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Astonishing Legends

Paranormal Podcasts

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!

Location:

Los Angeles, CA

Description:

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!

Language:

English


Episodes
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36: Chips, Salsa and UFOs

7/1/2025
In tonight’s dead letter, Jordan recalls a strange encounter in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she spotted nearly a dozen silver crafts hovering over the Sandia Mountains. These objects appeared to be linked and moved in unison, with one larger craft seemingly in charge. A large black helicopter sped off in the direction of the crafts after they disappeared, leaving Jordan with a sense of wonder and the feeling that they were harmless tourists from another world, but were they? We’ll dive into it! Send your story to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com Kirtland Air Force Base - Wikipedia Kirtland AFB Sandia National Laboratories Sandia National Laboratories - Wikipedia Mirage Men - Wikipedia Mirage Men streaming: where to watch movie online? Author Nick Redfern - Amazon Watch The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch Full Episodes, Video & More | HISTORY Channel Paul Bennewitz - Wikipedia Richard L. Doty - Wikipedia

Duration:00:41:15

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Junk Drawer 26 - Main Feed Edition!

6/28/2025
This week, we revisit a favorite Patreon Junk Drawer episode featuring Max Kelso's unsettling experiences at a Boy Scout camp in the heart of Ohio. We explore Max's first encounter as a young scout when he saw a shadowy figure watching him through the window of his cabin late one night. Years later, during a game at the same camp, Max experiences something even stranger. The Junk Drawer is a more casual, conversational show than our regular program and is usually only available to our patrons at patreon.com/astonishinglegends. It’s a great time to check out our Patreon because this Sunday, June 29th, 2025, we’re doing our first-ever live AMA on video there!

Duration:01:52:07

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35: Black Eyed Driver

6/24/2025
In tonight’s dead letter, Scott and Forrest share Arthur’s story. He recounts a frightening encounter in the Bronx in 1998 when while stopped at a red light he saw something, or someone that didn’t seem right. The person in the car next to him had pale skin, completely black eyes, and an impossible smile. But that’s really just the beginning of this bizarre tale. Books by David Weatherly on Amazon Astonishing Legends Private Facebook Group Astonishing Legends Episode links to Astonishing Legends Website, but all shows can be found on any podcast app. Ep 188: Strange Intruders with David Weatherly Part 1 — Astonishing Legends Ep 189: Strange Intruders with David Weatherly Part 2 — Astonishing Legends Ep 87: Black Eyed Kids Part 1 — Astonishing Legends Ep 88: Black Eyed Kids Part 2 — Astonishing Legends Ep 89: Black Eyed Kids Part 3 — Astonishing Legends Send your story to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com

Duration:00:31:42

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34: The Black Cloud Hanging Over Me

6/17/2025
In tonight’s dead letter, Scott and Forrest read a dead letter from a woman with ties to the Otoe-Missouria tribe in Oklahoma. She recounts a terrifying experience driving on Highway 60 at night when a dark fog hit the truck she was in, causing a flat tire. The story delves into local legends, the importance of oral traditions, and the listener’s theory that the area is haunted due to indigenous people buried there by settlers. They discuss the plausibility of a curse, the story's symbolism, and the mysteries surrounding the nature and effects of whatever it was they collided with. LINKS and NOTES Osage Nation Heritage Trail | Green Country Oklahoma | Official Site Ep 49: Monsters Among Us — Astonishing Legends Ep 49: Monsters Among Us — Astonishing Legends (Spotify) Ep 49: Monsters Among Us — Astonishing Legends (Apple Podcasts) Indian meridian - Wikipedia Submit YOUR story to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com

Duration:00:29:49

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The Stratford Poltergeist

6/14/2025
In 1850, the quiet town of Stratford, Connecticut was shaken by a bizarre and terrifying haunting that gripped the world’s attention. Reverend Eliakim Phelps and his family were tormented by objects falling from nowhere, cryptic messages, and strange effigies crafted from household items. As the phenomena escalated—turning violent and targeting the children—skeptics, spiritualists, and investigators descended on the mansion in search of answers. Was it a hoax, psychic energy, or something truly supernatural? This episode dives into the enduring mystery of the Stratford Poltergeist. Visit our website for a lot more information on this episode.

