Unexplained America The Podcast

Unexplained America the Podcast
  • 4.7 (98)
  • TRUE CRIME
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Unexplained America is a weekly podcast, hosted by Lisa Ponson. I discuss true crime, paranormal, cryptid, legend, and anything unexplained connected with America. Join me for episodes rich in researching the history, background and nuance of the story perhaps a bit quirky. If possible, I love to explore the places myself and discuss the story from a personal perspective. The more creepy and unexplained the better!!!

  1. Friday the 13th: Superstition or Pure Evil?

    4D AGO

    Friday the 13th: Superstition or Pure Evil?

    In this episode of Unexplained America, your host Lisa will discuss the fun and frightening Friday the 13th. For Lisa--Friday the 13th is a holiday of sorts--like Halloween. Enjoy some horror movies and some snacky, snacks on the couch...if you actually can and do not have plans! Lisa will discuss the why, what, where of the origins of Friday the 13th. From the Code of Hammurabi to the Last Supper and the magnificent Jesus. And also, Norse Mythology and the whole Marvel Universe. Then we will explore all the many centuries from 1750 BC (BCE) to current AD/Current times and the awful events that befell on Friday the 13th over the years. We will finish up and dive into the movie franchise from 1980 that solidified everyone's love affair with "Friday the 13th" or at least Lisa's love affair. Listen to hear full details. References for this Episode: https://www.history.com/articles/hammurabi https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/movies/17-bloody-facts-about-friday-13th https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080761/trivia/ https://www.romper.com/p/friday-the-13th-instagram-quotes-if-youre-feeling-a-little-stitious-8773961 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Thirteen_Club https://www.livescience.com/46284-origins-unlucky-friday-the-13th.html https://www.rd.com/article/why-skyscrapers-dont-have-13th-floors/ https://nypost.com/2025/10/24/real-estate/the-13th-floor-is-curiously-absent-from-many-nyc-buildings/ https://sc.edu/uofsc/posts/2022/10/conversation_thirteen.php Episodes DID include other information via: https://www.newspapers.com/ https://www.ancestry.com/ Big Thanks go out to Gage Fears for his original music made for Unexplained Arkansas the Podcast usage--His contact below--find him on Instagram!! https://www.facebook.com/gfearsmedia?rdid=2J3DmRrwK1yzecQl&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F16Ws41EzTt%2F# https://www.instagram.com/i_deliver_pizza/ To connect w/ Unexplained America: https://unexplainedamerica.com/ unexplainedamerica2@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/unexplainedarkansas/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8rIqbuh-TeAl_9dZNL3fUA https://www.instagram.com/unexplained_america/ https://www.patreon.com/unexplainedamerica Find us on Tik Tok and Instagram and all Podcasts Platforms. Xoxoxoxo, Lisa

