Astonishing Legends

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

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

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.

A scientist shares a chilling childhood encounter with a glowing, humanoid figure, challenging the boundaries of skepticism and belief. Family recollections add mystery to the tale, linking past experiences to potential paranormal phenomena. The discussion expands to explore unique glow-in-the-dark materials and their fascinating history, while also highlighting the rising number of UFO sightings in Long Island. Listeners are encouraged to share their own supernatural stories, inviting a community of shared experiences and intrigue.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.