Episode 1: The Squonk: America's Most Melancholy Monster

The series begins with Pennsylvania's peculiar Squonk, a forest creature so ashamed of its warty, ill-fitting skin that it weeps constantly and dissolves into tears when captured. Wade traces the Squonk's origins in lumber camp folklore of the early 20th century, examining how this melancholy being reflected the isolation and alienation felt by immigrant workers in Pennsylvania's hemlock forests. The episode explores William T. Cox's 1910 documentation of the legend, its literary elevation by Jorge Luis Borges, and its subsequent appearances in popular culture. Unlike frightening cryptids, the Squonk represents emotional vulnerability, making it uniquely relevant to modern discussions of self-image and mental health despite its century-old origins.