Episodes

  • The Mystery Inc Gang Takes a Vacation (But Something's Brewing...)

    The Mystery Inc Gang Takes a Vacation (But Something's Brewing...)
    Nov 18 2025

    Ruh-roh! The Mystery Inc gang is hitting the road for a two-week adventure, but before we go, we've got some news you're NOT going to want to miss.

    Shane, Josh, and Kim are taking a little vacation to scout out some brand new mysteries - and trust us, we've got something REALLY exciting cooking for when we get back. Let's just say things might look a little different around here... in the best way possible.

    We'll be back with a fresh mystery on December 2nd for everyone, and if you're hanging with us on Patreon, you'll get the first episode back on November 28th!

    In the meantime, catch up on any episodes you might have missed, join us over on Patreon for exclusive content (link in the show notes), and whatever you do - keep your eyes on the Mystery Inc feed. You're going to want to see what we've got planned.

    Thanks for being the best mystery-solving community out there. We love you guys!

    See you in two weeks, gang! 🔍

    Find us on Patreon at Patreon.com/itsmysteryinc



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    1 min
  • Fairy Circles: When Perfect Rings Appear in Nature - Are They Magic or Science?

    Fairy Circles: When Perfect Rings Appear in Nature - Are They Magic or Science?
    Nov 11 2025
    What if you stumbled upon a perfect circle of mushrooms in the forest at midnight—would you dare step inside? Shane, Josh, and Kim dive into one of nature's most mysterious phenomena: fairy circles. From ancient folklore warning of fairies, witches, and dancing with death, to modern scientists spending millions trying to explain perfect patterns in deserts and forests, this mystery proves that sometimes the line between magic and science is thinner than you'd think.The Folklore That Kept People AwayFor centuries, Europeans knew one rule about fairy circles: don't step inside. These mysterious rings of mushrooms that appear overnight in forests and meadows were believed to be portals to the fairy realm, places where supernatural beings danced under moonlight. The warnings were terrifyingly specific—enter a fairy circle and you'd be forced to dance until you died of exhaustion. In Wales, they called them cylch y Tylwyth Teg (fairy rings), and stories persisted into the 20th century of people who joined the fairy dance and emerged days later with no memory of the experience. French folklore called them ronds de sorcières (witches' circles), guarded by giant toads that would curse anyone who violated the sacred space. German tradition linked them to Hexenringe (witches' rings), marking spots where witches danced on Walpurgis Night. Austrian legends blamed dragons—their fiery tails burning perfect circles into the ground where nothing but toadstools could grow for seven years.But here's what makes the folklore fascinating: some of it was actually correct. Welsh tradition held that sheep eating grass from fairy rings would flourish, and crops planted around them proved more bountiful. Science confirms this—the vegetation in fairy ring "abundance zones" contains elevated nitrogen levels, making it genuinely more nutritious. The folklore worked, even if the explanation was supernatural rather than scientific.The Science: It's Fungus Engineering EcosystemsSo what's really happening? Fairy circles—also called fairy rings, elf circles, or pixie rings—are created when a single fungal spore lands in favorable soil and begins growing. The fungus sends out an underground network of threadlike structures called mycelium, radiating outward in all directions. As the mycelium expands, it depletes nutrients from the center, causing that section to die while the edges keep growing. The result? Mushrooms sprout in a near-perfect circle at the perimeter, marking the edge of the living mycelium below.About 60 mushroom species can create these patterns. The best known is Marasmius oreades, the edible fairy ring champignon (Scotch bonnet). One of the largest and oldest fairy rings ever documented is near Belfort in northeastern France—formed by Infundibulicybe geotropa, this ring has a radius of approximately 300 meters (980 feet) and is estimated to be over 700 years old. For seven centuries, this underground fungus has been slowly, patiently expanding outward, transforming soil and engineering its ecosystem through plagues, wars, and revolutions.But Wait—There's Another Kind in AfricaJust when you think you understand fairy circles, nature throws a curveball. In the Namib Desert of southern Africa, completely different fairy circles appear in the sparse grassland—circular patches of bare sand surrounded by rings of taller grass, ranging from 2 to 15 meters in diameter. The indigenous Himba people have their own explanation: these are the footprints of Mukuru, their original ancestor and god, or places where spirits dance.Scientists have been debating the cause of these Namibian fairy circles for over 50 years, and the controversy is fierce. Two main theories dominate:The Termite Theory: Biologist Norbert Jürgens from the University of Hamburg spent decades researching and concluded that sand termites (Psammotermes allocerus) create these circles as sustainable desert farms. By eating grass roots in circular patterns, the termites create bare patches that act as water reservoirs after rare rainfall. Jürgens found sand termites in 80-100% of circles examined and published extensively on how termites engineer these ecosystems for survival. His research showed soil beneath fairy circles retained significantly more moisture than surrounding areas.The Self-Organization Theory: Biologist Stephan Getzin from the University of Göttingen argues the circles result from plants organizing themselves to maximize limited water resources—a natural pattern formation explained by mathematician Alan Turing's 1952 theory. When resources are scarce, plants compete intensely, creating regular spacing patterns. Getzin's team installed soil moisture sensors and tracked grass growth cycles, finding that grasses in circles died during the wet phase before soil water was depleted—suggesting plant competition, not termite damage, caused the bare patches. When Australian fairy circles were discovered in 2016, ...
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    51 mins
  • Theodosia Burr Alston - Aaron Burr's Daughter Vanished at Sea

