Weird Darkness: Paranormal & True Crime Stories

Mental institutions have a way of leaving their mark—whether it’s through the haunting tales of abandoned asylums, the horrifying experiences shared by patients and staff, or the disturbing reality of 19th-century facilities that turned human suffering into a spectacle.

Look for this podcast on YouTube Music, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other apps. Get the full list of options here: https://pod.link/1078714736

*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*

IN THIS EPISODE: Mental Institutions, psychiatric hospitals, lunatic asylums… whatever you want to call them, they can do good work if given the right resources and staff, helping patients to live through or possibly even overcome mental health crises. But even in the more well-funded locations, nightmares still occur according to both staff and patients. And even when those institutions are abandoned and left to rot, many refuse to release the tormented souls who have somehow found themselves entrapped there in the afterlife. We’ll look at haunted asylums, we’ll hear some horrifying true stories from both patients and workers about what happens inside asylums that are still in operation, and we’ll learn about the horrifying reality of mental asylums in the 19th century acting almost like amusement parks for paying visitors. 

CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = The Foreboding
00:01:52.693 = Show Open
00:03:39.632 = Madness in the Trans Allegheny Lunatic Asylum
00:15:40.319 = The Buffalo State Asylum ***
00:22:43.987 = Athens Asylum
00:33:25.105 = Haunted Asylums
00:42:36.694 = Psych Ward Horror Stories ***
01:11:40.472 = Seeing The Sights at the Psych Ward ***
01:20:32.348 = Show Close
*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad break

HELPFUL LINKS & RESOURCES…
https://WeirdDarkness.com/ALBUMS = Songs and Videos by our Weird Darkness punk band, #DarkWeirdness
https://WeirdDarkness.com/STORE = Tees, Mugs, Socks, Hoodies, Totes, Hats, Kidswear & More
https://WeirdDarkness.com/HOPE = Hope For Depression or Thoughts of Self-Harm
https://WeirdDarkness.com/NEWSLETTER = In-Depth Articles, Memes, Weird DarkNEWS, Videos & More
https://WeirdDarkness.com/AUDIOBOOKS = FREE Audiobooks Narrated By Darren Marlar

EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/AsylumGhosts

SOURCES and RESOURCES:
“Madness In The Trans Allegheny Lunatic Asylum” by Katie Serena for All That’s Interesting:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3k8t8far and Kathy Weiser-Alexander for Legends of America:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/mryb2uv3
“Athens Asylum for the Insane” by Kathy Weiser-Alexander for Legends of America: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/mvx5kr9z
“The Buffalo State Asylum” posted at The Scare Chamber: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2a5jacp3
“Haunted Asylums” by Christopher Myers for Ranker: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/bdt42kwa
“Psych Ward Horror Stories” by Duke Harton: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2a4avdvz and Isadora Teich: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/57t2z279 for Ranker
“Seeing the Sights at the Psych Ward” by Christy Box for Ranker: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/mr3bn87b
(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)
"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46

WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.

Originally aired: January 08, 2024

More episodes, additional podcasts, books, original music, in-depth paranormal and true-crime articles, and much more at https://weirddarkness.com.

The U.S. government is sitting on 46 classified military videos of unidentified objects filmed over war zones, military bases, and U.S. airspace — and Congress just issued a hard deadline to get them released.

PRINT VERSION OF THIS STORY: https://weirddarkness.com/congress-ufo-deadline/

*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*

WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
#WeirdDarkness, #WeirdDarkNEWS

More episodes, additional podcasts, books, original music, in-depth paranormal and true-crime articles, and much more at https://weirddarkness.com.

The released 911 call from the wife of missing Air Force General William Neil McCasland reveals he took a gun, left everything else behind, and told her his brain was deteriorating — and she believed he planned to disappear.

PRINT VERSION OF THIS STORY: https://weirddarkness.com/mccasland-911-call/

*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*

WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
#WeirdDarkness, #WeirdDarkNEWS

More episodes, additional podcasts, books, original music, in-depth paranormal and true-crime articles, and much more at https://weirddarkness.com.

