The Arkin's Hearth | Podcast on RSS.com

The Arkin's Hearth

The Arkin's Hearth

by Michael J Chandler

Society & Culture True Crime

Season 1

Tacet, Interview with The Southern California Rapper

Join us for an exclusive interview with Tacet, a Southern California rapper, vocalist, songwriter, and producer hailing from the San Gabriel Valley. Known for his dark, atmospheric style and his ability to fuse elements of underground hip-hop, rap, and alternative sounds, Tacet has carved out a distinct identity within the Southern California music scene. Beyond his solo work, Tacet has built a reputation as a versatile artist and collaborator, working alongside emerging and established voices while bringing a producer’s ear and a storyteller’s perspective to every project. From his independent releases to his behind-the-scenes contributions, Tacet’s music reflects the influence of West Coast hip-hop traditions while pushing into new, experimental territory. In this conversation, we explore his creative journey, his approach to songwriting and production, the evolution of his sound, and the experiences that continue to shape his art. Art by the pixie Please support the show, go to patreon.com, search for The Arkins Hearth, and pledge to support.

Aliens In Utah: The Utah Monolith

In this episode of The Arkins Hearth, the team explores one of the internet's most fascinating modern mysteries, the Utah Monolith. From its unexpected discovery by wildlife biologists in a remote desert canyon to the explosion of alien theories, internet sleuths, copycat monoliths, and its equally mysterious disappearance, the hosts separate fact from fiction with their signature blend of humor, skepticism, and storytelling. Was it evidence of extraterrestrials, an elaborate art installation, or simply a reminder that mystery still has a place in the modern world? Join the crew as they uncover the truth behind the shiny object that captivated millions and discuss why sometimes the greatest mystery isn't the answer, it's our endless curiosity. Art by the Pixie Please Join Us on patreon.com, look up The Arkins Hearth, where you can support the show. References: Associated Press. (2020, November 29). Utah monolith disappears after attracting worldwide attention. Bureau of Land Management. (2020). Leave No Trace principles and protection of public lands. Kaur, H. (2020, November 24). Utah's mysterious monolith sparks worldwide speculation. CNN. Mele, C. (2020, November 24). A mysterious monolith appears in Utah. The New York Times. Utah Department of Public Safety. (2020, November 23). Utah monolith discovered during wildlife survey. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. (2020). Aerial bighorn sheep survey observations. West, T. (2020, November 30). Witnesses describe removal of the Utah monolith. The Salt Lake Tribune. Woolfson, D. (2020, November 28). The Utah monolith has disappeared. BBC News. Zaveri, M. (2020, November 29). The mysterious Utah monolith is gone. The New York Times.

Special Mini-Series: Jack the Ripper – Part Three, Faces in the Fog. Patreon Sample

In this third episode of our Patreon Sample series, we return. It's been more than 135 years since the Whitechapel murders; Jack the Ripper still stands as history’s most famous unsolved mystery. In Part Three of our Jack the Ripper miniseries, we dig into the evidence and criminal profiling, discuss the less likely suspects, and take a closer look at some of the best-known suspects, including Aaron Kosminski and Montague Druitt, as well as Walter Sickert, Francis Tumblety, and James Maybrick. Along the way, we separate fact from fiction, test the strongest theories, and explore why this chilling case continues to fascinate historians, detectives, and true crime fans alike. Art by the Pixie Please visit us at The Arkins Hearth Podcast — A podcast with stories from the Four Corners of murder and myth | Patreon References Begg, P. (2006). Jack the Ripper: The definitive history. Pearson Education. Bond, T. (1888, November 10). Report on the Whitechapel murders. In S. P. Evans & K. Skinner (Eds.), The ultimate Jack the Ripper sourcebook (2000, pp. 360–363). Robinson. Cornwell, P. (2002). Portrait of a killer: Jack the Ripper—Case closed. G. P. Putnam's Sons. Douglas, J., Burgess, A. W., Burgess, A. G., & Ressler, R. K. (2013). Crime classification manual: A standard system for investigating and classifying violent crimes (3rd ed.). Jossey-Bass. Evans, S. P., & Rumbelow, D. (2006). Jack the Ripper: Scotland Yard investigates. Sutton Publishing. Hazelwood, R. R., & Douglas, J. E. (1980). The lust murderer. FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, 49(4), 18–22. Rubenhold, H. (2019). The five: The untold lives of the women killed by Jack the Ripper. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Knight, S. (1976). Jack the Ripper: The final solution. Granada. The National Archives. (1888–1891). Whitechapel murders police files (MEPO series). The National Archives, Kew, United Kingdom. White, J. (2007). London in the nineteenth century: "A human awful wonder of God". Vintage Books. Wolf, T. (2018). Victimology and the Whitechapel murders: Reconsidering offender familiarity and environmental context. Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling, 15(2), 140–156.

