Inquirers into the Strange
80 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 year ago - ★ - 1 ratingInquirers into the Strange is a monthly(ish) podcast hosted by Ansir and Sophia. Join them as they discuss a vast array of topics including: the paranormal, occult, cryptozoology, myths & legends, extra-terrestrials, UFOs, strange murders and events, as well as anything else that seems to defy explanation. Ansir provides his mix of logic and occult knowledge, whilst Sophia draws forth reason by asking the questions that everyone has in mind -- injecting a good dose of humour as only she can!
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Episodes
Aokigahara suicide forest
February 04, 2023 11:00 - 26 minutes - 18.2 MB**Trigger warning -- this episode includes the discussion of suicide and mental health** The Aokigahara forest in Japan is an example of a zone where dark energies, emotions, and history combine to form a void which draws people in and influences their mental state. Join Ansir & Sophia as they discuss the infamous suicide forest. Support the show
Paranormal Investigations
October 28, 2022 19:00 - 1 hour - 41.6 MBThis Halloween, Ansir & Sophia discuss the art of paranormal investigation. What equipment should you use? How should you use it? What pitfalls do you need to be aware of and avoid? Support the show
the Axe Murderer(s)
August 03, 2022 14:00 - 51 minutes - 35.5 MBBetween 1900 and 1922, there are a number of axe murders across the United States of America, plus one in Germany, that share a number of traits. Could they be linked? Was one man to blame for a killing spree spanning decades, state lines, and international borders? This is the theory put forth by Bill and Rachel James in their book 'the Man from the Train'. Join Ansir and Sophia as we discuss the hypothesis and the possibility that even more murders could be linked. Support the show
The Owen Group and the Phillip Experiment
May 08, 2022 13:00 - 31 minutes - 21.7 MBIn 1974, the Owen Group undertook an experiment to test if the collective unconscious could create an egregore -- Phillip the imaginary ghost. The results were surprising as Phillip manifested phenomena and evidenced the potential of the subconscious projection of psychical entities. Join Ansir & Sophia as they discuss the experiment and how it may explain aspects of poltergeist phenomena and why some paranormal investigators experience exactly what they hope and expect to do so. Support t...
the Pendle Witches of 1612
April 09, 2022 16:00 - 1 hour - 68.4 MBIn 1612, twenty individuals found themselves accused of witchcraft in the rural region around Pendle Hill, Lancashire in northern England. Far from being a clear case of misogynistic persecution of women, the case saw both men and women confess to witchcraft and everyone accusing each other. With multiple factors at play, there are many things that fed into the events of 1612 and those prior, including witchcraft hysteria, recuscancy, a form of magical protection racket that saw some indiv...
the Conjuring Tale of the Perron Family Farmhouse
February 18, 2022 15:00 - 45 minutes - 31 MBThe Perron Family Farmhouse, 1971 -- better known to contemporary audiences as the events of the Conjuring film. With claims of ghosts from across two centuries of family life in a pre-revolutionary house and the accusation that one entity was that of a local witch, there is certainly much to investigate in this case. Join Ansir & Sophia as they conjure up the tale and discuss what likely occurred. Support the show
The Jersey Devil
January 30, 2022 17:00 - 35 minutes - 24.6 MBFor almost three centuries, something has terrorised communities around the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. With the head of a horse, horns, bat-like wings, and a terrifying screech, the Jersey Devil is seemingly more of a creature of folklore than a cryptid, but there are thousands of witnesses and many of them are credible. What then is the Jersey Devil? Support the show
Who put Bella in the Witch Elm?
December 31, 2021 17:00 - 43 minutes - 29.9 MB1943, England -- four boys find the remains of an unknown lady in a tree in a remote and private country estate. The body was decomposed, missing a hand, and had fabric stuffed in the mouth. When mysterious graffiti began to appear in the region asking "Who put Bella in the Wytch Elm?", a name was assigned to the body and the case of Bella rose to infamy. Remaining unsolved to this day, questions remain as to who Bella was. More intriguing, there are no conclusive hypotheses as to how sh...
