State of the Unknown | Documented Hauntings and Real Paranormal Cases Across America

Robert Barber
  • 5.0 (17)
  • DOCUMENTARY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Strange things happen. Sometimes they leave records.  State of the Unknown examines strange events that disrupted real lives. From documented hauntings and unexplained encounters to cases that forced police, clergy, doctors, or investigators to respond, each episode focuses on what actually happened — who was involved, what was reported, and what changed afterward. These are not campfire stories. They are incidents with names, dates, locations, and consequences. Some have clear explanations. Others do not. But all of them left a mark. If you’re drawn to strange events told straight, without exaggeration, without theatrics, this is your show. New episodes every week. 🔗 www.stateoftheunknown.com📸 @stateoftheunknownpodcast

  1. Bonus Episode: The Black Forest Haunting | The Colorado Poltergeist Case That Was Never Explained

    4D AGO · BONUS

    Bonus Episode: The Black Forest Haunting | The Colorado Poltergeist Case That Was Never Explained

    In the late 1960s, a quiet home in the Black Forest area near Colorado Springs became the center of a disturbing series of events. The family living there claimed objects moved on their own, household items were thrown across rooms, and unexplained disturbances seemed to occur while people were standing there watching. In this bonus episode of State of the Unknown, join host Robert Barber as he examines the reported events surrounding the Black Forest haunting, a lesser-known American poltergeist case that has circulated in paranormal literature for decades. Accounts of the case place the disturbances in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when the Black Forest region was far more isolated than it is today. According to the family who lived in the home, the activity began with small incidents before escalating into objects sliding across tables, items falling from shelves, and objects reportedly being thrown across rooms without anyone touching them. Reports of the disturbances eventually reached paranormal researchers familiar with alleged poltergeist activity. Investigators looked for ordinary explanations including structural issues, environmental factors, and psychological stress within the household. But like many reported poltergeist cases, the events eventually faded and no clear explanation was ever established. Today the Black Forest haunting remains one of many unsettling cases that sit somewhere between witness testimony and documented evidence. Were the disturbances the result of misunderstood natural causes… or something that investigators simply couldn’t explain? This episode was inspired by a listener suggestion. If there’s a case you think I should cover, you can email me at contact@stateoftheunknown.com — I read every message Send a text Support the show State of the Unknown is a documentary-style podcast tracing the haunted highways, forgotten folklore, and unexplained phenomena across America’s 50 states. 👁️‍🗨️ New episodes every Tuesday — with full-length stories every other week, and shorter mini tales in between. 📬 Reach out: contact@stateoftheunknown.com 📣 Follow the strange: @stateoftheunknownpodcast on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, & Threads 🔍 Want more? Visit stateoftheunknown.com to explore show notes and submit your own story. Join the Conversation Join the conversation! Head to our Facebook group at State of the Unknown Listeners to connect with other listeners, suggest topics, and get behind-the-scenes updates. Share Your Take Have a theory about this episode? Message me anytime on Instagram @stateoftheunknownpodcast - I read every DM. Some stories don’t stay buried. We go looking anyway.

    14 min
  2. The L-8 Ghost Blimp | The U.S. Navy Airship That Landed Without Its Crew — Ep. 46

    MAR 10

    The L-8 Ghost Blimp | The U.S. Navy Airship That Landed Without Its Crew — Ep. 46

