Weird Darkness: Stories of the Paranormal, Supernatural, Legends, Lore, Mysterious, Macabre, Unsolved

Darren Marlar

Award-winning podcast hosted by voice artist Darren Marlar who narrates true stories of crime, the unexplained, and paranormal.

  • 58 minutes 25 seconds
    VALLEY OF THE HEADLESS MEN | The Nahanni Vanished 100 Years Ago – So Who Are People Seeing Now?
    Deep in Canada's Northwest Territories, a remote valley holds a disturbing record: since 1908, at least 44 people have vanished or been found dead, some discovered without their heads.

    IN THIS EPISODE: Deep in Canada's Northwest Territories, a remote valley holds a disturbing record: since 1908, at least 44 people have vanished or been found dead, some discovered without their heads. And despite it being over a hundred years ago when it began – there are still sightings of strange men, odd encounters, missing people, and still… corpses being found, right through into the 21st century. Burned.. beheaded… and in some cases… fresh.

    PRINT VERSION (Original Article): https://weirddarkness.com/nahanni-valley-headless-men-canada/
    EPISODE PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/ValleyOfHeadlessMen

    CHAPTERS (All Times Approximate – Add One Minute To Each For YouTube)…
    00:00:00.000 = PART ONE: They Never Stopped Coming
    00:04:25.883 = Show Open
    00:05:59.272 = PART TWO: The People Who Were Never Found
    00:19:26.630 = PART THREE: The Bodies That Shouldn’t Be There
    00:42:52.965 = PART FOUR: Still Here After All These Years
    00:56:46.346 = Show Close

    *** = Begins immediately after inserted ad break
    =====(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: March 31, 2026
    ABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.
    1 April 2026, 1:25 am
  • 10 minutes 11 seconds
    Schools Are Running Hogwarts Style Sorting Ceremonies — The Numbers Are Hard to Deny
    Pittsburgh middle schools sorted students into named houses with ceremonies, colors, and mottos — and the attendance and discipline numbers that followed are difficult to explain away.

    *No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*

    PRINT VERSION: https://weirddarkness.com/hogwarts-house-system-real-schools/

    WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
    #WeirdDarkness, #WeirdDarkNEWS
    31 March 2026, 10:30 pm
  • 9 minutes 15 seconds
    Spudnik-1: The Tentacled Space Creature That Turned Out to Be a Potato
    A NASA astronaut posted a photo of something purple, egg-shaped, and sprouting tentacles that was floating aboard the International Space Station — and the explanation is simultaneously mundane and genuinely strange.

    *No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*

    PRINT VERSION: https://weirddarkness.com/spudnik/

    WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
    #WeirdDarkness, #WeirdDarkNEWS
    31 March 2026, 8:22 pm
  • 5 hours 4 minutes
    She Went to a Church Dance. She Came Back in a Stolen Car With No Memory.
    “A Stranger Among Us”: A chance encounter at a church social leads a widowed mother down a rabbit hole of missing time, stolen cars, and hypnotic revelations — and what she remembers from that lost night is only the beginning. | #RetroRadio #WeirdDarkness | EP0615

    CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
    00:00:00.000 = Show Open
    00:01:30.028 = CBS Radio Mystery Theater, “A Stranger Among Us” (July 07, 1977)
    00:45:48.546 = House of Mystery, “Gift From The Dead” (August 03, 1947) ***WD
    01:15:31.351 = Incredible But True, “Silent As a Tomb” (1949)
    01:19:00.383 = Inner Sanctum, “The Strange Cat” (July 26, 1942) (Low Quality At End)
    01:39:58.996 = The Key, “Woman Murdered” (1950s) ***WD
    02:04:41.421 = Lights Out, “Lord Marley’s Ghost” (July 14, 1937)
    02:34:22.869 = Lux Radio Theater, “The Canterville Ghost” (June 18, 1945)
    03:33:32.909 = Macabre, “Man In The Mirror” (November 27, 1961) ***WD
    04:02:35.329 = Philip Marlowe, “Kid On The Corner” (December 03, 1949)
    04:31:51.019 = Let George Do It, “Ghost of Ireland Betty” (September 27, 1954) ***WD (LQ)
    05:03:13.611 = Show Close

    (ADU) = Air Date Unknown
    (LQ) = Low Quality
    ***WD = Remastered, edited, or cleaned up by Weird Darkness to make the episode more listenable. Audio may not be pristine, but it will be better than the original file which may have been unusable or more difficult to hear without editing.

    ABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.


    "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46


    WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.


    CUSTOM WEBPAGE: https://weirddarkness.com/WDRR0615
    31 March 2026, 3:46 am
  • 1 hour 4 minutes
    Campers Share the Scariest Things That Ever Happened to Them in the Wilderness
    From a forest so silent it felt like the trees themselves were hiding, to glowing eyes across the river, to footprints in the snow that started and ended at cliffs no one could climb — these are the camping trips nobody talks about around the fire.

