
“PAZUZU, THE DEMON ‘THE EXORCIST’ MADE FAMOUS” and More True Stories! #WeirdDarkness
13 February - 59 minsLong before Pazuzu terrorized audiences in *The Exorcist*, this ancient Mesopotamian demon struck fear into the hearts of the Assyrians and Babylonians—both as a harbinger of destruction and an unlikely protector against even greater evils.
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IN THIS EPISODE: The Exorcist is widely regarded as one of the most influential horror movies of all time. Even now, half a century after its release, it continues to terrify audiences, in large part due to its horrifying...

MONSTER HUNTERS ASSEMBLE! Cryptozoologists Form Avengers-Style Supergroup
The world's most dedicated cryptozoologists are joining forces in an unprecedented alliance, sharing technology and decades of research to finally crack the mysteries of Bigfoot, Yeti, and the Loch Ness Monster. Read the article: https://weirddarkness.com/cryptozoology-avengers Support our Halloween “Overcoming the Darkness” campaign to help people with depression: https://weirddarkness.com/HOPE WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness. #LochNessMonster #Cryptozoology #Bigfoot #UnexplainedMysteries #Nessie2025
18 mins
16 October Finished

THE MAN WHO WAS NOT MURDERED: A Confessed Killer, An Arrested Accomplice, A Victim Still Alive
Support our Halloween “Overcoming the Darkness” campaign to help people with depression: https://weirddarkness.com/HOPE When Florida businessman James Harrison disappeared in 1958 and his blood-soaked car was found abandoned, serial killer Roy Olson confessed to murdering him and police arrested accomplice James Leach—until three months later when Harrison walked into an Arizona police station alive, with no memory of where he'd been, leaving authorities with an unsolvable puzzle of whose blood was in the car and where Harrison spent those missing months. IN THIS EPISODE: What do you get when you mix auto theft, disappearances, amnesia, murder, and far too many tattoos? You get one of the craziest true crime cases you’ll ever hear. It’s the disappearance and apparent murder of James Eugene Harrison, but just wait for the twist. (The Man Who Wasn’t Murdered) *** The first witch trial in the Americas took place in 1626 – and I’ll tell you the story of how poor Joane Wright came to be accused, and what the verdict came down as. (America’s First Witch) *** In 1938, 34-year-old Alma Fielding reported objects mysteriously flying around her home. In 2017, Kate Summerscale, author of the true crime classic “The Suspicions of Mr Whicher”, set out to investigate the unexplained case of the Croydon poltergeist. (The Housewife, The Ghost Hunter, And The Croydon Poltergeist) *** When you hear a knocking in the closet, or footsteps in the attic. When you hear a door to the basement creak open, or a plate crash to the floor in the middle of the night… is it a ghost? An intruder? Or could you be dealing with a darkling? (The Dark Darklings) CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00:00.000 = Show Open 00:02:07.568 = The Man Who Was Not Murdered 00:16:31.735 = ***America’s First Witch 00:22:04.734 = The Housewife, The Ghost Hunter, And The Croydon Poltergeist 00:42:51.594 = ***Dark Darklings 00:57:21.777 = Show Close *** = Begins immediately after inserted ad break SOURCES and RESOURCES:BOOK: “The Suspicions of Mr Whicher” by Kate Summerscale: https://amzn.to/38Q7uR6 “America’s First Witch” from Strange Company: https://tinyurl.com/y36z72jy “The Man Who Wasn’t Murdered” from Strange Company: https://tinyurl.com/yxayopj9 “The Housewife, The Ghost Hunter, And The Croydon Poltergeist” by Kate Summerscale for The Guardian:https://tinyurl.com/yykzsgs9 “The Dark Darklings” by Mason Felinity for Haunted American Tours: https://tinyurl.com/nlx7zh=====(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: November 16, 2020 EPISODE PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/ManWhoWasNotMurdered ABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional...
59 mins
16 October Finished

A QUEST TO PARDON ENGLAND'S WITCHES: UK Government Is Being Asked to Pardon 373-Year-Old "Witches"
Support our Halloween “Overcoming the Darkness” campaign to help people with depression: https://weirddarkness.com/HOPE Read the article: https://weirddarkness.com/uk-witch-trials-pardon-1652/ A growing movement in England seeks justice for women hanged as witches centuries ago, bringing ancient injustices into modern focus. WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness. #WeirdDarkness, #WitchTrials, #TrueCrimeHistory, #BritishHistory, #WitchHunt, #HistoricalInjustice, #17thCentury, #WomensHistory, #DarkHistory, #UKHistory
33 mins
16 October Finished

