State of the Unknown | True Paranormal Stories, Haunted History, and American Folklore

Robert Barber
  • 5.0 (15)
  • HISTORY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

State of the Unknown explores true paranormal stories, haunted history, and unexplained events rooted in real locations across America. Each episode focuses on a single case, drawing from documented records, eyewitness accounts, and reported experiences to examine what happened and what remains uncertain. Hosted by Robert Barber, the show takes a grounded, investigative approach to hauntings, eerie encounters, and modern legends. The focus stays on clarity and context, separating verifiable details from speculation without leaning into sensationalism. If you’re drawn to thoughtful, fact-based explorations of the paranormal and stories that leave room for questions rather than easy answers, this is a show for you. New episodes every week. 🔗 www.stateoftheunknown.com📸 @stateoftheunknownpodcast

  1. 3D AGO

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

    In the early 1970s, 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 escalated into reported physical encounters witnessed by family members and later observed by outside researchers connected to UCLA. Join Host Robert Barber as he examines the Culver City Poltergeist through documented reports, firsthand accounts, and the investigation that followed — separating what was witnessed, what was claimed, and how the story later changed once it entered popular culture. What happened inside that house was never explained. But the impact it had on the people who lived there was real. Send us 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

  2. 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 us 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

  3. JAN 20

    The Hinsdale House: A Documented Haunting in Rural New York — Ep. 39

    Tucked into the hills of western New York, Hinsdale House has developed a reputation as one of the state’s most talked-about haunted locations. The house has been associated with paranormal reports for decades, but this episode focuses on a much narrower window in that history. Specifically, the experiences described by one family during their time living inside the home. According to their accounts, the activity followed a clear pattern. Unexplained sounds. Physical sensations. Sudden illness. And a growing sense that the house itself was reacting to their presence. In this episode, we walk through what that family reported, how the activity escalated, and what details were later documented by investigators and witnesses. Rather than relying on legend or secondhand retellings, the focus stays on what was observed, what was recorded, and where certainty begins to fall apart. Is the Hinsdale House an example of environmental factors and stress misinterpreted as something paranormal? Or does this case reflect a type of haunting that resists easy explanation? This episode explores what was claimed, what can be supported, and why this one period in the house’s history continues to draw attention. 🔍 Further Reading & Case Research (For listeners who want to explore how this case has been documented) Echoes of a Haunting - Revised - Author Clara M. MillerHinsdale House An American Haunting — various authors As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.🌙 Listening Environment & Atmosphere (Optional items some listeners use to create a calm or focused listening space) Dreamegg Portable White Noise MachineJBL Vibe Beam 2 - Noise Canceling Earbuds These are optional links.  Send us 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.

    24 min

  4. JAN 13

    The Montauk Project: Inside the Cold War Experiments That Inspired Stranger Things — Ep. 38

    Before it became a pop-culture reference point, it was a restricted military installation on the eastern edge of Long Island. Join host Robert Barber as he explores the real-world claims behind the Montauk Project and the Cold War history of Camp Hero. Drawing from firsthand accounts, disputed records, and decades of rumor, we examine stories of secret experiments, children brought into classified programs, and a base whose silence helped fuel one of America’s most enduring modern legends. Was Montauk an elaborate conspiracy, a misunderstood military site, or something shaped by years of unanswered questions? And how did its story go on to influence one of the most recognizable shows of the streaming era? 🔍 Further Reading & Case Research (For listeners who want to explore how this case has been documented) The Montauk Project - Experiments in Time: Silver Anniversary Edition - Author Preston B NicholsThe Montauk Files: Unearthing the Phoenix Conspiracy — Author K.B. Wells, JrDisclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Send us 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.

    29 min

  5. JAN 6

    The St. Louis Exorcist House | The Documented 1949 Possession Case — Ep. 37

    In 1949, a family in the Midwest began documenting a series of disturbing events centered on their child. What started as subtle disturbances escalated into physical incidents witnessed by family members, physicians, and clergy. Join host Robert Barber as he examines the St. Louis “Exorcist” House and the documented case of an alleged possession and exorcism that followed. Medical explanations were pursued first. Observations were recorded as events unfolded. Outside witnesses were brought in only after reasonable options failed. Rather than retelling the story as it’s been mythologized, this episode focuses on what was documented, what remains disputed, and how the situation progressed step by step until an exorcism was attempted. Years later, elements of this case would inspire The Exorcist, one of the most influential horror films ever made. This is the story of what happened before the legend. 🔍 Further Reading & Case Research (For listeners who want to explore this case in more detail) Possessed - by Thomas Allen 🌙 Listening Environment & Atmosphere Optional items some listeners use to create a calm or focused listening space. JBL Go 4 Bluetooth Speaker  - Absolutely love JBL speakers.Fenmzee 3-Way Dimmable Touch Bedside Table Lamp - Such a great lamp that has usb ports so I can charge my phone at night.These are optional links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.   Send us 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.

