Top 3 Strange But True | HORRIFYING Moments

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Time Stamps:
#3 -- "The Ultimate Shock" -- 0:43 -- A husband thought he experienced a miracle, but it would turn into the most horrific event of his life
#2 -- "Embrace" -- 9:17 -- Photographer captures a picture of something terrifying
#1 -- "Sparks Fly" -- 18:16 -- Even more bizarre than the event that nearly killed this man, is what happened afterwards
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Today's video is Part 24 of the series: "Top 3 stories that sound fake but are 100% real" full playlist:
• Top 3 stories tha...
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For entertainment purposes only. Based on actual events.
Theme Song: "Something Wicked" - • ♩♫ Epic Horror Synth T...
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Theme Song by: @RossBugden
Story Music by: @co.agmusic
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#russia #strange #mrballen

[@mts4611]

I absolutely MISS THIS STYLE of your storytelling from your super early days! "3 Stories that sound fake but are 100% real." I wish you could bring this series back more frequently. This was a treat!

[@picklecage5488]

Yeah i freaking love those videos and i hope he does more of them!!

[@lucywheeler8883]

I love the top 3 places people can't go but went anyway ones

[@kkb892]

Yes these are my go tos. I haven’t clicked on one in so long. I thought this was from a year ago. I was surprised it was from today

[@Bubbles10181]

Man I was just thinking. I really miss the places people shouldn't go, but went there anyway. All of mrballens stuff is pure gold, but I love those.

[@Rex13013]

I completely agreed, I even miss the transition music lol

[@patramorningstar3161]

The woman who woke up at her own funeral just to have a heart attack from the fear and stress of it; was absolutely heart wrenching and equally horrifying. I'd be angry enough to transition into the "crying woman ghost" and haunt everyone forever!

[@TheRitesProductions]

yeh imagine you waking up at your own funeral all dressed up and make up and perfume and then you are in church with everyone sobing, Thats the biggest heart attack than the actual heart attack !

[@elizabethmiedema-hunt]

Except the husband. I think at this point he’s had nearly as much trauma as you! I really, REALLY hope he’s doing somewhat ok, if I were in his position I seriously don’t think I could get over it myself 🥺🫶

[@patramorningstar3161]

@@TheRitesProductions yeah it's like certain things the brain was not designed to see😪

[@patramorningstar3161]

@@elizabethmiedema-hunt and even though it took a moment he was the first one to snap into action and realize "she's alive!" And then he runs to her and holds her even in those horrifying moments of her consciousness she still knows that he's there for her and loves her and is holding her! Like that's a real life horror movie love story!

[@mariaabramson]

this happened again not long ago in mexico. this has actually happened a few times. scary.

[@caititititi]

The fact that Phineas Gage still took the time to write down the time they were leaving so his men would be paid correctly makes my heart break. This man, who is missing half his head, still took the time to care for others. A testament of his character!

[@jenellenelson4447]

Yet no one cared for him. Such a great soul, too bad he wasn't surround by the same..

[@7Fatguy]

I agree that he was a badass, but he definitely didn't lose half of his head. It was a small hole through his skull, which was literally why he continued to live.

[@7Fatguy]

Don't take infographics at FACE value i guess lol

[@anneflynn9614]

​@@jenellenelson4447There wasn't much that they could do for him back then.

[@nsc217]

He had no idea he was injured

[@melissaedmonds1808]

I’m a nurse and I’ve been with people as they’ve died. One woman met the full criteria of death (fully monitored in person and by machine) and 15 minutes later her heart and breathing started back. 30 minutes later she died and stayed dead. 25 years of being a nurse and that’s the oddest thing I’ve ever seen. I figured that sometimes the heart and brain just keep trying…. (This is the same woman who had been comatose for days but seemed to “wait” for her youngest son to arrive to say goodbye… opened her eyes and smiled at him and died after he left). The body and spirit are very strong sometimes.

[@wmluna381]

Sounds like a story for the JeffMara channel.😊

[@mickefy682]

@@wmluna381You just got that channel a new subscriber. Thanks for mentioning!

[@wmluna381]

@@mickefy682 It's a good one. Especially for NDE stuff. The recent live UFO stream was interesting as well.

[@ashleygoggs5679]

I had a similar story with my grandfather. He didnt die twice but he was seriously ill. He lived in a town outside of london and my family live in the north of england. My grandfather held on with every ounce of energy he had, we knew he was on his death bed, he had lost significant amount of weight, he looked very feeble, its hard to describe but when you see someone like that you just know. So my grandmother seeing her husband like this told my father (obviously their son) that we should maybe come to see him sooner. So we go down as soon as possible and we see him, i remember seeing him he was sleeping but as soon as grandmother said we was here to see him, he instantly opened his eyes as if we were the last ones he needed to be with before he could say his goodbyes, as if he had been keeping himself going specifically for us as we saw him maybe once a year due to the distance. Sadly a few days after this he passed away. My grandfather was a northern englishman who are known as hardworking manly man kind of people so very emotionally disconnected most of the time. But it was the moment he opened his eyes so quickly dispite his lack of energy that made me how much he truly love his grandchildren. I was finishing school when he passed away, i wish he lived another 10 years so i could grow up more with some advice from himbut also for him to watch us fully grow into men.

[@843arms]

My wife’s grandad had become unresponsive to anyone on his last day but was still alive when we arrived, when we got there my wife started to talk to him as anyone would even though he was unresponsive and he all of a sudden opened his eyes and started to talk to me and my wife along with my at the time 2yr old son, very heart warming moment, held conversation like it was just another day of the week and then when we had to leave and was done, he passed away later that night. He held out to see us one last time and it was truly amazing, but also amazing what people can do

[@arabellacary8198]

i found mr ballen 2 years ago when i was homeless and deep in addiction, i remember those sleepless nights tossing and turning sick as hell, and watching mr ballen for hours at a time. it felt so comforting like he was there with me telling me these stories. im sober, in my own apartment now and still watch him. ill never forget how he was there for me during my lowest. love u mr ballen !!!

[@korianneparker2530]

Same! 😂😂

[@leiannesw4926]

@Arabella Cary I'm Proud of you for getting and staying sober, and getting an apartment Keep up the hard work, and remember to reach out, Pray, Meditate, ..whatever works when you need to. Sending Blessings I only recently found Mr Ballon and have been binge watching for a couple of months. I love this channel and the community.

[@dirosee1]

Good job on your sobriety! 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽 Keep up the good work and remember to love yourself more.

[@dismurrart6648]

Great job! He helped me through my dark phase too. I'm really proud of you and hope you know what a badass you are!

[@markschuler1511]

Congrats! You're totally bad-ass! ❤

[@mello888999]

As a psych student, you learn about Phineas Gage almost every semester, but it’s way better when Mr. Ballen tells it

[@debbiebarton5348]

❤

[@kalielik]

I have too, also a psych student here! Although I never got to hear the story of how it happened.

[@sujathan4116]

So you are indirectly trying to convey that you are bad student and cannot understand anything at once .

[@kalielik]

@@sujathan4116 Well, since you clearly don't know. There is something called repetition in school, where you repeat topics and information that you have learnt before. More details and information can also be added for every repetition. Phineas Gage is a very important and interesting figure in psychology, since his case changed how psychologist look at the brain, therefore, he is brought up a lot.

[@TechFoe]

*Shushes psychology lecturer* *walks over to computer and puts Mr Ballen on* *sighs* now we can actually learn 🤣😅

[@Sharri70]

Nobody here in Australia thought Tina’s death was an accident. Those of us in the dive community called BS instantly because as a trained rescue diver he would know exactly how to respond - and it is never from the front! Proving it is another matter though.

[@nathanielacton3768]

I just wrote a similar response, I'm also a rescue diver here in Sydney. If it was my wife I probably would approach her from the front, to offer my occy and sync BC inflation to ascend at the right rate. But yeah, if a person go mental...

