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Verbal Echo

Monica Martin and Co-Host Sara Rowe

Welcome to The Verbal Echo. Join host Monica Martin and Co-host Sara Rowe as we recount experiences through the voices of those who've lived to tell their stories. We seek to understand the human story, with all its unexpected and often weird twists and turns.

You will hear first-hand stories of the unexplained—from mysterious cryptids and alien encounters to paranormal experiences that defy explanation through the lens of the human experience. We will talk with authors, researchers, other podcasters, experts, and everyday people who need a sounding board to share everything they know.

Each episode features human stories that challenge what we think we know, revealing details that often fly under the radar. We don't want mainstream conversations on this podcast. We look at the fringe, the edges, and the intersections of thought-provoking topics and coax them out of the shadows.

If you’re drawn to the strange and hidden, join us on The Verbal Echo and discover how every story can change what you believe is possible.

No guardrails.

Connect with the host, Monica Martin

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  • 20 episodes
  • Avg 49 min
  • English

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  • S3 · E75
    August 18 · 37 min

    What Is Haitian Vodou Really? The Truth Behind the World's Most Misunderstood Faith

    For centuries, the word “Voodoo” has been surrounded by fear, mystery, and Hollywood stereotypes. But beneath the sensationalized stories of curses, dolls, and dark magic is a complex spiritual tradition rooted in African heritage, Catholic influence, ancestral connection, and a deep relationship with nature. In this episode of The Verbal Echo, Sara explores the authentic origins of Haitian Vodou and separates the real history from the myths created through colonialism, fear, and popular culture. We look at the West African traditions that shaped Vodou, the role of Catholic symbolism, the spirits known as the lwa, the importance of ancestors, healing, music, and sacred connection to the natural world. From the struggles of enslaved Africans in Haiti to the Haitian Revolution and the survival of a spiritual tradition despite centuries of misunderstanding, this episode reveals a story of resilience, identity, and cultural preservation. What if one of the world's most misunderstood religions has been hidden behind a story that was never truly its own? Join us as we uncover the real history of Haitian Vodou and explore the faith beyond the Hollywood shadows. --------------- Thank you for listening to this podcast and helping us grow by sharing it with a friend! Thank YOU!!! Do you want to tell your story on this show? Reach out, Send an email to verbalecho@gmail.com Read Monica's stories on the Medium Publication Try Sara's Bloody Seasoning and Follow along on her adventures - Shop Now! --------------------------------------------------------- Follow us on Patreon for even more content about our episodes and see video episodes before they are uploaded to our audio podcast. We share even more content on Patreon. Join today, it's FREE to join - be a founding member on our Patreon Channel where you get even more content. Join us! Verbal Echo Podcast on Patreon Music Artist credits for this podcast: Season 1: Ikoliks Season 2: Amoeba Crew, Dagored, and Salinski Music, and Licensed music through ASYNC Season 3: Async sponsored Artists - Song "I Have You" episode 62 by Marigolde; Song "Unbreakable" by Aeris Moon, episode 63. Legal Disclaimer: As always, this podcast is for entertainment only, and the views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are solely their own. Always consult with medical professionals or your physician.

  • S3 · E74
    August 14 · 45 min

    What Really Happened to Betty and Barney Hill in the White Mountains? The First Public Alien Abduction.

    In September 1961, Betty and Barney Hill were driving home through the White Mountains of New Hampshire after a delayed honeymoon when they reported an encounter that would change UFO history forever. What began as a strange light in the night sky soon became a story of missing time, hypnosis, and memories that would fuel decades of debate. In this episode of The Verbal Echo, we examine who Betty and Barney Hill really were, the social realities they faced as an interracial couple in the early 1960s, the geography that set the stage for their experience, and the events of that unforgettable night. We also explore Dr. Benjamin Simon's hypnosis sessions, the Hills' lives after the encounter, and how their story influenced later figures such as Budd Hopkins, Travis Walton, and Whitley Strieber. Whether you see their account as evidence of an extraordinary encounter, a psychological mystery, or something that remains unexplained, the Hill case continues to shape the conversation about alien abductions more than sixty years later. Thank you for listening to this podcast and helping us grow by sharing it with a friend! Thank YOU!!! Do you want to tell your story on this show? Reach out, Send an email to verbalecho@gmail.com Read Monica's stories on the Medium Publication Try Sara's Bloody Seasoning and Follow along on her adventures - Shop Now! --------------------------------------------------------- Follow us on Patreon for even more content about our episodes and see video episodes before they are uploaded to our audio podcast. We share even more content on Patreon. Join today, it's FREE to join - be a founding member on our Patreon Channel where you get even more content. Join us! Verbal Echo Podcast on Patreon Music Artist credits for this podcast: Season 1: Ikoliks Season 2: Amoeba Crew, Dagored, and Salinski Music, and Licensed music through ASYNC Season 3: Async sponsored Artists - Song "I Have You" episode 62 by Marigolde; Song "Unbreakable" by Aeris Moon, episode 63. Legal Disclaimer: As always, this podcast is for entertainment only, and the views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are solely their own. Always consult with medical professionals or your physician.

