Astonishing Legends podcast

Astonishing Legends

The world is more mysterious than most people are comfortable imagining. We cross paths with the mystical from time to time and may not even notice it. If we do, we quickly return to our usually mundane daily existence. But what if we not only acknowledged the unknown, we investigated it and spoke with those in the know? That's what co-hosts Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess, and co-executive producer Tess Pfeifle do at Astonishing Legends. Over 100 million downloads and hundreds of thousands of listeners have discovered the thrill of exploring the mysteries of our world, showing that the unknown can be both captivating and intriguing. Welcome to Astonishing Legends!

The world is more mysterious than most people are comfortable imagining. We cross paths with the mystical from time to time and may not even notice it. If we do, we quickly return to our usually mundane daily existence. But what if we not only acknowledged the unknown, we investigated it and spoke with those in the know? That's what co-hosts Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess, and co-executive producer Tess Pfeifle do at Astonishing Legends. Over 100 million downloads and hundreds of thousands of listeners have discovered the thrill of exploring the mysteries of our world, showing that the unknown can be both captivating and intriguing. Welcome to Astonishing Legends!

 

#332

It's Just Martin

In this episode, Scott and Forrest share a captivating story from a listener named Meagan about her family's experience with a friendly spirit named Martin. Since the late sixties, Meagan's family has lived with Martin, known for lighthearted antics like slamming doors. In fact, Meagan may not have even been born had Martin not stepped in when her mom was younger. Join them in the vault for this listener story about living with a ghost and the strange events that come along with that. The Astonishing Dead Letter Office - Where Your Stories Die to be Told ... Read more

Yesterday

18 MINS

18:42

Yesterday


#331

The Lake Worth Monster with Lyle Blackburn

On the night of July 10, 1969, John Reichart was fishing near Greer Island on the shores of Lake Worth, about ten miles from Fort Worth, Texas, while his wife Linda sat in their car reading a book.  Moments after John finally hooked a large catfish, he heard his wife screaming in terror and turned to see something moving around on top of the car. As he raced to help, this thing was now on the ground and next to the passenger window, appearing to try to get at Linda. John instinctively lunged at this creature, shoving it away from the car while getting a good look at it. He described it as massive and standing on two legs, horns on its head, covered with white hair and what seemed like shiny fish scales; some kind of human-animal hybrid he said was "half man, half goat." The Reicharts weren't the only witnesses to this scary scuffle as two other couples parked nearby also saw the entire horrifying incident. Almost forty people claimed to have seen the same beast the next night, with sightings continuing for months afterward, generating news coverage and a police investigation. Our friend, author, musician, and intrepid cryptid hunter, Lyle Blackburn, once again deftly and comprehensively investigates one of the strangest and most disturbing creature encounters in Texas and U.S. history in his latest book, Lake Worth Monster: The True Story of the Greer Island Goatman. Please join us as we welcome Lyle to discuss the particulars of a brute so bizarre it makes a plain old Bigfoot seem ordinary by comparison.   Visit our [website] (https://astonishinglegends.com/al-podcasts/2024/11/209/ep-296-the-lake-worth-monster-with-lyle-blackburn) for a lot more information on this episode. ... Read more

10 Nov 2024

2 HR 06 MINS

2:06:29

10 Nov 2024


#330

Black-Eyed Kids and Bad Luck

In this episode, Scott and Forrest tackle a creepy listener story about Black Eyed Kids that took place during the height of the pandemic. The story follows a woman who encounters a strange boy in a red hoodie in the dark, leading to some serious bad luck afterward. Join us as we break down this unsettling encounter and its impact on the storyteller’s life. The Astonishing Dead Letter Office - Where Your Stories Die to be Told ... Read more

05 Nov 2024

14 MINS

14:51

05 Nov 2024


#329

Depends Who’s Looking

Welcome to the premiere episode of the Astonishing Dead Letter Office, a new weekly show from the creators of Astonishing Legends. For over a decade, you’ve been sending in your strange and unexplainable experiences. In this first episode, "It Depends Who's Looking," we explore a chilling haunted house story from Jeff, former manager of the still popular Instagram account Harlow and Sage. Jeff and his wife encounter escalating paranormal activity in their new home, from mysterious noises to ghostly apparitions. The Astonishing Dead Letter Office - Where Your Stories Die to be Told ... Read more

