

Astonishing Legends
Astonishing Legends Productions
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!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 30, 2025 • 28min
48: Die Fratzen
In tonight’s dead letter… a listener shares their chilling encounters with "Die Fratzen," demonic faces that surfaced after a period of indulgence and self-disgust. These weren't just fleeting nightmares; they manifested as waking visions and doppelgangers, leading to a quest for spiritual help. The writer grapples with the possibility of mental health issues versus a genuine spiritual battle and how these experiences mirror those of Anneliese Michel, whom we covered a few years ago on Astonishing Legends.
Links:
Astonishing Legends: The Devil and Annaliese Michel P1
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5ZiRkT1ZfIyMBsUBAs1RDK?si=d044978fbf484d63
P2
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5k6UzW5Yku23D55QbcKGhl?si=cb39009d744f4dbd
P3
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3NHYwTl94InnHYREWpE044?si=bc43d397273d4176
Astonishing Legends: Sarah and the Spider Woman
https://open.spotify.com/episode/38UXYglzND21RcSLQiTk1M?si=4e6f381273b34557
Unsolved Mysteries: Don Decker
https://unsolved.com/gallery/don-decker/
Paranormal Witness: Don Decker
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2090999/
Send your stories into deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com

Sep 27, 2025 • 1h 37min
The Screaming Skulls
Explore the eerie tales of England's 'screaming skulls' that curse those who disturb them. From a haunting skull in Dorset that spells disaster to a railway project halted by Dickie's supernatural influence, these stories blur the line between folklore and reality. Uncover the tragic legend of a slave's skull at Bedescombe Manor, and delve into the mysterious origins of the names tied to these relics. With each skull, a unique narrative unfolds, revealing humanity's strange relationship with mortality and the past.

Sep 23, 2025 • 39min
47: The Lock Looker
In tonight’s Dead Letter, you’ll hear a bizarre tale from rural Ohio, one of our favorite strange states, involving a creature known only as the "Lock Looker." This cryptid, with its orangutan-like build, glowing orange eyes, and famous movie scream, lurks near a dam and has been sighted by both the storyteller and their father. It may have been around a while. Join Scott and Forrest as they briefly debate the pronunciation of Orangutan and also delve into this multi-generational mystery.
LINKS:
Shelby County Parks (Home of Lockington Reserve)https://shelbycopark.org/lockington-reserve
University of Zurich - Orangutan Callshttps://www.iea.uzh.ch/en/research/orangutannetwork/orangutancallrepertoires.html
The actual one we played:
https://www.iea.uzh.ch/dam/jcr:00000000-7c6e-90e4-ffff-ffff84c61003/Ref_Crying_and_Screaming_Jeri.mp3
R2-D2 Sound Design
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=So0nmciiFJg
Lyle Blackburnhttp://www.lyleblackburn.com/
Send your stories into deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com

Sep 20, 2025 • 57sec
Important Update
News from Scott and Forrest

Sep 16, 2025 • 42min
46: The Cowboy in the Canteen
In tonight’s dead letter… a VFW canteen worker in Michigan has a close encounter with a mysterious cowboy, complete with vintage attire and dollar coins. The stranger asks her to champion his cause of getting “shell shock” recognized for a Purple Heart. After the encounter, the letter he provides vanishes and the general he mentions turns out to be from the Civil War.
Links:
Jim Harold’s Roadhouse Saloon Campfire STory
https://jimharold.com/the-roadhouse-saloon-from-the-files-of-jim-harolds-campfire/
The VFW
https://www.vfw.org/
Shell Shock
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shell_shock
PTSD
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-traumatic_stress_disorder
PTSD as a Criteria for a Purple Heart
https://www.dvidshub.net/news/520197/purple-heart-criteria-exclude-ptsd-defense-officials-say
https://www.mghclaycenter.org/hot-topics/denying-purple-hearts-veterans-ptsd-2/
https://www.disabledveterans.org/purple-hearts-for-ptsd/
The ‘Seated Liberty’ Dollar
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seated_Liberty_dollar
Some for sale on Ebay
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=seated+liberty+dollars+1840-1873&_sacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p4432023.m570.l1311
‘The Edge of Tomorrow’ movie which references Verdun as an Alien Battle Site
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edge_of_Tomorrow
Unsolved Mysteries: Paranormal Rangers
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22336540/

