EP: 28 The Confessionals with Tony Merkel

It started with a witch in Providence. In the 1970s, Joe Cetrone's parents befriended a practicing Satanist — a woman who conducted séances, summoned spirits, and claimed to enter people's dreams. Joe was just four years old. By seven, he'd had his first encounter with something inhuman standing beside his bed on Christmas morning. Decades later, Joe became a paranormal investigator, appearing on Travel Channel's Haunted Case Files and Paranormal Survivor. He investigated the infamous Sallie House. He captured an EVP that made pastors uncomfortable — a demonic growl responding to the name of Jesus Christ.But when his own son was physically attacked by an entity, Joe faced a reckoning. The fame he'd been chasing came at a price he wasn't willing to pay.In this episode, Joe tells the whole story — the parts the TV shows left out, the evidence that convinced him the spiritual realm is real, and why he walked away from ghost hunting to write his memoir, Chasing Shadows. Joe also discusses the UFO-Bigfoot connection, why analog equipment captures things digital can't, what demons look like on camera, and his conversations with Chuck Missler, LA Marzulli, and Russ Dizdar. This is one of the most compelling testimonies we've ever featured. This is a members-only Blurry Creatures exclusive. To become a member, check out https://blurrycreatures.com/pages/members Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

28 Marras 16min

Most near-death experiencers see the light. Steve Kang went the other direction."There were demons everywhere. Three-to-four stories tall with capes and weapons. I knew they were in charge of this place called hell."Raised Buddhist, dedicated to becoming a monk, praying eight hours daily—Steve had his spiritual life figured out. Then a laced drug at a party kept him awake for ten straight days. Buddhist artifacts started making poltergeist noises. A voice claiming to be his god offered a deal: kill yourself for a better afterlife. So he did.During surgery after his suicide attempt, Steve landed in a place Buddhists don't believe exists: hell. Crowded. Dark with no sun. A purplish-red wasteland with massive demons and torture cages. And the certain knowledge: "I'm going to be here forever." But that wasn't the end of the story. As he was fighting for his life and experiencing the realities of hell, eight Christian ministers showed up to pray for a Buddhist kid they'd never met. In those moments, Steve shares how Jesus appeared to him in hell, offering love and rescue when he least deserved it. In this unbelievable story of salvation and redemption, Steve gets a second chance at life. His encounter became the turning point that not only saved him from death but also transformed his entire understanding of God, salvation, and purpose. Today, Steve shares his story as a testament to the reality of the afterlife and the radical love that pursues us even in our darkest moments. This episode is sponsored by: https://zocdoc.com/blurry — Find and instantly book top-rated doctors today! - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

25 Marras 1h 33min

What lurks beneath our oceans? Can a soul truly be sold? And why do UFOs seem to defy physics itself? In the fourth installment of their Members-Exclusive AMA, Nate and Luke navigate through 60+ submitted questions, cherry-picking the most intriguing mysteries and burning questions about the Blurryverse.They examine testimonies of craft disappearing into mountains and oceans, including military tracking of objects that seamlessly transition from air to water without slowing down. The discussion ventures into theories about underwater bases, the unexplored depths of the ocean, and those mysterious geometric structures visible on Google Earth's ocean floor. The hosts discuss the theological weight of Mount Hermon - the supernatural significance of the location where fallen angels allegedly made their pact - and question whether ancient giants really walked among us, examining claims that the Smithsonian systematically collected and hid oversized human skeletons whenever they were discovered.The conversation weaves through the Book of Enoch's controversial status, why it didn't make the biblical canon despite being quoted in Jude, and what it might reveal about the true nature of our reality. They reflect on how guests like Tina Griffin, Ben Tapper, and Blake Cook all had UFO encounters that weren't even the main focus of their episodes, suggesting these phenomena are far more common than we realize. Between the heavy topics, discover what the shows the hosts are binging, books they are reading, and why they've already been in full Christmas mode with jazz (Nate) playing in the background. This members-only episode is a perk of being a Blurry Creatures member. Not a member yet? Check out all the Blurry things we are cooking up at https://blurrycreatures.com/pages/members Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

