Last Podcast On The Left
Last Podcast On The Left
"The black-hat man is real. And he can hurt you in your dreams. And I was like, this is not helping the messaging here. This is not helping anybody calm down during coronavirus." — Ben Kissel (paraphrasing a documentary's claim)
"So you slide into this hyper-aware state because your body can't move. Your brain knows that you have now become online. You are now conscious, but your body can't move." — Henry Zebrowski (explaining sleep paralysis)
"So he murdered the woman. He did not make first of all that's not making love. That is, I don't even know what that's called." — Ben Kissel (reacting to a necrophilia case update)
This episode of "Side Stories" from The Last Podcast on the Left centers on listener-submitted accounts of the "Black Hat Man," a paranormal entity frequently reported during episodes of sleep paralysis. Hosts Ben Kissel, Henry Zebrowski, and Marcus Parks discuss various theories behind these sightings, ranging from psychological phenomena like hyper-vigilance and the brain's tendency to find patterns in darkness, to more supernatural interpretations. They analyze the commonalities in the descriptions, noting the tall, shadowy figure, the distinctive hat, and its appearance in bedrooms. The discussion also touches upon related phenomena like "black-eyed kids" and explores documentaries and research attempting to explain these experiences.
Beyond the paranormal, the podcast provides updates on several disturbing true crime cases. These include a necrophilia case where the perpetrator is now facing homicide charges, and the case of James Fairbanks, who is receiving community support for killing a convicted sex offender, highlighting the complex ethical considerations involved. The hosts also detail the ongoing manhunt for Peter Manfredonia, a student suspected of multiple violent crimes, examining his troubled writings and movements, and the psychological profile of such individuals.
The episode concludes with a "Hero of the Week" segment that satirically highlights an ice cream truck driver who intentionally disappoints children by not selling ice cream, framed as a life lesson. Additionally, listener emails share further eerie anecdotes, including encounters with "hungry ghosts" in China and a sighting of a glowing orb. The transcript also features a reading of the infamous Navy SEALs copypasta, delivered with the hosts' characteristic commentary.