The Night Owl: True Ghost Stories

More than a century ago, an imposing two-story building opened here in Austin, Texas, as the Confederate Woman's Home, a place that would continue serving and caring for generations of people for more than a century. And for years, stories of unexplained activity have surrounded it. In 2019, The Night Owl was invited inside to hear firsthand accounts from the people who worked there....and potentially investigate. But before that investigation could ever begin, the opportunity disappeared, and the case was shelved. They thought that was the end of it. Until seven years later, when a strange message left for the team unexpectedly brought this building back into their lives. Now, with the property vacant and renovations quickly approaching, the Night Owl was given another chance to uncover the stories they never got to hear.Photo by Alexis A. ArrendondoEPISODE SPONSORS:QUINCEDownload the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to Quince.com/NIGHTOWL. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.AG1For a limited time, save 20% on your first subscription order of AG1 Next Gen or AG1 Pro at drinkag1.com/nightowl BETTERHELPThe Night Owl is sponsored by BetterHelp. Get 10% off at betterhelp.com/nightowlFACTORThanks Factor! Go to FACTORMEALS.com/nightowl50off and use code nightowl50off to get 50% off and 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year, while supplies last until 10/31/2026. (See website for more details).Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-night-owl-true-ghost-stories--7366553/support.

In tonight’s episode, the Night Owl team returns to Freddo ATX — a cozy café and bar tucked inside a stunning Victorian home at the corner of South Congress and Oltorf in Austin, Texas. In their previous visit, they gathered stories from the owners, staff, and a local ghost tour group that routinely stops at the property. The reports were unsettling: a heavy, foreboding presence on the first floor, strange thuds and disembodied voices, whispered names, phantom footsteps, and sightings of a woman — and even children — in the upstairs windows. The sightings were so frequent, someone once threatened to call CPS. Still, with Freddo only occupying the house since 2021, the staff aren’t quite sure what — or who — might be haunting the place. Some point, half-jokingly, to the home’s most famous former resident: Walter Tips — a rags-to-riches entrepreneur who rose to become one of Austin’s most successful merchants and eventually a Texas state senator. He lived — and died — in this home. But could he still be here? And if so, could there be others trying to make themselves known?Tonight, the team returns to Freddo, joined by not one, not two, but three psychic mediums — all with no prior knowledge of this location and blind to the address until arrival. Their goal: to validate the claims shared in Part I, and perhaps, uncover something entirely new. Photo by Meg BlohmEPISODE SPONSORS:SHADY RAYSThanks, Shady Rays. Get 35% off polarized glasses at shadyrays.com - code NIGHTOWLAG1New subscribers, go to drinkAG1.com/nightowl to get a FREE bottle of AG D3K2, an AG1 Welcome Kit, AND 5 of the upgraded AG1 travel packs with your first order.BETTERHELPThe Night Owl is sponsored by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/nightowlSupport the showBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-night-owl-true-ghost-stories--7366553/support.

Over the past four episodes in this series, the Night Owl team has been immersed in a chilling investigation of the Sunset Strip Comedy Club, located on Austin's legendary 6th Street. From eerie disembodied voices and shadow figures to a haunting presence in the back stairwell, the team has uncovered a disturbing pattern of paranormal activity tied to the building's long and mysterious past. Early on, they uncovered the tragic story of John Waller Stephens Jr., whose alleged suicide by self-administered Lysol ingestion was thought to haunt the club, but the investigation has since revealed far more than they could have expected.In Parts 2 and 3, psychic mediums Jeffery and Kate the Brave helped validate staff experiences, while introducing new and unexpected spirits. Jeffery even identified a spirit named "Hank" who had no connection to the original story of John’s death. And Kate brought to light that the negative energy in the building might not be tied to John at all—but to something darker lurking in the shadows. Then, in Part 4, a game-changing revelation completely shook their understanding of John’s death.Nicole Riccardo, a trusted member of the paranormal community, revealed that she had investigated the speakeasy below the Sunset Strip, Eden, years earlier. Through extensive research, she uncovered startling contradictions in the narrative surrounding John Waller Stephens Jr.’s death. Newspaper articles described his death as the result of a car accident—no mention of Lysol or suicide. Even more puzzling was the strange police report showing that, after the accident, John was driven across town, past his house and two hospitals, directly to his workplace at Wilson Furniture Company—now the very building they had been investigating. This discovery raised more questions than ever about the true circumstances of his death.Now, armed with new evidence and insights, including the help of Nicole and the team of psychics, the Night Owl team returns to the Sunset Strip Comedy Club determined to uncover the truth. Will the investigation reveal what truly happened to John Waller Stephens Jr., and what dark forces are still at play in this historic building? Join them as they continue their journey to solve this mystery and confront whatever spirits may be haunting the Sunset Strip Comedy Club in Austin, Texas. Photo by Meg BlohmEPISODE SPONSORS:LUMENHead to http://lumen.me/nightowl for 20% off your purchase.BETTERHELPThe Night Owl is sponsored by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/nightowlAG1New subscribers, go to drinkAG1.com/nightowl to get a FREE $76 Welcome Kit, bottle of D3K2 AND 5 free travel packs in your first box when you sign up.Support the showBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-night-owl-true-ghost-stories--7366553/support.

