State of the Unknown | True Paranormal Stories, Haunted History, and American Folklore

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State of the Unknown | True Paranormal Stories, Haunted History, and American Folklore

Robert Barber

37 episodes

11 hours ago

In 1972, Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 crashed into the Florida Everglades—killing 101 people. Months later, flight crews across the country began reporting something impossible: the faces of Captain Robert Loft and Flight Engineer Donald Repo appearing aboard other jets built from the wreckage. What followed became one of the best-documented modern hauntings and a mystery that changed aviation forever. In this episode of State of the Unknown, host Robert Barber revisits the verified history o...

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Society & Culture,

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In 1972, Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 crashed into the Florida Everglades—killing 101 people. Months later, flight crews across the country began reporting something impossible: the faces of Captain Robert Loft and Flight Engineer Donald Repo appearing aboard other jets built from the wreckage. What followed became one of the best-documented modern hauntings and a mystery that changed aviation forever. In this episode of State of the Unknown, host Robert Barber revisits the verified history o...

Show more...

Society & Culture,

Episodes (20/37)

State of the Unknown | True Paranormal Stories, Haunted History, and American Folklore

Ghosts of Flight 401 | The Haunting That Changed Aviation Forever

In 1972, Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 crashed into the Florida Everglades—killing 101 people. Months later, flight crews across the country began reporting something impossible: the faces of Captain Robert Loft and Flight Engineer Donald Repo appearing aboard other jets built from the wreckage. What followed became one of the best-documented modern hauntings and a mystery that changed aviation forever. In this episode of State of the Unknown, host Robert Barber revisits the verified history o...

5 days ago

27 minutes

State of the Unknown | True Paranormal Stories, Haunted History, and American Folklore

The Haunting of Madison Seminary | The Investigation That Spoke Back

In the quiet town of Madison, Ohio, stands a building with nearly two centuries of history, and more than a few secrets. Once a school, a Civil War widows’ home, and later a state-run institution, Madison Seminary has become one of the most haunted locations in Ohio. In this episode, host Robert Barber explores the history and hauntings of the Seminary: the Civil War wing watched over by Elizabeth Stiles, the shrine-like bedroom of Sarah, the girl who asked for “money”, and the top-floor “Asy...

1 week ago

28 minutes

State of the Unknown | True Paranormal Stories, Haunted History, and American Folklore

The Enfield Poltergeist: Unraveling the True Haunted History Behind The Conjuring 2

Before The Conjuring 2 terrified moviegoers, there was a real family — living through something no one could explain. In 1977, the Hodgson family of Enfield, London, reported furniture moving on its own, voices echoing from the walls, and violent disturbances witnessed by police, reporters, and paranormal investigators alike. But what really happened inside that house? In this episode, State of the Unknown host Robert Barber uncovers the true story behind The Conjuring 2, the real Enfield Pol...

2 weeks ago

32 minutes

State of the Unknown | True Paranormal Stories, Haunted History, and American Folklore

The Devil Made Me Do It | True Haunted History Behind America’s Most Shocking Possession Case

In 1981, a quiet Connecticut town became the center of one of the strangest murder cases in American history. When nineteen-year-old Arne Johnson stabbed his landlord, he claimed something no U.S. court had ever heard before, that he was possessed by a demon. This episode of State of the Unknown uncovers the true story that inspired The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It. Host Robert Barber takes you inside the real case, from the alleged possession of eleven-year-old David Glatzel, to the Wa...

3 weeks ago

32 minutes

State of the Unknown | True Paranormal Stories, Haunted History, and American Folklore

Annabelle | The True Story Behind America’s Most Haunted Doll

In the world of paranormal encounters and urban folklore, few stories are more chilling than this one. Before The Conjuring turned her into a horror icon, Annabelle was real — a simple Raggedy Ann doll at the center of one of the most documented real hauntings in American history. In this episode of State of the Unknown, host Robert Barber explores the true paranormal story of Annabelle — from the strange movements witnessed by two nursing students in 1970s Connecticut to the terrifying inves...

1 month ago

27 minutes

State of the Unknown | True Paranormal Stories, Haunted History, and American Folklore

The Smurl Haunting — The True Paranormal Story Behind The Conjuring: Last Rites

Before Hollywood gave it a name, there was the real story. Between 1974 and 1989, Jack and Janet Smurl claimed their quiet Pennsylvania duplex had become a battleground of good and evil — a haunting so violent it drew the attention of famed investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. In this episode of State of the Unknown, Robert Barber revisits one of America’s most disturbing real-life hauntings — the true events that inspired The Conjuring: Last Rites. From unexplainable noises and levitations ...

1 month ago

27 minutes

State of the Unknown | True Paranormal Stories, Haunted History, and American Folklore

Promo: The Real Conjuring Stories Are Coming This October

This October, State of the Unknown presents a special haunted series: the true stories behind The Conjuring movies. Join host Robert Barber as we dive into the real cases Ed and Lorraine Warren investigated — the ones that became the inspiration for The Conjuring: Last Rites, Annabelle, The Devil Made Me Do It, and The Conjuring 2. From the Smurl Haunting in Pennsylvania to the infamous Enfield Poltergeist, we’ll separate fact from Hollywood and uncover the chilling truth behind the Conjuring...

1 month ago

State of the Unknown | True Paranormal Stories, Haunted History, and American Folklore

The Haunted Lemp Mansion: One of America’s Most Haunted Houses (Mini Story)

St. Louis, Missouri. Once a mansion of chandeliers, marble, and fortune — now one of the most haunted houses in America. The Lemp family built their empire on beer, but inside their 33-room mansion, sorrow took root. Five suicides. A legacy of grief. And a house that refuses to let go of its past. Today, the Lemp Mansion is famous for more than history. Guests report footsteps in empty hallways. Staff hear boots crossing the ballroom after midnight. Paranormal investigators capture whispers —...

