Our favorite weird state, West Virginia, is home to one of the most fascinating (and disturbing) paranormal tales in American history: the testimony of a ghost that was discussed during a murder trial. At the turn of the 20th century, a young bride, Elva Zona Heaster Shue, died in what at first seemed to be an accident. Soon, though, someone very close to her was on trial for murder . . . after Zona herself appeared as a ghost, and pointed a spectral finger at the suspect. 

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Hosted and Written  by Laurah Norton

Researched by Laurah Norton and Annna Luria 

Engineered by Southern Gothic Media/Rachel Boyd

One Strange Thing: True Paranormal Mysteries explores the archives of the unexplained, blending rigorous historical research with a wry, skeptical wit to investigate true supernatural stories and baffling mysteries that made headlines.

Dive into our Episode Mystery Archive — a curated, topic-organized source for documented hauntings, UFO sightings, cryptids, folklore, and bizarre true mysteries. Check it out here! https://www.onestrangethingpodcast.com/episodes-by-topic-mystery-archive

Sources on our website: https://www.onestrangethingpodcast.com/

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Anyone plugged into the world of unexplained events and oddities is probably well aware of the Max Headroom broadcast hijacking. But a story that weird is worth diving into — especially since, roughly 40 years later, there’s been no real progress in efforts to c-c-catch those involved. Strange history at its finest! 

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Hosted by Laurah Norton 

Researched by Bryan Worters and Maura Currie

Produced, Written and Engineered by Maura Currie 

This episode originally ran as Premium Episode 25.

One Strange Thing: True Paranormal Mysteries explores the archives of the unexplained, blending rigorous historical research with a wry, skeptical wit to investigate true supernatural stories and baffling mysteries that made headlines.

Dive into our Episode Mystery Archive — a curated, topic-organized source for documented hauntings, UFO sightings, cryptids, folklore, and bizarre true mysteries. Check it out here! https://www.onestrangethingpodcast.com/episodes-by-topic-mystery-archive

Sources on our website: https://www.onestrangethingpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon for early release and ad-free episodes, exclusive stories, and bonus 

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All Rights Reserved The Fall Line® Podcast LLC/One Strange Thing 2026

Works Cited: 

Bishop, Bryan, “Max Headroom: The Definitive…” The Verge, 2015.

Wogan, Terry. “Max Headroom,” BBC1, 1985.

Shull, Richard, “‘20 minutes into future’ is past,” The Times, 1987.

“Highlights in the history of Coca-Cola…” Library of Congress, ND. 

Knittel, Chris, “The Mystery of the Creepiest…” Motherboard, 2013.

“Video pirate briefly interrupts…” Chicago Tribune, 1987. 

Greene, Bob, “Fame is fleeting to the m-m-max,” Chicago Tribune, 1987.

“Masked Max interrupts programming,” UPI, 1987.

Shefsky, Jay, “30 Years Later, Notorious…” WTTW News, 2017. 

Camper, John & Daley, Steve, “A powerful video prankster…” Chicago Tribune, 1987.

Buckman, Adam, “FCC sure is mad, Max” Advertising Age, 1987.

“The Max Headroom Incident: Revisiting…” WBUR, 2019.

Pagano, Penny, “‘Captain Midnight’ Enters Plea…” Los Angeles Times, 1986.

Staff, “Porn-Film Message Suspect…” Los Angeles Times, 1990.

The Max Headroom Chronicles

WTTW Chicago - The Max Headroom Pirating Incident

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A cursed chair in a North Yorkshire pub is said to have killed everyone who has sat in it? It’s something we must explore.  Thomas Busby was hanged for murder in 1702. His cursed chair became one of England's most infamous pieces of haunted furniture, linked to dozens of deaths over three centuries. But the truth of the Busby Stoop Chair may be stranger than any ghost story.

Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to joindeleteme.com/STRANGE and use promo code STRANGE at checkout! 

Hosted and Written  by Laurah Norton

Researched by Anna Luria  and Laurah Norton

Engineered and  Produced by Southern Gothic Media/Rachel Boyd

One Strange Thing: True Paranormal Mysteries explores the archives of the unexplained, blending rigorous historical research with a wry, skeptical wit to investigate true supernatural stories and baffling mysteries that made headlines.

