MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories

Tonight, I have a great story to tell you. It reminds me of when I was a kid, I used to go camping with my family out in western Massachusetts – we'd sit around a campfire, and my parents would tell me and my sisters ghost stories. It was unclear how true the stories really were, but they were all terrifying. And this story that I'm going to share with you is from Japan, and it happened over 50 years ago. And over the last 50 years, it's been shared many times, and there are many versions of this story, so it's up to...

Today’s podcast will feature 2 stories about people who went to disturbing lengths to carry out their plans. 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 -- "The Last Tenant" -- He told them he wasn't going to leave... (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aviVsRAnMR8)#1 -- "The Good Reverend" -- A reverend and a vagabond walk into a church... (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2CYr8...

Today, we have two stories about individuals who go above and beyond to make sure investigators have what they need. And in both instances, this turns a case that should be straightforward into something completely shocking.   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
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One night in the summer of 2003, a man approached a drug dealer on a corner in Rochester, New York. The man stepped close to the dealer and whispered that he was a cop... but he wasn’t here to bust the dealer, or to buy from him. Instead, he had a request: he wanted the drug dealer to help him catch a killer.   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...

Today's story is a fan favorite that was previously published as Episode 285. On a summer morning in 2001, a woman in Alabama woke up in a cold sweat – like she’d just had a nightmare. But the woman knew what she saw while she was sleeping was not a bad dream – it was real. So she grabbed her phone and made a frantic call. Later that morning, police arrived at an old wooden house on the outskirts of a small rural town. They stepped inside, and they were absolutely shocked, because the woman really had led them to a horrifying crime scene...

Today’s podcast will feature 3 hiking horror stories that are still shrouded in mystery. 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 -- "Stephen Thomas" -- A hiker leaves his tents to confront someone or something... and he doesn’t return (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODIGopvDSXA)#2 -- "Just Curious" -- Boy Scout goes missing seconds after being seen (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7iRyj6pv...

Today’s story is about a simple family living a simple life on a simple farm in England. And even though that might sound really nice, this simplicity is actually the exact reason that everything goes 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
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On an evening in September 2017, a woman in Massachusetts came home from work to an empty house. Her boyfriend was gone, but she saw that his wallet and phone were still right there on the counter. And on the kitchen table were three envelopes. She opened them. One was his last will and testament. The second was a note for her. And the third... was a letter addressed to the family of a woman who'd been murdered 25 years ago.   You can WATCH all new & exclusive MrBallen podcast episodes on my YouTube channel, just called "MrBallen" - https://www.youtube.com/c...

Tonight, I'm going to tell you a very famous story from Thailand. The story was recommended to me by a fan, and I had never heard of it before. And the second I started looking into it, I knew – that I had to tell this one sitting in front of a campfire. As you listen, you might think you can guess what’s going to happen next – but I had never heard anything like this before, and I bet you haven’t either.  Be sure to WATCH this episode on my YouTube channel next Friday, May 29th at 2:00 p.m. ET
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Today’s podcast will feature 3 stories about people who made grave mistakes. 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 New Member" -- A church witnesses something horrifying as their pastor begins a ceremony (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3rccx8oyEk)#2 -- "Robinhood" -- He looked at his phone and knew his life was over... (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-upHQYZbTs)#1 -- "The...

Both of today’s stories are about people who made big choices that they thought would improve their lives. But neither of them took the time to learn exactly what they were signing up for, and that led to disaster.   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
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Today's story is a completely NEW retelling of a fan favorite that was previously published as Episode 382. The audio has been newly recorded and edited. On the morning of May 17th, 2014, a detective wrote furiously as she sat next to the hospital bed of a mortally-injured 77-year-old woman. The woman had been in a coma for the last ten days, and the detective had been desperately working to figure out who had tried to kill her. Now that the woman had woken up, the detective was finally getting the chance she’d been waiting for – to ask her victim directly. But...

Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction. And today’s podcast features 3 stories that demonstrate that. 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 -- "Inkling" -- A homicide detective stumbles upon a picture he can't believe is real (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1D-WfCQ7Fs)#2 -- "The Nosebleed" -- A woman's scary nose bleed just won't stop after she returns from a vacation (Original YouTube link -- https...

Today we have two stories about people who had close brushes with death, and were absolutely certain that they had escaped harm and could move on with their lives. 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
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On an afternoon in December 1991, a woman in small-town Utah opened her mailbox. Inside was a credit card bill, addressed to her husband, who'd disappeared a week ago. The woman found this strange, because she didn't even know her husband had a credit card. And when she ripped open the envelope and read over the charges, she realized that her missing husband had been keeping an even bigger secret from her.   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 t...

Tonight at the campfire, I'm going to share one of the most credible alien abduction stories ever. Be sure to WATCH this episode on my YouTube channel on Friday, May 15th at 2:00 p.m. ET!
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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 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: #4 -- "The Debt Game" -- A man in South Korea becomes inspired by his favorite manga (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gGIgbHF51U)#3 -- "Hospital Rhythms" -- A young boy in a hos...

Both of our stories today start with people who are just looking for a solution to their problem. But finding that solution… ends up being the worst thing that ever happened to them.   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
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On an evening in August 2000, a city council candidate stood behind a podium at a high school in small-town Alabama. He was speaking about why he'd entered the race, and he said he wanted a platform to discuss an important issue – the unsolved murder of a local school district employee. Right there, in front of all the news cameras and microphones, the candidate said he knew who committed the crime – because it had been revealed to him in a dream.   You can WATCH all new & exclusive MrBallen podcast episodes on my YouTube channel, just called "MrBallen" - https://www.youtube.com/c...

Today's story is a fan favorite that was previously published as Episode 392. In the early hours of Thursday, February 21st, 2008, a six-year-old girl woke to a creaking noise down the hallway outside her bedroom door. It was a blustery night in rural Nevada, so she figured it was just the wind bending frozen tree branches in the yard. But then another creaking noise filled the house, this time even closer to her bedroom. She pulled her covers tight around her and stared out through the crack in the door. An uneasy feeling settled over her as the light in the h...

Today’s podcast will feature 3 stories about dark secrets that were hiding in plain sight all along. 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 -- "Dating Game" -- A reality show contestant isn't who he says he is... (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y156BNu3S5Y)#2 -- "Something Scratching" -- Two brothers make a discovery 2 decades after their mother disappears (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/wat...

Both of today’s stories are a reminder that even the most joyful events or celebrations can take a horrific turn, if just ONE tiny thing goes 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
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On a Monday morning in February 2003, a man in suburban France got a phone call from a number he recognized. He answered it, but all he heard on the other end was static and muffled voices in the background. He could just barely make out a conversation between two women. They were talking about a murder, and one of them said they needed to come up with an alibi.   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, c...

Tonight, I have two stories to tell you. And what makes these exceptional is that they're both just excellent stories to be told around a campfire. Be sure to WATCH this episode on my YouTube channel next Friday, May 1 at 2:00 p.m. ET.
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Today’s podcast features 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 -- "A Crush on a Cruise" -- A cruise ship's unexpected catastrophe... (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaSQ4ou05dc)#2 -- "The Gauge" -- A critical error leads to a horrifying fate for these saturation divers (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3e5nxOx0...

On the evening of August 10, 2005, a man in New York City answered the phone at the office where he worked. A woman’s voice came over the line, and she asked to speak with one of the man’s employees. He replied that that employee actually hadn’t shown up for their shift that afternoon. That’s when he heard a shift in the woman’s tone, and she told him in a trembling voice that she needed to hang up right now and call 911.   You can WATCH all new & exclusive MrBallen podcast episodes on my YouTube channel, just called "MrBallen"...

Today’s podcast will feature 3 stories that sound impossible – moments so unlikely, they shouldn’t exist… yet somehow, they do. 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 -- "Scooped" -- After a tragedy at sea, a truly unbelievable discovery is made (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzMwI_KMjr8)#2 -- "One For The Road" -- A man's drunken walk home would end in a nightmare (Original YouTube link -- https://www.y...

