Spectral

Spectral
  • 5.0 (4)
  • TRUE CRIME
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to Spectral, your portal to the unexplained, the paranormal, and the very scary. Join us on a journey beyond the realms of the ordinary with a little bit of skepticism and humor. Ready to dive into the mysteries of the universe with us?

  1. 02/27/2025

    The Fresno Night Crawler

    Tonight, we’re talking about a different set of Long Legs–these are ghostly white, and shies away from the spotlight. She’s THE Fresno Nightcrawler! This modern cryptid is unique in its appearance, how it walks, and how it… oinks? Listen in as we discuss recent on-camera sightings of the Fresno Nightcrawler, its origin story, and every theory out there on what it could be. And as a hint, we still really don’t know what our It girl is – share your theories with us because we want to put some respect on her name.  xoxo For pictures and more information, please follow us on Instagram & Threads @thespectralpod. If you want to send us a story or recommendation, email us: spectralpod@gmail.com. Please rate and review on your favorite listening platform. The ghosts and I will be eternally grateful. We hope you keep listening! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all other platforms. Sources: Bowie, Desiree. “Origins of the Fresno Nightcrawler, a Pants-shaped cryptid.” How Stuff Works, 16 May 2024, https://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/strange-creatures/fresno-nightcrawler.htm. Galan, Fernanda. “Cryptid fans are in love with this ‘funky little dude.’ What is the Fresno Nightcrawler?” The Fresno Bee, 15 Oct. 2024, https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article293048864. Helton, Kellie. “Fresno Nightcrawler: Hoax or real? Mystery remains years later.” Your Central Valley, 27 Dec. 2022, https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/digital-enterprise/fresno-nightcrawler-hoax-or-real-mystery-remains-years-later/. “Native American Legends: Stick Indians.” Native Languages, Accessed 28 Jan. 2025, https://www.native-languages.org/morelegends/stick-indians.htm. Ohler, Sara. “Fresno’s Own Local Legend.” The Rampage, 01 Nov. 2023, https://www.therampageonline.com/lifestyle/2023/11/01/fresnos-own-local-legend/. Romano, Anthony. “The Birth of a Legend: The First Fresno Sighting.” Hangar 1 Publishing, Accessed 29 Jan. 2025, https://hangar1publishing.com/blogs/cryptids/nightcrawlers-yosemite?srsltid=

    41 min

  2. 02/03/2025

    The Beldam of Coraline

    The Beldam lures you in with dreamy illusions and sweet offerings, disguising her true form until you’re in her trap. There are many similarities between the spindly monster and a popular clique in folklore. Your hosts believe the origin of this shapeshifting baddie, seen in Coraline’s Other Mother, traces back over 200 years – and has us asking: Is the Beldam much older than the world of Coraline? For pictures and more information, please follow us on Instagram & Threads @thespectralpod. If you want to send us a story or recommendation, email us: spectralpod@gmail.com. Please rate and review on your favorite listening platform. The ghosts and I will be eternally grateful. We hope you keep listening! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all other platforms. Sources: “Adder Stone.” Mysteries and Legends, Accessed 26 Jan. 2025, https://mysteriesandlegends.fandom.com/wiki/Adder_Stone “Coraline.” Focus Features, 2009. Gaiman, Neil. Coraline. HarperCollins, 2001. “John Keats.” Britannica, Accessed 27 Jan. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Keats. “La Belle Dame Analysis.” LitCharts, Accessed 24 Jan. 2025, https://www.litcharts.com/poetry/john-keats/la-belle-dame-sans-merci. “La Belle Dame sans merci.” Brittanica, Accessed 24 Jan. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/topic/La-Belle-Dame-sans-merci-by-Chartier.

