Astonishing Legends

This week, we return to the pitch-black depths of the Scole Experiment, where a sealed room in rural Norfolk became the testing ground for an impossible claim: that voices from beyond could speak through a crude, powerless device that shouldn’t have worked at all. What began as a strange experiment in energy and communication quickly drew the attention of the Society for Psychical Research — seasoned skeptics, scientists, and even magicians determined to expose any trickery. Instead, they found themselves confronting an event that challenged physics, belief, and their own assumptions. Was this the realization of a long-dreamed-of “spirit phone,” or a masterclass in deception? Visit our website for a lot more information on this episode.

In tonight’s dead letter… we explore the unsettling possibility that our children are not the blank slates conventional psychology suggests. Listener, Tim, recounts the evening his toddler, Mason, claimed he "wasn't always" his kid before describing a past life that ended in a tragic house fire. It is a quiet reflection on the "old soul" phenomenon and whether our children bring a bit of luggage with them when they enter this world. Reference Links The University of Virginia: Division of Perceptual Studies The Work of Dr. Ian Stevenson Monarch Butterfly Migration and Genetics - National Geographic Altered States (1980) - IMDB Defending Your Life (1991) - IMDB PLAINTEXT The University of Virginia: Division of Perceptual Studies: https://med.virginia.edu/perceptual-studies/ The Work of Dr. Ian Stevenson: https://a.co/d/0fMu7zrx Monarch Butterfly Migration and Genetics - National Geographic: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/facts/monarch-butterfly/ Altered States (1980) - IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080360/ Defending Your Life (1991) - IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101694/ We're looking for more stories! Send your Dead Letter to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com!

In a quiet Norfolk village, in the early 1990s, a seventeenth-century farmhouse became the setting for one of the most controversial paranormal investigations ever conducted. In the cellar of Street Farmhouse in Scole, a small group known as the Scole Experimental Group claimed they weren’t just contacting spirits — they were working with them. Over five years, under strict controls, they reported blue lights with apparent intelligence, physical phenomena, voices broadcast through powerless devices, and even photographic images appearing on sealed film, all allegedly guided by a collective of discarnate scientists calling themselves “The Team of Many Minds.” This episode kicks off a three-part deep dive into the Scole Experiment, beginning with the Norfolk Protocol and the impossible technology said to be designed from beyond the grave. Bibliography Books & Reports Foy, Robin P. Witnessing the Impossible: The Diary of the Scole Experiment. Diss: Campion Books, 2008. Keen, Montague, Arthur Ellison, and David Fontana. "The Scole Report: An Account of an Investigation into the Genuineness of a Range of Physical Phenomena Associated with a Mediumistic Group in Norfolk, England." Proceedings of the Society for Psychical Research 58, no. 220 (November 1999): 147–455. The Scole Experiment: Scientific Evidence for Life After Death Multimedia SCOLE: THE AFTERLIFE EXPERIMENT.Visit our website for a lot more information on this episode.

In tonight’s dead letter… Scott and Forrest explore the intersection of the safety of the suburbs and the primeval woods of the greater Akron area. Long before "Ohio" became modern slang for the weird, it was already earning that reputation through sightings of glowing red eyes that radiated their own light, but if you listen to Astonishing Legends, you already know that. Michael’s account details a terrifying standoff where when he was only 5 years old, he and his sister found themselves locked in the sanctuary of a childhood bedroom with something peering at them from outside. Reference Links Small Town Monsters Village of Mogador - Official History Minerva Monster - Encyclopedia Arctica The Ohio Valley UFO Flap of 1973 Mogador, Ohio - Wikipedia We're looking for more stories! Send your Dead Letter to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com!

In tonight’s dead letter, a simple move to a quiet farmhouse turns into a bit of an accidental science experiment between two roommates who didn't want to sound "crazy" to each other. They both lived with the same unsettling experiences for months in total silence until a conversation on their final day changed everything. It’s a fascinating look at how our surroundings—and even the very ground beneath us—might be playing tricks on our senses, either organically or spiritually. Reference Links Recommended Reading & Resources Ancient Aliens: The Alien Frequency (Season 12, Episode 8) The Maltese Falcon (1941) - IMDB Dead Mountain by Donnie Eichar NASA Technical Reports: Human Response to Vibration Vic Tandy: The Ghost in the Machine Geographic Landmarks Ggantija Temples, Gozo Hal Saflieni Hypogeum Tarxien Temples Gozo Island Send your Dead Letter to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com!

