The Bell Island Boom

When one imagines the setting for a story involving experimental weapons, international espionage, unexplained aerial anomalies, and cold war anxieties...  they probably aren’t picturing a tranquil island in Newfoundland. 

But, there is no imagining about it, Bell island, Newfoundland, is just that.

This all stems from a still unexplained aerial explosion that rocked the skies about the island, and set in motion a series of bizarre events that seemed pulled from the pages of a science fiction novel.

The entire ordeal still leaves those who lived through it scratching their heads, but one thing is without question, for a moment in 1978, Canadian and American defense satellites detected more light reflecting from this island than what was seen during the bombing of Hiroshima and we aren’t certain why.

In this episode of Nighttime, our topic is the Bell Island Boom

Links:

Nightcap post show episode (Patron Exclusive) : patreon.com/nighttimepodcast

1978 CBC documentary on the event

The Invisible Machine (2004 documentary on the Event)

William Shatner hosted syfy channel documentary

Join the UFOs Above Canada Discussion Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ufosabovecanada

Report a Canadian UFO Sighting: https://www.nighttimepodcast.com/report-a-canadian-ufo-sighting

Credits:

Ambient Theme: Spooky Ambience by Paragon Cause https://paragoncause.bandcamp.com/

Contact:

Website: https://www.nighttimepodcast.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NightTimePod

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NightTimePod

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nighttimepod

Email: NightTimePodcast@gmail.com

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/nighttimepodcast

The Disappearance of Kimberly McAndrew

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The students who descend on Halifax each year come from far and wide, but despite the depth of their diversity, there is at least one thing they all have in common.

It's a dark brooding thing that dwells in the pits of their parent’s stomachs.

Luckily, it's easily ignored with the simple thought "that stuff doesn't happen in Halifax" or "my kid is too smart for that".

But, as a tragic few have learned, ignoring it is about as effective as covering your eyes to avoid an oncoming train.

Nightmares do come true, and they often happen to good people.

One such nightmare is the 1989 disappearance of then 19 year old Kimberly McAndrew who was last seen exiting the Canadian Tire store she worked at.

During this episode we will learn about Kim's disappearance, two possibly related crimes against young women, and three equally disturbing suspects. 

Links:

Nightcap post show episode (Patron Exclusive) : patreon.com/nighttimepodcast

Recent article concerning Andrew Paul Johnson: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/dangerous-offender-andrew-paul-johnson-parole-denied-1.5123720

Credits:

Musical Theme: Tremors by Vox Somnia https://voxsomniamusic.bandcamp.com/

Ambient Theme: Spooky Ambience by Paragon Cause https://paragoncause.bandcamp.com/

Contact:

Website: https://www.nighttimepodcast.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NightTimePod

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NightTimePod

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nighttimepod

Email: NightTimePodcast@gmail.com

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/nighttimepodcast

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Related Items

Radio appearance discussing the Episode on Halifax 95.7

Allan Legere - the Monster of Miramichi

Like many of horror literature's greatest villains, by day this monster hid in the forest that surrounded the village and only at night, under the cover of darkness, would it enter civilization to exercise it's wickedness. But, unlike horror’s many boogeymen and women what made this monster so terrifying is that he isn’t a work of fiction...

This is the story of Allan Legere. an infamous Canadian serial killer who, after a daring prison escape, stalked his community, murdering several elderly citizens while hiding in the dense forest surrounding the region.

To begin our series, we are joined by Rick Maclean (Editor of Miramichi leader, Author of Terror) who provides his account of the many twists and turns that unfold during this terrifying story.

In this follow up episode we heard directly from Allan Legere, in his own words taken directly from a Christmas card he sent me.

We are going to hear from Allan Legere.