    32 min
  6. The Greenbrier Ghost: Inside America’s Only Murder Case Influenced by a Ghost — Ep. 36

    12/30/2025

    The Greenbrier Ghost: Inside America’s Only Murder Case Influenced by a Ghost — Ep. 36

    The Greenbrier Ghost is one of the most unusual cases in American legal history. In this episode of State of the Unknown, host Robert Barber examines a true paranormal story involving a sudden death, a reopened investigation, and testimony that challenged the boundaries of what a court was prepared to hear. Drawing from documented court records, medical findings, and historical accounts, this episode separates verified facts from reported experiences surrounding the case known as the Greenbrier Ghost. After a young woman’s death was initially ruled natural, her mother claimed that her daughter appeared to her and described how she had been killed, prompting authorities to take a second look at a case they believed was already closed. This paranormal story explores how belief, persistence, and overlooked evidence intersected inside the legal system, raising lasting questions about where truth comes from, what qualifies as testimony, and why this case continues to unsettle people more than a century later. 🔍 Further Reading & Case Research For listeners who want to explore how this case has been documented. • The Haunting of Zona Heaster Shue: The Greenbrier Ghost Chronicles by Nancy Richmond (Author), Misty Murray-Walkup (Author) • The Greenbrier Ghost: And Other Strange Stories by Dennis Deitz (Author) 🌙 Listening Environment & Atmosphere Optional items some listeners use to create a calm or focused listening space. • JBL Go 4 Bluetooth Speaker  • Fenmzee 3-Way Dimmable Touch Bedside Table Lamp These are optional links. No endorsement implied. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Send us 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.

    24 min
  7. 600 Incidents: A Year-Long Paranormal Assault on a Washington Home — Ep. 35

    12/23/2025

    600 Incidents: A Year-Long Paranormal Assault on a Washington Home — Ep. 35

    In a quiet suburban neighborhood in Bothell, Washington, a family began experiencing unexplained disturbances inside their home. What started as small, dismissible events slowly escalated into more than 600 reported paranormal incidents over the course of a year, witnessed by multiple people. Objects moved, sounds followed occupants through the house, and visitors noticed disturbances without being told what to expect. In this mini episode of State of the Unknown, Robert Barber tells the story of the Bothell Hell House exactly as it was reported by those who lived through it, before stepping back to examine what can be verified, what remains unclear, and why this case continues to be discussed decades later. This episode explores how prolonged, relentless activity can wear down a household without a single dramatic breaking point, and what happens when a home stops feeling neutral and begins to push back against the people living inside it. Further Reading & Research The Bothell Hell House: Poltergeist of Washington State A firsthand account from later occupants of the home, documenting repeated disturbances, physical activity, and multiple witnesses over an extended period of time. Haunted America A U.S.-focused overview of reported hauntings and long-running cases, offering historical and regional context for how stories like this one are recorded, shared, and debated. * As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Send us 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.

    21 min
  8. The Tallman Bunk Beds: The Ordinary Object Linked to a Terrifying Haunting — Ep. 34

    12/16/2025

    The Tallman Bunk Beds: The Ordinary Object Linked to a Terrifying Haunting — Ep. 34

    In the late 1980s, a family in Wisconsin brought home a simple set of bunk beds for their children. Nothing about them seemed unusual. There was no known history tied to them, no warning signs, and no reason to think they would change anything at all. But soon after the beds were assembled, the house began to feel different. Footsteps were heard moving through empty rooms. Objects shifted on their own. The children reported seeing a figure standing in their bedroom. A babysitter experienced something so unsettling that she refused to return. And eventually, the father came face-to-face with something in the hallway that convinced the family to leave their home in the middle of the night and never come back. In this episode, Robert Barber tells the story of the Tallman Bunk Beds, a case later featured on Unsolved Mysteries, exactly as it has been passed down over the years. Once the story is complete, the episode steps back to examine what can be verified, what remains unconfirmed, and why this case continues to resist a single explanation. Was this a genuine haunting, a buildup of fear, or something in between? Send us 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.

    19 min
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5
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15 Ratings

About

State of the Unknown explores true paranormal stories, haunted history, and unexplained events rooted in real locations across America. Each episode focuses on a single case, drawing from documented records, eyewitness accounts, and reported experiences to examine what happened and what remains uncertain. Hosted by Robert Barber, the show takes a grounded, investigative approach to hauntings, eerie encounters, and modern legends. The focus stays on clarity and context, separating verifiable details from speculation without leaning into sensationalism. If you’re drawn to thoughtful, fact-based explorations of the paranormal and stories that leave room for questions rather than easy answers, this is a show for you. New episodes every week. 🔗 www.stateoftheunknown.com📸 @stateoftheunknownpodcast

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