  • S3 · E73
    August 12 · 23 min

    Travis Walton: From UFOs to UAPs in the Pentagon: How Did We Get to Disclosure? Part 2

    From Travis Walton to the Pentagon: how one 1975 abduction case connects to today's UAP disclosure. Corbell, Knapp, Nolan, and Congress are finally talking about UFOs. What's real, what's alleged, and where does Walton's case fit into the government's new willingness to answer? We have a huge favor to ask! If you like our content, we ask that you share our podcast, maybe your favorite episode with a few friends. That's it. That's what we need to grow and keep doing this. We are now being streamed in over 70 countries - that's a huge accomplishment. Share this podcast now to support us. Thank you! In Part One, seven loggers watched something impossible hover over a clearing in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest — and Travis Walton vanished into it for five days. Fifty years later, his case is no longer fringe. It's part of a national conversation. In Part Two, we trace how UFOs became UAP disclosure — from Pentagon briefings and congressional hearings to the key figures driving the story into the mainstream: Jeremy Corbell, George Knapp, and Stanford's Dr. Garry Nolan. What has actually been disclosed, what's still alleged, and where does a case like Walton's fit into a government finally willing to talk? From Travis Walton to the Pentagon — this is how one abduction became a national reckoning. UFO abduction case. government UFO cover-up. Travis Walton abduction case. Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest UFO. UAP task force. unidentified aerial phenomena. alien disclosure. UFO whistleblower testimony. Pentagon UAP briefing. true story UFO abduction --- Thank you for listening to this podcast and helping us grow by sharing it with a friend! Thank YOU!!! Do you want to tell your story on this show? Reach out, Send an email to verbalecho@gmail.com Read Monica's stories on the Medium Publication Try Sara's Bloody Seasoning and Follow along on her adventures - Shop Now! --------------------------------------------------------- Follow us on Patreon for more content about our episodes and see video episodes before they are uploaded to our audio podcast. We share even more content on Patreon. Join today, it's FREE to join - be a founding member on our Patreon Channel and get even more content. Join us! Verbal Echo Podcast on Patreon Music Artist credits for this podcast: Season 1: Ikoliks Season 2: Amoeba Crew, Dagored, and Salinski Music, and Licensed music through ASYNC Season 3: Async sponsored Artists - Song "I Have You" episode 62 by Marigolde; Song "Unbreakable" by Aeris Moon, episode 63. Legal Disclaimer: As always, this podcast is for entertainment only, and the views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are solely their own. Always consult with medical professionals or your physician.

  • S3 · E72
    August 7 · 21 min

    Travis Walton Abduction Explained Part 1: Fact, Fraud, or First Contact?

    Travis Walton vanished for five days in 1975 after his logging crew saw a UFO. Was he abducted by aliens? Why did one crew member fail his polygraph? Fifty years later, new confessions are splitting the witnesses apart. Part of our UAP disclosure series. On November 5, 1975, seven loggers drove home through the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest and saw something none of them could explain. Six minutes later, Travis Walton was gone. Five days after that, he turned up at a payphone in Heber, Arizona — thin, disoriented, and certain he had been taken aboard a craft that was not of this earth. Fifty years on, the Travis Walton abduction remains one of the most polygraphed, most publicized, and most disputed UFO cases in American history. Was Travis Walton really abducted by aliens? Why did five of six crew members pass a lie detector test while the sixth did not? What really happened at the Gentry fire tower? And why, half a century later, are the men who lived through that night in the forest still contradicting each other about what they saw? This episode is part of Verbal Echo's UAP disclosure series, tracing the Walton case from the original 1975 search parties through the National Enquirer bidding war, the Fire in the Sky dramatization, and the fractures that have opened among the surviving witnesses in just the past few years. Investigative storytelling, skeptical analysis, and the unresolved questions that still follow Travis Walton into 2026. -------------- Thank you for listening to this podcast and helping us grow by sharing it with a friend! Thank YOU!!! Do you want to tell your story on this show? Reach out, Send an email to verbalecho@gmail.com Read Monica's stories on the Medium Publication Try Sara's Bloody Seasoning and Follow along on her adventures - Shop Now! --------------------------------------------------------- Follow us on Patreon for even more content about our episodes and see video episodes before they are uploaded to our audio podcast. We share even more content on Patreon. Join today, it's FREE to join - be a founding member on our Patreon Channel where you get even more content. Join us! Verbal Echo Podcast on Patreon Music Artist credits for this podcast: Season 1: Ikoliks Season 2: Amoeba Crew, Dagored, and Salinski Music, and Licensed music through ASYNC Season 3: Async sponsored Artists - Song "I Have You" episode 62 by Marigolde; Song "Unbreakable" by Aeris Moon, episode 63. Legal Disclaimer: As always, this podcast is for entertainment only, and the views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are solely their own. Always consult with medical professionals or your physician. Hide

  • S3 · E71
    August 5 · 42 min

    The Collegiate Peaks Triangle Begins: Gunnison’s Dormitory Fire, Ghost Towns, and Dark History