[@marteumar8429]

Really sad. The poor woman

[@PsychologicalApparition]

He only served 18 months in prison? 🤔 Jigga whaaaaa?

[@darylwright3393]

Actually served only 12 months and married a lookalike.

[@b.deadwood]

What a shit thing that diving company had put on them too because of that f*ck head..

[@tomatodamashi]

I am not a rescue diver, but as a normal scuba diver, there is no way in hell I would leave my wife to go get help. Not unless there is a problem I cannot solve on my own. The story sounds very fishy, and I'm glad he at least served SOME time in prison for it. I have given my wife a hug underwater though. To show her I love her or even if she is cold in the water. But if she started sinking away from me, I would go down and get her...

[@kitphipps1561]

I feel like she may have actually had a panic attack and he tried to restrain her, maybe he thought she had calmed so he released her, and when she sank he panicked and went for help instead of grabbing her. I’m not a diver, so maybe I just don’t know what I’m talking about, but I don’t see a motive for him to kill her.

[@Ellie_xo]

​@@kitphipps1561you shouldn't restrain somebody having a panic attack though in my opinion it just makes them panic even more...I don't even like people touching me when I have them unless I ask for it

[@jasmineanahera]

Ha. Fishy. Ba dum tis

[@TheSpiritRoom23]

@@kitphipps1561and still, why leave her down there😑

[@eroccha]

@@kitphipps1561 Life insurance money is a motive.

[@poethalaw]

as an adult, mrballen is the closest thing i have to waking up saturday morning to watch the morning cartoon shows as a kid also, i realize it’s sunday. i never watched any sunday morning cartoon shows growing up, only saturdays. And mrballen reminded me of the excitement of my childhood saturday mornings

[@fathergascoigne1457]

​@@-youtalkingtome it's a bot. You are literally talking to a bot. You played yourself

[@robertherbst9487]

@@-youtalkingtome yeah you may have infected yourself with malware if you clicked anything that this link took you to.

[@7Lace77]

Are you Afraid of the Dark? 🖤

[@churchofthelambofsat]

There are actual saturday morning cartoon channels too, if you didn't know.

[@justincraig398]

@@-youtalkingtome anytime you see a comment like that, a random clip with no context… it’s a bot. DO NOT CLICK the link ever. As a good rule of thumb, never click any links on KZbin comments at all. Even if you’re certain it’s a human, just don’t click it.

[@twirlgirl2286]

As soon as Gabe ascended to the surface the 2nd time, my first thought was: wayminit... didn't he grow up in and around water, was a trained rescue diver, as well as having so much more experience as a deep sea diver than Tina? Well, why was HE THE ONLY ONE having such problems? As big as he is and as small as she was, his "muscle memory" didn't kick in to rescue her and get his "own beloved wife" back to the surface? Gabe's actions were more fishy than the ocean he was in.

[@laceyburns5378]

My first thought too was, wait his new wife and he didn't just bring her up himself?! Sys.

[@Watermelon333z]

Gabe, you mean Gabe

[@jenx5870]

That, in and of itself isn't really suspicious. You don't bring a struggling person or dead weight of an unconscious person up with you when time is of the essence. You go to the surface as quickly as possible to get help by yourself to bring help back down. Plenty of experienced divers go back to the surface by themselves to retrieve assistance for their dive partners. His story would check out, except someone saw him hugging her. That would actually check out, too, if he had claimed he was attempting to stop her from removing her/his mask or something similar. People who are new to diving can experience panic and hyperventilate. That doesn't work well with the deep sea diving equipment and gasses. It's hard to say whether he did or didn't kill her, which is why he wasn't convicted of murder, I am guessing. An experienced diver would almost certainly know there would be a risk of being seen by other divers if he were to attempt to hurt her, even when he did separate them from the group for a few minutes. The story does hold water, I'm afraid (pun intended).

[@karlafernanda4750]

You’re twisted fam

[@karlafernanda4750]

You’re twisted fam

[@perolden]

At a local hospital here in Norway, in a small town, a frozen body of a woman was found buried in a snowdrift one winter morning. At the hospital they found no life signs, no heartbeat, no respiration, so she was put in line for autopsy, to secure the cause of death. There was no rush, so she was placed in a cool refrigerated room. They were busy, so they scheduked her autopsy to the next day. The next day the corpse had disappeared, (there was no drawers as you see in movies, there was seldom more than a couple of bodies waiting for autopsy). As the autopsy room were locked, they guessed that if someone was in there, it had to be through the window of an adjoining office. Since the snow was gone, they had a dog sniff on the clothes she was wearing while she was transported to the hospital. And yes, the dog found the smell outside that office window, and the mell led them to the hospitals main entrance. They asked the people there if they could have the video from the ninght before, and there she was, walking with the sheet as clothing, and admitted to the hospitals ER, and she was very much alive. There are perhaps 30 private hospitals in Norway, the rest is owned by the central government, and this was a state owned hospital, so there was made a report, this showed to be the third time this hospital judged a frozen person as dead in the last 10 years....all three is still alive today...

[@Cui-bono987]

Crazy. Isn’t that where the expression ‘saved by the bell’ comes from? In case people who were buried but still alone could ring the bell and be saved from their grave?

[@perolden]

@@Cui-bono987 In the 19th century, several stories about people not being dead , but still buried, for instance in London, a garve digger heard sounds from a grave where there had been a burial hours before, found a woman alive in her coffin. So, the coffinmakers stated making coffins with a bell, when the coffin was buried, a pipe from the coffin had a string to the bell, which was over the ground, so, there they could ring the bell, as well as getting air, if they woke up after burial.

[@quicksilvermad]

Phineas Gage's story means a lot to me. I have a TBI that altered my personality and the symptoms he experienced after the accident are some that I struggle with. I have the medical drawing of his skull tattooed on my forearm. I may be "No Longer Jenn", but at least I know that a big personality change is something that can happen after a traumatic brain injury. His story helped me cope with the loss of the person I used to be before my concussion. I actually even like the new me even more-all I had to do to get self confidence was to trade shame for a constant headache and a revolving door of cognitive symptoms that scare the hell out of me. The way Phineas was so nonchalant about it all is exactly how I deal with physical trauma. "Doctor, here's business enough for you" has been the same attitude I have when it comes to pain. I've got a crazy pain tolerance, and I'm aware of how unnerving it is to look at. I get cluster headaches that happen with a neck tic that apparently looks like I'm being punched by a ghost. Phineas's story has also helped me come to terms with my lowered life expectancy after suffering eight concussions throughout my life. I've found contentment with the life I have-much like Phineas, I like being by myself and doing the things I'm still capable of, I don't really want a partner at all, people exhaust me because it's hard to keep up with conversations now, and so I prefer being alone in the quiet where I can read and write for as long as I can focus.

[@danielleterry2331]

I drove my daughter crazy asking what time it was over and over every day, because doctors told my insurance I would never work or walk again my insurance refused rehabilitation so my 15 year old daughter worked with me every day, took me 2 months to look at a phone # and try to call without zoning out after the first couple numbers and forgetting what I was even trying to do…my faith is very strong I talked with the Lord, said if this is what he had for me I would accept it but I refused to hear it from a neurologist who might not even know him…that night the Lord said if I wanted to walk I could and if I wanted to work I could, in my dream I fell down crying and praising him….it was a long 2 1/2 years but I work ( no longer a cpa as math is such a struggle) and I walk (can’t run to save my life but I can walk) God is good always my head on collision was in 2001 doctors still can’t figure out how I walk on my crushed legs nor how with my head injury where my brain tilted back and up I can work . Nothing is impossible for the greatest healer

[@zacwilson6231]

Brain injuries scare me now because I used to fight Muay Thai and MMA and I had 7 confirmed concussions and likely several others that I didn't go to a hospital for and at the time I didn't care cause I didn't expect to live long anyways but now that I have kids and I've seen both sets of my grandparents slowly fall into dementia I'm terrified that I'll wake up one day and not know why I am where I am

[@zacwilson6231]

I hope you are having a easier time dealing with your situation now though

[@lesflynn4455]

John. These three part stories are the bread and butter that your channel began and grew so successful on. I've really missed them. Please bring these back and do a few more mate. I'm sure many of your audience have missed them.

