Best Wondery Ballen Studios Podcasts (2025)

1
Forsaken Mission 32:35

2d ago32:35

32:35

Today’s podcast will feature 3 military horror stories. The audio from all three stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel and has been remastered for today's episode. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #3 -- "Ramree Island" -- What happened on this island would go down as one of the most terrifying world records …

1
The JFK Assassination: New Evidence Reveals The CIA's Fatal Mistake 39:47

4d ago39:47

39:47

In 2025, the Trump Administration released long-classified government files about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. At the center of the most obsessed-over murder in American history stands the gunman, Lee Harvey Oswald, a man whose life was marked by political radicalization and personal failure. His actions on November 22, 1963 cont…

1
Ep. 89 | Half a Face 26:23

4d ago26:23

26:23

A teenage girl panics when clumps of hair start to fall off the right side of her head. From there, the problem gets even worse - the entire right side of her face starts to crumple in. But the problem isn’t just cosmetic. It’s extremely painful… and her doctors have no idea how to stop it. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, cura…

1
Death of a Dentist (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE) 40:54

5d ago40:54

40:54

One day in the spring of 2006, a detective stood next to a refrigerator in her police station, holding a little container full of evidence. She knew that what she was about to do represented a breach of protocol – but that wasn’t going to stop her. Because she was working her first murder case ever, and she was afraid she wasn’t going to be able to…

1
Stranger Than Fiction Vol. X 31:14

9d ago31:14

31:14

Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction. And today’s podcast features 3 stories that demonstrate that. The audio from all three stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just called "MrBallen," and has been remastered for today's podcast. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #3 -- "Rest Stop" -- You n…

1
Wondery Presents: How to Survive Against the Odds 6:02

10d ago6:02

6:02

Inspired by Wondery’s hit podcast Against the Odds—learn how to survive whatever nature can throw at you through gut-twisting true stories of survival on the brink How to Survive Against the Odds places you at the center of fifteen real life-or-death scenarios. Each story explores the physiological responses of the human body under unbearable condi…

1
Ep. 88 | 15,000 Coughs/The Putrid Smell 29:26

11d ago29:26

29:26

“15,000 Coughs”: When an 11-year-old girl develops a worrisome cough, her workaholic mom drops everything to get her help. But nothing seems to work. Soon, her daughter is coughing almost constantly – 15,000 times a day – and doctors have no idea how to stop it. “The Putrid Smell”: A woman spends her life dealing with an embarrassing and infuriatin…

1
The Secret of Churchill’s Anthrax Island 34:17

11d ago34:17

34:17

Towards the end of WWII, Winston Churchill decided it was time for Britain to develop deadly bioweapons. He chose a remote island off of Scotland where experiments could be carried out away from human contact. But toxic secrets often have a way of resurfacing. Years later, a group of environmental activists called ""Dark Harvest"" would force Brita…

1
You Can't Risk It (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE) 25:44

10d ago25:44

25:44

This is a special bonus episode of "You Can't" Today, I’m going to tell two stories about how an idea that might seem brilliant in the moment… can quickly turn out to be the worst thing ever. For 100s more stories like these, check out our main YouTube channel just called "MrBallen" -- https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallen If you want to reach out to …

1
The Dog and the Golden Gun (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE) 41:22

12d ago41:22

41:22

On a cold winter night in 1999, a man drove down a dark street towards his house in a small Iowa town. Suddenly, he saw something glowing in his headlights, and he slammed on the brakes. He got out of his car. And there, in the lights, he saw a dog standing all by herself. And she was making this soft squeaking sound like she was scared. The man sl…

1
The Discovery 34:43

16d ago34:43

34:43

Today’s podcast will feature 3 stories about terrifying discoveries people made that would change their lives forever. The audio from all three stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel and has been remastered for today's episode. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #3 -- "Cutting it Close" -- A stark reminder to n…

1
Ep. 87 | 99th Percentile 26:38

18d ago26:38

26:38

After a difficult pregnancy, a woman is delighted to give birth to a baby girl. Her new child is perfect – though she has an unusually large head. Although the problem seems to be benign, the baby soon develops other problems. Desperate to help her child, the mother takes her to every specialist possible – but will anyone be able to find the answer…

1
The Briefcase Bomb That Could Have Ended World War II 33:10

18d ago33:10

33:10

Towards the end of WWII, a rogue group of German conspirators realized what they had to do to protect the future of their country: kill Adolf Hitler. But eliminating the Führer was easier said than done. Dud bombs, botched assassination attempts, and cruel twists of fate spared Hitler’s life again and again. In the end, fake news of his death set t…