Giants
November 28, 2021 11:00 - 38 minutes - 26.7 MBGiants... They exist in folklore and mythology around the world. Are they real? What makes a giant? Join Ansir & Sophia for a discussion about giants, their origin, their roles, and if their presence is being covered up. Support the show
Halloween Show
October 29, 2021 15:00 - 46 minutes - 31.7 MBIt's our annual Halloween show! Join Ansir & Sophia for a discussion of some spooky topics and some ideas to send a shiver down your spine this Halloween! The annual Halloween show includes discussions on werewolves, pig men, black-eyed children, UAP, the downfall of society, Mothman, Owlman, and more! Support the show
Lost in the Amazon Rainforest
October 23, 2021 09:00 - 37 minutes - 25.5 MBWas Percy Fawcett chasing an illusion in the hunt for the Lost City of Z? Is the legend of El Dorado based on something that could one day be found? What other wonders may lay within the vast region of the Amazon? Join Ansir & Sophia as they discuss how realistic it is that something of immense importance or a mysterious nature may lay hidden in the Amazon rainforest. Support the show
the Crystal Skulls
September 04, 2021 13:00 - 34 minutes - 23.6 MBCrystal Skulls -- although the Mitchell-Hedges specimen is the most famous, there are many more. The questions that must be asked are: are they fraudulent artifacts?; Are they from a lost civilisation (e.g., Atlantis)?; Are they paranormal?; or is Indianna Jones correct and they are the skulls of extra-terrestrials? You can see the British Museum skull here https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/E_Am1898-1 Listen to Ansir & Sophia as they discuss the skulls at or via all good pod...
Haunted Battlefields
July 24, 2021 13:00 - 37 minutes - 26.1 MBBattles are traumatic places. Whether there is one casualty or millions, they have the potential for hauntings of both the residual energy and discarante consciousness types. Join Ansir & Sophia as they discuss a number of battlefields and the possibility for them to be haunted. Support the show
Return to the Hollow Earth
June 19, 2021 16:00 - 46 minutes - 32.2 MBInspired by recent Hollywood depictions, we take the dive and return to the hollow Earth! Join Ansir & Sophia to discuss the Shaver mystery, the deros, Admiral Byrd, Verne, Poe, Agharta, Shamballah, and the work of Cpt. Symmes on why we may live on (or maybe inside of) a hollow Earth! Support the show
Werewolves
May 23, 2021 13:00 - 52 minutes - 36 MBWerewolves. We all know what they are, or at least we think that we do. The legends and lore about shapeshifters include an array of animals and dates back to ancient Mesopotamia and the Epic of Gilgamesh. In this episode, Ansir & Sophia discuss legends, Hollywood depictions, how you become a werewolf, how shapeshifting works, and how to kill a werewolf. Support the show
Skinwalker Ranch
May 02, 2021 14:00 - 39 minutes - 27.3 MBWith claims of paranormal phenomena going back centuries, Utah's Skinwalker Ranch is an infamous hotspot for all things strange. Amidst claims of secretive government activity, there are tales of shapeshifters, UAP, crop circles, shadow people, and cattle mutiliation. As we prepare to enjoy season two of the Curse of Skinwalker Ranch, Ansir takes the lead on a discussion of Utah's window area. Support the show
The Smiley Face Murders
April 10, 2021 20:00 - 37 minutes - 25.7 MBWhen a young man goes missing after a night out with friends and is later found dead in a body of water, it could be a terrible accident or even a crime. If another man is found dead in the same circumstances, then it could be a terrible coincidence. When 300 plus young men die in exactly the same circumstances, the chances of it being a coincidence become unrealistic -- espescially when date rape drugs and anomalies in decomposition come into effect. Is there a serial killer cult at work...
Cursed and Haunted Objects
March 20, 2021 15:00 - 1 hour - 43.5 MBJoin Ansir & Sophia as they discuss the reality and mechanism of how objects can be cursed, blessed, or haunted. Afterwards, they then proceed to discuss some of the more infamous haunted or cursed objects and debate why there are not more of them. Support the show
the Jack the Ripper Murders
February 20, 2021 10:00 - 40 minutes - 27.6 MBThe Whitechapel murders of 1888 are infamous, yet the identity of the killer remains unknown. Ansir & Sophia discuss the events, possible suspects, and why these murders hold such a fascination for many. Support the show
the Betty and Barney Hill Abduction
January 16, 2021 12:00 - 50 minutes - 34.5 MBThe descriptions of what Betty and Barney Hill encountered on 19th September 1961, or their recollections of events, are both strange and iconic. Whilst it is uncertain as to what they encountered, some of the effects are very much physical and measurable. Was it extra-terrestrials or is that interpretation influenced by the earlier UFO sighting by Betty's sister? Regardless of the nature of events, the recollections of the Hills set the standard for much of what is now commonly understoo...
