A Study of Strange
For lovers of true crime, mysteries, and outlandish tales of strangeness, join host Michael May as he and a guest study tales of the unknown each week. A Study of Strange attempts to debunk common misconceptions and encourages each guest to “play a role” in the storytelling process. Guests include entertainment industry insiders, friends, weirdos, randos, and more! Michael May is a filmmaker and performer known for producing films like GHOSTS OF THE OZARKS, 12 HOUR SHIFT, FUN SIZE HORROR and hosting the true-crime automotive TV shows AUTO/BIOGRAPHY and AUTOBIOGRAPHY: COLD CASES. He obsesses over historical mysteries and loves to bring fascinating stories to life.
Episodes

Monday Oct 03, 2022
Ghosts Of The Myrtles Plantation with Bill Whirity
Monday Oct 03, 2022
Monday Oct 03, 2022
If you were to ask what the most haunted house in United States is, chances are high that the Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana tops the list. Film writer/director Bill Whirity joins the show to discuss the history of the Myrtles Plantation. A history that perfectly mixes legend and fact, to create a unique destination for skeptics and believers alike. What’s real? What’s fake? And, what’s it like to stay the night in the most haunted house in America?
Bill Whirity is an award winning writer and director who is also the co-founder of The Midnite Movie Club which is the world’s first decentralized movie studio. The MMC is a community of film lovers who want to be more than just passive viewers. People who yearn to see fun, entertaining, genre movies get made again.
Subscribe and listen to upcoming paranormal episodes of A Study Of Strange all throughout October! Happy Halloween! And, join Patreon for exclusive content at https://www.patreon.com/astudyofstrange
Midnite Movie Club: https://midnitemovieclub.com/
Theme Music by Matt Glass https://www.glassbrain.com/
Instagram: @astudyofstrange
Hosted by Michael May
©2022 Convergent Content, LLC
Links:
https://myrtlesplantation.com/
https://stfrancisville.net/
https://www.amazon.com/Frances-Kermeen/e/B001ITRMTO%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001E2WMAO/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0
https://www.amazon.com/Haunted-History-Louisiana-Plantations-America-ebook/dp/B075H2TNL2/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1AULI8R4E9JZ&keywords=the+myrtles+plantation&qid=1664403410&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIzLjI4IiwicXNhIjoiMi4zMyIsInFzcCI6IjIuNTAifQ%3D%3D&s=digital-text&sprefix=the+myrtles+plantation%2Cdigital-text%2C197&sr=1-4
https://www.americanhauntingsink.com/myrtles
https://medium.com/exploring-history/the-history-and-the-haunting-of-the-myrtles-plantation-6c1190615f
https://www.wafb.com/story/36992338/not-your-average-selfie-louisiana-plantation-posts-haunted-picture/
https://www.fox8live.com/story/27174205/haunted-new-orleans-5-horrifying-stories-and-legends/
https://countryroadsmagazine.com/art-and-culture/history/witnesses-to-the-paranormal/

Monday Sep 26, 2022
Murder in Mandan with Brian James O’Connell
Monday Sep 26, 2022
Monday Sep 26, 2022
Feature film director Brian James O'Connell came across the case of a North Dakota man arrested for the brutal killing of four people in 2019, and became so intrigued that he traveled to North Dakota to attend part of the trial. On this episode of A Study Of Strange, Brian shares details of the bizarre case that shocked the city of Mandan, ND.
The alleged killer, Chad Isaak, professed during his trial that he was not the murderer, but all of the evidence pointed directly to Isaak. Evidence that includes security camera footage of a man with a distinct walk, just like Isaak's, the discovery of the murder weapons, blood on and in his truck, and more.
What makes this case even more strange is that there appears to be no motive. No connection with the killer to the victims.
Today we attempt to make sense of the senseless, and share recent news related to Chad Isaak.
Join Patreon to get access to special content and a free giveaway for the next 50 days! Visit www.astrudyofstrange.com for more show notes, resources, and strange info!
Find our more about Brian O'Connell:
http://itsboc.com/
http://drgodcomedy.com
https://www.facebook.com/Improv1to1/
http://www.improvutopia.com/
Theme Music by Matt Glass http://www.glassbrain.com/
Instagram: @astudyofstrange
Hosted by Michael May
©2022 Convergent Content, LLC
Links:
https://www.kvrr.com/tag/chad-isaak/
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/28/us/chad-isaak-sentencing-north-dakota.html#:~:text=the%20main%20story-,Killer%20Who%20Stabbed%204%20People%20100%20Times%20Gets%20Life%20Without,'m%20not%20a%20murderer.%E2%80%9D&text=As%20a%20subscriber%2C%20you%20have,articles%20to%20give%20each%20month.
https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/2021/12/28/mandan-murders-judge-sentences-man-life-killing-4-2019/9033643002/
https://www.kvrr.com/2022/07/06/isaak-appeals-mandan-murder-convictions/