PROPHECY OF THE HEADSTONE: He Saw His Own Name – And Death Date – On The Cemetery Stone
Support our Halloween “Overcoming the Darkness” campaign to help people with depression: https://weirddarkness.com/HOPE Stressed sales manager named Harold K. Starbright becomes alarmed when, during a stroll in a cemetery, he is shown a tombstone bearing his name and a date of death one year in the future. His wife and his physician (who is later revealed to be her lover) dismiss his concerns. But as the plot advances, the boundary between paranoia, fate, and possibly the supernatural becomes blurred — is this a self-fulfilling prophecy or something more sinister? What is the truth behind “Tomorrow’s Murder?” | #RetroRadio EP0533 CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00:00.000 = Show Open 00:01:30.028 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “Tomorrow’s Murder” (December 31, 1976) ***WD 00:46:13.673 = Exploring Tomorrow, “First Contact” (January 15, 1958) 01:06:38.046 = Faces In The Window, “Lightning Rod Man” (January 17, 1953) ***WD (LQ) 01:32:42.699 = Dark Fantasy, “Men Call Me Mad” (December 19, 1941) ***WD 01:57:15.984 = BBC Fear on 4, “Hellhound On My Trail” (January 28, 1993) 02:27:12.305 = 5 Minute Mysteries, “Murder If You Please” (1947-1950) 02:32:11.694 = Future Tense, “The Defenders” (May 28, 1974) ***WD 02:59:23.470 = Ava Maria Hour Radio Show, “St. Benedict of Nursia Against Poison and Witchcraft” (1939) 03:23:56.030 = Hall of Fantasy, “He Who Follows Me” (March 11, 1950) 03:48:59.253 = BBC Haunted Tales of the Supernatural, “The Dream Woman” (July 19, 1980) ***WD 04:16:16.713 = The Haunting Hour, “Double Threat” (1945-1949) 04:42:22.145 = Hermit’s Cave, “Spirit Vengeance” (December 08, 1946) ***WD 05:06:43.012 = 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. = = = = =#ParanormalRadio #ScienceFiction #OldTimeRadio #OTR #OTRHorror #ClassicRadioShows #HorrorRadioShows #VintageRadioDramas #WeirdDarkness CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0533
5 hours 7 mins
15 October Finished

DISNEY INVENTED A QUEEN MARY GHOST STORY: They Didn’t Know 40+ REAL Ghosts Were Already Aboard
Support our Halloween “Overcoming the Darkness” campaign to help people with depression: https://weirddarkness.com/HOPE When Disney bought the Queen Mary in 1988 and tried to manufacture a ghost story for room B-340 to enhance their haunted tour, they didn't realize the luxury liner-turned-troopship already harbored decades of documented paranormal encounters—from the spirit of 18-year-old John Pedder crushed in Door 13 to the giggling ghost of little Jackie in the abandoned swimming pool. IN THIS EPISODE: Although the Queen Mary's rich history may have garnered the vessel some impressive titles, she has recently earned a more notorious designation. Ghost stories from the Queen Mary suggest that it may be one of the most haunted ships in the world. (Haunted History of the Queen Mary) *** One of the last mezzo-sopranos of the 19th Century, Elena Theodorini was also one of the most beloved. Except for that time when… well… when she was accused of being a spy. (The Spy Who Came In From The Sea) *** Joseph was walking down the street, minding his own business, when he was jumped by a group of men armed with scissors and razors… they were after his long, luxurious beard. And that’s just the beginning of the insanity that Joseph Palmer had to go through simply because he refused to shave. (Joseph Palmer and the Beard of Justice) *** Weirdo family member and paranormal researcher John Parrish shares a true story with a simple lesson – don’t ever use a Ouija board. (The Repercussions of Using a Ouija Board) CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00:00.000 = Lead-In 00:01:38.391 = Show Open 00:03:33.052 = Haunted History of the Queen Mary 00:23:12.376 = The Spy Who Came In From The Sea 00:37:33.532 = Repercussions of Using a Ouija Board 00:45:08.516 = Joseph Palmer And The Beard of Justice 00:54:10.428 = Show Close *** = Begins immediately after inserted ad break SOURCES and RESOURCES: “Haunted Destination: RMS Queen Mary” from Travel Channel: https://tinyurl.com/yyau84x3 “Haunted History of the Queen Mary” by Sabrina Ithal for Ranker’s Graveyard Shift: https://tinyurl.com/yyj26het “The Spy Who Came In From The Sea” by Elyse for Second Glance History: https://tinyurl.com/yxpaxsz7 “The Repercussions of Using a Ouija Board” by Weirdo family member, John Parrish “Joseph Palmer and the Beard of Justice” from Slightly Odd Fitchburg: https://tinyurl.com/y4roch9r =====(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: November 11, 2020 EPISODE PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/QueenMary 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...
55 mins
15 October Finished

HALLOWEEN'S HEINOUS HISTORY: The Petrifying Path From Blood Rituals to Trick-or-Treating
Support our Halloween “Overcoming the Darkness” campaign to help people with depression: https://weirddarkness.com/HOPE What started as a night when Celts genuinely believed the dead could drag the living into the spirit world, has transformed into children dressed as superheroes demanding fun-size Snickers. What happened? IN THIS EPISODE: The night is coming. Porch lights and decorations won't change what moves through the darkness on October 31st. Every plastic skeleton dangling from a suburban tree, every polyester witch costume hanging in a store window, every carved pumpkin glowing on a doorstep - they're echoes of something that began long before any of us were born, something older and more terrifying than most people realize. CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00:00.000 = Lead-In 00:02:44.639 = Show Open 00:04:00.391 = Part One: The Night Between Worlds 00:19:16.974 = ***Part Two: The Great Candy Panic 00:45:54.099 = ***Part Three: Hollywood’s Dark Magic 01:06:40.243 = ***Part Four: Digital Ghosts 01:27:35.158 = Part Five: American Monsters 01:33:53.550 = Show Close *** = Begins immediately after inserted ad break PRINT VERSION to READ or SHARE (Includes Resources): https://weirddarkness.com/HalloweensHeinousHistory =====(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: October 13, 2025 EPISODE PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/HalloweensHeinousHistory 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. #WeirdDarkness #HalloweenHistory #TrueHalloweenStory #DarkHistory #Samhain #CreepyHistory #HalloweenOrigins #SpookyHistory #HorrorHistory #TrickOrTreatHistory
1 hour 35 mins
15 October Finished