Weird Darkness: Paranormal & True Crime Stories

A lifelong teller of tall tales spends years retelling his high school teacher's ghost story about a place in rural Nebraska called the showers, right up until the night he goes looking for it himself and finds the door.

EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/mitm-theshowers

SOURCES and RESOURCES: “The Showers” by Reddit user Clover10176: Part 1 = https://tinyurl.com/ql3gx93

“The Showers” by Reddit user Clover10176: Part 2 = https://tinyurl.com/v9cqmnjWeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.

Midnight In The Macabre (MITM), originally aired: August 31, 2026

LIKE WHAT YOU’RE HEARING? WEIRD DARKNESS posts episodes 7 DAYS A WEEK! Listen FREE wherever you get podcasts or visit https://weirddarkness.com/listen. • Paranormal • True Crime • Ghosts • UFOs • Cryptids • Unexplained • Want even more? Become an OFFICIAL WEIRDO for commercial-free episodes, bonus episodes, weeknight live chats, audiobooks & more at https://WeirdDarkness.com/OFFICIAL

Something arrives at a Cherokee deathbed wearing the face of a very old man or woman, and the witches and demons want nothing to do with it. They call it the Raven Mocker. 
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HOUR ONE: They're powerful in the supernatural. Witches, demons and poltergeists fear them because they are not from our world. The Cherokee call them the Raven Mockers. (The Raven Mocker) *** Betsy’s Mysterious Flowers *** A girl’s younger sister keeps seeing things that don’t exist – until the truth is revealed when older sis is moving out. (Secrets Between Sisters) *** It’s called the Chronovisor – and it is said the device can look into events in the future as well as the past. Is it true? We may never know – the Vatican, the supposed owners of the device, are refusing to cooperate when questioned. (Does The Vatican Have a Time Machine?) *** An Alaskan hunter claims to have found a boy that had been kidnapped… not by humans or aliens, but by a mysterious creature knows as the ircenrraat. (Abducted By The Ircenrraat) *** It is considered to be one of the most beautiful lakes in the United States. But there are also tales of ghosts, a giant lake monster, unexplained disappearances, and murders. That’s only a sample of what you might find at Oregon’s Crater Lake. (The Creeps of Crater Lake) *** Weirdo family member Candice Cardenas tells of a haunting in her mobile home. (This Ghost Loves Brass) *** Dreaming About Owls
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HOUR TWO: It all started one night in June 2018. The screams coming from underneath the house. It was so intense, the homeowners simply abandoned the property. I’ll even share audio of the screams so you can decide for yourself if it’s real. (Screams From The Basement) *** Weirdo family member Elis Helmersson shares a story passed down the generations about a true ghost sighting in her family. (My Great Grandfather Saw a Headless Ghost) *** Have investigators finally solved the strange disappearance of Pan Am’s Flight 914? (The Mystery of Flight 914) *** Plus, “Werewolves On The Prowl!”
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SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM TONIGHT’S SHOW:
“Betsy’s Mysterious Flowers” by Brandon Grimes for Paranormality Magazine: (link no longer available)
“The Raven Mocker” by Jeramy Neurign: (link no longer available)
“Secrets Between Sister” posted at BackpackerVerse: (link no longer available)
“Does The Vatican Have a Time Machine” posted at Disclose.TV: (link no longer available)
“Abducted By The Ircenrraat” originally published in the Anchorage Daily News: (link no longer available)
““The Creeps of Crater Lake” by Christopher Schulz: http://bit.ly/2LxmZ4N
“This Ghost Loves Brass” submitted by Weirdo family member Candice Cardenas
“Dreaming About Owls” by Nicole Whitney for Paranormality Magazine: (link no longer available)
“The Mystery of Flight 914”: JJ Foster (link no longer valid), Hoax or Fact (link no longer valid) and Snopes: http://bit.ly/2RS2voI
“Screams From The Basement” written by Robert Harries (link no longer available); captured audio by Alan Tait:http://bit.ly/2RUdyxv
“My Great Grandfather Saw a Headless Ghost” by Weirdo family member Elis Helmersson
“Werewolves On The Prowl” by John Beale for Paranormality Magazine: (link no longer available)
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(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for material I use whenever possible. If I have overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it immediately. Some links may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)
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"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46
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WeirdDarkness®, WeirdDarkness© 2026
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They say he watches from the shadows, always wearing a hat — but the Hat Man isn’t just another shadow person… he’s something far more terrifying.

EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/DemonicHatMan

READ or DOWNLOAD the full transcript of this episode: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3xfr8h77

FEATURED STORIES IN THIS EPISODE: Unlike most shadow people figures, the Hat Man - this tall, dark being often appears during times of emotional turmoil. With accounts from all over the world, questions continue to be asked about his origin – is he supernatural? Interdimensional? Just our imagination? Demonic… or extraterrestrial? What is the Hat Man – and what are his motives? (The Night Terror That is The Hat Man) *** He was a charismatic activist and local celebrity who counted the elite of Philadelphia among his friends. But behind closed doors, Ira Einhorn's relationship with his girlfriend Holly Maddux was fraught with abuse, control, and ultimately, murder. The shocking discovery of Holly's body in a trunk in Einhorn's apartment was only the beginning of the hunt for the man they’d eventually call “The Unicorn Killer.” (Holly Maddux And The Unicorn Killer) *** On May 1, 1897, Louisa Luetgert, the wife of a prominent Chicago sausage-maker, mysteriously vanished. The last sighting of her was with her husband, Adolph, as they walked into his sausage factory. This chilling disappearance not only shocked the city but also caused a notable decline in sausage sales that summer. Gee, I wonder why. (The Sausage Maker And His Wife) *** Centuries of worship and tragedy have left behind more than just memories in some churches… they’ve also left behind spirits, some holy… some not. From ghostly priests and weeping brides to mysterious mists and phantom lights, there are hauntings that linger in these ancient sanctuaries. What eerie tales are hidden within the walls of the world’s oldest… and most haunted… churches? (Attending Church Eternally As A Ghost) *** In June 2006, Gilbert Gilman vanished without a trace during a short walk in Olympic National Park. Despite an extensive search and numerous theories, no evidence of his fate has ever been found. Was he a victim of foul play, or did he choose to disappear? (The Mysterious Disappearance of Gilbert Gilman)

CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00.00.000 = The Foreboding
00:01:33.430 = Show Open
00:04:32.154 = The Night Terror That is The Hat Man
00:23:37.380 = The Sausage Maker And His Missing Wife ***
00:37:01.097 = The Mysterious Disappearance of Gilbert Gilman
00:42:16.722 = Attending Church Eternally As A Ghost (Haunted Churches) ***
00:54:19.519 = Holly Maddux And The Unicorn Killer ***
01:02:21.051 = Show Close
01:03:57.285 = SONG: “The Hat Man” by Dark Weirdness (https://weirddarkness.com/music)
*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad break

LISTEN ON PODCAST APPS:
Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://weirddarkness.com/wdapps
*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*

SOURCES and RESOURCES:
SONG: “The Hat Man” by Dark Weirdness: https://weirddarkness.com/music
“The Night Terror That Is The Hat Man” source: Erica McCann, Graveyard Shift: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/mbwzkup3; Brandon Michaels, Ranker: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yxz4b38j
“Holly Maddux And The Unicorn Killer” source: The Scare Chamber: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8bmr32
“Attending Church Eternally As a Ghost” source: Patrick Thornton, Graveyard Shift: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2zyhhree
“The Mysterious Disappearance of Gilbert Gilman” source: Strange Outdoors: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/ycx59v88
“The Sausage Maker And His Missing Wife” by Troy Taylor (used with permission): https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yc3dnfcm
(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.)

WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
Originally aired: May 21, 2024
LIKE WHAT YOU’RE HEARING? WEIRD DARKNESS posts episodes 7 DAYS A WEEK! Listen FREE wherever you get podcasts or visit https://weirddarkness.com/listen. • Paranormal • True Crime • Ghosts • UFOs • Cryptids • Unexplained • Want even more? Become an OFFICIAL WEIRDO for commercial-free episodes, bonus episodes, weeknight live chats, audiobooks & more at https://WeirdDarkness.com/OFFICIAL

The thrilling conclusion! Scout Brooks and Mandy Lee have fought their way across the alien world of Thryos, battling monstrous Throats in a desperate search for Professor Nog's captured friend, Farrow. But with danger closing in from every direction — and Scout's own friend Chuck now caught snooping around Fort Nogs back home — nothing about this mission has gone according to plan.

Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://pod.link/1655277373
Find more family-friendly frights and creepy games to play on our website at http://MicroTerrors.com!
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/microterrors
Other stories, novels, and more from author Scott Donnelly: https://amzn.to/3LymHaU
Other narrations, podcasts, and audiobooks from voice artist Darren Marlar: https://WeirdDarkness.com
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Weird Darkness©, 2026
Micro Terrors: Scary Stories for Kids™, 2026#MicroTerrors #WeirdDarkness

Redacted juvenile court records released this week show the county went to court over the Siders children in 2020 and again in 2021, documented roaches, elevated lead and bruising, and both times left every one of them in the house.

SOURCES, LINKS, AND PRINT VERSION: https://weirddarkness.com/SidersCase20260829

Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://pod.link/1078714736
WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.

LIKE WHAT YOU’RE HEARING? WEIRD DARKNESS posts episodes 7 DAYS A WEEK! Listen FREE wherever you get podcasts or visit https://weirddarkness.com/listen. • Paranormal • True Crime • Ghosts • UFOs • Cryptids • Unexplained • Want even more? Become an OFFICIAL WEIRDO for commercial-free episodes, bonus episodes, weeknight live chats, audiobooks & more at https://WeirdDarkness.com/OFFICIAL