In tonight’s dead letter, listener Chris and his wife venture to the highest point east of the Rockies for a night of stargazing under the Milky Way. While lying on the summit of Black Elk Peak, Chris decides to put out a silent, mental invitation to the universe to see if anything might respond. The atmosphere shifts dramatically during their descent, leading to an incident in the dark woods that leaves the couple questioning the nature of the "entities" Chris had called upon. Scott and Forrest discuss the spiritual history of this sacred Lakota location and whether Chris unintentionally followed a protocol that opened a door to the unexplained. Reference Links Black Elk Speaks: The Complete EditionBFRO - Bigfoot LegendsUFO Reality by Jenny RandallsIn the Spirit of Crazy Horse by Peter MatthiessenCE5 ProtocolsThe Oz FactorThunderheart (1992 Film)The Age of Disclosure

This week, we revisit one of the most compelling and unsettling UFO cases on record: the Shag Harbor Incident. Often called Canada’s Roswell, but with one crucial difference — the government openly admitted it didn’t know what happened. On October 4, 1967, airline crews, fishermen, and first responders all witnessed a strange craft descend into the waters off Nova Scotia, leaving behind no wreckage, no survivors, but a thick, sulfur-smelling foam that defied explanation. Every aircraft was accounted for, and the Royal Canadian Air Force officially classified the event as a “UFO Report,” not a meteor or misidentified plane. But the mystery deepens when decades of research uncover a buried military history tied to underwater encounters and secret NATO exercises. With fresh context from our recent USO investigation, and groundbreaking research by eyewitness and investigator Chris Styles, this episode explores the possibility that Shag Harbor wasn’t just a crash, but a coordinated recovery involving technology not of this world. Visit our website for a lot more information on this episode.

In tonight’s dead letter… listener Kevin, an overnight security officer at the time, faces an unsettling experience in the silent, abandoned wing of a psychiatric hospital. He encounters an entity that isn't misty or formless, but a shimmering, blue-lit figure. The encounter takes a turn when the presence seems to pause, acknowledge him, and continue its inexplicable journey. This is not your typical haunting. Episode References & Further Reading: Waverly Hills Sanatorium: Official Site: Waverly Hills Sanatorium Wikipedia: Waverly Hills Sanatorium - Wikipedia Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum: Official Site: Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum Wikipedia: Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum - Wikipedia Kecksburg UFO Incident: Wikipedia: Kecksburg UFO incident - Wikipedia The Backrooms: Know Your Meme: Know Your Memes: The Back Rooms Corpse Candles: Wikipedia: Corpse road - Wikipedia Will-o'-the-wisps: Wikipedia: Will-o'-the-wisp - Wikipedia Fata Morgana (Mirage): Wikipedia: Fata Morgana - Wikipedia Wikipedia (General Mirages): Mirage - Wikipedia "Skinwalkers at the Pentagon" by George Knapp and Colm Kelleher: Amazon Link: George Knapp & Colm Kelleher: Skinwalkers at the Pentagon (Amazon) Astonishing Legends Episode Synesthesia: Wikipedia: Synesthesia - Wikipedia Jim Harold's Campfire Podcast: Official Site: Jim Harold's Campfire Color Symbolism in Esotericism (regarding light colors): Wikipedia: Color symbolism - Wikipedia

Humans have always scanned the skies for the unknown, from Galileo’s first telescopic observations to modern instruments peering 13 billion years into the past, always assuming that if contact ever came, it would come from space. Yet while we obsess over the heavens, we largely ignore the vast, uncharted world covering 71% of our own planet. The deep ocean, less mapped than Mars, and hostile to human exploration, has long inspired reports from sailors of strange lights and massive, fast-moving shapes beneath the waters. Today, advanced sensors, radar, and military testimony describe objects that plunge from the sky into the sea without impact, maneuver underwater at extreme speeds, and defy conventional explanation. Known as Unidentified Submerged Objects (USOs), or “Fast Movers,” these verified encounters challenge our assumptions, raising an unsettling possibility: while we search the cosmos for visitors, something unknown may have been here all along. Visit our website for a lot more information on this episode.