    56 min
  2. The Mothman of Point Pleasant with Cryptids Across the Atlas

    FEB 2

    The Mothman of Point Pleasant with Cryptids Across the Atlas

    In this episode of Unexplained America, your host Lisa along with the hosts of Cryptids Across the Atlas-Cody and Elaine Johnston discuss the Mothman of Point Pleasant. We will discuss the events of November 15, 1966, in the small town of Point Pleasant, West Virginia, when two young couples (Roger and Linda Scarberry and Steve and Mary Mallette) were out late driving around and were petrified by the sight of a large black creature, with glowing red eyes was on the side of the road looking at their vehicle. Linda would describe the creature as a "slender, muscular man" about 7 feet tall with wings. The young couples would be soo terrified they reached speeds they said of 100 miles per hour to escape the creature who flew like a helicopter and raced right with them. They immediately sought the help of the sheriff and then the press caught wind. Many other stories emerged that happened before this evening and after this evening. We will discuss all of the events around November 15, 1966, the history of the area of Point Pleasant. A deadly bridge collapse almost 1 year later that was "linked" to the mothman by frightened community members and then all the possibilities of what the Mothman could have been. Listen to hear full details. References for this Episode: "Eyes of the Mothman" 2011--Documentary--Directed and Written by Matthew Pellowski--https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0810856/ "The Terrifying Story of the Mothman of Point Pleasant" -Boogeyman--Real History-Youtube Video-https://youtu.be/4qKKYyTSUeA?si=6Ij6N539hR33ZD0R "Mason County Monster" -The Raleigh Register-Beckley, WV- Thurs. Nov . 17, 1966 "Another Reports 'Bird Creature'"-Salem--UPI--Same Newspaper as above/same day "Four More See Bird Creature"--The Raleigh Register--WV-Fri. Nov. 18, 1966-- All the expertise and Knowledge from the Cryptids Across the Atlas Hosts--Cody and Elaine Johnston--contact info below--Huge shoutout to them!! Contact Information for Cryptids Across the Atlas: Website  ⁠https://thecryptidatlas.com/⁠To listen to or watch our weekly episodes, check out “Cryptids Across the Atlas,” available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere else you get your podcast! (Links below)  Podcast Links: Youtube  ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@TheCryptidAtlas⁠ Spotify ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/5gtFwX6OPYYxoFPxCsBS1L⁠ Apple Podcast ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cryptids-across-the-atlas/id1634999390⁠ For more cryptid content, you can follow us on Social! (Links below) Social Links: Instagram ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thecryptidatlas/⁠TikTok ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thecryptidatlas⁠Facebook ⁠https://www.facebook.com/thecryptidatlas/⁠ Facebook Group  ⁠https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1FrhnAGWia/⁠  Reddit  ⁠https://www.reddit.com/user/TheCryptidAtlas/⁠ Stories researched and written by Elaine and Cody Johnston Personal Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/_elainejohnston/⁠  Episodes DID include other information via: https://www.newspapers.com/ https://www.ancestry.com/ Big Thanks go out to Gage Fears for his original music made for Unexplained Arkansas the Podcast usage--His contact below--find him on Instagram!! https://www.facebook.com/gfearsmedia?rdid=2J3DmRrwK1yzecQl&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F16Ws41EzTt%2F# https://www.instagram.com/i_deliver_pizza/ To connect w/ Unexplained America: https://unexplainedamerica.com/ unexplainedamerica2@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/unexplainedarkansas/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8rIqbuh-TeAl_9dZNL3fUA https://www.instagram.com/unexplained_america/ https://www.patreon.com/unexplainedamerica Find us on Tik Tok and Instagram and all Podcasts Platforms. Xoxoxoxo, Lisa

    1h 23m
  3. Green River Killer: Gary Ridgway (Part 2)

    JAN 26

    Green River Killer: Gary Ridgway (Part 2)

    In this episode of Unexplained America, your host Lisa discusses the gruesome and tragic cases of the Green River Killer AKA Gary Ridgway and an in-depth look at the 20 year investigation that finally caught him. In August of 1982, Dave Reichert was called to a double homicide...this call was very chilling because he had just worked a case in the exact location 3 days before. The location was a rural area at the time close to Kent, Washington, along the Green River. Kent was located very close to Seattle in King County. An area, that unfortunately, that had already had the horrors of a seriel killer in 1974--Ted Bundy. On that day in 1982, Dave did not realize it but there would be 3 young women found brutally murdered and dumped by the Green River and so many more bodies would show up over the next few years. In this episode, which is a Part 2 of a 2 Part series we will cover the time frame of 1987 to Current times. I'll be touching on all things investigative to the point where Gary Ridgway is officially arrested November 30, 2001 and at that time for the three deaths of Opal Mills, Marcia Chapman and Cynthia Hinds--the count would eventually lead to a conviction in 2003 of 48 women and then rise to 49. The actual count of victims per Gary would be upwards of 80-100. Listen to hear full details. References for this Episode: "Chasing the Devil: My Twenty-Year Quest to Capture the Green River Killer" Author Fromer Sheriff David Reichert (retired Congressman and lawman) 2004 :: https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Devil-Twenty-Year-Capture-Killer/dp/125009299X "My Uncle The Green River Killer" Documentary 2014 LMN-- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNcivSdvymY https://youtu.be/pTE5bKdqej0?si=bX789JJOCI0iJeE9 https://youtu.be/BIfB1xRpiSs?si=zryqiwCVFYPedcJc **Numerous other searches on the area and names from the book. Episodes DID include other information via: https://www.newspapers.com/ https://www.ancestry.com/ Big Thanks go out to Gage Fears for his original music made for Unexplained Arkansas the Podcast usage--His contact below--find him on Instagram!! https://www.facebook.com/gfearsmedia?rdid=2J3DmRrwK1yzecQl&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F16Ws41EzTt%2F# https://www.instagram.com/i_deliver_pizza/ To connect w/ Unexplained America: https://unexplainedamerica.com/ unexplainedamerica2@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/unexplainedarkansas/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8rIqbuh-TeAl_9dZNL3fUA https://www.instagram.com/unexplained_america/ https://www.patreon.com/unexplainedamerica Find us on Tik Tok and Instagram and all Podcasts Platforms. Xoxoxoxo, Lisa

