Dawn of Mantis: Recent Episodes
Dawn of Mantis Podcast
Things Mysterious, Things Fantastic Dawn of Mantis is a variety podcast that tackles subjects such as true crime, history, disappearances, the paranormal and/or anything mysterious. We research and discuss topics that are interesting to us and hopefully interesting to you the listener. We also write and record some comedy bits and throw them into the mix. We have fun with this podcast so if this sounds like your cup of tea, come on in and give us a listen. WARNING: If it annoys you when people are being themselves having free-flow conversations, throwing out the occasional dad joke, please swipe left and find another podcast.
Broadcasting from our NEW location! In studio at RedBeard Sound and joined by our new crew member, RedBeard himself, Sam Duncan! We're serving up a Thanksgiving dish of murder and massacres, and we're not talking about the Turkey......as well as a few other smash and grab stories, finishing the episode off with a story we like to call "Pornocopia"
Dawn of Mantis Episode 103: The disappearance of Ada Constance Kent. A reclusive former actress vanished in 1939 and was never seen alive again. For a decade her disappearance remained a mystery, until one day her remains were finally found, right where everyone had been looking all along. Or... were they her remains? and.... had they really been there the whole time? Listen to the evidence and decide for yourself in this one of a kind case.
Episode 102: In tonight's episode we cover a truly unique case, even in the true crime community. Just a few years after losing her husband in a car wreck, Marcia Shelton's 12 year old daughter Debbie disappeared. Sixty-five days later she was finally found, but not in the way that Marcia had hoped. Then, just over three decades later, the impossible seemed to happen again- another daughter, Victoria, came up missing. So buckle up as we traverse this rollercoaster of a case. A special thanks to our sponsor and sound engineer Sam @ Redbeard studios.
In 1974 Ronald O'Bryan perhaps starts a decade long paranoia by tampering with Halloween candy but there's more to the story because the victim isn't probably who would you guess.
We dive into the strange and perhaps the occult as we talk about the circumstances of the discovery of the body of Mr. Leroy Carter Jr. in the early 80s.
Part 5 of our early UFO contactee coverage concludes with the interesting tales of George Van Tassel and his adventures with the otherworldly.
Buck Nelson was an interesting man to say the least. Without his UFO tall tales we feel he'd be interesting. We go through his rise to fame as an early contactee and Joe even puts his spin on what his voice likely sounded like as he tells the story.
This track was written by Joe in memory of his friend and former bandmate, Jeff Elmer. He played bass with NighTTrain and was a fantastic guy. This was recorded by RedBeard Sound Studios by Sam Duncan.
We recorded this track better than 3 years ago and forgot it existed. Here ya' go, check it out.
We talk about Howard Menger and his extra-terrestrial encounters that he claims he had throughout his entire life. Where were these aliens from? Was it Venus, Mars, or somewhere else in the cosmos? Mr. Menger himself seems to have been unsure as to their origin from time to time.
We continue our coverage of the golden era of UFO and alien sightings talking about George Adamski and the tales he told.
The earliest American pop-culture era of UFO visitation and it had a somewhat different take on the subject. Before Betty and Barney Hill there was a time that the characters telling tales of alien contact were as interesting as the stories themselves. This time we talked about one early contactee and his story. George Adamski was his name and he was a hoot. We cover that and chase a few other rabbits.
In early 2006 child star turned young adult suddenly vanishes. As the investigation carries on little evidence is found. Joe goes the way of Madonna and we bash social media some more. Speaking of, make sure you find us on Twitter @DawnOfManits. :D
In August of 1970 a bomb was detonated in an UW-Madison building injuring three and killing one young researcher. One of the bombers still to this day is on the loose.
Mysterious happenings have been reported in a house in a small Arkansas town for years. The house does have a confirmed history of traumatic events that only add to the story. Dies "bad" energy exist and has it taken hold of this property. Plus we pose the question, "when is your earliest memory?" We re-visit simulation theory and Ivan reaches out to the engineers and inventors listening to help with a project that could save lives.
This week we talk about a few interesting stories that Joe ripped from the entrails of the inter-webs. We cover the the fate of a faux Sasquatch, a cheerleader mom hit man plot, a murderer that thinks they are Angela Lansbury, and a case we like to call, "Houston We Have an Astro-Nutt!"
