Monsters Among Us – S20 Ep28: A man-bird, disembodied body parts, and lights in the windows

Host: Derek Hayes
Release Date: January 15, 2026
Podcast Theme: First-person audio accounts of the paranormal, including ghosts, cryptids, UFOs, and more—curated with commentary by host Derek Hayes.

Episode Overview

This episode features a blend of chilling, bewildering, and sometimes whimsical firsthand accounts of the paranormal from listeners across the US and Canada. Stories range from apparitional pranks and UFOs to mysterious lights, spectral body parts, haunted restaurants, doppelgangers, and the legendary “man-bird” of Texas—coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the region’s infamous monster flap. Derek weaves together these recordings with skeptical, nostalgic, and often humorous commentary.

Key Discussion Points and Notable Accounts

1. The Flying Pickle Jar & “Pink Lizzy”

[03:07–05:04] Alicia, Dallas, TX

• Alicia’s Story: A heavy pickle jar full of coins inexplicably flies off the fridge and lands intact on the carpet. No one else is present; she feels only mild surprise.

  “I was just like, how in the world did that happen?” —Alicia (04:43)

• Derek’s Take: Amazed the jar didn’t break; shares a parallel 1871 Memphis ghost story, where a spirit named “Pink Lizzy” led a student to a stash of coins and valuables.

2. Early-Morning UFO Sighting

[07:28–08:46] Kai, Washington State

• Kai’s Story: While driving south on I-5 at dawn, Kai sees two bright star-like lights—one flickers, disappears, then reappears, both eventually vanish.

  “Oh cool, never mind. They both actually just disappeared. Nevermind. Whack.” —Kai (08:28)

• Derek’s Take: Connects it to typical triangle UFO reports; references similar reports/videos in the area, possibly just searchlights, invites Kai to check show notes for answers.

3. The Shadow Man and Sleep Paralysis

[12:15–17:13] Edward, Texas

• Edward’s Story: After double-checking locked doors at night, Edward experiences classic sleep paralysis: a tall, faceless shadow enters his locked room, stands over him, then leans in. He’s unable to move or speak until suddenly snapping out of it.

  “It was maybe six and a half feet tall... it leaned down and put its face so close to my face that I could make out its facial, foreign. It’s a face with no features.” —Edward (16:18)

• Derek’s Take: Senses a textbook case of sleep paralysis but acknowledges how shaken Edward sounds.

4. Unexplained Bright Lights at 3AM

[18:39–21:20] Caller, Unknown

• Caller’s Story: A brilliant flashlight-bright light consumes the kitchen through two windows at 3am. No plausible external source; coincides with vivid dreams about aliens. Caller sleeps in the nude and jokes about the common “pajamas backwards” trope for abduction.

  “It felt like someone was holding a flashlight up to my face...” —Unknown Caller (18:59)

• Derek’s Take: Suggests possible explanations (police flashlight, weather phenomena) but is stumped.

5. Haunted Violin in a Music Studio

[22:11–24:15] Bob, Detroit, MI

• Bob’s Story: Hears violin music in a studio that doesn’t have a violin teacher. Only he and the owner are present; both hear it. Checking every room and the building reveals no source.

  “I've never been that frightened in my life because that music wasn't coming from anywhere, but we both heard it perfectly clear.” —Bob (23:50)

• Derek’s Take: Considers radio interference, ghostly energy, or even “residual energy” from music itself, but hopes it’s a ghost.

6. Apparition of a Living Person (Doppelgänger/Astral Projection)

[27:32–30:22] Nate, Idaho

• Nate’s Story: At age 11–12, Nate sees an apparition like his brother—transparent, floating, passes through a fan—gestures for silence, then vanishes through the door; brother is normal next morning.

  “He looked almost transparent, and he seemed to be coming directly at me without moving.” —Nate (27:56)

• Derek’s Take: Classifies under “living hauntings,” doppelgängers, or astral projection.

7. The Mimic at The Last Chair Tavern

[31:16–34:25] Stacy, Vermont

• Stacy’s Story: At a historically haunted restaurant, Stacy hears her boss’s distinctive whistle near the stairs—a hot spot for paranormal activity. No one’s there; boss confirms he hasn’t left the kitchen. Both get goosebumps exploring the empty area afterward.

  “It reminds me of, like, a Mimic because it sounded just like his whistle. Enough for me to not take my phone out...” —Stacy (33:43)

• Derek’s Take: Notes the restaurant’s spooky reputation but finds little public documentation.

8. Miniature Disembodied Legs/Spectral "Lower Halves"

[35:34–40:45] Peter, Tennessee + Calls from Kelly (AL) & Will (TX)

• Peter’s Story: While on a midnight run, sees smoke rising from a mailbox, forming small, leg-only human shapes that walk through the air before vanishing.
• Kelly’s & Will’s Stories (Replay Clips): Witnesses see glowing green “butts” or just a pair of legs—no torso—darting across roads.

  “It was like a little chubby... there was no top half to this little creature or spirit or whatever it was.” —Kelly (38:37) “Just a pair of human shadowy legs just walking without a torso to accompany it.” —Will (39:34)

• Derek’s Take: Surprised by multiple similar reports; no solid explanation but vows to watch for more.

