From Norse frost giants to the Bible's Goliath, tales of giants have haunted humanity for centuries — but in 2002, US soldiers in Afghanistan claim they encountered a 12-foot, six-fingered, blade-wielding giant that killed one of their own before they brought it down.

IN THIS EPISODE: Did U.S. Special Forces really shoot dead a 12-foot-tall giant in Kandahar, Afghanistan? How much truth is behind the story – and how does fit into the age-old narrative of soldiers, knights, and heroes battling against and vanquishing giants and monstrous creatures? (The Giant of Kandahar) *** Soon after the Cranmer family moved in to their new home on Brownsville Road, it became clear that they were not alone. (The Demon of Brownsville Road) *** The Elephant's Foot was created after the Chernobyl disaster in 1986 when reactor 4 exploded, releasing a lava-like mass of radioactive material called corium. So radioactive that it’s still dangerous if you try and see it for yourself today. (The Elephant’s Foot of Chernobyl) *** When something horrifying happens, it’s natural to tell others about your experience. But what if, no matter how much you explain it, people simply don’t believe you? We’ll look at numerous stories from people who have true tales that they have a hard time getting even friends and family to take seriously. (Nobody Believes Me) *** When a great famine struck Europe in 1314, mothers abandoned their children and in some cases, even ate them. Scholars believe that these tragedies gave birth to the story of Hansel and Gretel. (The Grim True Story Behind Hansel and Gretel) *** Cultures all around the world have stories of tiny humans – elves, leprechauns, fairies, hobbits… but how can so many different communities have such similar descriptions of tiny people? Could there be evidence to prove the existence of tiny humanoids? (Little Human Subspecies) *** Traveling to the Superstition Mountains in search of the rumored treasure hidden there is not only a bad idea… it could be a fatal one. (Mysterious Visitors From Other Realms) *** Seeing an unidentified flying object in the sky is pretty common – even in cases where several people see the flying whatever-it-is at the same time. But when is the last time you and everyone around you looked up and saw an entire city flying in the sky? That’s what happened in 2011 in the Nigerian village of Bauchi. (UFO City) *** But first… according to GPS, off the California coast there are dozens, possibly hundreds of ships moving around in circles. But the ships, while clearly visible on the GPS system, are nowhere to be seen by the human eye. Are these ghost ships from the past? The oceanic version of crop circles? Sailing ships from a different dimension? Or could it be something more disturbing, like a new type of cyber attack? We begin with that story. (California’s Ghost Ships)
CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Show Open
00:03:36.291 = The Giant of Kandahar
00:10:50.903 = *** Nobody Believes Me
00:35:15.398 = *** The Elephant’s Foot
00:42:34.566 = The Demon of Brownsville Road
00:47:02.529 = *** California’s Ghost Ships
00:57:37.825 = *** The Grim True Story Behind Hansel and Gretal
01:05:18.204 = The Little Human Subspecies
01:18:26.789 = *** Mysterious Visitors From Other Realms
01:25:50.281 = UFO City
01:29:58.135 = Show Close
*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad break
SOURCES and RESOURCES:“The Giant of Kandahar” by Angus Wright for the website, Where I Live: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3dyfh6rt
“Nobody Believes Me” by Amanda Ashley for Ranker’s Graveyard Shift: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/kxt7ey9k
“The Elephant’s Foot of Chernobyl” by Natasha Ishak for All That’s Interesting: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/ytfh4n57
PHOTO: “Elephant Foot with Photographer” https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/42r22v5e
“Mysterious Visitors From Other Realms” by Ellen Lloyd for Ancient Pages: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/5yyuzzx
“The Grim True Story Behind Hansel and Gretel” by Joseph Williams for All That’s Interesting:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4fhdp6vk
“Little Human Subspecies” by Mark Andrew Carpenter for Ancient Origins: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2e3f8a9y
“UFO City” posted at Anomalien: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3fwaysds
“California’s Ghost Ships” by Frank Jacobs for Big Ideas: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/ymtnfutw
=====(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: April 21, 2021, April 26, 2021
EPISODE PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/KandaharGiant
ABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all thing strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold case murders, conspiracy theories, and more. On Thursdays, this scary stories podcast features horror fiction along with the occasional creepypasta. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “Best 20 Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a cross between “Coast to Coast” with Art Bell, “The Twilight Zone” with Rod Serling, “Unsolved Mysteries” with Robert Stack, and “In Search Of” with Leonard Nimoy.DISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.
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