Duration:01:44:16

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33: Scare Bear

6/10/2025
In tonight’s Dead Letter, Kaleb recounts a few paranormal experiences, starting with a childhood memory of a stuffed bear that seemed to turn its head on its own, but for some bizarre reason didn't frighten him. Years later, he experienced a potent wave of fear in a dark basement, reminding Scott of his experience at the Sallie House. Forrest and Scott then delve into the nature of fear, the existence of multiple entities in haunted locations, and the protective nature of some spirits. The Sallie House Series by Astonishing Legends Part 1 (On Spotify) https://open.spotify.com/episode/20PwwC2p9Kq97H7yX370kO?si=806dbb79aa174215 Poltergeist (1982 film) - Wikipedia The Twilight Zone - Living Doll Episode Living Doll (The Twilight Zone) - Wikipedia Uniroyal Nauga Monster Rarify | The Nauga Monster! The Nauga was a fictional creature or animal created by an advertising company back in the 1960s to promote the... | Instagram Send your stories to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com

Duration:00:28:57

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32: Great Balls of Fire

6/3/2025
In tonight’s dead letter, Forrest and Scott read a submission from Misael, who recalls a bizarre childhood encounter involving a blue ball of fire that appeared while he and his sister were playing basketball. The strange sphere, which seemed to be made of stone and engulfed in flames, hovered near them before shooting off toward a neighbor's light post and disintegrating. The Encyclopedia of Demons and Demonology Traverse City Ghost Tour

Duration:00:29:34

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31: The Tipping Point

5/27/2025
In tonight’s dead letter, listener Barry talks about the strange phenomenon of table tipping. He recounts an experience from 25 years ago, when he and a friend attempted to raise a heavy coffee table through meditation, with unexpected results. This leads to a larger discussion about EVPs and Forrest shares an anecdote from a recent ghost hunt at a theater, where a table moved during a tipping experiment, and they captured some bizarre audio recordings. Send YOUR story to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com Astonishing Dead Letter Office Richard Hatem's Paranormal Bookshelf ER70 EVP Recorder on the App Store SPECTRE | ABOUT US

Duration:00:37:00

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The Pascagoula Abduction with Philip Mantle Part 2

5/24/2025
We are once again joined by investigator Philip Mantle to dive back into the Pascagoula Abduction with Part 2 of our series, peeling back layers of a story that stretches far beyond one night in 1973. While skeptics cite a silent bridgetender, fresh eyewitness accounts —from shipyard workers to families at home — suggest something far stranger was unfolding. In this episode, we uncover a decades-hidden encounter from Jerry and Maria Blair, whose experiences may rival the original tale, and explore newly revealed evidence, buried memories, and the unsettling question: what did these beings really want? Visit our website for a lot more information on this episode.

Duration:01:57:43

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30: The Glowing Visitor

5/20/2025
In tonight’s dead letter, a scientist recounts an eerie experience from his teenage years on Long Island. A self-proclaimed skeptic, he describes waking up one night to see a glowing, humanoid figure in his sister's room. The story takes an even stranger turn when he mentions a family get-together where his sister and father recall their own unsettling experiences from that time, possibly tying everything together. Send your story to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com Who Knew? Long Island A Hotbed For UFO Sightings Bioluminescence - Wikipedia The USS Nimitz UFO Incident: Were Hard Drives With Radar Data Confiscated After Navy Pilots Saw a UFO? - Micah Hanks

Duration:00:27:05

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The Pascagoula Abduction with Philip Mantle Part 1

5/18/2025
In October 1973, as the Vietnam War waned and Watergate filled headlines, two friends in Pascagoula, Mississippi—Charles Hickson and Calvin Parker—had an encounter that would shake them for life and baffle the world. While fishing after work, they claimed to be abducted by strange beings from a hovering craft, describing elephant-skinned entities with claw-like hands, and examined aboard the vessel. Though skeptics dismissed it as a hoax or hallucination, the Pascagoula Abduction remains one of the most compelling and hotly debated UFO cases. In this first installment of our two-part series, we delve into the initial reports, physical evidence, and lasting impact of the incident, joined by returning guest Philip Mantle — UFO researcher, close friend of Calvin Parker, and co-writer of the Amazon Prime docuseries Pascagoula ’73 — who calls it the best documented case of its kind. And with new eyewitnesses continuing to emerge, you might find yourself agreeing. Visit our website for a lot more information on this episode.

Duration:01:47:31

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29: The Dog Walker

5/13/2025
In tonight’s dead letter, Scott and Forrest read a listener submission from Karena in Semaphore, Australia, who recounts a puzzling experience during her morning walk. On a bright, hot summer's day, she encountered a man walking 3 dogs. That itself is certainly not unusual, but he was dressed in clothes from another time and he vanished into thin air. Semaphore | South Australia Semaphore, South Australia - Wikipedia The Ghosts of Versailles Part 1 (Spotify Link) A Timeslip Story The Ghosts of Versailles Part 2 (Spotify Link) A Timeslip Story There are 4 or 5 episodes on The Somerton Man. Look for those links in our archives. Send your story to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com

Duration:00:31:54

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The Rhine Institute: Extraordinary Evidence

5/10/2025
This week, we’re heading into the world of parapsychology with a visit to the legendary Rhine Research Center in North Carolina—an institution that’s been quietly pushing the boundaries of the human mind for nearly a century. Founded in the 1930s by J.B. and Louisa Rhine at Duke University, the center has long been a hub for rigorous scientific inquiry into phenomena like telepathy, clairvoyance, and psychokinesis. Recently, friend of the show Allison Jornlin invited Scott on a trip to the Rhine to help renowned researcher Dr. Nancy Zingrone donate materials from her and her late husband’s extensive paranormal library. While there, Scott met John G. Kruth, Executive Director of the Rhine and one of the foremost experts on the scientific study of consciousness and psychic phenomena, who joins us to share the fascinating history of the Rhine. Visit our website for a lot more information on this episode.

