Twisted Tales with Heidi Wong

Episode: Final Destination: Premonitions of Real Disasters

Release Date: December 15, 2025
Host: Heidi Wong
Podcast: Twisted Tales (Crime House Original)

Episode Overview

In this chilling episode, Heidi Wong dives into the unsettling phenomenon of premonitions—visions or dreams that eerily anticipate real-life disasters. Inspired by the Final Destination film franchise, Wong unpacks three historical events where individuals seemingly foresaw catastrophe: the Titanic shipwreck, the Aberfan mining disaster, and the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Through compelling storytelling, she asks: can fate be outrun, or are some destinies simply unavoidable?

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Reality Behind "Final Destination" (00:41–05:35)

• Premonitions on Screen and Off:

  • Wong introduces the Final Destination films, where characters receive deadly visions and struggle, always in vain, to evade fate.
  • She explains, "These movies are all about people who see visions of their own deaths. But... there's no escaping it." (01:35)

• Linking Fiction to Fact:

  • She bridges the film's concept to real historical events, teasing the three featured stories.

2. The Titanic & Morgan Robertson’s Vision (05:36–13:14)

• An Unsinkable Ship Foreshadowed:

  • The saga centers on Morgan Robertson, who wrote The Wreck of the Titan or Futility in 1898. The book predicts a collision with an iceberg and sinking of a massive luxury liner called "Titan"—years before the Titanic was even built.
  • Remarkable similarities: name, size, route, time of year, speed, and insufficient lifeboats.

• Was It Just Skilled Guesswork?

  • Robertson insisted, "I know what I'm writing about, that's all."
  • Yet, he later reflected on creative inspiration:
    • "I do not doubt that it is because all creative workers get into a hypnoid, telepathic and percipient condition... they tap not only the better informed minds of others, but the subliminal realm of unknown facts." (12:20)

• Tragic Endings and Other Predictions:

  • Robertson’s death was surrounded by mystery and sadness; he was found with sedatives in his system in 1915.
  • Spookily, he also wrote a story (1914) that predicted a Pearl Harbor-like attack 27 years before it happened.

3. The Aberfan Disaster: Tragedy Foretold (15:29–21:12)

• The Setting:

  • South Wales, 1966. Decades of mining led to giant coal waste piles above Aberfan village, despite repeated warnings about their instability.

• Premonitions Among the Innocent:

  • Before the catastrophic avalanche that killed 144 (116 children), villagers, children, and even strangers experienced ominous dreams:
    • Errol Mae Jones (10 years old):
      • Dreamt, "I went to school and there was no school there. Something black had come down all over it." She died the next day. (17:25)
    • Paul Davies (8 years old):
      • Drew someone digging on a hillside with the words "the end" before becoming a victim.
    • Carolyn Miller (transcending geography): described a schoolhouse buried in coal in her dream the night prior.
    • Mary Hennessy: Dreamt vividly enough to warn family.

• Dr. John C. Barker and the British Premonitions Bureau:

  • Dr. Barker investigated these visions, rating their accuracy and timing, hoping such phenomena could be used to prevent disaster in the future.
  • Despite early hope, the research was ultimately dismissed as unscientific, "just collecting stories, nothing more." (20:45)

• Lingering Questions:

  • Wong notes, "If only someone had taken what those kids said seriously, maybe none of this would have happened." (20:58)

4. Lincoln’s Dream: A Presidential Premonition (21:30–26:00)

• Witness to History:

  • Ward Hill Lamon, Lincoln’s close friend, later wrote about Lincoln’s disturbing dream days before his assassination.
  • In the dream, Lincoln saw a corpse—wrapped in funeral vestments—in the White House’s East Room. A soldier tells him, "The President, killed by an assassin." (22:40)
  • Lincoln awakens "in a cold sweat"—three days later, he was shot by John Wilkes Booth.

• Was It Paranoia or Prophecy?

  • The dream’s details echoed reality: Lincoln lay in the East Room, guarded as people mourned.

• Trust but Verify:

  • The account’s sole source is Lamon, who shared it decades after the assassination. Wong acknowledges the ambiguity but notes the story’s haunting resonance.

5. Conclusion: Patterns in Premonition

• Coincidence or Fate?

  • Wong ponders: "It's easy to write off these events as random coincidences. But if we dig a little deeper, we can see that there's more." (26:20)
  • She observes, "As human beings, we're always looking for patterns... I'd argue that's a good thing." (26:32)

• Final Destination and Real Life:

  • "All of these premonitions came true. Which brings us back to the question... Can you stop a vision from happening? Is it possible to outrun death? ... After everything, it seemed like Final Destination was right." (26:45)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Heidi Wong on Premonitions:
  "They say to trust your intuition, but what if you don't want to be right?" (00:41)

• Morgan Robertson’s Creative Revelation: "All creative workers get into a hypnoid, telepathic and percipient condition... tap not only the better informed minds of others, but the subliminal realm of unknown facts." (12:20)

• Aberfan Tragedy Prophecy: "I'm not afraid to die." – Errol Mae Jones, age 10, the night before the disaster, describing her haunting dream (17:25)

• Lincoln’s Terrible Dream: "The President, killed by an assassin." – Recurring phrase in Lincoln's vision as recounted by Ward Hill Lamon (22:40)

• Heidi Wong’s Reflection: "All of these premonitions came true... After everything, it seemed like Final Destination was right. When death comes knocking, it's just a matter of time." (26:45)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• (00:41 – 05:35): Final Destination franchise & premonitions in fiction/reality
• (05:36 – 13:14): Morgan Robertson’s Titanic prediction
• (15:29 – 21:12): Aberfan mining disaster and psychic warnings
• (21:30 – 26:00): Abraham Lincoln’s assassinated-as-dreamt
• (26:00 – End): Host’s closing thoughts on fate, coincidence, and pattern-seeking

Tone & Atmosphere

Heidi Wong’s narration is both poetic and investigative, maintaining a sense of suspense and empathy throughout. She approaches each story with curiosity, skepticism, and deep respect for the real human loss and intrigue behind each legend. Through her storytelling, she invites listeners to ponder the boundaries between coincidence, intuition, and the unexplained—blurring the lines between legend and reality.

For listeners who missed the episode:
You’ll come away with gripping historical accounts, chilling coincidences, and perennial questions about destiny—told with the suspense and care of an eerie, fireside tale.