Weird Darkness: Paranormal & True Crime Stories

In 1903, a man arrived at Leavenworth Prison claiming he'd never been there before — but the staff found his exact double already serving a life sentence inside.READ MY DEEP-DIVE ARTICLE ON THIS STORY: https://weirddarkness.com/williamwest/In May 1903, a convict named Will West arrived at Leavenworth Prison in Kansas. The intake clerk was certain he'd seen this man before — and a search of prison records turned up a card for William West, a convicted murderer whose measurements and photograph were a near-perfect match. The problem? William West was already locked up inside Leavenworth, serving a life sentence. The two men had never met, weren't related, and had no idea the other existed. Their extraordinary resemblance would expose a fatal flaw in the world's leading criminal identification system — and help launch the forensic technique we still rely on today.IN THIS EPISODE: How do you convince people you are innocent of a crime committed by someone who looks exactly like you and even shares your name? It’s the strange story of William West and… William West. (Will The Real William West Please Step Forward) *** In November 1638, Dorothy Talby killed her three-year-old daughter. She admitted so when first arrested. But then she refused to say anything when brought before a judge. But then, what would you expect from a woman, which we all know is more easily persuaded by Satan to sin – and women were much more likely to be seduced by witchcraft. At least, that’s what people believed in the 17th century. (The Case of Dorothy Talbye) *** It’s understood and agreed to by most that while it is a lot of fun to think about, time travel is simply not possible – and will probably never be seeing as we’ve never met any time travelers. Or… maybe we have? (True Time-Travel Moments) *** Stories of shapeshifters seem to be told worldwide – and the Celtic nations are no different. We’ll look at a few shape-changing creatures from Ireland, Wales and Scotland. (Shape-Shifters Of The Celts)CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = The Leavenworth Lookalikes00:01:59.171 = Show Intro00:04:01.126 = Two Strangers, One Face: Will The Real William West Please Step Forward00:18:16.969 = ***A Mother, A Murder, A Mental Illness, and Justice in 17th-Century New England00:25:32.536 = Who Sent Messages Dated Decades Ahead of Time? And How Did They Send Them?00:35:00.004 = Cold Hands00:39:21.083 = *** When Gods Became Beasts: Shapeshifting in Celtic Myth00:47:59.748 = Show Close*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad breakSOURCES and RESOURCES – and/or --- PRINT VERSION to READ or SHARE:“Will The Real William West Please Step Forward?” by Dean Jobb for Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine (https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/5y8wybsa), Martin Chalakoski for The Vintage News (https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/th4ujesh), and Lee Ferran for ABC News (https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/sa66vcwf)“A Mother, A Murder, A Mental Illness, and Justice in 17th-Century New England” by Romeo Vitelli for Providentia: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yu54cyn8“Who Sent Messages Dated Decades Ahead of Time? And How Did They Send Them?” posted at Earth-Chronicles.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/hh8tbwcr“When Gods Became Beasts: Shapeshifting in Celtic Myth” by Zteve T. Evans for FolkloreThursday.com:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3m53e2h8=====(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: May 12, 2021EPISODE PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/TwoMenOneFaceABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all things strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold cases, conspiracy theories, and more. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “20 Best Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a blend of “Coast to Coast AM”, “The Twilight Zone”, “Unsolved Mysteries”, and “In Search Of”.DISCLAIMER: Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.#WeirdDarkness, #TrueCrime, #ForensicScience, #CriminalHistory, #Doppelganger, #Fingerprints, #MysteryStory, #HistoricalMystery, #ColdCase, #TrueCrimeStory

A Moscow corporate party turned into a medical emergency when a celebrity chef's flashy "cryo-show" cocktail expanded inside a man's stomach like an internal airbag, rupturing the organ and sending him to the ICU — and he's far from the only victim.READ or SHARE: https://weirddarkness.com/liquid-nitrogen-cocktailsWeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.#WeirdDarkness, #LiquidNitrogen, #DangerousDrinks, #StomachRupture, #DragonBreath, #FoodSafety, #ViralTrends, #TrueCrime, #BizarreStories, #DontTryThis

