
WHAT IS THE LEIDNER PROJECT? 200 Kids Are Sent To Space Each Year Never To Be Heard From Again
22 August - 23 mins(BONUS AUDIO) In a future where population is strictly controlled and children require government permission, Frank and Lucy Sturt must say goodbye forever to their only son Hal, who's been selected for the prestigious but mysterious Leidner Project. When Hal's girlfriend arrives with unexpected news after his departure, the three devise a desperate plan to preserve something precious in a world where even love is regulated. | “One Way” by Miriam Allen deFord, originally published in Galaxy Science Fiction magazine in March, 1955.
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IT CRUSHED THEIR SKULLS AND DRANK THEIR BLOOD: The True Story of the Beast of Bladenboro
In 1953, dogs and livestock in Bladenboro, North Carolina began turning up dead with their skulls crushed flat and their bodies completely drained of blood, while witnesses reported seeing a massive cat-like creature that made sounds like a woman screaming. Over 70 years later, similar attacks still occur in the area, and despite massive hunts involving over a thousand people, no one has ever caught or identified what's killing these animals. Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate Take the WEIRD DARKNESS LISTENER SURVEY and help mold the future of the podcast: https://weirddarkness.com/survey IN THIS EPISODE: Every part of the world seems to have its own share of cryptids – and sometimes, creatures that are unique to that area. For example, along with the ubiquitous Bigfoot, you might have heard about North Carolina’s “Moon-Eyed People”, or “The Wampus Cat”. But I’m guessing you’ve not heard about what some call “The Vampire Beast” of Bladenboro. (The Beast of Bladenboro) *** The story of Isabella Guzman went viral on TikTok six years after she was convicted of the murder of her mother. During the trial she claimed she was abused… then she pleaded insanity. But one good thing did come from the trial… a serious discussion about mental illness. (Isabella Guzman: The Viral Teenage Killer) *** If you’re a proponent of execution – no judgement here, just go with me – the only way to see that through is to have someone push the button, flip the switch, pull the trigger, or whatever method is being used in order to snuff out the life of the soon-to-be-dead inmate. Someone has to get their hands dirty, metaphorically speaking. And even if you think you’d have the stomach and determination to do the job – let me ask you this. Would you be okay with literally getting your hands bloody? Would you survive as a Medieval executioner, using an axe to chop off your victims heads? What would life be like with that job? (Life As a Medieval Executioner) *** We’ve all heard of cryptids like Bigfoot, Mothman, the Loch Ness Monster, the Jersey Devil, the Dogman, and so on. But have you ever heard of a cryptid that isn’t flesh and blood, but were made of plants? (Plant-Based Cryptids) CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00:00.000 = Lead-In 00:00:50.719 = Show Open 00:03:28.752 = The Beast of Bladenboro 00:16:54.272 = Isabella Guzman: The Viral Teenage Killer 00:28:02.010 = Life As a Medieval Executioner 00:42:10.235 = Plant-Based Cryptids 00:57:10.799 = Show Close SOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE… “Plant-Based Cryptids” by Amanda Boisen for Graveyard Shift: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2hdatwb9 “Isabella Guzman: The Viral Teenage Killer” by Patrick Thornton for Unspeakable Crimes:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p84bssv “Life As a Medieval Executioner” by Aleksa Vuckovic for Ancient Origins: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p97sj76 “The Beast of Bladenboro” by Laura Allan for Ranker: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p9hcnaw =====(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links...
58 mins
22 August Finished

THEY CALLED HIM OLD MAN WINTER: The Legend Of The Ice Truck
When a veteran ice road trucker warns the convoy leader about a ghostly truck with red headlights that brings deadly winter storms, everyone laughs it off as an old timer's tall tale. But out on the melting ice roads, where trucks can disappear in seconds and the radio fills with static and hysterical laughter, some legends prove terrifyingly real. Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate Take the WEIRD DARKNESS LISTENER SURVEY and help mold the future of the podcast: https://weirddarkness.com/survey IN THIS EPISODE: It’s Thriller Thursday, with a story called “The Legend of the Ice Truck” by Lykan Trucker. SOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE… “The Legend of the Ice Truck” by LykanTrucker: https://www.youtube.com/c/BreakerBreaker1919 =====(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: March, 2022 EPISODE PAGE at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list of sources): https://weirddarkness.com/IceRoadTruck #IceRoadTruckers #OldManWinter #IceTruckLegend #TruckerHorror #GhostTruck #HauntedTruck #CBRadioStories #IceRoadHorror #FrozenConvoy #TruckerLegends #CursedTruck #WinterStormHorror #FlashFrozen #ParanormalTrucking #IceRoadCurse #RedHeadlights #TruckingUrbanLegends #IceRoadMysteries #SupernaturalTrucking #TruckerFolklore #HauntedIceRoads #ConvoyHorror #TruckerTransformation #IceRoadSurvival #OldTimer #CreepyTruckerStories #RealTruckingHorror #IceRoadLegends #WinterTruckingDangers #GhostTruckerEncounters #CursedIceRoads #TruckingNightmares #IceRoadPhenomena #TruckerSuperstitions #SupernaturalConvoy #FrozenInFear #IceRoadFolklore #MysteriousTruckingDeaths #WinterRoadHorror #TruckerWarnings #TrueHorrorStory #UrbanLegend #CreepyPasta #HorrorStory #Paranormal ABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.
27 mins
22 August Finished