[@cheeling794]

I wonder how he feels rocketing to such huge success in such a short amount of time

[@Galbereth]

With you on this, Les! 👍

[@abc-wv4in]

And some more "Places You Can't Go..." stories!

[@sueplummer6669]

I agree. Add my vote to this.

[@renegadewildflower]

Indeed!

[@averyflowers8819]

My great-grandma-in-law had a similar experience with the first story. They thought she was dead (no autopsy) and mid service she sat up!!! Everyone was freaking out. But she continued her life for 2 1/2 more decades!!! Tough Lady❤

[@heavenwhite5936]

Did they embalm her? And how did that affect her body if they did?

[@SB-ni1gf]

@Heaven white FYI, the process of embalming includes draining the body of all blood & other fluids, replacing them with embalming chemicals. No living thing could survive such a process. The OP mentions his grandmother didn't have an autopsy which would explain why she wasn't embalmed.

[@heavenwhite5936]

@@SB-ni1gf I didnt think that would explain anything actually. My great gma DIDNT get an autopsy but she was STILL embalmed. An autopsy being performed doesnt influence that decision which is why I was asking 😊🙄 whether an autopsy was performed or not, to preserve the body all the way up until the funeral, they usually embalm unless you choose to decline. And I cant imagine why you would do that

[@heavenwhite5936]

@@SB-ni1gf dk if you knew this but embalming is for preservation of the body and the autopsy is to determine cause of death. Therefore, You dont need an autopsy to be embalmed

[@averyflowers8819]

@@heavenwhite5936 No they did not embalm her.. From what I heard from the family that was there... It was a small town in Mexico and things were different also, not rich. All I know is it was Crazy!! I probably would have been running around like a crazy person!!!😂😂

[@mellyr701]

Idk what’s more messed up. The fact that 4 people witnessed Tina get bear hugged and let go to the bottom without doing anything or Gabe only serving 18 months for her murder!

[@everchangingworld11]

The story of Phineas Gage is a famous story of brain trauma resulting in a massive shift in personality. I studied this case during my psychology degree.

[@zacharysolomon8579]

Even now the story of Phineas Gage is one that any medical student would know like the back of their own hand. He isn't just some random guy who had luck. No, he was a living, walking, and speaking medical miracle.

[@Mandy-nt2cs]

Well, he also definitely had some luck along with that medical miracle lol The same as the numerous folks who have been shot, impaled ect in the head/brain region & lived to tell the tale. He was certainly damn lucky it went through the orbital socket & out the space between the jaw bones lol if you're going to get a metal rod through and through the head I can't think of a better trajectory LOL

[@Loralanthalas]

​@@Mandy-nt2csit's fascinating that even with his case, we still wonder nature versus nurture.

[@zock6937]

There's A 104 DAYS OF SUMMER VACATION AND THE CURRENT PROBLE- ow my skull

[@user-ms3jz7ub7n]

Any college student who has taken Psychology 101 probably has heard of the story of Phineas Gage many times as he is mentioned in practically every introductory textbook but I don't think anyone has ever told his story quite as engaging, insightful or as entertaining as Mr. Ballen. He is truly a gifted storyteller.

[@erins7902]

Yep that was my favorite story from psych 101. I have to give props to my psych prof. Dr. Intraub she also had a gift for story telling. I was always on the edge of my seat with perfect attention in her class. Great teachers are always great storytellers.

[@meghanmisaliar]

I've taken Psych and I don't remember this story at all.

[@danietchart1244]

I heard of him back in middle school, but I learned of him in my Psychology AP class in my senior year of high school.

[@10RexTheWolf01]

I vaguely remember some cartoons where they had an injured character just like this for laughs. Not only is this more terrifying and real than I thought but I'm now gonna take it more seriously cause that is no laughing matter.

[@aa1bb2cc3dd4]

"...quite as enGageing..."

[@donnalynnmcclary8027]

Mr. Ballen helped me through homelessness, mental illness, and family based heartbreak. He still helps me not to feel so alone. Thank you so much, Mr. Ballen.

[@thesilversurfer7136]

The tamping iron was Phineas’s emotional support tool. 😂

[@derwin24]

There are times I wish I got to experience discovering MrBallen all over again. Those late night binge sessions, hearing all the stories for the first time.

[@MyMissingPeace]

@JonathanBallen scumbot

[@victoriadime9057]

Hell yeah!!! I miss it so badly!❤

[@yv1683]

I'm currently starting all over and listening with my son. Makes it new for me with him.

[@johnrayboutang6974]

That one about the teen with his dog spending one last time at the cabin after his dad passed... scared the shit out of me

[@tiatokkesdal1745]

All the stories suck now

[@dieyng]

That first story has an absolutely tragic turn. I don't even want to imagine how her family and husband felt.

[@EllpaFox47]

that must be really tragic, to not only see the one you love die, but to see them "die" twice in front of you is just horrific

[@loritester4454]

The way you tell stories makes you think you are RIGHT THERE, IN THE STORY, Getting EVERY single picture of your story telling.. I AM HOOKED ... Thank you so much for sharing your gift with us..

[@thebettersarah]

My dad survived a brain injury to that EXACT part of his brain. He too was thought to have passed when they found him.but miraculously survived! His personality changes were just like phineas'! He became child like, coarse and gruff, a little perverted, but over time he has evened out a lot. His injury was 18 years ago! He's truly a miracle. Thanks for this interesting story!!!

[@virgilsierra6007]

Sorry to hear he went through such an injury and glad that he’s recovering

[@ajfoxw]

Somehow this episode made me feel like MrBallen was back after a long absence. I can't explain why. These were great stories and I enjoyed every minute of them.

[@MrBallen]

❤

[@novachruz]

TOTALLY AGREE! its like being back at the beginning with him telling stories in the way that got me hooked in the first place! now all we need is some 'missing 411' stories and we are sorted :)

[@galaxyanimal]

@@novachruz These are the kinds of stories he was telling back when he 1st got popular. He's got the same charisma & storytelling ability, he just picks different kinds of stories nowadays.

[@ajalee617]

It is!!

[@LibertyGoose]

No one gonna mention Lung, huh. Interesting.

[@JustTrying2MakeitToJesus]

Phineas might be the reason for the saying original "OG triple." This man was a living breathing miracle. Its crazy how 1 person can die from a single stab wound or gunshot while others survive things like this. What a wild story. Thanks for sharing.

[@pyrace]

G'day Mr. Ballen. I remember the divers' story playing out in the news channels here. The sentence he received was a joke, and every other Aussie that I know was furious about it. My wife and I love your stories and the articulated way that you present them. We love how far you've come in your life and we think that you and your family are beautiful. Keep it up, Mate ❤

[@Cannibalizee]

The first story is a true horror-story about medical incompetence 😢 I could only imagine how emotionally, and psychologically devastating was for the husband to see his wife die twice 😢

[@sujathan4116]

Aren't you a cannibal , you should be happy you got a body to eat . Or maybe did have body to eat.

[@Cannibalizee]

@@sujathan4116 😂😂😂 I don't settle with scraps, I take great pride at choosing the proper meat. I wouldn't eat just anyone, I am not barbaric.

[@cwaice6116]

@@Cannibalizee are u mentally unstable

[@TheJackmilla]

​@@Cannibalizee Spoken like Hannibal Lector. A truly cultured cannibal

[@stephaniebaker2526]

What did they expect from Cold War era Russia? 🙄 Just SO unbelievable and harrowing!

[@matthewavery2934]

I always love when MrBallen gives us three stories all packed up into one awesome video, he always knows how to deliver with his awesome storytelling ability

[@Aeimos]

I already knew about the Phineas story but he went in to detail I never heard before. It made it feel like a new story I never heard before.