A mysterious woman with unexplainable powers saves a half-blind gold prospector in the Klondike wilderness and follows him back to civilization — but when he abandons her and their children for a politician's daughter, she reminds him that the same gifts that saved his life can just as easily destroy it. | “The Gift of Doom” from CBS Radio Mystery Theater | #RetroRadio EP0572CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Show Open00:01:30.028 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “The Gift of Doom” (March 24, 1977)00:45:11.256 = Calling All Cars, “Triple Cross” (May 22, 1936) ***WD01:14:37.473 = BBC’s Haunted: Tales of the Supernatural, “Christina” (August 16, 1980) ***WD01:41:13.947 = The Haunting Hour, “The People In The House” (August 17, 1945) ***WD02:08:38.394 = Murder Is My Hobby, “Death Is a Twin” (September 12, 1947)02:33:00.833 = Sherlock Holmes, “The Black Angus” (October 19, 1946)03:02:11.171 = The House of Mystery, “The Ghost Who Forgot Halloween” (October 27, 1945) ***WD03:33:32.680 = Incredible But True, “Where There’s Smoke” (1950-1951)03:37:04.168 = Inner Sanctum, “Death Ship” (August 10, 1941)04:04:04.256 = The Key, “Union Corruption” (1956)04:28:35.469 = Lights Out, “Uninhabited” (December 22, 1937) ***WD (LQ)04:57:23.185 = 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.Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music LibraryABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.= = = = ="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 ©2025, Weird Darkness.= = = = =#ParanormalRadio #ScienceFiction #OldTimeRadio #OTR #OTRHorror #ClassicRadioShows #HorrorRadioShows #VintageRadioDramas #WeirdDarknessCUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0572

From an 1856 "ape-man" found near railroad tracks in Maine to the famous Jacko capture of 1884, Bigfoot sightings have an uncanny habit of occurring along railway lines — and no one knows why.IN THIS EPISODE: Have you ever noticed there seems to be something special going on with railroad tracks and Bigfoot? (Riding The Rails With Bigfoot) *** A man in Oklahoma reports a being on the side of the road that looked human – except it had the head of a snake! And the Native American population have an answer to what it is! (The Oklahoma Snakeman) *** What do you do if you are a woman in the 1800s whose husband was just tossed into prison for graverobbing? Well, if you were anything like Helen Miller neé Begbie, you might decide to continue the family business on your own. (Invasion of The Lasswade Body Snatchers) *** An author seeks out an alien abductee in order to try and get abducted himself! (An Author’s Search For Extraterrestrial Visitors)CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Disclaimer and Show Open00:01:33.156 = Riding The Rails With Bigfoot00:08:11.273 = ***The Oklahoma Snakeman00:14:00.966 = Invasion of the Lasswade Body Snatchers00:24:43.856 = *** An Author’s Search For Extraterrestrial Visitors00:38:30.931 = Story from listener, Meagan Campbell00:43:09.428 = Show CloseSOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE…“Riding The Rails With Bigfoot” by Loren Coleman for Cryptomundo: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/ywrrahtk“The Oklahoman Snakeman” posted at Cryptook (link no longer available)“Invasion of the Lasswade Body Snatchers” by Suzie for DiggingUp1800.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3pfr44xf(BLOG POST: “Mortstones - Protecting Yourself from the Resurrection Men”: https://weirddarkness.com/mortstones-protecting-yourself-from-the-resurrection-men/)“An Author’s Search For Extraterrestrial Visitors” posted at Anomalien: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/bntxzb5n(BOOK: “The Magical Universe of William S. Burroughs” by Matthew Levi Stephens: https://amzn.to/2SEYLLD)= = = = =(Over time links seen above 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 ©2024, Weird Darkness.= = = = =Originally aired: May 11, 2021EPISODE PAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/BigfootRailroadABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all things strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold cases, conspiracy theories, and more. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “20 Best Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a blend of “Coast to Coast AM”, “The Twilight Zone”, “Unsolved Mysteries”, and “In Search Of”.DISCLAIMER: Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.#Bigfoot #Sasquatch #Cryptozoology #Cryptid #Unexplained #WildMan #BigfootSighting #StrangeCreatures #BigfootEvidence #WeirdDarkness