1
Wondery Presents: How to Survive Against the Odds 6:02

19d ago6:02

6:02

Inspired by Wondery’s hit podcast Against the Odds—learn how to survive whatever nature can throw at you through gut-twisting true stories of survival on the brink How to Survive Against the Odds places you at the center of fifteen real life-or-death scenarios. Each story explores the physiological responses of the human body under unbearable condi…

1
The Red Sandals (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE) 36:35

19d ago36:35

36:35

In 1984, in a small city in northeastern China, a security guard stood outside of a warehouse, working an overnight shift. The guard heard a noise coming from some bushes nearby, but he didn’t think much about it. This was a safe town, and usually the hardest part of his job was staying awake. But suddenly, two thieves in ski masks emerged from the…

1
Deadly Catch 30:29

23d ago30:29

30:29

Today’s podcast will feature 2 horrifying stories that both take place on the open sea. The audio from both of these stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just called "MrBallen," and has been remastered for today's podcast. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #2 -- "The Perfect Bait" -- Fishing trip t…

1
The CIA Puppetmaster Part 2 32:46

25d ago32:46

32:46

In Part Two of this two-part series, CIA Director Allen Dules' plan to invade Cuba goes disastrously wrong. Though this political mastermind thinks he has everything under control, he quickly learns that he underestimated the young American President, John F. Kennedy. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, an…

1
Ep. 86 | Out of This World/A Good Scrub Down 25:24

25d ago25:24

25:24

“Out of This World”: In 2003, a treasure hunter in Chile makes a shocking discovery: a tiny, 6-inch skeleton of what appears to be a human. But parts of its anatomy just don’t make sense. It’s too well-formed to be a fetal skeleton, and its skull is strangely elongated – making some people wonder, is this a medical mystery… or an extraterrestrial o…

1
The Man Who Knocks At Windows (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE) 38:40

26d ago38:40

38:40

A seven-year-old boy cowered in the closet of his family’s suburban home in Florida. He was buried beneath jackets and sports gear, listening to screams coming from down the hall. When they stopped, the silence that followed was far worse. Then heavy footsteps approached and a shadow passed beneath the door. The boy braced for it to burst open, thi…

1
Closer to God 32:53

1M ago32:53

32:53

Every now and again, I’ll find a story that’s just really upsetting to me. Now, obviously a lot of the stories I cover are all quite distressing. But today’s story, which is about a missing hiker named Mike Turner – it just really upset me. It actually made it really hard to record this episode. So, consider this your warning that I personally beli…

1
Ballen Studios Presents: A Twist of History 5:51

1M ago5:51

5:51

The course of history never follows a straight line. These are the epic stories that have shaped the world we now live in. From Ballen Studios, join us - for the most heart pounding podcast in history. New episodes every Wednesday. Listen now: ⁠⁠https://ballen.lnk.to/atwistofhistory See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Pri…

1
The CIA Puppetmaster Part 1 35:50

1M ago35:50

35:50

In Part One of this two-part series, the CIA Director and political chessmaster, Allen Dulles, has his eyes set on overthrowing the Cuban Dictator, Fidel Castro. But though Dulles thinks he has every move figured out, he unwittingly puts the pieces in motion for one of the greatest embarrassments in American history. Be the first to know about Wond…

1
Ep. 85 | Maximum Volume 24:50

1M ago24:50

24:50

After a successful overseas tour, an American rock guitarist comes home with a troubling affliction. All of a sudden, his hearing is extremely sensitive – like everything is turned up to 11. When it doesn’t go away, he’s forced to give up everything he loves, including music. Trapped in his own personal hell, he desperately tries to find an answer …

1
Skin Deep (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE) 34:00

1M ago34:00

34:00

On a summer morning in 2007, a woman was working in the printing shop she owned in a suburban strip mall. Suddenly, she heard a loud banging noise coming from somewhere above her. She stopped the printer she was working on so she could hear better, and the sound kept coming – BANG, BANG, BANG. It was like metal drawers opening and slamming shut. Sh…

1
We Are Not Alone Vol. II 34:38

1M ago34:38

34:38

Today’s podcast will feature 3 stories that reveal we may not be alone in this universe. The audio from all three stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel and has been remastered for today's episode. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #3 -- "The Wow Signal" -- Best evidence of alien communication ever obtained (O…