    39 min

  3. 01/18/2025

    The Curse of Speedway Part III

    We’re officially raising the checkered flag on our look into the curse of Speedway, Indiana. Our last two tragedies include the Indiana state fair grounds, Sugarland, someone with a gross but fitting last name, and a whole lotta anger. We’ll wrap up our discussion with dishonorable mentions and some theories behind what’s happening near Speedway. And here’s the ley line simulator: https://websim.ai/@MKIreland/ley-lines-of-the-usa-interactive-explore For pictures and more information, please follow us on Instagram & Threads @thespectralpod. If you want to send us a story or recommendation, email us: spectralpod@gmail.com. Please rate and review on your favorite listening platform. The ghosts and I will be eternally grateful. We hope you keep listening! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all other platforms. Sources: “Aircraft Accidents.” Encyclopedia of Indianapolis, Accessed 29 Dec. 2024, https://indyencyclopedia.org/aircraft-accidents/#:~:text=Another%20mid%2Dair%20collision%20occurred,with%20an%20inbound%20smaller%20plane. Almasy, Steve, Hanna, Jason, and Watts, Amanda. “Police ID gunman who killed 8 people at an Indianapolis FedEx facility as 19-year-old former employee.” CNN, 17 Apr. 2021, https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/16/us/indianapolis-shooting-fedex-facility/index.html. Cook, Tony and Magdaleno, Johnny. “New details show interventions failed - again and again - to stop FedEx shooting.” The Indianapolis Star, 11 Nov. 2021, https://www.indystar.com/in-depth/news/investigations/2021/11/11/indianapolis-fedex-shooting-sheila-hole-inadequate-interventions-failed-stop-killings/6237864001/. Fitzsimons, Tim. “Indianapolis FedEx mass shooting was ‘preventable’, families of victims say in negligence lawsuit.” NBC News, 11 Nov. 2022, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/indianapolis-fedex-mass-shooting-was-preventable-families-victims-say-rcna23914. Jacobs, Bel. “Ley lines: The UK’s mysterious ancient pathways.” BBC, 02 Nov. 2022, https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20221102-englands-mysterious-ancient-pathways. Kershner, Kate. “What Are Ley Lines?” How Stuff Works, 30 Nov. 2023, https://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/unexplained-phenomena/ley-lines.htm. Lesso, Rosie. “Ancient Pathways: What Are Ley Lines?” The Collector, 03 May 2024, https://www.thecollector.com/ancient-pathways-what-are-ley-lines/. Mack, Justin L. “Indiana’s red flag law didn’t stop Brandon Scott Hole from killing 8 people.” The Indianapolis Star, 18 Apr. 2021, https://www.indystar.com/story/news/crime/2021/04/18/indiana-red-flag-law-fedex-indianapolis-shooter-gun/7276439002/. Martinez-LeGrand, Nicole. “Indigenous History in Indiana: Treaties and the Complexity of Language Preservations.” We Do History, 15 Nov. 2021, https://indianahistory.org/blog/indigenous-history-in-indiana-treaties-and-the-complexity-of-language-preservation/. Nicas, Jack. “Faulty Planning, Stage Cited in Fair Collapse.” The Wall Street Journal, 12 Apr. 2012, https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304356604577339923897959492. Serena, Katie. “The Controversial History of Ley Lines, From the Theory’s Origin To Its New Age Connection To UFOs.” All Thats Interesting, 23 Apr. 2024, https://allthatsinteresting.com/ley-lines. Sikich, Chris. “How a Native American burial site was desecrated in Hamilton County.” The Indianapolis Star, 05 Nov. 2016, https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/hamilton-county/2016/11/05/native-american-graves-strawtown/91913202/. “Sylvia Likens Murder Case.” Encyclopedia of Indianapolis, Accessed 29 Dec. 2024, https://indyencyclopedia.org/sylvia-likens-murder-case/. Taub, Benjamin. “What Are Ley Lines And Do They Really Exist?” IFL Science, 12 Dec. 2023, “The ley of the land.” The Guardian, 12 May 2000, Witt Associates. “An Independent Assessment of the August 13, 2011 Indiana State Fair Collapse Incident.” Witt Associates, 05 Apr. 2012, /Witt-Associates-Indiana-State-Fair-Report_April2012.pdf.