In this episode, the team returns to the Sunset Strip Comedy Club, located in the heart of Austin’s vibrant 6th Street, to continue their investigation into the strange and unsettling occurrences plaguing this historic building. After hearing chilling stories from both staff and patrons, and diving into the investigation back in September, they’re back now to uncover what might be haunting this space—and what truths are still lurking in the shadows.In Part I, staff and patrons shared eerie experiences — voices calling their names, dimmer switches flickering on their own, and strange energy around the back office and stairwell. One employee even described shadowy figures rushing at him when he opened the café alone one morning. These unsettling accounts left the team with more questions than answers.In Part II, the team, including psychic medium Jeffery, investigated the building. He validated some of the staff’s experiences, like the disembodied voices and names being called. But he also introduced a new spirit named "Hank," even though no one had reported this energy before. To their surprise, Jeffery didn’t pick up on the heavy, oppressive energy around the back stairwell, nor did any of the mystery of J. Waller Stephens Jr.’s rumored suicide by Lysol ingestion come to light.With these lingering questions still haunting them, the team is diving back in, determined to get to the bottom of what’s truly hiding within the walls of Sunset Strip Comedy Club. But this time, they’re bringing an additional psychic medium — Kate the Brave.EPISODE SPONSORSBETTERHELPThe Night Owl is sponsored by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/nightowlAG1Go to drinkAG1.com/nightowl to to start your new year on a healthier note.Support the showBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-night-owl-true-ghost-stories--7366553/support.

In this episode, The Night Owl team heads to the heart of Austin’s legendary Dirty 6th Street, where they have been contacted by the Sunset Strip Comedy Club, a place with a haunting past that’s been creeping its way into the present. Nestled in one of the city’s oldest buildings, dating all the way back to 1873, this space has witnessed more than its fair share of history. It was once home to The Parish, an iconic live music venue that drew crowds from all over, but now the building’s supposed dark past seems to have a different kind of audience.The team gathered firsthand accounts from both staff and locals, and what they uncovered is truly chilling. Employees have reported hearing disembodied voices calling their names, while others speak of an overwhelming dark presence lurking in the back office—possibly even demonic. There have been sightings of full-bodied apparitions and shadowy figures moving through the halls. But perhaps the most unsettling reports come from the back stairwell—a narrow, dimly lit space that leads to a speakeasy. It’s here where a sense of dread and unease fills the air, and it seems there may be a connection to a series of tragic deaths tied to the building's past. Could the spirits of those who died here still be lingering?While Sunset Strip may be known for laughs and comedy, there’s nothing funny about what’s happening inside these walls. Join The Night Owl team as they dig deeper into the strange happenings at the Sunset Strip Comedy Club and uncover what might be haunting its historic walls.Photo by Devin MurphyEPISODE SPONSORSBETTERHELPThe Night Owl is sponsored by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/nightowlAG1Go to drinkAG1.com/nightowl to to start your holiday season off on a healthier note.Support the showBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-night-owl-true-ghost-stories--7366553/support.

Welcome back to the Night Owl team’s exploration of the Austin Antique Mall, a cherished landmark in the heart of Austin that has recently faced its final chapter. As they dive into Part II of their series, the team stands at the entrance of a sprawling 30,000-square-foot labyrinth, filled with echoes of the past and whispers of the supernatural.In their initial phone interviews, they heard from staff and vendors who shared their personal encounters with the strange and unexplained. Kate recounted feeling an unsettling energy in various corners of the mall, particularly in the Southwest End, where she sensed a heavy presence. Vicki, a long-time vendor, confirmed the belief that some antiques hold onto the spirits of their former owners, especially after the sudden passing of their beloved colleague, Patrick. Renae shared her own eerie experiences, from a shaking chandelier during her pregnancy to a haunting encounter with a light fixture she believed still carried Patrick’s playful influence. Draven, who grew up in the mall, described shadowy figures and an intense feeling of being watched, reinforcing the notion that spirits can attach themselves to the memories embedded in these objects.Today, the Night Owl team—Stephen, Alexis, and Franklyn—are joined by psychic mediums Jeffery and Kate the Brave for a challenging investigation. The vastness of the space, combined with the countless objects, furniture, and clothing believed to house energies from the past, presents quite a daunting task. With only a few hours to explore, they understand they won’t be able to uncover everything this place has hiding in the shadows. However, they remain hopeful of connecting with some significant energies, pinpointing locations of interest, and, while keeping expectations in check due to the sensitive nature of one particular energy, they still hope that Patrick might come through, as the staff firmly believes he still lingers here.Will they unveil the secrets hidden within these walls? Or will the ghosts of the past continue to elude them? Join the Night Owl team as they step into the shadows of the Austin Antique Mall, ready to confront the unknown.Photo by Tito Castaneda EPISODE SPONSORS:BETTERHELPThe Night Owl is sponsored by BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/nightowlAG1Go to drinkAG1.com/nightowl to get a FREE 1-year supply of Vitamin D3K2 + 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase.DIPSEAThanks Dipsea. Get a 30 day free trial when you go to DipseaStories.com/NIGHTOWL.Support the showBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-night-owl-true-ghost-stories--7366553/support.