21 Marras 14min

"You're being manipulated, and you don't even know it." Jesse Carey, writer and producer of the new audio docuseries PSYOP hosted by Shawn Ryan, blows the whistle on the psychological operations shaping modern culture. The series examines how psyops function at scale, not just in government black ops but in everyday news, social media, and entertainment. These manipulations exploit how we process information: we're tribal, emotional, confirmation-bias-prone creatures who prefer narratives reinforcing our existing beliefs. Sophisticated operators craft messages that trigger specific responses, divide populations, and make people feel independent while following scripted patterns. From framed news stories to rage-inducing algorithms to normalizing entertainment, psyops constantly shape what we believe is true and acceptable.Jesse breaks down how psyops work and why Christians are particularly vulnerable despite being commanded to test everything and renew our minds. We discuss specific tactics, including how intelligence agencies infiltrated the UFO community to create a false UFO religion, the development of new directed energy weapons with mind control-like abilities, how stories trigger emotions rather than inform, why certain narratives dominate while contradicting evidence disappears, and how "doing your own research" can lead deeper into controlled narratives. Drawing from the PSYOP series research, Jesse emphasizes that recognizing manipulation isn't about paranoia but about developing the discernment Scripture commands. Christians should be the hardest to manipulate, yet we're often the easiest targets because we mistake cultural programming for biblical conviction. This episode pulls back the curtain on the psychological operations, propaganda, and methodology used to control and divide the masses and will help you to recognize manipulation and think critically about what you're told to believe. This episode is sponsored by: https://livemomentous.com — Get up to 35% off your first order with promo code BLURRY at checkout! https://homechef.com/blurry — Get 50% off plus free shipping on your first box & free dessert for life! https://quince.com/blurry — Get free shipping on your order & 365-day returns when you shop now! - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

18 Marras 1h 58min

Artist Shane Wiggs shares his extraordinary journey through the paranormal and back to faith in this compelling Blurry Creatures members episode. From a childhood marked by supernatural encounters, including Ouija boards, a UFO sighting, and a haunting 3 AM encounter with an amber orb that followed his vehicle through trees, to psychedelic experiences and spiritual warfare, Shane's story touches on a multitude of aspects of the unseen realm.  The conversation touches on everything from the prodigal son parable to the necessity of grace for those whose paths to faith wind through unconventional territory. Shane challenges the modern church's "truncated view of the supernatural," advocating for a more complete understanding that acknowledges the reality of entities, Mount Hermon's significance, and the ongoing spiritual warfare that manifests in paranormal encounters. His final triumph—finding a church home after 40 years of searching—offers hope to fellow travelers in the blurry spaces who've been told their experiences don't fit within acceptable Christian discourse. Shane's story reinforces that the journey back to God is often more complicated and grace-filled than religious communities typically acknowledge. Not a member yet? Check out the Blurry Creatures membership here: https://blurrycreatures.com/pages/members Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

14 Marras 20min

Doug Van Dorn returns to explore one of the Bible's most mysterious creatures: Leviathan. What if the dragon isn't just a metaphor, but a multi-layered reality spanning physical creatures, angelic beings, and the very structure of time itself? Join us for a mind-bending journey through ancient serpent worship that will change how you read both Job and Revelation.Moving far beyond the simple "dinosaur in Job" interpretation, Doug reveals how this chaos dragon connects ancient serpent worship, astronomical cycles, and occult symbolism in ways that will reshape your understanding of biblical cosmology. Starting with his discovery of a massive serpent mound in Israel (located exactly on the longitude line of Mount Hermon), Doug reveals how ancient cultures worldwide built identical serpent temples aligned to the constellation Draco—the dragon constellation that "moves the heavens." He explains the shocking mathematical connection between Satan's pentagrams and the 25,920-year cosmic cycle, and why the Church of Satan specifically uses the name "Leviathan" in their symbols.From Mesopotamian chaos monsters to Greek Ouroboros symbols to modern occult practices, this episode exposes a sophisticated ancient religion that viewed the serpent as the controller of time itself—and how Christ's victory at the cross defeats not just sin, but the very chaos that threatens cosmic order. This episode is sponsored by:https://mintmobile.com/blurry — Get your premium wireless plan for $15 a month when you try Mint Mobile for the first time!https://rocketmoney.com/blurry — Reach your financial goals faster with Rocket Money. The average person saves up to $740 a year when using all the app’s premium features! - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

