Monsters Among Us – Season 20, Episode 38

Theme: A Line of Ghosts, Blurry Faced Entities and an Aztec Spirit
Date: March 5, 2026
Host: Derek Hayes

Overview

In this chilling episode of Monsters Among Us, Derek Hayes curates a tapestry of firsthand paranormal encounters that span ghostly apparitions, unsettling UFO sightings, possible glitches in reality, and ancestral spirits. The episode weaves together personal stories that range from classic hauntings to deeply unique manifestations, all relayed in the witnesses’ own voices. Whether it’s shadowy figures outside a window, inexplicable noises, or spectral visitors from ancient cultures, the stories deliver a potent mix of nostalgia, fear, and wonder.

Key Discussion Points & Notable Stories

1. Childhood Encounter with a Dark Figure

Brad (Western New York)
[02:54–04:38]

• Brad recalls an incident as a child (circa 1988/89) when a dark humanoid silhouette appeared at his parents’ second-story window after a blinding light woke him up.
• He vividly remembers the being pressing its hands up against the glass, terrifying him into hiding under the covers.
• The experience recurs in dreams and has left a lasting impression for 35 years.
• Quote:

  “There’s this bright, brilliant light that woke me up… on that shade was a dark, humanoid silhouette.” — Brad [03:25]

Derek’s Response:

• Compares it to similar tales described as possible alien intrusions, including one by Michael McMillan of Bigfoot Collectors Club.
• Suggests the possibility of a window-peeping alien race.
• Quote:

  "...maybe there's a race of alien being out there that just loves peeking into windows and perhaps they're active coast to coast." — Derek [04:38]

2. The Man with the Ugly Face

Anonymous (Parts Unknown)
[05:36–07:55]

• Caller recounts creepy activities at a former rental house infamous for odd decor and bad vibes.
• Her 4-year-old son, under the care of his great-grandmother, is terrified by a “man in the backyard with an ugly face.”
• No one is found upon investigation, fueling speculation about the true nature of the apparition—ghost or trespasser.

Derek’s Response:

• Finds it especially eerie, given the house’s bizarre past and other strange incidents.
• Quote:

  "...it's creepy regardless of who or what the entity was, especially considering all the other activity going on at the home." — Derek [07:55]

3. The Knocking Ghost and Vanishing Orb Photo

Lily (South Carolina)
[10:35–15:38]

• In a home with a history of supposed succubus attacks, Lily hears three knocks on a door to a long-abandoned room.
• Upon investigation, doors and windows are clearly undisturbed.
• Friends photograph Lily’s cat seemingly staring at an orb in the room, but this image vanishes from the digital camera afterward.
• Lily and her husband leave the room’s door open “so the ghost could come and go.”

Quote:

“He snapped a couple of pictures, and my little cat, Echo, was sitting at the edge of the door, looking into the room right at an orb. It was captured in the picture, and we were like, 'Whoa, cool.'…We could not find that picture. That picture was gone.” — Lily [14:50]

4. A Skeptical Father Challenged at Dinner

Sarah (Florida, originally Illinois)
[17:02–18:13]

• During a family ghost story exchange, Sarah’s skeptical father declares, “There are no such things as ghosts.”
• Immediately, there’s a thunderous bang on the kitchen window; no bird or culprit is found upon investigation.
• Quote:

  “My dad sat there real quiet, too, for a second, and then he said, ‘That was a bird.’” — Sarah [17:48]

5. Shadow Figures and Tactile Encounters

Joanna (California)
[18:37–24:18]

• Joanna and her daughter hear an inexplicable "ding" that they can’t identify; later that night, the noise recurs.
• Joanna feels a shadow entity place its hand on her leg and slide upward beneath the blankets, prompting her to leap out of bed and turn on the lights.
• Her husband, sleeping elsewhere, reports seeing a shadow figure at the foot of his bed later that night.
• Quote:

  “I see all of a sudden, something move in the corner of the room…and it comes towards me. I feel its hand on the bed on my bottom of my leg, and it starts sliding its hand up my body as it walks towards me.” — Joanna [22:20]

6. UFO Sighting Near Military Base

Anonymous (Glendale, Arizona)
[25:33–28:59]

• The caller describes seeing two to three strange, slow-moving lights in the sky near Luke Air Force Base, accompanied by an odd humming sound, in November 2023.
• Upon summoning her fiancé to watch, they collectively feel uneasy and retreat indoors.
• Derek cross-references the event with local reports and describes a pattern of similar cluster sightings near Arizona military bases.

Quote:

"All I know is it was a weird engine. It was a humming. Things are moving in the sky. And that's my story..." — Anonymous [27:50]

7. Glitch in the Matrix at a Casino

Ty (LA, California)
[31:24–34:29]

• Ty recounts a bizarre incident with a friend where the casino layout seemingly changes after an elevator ride—walls appear where corridors should be, and they end up exiting in an impossible location.
• Subsequent elevator trips return to normal, and both witnesses confirm the oddity.