    In this episode of The Verbal Echo, we begin our journey into the mysteries of Colorado’s Collegiate Peaks Triangle with a look into the history, legends, and unexplained stories surrounding the Gunnison area. We travel back to the late 1800s, when mining booms, isolated mountain communities, and forgotten settlements shaped a landscape filled with tragedy and mystery. We explore the story of a devastating dormitory fire and the lingering reports of paranormal activity connected to the location. From ghostly encounters to abandoned places and the echoes of those who came before us, this episode lays the foundation for a deeper investigation into one of Colorado’s most fascinating regions. The Collegiate Peaks Triangle investigation begins here. ------------- Thank you for listening to this podcast and helping us grow by sharing it with a friend! Thank YOU!!! Do you want to tell your story on this show? Reach out, Send an email to verbalecho@gmail.com Read Monica's stories on the Medium Publication Try Sara's Bloody Seasoning and Follow along on her adventures - Shop Now! --------------------------------------------------------- Follow us on Patreon for even more content about our episodes and see video episodes before they are uploaded to our audio podcast. We share even more content on Patreon. Join today, it's FREE to join - be a founding member on our Patreon Channel where you get even more content. Join us! Verbal Echo Podcast on Patreon Music Artist credits for this podcast: Season 1: Ikoliks Season 2: Amoeba Crew, Dagored, and Salinski Music, and Licensed music through ASYNC Season 3: Async sponsored Artists - Song "I Have You" episode 62 by Marigolde; Song "Unbreakable" by Aeris Moon, episode 63. Legal Disclaimer: As always, this podcast is for entertainment only, and the views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are solely their own. Always consult with medical professionals or your physician.

  • S3 · E70
    July 15 · 58 min

    The Devil’s Footprints of Devon: The 1855 Mystery That Left England Terrified

    The Devil’s Footprints of Devon: A Mysterious Trail Through History In February 1855, a strange phenomenon swept across the snowy landscape of Devon, England. Overnight, a trail of unusual hoof-like footprints appeared across fields, rooftops, walls, and even through areas that seemed impossible for any living creature to reach. Thousands of people witnessed the markings, and newspapers quickly spread the story of what became known as The Devil’s Footprints. Were they the tracks of a supernatural visitor? A strange animal? A natural phenomenon? Or was there a more ordinary explanation hidden beneath the mystery? In this episode, Sara explores one of England’s most fascinating historical mysteries and examines the theories surrounding the strange trail that still sparks debate more than 170 years later. ------------------ Thank you for listening to this podcast and helping us grow by sharing it with a friend! Thank YOU!!! Do you want to tell your story on this show? Reach out, Send an email to verbalecho@gmail.com Read Monica's stories on the Medium Publication Try Sara's Bloody Seasoning and Follow along on her adventures - Shop Now! --------------------------------------------------------- Follow us on Patreon for even more content about our episodes and see video episodes before they are uploaded to our audio podcast. We share even more content on Patreon. Join today, it's FREE to join - be a founding member on our Patreon Channel where you get even more content. Join us! Verbal Echo Podcast on Patreon Music Artist credits for this podcast: Season 1: Ikoliks Season 2: Amoeba Crew, Dagored, and Salinski Music, and Licensed music through ASYNC Season 3: Async sponsored Artists - Song "I Have You" episode 62 by Marigolde; Song "Unbreakable" by Aeris Moon, episode 63. Legal Disclaimer: As always, this podcast is for entertainment only, and the views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are solely their own. Always consult with medical professionals or your physician.

  • S3 · E69
    July 10 · 6 min

    Season 4 Coming: Verbal Echo Podcast Evolution - Remake of First Episode

    This is a remake of episode one - it's short but it explains for new listeners the evolution of this podcast and why older episodes are a little different subject matter. Hope you enjoy it! Thank you for listening to this podcast and helping us grow by sharing it with a friend! Thank YOU!!! Do you want to tell your story on this show? Reach out, Send an email to verbalecho@gmail.com Read Monica's stories on the Medium Publication Try Sara's Bloody Seasoning and Follow along on her adventures - Shop Now! --------------------------------------------------------- Follow us on Patreon for even more content about our episodes and see video episodes before they are uploaded to our audio podcast. We share even more content on Patreon. Join today, it's FREE to join - be a founding member on our Patreon Channel where you get even more content. Join us! Verbal Echo Podcast on Patreon Music Artist credits for this podcast: Season 1: Ikoliks Season 2: Amoeba Crew, Dagored, and Salinski Music, and Licensed music through ASYNC Season 3: Async sponsored Artists - Song "I Have You" episode 62 by Marigolde; Song "Unbreakable" by Aeris Moon, episode 63. Legal Disclaimer: As always, this podcast is for entertainment only, and the views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are solely their own. Always consult with medical professionals or your physician.

