Things Are About To Get Weird

Did Kate Bush really see a UFO (or three?) at Loch Ness back in the 1980s? What on earth is the story behind the ‘T-Rex leather handbag’ that went up for auction in Paris a few weeks ago? And do your fingernails really grow quicker in warmer weather? In this mini episode, Chyaz explores all three of these eclectic and fascinating questions, and some of the answers might just surprise you… Mental h...

In this mini episode, Chyaz explores two of the most bizarre yet fascinating news stories of the year so far: the recently announced Mount Everest recovery mission aimed at bringing the famous ‘Green Boots’ home after almost 30 years, plus a look at the spooky time capsule prophecy which has stunned staff at the Crystal Palace Park regeneration project. To finish, we have a strange-but-true fact a...

The story of Elmer McCurdy is one of the most bizarre cases covered on the podcast to date. How does the tale of a train-robbing outlaw become stranger AFTER he passes away? Prepare to hear about the astonishing life (and afterlife) of ‘The Bandit Who Wouldn’t Give Up’, also known as the ‘Outlaw Mummy’. What’s the truth behind this case that sounds like something straight out of American Horror St...

The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, which took place on Boxing Day of that year, is one of the most devastating natural disasters on record. Over 228,000 people across multiple countries are thought to have perished as a result of the brutal wave surges, triggered by an enormous earthquake off the coast of the island of Sumatra. But amongst the chaos, numerous astonishing stories emerged; tales of unbe...

Did you know that some of the most seemingly boring, everyday things in our homes actually have stranger backstories than you could ever imagine? Join Chyaz as she explores a selection of the weirdest origin tales behind the items so ordinary, we wouldn’t usually give them a second thought. From bland breakfast foods and stationery supplies to medicine packaging, and much more in between. These ar...

Weird Fix is back! In today’s mini episode, Chyaz discusses two of the strangest news stories of the year so far: one concerning Jonathan the Tortoise, the ‘World’s Oldest Land Animal’, who found himself caught up in a cryptocurrency death hoax…and the other relating to new research into the potential links between Infrasound and the paranormal. Plus, a fascinating piece of Pope-related trivia. Th...

As Victorian ghost stories go, few are as bizarre as the case of the Hammersmith Ghost. How did the search for an elusive ghoul, in what was then a rural-feeling village on the outskirts of London, end up in a murder trial which would haunt the British legal system for over 180 years? This tale is full of strange twists and unexpected turns, and whilst some aspects of the case are considered offic...

Just before Christmas in 1982, a grim discovery was made in the cellar of a house in the Greater Manchester town of Bolton. Human remains, belonging to a woman, were found in a partially-mummified state. But how long had she been there? And why could no one work out who she was? This is the story of ‘Mary Ellen’, which grows stranger and more complex with every new detail and connection that emerg...

For centuries, the Green Children of Woolpit story was seen as little more than a folktale that took place in a small Suffolk village during the 12th century. But what if there was more truth to it than many had previously imagined? Over 800 years on, the debate about this fascinating case rumbles on, with explanations for the sudden presence of these green-skinned children in the village of Woolp...

In 2013, a team of divers headed down to a boat that had capsized 20km off the coast of Nigeria. It had been almost three days since the Jascon-4 vessel had sunk, after being hit by a freak wave in the early hours of the morning. The divers were expecting it to be a recovery mission, bringing the bodies of the poor souls who had lost their lives in the disaster to the surface until a hand reached...

In 1957, three men spotted something very unusual in the sky close to the village of Silpho in North Yorkshire. A glowing object, which appeared to crash land on a nearby moor. The strange item, which resembled a small flying saucer, was quickly located, and naturally the discovery made headlines. But whilst many locals were excited by the prospect of the area having its very own UFO, news about t...

Hetty Green, better known as the ‘Witch of Wall Street’, may just be one of the most unique and eccentric women you’ve never heard of. After growing her fortune through clever investments during the 1800s in New York City, she became a peer of the likes of Andrew Carnegie and J.P. Morgan…despite the fact she wasn’t even allowed to vote. But rather than celebrating her achievements, the press becam...

