Spelade
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Many family traditions and treasured folktales involve strangers who visit us. What would Christmas be without Santa, after all. But strangers in general are a lot less appealing than we might believe.
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Today’s podcast will feature 2 stories that many people believe couldn't have happened by chance alone. 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 -- "Bleeding Out" -- You couldn't have planned this even if you wanted to (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5Zr0gqa1yk) #1 -- "Three Hangings" -- This story might be one of the most compelling cases of divine intervention (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNDWVv-faiI)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
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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By spring of 1945, Hitler was surrounded on every front, but one project inside a secret mine kept running until the end. It was called Die Glocke, The Bell, built on mercury, fire, and a design borrowed from a thousand-year-old Indian text.
The scientists who built it vanished, along with the man who ran the entire project. Decades later, the same technology resurfaced in a US Navy patent, and nobody could explain how it got there.
This is the story of a warning written a thousand years before World War II, the men who ignored it, and the strange thread connecting an ancient king to modern spaceflight. Some of it is real, and none of it is finished.
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Today's story is a fan favorite that was previously published as Episode 311.
On a morning in 2002, a man in Indianapolis, Indiana woke up in a cold sweat. His hands shook as he tried to block out the images he’d seen in his sleep, but he knew these images would not just go away – they would keep haunting him until he did something about it. He got out of bed and walked to his phone. He dialed 9-1-1 and said he needed to talk to a detective, because he was having dreams that showed him everything that had happened during a horrific murder all the way back in 1989. The dreams this man claimed to have would help reopen an unsolved murder case that had shocked Indianapolis thirteen years earlier. But these dreams would not answer the questions police had been wrestling with for years, and it would take them another decade to finally track down the 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 other major social media platform, my username on all of them is @mrballen
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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In December 1990, a worried father paced his kitchen, hoping his daughter would call. But the phone stayed silent, and an anxious pit formed in his stomach. He was worried his daughter was in trouble – and afraid that he, himself, had just accidentally done something to make things worse.
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
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Few groups leave a society unsettled more than the ones that buck the system and reject the mainstream path. But a few have even managed to leave the people around them more than a little terrified.
Narrated and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with writing by GennaRose Nethercott, research by Cassandra de Alba, and music by Chad Lawson.
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PRE-ORDER EXHUMED TODAY: aaronmahnke.com/exhumed
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To advertise on this podcast please email: [email protected]. Or go to: https://advertising.libsyn.com/lore
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Filling in for Boomer & Gio on a wild pre-July 4th show, Jerry and Gordon kick things off by tackling the reigning champion Knicks freezing out a 41-year-old LeBron James, Jaylen Brown's Twitch meltdown over being shipped to Philly, Uruguay's stranded World Cup squad, and Taylor Swift's upcoming 10-hour MSG "wedding" spectacle. The holiday chaos rolls on as Gordon brands soccer a "terrible first draft," the Yankees bleed without Aaron Judge, and Steve Cohen nukes the Mets' clubhouse, all unfolding alongside a Metallica vs. Beach Boys debate, a sneaky prank caller, Jerry's US history quiz, and C-Lo's headlines. Finally, MLB Network's Robert Flores confirms a explosive Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor feud that puts David Stearns on the ultimate hot seat, capping off a chaotic broadcast where Gordon begs for elite Twitter status and furious callers reject aging superstars to declare New York Jalen Brunson’s town.
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Parties promise us a break from the mundane or troubling. But a few celebratory gatherings in history have turned the tables, delivering something far more frightening.
Narrated and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with writing by GennaRose Nethercott, research by Cassandra de Alba, and music by Chad Lawson.
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PRE-ORDER EXHUMED TODAY: aaronmahnke.com/exhumed
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To report a concern regarding a radio-style, non-Aaron ad in this episode, reach out to ads @ lorepodcast.com with the name of the company or organization so we can look into it.
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©2026 Aaron Mahnke. All rights reserved.
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Today we tackle massive NBA free agency shakeups as LeBron James exits LA, Kawhi Leonard heads back to Toronto, and Draymond Green opts out. Over on the diamond, the Mets rack up shutouts and hunt for a new manager while the Yankees slide, benches clear between the Red Sox and Nationals, and a Guardians rookie makes a hilarious viral blunder. Finally, we break down historic World Cup and baseball TV ratings, the Roommates podcast roasting Josh Hart, Blake Griffin's shocking sports psychologist betrayal, and a studio visit from Craig Carton to celebrate WFAN's 39th birthday.
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Tonight's story is a classic scary story. It's so unbelievable that I think a lot of people are going to have a hard time believing it, but when this happened in Hong Kong, this story got picked up by many major outlets and was covered extensive – so that suggests there's some real credibility to this story. But ultimately, it's up to you to decide what you actually believe.
Be sure to WATCH this episode on my YouTube channel on Friday, June 26th!
