Astonishing Legends

In tonight’s dead letter… Scott and Forrest explore the intersection of the safety of the suburbs and the primeval woods of the greater Akron area. Long before "Ohio" became modern slang for the weird, it was already earning that reputation through sightings of glowing red eyes that radiated their own light, but if you listen to Astonishing Legends, you already know that. Michael’s account details a terrifying standoff where when he was only 5 years old, he and his sister found themselves locked in the sanctuary of a childhood bedroom with something peering at them from outside. Reference LinksSmall Town MonstersVillage of Mogador - Official HistoryMinerva Monster - Encyclopedia ArcticaThe Ohio Valley UFO Flap of 1973Mogador, Ohio - WikipediaWe're looking for more stories! Send your Dead Letter to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com!

In tonight’s dead letter, a simple move to a quiet farmhouse turns into a bit of an accidental science experiment between two roommates who didn't want to sound "crazy" to each other. They both lived with the same unsettling experiences for months in total silence until a conversation on their final day changed everything. It’s a fascinating look at how our surroundings—and even the very ground beneath us—might be playing tricks on our senses, either organically or spiritually.Reference LinksRecommended Reading & ResourcesAncient Aliens: The Alien Frequency (Season 12, Episode 8)The Maltese Falcon (1941) - IMDBDead Mountain by Donnie EicharNASA Technical Reports: Human Response to VibrationVic Tandy: The Ghost in the MachineGeographic LandmarksGgantija Temples, GozoHal Saflieni HypogeumTarxien TemplesGozo IslandSend your Dead Letter to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com!

In tonight’s dead letter, listener Chris and his wife venture to the highest point east of the Rockies for a night of stargazing under the Milky Way. While lying on the summit of Black Elk Peak, Chris decides to put out a silent, mental invitation to the universe to see if anything might respond. The atmosphere shifts dramatically during their descent, leading to an incident in the dark woods that leaves the couple questioning the nature of the "entities" Chris had called upon. Scott and Forrest discuss the spiritual history of this sacred Lakota location and whether Chris unintentionally followed a protocol that opened a door to the unexplained. Reference Links Black Elk Speaks: The Complete Edition BFRO - Bigfoot Legends UFO Reality by Jenny Randalls In the Spirit of Crazy Horse by Peter Matthiessen CE5 Protocols The Oz Factor Thunderheart (1992 Film) The Age of Disclosure

In tonight’s dead letter… listener Kevin, an overnight security officer at the time, faces an unsettling experience in the silent, abandoned wing of a psychiatric hospital. He encounters an entity that isn't misty or formless, but a shimmering, blue-lit figure. The encounter takes a turn when the presence seems to pause, acknowledge him, and continue its inexplicable journey. This is not your typical haunting.Episode References & Further Reading:Waverly Hills Sanatorium:Official Site: Waverly Hills SanatoriumWikipedia: Waverly Hills Sanatorium - WikipediaTrans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum:Official Site: Trans-Allegheny Lunatic AsylumWikipedia: Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum - WikipediaKecksburg UFO Incident:Wikipedia: Kecksburg UFO incident - WikipediaThe Backrooms:Know Your Meme: Know Your Memes: The Back RoomsCorpse Candles:Wikipedia: Corpse road - WikipediaWill-o'-the-wisps:Wikipedia: Will-o'-the-wisp - WikipediaFata Morgana (Mirage):Wikipedia: Fata Morgana - WikipediaWikipedia (General Mirages): Mirage - Wikipedia"Skinwalkers at the Pentagon" by George Knapp and Colm Kelleher:Amazon Link: George Knapp & Colm Kelleher: Skinwalkers at the Pentagon (Amazon)Astonishing Legends EpisodeSynesthesia:Wikipedia: Synesthesia - WikipediaJim Harold's Campfire Podcast:Official Site: Jim Harold's CampfireColor Symbolism in Esotericism (regarding light colors):Wikipedia: Color symbolism - Wikipedia