    *No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*


    IN THIS EPISODE: IN THIS EPISODE: With all the nastiness and violence that has taken place around the Tower of London, you’d probably expect to come across a spook or twelve… but would you be surprised to find out that it’s also haunted by a spectral bear? (Ghost Bear of the Tower of London) *** In the winter of 1982, Alan Phillips was lost in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, in temperatures of -22°F (-30°C), in a blinding snowstorm. His survival and rescue was seen as miraculous… and then later it was found out that rescuers had just saved the life of a serial killer. (The Miracle Rescue of a Serial Killer) *** A famous silent-film actress suddenly disappears at sea. Was she the victim of foul play? Did she fall overboard? Or was it all a hoax simply to gain publicity? (The Case of the Vanishing Movie Star) *** Ghosts are almost always scary – but the most terrifying are those that become violent. The poltergeists. We’ll look at five of the most violent poltergeist cases of all time. There are some ghosts you do not want inside your home. (Violent Poltergeists) *** Camping is always fun – getting together with friends or family, pitching a tent, roasting hotdogs on an open fire, telling ghost stories, hearing a snap of a twig in the brush behind you, seeing glowing eyes in the darkness, hearing animal-like growls coming from just outside your tent in the middle of the night… what’s there not to like? Okay, so maybe camping can be a bit creepy, as we’ll find out from a few Redditors who share some of their scariest camping experiences. (Camping Creepies)

    CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…
    00:00:00.000 = Show Open
    00:02:37.186 = Camping Creepies
    00:20:51.094 = The Ghost Bear of the Tower of London ***
    00:35:32.755 = The Case of the Vanishing Movie Star
    00:43:59.107 = The Miracle Rescue of a Serial Killer ***
    00:48:51.353 = Violent Poltergeists
    01:02:30.285 = Show Close
    *** = Begins immediately after inserted ad break

    HELPFUL LINKS & RESOURCES…
    https://WeirdDarkness.com/ALBUMS = Songs and Videos by our Weird Darkness punk band, #DarkWeirdness
    https://WeirdDarkness.com/STORE = Tees, Mugs, Socks, Hoodies, Totes, Hats, Kidswear & More
    https://WeirdDarkness.com/HOPE = Hope For Depression or Thoughts of Self-Harm
    https://WeirdDarkness.com/NEWSLETTER = In-Depth Articles, Memes, Weird DarkNEWS, Videos & More
    https://WeirdDarkness.com/AUDIOBOOKS = FREE Audiobooks Narrated By Darren Marlar

    EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/CampfireEncounters

    SOURCES and RESOURCES:
    “The Case of the Vanishing Movie Star” from Strange Company: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/c4t7hn4a
    “Camping Creepies” by Erika Valverde for Ranker: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/8ccm9h2d
    “The Ghost Bear” by Miss Jessel for Haunted Palace Blog: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3zbymxsy
    “The Miracle Rescue of a Serial Killer” from Strange Outdoors: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/ycn23vwh
    “Violent Poltergeists” by Audrey Webster for The Line-Up: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/uanuyyz6
    (Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)
    "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46

    WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.

    Originally aired: September 14, 2021

    ABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: #WeirdDarkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all things strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold cases, conspiracy theories, and more. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “20 Best Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a blend of “Coast to Coast AM”, “The Twilight Zone”, “Unsolved Mysteries”, and “In Search Of”.DISCLAIMER: Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.
    31 March 2026, 12:39 am
  • 5 minutes 48 seconds
    He Robbed Six Banks in Five Days. Three Said No and One Only Gave Him Twenty Bucks
    The NYPD has asked anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS.

    Gustavo DeJesus Torres spent a week hitting Chase Bank branches across four New York City boroughs with threatening notes — and his total take wouldn’t cover a month’s rent in any of the four boroughs he visited.

    *No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*

    PRINT VERSION: https://weirddarkness.com/nyc-man-robs-six-banks-five-days-605

    WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
    #WeirdDarkness, #WeirdDarkNEWS
    30 March 2026, 11:28 pm
  • 9 minutes 4 seconds
    She Checked Into the Hospital in October — And Refuses To Leave
    A Florida hospital issued three separate discharge orders, coordinated with family, arranged transportation, filed a lawsuit, and called in the sheriff — and one patient still hasn’t left.

    *No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*

    PRINT VERSION: https://weirddarkness.com/hospital-patient-wont-leave/

    WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
    #WeirdDarkness, #WeirdDarkNEWS
    30 March 2026, 10:53 pm
  • 5 minutes 6 seconds
    He Led Her Out the Back Door While Her Mother Was Standing Right There
    A complete stranger walked a 4-year-old girl out the rear exit of a Long Island laundromat in the middle of a Saturday afternoon — with her mother still inside.

