Podcast · 198 episodes
MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories
by Ballen Studios · English
MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark and Mysterious Stories is a true crime and mystery podcast that presents strange, dark and mysterious content delivered in story format. The program is hosted by John Allen a.k.a. MrBallen. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes 7-days early and ad-free. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.
Latest episodes
Brutal Mercy (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)“Brutal Mercy” is a true-stories episode built around four people surviving extreme, seemingly hopeless situations—often due to an unexpected second chance or intervention.30 Sep 2026 · 27 min
On Patrol (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)March 14, 1997 murder of Higginson, Arkansas police officer Danny Longstreet; investigation leads from a license plate number on his palm to the actual shooter and accomplices.28 Sep 2026 · 29 min
Fan Favorite - "The Receipt"A remastered “fan favorite” true-crime story about the March 9, 2006 murders of Karen and Jim Divalbliss in Lancaster, Ohio, staged as a robbery, and solved through a pawn-shop receipt and a…25 Sep 2026 · 37 min
All episodes
Brutal Mercy (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)“Brutal Mercy” is a true-stories episode built around four people surviving extreme, seemingly hopeless situations—often due to an unexpected second chance or intervention.30 Sep 2026 · 27 min · 10 chapters
On Patrol (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)March 14, 1997 murder of Higginson, Arkansas police officer Danny Longstreet; investigation leads from a license plate number on his palm to the actual shooter and accomplices.28 Sep 2026 · 29 min · 16 chapters
Fan Favorite - "The Receipt"A remastered “fan favorite” true-crime story about the March 9, 2006 murders of Karen and Jim Divalbliss in Lancaster, Ohio, staged as a robbery, and solved through a pawn-shop receipt and a…25 Sep 2026 · 37 min · 8 chapters
No Way Out Vol. XIIThree remastered true-crime/true-incident stories about people trapped with “no way out”: Bread, Dead End, and The Cage.24 Sep 2026 · 26 min · 9 chapters
Warnings (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)Four true-crime/strange-mystery stories about people who misjudged risk or ignored warnings, leading to tragedy.23 Sep 2026 · 27 min · 10 chapters
Murder In Marseilles (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)The “Clinic Wars” murders in Marseille, France—how two seemingly separate shootings tied to private healthcare competition were ultimately connected to an insider plot, not the publicly suspected…21 Sep 2026 · 30 min · 9 chapters
Fan Favorite - "The Watercooler"A break-room cyanide poisoning in Tempe, Arizona (March 1986) that puts secretary Julie Williams into a coma, triggers citywide panic, and is later reconstructed as a framed murder attempt that…18 Sep 2026 · 37 min · 14 chapters
Death In DisguiseEpisode “Death In Disguise” presents three true-story cases where hidden danger is initially misread.17 Sep 2026 · 26 min · 11 chapters
Meant to Be (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)Four “true event” stories (with some pseudonyms/fictionalized details) centered on people concluding that unusual experiences had a purpose.16 Sep 2026 · 27 min · 10 chapters
Human Resources (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)The episode follows the March 15, 1999 strangling death of 20-year-old Danielle Jennings in her Norcross, Georgia apartment.14 Sep 2026 · 31 min · 10 chapters
What I Saw in My Room | Campfire Stories with MrBallenCampfire Stories with MrBallen features a discussion with Steve Rinella (MeatEater) about fear in the wild, then MrBallen tells his only “unexplainable/paranormal” experience: a recurring, midnight…11 Sep 2026 · 51 min · 18 chapters
Origins Vol. IIIFour “single decision” origin stories remastered from the podcast’s YouTube channel, showing how one choice reshaped not only the individuals’ lives but also millions of others worldwide.10 Sep 2026 · 27 min · 5 chapters
A Lie to Die For (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)Three true-crime stories about people who lied or performed false identities, leading to deadly consequences: a staged “safe” break-in, a fake wedding persona, and a rap performance that exposed a…9 Sep 2026 · 29 min · 14 chapters
Open Door Policy (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)The episode “Open Door Policy” recounts the October 2009 murder of 41-year-old event planner Damon Nicholson in his Laguna Beach apartment.7 Sep 2026 · 36 min · 11 chapters
Down the Stairs/Home Forever | Campfire Stories with MrBallenTwo creepy stories. “Down the Stairs” follows a 17-year-old high school senior in Tianjin, China, who and two friends enter an abandoned dorm to retrieve a lost badminton shuttlecock; they reach a…4 Sep 2026 · 37 min · 5 chapters
The ClearingThe 1874 Dyatlov-like mystery in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains, centered on Alfred Packer, who survived after abandoning five fellow gold prospectors and was later found to have cannibalized them.3 Sep 2026 · 24 min · 10 chapters
Demise by Design (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)Three true-crime/strange-mystery stories about people who tried to control outcomes but ended up causing or suffering fatal consequences: poisoning a rival, a thief punished by a religious relic, and…2 Sep 2026 · 28 min · 7 chapters
In An InstantFour true stories about how the line between life and death can vanish “in an instant,” with audio remastered from earlier YouTube uploads.27 Aug 2026 · 26 min · 11 chapters
Lethal Leisure (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)Three true-crime/creepy stories where a “life-improving” pastime turns lethal or destructive.26 Aug 2026 · 27 min · 10 chapters
Last Call (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)The murder investigation of Natalie Vierme, a 46-year-old bar/boarding-house owner near Paris, France, after she is found beaten and dumped in a ditch; the case is solved using DNA, a van…24 Aug 2026 · 34 min · 14 chapters
The Capitol Theatre Haunting | Campfire Stories with MrBallenA haunting at Salt Lake City’s historic Capitol Theatre, centered on unexplained intrusions, lights/doors being reversed, and a hooded figure tied to the basement piano and elevator.21 Aug 2026 · 50 min · 13 chapters
Fatal DepthsEpisode “Fatal Depths” presents three true stories (with some pseudonyms/details changed) about divers who misjudged underwater hazards.20 Aug 2026 · 28 min · 11 chapters
Risky Business (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)Four true-crime/cautionary stories about people taking major career risks that backfire, showing how small mistakes or overreach lead to ruin or death.19 Aug 2026 · 29 min · 10 chapters
The Cheapskate (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)Murder investigation in tiny northern Ontario (Jan 1988) of 62-year-old mechanic Wilfred Goudreau, stabbed in his bathroom; suspect trail includes a short, stocky man seen leaving the house, a blue…17 Aug 2026 · 32 min · 17 chapters