Welcome to Bonus Friday Fun! When there is an extra Friday in the month, we will post some fun bonus content. You may remember this past Halloween on our spooky Instagram live, Bri and Christiana both wrote out spooky stories to read to our listeners. Today, to celebrate Summerween, we bring you these stories in Audio format! 

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**Disclaimers**

The views discussed on this podcast do not necessarily represent our views or opinions, or those of our employers.

Welcome back to Something Strange! It’s episode number 50, and today we give a huge welcome to Sam, from the Appalachian Spooky Hour podcast! Come along as the three of us discuss the Flatwoods Monster of West Virginia.

Stay tuned at the end of this episode to check out the trailer for Haunted Therapist podcast!

**TRIGGER WARNINGS FOR THIS EPISODE**

Reports of illness

Stay tuned at the end of this episode to check out the trailer for Haunted Therapist podcast!

Instagram: @something_strangepod

Facebook: Something Strange Podcast

Youtube: @Something_StrangePod

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/somethingstrangepod

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**Disclaimers**

The views discussed on this podcast do not necessarily represent our views or opinions, or those of our employers. 

References:

Wikipedia: Flatwoods Monster - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flatwoods_monster

Braxton: The Flatwoods Monster - https://braxtonwv.org/the-flatwoods-monster/

History.com: In 1952, the Flatwoods Monster Terrified 6 Kids, a Mom, a Dog—and the Nation - https://www.history.com/articles/flatwoods-monster-west-virginia

Braxton: Visit the Flatwoods Monster Museum - https://braxtonwv.org/the-flatwoods-monster/visit-the-museum/

National Archives; Project Blue Book - https://www.archives.gov/research/military/air-force/ufos

Welcome back to Something Strange! It’s episode number 49, and today we’ll be discussing the various hauntings in the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia!

**TRIGGER WARNINGS FOR THIS EPISODE**

Death, child death, death from illness, murder, discussion of penitentiary conditions

Stay tuned at the end of this episode to check out the trailer for Spookology podcast! 

Instagram: @something_strangepod

Facebook: Something Strange Podcast

Youtube: @Something_StrangePod

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/somethingstrangepod

Send us a gmail! [email protected]

**Disclaimers**

The views discussed on this podcast do not necessarily represent our views or opinions, or those of our employers. 

References:

Philly Ghosts - The Eerie History of Washington Square: 

https://phillyghosts.com/washington-square-unknown-soldiers-yellow-fever-body-snatching/

Philly Ghosts: Benjamin Franklin’s Ghost - https://phillyghosts.com/benjamin-franklins-ghost/

Philly Ghosts: The Betsy Ross House - https://phillyghosts.com/the-betsy-ross-house/

Philly Ghosts: Haunted Baleroy Mansion - https://phillyghosts.com/haunted-baleroy-mansion/

Encyclopedia Britannica: Benjamin Franklin - https://www.britannica.com/biography/Benjamin-Franklin

Haunted Rooms: Philadelphia’s Most Haunted Locations - https://www.hauntedrooms.com/pennsylvania/philadelphia/haunted-places

Philadelphia Injury Lawyers P.C.: Haunted Philadelphia: Ghost Stories and Paranormal Tales - https://philly-injury-law.com/blog/haunted-philadelphia-ghost-stories-and-paranormal-tales/

History.com: Philadelphia - https://www.history.com/articles/philadelphia-pennsylvania

Welcome back to Something Strange! It’s episode number 48, and today we’ll be discussing the history of the Chincoteague Pony - it’s stranger than you think, in a delightful way!

Stay tuned at the end of this episode to check out the trailer for Death Kissed Traveler podcast! 

Instagram: @something_strangepod

Facebook: Something Strange Podcast

Youtube: @Something_StrangePod

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**Disclaimers**

The views discussed on this podcast do not necessarily represent our views or opinions, or those of our employers. 