We continue our discussion on how various religions prepare for and explain the afterlife. We talk about the beliefs of the Native Americans, followers of Judaism, Scientology and more. Later we dive down the simulation hypothesis rabbit hole and Ivan attempts to draw a parallel from that to Showbiz Pizza.
What happens after death? Where do you go if anywhere? We discuss how various religions prepare for and explain the afterlife. In this episode we briefly explain those ideas from the early Egyptians to modern religions such as Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, and more. It's not an in depth look yet more of an overview mixed with various other commentary.
This concludes our coverage of accidents resulting in deaths, or in many cases near deaths, of cast and crew. We pick up where we left off last time with the mid 80s on to more recent flicks. That and, as always, more random blathering from Joe and Ivan.
We continue our talk about accidents on movie sets. We also talk about the supposed curses around the filming of the movies The Omen and The Exorcist. All that and more. The power of the Mantis compels you to listen to this week's episode. :D Enjoy!
This time we look back through the strange history of filmmaking accidental deaths. We talk about the circumstances of these tragedies and their impact of the industry. Sadly actors, extras and even directors at times were in the wrong place at the wrong time and gave their life in pursuance of their art-form. Join us for part one as we go chronologically from the 1920s to the early 70s.
In the late summer of 1966, Miguel José Viana and Manoel Pereira da Cruz were found dead on the slopes of Vintém Hill in the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro. Curios items were found on them including, perhaps most mysterious, a set of hand crafted lead masks covering their eyes. What happened to these two electronic technicians? We lay out some of the known details of the case as well as examine a few of the most popular theories.
In 1994 Gloria Ramirez is brought into the ER under quite mysterious circumstances. Her skin has an oily sheen, her blood smells of ammonia and she has numerous other anomalies that baffle everyone in the room. The staff begins to feel ill as they tend to her trying to save her life. What was it that contributed to her strange conditions that to this day have dubbed her the "toxic lady/woman?"
In 2012 Lowell Badger of Sullivan County, Indiana was brutally murdered. We cover the details of the case hoping that someone, somewhere can provide information to bring the evil perpetrators to justice. This is a patron suggested episode. Visit our Patreon for more information. We also take a light hearted look at the good cop/bad cop dynamic in a short comedy bit at the beginning o the episode.
Herbert Mullin killed thirteen people in California in the early 1970s but HE feels he had a good reason. Thankfully he was saving us all from epic natural disasters. We cover the case and explain his logic in this episode.
The Rocky Mountain Locust wreaked havoc on the western United States in the 1870s. sometimes described as “hell from above”, clouded the skies fiercely devouring the crops, tree leaves, and even fence posts.
Imagine, if you will, a world without sex. Minus the obvious survival of the human race factor, how would the world be better without the negative repercussions that stem from it? Join us for this thought experiment after a short fun look at numerology.
We talk about the ill-fated Glenn and Bessie Hyde Grand Canyon scow boat expedition in the late 1920's.
Former NCAA star Rico Harris mysteriously vanishes in October of 2014 in Yolo County California while traveling long distance. Details of the investigation raise more questions than answers. That case after we "mole" over a silly skit, we make sure All Wings are Considered, and Joe tells a grim tale about a triple homicide in which the aggressor's hand was forced as it was a matter of defending the defenseless.
This week Cody Templeton rejoins us and we discuss strange and mysterious stories. This one went off the rails early, REAL early, and we had a lot of fun. If you are in the mood for an offbeat episode, this one is for you!
The final part of our series on the Texas Bell Tower Shooting. This time we talk about the shooting itself. For 96 minutes Whitman unsuspecting people on campus. We detail these in chronological order and discuss how he was finally brought to justice.
On part two we talk about the hours leading up to the shooting. We read letters written by Whitman and also go through the timeline of the morning of the event.
Joe, with his daughter on keyboard, wrote and recorded an original tune in our studio. Please enjoy his 80s/indie creation exclusive for DOM fans!
In 1966, a gunman seized the bell tower at the University of Texas and unleashed a reign of terror. On this episode we talk about the the shooter, his background and everything that may or may not have had to do with his motivations to commit this vile act.