In tonight’s dead letter, we head to Athens, Ohio, home of the Astonishing Legends Merch headquarters — Athens is a town steeped in history and according to some accounts, one of the most haunted places in America. When an anthropology student moves into an apartment inside a renovated church, mysterious knocks soon give way to the sighting of a bizarre, tiny entity that refuses to leave. This one is outside the paranormal box, and with the benefit of history, it would appear that whatever was there…refuses to leave.LINKS:The Athens Lunatic Asylumhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athens_Lunatic_AsylumThe Ridges - Ohio University History & Architecturehttps://www.ohio.edu/ridgesArticles detailing the tragic story of Margaret Schilling and the stain she left behind, which Scott and Forrest discussed in detail.https://2020.soulofathens.com/lore-of-appalachia/stain.htmlhttps://factschology.com/mmm-podcast-articles/lost-lady-athens-asylum-ohioWilson Hall & Room 428: Information on the infamous "sealed" dorm room that the university supposedly closed off due to paranormal activity.https://shopathensohio.com/blog/wilson-hall-and-room-428/https://www.reddit.com/r/ohiouniversity/comments/11ntl8b/haunted_wilson_hall_room_428_ohio_university/The Athens Pentagram Theory: A look at the theory mentioned by Scott regarding the five cemeteries that supposedly form a pentagram around the city (with Wilson Hall at the center).https://www.athensnews.com/news/pentagram-theory-conjures-up-haunted-athens/article_f0c189c8-728e-11ee-bf6c-dbb66e699980.htmlThe Koons Spirit Room: Context on the historical spiritualism connection near Athens (Mt. Nebo) that Scott brought up.https://www.americanhauntingsink.com/koonsKirkbride Buildings Historyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirkbride_Planhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Story_Kirkbride

In tonight’s dead letter… Luke recounts a spooky camping trip with his brother and father where they found themselves surrounded by something both canine and ethereal. Despite being experienced outdoorsmen, they’re unable to defend themselves against whatever is encircling their campsite as the leader of this pack of animals stares intently at them, and has no reaction to shots fired in self-defense.LINKS:The Tule River Indian Tribehttps://tulerivertribe-nsn.gov/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tule_River_Indian_Tribe_of_the_Tule_River_ReservationBlack Doghttps://www.thebarkingbugle.co.uk/the-black-dog-of-east-anglia/The Barghesthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BarghestThe Hellhoundhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HellhoundThe Black Shuckhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_ShuckOriginal Reddit Posthttps://www.reddit.com/r/Paranormal/comments/55mhg6/surrounded_by_translucent_coyotes/The KLF 3AM Eternalhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3_a.m._EternalMOVIE REFERENCES:Jacob’s Ladderhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob's_Ladder_(1990_film)BOOK REFERENCES:Wild Talents: By Charles Forthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_Talents_(book)The Silver Bridge (Collapse/Mothman Connection)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_BridgePODCAST EPISODES:Let’s Not Meethttps://letsnotmeetpodcast.com/https://crypticcountypodcasts.com/Radiolab: You Are Herehttps://www.radiolab.org/podcast/110165-you-are-hereAstonishing Legends: Are We Ever Alone?https://open.spotify.com/episode/3nLvVgPmouZsTAnuxepPMo?si=7eb6d9be9f9b4c14Astonishing Legends: The Sheriff and Outlaw Henry Plummer Part 1https://open.spotify.com/episode/0aPODiXAQaJwg5GePi7039?si=78bc91b6c0e14a3aOUR SPONSOR:Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/dlo#rulapodSend YOUR story to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com

In tonight’s dead letter… Veronica takes a ghost tour of an old jail in Charleston, South Carolina and has an intense encounter with a spirit there. She's able to describe this man in detail and later discovers the spirit is that of William Marcus, who was hanged at the jail for the murder of his wife. The experience was terrifying and shaped Veronica's path in understanding and protecting herself from many more unseen things she has crossed paths with in her life since then.The photo of William Marcus is from Charleston News and Courier (published as The News and Courier.) - August 4, 1906 - page 8. LINKS:Facebook video where the video tour of the jail with the guide can be found, at 4:30 the image of William Marcus can be seen.https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=198368942110180&rdid=DOvyBA9NGT8WMtSYStella Maris Catholic Churchhttps://stellamarischurch.org/American Ghost Walks (Tour Company)https://www.americanghostwalks.com/ASTONISHING LEGENDS EPISODES MENTIONED:The Siren Call of Hungry Ghosts Part 1https://open.spotify.com/episode/0R1h6Lw9GoAnMupP82zSrm?si=7f96f93019ef4976The Vertical Plane Part 1https://open.spotify.com/episode/69ynhhVF8UrVzI1OI4Rsoy?si=d266bf2f5e064ca2Send YOUR story to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com 

