MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories

One afternoon in December 1980, one of the most famous comedians in France pulled a stack of letters from his mailbox in Paris. As he flipped through them, one caught his eye: It had no postmark or return address, and there was something small and hard inside. He ripped the envelope open and pulled out a bullet, along with a piece of paper that read: “The next one is for you.”   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 oth

Tonight, I have a very special guest joining me at the Campfire! Liana is a HUGE MrBallen fan, and I wanted to tell a few stories live, just for her. All proceeds from this episode will be donated to Liana’s family to help with medical expenses following her leukemia diagnosis, as well as her father’s ongoing battle with ALS. If you are able to help, please consider donating to their GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-lianas-battle-with-leukemia?cp_src=d And make sure to WATCH this episode on my YouTube channel next Friday, October 2nd at 2:00 p.m. ET! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsW

Today’s podcast will feature 2 stories that challenge our understanding of reality. The audio from both 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 -- "By The Pool" -- A doctor is having a relaxing day at his pool when he sees something that can't escape him (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhAi2A2dABU) #1 -- "The Ride Home" -- There is a certain sub-genre of the SDM we have covered a handful of times, but believe me, th

Today, I’m going to tell you four stories of people who thought their day couldn’t get any worse... but 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 data for advertising.

One night in March 1997, a man carried a muddy, black plastic case into a police station in the small town of Higginson, Arkansas. A local police officer had been murdered just three days ago, and the man desperately needed to see the detective who was leading the investigation. So once the man got inside, he headed straight to the detective’s office, where he immediately opened the black case – and pulled out a gun.   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, co

Today's story is a fan favorite that was previously published as Episode 365. On the afternoon of March 24, 2006, an employee at a moving truck rental company in Ohio opened his desk drawer and grabbed a wad of cash. It had been a slow day, so the employee was using his downtime to organize a few recent payments. The money he’d just grabbed was from an all-cash deal that had happened a few days ago. At the time, the employee had been super busy, so he’d just taken the cash from the customer, flipped through it quickly to make sure the amount seemed right, then shoved the money in the drawer to

Today’s podcast will feature 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 -- "Bread" -- A DIY repair does not go to plan (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32Nwh9sq7DI) #2 -- "Dead End" -- A man goes cave exploring in a very unassuming place (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JtAN6PS59o) #1 -- "The Cage" -- U

Today, I’m going to tell you four stories about people who thought they had a handle on the situation they were in, but found out – way too late – that they’d really misjudged things.   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

One morning in January 1990, a man walked into a police station in Marseille, France, clutching a newspaper. He went up to the desk, and said he’d seen a sketch of a murder suspect in the paper that morning – and he knew who it was. He unrolled the newspaper... and held it up next to his own face.   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

Today's story is a fan favorite that was previously published as Episode 361. On a morning in early 1986 in Arizona, someone sat hunched over a desk, furiously writing a letter. And almost every line of this letter included a direct threat of violence this person was going to inflict on the recipient. They kept writing, embellishing every horrible thing that they wanted to do. Finally, they finished writing and read over the letter – it was explicit and terrifying, just as they’d hoped. They put the letter down, glanced at a cardboard box sitting on the floor, and smiled. Nobody would ever sus

Today’s podcast will feature 3 stories that prove the deadliest threats are often the hardest to recognize. 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 -- "Hot Snow" -- A summer camp experiences a weather phenomena, but it's not what it seems (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKeWsdjvnGc) #2 -- "Extra Help" -- An elderly woman falls in her bathroom (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com

Today, I’m going to tell you four stories about people who went through incredibly strange experiences – and came out of them believing that everything that happened, had a purpose.   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

One morning in March of 1999, a detective in Norcross, Georgia leaned in closely to his computer screen. He was reviewing video footage his team had recorded at a murder scene – and finally, he arrived at the exact frame he wanted. He zoomed in and smiled. Because the thing he was looking for... wasn't there.   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

Welcome back to the Campfire! Tonight, I’m sitting down with a legend of the outdoors, Steven Rinella from MeatEater. We swap stories in the Montana wilderness, including an experience from my own life that I truly cannot explain. Be sure to WATCH this episode on my YouTube channel on Friday, September 11th! 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 four 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 Four Dollar Crown" -- A shy kid leaves a lasting impression on a studio owner (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gGIgbHF51U) #3 -- "Money On The Line" -- A man takes a gamble to

Today, I'm going to tell you three stories about people who tried really hard to be something that they were not. And not only do they get caught, but they also face extreme repercussions.  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

