Beyond the Ferns

Susie Winn
  • 4.6 (27)
  • Arts
  • Updated Weekly

Beyond the Ferns is a true crime, paranormal, and all things spooky podcast. Each episode is built upon meticulous research and immersive storytelling—bringing you in-depth details you didn’t even know you needed... until now. No episode is complete without some comedic relief, Y'ALL ...he did what?!?!?, and hot takes. At the heart of it all is a commitment to preserving the humanity behind person's story. Victims and survivors are not reduced to headlines—they are given a face, a name, and a legacy. Through a justice-centered lens, Beyond the Ferns sheds light on cases that have gone cold, gives voice to those who no longer have one, and works to uncover the deeper understanding behind each story.

  1. 46m ago

    77. The Controversial Oak Ridge Psychiatric Hospital "When Treatment Turns Into Psychological Torture"

    In this week's episode, we are headed to Canada! Hidden in the quiet town of Penetanguishene, Ontario, the Oak Ridge Psychiatric Facility was once home to some of Canada's most dangerous offenders—and some of the country's most controversial psychiatric experiments. What began as an ambitious attempt to rehabilitate violent patients eventually evolved into a series of unconventional treatment programs that continue to spark debate decades later. Former patients have described experiences that ranged from groundbreaking therapy to outright psychological and physical abuse, while supporters argued the hospital was pushing the boundaries of mental health treatment in hopes of finding a cure. In this episode, we explore the history of Oak Ridge, the people behind its radical programs, and how a hospital built to heal became one of the most infamous institutions in Canadian psychiatric history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    52 min

  2. Jun 22

    76. The Mysterious Disappearance of Granger Taylor - "The Man Who Said He Was Leaving Earth"

    In this week's episode, we are headed to Canada! On a stormy night in November 1980, a brilliant and eccentric mechanic named Granger Taylor seemingly vanished without a trace from his hometown of Cowichan Bay. Long before his disappearance, Taylor had gained a reputation as a mechanical genius, capable of restoring old locomotives, rebuilding aircraft, and creating incredible machines despite having little formal education. But alongside his talent for engineering was a deep fascination with the mysteries of the universe, particularly the possibility of extraterrestrial life. In the months leading up to his disappearance, Taylor became increasingly interested in UFOs and the idea that intelligent beings might exist beyond Earth. Then, one night, he left behind a message that would spark decades of speculation and transform his case into one of Canada's most enduring mysteries. Was it an elaborate plan, a tragic accident, or something far stranger? More than four decades later, no one can say for certain what happened to Granger Taylor. His disappearance remains a captivating blend of true crime, mystery, and the unexplained—a case that continues to leave both investigators and believers searching for answers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    36 min

  3. Jun 15

    75. The Honolulu Strangler - "The Serial Killer that Walked Free"

    In this final road trip stop in the US of A - we are headed to Hawaii! In the mid-1980s, a series of murders transformed what many considered paradise into a community gripped by fear. Between 1985 and 1986, five women disappeared from the Honolulu area and were later found dead in isolated locations across Oʻahu. The victims came from different backgrounds, but investigators began noticing striking similarities in the way the crimes were carried out, leading them to believe they were dealing with Hawaii's first known serial killer. As the body count grew, panic spread throughout the island. Police launched one of the largest homicide investigations in Hawaii's history, bringing together homicide detectives, sex crimes investigators, the FBI, and criminal profilers. Undercover officers patrolled bus stops and known dumping grounds, warnings were issued to the public, and residents became increasingly cautious about accepting rides from strangers. The case eventually focused on a local man whose background, vehicle, and personal history appeared to align with several aspects of the investigation. Detectives became convinced they had found their suspect, but proving it in court proved far more difficult. Despite years of investigation, no one was ever charged with the murders. Today, the Honolulu Strangler case remains one of Hawaii's most notorious unsolved mysteries. It is a story of an intensive manhunt, forensic limitations of the era, and a lingering question that continues to divide those closest to the investigation: did police identify the killer but lack the evidence to convict him, or was the real Honolulu Strangler never found at all? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1 hr

  4. Jun 8

    74. The Murder of Sophie Sergie - "Justice after 29 years"

    On this week's episode we are headed to the greate state of Alaska! On April 26, 1993, 20-year-old Sophie Sergie was found murdered in a women's restroom inside Bartlett Hall at University of Alaska Fairbanks. Sophie, a Yup'ik student from the small village of Pitkas Point, had traveled to Fairbanks for orthodontic appointments and was staying with friends in the dormitory. Investigators determined that she had been sexually assaulted and shot in the back of the head sometime during the early morning hours of April 26. Despite hundreds of interviews and years of investigation, the case went cold and remained unsolved for more than two decades. However, investigators would have their breakthrough in 2018. Despite knowing the person responsible for murdering Sophie, there were many questions that have continued to puzzle investigators. No murder weapon, an unclear motive, what exactly would lead someone to do such a heinous act? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1 hr

