In this chilling installment of Champagne and Murder, Please, we uncork the unsettling phenomena of time slips and the doppelgänger effect—those eerie moments when past and present collide, and familiar faces turn dangerously unfamiliar. From documented encounters with doubles that foretold doom to stories of people stepping into another time without warning, we delve into the science, lore, and murder cases entangled in these temporal oddities. Pour a glass, dim the lights, and prepare to question reality itself.

"Time Storms" by Jenny Randles (2001)

https://medium.com/tales-of-terror-paranormal-and-the-strange/the-bizarre-case-of-time-slips-c0c56efb9046

https://mysticaltimesblog.com/time-slips/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doppelg%C3%A4nger

https://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends/doppelgangers-and-mythology-spirit-doubles-001825

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/jun/11/twice-in-a-lifetime-would-you-dare-meet-your-doppelganger-

In this chilling episode, we dive into the twisted lives of two women whose innocent facades masked sinister intentions. Meet Nannie Doss, the "Giggling Granny," who left a trail of poisoned husbands and eerie laughter in her wake, and Stacy Castor, the so-called "Black Widow," who used antifreeze and forged letters in a deadly web of deceit. Join us as we unravel the motives, methods, and madness behind these infamous female killers—and explore what made them so uniquely dangerous.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nannie_Doss

https://encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/nannie-doss/

https://allthatsinteresting.com/nannie-doss-giggling-granny

https://abcnews.go.com/US/detectives-caught-black-widow-deadly-web-lies/story?id=60854018

https://www.oxygen.com/exhumed/crime-news/black-widow-stacey-castor-convicted-for-murder-after-exhumation

https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/stacey-castor/id1179629560?i=1000579868801

In this compelling episode, we examine two tragic yet starkly different stories connected by the relentless power of the sea. Kathryn Donohue was a vibrant woman whose life ended violently in a murder that shocked her community, unraveling a disturbing web of betrayal and deception. Meanwhile, Australian adventurer Andrew McAuley attempted an audacious solo kayak crossing of the Tasman Sea in 2007, aiming to become the first to complete the perilous journey from Tasmania to New Zealand. After a month battling fierce waves and isolation, McAuley’s final distress call sent chills through rescuers and left only haunting questions behind. Through in-depth analysis and firsthand accounts, we explore the dark circumstances surrounding Donohue’s murder and the tragic misadventure that claimed McAuley’s life. How did their fates intertwine with the unforgiving ocean, and what lessons can be learned from these two haunting tales?

Prince George’s County Police Department. "PGPD Cold Case Squad Solves 1979 Rape and Murder." PGPD News, 21 March 2025. https://pgpolice.blogspot.com/2025/03/pgpd-cold-case-squad-solves-1979-rape.html

WUSA9 News. "PGPD makes arrest in 1979 rape and murder of Arlington woman." WUSA9, 22 March 2025. https://www.wusa9.com

Othram Inc. "Othram Assists in the Identification of Rodger Zodas Brown in 1979 Cold Case." Othram Newsroom, March 2025. https://othram.com

FBI Baltimore Field Office. Statement in coordination with PGPD, March 2025.

Moore County Sheriff’s Office (North Carolina). Press release on the arrest of Rodger Zodas Brown, March 2025.

https://paddlingmag.com/stories/people/andrew-mcauley-disappears-on-sea-kayak-trip/ 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_McAuley 

https://nypost.com/2024/12/27/world-news/daredevil-andrew-mcauley-seen-in-final-haunting-image-before-he-vanished-at-sea/

In this chilling episode, we delve into two hauntingly tragic cases that captivated headlines and remain shrouded in mystery and horror. First, we explore the disturbing story of Zach Bowen and Addie Hall, a couple whose post-Hurricane Katrina love affair took a sinister turn, ending in a gruesome murder that shocked New Orleans. Then, we unravel the perplexing case of Cindy James, a Canadian nurse whose years-long harassment and mysterious death left investigators questioning: Was she the victim of a cruel and relentless stalker, or was it all a horrifying descent into madness? Join us as we dissect these haunting cases, searching for the truth amid the chaos and devastation.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/aps.1865?af=R 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/117-the-case-of-addie-hall-zack-bowen/id1621195358?i=1000661504735 

https://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=2590814&page=1

https://unsolved.com/gallery/cindy-james/ 

https://evelazarus.com/the-bizarre-case-of-cindy-james/ 

https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/mysterious-death-cindy-james/ 

In this chilling true crime double feature, we unravel two disturbing tales that expose the shadows hiding in plain sight.

