Unexplained America The Podcast

Unexplained America is a weekly podcast, hosted by Lisa Ponson. I discuss true crime, paranormal, cryptid, legend, and anything unexplained connected with America. Join me for episodes rich in researching the history, background and nuance of the story perhaps a bit quirky. If possible, I love to explore the places myself and discuss the story from a personal perspective. The more creepy and unexplained the better!!!

Unexplained America The Podcast is a true crime podcast hosted by Lisa Ponson, with 143 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Lisa Ponson hosts Unexplained America The Podcast, a true crime show with 143 episodes published.

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  Episode #143

  Crossroads: Legen and Life of Robert Johnson

  Sep 28, 20261h 9mS1

  In this episode of Unexplained America, your host Lisa has Guest Host Dr. Amber Bramlett discuss the life and legend of Robert Johnson and his connection to the folklore of the Crossroads Amber begins with the legend of Robert Johnson disappearing into the Delta country and meeting a dark, mysterious stranger to "tune" his guitar. They meet at a crossroads at MIDNIGHT and once Robert meets this mystery person; he then is able to be the best blues guitarist in the Delta. People speculate that in order to gain this gift Robert must have met with the Devil himself or one of this henchmen and sold his soul for the gift. Amber goes on to outline Robert's sad tragic life, his marriage, his child, and then his youthful death at 27. She goes on to describe the three graves attributed to Robert and the mysterious death certificate. This episode has all the information on Robert Johnson and the Crossroads legend. Listen to the entire episode and share your thoughts. Works Cited below--other Works mentioned in episode: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crossroads_(1986_film) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ReMastered:_Devil_at_the_Crossroads Episodes DID include other information via: https://www.newspapers.com/ https://www.ancestry.com/ Big Thanks go out to Gage Fears for his original music made for Unexplained Arkansas the Podcast usage--His contact below--find him on Instagram!! https://www.facebook.com/gfearsmedia?rdid=2J3DmRrwK1yzecQl&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F16Ws41EzTt%2F# https://www.instagram.com/i_deliver_pizza/ To connect w/ Unexplained America: unexplainedamerica2@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586477442538 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8rIqbuh-TeAl_9dZNL3fUA https://www.instagram.com/unexplained_america/ https://www.tiktok.com/@unexplainedamerica Find me on all Podcasts Platforms. Xoxoxoxo, Lisa Works Cited Anderson, Jeffrey E. Conjure in African American Society. Louisiana State UP, 2005. Chireau, Yvonne P. Black Magic: Religion and the African American Conjuring Tradition. U of California P, 2003. Conforth, Bruce, and Gayle Dean Wardlow. Up Jumped the Devil: The Real Life of Robert Johnson. Chicago Review Press, 2019. Connell, David. “Retrospective Blues: Robert Johnson—An Open Letter to Eric Clapton.” BMJ, vol. 333, 2006, p. 489. Evans, David. Big Road Blues: Tradition and Creativity in the Folk Blues. U of California P, 1982. Hazzard-Donald, Katrina. Mojo Workin’: The Old African American Hoodoo System. U of Illinois P, 2012. Hurston, Zora Neale. “Hoodoo in America.” The Journal of American Folklore, vol. 44, no. 174, 1931, pp. 317–417. Hyatt, Harry Middleton. Hoodoo—Conjuration—Witchcraft—Rootwork. 5 vols., Memoirs of the Alma Egan Hyatt Foundation, 1970–78. Kail, Tony. A Secret History of Memphis Hoodoo: Rootworkers, Conjurers & Spirituals. The History Press, 2017. Komara, Edward. The Road to Robert Johnson: The Genesis and Evolution of Blues in the Delta from the Late 1800s through 1938. Hal Leonard, 2007. Library of Congress. “The Complete Recordings—Robert Johnson (1936–1937).” National Recording Registry. Mississippi State Board of Health. Certificate of Death: Robert L. Johnson. State File No. 13704, 16 Aug. 1938. Puckett, Newbell Niles. Folk Beliefs of the Southern Negro. U of North Carolina P, 1926. Short Stuff: Robert Johnson and the Devil.” Stuff You Should Know , Spotify, open.spotify.com/episode/2d0SqaUXo8JaNceOWzpvV Wald, Elijah. Escaping the Delta: Robert Johnson and the Invention of the Blues. Amistad, 2004.