Monday Sep 19, 2022
Monday Sep 19, 2022
What do spies have to do with a murder in a small New Hampshire town in 1918? Maybe nothing. Maybe everything. Today we conclude the story of the epically strange murder of Dr. William Dean with guests, actor Tara Perry ("The Fresh Beat Band", "12 Hour Shift", "Ghosts of the Ozarks"), and her husband, filmmaker Jordan Wayne Long ("Ghosts of the Ozarks").
During World War I, there were reports of strange lights in the mountains of Southern New Hampshire. Paranoia was at an all time high and people believed the strange lights were signals to and from German spies, possibly even communicating with U-boats off the Eastern coast of the US. The government was so concerned that they sent agents to investigate the signal lights, which never stopped during the course of the war.
Caught up in the midst of what seems like the plot of a spy novel, was a resident of Jaffrey, New Hampshire, Dr. William Dean. One quiet night in August of 1918, Dr. Dean ventured towards his barn to milk his cow, but he never made it back inside for his dinner. Dean was later found in six feet of water within his cistern, tied, covered in a bag, and strangled to death. Nothing was stolen. No apparent motive ever discovered. For over 100 years, the murder has transfixed the town and the best theory to date is that Dr. Dean saw something related to the strange lights in the mountains, and it got him killed.
Join Patreon to get access to special content and a free giveaway for the next 60 days! Visit www.astrudyofstrange.com for more show notes, resources, and strange info!
Theme Music by Matt Glass http://www.glassbrain.com/
Instagram: @astudyofstrange
Hosted by Michael May
©2022 Convergent Content, LLC
Links:
https://www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/killed-william-dean-tale-spies-swindlers-politicians/
https://www.ledgertranscript.com/Dean-murder-overview-19015646
http://www.jaffreyhistory.org/10dean/margaret.pdf
http://www.jaffreyhistory.org/10dean/MarkBeanPaper.pdf
https://rs41.smugmug.com/Jaffrey/Dean-Murder

Tuesday Sep 13, 2022
”News Of Strangeness” September, 2022
Tuesday Sep 13, 2022
Tuesday Sep 13, 2022
News Of Strangeness is normally an exclusive perk for members of A Study Of Strange's patrons. To gain access to more News Of Strangeness episodes, or other additional content, visit www.astudyofstrange.com or https://www.patreon.com/astudyofstrange Join Patreon in the next few months and receive a free giveaway!
Thank you for listening!
Theme Music by Matt Glass http://www.glassbrain.com/
Join our Patreon for exclusive content!
Instagram: @astudyofstrange
Hosted by Michael May
©2022 Convergent Content, LLC

Monday Sep 12, 2022
Monday Sep 12, 2022
What do spies have to do with a murder in a small New Hampshire town in 1918? Maybe nothing. Maybe everything. Today we explore the strange murder of Dr. William Dean with guests, actor Tara Perry ("The Fresh Beat Band", "12 Hour Shift", "Ghosts of the Ozarks"), and her husband, filmmaker Jordan Wayne Long ("Ghosts of the Ozarks").
During World War I, there were reports of strange lights in the mountains of Southern New Hampshire. Paranoia was at an all time high and people believed the strange lights were signals to and from German spies, possibly even communicating with U-boats off the Eastern coast of the US. The government was so concerned that they sent agents to investigate the signal lights, which never stopped during the course of the war.
Caught up in the midst of what seems like the plot of a spy novel, was a resident of Jaffrey, New Hampshire, Dr. William Dean. One quiet night in August of 1918, Dr. Dean ventured towards his barn to milk his cow, but he never made it back inside for his dinner. Dean was later found in six feet of water within his cistern, tied, covered in a bag, and strangled to death. Nothing was stolen. No apparent motive ever discovered. For over 100 years, the murder has transfixed the town and the best theory to date is that Dr. Dean saw something related to the strange lights in the mountains, and it got him killed.
Join Patreon to get access to special content and a free giveaway for the next 60 days! Visit www.astrudyofstrange.com for more show notes, resources, and strange info!
Theme Music by Matt Glass http://www.glassbrain.com/
Instagram: @astudyofstrange
Hosted by Michael May
©2022 Convergent Content, LLC
Links:
https://www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/killed-william-dean-tale-spies-swindlers-politicians/
https://www.ledgertranscript.com/Dean-murder-overview-19015646
http://www.jaffreyhistory.org/10dean/margaret.pdf
http://www.jaffreyhistory.org/10dean/MarkBeanPaper.pdf
https://rs41.smugmug.com/Jaffrey/Dean-Murder

