MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories

Today's story is a fan favorite that was previously published as Episode 315. On a day in 2001, a veteran homicide detective put on his gloves and stepped into a cluttered bedroom. He’d been working a murder case for months, but he still had no clear evidence pointing to any of his suspects. But a tip from an informant had led him to this bedroom, and he hoped he would find something useful. The detective searched the room, but nothing stood out to him amidst the mess – until he saw a piece of notebook paper sitting on a nightstand. On the paper was someone’s list of goals they wanted to accom

Today’s podcast will feature 2 stories that show we may not be alone in this universe. The audio from both of these stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just called "MrBallen," and has been remastered for today's podcast. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #2 -- "Flying Solo" -- An Australian pilot vanishes over a strange area in a bizarre series of events (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KLTog6DltQ) #1 -- "It Hovers" -- One of the most credible paranormal stories that proves we may not be alone in this universe (Origi

Today, we have three stories about people who each have one big thing in their life that brings them a lot of happiness and purpose. But it also winds up being the thing that ruins their lives.   You can WATCH all new & exclusive MrBallen podcast episodes on my YouTube channel, just called "MrBallen" - https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallen If you want to reach out to me, contact me on Instagram, Twitter or any other major social media platform, my username on all of them is @mrballen Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of pe

In December 1990, a worried father paced his kitchen, hoping his daughter would call. But the phone stayed silent, and an anxious pit formed in his stomach. He was worried his daughter was in trouble – and afraid that he, himself, had just accidentally done something to make things worse.   You can WATCH all new & exclusive MrBallen podcast episodes on my YouTube channel, just called "MrBallen" - https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallen If you want to reach out to me, contact me on Instagram, Twitter or any other major social media platform, my username on all of them is @mrballen Hosted by Simple

Today's story is a fan favorite that was previously published as Episode 311. On a morning in 2002, a man in Indianapolis, Indiana woke up in a cold sweat. His hands shook as he tried to block out the images he’d seen in his sleep, but he knew these images would not just go away – they would keep haunting him until he did something about it. He got out of bed and walked to his phone. He dialed 9-1-1 and said he needed to talk to a detective, because he was having dreams that showed him everything that had happened during a horrific murder all the way back in 1989. The dreams this man claimed t

Today’s podcast will feature 2 stories that many people believe couldn't have happened by chance alone. The audio from both of these stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just called "MrBallen," and has been remastered for today's podcast. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #2 -- "Bleeding Out" -- You couldn't have planned this even if you wanted to (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5Zr0gqa1yk) #1 -- "Three Hangings" -- This story might be one of the most compelling cases of divine intervention (Original YouTube link --

Today, we have two stories about some friends that just want to have a fun night out. But at some point during the evening, things take a disastrous turn.   You can WATCH all new & exclusive MrBallen podcast episodes on my YouTube channel, just called "MrBallen" - https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallen If you want to reach out to me, contact me on Instagram, Twitter or any other major social media platform, my username on all of them is @mrballen Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In October 1999, a 911 dispatcher in Austin, Texas was nearing the end of a long night shift when a strange call came in. The man said his guts had blown out of his stomach. The dispatcher asked him to explain what happened, but all the caller would say was that he just woke up and his guts were coming out. He was holding them in with his hand. And he needed an ambulance... now.   You can WATCH all new & exclusive MrBallen podcast episodes on my YouTube channel, just called "MrBallen" - https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallen If you want to reach out to me, contact me on Instagram, Twitter or any o

Tonight's story is a classic scary story. It's so unbelievable that I think a lot of people are going to have a hard time believing it, but when this happened in Hong Kong, this story got picked up by many major outlets and was covered extensive – so that suggests there's some real credibility to this story. But ultimately, it's up to you to decide what you actually believe. Be sure to WATCH this episode on my YouTube channel on Friday, June 26th! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today, I’m going to tell you two stories about people who found themselves in hopeless situations. But they made an unexpected choice that changed their lives – for better or worse.   You can WATCH all new & exclusive MrBallen podcast episodes on my YouTube channel, just called "MrBallen" - https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallen If you want to reach out to me, contact me on Instagram, Twitter or any other major social media platform, my username on all of them is @mrballen Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data