    Theodosia Burr Alston - Aaron Burr's Daughter Vanished at Sea
    Nov 4 2025

    Aaron Burr's brilliant daughter boarded a ship in 1813 and vanished without a trace. Decades later, her portrait appeared in a tavern. What really happened to Theodosia Burr Alston?

    The gang investigates one of early America's most haunting maritime mysteries. Theodosia Burr Alston was no ordinary woman—she was one of the first American women to receive a college-level education, the daughter of Vice President Aaron Burr, and the wife of South Carolina Governor Joseph Alston. But in December 1812, grieving the recent death of her only child, Theodosia made a fateful decision to sail from Georgetown, South Carolina to New York City to reunite with her father.

    On December 31st, 1812, she boarded the *Patriot*, a small pilot boat navigating one of the most dangerous stretches of coastline in America—Cape Hatteras, known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic. The British Royal Navy stopped the ship on January 2nd, 1813, examined her papers, and let her continue. That was the last confirmed sighting of Theodosia Burr Alston.

    Shane, Josh, and Kim dive into the evidence, the theories, and the legendary deathbed confessions that emerged decades after her disappearance. Was it a storm? Pirates walking her off the plank? Did she die on a beach and get buried by treasure hunters? And what about that mysterious portrait that appeared 56 years later?

    Join us as we uncover the truth behind one of history's most enduring mysteries—and discover why the real story of Theodosia Burr Alston might be more tragic than any legend.



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    58 mins
  • A Nightmare Before Halloween, Part 2

    A Nightmare Before Halloween, Part 2
    Oct 24 2025

    …1 campfire…

    …1 dark forest…

    …31 bone-chilling stories…

    …Will YOU survive the night?


    This Halloween season, enter the woods for a unique and truly epic podcast experience! Around the campfire Shane Waters will introduce 31 crime podcast hosts. Each host brings a new, nerve-wracking true story to the circle. It’s an extra special, two part, five-hour, Halloween event, but before hitting play you might want to ask yourself…can you really handle this much murder and mayhem?


    So, pull up to the fire and brace yourself for ‘A Nightmare Before Halloween’

    …but be warned…

    …bad things happen in these woods….


    Podcasts are listed here in order of appearance:


    In the last Part 1 Episode:

    - Foul Play: Crime Series

    - Murder She Told

    - Crime Salad

    - Crimelines

    - Frightful

    - Reverie True Crime

    - Rotten to the Core

    - The Trail Went Cold

    - Once Upon A Crime

    - Criminology

    - The Peripheral & Generation Why

    - Live, Laugh, Larceny

    - The Hidden Staircase

    - True Crime Cases with Lanie & It's Haunted...What Now?

    - Obscura: A True Crime Podcast & Disaster


    In this Part 2 Episode:

    - True Crime Island

    - Based on a True Story

    - The Asian Madness Podcast

    - Sistas Who Kill

    - Hometown History

    - Coffee and Cases

    - Military Murder

    - Dystopian Simulation Radio

    - Cults, Crimes & Cabernet

    - Morbidology

    - Dark Pountine

    - Hillbilly Horror Stories

    - True Consequences

    - Gone Cold

    - Crime Stories with Nancy Grace & Crime Online

    - True Crime IRL & True Crime Sleep Stories



    Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/mystery-inc/exclusive-content

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    2 hrs and 23 mins
  • A Nightmare Before Halloween, Part 1

    A Nightmare Before Halloween, Part 1
    Oct 24 2025

    This Halloween we want to re-release a VERY special treat, A Nightmare Before Halloween. This Collaboration was originally put together by Shane a couple years ago, and is done in his signature collab style.

    …1 campfire…

    …1 dark forest…

    …31 bone-chilling stories…

    …Will YOU survive the night?

    This Halloween season, enter the woods for a unique and truly epic podcast experience! Around the campfire Shane Waters will introduce 31 crime podcast hosts. Each host brings a new, nerve-wracking true story to the circle. It’s an extra special, two part, five-hour, Halloween event, but before hitting play you might want to ask yourself…can you really handle this much murder and mayhem?

