Topic: Cryptozoology

The host lists his runners-up, including Lauren Coleman’s "Cryptozoology A to Z" and William Michael Mott’s "Caverns, Cauldrons and Concealed Creatures." He explains the difficulty in finding cryptozoology books that treat creatures as metaphysical entities rather than just undiscovered biological animals. Mott’s work is highlighted for its collection of strange underground stories, such as the "Prussian cave entity" and the "Green Children of Woolpit."

Author and screenwriter Bruce G. Hollenbeck joins the program to discuss his book, The Kinderhook Creature & Beyond. Hollenbeck, a resident of upstate New York, has authored several works on cryptozoology and film history, including Monsters of New York. The discussion focuses on the high strangeness and folklore surrounding the Hudson Valley and the Catskill Mountains.

Carlwood previews the second hour of the interview, which covers medicinal herbs, lab-grown meat, and the potential for military presence in grocery stores. He also announces upcoming listener meetups in San Francisco and Portland, Maine. He encourages the audience to use the THC website to organize local networks and events.

Merrily Harper describes the phenomenon of anomalous big cats (ABCs) in Britain, noting that the country has no native large felines. While some sightings are attributed to escaped mascots from World War II, the majority involve jet-black animals that lack the typical spots of melanistic leopards. Despite thousands of detailed eyewitness reports, a significant lack of physical evidence or carcasses remains a central mystery.

The guests reflect on the cultural shift toward wider inclusion of anomalous topics, as predicted by Charles Fort. Patrick Harper notes that the internet has revolutionized research by allowing direct access to first-person accounts of phenomena like "dogmen." However, he observes that while public awareness has grown, mainstream scientific and religious institutions remain largely unchanged in their skepticism.

Greg Carlwood discusses the decision to return to cryptozoology based on listener requests and previews the topics covered in the second hour for Plus subscribers. These include accidental summoning, Silicon Valley connections, and the paranormal history of the Harper family. He emphasizes the importance of exploring the "superstructure" of reality beyond daily political and cultural news.

The discussion explores why the cryptozoology community often ignores "high strangeness" reports to gain scientific legitimacy. Joshua Kutchin compares their approach to Jacques Vallée’s "Passport to Magonia," advocating for an unironic look at folklore and witness accounts that include supernatural elements.

The narrative transitions to billionaire Robert Bigelow's purchase of the ranch and his attempt to apply the scientific method to paranormal phenomena. Burns explains that the phenomena—including UFOs, triangles, and strange humanoids—seemed to actively resist scientific observation by leaving no physical trace and exploiting exceptions to known rules.

Lon Strickler, author and researcher behind the Phantoms & Monsters blog, joins the program to discuss a surge of cryptid sightings in Chicago. The current concentration of winged humanoid reports is compared to the 1960s Mothman events in Point Pleasant. Strickler’s background in Fortean research and his ongoing investigations into these modern encounters serve as the foundation for the discussion.

Bigfoot encounters often feature two distinct odor profiles: organic animalistic smells like wet dog or skunk, and non-organic sulfurous smells. Drawing a parallel to Mike Cleland's research on owls, it is suggested that some Bigfoot sightings may involve a non-physical entity using the "skin" of a biological creature. When the creature exhibits high strangeness, such as glowing eyes or bullet immunity, the reported smells tend to shift toward the sulfuric.

Joshua Cutchin introduces his research and book, A Trojan Feast, which examines the intersection of food and drink offerings across alien abductions, fairy folklore, and Sasquatch encounters. Cutchin, who holds degrees in journalism and musicology from the University of Georgia, discusses his transition from academia to independent research. The work explores commonalities in high strangeness reports that are often overlooked by specialized researchers.

Host Greg Carlwood introduces author William Michael Mott to discuss the third edition of his book, Caverns, Cauldrons and Concealed Creatures. The discussion frames various anomalous entities, including Bigfoot, Greys, and reptilians, as potentially residing beneath the Earth's surface rather than in outer space. Mott is recognized as a leading voice in connecting ancient myths with modern paranormal encounters.

The discussion moves to modern sightings of pterosaurs, described as leathery-winged, featherless creatures with 15-foot wingspans. Notable reports include a 2013 sighting over a busy Los Angeles freeway and various encounters in the forests of Pennsylvania and Kentucky. Some speculate these creatures are the basis for the Native American "Thunderbird" legends and may still inhabit remote cave systems.

Greg Carlwood introduces guest JC Johnson, an adventurer and researcher with the group Crypto Four Corners. The segment also includes a reminder about the monthly "money bomb" donation drawing scheduled for the 25th.

Guest Nick Redfern discusses his investigative methodology, applying traditional journalism techniques to fringe subjects like UFOs and suspicious disappearances. He introduces his two books, "For Nobody's Eyes Only" and "Close Encounters of the Fatal Kind," which document missing archives and mysterious deaths. Redfern emphasizes that persistence in physical archives often yields information not available on the internet.

Money Bomb winner Brittany discusses her interest in the McMartin preschool case, noting the lack of in-depth material despite it being one of the most expensive cases in U.S. history. She shares her favorite past guests, including Stuart Swerdlow and Dan Fogler, and expresses a fondness for cryptozoology. Brittany plans to use her $385 prize to purchase a guitar pedal for her husband and support her personal health journey.

The discussion shifts to the cultural acceptance of the paranormal within Native American tribes, where entities like Sasquatch and the Windigo are integrated into long-standing traditions. Chad Lewis observes that many tribal members are reluctant to speak openly about these beings, believing that acknowledging them can attract their attention or cause them to "turn against" the speaker. This cultural silence suggests that the actual number of sightings and experiences is likely much higher than what is officially reported to researchers.

The discussion addresses the common skeptical argument regarding the lack of physical evidence, such as carcasses, for cryptids like Bigfoot or Chupacabras. One theory proposed is that these beings reside in massive subterranean cavern systems, only occasionally appearing on the surface. The hosts compare the rarity of finding a Bigfoot carcass to the rarity of finding bear or moose remains in the wild, despite their known abundance.

Cryptozoologist Ken Gearhart discusses his research into winged cryptids and his book, "Encounters with Flying Humanoids." Gearhart notes that despite his media appearances on shows like Monster Quest, he continues to receive new, credible reports from eyewitnesses. The discussion highlights the global nature of these sightings and the reluctance of many witnesses to come forward due to fear of ridicule.

Cryptozoologists debate whether flying humanoids are flesh-and-blood animals or supernatural entities. Given the lack of fossil evidence for winged humans, some researchers suggest these beings are interdimensional or extraterrestrial apparitions that manifest in physical form. Their unnatural behavior and sudden appearances lead many to categorize them as supernatural rather than biological.