Dive into our Episode Mystery Archive — a curated, topic-organized source for documented hauntings, UFO sightings, cryptids, folklore, and bizarre true mysteries. Check it out here! https://www.onestrangethingpodcast.com/episodes-by-topic-mystery-archive

Join us on Patreon for early release and ad-free episodes, exclusive stories, and bonus 

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Subscribe to our Substack: https://substack.com/@onestrangething

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All Rights Reserved The Fall Line® Podcast LLC/One Strange Thing 2026

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A young man from England claims to have incredible paranormal gifts—but can it truly be proven? We all want to be special. . . and some of us even believe we might just have extraordinary powers. But that usually fades as we grow older. But for Matthew Manning, an alleged psychic, ghost whisperer, faith healer, and all-around phenom who came to prominence in the 1970s, international renown may have been the goal. . . though supporters argued he was simply sharing his gifts with the world.

Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to joindeleteme.com/STRANGE and use promo code STRANGE at checkout!

One Strange Thing: True Paranormal Mysteries explores the archives of the unexplained, blending rigorous historical research with a wry, skeptical wit to investigate true supernatural stories and baffling mysteries that made headlines.

Dive into our Episode Mystery Archive — a curated, topic-organized source for documented hauntings, UFO sightings, cryptids, folklore, and bizarre true mysteries. Check it out here! https://www.onestrangethingpodcast.com/episodes-by-topic-mystery-archive

Hosted by Laurah Norton

Produced, Written, and Engineered by Maura Currie

Researched by Anna Luria

This episode originally aired at Premium Episode 31.

SOURCES:

NA, “Matthew Manning, age 19…” Cambridge Evening News, 1974.

John Alexander, “Moments of mysterious…” Cambridge Evening News, 1974.

NA, “Matthew Manning: is he a genius…” Cambridge Evening News, 1974.

NA, “When things went bump…” Cambridge Evening News, 1974.

NA, “Writing on the wall…” Cambridge Evening News, 1974.

NA, “He can MAKE a wish…” Cambridge Evening News, 1974.

NA, “The ‘strong psychic gifts…’" Cambridge Evening News, 1974.

NA, “Mystery over a little bit…” Cambridge Evening News, 1974.

Andrew Barron, “Matthew Manning…” Cambridge Evening News, 1974.

Allen Spraggett, “Englishman Matthew Manning…” Daily Independent Journal, 1975.

NA, “The Link” The Wichita Falls, 1975.

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Harry Houdini spent the last years of his life doing something unexpected for the world's greatest escape artist: relentlessly exposing fraudulent psychic mediums and publicly humiliating his famous friend Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in the process. But for all his skepticism, Houdini carried a secret that would define the final chapter of his life. . . and haunt his widow for a decade after his death.

One Strange Thing: True Paranormal Mysteries explores the archives of the unexplained, blending rigorous historical research with a wry, skeptical wit to investigate true supernatural stories and baffling mysteries that made headlines.

Dive into our Episode Mystery Archive — a curated, topic-organized source for documented hauntings, UFO sightings, cryptids, folklore, and bizarre true mysteries. Check it out here! https://www.onestrangethingpodcast.com/episodes-by-topic-mystery-archive

Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to joindeleteme.com/STRANGE and use promo code STRANGE at checkout!

Hosted and Written by Laurah Norton

Researched by Anna Luria and Laurah Norton

Engineered and Produced by Southern Gothic Media/Rachel Boyd

Sources on our website: https://www.onestrangethingpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon for early release and ad-free episodes, exclusive stories, and bonus

episodes: https://www.patreon.com/OneStrangeThing

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Subscribe to our Substack: https://substack.com/@onestrangething

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All Rights Reserved The Fall Line® Podcast LLC/One Strange Thing 2026

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Spaghetti, like money, does not grow on trees. But it turns out that that may not have been common knowledge in ‘50s Britain… and the BBC, after putting together a whimsical April Fools’ segment, suddenly had some explaining to do. We begin our April Fools’ celebration with lots of tricks and fun. Be sure to follow all month!

Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to joindeleteme.com/STRANGE and use promo code STRANGE at checkout!

Hosted by Laurah Norton

Research by Bryan Worters and Maura Currie

Written, Engineered & Produced by Maura Currie

One Strange Thing: True Paranormal Mysteries explores the archives of the unexplained, blending rigorous historical research with a wry, skeptical wit to investigate true supernatural stories and baffling mysteries that made headlines.

Dive into our Episode Mystery Archive — a curated, topic-organized source for documented hauntings, UFO sightings, cryptids, folklore, and bizarre true mysteries. Check it out here! https://www.onestrangethingpodcast.com/episodes-by-topic-mystery-archive

This episode originally ran as premium episode 59.

Sources on our website: https://www.onestrangethingpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon for early release and ad-free episodes, exclusive stories, and bonus

episodes: https://www.patreon.com/OneStrangeThing

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Subscribe to our Substack: https://substack.com/@onestrangething

We work with Amplitude Media Partners (AMP) to power our advertising and grow with the right sponsors. Contact AMP with any ad inquiries; [email protected].

All Rights Reserved The Fall Line® Podcast LLC/One Strange Thing 2026

Works Cited

BBC On This Day

NA, “History of British Television,” Science and Media Museum, 2011.

NA, “Spaghetti tree shown…” The Scotsman, 1957.

NA, “TV hoax fools the…” Belfast Telegraph, 1957.

James Thomas, “TV fools viewers…” Daily News, 1957.

NA, “What a dish - with…” Daily Herald, 1957.

NA, “TV TOPICS,” Shetland Times, 1957.

Jack Stepler, “Spaghetti Tree,” Ottowa Citizen, 1957.

NA, “Spaghetti and Cocktails: The pitiless…” The Scotsman, 1957.

NA, “Spaghetti is harvested…” Runcorn Weekly News, 1957.

Arthur Dunn, “Practical joking the…” Belfast Telegraph, 1962.

Paul Wallace, “The day that trees…” Scarborough Evening News, 1988.

NA, “Still a good joke…” BBC News, 2004.

NA, “Archive: A look back at the 1957…” BBC, 2024.

Encyclopedia Britannica

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Chestnut Hill is a desirable neighborhood in the deliciously weird city of Philadelphia. But there’s very, very old American history there, too – so is it all that big a surprise that a mansion there is haunted? The real question is: between the death chair, the ghost boys, and the screaming parrot… who would film a music video there?

Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to joindeleteme.com/STRANGE and use promo code STRANGE at checkout!

Hosted by Laurah Norton

Researched by Maura Currie and Anna Luria

Written, Produced and Engineered by Maura Currie

This episode previously appeared as Premium Episode 52.

One Strange Thing: True Paranormal Mysteries explores the archives of the unexplained, blending rigorous historical research with a wry, skeptical wit to investigate true supernatural stories and baffling mysteries that made headlines.

Dive into our Episode Mystery Archive — a curated, topic-organized source for documented hauntings, UFO sightings, cryptids, folklore, and bizarre true mysteries. Check it out here! https://www.onestrangethingpodcast.com/episodes-by-topic-mystery-archive

Sources on our website: https://www.onestrangethingpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon for early release and ad-free episodes, exclusive stories, and bonus

episodes: https://www.patreon.com/OneStrangeThing

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Subscribe to our Substack: https://substack.com/@onestrangething

We work with Amplitude Media Partners (AMP) to power our advertising and grow with the right sponsors. Contact AMP with any ad inquiries; [email protected].

All Rights Reserved The Fall Line® Podcast LLC/One Strange Thing 2026

Works Cited

Bill Hayden, “Ghosts of Ney and Milton…” The News Journal, 1973.

Claire Huff, “The ghosts of Chestnut Hill,” Philadelphia Inquirer, 1976.

NA, “A high-spirited evening…” Philadelphia Inquirer, 1989.

Kevin Feeley, “My Neighbor’s Chestnut Hill…” BillyPenn/WHYY, 2015.