  • S3 · E68
    July 8 · 56 min

    Do Ley Lines Really Exist? Exploring Earth's Ancient Hidden Grids

    Are ancient civilizations connected by invisible pathways... or are we simply connecting dots that were never meant to be joined? Picking up where our Slender Man series left off, Sara explores one of the most enduring mysteries in archaeology and the paranormal: ley lines. From the origins of the theory proposed by Alfred Watkins to modern claims of Earth's energy grid, we examine the science, skepticism, and speculation surrounding these mysterious alignments. Could the world's ancient monuments have been intentionally placed along hidden routes? Why do so many sacred sites, stone circles, temples, and pyramids seem to share remarkable geographic relationships? And why are reports of strange lights, paranormal encounters, and unexplained phenomena so often linked to these locations? Join us as we explore the intersection of history, folklore, science, and mystery—and ask whether ley lines are evidence of an ancient understanding of the landscape, or simply one of humanity's most fascinating unsolved ideas. Thank you for listening to this podcast and helping us grow by sharing it with a friend! Thank YOU!!! Do you want to tell your story on this show? Reach out, Send an email to verbalecho@gmail.com Read Monica's stories on the Medium Publication Try Sara's Bloody Seasoning and Follow along on her adventures - Shop Now! --------------------------------------------------------- Follow us on Patreon for even more content about our episodes and see video episodes before they are uploaded to our audio podcast. We share even more content on Patreon. Join today, it's FREE to join - be a founding member on our Patreon Channel where you get even more content. Join us! Verbal Echo Podcast on Patreon Music Artist credits for this podcast: Season 1: Ikoliks Season 2: Amoeba Crew, Dagored, and Salinski Music, and Licensed music through ASYNC Season 3: Async sponsored Artists - Song "I Have You" episode 62 by Marigolde; Song "Unbreakable" by Aeris Moon, episode 63. Legal Disclaimer: As always, this podcast is for entertainment only, and the views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are solely their own. Always consult with medical professionals or your physician.

  • S3 · E67
    July 3 · 57 min

    Slenderman: The Open Source Monster and Girls in the Woods

    Verbal Echo | Episode 67, Part 1: Slenderman He has no face, no origin, and no fixed form. He exists at the treeline, at the edge of photographs, just beyond what you can fully see. And in 2009, he was invented by one guy on an internet forum trying to win a photoshop contest. In Part 1 of this two-part episode, we trace the birth of Slenderman — from a single thread on the Something Awful forums to a sprawling global mythology built by thousands of anonymous hands, none of whom ever agreed on the rules. We talk about how a fictional character with no official canon, no single author, and no fixed description became one of the most recognizable horror figures of the 21st century inside of five years. H.P. Lovecraft enters here. Then we follow that myth all the way to a park in Waukesha, Wisconsin. May 31st, 2014. Three twelve-year-old girls, a birthday sleepover, and a plan that had been months in the making. Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier lured their friend Payton Leutner into the woods and stabbed her nineteen times. When investigators asked why, they said they did it for Slenderman. That he would kill their families if they didn't. That afterward, they planned to walk to his mansion in northern Wisconsin. Payton Leutner survived — barely — and that case has never fully closed. We also get into the part of this story that I find the most fascinating — the tulpa. A concept from Tibetan Buddhism about entities created and sustained by collective thought, introduced to the Western world by a French explorer named Alexandra David-Néel who claimed to have accidentally built one and spent months trying to dissolve it. Because here's the thing: by August of 2009, just two months after Slenderman was created, people on those same forums were already asking whether they were doing exactly that. Whether thousands of people simultaneously imagining the same faceless figure was enough to give it something like existence. It's a question that sounds easy to dismiss. It gets harder the longer you sit with it. This one goes deep. Settle in. ------------------------------ Thank you for listening to this podcast and helping us grow by sharing it with a friend! Thank YOU!!! Do you want to tell your story on this show? Reach out, Send an email to verbalecho@gmail.com Read Monica's stories on the Medium Publication Try Sara's Bloody Seasoning and Follow along on her adventures - Shop Now! --------------------------------------------------------- Follow us on Patreon for even more content about our episodes and see video episodes before they are uploaded to our audio podcast. We share even more content on Patreon. Join today, it's FREE to join - be a founding member on our Patreon Channel where you get even more content. Join us! Verbal Echo Podcast on Patreon Music Artist credits for this podcast: Season 1: Ikoliks Season 2: Amoeba Crew, Dagored, and Salinski Music, and Licensed music through ASYNC Season 3: Async sponsored Artists - Song "I Have You" episode 62 by Marigolde; Song "Unbreakable" by Aeris Moon, episode 63. Legal Disclaimer: As always, this podcast is for entertainment only, and the views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are solely their own. Always consult with medical professionals or your physician.

