One of the world’s great mysteries is on the verge of being solved. For over 70 years, investigators have sought to identify the unknown man found dead on an Australian beach in 1948. There were no signs of foul play and an examination of the victim’s stylish clothing strangely revealed that all of the labels had been removed. In his pocket was found a passage from a rare book that eerily translates to: It is ended. Was this a suicide or something much more complicated? We are joined by Dr. Lars Petersen to discuss how newly collected DNA evidence may finally reveal the identity of the Somerton Man.

Of all of the professional sports, baseball seems to be the one most closely associated with the paranormal. There are famously haunted ballparks that connect current-day players and fans with the legends of the past. The Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, has had so many strange encounters that it has been featured on shows like Ghost Hunters. Baseball players themselves are a very superstitious bunch, going to extreme and odd lengths to try to give themselves an edge, or at least to keep bad luck away. We are taking you to the ballgame and will be sharing some of baseball’s spookiest stories and the unique connections the game has to the paranormal. Featuring special guest co-host (and serious baseball fan) Dr. Brittney Bos.

Historically in the horror genre, women have often been relegated to playing innocent victims who suffer terrible violence in movies most often watched by young men. Dr. Amy Jane Vosper believes horror movies are changing and has written a Ph.D. dissertation to prove it. Women are now making horror, writing about horror, watching horror, and communicating with one another about horror. We discuss these changes and take an in-depth look at what kinds of horror films are most appealing to women. We also share all sorts of awesome scary movie recommendations. Grab some popcorn and join us!

In 1861, the town of Kendal, England was the site of a chilling ghost story that captured imaginations and made headlines around the world. Late one night while gathered around a fireplace, a group of people suddenly experience a series of forceful knocks that shake the building. The residents search the structure in an attempt to determine the cause of the disturbance. Their ghost hunt culminates with a trip down to the damp and dark basement – where something – was waiting for them. We share the story.

The strange but true story of how child movie star and “America’s Sweetheart”, Shirley Temple, survived a brush with death on Christmas Eve in 1939 during a live radio show. We share Temple’s own account of the terrifying and bizarre incident, as well as key parts of the original radio broadcast. Was it a clandestine operation by a foreign government? Someone jealous of Temple’s success within the entertainment industry? Or, something much stranger and darker than that? In the episode, we explore the wild, disturbing, and relatively unknown events that had an 11-year-old Shirley Temple looking down the barrel of a gun.

Was there a monster hiding in the cemetery? In 1954, the Glasgow Police Department began to receive concerned calls about hundreds of school children descending on a nearby necropolis. These children varied in age from teenagers, all the way down to toddlers who could barely walk. Many carried crucifixes or other protective talismans. More disturbingly, others were armed with knives and makeshift weapons as they patrolled the grounds. There is no doubt the children came looking for a fight with a monster. Did they get one?

The tragic story of the sinking of the Titanic continues to fascinate, terrify and inspire the imagination. As we approach the anniversary of this historic event, we will look at the Titanic from another angle – a supernatural one. Is it possible that some people knew in advance that the great ship’s maiden voyage would end in disaster at sea? Our guest, retired professor Terry Keefe, has recently complied over 200 different cases, many from difficult to obtain or out-of-print sources, in his new book “Premonitions of the Titanic Disaster.” He will be sharing with us some of the most intriguing and eerie examples. It is another mysterious layer to the story of the ill-fated luxury steamship.

Once a year, Canadian literary giant, Robertson Davies, would write and perform a ghost story for his students and colleagues at the University of Toronto. This wonderful tradition carried on for 18 years. In the episode, we share one of the best examples of his spooky and side-splitting stories that blur the lines between fact and fiction.

In the aftermath of one of the deadliest tornadoes in US history, strange stories began to circulate in Joplin, Missouri. Children from a variety of backgrounds reported that angel-like “Butterfly People” had protected them during the terrible storm which claimed 161 lives. These incredible stories of survival are captivating and illuminate the very thin line between the divine and the paranormal.

Warning: The episode contains descriptions of a massive tornadic event and the resulting destruction and loss of life. Listener discretion is advised.

We celebrate our 100th episode with a blockbuster interview! Professor Alexander Puzrin recently made international headlines for a paper he co-wrote in the Communications Earth & Environment academic journal about the Dyatlov Pass Incident. He joins us from Zurich to explain the new scientific discoveries that may finally solve one the world’s most famously frustrating unsolved mysteries. Follow us as we head deep into the Ural Mountains looking for answers.

Due to the unsettling nature of the tragedy, and descriptions of significant injuries, listener discretion is advised.