*From The Vault* Dyatlov Pass

S6 Ep1: The World's Most Best Step-Brother! The Tragic Story of Nicole Van Den Hurk.

Jul 2, 202643 minSummary

In this episode of Strange and Unexplained with Daisy Eagan, the host explores the tragic 1995 murder of fifteen-year-old Nicole Van Den Hurk in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. Nicole disappeared while biking to work, and despite an extensive search, her body was not discovered until weeks later. The case remained a cold, haunting mystery for years, compounded by false leads, a bizarre confession from her stepbrother Andy, and an initial failure by authorities to identify the killer. Eagan details how the case was eventually cracked through the exhumation of Nicole’s body in 2016, which allowed for advanced DNA testing. This evidence led to the arrest of a man identified as Jos de G., a serial offender with a history of sexual violence. The narrative highlights the disturbing nature of the crime, the defense’s controversial and victim-blaming arguments, and the complexities of the Dutch legal system regarding perpetrator anonymity and psychiatric care. Ultimately, the episode examines the harrowing, decades-long quest for justice undertaken by Nicole’s family, emphasizing the profound resilience required to uncover the truth behind such a life-altering tragedy.

Introducing Dear Daisy: Some Thoughts Need To Stay Inside

Jun 25, 20261h 11mSummary

In this episode of Dear Daisy, Daisy Eagan explores the cathartic nature of vulnerability and the complexities of the human experience. Opening with reflections on a recent writing retreat in Maine, Daisy shares her fascination with the mundane yet poignant details found in a stranger's 1945 diary. This discovery serves as a jumping-off point for a deeper conversation about the invisibility of our daily lives and the importance of examining our internal narratives. The heart of the episode focuses on a listener letter from a woman grappling with mid-life transitions, strained family relationships, and profound self-doubt. Daisy offers compassionate, grounded advice, emphasizing that parental guilt and personal anger are often universal, if uncomfortable, parts of growth. She encourages listeners to practice self-compassion by treating their own inner struggles with the same kindness they would offer a loved one. Throughout the discussion, Daisy highlights the necessity of finding space to reset, the inevitability of failing our children in small ways, and the transformative power of acknowledging our own trauma rather than letting it dictate our future. It is an honest, raw, and deeply human dialogue about finding connection in our shared imperfections.

*From The Vault* Gef! The Talking Mongoose

Jun 22, 202639 minSummary

This episode of Strange and Unexplained dives into the bizarre 1930s case of Gef, the talking mongoose. The story centers on the Irving family, who lived on a remote, isolated farm on the Isle of Man. In 1931, the family began hearing strange scratching and growling noises coming from behind their farmhouse walls. James Irving, the family patriarch, claimed to have trained the creature to imitate animal sounds, which eventually progressed into the animal mimicking nursery rhymes and engaging in fluent human conversation. The entity, who identified himself as Gef and claimed to be an eighty-year-old mongoose from Delhi, became a local sensation. He reportedly possessed uncanny knowledge of horse racing, sang songs, and displayed a volatile personality, often throwing objects and mocking the family. Despite numerous investigations by famed paranormal researchers like Harry Price, definitive evidence remained elusive. While some witnesses claimed to hear the voice, physical evidence—including hair and paw prints—was later debunked as belonging to the family’s dog or fabricated by human hands. Ultimately, the episode explores whether Gef was a sophisticated hoax born of isolation or a genuine, inexplicable phenomenon.

S5: *From The Vault* Lady of the Dunes Update

Jun 18, 202640 minSummary

In this episode of Strange and Unexplained with Daisy Eagan, the host provides a significant update on the long-standing mystery of the Lady of the Dunes. For decades, the unidentified woman found murdered in 1974 on a Cape Cod beach remained a haunting cold case. However, using advancements in investigative genetic genealogy—the same technology used to identify the Golden State Killer—authorities finally identified her in 2022 as Ruth Marie Terry. The episode explores Terry’s tragic life, including her early marriage, her decision to place her son for adoption, and her eventual marriage to Guy Muldavin. Eagan delves into Muldavin’s dark history, revealing him to be a predatory figure linked to other disappearances and brutal murders in the 1960s. The investigation uncovers how Muldavin managed to evade justice for years while using aliases to manipulate and harm the women in his life. The discussion highlights the heartbreaking reality of Terry’s story, the failures of historical missing persons reporting, and how modern science finally provided answers to a mystery that spanned nearly half a century.

*From The Vault* Lady of the Dunes

Jun 15, 202633 minSummary

In this episode of Strange and Unexplained with Daisy Eagan, the host explores the chilling and enduring cold case of the Lady of the Dunes. Discovered in July 1974 at Race Point Dunes in Provincetown, Massachusetts, the unidentified woman was found brutally murdered, having been bludgeoned and sexually assaulted. Despite her distinctive, high-end dental work—which suggested she was not a local transient—and extensive police efforts to trace her, she remained a Jane Doe, ultimately named the Lady of the Dunes. The episode delves into various theories that have emerged over the decades, including potential links to notorious Boston mobster Whitey Bulger, a suspicious sighting in the film Jaws, and the claims of individuals who insisted they were the first to find the body. Eagan examines how advancements in forensic science, such as DNA testing, have failed to provide a definitive identity despite multiple exhumations. The narrative highlights the tragic reality of a woman erased from history, leaving behind a haunting, unsolved mystery that continues to frustrate investigators and capture the public imagination.