    The L-8 Ghost Blimp is one of the strangest unsolved aviation mysteries of World War II — a Navy patrol airship that returned from a mission over the Pacific with its engines running and its crew missing. In August of 1942, a U.S. Navy patrol blimp lifted off from Naval Air Station Treasure Island for what should have been a routine anti-submarine patrol along the California coast. Hours later, the aircraft drifted inland over Daly City. The engines were still running. The controls were still set for flight. But the control cabin was empty. The blimp, known as L-8, had returned from its mission without the two officers flying it. Earlier that morning, Lieutenant Ernest Cody and Ensign Charles Adams radioed that they were investigating a suspicious oil slick near the Farallon Islands, a possible sign of a Japanese submarine operating off the West Coast during World War II. That transmission would be the last confirmed contact with the aircraft. In this episode, join host Robert Barber as he examines one of the strangest aviation mysteries of the war: the case of the L-8 Ghost Blimp, a patrol airship that continued flying after its crew disappeared. Investigators searched the ocean west of San Francisco for days. They never found the men. So what actually happened aboard the L-8 that morning? Did the crew fall while investigating the oil slick? Did something go wrong during the patrol? Or is there another explanation for how two trained Navy officers vanished from an operational aircraft? This is the story of the L-8 Ghost Blimp. Send a text Support the show State of the Unknown is a documentary-style podcast tracing the haunted highways, forgotten folklore, and unexplained phenomena across America’s 50 states. 👁️‍🗨️ New episodes every Tuesday — with full-length stories every other week, and shorter mini tales in between. 📬 Reach out: contact@stateoftheunknown.com 📣 Follow the strange: @stateoftheunknownpodcast on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, & Threads 🔍 Want more? Visit stateoftheunknown.com to explore show notes and submit your own story. Join the Conversation Join the conversation! Head to our Facebook group at State of the Unknown Listeners to connect with other listeners, suggest topics, and get behind-the-scenes updates. Share Your Take Have a theory about this episode? Message me anytime on Instagram @stateoftheunknownpodcast - I read every DM. Some stories don’t stay buried. We go looking anyway.

    25 min
  3. The San Pedro Poltergeist | When LA Police Responded to the Unexplainable — Ep. 45

    MAR 3

    The San Pedro Poltergeist | When LA Police Responded to the Unexplainable — Ep. 45

    In the late 1980s, a family living in San Pedro, California reported a series of unexplained disturbances inside their apartment. Objects allegedly moved without physical contact. Items fell from shelves. Activity was said to occur in front of multiple adult witnesses who later stated they were standing in the room when it happened. The incident became known as the San Pedro Poltergeist, one of several Southern California poltergeist cases reported during that era. Unlike folklore-based hauntings, this case centered on direct claims of physical object movement and escalating disturbances inside a single residence. In this episode, host Robert Barber examines the San Pedro poltergeist case through reported timelines, witness statements, and contemporary coverage. What was described? Who claimed to see it? And how does this apartment case compare to other documented American poltergeist reports from the 20th century? Rather than dramatizing the story, this episode focuses on what was claimed, what can be supported, and why the San Pedro case continues to be referenced in discussions of modern poltergeist activity. Send a text Support the show State of the Unknown is a documentary-style podcast tracing the haunted highways, forgotten folklore, and unexplained phenomena across America’s 50 states. 👁️‍🗨️ New episodes every Tuesday — with full-length stories every other week, and shorter mini tales in between. 📬 Reach out: contact@stateoftheunknown.com 📣 Follow the strange: @stateoftheunknownpodcast on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, & Threads 🔍 Want more? Visit stateoftheunknown.com to explore show notes and submit your own story. Join the Conversation Join the conversation! Head to our Facebook group at State of the Unknown Listeners to connect with other listeners, suggest topics, and get behind-the-scenes updates. Share Your Take Have a theory about this episode? Message me anytime on Instagram @stateoftheunknownpodcast - I read every DM. Some stories don’t stay buried. We go looking anyway.

    30 min
  4. The Mothman and the Silver Bridge Collapse: Witness Reports Before the 1967 Disaster — Ep. 44

    FEB 24

    The Mothman and the Silver Bridge Collapse: Witness Reports Before the 1967 Disaster — Ep. 44

    In November 1966, residents of Point Pleasant, West Virginia began reporting encounters with a tall, winged figure near the McClintic Wildlife Management Area, known locally as the TNT Area. Police documented statements. The local newspaper recorded names. Witness descriptions were consistent: a figure six to seven feet tall, wings folded behind its back, and red eyes reflecting in headlights. Sightings continued for more than a year. On December 15, 1967, the Silver Bridge collapsed during rush hour traffic, killing forty-six people. The official investigation concluded that the disaster was caused by a fractured eyebar, an internal structural crack that could not be detected through routine inspection. There is no official finding linking the Mothman sightings to the bridge collapse. Yet the timing created a lasting association in the community. Reports stopped soon after the disaster. In this episode, host Robert Barber examines the original police reports, the Indrid Cold encounter, the engineering findings behind the Silver Bridge collapse, and the tension between documented mechanical failure and repeated witness accounts. Send a text Support the show State of the Unknown is a documentary-style podcast tracing the haunted highways, forgotten folklore, and unexplained phenomena across America’s 50 states. 👁️‍🗨️ New episodes every Tuesday — with full-length stories every other week, and shorter mini tales in between. 📬 Reach out: contact@stateoftheunknown.com 📣 Follow the strange: @stateoftheunknownpodcast on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, & Threads 🔍 Want more? Visit stateoftheunknown.com to explore show notes and submit your own story. Join the Conversation Join the conversation! Head to our Facebook group at State of the Unknown Listeners to connect with other listeners, suggest topics, and get behind-the-scenes updates. Share Your Take Have a theory about this episode? Message me anytime on Instagram @stateoftheunknownpodcast - I read every DM. Some stories don’t stay buried. We go looking anyway.

