Anxious and Afraid The Pod

In this week's episode, Abby takes on a very infamous case in the state of Oregon and the horrible tragedy that occurred in the host's hometown of Springfield, Oregon. In 1983 a young woman named Diane Downs brought her grievously wounded children to the hospital claiming that a bushy-haired stranger had shot them all. The ensuing investigation would bring the real story to light, forever changing...

In this week's episode, Abby takes the gang on a spooky adventure with the story of Norman the doll. Stephen Lancaster, a longtime paranormal investigator, would be thrust into the case of a lifetime after he purchased a Matty Mattel doll from an antique store in 2016. Within 24 hours, the doll would prove itself as a paranormal force to be reckoned with and Stephen's life would never be the same....

Anxious and Afraid is proud to partner with the lovely people over at Repod, a brand new social podcast app designed to bring listeners and creators together. Repod provides a space where you can stream and discuss recent episodes, ask burning questions, and support your favorite podcasts! Be sure to use the link joinrepod.com/anxiousandafraid to join the community. Again that’s joinrepod.com/anxi...

In this week's episode, the gang returns from their break to bring you an action-packed story of adventure and tragedy in the country of Kyrgyzstan. In the year 2000, 4 young American rock climbers would depart on a trip of a lifetime to a remote region of Kyrgyzstan to do some epic climbing, sponsored by The Northface. Sadly, the group would be taken hostage by members of the Islamic Movement of...

In this week's episode, Abby brings the crew an anxiety-inducing tale of devastation and destruction when she tells the story of the 1947 Texas City industrial disaster. April 16th, 1947 started out like any other normal day in the small port town of Texas City but would soon turn deadly after a large cargo ship carrying explosive materials caught fire and detonated, killing hundreds of people and...

In this week's episode, Shawna shares the story of the disappearance of Frederick Valentich. In October of 1978, Valentich, a young pilot, was performing a training flight over the Bass Strait between the Australian mainland and Tasmania when he reported a strange sighting to Melbourne Flight Service. Valentich's radio then cut out and he was never seen or heard from again. Listen in as the crew d...

In this week's episode, Abby returns with part two of the two-part story on the tragic death of Brittany Murphy. After Brittany was pronounced dead just before Christmas in 2009, the public and the media went wild with theories of drug overdoses and complications from an eating disorder. The official cause of death however, would only quell the rumors for a short time before another death in the s...

In this week's episode, Abby introduces a two-part story on the life and tragic death of Brittany Murphy. In part one, the crew discusses the Hollywood culture of the 2000s and its damaging effects on the celebrities who experienced it, including Brittany Murphy. Even after gaining relative success in her acting career, Murphy struggled with her image in the press and constant rumors about drug ab...

In this week's episode, Shawna revisits her favorite topic of reincarnation cases! This time she tells the tale of a little girl named Rylann O'Bannion from Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Little Rylann was only two years old when she started saying odd things about a past life that had tragically been cut short. Her parents would eventually come to believe what to them was unbelievable. Was Rylann O'Bann...

In this week's Baby Bonus episode, Abby brings the crew together to tell them all about a great book she recently read called Chasing Ghosts by Marc Hartzman. Listen in as Abby reads a couple of her favorite stories from the book about hungry ghosts, swindling spiritualists, and cursed movie sets! Chasing Ghosts: A Tour of Our Fascination with Spirits and the Supernatural https://www.marchartzmanb...

In this week’s episode, Abby takes us once again into the now declassified Government-funded program, Project Stargate. But this time the crew will be hearing a story about a man named David Morehouse, a decorated soldier who found himself in the remote viewing program during his time in the military and came away with some incredible accounts and lasting effects. Tune in for David Morehouse’s unb...

In this week's episode, Shawna renews everyone's travel phobias as she tells the devastating story of Pan Am Flight 759. On July 9th, 1982, the Boeing 727 took off from the New Orleans airport on a commercial flight to Las Vegas, Nevada. Shortly after takeoff, however, the plane would experience weather complications causing it to crash into a residential neighborhood, resulting in the deadliest a...

In this week's episode, Abby requests the crew keep an open mind as she tells the story of the now declassified, secret government program, Project Stargate. Also known as Project Grill Flame and Sun Streak, among other names, this government-funded program started in the early 1970s and would run for over 20 years until 1995. The project sought to investigate psychic phenomena (clairvoyance, prec...