    1h 24m
  4. Green River Killer: Gary Ridgway (Part 1)

    JAN 19

    Green River Killer: Gary Ridgway (Part 1)

    In this episode of Unexplained America, your host Lisa discusses the gruesome and tragic cases of the Green River Killer AKA Gary Ridgway and an in-depth look at the 20 year investigation that finally caught him. In August of 1982, Dave Reichert was called to a double homicide...this call was very chilling because he had just worked a case in the exact location 3 days before. The location was a rural area at the time close to Kent, Washington, along the Green River. Kent was located very close to Seattle in King County. An area, that unfortunately, that had already had the horrors of a seriel killer in 1974--Ted Bundy. On that day in 1982, Dave did not realize it but there would be 3 young women found brutally murdered and dumped by the Green River and so many more bodies would show up over the next few years. In this episode, which is a Part 1 of a 2 Part series covers the time frame of 1982 to 1987 and dives deep into the King Countys investigation. Listen to hear full details. References for this Episode: "Chasing the Devil: My Twenty-Year Quest to Capture the Green River Killer" Author Fromer Sheriff David Reichert (retired Congressman and lawman) 2004 :: https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Devil-Twenty-Year-Capture-Killer/dp/125009299X **Numerous other searches on the area and names from the book. Episodes DID include other information via: https://www.newspapers.com/ https://www.ancestry.com/ Big Thanks go out to Gage Fears for his original music made for Unexplained Arkansas the Podcast usage--His contact below--find him on Instagram!! https://www.facebook.com/gfearsmedia?rdid=2J3DmRrwK1yzecQl&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F16Ws41EzTt%2F# https://www.instagram.com/i_deliver_pizza/ To connect w/ Unexplained America: https://unexplainedamerica.com/ unexplainedamerica2@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/unexplainedarkansas/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8rIqbuh-TeAl_9dZNL3fUA https://www.instagram.com/unexplained_america/ https://www.patreon.com/unexplainedamerica Find us on Tik Tok and Instagram and all Podcasts Platforms. Xoxoxoxo, Lisa

    1h 28m
  5. Titan II Missile Fire of 1965 with Gage Fears (author)

    JAN 5

    Titan II Missile Fire of 1965 with Gage Fears (author)

    In this episode of Unexplained America, your host Lisa discusses the Titan Missile Fire of 1965 with author Gage Fears--Gage's book on the subject comes out Janaury 26, 2026--"Silent Sentinels: The 308th Strategic Missile Wing". The episode opens with a conversation between President Lyndon B. Johnson and William Fulbright. Gage goes over the events surrounding the tragedy that unfolded on August 9, 1965, when a fire broke out at the Titan II Missile facility in White County, Arkansas--near my hometown. This tragedy involved the deaths of 53 workers at the facility-all who died from smoke inhalation while performing remodelling duties there at the silo. Gage will go into the specifics about the silo, about the missiles, the accident and the aftermath. Link to order his book:: https://www.amazon.com/Silent-Sentinels-308th-Strategic-Missile/dp/1634995732 Listen to hear full details. References for this Episode: https://www.amazon.com/Silent-Sentinels-308th-Strategic-Missile/dp/1634995732 https://discoverlbj.org/item/tel-08529 Episodes DID include other information via: https://www.newspapers.com/ https://www.ancestry.com/ Big Thanks go out to Gage Fears for his original music made for Unexplained Arkansas the Podcast usage--His contact below--find him on Instagram!! https://www.facebook.com/gfearsmedia?rdid=2J3DmRrwK1yzecQl&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F16Ws41EzTt%2F# https://www.instagram.com/i_deliver_pizza/ To connect w/ Unexplained America: https://unexplainedamerica.com/ unexplainedamerica2@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/unexplainedarkansas/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8rIqbuh-TeAl_9dZNL3fUA https://www.instagram.com/unexplained_america/ https://www.patreon.com/unexplainedamerica Find us on Tik Tok and Instagram and all Podcasts Platforms. Xoxoxoxo, Lisa

