logo
episode-header-image
May 2025
32m 53s

Closer to God

Ballen Studios
About this episode

Every now and again, I’ll find a story that’s just really upsetting to me. Now, obviously a lot of the stories I cover are all quite distressing. But today’s story, which is about a missing hiker named Mike Turner – it just really upset me. It actually made it really hard to record this episode. So, consider this your warning that I personally believe this is a very upsetting story, but an important story that we would not be covering if there wasn’t some real weight behind it. And I think the moral of this story, ultimately, is you really need to treasure your family while they’re still around.

Story name, preview & link to original YouTube video:


For 100s more stories like these, check out our main YouTube channel just called "MrBallen" -- https://www.youtube.com/c/MrBallen

If you want to reach out to me, contact me on Instagram, Twitter or any other major social media platform, my username on all of them is @mrballen

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Today
Cost of Adventure
Today’s podcast will feature 4 stories about adventures… that go wrong. The audio from all four stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just called "MrBallen," and has been remastered for today's podcast.Story names, previews & links to original YouTube vi ... Show More
31m 7s
Oct 6
The Monaco Matriarch (PODCAST EXCLUSIVE EPISODE)
On the morning of May 17th, 2014, a detective wrote furiously as she sat next to the hospital bed of a mortally-injured 77-year-old woman. The woman had been in a coma for the last ten days, and the detective had been desperately working to figure out who had tried to kill her. N ... Show More
41m 41s
Oct 2
The Truth Beneath
Today’s podcast will feature 3 stories where things are not what they seem. The audio from all three stories has been pulled from our main YouTube channel, which is just called "MrBallen," and has been remastered for today's podcast.Story names, previews & links to original YouTu ... Show More
32m 44s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2024
268: HIS FAMILY TOOK REVENGE | 17 True Scary Stories | EP 256
This episode includes narrations of true creepy encounters submitted by normal folks just like yourself. Today you'll experience horrifying stories about motels, grandparents secrets & tales from Japan. HAVE A STORY TO SUBMIT? LetsReadSubmissions@gmail.com FOLLOW ME ON - ►YouTube ... Show More
2h 38m
Sep 9
310: THE LEGEND OF OLD BEN | 9 TERRIFYING True Scary Stories | EP 296
This episode includes narrations of true creepy encounters submitted by normal folks just like yourself. Today you'll experience horrifying stories about the Pacific Crest Trail & Law enforcement encounters HAVE A STORY TO SUBMIT? LetsReadSubmissions@gmail.com FOLLOW ME ON - ►You ... Show More
1h 56m
Sep 16
311: MY VILLAGE WAS CURSED | 13 TERRIFYING True Scary Stories / Rain Ambience | EP 297
This episode includes narrations of true creepy encounters submitted by normal folks just like yourself. Today you'll experience horrifying stories about Native American Reservations & terrifying tales off of reddit HAVE A STORY TO SUBMIT? LetsReadSubmissions@gmail.com FOLLOW ME ... Show More
1h 54m
Aug 21
MURDEROUS MINDS: The Killer Step-Brother Pt. 2
Nathan Matthews murdered his 16-year-old stepsister Becky Watts—then helped her family search for her. In Part 2, we break down the failed cover-up, the forensic clues that exposed him, and how the truth about one of Britain’s most disturbing family murders finally came to light. ... Show More
40m 4s
Aug 11
True Crime This Week: False Confessions
In 2006, John Mark Karr shocked the world by claiming he killed JonBenét Ramsey—only for DNA evidence to prove otherwise. Fourteen years earlier, 19-year-old Juan Rivera confessed to killing 11-year-old Holly Staker in Illinois. He was convicted—three times—despite clear evidence ... Show More
47m 32s
Apr 2025
288: THIS CYBERSTALKER RUINED MY LIFE | Rain Ambience / 15 True Scary Stories | EP 276
This episode includes narrations of true creepy encounters submitted by normal folks just like yourself. Today you'll experience horrifying stories about crazy neighbors, internet psychos & cold cases HAVE A STORY TO SUBMIT? LetsReadSubmissions@gmail.com FOLLOW ME ON - ►YouTube - ... Show More
2h 34m
Oct 6
INFAMOUS: The Murdaugh Family Murders
When Maggie and Paul Murdaugh are killed on their family’s estate in 2021, the investigation unravels a history of privilege, corruption, and suspicious deaths tied to one of South Carolina’s most influential families. But beneath the headlines and courtroom drama are stories of ... Show More
56m 1s
Apr 2025
Episode 318 - The Bennington Triangle: Vanished in Appalachia (Part 1)
In this two-part series, we enter the haunted heart of Southern Vermont—a place where the line between reality and the supernatural disappears as quickly as the people who dare to step off the trail. Welcome to The Bennington Triangle, where ancient curses, vanishing hikers, and ... Show More
1h 1m
Sep 2024
EP. 170: COLORADO - A Father’s Dark Secret: The Dylan Redwine Story
In 2012, teenager Dylan Redwine found something disturbing on his father's computer. Images that he would never be able to get out of his head. But unfortunately, Dylan's father wanted to keep those secrets a secret, and was willing to do anything to make sure that it stayed that ... Show More
1h 37m