The Strange History Podcast

On January 24, 2006, 24-year-old Jennifer Kesse got ready for work at her Orlando, Florida condominium—but she never arrived. Two days later, her abandoned Chevrolet Malibu was discovered about a mile from her home, and investigators uncovered one of the most frustrating pieces of surveillance evidence in missing-person history. A camera had captured an unidentified person parking Jennifer's car a...

In the early morning hours of May 14, 2008, 19-year-old Brandon Swanson called his parents after getting his car stuck on a rural Minnesota road. He believed he was near the town of Lynd and asked them to come pick him up. But despite talking on the phone and flashing headlights in the darkness, Brandon and his parents couldn't find each other. Then came the discovery that changed everything: Bran...

On February 14, 2000, nine-year-old Asha Degree disappeared from her home near Shelby, North Carolina. Before dawn, motorists reported seeing a young girl walking alone along Highway 18 in bad weather. One concerned driver reportedly turned around to check on her, only to see her leave the roadway and disappear into the darkness. Asha was never seen by her family again. In this episode of The Stra...

In 1890, pioneering inventor Louis Le Prince boarded a train from Dijon to Paris—and vanished without a trace. No confirmed body, no luggage, and no definitive explanation for what happened to the man who had already captured some of the earliest moving pictures ever recorded. In this episode of The Strange History Podcast, we investigate the unsolved disappearance of Louis Le Prince, the mysterio...

What if the most haunting figure in Irish folklore wasn't a monster... but a starving man asking for a piece of bread? In this powerful episode of The Strange History Podcast, Amy continues the Tonight's Tale Was Once Told as Truth series by exploring the heartbreaking legend of the Fear Gorta, one of Ireland's most forgotten figures from Celtic folklore. Said to appear on lonely country roads dur...

Who guarded medieval churches after the doors were locked for the night? According to centuries of English and Scandinavian folklore, it wasn't a priest, a knight, or an angel—it was a mysterious spectral black dog known as the Church Grim. In this haunting episode of The Strange History Podcast, Amy continues the Tonight's Tale Was Once Told as Truth series by exploring one of Britain's most fasc...

What if Scotland's most terrifying monster wasn't a dragon or a ghost... but a skinless creature blamed for disease, famine, storms, and death? In this chilling episode of The Strange History Podcast, Amy continues the Tonight's Tale Was Once Told as Truth series by exploring one of the darkest and least-known legends in all of European folklore—the Nuckelavee, a horrifying creature from Scotland'...

Did ancient Scottish sailors really fear mysterious blue-skinned creatures lurking beneath the waves? In this episode of The Strange History Podcast, we journey into the icy waters of the Minch, the dangerous channel separating the Scottish Highlands from the Outer Hebrides, to uncover one of Scotland's most fascinating forgotten legends. Known as the Blue Men of the Minch, these mysterious sea be...

Did the Devil really walk into an English church during a violent thunderstorm in 1577? In this chilling episode of The Strange History Podcast, Amy begins another installment of the new series, Tonight's Tale Was Once Told as Truth, by exploring one of England's oldest and most mysterious legends—the terrifying Black Dog of Bungay, also known as Black Shuck. Journey to the medieval county of Suff...

For more than 1,500 years, people across Europe claimed to hear ghostly riders racing through the night sky during violent storms. From the forests of Germany and the fjords of Scandinavia to the hills of Wales and the villages of England, generations feared the arrival of the Wild Hunt—a supernatural procession led by gods, kings, warriors, or restless spirits that was said to appear on the darke...

Who were The Bloody Benders, and how did an ordinary family farm become one of the most terrifying crime scenes in American history? In this episode of The Strange History Podcast, Amy explores the chilling true story of the Bloody Benders, the mysterious Kansas family accused of operating what many historians consider America's first documented family of serial killers. During the early 1870s, tr...

Was the Codex Gigas, better known as The Devil's Bible, really written in a single night after a monk made a pact with Satan? Or is the truth even more unbelievable? In this episode of The Strange History Podcast, Amy uncovers the fascinating history behind one of the world's most mysterious medieval manuscripts. Journey back to 13th-century Bohemia and explore the legend of Herman the Recluse, th...

What really happened to Big Nose George? In one of the strangest true crime stories in American history, notorious Wyoming outlaw George Parrott attempted to derail a Union Pacific train, murdered two railroad detectives, escaped justice—until an angry mob took matters into their own hands. But his story didn't end with his execution. In this episode of The Strange History Podcast, we uncover the...