    1h 17m
  6. Black Christmas (1974) Unexplained Movie Review

    12/29/2025

    Black Christmas (1974) Unexplained Movie Review

    In this episode of Unexplained America, your host Lisa discusses the 1974 Christmas horror movie "Black Christmas". To end the year off, I wanted to review and watch a Christmas horror film--one that I had never seen. So first, I found a list of the top 25 BEST Christmas movies ever. On the list was like "Gremlins" (IMO NOT a horror film) and also "The Nightmare Before Christmas" --equally not a horror film to me. However, there were 3 movies that stood out. They were 1970's/80's which for me, are the best horror movie era. So, I chose 3 that I could see. "Black Christmas", "Christmas Evil-1980", and "Silent Night, Bloody Night" -1972-- I had the listeners vote for which movie they wanted me to review and "Black Christmas" was pretty unanimous. So, in this episode, I go through the details of the movie, I go through the entire film, so yes. spoil alert but it's a 1//2 century old so doesn't count. I give my feelings and notes on the film from when I watched it with Daryl and also his thoughts. I end the episode with a my unexplained rating--so listen for that. Thank you all so much for being on this journey with me and I have a lot planned for 2026!! Stay tuned!! Listen to hear full details. References for this Episode: "Black Christmas" 1974--Director Bob Clark Writer Roy Moore- https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071222/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Christmas_(1974_film) Episodes DID include other information via: https://www.newspapers.com/ https://www.ancestry.com/ Big Thanks go out to Gage Fears for his original music made for Unexplained Arkansas the Podcast usage--His contact below--find him on Instagram!! https://www.instagram.com/i_deliver_pizza/ To connect w/ Unexplained America: https://unexplainedamerica.com/ unexplainedamerica2@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/unexplainedarkansas/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8rIqbuh-TeAl_9dZNL3fUA https://www.instagram.com/unexplained_america/ https://www.patreon.com/unexplainedamerica Find us on Tik Tok and Instagram and all Podcasts Platforms. Xoxoxoxo, Lisa

    45 min
  7. The Licked Hand: Where did I hear this?

    12/22/2025

    The Licked Hand: Where did I hear this?

    In this episode of Unexplained America, your host Lisa discusses "The Licked Hand" folklore story. I was thinking about this awful story I heard at a slumber party one time when I was a kid--and it was about a girl who had friends over for a slumber party and there was a killer on the loose. So this girl and her friends went to bed and they were in their sleeping bags and the girl had a dog sleeping with her. During the night, the girl would reach down to get a reassuring lick from her dog and all night long her dog would reassure her. When the girl woke up in the morning, her friends had all been killed and so had the dog. Written in blood on the wall or mirror --didnt't remember was something like "Killer lick also". So, I'm thinking of this awful story and also how much fun slumber parties are and I'm thinking I'll cover this for the podcast but where did I hear this story?? And have others heard this story?? I proceed to ask all the ladies in my family, all of my lady friends, all my friends on Facebook and only 1 actual person has heard this story...I do proceed to google and find I'm NOT crazy, nor did I make this up...so here is the episode about variants, possible times when this story came up and more scary stories along the same line. Listen to hear full details. References for this Episode: https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/nation/humans-can-lick-too-how-urban-legends-spread https://www.mentalfloss.com/culture/folklore-mythology/how-urban-legends-licked-hand-are-born "Killer Under Bed Licks Girl's Hand" Jan Harold Brunyand-The Spokesman-Review-Wed. Sept. 23, 1987 "Scary Tale: :'The Licking Hand' never really explains who is under bed"-Jan Harold Brunyard-The Winston-Salem Journal-Wed. Jan. 29, 1992 https://youtu.be/xm2NP_dttKE?si=NbJRqWqIlWdhVu22--The Licked Hand Story Episodes DID include other information via: https://www.newspapers.com/ https://www.ancestry.com/ Big Thanks go out to Gage Fears for his original music made for Unexplained Arkansas the Podcast usage--His contact below--find him on Instagram!! https://www.instagram.com/i_deliver_pizza/ To connect w/ Unexplained America: https://unexplainedamerica.com/ unexplainedamerica2@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/unexplainedarkansas/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8rIqbuh-TeAl_9dZNL3fUA https://www.instagram.com/unexplained_america/ https://www.patreon.com/unexplainedamerica Find us on Tik Tok and Instagram and all Podcasts Platforms. Xoxoxoxo, Lisa