11 Marras 1h 29min

"I was just out for a night jog when I ran past a field and saw something that shouldn't exist." Josh wasn't looking for trouble—he was running his usual route in the dark when he noticed lights and movement in an empty field. As he jogged closer, the scene became clear: people gathered in the darkness performing what was unmistakably an occult ritual. And in the midst of them stood the sheep girl—a figure in white, impossibly still, with features that were horrifyingly wrong even in the dim light. Sheep characteristics blended with human form in ways that defied every natural law. The malevolent presence radiating from the scene was so powerful that he felt it from the road. This wasn't some theatrical performance or costume party happening after dark. This was something entirely different.  What he happened upon that night has haunted him ever since.Years later, he opened his own demonic doors by stealing a gravestone from an old cemetery—bringing immediate poltergeist activity that proved objects can carry spiritual attachments and curses. We discuss both encounters in depth: what led him to jog that route at night, what he that night in that field (number of participants, ritual setup, lighting sources, the moment he spotted the sheep girl), why her animal features were so disturbing even in darkness, what the spiritual atmosphere felt like, whether the participants or entity noticed him, why he knew immediately he had to run, why occult groups perform rituals at night (darkness provides both practical cover and symbolic power in spiritual warfare), what the sheep girl entity likely represents (Pan worship, territorial demons, ancient spirits invoked through pagan ceremonies), the gravestone poltergeist story, and how cursed objects function spiritually. Josh emphasizes that, while he wasn't seeking this encounter, stumbling into it still exposed him to spiritual realities most Christians deny exist. Join us for a mind-bending encounter that challenges even the most ardent skeptics to question the realities of the unknown in our world. Want to listen to this episode and an entire catalog of exclusive episodes? Check out www.blurrycreatures.com/members. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

6 Marras 18min

January 1692. Two girls wake up screaming with unexplained burns on their skin. Their bodies contort unnaturally. Doctors reach a chilling conclusion: they're "under an evil hand." What unfolds over the next nine months doesn't just claim 23 lives—it murders something far more profound: the Western world's faith in the supernatural itself.PhD candidate Brian Dedmon has discovered why Salem—out of hundreds of witch trials that killed far more people—became the one everyone remembers. The answer is chilling: Salem happened at the precise moment Western civilization was poised to abandon God. The timing was devastating. Nineteen souls hanged. One man crushed slowly beneath stacking stones, gasping his final words: "More weight."But here's the twist that changes everything: the guilty walked free while the innocent died. "Spectral evidence" allowed convictions based on dreams alone—no physical proof required. Wealthy families weaponized the hysteria to eliminate rivals. A minister quoted the Lord's Prayer perfectly at the gallows (something witches supposedly couldn't do) and was hanged anyway.By 1700, historians across every ideological spectrum agree: Western culture abandoned belief in the supernatural almost overnight. Salem became exhibit A that Christian faith breeds dangerous superstition. SThe real question facing us now: How do we reclaim biblical supernatural faith without triggering new witch hunts? How do we acknowledge spiritual warfare when most Christians treat it like embarrassing folklore? Salem's message echoes across three centuries: The church must remember what it lost after 1692—before what's coming makes us wish we had. This episode is sponsored by:https://brooklynbedding.com — Get 30% off site wide when you use code BLURRY at checkout!https://uncommongoods.com/blurry — Shop early to get 15% off your next gift!https://livemomentous.com — Get up to 35% off your first order with promo code BLURRY at checkout! - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

4 Marras 1h 38min