    *No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*

    PRINT VERSION: https://weirddarkness.com/patchogue-laundromat-kidnapping

    WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.
    #WeirdDarkness, #WeirdDarkNEWS
    30 March 2026, 10:12 pm
  • 2 minutes 13 seconds
    My Brain Keeps Saying NOPE | Now I Finally Have A Name For This Horrible Feeling!
    For years, I thought I was dealing with migraines… or maybe vertigo. Turns out, it’s neither. It’s something I couldn’t explain — a strange, heavy pressure in my head that shuts everything down without warning. In this video, I think I’ve finally come up with an official name for it.
    30 March 2026, 8:21 pm
  • 1 hour 28 minutes
    The Mysterious & Monstrous Melonheads | America's Most Disturbing Backwoods Legend
    Deep in the rural backwoods of Ohio, Connecticut, and Michigan, locals whisper about pale, emaciated creatures with grotesquely oversized heads that prowl lonely roads after dark — and the eyewitnesses who claim to have encountered them say whatever they are, they are anything but legend. | #WDRadio March 29, 2026

    HOUR ONE: In parts of Africa it’s not the werewolf you need to look out for, but the were-hyena… and it’s almost always the local blacksmith that is the man behind the monster. (Lesser Known Morphing Monsters: The Shape-Shifter Hyena) *** Does the Vatican have a device that allows them to see in the past and the future? Some believe they do. And if it were to ever fall into the wrong hands, it could then create the “scariest dictatorship the world has ever seen.” (The Vatican’s Chronovisor) *** Some fathers will do whatever it takes to protect the virtue of their daughters. One man’s solution came at the end of an ax blade. (The Linville Murderer) *** A man believes the creature in his nightmares may be trying to speak with him. (Spirit Communicating Through My Dreams) *** A young girl is surprised to find the Easter Bunny visit her in the middle of the night. But many years later she learns it wasn’t either of her parents. (Easter Bunny Creeper) *** The stories range from the being inbred cretins running amok, to government created mutants, to escaped hydrocephalic patients from an insane asylum. What are the strange creatures people are seeing in the deep woods of Ohio? (Strange Encounters With The Bizarre Melonheads) *** Glitch In The Matrix
    ==========
    HOUR TWO: A group of hunters and Bigfoot enthusiasts go out looking for the elusive creature – but what they find is even more bizarre than anyone might have expected. (The Ultimate Monstrous Thought-Form) *** No one really thinks about it, but cops are usually one of the most credible witnesses to paranormal phenomena. Police officers are trained observers and usually will make better witnesses than a civilian. But even our brave men and women in blue can be terrified into a shade of white. (Police and the Paranormal) *** A bizarre phenomenon that manages to teeter where the lines of Bigfoot, Werewolves, the paranormal, and urban legend intersect, takes things deeper into the strange with various reports that suggest these beings utilize the mental power of telepathy as well. We’ll look into some of the creepy encounters with the Dogman. (Bizarre Encounters With Telepathic Dogmen)
    ==========SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM TONIGHT’S SHOW:“Lesser Known Morphing Monsters: The Shape-Shifter Hyena” by Nick Redfern: http://bit.ly/2lNmfOq“The Vatican’s Chronovisor” by Amando Flavio: http://bit.ly/2mh4Vl3“The Linville Murderer” by Robert Wilhelm: http://bit.ly/2klRUWQ“Spirit Communicating Through My Dreams” by Ari Lancaster: http://bit.ly/2mh4QxL“The Easter Bunny Creeper” posted anonymously at WeirdDarkness.com: http://bit.ly/2lN3Wcb“Strange Encounters With The Bizarre Melonheads” by Brent Swancer: http://bit.ly/2keM2hS“Glitch In The Matrix” from Paranormality Magazine: https://weirddarkness.com/magazine“Bizarre Encounters With Telepathic Dogmen” by Brent Swancer: http://bit.ly/2lQ72fv (Photos mentioned in this story:http://bit.ly/2mbhs9r) “Police and the Paranormal” is a collection of stories gathered from GhostTheory.com and GhostsNGhouls.com: http://bit.ly/2kKyk6K (other link is no longer available)“The Ultimate Monstrous Thought-Form” by Nick Redfern: http://bit.ly/2mhZUZD==========(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for material I use whenever possible. If I have overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it immediately. Some links may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)=========="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46==========WeirdDarkness®, WeirdDarkness© 2026==========To become a Weird Darkness Radio Show affiliate, contact Radio America at [email protected], or call 800-807-4703 (press 2 or dial ext 250).
    30 March 2026, 5:00 am
  • 7 minutes 44 seconds
    Why My Brain Shuts Down Without Warning, What I'm Doing About It, And How It's Affecting My Podcast
    Last week was a lot — computer problems, server issues, a demonetization I still don't fully understand, and a health situation I've been misreading for years. I'm okay, but some things are changing, and I wanted to be straight with you about all of it.
    I'll talk about what I've figured out regarding how my brain actually works, why Morning Weird Darkness isn't coming back, what's staying, what's getting simplified, and why all of this is ultimately about making sure Weird Darkness keeps going for the long haul.
    Thank you for sticking with me. Truly.
    30 March 2026, 4:13 am
  • More Episodes? Get the App