Echoes and Oddities

The Cecil Hotel Elevator Mystery: Elisa Lam

In 2013, 21-year-old Elisa Lam vanished while staying at the Cecil Hotel in Los Angeles. Her final known moments were captured in strange elevator footage that spread across the internet and turned her disappearance into one of the most discussed mysteries online. Nearly three weeks later, Elisa was found in a rooftop water tank above the hotel. In this Echoes & Oddities podcast-style episode, we look at the Cecil Hotel, the elevator footage, the theories, and the official explanation — while remembering that Elisa Lam was a real person, not just a viral mystery. Let me know below: do you think the official explanation makes sense?

The Button Man: Australia’s Creepiest Mountain Legend

Deep in Australia’s Victorian High Country, hikers have whispered about a mysterious bushman known as The Button Man. Was he truly someone to fear, or did rumor, isolation, and wilderness folklore turn a real man into a mountain legend? This shorter episode is part of Bizarre Lunchtime Tales — bite-size strange stories from Echoes & Oddities that you can listen to on your lunch break. What do you think: real, fake, or legend?

They Went to Meet Aliens... and Were Found Dead in Lead Masks | The Lead Masks Case

In 1966, two men were found dead on a hill in Brazil wearing homemade lead masks. No injuries. No clear answers. Just cryptic notes, strange instructions, and one of the most unsettling mysteries ever recorded. Was it a failed experiment… or something far stranger?

The Family Cult | Anne Hamilton-Byrne and the Children She Stole

A glamorous spiritual leader. A hidden cult. Children raised under false identities inside an isolated compound in Australia. In this episode of Echoes & Oddities, we explore the disturbing true story of Anne Hamilton-Byrne and The Family cult — a secretive group built on manipulation, fear, spiritual control, and stolen identities. From matching blond children and isolated compounds to LSD rituals known as “the clearings,” this story became one of Australia’s most disturbing cult cases. This episode covers: • Anne Hamilton-Byrne’s rise to power • The creation of The Family cult • The children raised inside the group • Psychological control and LSD rituals • Survivor stories and escape • The 1987 raid and Operation Forest • Why many believe justice never truly came Listener discretion is advised.

The Finders Cult: A Disturbing Case With No Clear Answers

In 1987, a routine police call led to the discovery of two men traveling with six neglected children — and what followed became one of the strangest cases of the decade. The investigation led to a secretive group known as The Finders, a communal organization tied to unusual beliefs, hidden properties, and a man named Marion Pettie. As disturbing claims surfaced and authorities searched for answers, the case quickly spiraled into confusion, contradiction, and lingering suspicion. Years later, questions still remain. What was the Finders really about?