Unexplained America The Podcast
Unexplained America The Podcast

Unexplained America The Podcast

Unexplained America the Podcast

Overview
Episodes

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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!!!

Recent Episodes

Slenderman Case of Anissa Weier and Morgan Geyser
JUN 8, 2026
Slenderman Case of Anissa Weier and Morgan Geyser
In this episode of Unexplained America, your host Lisa discusses the State of Wisconsin Vs. Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier for the attempt in the first degree with use of deadly weapon charge of crime against Payton Isabella Leutner--this case would make National and International news when the suspects story of how a fictional character named Slenderman was to blame for their attempted murder of their friend.On Saturday May 31st of 2014, three 12 year old girls were celebrating the birthday of one with a slumber party sleepover the night before. Around 8 am the three headed out to a park about .5 mile from the birthday girls home. Two of the girls would brutally attached 1 of the girls and leave her in the woods in the park with 19 stab wounds. Blessedly she was alive enough to pull herself out of the woods to cry for a bicyclist to help her. Listen to the miraculous story of Payton Leutner's survival and then Morgan and Anissa's court proceedings all the way to the current day.References for this Episode:https://www.wicourts.gov/ca/opinion/DisplayDocument.pdf?content=pdf&seqNo=276546https://www.gsnsp.com/morgan-geyser-anissa-weier-now/https://abcnews.com/US/mothers-teens-pleaded-guilty-slender-man-stabbing-case/story?id=52739807https://law.justia.com/cases/wisconsin/court-of-appeals/2016/2015ap001836-cr.htmlhttps://people.com/slender-man-stabbing-where-are-anissa-weier-and-morgan-geyser-now-11855565https://abcnews.com/US/mothers-teens-pleaded-guilty-slender-man-stabbing-case/story?id=52739807https://youtu.be/PnoqjrPWyeQ?si=EcvwEsHCxgN-qi4O--911 call made by Greg Steinberg--05.31.14https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5329376/--"Beware the Slenderman" 2016 Documentary filmhttps://youtu.be/lXsB5lLgeH8?si=YJ93k6igewgw77DB--Payton Leutner's interview with ABC--2019"Victim speaks out for the first time about 'Slender Man' attack"-AP--Casper Star-Tribune--Fri, Oct 25, 2019Criminal Complaint--Court Case No: ATN: 68051405310048--State of Wisconsin VS Morgan E Geyser and Anissa E Weier 06/02/2014"Stabbing" The Freeman--Wed Jun 4, 2014"Creepy pasta issues statement on stabbing"--Sarah Pryor and Alison Fox--The Freeman --Wed Jun 4, 2014"Suspect in Slender Man stabbing case ruled incompetent to stand trial"--Sarah Pryor--the freeman--sat aug 2, 2014"Stabbing spurs conversations among parents, children"--Sarah Pryor--the freeman wed jun 4 2014State of Wisconsin Vs. Anissa Weier Case No. 14CF00597--filed 04-09-2021https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/25/us/morgan-geyser-timeline-slender-man"Wis. stabbing victim now in fair condition"--Sarah Maslin--The Duluth News-Tribune--thu june 5, 2014"Doctors: Girl, 12, not fit in 'Slender Man' trial"--Brendan O'Brien--The Morning Call--thu--Jul 3, 2014"40-year term in hospital sought"--Ivan Moreno--Wisconsin state Journal--Fri octo 6, 2017"Judge denies Geyser's petition for release"--Brian Huber --The Freeman --Fri April 12, 2024Episodes 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:[email protected]://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586477442538#https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8rIqbuh-TeAl_9dZNL3fUAhttps://www.instagram.com/unexplained_america/https://www.patreon.com/unexplainedamericaFind us on Tik Tok and Instagram and all Podcasts Platforms.Xoxoxoxo, Lisa
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87 MIN
The Omen (1976) Scary Heifers Movie Reivew
MAY 21, 2026
The Omen (1976) Scary Heifers Movie Reivew
In this episode of Unexplained America, your host Lisa will be discussing "The Omen"--OG style with OG guest host Amber (Ambie).Rober Donner directed this incredible Horror/Mystery right off the heels of the very successful "Exorcist" which came out in 1973. "The Omen" starring the talented and according to Amber 'yummy' Gregory Peck, Lee Remick, Harvey Stephans, and David Warner--came out to mixed reviews but ended up being the highest grossing box office hit in 1976 with $60 Million to it's cost of only $3.99 M.We discuss everything from chimpanzees to turbin wearing and the book of Revelations.Note--nothing even remotelu serious in this episode! Enjoy!!References for this Episode:"The Omen" 1976--Written by David Seltzer and Harvey Bernhard. Directed by Richard Donner. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075005/https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/movies/13-foreboding-facts-about-omenEpisodes 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/[email protected]://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586477442538#https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8rIqbuh-TeAl_9dZNL3fUAhttps://www.instagram.com/unexplained_america/https://www.patreon.com/unexplainedamericaFind us on Tik Tok and Instagram and all Podcasts Platforms.Xoxoxoxo, Lisa
