State of the Unknown | True Stories of Paranormal Encounters and American Folklore

Robert Barber
  • 5.0 (11)
  • HISTORY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Hosted by Robert Barber, State of the Unknown is a cinematic podcast exploring American folklore, eerie cryptid encounters, and the dark myths behind haunted highways across the U.S. Each episode unearths a forgotten corner of the country—where strange disappearances, cursed landmarks, and chilling legends refuse to stay buried. If you believe some stories were never meant to be solved, this is the podcast you’ve been looking for. 🎧 New episodes every other week.🔗 www.stateoftheunknown.com📸 @stateoftheunknownpodcast

  1. OUT OF STATE | La Llorona: The Weeping Woman of Mexican Folklore

    1D AGO

    OUT OF STATE | La Llorona: The Weeping Woman of Mexican Folklore

    A river at night. A woman’s cry that chills the blood. La Llorona — the Weeping Woman — is Mexico’s most famous ghost. For centuries, she has haunted riversides and canals, searching for the children she drowned and lost. Some call her a grieving mother. Others, a curse born from betrayal. But all agree: her cry is an omen. If you hear it, death may follow. In this episode of Out of State, we travel beyond American folklore into the haunted history of Mexico. From Aztec goddesses to colonial sightings in Mexico City, to modern encounters along the Rio Grande, La Llorona endures as one of the most terrifying paranormal stories in the world. Join us as we uncover why her legend refuses to rest… and why her voice still drifts across the water. 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 other Wednesday. 📬 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. Some stories don’t stay buried. We go looking anyway.

    14 min
  2. OUT OF STATE | The White Lady of Aokigahara: Japan’s Most Haunted Forest

    1D AGO

    OUT OF STATE | The White Lady of Aokigahara: Japan’s Most Haunted Forest

    In this inaugural episode of Out of State — a companion to State of the Unknown — join host Robert Barber as we step beyond America’s borders to one of the most haunted places in the world. At the base of Mount Fuji lies Aokigahara, Japan’s infamous “Suicide Forest.” But beyond its tragic reputation, locals tell of something else: the ghost of a woman in white, seen drifting silently among the trees. This episode explores the paranormal history of Aokigahara, chilling first-hand accounts, and the ghostly legend of the White Lady — a yūrei spirit born of sorrow. Known for following the living, she’s one of Japan’s most enduring ghost stories. If you love paranormal stories, true ghost legends, and haunted history, this eerie journey into Japan’s most mysterious forest is for you. 🎙️ Content Warning This episode contains discussion of suicide and grief. If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. In the United States, you can dial 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. For listeners elsewhere, please check your local crisis hotlines and resources. 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 other Wednesday. 📬 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. Some stories don’t stay buried. We go looking anyway.

    14 min

  3. AUG 27

    Devil’s Bargain: The Haunting Legend of Robert Johnson

    At midnight in the Mississippi Delta, a man stood at the crossroads—and American music was never the same. Join host Robert Barber on the State of the Unknown Podcast as we dive into one of the most chilling and enduring tales in American folklore. Robert Johnson, a gifted but restless bluesman, vanished for months only to return playing like a man possessed. The legend says he made a deal with the Devil at a lonely crossroads—trading his soul for talent that still haunts the blues today. In this episode, we unravel Johnson’s mysterious life, his haunting songs, and the folklore that surrounds his untimely death. Was it just a story, or one of those true stories of haunted history that becomes more real with every retelling? From the cotton fields of Mississippi to the rock stages of the world, Johnson’s influence is undeniable. His tale isn’t just music history—it’s part of the paranormal stories, haunted history, and American folklore that continue to captivate us. If you love haunted places podcasts, creepy podcasts, and paranormal stories that blur the line between fact and myth, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. 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 other Wednesday. 📬 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. Some stories don’t stay buried. We go looking anyway.

