Otherworld – Episode 147: The Mimic

Release Date: December 1, 2025
Host: Jack Wagner
Guests: Evelyn, Cassandra

Overview

In this episode of Otherworld, host Jack Wagner presents the unnerving case of "The Mimic," as shared by Evelyn and her roommate Cassandra. Shortly after college, Evelyn moved into a vintage 1950s house in Akron, Ohio, with a rotating group of friends. What started as minor oddities gradually spiraled into a series of haunting incidents involving a mysterious presence that imitated the voices, habits, and even the appearances of the home's occupants. Wagner approaches the phenomenon with curiosity and skepticism, inviting listeners to ponder the mysteries of doppelgangers, mimics, and entities that might share our spaces.

Episode Highlights & Key Discussion Points

1. Background and Setting

• Introduction to Evelyn ([05:31])
  • Evelyn, a cannabis union organizer and musician, recounts finding post-college direction and moving into a 1957 house with friends to form a supportive living space.
  • The house described as dark, "witchy," and filled with original 1950s features—a setting evocative of ghost stories.
• Roommate Dynamics
  • Core group: Evelyn and Cassandra stayed throughout; others came and went.
  • Each had their own routines and work schedules.

2. Early Oddities and Attempts at Rationalization

• Minor Incidents ([10:40])
  • Objects disappearing and reappearing in odd places; unusual noises blamed on old plumbing and the house settling.
  • Four cats in the house offered convenient non-paranormal explanations.

3. First Distinct Mimic Sighting

• Olivia’s Encounter ([16:30])
  • Olivia, a newer roommate, saw and exchanged greetings with "Evelyn" on the living room couch—only to learn via text that Evelyn was out at a doctor’s appointment.
  • Evelyn’s Reaction: Initially skeptical, but Olivia’s genuine fear made her reconsider.

    “60% of me believed her. 40% of me was suspicious of it…” – Evelyn ([17:30])

4. Escalation: Sightings and Sounds

• Evelyn’s Sister, Bunz, and the Backyard Sighting ([23:01])
  • Evelyn sees a silhouette in the kitchen window resembling her sister, who is napping and confirms she never got up.

    “I was so grossed out by that ... I think she never stayed at that house again.” – Evelyn ([24:41])

• Increasing Frequency
  • Both Evelyn and Cassandra recall hearing unmistakable sounds of the other’s arrival—front door opening, signature greetings—but finding each other absent upon investigation.
  • This auditory mimicry became routine and unsettling, though both tried to rationalize the experiences.

5. The Climax: The Disembodied Voice

• Three Witnesses, No Denial ([31:54], [40:27])
  • Evelyn, Cassandra, and Evelyn’s partner are in the living room. They all hear Evelyn's voice upstairs, apparently on the phone, with a normal tone and her exact timbre.
  • The voice continues for around 90 seconds, punctuated by silence and repetition. All are shaken; the skeptical boyfriend outwardly disturbed.

    “It was just so eerie hearing myself...” – Evelyn ([33:15]) “This time, I had witnesses, and this time Ev was with me. ... There was no way to explain it.” – Cassandra ([41:33])

  • After, they check all rooms—no one else is home.

6. Physical Mimicry and Crossed Lines

• The Bathroom Incident ([45:04])
  • Evelyn’s partner, showering, experiences Evelyn entering, speaking to him, and then vanishing. He finds the real Evelyn asleep elsewhere.

    "There's something pretending to be me, and now ... it's directly speaking to my partner, which crossed a huge line..." – Evelyn ([46:24])

7. Psychological Impact and Reflections

• Sense of Invasion ([48:14])
  • Although never feeling directly threatened, Evelyn describes an invasive, persistent presence that replayed daily routines.
  • Mundane activities—greetings, footsteps, conversation—are the main subject of the mimic’s actions.

    “It definitely did feel like it was replaying moments, since it was replaying such mundane things. ... There was just energy in the house that was picking up on the life in this house and the routine of this house...” ([30:31])

8. Leaving the House & Aftermath

• Decision to Move ([48:58])
  • After these escalating incidents and Cassandra’s impending move, Evelyn decides it’s time to leave.
  • Neither she nor Cassandra have had similar experiences since.
• House History ([53:39])
  • Previous owners report only one inexplicable event (a phone flying off a kitchen island), suggesting the phenomena were linked to Evelyn and Cassandra’s residency.

9. Host’s Thoughts and Possible Explanations

• Jack Wagner’s Reflection ([53:39])
  • Considers natural explanations (e.g. ravens, crows known for mimicry) but finds them insufficient due to the visual and consistent human-like imitation.

    “A raven or a crow could not explain the visual mimicking that was taking place.” – Jack Wagner ([54:59])

  • Finds the idea of being imitated especially unnerving.

    “I personally find the idea of something imitating a real life living being ... to be extra scary. That's just really unsettling to me.” – Jack Wagner ([56:00])

Notable Quotes

• “There's something in the house that wants me to believe it's someone else, and it's doing these very mundane and normal things that I had heard every single day.”
  – Evelyn ([30:26])

• “This time, I had witnesses, and this time Ev was with me. And so there was no way to explain it. And I just knew it was her. Like, it didn’t sound like anybody else.”
  – Cassandra ([41:39])

• “It felt very invasive to my privacy. ... And then it started to pretend to be me specifically ... truly unexplainable. And I feel like that’s the scariest part.”
  – Evelyn ([51:17])

• “It could have been happening in much more subtle ways constantly without them even knowing.”
  – Jack Wagner ([54:14])

Memorable Moments & Timestamps

• [16:30] – Olivia’s mistaken morning greeting with "Evelyn"
• [23:01] – Evelyn spies a “sister” in the window; realizes it can't be her
• [31:54] – The disembodied voice incident, witnessed by three people
• [45:04] – Bathroom incident: Evelyn’s partner directly addressed by the mimic
• [48:14] – Evelyn reflects on the emotional and psychological effect
• [53:39] – Host Jack Wagner considers explanations and implications

Conclusion

Evelyn and Cassandra's story of "The Mimic" is a chilling exploration of an entity that doesn’t simply haunt but imitates—visually and aurally—the rhythms of domestic life. Their testimony, matter-of-fact yet tinged with persistent unease, raises unsettling questions about the boundaries of identity, privacy, and what might lurk unseen or unnoticed in the corners of everyday experience. Wagner’s journalistic curiosity invites listeners to consider both supernatural lore and rational skepticism, ultimately leaving the mystery unresolved but deeply felt.