A restless English tourist discovers a hidden entrance to an unopened Egyptian pyramid — and stumbles into a royal banquet where mummies wake every thousand years to feast in the flesh. He has just 24 hours among the living dead before they return to their cases for another millennium.IN THIS EPISODE: As we head into a new year, I thought it would be appropriate to make something old, new again – it’s a story I shared many years ago in the podcast and I really enjoyed narrating it – plus, it’s very appropriate for the day. The story was written in 1880 by Grant Allen; it’s titled “My New Year’s Eve Among The Mummies”.= = = = =(Over time links seen above 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 ©2025, Weird Darkness.= = = = =Originally aired: December 31, 2021EPISODE PAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/NewYearsEveMummies#Mummies #AncientEgypt #Pyramid #HorrorStory #Supernatural #ClassicHorror #EgyptianMummies #WeirdFiction #CreepyStories #WeirdDarkness

From Germany to India to suburban England, thousands of parents are paying hefty fees for courses that promise to awaken their children’s “third eye” – but what are they really teaching?IN THIS EPISODE: From Germany to India to suburban England, thousands of parents are paying hefty fees for courses that promise to awaken their children’s “third eye” – but what are they really teaching? (Third Eye Children) *** Scientists discovered something massive buried beneath the lunar surface in 2019 — a metallic mass so large it could stretch from New York to Chicago, hidden hundreds of miles underground where no one expected anything to exist. (The Moon’s Impossible Secrets) *** Your computer screen flickers red, a simple question appears, and within days, the walls of your room are painted with your own blood – at least, that’s what thousands of internet users claim happened to them after encountering the most notorious cursed website in digital history. (The Red Room Curse) *** A former NASA engineer claims extraterrestrial technology isn’t just visiting Earth — it’s embedded in our planet by the trillions, invisible and self-aware. (Invisible Alien Spy Devices)CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Seeing Without Eyes00:02:51.375 = Show Open00:06:37.474 = Third Eye Children00:32:22.777 = *** Invisible Alien Spy Devices00:48:22.848 = *** The Moon’s Impossible Secrets01:19:22.654 = *** The Red Room Curse01:33:54.442 = Show Close*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad breakSOURCES and RESOURCES – and/or --- PRINT VERSION to READ or SHARE:Invisible Alien Spy Devices: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/a9ps2379The Red Room Curse: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/565vpe6tThe Moon’s Impossible Secrets: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/298vbuvcThird Eye Children: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yc2j46we=====(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 ©2025, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: November 13, 2025EPISODE PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/ThirdEyeChildrenABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.#WeirdDarkness #ThirdEyeAwakening #SeeingWithoutEyes #MidbrainActivation #BlindfoldedReading #SpiritualScams #ParanormalDebunked #PsychicChildren #ThirdEyeFraud #CriticalThinking

An Oxford biologist believes that after humans inevitably go extinct, octopuses may rise to become the next great civilization builders — and they've already started constructing underwater cities.READ or SHARE: https://weirddarkness.com/octopus-takeoverWeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.#WeirdDarkness, #Octopus, #AnimalIntelligence, #Science, #Evolution, #MarineBiology, #OceanCreatures, #SmartAnimals, #HumanExtinction, #Documentary