Dear listeners, in this deep-dive episode of The Strange History Podcast we uncover one of the most shocking stories from the ancient Book of Enoch. Two hundred Watchers — powerful angels — descended from heaven to Mount Hermon, swore a dark oath, took human wives, and fathered violent giants known as the Nephilim. Discover how these fallen angels taught humanity forbidden secrets of weapons, sorc...

Discover the strange, surprising, and little-known history behind Star Trek: The Original Series. From near cancellation and rejected pilots to groundbreaking diversity, behind-the-scenes drama, and futuristic predictions that became reality, this episode explores 20 fascinating facts that shaped one of the most influential sci-fi shows of all time. Learn how Star Trek went from a struggling 1960s...

In this episode of The Strange History Podcast, explore the bizarre and controversial reign of Roman Emperor Elagabalus, the teenage ruler who tried to transform Rome through sun worship, wild rituals, and shocking displays of power. From replacing traditional Roman gods with his own solar deity to hosting dangerous banquets and turning his palace into a sun-drenched sanctuary, Elagabalus pushed t...

In this episode of The Strange History Podcast, explore the bizarre and unsettling reign of Roman Emperor Caligula, known for his strange behavior and shocking displays of power. From inviting statues to dinner parties to declaring war on the sea and elevating his horse, this episode dives into the wildest stories from ancient Rome. Discover the truth behind Caligula’s madness, the role of histori...

Galata Tower explores the history, legends, and eerie stories surrounding one of the most iconic landmarks in Istanbul. In this episode of The Strange History Podcast, we uncover how Galata Tower began as a Genoese stronghold before becoming a critical fire-watch tower during the Ottoman Empire, where watchmen scanned the city for devastating fires that could destroy entire neighborhoods. We also...

Over 2,000 years ago, during the Hellenistic Period and the Roman Civil Wars, soldiers weren’t just fighting with swords and spears—they were launching insults carved into deadly sling bullets. In this episode of The Strange History Podcast, discover the bizarre world of ancient warfare where psychological tactics met dark humor. From Greek mercenaries to Roman soldiers under leaders like Julius C...

The Fall of Constantinople explores one of the most dramatic turning points in world history, when Constantinople—now Istanbul—fell to the Ottoman Empire. In this episode of The Strange History Podcast, we uncover the full story of the 1453 siege led by Mehmed II, the final stand of Constantine XI Palaiologos, and the legendary defenses of the Theodosian Walls. We also explore massive cannons buil...

Topkapi Palace explores the power, secrets, and hidden world of the Ottoman Empire inside Istanbul. In this episode of The Strange History Podcast, we uncover how Topkapi Palace became the center of the Ottoman Empire for nearly 400 years. From the Imperial Council chambers to the mysterious Harem, this palace controlled politics, succession, and survival. We dive into the influence of powerful fi...

Basilica Cistern explores the dark history, strange stories, and eerie atmosphere beneath Istanbul. Built under Justinian I in the 6th century, this massive underground reservoir once supplied water to the ancient city of Constantinople. In this episode of The Strange History Podcast, we uncover how the cistern was rediscovered by Petrus Gyllius, who found locals pulling water—and fish—through hol...

Hagia Sophia explores the eerie legends, ghost stories, and unexplained phenomena surrounding one of the most iconic buildings in Istanbul. In this episode of The Strange History Podcast, we go beyond the history of emperors and empires to uncover the strange stories that have followed Hagia Sophia for centuries. From the legend of the hidden priest who vanished into the walls during the Fall of C...

Jemaa el-Fnaa: The Square of Heads explores the dark and fascinating history of Jemaa el-Fnaa, the iconic square at the heart of Marrakesh. In this episode of The Strange History Podcast, we uncover how this vibrant marketplace was once a site of public executions, where heads were displayed as warnings and power was enforced in front of crowds. Over time, the square transformed into a cultural hu...

The Red City of Blood and Gold explores the powerful and often brutal history of Marrakesh, one of the most important imperial cities in Morocco. In this episode of The Strange History Podcast, we uncover how Marrakesh was founded by the Almoravid dynasty and transformed by the Almohad Caliphate, before rising again under the Saadi dynasty. We explore rulers like Yusuf ibn Tashfin and Ahmad al-Man...