1 month ago

17 minutes

State of the Unknown | True Paranormal Stories, Haunted History, and American Folklore

The Betty and Barney Hill UFO Abduction: The Story of America’s First Alien Encounter

In September 1961, Betty and Barney Hill were driving through New Hampshire’s White Mountains when a strange light in the sky began to follow them. Hours later, they pulled into their driveway with two hours of missing time — and a story that would become America’s first widely publicized alien abduction. Torn clothing. Watches that would never tick again. A trembling dog that wouldn’t leave Betty’s side. And under hypnosis, Barney’s voice breaking as he screamed about “the eyes” — eyes he sw...

1 month ago

30 minutes

State of the Unknown | True Paranormal Stories, Haunted History, and American Folklore

OUT OF STATE | Poveglia Island: The True Paranormal Story Behind the World’s Most Haunted Island

Just off the coast of Venice lies a place so feared that even locals refuse to go near it. Poveglia Island has been called the world’s most haunted island — a former quarantine zone and plague hospital where tens of thousands perished, and where the echoes of suffering seem impossible to silence. In this episode of State of the Unknown: Out of State, Robert Barber uncovers the true paranormal history of Poveglia — from plague pits and asylums to ghostly sightings and modern-day bans. It’s a h...

1 month ago

21 minutes

State of the Unknown | True Paranormal Stories, Haunted History, and American Folklore

OUT OF STATE | Atlantis: The Myth, the Mystery, and the Search for a Lost Civilization

For centuries, the legend of Atlantis has captured our imagination — a powerful civilization said to have vanished beneath the sea. Was it a cautionary tale, a historical reality, or something else entirely? In this episode of State of the Unknown: Out of State, Robert Barber dives into the origins of the Atlantis myth — from Plato’s first writings to modern theories that place it everywhere from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean. Explore the blend of fact, folklore, and mystery that continu...

1 month ago

29 minutes

State of the Unknown | True Paranormal Stories, Haunted History, and American Folklore

OUT OF STATE | Out of State — Leap Castle: The True Paranormal Stories Behind Ireland’s Most Haunted Fortress

Deep in the heart of Ireland stands Leap Castle — a centuries-old fortress known for bloodshed, betrayal, and the restless spirits said to haunt its halls. From secret dungeons and family murders to a malevolent presence known only as the Elemental, its story is one of Ireland’s darkest legends. In this episode of State of the Unknown: Out of State, Robert Barber explores the haunted history and true paranormal stories of Leap Castle — a place where history and horror intertwine, and where th...

2 months ago

16 minutes

State of the Unknown | True Paranormal Stories, Haunted History, and American Folklore

OUT OF STATE | The Nuckelavee: A True Cryptid Legend from Scotland’s Haunted Folklore

Across the windswept Orkney Islands of Scotland comes one of the darkest legends in Celtic folklore — a creature born of sea mist and nightmare. Known as the Nuckelavee, this skinless, horse-like demon was said to spread plague, famine, and terror wherever it roamed. In this episode of State of the Unknown: Out of State, Robert Barber explores the haunted history and true cryptid lore of the Nuckelavee — from its roots in Scottish mythology to the chilling stories that keep its memory alive. ...

2 months ago

16 minutes

State of the Unknown | True Paranormal Stories, Haunted History, and American Folklore

OUT OF STATE | The White Lady of Aokigahara: Paranormal Stories of 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. We explore haunted history and paranormal stories surrounding Aokigahara, Japan's infamous Suicide Forest. 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 amo...

2 months ago

14 minutes

State of the Unknown | True Paranormal Stories, Haunted History, and American Folklore

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 ...

2 months ago

13 minutes

State of the Unknown | True Paranormal Stories, Haunted History, and American Folklore

Devil’s Bargain — The True Legend and Haunted Legacy of Bluesman Robert Johnson

n the Mississippi Delta, they say a young man made a deal with the Devil at the crossroads — and changed music forever. Robert Johnson’s eerie legend has haunted American folklore for nearly a century, blurring the line between myth and reality. In this episode of State of the Unknown, Robert Barber traces the real story and haunted history behind the man who inspired the legend. From his mysterious rise to fame to his untimely death, we explore the truth, the folklore, and the lasting shadow...

2 months ago

33 minutes

State of the Unknown | True Paranormal Stories, Haunted History, and American Folklore

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

Send us a text 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 tru...

2 months ago

27 minutes

State of the Unknown | True Paranormal Stories, Haunted History, and American Folklore

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

Send us a text 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 t...

3 months ago

42 minutes

State of the Unknown | True Paranormal Stories, Haunted History, and American Folklore

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

Send us a text 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...

3 months ago

1 minute

State of the Unknown | True Paranormal Stories, Haunted History, and American Folklore

Possessed Dolls, Haunted Houses, and the True Paranormal Legacy of Ed and Lorraine Warren

Few names in paranormal history are as well known — or as debated — as Ed and Lorraine Warren. From the case of Annabelle to the hauntings that inspired The Conjuring films, their investigations shaped how the world sees the supernatural. In this episode of State of the Unknown, Robert Barber examines the true stories behind the Warrens’ most famous cases — from cursed objects and possessed dolls to haunted houses and demonic encounters. Were they uncovering proof of the afterlife… or creatin...

3 months ago

32 minutes