The Story Ark Podcast

In this episode of Story Ark Below Decks, Kenny sits down with his dad, Spencer Mears, to swap real-life ghost encounters — from a teenage banshee scream in the neighborhood to a spirit box that won't stop saying "Die" at a haunted cemetery tree.

In today's episode:

Spencer's first supernatural experience — a blue flash and banshee scream while sneaking out as a teenager

A house in California where a murder scene replays every year on the same night

Ghost hunting at West Jordan Cemetery with EMF meters and a spirit box — and the one word that kept coming through

A white mass that flew over the car on a dark highway near Zion National Park

The night a fearless friend said "We need to get inside NOW"

A visit to a remote homestead in Duchesne County with a spirit box

The Midvale Museum ghost hunt where the spirit box recognized Spencer's cop dad

Is Spencer's own house haunted by the previous owner, Ruth?

Plus on-site ghost hunting footage from West Jordan Cemetery, including EMF spikes at the tree where a young man reportedly hung himself. If you've had a freaky ghost encounter, drop it in the comments — we might react to your stories in a future episode!

Like, follow, subscribe, and share with your friends and family. #ghoststories #paranormal #ghosthunting #spiritbox #haunted #folklore

Do you ever feel like a nobody? It's easy to feel like we don't matter in this vast world, but the truth is, every single one of us is a somebody with immense personal worth.

In this episode of The Story Ark, we welcome back a friend of the show and Utah Storytelling Guild member, Wayne Kartchner. Wayne is here to remind us that it is perfectly okay to be a "nobody" trying something new, and why you have to be willing to be bad at something before you can ever be good.

From learning to play the piano at age 72 to teaching resilient English students across Africa via Zoom, Wayne’s stories highlight why we should embrace our mistakes rather than fear them. Listen in as he shares a deeply touching story about Lesego, a mother of five from Botswana, whose determination to learn English not only transformed her daughter's confidence but profoundly impacted Wayne's own life from 9,000 miles away.

Whether you want to start telling silly bedtime stories to your kids, pick up a new skill, or simply need a gentle reminder that your everyday presence matters, this episode is for you.

For more information on Wayne, be sure to check out his profile with The Utah Storytelling Guild: https://www.utahstorytellingguild.website/project/wayne-kartchner-2/

Connect with The Story Ark:

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• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryArkPodcast
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storyark.pod/
• Podcast platforms: Available wherever you listen to podcasts!

What if your ancestors were actually your guardian angels? Can a guardian angel possess somebody to bring you a comforting message? Join Kenny Mears and his guest Keen Arcayan today as they discuss the nature of Guardian Angels in their own beliefs as Latter-day Saints or "Mormons" as well as some of the Catholic ideas of Guardian Angels.

You've heard the story of Snow White before, but have you ever heard the Sardinian equivalent? Told for the first time ever in the English language, this is the story of Barbaredda and the Burdock Giants, translated recently by our host, Kenny Mears.

Barbaredda is a girl raised by goats after her mother died and her father went to prison. She has 12 bandit brothers who disappeared to the north the day she was born. So, Barbaredda sets out on a quest to find her brothers, encountering a sampling of Sardinia's supernatural landscape as she goes. First she encounters a Pana, the ghost of her mother, who she must help in order to know where to go. Next, she encounters the Janas, the fairies of Sardinia, who can turn people to stone. Then, she comes upon Giorgia Rabbiosa, a horrific witch who wants to eat her. Finally, she finds safety with the lovely innkeeper Zuliana... until she gets too pretty that is, turning Zuliana into a full evil queen! Listeners of all ages will enjoy this classic Sardinian fairy tale, so don't wait!

Connect with The Story Ark, available wherever you listen to podcasts!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570119045635

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryArkPodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storyark.pod/

We've all heard the story of Paul Revere's Midnight Ride, but did you know he wasn't the only person to have a desperate ride of warning during the Revolutionary War? Join us today as we explore three other awesome stories from the American Revolution of both men and women who risked their lives to warn their fellow Americans of the coming British.

