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  • The Bunker's Empty: Where Did 31 People Go?

    The Bunker's Empty: Where Did 31 People Go?
    2026/11/03
    The Bunker's Empty: Where Did 31 People Go?

    Imagine discovering a hidden bunker beneath your feet, meticulously prepared for 31 people, yet completely empty. What kind of group disappears so thoroughly that their absence is only noted years later, and what brought them to such an extreme decision?

    In this episode, we explore the unsettling discovery of a sophisticated underground facility in rural Tennessee and the mystery of the 31 individuals who vanished from ordinary life. We delve into the story of Amanda Johnson, a reliable community member whose gradual withdrawal reveals the subtle mechanisms of control within the Steadfast Circle.

    Date: June 2011
    Location: Cutter County, Tennessee
    Discovery: Underground bunker
    Occupancy: 31 people
    Leader: Ralph Farrell

    - A land surveyor found a painted steel hatch on Millhaven Road in June 2011.
    - The bunker contained 47 stacked cots and a filing cabinet with records for 31 individuals.
    - An unlocked filing cabinet held intake forms, labor assignments, and a behavioral scoring system.
    - Amanda Johnson, a dental office administrator, stopped attending her volunteer shift after 11 years in March 2009.
    - Ralph Farrell, the group's leader, declared a "preparedness emergency" on February 14, 2009, leading the group underground.

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
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    17 分
  • The Septic Tank Ledger: How a Cult Hid Its Secrets

    The Septic Tank Ledger: How a Cult Hid Its Secrets
    2026/11/02
    The Septic Tank Ledger: How a Cult Hid Its Secrets

    Imagine a hidden ledger, sealed in a zip-lock bag, deliberately submerged in a septic tank to evade a subpoena. What secrets could be so damning that someone would choose such an extreme measure over a shredder, and what did it reveal about a secretive community?

    In this episode, we uncover the story of Patricia Moore, a woman who spent two years trying to expose the truth about Thornfield Fellowship, a residential research community in central Indiana. We explore how its leader, Raymond Alan Long, manufactured belief and extracted money from members through a carefully designed system.

    Date: May 9, 2019
    Location: Fenwick Mill Road, central Indiana
    Person: William Rafferty
    Item: Burgundy hardbound ledger
    Organization: Thornfield Fellowship

    - A septic contractor found a burgundy hardbound ledger in a septic tank at 7:40 AM on May 9, 2019.
    - Patricia Moore, 44, worked as a medical billing coder in Muncie, Indiana, in 2019.
    - Raymond Alan Long, 51 in 2016, ran Thornfield Fellowship on an eleven-acre property.
    - Patricia paid an initial research fee of $1,200 to join Thornfield in 2016.
    - She later paid $8,000 over fourteen months for a "Confirmation Contribution."

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
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    19 分
  • The Locked Building and the Badge That Shouldn't Be There

    The Locked Building and the Badge That Shouldn't Be There
    2026/11/01
    The Locked Building and the Badge That Shouldn't Be There

    Imagine finding a name badge for a volunteer coordinator on the windowsill of a padlocked, bricked-over building in the woods, undisturbed despite recent rain. This discovery in Hardin County, Tennessee, would unravel one of the most methodically constructed frauds in the recent history of the nonprofit sector. How did that badge get there, and what secrets did the sealed building hold?

    In this episode, we explore the origins of the Meridian Relief Corps, founded by Mark Doyle, who presented himself as an experienced disaster relief expert. We uncover how the organization initially filled a genuine need in communities affected by natural disasters, attracting dedicated volunteers like Roy Walker, before its true nature began to emerge.

    Person: Connie Donnelly
    Date: April 14, 2019
    Location: Hardin County, Tennessee
    Organization: Meridian Relief Corps
    Founder: Mark Doyle

    - Connie Donnelly found a name badge on a windowsill at 9:47 AM on April 14, 2019.
    - The building was a 16x20 foot cinderblock outbuilding, padlocked from the outside, 40 yards off a trail.
    - Mark Doyle, 43, founded the Corps in 2015, claiming 11 years in FEMA-adjacent logistics.
    - By early 2016, 112 volunteers had registered with the Meridian Relief Corps.
    - Coordinator-level volunteers were required to make monthly financial contributions, rising from $50 to $120 by 2017.

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
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    21 分
  • The Padlocked Birdcage: What Happened Inside Renewal House?

    The Padlocked Birdcage: What Happened Inside Renewal House?
    2026/10/31
    The Padlocked Birdcage: What Happened Inside Renewal House?

    Imagine discovering a padlocked birdcage with no bird, only a journal and reading glasses, on the porch of an old Victorian house. This unsettling scene led to the discovery of four women in severe decline inside Renewal House, a former sobriety residence. What dark secrets did this house hold for nineteen months?

    In this episode, we uncover the disturbing events at Renewal House, a licensed sobriety residence that transformed into a place of psychological dismantling under the guidance of George Whitaker. We explore the story of April Tucker, a dental hygienist whose life began to unravel after a personal tragedy, leading her to Renewal House and into Whitaker's manipulative "Compass Method."

    Person: April Tucker
    Date: March 9, 2019
    Location: Dellbrook
    Status: Four women found in significant deterioration
    Event: Discovery of a padlocked birdcage and subsequent welfare check

    - A fourteen-year-old girl named Tammy Wells discovered a padlocked birdcage on a porch.
    - Four women were found inside Renewal House in significant physical and psychological deterioration.
    - April Tucker, a 53-year-old dental hygienist, entered Renewal House in August 2017.
    - George Whitaker, 51, was hired as manager in mid-2016 and introduced the "Compass Method."
    - Six wire transfers, each between $4,000 and $7,000, were made to George Whitaker's LLC.

