Beam Me Up, But Bring Towels: The Lead Masks of Vintém Hill | 469

Beam Me Up, But Bring Towels: The Lead Masks of Vintém Hill | 469

Author: ForthHand Media January 9, 2026 Duration: 1:54:21
Two Brazilian electronics techs take a totally normal work trip… and wind up on a hillside in suits, raincoats, and homemade lead eye masks, clutching a note that reads like the world’s creepiest calendar invite: “16:30 be at the location. 18:30 ingest capsules. Protect metals. Await signal. Mask.” And then—nothing. No clear cause of death. No satisfying answers. Just one of the strangest unsolved cases in modern history, gift-wrapped for conspiracy lovers everywhere.This week on Hysteria 51, we are joined by actor, comedian, and podcaster Steve Berg. He helps us dig into the “most likely” explanations first: a planned experiment, a DIY occult/science mashup, a bad batch of mystery capsules, and the investigative chaos that left toxicology (and common sense) rotting on the vine. Then we crank the dial to full common sense—UFO encounter theories, blinding beams of light, electromagnetic weirdness, and why “protect metals” sounds less like evidence and more like a command from Space OSHA.It’s time to grab your raincoat, tape some metal to your face, and for the love of all that’s holy… do not ingest capsules from a guy who says he “knows a shortcut to the mothership.”Check out of Special Guest Steve Berg:Steve Berg is an actor and comedian who just finished work on Tim Kasher’s film Who’s Watching. He can also be seen in Olivia Wilde’s new film Don’t Worry Darling, and is currently working on the feature film Snack Shack. He’s also been obsessed with UFOs, the paranormal, the occult and all things weird his entire life, and on his podcast Hi, Strangeness, he passionately discusses all these topics in a light-hearted way. He can also be seen in New Line’s comedy feature Tag starring Jon Hamm and Rashida Jones. His credits also include recurring roles on NBC's The Good Place, ABC's The Goldbergs, Comedy Central's Idiotsitter, and BET's The Comedy Get Down. He has appeared in two features for director Joe Swanberg -- the Netflix Original Win It All and the indie Digging For Fire which premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. Other credits include Mike White's directorial debut Year of the Dog, Jared Hess’ Gentlemen Broncos, and Joss Whedon's digital series Dr. Horrible's Sing Along-Along Blog. Berg has been a drunk narrator multiple times on Comedy Central's Drunk History and was a series regular in the Fox Television pilot WTF America produced by Ron Howard and Brian Grazer. He is originally from Omaha, Nebraska.https://www.instagram.com/bergmaster5000/linktr.ee/steveberghttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/christina-marie-rappel-consent-a-thoughtful/id1690998245?i=1000744278988Special thanks to this week’s research sources:CORE / BACKBONEhttps://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mist%C3%A9rio_das_m%C3%A1scaras_de_chumbohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_masks_casehttps://www.mentalfloss.com/article/70161/bizarre-lead-mask-deaths-1966BRAZILIAN TV / CASE MATERIALhttps://redeglobo.globo.com/Linhadireta/0%2C26665%2CVYJ0-5259-215835%2C00.htmlhttps://redeglobo.globo.com/Linhadireta/0%2C26665%2CVYJ0-5259-215832%2C00.htmlhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjqCQEjgzk4LOCAL JOURNALISM / LOREhttps://infograficos.oglobo.globo.com/rio/bairros/cinco-lendas-urbanas-de-niteroi.htmlhttps://odia.ig.com.br/colunas/coisas-do-rio/2021/02/6090106-mascaras-de-chumbo-caso-envolve-ovnis-e-mortes-estranhas.htmlSKEPTICAL ANALYSIShttps://skeptoid.com/episodes/398UFO / FRINGE CLAIMS WE REFERENCEDhttps://noufors.com/Documents/Books%2C%20Manuals%20and%20Published%20Papers/Specialty%20UFO%20Publications/Flying%20Saucer%20Review/FSR%2C1967%2CMar-Apr%2CV%2013%2CN%202.pdfhttps://vigilia.com.br/o-caso-das-mascaras-de-chumbo-2/https://aventurasnahistoria.com.br/noticias/reportagem/o-caso-das-mascaras-de-chumbo.phtmlhttps://www.ranker.com/list/case-of-the-lead-mask-deaths/patrick-thorntonEmail us your favorite WEIRD news stories:weird@hysteria51.comSupport the Show:Get exclusive content & perks as well as an ad and sponsor free experience at https://www.patreon.com/Hysteria51 from just $1Shop:Be the Best Dressed at your Cult Meeting!https://www.teepublic.com/stores/hysteria51?ref_id=9022 