A Study of Strange
For lovers of true crime, mysteries, and outlandish tales of high strangeness. Join host Michael May as he investigates tales of the unknown each week, from bizarre crimes to unsolved murders and unexplained phenomena. ”A Study of Strange” attempts to debunk common misconceptions and dive deep into the most unusual unsolved stories from history. With occasional guests including entertainment industry insiders, writers, randos and more! Michael May is a filmmaker and performer known for producing films like GHOSTS OF THE OZARKS, 12 HOUR SHIFT, and hosting the true-crime automotive TV shows AUTO/BIOGRAPHY and AUTOBIOGRAPHY: COLD CASES. He obsesses over historical myst...
Episodes
The Mystery of Tara Calico’s Disappearance | With Guest Robert Cannon
On September 20, 1988, 19‑year‑old college student Tara Calico left her Belen, New Mexico home for a morning bike ride and never came back. This episode examines the haunting 1989 Polaroid that made this case a national obsession, witness a…
4 of the Internet’s Most Cryptic Mysteries
The internet promises answers to everything, but it creates more mysteries than most care to admit. In this episode of A Study of Strange, we dive into four of the web’s most cryptic mysteries.Theme Music by Matt Glass https://www.glassbrai…
Green Mountain UFO Encounters
When my nine year old son said, “I want to be on your podcast and hear about UFOs,” I proceeded as any dedicated podcaster would: by recording this episode.Great Mountain UFO Encounters looks at some of the early unidentified anomalous phen…
Dead In Their Sleep: The True Inspiration for Freddy Krueger
In this chilling episode of A Study of Strange, we look at the terrifying real-life mystery that inspired A Nightmare on Elm Street: unexplained deaths of healthy Southeast Asian men who died suddenly in their sleep. Known as “Asian Death S…
The Murder of Leota Camp REDUX
A summer re-release of a classic episode! On July 10th, 1967, 25 year old mother of three, Leota Camp, was found by her young children, stabbed and bleeding in a small bedroom of the family’s home in Des Moines, Iowa. There was no sign of a…
Tensegrity and the Vanishing Witches PART TWO: The Cult of Carlos Castaneda
We conclude the devilish and mysterious story surrounding the disappearance of a group of women involved in a small cult run by new age author Carlos Castaneda. Not many are aware that one of the most successful New Age authors, Carlos Cas…
Tensegrity and the Vanishing Witches: The Cult of Carlos Castaneda PART ONE
Not many are aware that one of the most successful “new age” authors, Carlos Castaneda, lead a cult. The women that made up the inner circle of his cult were called “the witches” and five of them disappeared soon after Castaneda’s death in …
Four of the World's Most Haunted Paintings
What makes an object haunted? These four paintings have strange and mysterious backgrounds, along with claims of supernatural phenomena. #1 The Hands Resist Him, #2 The Anguished Man, #3 Woman of the Rain, #4 The Crying Boy Theme Music by M…
Tunguska: When the Sky Exploded
In 1908, something tore through the skies over Siberia and exploded with the force of a thousand Hiroshima bombs. Trees were flattened across 800 square miles, yet no impact crater was ever found. What caused the Tunguska Event? A meteor? A…
Scary Photos That Can't Be Explained: What Happened to Kris Kremers and Lisanne Froon
On April 1, 2014, two young Dutch friends, Kris Kremers and Lisanne Froon, tragically disappeared while on vacation in Panama. What began as a day hike turned into a heartbreaking mystery when their remains were discovered weeks later. Whil…
The Hollywood Manager That Stole Millions From Celebrities | Interview with Jonathan Todd Schwartz
Jonathan Todd Schwartz was a successful business manager for A-list celebrities and seemingly had it all. However, his life took a dark turn when he stole nearly $5 million from Alanis Morrissette and other clients. Driven by addiction, Sch…
The Chicago Mothman | with Oliver Berger
The Mothman, a legendary winged “birdman” with glowing red eyes, was first reported in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, in 1966. Interestingly, similar sightings began this century in Chicago. As far as cryptids go, the myth behind Mothman is…
8 Strange Sounds That Can't Be Explained
From underwater anomalies to the notorious Hum heard around the world, these eight strange sounds are difficult to explain. Theme Music by Matt Glass https://www.glassbrain.com/ Instagram: @astudyofstrange Support the Show! astudyofstrange…
Veronica Gedeon And The Easter Murders
On Easter Sunday, 1937, Veronica Gedeon, her mother, and a boarder were found killed in their New York City apartment. Veronica was a beautiful model, and the press provoked public reaction by publishing her portfolio of sensual photographs…
Small Town Murder Mystery: Orville Gibson
A dairy farmer is found dead in a small Vermont town, but was it murder...or an elaborate suicide plot to frame his enemies? The mystery surrounding Orville Gibson's death was a world-wide sensation news story at the time, and remains unsol…
UFOs at 30,000 feet: True Pilot Encounters We Can't Explain
Pilots are among the most trusted observers in the world, but what happens when they report objects defying the laws of physics? This episode explores some of the most credible, chilling UFO encounters ever recorded by those who might share…
The Curious Case Of The Sodder Children REDUX
On Christmas Eve 1945, a devastating house fire in West Virginia destroyed the Sodder family home. Five of the children were unable to escape as the house burned to the ground, but what happened next became one of the most strange unsolved …
The Mystery Of The 4chan Serial Killer
In 2015, an anonymous 4chan user claimed to be a serial killer, and posted a series of gruesome images as proof. Was it a hoax? Can we finally get closer to solving this mystery? Theme Music by Matt Glass https://www.glassbrain.com/ Instagr…
By Reason Of Insanity: The Tragic Death Of Marion Parker