    49 min

  4. 01/03/2025

    The Curse of Speedway Pt 2 & The Burger Chef Murders

    The curse of Speedway, part 2 brings us the infamous (and still unsolved!) Burger Chef murders, an avoidable jet crash, way too many serial killers with nearly identical names, and one of the most horrific crimes in Indianapolis. And, surprise! We’ve got our first 3-parter, so we’ll wrap up our discussion on Speedway next week with two more tragedies, honorable mentions, and theories. You won’t want to miss it. For pictures and more information, please follow us on Instagram & Threads @thespectralpod. If you want to send us a story or recommendation, email us: spectralpod@gmail.com. Please rate and review on your favorite listening platform. The ghosts and I will be eternally grateful. We hope you keep listening! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all other platforms. Sources: “Aircraft Accidents.” Encyclopedia of Indianapolis, Accessed 26 Dec. 2024, https://indyencyclopedia.org/aircraft-accidents/#:~:text=Another%20mid%2Dair%20collision%20occurred,with%20an%20inbound%20smaller%20plane. Harts, Michael, Mullins, Marc, and Ryckaert, Vic. “1978 Burger Chef murders haunt retired detective: ‘This is the type of case that I will take to my grave’.” WRTV Indianapolis, 17 Nov. 2023, https://www.wrtv.com/news/local-news/crime/1978-burger-chef-murders-haunt-retired-detective-this-is-the-type-of-case-that-i-will-take-to-my-grave. “Indiana plane crashes.” The Indianapolis Star, 01 May 2002, https://web.archive.org/web/20130627124130/http://www2.indystar.com/library/factfiles/history/disasters/planecrashes.html. “Motive in Indianapolis Bloodbath.” CBS News, 06 June 2006, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/motive-in-indianapolis-bloodbath/. Penner, Diana. “Indiana Unsolved: I-70 killings left 6 victims in 3 states.” The Indianapolis Star, 16 Apr. 2013, https://web.archive.org/web/20150222160903/http://archive.indystar.com/article/20130409/NEWS02/304090079/Indiana-Unsolved-70-killings-left-6-victims-3-states. “Ramada Inn Air Crash and Fire.” United States Fire Administration - Technical Report Series, Accessed 27 Dec. 2024, https://www.interfire.org/res_file/pdf/Tr-014.pdf.

    41 min

  5. 12/24/2024

    Mini Tale: A Christmas Ghost Story

    It’s the most wonderful time of the year...with scary ghost stories and tales of the glories of Christmases long, long ago… Grab some spiked nog, prepare for the veil to thin, and join us for a Christmas ghost story. Happy holidays! For pictures and more information, please follow us on Instagram & Threads @thespectralpod. If you want to send us a story or recommendation, email us: spectralpod@gmail.com. Please rate and review on your favorite listening platform. The ghosts and I will be eternally grateful. We hope you keep listening! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all other platforms. Sources: Story: Timperley, Rosemary. "A Christmas Meeting," Book of Ghost Stories. 1951 Music: https://uppbeat.io/t/giulio-fazio/happy-holiday License code: YGXFLWEXUEPJGJ75

