Dive into the depths of Norse legend on this episode of Yeti To Rumble Podcast as we unravel the terrifying tale of the Kraken! From its origins in medieval Scandinavian folklore as a colossal, tentacled beast mistaken for islands, to real-life inspirations like giant squid sightings that fueled sailor horrors—explore its ship-crushing behaviors, historical "encounters," and why this mythical monster still haunts our imaginations. Join us for myths, facts, and a splash of mystery! Listen now on your favorite platform. #KrakenLegend #MythicalBeasts

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Sources:

• Sverris Saga (circa 1180) by King Sverre of Norway: One of the earliest mentions of a Kraken-like sea monster in Norwegian chronicles.
• Konungs Skuggsjá (The King's Mirror) (circa 1250): Norwegian educational text describing the hafgufa, a precursor to the Kraken myth.
• A Description of Greenland (1734) by Hans Egede: Equates the Kraken with ancient hafgufa based on Greenland explorations.
• The Natural History of Norway (1752) by Erik Pontoppidan: Popularized detailed descriptions of the Kraken as a giant cephalopod.

• Wikipedia: Kraken - Comprehensive entry on origins and evolution.
• Natural History Museum: Sea Monsters and Their Inspiration - Links myth to giant squid sightings.
• Medievalists.net: The Kraken: When Myth Encounters Science - Explores medieval roots and scientific connections.
• PubMed: The Kraken: When Myth Encounters Science - Scientific paper on giant squid as basis for legends.

Join us on Cosmic Catastrophes as we explore the five major mass extinction events that reshaped life on Earth. From ancient ice ages and oxygen crises to volcanic eruptions, climate shifts, and asteroid impacts, discover the causes, survivors, and lasting impacts. Learn about resilient creatures like crocodiles and horseshoe crabs, the slim odds of enduring them all, and possible links to modern cryptids.

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Special Mention: The Ancients Podcast and their incredible episodes

Sources:

• Mass Extinctions Through Geologic Time - National Park Service: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/mass-extinctions-through-geologic-time.htm
• There have been five mass extinctions in Earth's history - Our World in Data: https://ourworldindata.org/mass-extinctions
• Extinction event - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extinction_event
• Forty years later: The status of the “Big Five” mass extinctions - PMC: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11895713/
• 11.2: "The Big Five" - Geosciences LibreTexts: https://geo.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Geology/Historical_Geology_%28Bentley_et_al.%29/11%253A_Mass_Extinctions/11.02%253A_The_Big_Five
• What caused Earth's biggest mass extinction? - Stanford Sustainability: https://sustainability.stanford.edu/news/what-caused-earths-biggest-mass-extinction
• What are mass extinctions? - Understanding Evolution (UC Berkeley): https://evolution.berkeley.edu/mass-extinction/what-are-mass-extinctions/
• Mass Extinction: What Happened 65 Million Years Ago? - AMNH: https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/dinosaurs-ancient-fossils/extinction/mass-extinction

In this chilling episode of "Mysteries of the Mountains," we dive deep into the legend of the Yeti—the elusive Abominable Snowman that has haunted the Himalayas for centuries. From ancient Tibetan folklore depicting it as a rock bear spirit or guardian deity, to the first Western encounters in the 19th century by explorers like B.H. Hodgson and Laurence Waddell, we trace how this mythical creature captured global imagination. Hear about iconic sightings, including the 1921 Everest expedition's mysterious footprints that birthed the "Abominable Snowman" moniker, and the famous 1951 Shipton photo that still fuels debates today. We'll explore the Yeti's described traits—bipedal, fur-covered giants with reversed feet and supernatural vulnerabilities—plus modern hoaxes, DNA debunkings, and rare recent reports like the 2019 Indian Army tracks. Is it a misidentified bear, a lost primate like Gigantopithecus, or something more otherworldly? Join us as we unpack the science, stories, and secrets behind one of cryptozoology's greatest enigmas. Perfect for skeptics and believers alike!

Episode Sponsor: Top Squatch www.topsquatch.com use code YETI15 for 15% off your order!