References:

“Before Misty: Early Chicoteague Pony History” by Sara Boudreau

National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Association: What is a barrier island? - https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/barrier-islands.html

Chincoteague.com: What is the Chincoteague Pony Swim? - https://www.chincoteague.com/pony-swim/

Chincoteague.com: Chincoteague Ponies - https://www.chincoteague.com/pony-swim/chincoteague-ponies/

American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture: Are ponies young horses? - https://www.agfoundation.org/questions/are-ponies-young-horses

Wikipedia: Pony Penning - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pony_Penning#History_and_background

Wikipedia: Chincoteague, Virginia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chincoteague,_Virginia#History

Wikipedia: History of Chincoteague, Virginia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Chincoteague,_Virginia

Wikipedia: Assateague People - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assateague_people

Wikipedia: Assateague Island - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assateague_Island

Maryland.gov: Assateague State Park - https://dnr.maryland.gov/publiclands/pages/eastern/assateague/wild-ponies.aspx

National Park Service: Assateague’s Wild Horses - https://www.nps.gov/asis/learn/nature/horses.htm

Okstate.edu: Breeds of Livestock - https://breeds.okstate.edu/horses/chincoteague-pony#main-content

Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company: Frequently Asked Questions About the Ponies - https://www.chincoteague.com/cvfc3/ponyfaq.html

International Chincoteague Pony Association and Registry: 2025 Chincoteague Pony Auction Results - https://www.chincoteagueponyassociation.com/blog/2025-chincoteague-pony-auction-results

Misty’s Haven: History of Misty of Chincoteague - https://www.mistysheaven.com/historyofmisty.html#/

Misty’s Haven: Beebe Ranch - https://www.mistysheaven.com/beeberanch.html#/

Welcome back Strangers! Today’s episode will focus on the Insanity Defense, based on our episode about the DeFeo family murders.

**TRIGGER WARNINGS FOR THIS EPISODE**

Mention of suicide attempts, discussions of intoxication via drugs/alcohol, discussions of shootings/assassination attempts, mentions of stalking/obsessive behavior

Stay tuned at the end of this episode to check out the trailer for Moon Brews podcast!

Instagram: @something_strangepod

Facebook: Something Strange Podcast

Youtube: @Something_StrangePod

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/somethingstrangepod

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**Disclaimers**

The views discussed on this podcast do not necessarily represent our views or opinions, or those of our employers. 

References:

Chamber and Ball: Could A Defense Of Intoxication Or Insanity Be The Answer To Your Criminal Case? - https://www.chamberslawfirmca.com/defense-intoxication-insanity-answer-criminal-case/

Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute: M’naghten Rule - https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/m%27naghten_rule

Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute: Irresistible Impulse Test - https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/irresistible_impulse_test

Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute: Durham Test - https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/durham_test

Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute: Model Penal Code insanity defense - https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/model_penal_code_insanity_defense

Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute: Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984 - https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/comprehensive_crime_control_act_of_1984

Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute: Insanity Defense - https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/insanity_defense

Famous Trials: The Trial of John W. Hinckley, Jr. - https://famous-trials.com/johnhinckley/537-home

Hester Law Group - What Is an Insanity Plea?: https://www.hesterlawgroup.com/blog/2022/january/what-is-an-insanity-plea-/

IMDb: Taxi Driver - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075314/?ref_=mv_close

Justia: Competency to Stand Trial in Criminal Law Cases - https://www.justia.com/criminal/procedure/competency-to-stand-trial/

Justia: The Insanity Defense in Criminal Trial Law Cases - https://www.justia.com/criminal/defenses/insanity/

Justia U.S. Law: Durham v. United States, 214 F.2d 862 (D.C. Cir. 1954) - https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/214/862/314341/

New York Post: Here’s a look at cases where insanity defenses have been successful in the US - https://nypost.com/2022/06/22/cases-where-insanity-defenses-have-been-successful-in-the-us/

NIH National Library of Medicine: The Insanity Defense - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2993532/#:~:text=The%20Durham%20rule.,a%20mental%20disease%20or%20defect.

Quimbee: Durham v. United States - https://www.quimbee.com/cases/durham-v-united-states

Wikipedia: Tories (British political party) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tories_(British_political_party)

Welcome back to Something Strange! It’s episode number 46, and today we’ll be discussing a strange cryptid, the hidebehind! 

**TRIGGER WARNINGS FOR THIS EPISODE**

Disembowelment 

Stay tuned at the end of this episode to check out the trailer for Macabre Mondays podcast!

Instagram: @something_strangepod

Facebook: Something Strange Podcast

Youtube: @Something_StrangePod

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/somethingstrangepod

Send us a gmail! [email protected]

**Disclaimers**

The views discussed on this podcast do not necessarily represent our views or opinions, or those of our employers. 