[@matthewavery2934]

@@Aeimos it's amazing how Phineas survived for so many years, the tampong iron must've went through him so fast Phineas must've not felt a thing

[@Aeimos]

@Mbita Acoustic No

[@stabbrzmcgee825]

Four, cuz the nordVPN ad is an entertaining story in itself lol.

[@Aeimos]

@@matthewavery2934 I will need to read an authoritative biography on him to get those detail about his story. I'm curious if he felt any pain at all or if he was just extremely stoic.

[@heathergreen4184]

The story of Phineas Gage was one that really impressed me in the beginning of my journey into psychology! Now, working with violent offenders, I’m often reminded of his story, and I’m careful to check for head injuries among my clients/patients!

[@dexine4723]

It can work the other way too. One of our local offenders suffered a serious head injury a few years ago and while it didn't particularly impair him (any more than the hard drug habit had already done), he's no longer the nasty piece of work that he used to be.

[@WeAreBlessed777]

Man that 1st story is crazy....Soon as she would have sat up in the casket I would've already been out the door and in my car...my condolences to the family though, that is a tragic story. R.I.P. 🙏🏿❤

[@ermelindarrenja8162]

Tina's case is such a tragedy. Gabe is a freaking psychopath. All the things that he has done to her parents after her death are disgusting. He definitely killed her.

[@LilMissSparkl3s]

What did he do to Tina's parents?

[@ermelindarrenja8162]

@LilMissSparkles He was straight up mocking them. He was still possessive of Tinas body even though he got married again after 3 or so months after her death. Each time her parents took flowers to her grave, he would throw them in the trash almost immediately and so soooo much more. Her case is absolutely heartbreaking. He was also abusive to her before he killed her. She was afraid for her life before they left for their trip. He also had a life insurance on her.

[@400bones6]

@@ermelindarrenja8162 is this public record?

[@TheRitesProductions]

@@ermelindarrenja8162 Maybe her parents keep on harrassing him after kept on repeating what happened and been freed maybe their friends and family posting threats to him or just randomly turning up at his place abusing verbal or damaging the property? or maybe because all of this and grief he just wanted to start a new life and met someone !!! Well i could be wrong or maybe you know her family and followed the case closely and personally !!!

[@jojasunshyne949]

@@TheRitesProductions You're really taking up for a man that served 18 months for involuntary manslaughter in Australia? Did it occur to you that maybe the case was dismissed by the Alabama judge b/c the father could be a successful business man with connections especially if they're in a smaller town? There's no way I'd try to be the devil's advocate when that man remarried 3 months after losing his first wife on their honeymoon. The public has so little to go on, but this is so far past benefit of the doubt esp'ly with Australians noting that man's story was inconsistent; the innocent don't remix details.

[@alanrav595]

The way John can describe every story in detail, occasionally giving me goosebumps, is just out of this world 🙂

[@MrBallen]

🙏🙏🙏

[@bri0013]

He did that to my son the other day while we were listening to the beaver head story.

[@broncotrolly]

Whos john now

[@Internet_user777]

Who is BOBO??!!!😂😂

[@shadowmeadow3692]

@@broncotrollyHis real name is John Ballen! ❤😊

[@Rasdawg915]

Part #2. You're a rescue diver, and you see your WIFE collapse 100ft under, and instead of grabbing her and bringing her up you swim up and get someone else to go get her.. okay..

[@Meshellyne3]

Mr. Ballen got me out of my depression after my only left for college! Now my daughter graduated from college, I’m still here watching amongst the millions of subs and viewers, i feel like i witnessed Mr. Ballen’s amazing success! Keep on going Sir, we love you❤️❤️❤️

[@mayamelina6]

Love that you’re doing the 3 mini stories again. This format is really satisfying. You and your team do great work!

[@BushMaster420circle]

omg right?? but his podcast does fit it to!! have you seen / heard those???? n im so excited for this man n how far everything has come lol like a camp fire story tellin style, n his unique way with words!!! but yeah jw you follow his podcast?????

[@Findpepperbridge]

I was bummed when it went down to one story too

[@Findpepperbridge]

@@BushMaster420circle a podcast is not the same at all. I like watching with photos/videos. It just completes the story.

[@BushMaster420circle]

@@Findpepperbridge which i do agree a podcast isnt the same, all it would be is editing, so if hes channel decided to hire someone to edit the podcast into a story style like you said n reuploaded to here they would do great, but i feel like he wanted to break them up n still keep the OG feel of the channel here, but you also gotta understand he has been doing it for awhile n podcast bring in WAY more money for his family & team as a whole, but also it went down to one story because he is doing SOOO much more now with the podcast PLUS this channel and many other things we dont see behind the scenes!!! its insane the work that goes into a channel once it grows past a million subs, Like i do management for some large companies & good lord.. its insane lol!!! but yeah it would be cool if someone would edit his podcast into photos / vid format n reuploaded it to here!!! they would do amazing but i think he wants to keep the feel on this channel to what it was always but man his podcast is AWESOME!!! its these storys but usually WAYYY longer!!!! some of the stortys can be 45 mins long!!! personally i enjoy it because i keep it on in the background

[@BushMaster420circle]

@@Findpepperbridge but have you seen HIS podcast??? its much different then the AVERAGE podcast FYI

[@josephdrach2276]

The case of Phineas Gage has been told in so many different ways that it's amazing. He developed an infection after the explosion but made it through. The doctor did not just make him comfortable and wait for him to die. He scraped away the dead tissue (over a cup of brains included) and closed the wound he cleaned up. Gage improved and went to Argentina for some years where he worked as a cab driver. He had another bout of infection when he returned to the USA and it caused mental deterioration, seizures, and finally death The common story of steady deterioration, childishness, and begging for his old job back as soon as he made his first recovery is untrue. He did not lead a sad wasted life from the day of the explosion until his death. The tamping rod reminded him of a time when he was healthy, strong, and very respected. Why wouldn't he carry it with him? It wasn't strange considering his life as a leader of men and an expert in his field changed in an instant.

[@jonlamontagne]

If they only had hospital grade sanitized maggots at the time! They would have only ate the rotting and or dead tissue and left ALL healthy tissue intact! He may have had even more of his faculties about him even if he didn't have many or really any ill effects from the injury and the recovery!

[@TheGuindo]

@@jonlamontagne medical maggots probably would've helped, yeah, but i think the infections were the bigger problem for him. if this had happened after the discovery of penicillin, he might not have died when he did.

[@shelbylester8503]

This will go down as another classic Mr. Ballen episode

[@celenarian8487]

Dude the way say Seagull Lung lives rent free in my head. I’m glad I have so much content to binge you’re awesome at storytelling.

[@kalahariswirl1231]

I am currently taking AP Psychology and I am very surprised you never mentioned how Phineas Gage developed anterograde amnesia after the accident with the tamping iron. Due to his grievous injuries to his frontal lobe not only did his personality change, but he was unable to store long term memories and therefore soon forgot everything that would happen to him post-accident while all the memories from before the accident remained perfectly intact. Interesting stuff! Edit: Actually Phineas Gage didn’t suffer from anterograde amnesia, that was patient HM who had a surgery that removed his hippocampus to stop his seizures

[@frankiefavero1666]

Yup! This is why the only skill he could use to make a living (as they permanently discharged him from railroad work) was driving a horse and carriage! He immigrated to Chile soon after and for 7 years he drove a commercial stagecoach between the biggest cities, quite successfully I might add!

[@heffthegauud7297]

@@frankiefavero1666 Very interesting 🤔, thanks for sharing.

[@burniezarsoff4118]

Mr Ballan forgot to mention the amnesia.🤔😂

[@angelika236]

I feel like you‘re mixing him up with Patient HM. I don‘t blame you though…I too immediately thought of „anterograde amnesia“.