Skinwalker Ranch: Part Two

Skinwalker Ranch has become one of the internet's biggest paranormal phenomena, but how much is mystery, and how much is myth? In Part II of our Utah UFO series, the crew explores the ranch's rise through reality TV, conspiracy culture, government investigations, and viral internet lore. From UFOs and portals to infrasound, military secrets, and the psychology behind belief, they separate documented facts from modern folklore while asking why places like Skinwalker Ranch continue to capture our imagination. Is it evidence of the unexplained or a mirror reflecting humanity's fascination with the unknown? Tune in for laughs, skepticism, and a deep dive into one of America's strangest legends. Art by the Pixie Please go to Patreon.com and look up The Arkins Hearth References Bartholomew, R. E., & Howard, G. S. (1998). UFOs and alien contact: Two centuries of mystery. Prometheus Books. Blumenthal, R., Cooper, H., & Kean, L. (2017, December 16). Glowing auras and “black money”: The Pentagon’s mysterious U.F.O. program. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/16/us/politics/pentagon-program-ufo-harry-reid.html Jacobsen, A. (2011). Area 51: An uncensored history of America’s top-secret military base. Little, Brown and Company. Knapp, G., & Kelleher, C. (2005). Hunt for the Skinwalker: Science confronts the unexplained at a remote ranch in Utah. Paraview Pocket Books. Persinger, M. A. (1984). Geophysical variables and behavior: LXXIII. Predicting the details of visitor experiences and the personality of experients: The temporal lobe factor. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 58(3), 831–842. https://doi.org/10.2466/pms.1984.58.3.831 Radford, B. (2016). Investigating ghosts: The scientific search for spirits. Rhombus Publishing Company. Hunt for the Skinwalker: The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch

Special Mini-Series: Jack the Ripper – Part Two, Victims, Mistakes, and Missing Murders. Patreon Sample

Summary In The Arkins Hearth Special: Jack the Ripper, Part Two – Victims, Mistakes, and Missing Murders, Michael Jason Chandler and the panel shift the focus away from the killer and toward the women whose lives were overshadowed by the legend of Jack the Ripper. Rather than treating them as anonymous victims, the episode explores their personal histories, emphasizing that poverty, homelessness, isolation, and economic hardship—not simply prostitution—were the common factors that made them vulnerable. The episode examines how Victorian investigators lacked the modern concept of victimology, causing them to focus primarily on crime scenes and suspects while overlooking patterns in the victims' lives. It argues that a modern investigation would have paid closer attention to the places the women frequented, the people who regularly interacted with vulnerable residents of Whitechapel, and those who could move through the neighborhood unnoticed. The discussion also explores the debate over the "Canonical Five" murders, considering whether victims such as Martha Tabram, Alice McKenzie, and Frances Coles may also have been killed by the Ripper. While acknowledging that no consensus exists, the episode explains how including or excluding these cases could significantly change the timeline and understanding of the killer's evolution. The episode concludes by encouraging listeners to remember the victims as individuals rather than as supporting characters in the story of a famous murderer. It closes with a preview of Part Three, which will examine the many suspects proposed over the past century and the theories that continue to surround the identity of Jack the Ripper. References Begg, P. (2006). Jack the Ripper: The definitive history. Pearson Education. Bond, T. (1888/1987). Memorandum on the Whitechapel murders. In S. P. Evans & K. Skinner (Eds.), The ultimate Jack the Ripper sourcebook. Robinson. Evans, S. P., & Skinner, K. (2000). The ultimate Jack the Ripper sourcebook. Robinson Publishing. House, J. (2013). Jack the Ripper and the case for Scotland Yard's prime suspect. John Blake Publishing. Rubenhold, H. (2019). The five: The untold lives of the women killed by Jack the Ripper. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Sugden, P. (2002). The complete history of Jack the Ripper (Rev. ed.). Carroll & Graf. Whitechapel Society. (2024). The canonical five and victim debates. Whitechapel Society Historical Resources. Woods, P., & Baddeley, G. (2009). Saucy Jack: The elusive Ripper. John Blake Publishing.