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67 MIN
Heaven's Gate The Back Story (Part 2)
MAY 17, 2026
Heaven's Gate The Back Story (Part 2)
In this episode of Unexplained America, your host Lisa will finish discussing the group Heaven's Gate, picking up where I left off in Part 1 in the year 1986,Listener Discretion-Mental Illness/Unaliving ---On Wednesday, March 26, 1997, the San Diego County Sheriff's office received a 911 telling them that there was a mass unaliving at the location of 18241 Colina Norte in Rancho Sante Fe. The deputies really thought that this must be a crank phone call. When the deputies go to the house what they find there is anything but funny. They find 39 bodies at this location--they will received 1500 calls from around the country from concerned family and friends of these individuals. Hearts will be broken and the leader (Herff) will be on the cover of Time Magazine--but not for any good reason.We will also discuss the present day and my email exchange.--Make sure to listen to the end because I had two add on thoughts that I forgot.Listen to the whole episode for a deep look at the group.References for this Episode:"Heaven's Gate America's UFO Religion"- Benjamin E. Zeller--https://www.amazon.com/Heavens-Gate-Americas-UFO-Religion/dp/1479881066"Marhsall Herff Applewhite Jr."-Times Information Services--Corpus Christi Caller--Sat. Mar. 29, 1997"Cult Video Discovered"--LA Times--The Cincinatti Enquier--Mon. May 12, 1997"Harlinger AP"--Austin American-Statesman-Sat. Oct. 18, 1975"UFO Sect Lures Away Their Son"--The Miami Herald Tues. Mar 23 1976"UFO pair say 22 followers are safe"-San Antonio Express-News--Sun. Dec. 7, 1975"Co-founder's children struggle for answers in wake of suicides"-Star-Phoenix- Tues. Apr 1, 1997"'The Two' still haunt Coast Man"--by Jerry Easterling-Oregon Territory- Sun Aug 17, 1980"A Second Look-the worried parents of secretive UFO cult members"-by Don Lattin--The San Francisco Examiner- Mon Sept 19, 1983"Bo, Peep friends toot space horns"-Bryan McNulty-Portland Press Herald--Mon Oct 9, 1978."Custody fight waged by 'Two' followers"-Kristine Rosemary-The Capital Journal--Mon June 7, 1976"Nether World Envoys Anticipate Murder"-Valley Morning Star-Thurs Aug 29, 1974"What are Bo and Peep Really Up to?"-Lynn Simboss-The Houston Chronicle-Wed Nov 12, 197"St Thomas U. Singers Present Colorful Menotti Song-Dance"-DJ Hobdy-The Houston Chronicle- Mon Oct 31, 1966"Heaven's Gate: The Cult of Cults"--documentary-https://www.hbomax.com/shows/heavens-gate-the-cult-of-cults/83f1cb47-bce8-4e60-a9d3-9153e5d4c455https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/katy-tx/joseph-nettles-8265180https://www.bardomethodology.com/articles/2022/10/12/heavens-gate-the-classroom-interview/https://www.cnn.com/US/9704/18/cult.911/index.html.https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2007/03/26/i-lost-count-at-10-encinitas-deputy-recalls-day-he-discovered-grisly-mass-suicide/https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/heaven-s-gate-trustees-sue-dead-cultist-for-web-3101936.phphttps://www.rollingstone.com/feature/heavens-gate-20-years-later-10-things-you-didnt-know-114563/Heavens gate student exit statements---https://youtu.be/h5IdVndMEr4?si=p4C-uvDfXi0OA4qCSawyers channel on Youtube--https://www.youtube.com/@3spmSwyEpisodes 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/[email protected]://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586477442538#https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8rIqbuh-TeAl_9dZNL3fUAhttps://www.instagram.com/unexplained_america/https://www.patreon.com/unexplainedamericaFind us on Tik Tok and Instagram and all Podcasts Platforms.Xoxoxoxo, Lisa
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165 MIN
Heaven's Gate The Back Story (Part 1)
APR 6, 2026
Heaven's Gate The Back Story (Part 1)
In this episode of Unexplained America, your host Lisa will discuss the group Heaven's Gate, primarily, diving into the groups leaders Bonnie Lou Trousdale Nettles and Marshall "Herff" Applewhite Jr.Listener Discretion-Mental Illness/Unaliving --more in Part 2.On Wednesday, March 26, 1997, the San Diego County Sheriff's office received a 911 telling them that there was a mass unaliving at the location of 18241 Colina Norte in Rancho Sante Fe. The deputies really thought that this must be a crank phone call. When the deputies go to the house what they find there is anything but funny. They find 39 bodies at this location--they will received 1500 calls from around the country from concerned family and friends of these individuals. Hearts will be broken