1
Ep. 84 | The Sick Snowbird/A Spoonful of Sugar 26:14

1M ago26:14

26:14

“The Sick Snowbird”: After a lovely winter in Southern California, an older woman is excited to enjoy the spring in her native New Jersey. But when she starts experiencing inexplicable nausea and headaches, she ends up in the hospital. With her baffling symptoms appearing and disappearing seemingly without reason, her condition seems inexplicable –…

1
America’s Secret UFO Files 43:44

1M ago43:44

43:44

In the early 1950s, the US Air Force launched a top-secret program to investigate reports of UFO sightings and determine whether they posed a national security threat. Dubbed Project Blue Book, the program examined nearly 12,000 accounts of UFO activity before it was shut down and classified in 1969. But as rumors spread about the nature of the inv…

1
You Can't Read This Book (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE) 26:16

1M ago26:16

26:16

This is a special bonus episode of "You Can't" One night in 2020, a woman named Beth Van Oss paced back and forth in a small room in the house she shared with her boyfriend, Mike, in rural Colorado. She dialed Mike’s phone number again, and put her phone to her ear. But just like the last time she’d called – he didn’t answer. Now, Beth was afraid. …

1
Medical Mysteries - "The Carancas Curse" 31:33

1M ago31:33

31:33

This story is a fan favorite from MrBallen's Medical Mysteries. In September 2007, a meteor strike leaves a massive crater in the high Peruvian desert, drawing curiosity seekers from miles around. Shortly after, people from the nearby town of Carancas start becoming violently ill. Some residents fear a curse has befallen them, but the truth might b…

1
Unbelievable 30:56

1M ago30:56

30:56

Today’s podcast will feature 3 unbelievable true stories. The audio from all three stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just called "MrBallen," and has been remastered for today's podcast. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #3 -- "Third Eye Witness" -- A woman makes a grim discovery in a remote cany…

1
Ep. 83 | The Disappearing Girl 26:20

2M ago26:20

26:20

When a vivacious preteen girl with Down syndrome suddenly becomes shy and withdrawn, her mother worries her precious daughter is getting depressed. But soon, it becomes clear that something else is wrong. With every passing day, the girl withdraws deeper into her shell. Her mother is determined to figure out what’s wrong before she loses her daught…

1
Edward Snowden: Digital Whistleblower 35:51

2M ago35:51

35:51

After the tragic events of 9/11, Edward Snowden decides to do his patriotic duty and joins the US Military. When he moves up to systems engineer at the CIA, he stumbles across a secret that will change the world forever: the American Government is spying on its citizens. In the end, Snowden is forced to sacrifice everything he holds dear to make Am…

1
The Piranha (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE) 40:41

2M ago40:41

40:41

In 2011, a police officer spotted a woman on a busy street in Japan, and he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He looked at a photo on his phone, and then back at the woman, it was definitely her. He’d been tasked with finding this woman and bringing her back home, it was a pretty basic task, but he’d managed to complete it way faster than he tho…

1
Camping Horror Stories Vol. V 35:49

2M ago35:49

35:49

Today’s podcast will feature 2 camping horror stories. The audio from both of these stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel and has been remastered for today's episode. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #2 -- "Kevin O’Keefe" -- A man goes camping in a totally remote park in Alaska (Original YouTube link -- http…

1
Snitches Get Stitches: The Frank Serpico Story 35:00

2M ago35:00

35:00

In 1960s New York, cop Frank Serpico discovered a brutal truth: his fellow officers were on the take. Gambling dens and drug rings were being secretly protected by the NYPD. When Serpico refused to join in, he became a marked man. His attempts to expose corruption hit wall after wall. Finally, he went public and sparked the biggest police scandal i…

1
Ep. 82 | Running on Empty 23:42

2M ago23:42

23:42

A young, active mother is dismayed when she starts feeling weak and exhausted – with small children and a business to run, she can’t afford to get sick. But none of her doctors can offer an explanation. And when she finally does get an answer… it feels like a betrayal of everything she’s worked to accomplish. Be the first to know about Wondery’s ne…

1
The Promise Keeper (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE) 33:29

2M ago33:29

33:29

On a night in 1984, a college freshman listened to the music blaring through a night club. She grabbed her date’s hand and rushed out onto the dance floor. Her first year of college had its ups and downs, but it was nights like these that she’d grown to love – nights when she could stay out as late as she wanted with whoever she wanted. She and her…

1
Defies Explanation 33:01

2M ago33:01

33:01

Today’s podcast will feature 2 stories about unexplainable phenomena. The audio from both of these stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just called "MrBallen," and has been remastered for today's podcast. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #2 -- "Voices" -- I had to put a special disclaimer on this …