Links:

Nightcap post show episode (Patron Exclusive) : patreon.com/nighttimepodcast

Trial transcripts and evidence archive: http://www.unb.ca/fredericton/law/library/legal-materials/digital-collections/allan-legere/index.html

Credits:

Musical Theme: Shadowpasser by Vox Somnia https://voxsomniamusic.bandcamp.com/

Ambient Theme: Spooky Ambience by Paragon Cause https://paragoncause.bandcamp.com/

Contact:

Website: https://www.nighttimepodcast.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NightTimePod

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NightTimePod

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nighttimepod

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/nighttimepodcast

The Dark Side of Jury Duty (with Mark Farrant)

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A very small number of Nighttime listeners have served on a jury, but many more know someone who has. Regardless which side you fall on, chances are the trial involved was fairly mundane and unremarkable... but that’s not always how it happens.

Think of someone you know, perhaps a painfully innocent aunt.

What happens when they get assigned to a case involving some of darkest evidence imaginable? how do they get through it? how do they cope? and who picks up the pieces after the verdict is delivered?

Very few are better positioned to answer those questions then our guest Mark Farrant.

In 2014, a letter arrived at Mark’s door indicating he was in a pool to serve on the jury for an upcoming murder trial, and to put it simply, he hasn't been the same man since.

The trial was that of Farshad Badakshan, a man accused in the horrifically brutal killing of his girlfriend.

The graphic details Mark was immersed in had left him with the crippling symptoms of PTSD and to make matters worse, laws that serve to provide jurors privacy have made it nearly impossible for mark to get treatment.

This has been the fuel for one of Canada's fiercest advocates for the rights of Canadian jurors.

In this episode, Mark will share both his experiences with the dark side of Jury duty and his efforts to make things better for future jurors.

Links:

Nightcap post show episode (Patron Exclusive) : patreon.com/nighttimepodcast

Mark Farrant: https://twitter.com/cdnjuryhelp

The Trial of Farshad Badakshan detailed - https://www.thestar.com/news/crime/2014/03/04/farshad_badakhshan_on_trial_in_murder_of_his_girlfriend_suffered_delusions_defence_argues.html

The Death of Farshad Badakshan - https://www.thestar.com/news/crime/2014/05/27/convicted_murderer_commits_suicide_in_toronto_jail.html

Credits:

Musical Theme: Swans by Vox Somnia https://voxsomniamusic.bandcamp.com/

Ambient Theme: Fall Asleep by Paragon Cause https://paragoncause.bandcamp.com/

Contact:

Website: https://www.nighttimepodcast.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NightTimePod

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NightTimePod

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nighttimepod

Email: NightTimePodcast@gmail.com

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/nighttimepodcast

The Story of Holly Bartlett

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Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2010

In life Holly Bartlett was a conqueror.

Born with a condition that would lead to complete vision loss, Holly refused to allow her blindness to prevent her from living life to it's fullest.

She had an active social life, a career, an education, and a network of friends and family that looked to her as an inspiration.  

But, all the good things that were happening in Holly's life came to a screeching halt on a cold night in March of 2010. 

After spending a night out with friends, celebrating her upcoming graduation, Holly was found gravely injured in a nearly inaccessible area underneath a downtown Halifax bridge.

the police investigation into the circumstance that would lead to her injuries, and in turn her death, was surprisingly fast.

The Police believed the death was accidental, however... it seems they are about the only ones that feel that way. 

Holly's friends, family, and supporters have been very vocal about their dissatisfaction with the police investigation of Holly's death. An investigation many call at best, flawed and at worst, derailed by an ignorance about living with blindness.

In this episode we will be joined by Maggie Rahr (host of What Happened to Holly Bartlett) for a discussion about a case that will make you scratch your head, and make you scream.