    So, pull up to the fire and brace yourself for ‘A Nightmare Before Halloween’

    …but be warned…

    …bad things happen in these woods….

    Podcasts are listed here in order of appearance:


    In the last Part 1 Episode:

    - Foul Play: Crime Series

    - Murder She Told

    - Crime Salad

    - Crimelines

    - Frightful

    - Reverie True Crime

    - Rotten to the Core

    - The Trail Went Cold

    - Once Upon A Crime

    - Criminology

    - The Peripheral & Generation Why

    - Live, Laugh, Larceny

    - The Hidden Staircase

    - True Crime Cases with Lanie & It's Haunted...What Now?

    - Obscura: A True Crime Podcast & Disaster


    In this Part 2 Episode:

    - True Crime Island

    - Based on a True Story

    - The Asian Madness Podcast

    - Sistas Who Kill

    - Hometown History

    - Coffee and Cases

    - Military Murder

    - Dystopian Simulation Radio

    - Cults, Crimes & Cabernet

    - Morbidology

    - Dark Pountine

    - Hillbilly Horror Stories

    - True Consequences

    - Gone Cold

    - Crime Stories with Nancy Grace & Crime Online

    - True Crime IRL & True Crime Sleep Stories



    Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/mystery-inc/exclusive-content

    Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

    Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
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    2 hrs and 23 mins
  • 143: The Belmez Faces: Spain's Haunted Kitchen Floor Mystery

    143: The Belmez Faces: Spain's Haunted Kitchen Floor Mystery
    Oct 21 2025

    Zoinks, gang! Shane's taking us to a small Spanish village where faces started appearing on Maria Gomez's kitchen floor in 1971—and they wouldn't stop! These mysterious faces changed expressions, faded, and reappeared for over 30 years, baffling scientists and paranormal investigators alike. When excavators found human remains beneath the floor (some missing their skulls!), this mystery went from creepy to downright chilling. Were the Belmez Faces a haunting, an elaborate hoax, or something science can't explain? Grab your Scooby Snacks and join Josh, Kim, and Shane as we investigate one of the world's most documented paranormal phenomena—and try to unmask the truth!



    Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/mystery-inc/exclusive-content

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    41 mins
  • 142: Alfred Packer: The Man-Eater of Colorado

    142: Alfred Packer: The Man-Eater of Colorado
    Oct 15 2025

    Jinkies, gang! This week Josh is leading us into the wild, snowy mountains of 1874 Colorado for one of American history’s most chilling survival stories—or is it a tale of cold-blooded murder?

    Alfred Packer set out with five prospectors into the San Juan Mountains during one of the worst winters on record. Only Packer walked out alive. When the bodies were discovered months later, the evidence was… unmistakable. But was Packer a desperate man pushed to the edge by starvation, or a calculating killer who saw his companions as a meal ticket?

    This is a story where truth is stranger—and darker—than fiction.



    Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/mystery-inc/exclusive-content

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    51 mins
  • 141: Jinkies! A Mile High Mystery — Live from CrimeCon Denver

    141: Jinkies! A Mile High Mystery — Live from CrimeCon Denver
    Oct 7 2025

    Live from CrimeCon Denver! Mystery Inc. takes the stage for a whirlwind of banter, speculation, and a Denver mystery that’s more “what on earth?” than “whodunnit.” Joining Shane, Josh, and Kim is legendary CSI and podcaster Sheryl “Mac” McCollum (Zone 7) — who brings along a baffling local case for the gang to unravel in real time.

    Expect laughs, audience participation, and a few surprisingly sharp insights as our “questionable investigative skills” collide with Mac’s decades of forensic expertise. It’s a session that feels less like a lecture and more like a late-night chat with friends about a wonderfully weird story — with a live CrimeCon crowd right there in the mix.

    About our guest, Sheryl “Mac” McCollum:

    An Emmy-nominated Crime Scene Investigator and director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, Sheryl McCollum has worked on some of the nation’s most infamous cases — from the Boston Strangler to Tupac Shakur. She’s appeared on Dateline, Dr. Phil, Nancy Grace, and hosts the award-winning podcast Zone 7. She joins the Mystery Inc. gang live in Denver to share a case that will leave you laughing, scratching your head, and maybe even shouting out your own theories.

    What you’ll hear in this episode:

    • 🎤 Live banter, audience questions, and a packed Denver ballroom
    • 🕵️ A quirky mystery that stumped even seasoned investigators
    • 👩‍🔬 Forensic insights from CSI legend Sheryl “Mac” McCollum
    • 😂 Wild theories and questionable detective work from Shane, Josh & Kim
    • ✨ That signature Mystery Inc. blend of spooky, not scary


    Listen now and join the fun — it’s not every day you get to solve a mystery a mile high!



    Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/mystery-inc/exclusive-content

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    1 hr and 18 mins