It might be lesser-known that Amityville, or the hauntings of the Smurl family, or numerous other investigations made famous by Ed and Lorraine Warren, but a small home in Connecticut is one of the most terrifying and well-documented cases of the paranormal in recent history. CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Show Open00:01:08.475 = PART ONE: The House on Lindley Street00:09:16.513 = *** PART TWO: What The Police Witnessed00:19:08.016 = *** PART THREE: Four Entities00:41:39.774 = *** PART FOUR: What The Witnesses Said Later00:54:53.007 = *** PART FIVE: What Invited Them In00:59:40.656 = Show Close*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad breakSOURCES and RESOURCES:“The Lindley Street Poltergeist” by Marcus Lowth for UFO Insight: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/jbntafrsVIDEO: Paul Eno Talks About The Bridgeport Haunting: https://weirddarkness.com/paul-eno-talks-about-the-bridgeport-haunting/BOOK: “The World’s Most Haunted House: The True Story of the Bridgeport Poltergeist on Lindley Street” by William Hall: https://amzn.to/3vJXuBc=====(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 ©2025, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: May 07, 2021EPISODE PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/LindleyStreetABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all things strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold cases, conspiracy theories, and more. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “20 Best Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a blend of “Coast to Coast AM”, “The Twilight Zone”, “Unsolved Mysteries”, and “In Search Of”.DISCLAIMER: Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.#WeirdDarkness, #BridgeportPoltergeist, #EdAndLorraineWarren, #HauntedHouse, #Poltergeist, #TrueParanormal, #ParanormalInvestigation, #DocumentedHaunting, #ConnecticutGhost, #UnexplainedPhenomena

When a crew filming in an abandoned building encounters strange disappearances and shifting hallways, they quickly realize they're trapped in a reality-bending nightmare where every door leads further into madness—and no one is safe.“No Way Out” by Keith Conrad for the Auditory Anthology podcast: https://weirddarkness.com/auditoryanthologyOriginally aired: December 28, 2025EPISODE PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/NoWayOutABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all things strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold cases, conspiracy theories, and more. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “20 Best Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a blend of “Coast to Coast AM”, “The Twilight Zone”, “Unsolved Mysteries”, and “In Search Of”.DISCLAIMER: Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.#WeirdDarkness, #AbandonedBuilding, #Vanished, #LiminalSpaces, #HorrorStory, #ParallelDimensions, #CreepyStories, #Paranormal, #TrappedNoEscape, #TalesFromTheBlueLine

A mysterious new star appears in the night sky after colliding with Neptune, the resulting fireball begins a journey toward the inner Solar System. Earth lies directly in its path, and the world is about to learn how small it truly is, and how unimportant the universe deems Earth and humanity to be.IN THIS EPISODE: “The Star” by H.G. Wells (‘The Graphic’ magazine, November 21, 1897)MORE Stories Like This: https://www.auditoryanthology.com=====Originally aired: December 28, 2025EPISODE PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/thestarABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.#WeirdDarkness, #HGWells, #TheStar, #ClassicSciFi, #CosmicHorror, #ApocalypticFiction, #VintageSciFi, #PublicDomain, #ExistentialHorror, #SciFiStories

That viral claim about "The 12 Days of Christmas" being a secret Catholic catechism turns out to be the perfect example of how our brains can trick us into seeing faith where none was planted. From a $28,000 grilled cheese sandwich bearing the Virgin Mary's face to ghost hunters hearing spirit voices in radio static, we're wired to find meaningful patterns everywhere — even when those patterns don't exist. What does this mean for believers trying to discern genuine revelation from the stories we tell ourselves?SERMON TRANSCRIPT (Includes Sources): https://weirddarkness.com/COTU-12DaysOfChristmasWeird Darkness® and Church Of The Undead™ are trademarked. Copyright © 2025.#WeirdDarkness #12DaysOfChristmas #ChristmasMyths #Pareidolia #ChristianPodcast #BibleTeaching #ChurchOfTheUndead #GhostHunting #ChristmasHistory #CriticalThinking