Sources:

• Yeti - Wikipedia: Comprehensive overview of folklore, sightings, and scientific analysis.
• This Man Searched for the Yeti for 60 Years—and Found It (National Geographic): Explores expeditions, footprints like Shipton's 1951 photo, and bear explanations.
• Science Solves the Mystery of the Elusive Yeti (CNN): Details DNA studies linking samples to Himalayan bears.
• The Yeti: A Story of Scientific Misunderstanding (Cool Green Science): Discusses physical evidence debunked as bear-related.
• The Real Abominable Snowman: The History of the Hunt for the Yeti (History Extra): Covers Western interest, from 19th-century reports to modern appeals like Bryan Sykes' 2013 study.
• NEPAL: Myth and Folklore of the Yeti (earthstOriez): Focuses on Himalayan traditions, early footprints, and cultural beliefs.

Dive into the shimmering realm of unicorns in this magical episode of Mythical Beasts Unleashed with guest kid guest hosts Addison and Liam! From ancient seals in the Indus Valley to medieval tapestries and modern pop culture icons, uncover how these one-horned wonders have captivated hearts for thousands of years. We'll trot through tales of their healing horns, fierce battles with lions, and symbolic roles in heraldry—like being Scotland's national animal. Explore theories on real animals (think rhinos and narwhals) that sparked the legends, plus quirky facts like fake "unicorn bones" in museums and their omens in Asian folklore. Whether you're a young dreamer or a lore enthusiast, join us for a sparkling journey that celebrates purity, power, and a dash of whimsy. Who knows—you might spot a rainbow after listening!

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Sources:

• Unicorn | Legend, History, & Facts | Britannica - Covers ancient Mesopotamian artworks, Greek accounts, and medieval symbolism.
• Unicorns – a brief history - St Neots Museum - Explores Indus Valley origins, medieval lore, and fake horns like narwhal tusks.
• The Legend and History of the Unicorn - by Steph Rae Moran - Details Ctesias' early descriptions, symbolic meanings, and evolution in folklore.
• What's the origin of the unicorn myth? - Live Science - Discusses Indus Valley imagery, possible real animal inspirations like rhinos, and global myths.
• Unicorn - Wikipedia - Comprehensive overview of Greek natural history accounts, biblical references, and cultural enemies like lions.

The Shadows Among Us: Unveiling the Men in Black

Dive into the eerie origins of the Men in Black, shadowy figures who have haunted UFO witnesses since the 1940s. This episode explores real historical accounts, from the 1947 Maury Island hoax to chilling encounters documented by ufologists like John Keel and Albert Bender, blending conspiracy theories with declassified insights. Discover how these enigmatic enforcers—often described as pale, robotic men in black suits—allegedly suppress extraterrestrial secrets through intimidation and bizarre phenomena.

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Sources:

• Gray Barker, They Knew Too Much About Flying Saucers (1956) – Introduces MIB through Bender's story. Available via archives like WVU Libraries: news.lib.wvu.edu
• Albert K. Bender, Flying Saucers and the Three Men (1962) – Primary account of his encounter. Discussed in Bridgeport Library: bportlibrary.org
• John A. Keel, The Mothman Prophecies (1975) – Details MIB in Point Pleasant. Available on Amazon: amazon.com
• FBI Declassified Files on Maury Island – Primary government records. Accessible via HistoryLink: historylink.org
• Jenny Randles, The Truth Behind Men in Black (1997) – Analyzes cases like Hopkins. PDF available: pub.deadnet.se

Deep in the Brazilian Amazon, something huge, red-haired, and reeking of death still walks on backward feet. Locals call it the Mapinguari: one eye, impenetrable skin, and a screaming vertical mouth in its stomach. First written about in 1542, it has terrified people ever since (hunters, rubber tappers, miners, even indigenous elders who say it was once a shaman cursed for revealing forbidden knowledge). Bullets don’t kill it. Only fire and deep water keep it away. Tonight we bring you the clearest sightings, the scariest recordings, and the chilling indigenous origin story no one outside Acre has ever heard.

