Best MagicalMystery.Media Podcasts (2025)

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Musical Mysteries: VANISHED UFO Troubadour, MISSING Scientist Rocker, Debbie Harry ESCAPES Ted Bundy, Michael Jackson Brother Kidnapped 28:11

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3d ago28:11

28:11

Adam explores several strange and chilling tales at the crossroads of movies, music, and true crime. Folk-rock singer Jim Sullivan vanished in the New Mexico desert after appearing in Easy Rider and releasing his album UFO. Iron Butterfly bassist Philip "Taylor" Kramer, a tech pioneer in video compression, disappeared after a cryptic 911 call - his…

1
GODZILLA vs. GOJIRA, Atomic Fishing Boat Horror, Cannibal Rats & Giant Turtles, Could Real Kaiju Exist? 25:41

10d ago25:41

25:41

What do radioactive fallout, cannibal rats, and a flying turtle have in common? In this episode, Adam explores the dark origins of Japan’s most iconic monsters. From the real-life 1954 Lucky Dragon incident - sometimes called the “third atomic bombing” - to the scrapped rat-horror film that accidentally gave birth to Gamera, it’s a wild ride throug…

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THE CONJURING: LAST RITES, Smurl Haunting True Story, ANNABELLE is Real! 25:01

15d ago25:01

25:01

What’s real, what’s not, and what the Warrens never told you. Is The Conjuring: Last Rites a true story? What really happened to the Smurl family - and how involved were Ed and Lorraine Warren? What's the real story of Annabelle the Doll? And what happened to Annabelle's handler in July? Visit https://magicalmystery.media for show notes (or to send…

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On-Air Deaths, SUPERMAN's Tragic Origin, HALLOWEEN Michael Myers Lost History 27:43

23d ago27:43

27:43

Content warning: The first segment covers real-life on-air suicides and may be distressing to some listeners. This week, Adam shares a strange and tragic mix of stories: disturbing on-air deaths (one which anticipated Paddy Chayefsky's Network by two years); the real-life pain behind Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster's creation of Superman; and a buried…

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Curses!! POLTERGEIST, THE FIRST (Cursed) FILM, Top "Curse" Movies... Oh, and FLESH EATERS 27:07

30d ago27:07

27:07

Adam explores some of film’s most infamous curses - from Poltergeist and its real skeletons to the eerie disappearance of the man who may have invented cinema before Edison. Also: a FLESH EATERS resurrection, some Hollywood lore, and the show’s evolving format. Movies mentioned: FLESH EATERS, POLTERGEIST, THE FIRST FILM (Roundhay Garden Scene/Accor…

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WEAPONS & Pied Piper, EXORCIST True Story, Insane 1920 Headlines 27:15

1M ago27:15

27:15

In this week’s episode of Magical Mystery Media, Adam takes you on a strange journey through pop culture, folklore, and forgotten history – starting with the new film Weapons and ending with the real-life boy who inspired The Exorcist. Visit magicalmystery.media for show notes (or to send a message). For archived episodes of Magical Mystery Radio g…

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STRANGER THINGS & SQUID GAME in NY, Troma memories, INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN, SEVERANCE & The Backrooms, SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED True Story 27:23

1M ago27:23

27:23

Adam shares memories of working with Troma Films in 1980s NYC, reflects on THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN, and solves two internet mysteries: the real origin of the famous time-travel ad that inspired SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED and the photo that inspired SEVERANCE by way of the eerie Backrooms phenomenon. Visit magicalmystery.media for show notes (or to …

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DARK WATER & Elisa Lam, PSYCHO & Ed Gein 28:19

2M ago28:19

28:19

Adam reveals two chilling true stories he chose not to cover in his upcoming Shadow Play series: the disturbing case of Ed Gein, and the mysterious death of Elisa Lam. First, the strange case of Elisa Lam, a Canadian student whose bizarre behavior on hotel security footage went viral before she was tragically found dead in a rooftop water tank - ee…

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[Film on the Fringe 10] A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET: Dream Deaths, Shadow Men, Sleep Paralysis & Freddy Krueger 26:01

5M ago26:01

26:01

What if a dream could kill you? We revisit Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) and the real-life sleep phenomena that inspired it. We explore how Freddy Krueger emerged from Craven’s own childhood fears and reports of mysterious deaths among Hmong refugees. We also get into the strange science of sleep paralysis, the folklore of the “Old …

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[Film on the Fringe 9] BLADE RUNNER, Philip K. Dick, and the Search for Reality: Cinema as Gnosis 30:17

5M ago30:17

30:17

Blade Runner is more than a sci-fi classic — it’s a meditation on memory, identity, and empathy. We explore Philip K. Dick’s 2-3-74 mystical VALIS experience, the meaning of the Voight-Kampff test, and why the film still resonates today as a cinematic awakening. Shownotes

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[Film on the Fringe 8] THE LAST OF US and the Evolution of Zombies from Voodoo to Viral 30:07

