One Strange Thing: True Paranormal Mysteries

Anyone plugged into the world of unexplained events and oddities is probably well aware of the Max Headroom broadcast hijacking. But a story that weird is worth diving into — especially since, roughly 40 years later, there’s been no real progress in efforts to c-c-catch those involved. Strange history at its finest! 

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Hosted by Laurah Norton 

Researched by Bryan Worters and Maura Currie

Produced, Written and Engineered by Maura Currie 

This episode originally ran as Premium Episode 25.

One Strange Thing: True Paranormal Mysteries explores the archives of the unexplained, blending rigorous historical research with a wry, skeptical wit to investigate true supernatural stories and baffling mysteries that made headlines.

Dive into our Episode Mystery Archive — a curated, topic-organized source for documented hauntings, UFO sightings, cryptids, folklore, and bizarre true mysteries. Check it out here! https://www.onestrangethingpodcast.com/episodes-by-topic-mystery-archive

 

Sources on our website: https://www.onestrangethingpodcast.com/

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All Rights Reserved The Fall Line® Podcast LLC/One Strange Thing 2026

Works Cited: 

Bishop, Bryan, “Max Headroom: The Definitive…” The Verge, 2015.

Wogan, Terry. “Max Headroom,” BBC1, 1985.

Shull, Richard, “‘20 minutes into future’ is past,” The Times, 1987.

“Highlights in the history of Coca-Cola…” Library of Congress, ND. 

Knittel, Chris, “The Mystery of the Creepiest…” Motherboard, 2013.

“Video pirate briefly interrupts…” Chicago Tribune, 1987. 

Greene, Bob, “Fame is fleeting to the m-m-max,” Chicago Tribune, 1987.

“Masked Max interrupts programming,” UPI, 1987.

Shefsky, Jay, “30 Years Later, Notorious…” WTTW News, 2017. 

Camper, John & Daley, Steve, “A powerful video prankster…” Chicago Tribune, 1987.

Buckman, Adam, “FCC sure is mad, Max” Advertising Age, 1987.

“The Max Headroom Incident: Revisiting…” WBUR, 2019.

Pagano, Penny, “‘Captain Midnight’ Enters Plea…” Los Angeles Times, 1986.

Staff, “Porn-Film Message Suspect…” Los Angeles Times, 1990.

The Max Headroom Chronicles

WTTW Chicago - The Max Headroom Pirating Incident

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A cursed chair in a North Yorkshire pub is said to have killed everyone who has sat in it? It’s something we must explore.  Thomas Busby was hanged for murder in 1702. His cursed chair became one of England's most infamous pieces of haunted furniture, linked to dozens of deaths over three centuries. But the truth of the Busby Stoop Chair may be stranger than any ghost story.

Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to joindeleteme.com/STRANGE and use promo code STRANGE at checkout! 

Hosted and Written  by Laurah Norton

Researched by Anna Luria  and Laurah Norton

Engineered and  Produced by Southern Gothic Media/Rachel Boyd

One Strange Thing: True Paranormal Mysteries explores the archives of the unexplained, blending rigorous historical research with a wry, skeptical wit to investigate true supernatural stories and baffling mysteries that made headlines.

Dive into our Episode Mystery Archive — a curated, topic-organized source for documented hauntings, UFO sightings, cryptids, folklore, and bizarre true mysteries. Check it out here! https://www.onestrangethingpodcast.com/episodes-by-topic-mystery-archive

Sources on our website: https://www.onestrangethingpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon for early release and ad-free episodes, exclusive stories, and bonus 

episodes: https://www.patreon.com/OneStrangeThing

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onestrangethingpod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/One-Strange-Thing-114307627035607

Subscribe to our Substack: https://substack.com/@onestrangething

We work with Amplitude Media Partners (AMP) to power our advertising and grow with the right sponsors. Contact AMP with any ad inquiries; [email protected]. 

All Rights Reserved The Fall Line® Podcast LLC/One Strange Thing 2026

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A young man from England claims to have incredible paranormal gifts—but can it truly be proven? We all want to be special. . . and some of us even believe we might just have extraordinary powers. But that usually fades as we grow older. But for Matthew Manning, an alleged psychic, ghost whisperer, faith healer, and all-around phenom who came to prominence in the 1970s, international renown may have been the goal. . . though supporters argued he was simply sharing his gifts with the world.

Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to joindeleteme.com/STRANGE and use promo code STRANGE at checkout!

One Strange Thing: True Paranormal Mysteries explores the archives of the unexplained, blending rigorous historical research with a wry, skeptical wit to investigate true supernatural stories and baffling mysteries that made headlines.
Dive into our Episode Mystery Archive — a curated, topic-organized source for documented hauntings, UFO sightings, cryptids, folklore, and bizarre true mysteries. Check it out here! https://www.onestrangethingpodcast.com/episodes-by-topic-mystery-archive

Hosted by Laurah Norton
Produced, Written, and Engineered by Maura Currie
Researched by Anna Luria

This episode originally aired at Premium Episode 31.