Ghosts of Winter
December 12, 2020 14:00 - 53 minutes - 36.8 MBIn a festive special, Ansir & Sophia discuss festive ghosts and tragic tales... Support the show
Ghost of Winter
December 12, 2020 14:00 - 53 minutes - 36.8 MBIn a festive special, Ansir & Sophia discuss festive ghosts and tragic tales... Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/InquirersintotheStrange)
Rendlesham Forest UFO Incident of 1980
November 14, 2020 11:00 - 38 minutes - 26.3 MBThe United States of America has the Roswell crash of 1947, but the UK's Rendlesham Forest incident of 1980 is just as intriguing and is now gathering a large amount of interest. When USAF officers observed lights landing in the forest at night, the subsequent investigations and releases of declassified audio tapes have fuelled the debate as to what happened over those two Christmas nights. Did a UFO of extra-terrestrial origin land and then return on the subsequent night? Was it part of ...
Halloween Special
October 31, 2020 15:00 - 1 hour - 44.1 MBA Halloween special episode of Inquirers into the Strange sees Ansir & Sophia answer quiz questions about the festival and its associations as well as take a look at some of the scary photographs and videos that are out there. All in all, it's a perfect casual listen this Halloween that can guide you to find your own scares and think about what the festival represents to you. Support the show
the Winchester Mystery House
October 26, 2020 15:00 - 32 minutes - 22.6 MBIn 1886, the eccentric widow and heiress of the Winchester rifle fortune, Sarah Winchester, moved to San Jose and purchased an 8 room farmhouse. Over the next 36 years, she would engage in a perpetual rennovation and expansion project that saw the construction of hundreds of rooms and countless, seemingly pointless, features. Join Ansir & Sophia as they discuss the house, whether or not it is haunted, and what the reason for the construction may have been. Support the show
the Pope Lick Monster
October 17, 2020 12:00 - 37 minutes - 25.7 MBPart man, part goat... maybe even part sheep, but what is the truth about the legend of the Pope Lick monster that has lured too many to their deaths on the trestle bridge that crosses a small river in Louisville, Kentucky? Support the show
Shadow People and the Hat Man
October 03, 2020 13:00 - 42 minutes - 29.2 MBHave you ever awoken to see a shadowy outline at the foot of your bed -- as if someone was there, but not there, and watching you as you slept? Are such beings the product of sleep paralysis or are they something 'other'? Could these beings be extra-terrestrial, ghostly phenomenon, or even astral projections of a human consciousness? Join Ansir & Sophie to find out! Support the show
Black Eyed Children
August 28, 2020 13:00 - 49 minutes - 33.7 MBSince the 1980s, there have been an increasing number of encounters with strange children, their behaviour unnerving witnesses, and the most prominent feature -- their eyes are totally black! Support the show
the Watcher House
August 23, 2020 10:00 - 53 minutes - 36.5 MB657 Boulevard in Westfield, New Jersey is a beautiful house. The hundred-year plus beauty of the house is such that it has its admirers and even one who is seemingly tasked with the guardianship of the house -- the watcher. When the Broadhus family purchased the property in 2014, the sinister letters they received made it clear that someone believed they were ruining the house and threatened their safety. Who, or perhaps what, was behind the letters? Support the show
the Possession of the Loudun Nuns
August 15, 2020 11:00 - 44 minutes - 30.3 MBIn 1633, the nuns of Loudun, France, found themselves at the centre of allegations of witchcraft. It seemed that, as per their allegations, that they had been possessed by demons sent to drive them mad and inspire them to blasphemy and deviant sexual acts. The allegation of the Mother Superior was that the local priest, Urbain Grandier was responsible for causing the possession. This is the case of the Loudun nun possessions. Support the show
the Dyatlov Pass Incident
August 01, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 41.7 MBIn February, 1959, a group of 9 hikers died whilst on an expedition to a mountain pass in Russia's Ural range. The cause of death is officially hypothermia and authorities have said that an avalanche caused the group to flee from their tent. The stuation and the state of the bodies is sufficiently strange to suggest that something else occurred -- but what? Join Ansir & Sophia as they discuss the mystery of the Dyatlov Pass. Support the show
Vampires... Everywhere
July 04, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 47.6 MBLeviticus 17:11 '... the life of the flesh is in the blood.' Vampires... a legend that dates back to Lilitu in Mesopotamia and is found across the world -- from the obayifo of Ghana, to the mandurago of the Philippines, and the Lamia of ancient Greece. Whilst most people have a concept of the vampire that is informed by the work of Bram Stoker and contemporary media portrayals, there is far more to these beings. Join Ansir & Sophia as they look at vampires in legend and film, debate clai...