5M ago30:07

30:07

From vodou to viral spores, zombies have always evolved with us. In this week’s episode of Film on the Fringe, we uncover the real roots of the undead—myth, science, and metaphor. 🧟 Highlights & References: The Last of Us and the real-world science of Cordyceps fungus White Zombie (1932) and the colonial legacy of the Haitian undead Vodou, slavery,…

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[Film on the Fringe 7] JURASSIC PARK, The Lost World, Crystal Palace & Creationism: Dinosaurs in Pop Culture and Belief 32:21

6M ago32:21

32:21

Dr. Atom takes you behind the scenes of JURASSIC PARK—literally. After a personal story of working alongside the filmmakers, we explore the science of cloning dinosaurs, the truth behind amber-trapped DNA, and modern de-extinction efforts using CRISPR and AI. Then we dig into the 19th-century Bone Wars, Victorian dinosaur mania, and Arthur Conan Do…

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[Film on the Fringe 6] GREMLINS: From WWII Folklore to Spielberg to SHADOW IN THE CLOUD 29:57

6M ago29:57

29:57

Gremlins on the wing, goblins in the woods, and strange little beings at your window. From WWII aviation lore to Spielberg’s unmade alien siege story, this episode traces the evolution of mischievous trickster creatures through folklore, pop culture, and real-life encounters—including the night something came calling in Kentucky. Featured Films: Sh…

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[Film on the Fringe 5] THE QUIET ONES and the Philip Experiment: When Science Summoned a Ghost 30:43

6M ago30:43

30:43

Venture into the murky space between psychological manipulation and the supernatural. Today, we’re talking about The Quiet Ones (2014), a Hammer Films horror throwback inspired by one of the strangest real-world experiments ever attempted: the Philip Experiment. We’ll unpack how a group of researchers in 1970s Canada set out to create a ghost, expl…

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[Film on the Fringe 4] THE WAR OF THE WORLDS: HG Wells to Orson Welles to Spielberg and Beyond 31:21

6M ago31:21

31:21

Let's explore The War of the Worlds — the iconic novel by H.G. Wells and the countless interpretations, adaptations, and conspiracy theories it inspired. We discuss: The 2005 Spielberg movie and the 1953 George Pal version The long-forgotten SEQUEL published only a year after the original The 1938 Orson Welles "panic broadcast" Wernher von Braun’s …

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[Film on the Fringe 3] THE CONJURING 2 vs. The Enfield Poltergeist: What Really Happened? 29:41

7M ago29:41

29:41

Let's dissect The Conjuring 2 and the real-life case that inspired it—the infamous Enfield Poltergeist. Was it a genuine supernatural event or an elaborate hoax that spiraled out of control? Join me as I explore how this case became one of the most documented hauntings in history. Ed and Lorraine Warren: Paranormal Pioneers or Masters of Mythmaking…

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[Film on the Fringe 2] EX MACHINA and the Rise of AI Sentience: From Ava to LaMDA 32:01

7M ago32:01

32:01

Enter the eerie world of artificial intelligence—from the sleek and unsettling Ex Machina to real-life AI developments that feel ripped straight from science fiction. We’ll explore the rapid evolution of AI, the ethical dilemmas that come with it, and some unsettling cases of chatbots behaving… strangely. Are we on the verge of creating a sentient …

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[Film on the Fringe 1] GINGER SNAPS to Real-Life Werewolves: WOLFMAN, Beast of Bray Road, & Michigan Dogman Encounters 31:36

7M ago31:36

31:36

Explore the wild world of werewolves, from the cult classic Ginger Snaps to real-life sightings of “dog men.” We’ll discover the folklore behind our moon-dappled friends, look at how pop culture molded them into the creatures we recognize today, and figure out what exactly makes a man-wolf tick. Shownotes…

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[Magical Mystery Media 8/3/2020] Cancel Everything, NOTHING LASTS FOREVER 1:11:11

5y ago1:11:11

1:11:11

We discuss cancel culture, the masons, breakaway civilizations, secret moon colonies... and one fascinating, mythical "lost" film from the 80s that ties it all together!

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[Magical Mystery Media 45] Cancel Everything, NOTHING LASTS FOREVER 1:11:11

5y ago1:11:11

1:11:11

We discuss cancel culture, the masons, breakaway civilizations, secret moon colonies... and one fascinating, mythical "lost" film from the 80s that ties it all together!