1
Nukes Below Zero 39:45

2M ago39:45

39:45

During the Cold War, the US built a secret underground city 100 feet under Greenland’s ice cap. It was disguised as a research facility but was actually meant as a site to launch missiles at Russia. The project failed and turned into a radioactive wasteland. But in the end, this classified military project accidentally revolutionized climate scienc…

1
Ep. 81 | Unraveling Bolero/Crossing Over 31:32

2M ago31:32

31:32

“Unraveling Bolero”: When a middle-aged scientist experiences unexpected success as an artist, it seems like little more than a surprising career change. But then, she becomes obsessed with interpreting a repetitive orchestral piece called “Bolero.” As her obsession deepens, her health takes a turn for the worse – and the cause has a surprising con…

1
Death of a Salesman (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE) 37:04

2M ago37:04

37:04

On a June night in 1997, Kathy Peters was asleep at her home in Mirror Lake, a quiet neighborhood of Sarasota, Florida. Around 3:45 AM, she was awakened by a strange noise. It was unlike anything Kathy had ever heard – a faint, eerie, rattling hiss. After a few seconds, the sound faded and Kathy tried to go back to sleep, but now she was too anxiou…

1
The Job Offer 28:40

2M ago28:40

28:40

Today’s story comes out of China, and it is a brutal story. There’s just no way to tell it without being sort of graphic, so with that in mind, this is definitely a mature audiences only type of story. That said, it is a fascinating story, and the ending is something that very few of you are going to see coming. It's going to feel kind of predictab…

1
The Fake Army That Fooled Hitler 35:42

2M ago35:42

35:42

As World War II raged on, America deployed its strangest weapon yet: a fake army. Known as the Ghost Army, this group of artists, architects, and actors used inflatable tanks and sound effects to deceive Hitler’s forces about the size and location of Allied troops on the attack. The Ghost Army's top-secret deception saved thousands of lives - but t…

1
Ep. 80 | Stigmata 22:31

2M ago22:31

22:31

When a little girl in Vietnam starts mysteriously bleeding from her scalp and hands, her doctors wonder if she’s faking it for attention – to make it seem like she’s experiencing stigmata, the wounds experienced by Jesus Christ in Christian scripture. The blood on the girl’s skin is real enough, but nobody is ever around when she starts to bleed. S…

1
The Good Neighbors (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE) 39:48

2M ago39:48

39:48

It was a frigid December day in a small logging town in Maine, roughly an hour’s drive from the US-Canadian border. And despite the falling snow, Christmas shoppers were out in full force. While most of the shoppers hurried from store to store, a small crowd had gathered in front of the police station. The shoppers watched as an officer stapled a p…

1
Stranger Than Fiction Vol. IX 31:02

2M ago31:02

31:02

Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction. And today’s podcast features 3 stories that demonstrate that. The audio from all three stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just called "MrBallen," and has been remastered for today's podcast. Story names, previews & links to original YouTube videos: #3 -- "The Oklahoma Proble…

1
The Russian Sleeper Agent Next Door 37:17

2M ago37:17

37:17

On the night of his 20th birthday, Tim Foley's world was turned upside down when the FBI stormed his home and arrested his parents. At first, it seemed like a terrible mistake. But soon, he learned the truth—his parents were not an ordinary suburban couple. They were Russian spies living a decades-long lie. Their arrest exposed a vast network of ""…

1
Ep. 79 | The Shining 27:03

2M ago27:03

27:03

In the early 1900s, a young woman gets a coveted job at a clock factory. But her work is interrupted when she feels terrible pain in her mouth. Soon, her whole jaw is rotting away. It’s up to her dentist to try and stop it. But his misguided moral judgements about the young woman’s life send him in the completely wrong direction. See Privacy Policy…

1
You Can't Cross That Line (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE) 29:49

2M ago29:49

29:49

This is a special bonus episode of "You Can't" I’m going to tell two stories that prove that no matter what we think science can tell us about the natural world, the wilderness still holds secrets we cannot understand. For 100s more stories like these, check out our main YouTube channel just called "MrBallen" -- https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallen I…

1
Ice and Fire (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE) 34:05

3M ago34:05

34:05

On a night in March of 2017, a bonfire lit up the yard at a house party in Youngstown, Ohio. A group of friends in their 20s and 30s sat around the fire, drinking beer, talking, and having a good time. And as the night went on and they kept partying, they couldn’t imagine that this bonfire would soon help police solve one of the most horrific crime…

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Wondery Ballen Studios Podcasts

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