In tonight’s dead letter, we head to Athens, Ohio, home of the Astonishing Legends Merch headquarters — Athens is a town steeped in history and according to some accounts, one of the most haunted places in America. When an anthropology student moves into an apartment inside a renovated church, mysterious knocks soon give way to the sighting of a bizarre, tiny entity that refuses to leave. This one is outside the paranormal box, and with the benefit of history, it would appear that whatever was there…refuses to leave. LINKS: The Athens Lunatic Asylum https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athens_Lunatic_Asylum The Ridges - Ohio University History & Architecture https://www.ohio.edu/ridges Articles detailing the tragic story of Margaret Schilling and the stain she left behind, which Scott and Forrest discussed in detail. https://2020.soulofathens.com/lore-of-appalachia/stain.html https://factschology.com/mmm-podcast-articles/lost-lady-athens-asylum-ohio Wilson Hall & Room 428: Information on the infamous "sealed" dorm room that the university supposedly closed off due to paranormal activity. https://shopathensohio.com/blog/wilson-hall-and-room-428/ https://www.reddit.com/r/ohiouniversity/comments/11ntl8b/haunted_wilson_hall_room_428_ohio_university/ The Athens Pentagram Theory: A look at the theory mentioned by Scott regarding the five cemeteries that supposedly form a pentagram around the city (with Wilson Hall at the center). https://www.athensnews.com/news/pentagram-theory-conjures-up-haunted-athens/article_f0c189c8-728e-11ee-bf6c-dbb66e699980.html The Koons Spirit Room: Context on the historical spiritualism connection near Athens (Mt. Nebo) that Scott brought up. https://www.americanhauntingsink.com/koons Kirkbride Buildings History https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirkbride_Plan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Story_Kirkbride

SPECIAL PRESENTATION: They Knew Too Much about Flying Saucers “The Saucers don’t interest me anymore. When Barker asked is that because you found out they were too ordinary to be interesting? Or because what you discovered about them is too painful for you to think about?”—They Knew Too Much About Flying Saucers by Gray Barker Listen: https://www.richardhatemsparanormalbookshelf.com/ Support RHPB on Patreon here! https://patreon.com/RichardHatem?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink Get RHPB merch here! https://richardhatem-shop.fourthwall.com/?

With Scott and Forrest on hiatus, join hosts Ed Voccola (Rick and Morty, Bless The Harts) and Chris Cullari (Blumhouse, The Aviary) for a wild trip through the world of what scares them in this special presentation of the Astonishing Legends Network's hit show Scared All The Time! In this episode (chosen by the fans!) the boys go sicko mode and come down with a case of necrotizing fasciitis...better known as flesh-eating bacteria. They cover the symptoms, the consequences, and what it takes to survive one of the deadliest diseases known to man. Plus: sepsis survivor stories! Don't love every word they say? Ok, weirdo. Here's some "chapters" to find what you DO love: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:27 - Housekeeping 00:06:49 - We’re Talking Flesh-Eating Bacteria 00:10:04 - Cabin Fever 00:16:04 - Nico gets Necrotic 00:20:00 - Necrotizing Fasciitis 00:29:31 - Tranq 00:32:49 - The History of Flesh-Eating Diseases 00:41:32 - What Happens to the Infected 00:44:50 - FEB Survivor Stories 00:49:22 - The Case of the Red Leg 00:59:37 - Gross-ish Part 1 Starts 01:00:28 - Gross-ish Part 1 Ends 01:05:45 - Gross-ish Part 2 Starts 01:11:31 - Gross-ish Part 2 Ends 01:16:33 - Elenor Follow-Up 01:22:10 - Sepsis 01:25:00 - Sepsis Survivor Stories 01:28:15 - The Fear Tier NOTE: Ads out of our control may affect chapter timing. Visit this episode’s show notes for links and references. And the show notes for every episode can now be found on our website. Want even more out of SATT? Now you can SUPPORT THE SHOW and get NEW SATT CONTENT EVERY WEEK for as little as 5 BONES — which includes our bonus video show New Fear Unlocked — by joining SATT PREMIUM.