Monday Sep 05, 2022
”The Light Grid” Interview excerpt w/ Tony Swansey
Monday Sep 05, 2022
Monday Sep 05, 2022
Tony Swansey shares a personal strange, supernatural experience that happened during a camping trip to Joshua Tree. This interview is an excerpt from a longer interview released exclusively to A Study Of Strange's Patreon members. To learn more or listen to the entire, unedited interview visit www.astudyofstrange.com and click on the Patreon tab.
Thank you for listening! Visit www.astrudyofstrange.com for more show notes, resources, and strange info!
Theme Music by Matt Glass http://www.glassbrain.com/
Join our Patreon for exclusive content!
Instagram: @astudyofstrange
Hosted by Michael May
©2022 Convergent Content, LLC

Monday Sep 05, 2022
The Bennington Triangle - With filmmaker Yuri Baranovsky (”The Summoned”)
Monday Sep 05, 2022
Monday Sep 05, 2022
Special guest Yuri Baranovsky, the writer/producer behind the horror film "The Summoned", joins the podcast to learn about the mysteries and folklore surrounding The Bennington Triangle. This Vermont location is the setting for at least five strange disappearances starting in 1945. No known connections exist between the victims except their location and strange details.
The Bennington Triangle was a name given to the area in 1992 by Vermont author Joseph A Citro. Most accounts briefly mention a history of odd things in Vermont from UFOs, to Bigfoot like cryptids, and curses, but there is never much detail about such legends. Today, on this episode on A Study Of Strange, we attempt to track down those stories and see if they could be connected to the missing persons of The Bennington Triangle.
Thank you for listening! Visit www.astrudyofstrange.com for more show notes, resources, and strange info!
Check out Yuri's work here: https://www.hlgstudios.com/
Theme Music by Matt Glass http://www.glassbrain.com/
Join our Patreon for exclusive content!
Instagram: @astudyofstrange
Hosted by Michael May
©2022 Convergent Content, LLC
Links:
Joseph Citro Books:
https://www.amazon.com/Joseph-A.-Citro/e/B001JSJOOK%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share
https://www.amazon.com/Passing-Strange-England-Hauntings-Horrors-ebook/dp/B007QUU6XS/ref=sr_1_4?crid=2RQL00BMMRGFF&keywords=joseph+a+citro&qid=1661787715&s=digital-text&sprefix=joseph+a+citro%2Cdigital-text%2C133&sr=1-4
https://www.amazon.com/Passing-Strange-England-Hauntings-Horrors-ebook/dp/B007QUU6XS/ref=sr_1_4?crid=2RQL00BMMRGFF&keywords=joseph+a+citro&qid=1661787715&s=digital-text&sprefix=joseph+a+citro%2Cdigital-text%2C133&sr=1-4
https://www.benningtonbanner.com/local-news/lost-in-glastenbury/article_3e0f679a-9ebf-5ba9-b990-8f8e39ea128d.html
https://obscurevermont.com/the-vanished-town-of-glastenbury-and-the-bennington-triangle/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_Seen_Wearing_..._(Hillary_Waugh_novel)
https://www.grunge.com/625795/the-biggest-bennington-triangle-disappearance-theories-what-really-happened/
http://obscurevermont.com/tag/ghost-story/
https://www.vermontpublic.org/programs/2013-10-25/gilbert-vampires-in-vermont#stream/0
https://www.benningtonbanner.com/local-news/lost-in-glastenbury/article_3e0f679a-9ebf-5ba9-b990-8f8e39ea128d.html
https://www.times-news.com/sports/local_sports/black-bears-kill/article_8a49bdd8-6cfa-51d1-b12f-c1c2a1cd539e.html
https://urbanpostmortem.wordpress.com/2015/04/07/the-vanished-town-of-glastenbury-and-the-bennington-triangle/

Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
Part 2 of the mystery of William H. Mumler. Guest Timothy Donahue, filmmaker and tall former co-host of the deep cable show "Auto/Biography", strangely stuck around for the conclusion. Tim wears his skeptic hat as Michael introduces him to the story of William H. Mumler, the father of spirit photography and a likely conman.It was in New York City in 1869 when William Mumler was accused of fraud. Mumler was a medium who would take portraits of people, and on their photographs would magically appear ghosts. The practice became known as Spirit Photography. While we might look at Mumler’s photographs with a modern eye and clearly see double exposure as a method to create the spirits, no one could figure out how Mumler was pulling off his deceit.
Mumler’s case is connected directly to our cultural beliefs and distrust of the media today. And, we still don’t know how he did it.
Thank you for listening! Visit www.astrudyofstrange.com for more show notes, resources, and strange info!
Theme Music by Matt Glass http://www.glassbrain.com/
Join our Patreon for exclusive content!
Instagram: @astudyofstrange
Hosted by Michael May
©2022 Convergent Content, LLC
Research Resources:
https://www.amazon.com/Apparitionists-Phantoms-Photography-Captured-Lincolns/dp/0544745973/ref=asc_df_0544745973/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312134266711&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3198501778131025376&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031201&hvtargid=pla-412257958969&psc=1
https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/person/104VG5
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/meet-mr-mumler-man-who-captured-lincolns-ghost-camera-180965090/
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/photo-booth/photographer-who-claimed-to-capture-abraham-lincoln-ghosthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_of_Abraham_Lincoln_(photograph)
https://www.indiatimes.com/trending/social-relevance/worlds-oldest-photos-543067.html
https://www.britannica.com/technology/wet-collodion-process
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii2O6wz0Zxc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xsx6xqi0vzU

Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
The Spirit Photographer William H. Mumler Part 1 - With Guest Tim Donahue
Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
Our special guest for this two parter mystery is Timothy Donahue, a filmmaker and former co-host of the tv series “Auto/Biography” along with A Study Strange’s host Michael May. Tim wears his skeptic hat as Michael introduces him to the story of William H. Mumler, the father of spirit photography and a likely conman.It was in New York City in 1869 when William Mumler was accused of fraud. Mumler was a medium who would take portraits of people, and on their photographs would magically appear ghosts. The practice became known as Spirit Photography. While we might look at Mumler’s photographs with a modern eye and clearly see double exposure as a method to create the spirits, no one could figure out how Mumler was pulling off his deceit.
Mumler’s case is connected directly to our cultural beliefs and distrust of the media today. And, we still don’t know how he did it.
Thank you for listening! Visit www.astrudyofstrange.com for more show notes, resources, and strange info!
Theme Music by Matt Glass http://www.glassbrain.com/
Join our Patreon for exclusive content!
Instagram: @astudyofstrange
Hosted by Michael May
©2022 Convergent Content, LLC
Research Resources:
https://www.amazon.com/Apparitionists-Phantoms-Photography-Captured-Lincolns/dp/0544745973/ref=asc_df_0544745973/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312134266711&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3198501778131025376&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031201&hvtargid=pla-412257958969&psc=1
https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/person/104VG5
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/meet-mr-mumler-man-who-captured-lincolns-ghost-camera-180965090/
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/photo-booth/photographer-who-claimed-to-capture-abraham-lincoln-ghosthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_of_Abraham_Lincoln_(photograph)
https://www.indiatimes.com/trending/social-relevance/worlds-oldest-photos-543067.html
https://www.britannica.com/technology/wet-collodion-process
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii2O6wz0Zxc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xsx6xqi0vzU

Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
The Murder of Biggie Smalls - With expert guest, filmmaker Michael Dorsey
Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
Tuesday Aug 30, 2022
The co-executive producer and showrunner of Ghost Adventures: House Calls, Michael Dorsey, has made a career out of documenting compelling stories for TV and film. Over the years he's become known for his expertise on the "unsolved" murder of Biggie Smalls having produced multiple projects about the case. On this episode of A Study of Strange, Dorsey shares his insight and opinion about who killed Biggie and why there have been no arrests.
On March 9th, 1997, in Los Angeles CA, superstar music artist Biggie Smalls, aka the Notorious B.I.G., was shot at an after party near the Peterson Automotive Museum. The assailant pulled up along side Biggie in a Chevrolet Impala and attacked. Biggie was rushed to the hospital but passed away shortly after arriving. He was only 24 years old.
This came just 6 months after rival rapper, Tupac Shakur, was also shot and killed. Many speculate the murders were connected.
No suspect has ever been arrested for Biggie’s murder despite the fact that many consider the case solved. Therein lies where the case takes a strange turn. The murder of Biggie Smalls is shrouded in conspiracy theories and rumors. Rumors of gang violence, business rivalries, police corruption, and vengeance. The truth may lie somewhere in the middle.
Thank you for listening! Visit www.astrudyofstrange.com for more show notes, resources, and strange info!
Theme Music by Matt Glass http://www.glassbrain.com/
Join our Patreon for exclusive content!
Instagram: @astudyofstrange
Hosted by Michael May
©2022 Convergent Content, LLC
Links to Resources and Michael Dorsey's Biggie Smalls projects:
Murder Rap Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_7kG4SbBdI
Deep Diver Series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiUOCK0hsUY
Michael Dorsey Interviews
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzgtqbLm258
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zDLyDLt--s