Category Archives: History

Cryptozoology, History, Urban Legend

Cynocephaly

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

In this episode of Strange Matters we discuss the phenomenon of Cynocephaly, the bizarre characteristic of humans that possess a dog-like head.  Creatures of cynocephaly have been recorded in human history for thousands of years, dating back to the Ancient Greeks and Egyptians.  Tales of these human/dog mixes have been seen throughout the middle ages and even up to the modern day.  The origins of these mysterious beings remain a mystery, as well as to why stories of them exist all over the world.

Though commonly believed to be a mere myth, some have come up with several logical reasons behind the origins of these creatures to explain their existence and persistence throughout history.  Some theories suggest ancient people mistook certain animals to be cynocephali, while others think people portrayed as these half-dog beasts were simply how civilized societies represented foreigners and barbarians.  Whether there is any realistic explanations for these fantastical creatures will forever be unknown, but the legends of cynocephaly continue to be an intriguing historical mystery!

History, Paranormal, Unsolved Mystery, Urban Legend

SPECIAL – Local Legends Collaboration

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

Listen to this special collaborative episode between Strange Matters, Don’t Break the Oath, Zeng This, and Knock Once For Yes Podcasts!  Each of the podcasts and their host discuss a number of local urban legends, mysteries, and unexplained events.

From a morbid group of sisters who had a dark reputation for murder, a cemetery vampire, unexplained UFOs, and some  ghostly hauntings, check out this episode to hear a range of interesting and creepy stories!

Big thanks to the hosts of Don’t Break the Oath, Zeng This, & Knock Once For Yes podcasts for working with us on this episode!

 

 

History, Podcast, True Crime

Haitian Zombification

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

In this episode we discuss some of the most convincing, interesting and disturbing reports of real-life zombies. The first story is about a Haitian man named Clairvius Narcisse. At the age of 40, Narcisse died under mysterious circumstances and was buried. 18 years later and much to his sister’s horror, he reappeared and greeted her in a marketplace. Most people believe he was cursed by a witch doctor who used tetrodotoxin to make him appear dead. Once buried, the witch doctor (known as a “bokor”) revived and enslaved Narcisse on his plantation. While far-fetched, this story is likely plausible as there exists a strong cultural belief in zombies in the Haitian culture. This in conjunction with the toxins he was exposed to could possible have created a placebo effect convincing Narcisse that he was a real-life zombie.

Rudy Eugene, also known as the Miami Cannibal is known for pouncing on an innocent, homeless man and gnawing 75% of his face off. Initially thought to be under the influence of some recreational hallucinogens, Eugene was shot and died at the scene of the crime. Later toxicology reports showed only trace amounts of marijuana in his body. This has gone down as one of the most disturbing and violent scenes in Miami as many witnesses report. But if not drugs, what could have caused Eugene to commit this horrific crime?

Conspiracy, History, Unsolved Mystery, Urban Legend

Montauk – Part 2 – Camp Hero

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

The follow up episode in the series discussing the mysterious Montauk Project!  This episode covers the amazing and wild experiments that took place in the project’s main base of operation, Camp Hero.  The Montauk Project remains one of the most daring and comprehensive secret military programs in history: experimenting in time travel, teleportation, time travel, psychic abilities, and even contact with Aliens.

The Montauk Project is a rumored series of experiments that took place in Montauk, NY in the 1970s and 80s.  A follow up to the previous Philadelphia Experiment, researchers hoped to achieve even greater feats.  Stationed at Camp Hero, the Montauk Project operated in secret to push the boundaries of human knowledge, experimenting in psychological warfare, manipulation of time and space, and dealings with extraterrestrial lifeforms.  Despite the wondrous claims of the project, very few sources of information and witness accounts exist as evidence.

Did the military secretly experiment with time travel and mind control, even using alien technology? Or is the entire project simply a hoax or myth?  Listen to the story of the Montauk Project and come to your own conclusion!

Part I – The Philadelphia Experiment

Check out other great podcast over at Dark Myths!

Featured Dark Myths podcast of the month: Bohemican Podcast

Conspiracy, History, Urban Legend

Montauk – Part 1 – The Philadelphia Experiment

1 Comment

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

This episode of Strange Matters is the first part of a series discussing the legendary Montauk Project, a rumored series of top-secret military projects carried out by the United States government.  The Montauk Project includes experiments in psychological warfare, teleportation, and even time travel.   However, years before the Montauk Project would supposedly be created, another secret military operation took place that acted as a predecessor: The Philadelphia Experiment.  

The Philadelphia Experiment was an alleged top secret military operation that took place in 1943 at the Naval shipyards in Philadelphia, PA.  Seeking an advantage over the Germans, the US Navy used newly developed scientific equipment in an attempt to create a ship that would be undetectable to enemy radar.  The events that would actually occur during the experiment would instead baffle the observing scientists, even going so far as defying the laws of physics as we understand them.

As extraordinary and fantastic as the story of the Philadelphia Experiment is, many believe the whole thing is simply fiction.  Only a few witnesses exist who claim to know about the experiment, and there is no evidence or records that the secret project ever took place.   Is the Philadelphia Experiment a hoax? Or is it one of the greatest secret military projects in history?

Part II discussing the Montauk Project coming soon!

 

History, Unsolved Mystery

The Bridgend Suicides

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

This episode of Strange Matters covers the dark and disturbing series of deaths known as the Bridgend Suicides.  Over the course of several years, dozens of people, mostly young adults and teens, would suddenly and without warning take their own lives.  Almost of all these deaths were caused by hanging.  The story of the Bridgend Suicides spread globally due to the heavy media  involvement, as news spread across the world of the mysterious and deadly trend that was plaguing this small Welsh town.

Continue reading The Bridgend Suicides →