Skinwalker Ranch: Part One

In this episode of The Arkins Hearth, we explore the mystery of Skinwalker Ranch, one of America's most infamous paranormal hotspots. From Native American folklore and the origins of the "skinwalker" legend to the Sherman family's chilling encounters with mysterious creatures, UFOs, cattle mutilations, and the infamous "bulletproof wolf," the episode separates documented history from modern myth. It also examines billionaire Robert Bigelow's scientific investigations, the ranch's connection to government UFO research, and how television and the internet transformed a remote Utah ranch into a worldwide paranormal phenomenon. Join us as we explore the history, the evidence, the skepticism, and the stories behind one of the strangest places on Earth—before diving into the TV era in Part Two. References Bartholomew, R. E., & Howard, G. S. (1998). UFOs and alien contact: Two centuries of mystery. Prometheus Books. Blumenthal, R., Cooper, H., & Kean, L. (2017, December 16). Glowing auras and “black money”: The Pentagon’s mysterious U.F.O. program. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/16/us/politics/pentagon-program-ufo-harry-reid.html Jacobsen, A. (2011). Area 51: An uncensored history of America’s top secret military base. Little, Brown and Company. Knapp, G., & Kelleher, C. (2005). Hunt for the Skinwalker: Science confronts the unexplained at a remote ranch in Utah. Paraview Pocket Books. Persinger, M. A. (1984). Geophysical variables and behavior: LXXIII. Predicting the details of visitor experiences and the personality of experients: The temporal lobe factor. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 58(3), 831–842. https://doi.org/10.2466/pms.1984.58.3.831 Radford, B. (2016). Investigating ghosts: The scientific search for spirits. Rhombus Publishing Company. Hunt for the Skinwalker The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch

Special Mini-Series: Jack the Ripper – Part One, The Devil of Whitechapel. Patreon Sample

Step into the fog-shrouded streets of Victorian London as The Arkins Hearth begins its deep dive into one of history's most infamous unsolved mysteries. In Part One, we explore the grim reality of Whitechapel in 1888, the lives of the women who became victims, the desperate police investigation, the infamous letters that gave birth to the name "Jack the Ripper," and the first attempts to understand the mind of an unknown serial killer. Join Michael Jason Chandler, Thorin Wolf, The Pixie, and The Ginger as they separate historical fact from popular myth and examine the case through the eyes of those who lived it. From Mary Ann Nichols to Mary Jane Kelly, from the "Dear Boss" letter to Dr. Thomas Bond's groundbreaking criminal profile, this episode lays the foundation for one of the greatest mysteries in true crime history. Art By the Pixie Some References: Adam, H. L. (1914). Police work from within. Eveleigh Nash. Adam, H. L. (1920). The police encyclopedia (Vol. 4). Gresham Publishing Company. Begg, P. (2004). Jack the Ripper: The definitive history. Pearson Longman. Bond, T. (1888, November 10). Report on the Whitechapel murders. Home Office Files, Metropolitan Police Records, The National Archives, Kew. Eckert, W. G. (1981). The Whitechapel murders: The case of Jack the Ripper. The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology, 2(1), 53–60. https://doi.org/10.1097/00000433-198103000-00010 Evans, S. P., & Skinner, K. (Eds.). (2000). The ultimate Jack the Ripper sourcebook: An illustrated encyclopedia. Robinson. Metropolitan Police Office. (1888–1889). The Whitechapel murders ("Jack the Ripper") (MEPO 3 series). The National Archives, Kew. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C110679 Rumbelow, D. (2015). The complete Jack the Ripper (Rev. and updated ed.). Penguin Books. Sugden, P. (2002). The complete history of Jack the Ripper (Rev. ed.). Robinson. The National Archives. (1888–1889). Items extracted from MEPO 3/3153: Whitechapel murders: "Jack the Ripper". The National Archives, Kew. https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C11443671