  • S3 · E66
    June 25 · 1 hr 6 min

    The Haunted Stanley Hotel and Stephen King's Descent Into The Shining

    A haunted hotel in the Colorado Rockies helped inspire one of the most famous horror novels ever written...The Shining. This week, Monica explores the history, hauntings, and enduring legends of the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado—the location that inspired Stephen King's The Shining. We discuss King's stay at the nearly empty hotel, how it became the foundation for the fictional Overlook Hotel, and the personal struggles with addiction that influenced much of his writing during that period of his career. Along the way, we examine reports of paranormal activity at the Stanley, the stories that continue to attract ghost hunters from around the world, and why this iconic mountain hotel remains one of America's most famous haunted destinations. From literary inspiration to ghostly encounters, we explore the strange intersection of history, creativity, and the paranormal. Content Warning: This episode does discuss the addictions of author Stephen King, but ultimately it is a story of resilience and how an author overcame his substance use to rise above his struggles. ------------------ Thank you for listening to this podcast and helping us grow by sharing it with a friend! Thank YOU!!! Do you want to tell your story on this show? Reach out, Send an email to verbalecho@gmail.com Read Monica's stories on the Medium Publication Try Sara's Bloody Seasoning and Follow along on her adventures - Shop Now! --------------------------------------------------------- Follow us on Patreon for even more content about our episodes and see video episodes before they are uploaded to our audio podcast. We share even more content on Patreon. Join today, it's FREE to join - be a founding member on our Patreon Channel where you get even more content. Join us! Verbal Echo Podcast on Patreon Music Artist credits for this podcast: Season 1: Ikoliks Season 2: Amoeba Crew, Dagored, and Salinski Music, and Licensed music through ASYNC Season 3: Async sponsored Artists - Song "I Have You" episode 62 by Marigolde; Song "Unbreakable" by Aeris Moon, episode 63. Legal Disclaimer: As always, this podcast is for entertainment only, and the views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are solely their own. Always consult with medical professionals or your

  • S3 · E65
    June 25 · 53 min

    Vermont's Bennington Triangle - Mysterious Disappearances and Missing Persons Cases

    We're BACK! Creepy Dive into a host of missing persons cases in the Bennington Triangle of Vermont. People vanished without a trace. No answers. No bodies. No explanation. In this part of our Bennington Triangle series, Sara examines the mysterious disappearances that helped turn a remote stretch of Vermont wilderness into one of America's most enduring unsolved mysteries. From hunters and hikers to local residents who seemingly vanished into thin air, we explore the cases, theories, and strange patterns that continue to fuel speculation decades later. Were these tragic accidents, criminal acts, or something far stranger lurking in the shadows of the Green Mountains? The deeper you go into the Bennington Triangle, the harder it becomes to explain what happened there. The Bennington Triangle is a loosely defined area in southwestern Vermont, centered around the town of Bennington Triangle and the wilderness surrounding Glastenbury Mountain. The area generally includes: Bennington Woodford Shaftsbury Glastenbury Glastenbury Mountain Portions of the Green Mountain National Forest The term "Bennington Triangle" was coined in the 1990s by author and folklorist Joseph A. Citro, who noticed similarities among several unexplained disappearances and strange reports from the region. ---------------- Thank you for listening to this podcast and helping us grow by sharing it with a friend! Thank YOU!!! Do you want to tell your story on this show? Reach out, Send an email to verbalecho@gmail.com Read Monica's stories on the Medium Publication Try Sara's Bloody Seasoning and Follow along on her adventures - Shop Now! --------------------------------------------------------- Follow us on Patreon for even more content about our episodes and see video episodes before they are uploaded to our audio podcast. We share even more content on Patreon. Join today, it's FREE to join - be a founding member on our Patreon Channel where you get even more content. Join us! Verbal Echo Podcast on Patreon Music Artist credits for this podcast: Season 1: Ikoliks Season 2: Amoeba Crew, Dagored, and Salinski Music, and Licensed music through ASYNC Season 3: Async sponsored Artists - Song "I Have You" episode 62 by Marigolde; Song "Unbreakable" by Aeris Moon, episode 63. Legal Disclaimer: As always, this podcast is for entertainment only, and the views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are solely their own. Always consult with medical professionals or your

  • S3 · E64
    May 29 · 1 hr 46 min

    Kevin LeStarge - Author and Researcher - Multi-Dimensional Bigfoot

    Kev LeStarge grew up in Wisconsin and has always had a fascination with Sasquatch, which has led him on many expeditions across the country in search of the great mystery. Kev shares life lessons he’s learned through friendship, exploration, the power of patience, respecting nature, and his passion for Sasquatch. Kevin's Links: Instagram: The Bigfoot Archive Etsy: PineShadowDesign "Billy Finds Bigfoot" book on Amazon "Billy Finds Bigfoot" book on Hangar1Publishing “Is It Real, or Not?” book on Amazon “Is It Real, or Not” book on Barnes and Noble Thank you for listening to this podcast and helping us grow by sharing it with a friend! Thank YOU!!! Do you want to tell your story on this show? Reach out, Send an email to verbalecho@gmail.com Read Monica's stories on the Medium Publication Read Sara's Blog: Life Snacks on Blogspot --------------------------------------------------------- Follow us on Patreon for even more content about our episodes and see video episodes before they are uploaded to our audio podcast. We share even more content on Patreon. Join today, it's FREE to join - be a founding member on our Patreon Channel where you get even more content. Join us! Verbal Echo Podcast on Patreon Music Artist credits for this podcast: Season 1: Ikoliks Season 2: Amoeba Crew, Dagored, and Salinski Music, and Licensed music through ASYNC Season 3: Async sponsored Artists - Song "I Have You" episode 62 by Marigolde; Song "Unbreakable" by Aeris Moon, episode 63. Legal Disclaimer: As always, this podcast is for entertainment only, and the views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are solely their own. Always consult with medical professionals or your own experts before relying on advice or wisdom from others.