    25 min
  5. The Ammons Demon House: The Possession Case Authorities Could Not Explain — Ep. 43

    FEB 17

    The Ammons Demon House: The Possession Case Authorities Could Not Explain — Ep. 43

    In 2011, a family in Gary, Indiana reported escalating disturbances inside their rental home on Carolina Street. What began as unexplained noises and strange behavior would eventually involve the Gary Police Department, Methodist Hospital medical staff, and the Indiana Department of Child Services. According to official DCS documentation later obtained by the Indianapolis Star, a hospital caseworker reported witnessing a child walk backward up a wall during a medical evaluation. The case generated a 77-page investigative file and drew the attention of local clergy, including Reverend Michael Maginot, who later performed exorcisms. Years later, paranormal investigator Zak Bagans purchased the property and documented his own investigation in the film Demon House before demolishing the structure in 2016. Join host Robert Barber as he examines the documented reports, the custody battle, the hospital incident, and the demolition that turned a Gary rental house into one of the most debated haunting cases in modern American history. Send a text Support the show State of the Unknown is a documentary-style podcast tracing the haunted highways, forgotten folklore, and unexplained phenomena across America’s 50 states. 👁️‍🗨️ New episodes every Tuesday — with full-length stories every other week, and shorter mini tales in between. 📬 Reach out: contact@stateoftheunknown.com 📣 Follow the strange: @stateoftheunknownpodcast on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, & Threads 🔍 Want more? Visit stateoftheunknown.com to explore show notes and submit your own story. Join the Conversation Join the conversation! Head to our Facebook group at State of the Unknown Listeners to connect with other listeners, suggest topics, and get behind-the-scenes updates. Share Your Take Have a theory about this episode? Message me anytime on Instagram @stateoftheunknownpodcast - I read every DM. Some stories don’t stay buried. We go looking anyway.

    26 min
  6. Coral Castle: The 30-Ton Mystery That Defies Explanation — Ep. 42

    FEB 10

    Coral Castle: The 30-Ton Mystery That Defies Explanation — Ep. 42

    Coral Castle is one of the most enduring mysteries in American history. In South Florida, a single man named Edward Leedskalnin spent decades building a massive stone monument entirely on his own. He worked at night, refused help, and left behind no clear explanation. The limestone blocks weigh several tons, yet no witnesses ever saw how they were moved. Join host Robert Barber on State of the Unknown as he examines the documented history of Coral Castle, the life of its builder, and the engineering questions that continue to surround this strange landmark. This episode explores verified accounts, historical records, and firsthand observations while separating real evidence from speculation. Often described as an unexplained engineering feat, Coral Castle has been linked to theories involving magnetism, lost knowledge, and paranormal encounters. But what can actually be proven? And what remains unresolved? This is not a story about miracles or mythology. It is a grounded, documentary-style look at one of America’s most puzzling historical mysteries and the real unanswered questions it leaves behind. Send a text Support the show State of the Unknown is a documentary-style podcast tracing the haunted highways, forgotten folklore, and unexplained phenomena across America’s 50 states. 👁️‍🗨️ New episodes every Tuesday — with full-length stories every other week, and shorter mini tales in between. 📬 Reach out: contact@stateoftheunknown.com 📣 Follow the strange: @stateoftheunknownpodcast on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, & Threads 🔍 Want more? Visit stateoftheunknown.com to explore show notes and submit your own story. Join the Conversation Join the conversation! Head to our Facebook group at State of the Unknown Listeners to connect with other listeners, suggest topics, and get behind-the-scenes updates. Share Your Take Have a theory about this episode? Message me anytime on Instagram @stateoftheunknownpodcast - I read every DM. Some stories don’t stay buried. We go looking anyway.