the Mandela Effect
June 20, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 41.5 MBHow well do you remember things? Have you ever misheard a lyric or recall something being different to how it is when you actually see it? Are these false memories or is there a manipulation of our memories or reality underway? Join Ansir & Sophia as they discuss the Mandela Effect! Support the show
Montauk
May 30, 2020 11:00 - 41 minutes - 28.4 MBCamp Hero, otherwise known as Montauk Air Force Station, in Montauk, Long Island, New York is a former military base at the centre of a web of mystery. Strange things occur at Camp Hero and Stranger Things itself may be inspired by tales of what may or may not have occurred there. Join Ansir & Sophia for a discussion of what may or may not have occurred at Montauk. Support the show
the Texarkana Phantom Killer & the Zodiac Killer -- were they the same person?
May 23, 2020 12:00 - 1 hour - 50.2 MBTexarkana was blighted by a series of brutal killings, mainly focussed upon young couples in lover's lanes, during 1946. There is some evidence that the crimes stretched out to 1948. Vallejo and the Bay Area of San Francisco sufferred at the hand of the mysterious Zodiac Killer from 1963 possibly through to 1978. Are the common traits of each killer (.22 calibre gun, a hooded disguise, and the approach of parked cars with a flashlight) indicative of one man being responsible? Could the b...
the Betz Sphere
May 09, 2020 11:00 - 49 minutes - 34.2 MBSome 20 miles north of Fort George Island, Florida, during 1974, the Betz family found a steel ball on their property. 7.94 inches in diameter and weighing 9.7kg, the object was unique, yet nothing special. The family was interested in what the sphere was as it was found in the midst of a rural, hard to reach area. Over the years, many theories have been put forth to explain the sphere, yet none explain how it found itself in the midst of nowhere. Claims that it was part of a satellite o...
the Bell Witch
April 25, 2020 22:00 - 52 minutes - 35.8 MBIn early 19th Century Robertson County, Tennessee, the family of John Bell Sr., found themselves afflicted by paranormal phenomena – an apparently conscious entity that had the ability to manifest speech from an unseen source, assume a form, and throw objects. This is the tale of the Bell Witch. Join Ansir & Sophia as they assess the historical events and debate the cases for fraud, poltergeist activity, demonic oppression, and witchcraft. Support the show
the Highgate Vampire
April 11, 2020 11:00 - 53 minutes - 36.6 MB1970 -- Highgate, England. A shadowy being, dressed in black and wearing a hat, is reported as terrifying a number of people. One man claims to have been mesmerised (in a hypnotic sense) by the beings gaze. Amidst evidence of Satanists using the cemetery, numerous sightings are reported. After the seperate investigative efforts of David Farrant and Sean Manchester, the fiend is dubbed 'the Highgate Vampire' by the media. On Friday 13th, a vampire hunt ensues -- with hundreds in attendan...
the Georgia Guide Stones
April 05, 2020 20:00 - 43 minutes - 29.8 MBIn 1980, a monument was erected in Elberton, Georgia. The scheme was effected by a man known only as Robert C. Christian. The stones bear a message for humanity - encoded in numerous languages, including ancient Babylonian and even Egyptian hieroglyphics. What is the purpose of the stones? Why Elberton? Is there message as sinister as it sounds? Was R. C. Christian a member of the NWO or is the name really that simple of a reference to the Rosicrucian order? Join Ansir Levi & Sophia...
The Green Children of Woolpit
March 28, 2020 21:00 - 36 minutes - 25.1 MBWhen a young boy and girl wandered into the village of Woolpit, England during the 12th century, locals were confused by their strange language and their avoidance of food other than beans. Most disturbing of all -- their skin was green! Ansir & Sophia discuss this 900 year old mystery and the explanations put forth over the years. Were the children Flemish immigrants, goblin/faeries, extra-terrestrials, or the result of a demonic plot to produce hybrid children? Listen in and find out! ...
Atlantis
March 21, 2020 10:00 - 43 minutes - 29.9 MBAtlantis -- not the home of Aquaman, but the fabled long-lost civilisation as described by Plato and others. Any analysis of the birth of civilisation and comparative mythology will find common traits that have no explanation for their similarity or sudden emergence within a culture other than the arrival of an outside influence: survivors from the Atlantean society. Ansir & Sophia discuss the rationale for why there is a lost civilisation that explains myteries from mankind's past (along ...