Find Laurie Allen:

Utah Storytelling Guild: utahstorytellingguild.website

Storytours: storytours.com

Connect with The Story Ark, available wherever you listen to podcasts!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570119045635

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryArkPodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storyark.pod/

Luck is a remarkably elusive thing. Some people seem to be abounding in luck, while other people struggle to find it. Join us today as we take a look at some delightful luck tales.

Join professional storyteller Randel McGee as he takes on the persona of Hans Christen Andersen and makes a paper-cutting as he tells the story of Luck Can Be Found In A Stick, the tale of a poor woodturner who finds his fortune in an unexpected place!

Relive our very first episode with a re-telling of our very first story, The Edge of The World, the story of a handsome young man on a quest to find his luck...

And finally, take a listen as we tell the original version of Puss In Boots from Italy, which has since become a staple of western animation in the latest version of a very old character!

Connect with Randel McGee:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Randel-McGee-as-Hans-Christian-Andersen-100057310253873/
• Website: www.mcgeeproductions.com

Connect with The Story Ark:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570119045635
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryArkPodcast
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storyark.pod/
• Podcast platforms: Available wherever you listen to podcasts!

Young men are a staple of storytelling, often causing trouble wherever they go. Today we have three such stories of young men who raised absolute hell wherever they went.

First, we have Jeff Driggs with a retelling from the book Penrod, entitled Little Gentleman, where a young man despises being called a "Little Gentleman" and shows people just how troublesome he can be.

Next, we have the story Pistirincheddu, an Sardinian story just recently translated into English by our host, Kenny Mears, where a young and clever boy repeatedly outsmarts an ogre who is trying to eat him as he guards his father's vineyard.

And finally, tune in for a classic Grimm fairy tale, The Valiant Little Tailor, about a young tailor who slays 7 flies, gets a big head, and somehow manages to become king.

Visit Jeff with the Utah Storytelling Guild at www.utahstorytellingguild.website

Connect with The Story Ark, available wherever you listen to podcasts!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570119045635

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryArkPodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storyark.pod/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@storyark.pod

Pioneer stories are a valuable part of Utah heritage, and they are full of stories of miracles in the tough environment in the mid 1800's. Today we get to take a special look at three stories of miracles and pioneers. First we have What A Dinner We Had, by storyteller Rachel Macdonald, a true story of her pioneer ancestors who had dinner provided through a subtle miracle. We then have the story of the Bodily family, who traveled from South Africa to Utah and experienced a miraculous blessing for their generosity. And then finally, learn why the California Gull is the state bird of Utah in the story of the Crickets and the Seagulls.

Want Rachel to tell a story at your event? Check her out at the Utah Storytelling Guild: https://www.utahstorytellingguild.website/project/rachel-macdonald/

Connect with The Story Ark, available wherever you listen to podcasts!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570119045635

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryArkPodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storyark.pod/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@storyark.pod

What do you think of when you think of the United States of America? Do you think of rough riding cowboys rolling across the West? Or do you imaging the strong military men and women who have defended freedom since the Revolutionary War? Perhaps you think of monstrous cryptids like Bigfoot, Mothman, and UFO's hiding out in the vast wilderness of America. Whatever you imagine, America is all of these and more. Join us as we explore three classic aspects of the American identity through story, our brave military men, the wild west and cowboys, and the Eastern U.S. and Appalachia with their litany of cryptids and monsters.

Visit the Utah Storytelling Guild at www.utahstorytellingguild.website

Connect with The Story Ark, available wherever you listen to podcasts!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570119045635

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryArkPodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storyark.pod/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@storyark.pod

The Western United States has long been home to gold, silver, and other mines, so it's no surprise that legends of lost mines have emerged over the last several centuries. Join us as we explore several of these legends based in Utah, as well as a delightful "lost mine" story by friend of the show, Jeff Driggs. This is one set of Western legends you won't want to miss!

Visit Jeff with the Utah Storytelling Guild at www.utahstorytellingguild.website

Connect with The Story Ark, available wherever you listen to podcasts!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570119045635

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheStoryArkPodcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storyark.pod/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@storyark.pod