Links:

Nightcap post show episode (Patron Exclusive) : patreon.com/nighttimepodcast

Maggie Rahr: https://twitter.com/MaggieRahr

What Happened to Holly Bartlett Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/what-happened-to-holly-bartlett/id1454522014  

What Happened to Holly Bartlett Documentary: :https://www.ami.ca/category/2910/season

Credits:

Musical Theme: Swans by Vox Somnia https://voxsomniamusic.bandcamp.com/

Ambient Theme: Spooky Ambience by Paragon Cause https://paragoncause.bandcamp.com/ 

Contact:

Website: https://www.nighttimepodcast.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NightTimePod

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NightTimePod

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nighttimepod

Email: NightTimePodcast@gmail.com

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/nighttimepodcast

The Life and Cosmic End of Granger Taylor

In life, Granger Taylor was known as something between an eccentric mechanic and a mad genius. At present day, he is known around the world as the man who left a note explaining he had gone on an interstellar voyage aboard a UFO and was never seen again.

In this episode of Nighttime, We will be joined by investigative journalist Tyler Hooper who will share what he has learned about the life and cosmic end of Granger Taylor.  

Links:

Tyler Hooper: https://twitter.com/thooper8?lang=en

The Man Who Went to Space and Disappeared (Vice.com Article): https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/yvwjkv/the-man-who-went-to-space-and-disappeared-the-story-of-granger-taylor

Spaceman (CBC Documentary about Granger Taylor): https://www.cbc.ca/cbcdocspov/episodes/spaceman

Join the UFOs Above Canada Discussion Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ufosabovecanada

Report a Canadian UFO Sighting: https://www.nighttimepodcast.com/report-a-canadian-ufo-sighting

Credits:

Granger's Note reading: Jack Luna of Dark Topic https://darktopicpodcast.com/

Musical Theme: Next Time by Paragon Cause https://paragoncause.bandcamp.com/

Ambient Theme: Fall Asleep by Paragon Cause https://paragoncause.bandcamp.com/

Contact:

Website: https://www.nighttimepodcast.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NightTimePod

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NightTimePod

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nighttimepod

Email: NightTimePodcast@gmail.com

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/nighttimepodcast

Was it a Sasquatch in Pictou County, NS?

In 2015, When I first launched Nighttime, One of the first requests I made to listeners was for story ideas that took place in, or in some way involved, the forest.

The first response I received, lead me to this episodes story.

Myles MacKenzie sent me an email sharing the story of an animal encounter he and some high school friends had in the woods of Pictou County Nova Scotia. 

Actually, "Animal Encounter" is a bit of and understatement. Don't roll your eyes before you hear the story but, Myles and his friends, they believe they encountered the legendary Bigfoot. 

It happened back in 2003, when Myles and a few members of his track team were running sprints in the dense woods of the Green hill provincial park. 

Whatever the group encountered, it wasn't like anything they nor their coach had experienced before or since. Nor was nothing they would ever forget.

Tonight in this episode of Nighttime, we will be joined by both Myles MacKenzie as well as his high school track coach, his father Stephen MacKenzie.

Our Topic, will be Pictou County's surprising history, with Bigfoot.

Credits:

Ambient Theme: Spooky Ambience by Paragon Cause https://paragoncause.bandcamp.com/

Links:

Your Three Stories Podcast on Apple Podcasts 

Picaroons Traditional Ales

Contact:

Website: https://www.nighttimepodcast.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NightTimePod

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NightTimePod

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nighttimepod

Email: NightTimePodcast@gmail.com

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/nighttimepodcast

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related items

local newspaper article here

Radio appearance discussing the Episode on Halifax 95.7

UFOs Above Canada - 5 - the Canadian Government and UFOs (with Matthew Hayes)

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After releasing the prior episodes in this series, outlining my son's ufo event and the MUFON organization, I've heard from listeners curious if (and to what extent) the Canadian government is involved in the reporting and investigation of UFO events. 

In this episode of Nighttime I'll speak to someone well positioned to tell us all about our governement's surprising history with the UFO phenomena.

When Trent University PHD Candidate Matthew Hayes was considering a topic for his doctoral dissertation, he found inspiration late at night while exploring one of the many rabbit holes a google search for "UFOs" found him in.

When Mattew happened upon an archive of Canadian Government documents related to UFO reports, he found his field.

Matthew Hayes' has spent years collecting, analyzing, and trying to understand the history of the Canadian Government's relationship with the UFO mystery.