In tonight’s dead letter, listener Trevor recounts a bizarre encounter while looking out the window one night. He saw a strange, bald, meditating figure with long pointed ears in his friend’s backyard. The figure then opened its eyes, grinned at him with pointed teeth, and hopped away into the woods. Trevor’s evening began with taking the psychedelic drug mescaline, but he has some experience with it, and has never experienced something interactive like this. Trevor is plain about the fact that he had been under the influence earlier in the evening, and maybe that’s the reason for what he saw, but he does also wonder if the drug lifted a veil to reveal a real being, especially when he connected his story to an older episode of Astonishing Legends where a listener encountered something very similar, while awake and completely sober.LINKS: Astonishing Legends - “Your True Halloween Stories, Part 3” with Mallory’s Storyhttps://open.spotify.com/episode/5q6pnT9fOeVof8hNIndYYi?si=3e6b159e281c4ba9 DMT: The Spirit Moleculehttps://www.simonandschuster.com/books/DMT-The-Spirit-Molecule/Rick-Strassman/9780892819270 Terence McKenna analysis on the Podcast: Midnight, On Earth https://open.spotify.com/episode/5ogRYNa6kWF6CKyUIkcnUl?si=23uwRaoCRNuXnrTqhSXw5A https://www.organism.earth/library/document/what-ive-learned-from-psychedelics Dr. Steve G. Jones - Astral Projection Hypnosishttps://stevegjones.com/buy/hypnosis-mp3s/astral-projection-platinum-mp3/ Send your stories into deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com

In tonight’s dead letter… a listener shares their chilling encounters with "Die Fratzen," demonic faces that surfaced after a period of indulgence and self-disgust. These weren't just fleeting nightmares; they manifested as waking visions and doppelgangers, leading to a quest for spiritual help. The writer grapples with the possibility of mental health issues versus a genuine spiritual battle and how these experiences mirror those of Anneliese Michel, whom we covered a few years ago on Astonishing Legends.Links:Astonishing Legends: The Devil and Annaliese Michel P1https://open.spotify.com/episode/5ZiRkT1ZfIyMBsUBAs1RDK?si=d044978fbf484d63P2https://open.spotify.com/episode/5k6UzW5Yku23D55QbcKGhl?si=cb39009d744f4dbdP3https://open.spotify.com/episode/3NHYwTl94InnHYREWpE044?si=bc43d397273d4176Astonishing Legends: Sarah and the Spider Womanhttps://open.spotify.com/episode/38UXYglzND21RcSLQiTk1M?si=4e6f381273b34557Unsolved Mysteries: Don Deckerhttps://unsolved.com/gallery/don-decker/Paranormal Witness: Don Deckerhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt2090999/Send your stories into deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com

In tonight’s Dead Letter, you’ll hear a bizarre tale from rural Ohio, one of our favorite strange states, involving a creature known only as the "Lock Looker." This cryptid, with its orangutan-like build, glowing orange eyes, and famous movie scream, lurks near a dam and has been sighted by both the storyteller and their father. It may have been around a while. Join Scott and Forrest as they briefly debate the pronunciation of Orangutan and also delve into this multi-generational mystery.LINKS:Shelby County Parks (Home of Lockington Reserve)https://shelbycopark.org/lockington-reserve University of Zurich - Orangutan Callshttps://www.iea.uzh.ch/en/research/orangutannetwork/orangutancallrepertoires.html The actual one we played: https://www.iea.uzh.ch/dam/jcr:00000000-7c6e-90e4-ffff-ffff84c61003/Ref_Crying_and_Screaming_Jeri.mp3 R2-D2 Sound Design https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=So0nmciiFJg Lyle Blackburnhttp://www.lyleblackburn.com/ Send your stories into deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com

In tonight’s dead letter… a VFW canteen worker in Michigan has a close encounter with a mysterious cowboy, complete with vintage attire and dollar coins. The stranger asks her to champion his cause of getting “shell shock” recognized for a Purple Heart. After the encounter, the letter he provides vanishes and the general he mentions turns out to be from the Civil War.Links:Jim Harold’s Roadhouse Saloon Campfire SToryhttps://jimharold.com/the-roadhouse-saloon-from-the-files-of-jim-harolds-campfire/The VFWhttps://www.vfw.org/Shell Shockhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shell_shockPTSDhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-traumatic_stress_disorderPTSD as a Criteria for a Purple Hearthttps://www.dvidshub.net/news/520197/purple-heart-criteria-exclude-ptsd-defense-officials-sayhttps://www.mghclaycenter.org/hot-topics/denying-purple-hearts-veterans-ptsd-2/https://www.disabledveterans.org/purple-hearts-for-ptsd/The ‘Seated Liberty’ Dollarhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seated_Liberty_dollarSome for sale on Ebayhttps://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=seated+liberty+dollars+1840-1873&_sacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p4432023.m570.l1311‘The Edge of Tomorrow’ movie which references Verdun as an Alien Battle Sitehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edge_of_TomorrowUnsolved Mysteries: Paranormal Rangershttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt22336540/