  5. Jun 1

    73. Adam Emery & The Tragic Case of Jason Bass "Murder & The Manhunt"

    This week we are headed to Rhode Island! On the evening of August 31, 1990, Adam and Elena Emery were enjoying dinner with friends in Rocky Point, Rhode Island, when a passing vehicle sideswiped Adam's parked Ford Thunderbird. Rather than stopping to exchange information, the driver sped away into the night. Furious over the damage and determined to find the person responsible, Adam started chasing the car he believed to be responsible. However, this night ended in way more than confrontation. After forcing a young group of men in the car before them, the altercation turned from road rage fury to a full blown murder investigation. In the weeks and months that followed, investigators worked to unravel exactly what happened that night, while the case drew intense media attention across the state. As the legal proceedings moved forward, it appeared the story was headed toward a conclusion. But then came a shocking twist. Authorities discovered Adam and Elena's vehicle abandoned on the Claiborne Pell Bridge, which stretches across Narragansett Bay. And there would be plenty of unanswered questions, that only Adam and Elena had the answers to... unfortunately, there's a lot of missing pieces even thirty years later... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    40 min

  6. May 25

    72. The Black Angel of Iowa City "Cursed, Legend, Romanticized, depends who you ask..."

    In this week's episode, we are headed to Iowa! Towering above the graves of Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City stands one of the most highly debated, ominous monuments in the Midwest — the Black Angel. Darkened with age and looming beneath the trees, the massive bronze statue has watched over the cemetery for more than a century, its hollow eyes and blackened wings turning it into the center of whispers, rumors, stories and legends, and fear. But behind the eerie appearance is the story of Teresa Feldevert, a woman whose life was marked by tragedy, loss, and loneliness. We will dig into the real history behind the monument, the strange stories that began surrounding it, and why so many people still avoid getting too close to the angel after dark. What is legend, lore, and truth? It really depends on who you ask... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    25 min

  7. May 18

    71. Inside the Mind of Edgar Allan Poe: A Deep Dive Into His Darkest Writings

    This week we are headed to Maryland! We will be stepping inside the mind of Edgar Allan Poe to explore the darkness that shaped some of his most haunting works. Poe’s writing wasn’t simply created from imagination — it was deeply rooted in his own grief, isolation, fear, and a lifelong sense of never truly belonging anywhere. After enduring repeated loss throughout his life, including the deaths of the women closest to him, Poe became consumed by themes of mortality, madness, psychological torment, and the terrifying fragility of the human mind. We will deep dive into writings, including The Tell-Tale Heart, The Premature Burial, The Raven, and The Fall of the House of Usher — unraveling the fears, obsessions, and emotional wounds hidden between the lines. From paranoia and guilt to death and the fear of losing those we love most, this episode explores how Poe transformed personal suffering into some of the darkest literature ever written. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    44 min

  8. May 11

    70. Life and Crimes of Serial Killer Belle Gunness Part II - Indiana's Black Widow

    This week, we are staying in Indiana to finish out Belle Gunness' horrifyingly shocking legacy! After arriving in La Porte, Indiana, Belle Gunness seemed determined to build the kind of life she had always wanted—land, financial security, and control. To neighbors, she appeared hardworking and capable, running her farm with a steady hand while raising children and welcoming a steady stream of hired men, visitors, and suitors through her doors. But beneath the surface, strange patterns began to emerge. Farmhands disappeared without much explanation. Men who arrived carrying savings or dreams of a new life were suddenly gone, often with Belle calmly offering a reason no one could fully verify. As the years passed, rumors around the farm grew harder to ignore. Belle continued expanding her property and finances, even as tragedy seemed to follow closely behind her. Fires, sudden deaths, missing people, and whispered suspicions became woven into the story surrounding the isolated farmhouse on McClung Road. Then, in the spring of 1908, everything changed when a devastating fire tore through the property in the middle of the night—leaving behind a scene so horrifying that it would turn the quiet Indiana farm into one of the most infamous crime scenes in American history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 2m
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4.6
out of 5
27 Ratings

About

Beyond the Ferns is a true crime, paranormal, and all things spooky podcast. Each episode is built upon meticulous research and immersive storytelling—bringing you in-depth details you didn’t even know you needed... until now. No episode is complete without some comedic relief, Y'ALL ...he did what?!?!?, and hot takes. At the heart of it all is a commitment to preserving the humanity behind person's story. Victims and survivors are not reduced to headlines—they are given a face, a name, and a legacy. Through a justice-centered lens, Beyond the Ferns sheds light on cases that have gone cold, gives voice to those who no longer have one, and works to uncover the deeper understanding behind each story.

Information

  • Creator
    Susie Winn
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    77
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Beyond the Ferns
  • Show Website
    Beyond the Ferns

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