A Study of Strange

Convergent Content, LLC
A Study of Strange

For lovers of true crime, mysteries, and outlandish tales of high strangeness. Join host Michael May as he investigates tales of the unknown each week, from bizarre crimes to unsolved murders and unexplained phenomena. ”A Study of Strange” attempts to debunk common misconceptions and dive deep into the most unusual unsolved stories from history. With occasional guests including entertainment industry insiders, writers, randos and more! Michael May is a filmmaker and performer known for producing films like GHOSTS OF THE OZARKS, 12 HOUR SHIFT, and hosting the true-crime automotive TV shows AUTO/BIOGRAPHY and AUTOBIOGRAPHY: COLD CASES. He obsesses over historical mysteries and loves to bring fascinating stories to life.

  1. JUL 2

    Tensegrity and the Vanishing Witches PART TWO: The Cult of Carlos Castaneda

    We conclude the devilish and mysterious story surrounding the disappearance of a group of women involved in a small cult run by new age author Carlos Castaneda.  Not many are aware that one of the most successful New Age authors, Carlos Castaneda, lead a cult. The women that made up the inner circle of his cult were called “the witches” and five of them disappeared after Castaneda’s death in 1998. In an all too familiar trope, Castaneda’s mythology was built on lies, narcissism, hypocrisy, and abuse, yet the witches remain missing. Did they commit mass suicide, or are they still in control of the cult’s workshops (Tensegrity) and publishing empire? With Special Guest Mariah Klapatch!  Theme Music by Matt Glass https://www.glassbrain.com/Instagram: @astudyofstrange Support the Show! astudyofstrange.substack.com/ Website: www.astudyofstrange.com Hosted by Michael May Email stories, comments, or ideas to astudyofstrange@gmail.com! ©2025 Convergent Content, LLC   LINKS https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8088.Carlos_Castaneda https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B000APXVFG https://www.altaonline.com/dispatches/a60923618/carlos-castaneda-cult-geoffrey-gray/ https://deleuze.cla.purdue.edu/people/carlos-castaneda/ https://www.castaneda.com/ https://www.amazon.com/Sorcerers-Apprentice-Life-Carlos-Castaneda/dp/1583942068/ref=asc_df_1583942068?mcid=0d8519cc17a73ea982de07dd78440a03&hvocijid=5328905483217033375-1583942068-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5328905483217033375&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031201&hvtargid=pla-2281435177378&psc=1

    58 min
  2. JUN 24

    Tensegrity and the Vanishing Witches: The Cult of Carlos Castaneda PART ONE

    Not many are aware that one of the most successful “new age” authors, Carlos Castaneda, lead a cult. The women that made up the inner circle of his cult were called “the witches” and five of them disappeared soon after Castaneda’s death in 1998. In an all too familiar trope, Castaneda’s mythology was built on lies, narcissism, hypocrisy, and abuse, yet the witches remain missing. Did they commit mass suicide, or are they in control of the cult’s workshops (Tensegrity) and publishing empire.  Theme Music by Matt Glass: https://www.glassbrain.com/ Instagram: @astudyofstrange Support the Show! astudyofstrange.substack.com/ Website: www.astudyofstrange.com Hosted by Michael May Email stories, comments, or ideas to astudyofstrange@gmail.com! ©2025 Convergent Content, LLC LINKS https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8088.Carlos_Castaneda https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B000APXVFG https://www.altaonline.com/dispatches/a60923618/carlos-castaneda-cult-geoffrey-gray/ https://deleuze.cla.purdue.edu/people/carlos-castaneda/ https://www.castaneda.com/ https://www.amazon.com/Sorcerers-Apprentice-Life-Carlos-Castaneda/dp/1583942068/ref=asc_df_1583942068?mcid=0d8519cc17a73ea982de07dd78440a03&hvocijid=5328905483217033375-1583942068-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5328905483217033375&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031201&hvtargid=pla-2281435177378&psc=1

    55 min
  3. MAY 6

    The Chicago Mothman | with Oliver Berger

    The Mothman, a legendary winged “birdman” with glowing red eyes, was first reported in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, in 1966. Interestingly, similar sightings began this century in Chicago. As far as cryptids go, the myth behind Mothman is more supernatural than zoological, with many believing this creature is a harbinger of doom. With special guest Oliver Berger! https://www.instagram.com/oliveraberger/ https://oliveraustinberger.com/   Theme Music by Matt Glass https://www.glassbrain.com/ Instagram: @astudyofstrange Support the Show! astudyofstrange.substack.com/ Website: www.astudyofstrange.com Hosted by Michael May Email stories, comments, or ideas to astudyofstrange@gmail.com! ©2025 Convergent Content, LLC   LINKS https://www.singularfortean.com/ https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2017/6/10/a-timeline-of-the-chicago-flying-humanoid-sightings-so-far https://www.singularfortean.com/news/2020/6/23/second-pilot-reports-sighting-of-mothman-at-chicagos-ohare-international-airport https://www.phantomsandmonsters.com/p/chicago-phantom-sightings-2011-2017.html https://ufoclearinghouse.wordpress.com/the-latest-ufo-sightings/ https://www.reddit.com/r/cryptids/comments/1kb1ezz/the_chicago_mothman/ https://www.reddit.com/r/cryptids/comments/1bepcqj/recent_mothman_sightings/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Cryptozoology/comments/ejial9/the_chicago_mothman_has_been_seen_eight_times/ https://www.phantomsandmonsters.com/2025/04/john-keels-mothman-reports-collection_30.html https://www.phantomsandmonsters.com/p/chicago-phantom-sightings-2011-2017.html https://q985online.com/mothman-sighting-illinois-airport/ https://airlinegeeks.com/2020/10/24/spooktober-the-mothman-of-chicago-o-hare/ https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/unsolved-mysteries-volume-4-episode-5-mothman-revisited https://unsolved.com/gallery/the-mothman-revisited/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3upSX0jS0A

    47 min
4.9
out of 5
33 Ratings

About

For lovers of true crime, mysteries, and outlandish tales of high strangeness. Join host Michael May as he investigates tales of the unknown each week, from bizarre crimes to unsolved murders and unexplained phenomena. ”A Study of Strange” attempts to debunk common misconceptions and dive deep into the most unusual unsolved stories from history. With occasional guests including entertainment industry insiders, writers, randos and more! Michael May is a filmmaker and performer known for producing films like GHOSTS OF THE OZARKS, 12 HOUR SHIFT, and hosting the true-crime automotive TV shows AUTO/BIOGRAPHY and AUTOBIOGRAPHY: COLD CASES. He obsesses over historical mysteries and loves to bring fascinating stories to life.

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