  • S3 · E63
    May 27 · 53 min

    Part Deux: From Haunted Mines to Missing Persons: Tommyknockers and The Bennington Triangle

    In Part Two of this split episode of The Verbal Echo, Sara takes listeners deep into the wilderness of the mysterious Bennington Triangle — a remote area of southern Vermont linked to strange disappearances, unsettling folklore, and decades of unanswered questions. Sara breaks down the history behind the region and examines the series of disappearances that helped create the legend of the Bennington Triangle between 1945 and 1950. From experienced outdoorsman Middie Rivers to college student Paula Welden and several others who vanished without explanation, the episode explores the facts, timelines, search efforts, and eerie similarities surrounding each case. Along the way, Sara also dives into local theories connected to the area — including unusual environmental conditions, wilderness survival challenges, possible serial activity, and paranormal speculation tied to Glastenbury Mountain. Why have so many stories emerged from this isolated stretch of forest? And how did a cluster of missing persons cases evolve into one of America’s most enduring regional mysteries? -------------------------------------------------- Thank you for listening to this podcast and helping us grow by sharing it with a friend! Thank YOU!!! Do you want to tell your story on this show? Reach out, Send an email to verbalecho@gmail.com Read Monica's stories on the Medium Publication Read Sara's Blog: Life Snacks on Blogspot --------------------------------------------------------- Follow us on Patreon for even more content about our episodes and see video episodes before they are uploaded to our audio podcast. We share even more content on Patreon. Join today, it's FREE to join - be a founding member on our Patreon Channel where you get even more content. Join us! Verbal Echo Podcast on Patreon Music Artist credits for this podcast: Season 1: Ikoliks Season 2: Amoeba Crew, Dagored, and Salinski Music, and Licensed music through ASYNC Season 3: Async sponsored Artists - Song "I Have You" episode 62 by Marigolde licensed by Async; episode 63 "Unbreakable" by Aeris Moon-licensed by Async. Legal Disclaimer: As always, this podcast is for entertainment only, and the views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are solely their own. Always consult with medical professionals or your own experts before relying on advice or wisdom from others.

  • S3 · E62
    May 19 · 1 hr 2 min

    Echoes from the Mine: Tommyknockers, Cornish Folklore & Stephen King’s Dark Inspiration - Part One

    In Part One of this split episode of The Verbal Echo, We head deep underground into the eerie folklore surrounding the legendary Tommyknocker. From the mining traditions of Cornwall to the gold and silver camps of the American West, miners told stories of mysterious knocking sounds, tiny underground beings, and warnings that seemed to come from inside the rock itself. The episode explores the origins of Tommyknocker lore, the harsh realities of 19th-century mining life, and how these legends followed Cornish miners across the world. We also explore Stephen King’s fascination with the legend and discusses how it inspired his 1987 novel The Tommyknockers, blending mining folklore with paranoia, isolation, and extraterrestrial horror. Are Tommyknockers simply superstition born from dangerous underground work… or could the stories point to something stranger lurking beneath the surface? Would you like to make your own Cornish Pasty? Send us your pictures! Recipe Below. Cornish Pasty Recipe! Thank you for listening to this podcast and helping us grow by sharing it with a friend! Thank YOU!!! Do you want to tell your story on this show? Reach out, Send an email to verbalecho@gmail.com Read Monica's stories on the Medium Publication Read Sara's Blog: Life Snacks on Blogspot --------------------------------------------------------- Follow us on Patreon for even more content about our episodes and see video episodes before they are uploaded to our audio podcast. We share even more content on Patreon. Join today, it's FREE to join - be a founding member on our Patreon Channel where you get even more content. Join us! Verbal Echo Podcast on Patreon Music Artist credits for this podcast: Season 1: Ikoliks Season 2: Amoeba Crew, Dagored, and Salinski Music, and Licensed music through ASYNC Season 3: Async sponsored Artists - Song "I Have You" episode 62 Legal Disclaimer: As always, this podcast is for entertainment only, and the views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are solely their own. Always consult with medical professionals or your own experts before relying on advice or wisdom from others.

  • S3 · E61
    May 13 · 1 hr 3 min

    The Hidden Side of 90s Yoga Culture: Natashia's Story

    Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of cult involvement, coercive control, psychological manipulation, disordered eating, and emotional abuse. Listener discretion is advised. In Episode 61 of The Verbal Echo, Monica and Sara sit down with yoga instructor and wellness practitioner Natashia for a candid conversation about her more than 30-year journey through multiple high-control groups operating under the guise of healing, spirituality, and wellness. Natashia shares her experiences navigating the rise of hot yoga culture in 1990s Los Angeles, where fitness, celebrity culture, and aggressive “bro culture” often intersected with spiritual ideology and manipulation. The conversation explores the world of raw food communities, restrictive dietary systems, and cult-like wellness movements, examining how vulnerable people searching for healing and purpose can become drawn into controlling environments. She also reflects on teaching private yoga sessions for high-profile clients, the atmosphere surrounding early hot yoga expansion, and the psychological patterns that can lead individuals deeper into systems of indoctrination. Rather than sensationalizing the subject, this episode takes a grounded look at the emotional, social, and spiritual dynamics behind cult involvement—and the long process of rebuilding identity after leaving those environments behind. From wellness culture to coercive influence, Episode 61 explores the thin line between healing spaces and systems of control. ----------------------------- Connect with Natashia - Sugar Free Lifestyle Thank you for listening to this podcast and helping us grow by sharing with a friend! Thank YOU!!! Do you want to tell your story on this show? Reach out, Send an email to verbalecho@gmail.com Read Monica's stories on the Medium Publication Read Sara's Blog: Life Snacks on Blogspot Music Artist credits for this podcast: Season 1: Ikoliks Season 2: Amoeba Crew, Dagored, and Salinski Music, and Licensed music through Podcastle Legal Disclaimer: As always, this podcast is for entertainment only, and the views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are solely their own. Always consult with medical professionals or your own experts before relying on advice or wisdom from others.