In the fall of 2009, a college student sat in a crowded lecture hall in Southern California, listening to his professor. Suddenly, the doors swung open and three campus police officers walked in, followed by a man in a suit. The officers went over and whispered something to the professor, who leaned into his microphone. And before the professor even said a word, the student’s stomach dropped – because he’d just realized what was about to happen.   You can WATCH all new & exclusive MrBallen podcast episodes on my YouTube channel, just called "MrBallen" - https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallen If yo

Welcome back to the Campfire! Tonight, I have two very weird and equally creep stories to share... perfect stories to be told at the fire. Be sure to WATCH this episode on my YouTube channel on Friday, September 4th! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

One summer day, a man named John Randolph was hiking through a remote forest in Colorado when he began to smell something terrible. Intrigued, he followed the smell until it brought him to this clearing, and in the clearing John saw what looked like an old campsite. Now, John is out in the middle of nowhere, so the idea that somebody was camping out out here, in what looked like a long term settlement, was pretty bizarre to John. John walked into the clearing to see what was going on, and when he turned the corner, he saw something in the middle of the campsite he just couldn’t even process...

Today, I'm going to tell you three stories about people who thought they'd come up with the perfect plan, but instead, they actually planned out their own demise. 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.

Today’s podcast will feature 4 stories that prove the line between life and death can disappear in an instant. The audio from all four 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 -- "This Is It, Baby" -- They found the final recording from inside the cockpit (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCAXfw9MDxg) #3 -- "Don’t Touch The Water" -- A seemingly innocent looking body of water (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtub

Today, we have three stories about people who found a really amazing pastime that they thought had changed their lives for the better, but ended up realizing that actually, it was for the 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 p

In the fall of 2010, a detective dug through a dresser in a bedroom near Paris. He was looking for evidence, and when he pulled open the last drawer, he found five cell phones hidden inside. He powered one of them on and checked the call history and messages – then he opened the photos app and froze. He swiped to the next photo, then the one after that. There were dozens of them – and they all showed the same thing.   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, con

Welcome back to the Campfire! I have a great story to tell. It's a classic ghost story – and not only are the elements in the story quite unnerving, but it also has a high degree of believability. There are quite a few people in this story who, independently, witnessed and experienced these events.   Be sure to WATCH this episode on my YouTube channel on Friday, August 21st! 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 3 stories about divers who underestimated what was waiting for them beneath the surface. 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 French Pass" -- A small stretch of water in New Zealand that kills (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-ywxRasv5s) #2 -- "The 4th Chamber" -- 2 cave divers explore a deep underwater chamber... (Original YouTube link -- https://www.y

Today, I'm going to share four stories about people who took big career risks in order to be as successful as possible. But, in each case, the risk did not pay off.   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 January 1988, the clerk of a sporting goods store in a small town in Canada looked up as a man walked into his shop. It was below freezing outside, but the man wasn’t wearing a coat. Just sneakers, ripped pants, and a thin, plastic rain poncho. The man grabbed a pair of ski pants off the rack, paid in cash, then hurried out of the store. But after he left, the clerk turned on the radio... and heard a breaking news report about a murder up the road.   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 346. On a cold winter night in 1999, a man drove down a dark street towards his house in a small Iowa town. Suddenly, he saw something glowing in his headlights, and he slammed on the brakes. He got out of his car. And there, in the lights, he saw a dog standing all by herself. And she was making this soft squeaking sound like she was scared. The man slowly approached, talking to the dog as he walked. He knew everyone who lived in his neighborhood, and he’d never seen this dog before. He knelt down and kept trying to calm

Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction. And today’s podcast features 4 stories that demonstrate that. The audio from all four 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 -- "A Miracle" -- A woman in rural Mexico feels a sudden an excruciating pain in her abdomen (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MR3S8dvTc50) #3 -- "The Simulation" -- A man enters a flight simulator for routine training, you won't believe what happens

Today, I am going to tell you three stories about people who were just trying to do their jobs... and ended up facing an extremely unexpected – and dangerous – professional hazard.   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 f

On a cold night in November 2013, a woman sat in a hospital waiting room, wondering if her new husband would survive until morning. It was a cruel reversal – just months ago, she’d told him she was dying. And in fact, it was her terminal diagnosis that defined their marriage from the start. But now, it looked like she was the one who’d be making funeral arrangements.   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 s