References:

Wikipedia: Hidebehind - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hidebehind

Wikipedia: Fearsome critters - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fearsome_critters

Cryptid Wiki: Hidebehind - https://cryptidz.fandom.com/wiki/Hidebehind

A Book of Creatures: Hidebehind - https://abookofcreatures.com/2017/02/06/hidebehind/

Medium: The Hidebehind - https://medium.com/@jan.josef.sanak/the-hidebehind-9639145ab25f

Youtube; Channel “Storied”, playlist “Monstrum”: Why Lumberjacks Never Look Behind Them - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBH_8x7zTS0

Reddit

Welcome back to Something Strange. Today for episode number 45, we have a very special episode. We will be discussing the tragic death of Matthew Shepard, a young man taken far too soon by a brutal hate crime.

**TRIGGER WARNINGS FOR THIS EPISODE**

Death by beating, discussion of severe injuries, discussion of sexual assault, discussions of hate crimes, hateful language, mention of sexual assault of a child, mention of mass shooting.

Instagram: @something_strangepod

Facebook: Something Strange Podcast

Youtube: @Something_StrangePod

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/somethingstrangepod

Send us a gmail! [email protected]

References:

Matthew Shepard Foundation Website - https://www.matthewshepard.org/

Matthew Shepard Foundation: The Foundation Story - https://www.matthewshepard.org/about-us/our-story/

Matthew Shepard Foundation: The Laramie Project - https://www.matthewshepard.org/the-laramie-project/

Matthew Shepard Foundation: Creating Safer Communities Hate Crimes Prevention Training - https://www.matthewshepard.org/creating-safer-communities-hate-crimes-prevention-training/

Matthew Shepard Foundation: Speaking Engagements - https://www.matthewshepard.org/speaking-engagements/

Wyohistory.org: The Murder of Matthew Shepard - https://www.wyohistory.org/encyclopedia/murder-matthew-shepard

UMKC School of Law Famous Trials: Motion to Suppress McKinney Confession Denied - https://famous-trials.com/mattshepard/2520-motion-to-suppress-mckinney-confession-denied, https://famous-trials.com/images/ftrials/mattshepard/McKinney_Defendant_Motions.pdf

UMKC School of Law Famous Trials: Aaron McKinney Trial: No Appeal if No Death Penalty - https://famous-trials.com/mattshepard/2502-confession-of-aaron-mckinney, https://famous-trials.com/images/ftrials/mattshepard/McKinney_Sentencing_Court_Transcript.pdf

UMKC School of Law Famous Trials: Aaron McKinney’s Confession - https://famous-trials.com/mattshepard/2503-trial-of-aaron-mckinney-excerpts-from-the-trial-transcript

UMKC School of Law Famous Trials: Russell Henderson Testimony Regarding Shepard Murder, Transcript of the Hearing Concerning Henderson's Agreement to Change His Plea to Guilty - https://famous-trials.com/mattshepard/2513-russell-henderson-testimony-regarding-shepard-murder, https://famous-trials.com/images/ftrials/mattshepard/Wyoming_v_Henderson_Transcrip47.pdf

UMKC School of Law Famous Trials: Judge's Decision Rejecting "Gay Panic Defense" - https://famous-trials.com/mattshepard/2514-judge-s-decision-rejecting-gay-panic-defense

BBC News: Matthew Shepard: The murder that changed America - https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45968606

Documentary: Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine

U.S. Department of Justice: FBI Releases 2024 Hate Crime Statistics - https://www.justice.gov/hatecrimes/hate-crime-statistics

Department of Justice: Learn About Hate Crimes - https://www.justice.gov/hatecrimes/learn-about-hate-crimes

The LGBTQ+ Bar: LGBTQ+ "Panic" Defense - https://lgbtqbar.org/programs/advocacy-resources/advocacy/gay-trans-panic-defense/

Welcome to Bonus Friday Fun! When there is an extra Friday in the month, we will post some fun bonus content. Today, we dug through the trenches of Reddit to find some fae encounters, which we will read and discuss. 

**TRIGGER WARNINGS FOR THIS EPISODE**

Stay tuned at the end of this episode to check out the trailer for Kill Me Maybe podcast!

Instagram: @something_strangepod

Facebook: Something Strange Podcast

Youtube: @Something_StrangePod

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/somethingstrangepod

Send us a gmail! [email protected]

**Disclaimers**

The views discussed on this podcast do not necessarily represent our views or opinions, or those of our employers. 