  • S3 · E60
    May 5 · 29 min

    Honoring Nick Pope: A Life in the Unknown, A Tribute Episode

    Season 3, Episode 60 Honoring Nick Pope: A Life in the Unknown Nick Pope spent thirty years doing something most people weren't brave enough to do — taking the unexplained seriously. A former UK Ministry of Defence official who ran Britain's real-life UFO desk from 1991 to 1994, Pope went on to become one of the most credible, measured, and influential voices in the history of UAP research. He wasn't a sensationalist. He was a civil servant who looked at the data, followed the evidence, and refused to be embarrassed by where it led. In this special tribute episode, Monica takes a deep dive into the six most pivotal pillars of Pope's life work. We revisit Open Skies, Closed Minds — the groundbreaking 1996 memoir that had to be cleared by the MoD before it could be published, and that launched his entire public career. We explore The Uninvited, his compassionate and often overlooked investigation into the human beings at the center of alien abduction accounts. We dig into the mystery behind his science fiction novels Operation Thunder Child and Operation Lightning Strike — government-vetted thrillers released under the tagline "the truth can only be told in fiction." We walk through Encounter in Rendlesham Forest, the 2014 book he co-wrote with the USAF veterans at the heart of Britain's most documented UFO incident. We look at his decades of television work, from nearly one hundred episodes of Ancient Aliens to Hollywood consulting credits on films like War of the Worlds and Alien: Covenant. And we close with the speeches, op-eds, and relentless public advocacy — from the Oxford Union to the National Press Club — that helped shift an entire subject from fringe curiosity to congressional hearing. Nick Pope passed away on April 6th, 2026, at the age of 60, just eight weeks after announcing his Stage 4 esophageal cancer diagnosis. In those final weeks, he kept giving interviews. He kept engaging with his audience. And in one of his last published essays, he reflected on a career spent chasing an answer he never fully received — with the same clear-eyed honesty that defined everything he ever did. He called his life an amazing adventure. This episode is our way of saying thank you for taking us along for the ride. This one's for Nick. Thank you for listening to this podcast and helping us grow by sharing with a friend! Thank YOU!!! Do you want to tell your story on this show? Reach out, Send an email to verbalecho@gmail.com Read Monica's stories on the Medium Publication Read Sara's Blog: Life Snacks on Blogspot Music Artist credits for this podcast: Season 1: Ikoliks Season 2: Amoeba Crew, Dagored, and Salinski Music, and Licensed music through Podcastle Legal Disclaimer: As always, this podcast is for entertainment only, and the views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are solely their own. Always consult with medical professionals or your own experts before relying on advice or wisdom from others.

  • S3 · E59
    May 5 · 41 min

    A Toxic Colorado Ghost Town: Gilman - Part 2

    Dive in with us for Part Deux of the story of the forgotten and contaminated ghost town of Colorado, Gilman and the Eagle Mine. Zinc mining turned toxic and this town packed up and left. Episode 59 – Echoes After Dark A town built on ore… and abandoned because of it. In this episode of Echoes After Dark, Monica and Sara head into the mountains of Colorado to explore the rise and fall of Gilman Ghost Town, a once-thriving mining community perched above the Eagle River. What began as a booming hub for zinc, lead, and silver quickly became one of the most toxic industrial sites in the state. At the center of the story is the Eagle Mine, operated over the decades by major companies including New Jersey Zinc Company and later Gulf and Western Industries. As production intensified, so did the environmental cost—acid mine drainage, heavy metal contamination, and polluted waterways that would eventually trigger federal intervention. By the 1980s, the damage could no longer be ignored. Gilman was officially abandoned, and the site was declared part of an Environmental Protection Agency Superfund cleanup effort, marking it as one of the most contaminated areas in the country. Monica and Sara unpack the layers behind Gilman’s collapse—corporate ownership shifts, environmental neglect, and the human cost of industrial ambition—while exploring why places like this still carry an eerie presence long after the last resident leaves. From toxic ground to ghost town silence, this episode looks at what happens when industry moves on… but the damage stays behind. Thank you for listening to this podcast and helping us grow by sharing with a friend! Thank YOU!!! Do you want to tell your story on this show? Reach out, Send an email to verbalecho@gmail.com Read Monica's stories on the Medium Publication Read Sara's Blog: Life Snacks on Blogspot Music Artist credits for this podcast: Season 1: Ikoliks Season 2: Amoeba Crew, Dagored, and Salinski Music, and Licensed music through Podcastle Legal Disclaimer: As always, this podcast is for entertainment only, and the views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are solely their own. Always consult with medical professionals or your own experts before relying on advice or wisdom from others.