    33 min

  4. AUG 13

    Bigfoot, Black Goo, and the Monster We Keep Chasing (Part 2: Folklore, Fact & America’s Paranormal Obsession)

    What happens when mystery collides with science? In this episode, Robert Barber and returning guest Dr. Brian Parsons dig deeper into America’s strangest cryptid cases—like the Murfreesboro Mud Monster, black goo evidence, and unexplained footprints. From haunted forests to local law enforcement transparency, we explore why paranormal stories like Bigfoot endure—and how they fill the same mythic space ancient legends once did. Whether you’re a believer or a skeptic, this is true folklore in motion. 🎧 Listen now for rare insight into the psychology, symbolism, and stakes of American cryptid folklore. 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 other Wednesday. 📬 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. Some stories don’t stay buried. We go looking anyway.

    27 min

  5. AUG 6

    Monsters in the Mist: Bigfoot, Mothman & America’s Cryptid Lore (Part 1 with Cryptozoologist Dr. Brian Parsons)

    What if the monsters we tell stories about… are still out there? In Part 1 of this special interview, Robert Barber talks with cryptozoologist Dr. Brian D. Parsons about the eastern U.S.'s most persistent legends—Bigfoot, Mothman, the Beast of Bladenboro, and the Loveland Frog. Explore how folklore, geography, and belief collide in these paranormal stories, and why the forest isn't the only place these creatures live—they haunt memory, maps, and even AI. 🎧 This episode blends true stories, mythology, and the blurred line between hoax and horror. ##Check out Dr. Parson's newest book, Eastern Cryptids, HERE 🎧 Listen now to State of the Unknown—your go-to for haunted history, cryptid lore, and eerie encounters. Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere you listen. 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 other Wednesday. 📬 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. Some stories don’t stay buried. We go looking anyway.

    42 min

  6. JUL 30 · BONUS

    Teaser | Eastern Cryptids and Urban Legends: Myths & Monsters of Appalachia with Dr. Brian D. Parsons

    In the next episode of State of the Unknown, host Robert Barber sits down with cryptozoologist and paranormal researcher Dr. Brian D. Parsons to discuss the strange creatures explored in his book, Eastern Cryptids. From the Beast of Bladenboro to the Snallygaster, we dive into the stories, sightings, and cultural roots of these persistent mysteries. Whether you're a fan of creepy podcasts, haunted places, or eerie folklore, this episode brings the haunted history of the eastern U.S. to life. 🟡 Listen now — and decide for yourself what’s myth… and what might be lurking just beyond the trees. 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 other Wednesday. 📬 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. Some stories don’t stay buried. We go looking anyway.

    2 min

  7. JUL 23

    Possessed Dolls, Haunted Houses & the Warrens’ Paranormal Legacy

    In this episode, Robert Barber dives into the chilling legacy of Ed and Lorraine Warren—the famed paranormal investigators behind America’s most enduring urban legends. From the true stories that inspired The Conjuring and Annabelle to the ghostly encounters still debated today, we explore what made the Warrens infamous… and why their cases still haunt the world of paranormal stories. 🎧 If you’re drawn to haunted history, mystery, and true tales that walk the line between fear and faith—press play. ##Previous episode mentioned## The Conjuring House: True Origins of America’s Most Haunted Home 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 other Wednesday. 📬 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. Some stories don’t stay buried. We go looking anyway.

    32 min

  8. JUL 16 · BONUS

    Teaser | The Real Story of Ed & Lorraine Warren: Haunted Legends, Urban Myths & Controversy

    Explore haunted legends and paranormal stories in this haunted places podcast episode all about Ed and Lorraine Warren. From the Amityville Horror to the case of Annabelle, we uncover the real-life investigations that inspired Hollywood's most chilling films. Join host Robert Barber as he separates fact from fiction, examines the Warrens' controversial legacy, and discusses their role in shaping modern paranormal mythology. Whether you're drawn to haunted history or curious about the people behind the legends, this episode dives deep into the eerie and the unexplained 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 other Wednesday. 📬 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. Some stories don’t stay buried. We go looking anyway.

    2 min
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5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Hosted by Robert Barber, State of the Unknown is a cinematic podcast exploring American folklore, eerie cryptid encounters, and the dark myths behind haunted highways across the U.S. Each episode unearths a forgotten corner of the country—where strange disappearances, cursed landmarks, and chilling legends refuse to stay buried. If you believe some stories were never meant to be solved, this is the podcast you’ve been looking for. 🎧 New episodes every other week.🔗 www.stateoftheunknown.com📸 @stateoftheunknownpodcast

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