    12 min

  6. 12/20/2024

    The Curse of Speedway Indiana

    What if specific areas, neighborhoods, or towns were more susceptible to tragedies? This seems to be the case for a 125 square mile area near Speedway, Indiana. This little area has experienced way too many once-in-a-lifetime events, and we can’t help but ask ourselves why. Tune in with us as we explore some of the wildest things that have happened in and around Speedway. For pictures and more information, please follow us on Instagram & Threads @thespectralpod. If you want to send us a story or recommendation, email us: spectralpod@gmail.com. Please rate and review on your favorite listening platform. The ghosts and I will be eternally grateful. We hope you keep listening! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all other platforms. Sources: “‘Bill’ Denver, Audubon, is Speed Victim.” The Mercury, 29 May 1933, https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-mercury-tragic-prequel-to-the-failed/30051969/. Devgania, Chintan. “‘You Physically Can’t See Anything’ - Tony Stewart Uncovers Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s Dark Side That Left Him Spooked.” Essentially Sports, 31 Oct. 2024, https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-you-physically-cant-see-anything-tony-stewart-uncovers-indianapolis-motor-speedways-dark-side-that-left-him-spooked/. “Freak explosion at Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum kills 74.” History, 24 Oct. 2023, https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/indiana-state-fairgrounds-coliseum-explosion. “Gordon Smiley - The Dark Side of Indianapolis.” Car Throttle, 01 Feb. 2021, https://www.carthrottle.com/post/a2rly3l. Hartz, Michael. “40 years ago: Bombings rock town of Speedway, Indiana.” WRTV Indianapolis, 30 Aug. 2018, https://www.wrtv.com/lifestyle/history/40-years-ago-bombings-rock-town-of-speedway-indiana. Marot, Michael. “Worst crashes in Indianapolis 500 history.” Fox San Antonio, 20 May 2016, https://foxsanantonio.com/sports/worst-crashes-in-indianapolis-500-history. Mitchell, Dawn. “Retro Indy: The deadly 1963 Coliseum explosion on Halloween night.” Indy Star, 15 Jan. 2014, https://www.indystar.com/story/news/history/retroindy/2014/01/15/coliseum-explosion/4495037/. Mitchell, Dawn. “Washing away: How the Great Flood of 1913 devastated Indiana.” Indy Star, 22 Mar. 2019, https://www.indystar.com/story/news/history/retroindy/2019/03/22/washed-away-how-great-flood-1913-devastated-indiana/3245606002/. Shrestha, Naman. “Brett Kimberlin: Where is the Speedway Bomber Now?” The Cinemaholic, 29 Oct. 2024, https://thecinemaholic.com/brett-kimberlin/.

    55 min

  7. 12/08/2024

    The Carbondale UFO Event

    1974 saw the Watergate scandal, the invention of post-its, and a top-secret UFO event? Life in small town Carbondale, PA was disrupted one November night after residents reported seeing something streak across the sky and land into a silt pond behind a local park. After days of military presence, intense media coverage, and thousands of spectators–something unexpected is pulled out of the water, leading police and officials to label the event as a hoax. But even fifty years later, most locals believe there was a government coverup, leaving many questions unanswered. Is the Carbondalien event just local lore, or did something more curious happen in this small town? For pictures and more information, please follow us on Instagram & Threads @thespectralpod. If you want to send us a story or recommendation, email us: spectralpod@gmail.com. Please rate and review on your favorite listening platform. The ghosts and I will be eternally grateful. We hope you keep listening! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all other platforms. Sources: “Carbondalien Festival.” Carbondalien Festival, Accessed 03 Nov. 2024, https://carbondalienfestival.com/. “A Look Back at the Carbondale ‘UFO Crash’ of 1974.” PA Homepage, 08 Nov. 2024, https://www.pahomepage.com/video/a-look-back-at-the-carbondale-ufo-crash-of-1974/10201716/. “Carbondalien festival beams down upon city.” The Times Tribune, 14 Nov. 2024, https://www.thetimes-tribune.com/2024/11/14/carbondalien-festival-beams-down-upon-city/. “Carbondale, Pennsylvania.” City of Carbondale, Accessed 06 Nov. 2024, https://www.carbondalepa.org/. “Carbondale UFO tale rises again.” Times Leader, 13 Nov. 2016, https://www.timesleader.com/wire/state-wire/606429/carbondale-ufo-tale-rises-again#:~:text=The%20%E2%80%9CCarbondale%20UFO%E2%80%9D%20drew%20police,only%20an%20old%20railroad%20lantern. Flannery, Tom. “City marks 1974 ‘alien landing’ at Russell Parks with events.” Tri-County Independent, 14 Apr. 2014, https://www.tricountyindependent.com/story/entertainment/events/2014/08/20/city-marks-1974-alien-landing/64723843007/. Oleary, Kathryn. “50th anniversary of UFO crash legend in Carbondale.” PA Homepage, 08 Nov. 2024, https://www.pahomepage.com/news/50th-anniversary-of-ufo-crash-legend-in-carbondale/. Palko, Jerry and Tusko, Mike. “UFO Experts Have Doubts About Carbondale Hoax.” The Scranton Times, 12 Nov. 1974. “Pennsylvania’s ‘U.F.O.’ Just a Flash in the Pond.” The New York Times, 12 Nov. 1974, https://www.nytimes.com/1974/11/12/archives/pennsylvanias-ufo-just-a-flash-in-the-pond.html. “The Legend.” Carbon D. Alien, Accessed 05 Nov. 2024, https://carbondalien.com/?s=thelegend. Newspaper Article: “UFO Experts Have Doubts About Carbondale Hoax” written by Jerry Palko & Mike Tusko. The Scranton-Times Published: Nov 12th 1974