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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In October 1999, a 911 dispatcher in Austin, Texas was nearing the end of a long night shift when a strange call came in. The man said his guts had blown out of his stomach. The dispatcher asked him to explain what happened, but all the caller would say was that he just woke up and his guts were coming out. He was holding them in with his hand. And he needed an ambulance... now.
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
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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In 1650 BC, a city on the Dead Sea burned so completely that nothing grew there for six centuries. The destruction happened in a single morning, and the evidence left in the ground points to something falling from the sky.
Three artifacts from three different countries describe the same event. A clay tablet from ancient Iraq. A bronze disk pulled from a German hillside. Melted pottery from the Jordan Valley.
Scientists spent fifteen years excavating the site. What they pulled from the ground included glazed pottery, shocked quartz, diamond dust, and skeletons frozen mid-step. The same fingerprint shows up at confirmed impact sites worldwide.
The story doesn't end in 1650 BC. The debris field responsible has a return date, and astronomers are watching the calendar.
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We react to the news that the New York Mets have fired manager Carlos Mendoza. Plus, your calls.
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Dark stories often have twists, turns, and the constant fear of getting lost in the shadows. Which is a lot like one real trail that haunts American history. Let's take a journey there together.
Narrated and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with writing by GennaRose Nethercott, research by Cassandra de Alba, and music by Chad Lawson.
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PRE-ORDER EXHUMED TODAY: aaronmahnke.com/exhumed
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Lore Resources:
Get Ad-Free Lore: lorepodcast.com/support Episode Music: lorepodcast.com/music Episode Sources: lorepodcast.com/sources Official Lore Merchandise: lorepodcast.com/shop—————————
Sponsors:
BetterHelp: Lore is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at BetterHelp.com/LORE, and get on your way to being your best self. Squarespace: Head to Squarespace.com/lore to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using the code LORE. Bilt: Membership that rewards you with points on every housing payment, wherever you live. Join the membership for where you live at JoinBilt.com/Lore. Quince: Premium European clothing and accessories for 50% to 80% less than similar brands. Visit Quince.com/LORE for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.—————————
To report a concern regarding a radio-style, non-Aaron ad in this episode, reach out to ads @ lorepodcast.com with the name of the company or organization so we can look into it.
To advertise on this podcast please email: [email protected]. Or go to: https://advertising.libsyn.com/lore
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©2026 Aaron Mahnke
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Today, I have 3 really good stories that all, in their own way, demonstrate that sometimes the truth really is stranger than fiction.
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
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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Today on the show, we tackle a tale of two New York baseball teams as the Yankees keep rolling while the Mets sink into the "depths of despair" after a brutal, six-error doubleheader disaster. We dive deep into the heated Caitlin Clark and WNBA discourse, welcome Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin into the studio to talk Fanatics-fest, and break news of LaMelo Ball's trade to the Timberwolves. Plus, C-Lo delivers the updates while the guys riff on everything from media beefs and phone addictions to Dianna Russini FaceTiming a head coach to escape a traffic ticket.
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Today, I’m going to tell you two stories about people who found themselves in hopeless situations. But they made an unexpected choice that changed their lives – for better or worse.
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
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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In May 1967, a Polish immigrant named Stefan Michalak was hunting for silver in the Canadian wilderness when two glowing objects dropped out of the sky. One landed nearby. He sketched it, approached it, and ended up in the hospital.
His burns were documented. His weight loss was documented. His radiation-like symptoms baffled more than a dozen doctors, including specialists at the Mayo Clinic.
The Royal Canadian Air Force launched an investigation. So did the RCMP. So did the US Air Force. Nobody could explain what happened.
The government eventually sealed the file. The same government, fifty years later, minted his story on a coin. It glows in the dark.
This is the Falcon Lake Incident — Canada's most documented UFO case, and it's still unsolved.
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Gather round, because this happened. A woman drives through her hometown and the cemetery is gone — replaced by a dirt lot. A man is found behind a fast food restaurant with no name, no history, and no record of existing for twenty-one years. A woman wakes up to discover her boyfriend never existed and her own life has been quietly rewritten.
These are three real accounts from real people. None of them involve UFOs or hauntings. They don't fit neatly into any category.
What they share is stranger than any single explanation: the sense that reality shifted without warning, and that the world kept moving like nothing happened. Each person was left holding a version of events that no one else could confirm.
These stories don't have clean endings.
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Hundreds of survivors across a century — climbers, sailors, divers, soldiers — report the same thing. At the moment they were about to die, a calm presence appeared beside them.
It gave directions. It knew the way out. It disappeared the moment the danger passed.
A neuroscientist built a machine that can summon something like it. But what his subjects experienced and what survivors describe are not the same thing.
The cases are real. The pattern is undeniable. What the presence actually is — that part is still open.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices - Visa fler