After we hear from the D3500 guys, Terry and Timothy, we conclude telling the story of Preston Tucker and his ambitious endeavor to produce his futuristic automobile. SEC investigations, over-zealous features additions, and a swing in the court of public opinion all were limiting factors to his plans. Listen in and you decide what you think killed the Tucker 48.
Check out this compilation of our intro comedy bits. We hope you have as much fun listening to these as we did making them. If you are a straight-laced, staunchly serious individual who scoffs at tomfoolery and gallimaufry, you might want to skip this one. Enjoy!
After a short REVVED UP bit, we talk about Preston Tucker and his beginnings into the powerplant, aviation, and automotive industry. This ambitious individual wanted to create the CAR OF THE FUTURE but was the present ready for it? Join us for part one of his story and get your Corey Feldman and David Faustino fix at the end of the episode.
Joe provides some perspective on Covid-19 on this short, special episode. Stay safe, everyone!
This week we pull a dark, murder mystery episode out of the vault. In 1912 a family was murdered in a most gruesome fashion and causes chaos in the Iowa town called Villisca. Also check out where/when the TimeTwit is this week!
During our break we re-visit an episode from the vault that, until now, was previously unavailable. Five separate expeditions into the Amazon end in tragedy as individuals mysteriously vanish. The only thing to link these parties was their guide. Did he have something to do with the disappearances or were there other circumstances at play.
After a short bit, we pull one of the old episodes out of the vault and talk about the Fouke Monster. This beast spawned the cult classic docudrama, The Legend of Boggy Creek in the early 1970s.
Austrian Jack Unterweger was, for a time, a poster child for prisoner reform. People were rooting for him upon his release as he became what many felt "a completely changed man" and no longer a danger to society. What could go wrong?
Lori Ruff was married with a child yet few really knew anything substantial about her. When her husband attempted to learn about her past she recoiled and even did her best to keep her mother and father-in-law away from their own grandchild despite them, according to others close to the family, being caring individuals. Who was she really and what was in her past?
In the late 1910s many in the city of New Orleans were terrified as an axe wielding madman roamed the streets. Who was the infamous Axeman of New Orleans?
Imagine this... You just woke from a good night's sleep but something suddenly feels strange. You rush to the bathroom mirror and you realize your worse fear is has transpired. One of your lovely, flowing locks of hair has been severed and stolen! This very thing happened to multiple victims in Louisiana in the 1940s! Who was the Phantom Barber of Pascagoula and what caused their reign of terror via cosmetological sabotage?
We talked to Cody Templeton. Cody is an avid weightlifter and strongman competition contender. He talks about his approach to working out, maintaining a healthy mindset, his meal -prepped diet, and life in general. We also talked A.I., simulation theory, and nerd culture.
Beloved university professor James Gordon Wolcott had a secret past that was one day uncovered. Next his community had to decide if the system got it right or if he was a cunning manipulator that fooled the professionals that assessed his sanity.
In 1968 Theodore Conrad walked out of work on Friday afternoon with a paper bag and was never seen again. Turns out there was a lot more in the bag than a half eaten PBandJ sandwich. His disappearance launched a man-hunt that is still on open case today. That and much, much more!
Santa brings joy to millions of children across the globe BUT some Santa imposters can wreak havoc! As we release this it is 92nd anniversary of a Christmas Eve bank robbery pulled off by a Jolly Ol' St. Nick with some little helpers. Did they make it all the way back to the north pole with the loot or were they bagged and tagged? We talk about that and some of other instances of Santa behaving badly on this special, holiday themed edition.
James Dunham, musician and IT specialist, joins us for a Smash and Grab variety episode. We talk physics, cults, UFOs, AI, simulation hypothesis, and rock music history to name a few things. James is a huge KISS fan, to say the least, and he gives us insight into being a fan and memorabilia/vinyl collector.
Part two of the Heaven's Gate Cult. We debate about Applewhite's intentions and/or motives, and what he does after the loss of Ti. Joe also includes some eerie "exit statement" clips from Do and the class days before their mass suicide.
Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles meet and discover/decide that they are the Witnesses as described in the book of Revelation. They begin traveling and gaining followers in what would become the infamous Heaven's Gate cult. We talk about their rise to prominence and what made Applewhite have to take over the organization. (Part 1 of 2)
In the not too distant past, on KTMA-TV, there was a guy name Joel, who made a show that you should see! LaLaLa THIS week we are excited to talk about one of our favorite shows, MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000!!! (why is this description yelling?) We talk about the history, best episodes, why we think it has a cult following, the triumphant return and more... Don't miss this one, Mantis People!
Ronald Gene Simmons Jr. murdered 16 in Arkansas in the late 80s. We outline his reign of terror, Mr. Rogers, a little politics, and Ivan's idea of a utopian (what very much may be dystopian) society. All that and MORE!
This week we take at look at some strange Guinness records. We also take a look back into the past from the future. Confused? You'll have to listen to understand.
Where did Halloween originate? When/how did it become what we know to be the ghoulish, candy and costume fest that it is today? What inspired the customs we practice every year? We talk about those things, tales from our childhood's and more.
Joe tells a true, ghostly tale just in time for Halloween. Enjoy a special short from Solo Joe!
We are back with more idioms and their origins. Joe explains the idiom and Ivan, riding shotgun, tries to guess the origin with an uncanny 2 percent rate of accuracy. All this and more!
Tonight we introduce you to the fantastic, magnificent, bizarro performer known as Le Petomane, Joseph Pujol otherwise known as the French Fartiste! His bunghole voicing talents made him a celebrity and a legend today among the flatuafant savvy community. That and, as always, a lot more.
On Part 4 we talk about the Mike Berg theory, possible places she could be, meditation, Cliffhanger, Dante's Peak and thumb juice. How's that for variety?1?
Part 3 of the disappearance of Maud Crawford. Who had the most to gain with the her vanishing? We talk about someone who had A LOT to gain. That and how to hack your Fakebook to better serve you and people that claim to love comedy that can't take a joke. (Oh the irony)
We continue the podcast on the disappearance of Maud Crawford. We talk about the more popular hypotheses about the case.
Maud Crawford was a prominent attorney in Camden, Arkansas. She disappeared from her home on March 2, 1957. Small town politics, personalities, shady businessmen all add to the intrigue of this decades old cold case. Stay with us on this multi part episode.
This week is a hodgepodge, miscellany, gallimaufry, perhaps even a salmagundi of confabulation. (Someone found a new thesaurus app) Ever have a large object crash into your roof from the deep blue yonder? We talk about a few of those true tales, Ben Franklin, and "inventing" the wheel.
Sit back and listen to ol' yarn we spin about Old Mike, the traveling salesman and what might be the ultimate example of prolonged procrastination.
Joe tells us a gruesome little tale about Tarrare, the 18th century Frenchman who could eat massive amounts of food and sometimes would eat strange, inedible items for show. We discuss his disgusting habits and reveal the bizarre factors that led to his demise.
We talk about what might have happened to the five boys, some history about Gary, and how WE want to be the mediator between humans and aliens.
After the winter thaw more evidence is uncovered about the missing boys that sadly provide more questions than answers.
In 1978, in Yuba County California, five young men vanish. We setup the case by introducing the five men and retrace their steps before their disappearance.
Joe and Ivan talk about items ripped from the day's headlines. Not a real topic this episode, just pure randomness. Enjoy!
The conclusion of our discussion of the Keddie Cabin murders. What do we think really happened? Where does the case go from here? All of that and more..
This week we talk about potential suspects, hypotheses of people that knew the victims, and how the overall investigation progression.
We discuss the gruesome quadruple homicide that occurred in cabin 28 of the Keddie Resort, a rural resort town in the Sierra Nevada of northern California, in mid April of 1981.
The Siegsdorf Swindler, Christian Karl Gerhartsreiter, is the imposter of imposters. He led a life of lies, swindles, cons, and perhaps even murder. We talk about him, tornados, and more...
We finish highlighting the rise of Jim Baker, Jimmy Swaggart, and the incredible man that somehow knows the will of God, Pat Robertson.