and the leader (Herff) will be on the cover of Time Magazine--but not for any good reason.In this Part 1, I discuss the background and history of Bonnie and Herff. I will outline their beginnings and how they met and how the group began.The time frame I cover in this episode is 1927-1986; in 1986 Bonnie's family will find out that she passed away on June 19, 1985. During Bonnie's life the group was NEVER called Heaven's Gate but went by H.I.M. Human Individual Metamorphosis or they went by Total Overcomers Anonymous.Listen to the whole episode for a deep look at the group.References for this Episode:"Heaven's Gate America's UFO Religion"- Benjamin E. Zeller--https://www.amazon.com/Heavens-Gate-Americas-UFO-Religion/dp/1479881066"Marhsall Herff Applewhite Jr."-Times Information Services--Corpus Christi Caller--Sat. Mar. 29, 1997"Cult Video Discovered"--LA Times--The Cincinatti Enquier--Mon. May 12, 1997"Harlinger AP"--Austin American-Statesman-Sat. Oct. 18, 1975"UFO Sect Lures Away Their Son"--The Miami Herald Tues. Mar 23 1976"UFO pair say 22 followers are safe"-San Antonio Express-News--Sun. Dec. 7, 1975"Co-founder's children struggle for answers in wake of suicides"-Star-Phoenix- Tues. Apr 1, 1997"'The Two' still haunt Coast Man"--by Jerry Easterling-Oregon Territory- Sun Aug 17, 1980"A Second Look-the worried parents of secretive UFO cult members"-by Don Lattin--The San Francisco Examiner- Mon Sept 19, 1983"Bo, Peep friends toot space horns"-Bryan McNulty-Portland Press Herald--Mon Oct 9, 1978."Custody fight waged by 'Two' followers"-Kristine Rosemary-The Capital Journal--Mon June 7, 1976"Nether World Envoys Anticipate Murder"-Valley Morning Star-Thurs Aug 29, 1974"What are Bo and Peep Really Up to?"-Lynn Simboss-The Houston Chronicle-Wed Nov 12, 1975"St Thomas U. Singers Present Colorful Menotti Song-Dance"-DJ Hobdy-The Houston Chronicle- Mon Oct 31, 1966"Heaven's Gate: The Cult of Cults"--documentary-https://www.hbomax.com/shows/heavens-gate-the-cult-of-cults/83f1cb47-bce8-4e60-a9d3-9153e5d4c455https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/katy-tx/joseph-nettles-8265180Episodes 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/[email protected]://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586477442538#https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8rIqbuh-TeAl_9dZNL3fUAhttps://www.instagram.com/unexplained_america/https://www.patreon.com/unexplainedamericaFind us on Tik Tok and Instagram and all Podcasts Platforms.Xoxoxoxo, Lisa
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81 MIN
Sadness in Iowa: The Mollie Tibbetts Case
MAR 23, 2026
Sadness in Iowa: The Mollie Tibbetts Case
In this episode of Unexplained America, your host Lisa will discuss the sad and tragic case of Mollie Tibbetts.Listener Discretion-brutal murder and SA.On Wednesday July, 18, 2018, 20 year old Mollie goes for a run in her small home town in Iowa around 7:30 pm. When Mollie doesn't show up for work the following day her family, boyfriend, friends, and comminity.After a month long of searching for Mollie the police catch a break and find a man named Cristhian Bahena Rivera who leads the police directly to Mollie's body. Her family is devastated, vigils are held, and a country mourns another woman lost while doing something they love--running,.Bahena goes on trial after many delays due to motions, moving the trial location and the pandemic of Covid-19--May 17, 2021--almost 3 years after Mollie went missing.Listen to hear full details and remember Mollie--her beautiful life and legacy her family leaves in the Miles for Mollie Annual Fundraiser Walk/Run--held in September in Brooklyn, Iowa.References for this Episode:https://youtu.be/0Zz5UPLzVOA?si=RN_eV-ye-rrBDdHF"University officials, students react to the discovery of Tibbetts' body"-Hillar Ojeda--The Des Moines Register-Wed. Aug 22, 2018"Chronology of the Mollie Tibbetts missing person case"-Staff--The Des Moines Register-Wed Aug 22, 2018"Tibbetts---Video Recordings help solve case, Suspect was from Mexico"--Staff--The Des Moines Register Wed. Aug 22, 2018"Officer: Miranda failure for Iowa murder suspect a mistake"-Associated Press--Globe-Gazette-Fri. Nov, 15, 2019"Iowa college student hasn't been seen since last week"-The Washington Post--Omaha World-Herald--Thur. Jul 26, 2018https://www.iowacourts.gov/courtcases/18636/embed/CourtAppealsOpinionhttps://iowaappeals.com/uncategorized/iowa-court-of-appeals-denies-new-trial-for-cristhian-bahena-rivera/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/[email protected]://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586477442538#https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8rIqbuh-TeAl_9dZNL3fUAhttps://www.instagram.com/unexplained_america/https://www.patreon.com/unexplainedamericaFind us on Tik Tok and Instagram and all Podcasts Platforms.Xoxoxoxo, Lisa
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59 MIN