    42 min
  8. Tragedy in Georgia: The Laken Riley Case

    12/15/2025

    Tragedy in Georgia: The Laken Riley Case

    In this episode of Unexplained America, your host Lisa discusses tragic and sad case of Laken Riley. Listener Discretion advised--this episode contains all the heinous acts. Please be advised. In February 2024, Laken was living her best life. She had roommates, she had completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Georgia and was now in the Augusta University Nursing Program in Athens, Georgia. On February 22, 2024, Laken left her home around 8:55am to go running--this was something Laken did on the regular--Laken had ran cross country in high school and was a very accomplished runner and very dedicated to it. Laken sent a text to her mother and tried to call her mother but there was no answer. By 9:11 am, Laken's cell phone made a 911 call but there was no one on the line. The operator tried repeatedly to hear someone and also to call the person back but there was no one there and no call back. After a couple of hours and no Laken, Laken's family and friends were worried. They were calling each other, calling Laken and no answers. Two of Laken's roommates had shared location with Laken and they tried to follow her location but all they found was one of her air pods lying on the ground. Even more worried, they phone 911 and get help. By 12:38 pm on the 22nd, police find Laken's body and her friends and family and the whole community will be shattered forever. Listen to hear full details. References for this Episode: https://youtu.be/evz6Dvmau3Q?si=3EBo-4yxPUgElL8s https://youtu.be/1EZnTI5h730?si=OOm9qpvoCfoJyEot https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/15/us/laken-riley-murder-trial https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/05/80e5d359-PurchasedImages-2_Redacted.pdf "FBI Suspects Posts A Clue in Killing"-Fletcher Page The Atlanta Journal Constitution Tues. Nov 19, 2024 "Student run/walk in Memory of Laken Riley"-Jacqueline Ganun--The Atlanta Journal Constitution--Sun Feb. 23, 2025 "Fear Linger at UGA A Year After Murder of Laken Riley"-Jason Arnesto--The Atlanta Journal Constitution--Sun Feb. 23, 2025 "Laken Riley's death made me more afraid at UGA, but women must live with fear every day"-Zeena Mohamed--The Atlanta Journal Constitution--Sun. March 10, 2024 "Indictment has more accusations against UGA murder suspect"--Rosana Hughes--The Atlanta Journal Con. Thurs. May 9, 2024 Episodes DID include other information via: https://www.newspapers.com/ https://www.ancestry.com/ Big Thanks go out to Gage Fears for his original music made for Unexplained Arkansas the Podcast usage--His contact below--find him on Instagram!! https://www.instagram.com/i_deliver_pizza/ To connect w/ Unexplained America: https://unexplainedamerica.com/ unexplainedamerica2@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/groups/unexplainedarkansas/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8rIqbuh-TeAl_9dZNL3fUA https://www.instagram.com/unexplained_america/ https://www.patreon.com/unexplainedamerica Find us on Tik Tok and Instagram and all Podcasts Platforms. Xoxoxoxo, Lisa

    53 min
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4.7
out of 5
98 Ratings

About

Unexplained America is a weekly podcast, hosted by Lisa Ponson. I discuss true crime, paranormal, cryptid, legend, and anything unexplained connected with America. Join me for episodes rich in researching the history, background and nuance of the story perhaps a bit quirky. If possible, I love to explore the places myself and discuss the story from a personal perspective. The more creepy and unexplained the better!!!

Information

  • Creator
    Unexplained America the Podcast
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    123
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Unexplained America the Podcast
  • Show Website
    Unexplained America The Podcast

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