Conspiracy Theories
February 29, 2020 12:00 - 1 hour - 41.9 MBconspiracy: a secret plan by a group to do something unlawful or harmful. conspiracy theory: a belief that some covert but influential organization is responsible for an unexplained event. Whilst the terms ‘conspiracy’, ‘conspiracy theory’, and ‘conspiracy theorist’ have become weaponised as a means to undermine the credibility of those who hold views contrary to or dare to question the authorised narrative, it is essential to remember that conspiracies do exist. Any group that plans to ...
Missing in the National Parks
February 08, 2020 16:00 - 34 minutes - 23.9 MBDavid Paulides, in his Missing 411 works, has raised an interesting question: why do so many people go missing in the National Parks and why do we not know how many or what has happened to them? Could they be lost? Have they been attacked by animals? Were they abducted or murdered? Could extra-terrestrials or even Sasquatch have taken them? Ansir & Sophia discuss the phenomenon and debate the most likely causes. Support the show
Shapeshifting Sasquatch
February 08, 2020 16:00 - 40 minutes - 28 MBAnsir & Sophia discuss the global phenomena widely attributed to the presence of a great ape -- yes, sightings of Bigfoot, Sasquatch, Yeti, Alma, or the many other variant names that invariably describe the form of a large, undidentified hominid. Whilst some have postulated a link to the Gigantopithicus species of giant ape, Ansir & Sophia also contemplate the potential that there may be a more paranormal explanation for why these apes are seen, yet objective evidence for them is never foun...
The Prophecies of Nostradamus
January 19, 2020 13:00 - 53 minutes - 37 MBMichel de Nostradame is more commonly known as Nostradamus and is famous for his prophecies that, when written in the mid-sixteenth century, to have foretold many historical events - including 9/11, the Great Fire of Lond, royal deaths, and more. Ansir & Sophia look at the prophecies and ask if they are merely vague statements that are, if subject to equally vague interpretation, seemingly referencing many historical events. The Inquirers also take a look at what commentators have interpre...
Borley Rectory - the Most Haunted House in England
December 28, 2019 15:00 - 56 minutes - 38.6 MBBorley Rectory, dubbed 'the Most Haunted House in England' by the legendary Harry Price, was, and is still partly, a hot-bed of paranormal phenomena. With accounts of phenomena spanning the seventy plus years that the rectory stood, and witnesses in the hundreds, the evidence for the activity of a poltergeist, apparitions of residual energies, boggart like malefic beings, and more afford Borley Rectory a place at the pinnacle of paranormal locations both in England and around the world. ...
Christmas Murders
December 22, 2019 14:00 - 54 minutes - 37.2 MBChristmas... a time of joy, love, and peace amongst men. A time when families come together. As the Victorian fascination with death, espescially at Christmas, reminds us -- the season can also be one of tragedy. Join Ansir & Sophia as they take a look at some tragic events that have taken place at Christmas: the unsolved murder of JonBenet Ramsey, the mysterious fire and disappearance of five children from the Sodder family, and more. Do the pressures of Christmas, imposed by media port...
the Black Monk of 30 East Drive
December 07, 2019 11:00 - 48 minutes - 33.1 MBIn the midst of northern England, there is a tale of a house that is plagued by paranormal phenomena. The house is often referred to as being the most violent haunting in Britain and the cause of the phenomena is claimed to be a ghostly black monk. With events beginning in 1966 and ending by 1970, there is no scope for practical investigation of the original manifestations, but with the change of ownership for 30 East Drive in 2012, the house has now gained fame for its claimed past phenom...
Time Travel and Travellers Out of Time
November 30, 2019 12:00 - 1 hour - 44 MBIs time travel possible? What of those who, like John Titor, claim to be travellers from another point in time? Could quantum bleeds explain some possible instances where individuals have either seen someone out of time or have possibly crossed an inter-dimensional portal themselves? Join Ansir & Sophia as they discuss the possibilities! Support the show
Miracle of the Sun at Fatima
November 16, 2019 14:00 - 54 minutes - 37.5 MBA series of paranormal phenomena in Fatima, Portugal during 1917 is often referred to as the Miracle of the Sun, with the Catholic Church recognising them as a series of Marian apparitions and prophecies. Others, typically those who subscribe to the extra-terrestrial hypothesis (ETH), find the phenomena typical of a close encounter of the third kind -- although they are possibly more rightly considered as the fourth kind if Jacques Vallee's notions of the experience having a revelatory and ...