On a chilly February night in 2005, a young woman in Chicago was sitting down for dinner when her phone rang. It was her mom, who lived a few blocks away, and she told her daughter to come home... now. The young woman asked what was wrong, but her mom wouldn’t explain. She just said, RUN. And that’s when the young woman realized – the thing her family had been afraid of for so long… might have finally happened.   You can WATCH all new & exclusive MrBallen podcast episodes on my YouTube channel, just called "MrBallen" - https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallen If you want to reach out to me, contact

Today's story is a fan favorite that was previously published as Episode 291. In January of 2012, a police truck parked on a trail in Griffith Park in Los Angeles, California. A member of the K-9 Unit opened the door, and a police dog named Indiana Bones jumped out. Indy quickly caught a scent and led his handler to a mound of dirt just off the path. Indy pawed at the dirt and revealed the top of a plastic bag. The dog’s handler reached into the dirt with her gloved hands, pulled out the bag, looked inside, and saw two dismembered human feet and a hand. Indy’s discovery would launch an investi

Today’s podcast will feature 2 stories about unexplainable phenomena. The audio from both of these stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just called "MrBallen," and has been remastered for today's podcast. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #2 -- "Two Faced" -- A man is filled with a deep sense of foreboding after a ghastly sight in his mirror (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6m1ImVG1MQ) #1 -- "Make It Rain" -- An inmate has an incredibly weird ability (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXd2m_4oBu

Today, I have 3 really good stories that all, in their own way, demonstrate that sometimes the truth really is stranger than fiction.   You can WATCH all new & exclusive MrBallen podcast episodes on my YouTube channel, just called "MrBallen" - https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallen If you want to reach out to me, contact me on Instagram, Twitter or any other major social media platform, my username on all of them is @mrballen Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

One night in December 2011, a man sat in an internet cafe, anxiously staring at the words he’d just typed into a chat window. He was about to share his darkest secret with someone he’d only ever talked to online. It was the kind of secret that could destroy him, and he knew sending it was a mistake – but the loneliness was unbearable, and he had to tell someone. So after a long pause... he hit send.   You can WATCH all new & exclusive MrBallen podcast episodes on my YouTube channel, just called "MrBallen" - https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallen If you want to reach out to me, contact me on Instag

Tonight, I have a great story to tell you. It reminds me of when I was a kid, I used to go camping with my family out in western Massachusetts – we'd sit around a campfire, and my parents would tell me and my sisters ghost stories. It was unclear how true the stories really were, but they were all terrifying. And this story that I'm going to share with you is from Japan, and it happened over 50 years ago. And over the last 50 years, it's been shared many times, and there are many versions of this story, so it's up to you to figure out how much you believe is really true here. But it's a genuin

Today’s podcast will feature 2 stories about people who went to disturbing lengths to carry out their plans. The audio from both of these stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just called "MrBallen," and has been remastered for today's podcast. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #2 -- "The Last Tenant" -- He told them he wasn't going to leave... (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aviVsRAnMR8) #1 -- "The Good Reverend" -- A reverend and a vagabond walk into a church... (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch

Today, we have two stories about individuals who go above and beyond to make sure investigators have what they need. And in both instances, this turns a case that should be straightforward into something completely shocking.   You can WATCH all new & exclusive MrBallen podcast episodes on my YouTube channel, just called "MrBallen" - https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallen If you want to reach out to me, contact me on Instagram, Twitter or any other major social media platform, my username on all of them is @mrballen Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information abo

One night in the summer of 2003, a man approached a drug dealer on a corner in Rochester, New York. The man stepped close to the dealer and whispered that he was a cop... but he wasn’t here to bust the dealer, or to buy from him. Instead, he had a request: he wanted the drug dealer to help him catch a killer.   You can WATCH all new & exclusive MrBallen podcast episodes on my YouTube channel, just called "MrBallen" - https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallen If you want to reach out to me, contact me on Instagram, Twitter or any other major social media platform, my username on all of them is @mrball