In tonight’s dead letter, a listener recounts a childhood filled with unexplained phenomena in their 1940s Michigan home. From persistent footsteps and unsettling noises like dragging chains and hammering to a menacing presence in their bedroom, the haunting escalated over the years, driving them to seek refuge upstairs. But even then, the activity followed, with something heavy repeatedly stomping on the cast iron cover of the well room just outside their window. Pershttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_lightningSearch this page for more on the Jacob Marley quote, “I wear the chain I forged in life…”https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/christmascarol/quotes/character/jacob-marley/Witch Ride/Sleep Paralysishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysisStephen Prozak Shippyhttps://www.strangemusicinc.com/artists/prozakhttps://www.youtube.com/@HauntedSaginaw/featuredIron in Folklorehttps://diabolicalconfusions.wordpress.com/2011/02/15/iron-in-folklore-superstitions-explained/Email your stories to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com

In tonight’s dead letter… Listener, Isla recalls a childhood park trip in Australia where she and a friend went exploring after her mom’s car broke down in the bush. They wandered too far from the car and observed a void-like, spear-bearing figure on the bank. The bush fell silent and the wind carried songs in an ancient language as they fled back to the car without looking back. Years later Isla still feels watched whenever she strays off the path.The Movie ‘Get out’ (referring to ‘The Sunken Place’ from the letter)https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5052448/Artlandish Aboriginal Art Websitehttps://www.artlandish.com/Goddard & Wierzbicka (2015) Article on ResearchGatehttps://www.researchgate.net/publication/283206413Wikipedia – "The Dreaming"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Dreaming&oldid=1297566697Petrichorhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PetrichorSAS Survival Handbookhttps://a.co/d/6oSBMlQ‘Songlines’ by Bruce Chatwinhttps://a.co/d/6kqf1Oc‘Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions’ by Edwin A. Abbotthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FlatlandEmail your stories to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com

In tonight’s dead letter… Listener, Scott recounts a series of unexplained howls heard in the woods near his Alabama home. Night after night, he and his family would sit on the porch and listen, noticing patterns in the sounds. This progresses later to him being stalked by something he could not see.Alabama Bigfoot Website (via Wayback Machine) Most audio links not working:https://web.archive.org/web/20110518043255/http://www.alabamabigfoot.com/bigfoot/reports/Recordings.htmlRadioLab’s episode ‘Wildtalk’:https://open.spotify.com/episode/0sug8rBkpypmdnjFEQ3iA3?si=3K7sddfCRiKfLwBlj9qkkgPredators in Alabama:https://www.huntsvilleal.gov/environment/animal-services/pet-services/urban-wildlife/Charle’s Fort’s Wild Talents (Book):https://a.co/d/8r1l6gzThe Astonishing Legends Episodes on Charles Fort (if you’re curious):P1https://open.spotify.com/episode/5kWLAh6t5REHPfKGZloOkb?si=7c98be94c8a44a06P2https://open.spotify.com/episode/3QhqHXilyU0DZgFxfWKtjE?si=5bb9bf4d7a444d0aThe Movie ‘Spartan’:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spartan_(film)The North American Wood Ape Theory:https://www.woodape.org/The Alaskan Killer Bigfoot Story:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaskan_Killer_Bigfoothttps://www.travelchannel.com/show/alaskan-killer-bigfoot-travel-channel-atve-usEmail your stories to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com

This week’s Dead Letter Office is cancelled, but the show will return next week. Thank you for your patience and understanding!