29 Oct 2024

20 MINS

20:00

29 Oct 2024


#328

Your True Halloween Stories III

Once more unto the breach of Halloween, dear friends, once more, as we drift dreamily into some of our listeners’ most eerie encounters!  We begin tonight’s fearsome festivities with an account from Kamal, who discovered some ghostly confirmation in “Grandma’s Photo Album.”  Listener Holly and her nephew are visited both day and night by a little girl they could consider “Our Imaginary Friend.”  Next, while on deployment in East Africa with the Army National Guard, Zac and his fellow soldiers make “Contact in the Desert” with an otherworldly being.  While giving a tour at the historic and haunted Belleview-Biltmore Hotel in Florida, Joseph gets spectrally tackled, giving him the “Groundskeeper Willies.”  Damon’s story shows that even when you unwittingly stare into the void, “The Void Stares Back.” And finally, when listener Alison is supernaturally harassed and goaded to “Wake up, Ali!” she learns that we thankfully have champions in the spiritual warfare between good and evil.  Please join us for our spooky season tradition, where the most astonishing thing is our listeners and their actual experiences.   Visit our [website] (https://astonishinglegends.com/al-podcasts/2024/10/27/ep-295-your-true-halloween-stories-iii) for a lot more information on this episode. ... Read more

28 Oct 2024

3 HR 18 MINS

3:18:36

28 Oct 2024


#327

The Entity Part 2 with Xavier Ortega

In part 2 of our series on The Entity, we delve deeper into the story of The Entity and the horrific experiences of Doris Bither. We’ll explore previously undisclosed details of her life and the paranormal phenomena witnessed in her home by a large team of researchers from UCLA, as told by the only person in the world who’s been in touch with Bither’s family, Javier Ortega. We’ll examine the aftermath of the haunting, its profound effects on the Bither family, and the challenges they faced long after the initial investigation concluded. Going beyond the well-known narrative, we’ll explore Doris's later years and the enduring psychological impact on her family. Astonishing Legends has always strived to be the ‘Podcast of Record’ on the topics we cover, and this one is no different. Join us as we unravel the untold continuation of The Entity Haunting, seeking not just the truth of what happened but a deeper understanding of how the investigation into it may have done more harm than good. Visit our [website] (https://astonishinglegends.com/al-podcasts/2024/10/19/ep-294-the-entity-part-2) for a lot more information on this episode. ... Read more

20 Oct 2024

1 HR 55 MINS

1:55:48

20 Oct 2024


#326

The Entity Part 1 with Xavier Ortega

Astonishing Legends finally tackles the infamous Entity haunting case from the 1970s, featuring an exclusive interview with researcher Xavier Ortega from [GhostTheory.com] (http://ghosttheory.com/) . This is the story of Doris Bither, a single mother in Culver City, California, who was repeatedly assaulted by spectral entities in her home. Ortega shares new information from his interviews with Bither’s sons, providing unprecedented insight into the family’s experiences. For the first time, it’s revealed that the paranormal activity began after Bither attempted to communicate with entities through Ouija board seances. Listeners will hear about strange phenomena witnessed by multiple observers, including apparitions, unexplained noises, and physical attacks. Scott, Forrest, and Xavier will share details of spectral assaults in Part 1 of this series that most folks haven’t heard about. This is a deep dive into one of the most disturbing paranormal cases in American history, with new revelations that have never before been shared publicly. Visit our [website] (https://astonishinglegends.com/al-podcasts/2024/10/12/ep-293-the-entity-part-1) for a lot more information on this episode. ... Read more

13 Oct 2024

2 HR 06 MINS

2:06:00

13 Oct 2024


#325

Special Announcement on Hurricane Helene

A special announcement regarding Hurricane Helene. [https://reddit.com/r/asheville] (https://reddit.com/r/asheville) [https://www.bpr.org/bpr-news/2024-09-28/list-ways-to-donate-and-help-flood-victims-in-western-north-carolina-after-hurricane-helene] (https://www.bpr.org/bpr-news/2024-09-28/list-ways-to-donate-and-help-flood-victims-in-western-north-carolina-after-hurricane-helene) [https://umcmission.org/] (https://umcmission.org/) United Way link updated from link in the announcement: [https://www.unitedway.org/hurricane-helene#] (https://www.unitedway.org/hurricane-helene#) ... Read more