In 1927, Los Angeles was gripped by terror as a young girl was kidnapped and then brutally murdered. The killer's motive was a twisted mystery, and his escape sparked a massive manhunt that captivated the nation. Though solved, this crime w…
Nazis in Los Angeles: Secrets, Spies, and Sinister Hideouts
Were Nazis in LA during World War II? Local legends around places like the Murphy Ranch and the Furst Castle suggest they were, with fascist sympathizers building retreats and strongholds. Some claim Hitler even visited during the war. Howe…
The Strange & Unsolved Death of Charles C. Morgan
The often covered, discussed, and scrutinized death of Charles Morgan. The story is too odd and mysterious to not record our own retelling of his story. In March 1977, escrow agent Charles C. Morgan went missing. Three days later he turns u…
5 Haunted Ghost Towns
Some towns refuse to die. Long after their last residents have vanished, something remains — eerie voices, shadow figures, and legendary folktales. In this episode, we explore five of the most haunted ghost towns in America: Bannack, MT, a …
True Crime Tale: Brian Brady Discusses the True Story that Inspired His Book
Author Brian Brady’s latest book, Hiding in Plain Sight, is loosely inspired by a true crime, and he was personally involved in its investigation. We discuss writing about murder, what shows, movies, and books get wrong about real investiga…
5 Civil War Mysteries
The Civil War shaped the United States more than any other event, and it left behind some strange, unsolved mysteries. This Minisode covers 5 of the most interesting mysteries including paranormal events, lost treasure, and more. Theme Mus…
The Tragic Disappearance of Dorothy Arnold
Dorothy Arnold was a young heiress with everything to live for, but one December day in 1910, she disappeared in broad daylight from the center of New York. Over a century later, her case still haunts the city. Listener discretion is advise…
Upcoming Strangeness in 2025
A compilation of some of the upcoming topics "A Study of Strange" will cover in the coming year. Episodes include haunted ghost towns, unsolved crimes, Nazi tunnels in Los Angeles, and a smattering of UFOs. Theme Music by Matt Glass https:…
The Bloody Benders REDUX
Re-release of an early two part series. In 1873 it was discovered that a family known as the Benders had been killing travelers along the Osage Mission Trail in Labette County, Kansas. We know surprisingly little about the evil Benders. In …
Béla Kiss The Vampire of Cinkota
Béla Kiss was a Hungarian conman and serial killer who is infamous for his macabre practice of storing his victims in metal drums filled with alcohol. His devious crimes were not discovered until he was allegedly killed in action during the…
Do We Live In A Multiverse | With Rachel Noll James
Scientists have theorized about a multiverse or parallel universes for centuries, and it’s only in the last few decades that the ideas have gone mainstream seeping into pop culture. There are a lot of different interpretations depicting how…
Lake Champlain Monster
Wading back into cryptid waters, this Minisode of "A Study of Strange" covers the background on North America's Loch Ness monster, Champ. Subscribe to "A Study of Strange" on your favorite podcast platform! Visit our Substack for more str…
Halloween Murder Mystery | The Death of Lillian Armstrong
Lillian Armstrong's brutal and shocking unsolved murder on Halloween night has not been forgotten since it occured in 1963. Her community in Newcastle, England, was terrified, and it didn't help that the killer was never caught. Halloween i…
Nelly Butler's Ghost | America's First Documented Haunting
In 1799, the ghost of a recently deceased Eleanor Butler began haunting Abner Blaisdell's home. The ghost had a peculiar interest in the Blaisdell family, and her visitations were witnessed by many. Learn about the first documented haunting…
A Study of Ghosts
If ghosts are real, are we even close to understanding what they are? A discussion about spooky spirits with Intuitive Reader Kim Beam. www.KimBeam.com IG & FB: @IamKimBeam YouTube: @IamKimBeam2 Subscribe to "A Study of Strange" on you…
Lost Bugatti: The World's Most Expensive Car
One of WWII's lost treasures was an automobile. The Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic "La Voiture Noire" is estimated to be worth over $100 million USD if it's ever found. Its whereabouts are a mystery because it was hidden during the war to keep …
The Skunk Ape
Florida's Bigfoot cousin, the Skunk Ape, has been sighted since at least he early 1970s roaming the glades and swamps. Joining the discussion is the director of the film "Frogman", Anthony Cousins. Whether you consider the Skunk Ape a bog…
Three Strange Hollywood Murders | with guest Brea Grant
We’re covering three of Los Angeles' most mysterious and unsolved murders from the golden age of Hollywood; William Desmond Taylor, a famed director, Georgette Bauerdorf, a young socialite, and Thelma Todd, a beloved actress. Each died unde…
Australia's First Serial Killer
This is the chilling true story of John Lynch, an Irish criminal transported to the harsh Australian colony in the 1830s. What started as a punishment for petty crimes soon escalated into a violent spree of murder as Lynch sought to escape …
The Phantom Barber of Pascagoula
In 1942, Pascagoula, Mississippi was haunted by a mysterious figure who slipped into homes under the cover of darkness, cutting locks of hair before vanishing into the night. This bizarre crime spree left the entire town on edge until a sus…
DEVIANT: True Crime Hosts Andrew Iden and Dan Szematowicz
Listener Discretion Advised. In their new podcast, Deviant, hosts Andrew Iden and Dan Szematowicz take you into the dark corners of what human beings are capable of, starting with serial killer Israel Keyes. Deviant is the most comprehensiv…
The Strange Death of Superman PART TWO
A discussion about the various theories behind the death of George Reeves, iconic star of the 1950s TV series "Adventures of Superman." His suicide is controversial, and may have sparked the so-called Superman Curse. With returning special…