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
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    20 分
  • The Portrait Found: She Didn't Paint It

    The Portrait Found: She Didn't Paint It
    2026/10/30
    The Portrait Found: She Didn't Paint It

    Imagine finding a portrait of a missing person, face up in the snow, three miles from the nearest building, labeled "communal property." This wasn't a simple disappearance; it was a carefully constructed deception, a cult of personality built on invented credentials. How did a young artist's image become evidence in a case far more complex than a simple missing person report?

    In this episode, we uncover the story of Diane Vogel and the "artists' residency" known as Pellucid Works, a closed community operating inside a converted iron foundry. We explore the machinery behind this operation, the woman at its center, and the slow, deliberate process that extracted money, labor, and creative output from those who trusted it.

    Person: Diane Vogel
    Date: February 9, 2011
    Location: Pelham Creek Road, Keswick County
    Organization: Pellucid Works
    Founder: Holly Ann Pryce

    - A county road-grader operator found a portrait of a missing woman three miles from the nearest building.
    - The canvas was labeled "communal property of Pellucid Works."
    - Diane Vogel enrolled at Indiana University to study fine arts but withdrew in 2008 after losing financial aid.
    - Holly Ann Pryce, the founder of Pellucid Works, had completed one semester of an introductory drawing course.
    - The "Framework" document stated all work produced during the residency was collective intellectual and creative property of Pellucid Works.

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
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    23 分
  • The Radio Host Who Vanished 22 Lives

    The Radio Host Who Vanished 22 Lives
    2026/10/29
    The Radio Host Who Vanished 22 Lives

    Imagine a lone white plastic chair on a frozen plateau at 6:14 AM, 11 degrees Fahrenheit, with no vehicle tracks, and a blue marker sign leaning against it. Thirty-seven minutes later, a pay phone rings four miles downhill, and a man calls his sister for the first time in months. How do these two facts connect to a radio host who vanished 22 lives?

    In this episode, we explore the story of George Riley, a dependable man who stopped showing up for his routine life in 2009, drawn in by the late-night radio program "Night Signal" hosted by Dale Boyd. We uncover the details of the Alderton Signal House, a community where 22 people lived year-round under Boyd's influence, and the unsettling discoveries made by a local reporter.

    Person: George Riley
    Radio Host: Dale Boyd
    Radio Station: WKAD
    Community Name: Alderton Signal House
    Number of Residents: 22

    - A white plastic chair was found on a frozen plateau at 6:14 AM, 11 degrees Fahrenheit, with no vehicle tracks.
    - George Riley worked eleven years at Braddock Fabricating without a gap.
    - Dale Boyd hosted "Night Signal" from 11 PM to 2 AM, starting in 2001.
    - George Riley moved into the Alderton Signal House in April 2008, transferring approximately nine thousand dollars to the foundation.
    - The Alderton Signal House consumed 410 kilowatt-hours per month for 22 people, less than half what a household of four typically consumes.

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
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    22 分
  • The Fake Degree That Built a Cult

    The Fake Degree That Built a Cult
    2026/10/28
    The Fake Degree That Built a Cult

    Imagine finding a child's dry spelling workbook in a freezing drainage ditch, a discovery that leads to an arrest for child endangerment and educational fraud. This bizarre find unravels a story of a forty-three-acre property in Tennessee, operating as a "school" with a single, non-existent university credential at its core. How did a simple workbook expose a hidden cult?

    In this episode, we delve into the origins of the Covenant of Right Learning, a self-described "learning family" founded by Randy Hansen, a man claiming a master's degree from a university that doesn't exist. We follow Peggy Slater, a fifty-one-year-old nurse seeking educational options for her grandson, as she is drawn into Hansen's world, only to discover a system built on control and isolation.

    Person: Randy Hansen
    Location: Dellworth, Tennessee
    Event: Arrest for child endangerment, educational fraud, financial exploitation
    Period: Ten years leading up to 2018
    Organization: The Covenant of Right Learning

    - A dry, intact child's spelling workbook was found in a drainage ditch after six days below freezing.
    - Randy Hansen, 44, claimed a master's degree in developmental education from a non-existent Ohio university.
    - The Covenant of Right Learning property outside Dellworth, Tennessee, spanned 43 leased acres.
    - When Peggy Slater arrived, there were 23 adults and 14 children already in residence.
    - Cody, Peggy's grandson, grew up in the barn schoolroom with zero assessment filings in Dellworth County records for a decade.

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
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    21 分
  • Teeth in Wax: The Cult's Final Offering

    Teeth in Wax: The Cult's Final Offering
    2026/10/27
    Teeth in Wax: The Cult's Final Offering

    Imagine finding a child's lunchbox in the mud, containing 42 adult teeth, each set upright in candle wax. This chilling discovery was made at a sealed compound, and every tooth belonged to someone who once lived within its fences. What dark secrets did this cult hide, and how did one woman's escape unravel it all?

    In this episode, we delve into the story of the Halcyon Cooperative, a group that promised belonging and financial freedom but delivered something far more sinister. We explore its origins, its deceptive practices, and the brave actions of a woman who dared to question its opaque system.

    Person: Glenn Weber
    Date: November 12, 2019
    Location: Harwick Point
    Organization: Halcyon Cooperative
    Amount: $400,000+

    - Glenn Weber found a red children's lunchbox with 42 adult teeth in candle wax.
    - The Halcyon Cooperative collected over $400,000 in fees and ledger charges in three years.
    - Wendy Smith's buy-in fee was $11,000, deferred against future earnings.
    - Patricia Dunne, a dental hygienist, disappeared after inquiring about ledger accounts.
    - Coastal Labor Partners LLC, the legal entity, was registered in Oregon.

    To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

    © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
    This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.
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    21 分