The True Story Behind Zurvan - The Demon From The Novel, "Advent of Evil"In Persian Mithraism, there was a deity associated with time and fate. His followers celebrated him during mid-winter festivals — festivals that reached their peak on December 24th. In the novel Advent of Evil, that deity appears as a demon who operates through a cursed advent calendar, enforcing strict rules: one door opened every day, no skipping, no ignoring. Break the rules, and there are consequences. Researchers tracing the object's history in the novel found it connected to a spirit board, a serial killer, a Christmas Eve fire, and thirty years of patient waiting. How much of the demon Zurvan has any basis in actual ancient mythology — and was there ever a real entity behind the fiction? We'll examine what archaeologists found on clay tablets dating back over three thousand years.CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = The Demon In The Advent Calendar00:05:13.171 = Show Open00:06:33.462 = A Thousand Years of Sacrifice00:18:20.446 = *** The Lion-Headed God In The Vatican00:41:40.408 = *** Kill Them All01:05:08.640 = *** The God Who Doesn’t Care01:12:21.326 = Show Close*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad breakPRINT VERSION to READ or SHARE (Includes Sources):https://weirddarkness.com/zurvan=====(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 ©2025, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: December 27, 2025EPISODE PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/zurvanABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all things strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold cases, conspiracy theories, and more. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “20 Best Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a blend of “Coast to Coast AM”, “The Twilight Zone”, “Unsolved Mysteries”, and “In Search Of”.DISCLAIMER: Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.#WeirdDarkness #AncientMythology #PersianMythology #Zoroastrianism #ChristmasOrigins #OccultHistory #AncientDemons #DarkHistory #MysteryReligions #WinterSolstice #Zurvan #AdventOfEvil

“OPERATION: CORNERED KRINGLE” By Scott Donnelly#scarystories #halloweenstories #halloweenkids #storiesforkids #kidsstories #scarystoriesforkids #microterrorsVisit our website: https://MicroTerrors.comFacebook page: https://www.facebook.com/microterrorsOther stories, novels, and more from author Scott Donnelly: https://amzn.to/3LymHaUOther narrations, podcasts, and audiobooks from voice artist Darren Marlar: https://WeirdDarkness.com= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =Weird Darkness®, 2023. Weird Darkness©, 2023“Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids”™ 2023https://weirddarkness.com/operation-cornered-kringle/

I was just a janitor mopping floors when a Harvard professor invited me to witness history – the opening of the first wormhole. What came next cost me fifteen years of nightmares.IN THIS EPISODE: It’s Thriller Thursday! This week - “The Artist” by C.J. Henderson *** “The Harvard Wormhole Experiment” by Nathaniel Lewis *** “The Itch” by Weirdo family member Mark Towse YOUTUBE CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS…00:00:00.000 = Show Open00:01:05.760 = “The Artist” by C.J. Henderson00:16:35.736 = *** “The Harvard Wormhole Experiment” by Nathaniel Lewis00:40:08.187 = *** “The Itch” by Mark Towse00:50:13.177 = Show CloseSOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE…“The Artist” by C.J. Henderson: http://bit.ly/2EIdZFQ“The Harvard Wormhole Experiment” by Nathaniel Lewis: http://bit.ly/2EEl1vp“The Itch” by Weirdo family member Mark Towse – submitted at https://WeirdDarkness.comWeird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. = = = = =(Over time links seen above 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 ©2024, Weird Darkness.= = = = =Originally aired: June, 2021CUSTOM LANDING PAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/HarvardWormholeExperiment#WeirdDarkness #HorrorStory #WormholeExperiment #CosmicHorror #ScaryStories #GovernmentCoverUp #Paranormal #HorrorPodcast #CreepyStories #Interdimensional

Charles Dickens didn't invent the Christmas ghost story — he was continuing a tradition that stretched back centuries. These true tales of holiday hauntings show why the longest nights of winter were once considered the most dangerous.IN THIS EPISODE: Before Halloween claimed the spooky spotlight, Christmas Eve was once the traditional time for telling ghost stories - a centuries-old custom that gave us Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" and brought families together around crackling fires to share spine-tingling tales on long winter nights. Tonight I continue my efforts to bring back this tradition with some ghost stories and hauntings that took place during the Yuletide season… and every single ghost story is absolutely true.SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM THE EPISODE…Photo of the Berthelot ghost: https://weirddarkness.com/TrueChristmasGhostStories“A Christmas Carol” narrated by Darren Marlar: https://weirddarkness.com/?s=%22A+Christmas+Carol%22More holiday horror stories from Weird Darkness: https://weirddarkness.com/?s=%23holidayhorrorsMost stories were gathered from the book, “30 Real Christmas Ghost Stories” by MJ Wayland: https://amzn.to/41QrPBjWeird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. = = = = =(Over time links seen above 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 ©2024, Weird Darkness.= = = = =Originally aired: December 25, 2024SOURCES PAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/RealParanormalChristmas#WeirdDarkness #ChristmasGhostStories #HolidayHauntings #TrueScaryStories #ChristmasHorror #Paranormal #GhostStory #ChristmasEve #HauntedHistory #VictorianGhosts

