The Mantawauk Caves

iHeartPodcasts•www.iheart.com

Winner: Best Fiction Podcast, iHeart Podcast Awards.

On the night of May 10, 2007, three boys entered a cave in Mantawauk County, Tennessee. Only one made it out alive. The other two were found ten days later. They had been attacked by someone - or something. The investigation that followed revealed town secrets as old as the caves themselves and put a third teenage boy, James Fincher, on death row. This haunting narrative follows Julien Solas, an amateur writer and James' friend who’s been haunted by the events ever since. Now, with Fincher's execution looming, Julien returns home to reconcile his past and uncover the truth behind the killings.

Created by filmmaker Dan Bush, The Mantawauk Caves is a riveting, immersive, binaural audio experience that weaves together the narrative threads of social drama, supernatural horror, and psychological thriller. A co-production of Blumhouse Television, iHeartPodcasts, and Psychopia Pictures. Starring Jonathan Tucker (Westworld) and Edi Gathegi (The Harder They Fall).

Headphones recommended.

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Episodes

Alive Again | E2 | River of Blood

Go listen to ALIVE AGAIN. Episodes available now. Search for ALIVE AGAIN wherever you get your podcasts. In June 2020, Manuel Bayo Gisbert was kidnapped by armed men and teenagers tortured, and held captive until his family paid his ransom. His story, unfortunately, is a familiar one in Mexico — where more than 116,000 people (as the official number goes) have been disappeared and possibly murdered. But unlike so many, Manuel survived. Unable to shake the ghosts of that night, he set out to phot...

May 13, 2025•57 min

Alive Again | E1 | Crude Vessel, Perfect Peace

Go listen to Alive Again. The first 3 episodes are available now. Listen on the iHeartRadio App, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. In our inaugural episode, brought to us by producer Kate Sweeney, Peter Panagore shares not only the harrowing details of the ice climb that nearly took his life, but the profound spiritual journey that began when he flatlined. He describes his near-death experience with vivid clarity—from the moment he left his body, to the overwhelming presen...

May 13, 2025•54 min•Season 1Ep. 1

Alive Again - Coming May 13th

ALIVE AGAIN is a weekly podcast that showcases first-hand accounts of Near Death Experiences. Our mission is to find, explore and share these stories to remind us all of our shared human condition. Coming May 13th. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 06, 2025•3 min

Episode 13: The Baptism

Season Finale. James Fincher’s gamble pays off for Dena and his nephew. Julien faces the truth and makes the ultimate sacrifice. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 31, 2023•41 min•Season 1Ep. 13

Episode 12: The Goodbye Dress

Description: Dena prepares for the worst. Julien’s struggle to stop Fincher’s execution takes a devastating turn. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 24, 2023•36 min•Season 1Ep. 12

Episode 11: The Midnight Man

Desperate to uncover the truth, Juien’s investigation leads him a little too close to home, as old familial ties lead to shocking new discoveries See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 17, 2023•45 min•Season 1Ep. 11

Episode 10: A Message From Tyler (Part 2)

Tyler's cryptic message continues. Julien learns what became of his friend and picks up a new trail. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 10, 2023•27 min•Season 1Ep. 10

Episode 9: A Message From Tyler (Part 1)

Fincher is offered a deal. Julien discovers a haunting message left for him by Tyler; is it the rant of a madman or a key to the truth? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 10, 2023•30 min•Season 1Ep. 9

Episode 8: Wanting To Hurt Stuff

Julien takes shelter at Dena’s house. Dena gets a house call from an unlikely friend but struggles to protect her son from malevolent forces. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 03, 2023•31 min•Season 1Ep. 8

Episode 7: The Deal

James Fincher’s time on death row has been anything but routine. Julien receives a warning. Ominous forces are closing in, and time is running out to stop Fincher’s execution. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 26, 2023•40 min•Season 1Ep. 7

Episode 6: Nadine O'Leary

Julien struggles to connect the dots between the Hadley murders and the dark history of the caves. His investigation takes him back to the Fowler estate, where he meets unexpected visitors and discovers a new lead. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 19, 2023•44 min•Season 1Ep. 6

Episode 5: The Necklace

A key piece of evidence turns up that could prove Fincher’s innocence… or guilt. Tyler goes missing. Julien’s nightmares intensify. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 12, 2023•39 min•Season 1Ep. 5

Episode 4: A Delicate Balance

In order to get answers, and with only nine days left until Fincher’s execution, Julien must come to terms with his past actions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 05, 2023•40 min•Season 1Ep. 4

Episode 3: A History of the Devil

Despite the worsening nightmares and blackouts, Julien continues his investigation, connecting the dots between James Fincher’s fascination with the Mantawauk Caves and their disturbing history. The true identity of James Fincher’s nephew is revealed. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 29, 2023•45 min•Season 1Ep. 3

Episode 2: Devil's Prank

With the help of Jill Campbel, a mitigation specialist working on Fincher’s case, Julien acquires logs from the Hadley brother’s murder investigation and picks up a mysterious trail left by Detective Solomon Smith. He soon realizes he's up against more than he bargained for. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 22, 2023•40 min•Season 1Ep. 2

Episode 1: The Remains

Series Premiere. When Julien Solas receives word that James Fincher’s execution date has been set, he returns to Mantawauk County after 14 years to reconcile his past and uncover the truth behind the killings of two teenage boys. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 22, 2023•41 min•Season 1Ep. 1

Special Release: The Mantawauk Caves Theme, “A Killer Inside” (EXTENDED VERSION) by Lera Lynn

Lera Lynn once again entices the listener into her dark, twisted indie rock world with her new composition “A Killer Inside,” The Mantawauk Caves anthem. With echoes of her work from True Detective, “A Killer Inside” seduces the listener to the macabre with its strikingly arranged strings, driving drums, and Lynn’s signature electric guitar. Each spin of the song reveals new twists in melody and meaning. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Mar 22, 2023•6 min

Introducing: The Mantawauk Caves

Julien Solas, an aspiring writer, returns home to save his friend, James Fincher, from a death sentence fourteen years after he was convicted for the gruesome murder of two teenage boys. As Julien digs into the past, uncovering dark truths about himself and his family, he must work through his own psychosis while trying to uncover the mystery behind what happened in the caves of Mantawauk County. Jonathan Tucker (Westworld) and Edi Gathegi (The Harder They Fall) star in this original, immersive ...

Mar 15, 2023•3 min

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