Join the hosts as they explore eerie encounters in the Mojave Desert, including a mysterious figure approaching at night. Delve into the emotional impact on Mike from past experiences, questioning why he was chosen to witness pivotal events. Discover haunting stories related to the Challenger Disaster and explore the enigmatic world of Banksy.
Childhood trauma can connect to paranormal experiences, sparking deep investigation.
Encountering shared traumas can lead to healing and understanding messages from the beyond.
Deep dives
Mike's Childhood Experience in Palmdale
Mike, a graphic designer, recalls his eerie childhood in Palmdale, where he shared a cramped room with family members and his hardworking grandmother, Alma Jean. One night, a terrifying figure, resembling a burnt pilot in a silvery suit with exposed organs, approached him, leaving Mike petrified. His grandmother uncharacteristically slapped him out of harm's way, leading to lasting trauma and questions about the paranormal and realness of the experience.
A Haunting Connection to the Past
Mike connects his haunting experience to the Challenger disaster he witnessed as a child, with striking similarities in the figure's appearance to an astronaut in distress. Years of drawing and research led him to Lockheed Martin's test uniforms, matching the figure's attire. Discovering crash records in Palmdale reinforced the possibility of pilot ghosts, raising questions about shared trauma and its impact.
Unraveling the Eerie Encounter's Meaning
Revisiting the site and discussing with experts, including veteran pilot Jim Brown, Mike delves deeper into the tragic history of test pilots in Palmdale, shedding light on the potential origins of the figure he saw. Insights into recurrent dreams shared by his brother hint at a shared connection to the past, prompting reflections on messages from the beyond and the healing power of understanding one's haunting experiences.
Myke is visited by a nightmarish apparition as a child. The experience is so troubling that he is haunted afterwards by vivid memories of what he saw that night. But as Myke grows older, he begins to wonder why the apparition appeared to him. Could the answer lie in the house they lived in?
Written and presented by Danny Robins
Expert: Ciaran O'Keeffe
Editing and sound design: Charlie Brandon-King
Music: Evelyn Sykes
Theme music by Lanterns on the Lake
Script editor: Dale Shaw
Development producer: Sarah Patten
Production manager: Tam Reynolds
Commissioning executive: Paula McDonnell
Commissioning editor: Rhian Roberts
Produced by Danny Robins and Simon Barnard
A Bafflegab and Uncanny Media production for BBC Radio 4
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