Today we have two stories about people who finally got to attend an event that they’d been working toward for years. But in both cases, actually going – would turn out to be the biggest mistake of 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
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One evening in April 2006, a person sat at their kitchen table, frantically cutting up the page of a newspaper with some scissors. They were working on an important project, and it was almost done. They finished cutting the final letter from the page and pasted it onto a sheet of paper. Then they leaned back to read the message they’d assembled from the scraps. It was a warning. And they were sure it would have exactly the effect they were hoping for.   You can WATCH all new & exclusive MrBallen podcast episodes on my YouTube channel, just called "MrBallen" - htt...

Today's story is a fan favorite that was previously published as Episode 388. On a September afternoon in 2000, an FBI forensics analyst stood in her lab in Quantico, Virginia, staring into a microscope in confusion. She was looking at two strands of hair that were evidence in a murder investigation. And something wasn’t right. She checked the label on the evidence bag the sample came from, then looked back into the microscope. She definitely wasn’t imagining it. The label was wrong, which meant that the detective who had packaged the hairs and sent them over for analysis – had not unders...

Today’s podcast will feature three stories that remind us the most dangerous threats are oftentimes the ones you can’t see. 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 -- "Underwater Building" -- Friends investigate odd structure in middle of ocean (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toswhS4ehRw)#2 -- "A Tribe’s Feast" -- A tribe in Australia believes they've been blessed by a bounty from god, but it ends u...

Today we have two stories about people who craved attention or status – but instead of glory, they got absolute carnage.   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
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Before dawn in March 1997, a police captain was patrolling the outskirts of a small town in North Carolina. He saw a Jeep parked on the shoulder of the highway with its headlights on. He pulled over, and as he walked closer to the Jeep, he heard the engine running. The driver's side window was rolled down, and there was no one inside. But just then... a cell phone on the passenger seat started ringing.   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 t...

Today's story is a fan favorite that was previously published as Episode 384. One afternoon in January of 1998, a prosecutor for the state of Georgia sat in the very back row of seats in a courtroom where a divorce trial was unfolding. The prosecutor was not involved in the divorce case – he handled murder trials. But he had come here today, because he had gotten a very surprising phone call about an unsolved case he had worked on a year and a half earlier. The caller had told him that the testimony in this divorce – could solve that murder. Now, in the...

Today’s podcast will feature 3 horror stories with completely unexpected endings. 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 -- "After The Riot" -- A man's son goes missing during a prison riot (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eklLi4LdTWk)#2 -- "Falling Treasure" -- A politician in Malaysia calls upon a shaman to bestow upon him riches and power (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xBPT9pl...

Our two stories today are about people who believed in something so strongly, that it informed every single choice they made. And unfortunately for them – those choices led them down a very dangerous path.   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
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In June 2005, a customer at a gas station in Derry, New Hampshire carried a prepaid cell phone to the counter. They paid for it in cash, then they went out to their car and cut open the packaging. They dialed a number to activate it, but when the customer service rep asked for their name, they hesitated. The whole reason they'd bought this prepaid phone was so that no one could trace the calls back to their real identity.   You can WATCH all new & exclusive MrBallen podcast episodes on my YouTube channel, just called "MrBallen" - https://www.youtube.com/c...

On today's Campfire episode, I have a great ghost story.  Be sure to WATCH this episode on YouTube next Friday, April 3 at 2:00 p.m. ET.
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Today’s podcast will feature 3 stories that seemingly break reality. 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 Friend" -- Paranormal enthusiasts will enjoy this one (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSiHjKIckNM)#2 -- "The Midnight Man" -- A woman wakes up in the middle of the night to see a man in her room... but that's just the beginning of this spooky story (Original YouTube link -- https...

Both of these stories are about two people who do not feel safe in their homes. And authorities can't help either of them until the situation spirals out of control.   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
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