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  Episode #142

  Unexplained Spooky Listener Stories Fall 2026

  Sep 21, 20261h 7mS1

  In this episode of Unexplained America, your host Lisa brings you SPOOKY Unexplained Listerner Stories from all over to scare, excite, and frighten you....and perhaps peak your curiousities. The first story is from an anonymous listener who was in the Navy. The story comes from his experience near the Bermuda Triangle. This story is spine tingling for sure and mysterious. The next experience comes from my friend Jessica--she attended a wedding at the famously haunted Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. She stayed in "Michael's" Room 218. Listen and be ready to be shocked! Third story is from a listener named Harris. Harris worked security at the famous Army-Navy Hospital in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas, between the time frames of 2020-2024. He shares several amazing and haunted stories from this very well-known paranormal hot spot. Sooo Wild! Another chilling tale comes from friend Alza--also, from Hot Springs, Arkansas. This experience was in 1981 or so--Alza was staying at The Majestic Hotel which stood -large and proud on bathhouse row from 1882-2016--when sadly it was raised due to a devestating fire. Alza's story is wildly chilling and one of my favorites. Lastly, I will discuss again Chris' ghost boy experience in Searcy, Arkansas around the time period of 1994. The boy was riding a bike striaght at Chris' truck late at night causing Chris to think he hit the boy--but it was worse when Chris realized the boy was merely a ghost. In this episode, I try to discover and discuss a boy named James Lyndell Bush--and if he is truly Chris' ghost boy??? You decide. Listen to the entire episode and share your thoughts. Shoutouts of Appreciation : To friends Jessica, Harris, and Alza--thank you very much for sharing your stories--and the anonymous friends as well!!! References for this Episode: https://www.nps.gov/places/army-and-navy-hospital.htm https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/majestic-hotel-8351/ The Daily Citizen Articles Published March 13, 1935-March 23, 1935. Episodes DID include other information via: https://www.newspapers.com/ https://www.ancestry.com/ Big Thanks go out to Gage Fears for his original music made for Unexplained Arkansas the Podcast usage--His contact below--find him on Instagram!! https://www.facebook.com/gfearsmedia?rdid=2J3DmRrwK1yzecQl&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F16Ws41EzTt%2F# https://www.instagram.com/i_deliver_pizza/ To connect w/ Unexplained America: unexplainedamerica2@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586477442538 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8rIqbuh-TeAl_9dZNL3fUA https://www.instagram.com/unexplained_america/ https://www.tiktok.com/@unexplainedamerica Find me on all Podcasts Platforms. Xoxoxoxo, Lisa