In this week's episode, Shawna gives the crew a new thing to be scared of after she describes the tragic 1967 Silver Bridge collapse over the frigid Ohio river during rush-hour traffic. Tune in to learn the details of this devastating disaster which would claim many lives and as always, stick around to the end to find out if your town is our city of the week! Credits: Wikipedia.com Dispatch.com wv...

In this week's episode, Abby is back to share another white-knuckle natural disaster tale and this time the crew visits the 1980 volcanic eruption of Mount St Helens. Located in Washington state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, Mount Saint Helens is a gorgeous destination for hikers and families looking to enjoy nature and admire the snowcapped mountain. But beneath its peaceful exte...

In this week's episode, Abby takes on a UFO case for the first time! She tells the story of the 1965 Kecksburg UFO Incident which was witnessed by hundreds of people from Canada to Kecksburg, Pennsylvania. Many reported seeing a bright fiery object flying through the sky before supposedly crashing in rural Pennsylvania. The eyewitness reports and fast military response led many to believe that the...

In this week's episode, Shawna brings the group a tale of creepy alien encounters and childhood existential dread! In 1994, a large group of school children in Ruwa, Zimbabwe were out enjoying recess when they encountered otherworldly beings in a spaceship who were there to deliver a dire warning for the survival of planet Earth. Tune in for the first-hand accounts of the people who experienced th...

In this week's episode, Abby regales the crew with the horrifying tale of the infamous Bloody Benders. The Bender family, which consisted of four members, Ma Bender, Pa Bender, John Jr Bender, and Kate (Katie) Bender all moved to Labette county, Kansas in 1871 where they built and operated a roadside Inn. Soon after their arrival however, travelers began to go missing and it wouldn't take long for...

In this week's episode, Shawna takes the gang on a white-knuckle ride as she describes the Whakaari/White Island Volcano eruption which occurred on December 9th, 2019. Advertised as a stunning tourist destination, thousands of people have visited the active stratovolcano with nothing but great photos and memories after leaving. Sadly, a number of tourists would not be so lucky when the volcano eru...

In this week's episode, Abby takes on the tragic story of the Hindenburg disaster. Tune in to learn the origins of the fated Zeppelin airship and the men who piloted and constructed the once-mighty flying machines. Stick around for the dramatic conclusion to the story, ending with the Hindenburg's devastating fiery demise on May 6th, 1937 in Lakehurst New Jersey. Credits: The Hidden Hindenburg: Th...

In this week's episode, Shawna fills the crew in on the sad tale of the disappearance of Tara Calico. In the state of New Mexico in September of 1988, Tara Calico, a successful young college student was out on her daily bike ride when she disappeared and was never seen again. Tune in to learn of the twists and turns in this case such as the disturbing polaroid picture found in Florida of a seeming...

In this week's episode, Abby regales the crew with the story of the mysterious disappearance of the Flannan Isles lighthouse keepers. In the year 1900 off the West coast on mainland Scottland, three lighthouse keepers on Eilean Mor mysteriously vanished from the lighthouse and surrounding islands. The men who made the discovery would note several eerie clues as to the fate of the three keepers inc...

In this week's episode, Shawna regales the crew with the mystifying story of Gloria Ramirez, dubbed "the Toxic Lady" by the media. Ramirez, a California resident, would be rushed to the hospital in 1994 with life-threatening complications. Eerily, the medical professionals who were treating Ramirez began falling ill with alarming symptoms themselves. Tune in to hear the strange and tragic ending t...

In this week's episode, Abby delves into the rip-your-hair-out case that is the murder of Lana Clarkson. In 2003, Actor Lana Clarkson would meet famed record producer Phil Spector at the House Of Blues in Hollywood, California and the two would go back to Spector's "castle" for drinks. It would be the last time Lana was seen alive. Tune in for the details and conclusion to this heart-breaking and...

In this week's episode, Shawna Tells the incredible story of Dr. Mary Neal who had a life-changing near-death experience. While on a kayaking trip in Chile, Dr. Mary Neal suffered an accident on the river and drowned. She was miraculously saved but even more amazing still would be the story Dr. Neal would share with the world about what she experienced after death. Stick around for all the mind-bl...