[@brettvonhenneberg-romhild3535]

Heh. Freshman psychology students. How would you analyze if I were also to say that I loved my "thirteen pound rod"? 😂😅;)

[@janececelia7448]

The second story was very infamous here in Australia with lots of evidence showing that it was a premeditated murder of his new wife. For a well-established diver he broke all the cardinal rules of diving that's why his actions were thought as being so suspicious. He also took out a huge life insurance policy on her before they left for their honeymoon. He should've got murder one for his crime back in the US.

[@ltahoe9257]

I don't understand how her family hasn't taken him out yet. He doesn't deserve to live.

[@Galbereth]

I really hope the insurance company did NOT pay out!!😮

[@Arminsaf2]

Yea, I was almost positive there was more to the story. Makes much more sense

[@cdes1776]

I'm stunned that basically he got a slap on the wrist. He may not have got the insurance money but he did get away with murder.

[@cdes1776]

@@Galbereth "Bloomston also denied that Watson profited from Tina Thomas Watson's death, saying her father was paid $33,000 in life insurance from her job and the travel insurance company refused to cover his $10,000 claim."

[@rawliljhit8170]

18 months after killing his wife for NO reason and gage got right back to his life 🤦🏽‍♂️that so upsetting I can't believe it seems like no one is moved by that smh so disgusting I hate things like that and mainly being the corrupt broken system we have

[@Sunshinex1029]

His advertisements are 1000% the best.. he’s hysterical and I love every minute of them

[@ShanePH6]

I’m really glad Mr.Ballen covered the Phineas Gage incident. I first heard about it in high school during my psychology class and always thought it was one of the most interesting stories I’ve ever heard.

[@frickfrack7075]

Yes! It's one of my favorite stories to hear!

[@katie_cant_compute]

Yeah me too! :)

[@theworldisindeedcomicbutth2157]

Me three

[@makeupandmore928]

Yes I heard it in both high school and college psychology classes and thought it was fascinating!

[@JoeTAC]

Yes, I clicked on this video just because of Phineas Gaige. That guy is textbook 'effects of brain damage on personality' in every Psychology degree or class. The stuff brain damage can do to you is insane. If you're interested, look up Capgras syndrome and Coutard syndrome. There's also 'evil hand' syndrome and many others. It's insane how little we actually know about the brain and how altering it can affect us.

[@frankiefavero1666]

Thank you so much for covering the story of Phineas Gage so beautifully! He is the reason I became interested in neuroscience and worked at the Centre for Brain Research (Auckland Uni) for many years. Now, another interesting fact is that, no matter how much he healed, much of his personality and skills vanished! So in his later years, Gage found his employment opportunities dry up, so he migrated to Chile (yes, a country with an entirely different language) because he was offered the role of stagecoach driver by a family member who worked for a US-based company that was building a presence in South America (1852). According to reports from passengers and co-workers, he was an erratic man, with a penchant for booze and angry outbursts, he also took his metal rod on ALL of his trips but apparently, he was also really competent with horses/carriages... He eventually was fired after 7 years of service because his health was deteriorating and safety was a concern (seizure-prone). He returned to his mom's house in the US where one day he succumbed to one of his frequent seizures... Such a sad story.

[@unsolicitedadvice2800]

What was the movie that he referenced?

[@jonlamontagne]

Now imagine if they had access to hospital grade sanitized maggots to eat away the infected tissues and have left ALL of his healthy tissue intact! GRanted when you take out the frontal lobe like this he would have a penchant for risky and addictive behaviours along with eratic mood swings but would maybe have kept some of his old skills intact so that he could have taught. Clearly you don't want someone who is not risk adverse handling explosives! LOL

[@PrayThenBreathe1528]

Amazing! Thank you for you giving up the update we needed! Woof. Poor, and blessed, guy.

[@gabriellesharp2436]

This style of storytelling videos are your foundation. They are what drew us all in and had us hooked. I l could binge watched you all day

[@nonenone-cx1rf]

Brother I hope you are so rich that you never have to worry about anything again besides your passion which seems to be telling amazing stories in an amazing way.

[@RetroRestor3D]

I feel so bad for fajili (I know I botched the spelling), the stress of watching his wife die, dragging himself through the funeral only to have her wake up, but die again due to the horror of waking up in her own funeral. My heart goes out to you fajili.

[@hikariz6830]

The Tina story is heartbreaking. He asked her to change her life insurance to him right before they left, but it was paid by her dad- she called her dad to ask him to change the beneficiary. Dad decided to wait until they got back, when he called her dad about the life insurance her dad told him: nope, it hadn't been changed. While he only got 18mo, at least he didnt get her life insurance

[@sstephkate86]

He got away with murder.

[@adammetzger4182]

I don't really get how even with the witnesses he didn't get charged with murder.

[@marvincezair5254]

Basically its her fault because she shud have told him her dad was paying it and he not changing it unti they get back,,she might of still be here today

[@hit64t]

very hard to truly understand what actually occurred and no way to no for sure....but typically motive and conduct prior to the incident point overwhelmingly toward the husband. IMO (and I am guessing most of us), he is guilty behond reasonable doubt, based upon what we know from this video.

[@kevinstotomas-cf4zu]

​​@@marvincezair5254 He would have still killed her on another occasion.

[@MRBILLSYOUTUBECHANNEL]

Keep up the great work and I wish you go back at least two times a week

[@emilybaumeister4980]

That last one was amazing, thanks for sharing mrballen

[@whutzat]

I saw a Dateline NBC show about the second case. It's horribly tragic that Tina got NO JUSTICE. In the more detailed story you see why her husband did it. Just before the wedding, Gabe sked Tina to both increase her life insurance, and to change him to the sole beneficiary. After her remains were brought home and buried, there were multiple incidents of vandalism at her grave, with flowers and other tribute objects being stolen or destroyed. Video from the cemetery showed GABE doing all of it at night when he THOUGHT he was going undetected. Two years later, with new evidence, they TRIED to prosecute Gabe again, but a judge wouldn't even let it go to jury. The prosecutors said in all their years, they never saw such interference by a judge.

[@tpl6963]

it is strange, but this is such a complex case that it is difficult to assert guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. it is one of the cases where, he probably did it, but it cannot be said with 100% certainty. i would personally vote not guilty on the 1st degree murder charge (lack of evidence). I'm basing this only on the comments here and mr ballens video, of course

[@devong7124]

Try again. Never give up!

[@caittails]

Must be new prosecutors, ‘cause that’s a pretty common thing for judges to do, lol.

[@ass.exploder]

what a biased judge bruh 😭😭 gabe had to be bribing the guy or something.

[@Apodeipnon]

@@tpl6963 beyond a reasonable doubt doesn't mean 100% certain. Reasonable is the key word, and i feel like in this case there's enough reason to think he did it. If it had gone to trial it would have at least brought people closer to the truth

[@o-Girly-x]

I have ADHD really bad and can't sit through a story to save my life. MrBallen, you keep me very engaged. Your storytelling skills and content are amazing and out of this world

[@cupcakekawaii]

Same.

[@BxBii]

Sameeee

[@dirtgames13]

I usually have to play video games or have something else in the background when I watch long videos like this, he keeps my attention the whole time

[@annmariemarino2003]

DITTO!!!

[@ericacosat9557]

Ssssaaame

[@jahmyrjefferson8358]

I have huge respect for Mr ballen you have to be a very strong willed person to not only reaserch but also tell these story's

[@cameramike2515]

I remember the Phineas Gage case from my college psychology class. Very fascinating how frontal lobe damage affects personality changes and how someone’s life changes in different ways.

[@blakecurry3880]

That's where I learned about it too.

[@rebeccachapman6950]

Phineas is my favorite story of the three. I had a friend who wrecked his 3 wheeler ATS, now illegal, and later suffered seizures. He had two brain surgeries later. As his friends, we sort of joked that the 1st surgery took away his sense of humor, and 2nd took away his common sense. We always loved him and looked after him, like a little brother, but after his surgeries he was paranoid and always thought we were making fun of him. I still miss him, though he was never the same.

