

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

Oct 30, 2023 • 42min
The Broken Handle (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)
At around 9 a.m. on March 6, 1963, a woman living in a nice neighborhood in Minnesota heard her doorbell ring. So, she got up from her seat at the kitchen and began walking toward the door. But as she got closer to the door, the doorbell rang again. Ruth was annoyed – thinking it was probably some salesman being really pushy – but when she opened the door, she could tell this was no salesman, this was an emergency. Minutes later, police were swarming the neighborhood, guns drawn.For 100s more stories like these, check out our main YouTube channel just called "MrBallen" -- https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallenIf 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.

Oct 26, 2023 • 28min
The Bell Witch Haunting
One night, four young brothers were sleeping in their bedroom in their little house in Tennessee, when they started to hear what sounded like a rat gnawing on one of their bedposts. So, the two oldest brothers climbed out of their bed to go find this rat, but the second their feet touched the wooden floor, the gnawing sound stopped. The boys checked the room, they checked the bedposts, there was no sign of any rat. And so eventually, the two oldest brothers just kind of shrugged it off and got back in bed. But when they closed their eyes again, the gnawing sound filled the room again. Except this time, it was louder and more frantic. Little did they know, these sounds were just the beginning of a multi-yearlong nightmare that they and the rest of their family would have to endure. Their terrifying story is known as “The Bell Witch Haunting,” and it is considered to be one of the most frightening documented hauntings of all time. And today, I’m going to share their story with you. Story name, preview & link to original YouTube video:#1 -- "Bell Witch" -- One of the most terrifying documented hauntings of all time (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdHe0m4OtKw)For 100s more stories like these, check out our main YouTube channel just called "MrBallen" -- https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallenIf 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.

Oct 23, 2023 • 41min
Duct Tape (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)
Late one night in the summer of 1993, an 11-year-old boy climbed into his bedroom through an open outdoor window at his house in Port Hueneme, California. And when he got into his room, he was startled to see his 4-year-old little brother just standing there, motionless. Then, before the 11 year old could even ask what was going on, the 4-year-old just raised his arm and pointed to the bedroom door that led out to the hallway, and he said, “Mommy has a band-aid on her face.” A day later, police would discover the meaning of the little boy’s bizarre statement, and they would step into a crime scene that felt like it was straight out of a horror movie.For 100s more stories like these, check out our main YouTube channel just called "MrBallen" -- https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallenIf 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.

Oct 19, 2023 • 35min
Symptoms
Today’s podcast features 3 medical horror stories. The audio for all three stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel and has been remastered for today's episode.Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos:#3 -- "Green Needles" -- Man goes to the ER with extreme chest pains (Original YouTube link -- https://youtu.be/auz4tq50xZ0?t=1000)#2 -- "Midnight Stroll" -- The idea that this ACTUALLY happens to people is truly terrifying, both for them and for the people around them (Original YouTube link -- https://youtu.be/fLs9za4X08E?t=787)#1 -- "Trauma Room 1" -- A woman arrives at a hospital, seconds later it was evacuated (Original YouTube link -- https://youtu.be/7gFlFR1NBFE?t=727)For 100s more stories like these, check out our main YouTube channel just called "MrBallen" -- https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallenIf 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.

Oct 16, 2023 • 41min
Let Me In (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)
Just after 1:30 AM on May 12th, 1994, a young girl ran from her home in rural Maine out into the rainy night. Barefoot and terrified, the girl went door-to-door screaming for help, but no one heard her. Finally, after running nearly 2 miles, she arrived in her little downtown and flagged down a restaurant owner. The owner would help her call 911, and within minutes the police would arrive at the young girls home. And what they would discover was one of the most horrific crimes ever committed in that small town, not only because of its sheer brutality, but also because of who committed it and why. We tried to make this story make sense, but sometimes the truth is just stranger than fiction.For 100s more stories like these, check out our main YouTube channel just called "MrBallen" -- https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallenIf 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.

Oct 12, 2023 • 31min
Campfire Stories Vol. II
Today's podcast features 3 classic scary stories. The audio for all three stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel and has been remastered for today's episode.Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos:#3 -- "Turn Around" -- This is why you should never explore abandoned buildings (Original YouTube link -- https://youtu.be/auz4tq50xZ0?t=1000)#2 -- "The Witch" -- Wildland firefighter finds a strange looking cabin (Original YouTube link -- https://youtu.be/fLs9za4X08E?t=787)#1 -- "The Woman in Black" -- Sleep paralysis or a haunting? (Original YouTube link -- https://youtu.be/7gFlFR1NBFE?t=727)For 100s more stories like these, check out our main YouTube channel just called "MrBallen" -- https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallenIf 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.

Oct 9, 2023 • 37min
Slaughterhouse (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)
At around 2 a.m. on May 12th, 2007, a 20-year-old woman named Maggie woke up totally confused in her bedroom. As she sat there looking around her dark room trying to get her bearings, she suddenly became aware of high pitched screaming coming from the room next door – her brother's room. Then she heard loud crashing and banging sounds, like the sound of people wrestling each other. Maggie was terrified, but she climbed out of her bed and walked over to her closed door. And then after taking a deep breath, she opened it up and stepped into the hallway. Moments later, local police would arrive at Maggie's house, and at first when they searched the home, it was still and quiet. But when they went upstairs, they discovered something so horrible, that trying to use words to describe it doesn't really do it justice. And so, fair warning, this case is not for the faint of heart.For 100s more stories like these, check out our main YouTube channel just called "MrBallen" -- https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallenIf 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.

Oct 5, 2023 • 25min
Checkerboard
In 1967, a man was digging for gold in a forest in Canada, when behind him heard this sudden commotion. It sounded like geese getting really startled and flying off in different directions. And so he put down his pickaxe, stood up, and turned around. And what he claimed happened next is referred to as the “Falcon Lake” incident, and it’s considered to be one of the most credible, paranormal stories of all time.Story name, preview & link to original YouTube video:#1 -- "Checkerboard" -- One of the most credible “paranormal events” ever (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5t2XNO8ZH0)For 100s more stories like these, check out our main YouTube channel just called "MrBallen" -- https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallenIf 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.

Oct 2, 2023 • 41min
Blister Beetle Extract (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)
On the morning of June 14, 1929, two teenage boys walked through an open field outside of Columbus, Ohio. Suddenly, the boys stopped, because up ahead they saw a swarm of flies hovering over the tall grass. They couldn't see what was below the swarm, so the boys slowly walked a bit closer to get a better look. When they finally could see what was on the ground, both boy instantly began screaming for help. When the police arrived, they were horrified by what they saw, but it seemed like a pretty straightforward crime of passion. However, their investigation would take a totally bizarre turn that would involve rare recreational drugs, hidden bank accounts, secret lovers, secret apartments, and an Olympic gold medalist.For 100s more stories like these, check out our main YouTube channel just called "MrBallen" -- https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallenIf 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.

Sep 28, 2023 • 28min
The Story Behind... Leatherface & Candyman
Today’s podcast features 2 true stories that inspired legendary horror movies. 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 -- "Woman Suit" -- An infamous serial killer who inspired countless horror films (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4MGIA0A5VM)#1 -- "Candyman" -- This story inspired a popular horror movie, and when you get to the reveal - you'll understand why... nightmare fuel (Original YouTube link -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5jGBKT2V-4)For 100s more stories like these, check out our main YouTube channel just called "MrBallen" -- https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallenIf 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.