Links:

Join the UFOs Above Canada Facebook Discussion Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ufosabovecanada/

Matthew Hayes Twitter: https://twitter.com/freefoodfilms

The Murder of Daniel Levesque

Aug 2011, Victoria, BC

When 20 year old Daniel Levesque moved from small town Revelstoke, BC to the comparatively big city of Victoria, it was to pursue his dream of finding a career as a performing musician.

Tragically, only weeks after he arrived, Daniel and the dreams that brought him there would be snuffed out by the manager of the convenience store Daniel had taken a job at.

That manager, Josh Bredo, befriended Daniel and weaved an intricate web of lies that played off Daniel's kindness, generosity, and his trusting nature.

In this two part series, Kristi Lee of Canadian True Crime and Jordan of Nighttime will collaborate on the telling of this story that should make anyone with a respect for justice scream.

In part one, Kristi provides a narrative account of the twists and turns in this heartbreaking story.

In Part two, Jordan will take part in an in depth discussion with Daniel's mom, the inspiring Stacey Thur.

Credits:

Music: Vox Somnia

Links:

Canadian True Crime: https://canadiantruecrime.ca/

Love for Daniel Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/Love-for-Daniel-146570512102506/

Contact:

Website: https://www.nighttimepodcast.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NightTimePod

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NightTimePod

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nighttimepod

Email: NightTimePodcast@gmail.com

Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/nighttimepodcast

The Murder of Kristin Johnston

For a 911 operator fielding calls from a university city like Halifax, a Friday night is sure to be a mixed bag with periods of silence book ended by frantic calls from the evenings darker moments.

Those periods of silence get extended as the late night pizza shops serve their last slice and the taxis finish shuttling people home from their foggy evenings. 

As the sun begins to rise it's no longer a hectic Friday night, it's now a quiet Saturday morning, and there is a big difference.

As you will hear during this episode, there was nothing typical about the morning of March 26th, 2016...

Just before 8am, a 911 dispatcher took a call that would set in motion one of the most disturbing murder trials in Halifax’s history.

In this episode, Our topic is the beautiful life, and appalling murder of 32 year old yoga instructor, Kristin Johnston.

Three Chilling Tales from Haunted Nova Scotia (with Steve Vernon)

Some of my earliest scares occurred late at night, in the days leading up to Halloween, with a flashlight and a book of spooky stories.

Individually the stories may span just a few pages, but with each one the authors managed to drag young minds along to places more horrifying than they could have ever imagined.

In this Halloween special, Nighttime will again take inspiration from these books and dress itself up as a collection of scary stories.

Tonight you will hear three chilling stories from haunted Nova Scotia... written and read by my favorite Horror Author, Steve Vernon.

UFOs Above Canada - 4 - Reporting the 2018 Dairy Queen UFO Event

When considering the next topic to cover, I turned to the UFOs Above Canada facebook group for recommendations. As I took note of the many great ideas the group members shared, something else that caught my attention.

Two people from opposite corners of Canada posted details of their recent UFO sightings. The reports were different in nearly every way, but had one commonality. Each solicited help identifying the anomalous object and requested advice on where next to turn.

Immediately this episode's topic, Reporting a UFO, was the obvious next step, but I never expected it to show up on my doorstep the way it did.

Just as I began research for this episode, the gods of podcasting and whomever controls the strange objects in the sky saw to it that I would get a person lesson in UFO reporting.

In this episode, I'll share the story of my 5 year old son Dominic's recent UFO sighting, our experience reporting it, and share the findings of the investigation that followed.

Links:

UFOs Above Canada Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ufosabovecanada/

Mufon: https://www.mufon.com/

Report a UFO to MUFON: https://mufoncms.com/cgi-bin/report_handler.pl

Bernie Langille - 2 - Larry's Folder

In 2017 we were joined by Bernie Langille Jr. who had been investigating the bizarre circumstances that surround the death of the man he was named after, his grandfather Bernie Langille. 