SPECIAL PRESENTATION of The Midnight Library for Astonishing Legends Listeners - From Miranda Merrick: Welcome, Spooky Lovely! We have a fabulous evening planned for you in Highgate Cemetery! There will be gruesome finds, battling vampire hunters, rattled bones, and wandering ghosts- all shared with you by your rumored witch host! So, breathe deep, the gathering gloom, and pick out your spot in The Reading Room! We're so happy to see you! Special Thanks to Sounds Like an Earful Music Supply for the amazing music AND sound design.

SPECIAL CROSSOVER PRESENTATION of Richard Hatem’s Paranormal Bookshelf "The Ghost of 29 Megacycles" - S1:E5 "At first, he couldn't believe what was happening. A shape was beginning to form. He could clearly see the head and face of a man. O'Neill was gripped in fear. 'My God who are you?' Bill said. He was more than surprised when the figure answered: 'They call me, Doc Nick'." – from The Ghost of 29 Megacycles by John G. Fuller. Close your eyes and picture this: it's the winter of 1984. Karma Chameleon is on the radio, Ronald Reagan just announced his candidacy for a second presidential term, and a young Richard was returning home late on a Saturday night when his brother, John, caught him in the hallway and made him listen to the scariest thing they'd ever heard. In this episode, Richard explores The Ghost of 29 Megacycles by John G. Fuller. This book chronicles the development and use of the Spiricom device, an invention claiming to facilitate two-way communication between the living and the dead. As Richard immerses himself in the pages of The Ghost of 29 Megacycles, which he found in 1997, he can’t help but see himself reflected in the pages. You see, he was holed up in the Heathman Hotel in Portland, Oregon, working on The Mothman Prophecies. Through Meek's unwavering belief in the impossible, Richard finds inspiration to embrace his own sense of limitless belief, propelling him to finish the screenplay and truly bet on himself. Join Richard as he uncovers the mysteries of the Spiricom and reflects on the power of belief, in both yourself…and the paranormal. Subscribe now wherever you listen to podcasts for the next episode. Learn more about the stories, books, music, and more featured in this episode at https://www.richardhatemsparanormalbookshelf.com/

Astonishing Legends and the Astonishing Dead Letter Office are on pause.

In tonight’s dead letter… Luke recounts a spooky camping trip with his brother and father where they found themselves surrounded by something both canine and ethereal. Despite being experienced outdoorsmen, they’re unable to defend themselves against whatever is encircling their campsite as the leader of this pack of animals stares intently at them, and has no reaction to shots fired in self-defense. LINKS: The Tule River Indian Tribe https://tulerivertribe-nsn.gov/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tule_River_Indian_Tribe_of_the_Tule_River_Reservation Black Dog https://www.thebarkingbugle.co.uk/the-black-dog-of-east-anglia/ The Barghest https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barghest The Hellhound https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellhound The Black Shuck https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Shuck Original Reddit Post https://www.reddit.com/r/Paranormal/comments/55mhg6/surrounded_by_translucent_coyotes/ The KLF 3AM Eternal https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3_a.m._Eternal MOVIE REFERENCES: Jacob’s Ladder https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob's_Ladder_(1990_film) BOOK REFERENCES: Wild Talents: By Charles Fort https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_Talents_(book) The Silver Bridge (Collapse/Mothman Connection) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Bridge PODCAST EPISODES: Let’s Not Meet https://letsnotmeetpodcast.com/ https://crypticcountypodcasts.com/ Radiolab: You Are Here https://www.radiolab.org/podcast/110165-you-are-here Astonishing Legends: Are We Ever Alone? https://open.spotify.com/episode/3nLvVgPmouZsTAnuxepPMo?si=7eb6d9be9f9b4c14 Astonishing Legends: The Sheriff and Outlaw Henry Plummer Part 1 https://open.spotify.com/episode/0aPODiXAQaJwg5GePi7039?si=78bc91b6c0e14a3a OUR SPONSOR: Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/dlo #rulapod Send YOUR story to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com