    25 min
  7. The Entity: The True Story of Doris Bither and the 1974 Culver City Poltergeist — Ep. 41

    FEB 3

    The Entity: The True Story of Doris Bither and the 1974 Culver City Poltergeist — Ep. 41

    In 1974, a woman named Doris Bither reported a series of disturbing events inside her small rental home in Culver City, California. What began with unexplained object movement soon escalated into reported physical encounters witnessed by family members and later observed by researchers connected to the UCLA parapsychology laboratory. The case became known as the Culver City Poltergeist and would later inspire the 1982 film The Entity. Investigators, including parapsychologist Barry Taff, documented interviews, environmental observations, and attempts to record activity inside the home. In this episode, host Robert Barber examines the Doris Bither case through documented reports, firsthand testimony, and the formal investigation that followed — separating what was observed, what was alleged, and how the narrative shifted once it entered popular culture. The events inside that Culver City house were never conclusively explained. But the case left a lasting mark on those involved and became one of the most debated American poltergeist cases of the 1970s. Send a text Support the show State of the Unknown is a documentary-style podcast tracing the haunted highways, forgotten folklore, and unexplained phenomena across America’s 50 states. 👁️‍🗨️ New episodes every Tuesday — with full-length stories every other week, and shorter mini tales in between. 📬 Reach out: contact@stateoftheunknown.com 📣 Follow the strange: @stateoftheunknownpodcast on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, & Threads 🔍 Want more? Visit stateoftheunknown.com to explore show notes and submit your own story. Join the Conversation Join the conversation! Head to our Facebook group at State of the Unknown Listeners to connect with other listeners, suggest topics, and get behind-the-scenes updates. Share Your Take Have a theory about this episode? Message me anytime on Instagram @stateoftheunknownpodcast - I read every DM. Some stories don’t stay buried. We go looking anyway.

    34 min
  8. The Pascagoula Incident | The Abduction Secretly Recorded by Police — Ep. 40

    JAN 27

    The Pascagoula Incident | The Abduction Secretly Recorded by Police — Ep. 40

    In October 1973, two shipyard workers walked into a Mississippi sheriff’s office late at night and claimed they had been taken against their will. What followed was documented by law enforcement, investigated by federal agencies, and quietly recorded when the men believed they were alone. This episode examines the Pascagoula Incident through police reports, firsthand testimony, and a secret audio recording that captured the men’s reactions in real time. It’s not a story about proof or belief. It’s a story about what happens when an extraordinary claim refuses to fall apart under scrutiny. What happened on the riverbank that night remains unresolved. But the record it left behind is real. Send a text Support the show State of the Unknown is a documentary-style podcast tracing the haunted highways, forgotten folklore, and unexplained phenomena across America’s 50 states. 👁️‍🗨️ New episodes every Tuesday — with full-length stories every other week, and shorter mini tales in between. 📬 Reach out: contact@stateoftheunknown.com 📣 Follow the strange: @stateoftheunknownpodcast on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, & Threads 🔍 Want more? Visit stateoftheunknown.com to explore show notes and submit your own story. Join the Conversation Join the conversation! Head to our Facebook group at State of the Unknown Listeners to connect with other listeners, suggest topics, and get behind-the-scenes updates. Share Your Take Have a theory about this episode? Message me anytime on Instagram @stateoftheunknownpodcast - I read every DM. Some stories don’t stay buried. We go looking anyway.

    26 min
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Trailer

5
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17 Ratings

About

Strange things happen. Sometimes they leave records.  State of the Unknown examines strange events that disrupted real lives. From documented hauntings and unexplained encounters to cases that forced police, clergy, doctors, or investigators to respond, each episode focuses on what actually happened — who was involved, what was reported, and what changed afterward. These are not campfire stories. They are incidents with names, dates, locations, and consequences. Some have clear explanations. Others do not. But all of them left a mark. If you’re drawn to strange events told straight, without exaggeration, without theatrics, this is your show. New episodes every week. 🔗 www.stateoftheunknown.com📸 @stateoftheunknownpodcast

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