Ope, Whatchya Think?

Four tipsy hosts and one special guest unpack the strange true story of James Strang: a 19th‑century Mormon convert who claimed to have discovered metal plates, proclaimed himself King of Beaver Island, held a tin‑crowned coronation, and led a theocratic community.

The episode covers Strang’s rise, conflicts with local fishermen over land and polygamy, his assassination in 1856, the forced exile of his followers, and the mysterious...

In this rambunctious two‑part episode the hosts dig into Wisconsin’s Aztalan mounds, exploring connections to Cahokia, reports of underwater and underground pyramid‑like structures at Rock Lake, and local sightings of a 20‑foot serpent nicknamed “Rocky.”

Between spirited banter and drinks, they touch on ancient trade (copper from Keweenaw), strange lake lore, possible explanations (logs, otters, gators), and why these Midwestern my...

On this rambunctious episode of Ope, What You Think?, the hosts — drunk and irreverent — visit Aztalan, Wisconsin to explore its mysterious mounds, burial finds, and surprising Gulf Coast shell artifacts.

They discuss mound types, a young woman’s wrapped burial with shell belts, connections to the Mississippian culture and Cahokia, and theories about ancient trade and cultural links — all mixed with humor, drinking, and outtakes.

T...

On this episode the hosts, over beers and banter, examine the 1961 Eagle River, Wisconsin sighting where farmer Joe Simonton said three Italian-looking humanoids emerged from a shiny craft, asked for water, and gave him four strange, tasteless pancakes.

The U.S. Air Force investigated the report for Project Blue Book, confiscated the pancakes (now reportedly at Wright-Patterson), found only earthly ingredients but no salt, and left...

In this special cigar-and-beer episode recorded live from the Pecatonica clubhouse, Tom Quinn recounts a chilling Tomahawk, Wisconsin sighting: two large winged humanoids fought above a riverside concert, sending crowds into a panic and one swooping low enough to brush the hosts before rocketing skyward.

Josh, Tyler, and Isaac discuss local cryptid lore, media silence, similar Great Lakes sightings like Mothman and the Hodag, and d...

In December 1977 a glowing red object descended over a park in Council Bluffs, Iowa, igniting a grass fire and leaving behind a heavy, cooling slab of unusual metal that formed blue crystals as it solidified.

Firefighters and police recovered the half-ton alloy, which was later analyzed by researchers including Jacques Vallée and Dr. Gary Nolan; mass spectrometry showed a purified mix of metals not easily explained by natural meteo...

In 1903 the small town of Van Meter, Iowa, was terrorized by reports of a nine-foot, winged creature with leathery wings and a glowing horn that landed on rooftops, broke into buildings, emitted a foul stench, and resisted gunfire. Locals formed a posse, tracked the beast to an abandoned mine, and sealed the entrance after the sightings continued for several nights.

The episode examines contemporary newspaper reports and eyewitness...

On this episode the hosts banter over snacks and drinks before diving into Duluth, Minnesota’s moored freighter the SS William A. Irvin. They explore the ship’s history as a flagship of U.S. Steel, a fatal 1964 boiler-room explosion, and local reports of shadowy figures, chains, and a ghostly child.

The crew debates natural explanations versus the paranormal, describes haunted-ship tours at Canal Park, and invites listeners to visi...

On this episode the hosts drink to Milwaukee and dive into the spooky history of the Pfister Hotel, a lavish Victorian landmark said to be haunted by its founder, Charles Pfister. They share reports of apparitions, disembodied voices, moving furniture, and electrical oddities — including anecdotes from professional baseball players who refused to stay there again.

The crew reacts with humor and curiosity, debates the legitimacy of ...

In this episode the hosts explore Shakers, a former 1894 brothel turned cigar bar in Milwaukee, tracing its Prohibition-era ties to the Capone network, grisly murders, and rumors of teenage prostitutes and trapdoors used for trafficking.

They describe eerie reports from upstairs rooms (including a spirit called Molly), a menacing, active basement with sightings of eyes and aggressive activity, and the modern-day experience of ghost...

Hosts trade jokes and beer before diving into reports of hauntings at Madison’s Orpheum Theater, a 1920s Art Deco venue famous for its historic air-conditioning unit and iconic sign.

They discuss named apparitions like Pete the Projectionist, a shadowy head usher, a key-jingling night manager, a tall man by the bathrooms, and a low-lying mist thought to be a child, as well as phantom conversations, strange noises, and staff sightin...

Join the hosts as they recount the eerie legend of the Beast of Bray Road — a six- to seven-foot, dog-headed, bipedal creature reported around Elkhorn, Wisconsin. From the first sighting in 1936 to a wave of reports in the 1980s–90s, witness accounts describe glowing eyes, carcass-eating behavior, and scratched cars that sparked national attention and even inspired a horror movie.

The episode explores local reactions, possible expl...

On this episode the hosts introduce the show with a cold open and dive into Jason’s first-hand account of the Paulding Light in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. They describe the glowing orb seen near a logging road—its changing colors, size, and occasional electrical effects—and explain how it’s been reported since the 1960s.

The conversation covers local legends (a brakeman’s ghost, a native spirit), scientific theories (headlight ref...

In this episode the hosts revisit the January 1987 Belleville, Wisconsin sightings — police lights seen over a quarry, a radar blip picked up by O'Hare, and a town meeting that turned a local sighting into a regional mystery. Multiple witnesses and later commemorative "UFO Days" kept the story alive.

The hosts mix reporting with personal experience: a blurry photo, a local "space snake" sighting, theories from stars and Starlink to...

Ope, What You Think? is a bite-sized podcast about paranormal sightings, conspiracies, cryptids, UFOs, and true crime from the Midwest. Join our hosts weekly as they crack open a few cold ones, trade outrageous local stories, and give unfiltered opinions.

Expect short tales, on-site interviews, quirky banter, and a little chaos — from hovering lights and stuck fingers to sasquatch stench and amphibian guests. Inebriated and opinion...