[@bryduhbikeguy]

Been in a couple very bad wrecks,1 of which was on the day I was released from the hospital after surviving the worst.I can agree with the' brain damage',after a few concussions.I can see some of my differences and have to be careful with how I talk.Sometimes I would just interrupt and start talking about random things about something they'd said,as a 'keyword' that triggered a memory.I can't remember large parts of my life,and names are gone in seconds.I still have a hard time with crowds,even family,but after 20 years I shop at anytime instead of late nights only.I used video games to get used to being in traffic without panic attacks.

[@sarak4219]

Me to but I don’t remember any of my classes talking about how he almost became “in love” with the rod. Maybe I just forgot that detail but I feel like that’s something I would’ve remembered. Definitely makes the case even more interesting.

[@snarklar]

​@@sarak4219 I don't think that was mentioned much. I vaguely remember something about it and I've been interested in that story since I was a little kid. But yeah. There's photos of him with it.

[@lorrainecragan-sullivan1836]

Phineas Gage’s story is in nearly every psych 101 book. So fascinating.

[@mangotail6808]

Worker: dude, half of your head is missing! Phineas: huh, would you look at that, let,s have some lunch

[@goose93]

​@@mangotail6808 "time for my yearly checkup"

[@jerryduford3254]

That Ad was AMAZING MR!

[@goato3x692]

Just found you on Apple podcasts today and i have not stopped listening since i found your podcast you are amazing at what you do ‼️wish many blessings and growth upon you.

[@ruththomas6361]

To me, one of the great miracles of Phineas Gages recovery is how the doctor managed to prevent that horrid wound from becoming infected in an age of no antibiotics. I first heard of this incident in Antonio Damasio's book, "Descartes' Error."

[@galaxyanimal]

It actually did get infected to the point they didn't think he'd survive, but he managed to make a recovery in spite of it.

[@bcaye]

I imagine the tamping rod was quite warm from the explosion. But the doctor who treated him had wartime experience and used silver nitrate (caustic) and also excised his forehead at one point to release pus. Oxygen can be a good antibiotic if you can get it into a wound.

[@lindamcintosh859]

Maybe, it just WASN'T his time to die. Period.

[@galaxyanimal]

@@lindamcintosh859 From what I've read, it seems that he was in excellent health prior to the accident, which allowed him to recover from an infection that likely would've killed someone less healthy.

[@darwinsom957]

​@@lindamcintosh859 I wouldn't want to live after that personality change

[@deprofundis3293]

I love this format as well as the stories themselves so much more than anything else - not typical true crime, not urban legends/paranormal stuff without facts to support it, but real yet weird stories. Please bring back more of these! ❤

[@Ac-he6eu]

YES! The 3 story videos are also my favourite and it's what blew up this channel in the first place. I don't understand why people love the paranormal stories so much. I can never get into them...

[@SlingshotMustang]

Completely agree. Me and my brother have both been subbed to MrBallen for a couple years but we stopped watching many of his videos for the past few months because we both don't like hearing about questionable paranormal stuff which has no facts to support it and is just hearsay. The real meat of this channel is in the "real yet weird" stories like the "places you can't go but people went there anyway" stories, and the stories that have to do with getting lost at sea or cave diving or things like that, as long as they're totally factual and not just urban legend. If he continues to get back to content like this, I'll start watching every video again.

[@CarleneSilver]

Me too

[@katigosey23]

The original Mr. Ballen is BACK!! Gosh I’ve missed the top 3 series. I feel like the second story has been told before but that’s alright I still love it!

[@Curz3d_]

literally listened to your podcast for multiple days straight

[@BijinMCMXC]

The Gabe and Tina story sounded weird to me because why did the dive instructor have to dive down and get Tina and take her back up? For her own HUSBAND not to immediately do that himself struck me as odd and possibly sinister.

[@brianjones3191]

People regularly get life imprisonment or death on less evidence. We should make use of fMri machines for such (or all) serious cases. FMri machines could be used as lie detectors, but would be far superior as they see into the working brain itself in real time.

[@alainpreveaux2428]

And Gabe was a certified rescue diver!

[@BijinMCMXC]

@@alainpreveaux2428 Yeah the situation reeks of prolonging the time it took for her to receive life saving measures in order to ensure she died, to me.

[@tinasmith4810]

Yes, Gabe's story has never made any logical sense.... I'm from Alabama so I've heard of this many many times and if I remember correctly he had actually taken out some life insurance on his new bride.... Also like MrBallen said Tina didn't like diving at all but Gabe kind of guilted her into it on this trip so she gave in and sadly lost her life. It's so sad and crazy to hear about people getting murdered by their new spouses on their honeymoon....

[@BijinMCMXC]

@@tinasmith4810 Ah, life insurance. I bet you do remember correctly! I see this is a story I’m gonna have to listen to on another yt channel that goes into more depth. Thanks for the info!

[@ingridfong-daley5899]

I had a brain injury in 2017 and the 'childlike' loss of inhibitions/character changes was the hardest part for both me and others to come to terms with--all of your personal relationships are shattered instantly. People don't seem to realise how common these injuries are (car accident, falling/hitting your head, abuse, etc) and how thorough the changes can really be.

[@patrioticcactus1403]

This is a well known case and STILL I loved hearing it. The way it was told and the photo at the end for sure did it. I liked the description of how he reacted right after the injury. Well done.

[@robtrunley]

Amazing how someone can have such a massive injury and live...... Great job Mr B, thanks ...

[@LadyLeeBird]

The last story of Phineas is so crazy, and never ceases to amaze and astound me. He was a very good looking man, and I'm sure he had the personality to match before his accident.. I can't even imagine the progress medical science made just from this case study alone, and how it helped people from then on, right through to today. Simply amazing anyone could survive that..

[@mary-janereallynotsarah684]

I find it funny this was a happy ending if u believe in love between a man and his stick. 😄 Happy ever after in posterity.

[@mask938]

He was very lucky to have survived.

[@ejgonzalez7476]

Sir, if not already, you're by far going to be the best storyteller. Fighting for our freedom, now being able to do what you love with your family by your side. It's well deserved.

[@MissSweeTSmarT1983]

Well said sir. 👏 nothing but thankful for all of our servicemen ❤.

[@ellenwuzhere]

Hear hear!! 🍻

[@reinettewarren2251]

I found out about you through my 16yo,he loves listening to your videos and now I'm hooked! You're telling stories in the background while I'm pottering about the house. It's brilliant, thanks!

[@skeeterwaite-thario6155]

Wow! You have a gift. I love that you tell true history and things that have happened. Some amazing events told by a very talented young man. I love it.

[@marioabarca5393]

28 ys old 5th year as a Wildland firefighter I'm from Oregon but currently stationed/ working in Kentucky your storys are all I listen to to keep me from being home sick or just keep me at ease I put on my ear buds and I'm back home thank you Mr ballen your awesome thanks for being here for US..❤🔥💪🙏

[@kharma7755]

Hey fellow Oregonian... Hopefully you will be able to return home soon. Thank you for the work you are doing. (fun coincidence, I grew up in KY and moved to OR when I was 10. If you are ever in the Owensboro area, I highly recommend eating at Moonlight BBQ.. I don't know for sure if they still exist, but if so, check em out.)

[@londonsage8696]

I remember the second story of the diver and his wife. It’s really sad that there was nothing that could be done to him in the United States and he only spent 18 months in jail in Australia. I can’t even imagine her parents thinking she would be safe on her honeymoon only to have her husband kill her

[@TheRitesProductions]

Well nobody is definitely if he really killed her and they shouldve tried him in US but that would cost the family thousands of money and the private lawyer !