Ladies Night: Killer ladies of the almost Southwest

Join us for a new episode with four tales of female murderers and a special guest. Next week, when Torin Wolf returns, we will be back with part two of the Utah Alien Series Art Py the Pixie

Utah UFO's Baby

This episode of The Arkins Hearth explores why Utah, especially the remote Uintah Basin, has become one of America’s most enduring UFO hotspots. Te hosts examine strange reports, from 1950s flying saucer sightings and Cold War-era military secrecy to rumors surrounding the Dugway Proving Ground and the mysterious 1968 sheep kill. The episode also dives into the 1970s cattle mutilation panic, where unexplained livestock deaths fueled fears of government experiments, cult activity, and extraterrestrial involvement. Throughout, the hosts argue that Utah’s vast deserts, dark skies, local folklore, and culture of secrecy have combined to create a lasting legacy of paranormal mystery and UFO lore. Art by: the Pixie References Bigelow, R. T. (n.d.). National Institute for Discovery Science. Retrieved May 14, 2026, from https://www.nidsci.org Kean, L., Blumenthal, R., & Cooper, H. (2017, December 16). Glowing auras and ‘black money’: The Pentagon’s mysterious U.F.O. program. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/16/us/politics/pentagon-program-ufo-harry-reid.html National Archives. (n.d.). Project Blue Book. Retrieved May 14, 2026, from https://www.archives.gov/research/military/air-force/ufos Utah Department of Public Safety. (2020, November 23). Utah monolith investigation statement. Retrieved May 14, 2026, from https://dpsnews.utah.gov/utah-monolith/ Vallee, J. (1990). Confrontations: A scientist’s search for alien contact. Ballantine Books. Wiseman, R. (2011). Paranormality: Why we see what isn’t there. Macmillan. Bartholomew, R. E., & Howard, G. S. (1998). UFOs and Alien Contact: Two Centuries of Mystery. Prometheus Books. Blumenthal, R., Kean, L., & Cooper, H. (2017, December 16). Glowing Auras and ‘Black Money’: The Pentagon’s Mysterious U.F.O. Program. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/16/us/politics/pentagon-program-ufo-harry-reid.html Jacobsen, A. (2011). Area 51: An Uncensored History of America’s Top Secret Military Base. Little, Brown and Company. Persinger, M. A. (1984). Geophysical variables and behavior: XXIII. Relations between UFO reports within the Uinta Basin and local geomagnetic activity. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 58(3), 951–959. Radford, B. (2016). Investigating Ghosts: The Scientific Search for Spirits. Rhombus Publishing Company.

The Devils Highway

In this episode of The Arkins Hearth Podcast, we travel down the infamous Devil's Highway, formerly U.S. Route 666, a lonely stretch of road cutting through the American Southwest. Blending documented history, real-world tragedies, unsolved mysteries, and decades of local legends, we explore how a dangerous highway became a breeding ground for stories of phantom vehicles, unexplained encounters, UFO sightings, and supernatural folklore. Is the fear surrounding the road rooted in something paranormal, or does isolation itself create the perfect conditions for legend? Join us as we separate fact from folklore and examine why the Devil's Highway still haunts the imagination long after its name disappeared from the map. Podcast art by The Pixie References Associated Press. (2025, May 5). Indigenous people raise awareness about their missing and murdered. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/3d4aa3a887b3dafa77e75b6ddde78b21 Nowell, C. (2025, April 8). New Mexico creates turquoise alert for missing Indigenous Americans. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/08/new-mexico-indigenous-missing-alert Weingroff, R. F. (2003, June 18). U.S. 666: "Beast of a Highway"? Federal Highway Administration. https://highways.dot.gov/highway-history/general-highway-history/us-666-beast-highway Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). U.S. Route 491. Wikipedia. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_491 Reddit contributors. (2022, October 8). Highway 666: The cursed Devil's Highway [Online forum post]. Reddit, r/Unexplained. https://www.reddit.com/r/Unexplained/comments/xydku9/

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