Twenty-three days ago, a mysterious advent calendar arrived on Officer Matthew Klein's doorstep — no sender, no return address, just a heavy wooden box with twenty-four numbered doors and a carved face with hollow eyes. Since then, every trinket inside has proven to be an omen of death, each prophecy fulfilled in violence and horror. The entity behind it is Zurvan, an ancient demon from Persian Mithraism — the same demon ten-year-old Matthew accidentally summoned through a spirit board on Christmas Eve, 1995, the night his house burned and his family died while he ran. Now Zurvan has returned to finish what he started, possessing Matthew's loved ones, murdering those around him, and enforcing one rule: open each door on schedule, or suffer consequences beyond imagination. Matthew tried to destroy the calendar. It came back. He refused to open a door. Snakes attacked his son. Now it's December 24th — the final door, the culmination of Zurvan's ancient mid-winter celebration — and Matthew is engulfed in flames, his home burning, his family scattered in the chaos. The countdown ends today.Get the print version of the novel: https://weirddarkness.com/AdventOfEvil#WeirdDarkness #ChristmasHorror #HolidayHorror #SupernaturalThriller #HauntedCalendar #DarkChristmas #HorrorStory #DemonicEvil #CreepyTales #YuletideTerror

On Christmas Eve 1642, shepherds witnessed something impossible — two phantom armies fighting a brutal battle in the sky over Edge Hill. When investigators arrived, they saw it too, and testified under oath to the king.Episode 12 of 12 in the #12NightmaresOfXmas series!IN THIS EPISODE: “Christmas Carols in the Woods”, “St. Mary’s Church”, “The Lady In The Pantry”, “Mrs. Eustace Returns”, “The Phantoms of the Mamie R. Mine”, “The Wreck of the General Arnold”, “Up In Flames”, “The Battle of Edgehill”, “50 Berkeley Square”SOURCES AND ESSENTIAL WEB LINKS…All stories in this episode are from the book, “The Spirits of Christmas: The Dark Side of the Holidays” by Sylvia Shults: https://amzn.to/3uT2vMA= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. Background music provided by Alibi Music Library, EpidemicSound and/or StoryBlocks with paid license. Music from Shadows Symphony (https://tinyurl.com/yyrv987t), Midnight Syndicate (http://amzn.to/2BYCoXZ) Kevin MacLeod (https://tinyurl.com/y2v7fgbu), Tony Longworth (https://tinyurl.com/y2nhnbt7), and Nicolas Gasparini (https://tinyurl.com/lnqpfs8) is used with permission of the artists.= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =(Over time links seen above 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 ©2023, Weird Darkness.https://weirddarkness.com/EdgeHill