9. Encounter with the Light, Missing Time, and Little Beings

[42:39–47:29] Jay, Canada

• Jay’s Story: Four friends are engulfed by a bright whitish-green light on a country road. Faces are sunburned/ruddy in a pattern matching where the light struck them. They experience missing time, odd time lapse, and possibly see four-foot-tall figures in a field.

  “His left side of his face was completely red... My right side of my face was red and the left side was white...” —Jay (45:00) “She just looked at me and she's like, huh, You've been touched by the light. That's special.” —Jay, recounting Greg’s mom's reaction (46:15)

• Derek’s Take: Wonders if it’s related to reported green laser sightings; notes peculiarity of “being touched by the light.”

10. Memory of the Man-Bird in Texas

[48:40–51:17] Ayla, Brownsville, TX

• Ayla’s Story: Childhood memory surfaces of news reports featuring a giant, man-like bird (“like a man, but with feathers”) seen around Brownsville. No one else recalls it, nor can she find information online. References to local legends like the Lechuza don’t fit.

  “The body and everything looked 100% like a man, but it had feathers and everything like a bird, and it had a face like a bird.” —Ayla (49:07)

• Derek’s Take: Connects to the documented “Big Bird” flap in the Rio Grande Valley in 1976—shares a vintage news clip recounting multiple local sightings of a 4–5ft tall monster with red eyes.

  • [51:55–53:26] News Replay: Recaps 1976 monster panic; mentions notable witnesses and missing giant feather evidence.

• Bonus: Translation of a local song from 1976, “La Leyenda del Pájaro Grande,” describes the monster as told in community folk tradition.

  “Those who saw it said the figure is colored white, its 4ft high, it beats its wings, its feet are like stilts, eyes like large coins, and a beak two feet long.” —Wally Gonzalez, translated lyric (54:54)

11. [Secret + Patreon Preview] Shadow/Sandman Entity

[60:58–64:46] Nadia, Virginia

• Nadia’s Story: As a child, while crying in bed, sees a static-filled black entity forming in a chair, growing in size and moving towards her. She hides under the covers, initially thinking it’s the “Sandman.”

  “It was just growing and getting bigger and coming up over this chair... it just kept getting bigger and moving forward.” —Nadia (62:11)

• Derek’s Take: Considers this a potential shadow person or variant of Sandman folklore; notes the blend of shadow, static, and dreamlike qualities.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Derek after Alicia’s coin jar:

  "Frankly, I think it’s amazing that the jar didn’t break... seems like a ghost might have knocked it off the fridge, so why couldn’t that same entity guide it to safety as well?" [05:04]

• Kai’s UFO confusion:

  “Oh cool, never mind. They both actually just disappeared. Nevermind. Whack.” [08:28]

• Edward’s terror at the Shadow Man:

  “I can make out its facial, foreign. It’s a face with no features.” [16:18]

• On the 'walking legs' phenomenon:

  “Just a pair of human shadowy legs just walking without a torso to accompany it.” —Will (39:34) “It kind of looks like a Slinky or something.” —Will (39:23)

• Jay’s interaction with Greg’s mom:

  “You’ve been touched by the light. That’s special.” [46:15]

• Derek’s reflection on matching reports:

  “Matching reports is one thing, but getting to the bottom of them, well, it’s another.” [40:08]

• On Ayla’s man-bird memory:

  “A massive man-shaped bird down in the southern reaches of Texas. Actually, that does ring a bell.” [51:17]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 03:07 – Alicia’s flying pickle jar story
• 05:04 – “Pink Lizzy” ghost gold story
• 07:28 – Kai’s live UFO sighting
• 12:15 – Edward’s Shadow Man/sleep paralysis account
• 18:39 – Bright light in kitchen (unknown caller)
• 22:11 – Haunted violin music (Bob)
• 27:32 – Doppelgänger bro/astral projection (Nate)
• 31:16 – Haunted restaurant mimic (Stacy)
• 35:34 – Disembodied legs & “little green butts” (Peter/Kelly/Will)
• 42:39 – Country road “light” event & missing time (Jay)
• 48:40 – Texas man-bird memory (Ayla)
• 51:55 – 1976 news/audio about the “Big Bird” of Brownsville
• 54:54 – Song excerpt: “La Leyenda del Pajaro Grande”
• 60:58 – (Secret) Sandman/shadow person account (Nadia)

Tone & Style

Derek’s narration is warm, a bit playful, and encouraging of both skepticism and belief, keeping the show accessible and spooky-tinged but never mean-spirited. Many callers mirror this tone, mixing awe, humor, and genuine perplexity.

Conclusion

This episode of Monsters Among Us delivers a wide array of firsthand paranormal tales, many with uncanny similarities across decades and locales. From the light-hearted (flying pickle jars, walking "butts") to the truly unsettling (shadow men, missing time), the stories remind listeners that the mysterious often lurks right alongside the mundane. Derek’s commentary connects the dots, adds context, and invites listeners to draw their own conclusions—or call in with stories of their own.

Host’s Closing Thought:
"The more stories like Nate's that I process, the more I'm beginning to think that a lot of this is the exact same phenomena just given a different name. It's wild stuff, gang. And we thank you again for calling in." [30:22]

For More:

• See show notes at monstersamonguspodcast.com for links to referenced reports, videos, and music.
• Episode goes dark until February 3rd for a well-earned break.
• Want more chills? Visit the show’s Patreon for extra stories and secret entries!