The Arkin's Hearth

Michael J Chandler

Where desert winds carry secrets and mountains whisper old stories, where history refuses to stay buried. We’re a podcast for everyone — the curious, the skeptical, the believers, the history lovers, the late-night thinkers, and the people who just love a good story. Based in the legendary Four Corners region — where New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah meet — we dive deep into the mysteries that haunt this rugged and beautiful land. Each episode explores stories rooted in the Four Corners, including stories of murder, crime, aliens, cryptids, ghosts, and history. Contact Us: thearkinshearthpodcast@gmail.com

  1. Jul 13

    Aliens In Utah: The Utah Monolith

    In this episode of The Arkins Hearth, the team explores one of the internet's most fascinating modern mysteries, the Utah Monolith. From its unexpected discovery by wildlife biologists in a remote desert canyon to the explosion of alien theories, internet sleuths, copycat monoliths, and its equally mysterious disappearance, the hosts separate fact from fiction with their signature blend of humor, skepticism, and storytelling. Was it evidence of extraterrestrials, an elaborate art installation, or simply a reminder that mystery still has a place in the modern world? Join the crew as they uncover the truth behind the shiny object that captivated millions and discuss why sometimes the greatest mystery isn't the answer; it's our endless curiosity. Please Join Us on patreon.com; look up The Arkins Hearth, where you can support the show. References: Associated Press. (2020, November 29). Utah monolith disappears after attracting worldwide attention. Bureau of Land Management. (2020). Leave No Trace principles and protection of public lands. Kaur, H. (2020, November 24). Utah's mysterious monolith sparks worldwide speculation. CNN. Mele, C. (2020, November 24). A mysterious monolith appears in Utah. The New York Times. Utah Department of Public Safety. (2020, November 23). Utah monolith discovered during wildlife survey. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. (2020). Aerial bighorn sheep survey observations. West, T. (2020, November 30). Witnesses describe removal of the Utah monolith. The Salt Lake Tribune. Woolfson, D. (2020, November 28). The Utah monolith has disappeared. BBC News. Zaveri, M. (2020, November 29). The mysterious Utah monolith is gone. The New York Times.

    Aliens In Utah: The Utah Monolith
  2. Jul 9

    Special Mini-Series: Jack the Ripper – Part Three, Faces in the Fog. Patreon Sample

    In this third episode of our Patreon Sample series, we return. It's been more than 135 years since the Whitechapel murders; Jack the Ripper still stands as history’s most famous unsolved mystery. In Part Three of our Jack the Ripper miniseries, we dig into the evidence and criminal profiling, discuss the less likely suspects, and take a closer look at some of the best-known suspects, including Aaron Kosminski and Montague Druitt, as well as Walter Sickert, Francis Tumblety, and James Maybrick. Along the way, we separate fact from fiction, test the strongest theories, and explore why this chilling case continues to fascinate historians, detectives, and true crime fans alike. Please visit us at The Arkins Hearth Podcast — A podcast with stories from the Four Corners of murder and myth | Patreon References Begg, P. (2006). Jack the Ripper: The definitive history. Pearson Education. Bond, T. (1888, November 10). Report on the Whitechapel murders. In S. P. Evans & K. Skinner (Eds.), The ultimate Jack the Ripper sourcebook (2000, pp. 360–363). Robinson. Cornwell, P. (2002). Portrait of a killer: Jack the Ripper—Case closed. G. P. Putnam's Sons. Douglas, J., Burgess, A. W., Burgess, A. G., & Ressler, R. K. (2013). Crime classification manual: A standard system for investigating and classifying violent crimes (3rd ed.). Jossey-Bass. Evans, S. P., & Rumbelow, D. (2006). Jack the Ripper: Scotland Yard investigates. Sutton Publishing. Hazelwood, R. R., & Douglas, J. E. (1980). The lust murderer. FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, 49(4), 18–22. Rubenhold, H. (2019). The five: The untold lives of the women killed by Jack the Ripper. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Knight, S. (1976). Jack the Ripper: The final solution. Granada. The National Archives. (1888–1891). Whitechapel murders police files (MEPO series). The National Archives, Kew, United Kingdom. White, J. (2007). London in the nineteenth century: "A human awful wonder of God". Vintage Books. Wolf, T. (2018). Victimology and the Whitechapel murders: Reconsidering offender familiarity and environmental context. Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling, 15(2), 140–156.

    Special Mini-Series: Jack the Ripper – Part Three, Faces in the Fog. Patreon Sample
  3. Jul 5

    Skinwalker Ranch: Part Two

    Skinwalker Ranch has become one of the internet's biggest paranormal phenomena, but how much is mystery, and how much is myth? In Part II of our Utah UFO series, the crew explores the ranch's rise through reality TV, conspiracy culture, government investigations, and viral internet lore. From UFOs and portals to infrasound, military secrets, and the psychology behind belief, they separate documented facts from modern folklore while asking why places like Skinwalker Ranch continue to capture our imagination. Is it evidence of the unexplained or a mirror reflecting humanity's fascination with the unknown? Tune in for laughs, skepticism, and a deep dive into one of America's strangest legends. Please go to Patreon.com and look up The Arkins Hearth References Bartholomew, R. E., & Howard, G. S. (1998). UFOs and alien contact: Two centuries of mystery. Prometheus Books. Blumenthal, R., Cooper, H., & Kean, L. (2017, December 16). Glowing auras and “black money”: The Pentagon’s mysterious U.F.O. program. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/16/us/politics/pentagon-program-ufo-harry-reid.html Jacobsen, A. (2011). Area 51: An uncensored history of America’s top-secret military base. Little, Brown and Company. Knapp, G., & Kelleher, C. (2005). Hunt for the Skinwalker: Science confronts the unexplained at a remote ranch in Utah. Paraview Pocket Books. Persinger, M. A. (1984). Geophysical variables and behavior: LXXIII. Predicting the details of visitor experiences and the personality of experients: The temporal lobe factor. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 58(3), 831–842. https://doi.org/10.2466/pms.1984.58.3.831 Radford, B. (2016). Investigating ghosts: The scientific search for spirits. Rhombus Publishing Company. Hunt for the Skinwalker: The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch

    Skinwalker Ranch: Part Two
  4. Jul 1

    Special Mini-Series: Jack the Ripper – Part Two, Victims, Mistakes, and Missing Murders. Patreon Sample

    Summary In The Arkins Hearth Special: Jack the Ripper, Part Two – Victims, Mistakes, and Missing Murders, Michael Jason Chandler and the panel shift the focus away from the killer and toward the women whose lives were overshadowed by the legend of Jack the Ripper. Rather than treating them as anonymous victims, the episode explores their personal histories, emphasizing that poverty, homelessness, isolation, and economic hardship—not simply prostitution—were the common factors that made them vulnerable. The episode examines how Victorian investigators lacked the modern concept of victimology, causing them to focus primarily on crime scenes and suspects while overlooking patterns in the victims' lives. It argues that a modern investigation would have paid closer attention to the places the women frequented, the people who regularly interacted with vulnerable residents of Whitechapel, and those who could move through the neighborhood unnoticed. The discussion also explores the debate over the "Canonical Five" murders, considering whether victims such as Martha Tabram, Alice McKenzie, and Frances Coles may also have been killed by the Ripper. While acknowledging that no consensus exists, the episode explains how including or excluding these cases could significantly change the timeline and understanding of the killer's evolution. The episode concludes by encouraging listeners to remember the victims as individuals rather than as supporting characters in the story of a famous murderer. It closes with a preview of Part Three, which will examine the many suspects proposed over the past century and the theories that continue to surround the identity of Jack the Ripper. References Begg, P. (2006). Jack the Ripper: The definitive history. Pearson Education. Bond, T. (1888/1987). Memorandum on the Whitechapel murders. In S. P. Evans & K. Skinner (Eds.), The ultimate Jack the Ripper sourcebook. Robinson. Evans, S. P., & Skinner, K. (2000). The ultimate Jack the Ripper sourcebook. Robinson Publishing. House, J. (2013). Jack the Ripper and the case for Scotland Yard's prime suspect. John Blake Publishing. Rubenhold, H. (2019). The five: The untold lives of the women killed by Jack the Ripper. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Sugden, P. (2002). The complete history of Jack the Ripper (Rev. ed.). Carroll & Graf. Whitechapel Society. (2024). The canonical five and victim debates. Whitechapel Society Historical Resources. Woods, P., & Baddeley, G. (2009). Saucy Jack: The elusive Ripper. John Blake Publishing.

    Special Mini-Series: Jack the Ripper – Part Two, Victims, Mistakes, and Missing Murders. Patreon Sample
  5. Jun 28

    Skinwalker Ranch: Part One

    In this episode of The Arkins Hearth, we explore the mystery of Skinwalker Ranch, one of America's most infamous paranormal hotspots. From Native American folklore and the origins of the "skinwalker" legend to the Sherman family's chilling encounters with mysterious creatures, UFOs, cattle mutilations, and the infamous "bulletproof wolf," the episode separates documented history from modern myth. It also examines billionaire Robert Bigelow's scientific investigations, the ranch's connection to government UFO research, and how television and the internet transformed a remote Utah ranch into a worldwide paranormal phenomenon. Join us as we explore the history, the evidence, the skepticism, and the stories behind one of the strangest places on Earth—before diving into the TV era in Part Two. References Bartholomew, R. E., & Howard, G. S. (1998). UFOs and alien contact: Two centuries of mystery. Prometheus Books. Blumenthal, R., Cooper, H., & Kean, L. (2017, December 16). Glowing auras and “black money”: The Pentagon’s mysterious U.F.O. program. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/16/us/politics/pentagon-program-ufo-harry-reid.html Jacobsen, A. (2011). Area 51: An uncensored history of America’s top secret military base. Little, Brown and Company. Knapp, G., & Kelleher, C. (2005). Hunt for the Skinwalker: Science confronts the unexplained at a remote ranch in Utah. Paraview Pocket Books. Persinger, M. A. (1984). Geophysical variables and behavior: LXXIII. Predicting the details of visitor experiences and the personality of experients: The temporal lobe factor. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 58(3), 831–842. https://doi.org/10.2466/pms.1984.58.3.831 Radford, B. (2016). Investigating ghosts: The scientific search for spirits. Rhombus Publishing Company. Hunt for the Skinwalker The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch

    Skinwalker Ranch: Part One

About

Where desert winds carry secrets and mountains whisper old stories, where history refuses to stay buried. We’re a podcast for everyone — the curious, the skeptical, the believers, the history lovers, the late-night thinkers, and the people who just love a good story. Based in the legendary Four Corners region — where New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah meet — we dive deep into the mysteries that haunt this rugged and beautiful land. Each episode explores stories rooted in the Four Corners, including stories of murder, crime, aliens, cryptids, ghosts, and history. Contact Us: thearkinshearthpodcast@gmail.com