  • S3 · E58
    May 4 · 40 min

    Echoes after Dark: Phantom Vessels and Lost Ships at Sea & the Ghost Town of Gilman, Colorado - Part 1

    Sara dives into the chilling folklore of southern Chile, exploring the legend of El Caleuche, a ghost ship said to sail the misty waters of Chiloé. Described as a glowing vessel filled with music and celebration, it lures sailors aboard—only for them to vanish into its crew forever . The mythology expands into a wider world of Chilote sea beings, including mermaid-like figures and shape-shifting entities tied to the ship, where the drowned are said to live on in an eternal, enchanted state . These layered myths echo familiar themes found in modern storytelling, drawing comparisons to magical worlds and hidden societies reminiscent of fantasy literature like the Harry Potter series. Monica then shifts inland to Colorado, beginning a look at Gilman Ghost Town, a once-thriving mining community now frozen in place above the Eagle River. As the conversation turns from ocean legends to abandoned industry, the parallels emerge—places shaped by human ambition, then left behind Thank you for listening to this podcast and helping us grow by sharing with a friend! Thank YOU!!! Do you want to tell your story on this show? Reach out, send an email to verbalecho@gmail.com Read Monica's stories on the Medium Publication Read Sara's Blog: Life Snacks on Blogspot Music Artist credits for this podcast: Season 1: Ikoliks Season 2: Amoeba Crew, Dagored, and Salinski Music, and Licensed music through Podcastle Legal Disclaimer: As always, this podcast is for entertainment only, and the views and opinions expressed by hosts and guests are solely their own. Always consult with medical professionals or your own experts before relying on advice or wisdom from others

  • S3 · E57
    April 1 · 43 min

    Part Deux: Ghost Ships & Dogman Lore - Crossing Lines with Cultural Appropriation and Psychopomps

    Episode 57 – Echoes After Dark In Episode 57 of Echoes After Dark, Monica and Sara explore two threads of mystery that stretch across oceans and cultures: ghost ships and the origins of canine cryptid legends. Sara opens the episode with stories of real-life abandoned vessels that have fueled maritime lore, including the Nina, the Blue Horizon Casino ship, the drifting Arctic vessel SS Baychimo, and the modern ghost ship MV Alta. These strange cases reveal how ships can vanish, drift, or reappear in ways that still puzzle historians and investigators. Monica then turns to the cultural history behind shape-shifting traditions, examining how concepts like the Skinwalker in Navajo culture have often been misunderstood or misappropriated in modern cryptid discussions, particularly in connection with the Dogman legend. The episode closes with a look at psychopumps—spirit-guiding beings found in many ancient traditions—and how these archetypes may connect to some of today’s paranormal narratives. From drifting ships to ancient myth, this episode explores how folklore, culture, and mystery continue to overlap. Find us on Patreon and become a founding FREE Member! Thank you for listening to this podcast and helping us grow by sharing with a friend! Share this podcast with a friend!!! Thank YOU!!! Do you want to tell your story on this show? Reach out, send an email to verbalecho@gmail.com Read Monica's stories on the Medium Publication Read Sara's Blog: Life Snacks on Blogspot Music Artist credits for this podcast: Season 1: Ikoliks Season 2: Amoeba Crew, Dagored, and Salinski Music, and Licensed music through Podcastle Legal Disclaimer: As always, this podcast is for entertainment only, and the views and opinions expressed by guests are solely their own. Always consult with medical professionals or your own experts before relying on advice or wisdom from others

  • S3 · E56
    March 25 · 1 hr 9 min

    Ghost Ships, Werewolves, and Dogman Lore

    Ghost ships drifting without crews, pirate legends that refuse to fade, and the mysterious origins of the Dogman—this week Monica and Sara go deep into the archives of the strange. In this episode of Echoes After Dark, they explore some of the most famous ghost ships in maritime history, including the Mary Celeste, the legendary Flying Dutchman, the frozen mystery of the Octavius, and the haunting story of the Carroll A. Deering. Each case carries its own unanswered questions, eerie sightings, and long-standing legends from sailors who claimed to witness something they couldn’t explain. The conversation then turns toward the Dogman, examining the roots of the creature’s lore and how historical accounts, regional folklore, and modern sightings may have shaped the narrative over time. From haunted seas to shadowy forests, this episode dives into the strange places where history, folklore, and unexplained encounters continue to echo. ------------------------------ Find us on Patreon and become a founding FREE Member! Thank you for listening to this podcast and helping us grow by sharing with a friend! Share this podcast with a friend!!! Thank YOU!!! Do you want to tell your story on this show? Reach out, send an email to verbalecho@gmail.com Read Monica's stories on the Medium Publication Read Sara's Blog: Life Snacks on Blogspot Music Artist credits for this podcast: Season 1: Ikoliks Season 2: Amoeba Crew, Dagored, and Salinski Music, and Licensed music through Podcastle Legal Disclaimer: As always, this podcast is for entertainment only, and the views and opinions expressed by guests are solely their own. Always consult with medical professionals or your own experts before relying on advice or wisdom from others.

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