How did a 1,600 year old ‘bog body’ help to solve a murder? In the early 1980s, near the affluent town of Wilmslow in Cheshire, several discoveries were made in a local peat bog which caught the attention of archaeologists from around the world. Incredibly well-preserved human remains were found within the peat, with one particular finding setting off a chain of events that led to answers in a 20+...

In the sweltering heat of summer, during July of 1518, the city of Strasbourg was consumed by a plague…just not necessarily the kind you may be thinking of. After a lady named Frau Troffea began to spontaneously dance in the streets, this compulsion to move soon spread throughout the city, and before long hundreds of residents had been swept up by this ‘dancing mania’. Though it sounds idyllic in...

When Norwegian sisters Kari and May begin searching for an apartment in the Swedish locality of Gullspång, they end up opening a door that leads to more than they could have ever bargained for. After meeting the property’s seller, Olaug, the sisters accidentally make a discovery that changes the lives all involved forever. But is all quite what it seems? Thanks to documentary filmmaker Maria Fredr...

What happened to Richey Edwards? When the Manic Street Preachers guitarist and co-lyricist disappeared without a trace in 1995, under incredibly mysterious circumstances, speculation about his whereabouts was rife. Over 30 years on, despite endless theories emerging as to what happened to him, this case remains unsolved. Did Richey’s story end in tragedy? Or did he disappear voluntarily, determine...

Is Shepton Mallet in Somerset really the UK’s most haunted prison? Despite being decommissioned in 2013, it’s thought that the spirits of certain infamous prisoners still linger in the cells, corridors and grounds of the former institution. Today, Chyaz explores the dark history and ghostly tales linked to Shepton Mallet prison, and aims to discover why it’s now a destination for paranormal enthus...

The Mandela Effect is something many of us will have experienced at some point; this bizarre phenomenon, whereby large groups of people share the same false memories of a historical event, visual detail or pop culture fact, is surprisingly common. But why does it happen? Do the answer lie within the realms of science, or somewhere more otherworldly? Chyaz explores both the strangest examples and t...

After 21 year old Heather Quan was found murdered at an address in Phoenix, Arizona, police began an interrogation of her boyfriend – 18 year old Ryan Waller – to try and uncover the truth about what happened to her. What transpired next added truly bizarre dimension to this tragic tale, and provoked a debate that continues almost 20 years on. This story is as genuinely shocking as it is heartbrea...

What does the word Doppelgänger make you think of? The paranormal phenomenon, with its folklore roots and links to the idea of a ‘spirit double’ signifying impending doom? Or the more modern usage – the idea that we all have a non-biological twin somewhere out there in the world? Whichever it may be, the stories behind the concept of the Doppelgänger are as fascinating as they are eerie… Mental he...

Can a movie really be cursed? From classic horror flicks like The Omen and supernatural pictures like The Crow to family favourites including The Wizard of Oz - dozens of productions have been afflicted by exceptional bad luck and strange happenings over the decades. But were these films really ‘cursed’, or are the bizarre (and sometimes tragic) events linked to them merely coincidences? Mental he...

The Death Row last meal: a topic that is as utterly fascinating as it is controversial. But what’s the history behind the seemingly merciful act of allowing a condemned inmate to choose the contents of their final meal? What did some of the most infamous serial killers pick for theirs? And WHY do prisoners choose what they choose? Chyaz explores all of these questions and more in this intriguing e...

Sudden Savant Syndrome, also known as Acquired Savant Syndrome, is an extremely rare and incredibly fascinating medical phenomenon whereby a person becomes a ‘sudden genius’ in a particular field. Only a handful of documented cases exist, and most have one specific thing in common. What’s behind this utterly captivating condition? Join Chyaz as she explores the stories and the science… Mental heal...

Could a mystery that’s baffled historians for over 500 years finally have an answer? The  chilling tale of the Princes in the Tower is one of the most compelling cold cases of all time - but in recent years, several bizarre and dramatic theories have emerged which could help to answer the age-old question: did Richard III really end the lives of his nephews, or has the real truth been hiding in pl...

The Whaley House in San Diego fully embraces its title as America’s Most Haunted House…but what are the true stories behind these apparent hauntings? Can the property’s dark history explain why so many have reported ghostly encounters at the home for decades? And who is Yankee Jim? Join Chyaz as she explores the strange and twisted tales associated with this real-life haunted mansion… Mental healt...