John B. Allen, known as MrBallen, is a former U.S. Navy SEAL, and storyteller specializing in strange, dark, and mysterious true stories.
A graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Allen served as a Navy SEAL from 2010 to 2017, completing multiple deployments including to Afghanistan, where he was wounded and medically retired.
Launching his content career in 2020 on TikTok and YouTube as a form of therapy, he quickly amassed millions of followers with his engaging narratives of true crime, mysteries, and the unexplained, becoming one of YouTube’s biggest storytellers.
Founder of Ballen Studios, he hosts the top-rated MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories and has authored graphic novels like MrBallen Presents: Strange, Dark & Mysterious: The Graphic Stories (2024) and Where Nightmares Live (2025).
Through the MrBallen Foundation, established in 2022, he honors victims of violent crimes and supports their families with education, training, and financial aid.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
03:20 Gifts, Surprises, and Show Banter
06:26 The Sleepwalking Navy SEAL
12:09 The Spooky Ouija Board Session
35:06 Writing on the Wall and Growing Concern 38:19 Return of the Fear
45:35 The Intruder Story
55:56 Real Cases of People Living in Walls
01:09:24 The Paranormal and the Unexplained
01:21:10 A Personal Encounter
01:50:45 The Final Night of Horror
02:10:46 Final Thoughts and Gratitude
MrBallen’s Creepiest Campfire Stories Ever Told
MrBallen joins Shawn Ryan around the campfire to share 2 terrifying true stories that blur the line between nightmare and reality.
From “The Bell,” a haunting tale of a mysterious figure stalking a young woman through the French woods, to “Thorns,” where a dream turns into a gruesome real-life encounter with a rabid fox, these stories will keep you on edge.
Known for his spine-chilling storytelling, MrBallen brings his signature strange, dark, and mysterious style to life like never before.
Watch until the end for a glimpse into his new graphic novel Where Nightmares Live and more bone-chilling campfire tales.