Beverly J. Smith, “A Magical Mystic Tour,” Philadelphia Inquirer, 1973.

Ron Avery. “Squire revels in domain…” Philadelphia Daily News, 1991.

Kaitlyn Foti, “Chestnut Hill’s Baleroy…” Chestnut Hill-Mt. Airy Patch, 2011.

Philly Ghosts

Chestnut Hill, PA

Ally Mullen, “Interview: Sean Pecknold,” Urban Outfitters Blog, 2012 (via Wayback Machine)

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This week we're sharing a special episode from Blood Will Tell, a gripping new podcast you won't want to miss.

When a birthday party in suburban San Jose turns deadly, 18-year-old identical twins Trung and Anh are arrested for suspected murder. But when an eyewitness misidentifies the brothers in a lineup, one twin spends nearly two years in jail — and the wrong one. How could one brother let his twin take the fall? And why would the other sacrifice his freedom for a crime he didn't commit?

Listen to more episodes of Blood Will Tell at https://wondery.com/shows/blood-will-tell/

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In 1897, a Little Rock businessman claimed he tracked down and killed a 20-foot dragon-like creature with tusks, webbed feet, and a taste for human flesh in the caves of Searcy County, Arkansas. He even had a photograph. The tale of the Ozark Gowrow didn't end in 1897 — this cryptid legend took on a life of its own in mountain folklore and monster sightings across Arkansas.

One Strange Thing: True Paranormal Mysteries explores the archives of the unexplained, blending rigorous historical research with a wry, skeptical wit to investigate true supernatural stories and baffling mysteries that made headlines.

Dive into our Episode Mystery Archive — a curated, topic-organized source for documented hauntings, UFO sightings, cryptids, folklore, and bizarre true mysteries. Check it out here! https://www.onestrangethingpodcast.com/episodes-by-topic-mystery-archive

Hosted and Written by Laurah Norton

Researched by Anna Luria and Laurah Norton

Engineered and Produced by Southern Gothic Media/Rachel Boyd

Sources on our website: https://www.onestrangethingpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon for early release and ad-free episodes, exclusive stories, and bonus

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We’ve told a blob story before – but the story that unfolded in Oakville, Washington in the mid-90s deserves its own telling. These blobs rained down from the sky and caused pretty severe impacts on the ground… and you guessed it: the jury’s still out on what, exactly, splatted down on Oakville. Was it aliens? Monsters straight out of a horror movie? Or just weird, weird rain?

One Strange Thing: True Paranormal Mysteries explores the archives of the unexplained, blending rigorous historical research with a wry, skeptical wit to investigate true supernatural stories and baffling mysteries that made headlines.

Dive into our Episode Mystery Archive — a curated, topic-organized source for documented hauntings, UFO sightings, cryptids, folklore, and bizarre true mysteries. Check it out here! https://www.onestrangethingpodcast.com/episodes-by-topic-mystery-archive

Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to joindeleteme.com/STRANGE and use promo code STRANGE at checkout!

This episode was originally released as OST Premium Episode 56.

Hosted by Laurah Norton

Research by Anna Luria and Maura Currie

Written & Produced by Maura Currie

Engineered by Brandon Schexnayder

Sources on our website: https://www.onestrangethingpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon for early release and ad-free episodes, exclusive stories, and bonus

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We work with Amplitude Media Partners (AMP) to power our advertising and grow with the right sponsors. Contact AMP with any ad inquiries; [email protected].

All Rights Reserved The Fall Line® Podcast LLC/One Strange Thing 2026

Works Cited:

NA, “Blobs fall from the sky…” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 1994.

NA, “Mystery blobs were…” New York Times, 1994.

Ron Hoss, “Television crew investigates…” Centralia Chronicle, 1997.

Sunny Barclift, “Doctor would have to be…” Centralia Chronicle, 1999.

NA, “30 Years Later: The…” KXRO, 2014.

Dameon Pesanti, “The Day Blobs…” The Chronicle, 2014.

Unsolved Mysteries

Alex Onken and Fred Gamble, “A FISHY DAY: Fish…” KSLA, 2021.

City of Texarkana

Seattle Aquarium

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