Monsters Among Us Podcast

Season 19, Episode 42: "Alien beings, a missing building and mothman crossing the road"

Host: Derek Hayes
Date: September 4, 2025

Main Theme / Purpose

This "Grab Bag" episode of Monsters Among Us continues the tradition of sharing true, first-hand paranormal encounters as told by the experiencers themselves, with minimal commentary from host Derek Hayes. From UFOs and ghostly visitations to disappearing buildings, family premonitions, and unexplained cryptid sightings, this episode is a smorgasbord of eerie and bewildering tales from all over North America. The atmosphere is deeply nostalgic and spooky, fulfilling the show's promise to “keep it spooky,” perfect for listeners seeking a wide-ranging dose of paranormal chills.

Key Discussion Points & Stories

1. Triangle UFOs and Alien Beings in New York

Caller: Ethan, New York | [03:04]

• Summary: Ethan describes three close encounters with triangle UFOs, witnessed in two different locations. After being given a spotter scope by his dad’s friend, Ethan observes a craft similar to previous sightings. He relates a secondhand account from a local elderly couple—neighbors of his dad’s friend—who watched a UFO land in their backyard. The couple witnessed non-human, grey-like beings emerge, hold hands, and quickly leave upon noticing they were seen.
• Insight: Ethan expresses a belief that the triangle crafts may be reverse-engineered military tech, though he leaves open the possibility of non-human pilots for what the couple saw.
• Quote:

  “They weren’t human. They looked like classic little grays... It blows my mind that it happened a couple roads away.” — Ethan [04:30]

2. Haunted Thrift Store Books in Oklahoma

Caller: Aunt Liza, Oklahoma | [09:58]

• Summary: After picking up encyclopedic paranormal books from a thrift shop, Aunt Liza’s sons hear a disembodied male voice say, "Good night, boys," after lights out. Liza has a priest bless the house, and the activity ceases. She attributes the disturbance to the books and urges others to seek spiritual help if needed.
• Quote:

  “If anybody ever has anything in their house... call a priest. It doesn’t matter if you’re Catholic or not.” — Aunt Liza [10:50]

3. Paranormal Activity and Alarms after Death in Canada

Caller: Hammer, Central Canada | [12:23]

• Summary: A police officer recounts responding to a carbon monoxide alarm; inside, they find a deceased tenant, but the readings are zero. As the body is removed, a fire alarm in the hallway inexplicably activates, despite all alarms being networked. Maintenance staff confirm this isn’t possible under normal conditions.
• Quote:

  “It set off two different types of alarms. It was impossible for the fire alarm to go off by itself. I don’t know, something was trying to talk to us or what...” — Hammer [16:25]

4. Unsettling Ghostly Experiences in a California Apartment

Caller: Max, Orange County, CA | [17:08]

• Summary: Max and his family sensed a presence in their apartment. His father was scared off the couch permanently after hearing a “raspy, deep growl” near his ear while sick. Max shares his own unease and the mysterious falling (and breaking) of a photo frame.
• Quote:

  “It felt like there was someone standing at the doorway... that feeling that someone is there and you turn around and there’s no one there.” — Max [18:55]

5. Possible Alien Abduction and Precognition in Palm Springs

Caller: Eric, Palm Springs, CA | [23:06]

• Summary: Eric describes a vivid dream of pressure and anti-gravity, both he and his dog floating, and aggressive sonic pulses—potential abduction. Shouting “in the name of Jesus” breaks the spell. He later dreams of tall humanoids and a massive explosion, which turns out to have actually occurred at a local power plant that night. His neighbor also reports a strange flash of light.
• Quote:

  “It was like we were in an anti-gravity field ... The only thing that stopped it was calling up the name of Jesus and fighting and staying strong.” — Eric [24:45]

6. Ghostly Routine in Rural Pennsylvania

Caller: Dave, originally Pennsylvania | [28:21]

• Summary: As children, Dave and his cousin see the candle light pattern of their elderly neighbor Russell moving from his kitchen to bedroom, as he did nightly. That evening, they learn Russell had died the previous night, making their observation unexplainable by ordinary means.
• Quote:

  “We just saw Russell walk from the kitchen to the bedroom and go to sleep.” — Dave [29:08]

7. Tombstone Disturbance and Family Haunting in Kentucky

Caller: Tyler, Western Kentucky | [32:09]