Duration:01:57:20

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28: The Wood Sprite

5/6/2025
In tonight’s dead letter, we dive deep into the woods of Michigan's Upper Peninsula with Alicia, an experienced outdoorswoman who encounters a mysterious forest dweller during her hunting trip. As she waits silently, a small, dark form captures her attention—what could it possibly be? Is it a creature of folklore peeking into our world, or just an intricate game of light and shadow? Michigan's Upper Peninsula 'The Wood Sprite' by Nabokov Pukwudgie Fairies Astonishing Dead Letter Office Send your stories to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com

Duration:00:31:30

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27: The Scented Ghost

4/29/2025
In tonight’s dead letter, we dive into "The Scented Ghost," a story from Buffalo, New York, shared by our listener Cheryl. In her old apartment, she and her boyfriend often noticed a strong, unusual floral scent, which could selectively present itself to either one of them. Things got eerie when Cheryl encountered a mysterious figure one night, leaving her spooked. Years later, a chance encounter adds an unexpected twist to her tale, connecting her to a total stranger who had a similar experience in literally the exact same apartment. https://paranormalglobe.com/2018/07/29/can-you-smell-ghosts-4-paranormal-smells-to-look-out-for/ https://www.hauntedrooms.com/new-york/buffalo/haunted-places Send your stories to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com

Duration:00:26:34

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The Max Headroom Pirate TV Incident Part 2

4/26/2025
In Part 2 of our series on the Max Headroom Broadcast Signal Interruption, we dig deeper into the analog chaos that unfolded in 1987 Chicago — a surreal, rebellious hijacking that mocked media itself. We explore the investigation, the lingering mystery, and what it says about how we interact with technology, culture, and entertainment today. Who was behind that mask? Who wielded that fly-swatter? Let’s get into it. Visit our website for a lot more information on this episode.

Duration:02:21:22

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26: There's No Place like Gnome

4/22/2025
In tonight’s dead letter, listener Leah experiences repeated visits from what appear to be gnome-like beings. The visits began after she began practicing Wicca, and thankfully, these mysterious creatures appear to be non-threatening…but persistent. Are they simply hallucinations connected to sleep paralysis, or are they part of the fabric of reality that is hidden from us most of the time? Email your stories to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com https://hangar1publishing.com/blogs/cryptids/evil-gnomes-mythology

Duration:00:29:05

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25: Knockin' on Devil's Den Door

4/15/2025
In tonight's dead letter, we explore the eerie experiences of Allie, a PhD candidate from the University of Arkansas, who revisits the hauntingly notorious Devil's Den in the Ozark National Forest. As shared with hosts Scott and Forrest, Allie's research expeditions become unsettling when she feels an unseen presence and hears unexplained banging noises near isolated trails and bridges. Her tales echo past episodes with guest of our main show, Terry Lovelace, adding another layer to the chilling lore of this paranormal hotspot. Shownotes: Abduction at Devil’s Den (Terry Lovelace) Devil’s Den the Reckoning Part 1 Devil’s Den the Reckoning Part 2 Devil's Den State Park Devil's Den State Park Wikipedia Terry Lovelace Books at Amazon https://a.co/d/cA4eG3f https://a.co/d/j7l4PFJ

Duration:00:27:46

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The Max Headroom Pirate TV Incident Part 1

4/12/2025
Before streaming and scrolling there was broadcast television—shared signals sent through the air for anyone with an antenna to catch. But when something’s that open, it’s also open to hijacking. In part one of our two-part series, we dig into one of the most bizarre and legendary cases of broadcast piracy: the Max Headroom Incident. On November 22, 1987, two Chicago stations were interrupted by a strange figure in a Max Headroom mask, delivering surreal, unsettling messages in a two-minute broadcast that has baffled and fascinated for nearly four decades. Who did it, why, and how did they pull it off? We explore the theories, the tech, and the legend that refuses to fade. Visit our website for a lot more information on this episode.

Duration:02:05:02

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24: The Shadow Man Who Wasn't There

4/8/2025
In tonight's dead letter, we hear from Jada who encountered a shadowy figure with red eyes on two separate occasions in different locations. The first sighting occurred during a summer church camp, but the second happened years later and was witnessed by her boyfriend, who doesn’t believe in this kind of stuff. Are hauntings tied to people rather than places? Or tied to anything at all? The more we learn, the more questions we have.

Duration:00:15:28