First, we explore the twisted story of Kelly Cochran—the woman who helped murder her lover with her husband… then may have turned on her husband, too. A tale of toxic pacts, betrayal, and a body count that might be higher than anyone thought. What drives a person to become a serial killer hiding behind suburbia?

Then, we cross the border into Canada to revisit the unsolved mystery of the Lost Boys of Pickering—six teens who vanished without a trace in 1995 after a night out near Lake Ontario. With no bodies, no answers, and only a sunken boat left behind, theories have swirled for decades. Accident, cover-up, or something far more sinister?

Two stories. Six missing. At least nine dead. And still, no justice.

https://mdocweb.state.mi.us/OTIS2/otis2profile.aspx?mdocNumber=356714 

https://nation.foxnews.com/love-you-to-death-the-kelly-cochran-story-nation/ 

https://www.aol.com/investigators-reveal-riveting-details-behind-171431337.html

https://www.toronto.com/news/march-17-marks-29-years-since-the-lost-boys-of-pickering-disappeared/article_ede2d620-e58b-5ea0-90c5-f17d204722ff.html 

https://medium.com/@knowledgeapotheosis/the-lost-boys-of-pickering-six-teens-boys-28-years-of-mysterious-disappearance-d149d7fe2325 

https://www.durhamregion.com/news/the-lost-boys-of-pickering-a-haunting-cold-case-remains-open-after-30-years/article_bd0ab683-9a7c-5a54-ab0c-7411291c613e.html

This week, we dive deep into the murky unknown with two of the weirdest cryptids to ever ooze into legend. First up: the Abominable Swamp Slob—a reeking, moss-covered humanoid said to haunt the wetlands of the American South. Locals say he’s more stench than sight, but is there more to this smelly specter than meets the nose?

Then, we drift into open water to unravel the mystery of the Bermuda Blob—a gelatinous mass that washed ashore and defied identification. Was it a rotting whale carcass, a deep-sea monstrosity, or something far stranger? And why do these blobs keep turning up in the Bermuda Triangle?

Join us as we squish through swamp legends, blob biology, and a whole lot of speculative slime. Don’t forget your nose plugs—things are gonna get gross.

https://cryptidz.fandom.com/wiki/Abominable_Swamp_Slob 

http://www.cryptozoonews.com/ill-ass/ 

https://sasquatchchronicles.com/abominable-swamp-slob-the-hairy-humanoid-from-the-swamplands/

https://cryptidz.fandom.com/wiki/Bermuda_Blob 

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2003/07/03/mystery-creature-a-bermuda-blob/ 

https://www.cryptopia.us/site/2010/01/bermuda-blob-bermuda/

In this episode, we dive deep into two chilling yet vastly different true crime stories—one of a calculated killer, the other of a father’s deadly revenge.

First, we unravel the disturbing case of Maury Travis, a serial killer who terrorized St. Louis with a dark obsession and a chilling collection of videotaped horrors. Using his job as a hotel clerk to cover his tracks, Travis evaded police for years—until a single slip unraveled his web of terror.

Then, we shift to the case of Jody Plauché, a young boy abducted and abused by his karate instructor, Jeff Doucet. But what captured national attention wasn’t just the crime—it was what Jody’s father, Gary Plauché, did when justice seemed too slow. Caught live on camera, Gary’s split-second decision raised questions that still echo today: When the system fails, how far would you go?

Join us as we explore the psychology, motives, and societal impact of these two cases—one fueled by evil, the other by grief and vengeance.

https://fox2now.com/news/true-crime/serial-killer-maury-travis-the-street-walker-strangler/ 

https://murderpedia.org/male.T/t/travis-maury.htm#google_vignette 

https://abcnews.go.com/US/woman-found-serial-killer-lived-home-watching-tv/story?id=24467447

https://www.nyu.edu/life/safety-health-wellness/campus-safety/you-matter--podcast/episodes/episode-93--jody-plauche--child-abuse-and-kidnapping-survivor.html 

https://teamneverquit.com/podcast/joseph-jody-plauche/ 

https://www.spreaker.com/episode/why-gary-why-the-interview-of-jody-plauche--606432

In this gripping episode, Brittany & Vanessa recount two of the most astonishing survival stories in modern history.