[@lailanimessina1473]

@@TheRitesProductions also Gabe’s father was a well known business man where they lived ! I’m sure that’s why the judge thru it out in the states

[@squarebear619]

That's bs that they can't do anything because Heather Mack is facing charges in the US though she killed her mother in Bali and spent time in prison there. Her boyfriend also faced charges in the US. They didn't charge that guy because of his connections and his race.

[@TheRitesProductions]

@@lailanimessina1473 "I'm sure that's why the judge threw it out" another assumption without providing any official explanation and details from the court why the judge refused to take, If he was convicted and served in an another he shouldve tried in his country that Yankeeland but he didnt you know, Now jog on and learn the your Yankee laws why the judge threw the case away, And the private couldve brought forward but it would cost her family fortune and there must be some payments givin out to her family for settlement as in your own words that country is shitty !!! Go on provide me the official details not your armchair BS, Thanks !!! But after studying majority of the details he sounded like a sus !

[@TheRitesProductions]

@@squarebear619 You probably right about the connections and there's always been a race issue in that country as countless of white policemen never been charged of murdering colour or black teenagers, But the thing is why that country that called itself the world powerful but cant deal with the domestic cases ! As i said the case wouldve carried out in US and still can only if the family spend fortune in it then with some powerful atorney the might charge him with 2nd degree murder as he was already been chargeed and servwed in an another country !!

[@KultK-9]

Same. Congrats on your recovery. I'm still homeless, still an addict but I function as such. Glad to see someone off the streets.

[@BiggRobb70]

❤ the video, ❤ the series, ❤ the storytelling! Great work!!

[@AnUndeadMonkey]

I always love Phineas Gage, he's such an excellent and classic example of both neuroanatomy AND neuroplasticity! The initial injury showed that specific areas of the brain affect or control personality, language, and memory, while the later recovery showed how those same aspects can be re-routed and recovered after a catastrophic brain injury!

[@frankiefavero1666]

Yay! Same here I took neuroanatomy and several cognitive neuroscience classes just because of my fascination with his story and how well he recovered and lived for 12 years after! I also have always wondered how OBVIOUS neuroplasticity and neurogenesis are from just this one example! The concept of the brain making new connections was first introduced only in 1923 (Lachey/Rhesus Monkey studies, the science community rebuffed it until the 60's), and Neuroplasticity was only accepted as a term (and an ability of the brain) in the 1960's! Same as Neurogenesis (mid 60's, Altman & Das)...

[@deprofundis3293]

Awesome take! I love this.

[@QueenBthatsMe777]

I wish my baby's brain would re-route so that she could speak😔

[@coreymiller6717]

His case single handedly destroyed the assumption that a soul exists.

[@tcgreen11]

@@coreymiller6717 for you. Sorry to hear that 😢

[@johnathansaegal3156]

As part of a safety training session for the construction company I worked as an engineer for, we were told about this incident with Phineas. The portion of this safety session was about becoming distracted while performing dangerous/potentially dangerous work. Other examples were used and it was only Phineas' incident where the person lived - and there were some gruesome incidents, photos and all, of the other cases. The photo of Phineas holding his tamping rod is what reminded me of that training session decades ago. Quite interesting, indeed.

[@frankiefavero1666]

I'd say that is some good training! Scaring you guys into doing "the safe thing" is akin to gory images on cigarette boxes and the photos of addict's teeth/faces/open wounds they show you during "drug awareness" sessions in school. I first heard Gage's story as an 11-year-old during biology, and I was so interested that it led to a life-long affair with neurosciences :)

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

Phineas' story comes up in any safety course regarding tamping irons, because today, they're REQUIRED to have nylon tips fitted to avoid striking sparks. His is THE famous case, and a tamping job was where I first heard of him, the summer before Psych' class in High School... AND then (as you say) there were "those other cases", complete with photo's and all, that didn't turn out as good. ...AND just for clarity... It was a summer job FOR students. ALL they ever let us handle was the tamping irons, and once in a while the bags of Nitrate... No caps, det' cord, charges, or any of the "business"... We were explicitly assistants, kind of like an apprentice position. They got cheap, part-time laborers, and we got a taste of "the real world" in explosives and stuff... but it was so well supervised that even just for messing with one of the caps that fell out of a box, one of the other guys got fired. "When that happens and you see it, you get one of the Pyro's to retrieve it... PERIOD." ;o)

[@johnathansaegal3156]

@@frankiefavero1666 I almost fully agree with your reply - the safety training was not to scare us in any way, but to show in full color (where available) what happens when safety is overlooked, bypassed or ignored. Effective? Absolutely, but not out of the "scare factor", more like "The this what happens and how to avoid it" factor. The images buried into the minds of those who saw them, so while on the job, handling dangerous machinery or tools (explosives are just a tool), those images in our minds reminded us to take our time and not use shortcuts or take our attention off the task at hand. Maybe you didn't mean to use the word "scare"... Just like the cigarette packs I used to smoke with images of rotted-out, cancerous lungs, it was a gruesome reminder, not scarry, just a literal bloody reminder of the potential results of not abiding by common sense. That's it... I honestly don't think you meant "scare tactics", but off the top of your head that's what came out - "reminder tactics" is more accurate. Thank you for your reply! Peace and wellness to you!

[@frankiefavero1666]

@@johnathansaegal3156 no, no scare tactics implied! I've done a bit of safety training to obtain accreditation from WorkSafe in New Zealand (national health & safety board/government) and both the scary stories and imagery are meant to SHOCK attendees, not into being compliant by scaring them, but by allowing them to visualize the repercussions of careless and/or corner-cutting actions, therefore strengthening training outcomes and ultimately influencing safe behaviors in the workplace.

[@Tom-jq8kf]

Dude! These stories are insane! Especially the last one! 😳 Omg! What a great channel

[@yvonnecaldwell6088]

Awesome. First time I've seen you. Really enjoyed your stories. Greetings from Australia 😊👍🇭🇲

[@jacquelineyork988]

The first story reminds me of a story my mom told me. My mom was born in l938. She told me when she was little...like around 4 or 5 her great grandma died. They held wakes inside their homes still and not in funeral parlors. At the wake great grandma sat up in her coffin and looked at everyone. Mom said people began screaming and running from the room. When all was said and done only my mom, her parents and the great grandma was left in the room. Her great grandma rolled her eyes...looked at her grandson and said. "Make sure I'm actually dead next time you try to bury me! Now get me out of this coffin!" She lived another 5 years. When she died, they held a wake for her until she started to smell. Then they buried her.

[@southernsand1061]

Holy cow! 👀

[@tangelayoung1002]

As we've learned from other MrBallen vids not being actually dead and "coming back from the dead" at a funeral was a lot more common back in the days before our technological advances and modern medicine. Crazy your mama actually witnessed it happen and I don't blame them for waiting for a stench before burying her after the last time!

[@Sorchia56]

I can imagine my great Nana and great great Nana rolling their eyes as well! 😂😂 We’re Irish so we make absolutely sure our loved one is dead before contacting anyone. Many have just had too much drink throughout the centuries.

[@LLStark]

Wow 😲 What a story! 😂

[@pieheadthemainiac5480]

Nice story my guy true or not you held my attention!👍🏻

[@ashleyc8373]

I lost my job, my child died, and I am in a state of chaos right now. I’m about to lose my house as well. Hearing your stories is the one good hour a week where I can just turn my mind off and focus on your words.😊

[@GROUNDHOGCULT]

Ashley,are you okay?

[@lea88pu]

Oh man! Do you have anybody to help you?

[@lenagalaxies]

I'm so sorry for your loss :( My condolences, I hope things look up for you soon

[@whitebutterfly6665]

Everything will be OK ❤ You are loved

[@sk8legendz]

Sorry you're suffering as such. Hopefully you find peace and things get as better as they can under the circumstances

[@joydavis7462]

Hey MrBallen ! Amazing and tragic stories, no one conveys then better than you . Your Podcasts are wonderful but watching you is so engaging. Well done 😊

[@TThoMusic]

Excellent work as always ✌

[@BeckGho]

I love how I’m depth you got with the story of Phineas. From everything I read his rod being made of a different metal was part of the issue, when it struck the rock the gunpowder accidentally ignited. And one thing that you didn’t include: he was never the same at work. He turned into a difficult boss and lost his job shortly before he passed away. Despite this everyone still loved him and knew the accident had altered who he was.

