A Study of Strange

A Study of Strange

For lovers of true crime, mysteries, and outlandish tales of high strangeness. Join host Michael May as he investigates tales of the unknown each week, from bizarre crimes to unsolved murders and unexplained phenomena. ”A Study of Strange” attempts to debunk common misconceptions and dive deep into the most unusual unsolved stories from history. With occasional guests including entertainment industry insiders, writers, randos and more! Michael May is a filmmaker and performer known for producing films like GHOSTS OF THE OZARKS, 12 HOUR SHIFT, and hosting the true-crime automotive TV shows AUTO/BIOGRAPHY and AUTOBIOGRAPHY: COLD CASES. He obsesses over historical mysteries and loves to bring fascinating stories to life.

Episodes

July 2, 2025 57 mins

We conclude the devilish and mysterious story surrounding the disappearance of a group of women involved in a small cult run by new age author Carlos Castaneda. 

Not many are aware that one of the most successful New Age authors, Carlos Castaneda, lead a cult. The women that made up the inner circle of his cult were called “the witches” and five of them disappeared after Castaneda’s death in 1998. In an all too familiar trope, Cast...

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Not many are aware that one of the most successful “new age” authors, Carlos Castaneda, lead a cult. The women that made up the inner circle of his cult were called “the witches” and five of them disappeared soon after Castaneda’s death in 1998. In an all too familiar trope, Castaneda’s mythology was built on lies, narcissism, hypocrisy, and abuse, yet the witches remain missing. Did they commit mass suicide, or are they in control...

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What makes an object haunted? These four paintings have strange and mysterious backgrounds, along with claims of supernatural phenomena. #1 The Hands Resist Him, #2 The Anguished Man, #3 Woman of the Rain, #4 The Crying Boy

Theme Music by Matt Glass https://www.glassbrain.com/ Instagram: @astudyofstrange Support the Show! astudyofstrange.substack.com/ Website: www.astudyofstrange.com Hosted by Michael May Email stories, comments, o...
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June 3, 2025 26 mins

In 1908, something tore through the skies over Siberia and exploded with the force of a thousand Hiroshima bombs. Trees were flattened across 800 square miles, yet no impact crater was ever found. What caused the Tunguska Event? A meteor? A comet? Something stranger? In this episode, we analyze the science and the some of the wild theories behind the largest cosmic explosion in recorded history, and explore other mysterious blasts ...

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On April 1, 2014, two young Dutch friends, Kris Kremers and Lisanne Froon, tragically disappeared while on vacation in Panama. What began as a day hike turned into a heartbreaking mystery when their remains were discovered weeks later. While the prevailing theory suggests a tragic accident led to their deaths, there are several unexplained and unsettling details. Among these are eerie photographs taken after their disappearance whi...
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Jonathan Todd Schwartz was a successful business manager for A-list celebrities and seemingly had it all. However, his life took a dark turn when he stole nearly $5 million from Alanis Morrissette and other clients. Driven by addiction, Schwartz's story is now one of rehabilitation and redemption.

Follow Jonathan https://www.instagram.com/therealjonathanschwartz/

Altus Rehab 

 

Theme Music by Matt Glass https://www.glassbrain.com/

...

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The Mothman, a legendary winged “birdman” with glowing red eyes, was first reported in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, in 1966. Interestingly, similar sightings began this century in Chicago. As far as cryptids go, the myth behind Mothman is more supernatural than zoological, with many believing this creature is a harbinger of doom. With special guest Oliver Berger! https://www.instagram.com/oliveraberger/ https://oliveraustinberger...

From underwater anomalies to the notorious Hum heard around the world, these eight strange sounds are difficult to explain. 

Theme Music by Matt Glass https://www.glassbrain.com/ Instagram: @astudyofstrange Support the Show! astudyofstrange.substack.com/ Website: www.astudyofstrange.com Hosted by Michael May Email stories, comments, or ideas to astudyofstrange@gmail.com! ©2025 Convergent Content, LLC <...

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On Easter Sunday, 1937, Veronica Gedeon, her mother, and a boarder were found killed in their New York City apartment. Veronica was a beautiful model, and the press provoked public reaction by publishing her portfolio of sensual photographs. The case had a lasting impact by influencing laws for the criminally insane.

Theme Music by Matt Glass https://www.glassbrain.com/

Instagram: @astudyofstrange Suppo...