Welcome back to the Campfire! I have two awesome stories to share tonight. The first is about a woman in Japan in the early 2000s who has a totally bizarre occurrence on a train, and she documented the entire thing on social media. And the second story is about this really creepy creature who lives in the mountains of northern Thailand, and a village has a horrible encounter that has become a legend over time.   Be sure to WATCH this episode on my YouTube channel on Friday, August 7th! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use

Today’s podcast will feature 3 stories about people who are willing to do just about anything to get what they want. 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 -- "Whatever It Takes" -- A couple are devastated when they find out they can't have children (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1iibEUe5Wk) #2 -- "The Audition" -- A struggling actor goes to extreme lengths to land a role he believes was m

Today, we have three stories about people who are absolutely sure they’ve found the solution to all of their problems – but they are wrong, and other people have to face the consequences.   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

One morning in early November 1888, an engineer drove a steam train through the woods outside Chantilly, France. Everything was business as usual, until he noticed ahead, next to the tracks, there were two maintenance workers waving at him and frantically pointing at something on the ground in front of the train. The driver squinted, and as soon as he saw what they were pointing at, he lunged for the brakes.   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

Today's story is a fan favorite that was previously published as Episode 324. On a cold winter day in 2013, police officers rushed through the dense woods outside of a small town in Kentucky. They weaved their way through the trees, keeping their eyes peeled, and finally, one of them shouted out. He saw what they were looking for in the distance. The other officers quickly followed him into a clearing, and there, they saw a man with a long gray beard sitting in a large self-made camp. It looked like the man had been living out in the woods for months. The officers stared at him, and they almos

Today’s podcast will feature 3 stories about inventions you’ve definitely heard of, but I guarantee you’ve never heard the strange reasons they were actually used or why they were created. 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 Spectacle" -- In 1939, a bloodthirsty crowd gathered in France (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MpR4k3-edc) #2 -- "A New Technology" -- A doctor's savage inve

Today, we have three stories about people who have a lot of experience in a particular area. But their confidence is exactly the thing that causes them to make a disastrous mistake.   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 morning in 2012, a young man was looking out at his backyard in West Virginia. A few days of heavy rain had opened up a sinkhole in the garden, and he was trying to fill it in... when suddenly, he noticed something plastic. He knelt down and pulled a plastic grocery bag out of the mud. He opened it, and as soon as he looked inside, he dropped it and backed away.   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 s

Welcome back to the campfire. This story took place in Malaysia in the 1970s. And even though when you first hear it, it's almost going to sound like urban legend. But it's not. Be sure to WATCH this episode on my YouTube channel on Friday, July 24th! 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 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 -- "Escalation" -- You'll never feel safe on an escalator again (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eHMOFfHKDw) #2 -- "Volunteer" -- After a swimmer goes missing in a lake, a local man is called to help (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

Today, we have three stories about people who went to great lengths to make themselves look good. But in each case, this completely backfired.   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 early morning in April 2012, a man hurried through some woods in coastal France. He lived nearby, and had seen a column of smoke coming from this area. So now he was there to make sure it wasn’t a brush fire or something. And when he finally found the source of the smoke, he relaxed. It was just the smoldering remains of a bonfire. But as he approached, he smelled something that wasn't just burnt wood. And when the man finally saw what was in the fire, he felt sick.   You can WATCH all new & exclusive MrBallen podcast episodes on my YouTube channel, just called "MrBallen" - https://www.you

Tonight, I have two awesome stories to tell you. They are both of the strange variety. In both stories, we're going to talk about a tragedy, but it is not the tragedy that is the reason we remember these things. We remember these events, or we still talk about these events, because in both stories, there are elements that just nobody can fully explain. These are truly unexplained phenomena that are fascinating – that are terrifying – and I know you're going to love it. Be sure to WATCH this episode on my YouTube channel on Friday, July 17th! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.

Today, I’m going to tell you the story of one of the most talked about mysteries on the internet. And I think part of the reason this story is so mysterious and so intriguing is because there’s this really unsettling audio recording that sort of confounds the whole mystery and really forces you to take a stance about what you think really happened. So, I’m going to tell you this story, and towards the end I’m going to play you that recording and you can decide what you think really happened.   You can WATCH all new & exclusive MrBallen podcast episodes on my YouTube channel, just called "MrBal

In December 1988, a young woman was having coffee at her friend's house in the city of Tours, France. She excused herself to go to the bathroom, and when she opened the lid of the toilet, she saw two small, gold objects floating in the water. They looked like beads, or maybe broken pieces of jewelry. She leaned down to get a closer look – and then she realized what they actually were.   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

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