Sep 9, 2025 • 33min
45: Uninvited Intruders
In tonight’s dead letter, a listener recounts a childhood filled with unexplained phenomena in their 1940s Michigan home. From persistent footsteps and unsettling noises like dragging chains and hammering to a menacing presence in their bedroom, the haunting escalated over the years, driving them to seek refuge upstairs. But even then, the activity followed, with something heavy repeatedly stomping on the cast iron cover of the well room just outside their window. Pers
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_lightning
Search this page for more on the Jacob Marley quote, “I wear the chain I forged in life…”
https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/christmascarol/quotes/character/jacob-marley/
Witch Ride/Sleep Paralysis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis
Stephen Prozak Shippy
https://www.strangemusicinc.com/artists/prozak
https://www.youtube.com/@HauntedSaginaw/featured
Iron in Folklore
https://diabolicalconfusions.wordpress.com/2011/02/15/iron-in-folklore-superstitions-explained/
Email your stories to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com

Sep 7, 2025 • 2h 40min
Mystery Solved! AMA 2025
Alright Astonishing Legends listeners, buckle up! In this special AMA episode, Scott and Forrest are answering your burning questions! We're diving headfirst into everything from the implications of sentient Tesla bots inheriting fortunes (and causing chaos) to the latest updates on the search for Amelia Earhart's lost plane.
We’re also exploring listener questions and thoughts on future stories and the state of Astonishing Legends. We discuss the intricacies of researching paranormal topics, sharing insights into why some stories captivate while others fizzle. There are also several business questions answered from curious fans. And delving into some of our own paranormal experiences, we share thoughts on the cases that have profoundly shaped our perspectives. So join us as we explore the strange, the unexplained, and everything in between, all thanks to the incredible support of YOU, our listeners!
And Scott will be appearing with Rich Hatem in Washington D.C. in just a few weeks! IN the D.C. area? Get TICKETS HERE
And check the Richard Hatem's Paranormal Bookshelf feed in the coming week for a sit-down he did with him about his 'Light in the Dark' Tour.

Sep 2, 2025 • 39min
44: The Beginning that Never Ended
In tonight’s dead letter… Listener, Isla recalls a childhood park trip in Australia where she and a friend went exploring after her mom’s car broke down in the bush. They wandered too far from the car and observed a void-like, spear-bearing figure on the bank. The bush fell silent and the wind carried songs in an ancient language as they fled back to the car without looking back. Years later Isla still feels watched whenever she strays off the path.
The Movie ‘Get out’ (referring to ‘The Sunken Place’ from the letter)
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5052448/
Artlandish Aboriginal Art Website
https://www.artlandish.com/
Goddard & Wierzbicka (2015) Article on ResearchGate
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283206413
Wikipedia – "The Dreaming"
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Dreaming&oldid=1297566697
Petrichor
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petrichor
SAS Survival Handbook
https://a.co/d/6oSBMlQ
‘Songlines’ by Bruce Chatwin
https://a.co/d/6kqf1Oc
‘Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions’ by Edwin A. Abbott
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flatland
Email your stories to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com

Aug 26, 2025 • 34min
43: Tracked
In tonight’s dead letter… Listener, Scott recounts a series of unexplained howls heard in the woods near his Alabama home. Night after night, he and his family would sit on the porch and listen, noticing patterns in the sounds. This progresses later to him being stalked by something he could not see.
Alabama Bigfoot Website (via Wayback Machine) Most audio links not working:
https://web.archive.org/web/20110518043255/http://www.alabamabigfoot.com/bigfoot/reports/Recordings.html
RadioLab’s episode ‘Wildtalk’:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0sug8rBkpypmdnjFEQ3iA3?si=3K7sddfCRiKfLwBlj9qkkg
Predators in Alabama:
https://www.huntsvilleal.gov/environment/animal-services/pet-services/urban-wildlife/
Charle’s Fort’s Wild Talents (Book):
https://a.co/d/8r1l6gz
The Astonishing Legends Episodes on Charles Fort (if you’re curious):
P1
https://open.spotify.com/episode/5kWLAh6t5REHPfKGZloOkb?si=7c98be94c8a44a06
P2
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3QhqHXilyU0DZgFxfWKtjE?si=5bb9bf4d7a444d0a
The Movie ‘Spartan’:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spartan_(film)
The North American Wood Ape Theory:
https://www.woodape.org/
The Alaskan Killer Bigfoot Story:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaskan_Killer_Bigfoot
https://www.travelchannel.com/show/alaskan-killer-bigfoot-travel-channel-atve-us
Email your stories to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com

Aug 19, 2025 • 14sec
Dead Letter Office Special Announcement
This week’s Dead Letter Office is cancelled, but the show will return next week. Thank you for your patience and understanding!