Two Girls One Ghost – Episode 358: The Philadelphia Experiment

Hosts: Corinne Vien & Sabrina Deana-Roga
Date: February 1, 2026
Episode Theme:
A deep dive into the legend and conspiracy of the Philadelphia Experiment—an alleged WWII-era military experiment that sparked enduring rumors of teleportation, invisibility, time travel, and government cover-ups. The hosts connect this mystery to last week’s Montauk Project episode, unraveling how the two controversial stories intertwine, and they share a listener-submitted “time slip” experience straight from the backroads of Arkansas.

Episode Overview

Corinne and Sabrina explore the Philadelphia Experiment, a staple in conspiracy theory and paranormal lore. They detail its alleged events, theories about government secrecy, and its cultural legacy. With signature humor and skepticism, they analyze the credibility and origins of the story, examine interconnected conspiracies, and reflect on what it says about our fascination with the unknown.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: Catching Up and Parallels to Other Mysteries

• The hosts open discussing other true crime and paranormal podcasts, segues into media obsessions and the emotional toll of good storytelling.
• They directly reference their previous episode about the Montauk Project and tease today’s Philadelphia Experiment as part of a two-part conspiracy series.
  • “This is almost like a weird one because it’s like I’m the prequel now.” – Corinne [07:29]

2. The Philadelphia Experiment: The Alleged Events

Timeline Recap:

• 1943, WWII: The U.S. Navy’s USS Eldridge allegedly vanishes from the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, reappearing hundreds of miles away (Norfolk, VA) before re-materializing back in place.
  • “It's about a man who maybe was losing his mind, a government who was definitely playing with fire, and a literal rip in time that supposedly leads right back to Montauk.” – Corinne [08:12]

Experiment Details:

• Officially called “Project Rainbow,” the US aimed to create military invisibility, wrapping the Eldridge in copper coils and activating massive electrical generators to bend light, rendering the ship “cloaked.”
  • “I’m sorry. They’re trying to make their ship invisible.” – Sabrina [11:26]
• First test (July 1943):
  • The ship disappears in a pea-green fog; returns moments later with crew nauseated and disoriented but largely unharmed.
  • “The hope is that the large electrical generators … would bend light … making it appear invisible.” – Corinne [12:18]
• Second test (October 1943):
  • More dramatic: A blue-green flash, complete disappearance—no depression remains in the water.
  • The Eldridge is sighted in Norfolk by another ship’s crew; the sailors appear in distress.
  • Rematerializes back in Philadelphia—but with horrifying consequences:
    • Some sailors fused into the ship's hull and deck, others dead or permanently traumatized.
    • “Some of the sailors had their arms growing out of the steel hull. Some had like a torso coming out of the deck.” – Corinne [19:14]

3. Conspiracy Expansion: The Aftermath and How the Story Spread

• The program is allegedly shut down after the disastrous test (“…the program and the testing was shut down. Or so the conspiracy goes.” – Corinne [20:10]).
• The legend emerges from mysterious annotated UFO research books, government correspondence, and individuals like Carl Allen (aka Carlos Allende).

Notable Figure: Carl Allen (Carlos Allende):

• Sent annotated copies of a UFO book by Morris Jessup to the Office of Naval Research and to Jessup himself.
• The annotations discuss alien tech, link closely to the Philadelphia Experiment, and appear to be written by three different “beings”—though Allen later claims to be the sole author.
  • “It’s believed that the people who were commenting in these margins were not people at all. They were alien visitors. Alien refugees.” – Corinne [25:52]
• The Navy investigates, trying to determine whether Allen is a foreign agent.

4. Montauk Connection: Time Travel, Memory Erasure, and Stranger Things

• The Montauk Project, covered in the prior episode, is suspected to have intersected with the Philadelphia Experiment through a rift in time.
• Notably, 1980s witness Al Bielik claims to be a repressed “Edward Cameron,” a sailor on the Eldridge, who jumps through a wormhole from 1943 into Montauk, NY in 1983.
  • “He jumped off the ship … fell through a wormhole, and he landed in 1983 in Montauk, Long Island.” – Corinne [36:05]
• The hosts muse on whether time itself was fractured and whether knowledge or control was exchanged backwards through time.