Today's story is a fan favorite that was previously published as Episode 285. On a summer morning in 2001, a woman in Alabama woke up in a cold sweat – like she’d just had a nightmare. But the woman knew what she saw while she was sleeping was not a bad dream – it was real. So she grabbed her phone and made a frantic call. Later that morning, police arrived at an old wooden house on the outskirts of a small rural town. They stepped inside, and they were absolutely shocked, because the woman really had led them to a horrifying crime scene.   You can WATCH all new & exclusive MrBallen podcast ep

Today’s podcast will feature 3 hiking horror stories that are still shrouded in mystery. The audio from all three stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just called "MrBallen," and has been remastered for today's podcast. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #3 -- "Stephen Thomas" -- A hiker leaves his tents to confront someone or something... and he doesn’t return (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODIGopvDSXA) #2 -- "Just Curious" -- Boy Scout goes missing seconds after being seen (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtu

Today’s story is about a simple family living a simple life on a simple farm in England. And even though that might sound really nice, this simplicity is actually the exact reason that everything goes wrong.   You can WATCH all new & exclusive MrBallen podcast episodes on my YouTube channel, just called "MrBallen" - https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallen If you want to reach out to me, contact me on Instagram, Twitter or any other major social media platform, my username on all of them is @mrballen Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection

On an evening in September 2017, a woman in Massachusetts came home from work to an empty house. Her boyfriend was gone, but she saw that his wallet and phone were still right there on the counter. And on the kitchen table were three envelopes. She opened them. One was his last will and testament. The second was a note for her. And the third... was a letter addressed to the family of a woman who'd been murdered 25 years ago.   You can WATCH all new & exclusive MrBallen podcast episodes on my YouTube channel, just called "MrBallen" - https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallen If you want to reach out t

Tonight, I'm going to tell you a very famous story from Thailand. The story was recommended to me by a fan, and I had never heard of it before. And the second I started looking into it, I knew – that I had to tell this one sitting in front of a campfire. As you listen, you might think you can guess what’s going to happen next – but I had never heard anything like this before, and I bet you haven’t either.  Be sure to WATCH this episode on my YouTube channel next Friday, May 29th at 2:00 p.m. ET Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection

Today’s podcast will feature 3 stories about people who made grave mistakes. The audio from all three stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just called "MrBallen," and has been remastered for today's podcast. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #3 -- "The New Member" -- A church witnesses something horrifying as their pastor begins a ceremony (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3rccx8oyEk) #2 -- "Robinhood" -- He looked at his phone and knew his life was over... (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-up

Both of today’s stories are about people who made big choices that they thought would improve their lives. But neither of them took the time to learn exactly what they were signing up for, and that led to disaster.   You can WATCH all new & exclusive MrBallen podcast episodes on my YouTube channel, just called "MrBallen" - https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallen If you want to reach out to me, contact me on Instagram, Twitter or any other major social media platform, my username on all of them is @mrballen Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our col

Today's story is a completely NEW retelling of a fan favorite that was previously published as Episode 382. The audio has been newly recorded and edited. On the morning of May 17th, 2014, a detective wrote furiously as she sat next to the hospital bed of a mortally-injured 77-year-old woman. The woman had been in a coma for the last ten days, and the detective had been desperately working to figure out who had tried to kill her. Now that the woman had woken up, the detective was finally getting the chance she’d been waiting for – to ask her victim directly. But the woman was afraid. She told t

Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction. And today’s podcast features 3 stories that demonstrate that. The audio from all three stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just called "MrBallen," and has been remastered for today's podcast. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #3 -- "Inkling" -- A homicide detective stumbles upon a picture he can't believe is real (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1D-WfCQ7Fs) #2 -- "The Nosebleed" -- A woman's scary nose bleed just won't stop after she returns from a vacation (Original YouT

Today we have two stories about people who had close brushes with death, and were absolutely certain that they had escaped harm and could move on with their lives. They... were wrong.   You can WATCH all new & exclusive MrBallen podcast episodes on my YouTube channel, just called "MrBallen" - https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallen If you want to reach out to me, contact me on Instagram, Twitter or any other major social media platform, my username on all of them is @mrballen Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal dat

