In this week's episode, Abby returns with a gripping kidnapping story. In December of 1968, Barbara Jane Mackle was trying to complete her fall term exams at Emory College so she could go home for winter break. Unfortunately, her plans were interrupted when she was kidnapped by armed assailants and held for ransom under harrowing circumstances. Be …

In this week's episode, Abby takes the gang to the foggy London streets of the Victorian era to learn about one of the first urban legends- the story of Spring-Heeled Jack. For several decades in the 1800s, the elusive and infamous Spring-Heeled Jack, known for his blue flames, sharp claws, and incredible leaps, struck fear into the hearts of Engla…

In this week's episode, Shawna brings the tale of one of the biggest mysteries to ever come out of the Pacific Northwest- The story of D.B. Cooper. Tune in to learn the details behind one brazen man's plans to hijack a plane, ask for and receive a ransom, and then parachute to safety without ever being caught. Credits: Wikipedia.com FBI.gov Music B…

In this week's episode, Abby brings the tragic and infuriating case of the 2012 Costa Concordia cruise ship disaster. Please tune in to the unbelievable story of a negligent cruise ship captain whose decisions would lead to the demise of not only his ship but also innocent lives. Credits: Britanica.com Wikipedia.com Theindependant.co.uk Theguardian…

In this week's episode, Shawna makes the crew feel downright terrible as she covers the notorious Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. Also know as the Weston State Hospital, the sprawling property was once built with good intentions, but took a downward turn and became known for its horrid conditions and treatment of its patients. Tune in to learn all …

In this week's episode, Abby concludes the two-part series on the incredible survival story of Louis Zamperini. He was an Olympic runner and a US Army Air Force bombardier. Louis faced a plane crash, weeks on a raft surrounded by sharks, capture by the Japanese military, and much more. Tune in for the conclusion of Zamperini's harrowing time as a P…

In this week's episode, Abby presents part one of a two-part series discussing the incredible survival story of Louis Zamperini. He was an Olympic runner who served in the United States Air Force during WWII and faced numerous challenges, including a plane crash, becoming a castaway, and being taken as a prisoner of war. Be sure to tune in for the …

In this week's episode, Abby brings us back to the true crime of it all with the horrible story of Daniel LaPlante. Although this story is chock-full of disclaimers and content warnings, the gang forges ahead with the story about a disturbed teenager who would go on to commit heinous crimes against the Bowen family and the Gustafson family during t…

In this week's episode, Shawna and Abby have a lot of catching up to do, especially after Shawna's return from Mexico. If you want to skip to the story, we understand that; the time stamp you're looking for is 20:40. After catching up, Shawna delves into the mysterious missing person case of Brian Shaffer, a young American medical student who went …

In this week's episode, Abby shares the harrowing survival story of Juliane Koepcke. Juliane was a teenage girl who became the only survivor of LANSA flight 508 after the plane crashed in the Amazon rainforest in 1971. Tune in to hear about Juliane's incredible resourcefulness and willpower, which helped her to escape the jungle and survive. Credit…

In this week's episode, Shawna tackles the thrilling and mysterious case of three prisoners who escaped from the notorious Alcatraz prison. Tune in as we delve into the meticulous planning and execution of the prisoner's escape plan, as well as the theories surrounding what happened to the men after their great escape. Credits: Wikipedia.com FBI.go…

In this week's episode, Abby brings us back to the story that started it all, The RMS Titanic. Tune in to hear the tragic first-hand accounts of the passengers who survived the sinking and vivid descriptions of what it was like to be on the ill-fated ship the night it went down. Credits: A Night To Remember by Walter Lord Wikipedia PBS.org Buzzfeed…

In this week's episode, Shawna kicks off the return of Anxious and Afraid by telling the incredible and harrowing survival tale of Harrison Okene, a man who sank to the bottom of the sea and lived to tell the tale. Tune in for this extraordinary story of human endurance and the ability to keep a level head even in the most stressful times. Don't mi…

HEY GUYS. Be sure to listen to this special announcement from those three weirdo's who missed you very much! Stick around to hear what Shawna and Abby have been up to for the past year or so while Michael sits silently in the background. Just like old times! Music By:Brokeforfree.com Edited By:Michael…

In this week's episode, Abby tells the crew all about the natural disaster at Lake Nyos. In Cameroon, West Africa during the month of August in 1986, a crater lake called Lake Nyos abruptly erupted a large cloud of mysterious white gas which traveled into the nearby villages, wreaking death and destruction on whatever it touched. Listen in to hear …

In this week's episode, Abby regales the crew with the mystifying tale of the ghost blimp. Amid WWII, a fleet of blimps would be assigned the mission of patrolling the West Coast of California for Japanese submarines. These missions were largely uneventful until August 16th, 1942 when two experienced pilots would set out on a routine patrolling mis…

In this week's episode, the crew is excited to celebrate their 100th episode milestone! We want to say a big thank you to all of our listeners for sticking with us and joining us on this crazy ride of a podcast, we couldn't have done it without you! As for the topic of this momentous episode, Abby and Shawna decided to collaborate on a natural disa…