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Announcements: Mitch is launching a new podcast "The Gamers Council" soon to be available everywhere you get podcasts

Sources:

Historical / Early Written Sources

1. Pero de Magalhães Gandavo – História da Província Santa Cruz (1576) – first European use of “mapinguari”
2. João Daniel – Tesouro Descoberto no Máximo Rio Amazonas (written 1757–1776, published 1975) – earliest detailed Jesuit description
3. Alexandre Rodrigues Ferreira – Viagem Filosófica pelas Capitanias do Grão-Pará… (1783–1792, published excerpts 1971–1974) – first scientific expedition mention

1. Terri Vale de Aquino – “O Mapinguari: um estudo etnográfico entre os Kaxinawá” (Master’s thesis, Universidade Federal do Acre, 1995)
2. Angelika Gebhart-Sayer – “The Cosmos Encoiled: Indian Cosmos and Shamanic Transformations among the Kaxinawá” (in Shamanism, History and the State, 1996)
3. Elsje Lagrou – A Fluidez da Forma (2007) – chapter on the Mapinguari as transformed shaman

1. David C. Oren – various articles:
   • “Did Ground Sloths Survive to the Present?” Cryptozoology 12 (1993)
   • Interview in Veja magazine (June 17, 1998)
   • “O Mapinguari” in Revista do Museu Goeldi (1994–2000 internal reports)
2. Glenn Shepard Jr. – “Sloth Man: The Mapinguari and the Giant Ground Sloth Hypothesis” (blog post & academic talks, 2001–2010)

1. Stefano Varese – Salt of the Mountain: Campa Cosmology (on Boraro in Peru/Colombia, 2002)
2. Fernando Santos-Granero – “The Enemy Within: Cannibals and Sorcerers in the Amazon” (on Boraro and similar beings, 2009)
3. Peter Rivière – Individual and Society in Guiana (1984) – on Didiman/Yurokon in the Guianas

1. Cândido, M. – Na Planície Amazônica (1997) – classic collection of caboclo testimonies
2. Bruce Means & David Oren – chapters in Lost Animals (2020) – short, accessible summary with sources

Explore dragons in folklore—from Mesopotamian origins like Tiamat to Chinese rain dragons and European hoarders. They cover common traits across cultures, vulnerabilities like soft spots and tricks, historical sightings involving Alexander the Great and Mount Pilatus, and how many tales symbolize draining swamps to fight malaria. Plus, why dragon fossils haven't been found (hint: not thin bones). Listen for myths, history, and facts.

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Sources:

Core/Very Common Traits

• Slavic: Russian byliny.
• Greek: Hesiod's Theogony (700 BCE, Hydra/Typhon/Ladon).
• Indian: Rigveda (1500–1200 BCE, nāgas).
• Japanese: Kojiki/Nihon Shoki (712–720 CE, Yamata-no-Orochi).
• Norse: Völsunga Saga (13th cent., Fáfnir).
• Chinese: Shanhaijing (4th–1st cent. BCE, dragon kings).

Mesopotamia (Earliest Dragon-Like)

• Tiamat: Enūma Eliš (1800–1100 BCE); cylinder seals (2500 BCE).
• Mušḫuššu: Sumerian texts (2300 BCE); Ishtar Gate (604–562 BCE).

Earliest "Dragon" Word

• Tunnanu: Ugarit tablets (14th cent. BCE).

Chinese Lóng

• Proto: Hongshan jade artifacts (4500–3000 BCE).
• Full: Shang oracle bones (1200 BCE).

European Drakōn

• Da-ra-ko: Linear B tablet KN V 52 (1250 BCE).
• Myths: Homer's Iliad (750 BCE); Hesiod's Theogony (700 BCE).

Indian Nāga

• Vritra: Rigveda (1500–1200 BCE).

Americas Feathered Serpent

• Proto-Quetzalcoatl: Olmec La Venta Monument 19 (900 BCE).

Weaknesses/Vulnerabilities

• St. George: Golden Legend (1260 CE).
• Sigurd/Fáfnir: Völsunga Saga.
• Beowulf: Beowulf MS (1000 CE).
• Hydra: Hesiod/Ovid.
• Zmey Gorynych: Byliny (12th–16th cent.).
• Knucker: Sussex folklore (1614).
• Yamata-no-Orochi: Kojiki.
• Lambton Worm: Durham ballads (1400 CE).

