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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.