In this week's episode, Abby regales the crew with another disaster story detailing the horrific Hartford circus fire of 1944. It was a stiflingly hot day in Hartford, Connecticut on July 6th when the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus came to town. What started as a day of fun would come to a terrible end when the big top caught fire and ki…

In this week's episode, Abby starts off with a very important announcement and then jumps right into part II of our mini-series on the crash of Eastern Airlines flight 401. Part II will focus on all of the ghostly paranormal sightings reported within a few years of the crash witnessed by several airline employees as well as airplane passengers. Tun…

In this week's episode, Abby brings the crew part one of a real nail-biter of a two-part series on the demise of Eastern Airlines Flight 401. On December 29th, 1972, Eastern Airlines flight 401 departed from JFK airport on a regularly scheduled flight to Miami, Florida. Sadly, many of the passengers and crew would not make it to their destination a…

In this week's episode, Abby pulls another strange "rain" story out of her pocket, much to Shawna's delight. It was the year 1983 in Stroudsburg PA when a young man named Don Decker became seemingly possessed by a dark entity and began exhibiting strange abilities. Much to the shock and confusion of the people around him, wherever Don went, rain wo…

In this week's episode, Abby takes on a very infamous case in the state of Oregon and the horrible tragedy that occurred in the host's hometown of Springfield, Oregon. In 1983 a young woman named Diane Downs brought her grievously wounded children to the hospital claiming that a bushy-haired stranger had shot them all. The ensuing investigation wou…

In this week's episode, Abby takes the gang on a spooky adventure with the story of Norman the doll. Stephen Lancaster, a longtime paranormal investigator, would be thrust into the case of a lifetime after he purchased a Matty Mattel doll from an antique store in 2016. Within 24 hours, the doll would prove itself as a paranormal force to be reckone…

Anxious and Afraid is proud to partner with the lovely people over at Repod, a brand new social podcast app designed to bring listeners and creators together. Repod provides a space where you can stream and discuss recent episodes, ask burning questions, and support your favorite podcasts! Be sure to use the link joinrepod.com/anxiousandafraid to j…

In this week's episode, the gang returns from their break to bring you an action-packed story of adventure and tragedy in the country of Kyrgyzstan. In the year 2000, 4 young American rock climbers would depart on a trip of a lifetime to a remote region of Kyrgyzstan to do some epic climbing, sponsored by The Northface. Sadly, the group would be ta…

In this week's episode, Abby brings the crew an anxiety-inducing tale of devastation and destruction when she tells the story of the 1947 Texas City industrial disaster. April 16th, 1947 started out like any other normal day in the small port town of Texas City but would soon turn deadly after a large cargo ship carrying explosive materials caught …

In this week's episode, Shawna shares the story of the disappearance of Frederick Valentich. In October of 1978, Valentich, a young pilot, was performing a training flight over the Bass Strait between the Australian mainland and Tasmania when he reported a strange sighting to Melbourne Flight Service. Valentich's radio then cut out and he was never…

In this week's episode, Abby returns with part two of the two-part story on the tragic death of Brittany Murphy. After Brittany was pronounced dead just before Christmas in 2009, the public and the media went wild with theories of drug overdoses and complications from an eating disorder. The official cause of death however, would only quell the rum…

In this week's episode, Abby introduces a two-part story on the life and tragic death of Brittany Murphy. In part one, the crew discusses the Hollywood culture of the 2000s and its damaging effects on the celebrities who experienced it, including Brittany Murphy. Even after gaining relative success in her acting career, Murphy struggled with her im…

In this week's episode, Shawna revisits her favorite topic of reincarnation cases! This time she tells the tale of a little girl named Rylann O'Bannion from Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Little Rylann was only two years old when she started saying odd things about a past life that had tragically been cut short. Her parents would eventually come to believ…

In this week's Baby Bonus episode, Abby brings the crew together to tell them all about a great book she recently read called Chasing Ghosts by Marc Hartzman. Listen in as Abby reads a couple of her favorite stories from the book about hungry ghosts, swindling spiritualists, and cursed movie sets! Chasing Ghosts: A Tour of Our Fascination with Spir…

In this week’s episode, Abby takes us once again into the now declassified Government-funded program, Project Stargate. But this time the crew will be hearing a story about a man named David Morehouse, a decorated soldier who found himself in the remote viewing program during his time in the military and came away with some incredible accounts and …

In this week's episode, Shawna renews everyone's travel phobias as she tells the devastating story of Pan Am Flight 759. On July 9th, 1982, the Boeing 727 took off from the New Orleans airport on a commercial flight to Las Vegas, Nevada. Shortly after takeoff, however, the plane would experience weather complications causing it to crash into a resi…

In this week's episode, Abby requests the crew keep an open mind as she tells the story of the now declassified, secret government program, Project Stargate. Also known as Project Grill Flame and Sun Streak, among other names, this government-funded program started in the early 1970s and would run for over 20 years until 1995. The project sought to…

