MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

The Hidden Connection (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)

#25 trending · True Crime

In 2013, a police sergeant in northern France called the local telephone company, and asked to set up a tap on a suspect’s phone. He had a warrant in his hands and was re

Oct 12
29 min

Fan Favorite - "One Foot Out the Door"

Today's story is a fan favorite that was previously published as Episode 372. Just after 7 p.m. on June 16th, 2010, an employee at the Palmdale, California Sheriff’s Dep

Oct 9
41 min

From Beyond Vol. III

Today’s podcast will feature 3 spooky stories about messages from beyond. The audio from all three stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just ca

Oct 8
27 min

The Nightmare Cure (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)

Today, I’m going to tell three stories about people whose stressful lives actually drove them to the brink of insanity – until doctors finally discovered the root of all

Oct 7
22 min

The Stage Manager (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)

One afternoon in December 1980, one of the most famous comedians in France pulled a stack of letters from his mailbox in Paris. As he flipped through them, one caught his

Oct 5
34 min

Sometimes the Vanished Never Return | Campfire for a Cause

Tonight, I have a very special guest joining me at the Campfire! Liana is a HUGE MrBallen fan, and I wanted to tell a few stories live, just for her. All proceeds from t

Oct 2
57 min

Reality Glitch Vol. II

Today’s podcast will feature 2 stories that challenge our understanding of reality. The audio from both stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is ju

Oct 1
27 min

Brutal Mercy (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)

Today, I’m going to tell you four stories of people who thought their day couldn’t get any worse... but they were wrong. You can WATCH all new & exclusive MrBallen po

Sep 30
27 min

On Patrol (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)

One night in March 1997, a man carried a muddy, black plastic case into a police station in the small town of Higginson, Arkansas. A local police officer had been murdere

Sep 28
29 min

Fan Favorite - "The Receipt"

Today's story is a fan favorite that was previously published as Episode 365. On the afternoon of March 24, 2006, an employee at a moving truck rental company in Ohio op

Sep 25
37 min

No Way Out Vol. XII

Today’s podcast will feature 3 stories that involve people who were trapped - with “no way out.” The audio from all three stories has been pulled from our main YouTube ch

Sep 24
26 min

Warnings (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)

Today, I’m going to tell you four stories about people who thought they had a handle on the situation they were in, but found out – way too late – that they’d really misj

Sep 23
27 min

Murder In Marseilles (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)

One morning in January 1990, a man walked into a police station in Marseille, France, clutching a newspaper. He went up to the desk, and said he’d seen a sketch of a murd

Sep 21
29 min

Fan Favorite - "The Watercooler"

Today's story is a fan favorite that was previously published as Episode 361. On a morning in early 1986 in Arizona, someone sat hunched over a desk, furiously writing a

Sep 18
37 min

Death In Disguise

Today’s podcast will feature 3 stories that prove the deadliest threats are often the hardest to recognize. The audio from all three stories has been pulled from our main

Sep 17
26 min

Meant to Be (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)

Today, I’m going to tell you four stories about people who went through incredibly strange experiences – and came out of them believing that everything that happened, had

Sep 16
26 min

Human Resources (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)

One morning in March of 1999, a detective in Norcross, Georgia leaned in closely to his computer screen. He was reviewing video footage his team had recorded at a murder

Sep 14
30 min

What I Saw in My Room | Campfire Stories with MrBallen

Welcome back to the Campfire! Tonight, I’m sitting down with a legend of the outdoors, Steven Rinella from MeatEater. We swap stories in the Montana wilderness, including

Sep 11
50 min

Origins Vol. III

Today’s podcast will feature 4 stories about how a single decision changed the lives of the people in these stories, as well as millions of others’ lives around the world

Sep 10
26 min

A Lie to Die For (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)

Today, I'm going to tell you three stories about people who tried really hard to be something that they were not. And not only do they get caught, but they also face extr

Sep 9
28 min

Chart trend

Position in the overall Apple Podcasts chart (US), last 90 days.

#1#31#60JulAugSepOct

#14

all-time peak

476

days in the top 50 since Nov 2024

Chart positions

Where MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Oct 14, 2026).

#51 ▼ 20 All Podcasts US

#9 — True Crime US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

I still like this podcast a ton, but I used to LOVE it. After moving to Sirius it has truly suffered. Selling out means they killed the other Mr. Ballen pods that were developed with Wondery and now it’s filled with much less engaging content by usually going for 2-4 small stories rather than a complex mystery the episodes are way shorter now. When this podcast was with Wondery the episodes were always AT LEAST 30 minutes but now you’ll be lucky if they hit 26. Also, the audio in the “campfire” series is so bad it feels like just a way for Mr. Ballen to be able to write off his vacations as work trips. All in all, I still listen but I sure hope everyone at Ballen Studios is enjoying their bag because it clearly shows there’s been a trade off. Also, I don’t know who needs to hear this but if you go on Joe Rogan, you support Joe Rogan. Period.

LfromSea · Aug 2026

Pretty great storyteller and longtime listener, but I’m saying goodbye after seeing him go on The Joe Rogan Experience. TJRE has repeatedly platformed hateful, sexist, racist, and anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, dangerous conspiracies, and voices closely aligned with the current administration. Given the size and influence of that platform, choosing to participate without meaningfully challenging those things is, to me, a political and moral choice. I don’t want to support or amplify that, so I’m out. ✌🏼

culture101 · Aug 2026

As a true crime podcast listener, sometimes stories are repetitive. Not this podcast. I always end up listening to a new story that I haven’t heard before. Keep up the good work!

JenKTC · Dec 2024

This podcast is amazing. He’s so good at telling stories and I could fall asleep to his voice. He’s expressive but not in a stupid way. Must listen for any true crime or horror fan.

Jamaluthin · Dec 2024

Please, please, please, hire a script editor, purchase a thesaurus, or run your script through ChatGPT. In the latest episode, you used the word “totally” 21 times! It’s obviously a go-to filler word, and it’s unnecessary and annoying to hear the same descriptor used over and over again. It dilutes the impact of the story when everything is “totally” — and, frankly, it’s annoying. You’re a good storyteller with interesting tales. Please consider finding a new word or two!

Izkittykay · Dec 2024

I don’t know if it’s just an issue with my podcast app, but on the days that we are supposed to be getting new episodes, the same recycled old content is re-uploaded as “new”. For the past three weeks, every Monday, old podcasts episodes that he’s posted before on here have been re-uploaded and labeled as “new” episodes. It’s exhausting and disappointing considering I am paying a Wondery + Subscription to have access to this podcast.

LouLu2895 · Feb 2024

We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.