Real animals have grown to draconic sizes, taken to the skies on thirty-foot wings, and even weaponized explosions from inside their own bodies—but could nature ever assemble all three into a living, fire-breathing dragon? EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/realdragons READ or DOWNLOAD the full transcript of this episode: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2kepzd3u FEATURED STORIES IN THIS EPISODE: Is it possible dragons are… or at least were… real? Science takes a look at the possibility. (Are Dragons Real?) *** In a thick, dark forest in Colorado is a foreboding house which is considered one of the most haunted places in the U.S. (Haunted House In The Black Forest) *** A woman has the gift of speaking with and interacting with those who have passed on… but what began as a gift, evolved into a curse. (The Man Is Back) *** Weirdo family member Ezra tells us of his personal encounter with a black-eyed child. (An Angel Saved Me From a Black Eyed Kid) *** Pukwudgies were known to Native Americans, who gave them a wide berth. And if you see one, it’s best to stay away. (What is a Pukwudgie?) *** What began as a practical joke soon became one of the greatest hoaxes in American history – it’s the true story of the Cardiff Giant. (The Petrified Man) *** Jody smiled at the children playing in her backyard. She didn’t know them, they were probably the neighbors’ kids. At least that’s what she thought at first until she began to notice something disturbing about those children. (Phantom Children of Guilford) *** Dealing with the paranormal is already unsettling. What if you were to learn that the supernatural has actually been feeding on you? (Supernatural Feedings) *** Newlywed couples planning a trip to Venice envision romantic walkways and Renaissance art. What they don’t expect to find is an island that is illegal to set foot on… and for good reason. (Black Plague Island) *** Weirdo family member Ber Bella shares an experience her grandmother had on an icy road. (Angel On Black Ice) *** Sometimes a prisoner is let free, with experts of the opinion he has been completely rehabilitated. Sometimes they are right. Often they are wrong. And in the case of Jack Unterweger – releasing him was the worst thing that could ever have been done. (Poet of Death) CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)… 00:00:00.000 = “The Dragon” by Ray Bradbury (short fiction story) 00:07:30.018 = Show Open 00:10:13.041 = Are Dragons Real? 00:20:11.728 = Haunted House in Black Forest *** 00:34:02.034 = What Is a Pukwudgie? 00:40:21.466 = The Petrified Man *** 00:48:12.375 = The Man Is Back 00:52:49.488 = An Angel Saved Me From a Black-Eyed Kid 00:54:29.177 \ 00:55:52.250 = The Phantom Children of Gilford *** 00:59:58.589 = Supernatural Feedings 01:07:31.225 = Black Plague Island *** 01:17:23.478 = Angel on Black Ice 01:21:03.162 = Poet of Death 01:27:33.935 = Show Close *** = Begins immediately after inserted ad break LISTEN ON PODCAST APPS: Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://weirddarkness.com/wdapps *No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast* SOURCES and RESOURCES: BOOK: “Haunted Places, The National Directory” by Dennis William Hauck: https://amzn.to/4iDKvJN The short fiction story “The Dragon” written by Ray Bradbury: http://bit.ly/2WHbtKp “Are Dragons Real?” by L.W. Martin: http://bit.ly/2IqEX5Q “An Angel Saved Me From a Black Eyed Kid” by Weirdo family member Ezra “What is a Pukwudgie?” by John Freund: http://bit.ly/319JD8R “The Petrified Man” by Troy Taylor: http://bit.ly/2MvPlif “The Man is Back” by E6bee: http://bit.ly/2IjyklT “Haunted House In The Black Forest” by Brent Swancer: http://bit.ly/2IeVZUo “The Phantom Children of Gilford” posted at FarShores (link no longer available) “Supernatural Feedings” by Nick Redfern: http://bit.ly/2Mquz3p “Black Plague Island” by Cheryl Adams Richkoff (link no longer available) “Angel On Black Ice” by Weirdo family member Ber Bella “Poet of Death” by Shannon Rafael: http://bit.ly/2WEGaQn (Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.) WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness. Originally aired: January 2022