1
[Magical Mystery Media 6/17/2020] CALLING ALL EARTHLINGS: Aliens, TIme Travel, Immortality 1:22:54

5+ y ago1:22:54

1:22:54

We review the documentary CALLING ALL EARTHLINGS. And then we do it one better by actually covering the material that should have been in the movie. This is the story of George Van Tassel, eccentric, contactee, engineer... genius? Did Van Tassel channel messages from our alien brothers and sisters and use the information to construct a time machine…

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[Magical Mystery Media 44] CALLING ALL EARTHLINGS: Aliens, TIme Travel, Immortality 1:22:54

5+ y ago1:22:54

1:22:54

We review the documentary CALLING ALL EARTHLINGS. And then we do it one better by actually covering the material that should have been in the movie. This is the story of George Van Tassel, eccentric, contactee, engineer... genius? Did Van Tassel channel messages from our alien brothers and sisters and use the information to construct a time machine…

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[Magical Mystery Media 43] WALKING WITH TALL WHITES: The Charles James Hall Story 1:32:22

5+ y ago1:32:22

1:32:22

Is an advanced race of tall, albino-like extraterrestrials from Arcturus living on the Nevada test range? Has our government struck a deal with the aliens to obtain advanced military technology? Take a deep dive with us as we chronicle this fascinating, seemingly implausible story from one man who claims it's all true! [aka Magical Mystery Radio]…

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[Magical Mystery Media 5/14/2020] WALKING WITH TALL WHITES: The Charles James Hall Story 1:32:22

5+ y ago1:32:22

1:32:22

Is an advanced race of tall, albino-like extraterrestrials from Arcturus living on the Nevada test range? Has our government struck a deal with the aliens to obtain advanced military technology? Take a deep dive with us as we chronicle this fascinating, seemingly implausible story from one man who claims it's all true!…

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[Magical Mystery Media 42] FURY OF THE DEMON, OPERATION LUNE, Cursed Films, The French are F*cking With Us 1:16:55

5+ y ago1:16:55

1:16:55

We discuss several recent "documentaries" occupying the twilight zone between fantasy and reality. Are these films omens? Augurs of a dark future? Are we moving into a new dark age of superstition? Is the consensus reality of post-enlightenment reason vanishing in a post-modern haze of news and subjective reality? And why are the French f*cking wit…

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[Magical Mystery Media 4/18/2020] FURY OF THE DEMON, OPERATION LUNE, Cursed Films, The French are F*cking With Us 1:16:55

5+ y ago1:16:55

1:16:55

We discuss several recent "documentaries" occupying the twilight zone between fantasy and reality. Are these films omens? Augurs of a dark future? Are we moving into a new dark age of superstition? Is the consensus reality of post-enlightenment reason vanishing in a post-modern haze of news and subjective reality? And why are the French f*cking wit…

1
[Magical Mystery Media 41] Blackwell Ghost, McPherson Tape, Skinny Bob, Helltown, Wrinkles the Clown: Faked or Fact? 1:41:05

6y ago1:41:05

1:41:05

Is it real - or not? It has become increasingly difficult to distinguish between fact and fiction. We live in a time of "fake news" and "deepfakes", under a constant barrage of disinformation and propaganda. It's only natural that artists would reflect this blurring of the lines in their work. And there's no better place to practice this craft than…

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[Magical Mystery Media 10/30/2019] Blackwell Ghost, McPherson Tape, Skinny Bob, Helltown, Wrinkles the Clown: Faked or Fact? 1:41:05

6y ago1:41:05

1:41:05

Is it real - or not? It has become increasingly difficult to distinguish between fact and fiction. We live in a time of "fake news" and "deepfakes", under a constant barrage of disinformation and propaganda. It's only natural that artists would reflect this blurring of the lines in their work. And there's no better place to practice this craft than…

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[Magical Mystery Media 40] BOB LAZAR: AREA 51 & FLYING SAUCERS 1:52:32

6y ago1:52:32

1:52:32

We return to our roots and do a feature-length takedown - er, review - of the new(ish) documentary BOB LAZAR: AREA 51 & FLYING SAUCERS. Do we think there's life on other worlds? Almost definitely. Intelligent? Probably. That they've visited earth? Possibly. The they've visited earth sometime in the last century? Unlikely, but who knows? That Bob La…

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[Magical Mystery Media 8/9/2019] BOB LAZAR: AREA 51 & FLYING SAUCERS 1:52:32

6y ago1:52:32

1:52:32

We return to our roots and do a feature-length takedown - er, review - of the new(ish) documentary BOB LAZAR: AREA 51 & FLYING SAUCERS. Do we think there's life on other worlds? Almost definitely. Intelligent? Probably. That they've visited earth? Possibly. The they've visited earth sometime in the last century? Unlikely, but who knows? That Bob La…

1
[Magical Mystery Media 39] HOLY HELL: Inside the Rise & Fall of the Buddhafield Cult 1:43:12

7+ y ago1:43:12

1:43:12

We review the fascinating and disturbing documentary, HOLY HELL. The film chronicles the 22-year journey of former members who were trapped in the bizarre Buddhafield cult. Through personal archive footage and interviews, the film chronicles the rise and fall, not only of the cult itself, but of its strangely charismatic leader, Michel Rostand (aka…

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[Magical Mystery Media 2/9/2018] HOLY HELL: Inside the Rise & Fall of the Buddhafield Cult 1:43:12

7+ y ago1:43:12

1:43:12

We review the fascinating and disturbing documentary, HOLY HELL. The film chronicles the 22-year journey of former members who were trapped in the bizarre Buddhafield cult. Through personal archive footage and interviews, the film chronicles the rise and fall, not only of the cult itself, but of its strangely charismatic leader, Michel Rostand (aka…