When we last met, Bernie had not only been searching for more information on his grandfather's death, but also looking to simply confirm that the unbelievable story being passed down through his family was true. 

Thanks to a head scratching coincidence, the work we did in part one provided Bernie with everything he was looking for.

In this follow up episode, Bernie will return to discuss what he learned about his grandfather's death thanks to Larry's folder.  

Bernie Langille - 1 - Who (or What) Killed Bernie Langille?

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This episode was originally broadcast 2017/01

In February of 1968, Cpl. Bernard Langille's young life comes to an end after a bizarre series of events that start at the Gagetown Military Base in New Brunswick, and end with his mysterious death in the Victoria General Hospital in Halifax.

In this episode, I am joined by Cpl. Langille's grandson, and namesake, Bernie Langille who has taken the lead in his family's fifty year pursuit for both justice and the facts related to this strange story. 

The Search for Ryan Shtuka

When 20 year old Ryan Shtuka stepped out of his comfort zone and embarked on an adventure with a close friend their plan wasn't anything risky or dangerous.. it was quite simple. They'd spend the winter in the mountains of British Columbia working at one of Canada's most beautiful ski resorts. 

But as it turned out, something went wrong; no one knows what exactly. What we do know is that his family, his friends, and an army of volunteers have been searching tirelessly hoping to find him, or any trail he may have left after leaving a houseparty during the early morning hours of Feb 17th. 

In this episode we hear the story of the life, the disappearance, and the search for Ryan Shtuka. Told by one of the people leading the search for him: his mother Heather Shtuka.

MsManda - Halifax's Independent VIP Escort

You've probably come across advertisements for local sex workers. These are the ones that usually feature a semi nude girl with their face partially obscured and an invitation to make contact for... "a good time".

When considering 'Who are these girls?' I've always been somewhere between puzzled and ignorant... until now. 

As it turns out, Halifax is home to the independent VIP escort MsManda and she agreed to tell me all about her life, her sex work, and a bunch of other stuff that made me blush.

Episode Links

MsManda Twitter: https://twitter.com/msmandahfx

MsManda: https://msmanda.com/

FortNightBeats: https://twitter.com/FortnightBeats

UFOs Above Canada - 3 - Why Should We Care About UFOs?

Like any question that concerns odd lights in the sky, why we should we care about UFOs? is nuanced, subjective, and with many answers.

For part 3 of UFOs Above Canada, I've reached out to a motley crue of friends, podcast family, and Nighttime listeners to provide you a cornucopia of opinions on tonight's question... 

Why should we care about UFOs?

The Three Tragic Musketeers of Hollis Street (with Bev Keddy)

They thought of themselves as the Three Musketeers. Three teenage girls selling themselves for sex on the Hollis Street stroll in the mid 1980s.

The friendship they formed and enjoyed, against the wishes of their controlling pimps, would end tragically when during the course of a few weeks two of the three were murdered.

In this episode, I will be joined by Frank Magazine crime writer Bev Keddy who will share the story of the three tragic musketeers of Hollis street. Much of the information you will hear has come as a result of his interviews with Annette… the only member of the group to survive a life of abuse at the hands of sex traffickers. 

Frankie MacDonald, My Favorite Weatherman

Frankie MacDonald is a 34 year old man from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Frankie, who is autistic, has become known around the world as a result of the impassioned weather forecasts and comedy videos he posts to his YouTube channel 'dogsandwolves'. With his videos gaining tens of millions of views and having been featured on T-shirts, action figures, bobble heads, and a book Frankie MacDonald is among the most unique celebrities of our time.  

In this episode, I am joined by author Sal Sawler who co-wrote 'Be Prepared, The Frankie Macdonald Guide to Life, Weather, and Everything' along with Frankie.  

UFOs Above Canada - 2 - What isn't a UFO

In part 2 of the ongoing UFOs Above Canada series, I set out to clear the air and provide UFOs a safe place to zip around by asking UFO researcher Chris Rutkwoski "What isn't a UFO?"