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A dairy farmer is found dead in a small Vermont town, but was it murder...or an elaborate suicide plot to frame his enemies? The mystery surrounding Orville Gibson's death was a world-wide sensation news story at the time, and remains unsolved to this day, with two prevailing theories. Was he lynched by vengeful neighbors, or did he stage his own death to take down the town that scorned him?

Theme Music by Matt Glass https://www.gl...

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Pilots are among the most trusted observers in the world, but what happens when they report objects defying the laws of physics? This episode explores some of the most credible, chilling UFO encounters ever recorded by those who might share the skies with the unknown. 

With special guest Keri Pina!

Theme Music by Matt Glass https://www.glassbrain.com/

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On Christmas Eve 1945, a devastating house fire in West Virginia destroyed the Sodder family home. Five of the children were unable to escape as the house burned to the ground, but what happened next became one of the most strange unsolved mysteries. Some of the evidence suggests that the children survived, and the fire was an attack on the Sodder family. In this re-release of an older A Study of Strange episode, we dig into the su...

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March 25, 2025 25 mins

In 2015, an anonymous 4chan user claimed to be a serial killer, and posted a series of gruesome images as proof. Was it a hoax? Can we finally get closer to solving this mystery? Theme Music by Matt Glass https://www.glassbrain.com/ Instagram: @astudyofstrange Support the Show! astudyofstrange.substack.com/ Website: www.astudyofstrange.com Hosted by Michael May Email stories, comments, or ideas to astudyofstrange@gmail.com! ©202...

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In 1927, Los Angeles was gripped by terror as a young girl was kidnapped and then brutally murdered. The killer's motive was a twisted mystery, and his escape sparked a massive manhunt that captivated the nation. Though solved, this crime was considered the most horrifying case in Los Angeles’ history at the time, and it’s still haunting and strange.

Theme Music by Matt Glass https://www.glassbrain.com/...

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Were Nazis in LA during World War II? Local legends around places like the Murphy Ranch and the Furst Castle suggest they were, with fascist sympathizers building retreats and strongholds. Some claim Hitler even visited during the war. However, the truth is never quite what it seems, and it is way way more interesting. Listen to learn about an unheralded spy master who prevented treason and violence from Nazis in the City of Angles...

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The often covered, discussed, and scrutinized death of Charles Morgan. The story is too odd and mysterious to not record our own retelling of his story. In March 1977, escrow agent Charles C. Morgan went missing. Three days later he turns up in the middle of the night with plastic handcuffs on his wrists and ankles and unable to speak. Just weeks later, he turns up dead, shot in the back of the head with his own gun. There were no ...

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February 25, 2025 56 mins

Some towns refuse to die. Long after their last residents have vanished, something remains — eerie voices, shadow figures, and legendary folktales. In this episode, we explore five of the most haunted ghost towns in America: Bannack, MT, a lawless gold rush town with a murderous past; Bodie, CA, with a legendary curse; Wonder Valley, CA, a weird stretch of desert; Riverton, AL, a town drowned beneath a reservoir but with a very rea...

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Author Brian Brady’s latest book, Hiding in Plain Sight, is loosely inspired by a true crime, and he was personally involved in its investigation. We discuss writing about murder, what shows, movies, and books get wrong about real investigations, and the true story that inspired the book. 

Learn more about Brian and read his books here: https://www.goldengatetales.com/

https://www.instagram.com/goldengatetales/ https://x.com/golden...
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February 11, 2025 19 mins

The Civil War shaped the United States more than any other event, and it left behind some strange, unsolved mysteries. This Minisode covers 5 of the most interesting mysteries including paranormal events, lost treasure, and more. 

Theme Music by Matt Glass https://www.glassbrain.com/

Instagram: @astudyofstrange Support the Show! astudyofstrange.substack.com/ Website: www.astudyofstrange.com Hosted by Michael May Email stories, comm...

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February 4, 2025 43 mins

Dorothy Arnold was a young heiress with everything to live for, but one December day in 1910, she disappeared in broad daylight from the center of New York. Over a century later, her case still haunts the city. Listener discretion is advised. 

With special guest Sean Anthony Davis.

 

Theme Music by Matt Glass https://www.glassbrain.com/ Instagram: @astudyofstrange Website: www.astudyofstrange.com Hosted by Michael May Email stories...

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