Jan Baalsrud: The Escape

During World War II, Norwegian resistance fighter Jan Baalsrud found himself on the run after a sabotage mission went horribly wrong. Betrayed to the Nazis, he was the sole survivor of his team and had to evade capture in the brutal Arctic wilderness. With frostbitten feet and a gunshot wound, Baalsrud survived for two months in the harsh Norwegian landscape, enduring avalanches, near-starvation, and amputating his own toes to prevent gangrene. Thanks to the help of brave locals, he miraculously made it to Sweden, where he recovered and continued fighting for the resistance.

José Salvador Alvarenga: 438 Days Adrift

In 2012, José Salvador Alvarenga, an experienced fisherman from El Salvador, set out on what should have been a routine fishing trip off the coast of Mexico. But a sudden storm disabled his boat, leaving him stranded in the Pacific Ocean with no engine, no radio, and only a teenage crewmate for company. Over time, his companion succumbed to starvation, but Alvarenga, relying on his survival instincts, drank rainwater, caught fish and birds with his bare hands, and even drank turtle blood to stay alive. After 438 days drifting across the ocean—over 6,000 miles—he finally washed ashore on the Marshall Islands, weak but miraculously alive.

Lessons in Survival

The episode delves into what makes survival possible in extreme conditions, from sheer mental resilience to resourcefulness and luck. The hosts discuss the psychological and physical toll on both men and reflect on the human spirit’s capacity to endure the impossible.

https://nordnorge.com/en/artikkel/jan-balsrud-is-the-man-that-never-gave-up/ 

https://explorersweb.com/great-survival-stories-jan-baalsrud-evades-nazi-dragnet/ 

https://www.historynet.com/sole-survivor-commando-evaded-nazis-arctic/ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/07/fisherman-lost-at-sea-436-days-book-extract 

https://www.mensjournal.com/travel/castaway-that-survived-a-record-438-days-at-sea-sued-for-eating-crewmate 

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/QPSFNLXQiz0 

Franklin, Jonathan. 438 Days: An Extraordinary True Story of Survival at Sea. Atria Books, 2016.

In this episode, we delve into the disturbing histories of two infamous cults: The Ant Hill Kids and The Peoples Temple. We start with Roch Thériault, the self-proclaimed prophet who founded the Ant Hill Kids in Canada. What began as a small commune promising spiritual enlightenment quickly turned into a nightmare of extreme abuse, control, and shocking violence. We break down how Thériault manipulated his followers, the horrifying acts he committed, and the tragic fate of his victims.

Then, we shift focus to Jim Jones and the rise of the Peoples Temple, a movement that began with messages of equality and social justice but spiraled into one of history’s deadliest mass tragedies—the Jonestown massacre. We explore how Jones gained influence, the psychological tactics he used to maintain control, and the events leading up to the tragic mass suicide in 1978 that claimed over 900 lives.

Grab your champagne and join us!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roch_Th%C3%A9riault 

https://cvltnation.com/ant-hill-kids-break-legs-sledgehammer-go-hell/ 

https://maryboro.ca/story/roch-theriault-and-the-ant-hill-kids/

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Peoples-Temple 

https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/jonestown 

https://encompass.eku.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1490&context=etd

Are you brave enough to peer beyond the veil? In this chilling episode, we dive deep into the eerie history and terrifying lore behind two of the most infamous paranormal games: the Ouija board and Bloody Mary. From spine-tingling firsthand experiences to the origins of these supernatural rituals, we explore why these games have captivated and terrified thrill-seekers for generations. Are they harmless fun, or is there something darker lurking in the shadows? Tune in—if you dare—as we uncover the truth, share real-life stories, and discuss the psychology and supernatural theories behind these haunting legends.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ouija 

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-ouija-board-cant-connect-us-to-paranormal-forces-but-it-can-tell-us-a-lot-about-psychology-grief-and-uncertainty-5860627/ 

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ouija-board

https://www.wikihow.com/Play-Bloody-Mary 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloody_Mary_(folklore) 

https://notebookofghosts.com/2016/04/03/bloody-mary-and-other-childhood-gam