• Summary: Tyler’s father finds a tombstone fragment, brings it home, then nightly disturbances begin—banging at the door, inexplicable relocation of the stone, and poltergeist-like happenings (a cake bizarrely smashed with a single slice set on a plate). 20 years later, Tyler experiences similar phenomena at the same age (16), involving a television turning on by itself, shadow figures, and moving objects.
• Quote:

  “As soon as I pushed the power button to turn the TV off ... I could see a dark, tall shadow silhouette standing in my doorway.” — Tyler [36:50]

8. Disappearing Skyscraper and Office Time Slip in Arkansas

Caller: Jay, Ozarks | [41:30]

• Summary: As a computer tech in the 1990s, Jay visits a client in a surreal, black, pencil-shaped skyscraper—filled with 1960s-style sci-fi decor and a spiral staircase. When he tries to return, the building (and adjacent “temple” structure) is simply gone, and his client disavows any knowledge of such a place. Jay never finds any record or trace of the mysterious building again.
• Quote:

  “If you told me this was the headquarters of the Avengers in 1967 or something, this would fit... It’s gone. It’s just gone.” — Jay [43:20]

9. Deathbed Dream Premonition in Indiana

Caller: Michelle, Indianapolis | [46:31]

• Summary: Michelle’s father dreams that her mother, hospitalized at the time, visited him to tell him “they were calling her home.” Hours later, she passes away, confirming the father’s premonition.
• Quote:

  “He had a dream the night before that my mother came to see him and she told him they were calling her home.” — Michelle [46:47]

10. Mothman (or Dover Demon) Sighting in Massachusetts

Caller: Andrew, Massachusetts | [49:33]

• Summary: At age 19, Andrew and friends see a large, furred, black being with a single glowing red eye cross the road in three steps. The “overwhelming sense of dread” and the being’s physical description lead Andrew to suspect Mothman.
• Quote:

  “It had two legs and this fur was jet black... a large red eye up where the head should be ... I was instantly hit with this overwhelming sense of dread.” — Andrew [51:09]

11. Shadow Cloud after Grandmother's Death in Tennessee

Caller: Anonymous, Tennessee | [61:52]

• Summary: In 1962, after her grandmother dies, an 8-year-old girl sees a dark “cloud” move across her old bedroom doorway and ceiling while she’s trying to sleep on the couch. The experience frightens her so much she moves permanently to her sister’s house.
• Quote:

  “She swears she saw a dark cloud go right across the opening to the doorway... she saw it go up over the doorway and stop right above her.” — Anonymous [62:25]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Host, Derek Hayes (on triangle UFOs):

  "As far as triangle UFOs are concerned, New York is a great place to spot one." [06:20]

• Host, Derek Hayes (on the missing skyscraper):

  "Both myself and my editor... spent considerable amount of time trying to track this building down with zero success. Which is kind of weird because I think Jay gave plenty of clues. We should have found it. But as he said, the building disappeared." [45:45]

• Caller, Andrew, re: Mothman encounter:

  “I’ve never run into my house, locked my doors, closed my blinds, and hopped under my covers so fast in my life.” [54:43]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:04] Ethan’s UFO and “Grey” being encounter
• [09:58] Aunt Liza’s haunted thrift shop book story
• [12:23] Hammer the police officer’s alarm/ghost story
• [17:08] Max’s haunted apartment in California
• [23:06] Eric’s possible abduction and real-world explosion
• [28:21] Dave’s ghostly neighbor routine
• [32:09] Tyler’s generational tombstone haunting in Kentucky
• [41:30] Jay’s disappearing skyscraper in Arkansas
• [46:31] Michelle’s deathbed dream
• [49:33] Andrew’s “Mothman” encounter in Massachusetts
• [61:52] Anonymous’ shadow cloud story from childhood Tennessee

Episode Tone & Highlights

• Spooky, Nostalgic, and Community-Centric:
  Derek Hayes keeps commentary minimal but personal, connecting listener stories to his own past and to other stories in the MAU archive.
• Wide Range of Paranormal Phenomena:
  UFOs, poltergeists, residual hauntings, time slips, death premonitions, and classic cryptids are all represented, making this a classic "Grab Bag" episode.
• Strong Sense of Place & Authenticity:
  Each call is rooted in a real locale and personal history, making every story immediately immersive.

For New Listeners

This episode is a quintessential sampler platter representing all the reasons listeners keep coming back to Monsters Among Us: diversity of stories, authenticity, a supportive and curious community, and an unwavering commitment to keeping it spooky.

"Keep it spooky and have yourselves a good night."—Derek Hayes [66:00]*