On an afternoon in December 1991, a woman in small-town Utah opened her mailbox. Inside was a credit card bill, addressed to her husband, who'd disappeared a week ago. The woman found this strange, because she didn't even know her husband had a credit card. And when she ripped open the envelope and read over the charges, she realized that her missing husband had been keeping an even bigger secret from her.   You can WATCH all new & exclusive MrBallen podcast episodes on my YouTube channel, just called "MrBallen" - https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallen If you want to reach out to me, contact me on

Tonight at the campfire, I'm going to share one of the most credible alien abduction stories ever. Be sure to WATCH this episode on my YouTube channel on Friday, May 15th at 2:00 p.m. ET! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today’s podcast will feature 4 stories about how a single decision changed the lives of the people in these stories, as well as millions of others lives around the world. The audio from all three stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just called "MrBallen," and has been remastered for today's podcast. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #4 -- "The Debt Game" -- A man in South Korea becomes inspired by his favorite manga (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gGIgbHF51U) #3 -- "Hospital Rhythms" -- A young boy in a hospital fin

Both of our stories today start with people who are just looking for a solution to their problem. But finding that solution… ends up being the worst thing that ever happened to them.   You can WATCH all new & exclusive MrBallen podcast episodes on my YouTube channel, just called "MrBallen" - https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallen If you want to reach out to me, contact me on Instagram, Twitter or any other major social media platform, my username on all of them is @mrballen Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data

On an evening in August 2000, a city council candidate stood behind a podium at a high school in small-town Alabama. He was speaking about why he'd entered the race, and he said he wanted a platform to discuss an important issue – the unsolved murder of a local school district employee. Right there, in front of all the news cameras and microphones, the candidate said he knew who committed the crime – because it had been revealed to him in a dream.   You can WATCH all new & exclusive MrBallen podcast episodes on my YouTube channel, just called "MrBallen" - https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallen If

Today's story is a fan favorite that was previously published as Episode 392. In the early hours of Thursday, February 21st, 2008, a six-year-old girl woke to a creaking noise down the hallway outside her bedroom door. It was a blustery night in rural Nevada, so she figured it was just the wind bending frozen tree branches in the yard. But then another creaking noise filled the house, this time even closer to her bedroom. She pulled her covers tight around her and stared out through the crack in the door. An uneasy feeling settled over her as the light in the hallway shifted. She could almost

Today’s podcast will feature 3 stories about dark secrets that were hiding in plain sight all along. The audio from all three stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just called "MrBallen," and has been remastered for today's podcast. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #3 -- "Dating Game" -- A reality show contestant isn't who he says he is... (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y156BNu3S5Y) #2 -- "Something Scratching" -- Two brothers make a discovery 2 decades after their mother disappears (Original YouTube link -- https://

Both of today’s stories are a reminder that even the most joyful events or celebrations can take a horrific turn, if just ONE tiny thing goes wrong.   You can WATCH all new & exclusive MrBallen podcast episodes on my YouTube channel, just called "MrBallen" - https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallen If you want to reach out to me, contact me on Instagram, Twitter or any other major social media platform, my username on all of them is @mrballen Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On a Monday morning in February 2003, a man in suburban France got a phone call from a number he recognized. He answered it, but all he heard on the other end was static and muffled voices in the background. He could just barely make out a conversation between two women. They were talking about a murder, and one of them said they needed to come up with an alibi.   You can WATCH all new & exclusive MrBallen podcast episodes on my YouTube channel, just called "MrBallen" - https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallen If you want to reach out to me, contact me on Instagram, Twitter or any other major social

Tonight, I have two stories to tell you. And what makes these exceptional is that they're both just excellent stories to be told around a campfire. Be sure to WATCH this episode on my YouTube channel next Friday, May 1 at 2:00 p.m. ET. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today’s podcast features 3 stories that involve people who were trapped - with “no way out.” The audio from all three stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just called "MrBallen," and has been remastered for today's podcast. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #3 -- "A Crush on a Cruise" -- A cruise ship's unexpected catastrophe... (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaSQ4ou05dc) #2 -- "The Gauge" -- A critical error leads to a horrifying fate for these saturation divers (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watc