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ever find yourself staring at the night sky or reading a bizarre news headline and wondering what on earth-or off it-might really be going on? That’s the territory explored every week on Hysteria 51. Created by ForthHand Media, this isn’t a dry lecture; it’s a conversation between hosts Brent Hand and David Flora that feels like hanging out with your most curious and funny friends. They’re joined by their own creation, Conspiracy Bot, a sardonic tin-can sidekick whose ambitions for world domination are only matched by his zeal for poking at the unexplained. Together, they take listeners on a deep dive into the strange corners of our world and beyond, from UFO sightings and alien lore to historical oddities and paranormal reports that defy easy explanation. What makes this podcast stand out is its blend of genuine research, comedic timing, and a healthy dose of skepticism, all while maintaining a sense of wonder. You’ll hear discussions that treat these unconventional topics with both humor and a thoughtful eye, sifting through the evidence and the absurdity with equal measure. It’s for anyone who loves a good mystery but prefers their explorations of the unknown to be engaging and entertaining, never taking itself too seriously. Tune in for a weekly dose of the weird, where history, science, and comedy collide on the cosmic highway.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Hysteria 51
Podcast Episodes
The Raccoon, the Cryptid, and the Measuring Tape | 511 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:59
Seattle has a new celebrity, and he’s short, round, furry, and built like a raccoon somebody accidentally compressed into a carry-on bag. World, meet Jimothy, the unusually shaped trash panda whose possible spinal deform…
We Celebrate 200 Episodes of Behind Beautiful Things! | 510 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:08
Join us this week as we help our resident overthinker and frequent fill in host Kevin Crispin celebrate the 200th episode of his show Behind Beautiful Things!The 411 From Behind Beautiful Things: In this milestone 200th…
Mirror, Mirror in the Sky, Why Are Tiny Men Nearby? | 509 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:56
Good News! Humanity has finally found two exciting new ways to ruin your night: blasting artificial sunlight from space and filling your living room with tiny mushroom people.First, the FCC has approved a controversial d…
Code Brown in Wales, Jurassic Green in Australia | 507 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:24
This week on Hysteria 51, we’re diving headfirst into the weird-news deep end, and unfortunately, someone already ruined the water. First up, a public swimming pool in Wales becomes the scene of a truly unholy whodunnit…
Roswell Reopened: New Tricks, Old Aliens | 506 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:35
Nearly 80 years after something crashed in the New Mexico desert, Roswell is back in the spotlight... again. This time, it's not because someone found a tiny green skeleton in a government filing cabinet. It's because mo…
The Short and the Shasta of It | 505 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:11
We’re diving headfirst into two weird news stories this week that prove the universe has a comedy writer, and that writer has been drinking Bot Booze again.First up, a man claiming to have the world’s smallest penis laun…
Hell Hath No Water Softener: The Haunting of Bill Vaile | 504 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:55:12
Former NASA robotics engineer Bill Vaile was a skeptic, a problem-solver, and a guy who probably trusted math more than mysterious bumps in the night. Then he took one very weird water-treatment service call in Arlington…
Atomic Mysteries & Robotic Beatdowns | 503 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:28
One missing nuclear scientist. One remote forest. One abandoned gun. And somehow that's only HALF of this week's weirdness.First, we head deep into the mystery surrounding a Los Alamos National Laboratory employee who va…
Contest Time | 502 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:51
Wanna be on the show? Submit your topic suggestions to the email below and we will pick the winners. Prize pack details to follow!email: forthhandmedia@gmail.comEmail us your favorite WEIRD news stories:weird@hysteria51.…