SOURCES:

NA, “Matthew Manning, age 19…” Cambridge Evening News, 1974.
John Alexander, “Moments of mysterious…” Cambridge Evening News, 1974.
NA, “Matthew Manning: is he a genius…” Cambridge Evening News, 1974.
NA, “When things went bump…” Cambridge Evening News, 1974.
NA, “Writing on the wall…” Cambridge Evening News, 1974.
NA, “He can MAKE a wish…” Cambridge Evening News, 1974.
NA, “The ‘strong psychic gifts…’" Cambridge Evening News, 1974.
NA, “Mystery over a little bit…” Cambridge Evening News, 1974.
Andrew Barron, “Matthew Manning…” Cambridge Evening News, 1974.
Allen Spraggett, “Englishman Matthew Manning…” Daily Independent Journal, 1975.
NA, “The Link” The Wichita Falls, 1975.

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All Rights Reserved The Fall Line® Podcast LLC/One Strange Thing 2026

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Harry Houdini spent the last years of his life doing something unexpected for the world's greatest escape artist: relentlessly exposing fraudulent psychic mediums and publicly humiliating his famous friend Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in the process. But for all his skepticism, Houdini carried a secret that would define the final chapter of his life. . . and haunt his widow for a decade after his death.
One Strange Thing: True Paranormal Mysteries explores the archives of the unexplained, blending rigorous historical research with a wry, skeptical wit to investigate true supernatural stories and baffling mysteries that made headlines.
Dive into our Episode Mystery Archive — a curated, topic-organized source for documented hauntings, UFO sightings, cryptids, folklore, and bizarre true mysteries. Check it out here! https://www.onestrangethingpodcast.com/episodes-by-topic-mystery-archive
Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to joindeleteme.com/STRANGE and use promo code STRANGE at checkout!
Hosted and Written by Laurah Norton
Researched by Anna Luria and Laurah Norton
Engineered and Produced by Southern Gothic Media/Rachel Boyd

Sources on our website: https://www.onestrangethingpodcast.com/
Join us on Patreon for early release and ad-free episodes, exclusive stories, and bonus
episodes: https://www.patreon.com/OneStrangeThing
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onestrangethingpod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/One-Strange-Thing-114307627035607
Subscribe to our Substack: https://substack.com/@onestrangething

We work with Amplitude Media Partners (AMP) to power our advertising and grow with the right sponsors. Contact AMP with any ad inquiries; [email protected].
All Rights Reserved The Fall Line® Podcast LLC/One Strange Thing 2026

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Spaghetti, like money, does not grow on trees. But it turns out that that may not have been common knowledge in ‘50s Britain… and the BBC, after putting together a whimsical April Fools’ segment, suddenly had some explaining to do. We begin our April Fools’ celebration with lots of tricks and fun. Be sure to follow all month!

Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you go to joindeleteme.com/STRANGE and use promo code STRANGE at checkout!
Hosted by Laurah Norton
Research by Bryan Worters and Maura Currie
Written, Engineered & Produced by Maura Currie

One Strange Thing: True Paranormal Mysteries explores the archives of the unexplained, blending rigorous historical research with a wry, skeptical wit to investigate true supernatural stories and baffling mysteries that made headlines.
Dive into our Episode Mystery Archive — a curated, topic-organized source for documented hauntings, UFO sightings, cryptids, folklore, and bizarre true mysteries. Check it out here! https://www.onestrangethingpodcast.com/episodes-by-topic-mystery-archive

This episode originally ran as premium episode 59.

Sources on our website: https://www.onestrangethingpodcast.com/
Join us on Patreon for early release and ad-free episodes, exclusive stories, and bonus
episodes: https://www.patreon.com/OneStrangeThing
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onestrangethingpod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/One-Strange-Thing-114307627035607
Subscribe to our Substack: https://substack.com/@onestrangething

We work with Amplitude Media Partners (AMP) to power our advertising and grow with the right sponsors. Contact AMP with any ad inquiries; [email protected].
All Rights Reserved The Fall Line® Podcast LLC/One Strange Thing 2026

Works Cited

BBC On This Day
NA, “History of British Television,” Science and Media Museum, 2011.
NA, “Spaghetti tree shown…” The Scotsman, 1957.
NA, “TV hoax fools the…” Belfast Telegraph, 1957.
James Thomas, “TV fools viewers…” Daily News, 1957.
NA, “What a dish - with…” Daily Herald, 1957.
NA, “TV TOPICS,” Shetland Times, 1957.
Jack Stepler, “Spaghetti Tree,” Ottowa Citizen, 1957.
NA, “Spaghetti and Cocktails: The pitiless…” The Scotsman, 1957.
NA, “Spaghetti is harvested…” Runcorn Weekly News, 1957.
Arthur Dunn, “Practical joking the…” Belfast Telegraph, 1962.
Paul Wallace, “The day that trees…” Scarborough Evening News, 1988.
NA, “Still a good joke…” BBC News, 2004.
NA, “Archive: A look back at the 1957…” BBC, 2024.
Encyclopedia Britannica

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