MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories

Episode: The Best Laid Plans (Podcast Exclusive)
Date: February 25, 2026
Host: MrBallen (John Allen)

Episode Overview

This episode of the MrBallen Podcast explores two true stories where attempts to control fate and avert disaster led to tragic or catastrophic consequences. Through gripping storytelling, MrBallen revisits the tale of the Willey family tragedy in 1826 New Hampshire, and the infamous "Poison Affair" in 17th-century Paris, revealing how human plans are sometimes no match for the unpredictable power of nature or the darkness in society.

Story 1: The Willey Family Tragedy: When Safety Plans Go Fatally Wrong

Setting the Scene

• [01:49] MrBallen begins with the story of Samuel Willey Jr. and his family, who moved into the White Mountains' "Notch" region seeking adventure and opportunity.
• The Willeys hoped to run an inn and make the site a destination for artists and travelers.
• Following an earlier destructive storm, Sam reinforced his home, built disaster plans, and specifically worried about a giant boulder behind the house.

Disaster Strikes

• [05:45] On August 28, as a fierce storm rages, the family is fearful. Sam reassures them that his preparations will keep them safe.
• When a massive thunderclap and the sound of collapsing structures are heard, Sam instructs everyone to seek better cover, leading them to a secondary shelter he had built.

The Fatal Mistake

• The family leaves their solidly built home—the very place which, by chance, the boulder behind it actually protects from the force of a massive rockslide.
• Outside, they are overtaken and killed by the landslide, while their house remains untouched.
• Quote: "That humongous boulder right behind the house was not actually a safety risk. In many ways, it was like a protective barrier... this boulder basically made the Willies' original home the single safest place to be on the whole property." – MrBallen [22:45]

Aftermath and Legacy

• [13:03] The next day, a traveler named John Barker arrives, finds the house eerily pristine but empty, and searches for the family. He only finds signs of hasty departure and a trapped ox.
• Edward Melcher leads a massive search involving hundreds, culminating in the grim discovery of the Willeys' remains under the debris by the river.
• Quote: "Ultimately, because of this tragedy, the area became a famous tourist destination, just like the Willies had hoped it would. People from all over the country heard about the family and what happened. And before long, artists and authors were coming to the White Mountains in droves to see the site of the tragedy." – MrBallen [24:25]
• The cruel irony is that Sam’s ambition is eventually realized, but only through the infamy of their collective demise.

Notable Moments & Timestamps

• [01:49] Willey family surveys storm damage; Sam’s dreams and anxieties.
• [09:30] The fatal night: family's fear, Bible reading, the second storm.
• [11:30] Rockslide strikes as family flees; tragic fate.
• [13:03] John Barker’s arrival, search, and eerie discoveries.
• [21:50] Search party investigates; the boulder’s unintended protection.
• [22:45] Quote about the boulder as a protective barrier.
• [24:25] Aftermath: how tragedy brings unwanted fame to the region.

Story 2: The Burning Room: The Poison Affair of Paris

Setting the Scene

• [25:58] The story shifts to Paris, 1678, where Marie Boss, an ambitious and successful fortune teller, is enjoying high society acclaim.
• At a dinner party, Marie entertains guests—chiefly drunk, perhaps carelessly—revealing tales not just of fortune telling, but of more sinister deeds.

The Secrets Come Out

• [28:00] Marie’s stories are not just for entertainment; she is in reality a key figure in an underground network of poisoners serving Parisian high society.
• Hostess glares at Marie as she lets details of this criminal enterprise slip, but Marie dismisses her as jealous.

The Undercover Sting and Mass Unraveling

• A suspicious guest reports Marie to authorities, leading to an undercover operation: an agent poses as a battered wife, seeking not just fortune-telling, but “advice.” Marie provides both encouragement and an actual vial of poison.
• [30:39] The Paris police storm Marie’s home, arrest her, and show her the incriminating bottle. She knows the gig is up.
• Under torture, Marie confesses and ignites a massive judicial and political scandal: “The Poison Affair.”

The Terror Spreads

• [32:00] Over 300 people are implicated: fortune-tellers, merchants, noblewomen, and even the king’s mistress.
• Parisian authorities conduct mass arrests, forced confessions through torture, and dozens of public executions by pyre.
• Quote: "You could say Paris basically ran on poison... especially rich people would buy poison from Marie and the network of 400 or so other poisoners around the city, and use it to quietly commit murder so that the victims' deaths looked natural." – MrBallen [34:00]

Societal Insights

• Poison becomes the tool of choice for domestic, political, and even petty conflicts in France due to limited options for divorce or recourse for women and the ruthlessness of court intrigue.
• The affair exposes the depth of corruption and moral rot within Paris's high society.

Notable Moments & Timestamps

• [25:58] Opening scene: Marie Boss at the dinner party.
• [29:40] Undercover agent gets evidence; Marie is arrested.
• [32:00] The Poison Affair explodes: mass arrests, Paris in chaos.
• [34:00] Quote on Paris "running on poison" and the extent of the network.
• [36:33] Executions commence; Marie is first burned at the stake.
• [38:00] The full scandal, its consequences and Marie’s fate.

Memorable Quotes

• MrBallen (on the Willey tragedy, about fate): “He promised [his wife] he would do everything he possibly could. To not just repair the property. But also make it safe and secure. So it could withstand whatever the mountain threw at them.” [03:50]
• On the boulder’s twisted role:
  “...in essence, this boulder basically made the Willies' original home the single safest place to be on the whole property.” [22:45]
• On the legacy of tragedy:
  “In a sort of cruel twist of fate, Sam’s dream did come true, just not in the way he hoped.” [24:32]
• On the Paris poison culture:
  “It had become absurdly common for people, especially rich people, to buy poison from Marie and the network... and use it to quietly commit murder so that the victims deaths looked natural.” [34:00]
• On justice and consequence:
  “Dozens and dozens of people were led out to these pyres, strapped to the poles in the middle of them, and then burned to death in front of thousands of Parisian spectators. And it was all because of Marie.” [35:34]

Structural Breakdown and Listener Guide

• [01:49]–[24:32] – Story 1: The Willey family, their hopes, attempts to secure their dreams, and tragic downfall.
• [25:58]–[38:02] – Story 2: Marie Boss, the Poison Affair, corruption and justice in 17th-century Paris.

Tone and Style

MrBallen’s delivery remains conversational and suspenseful, with evocative detail and empathy for victims’ plights. His narrative voice is vivid and approachable, often using dry, ironic humor when reflecting on the cruel twists of fate in both stories. The storytelling is immersive and maintains dramatic tension until each conclusion.

Summary Takeaways

• Attempts to master fate can sometimes put us in even greater danger, as shown in the tragic miscalculation of the Willey family.
• Dark secrets and unchecked ambitions—whether in the wilds of New Hampshire or the salons of royal Paris—can unravel entire communities when exposed.
• The episode underscores that sometimes, our best-laid plans not only fail, but tragically help bring about the very fate we hoped to avoid.

This episode of the MrBallen Podcast is a chilling reminder that in both nature and society, control is often an illusion—and that fate, irony, and tragedy are sometimes entwined in terribly unexpected ways.