In 1988, the Knowles family’s journey across Australia’s remote Nullarbor Plain turned into a nightmare, when in the pre-dawn hours of January 20th, they encountered a glowing, egg-shaped object that chased their car along the Eyre Highway. They claimed the light emitted a high-pitched hum, filled the car with a gray mist, and lifted the vehicle off the road before dropping it, blowing out a tire. Fleeing in terror, they found the car dented and covered in black dust. A police officer confirmed their distress, and a truck driver reported seeing strange lights in the same area. What attacked the Knowles family that night? This week, we take a look. Visit our website for a lot more information on this episode.

In tonight’s dead letter… Veronica takes a ghost tour of an old jail in Charleston, South Carolina and has an intense encounter with a spirit there. She's able to describe this man in detail and later discovers the spirit is that of William Marcus, who was hanged at the jail for the murder of his wife. The experience was terrifying and shaped Veronica's path in understanding and protecting herself from many more unseen things she has crossed paths with in her life since then. The photo of William Marcus is from Charleston News and Courier (published as The News and Courier.) - August 4, 1906 - page 8. LINKS: Facebook video where the video tour of the jail with the guide can be found, at 4:30 the image of William Marcus can be seen. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=198368942110180&rdid=DOvyBA9NGT8WMtSY Stella Maris Catholic Church https://stellamarischurch.org/ American Ghost Walks (Tour Company) https://www.americanghostwalks.com/ ASTONISHING LEGENDS EPISODES MENTIONED: The Siren Call of Hungry Ghosts Part 1 https://open.spotify.com/episode/0R1h6Lw9GoAnMupP82zSrm?si=7f96f93019ef4976 The Vertical Plane Part 1 https://open.spotify.com/episode/69ynhhVF8UrVzI1OI4Rsoy?si=d266bf2f5e064ca2 Send YOUR story to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com

In the cemetery of Christ Church Parish Church in Barbados stands a half-buried stone crypt infamous for its early 19th-century mystery. Between 1807 and 1812, several heavy, lead-lined coffins were placed inside, but each time the vault was reopened, the caskets were found disturbed — despite the massive stone door being sealed tight with no sign of entry. Governor Lord Combermere investigated in 1819, sealing the vault with his stamp, and spreading sand to catch footprints, but when it was opened again, the coffins had once more been thrown into chaos with the seals unbroken and the sand untouched. The bodies were removed soon after, and the vault sealed again, its mystery still unsolved. Visit our website for a lot more information on this episode.

In tonight’s dead letter, listener Trevor recounts a bizarre encounter while looking out the window one night. He saw a strange, bald, meditating figure with long pointed ears in his friend’s backyard. The figure then opened its eyes, grinned at him with pointed teeth, and hopped away into the woods. Trevor’s evening began with taking the psychedelic drug mescaline, but he has some experience with it, and has never experienced something interactive like this. Trevor is plain about the fact that he had been under the influence earlier in the evening, and maybe that’s the reason for what he saw, but he does also wonder if the drug lifted a veil to reveal a real being, especially when he connected his story to an older episode of Astonishing Legends where a listener encountered something very similar, while awake and completely sober. LINKS: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5q6pnT9fOeVof8hNIndYYi?si=3e6b159e281c4ba9https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/DMT-The-Spirit-Molecule/Rick-Strassman/9780892819270https://open.spotify.com/episode/5ogRYNa6kWF6CKyUIkcnUl?si=23uwRaoCRNuXnrTqhSXw5Ahttps://www.organism.earth/library/document/what-ive-learned-from-psychedelicshttps://stevegjones.com/buy/hypnosis-mp3s/astral-projection-platinum-mp3/ Send your stories into deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com