5. The Skeptics’ Case: Hoax or Government Cover-Up?

• Major evidence hinges on Carl Allen, whose mental stability was questioned; later described as brilliant but delusional.
• Official Navy logbooks purportedly prove the Eldridge was elsewhere at the time, but hosts point out documents may have been falsified.
  • “But again, it’s like, how easy, especially back in, like, the 1940s, to fake documents? Nothing’s online. Nothing’s, like, dated digitally.” – Sabrina [33:52]
• Office of Naval Research didn’t exist until 1946; Project Rainbow doesn’t appear in records.
• Hosts discuss the persistent plausibility of government secrecy, declassified projects, and conspiracies within conspiracies.

6. Philosophy & Reflection: Why Are We Drawn to These Stories?

• The hosts honestly debate whether such an experiment is possible and the fallibility of “official” records.
  • “Who are we to say anything could happen? Who are we to say we don’t know enough?” – Sabrina [45:17]
• Corinne admits, “I don’t not believe in anything… Anything could happen.” [45:11]
• The conversation connects popular culture, skepticism, and personal beliefs about government/military secrets and fringe science.

7. Listener Story: A Time Slip at the Backrooms Gas Station

[46:11 – 55:30]

Anonymous Listener ("Mr. A") recounts a chilling rest stop experience:

• Driving through rural Arkansas at 3–4am, they stop at a bizarre, oversized log cabin gas station described as unsettling and “backrooms”-like.
• The bathroom layout is labyrinthine, with nonsensical walls and more stalls than should fit in the building.
• Snacks and goods are dusty and untouched; the sole attendant is oddly calm.
• After returning to the car, camera roll and credit card data don’t match reality: Snapchats are timestamped “backwards,” and the credit card was never charged—hinting at a timeline glitch or alternate universe.
  • “It’s almost like that stop never happened.” – Corinne [54:19]
• The hosts trade theories and debate whether the strange stop was a time slip, alternate reality, or government simulation.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “But this story is more than just a disappearing ship. It’s about a man who maybe was losing his mind, a government who was definitely playing with fire, and a literal rip in time that supposedly leads right back to Montauk. It’s wild. So wild.” – Corinne [08:12]
• “Some of the sailors had their arms growing out of the steel hull. Some had like a torso coming out of the deck...still alive, screaming in agony.” – Corinne [19:14]
• “It’s believed that the people who were commenting in these margins were not people at all. They were alien visitors. Alien refugees.” – Corinne [25:52]
• “I don’t not believe in anything, I guess, is the thing, okay. Where it’s like, anything could happen.” – Corinne [45:11]
• “Who are we to say we don’t know enough?” – Sabrina [45:17]

Important Timestamps

• 03:09 – Hosts introduce the episode, reference previous Montauk Project and “Stranger Things”
• 07:12 – How the Philadelphia Experiment connects to Montauk; diving into the lore
• 11:26 – Explaining “Project Rainbow” and the ship invisibility experiment
• 15:49 – The October 1943 test, major consequences for crew
• 19:14 – Details of “molecular interference” and fused bodies
• 23:13 – Origins: Carl Allen, Morris Jessup, the annotated UFO book
• 36:05 – Al Bielik’s “wormhole jump” connects 1943 to 1983 Montauk
• 46:11 – Listener time-slip story (“Mr. A” and the backrooms gas station)
• 55:30 – Reflections and community invites for listener stories

Tone and Style

• Engaging, skeptical dialog with moments of dark humor
• Alternately serious and curious, with references to pop culture (“Stranger Things,” “Doctor Strange”) and real-world plausible science
• Encouraging listeners to keep open minds and question official narratives

Final Thoughts

This episode offers a comprehensive, thoughtful, and irreverent exploration of the Philadelphia Experiment and its unlikely ties to other enduring conspiracies. The hosts provide ample context for newcomers, blend storytelling with research and skepticism, and close the episode by fostering community participation through shared listener encounters.

Next Up:
More listener stories and continued dives into the paranormal, glitches-in-the-matrix, and government secrets—proving there’s always something strange waiting in the shadows.
“We love you and we will see you on the other side.” – [56:32]