When Santa's costume caught fire at a small-town Christmas program in 1924, the crowd rushed to the only door — but it opened inward, and they couldn't escape. One little girl vanished that night, and nearly a century later, two ghost children are still seen at the building where the bodies were taken.IN THIS EPISODE: “When The Show Didn’t Go On: The Iroquois Theater Fire” *** “A Deadly Christmas: Ghosts of the Babbs Switch School Fire” *** “Horror For The Holidays: Ghosts of the Ashtabula Bridge Disaster” *** “A Christmas Mystery: The Vanishing of the Sodder Children” *** (Originally aired December 23, 2016)SOURCES AND ESSENTIAL WEB LINKS…“When The Show Didn’t Go On: The Iroquois Theater Fire” from the book “And Hell Followed With It” by Troy Taylor and Rene Kruse: https://amzn.to/3nNw0qJ“A Deadly Christmas: Ghosts of the Babbs Switch School Fire” used by permission from Troy Taylor: https://tinyurl.com/yav7oyye“Horror For The Holidays: Ghosts of the Ashtabula Bridge Disaster”, from the book “And Hell Followed With It” by Troy Taylor and Rene Kruse: https://amzn.to/3nNw0qJ“A Christmas Mystery: The Vanishing of the Sodder Children” used by permission from Troy Taylor: https://tinyurl.com/y7cy4h78Visit our Sponsors & Friends: https://weirddarkness.com/sponsorsJoin the Weird Darkness Syndicate: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicateAdvertise in the Weird Darkness podcast or syndicated radio show: https://weirddarkness.com/advertise= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. Background music provided by Alibi Music Library, EpidemicSound and/or StoryBlocks with paid license. Music from Shadows Symphony (https://tinyurl.com/yyrv987t), Midnight Syndicate (http://amzn.to/2BYCoXZ) Kevin MacLeod (https://tinyurl.com/y2v7fgbu), Tony Longworth (https://tinyurl.com/y2nhnbt7), and Nicolas Gasparini (https://tinyurl.com/lnqpfs8) is used with permission of the artists.= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =(Over time links seen above 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 ©2023, Weird Darkness.= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =https://weirddarkness.com/BabsSwitch#WeirdDarkness #ChristmasEveTragedy #HistoricDisaster #TrueCrime #HauntedOklahoma #GhostStory #ForgottenTragedy #SchoolFire #Paranormal #HolidayHorror

There's a reason that 100-year-old nutcracker was marked 80% off. And on Christmas Eve, my mom and I found out exactly what it was.STORY AND MUSIC CREDITS/SOURCES…The Grither”: https://tinyurl.com/qvkfdtg“Christmas Tree Decorations”: https://tinyurl.com/rapx4d7“Die Nutcracker, Die!” by Dax Varley: https://tinyurl.com/wkp7uu6“Machete Santa” by Medeia Sharif: https://tinyurl.com/wkp7uu6“Saturn Rising” by Ty Drago: https://tinyurl.com/wkp7uu6All music used with permission of the artists. Spooky Santa theme by Midnight Syndicate (http://amzn.to/2BYCoXZ). All other music by Nicolas Gasparini (http://bit.ly/2LykK0g).I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use. If I somehow overlooked doing that for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I’ll rectify it the show notes as quickly as possible.***Spooky Santa™ and Weird Darkness® are creations and trademarks of Marlar House Productions and Weird Darkness, LLC. Copyright © Weird Darkness, 2023"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46https://weirddarkness.com/MomsNutcracker#WeirdDarkness #ChristmasHorror #ScaryStory #Creepypasta #HauntedAntique #HorrorStory #PossessedToy #ScaryChristmas #TrueScaryStories #HolidayHorror

On Christmas Eve 1973, a woman hiding from her ex-husband was found — and five children woke up without parents on Christmas morning.Episode 11 of 12 in the #12NightmaresOfXmas series!In this episode: “The Eternal Beatle”, “Home For The Holidays”, “The Kennedy Road Phantom”, “Santa Stuffs The Stockings”, “Santa And The Elf”, “The Ghost In The Living Room”, “That’s Not Santa!”, “Poe Finds His Inspiration”SOURCES AND ESSENTIAL WEB LINKS…All stories in this episode are from the book, “The Spirits of Christmas: The Dark Side of the Holidays” by Sylvia Shults: https://amzn.to/3uT2vMA= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. Background music provided by Alibi Music Library, EpidemicSound and/or StoryBlocks with paid license. Music from Shadows Symphony (https://tinyurl.com/yyrv987t), Midnight Syndicate (http://amzn.to/2BYCoXZ) Kevin MacLeod (https://tinyurl.com/y2v7fgbu), Tony Longworth (https://tinyurl.com/y2nhnbt7), and Nicolas Gasparini (https://tinyurl.com/lnqpfs8) is used with permission of the artists.= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =(Over time links seen above 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 ©2023, Weird Darkness.https://weirddarkness.com/MothersFinalChristmas