    40 min

  8. 10/31/2024

    Real Life Horror Movies

    Imagine if the scariest movie you’ve ever seen was based on a true story. Well, it just might be! We’re going over some horror classics, plus some scary movies we had never heard of, to tell you the true story that inspired it all. From young men having nightmares so bad they die in their sleep to a couple lost at sea, you won’t want to miss the finale to our 13 Nights of Halloween. For pictures and more information, please follow us on Instagram & Threads @thespectralpod. If you want to send us a story or recommendation, email us: spectralpod@gmail.com. Please rate and review on your favorite listening platform. The ghosts and I will be eternally grateful. We hope you keep listening! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all other platforms. Sources: Clouse, Lindsey. “The Horrific True Story Behind the Making of Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘The Birds’.” Collider, 18 Mar. 2024, https://collider.com/the-birds-production-history-explained/. “Deaths of Asians in Sleep Still a Mystery.” Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 1988, https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-04-24-me-2575-story.html. DeLong, William. “The True Story of Danny Rolling, The Gainesville Ripper Who Inspired ‘Scream’.” All Thats Interesting, 24 Oct. 2021, https://allthatsinteresting.com/danny-rolling-gainesville-ripper. Fickling, David. “The cruel sea.” The Guardian, 22 July 2004, https://www.theguardian.com/film/2004/jul/23/2. Hunter, David and Presnell, Riley. “How in the Hell is ‘Nightmare on Elm Street’ Based on a True Story?” Collider, 09 Aug. 2024, https://collider.com/nightmare-on-elm-street-true-story/. Jackson, Matthew. “The True Stories That Inspired a Nightmare on Elm Street.” SyFy, 27 Dec. 2023, https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/the-true-stories-that-inspired-a-nightmare-on-elm-street. Keaney, Quinn. “The Nightmarish String of Real-Life Murders That Inspired Wes Craven’s ‘Scream’.” Pop Sugar, 10 Mar. 2023, https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/scream-movie-true-story-44178569. McNamara, Tom. “Here’s the real story behind Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘The Birds’.” Popular Science, 27 Apr. 2021, https://www.popsci.com/story/animals/wild-lives-hitchcock-birds/. Starkey, Arun. “The shocking real event behind the classic Alfred Hitchcock movie ‘The Birds’.” Far Out, 25 Jan. 2023, https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/real-event-alfred-hitchcock-the-birds/. Steinhaus, Rochelle. “Ex-boyfriend of driver describes disposing of accident victim’s body.” Court TV News, 11 July 2007, https://web.archive.org/web/20070711140205/http://www.courttv.com/trials/mallard/062403-pm_ctv.html. “Timeline of events in Chante Mallard windshield death case.” My Plainview, 26 June 2003, https://www.myplainview.com/news/article/Timeline-of-events-in-Chante-Mallard-windshield-8766883.php. “Woman faced murder trial after leaving accident victim on her car.” Court TV News, 03 Apr. 2009, https://web.archive.org/web/20090403231824/http://www.courttv.com/trials/mallard/background.html. “Woman panicked after touching man in windshield.” CNN, 27 June 2003, https://web.archive.org/web/20060227082000/http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/06/26/windshield.death/index.html.

    38 min
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About

Welcome to Spectral, your portal to the unexplained, the paranormal, and the very scary. Join us on a journey beyond the realms of the ordinary with a little bit of skepticism and humor. Ready to dive into the mysteries of the universe with us?

Information

  • Creator
    Spectral
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    59
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Spectral
  • Show Website
    Spectral