01 Oct 2024

03 MINS

03:19

01 Oct 2024


#324

American Bloodfalls with Tom Maxwell Part 2

In our conclusion to our two-part series on American Bloodfalls, we dive deeper into the mysterious phenomenon that baffled witnesses across 19th-century America. Our special guest, Tom Maxwell, guides us through more perplexing incidents of blood and meat raining from the sky, from the famous Kentucky Meat Shower of 1876 to the final recorded event in 1902. We examine the scientific analyses of the time, which often identified the fallen material as animal tissue yet failed to propose any reasonable theories about its origins. Tom helps us navigate the theories proposed over the years and why they fall short when confronted with eyewitness accounts and the scale of events. We’ll discuss connections to biblical accounts and consider how these events might reflect their time's cultural and spiritual climate. Then, of course, we’ll get to the theories, even though the mundane ones have been tough to identify with this legend. But yes, portals and UFOs will probably make the scene. Tom helps us grapple with how these occurrences challenge humanity’s modern, materialist worldview and why meat showers and bloodfalls seem to have ceased by the early 20th century. Even after all of this time, they continue to defy explanation. However, that won’t stop us from trying to figure it out. Visit our [website] (https://astonishinglegends.com/al-podcasts/2024/09/28/ep-292-american-bloodfalls-with-tom-maxwell-part-2) for a lot more information on this episode. ... Read more

29 Sep 2024

2 HR 30 MINS

2:30:22

29 Sep 2024


#323

American Bloodfalls with Tom Maxwell Part 1

Bloodfalls and meat showers - phenomena that sound more like biblical plagues than historical events. Yet, reports of these bizarre occurrences peppered the American landscape for over a century. From Alabama to Massachusetts, Tennessee to California, eyewitnesses sometimes described small red clouds followed by downpours of blood, flesh, and viscera. Some were subjected to the red rain on entirely cloudless days. While many saw divine judgment, skeptics suspected elaborate hoaxes. Scientists proposed numerous theories ranging from vomiting vultures to atmospheric anomalies, while newspapers spread the stories far and wide. But what really happened during these grisly events? Were they connected or separate phenomena with similar descriptions? And why did they seem to stop abruptly at the turn of the 20th century? Join us as we delve into this bloody chapter of American history with our special guest, Tom Maxwell, former frontman of the Squirrel Nut Zippers and bloodfall expert, for Part 1 of this 2-part series. Together, we'll examine not just what fell from the sky, but what these incidents reveal about 19th-century America - its people, its science, and its struggle to make sense of a rapidly changing world. From the fringes of meteorology to the depths of human nature, this is the strange, gruesome, and utterly captivating story of America's reign of blood and meat. Visit our [website] (https://astonishinglegends.com/al-podcasts/2024/09/14/ep-291-american-bloodfalls-with-tom-maxwell-part-1) for a lot more information on this episode. ... Read more

15 Sep 2024

2 HR 05 MINS

2:05:05

15 Sep 2024


#322

Special Announcements for Season 2 of Richard Hatem’s Paranormal Bookshelf!

Richard & Susan drop in with some important upcoming dates and announcements about all things RHPB, including a couple of SPECIAL UPCOMING EPISODES you’ll want to know about right away… Enjoy! ... Read more

02 Sep 2024

24 MINS

24:58

02 Sep 2024


#321

The Body on the Moor Part 2

The authorities may have finally learned of the man on the moor's identity, yet, as they say, this only raised many more questions than his real name answered.  As police questioned his family, his neighbors, service providers, and even an ex-girlfriend, a picture of a pretty peculiar man emerged.  "Neil Dovestone" went by the name David Lytton.  However, even his legal name was perhaps a privacy screen to hide his emotions and past behind, as his given name was David Keith Lautenberg.  Described as a kind and conscientious man, Lytton also led a very ascetic and minimalist lifestyle, adding to the mystery of his mindset.  Those who knew him in England, even his partner at the time, Maureen Toogood, had no idea he had quietly moved to Pakistan after abruptly cutting off contact to live there for several years.  Even with more pieces to the puzzle now in place, there's still no clue as to what led him to where he chose to end everything and why.  Was it solely his doing, or was someone else involved?  What seems likely is that his body was staged postmortem so it would be found in a more peaceful pose.  Although you may think this story is "Case Closed," the official status from the UK courts is that it's still an "Open Conclusion."  Join us once again for Part 2 as we learn more about a man whose life was as much of an enigma as his death. Visit our [website] (https://astonishinglegends.com/al-podcasts/2024/08/24/ep-290-the-body-on-the-moor-part-2) for a lot more information on this episode. ... Read more

25 Aug 2024

1 HR 32 MINS

1:32:14

25 Aug 2024