Send seed money to DawnOfMantis.com and your wildest dreams will... oh wait, sorry, that would be a vile act to prey upon your faith and hopefulness. This time we talk about dirty, money grubbing TELEVANGELI$T$ and them being exposed as the charltons that they are and how they were put in their place and haven't ever hurt anyone ever again... well crap
We finish our episode about mysterious boat and plane disappearances with discussion on the Bermuda Triangle. We talk a little about morals (or lack thereof), crappy people, politics, and more.
We discuss mysterious areas on the Earth where planes and ships seem to vanish and their possible connection. We also talk about the Hubble space telescope, fiber optic communications, and saving babies from burning buildings... you know, all the same things people talk about when they talk about Bermuda Triangle lore.
This week we wrap up our Fear series by talking about more common fears. We talk about the fear of death and how we personally deal with this hard truth. We also talk about Alex Honnold, in our opinion the greatest athlete on the planet, and how he processes fear.
Joe and Ivan talk about the messages that the "no fear" windshields stickers might be trying to convey, common to uncommon phobias, John Wayne Gacy, and a historic Jeopardy round.
On a road in rural Missouri, some claim to have seen something mysterious. Floating transparent orbs have been reported since the mid 1800s. What are they? Are there any scientific explanations or are they supernatural phenomena? We try to shine the light on the ghostlights in this week's episode.
Scottish folk singer disappears in the 70s. We talk about her, the music industry, dad jokes and more.
We talk about a few strange (to us) funeral rituals around the world and how our rituals are more than likely strange to everyone else.
This week we discuss the Twilight Zone and our favorite episodes. We also talk about Rod Serling and his extremely interesting background.
Jim Sullivan was an inspiring musician in the mid-70s that mysteriously vanished. The guys talk about his disappearance but mainly his music.
Everyone knows the witness protection program full TV and film but what is it really? Joe and Ivan talk about this and muc, much more. Plus the podcast celebrates one year on the web! Happy B-Day to us!
This week we continue talking about the Osage murders and the investigations and subsequent trials.
We talk about a few more cursed objects as well as give you, the listener, some tips on how you can buy your very own cursed object. (Not sure why you would but just in case) We also discuss smart phones, the Podcast revolution, and the Amish.
This week we go super-random and create a product for a business from a randomly generated pool of idea. We take that idea and think of how we'd sell it, market it, and more. We even deal with some potential HR nightmares. Would you buy our product? Probably not BUT you should still listen to this one.
Connie Converse was an aspiring singer-songwriter with chilling melodies and vocals. We discuss her life and music and the bizarre circumstances of her disappearance.
What is the Chinese social credit system? Should citizens be rewarded for good behavior and punished for bad choices? We explore the details and talk of the implications.
The Dale was supposed to be the small, fuel efficient, space-aged car that would be answer to the gas shortages in the 70s. Joe and Ivan talk about the twists and turns of the curious tale of the Dale automobile and its mysterious entrepreneur.
Do animals have more than simple emotions? Can they show empathy? joe and Ivan talk about these things, some artificial selection, Flipper the dolphin, and much more.
Joe and Ivan revisit their childhood by discussing HE-MAN and the MASTERS of the UNIVERSE.
How many people have been set free due to new DNA evidence? What are the implications? Joe and Ivan talk about this and more.
The conclusion of the mysterious tale of the Somerton Man. (Plus midterm elections, daytime TV, and much more)
In 1948 a body is found on an Australian beach. More questions than answers are raised as the evidence found on the body is scrutinized.
This episode tackles the subject of nature vs. nurture. What shapes our character more; our upbringing or our genetics?
We discuss a fascinating 1978 CBS news report/documentary called Anyplace But Here about the process of help mentally ill patients transition back into society. In addition we discuss what makes someone be classified as mentally ill? Eddie Smith, where are you?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1yyS066sgk
Joe and Ivan talk about their musical influences and write a song from scratch for the podcast.
Why do we dream and what are the stages of sleep and dreaming? We talk about this and how dreaming might really be a problem solving mechanism. Also we attempt, key word "atttempt", to interpret some of Joe's dreams.
We interview Dr. Christina Abreo. She talks about her mother and father and their time spent in a cult.
We talk about some well-known and lesser-known cults. We also go into what makes a cult leader so convincing and how can they gain and retain so many loyal followers. Is anyone susceptible or do they prey on a certain personality type?