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  Episode #141

  The Arkansas Dog Boy Legend

  Sep 14, 20261h 19mS1

  In this episode of Unexplained America, your host Lisa strives to correct historical inaccuracies regarding the Arkansas Dog Boy Jarrell Bettis. The legend states that the Bettis Family allegedly purchased their beautiful Victorian home in Quitman, Arkansas, in the early 1950's. Floyd and Alline finally had their precious only child Jarrell (mistakenly listed as Gerald) in the 1950's and he turned out to be allegedly a vicious, attention seeking child that tortured animals and allegedly hurt his parents or worse as he and they got older. The legend goes on to state these torturous acts were the reason for the children of Quitman to fear the Bettis home (sometimes called the Garrett Home of Quitman)--kids feared the home because of the alleged evil spirit of the Dog Boy Gerald Bettis. In 2005, time zone an owner of the Garrett/Bettis home opened the home up to many paranormal investigators. This homeowner, Weaver, claimed to know his home was haunted by the Dog Boy and his heinous acts he conducted in the home. In the episode, there is an interview with acclaimed Arkansas Paranormal Investigator Larry Flaxman (info below)--he describes his investigation for Weaver 20 years ago. I will layout all the misconceptions and provide my research on the TRUE history of the home and Jarrell Bettis. Listen to the entire episode and share the facts. Big Shoutout to Larry Flaxman--Paranormal Investigator: https://larryflaxman.com/ https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLarryFlaxman/ https://www.instagram.com/AuthorLarryFlaxman https://www.youtube.com/c/LarryFlaxman Additional Shoutouts of Appreciation : Cleburne County Courthouse Land Deed Dept. Ladies Lakisha --Title work Queen Quitman Public Schools Yearbook Dept References for this Episode: https://www.paranormalcatalog.net/ghosts/the-arkansas-dog-boy Youtube Video 'The Dog Boy of Arkansas: A Tale..'--https://youtu.be/m4hHTeyh0lY?si=iziqhp4PehilnzTg https://truescaresandreallifenightmares.substack.com/p/the-haunting-true-story-of-deranged Dale Brumfield Article 2020--Dog Boy--An Arkansas town would probably like to kill the legend of Jarrell Bettis-- 'Quitman" --The Log Cabin Democrat--Thurs. Nov. 3, 1977 "" --The Log Cabin Demo--Thurs. Feb. 13, 1975. " "--The Log Cabin Demo--Thurs. Jun 20, 1974. Same--Same as above---Thurs May 23, 1974. Obituraries-The Log Cabin Democ--Jan, 1981. & Wed. Octobetr 4, `1995. 'The Legend of Dog Boy'--By Lisa Armstrong--2007--Arkansas Democrat Gazette--River Valley & Ozark Edition 'The Jarrell Bettis I knew'--Charlene--Ancrestry.com 'Quitman Quotations'--The Jacksonian--Thu. Oct 26, 1893-- Youtube Video--Dog Boy of Quitman/ Between Monsters & Men--May 2024. https://urbanlegend.fandom.com/wiki/Dog_Boy Episodes DID include other information via: https://www.newspapers.com/ https://www.ancestry.com/ Big Thanks go out to Gage Fears for his original music made for Unexplained Arkansas the Podcast usage--His contact below--find him on Instagram!! https://www.facebook.com/gfearsmedia?rdid=2J3DmRrwK1yzecQl&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F16Ws41EzTt%2F# https://www.instagram.com/i_deliver_pizza/ To connect w/ Unexplained America: unexplainedamerica2@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586477442538# https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8rIqbuh-TeAl_9dZNL3fUA https://www.instagram.com/unexplained_america/ Find us on Tik Tok and Instagram and all Podcasts Platforms. Xoxoxoxo, Lisa

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  Episode #140

  Titantic: Tragedy Into A Curse? (Part 3)