In this week's episode, Shawna gives the crew a new thing to be scared of after she describes the tragic 1967 Silver Bridge collapse over the frigid Ohio river during rush-hour traffic. Tune in to learn the details of this devastating disaster which would claim many lives and as always, stick around to the end to find out if your town is our city o…

In this week's episode, Abby is back to share another white-knuckle natural disaster tale and this time the crew visits the 1980 volcanic eruption of Mount St Helens. Located in Washington state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, Mount Saint Helens is a gorgeous destination for hikers and families looking to enjoy nature and admire the …

In this week's episode, Abby takes on a UFO case for the first time! She tells the story of the 1965 Kecksburg UFO Incident which was witnessed by hundreds of people from Canada to Kecksburg, Pennsylvania. Many reported seeing a bright fiery object flying through the sky before supposedly crashing in rural Pennsylvania. The eyewitness reports and f…

In this week's episode, Shawna brings the group a tale of creepy alien encounters and childhood existential dread! In 1994, a large group of school children in Ruwa, Zimbabwe were out enjoying recess when they encountered otherworldly beings in a spaceship who were there to deliver a dire warning for the survival of planet Earth. Tune in for the fi…

In this week's episode, Abby regales the crew with the horrifying tale of the infamous Bloody Benders. The Bender family, which consisted of four members, Ma Bender, Pa Bender, John Jr Bender, and Kate (Katie) Bender all moved to Labette county, Kansas in 1871 where they built and operated a roadside Inn. Soon after their arrival however, travelers…

In this week's episode, Shawna takes the gang on a white-knuckle ride as she describes the Whakaari/White Island Volcano eruption which occurred on December 9th, 2019. Advertised as a stunning tourist destination, thousands of people have visited the active stratovolcano with nothing but great photos and memories after leaving. Sadly, a number of t…

In this week's episode, Abby takes on the tragic story of the Hindenburg disaster. Tune in to learn the origins of the fated Zeppelin airship and the men who piloted and constructed the once-mighty flying machines. Stick around for the dramatic conclusion to the story, ending with the Hindenburg's devastating fiery demise on May 6th, 1937 in Lakehu…

In this week's episode, Shawna fills the crew in on the sad tale of the disappearance of Tara Calico. In the state of New Mexico in September of 1988, Tara Calico, a successful young college student was out on her daily bike ride when she disappeared and was never seen again. Tune in to learn of the twists and turns in this case such as the disturb…

In this week's episode, Abby regales the crew with the story of the mysterious disappearance of the Flannan Isles lighthouse keepers. In the year 1900 off the West coast on mainland Scottland, three lighthouse keepers on Eilean Mor mysteriously vanished from the lighthouse and surrounding islands. The men who made the discovery would note several e…

In this week's episode, Shawna regales the crew with the mystifying story of Gloria Ramirez, dubbed "the Toxic Lady" by the media. Ramirez, a California resident, would be rushed to the hospital in 1994 with life-threatening complications. Eerily, the medical professionals who were treating Ramirez began falling ill with alarming symptoms themselve…

In this week's episode, Abby delves into the rip-your-hair-out case that is the murder of Lana Clarkson. In 2003, Actor Lana Clarkson would meet famed record producer Phil Spector at the House Of Blues in Hollywood, California and the two would go back to Spector's "castle" for drinks. It would be the last time Lana was seen alive. Tune in for the …

In this week's episode, Shawna Tells the incredible story of Dr. Mary Neal who had a life-changing near-death experience. While on a kayaking trip in Chile, Dr. Mary Neal suffered an accident on the river and drowned. She was miraculously saved but even more amazing still would be the story Dr. Neal would share with the world about what she experie…

In this week's episode, Abby tells the story of the Bélmez Faces or The Faces of Bélmez. In the tiny town of Bélmez de la Moraleda, Spain during the early 1970s, María Gómez Cámara began to see the haunting depiction of human faces in her concrete floor. The phenomena would come to be known as some of the most compelling evidence of paranormal phen…

In this week's episode, Shawna tells the gang the perplexing story of the disappearance of Lawrence Joseph Bader. Bader was a husband and father working as a salesman in the 1950s who would mysteriously vanish after fishing on Lake Erie in March of 1957. Years later, a man named John "Fritz" Johnson would be recognized as the missing Bader but the …

In this week's episode, Abby gives the crew a good scare as she tells the story of the Williams family. Dora and Ted Williams, along with their three young children, would have their lives turned upside down after moving into an old Victorian-style house in the 1990s. Shortly after arriving, the Canadian family would be plagued with countless paran…

In this week's episode, Shawna regales the crew with another compelling reincarnation case! In 1957 two young sisters from the Pollock family were tragically struck and killed by a car. One year later their mother would give birth to two identical twin girls who would grow up with an eerie resemblance and knowledge of their deceased sisters. Credit…