Radio volume turns itself up while listening to a poltergeist broadcast
A caller who gives their name as [name withheld], from El Cajon, California, tells the host that a couple of days earlier they were listening to a broadcast about a poltergeist. The caller says their radio turned its volume all the way up by itself. For a few seconds it would not respond when they tried to turn it down or off. They say they do not know what happened and that the radio has worked normally since. The host makes a speculative remark about the program and then takes the next call.
This clip comes from the source recording. AI chose where it starts and ends, so it may start or end a little early or late. The word-for-word transcript is not published. You can hear the source recording on the Internet Archive (file “Ghost to Ghost 1996.mp3”, starting at 2:42:43). Is this you, or someone you know? Ask for a correction or removal.
The story as told
The caller, who gives their name as [name withheld] from El Cajon, California, tells the host that their story concerns the host’s own radio program. The caller says that a couple of days earlier, while they were listening to a broadcast with a guest talking about a poltergeist, their radio [quote withheld] by itself. The caller reports that they could not turn the volume down and that they “tried everything.” The caller then switched the radio off. According to the caller, it finally went off [quote withheld] they turned it off, whereas [quote withheld] The caller says they do not know what happened. The set has been “perfectly fine” since and is working normally while they are on the phone. The host remarks that [quote withheld] and, earlier, that [quote withheld] The caller does not adopt that explanation, saying [quote withheld] The host thanks the caller and moves to the next caller.
Reported events, in order
- 0:02
The caller gives their name as [name withheld], from El Cajon, California, and says their story concerns the host’s radio program.
- 0:14
The caller says that a couple of days earlier the host had a guest on talking about a poltergeist.
- 0:20
While listening to that broadcast, their radio turned all the way up by itself.
- 0:26
The caller reports that they could not turn the volume down and tried everything.
- 0:45
They turned the radio off, and it finally went off a couple of seconds later.
- 0:48
The caller notes that their radio usually turns off right after they turn it off.
- 1:03
The caller says they do not know what happened. The set has been perfectly fine since and is working while they are on the phone.
Claims
Each claim is labeled as something the person telling the story noticed (observation), what they made of it (interpretation), something others told them (hearsay), or something the host said (host statement).
- observation· 0:20
The radio’s volume went to maximum by itself while they were listening.
- observation· 0:26
They could not reduce the volume.
- observation· 0:32
The radio would not switch off immediately when they turned it off.
- observation· 0:45
The set powered down a few seconds after they turned it off.
- observation· 0:48
The caller contrasts the delayed switch-off with the radio’s usual behavior.
- interpretation· 0:56
The caller links the event in time to listening to the poltergeist-themed program and to their worry about the topic.
- host statement· 0:31
The host suggests that someone or something may have been behind the radio’s behavior.
- host statement· 0:53
The host remarks that the program has a history of such events.
Scores, with reasons
An AI model gave these scores using a fixed set of scoring rules (scoring-v1). They are editorial judgments and rough guides, not the odds that anything paranormal happened. How scoring works.
This is a brief but consistent firsthand report with a few checkable details. An ordinary equipment fault fits the reported behavior fairly easily, and the caller does not test other explanations.
Evidence for and against
- Firsthand story from the person operating the radio.
- Consistent answers to the host’s follow-up question about later behavior.
- The caller separates what they perceived from what they concluded: [quote withheld]
- Very short, with little detail about what they sensed or about the device.
- A faulty volume control or power switch would explain the reported sequence.
- The caller does not address ordinary causes.
- Very brief story; no description of the radio or its controls.
- The “what's up, Mark?” greeting is unclear and does not fit the stated names.
- 0:20
- 0:26
- 0:45
- 0:48
- 0:32
What the model inferred (not said on air): I added up several parts: a firsthand but brief source, limited detail, a consistent but sparse sequence, an easy ordinary explanation left unaddressed, and moderate caution. The caller says they do not know what happened, but they link the event to their worry about the poltergeist topic.
The story rests on the caller’s word alone. It has some checkable details (their name, their town, the station, and a “couple days ago” time frame), but none were checked.
Evidence for and against
- The caller gives a name, a town, and a radio station.
- The host independently refers to the guest Brad Steiger, a detail the caller also mentions.
- No recording, photograph, repair report, or second on-air witness.
- The caller says the set now works normally.
- No independent check is recorded.
- The radio itself is not described or examined.
- 0:02
- 0:32
- 1:04
What the model inferred (not said on air): A name and a rough time are given, which could in principle be checked. Nothing was checked, and no physical evidence is claimed.
This is a brief, low-key story of a household device behaving oddly during an eerie broadcast. There is no threat, no intrusion into a bedroom, and no physical contact, and the situation is reported as resolved.
Evidence for and against
- It happens while the caller is listening to a program about a poltergeist.
- The caller reportedly could not control the device.
- No presence, figure, sound, or harm is perceived.
- The caller reports that the radio now works normally.
- The caller’s own reaction beyond “really weird” is not described.
- 0:20
- 0:38
What the model inferred (not said on air): An everyday object misbehaves rather than a presence intruding. The host’s speculation adds mild unease, but the caller reports no threat or fear.
This is a stock [quote withheld] story, given a distinctive framing because it happens during the host’s own poltergeist-themed broadcast.
Evidence for and against
- A radio volume change is a recurring motif in the project’s list of story themes (radio and TV).
- The tie to listening to the same program is a specific detail of context.
- Nothing unusual beyond a volume and off-switch problem.
- Very little detail beyond the single reported strange event.
- Novelty compared with the rest of the archive is computed elsewhere, and that part carries little weight in this early version.
- 0:20
- 0:14
What the model inferred (not said on air): An appliance malfunction is a familiar frame. The distinctive part is the timing relative to the program’s poltergeist topic and the host’s speculative comment. I scored it provisionally as a familiar frame with a distinctive detail.
Scoring confidence 0.65 · analysis confidence 0.70 · checked against outside sources: no · evidence available: The caller’s firsthand story.; No physical evidence claimed or examined.; No second on-air witness.. The originality score blends the model's score (55) with how rare the story's details are across the archive. This method is still provisional.
Ordinary explanations to consider
These are possibilities only. None is a finding about what happened.
- A fault or stuck control in the radio’s volume or power circuitry could produce a sudden full-volume condition that ignores the controls and takes a moment to power down. · The caller reports that the volume rose by itself, that it [quote withheld] and that it went off [quote withheld] The caller also says it now “Works normal.”
- The timing may reflect the caller’s own stated worry about the poltergeist topic rather than a causal link. · The caller says [quote withheld]
What stands out
The strange event is tied to listening to the same program that is discussing poltergeists. The host offers an on-air interpretation, [quote withheld] that the caller does not adopt. The caller otherwise makes no claim about a ghost, spirit, or presence.
Related stories
Matched by shared recurring details, categories, and wording.