalate during a house-hunting trip, where she captures a disturbing image in a mirror selfie. The episode culminates with Abby's bone-chilling night shift at an assisted living facility, where she faces unexplained phone calls, moving objects, and the lingering presence of those who have passed.

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:
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
Discord

Shop Merch: You can rep Believing the Bizarre and buy some unique merch

It is interview time again and we are thrilled to chat with our podcasting besties, Aly and Nat from Let's Get Haunted!
In this interview, Aly and Nat, hosts of the Let's Get Haunted podcast, discuss their journey into paranormal podcasting, including their early experiences and how they've grown over the years.
They share insights on creating content, managing listener feedback, and the challenges of balancing authenticity with audience expectations.
We also discuss recent changes Aly and Nat have made and aspirations they have going forward.
If you haven't yet, please go check out Let's Get Haunted! We know you'll enjoy their show and spend half your time crying from laughter and the other half absolutely creeped out.

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:
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
Discord

Shop Merch: You can rep Believing the Bizarre and buy some unique merch

We're on a highway to..haunted roads! This week, we talk about a handful of allegedly haunted roads. In this likely first installment, we discuss the following four potentially haunted roads:

• Dice Road in Michigan
• Route 2A in Vermont, Uristock County
• Prospector Road in Garden Valley, California
• Clinton Road in West Milford, New Jersey

Make sure to check out the new podcast SIGHTINGS. Tune in each week for new episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

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:
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
Discord

Shop Merch: You can rep Believing the Bizarre and buy some unique merch

In the quiet of the night, when exhausted parents finally sink into their chairs, baby monitors can sometimes become more than just a tool for childcare—they can transform into portals to the unexplained.
This week, we dive into the world of mysterious voices, ghostly apparitions, and inexplicable phenomena captured by baby monitors.
From disembodied whispers to spectral hands reaching into cribs, we explore the line between technical glitches and potential paranormal activity that has left countless parents sleepless and questioning reality. 
We'll examine theories ranging from radio interference to visitations from beyond the grave, and discuss how the unique perspective provided by infrared technology might be amplifying our fears.

Make sure to check out the new podcast SIGHTINGS. Tune in each week for new episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

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:
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
Discord

Shop Merch: You can rep Believing the Bizarre and buy some unique merch

Hey Bizarros, we are so excited to introduce you to SIGHTINGS.

From Roswell, to Amityville, to Loch Ness and beyond — step inside the world’s most mysterious supernatural events with SIGHTINGS.

Each week unlocks a thrilling story that immerses you in the action, followed by a mind-bending discussion that will leave you questioning what’s real and what’s impossible.

Chase legendary creatures, investigate lesser-known alien abductions, confront spine-tingling ghosts, and experience the paranormal stories you only thought you knew on SIGHTINGS. 

Tune in each week for new episodes of SIGHTINGS on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

We know ya'll will love it!

It is Bizarre News and Blind Rankings time again!

**Trigger Warning: Child Abuse**

This month on Bizarre News, we cover:

Story 1 - A photograph taken over 50 years ago in Costa Rica, dubbed "the most convincing UFO photo ever," has resurfaced, showing a metallic disc floating above Lake Cote. The image, captured by aerial photographer Sergio Loaiza during a land survey mission, has puzzled experts for decades and remains unexplained despite close analysis from UFO skeptics.

Story 2 - Two women in Newton, North Carolina, face felony child abuse charges after two toddlers in their care suffered severe injuries, including burns, bite marks, broken bones, and tested positive for fentanyl. The accused, Emily Marie Edwards and her mother Sherrie Jean Edwards, bizarrely claimed that evil spirits and nightmares were responsible for the children's injuries, citing their use of an Ouija board.

Story 3 - A viral video from Chile appears to show a dog transforming into a human, sparking debates about whether it's a mythical "nagual" or simply a camera trick. 

Story 4 - Ring, the home security company, has launched a "Great Ghost Search" contest offering a $100,000 prize for the most compelling paranormal activity captured on a Ring device. Open to U.S. residents 18 and older, the competition invites users to submit footage of ghostly phenomena, with entries judged by a panel including "Stranger Things" star Finn Wolfhard and paranormal investigator Katrina Weidman.

Story 5 - Researchers from Monash University propose that Earth may have had a rocky ring around 466 million years ago, lasting for tens of millions of years. This theory is based on the unusual concentration of impact craters near the equator during the Ordovician period, and could explain other phenomena like a subsequent ice age and the characteristics of meteorite debris found in these craters.

On the Blind Rankings side, Producer Ben has us blind rank our top 12 scariest entities.

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:
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
Discord

Shop Merch: You can rep Believing the Bizarre and buy some unique merch