On the evening of August 10, 2005, a man in New York City answered the phone at the office where he worked. A woman’s voice came over the line, and she asked to speak with one of the man’s employees. He replied that that employee actually hadn’t shown up for their shift that afternoon. That’s when he heard a shift in the woman’s tone, and she told him in a trembling voice that she needed to hang up right now and call 911.   You can WATCH all new & exclusive MrBallen podcast episodes on my YouTube channel, just called "MrBallen" - https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallen If you want to reach out to m

Today’s podcast will feature 3 stories that sound impossible – moments so unlikely, they shouldn’t exist… yet somehow, they do. The audio from all three stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just called "MrBallen," and has been remastered for today's podcast. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #3 -- "Scooped" -- After a tragedy at sea, a truly unbelievable discovery is made (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzMwI_KMjr8) #2 -- "One For The Road" -- A man's drunken walk home would end in a nightmare (Original YouTube link -

Today we have two stories about people who finally got to attend an event that they’d been working toward for years. But in both cases, actually going – would turn out to be the biggest mistake of their lives.    You can WATCH all new & exclusive MrBallen podcast episodes on my YouTube channel, just called "MrBallen" - https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallen If you want to reach out to me, contact me on Instagram, Twitter or any other major social media platform, my username on all of them is @mrballen Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collect

One evening in April 2006, a person sat at their kitchen table, frantically cutting up the page of a newspaper with some scissors. They were working on an important project, and it was almost done. They finished cutting the final letter from the page and pasted it onto a sheet of paper. Then they leaned back to read the message they’d assembled from the scraps. It was a warning. And they were sure it would have exactly the effect they were hoping for.   You can WATCH all new & exclusive MrBallen podcast episodes on my YouTube channel, just called "MrBallen" - https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallen

Today's story is a fan favorite that was previously published as Episode 388. On a September afternoon in 2000, an FBI forensics analyst stood in her lab in Quantico, Virginia, staring into a microscope in confusion. She was looking at two strands of hair that were evidence in a murder investigation. And something wasn’t right. She checked the label on the evidence bag the sample came from, then looked back into the microscope. She definitely wasn’t imagining it. The label was wrong, which meant that the detective who had packaged the hairs and sent them over for analysis – had not understood

Today’s podcast will feature three stories that remind us the most dangerous threats are oftentimes the ones you can’t see. The audio from all three stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just called "MrBallen," and has been remastered for today's podcast. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #3 -- "Underwater Building" -- Friends investigate odd structure in middle of ocean (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toswhS4ehRw) #2 -- "A Tribe’s Feast" -- A tribe in Australia believes they've been blessed by a bounty from god, but i

Today we have two stories about people who craved attention or status – but instead of glory, they got absolute carnage.   You can WATCH all new & exclusive MrBallen podcast episodes on my YouTube channel, just called "MrBallen" - https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallen If you want to reach out to me, contact me on Instagram, Twitter or any other major social media platform, my username on all of them is @mrballen Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Before dawn in March 1997, a police captain was patrolling the outskirts of a small town in North Carolina. He saw a Jeep parked on the shoulder of the highway with its headlights on. He pulled over, and as he walked closer to the Jeep, he heard the engine running. The driver's side window was rolled down, and there was no one inside. But just then... a cell phone on the passenger seat started ringing.   You can WATCH all new & exclusive MrBallen podcast episodes on my YouTube channel, just called "MrBallen" - https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallen If you want to reach out to me, contact me on Ins

Today's story is a fan favorite that was previously published as Episode 384. One afternoon in January of 1998, a prosecutor for the state of Georgia sat in the very back row of seats in a courtroom where a divorce trial was unfolding. The prosecutor was not involved in the divorce case – he handled murder trials. But he had come here today, because he had gotten a very surprising phone call about an unsolved case he had worked on a year and a half earlier. The caller had told him that the testimony in this divorce – could solve that murder. Now, in the courtroom, the prosecutor felt his heart

Today’s podcast will feature 3 horror stories with completely unexpected endings. The audio from all three stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just called "MrBallen," and has been remastered for today's podcast. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #3 -- "After The Riot" -- A man's son goes missing during a prison riot (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eklLi4LdTWk) #2 -- "Falling Treasure" -- A politician in Malaysia calls upon a shaman to bestow upon him riches and power (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/