**Summary of "Monsters Among Us"
Episode: S19 Ep17: Stories of the Vanished
Host: Derek Hayes | Audioboom Studios
Release Date: June 10, 2025

Monsters Among Us Episode S19 Ep17, titled "Stories of the Vanished," delves into mysterious disappearances of objects, people, and more. Hosted by Derek Hayes, the episode features a compilation of firsthand accounts from listeners who have experienced inexplicable vanishings. This summary captures the essence of each story, highlighting key discussions, insights, and conclusions drawn by the host.

Introduction: Setting the Haunted Theme

[00:52] Derek Hayes:
Derek introduces the episode by observing a pattern in listener calls centered around the theme of disappearance. He sets the tone for the evening, inviting listeners to explore tales where things vanish without a trace.

"This idea only came to me when I began to notice an abundance of calls, all containing the same word in their description. And that word is disappear."
[00:52]

Mysterious Sky Phenomena

1. The Vanishing Star

[02:01] Anonymous Caller (Oregon):
A nighttime security guard recounts witnessing an unexplained celestial event. He describes observing a star-like object that brightened intensely before vanishing without a trace.

"I noticed it getting brighter and brighter until it just completely vanished."
[02:01]

[04:19] Derek Hayes:
Derek theorizes potential explanations, such as ball lightning, but acknowledges the uniqueness of the report.

"But Frank didn't mention any storm, and his account matches reports we've heard from so many others over the years."
[05:48]

2. The Crane of Lights

[07:00] Anonymous Caller:
Another caller describes witnessing hundreds of stationary lights in the sky shaped like a crane. As he and his friend drove beneath them, the lights mysteriously disappeared.

"It seemed like we started to drive under them. And as we were driving under them, they disappeared."
[09:24]

[09:26] Derek Hayes:
Derek offers a natural explanation, suggesting that flocks of birds reflecting light could create the illusion of glowing orbs.

"The birds are not really glowing. The light is simply reflecting off their white plumage."
[09:26]

Unexplained Object Movements

3. The Phantom Fishing Pole

[11:24] James (Virginia):
James shares a baffling fishing experience where a fishing pole he just used reappears cast into the water without his friend moving it.

"I know I didn't do that...he got out a string. We put it through the Noah's gills."
[11:24]

[15:39] Derek Hayes:
Derek admits he lacks a concrete explanation, suggesting a possible "glitch in the matrix."

"I believe we can call that a glitch in the matrix when there's a little hiccup in the programming."
[15:39]

4. The Disappearing Lighter and Toilet Paper

[16:14] Carrie (California):
Carrie recounts two eerie incidents: her ritual lighter vanishing and reappearing, and a spotless square of toilet paper mysteriously falling onto her geranium bush.

"It's a perfectly white, unwrinkled, perfectly clean square of toilet paper sitting on top of my geranium."
[16:14]

[22:26] Derek Hayes:
Derek introduces the concept of "aport" in paranormal studies, pondering whether magical practices could be responsible for such anomalies.

"Could that magic be powerful enough to cause a single sheet of white toilet paper to spontaneously appear?"
[22:26]

5. The Missing Phone and Mysterious Keys

[24:48] Lauren (Michigan):
Lauren describes her phone vanishing from her workspace and inexplicably reappearing in her car, despite her having it with her throughout the day.

"I looked for my phone...it's sitting right there in the windowsill."
[24:48]

[28:32] Nora (Tennessee):
Nora narrates the disappearance of her car keys, which vanished from her hand as she approached her home.

"I go out of my car and my hands still closed, my keys are gone. Absolutely gone."
[28:32]

[31:58] Rebecca (Missouri):
Rebecca shares two paranormal experiences: a violently shaking tree branch with no physical cause and her pillow teleporting from her bed to the window.

"I grabbed the mini blinds...my pillow went from under my head to the window across the room."
[31:58]

Vanishing People and Ghostly Apparitions

6. The Swift Disappearance on the Overpass

[39:37] Brandon (Pennsylvania):
Brandon recounts seeing an old lady in period clothing walk across an empty overpass. After passing under it, she vanishes without a trace.

"I looked in my rear view...she was gone."
[39:37]

7. The Purple Lady and Disembodied Legs

[49:08] Anonymous Caller:
A caller describes encountering a man acting strangely at an intersection who disappears suddenly without any obstruction.

"He was completely gone. Like I said, there was nothing around the intersection for him to hide behind."
[49:08]

[51:53] Mike (California):
Mike shares his experience of seeing a woman dressed in a purple sweater walking motionlessly along a road, who disappears as he observes her.

"She was just straight up gone. No noise, no nothing."
[51:53]

[58:04] Kelly (Alabama):
In a brief revisit, Kelly recalls seeing a "little green fluorescent butt" running across the road, highlighting the bizarre nature of such sightings.

"I saw a little green butt run across the road. It was about a foot two feet tall at the top of the butt."
[58:04]

Concluding Thoughts and Community Engagement

[53:57] Derek Hayes:
Derek reflects on the recurring theme of disappearances occurring near roads and intersections, contemplating possible links or coincidences. He emphasizes the unsettling nature of these stories and prepares listeners for the final eerie account.

"The calls are downright unsettling. But I've saved the most unsettling for last."
[53:57]

[54:56] Will (Texas):
Will narrates his sighting of disembodied legs walking on the grass beside the road, which vanish upon closer observation.

"I saw a pair of legs walking on the grass...when I looked back, she was gone."
[54:56]

Final Remarks:
Derek wraps up the episode by connecting the final call to previous stories, reinforcing the episode's theme of mysterious disappearances. He encourages listeners to share their own stories to keep the community engaged and the show thriving.

"Those are the stories of the vanished tales of disappearing objects, people and things. Now, I sure do hope you had as much fun with this one as I did."
[58:40]

He also promotes upcoming content and community platforms, inviting listeners to join their Discord server and participate in special screenings.

Key Takeaways:

• Recurring Theme: Disappearances often occur near roads, intersections, or in isolated settings.
• Possible Explanations: While natural phenomena like reflections and flocks of birds are suggested, many vanishings remain unexplained, hinting at paranormal or otherworldly causes.
• Community Engagement: The episode emphasizes the importance of listener participation in sharing personal experiences to enrich the show's content.
• Atmosphere: Derek maintains a spooky and investigative tone, encouraging listeners to ponder the mysteries of the unknown.

Notable Quotes:

• "It was just too bright. It was going way too fast. And the way it just disappeared into the sky."
  — Frank, New York [05:50]

• "It seemed like we started to drive under them. And as we were driving under them, they disappeared."
  — Anonymous Caller [09:24]

• "But unlike Rebecca's call, I wonder if the cause of this next strange occurrence isn't right there in front of us."
  — Derek Hayes [36:00]

For those intrigued by the unexplained and the paranormal, this episode of Monsters Among Us offers a chilling exploration into the world of the vanished. From peculiar celestial events to the mysterious disappearance of personal items and people, Derek Hayes guides listeners through a night filled with haunting tales that defy logical explanation.

Stay Spooky!