In tonight’s dead letter, listener Jerri-Kay recounts a story from her childhood when her mother witnessed multiple shadow figures entering their bedroom in broad daylight. Later that night, while seemingly half-asleep, when her mom enters her room she yells that she's not her mother and points to lights that only she can see in the room, leaving the family shaken and searching for answers. Were these events positive or negative?Astonishing Legends' Shadow People Episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7wNUanfRFXoQ0QOhy5l58L?si=62193edf57854ec0https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/astonishing-legends/id923527373?i=1000355594797Myth Fits Podcast with Kari Byron and Tori Belleci from MythBusters:https://www.youtube.com/@MythfitsPodhttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mythfits/id1813405582https://open.spotify.com/show/6SOvzD9Rc52Is6qHm0ivJt?si=f479aac0675644f8David Weatherly's Work: https://eerielights.com/https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B01N59JC6U/allbooksDavid Weeatherly on Astonishing Legends (Spotify/Apple Podcasts Links)https://open.spotify.com/episode/2RWx4nYQNZZ9b3qd04Dj8y?si=0353dbf9a2324ae1https://open.spotify.com/episode/5p5GxpIqVX43RQwvtmTdwz?si=35384b2e23404b63https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/astonishing-legends/id923527373?i=1000495952492https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/astonishing-legends/id923527373?i=1000497668831Documentary - The Nightmare: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the-nightmareMissing 411: https://www.amazon.com/stores/David-Paulides/author/B002ALI9AA?https://open.spotify.com/episode/3TRVhzSYDB6NKiU69L5c9A?si=e6fe2e83dfe84069https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Q0pc5e8JlBoZzDrgY1Evp?si=b451bd4ae98841behttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/astonishing-legends/id923527373?i=1000579063545https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/astonishing-legends/id923527373?i=1000580601049Article on Light Emission After Death: https://www.sciencealert.com/we-emit-a-visible-light-that-vanishes-when-we-die-says-surprising-new-studyEmail your stories to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com

In tonight’s dead letter, we hear from our listener Sam, who shares two spooky stories. The first involves two hauntings at an aquarium in the UK. An old lady ghost with a penchant for floral perfume, and as one might expect…a fisherman. While the second features a mysterious, hunched-over shadow figure lurking in a South Carolina home. Sometimes these shorter letters are the most freaky. As we often remind our listeners, the real experiences don’t occur with a three-act structure or poignant message all the time. Instead they are just glimpses of something that you may never understand. North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher: https://www.ncaquariums.com/fort-fisherPhantosmia (Phantom Smells): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PhantosmiaClairalience: https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/enlighten/clairalience-to-clairvoyance-your-psychic-gifts/Gorton's Fisherman: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorton's_of_GloucesterTrilogy of Terror (1975): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trilogy_of_Terrorhttps://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/trilogy-of-terrorHomunculus:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homunculushttps://www.britannica.com/science/homunculus-biologyAstonishing Junk Tour:https://www.patreon.com/posts/astonishing-junk-85805858?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkEmail your stories to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com

In tonight’s dead letter listener Henry, a marine, recounts his experiences on guard duty in Iraq, where his platoon was stationed at an abandoned hotel near the Jordanian border. During a late-night watch, he and another marine hear footsteps in the stairwell, but a search of the building yields nothing but an unsettling encounter with glowing eyes in the boiler room. The mystery deepens when a fellow marine suggests the presence of a skinwalker, leaving the group to ponder the true nature of what they encountered in the desolate hotel.Navajo Culturehttps://discovernavajo.com/navajo-culture/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NavajoSkinwalkers (In the Context of Navajo Culture)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skin-walkerhttps://nativeappropriations.com/2016/03/magic-in-north-america-part-1-ugh.htmlThe Monroe Institutehttps://www.monroeinstitute.org/Jim Harold’s Campfirehttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jim-harolds-campfire/id310656913Trebil, Iraqhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trebilhttps://web.archive.org/web/20050716034614/https://newstandardnews.net/content/index.cfm/items/2088The Monte Vista Hotel in Flagstaff, Arizonahttps://hotelmontevista.com/

In tonight’s dead letter… Josh shares a chilling encounter with a being we’ve discussed on the show numerous times. The Hat Man. For Josh he appears as a shadowy figure sitting in his bedroom in the middle of the night. What would you do in this situation? It’s easy to answer that until you’re confronted with it yourself. Josh gave into paranormal apathy, something we’ve identified at Astonishing Legends as a common reaction to the unexplainable. Is the Hat Man a harbinger of doom or change or just something that happens in our mind?Jim Harold’s Campfirehttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jim-harolds-campfire/id310656913Our Strange Skies (Rob Kristoffersen)https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/our-strange-skies-ufos-throughout-history/id1546735571Christopher Nolan’s Interstellarhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt0816692/Hypnopompic Statehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HypnopompiaHypnogogic Statehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HypnagogiaSend your story into deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com

In tonight’s dead letter, listener Renee shares a strange encounter in Los Angeles. Late one night, while walking her dog, she saw what appeared to be a gray alien. After a moment of shock, she looked again and saw a middle-aged African-American woman. Renee was left wondering if she had seen a psychic mask slip or if it was just a trick of the light.Send your story to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com