“Leona’s Room”: He thought he'd committed the perfect murder — until a blind woman on a vaudeville stage looked straight at him and told the audience exactly what he'd done. | #RetroRadio #WeirdDarkness | EP0624

CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = Show Open
00:01:30.028 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “The Secret of Laurels” (July 28, 1977)
00:46:11.039 = Pat Novak For Hire, “John St. John” (October 13, 1946)
01:15:11.996 = Peril, “The Wonderful Deception” (1953) ***WD
01:40:35.650 = Mystery Playhouse, “Turnabout” (May 20, 1946) ***WD
02:03:08.197 = Philip Morris Playhouse, “Leona’s Room” (February 25, 1949)
02:31:59.540 = Price of Fear, “William And Mary” (September 08, 1973) ***WD
02:59:31.349 = Adventures of Ellery Queen, “Mischief Maker” (January 15, 1944) ***WD
03:24:56.152 = Quiet Please, “The Time of the Big Snow” (October 02, 1949)
03:53:50.734 = Radio City Playhouse, “Blackout” (August 15, 1949) ***WD
04:22:11.886 = Hollywood Mystery Time, “Murder By Coincidence” (August 19, 1945) ***WD (Rare Mystery!)
04:52:06.936 = Show Close

(ADU) = Air Date Unknown
(LQ) = Low Quality
***WD = Remastered, edited, or cleaned up by Weird Darkness to make the episode more listenable. Audio may not be pristine, but it will be better than the original file which may have been unusable or more difficult to hear without editing.
CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0624

More episodes, additional podcasts, books, original music, in-depth paranormal and true-crime articles, and much more at https://weirddarkness.com.

We look at the cosmic riddle of life and death… and the place in-between… the near-death-experience… from the view of those who have personally gone through it, those around them when it happened, and the doctors and scientists trying to make sense of it. 

*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*

IN THIS EPISODE: To some, the idea of life after death is comforting. It gives them a sense of hope that they will be reunited with loved ones who have passed away. For others, the thought of an afterlife is scary and uncertain. But regardless of how we feel about it, the topic of life after death is one that fascinates us all. And those who have had a near-death-experience are about the closest we’ll ever get to finding an answer to that question – until we pass on ourselves. Tonight, we look at the cosmic riddle of life and death… and the place in-between… the near-death-experience… from the view of those who have personally gone through it, those around them when it happened, and the doctors and scientists trying to make sense of it. 

CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = The Foreboding
00:00:45.321 = Show Open
00:02:17.711 = Lauran Canaday
00:14:41.741 = Ancient Near-Death Experiences ***
00:28:24.663 = The Seven Types of Near-Death Experiences
00:34:46.592 = Doctor Believes In Life After Death ***
00:40:52.919 = What It Was Like For These Undead
00:58:17.832 = They Died And Saw Heaven ***
01:06:15.996 = They Died And Saw Hell ***
01:17:42.210 = Show Close
*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad break

HELPFUL LINKS & RESOURCES…
https://WeirdDarkness.com/ALBUMS = Songs and Videos by our Weird Darkness punk band, #DarkWeirdness
https://WeirdDarkness.com/STORE = Tees, Mugs, Socks, Hoodies, Totes, Hats, Kidswear & More
https://WeirdDarkness.com/HOPE = Hope For Depression or Thoughts of Self-Harm
https://WeirdDarkness.com/NEWSLETTER = In-Depth Articles, Memes, Weird DarkNEWS, Videos & More
https://WeirdDarkness.com/AUDIOBOOKS = FREE Audiobooks Narrated By Darren Marlar

EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/nde

SOURCES and RESOURCES:CHURCH OF THE UNDEAD: “What Will Heaven Be Like?”: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yn6xjcve
CHURCH OF THE UNDEAD: “Myths About Hell”: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4urz9av6
BOOK: “Independence Ave: How Individualism Killed Me and Community Brought Me Back” by Lauran Canaday:https://amzn.to/3TK21Da
BOOK: “There Is A God: How the World’s Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind” by Anthony Flew: https://amzn.to/41W9qkV
Lauran Canaday story: http://tinyurl.com/msmnd6yx; http://tinyurl.com/yc7f8bc5; http://tinyurl.com/2385zpes;http://tinyurl.com/bdn9xjbn;
“Ancient NDEs” by Blake Lynch for ListVerse: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3audrx8y
“The Seven Types of NDEs” by Fiona MacDonald for Science Alert: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/ycyze3js
“Doctor Believes in Life After Death” by Kelly Burch for Insider: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/5d79dkxz; and from Oddity Central: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/njbemyvb
“What It Was Like For These Undead” posted by Adan Matthews for DidYouKnowFacts and reposted at TheLineUp:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/39xwt8kp
“They Died And Saw Heaven” by Matt McWilliams for Church Creative Pros: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4xavwzw9
“They Died And Saw Hell” by Joe Harker for Unilad: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/23anjmau,https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p9758r4, and Katherine Ripley for Graveyard Shift:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yudk289p
(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)
"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46

WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.

Originally aired: January 02, 2024

More episodes, additional podcasts, books, original music, in-depth paranormal and true-crime articles, and much more at https://weirddarkness.com.

Three women vanished from Glasgow's most beloved dance hall, a city held its breath for a killer who quoted scripture and then disappeared — and the man who may have finally answered the question has already confessed to far worse. So why is the case still in the cold case files?

*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*

IN THIS EPISODE: Three unsolved murders in the 1960s in Glasgow, Scotland terrorized those in the area. A killer was on the loose and they were calling him Bible John. The murders are unsolved, because the man they have behind bars, Peter Tobin, some say may not, in fact, actually be Bible John. (The Bible John Murders) *** It is said that Saint Catherine Of Alexandria courageously confronted 50 pagan philosophers and was sentenced to death. But some wonder if she ever even existed. (Catherine of Alexandria) *** Why are some people so afraid of black cats? Could there be a rational reason behind it, or is it silly made-up nonsense? (Black Cat Fears) *** Would you be willing to buy a home that you knew was built on the site of a demolished, haunted mental asylum? One Detroit suburb is about to find out if people will. (Haunted Mental Asylum Sold for $1)

CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = The Foreboding
00:01:23.963 = Show Open
00:03:00.520 = The Bible John Murder Mystery
00:21:38.241 = Black Cat Fears ***
00:30:52.463 = Catherine of Alexandria
00:36:27.360 = Haunted Mental Asylum Sold for One Dollar ***
00:43:20.649 = Show Close
*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad break

HELPFUL LINKS & RESOURCES…
https://WeirdDarkness.com/ALBUMS = Songs and Videos by our Weird Darkness punk band, #DarkWeirdness
https://WeirdDarkness.com/STORE = Tees, Mugs, Socks, Hoodies, Totes, Hats, Kidswear & More
https://WeirdDarkness.com/HOPE = Hope For Depression or Thoughts of Self-Harm
https://WeirdDarkness.com/NEWSLETTER = In-Depth Articles, Memes, Weird DarkNEWS, Videos & More
https://WeirdDarkness.com/AUDIOBOOKS = FREE Audiobooks Narrated By Darren Marlar

EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/BibleJohn

SOURCES and RESOURCES:“The Bible John Murder Mystery” by Fiona Guy: (link no longer available)
“Black Cat Fears” by Kimberly Lin: https://tinyurl.com/uzcltwx
“Catherine of Alexandria” by A. Sutherland: (link no longer available)
“Haunted Mental Asylum Sold for $1” by Brett Tingley: https://tinyurl.com/qqjnoox
(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)
"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46

WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.

Originally aired: October 25, 2018

More episodes, additional podcasts, books, original music, in-depth paranormal and true-crime articles, and much more at https://weirddarkness.com.

The federal government wants to bring America’s most notorious island prison back from the dead — and the case for and against it is more complicated than either side admits.