S5: *From The Vault* Monsters of the Deep

Jun 11, 202633 minSummary

In this episode of Strange and Unexplained, host Daisy Eagan explores the enduring fascination with mythical aquatic creatures and unexplained underwater encounters. The narrative begins by tracing the history of the Loch Ness Monster, dating back to 6th-century accounts involving Saint Columba. The discussion highlights how the 1933 sightings by the Mackays and the Spicers solidified the modern image of the monster, eventually fueling a global obsession. Eagan examines the role of media sensationalism and hoaxes, specifically detailing the infamous surgeon’s photo and the elaborate fabrications of Marmaduke Wetherell. The episode then shifts to a more modern and chilling mystery involving Lake Baikal in Siberia. Eagan recounts an alleged 1982 encounter where Soviet naval divers reportedly discovered ten-foot-tall humanoids in metallic suits operating deep underwater. The incident resulted in a tragic failed mission and raises questions about unidentified underwater objects and potential extraterrestrial activity. Throughout the episode, Eagan balances the eerie, accounts of ancient petroglyphs and military reports with a healthy dose of skepticism, ultimately questioning why these deep-water mysteries continue to capture the human imagination.

S5: *From The Vault* Secret Identities

Jun 4, 202634 minSummary

In this Pride Month special of Strange and Unexplained with Daisy Eagan, the host explores the lives of two historical figures whose hidden identities challenge our understanding of gender, courage, and history. The episode first examines the legend of the Stonewall lesbian, a mysterious woman often cited as the spark that ignited the 1969 Stonewall riots. Eagan discusses the lack of contemporary documentation of this pivotal event and introduces Stormé DeLarverie, a fascinating, gender-nonconforming performer who later claimed to be that figure. The discussion highlights the complexity of DeLarverie’s life, noting how she existed as a protector and icon within the queer community while maintaining her privacy about her specific role in history. The second narrative shifts to the turn of the 20th century, focusing on Murray Hall, a prominent and politically connected man in New York City. Upon his death in 1901, it was revealed that Hall, who had lived as a man for decades, was assigned female at birth. Eagan reflects on the societal shock that followed this discovery, using these stories to discuss the lengths individuals have historically gone to in order to live authentically in a world that sought to restrict them.

From The Vault- Elevators: Terror and Death in a 6 by 6 Foot Car

Jun 1, 202632 minSummary

In this episode of Strange and Unexplained, host Daisy Eagan explores the unsettling reality behind a piece of modern technology we often take for granted: the elevator. The discussion centers on the harrowing true story of Nicholas White, who in 1999 became trapped in an office building elevator in New York City for 41 hours. Despite the alarm blaring and a security camera monitoring the situation, White was left forgotten over a weekend, leading to a profound meditation on urban isolation and the fragility of modern security systems. Beyond this chilling account, the episode delves into the history of elevator safety, noting how early designs were notorious for fatal accidents before the invention of automated braking systems and safety doors. Eagan also pivots to the supernatural, examining local legends of haunted elevators in hotels and dormitories, and concludes by testing the infamous urban legend known as the Elevator Game. Through this blend of historical fact, personal narrative, and paranormal curiosity, the podcast highlights how mundane daily conveniences can occasionally become the backdrop for life-altering, and sometimes truly strange, experiences.

S5 Ep47: Seven Went Up. One Came Down. The Khamar Daban Incident

May 28, 202635 minSummary

In this episode of Strange and Unexplained, host Daisy Eagan explores the harrowing Khamar Daban incident, a mysterious tragedy that occurred in the mountains of southern Siberia in 1993. The story follows a group of seven experienced hikers led by the skilled survivalist Lyudmilla Korovina. During a demanding trek, a sudden and severe storm—described as a Mongolian cyclone—overtook the group, leading to the rapid and unexplained deaths of six of its members. The only survivor, seventeen-year-old Valentina Utachenko, was discovered days later in a state of shock after managing to escape the mountain alone. Eagan examines the bizarre details reported by Valentina, including accounts of hikers foaming at the mouth, acting erratically, and tearing off their clothing despite the freezing temperatures. The episode breaks down the various theories surrounding the incident, ranging from psychological breakdowns and accidental mushroom poisoning to exposure to covert government toxins or lethal infrasound waves caused by the storm. By comparing conflicting accounts and the sparse official documentation, Eagan highlights the persistent lack of clarity, leaving listeners to grapple with one of the most chilling and inexplicable survival mysteries in recent history.