[@keegobricks9734]

Yeah, a guy with a good portion of his brain literally blasted out deserves some leeway I think.

[@silenthoney8559]

I'm a psychology major and I first heard about Phineas in a cognitive psychology course. It was a fascinating case from a psychologist's perspective, but I loved hearing your take on it! Your way of telling stories is top tier, as usual, and really reignited my interest. Time to break out the cognitive psych. textbooks haha

[@natalieb2]

i’m a psych major too!!!!

[@kimberlykress6145]

I'm right there w/you. I also was deep in my own addiction but never homeless by the grace of God and my hubby. I'm so proud of you. 18m sober

[@cyriljude3033]

The only channel where I love even adverts. Thank you Mr B. Allen. (Am I wrong? )

[@adamoneil5317]

It was kinda wholesome to hear how much Phineas loved his job. Not many people could say they love doing a job like that anymore.

[@StrangeScaryNewEngland]

He got to blow things up and get paid for it. In a time with no safety regs. Of course he loved it. lol

[@erincogan1]

This was by far the craziest, most morbidly entertaining 27 minutes of storytelling that I have heard in a long time!!! Also, I hope you and Seagull Lung enjoyed Bo Bo the Burmese Alley Cat

[@jonslg240]

@MrBallen (the real one) did you really think we wouldn't notice that you put a picture of that casket up, and THEN DIDN'T SPECIFY WHETHER IT WAS/WASN'T A REAL PHOTO? Your journalistic integrity is a big part of the draw on top of your storytelling skills. Are you going to do this from now on? If so, thumbs down.

[@knownothingnobody9126]

Holy shit! Absolutely incredible. Thank you so much for your content and sharing it in a beautiful manner.

[@evelynwilliams1514]

Water frights me I started to stop the story but Mr .Ball has a calm story telling way .The husband didn't get enough time that unsettles me. Enjoy your day people

[@heatherreilly6595]

love that you covered number 3. I am an er nurse who was orienting a new er nurse. A few weeks ago we had a patient come in after being hit by a car, the patient had full faculties, but her family member said that her personality is different. She is normally outgoing and talkative but was unusually quiet and focused After the initial examination was done by the doctor, I asked the orienting nurse if he pick up on any bit of information given which would give him a cause for concern. I mentioned the personality changes and told him the exact story of Phineas Gage. Showing that injuries to the brain may not always reflect in the traditional way we know (loss of consciousness, not knowing the time, date, place situation, etc), but can also be personality changes.

[@lf2417]

This has also been seen with athletes who develop CTE and other neuro disorders. It can affect the way you interact with the world not just memory loss etc.

[@heatherreilly6595]

@@lf2417 yup wonderful point! Personality changes should always be a red flag of potential brain injury including encephalopathy. great addition LF

[@zoegartham312]

It's an incredibly famous case. Anyone who has taken basically any Psychology course at all will have at least heard the name, if not the details. Further, I believe it is why Psychology as a field of study exists at all. While not one of the founders of the field, Gage's accidental lobotomy showing personality changes like it did is likely one of the reasons, if not the main reason, that got people interested in actively studying the mind in a more scientific role, as it showed conclusive evidence that the mind and personality are at the very least directly connected to a physical object that can be studied (the brain). Prior to that, no one knew better, so they all generally went along with the religious/spiritual explanations of mental health and personality. Simply fascinating (albeit sad for those involved).

[@jenx5870]

I have been an RN for almost 25 yrs. An ER doctor should already know that personality changes can be a sign of a TBI. It's one of the signs of a concussion that people are told to watch for. Hopefully, he was already aware of this, too.

[@jenx5870]

​@@heatherreilly6595 Correct. Although, encephalopathy isn't a traumatic brain injury, it's confusion brought on by medication or infection, and is usually seen in people who have a history of dementia or alcoholism. Sometimes the confusion goes away once the issue causing it is resolved, but it can last for months. Other times, the confusion becomes their new baseline, unfortunately. Source: RN for 25 yrs, dementia care certified, state certified to teach classes on mental illness and developmental disabilities, and I treat people with delirium/TBI/encephalopathy/dementia, etc., on a regular basis.

[@bd1617]

Mr. Ballen will go down in history as one of the OG strange, dark, and mysterious KZbin storytellers. Edit: spelling.

[@nathanhawee5373]

No joke. About a yr ago like hundreds of ppl copied or straight stole his content. He made that big of an impact!

[@deanmorgan1821]

Best storyteller in general.

[@amystaggs5303]

That poor man died so terribly, he just wants peace. I feel for his lost soul. I've seen this story many times before. Beautiful telling....

[@kelseycoyote6576]

I'll never do the podcast. You are way too much fun to watch as you bring stories to life ❤

[@S.Lethrud]

That's insane that the divers caught her final moments! My heart goes out to her family.

[@bryduhbikeguy]

As I put it in my comment;'Why the Heck didn't they try to rescue her,when they can see her lying on the seabed??' You probably thought that too.?.

[@tcwd3760]

​@@bryduhbikeguy YES! WHY didn't SOMEONE or even her husband bring her up instead of wasting time going up to get someone else to go back down??

[@LGBTQ71]

​@@bryduhbikeguy they may not been even notice until they were found. It happens and I bet they were also watching her perhaps him. Easy to say why not, how do you feel NOT done more and have to live with that?

[@franklinstower6721]

There really is no better story teller on KZbin than MrBallen. Even when I'm listening to the podcast at work I am totally immersed in whatever story is being told. I've been a fan since 2020 and the content is still as good as the first time I started watching

[@MrBallen]

Thank you very much!!

[@amandaponzio5114]

I couldn’t agree more!! I remember my FIRST Mr Ballen story about the couple who were swindled out of their boat and were later killed at sea by the thieves. The way he described the details and the fear that they must’ve felt and what their last actions must have been ect…I was a diehard fan from that moment on. I had never even LISTENED to ANYTHING on KZbin besides music videos!! @MrBallen you are absolutely amazing and just continue to get better and better. Thank you for everything you HAVE done and CONTINUE to do for all of us!

[@franklinstower6721]

@@MrBallen oh no sir, thank you! And thank you to your mom and the whole team you have. Your videos are top notch! Honestly this channel is what got me into listening to stories on KZbin and elsewhere

[@franklinstower6721]

@@amandaponzio5114 oh I know.. the detail explanation is what makes it so intense to listen to. And watching the videos, there's the images which are labeled if they're real photos or not. I don't know of anyone else that does that

[@GarkSepher]

I love Mr. Ballen storytelling, I love the content of this amazing channel, and (I never thought I would say this) the ads are fabulous!

[@ricecake4alice]

Loved this video! From beginning to the end, it was mindblowing

[@Crochetetry]

So for the 2nd story (as en EMT student) props to the dive instructor for the 45mins of CPR. That is INSANELY TOUGH to do!! Props to him for doing so much to help her. And also, Gabe looks like the type to have done that to her, just my op 😊

[@SamanthaP48]

I could have swore they said 14 mins. 🤔

[@indianastones6032]

Doing the chest compressions when its just yourself is such a struggle after a few mins!! No training course prepared me for how hard it becomes! I only did it for ten mins, so doing alone for forty five mins is amazing!

[@dabzprincess92]

That's not what really happened. Gabe killed her he turned her air off u should look into that story

[@LGBTQ71]

Hate to say it, but I think he murderred her. My opinion.

[@LGBTQ71]

​@@indianastones6032 ea as a firstaider 20 mintues is hard 45 minutes bless them, tried so, so hard 😢😢