PRINT VERSION OF THIS STORY: https://weirddarkness.com/alcatraz-2026/

*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*

WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
#WeirdDarkness, #WeirdDarkNEWS

More episodes, additional podcasts, books, original music, in-depth paranormal and true-crime articles, and much more at https://weirddarkness.com.

“The Most Famous Man In The World”: The couple who rented the front room dressed wrong, paid in old money, and somehow had tomorrow's newspaper — and those were the least strange things about them. | #RetroRadio #WeirdDarkness | EP0623

CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
00:00:00.000 = Show Open
00:01:30.028 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “The Rockets Red Glare” (July 26, 1977)
00:46:21.041 = Molle Mystery Theater, “Gioconda Smile” (June 19, 1945) ***WD
01:15:19.942 = Murder at Midnight, “Black Curtain” (February 10, 1947) ***WD
01:42:21.903 = The Black Museum, “The Pink Powderpuff” (March 18, 1952)
02:08:24.235 = Mysterious Traveler, “The Most Famous Man In The World” (November 13, 1951) ***WD
02:37:17.029 = Mystery House, “Sauce For Goose” (September 30, 1945) ***WD
03:02:54.631 = Night Beat, “Fear” (May 25, 1951)
03:32:51.568 = CBC Nightfall, “No Quarter” (March 04, 1983)
04:01:03.850 = Nightmare, “Coincidence” (November 26, 1953)
04:22:46.434 = Obsession, “Cousin Charlie” (November 27, 1950) ***WD
04:47:47.931 = Origin of Superstition, “Lost Wedding Ring” (1935) ***WD
04:59:45.255 = Show Close

(ADU) = Air Date Unknown
(LQ) = Low Quality
***WD = Remastered, edited, or cleaned up by Weird Darkness to make the episode more listenable. Audio may not be pristine, but it will be better than the original file which may have been unusable or more difficult to hear without editing.
CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0623

More episodes, additional podcasts, books, original music, in-depth paranormal and true-crime articles, and much more at https://weirddarkness.com.

On the night of April 1, 2026, Oklahoma City dispatchers scrambled a multi-agency emergency response to a baby thrown from a moving vehicle — until a single word over the radio explained everything.


PRINT VERSION OF THIS STORY: https://weirddarkness.com/okc-cops-fake-911/

*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*

WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
#WeirdDarkness, #WeirdDarkNEWS

More episodes, additional podcasts, books, original music, in-depth paranormal and true-crime articles, and much more at https://weirddarkness.com.

When Conrad King and his father unlocked the secret to manipulating atoms, creating a groundbreaking technology that could shape the very elements, he never imagined it would be reduced to a game—or that he’d find himself trapped inside it, facing a demon, in a desperate bid to stop it from unraveling the world.

*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*

IN THIS EPISODE: A Creepypasta called, “My Father and I Created a Device That Warps Reality" by Justin Kyle Cutrer, MD.

HELPFUL LINKS & RESOURCES…
https://WeirdDarkness.com/ALBUMS = Songs and Videos by our Weird Darkness punk band, #DarkWeirdness
https://WeirdDarkness.com/STORE = Tees, Mugs, Socks, Hoodies, Totes, Hats, Kidswear & More
https://WeirdDarkness.com/HOPE = Hope For Depression or Thoughts of Self-Harm
https://WeirdDarkness.com/NEWSLETTER = In-Depth Articles, Memes, Weird DarkNEWS, Videos & More
https://WeirdDarkness.com/AUDIOBOOKS = FREE Audiobooks Narrated By Darren Marlar

EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/DemonInTheCode

SOURCES and RESOURCES: “My Father and I Created a Device That Warps Reality" by Justin Kyle Cutrer, MD: https://tinyurl.com/roeydvw
(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)
"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46

WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.

Originally aired: January 16, 2020

More episodes, additional podcasts, books, original music, in-depth paranormal and true-crime articles, and much more at https://weirddarkness.com.