  Aug 31, 20261h 9mS1

  In this episode of Unexplained America, your host Lisa discusses the R.M.S. Titantic. This is Part 3 of a 3 Part episode. In Part 3, we begin in the year 1986 after Dr. Robert Ballard discovered the wreck site of the Titantic and actually dove to the wreck site. We discuss how Dr. Ballard did not take any artifacts from the wreckage; he considered the site a graveyard and respected the site too much to take an object. However, once the Titantic was found immediately thereafter in 1987; a group of investors dove to the Titantic and confiscated around 1800 objects. Selling the items and opening exhibitions. We will explore all the many explorations of the site from 1987 through to 1995 when James Cameron makes a series of dives to collect film for his epic movie "Titantic" that would come out in 1997; which will earn 11 Academy Awards, billions in revenue, and introduce a whole new age (myself included) of young people to the tragedy. Likewise, we will discuss all the many more dives to the Titantic and the disastrous Oceangate dive of the Titan in June 2023. After this horrific tragedy, we discuss all the many legends of curses from way back to 1912 on to today and the paranormal experiences of all the exhibits that hold Titantic artifacts. Ending with the question of "Would you purchase a Titantic artifact for your personal self?" References for this Episode: https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/series/titanic-reference-library/ https://britishtitanicsociety.com/links-research-resources/ https://titanicarchive.org/ https://guides.loc.gov/titanic/library-resources https://titanicinquiry.org/ https://worldhistoryedu.com/was-the-titanic-actually-cursed/ https://www.history.com/videos/expedition-titanic https://rmstitanicinc.com/titanic-expeditions/ https://captainstableblog.com/haunting-reminders-of-the-night-titanic-artifacts-and-the-paranormal/ https://titanicsurvivors.com/victims/titanic-bodies-recovered/ https://www.britannica.com/event/Titan-submersible-implosion "Titantic-Treasure of the Deep"--Antonio Montanez channel--https://youtu.be/fpcjDsFEQ6M?si=BDiuxErQm4j3wOje "Robert Ballard returns for first time since discovering Titantic"-The Bay City Times-Mon. Dec. 6 2004 "Survivor says leave Titantic"--Times Record--Wed. Sept. 11, 1985. "Survivor of Titantic Still Remembers How Cold it Was"-Tarddema Arar--The Sun. Sunday Apr 11, 1982. "Titantic Survivor Nellie Snyder: Interview (1980)" Titantic Archive--channel--interview excerpt from an interview conducted by Gerald Skelly for St Paul Public Schools Educational Television out of Minnesota. Episodes DID include other information via: https://www.newspapers.com/ https://www.ancestry.com/ Big Thanks go out to Gage Fears for his original music made for Unexplained Arkansas the Podcast usage--His contact below--find him on Instagram!! https://www.facebook.com/gfearsmedia?rdid=2J3DmRrwK1yzecQl&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F16Ws41EzTt%2F# https://www.instagram.com/i_deliver_pizza/ To connect w/ Unexplained America: unexplainedamerica2@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586477442538# https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8rIqbuh-TeAl_9dZNL3fUA https://www.instagram.com/unexplained_america/ Find us on Tik Tok and Instagram and all Podcasts Platforms. Xoxoxoxo, Lisa

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  Episode #139

  Titantic: Tragedy Into A Curse? (Part 2)

  Aug 24, 20261h 7mS1

  tIn this episode of Unexplained America, your host Lisa discusses the R.M.S. Titantic. This is Part 2 of a 3 Part episode. I originally researched this for my Patreon in 2025 but I re-recorded this for you all. In Part 2, we discuss the events of the night of the Titantic sinking. How the S.S. California was very close to the Titantic (close enough to see the flares and close enough to thus save the passengers), we discuss the herorism of the R.M.S. Carpathia. They were too far away from the Titantic to actually save the passengers; however, they were close enough to make it to the wreck site by 4 am on April 15, 1912. which allowed them to bring the survivors on board, get them warm and even send more ships out to people in the water thus saving these survivors and taking them to New York City. We discuss the recovery efforts of the bodies of those that drowned. Ultimately out of the 1500 or so drownings, 333 bodies would be recovered to be either given burial by sea, or buried in Halifax, Nova Scotia (distributed in 3 cemeteries), or returned to their family for burial. Out of the 333, there were 59 bodies that could not be identified and had to be buried by the number assigned to their body. I will also discuss the legal battles, the British Inquiry and United States Inquiries and decisions, the films made about the Titantic between 1912-1985; and ultimately the searches for the Titantic itself in that time period until Dr. Robert Ballards' team finally locates the missing ship September 1, 1985. Listen to the whole episode for all the details. References for this Episode: https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/series/titanic-reference-library/ https://britishtitanicsociety.com/links-research-resources/ https://titanicarchive.org/ https://guides.loc.gov/titanic/library-resources https://titanicinquiry.org/ Episodes DID include other information via: https://www.newspapers.com/ https://www.ancestry.com/ Big Thanks go out to Gage Fears for his original music made for Unexplained Arkansas the Podcast usage--His contact below--find him on Instagram!! https://www.facebook.com/gfearsmedia?rdid=2J3DmRrwK1yzecQl&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F16Ws41EzTt%2F# https://www.instagram.com/i_deliver_pizza/ To connect w/ Unexplained America: unexplainedamerica2@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586477442538# https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8rIqbuh-TeAl_9dZNL3fUA https://www.instagram.com/unexplained_america/ Find us on Tik Tok and Instagram and all Podcasts Platforms. Xoxoxoxo, Lisa

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