Famous Encounters

• Alexander's Serpent (325 BCE): Aristotle's Meteorologica (340 BCE); Onesicritus (quoted); Strabo's Geography Bk 15 (20 AD); Pliny's Natural History 8.36 (77 AD); Arrian's Anabasis (2nd cent. AD).
• Mount Pilatus (1421): Von Wattenwyl testimony (1422, Lucerne Archives Nr. 221); later reports (1499/1619).
• Brienzersee (1934): Swiss newspapers (Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Basler Nachrichten); Federal Police file; Air Force historian (1984).

Malaria Theory

• Wawel Dragon: 13th-cent. Polish chronicle.
• St. Mercurialis: Giovanni Villani's chronicle (14th cent.).
• Tarasp Dragon: Graubünden folklore.
• Context: Comparative history (e.g., Winegard's The Mosquito, 2019).

Thin Bones/Paleontology

• Examples: Pterosaurs (1,200+ specs, e.g., Quetzalcoatlus); Archaeopteryx (Solnhofen); Microraptor/Velociraptor (Liaoning); Sauropods/mosasaurs/plesiosaurs (global); Sarcosuchus/Deinosuchus (Cretaceous); Protoceratops (Gobi); Karoo Basin (300,000+ specs).
• General: Paleontology texts (e.g., Benton/Mayor).

The Hat Man (Internet) and Draugr (Iceland)

“The Hat Man”

Paranormal investigator Mara Ellison tracks a global wave of identical sleep-paralysis nightmares: a tall, featureless man in a wide-brimmed hat who silently watches victims, radiating pure evil.She calls it internet folklore—until he appears on her own camera in an empty asylum. Now people are dying of sheer terror, and once you learn his name, he learns yours.

He’s already standing behind you.

Draugr

Not ghosts. Not zombies.

A corpse that swells monstrous in the grave, turns blue-black with death-bloat, and rises heavier than any living man could lift. Greedy, hateful, tireless. It guards its hoard with crushed bones and broken necks, rides rooftops until the beams explode, and drives whole valleys mad with terror. Normal weapons glance off it. Fire is slow. And some refuse even ash. In this episode we meet the worst of them: a dead man so stubborn that the living have only one weapon left: the law itself.

One courtroom. One doorway. One final judgment for the restless dead.

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Sources:

• Book: The Secret War by Heidi Hollis (2008) Popularized the "Hat Man" as a demonic entity; draws from radio show reports and early online sightings.
• Book: Darkness Walks: The Shadow People Among Us by Jason Offutt (2009) Collects eyewitness accounts of shadow figures, including Hat Man encounters tied to sleep paralysis.
• Book: Sleep Paralysis: What It Is and How to Stop It by Chris White (2015) Scientific guide with personal stories; debunks supernatural claims while offering prevention tips.
• Documentary: The Nightmare (2015, dir. Rodney Ascher) Explores sleep paralysis hallucinations through interviews and reenactments, featuring shadow intruders.
• Article: "Who is the Hat Man? ‘Shadow people’ and sleep paralysis" (The Week, 2025) Overview of global reports, folklore roots, and the role of online forums like The Hatman Project.
• Article: "Have You Seen 'The Hatman'?" (IFLScience, 2025) Examines cultural influences on hallucinations and consistency in descriptions.
• Primary source Eyrbyggja saga, chapters 30–34 & 51–55 (the entire Þórólfr bægifótr and Fróðá haunting episodes) – Best modern English translations:
  • The Saga of the People of Eyrr (Penguin Classics, 1989, tr. Judy Quinn & Kate Heslop)
  • Eyrbyggja Saga (Penguin Classics, 1972/1989, tr. Hermann Pálsson & Paul Edwards)
• Old Norse text (for reference) Eyrbyggja saga, ed. Einar Ól. Sveinsson & Matthías Þórðarson, Íslenzk fornrit IV (1935) – available free on heimskringla.no and snerpa.is
• Supporting medieval references to draugr and door-court
  • Landnámabók (Sturlubók & Hauksbók redactions) – mentions re-burying walking corpses
  • Grágás (Konungsbók) – early Icelandic laws on dealing with “aptrgǫngumenn” (revenants)
  • Grettis saga, ch. 35 (for comparison of draugr traits)
  • Hilda Roderick Ellis, The Road to Hel (1943) – classic study of Norse undead
  • John Lindow, Norse Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs (2001)
  • Ármann Jakobsson, “The Fear of the Dead in the Íslendingasögur” (in Trolls and Revenants, 2012)