Quote:

"...the doors opened, not only are the other four elevators that should be there, not there, but the room looks completely different..." — Ty [31:52]

8. A Line of Waiting Spirits After a Near-Death Experience

Marty (Ventura County, CA)
[35:03–36:55]

• Marty relays her cousin’s near-death experience: while clinically dead after a motorcycle accident, he finds himself at a cemetery crowded with people “just standing, like they were waiting.”
• His deceased brother tells him he needs to leave, after which he revives.
• Derek references a similar prior call (Season 6, Ep. 15: “Look at all those people”) for thematic resonance.
• Quote:

  "He said that he went to the cemetery where his brother and his stepfather were buried. He says that all he remembers is that at the cemetery by the headstones were people just standing, like they were waiting..." — Marty [35:18]

9. Blurry-Faced Apparition in a Submarine

Grayson (U.S. Navy)
[38:23–40:30]

• While studying alone on a submarine, Grayson sees a man in coveralls with senior chief insignia, but his face is eerily blurred “like on a TV show.”
• The apparition bends as if picking something up, locks its faceless gaze on Grayson, then vanishes into thin air.
• A shipmate says he sees the same figure often—the ghost of a chief who may have died by suicide on the sub.
• Quote:

  “His face was blurred out as if he didn't want his face to be shown, like on a TV show.” — Grayson [39:15]

10. Whispering Hotel Ghost and Falling Objects

Dakota (Oregon)
[41:33–44:16]

• While in a hotel with his wife, both Dakota and his wife hear a loud unexplained whisper—indistinct, but seemingly spoken by a third party.
• Later, a makeup bottle inexplicably falls off the desk where it had been sitting undisturbed for 20+ minutes.
• Both are shaken but quick to rationalize, blaming the TV, though it can’t be heard from Dakota’s location.

11. Ancestral Aztec Apparition

JB (Wisconsin)
[44:59–47:21]

• JB, age 8 at the time, felt and saw a man in a full “Mayan or Aztecan headdress” walk the length of his bed, stepping over him.
• Instead of fear, he felt calm and later came to believe this was an ancestor “checking in.”
• Derek relates his own similar experience, then draws a connection with Wisconsin’s mysterious Rock Lake pyramids and a theory about the Aztec having roots in the area.
• Quote:

  “I remember looking down towards it and there was a man in a full-on sort of Native American, Mesoamerican ... headdress...” — JB [45:34]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On vanished photographic evidence:

  “...the picture of Echo looking at the orb. It was just really wild. So we always left that door open so, you know, the ghost could come and go...” — Lily [14:58]

• On tactile encounters with entities:

  “...it comes towards me. I feel its hand on the bed on my bottom of my leg, and it starts sliding its hand up my body...” — Joanna [22:23]

• On haunted spaces and emotions:

  “...it wasn't actually a ghost haunting my room...but in fact, one of my ancestors coming forward, presenting themselves...” — JB [47:01]

• On UFOs near military bases:

  “Unidentified craft flying in bunches. That sure does sound familiar.” — Derek [29:39]

Important Timestamps

• [02:54] — Brad’s childhood window entity
• [05:36] — The “ugly face” in the backyard
• [10:35] — Lily’s knocking ghost and vanishing photo
• [17:02] — Sarah’s haunted Illinois house
• [18:37] — Joanna’s shadow entity and shared family encounter
• [25:33] — Anonymous Glendale UFO sighting
• [31:24] — Ty’s casino “glitch in the matrix”
• [35:03] — Marty’s near-death “waiting spirits”
• [38:23] — Grayson’s blurry-faced ghost on the submarine
• [41:33] — Dakota’s hotel room whisper and falling object
• [44:59] — JB meets an Aztec ancestor in his bedroom

Episode Tone & Style

• Refreshingly sincere and atmospheric: Derek’s gentle, spooky narration and respectful tone set the stage for storytelling.
• Narrative-driven responses: Derek offers thoughtful commentary, contextual connections, and sometimes personal anecdotes in response to callers.
• Community-focused: Reminders to call in, share experiences, and hints at overarching themes between entries.

Closing Notes

This episode skillfully blends nostalgia with chills, serving up everything from shadow people and vanishing photographs to cryptic UFO encounters and ancestral spirits. The diversity of stories—paired with Derek’s knowledge, empathy, and dry humor—encourages listeners to both ponder and participate in the mystery. Whether you’re a paranormal skeptic or seeker, the episode is a tribute to the enduring allure of things that go bump, whisper, and glide in the night.

(For call-in info, upcoming “Hometown Legends” finale, and support/merch links, see episode as aired.)