THE OUIJA BOARD REFUSED TO SAY GOODBYE: We Should’ve Listened When It Warned Us
When five teenagers used a Ouija board in an abandoned house, the message they received should have sent them running — instead, they foolishly asked for more. SOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE… “Weird Things” by Gene Stewart: https://genestewart.com =====(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: August 21, 2025 NOTE: Some of this content may have been created with assistance from AI tools, but it has been reviewed, edited, narrated, produced, and approved by Darren Marlar, creator and host of Weird Darkness — who, despite popular conspiracy theories, is NOT an AI voice. EPISODE PAGE at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list of sources): https://weirddarkness.com/weirdthings
20 mins
21 August Finished

THE FLYING DUTCHMAN: A Cursed Ship With a Doomed Captain With Murderous Intent
Jon van der Decken, for blasphemy or arrogance, is condemned to sail the famous cursed ship forever. He’s allowed to come ashore briefly once every seven years. During one of these visits, he encounters a minister and his beautiful daughter — and ominously plans to kill her. A fictional story based on the real-life ghost story – it’s “The Flying Dutchman” from Witch’s Tale! | #RetroRadio EP0488 Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00:00.000 = Show Open 00:01:30.028 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “One Girl In a Million” (September 28, 1976) ***WD 00:45:12.840 = Witch’s Tale, “Flying Dutchman” (April 26, 1934) ***WD 01:14:38.343 = X-Minus One, “Lulungameena” (May 29, 1956) 01:42:36.604 = ABC Mystery Time, “Murder In Haste” (1957) ***WD 02:06:19.241 = Strange Adventure, “Death Rides The Limited” (1945) ***WD 02:09:32.844 = BBC Ghost Story, “A Little Place Off The Edgware Road” (1986-1987) 02:22:19.355 = Beyond The Green Door, “Henry Gill Joins The Foreign Legion” (1966) 02:26:16.664 = The Black Book, “My Favorite Corpse” (February 24, 1952) ***WD 02:40:44.003 = (Rare Audio, Show Name Unknown), “Black Ghost” (1930?) ***WD 03:06:48.032 = Box 13, “The Biter Bitten” (July 17, 1949) 03:33:18.393 = CBC Mystery Theater, “The Duel” (1966-1968) ***WD 04:02:54.830 = Chet Chetter’s Tales From The Morgue, “The Mysterious Island, Part 1” (1990-1992) ***WD 04:30:59.114 = Chet Chetter’s Tales From The Morgue, “The Mysterious Island, Part 2” (1990-1992) ***WD 04:58:38.199 = Show Close (ADU) = Air Date Unknown (LQ) = Low Quality ***WD = Remastered, edited, or cleaned up by Weird Darkness to make the episode more listenable. Audio may not be pristine, but it will be better than the original file which may have been unusable or more difficult to hear without editing. Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library ABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy. = = = = = "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46 = = = = = WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness. = = = = =#TrueCrime #Paranormal #ScienceFiction #OldTimeRadio #OTR #OTRHorror #ClassicRadioShows #HorrorRadioShows #VintageRadioDramas #SuspenseRadioClassics #1940sRadioHorror #OldRadioMysteryShows #CreepyOldRadioShows #TrueCrimeRadio #SupernaturalRadioPlays #GoldenAgeRadio #EerieRadioMysteries #MacabreOldTimeRadio #NostalgicThrillers #ClassicCrimePodcast #RetroHorrorPodcast #WeirdDarkness #WeirdDarknessPodcast #RetroRadio #ClassicRadio CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0488
4 hours 59 mins
21 August Finished

SCIENCE DISCOVERS SOMETHING TERRIFYING ABOUT OUIJA BOARDS: What Explains Its Eerie Uncanny Accuracy?
Scientists discovered that Ouija boards can access hidden knowledge in our unconscious minds with 65% accuracy, while the device's dark history includes mysterious deaths, documented possessions, and unexplained phenomena that still baffle researchers today. ORIGINAL ARTICLE AND SOURCES… https://weirddarkness.com/ouija-board-dark-history-true-stories/ Join the DARKNESS SYNDICATE: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicate Take the WEIRD DARKNESS LISTENER SURVEY and help mold the future of the podcast: https://weirddarkness.com/survey =====(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: August 20, 2025 NOTE: Some of this content may have been created with assistance from AI tools, but it has been reviewed, edited, narrated, produced, and approved by Darren Marlar, creator and host of Weird Darkness — who, despite popular conspiracy theories, is NOT an AI voice. EPISODE PAGE at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list of sources): https://weirddarkness.com/OuijaBoardScience #OuijaBoard #OuijaBoardStories #TrueGhostStories #ParanormalActivity #SpiritBoard #TalkingBoard #OuijaBoardHistory #WilliamFuld #Supernatural #DemonicPossession #TheExorcist #Spiritualism #FoxSisters #Séance #HauntedGames #OccultHistory #VictorianSpiritualism #Planchette #GhostHunting #UnexplainedPhenomena #CreepyTrueStories #IdeomotorEffect #BaltimoreHistory #ZozoDemon #OuijaBoardSafety #ParanormalInvestigation #HauntedBoardGames #SpiritCommunication #GhostStories #RealHauntings #SupernaturalEncounters #OuijaExperiences #ParanormalResearch #WeirdHistory #DarkHistory ABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.
26 mins
21 August Finished