MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories
Ballen Studios
MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark and Mysterious Stories is a true crime and mystery podcast that presents strange, dark and mysterious content delivered in story format. The program is hosted by John Allen a.k.a. MrBallen.
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Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes 7-days early and ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 27, 2026 • 41min
Fan Favorite - "Murder and Meditation"
A suburban knock leads to a tense neighborhood mystery and a witness who thinks she sees a possible coverup. A yoga instructor's turbulent relationship, a late-night fight, and a silent morning set off a criminal investigation. Detectives chase burglars, forensic dead ends, disappearing lovers, and a shifting timeline that upends the case.
10 snips
Mar 26, 2026 • 28min
Under the Surface
Three chilling true stories blur the line between rumor and reality. A night in the woods turns tragic after a feared predator is suspected. An isolated widow’s life hides a decades-old secret. A terrifying frontier mystery is solved by an unexpected, eerie discovery.
22 snips
Mar 23, 2026 • 34min
Gone for a Jog (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)
A police trail of blood through woods leads to a puzzling death that may not be suicide. Tension builds around a missing woman, a worried husband, and a possible stalking neighbor. Rumors swirl about a white van and searches expand as investigators uncover a second body. Forensic tire analysis and a shaky alibi push the story toward a shocking confession.
14 snips
Mar 20, 2026 • 31min
Adrenaline Rush | Campfire Stories with MrBallen
A harrowing wartime survival tale of a soldier lost in frozen wilderness, mistaken rescues, and improvising to stay alive. A mind-bending twist reveals why he kept going despite exhaustion. The story finishes with an astonishing recovery and life after the ordeal.
19 snips
Mar 18, 2026 • 28min
Beneath the Surface (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)
A tale of a man who fakes his death, adopts a new identity, and attempts a seaside escape gone wrong. A frozen outpost becomes a pressure cooker when a spoiled book ending sparks violence among isolated crew. Multiple short, suspenseful scenes explore deception, secrecy, and the fragile masks people wear.
26 snips
Mar 16, 2026 • 40min
Who's At The Door (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)
A chilling late-night home invasion in Largo unfolds with a bloodied neighbor collapsing on the lawn. A child wakes to an intruder and provides a tense eyewitness account. Investigators chase forensic clues, cut phone lines, a ski mask, jogger sightings, and a linked murder theory before a tip and reconstruction point to the attacker.
14 snips
Mar 13, 2026 • 31min
Fan Favorite - "You Can't Hide Here"
Detectives find a brutally mangled teenage body in a suburban road and follow baffling clues. Investigators chase leads across states, uncover strange sightings that defy explanation, and piece together a daring theory involving hidden places on an aircraft. The story tracks tense searches, baffling forensics, and a shocking reconstruction of how the boy may have met his fate.
7 snips
Mar 12, 2026 • 28min
Stranger Than Fiction Vol. XIII
Three remastered true stories packed into tense, surreal moments. A Christmas morning that turns into a chilling investigation. A bizarre Domino’s standoff fueled by delusion and a strange list of demands. A survivor’s avalanche ordeal featuring a mysterious guiding presence and a dramatic rescue.
9 snips
Mar 11, 2026 • 29min
A Pyrrhic Victory (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)
Two stories about people who reached major career goals at devastating personal cost. One recounts a courtroom reenactment gone tragically wrong during an 1871 murder trial. The other follows the creation of a haunting 1932 song that exploded worldwide and sparked controversy tied to alleged suicides. Both tales explore fame, obsession, and the steep price of success.
22 snips
Mar 9, 2026 • 33min
Take Out (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)
A late-night takeout pickup turns into a crucial piece of criminal puzzle. A quiet retiree disappears after missing a night out and is later found murdered. Detectives piece together evidence from neighborhood interviews, a restaurant receipt, and forensic reconstruction to identify an unlikely teenage perpetrator.