References:

Reddit - My family’s encounters with elves/fairies in South America: https://www.reddit.com/r/Paranormal/comments/1gg11fq/my_familys_encounters_with_elvesfairies_in_south/

Reddit - I invited a fairy to meet me and one did (kind of): https://www.reddit.com/r/AstralProjection/comments/zsn3ae/i_invited_a_fairy_to_meet_me_and_one_did_kind_of/

Reddit - Has anyone seen the fae folk?: https://www.reddit.com/r/Paranormal/comments/1202maa/has_anyone_seen_the_fae_folk/

Reddit - An encounter with the Fae: https://www.reddit.com/r/faeries/comments/v8iz86/an_encounter_with_the_fae/

Welcome back Strangers! Today’s episode will focus on the hauntings in the town of Reading, Pennsylvania, based on the winning topic of our May Instagram poll!

**TRIGGER WARNINGS FOR THIS EPISODE**

Murder, infanticide, severing of limbs, death by decapitation, desicration of a grave/grave monument, suicide

Stay tuned at the end of this episode to check out the trailer for It Came from the Maritimes podcast!

Instagram: @something_strangepod

Facebook: Something Strange Podcast

Youtube: @Something_StrangePod

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/somethingstrangepod

Send us a gmail! [email protected]

**Disclaimers**

The views discussed on this podcast do not necessarily represent our views or opinions, or those of our employers. 

References:

Ghosts and Legends of Berks County, Pennsylvania by Elizabeth Page

Experience Reading and Berks County - Haunted Places in Berks County: https://www.experienceberks.com/blog/post/haunted-tales-of-berks-county/

Wikipedia - Reading PA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reading,_Pennsylvania

Goreadingberks.com - Ghost Stories from the William Penn Memorial Fire Tower: https://goreadingberks.com/ghost-stories-from-the-william-penn-memorial-fire-tower/

Goreadingberks.com - The Dreamland Park Murders: https://goreadingberks.com/the-dreamland-park-murders/

Experience Reading and Berks County - Spooky Season in Berks County: https://www.experienceberks.com/blog/post/spooky-season-in-berks-county/

Berks County Living- Tales of Haunted Berks: https://berkscountyliving.com/everything-berks/house-home/tales-of-haunted-berks/

Berks Nostalgia - The Luden Family & the Ghost of Bon Air: https://berksnostalgia.com/william-h-luden-ghosts-of-bon-air/

Welcome back to Something Strange! We’re continuing our fae-adjacent May episodes today, as we discuss the Will-O-The-Wisp! 

**TRIGGER WARNINGS FOR THIS EPISODE**

Mentions of child death, stories of demonic encounters, fae-esq tricks, potential sexual assault

Stay tuned at the end of this episode to check out the trailer for Grimly podcast!

Instagram: @something_strangepod

Facebook: Something Strange Podcast

Youtube: @Something_StrangePod

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/somethingstrangepod

Send us a gmail! [email protected]

**Disclaimers**

The views discussed on this podcast do not necessarily represent our views or opinions, or those of our employers. 

References:Will-o’-the-Wisps, Jack-O-Lanterns, Ignis Fatuus (fools fire): Legends about fire fairies translated and/or edited by D.L. Ashliman - https://sites.pitt.edu/~dash/willowisp.html 

Merriam Webster Dictionary: Will-O’-the-Wisp - https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/will-o%27-the-wisp 

Science Direct: Mysterious will-o’-the-wisps ignited by microlightning - https://www.science.org/content/article/mysterious-will-o-wisps-ignited-microlightning 

PBS: Monstrum - 

https://www.pbs.org/video/will-o-the-wisp-monstrous-flame-or-scientific-phenomenon-dsugln/

The Smithsonian: What Actually Sparks Will-o’-the-Wisps? A New Study Traces the Science Behind the Mysterious, Wandering Lights - https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/what-actually-sparks-will-o-the-wisps-a-new-study-traces-the-science-behind-the-mysterious-wandering-lights-180987421/ 

Kat the Lore Mistress: Monster Monday #35: Will-O'-The-Wisp - https://www.theloremistress.co.uk/post/monster-monday-35-will-o-the-wisp 

Wikipedia: Will-o'-the-wisp - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will-o%27-the-wisp