Spin State Podcast

A road trip through America’s most disturbing cryptids turns into a hilarious, unfiltered deep dive into monsters that feel just a little too real. If you’re into folklore, horror, and the kind of chaotic banter that somehow makes the nightmare fuel even better, this one is for you.Robert Herr, Ryan Thomas, Rowan Michael, and ProfessorTieDye(JL) start in Alabama with the terrifying "not deer" - a deer that is very much not acting like a deer - and quickly spiral into a full tour of the uncanny. Along the way, they break down what makes these creatures stick in the brain long after the episode ends: the dread, the wrongness, and the weirdly specific details that make each legend feel plausible enough to keep you looking twice in the woods.You’ll discover:Why the not deer freaks people out even when natural explanations existThe competing lore behind the Rougarou, the Louisiana swamp monster, and the ChupacabraWhat makes the Michigan Dogman, Beast of Bray Road, and Minashunka so enduringHow the Wendigo shifts from Indigenous horror to pop-culture nightmareWhy some cryptids feel less like myths and more like warningsRobert, Ryan, Rowan, and JL each bring a different angle to the table - from blunt skepticism and running jokes to folklore knowledge, horror references, and the kind of story-rich commentary that makes the legends feel immediate. The conversation keeps colliding with real-world explanations like mange, chronic wasting disease, and behavioral oddities, while never losing sight of the fact that these monsters still work because they tap into something ancient and primal.If you’ve ever stared into the woods and wondered what was staring back, this episode will give you plenty to think about. Perfect for cryptid fans, horror lovers, and anyone who likes their folklore served with equal parts scholarship, skepticism, and absolute chaos.Follow the show everywhere: https://linkbio.co/spinstatepodFollow us on Social Media:Robert: https://link.me/realrobertherrRyan:  https://x.com/ryanthomastalks, https://instagram.com/ryanthomastalksRowan: https://x.com/RowanMichealsSubscribe to the UNSPUN Newsletter: https://unspun.beehiiv.comEclipse Holsters (Use code ‘RyanThomas’ at checkout):  https://eclipseholsters.com Get a free 30-day trial to Beehiiv & 20% off your first 3 months: https://www.beehiiv.com/?via=spinstatepod Join us on PickAx: https://pickax.com 

Halloween kicks off with a road trip through America’s creepiest local legends, and the first stop is all killer, no filler. If you love cryptids, urban legends, or the kind of spooky stories that make back roads feel a little less safe, this episode is your gateway into a month-long tour of the weirdest creatures hiding in plain sight.Robert Herr, Rowan Michael, and Professor TieDye launch the series by breaking down what a cryptid actually is and then getting straight into the monsters. Pennsylvania’s Goatman sets the tone with brutal origin stories and a reputation for tormenting victims before the kill. Ohio’s Grassman turns the Bigfoot myth into an ambush predator that hides in brush, stares into windows, and lures people out with fake cries for help. Kentucky brings the Hopkinsville Goblins and the Cumberland Dragon, a bizarre mix of old newspaper lore, glowing eyes, webbed tracks, and a dragon that sounds more like a nightmare with a breath weapon than a fairy tale beast.You'll discover why West Virginia has some of the most enduring legends in the country, from the Cherokee-rooted Wampus Cat to the Mothman, the red-eyed harbinger linked to the infamous Silver Bridge collapse. The conversation also digs into the moon-eyed settlers of Appalachia, Florida’s skunk ape, and the unsettling way real sightings, local folklore, and pure panic can blur together until a story feels more real than reality.We break down where these legends come from, why some of them stick for generations, and how internet-era storytelling can take a strange local tale and turn it into a national obsession. Along the way, the hosts compare cryptids to everything from ghillie suits and bush babies to swamp monsters, black dog omens, and “tossed salad man” chaos, making this one part folklore deep dive and one part hilarious campfire horror story.This is the perfect episode if you want creepy lore with personality, smart skepticism without killing the fun, and a preview of the road trip still to come. Start here if you’re ready for spooky season to get properly weird.Follow the show everywhere: https://linkbio.co/spinstatepodFollow us on Social Media:Robert: https://link.me/realrobertherrRyan:  https://x.com/ryanthomastalks, https://instagram.com/ryanthomastalksRowan: https://x.com/RowanMichealsSubscribe to the UNSPUN Newsletter: https://unspun.beehiiv.comEclipse Holsters (Use code ‘RyanThomas’ at checkout):  https://eclipseholsters.com Get a free 30-day trial to Beehiiv & 20% off your first 3 months: https://www.beehiiv.com/?via=spinstatepod Join us on PickAx: https://pickax.com 

Twenty-five years later, 9/11 still rewires how we see fear, community, and what America owes itself.This anniversary conversation brings together Robert Herr, Ken Arnold, Ryan Thomas, Eric Donaldson, and Rowan Michael for a raw, wide-ranging reflection on where each of them was when the attacks happened - and why the memory still lands so hard.What starts as remembrance quickly becomes something bigger: a real conversation about how trauma shapes a generation, how first responders and families lived through the chaos, and why the days after 9/11 revealed the best of people when the country could have easily fractured. The group also looks at how the meaning of the day has changed for younger Americans, what gets lost when history turns into memes, and why unity feels harder to find now than it did then.Follow the show everywhere: https://linkbio.co/spinstatepodFollow us on Social Media: Robert: https://link.me/realrobertherrRyan:  https://x.com/ryanthomastalks, https://instagram.com/ryanthomastalksRowan: https://pickax.com/rowanmichaelmadness Subscribe to the UNSPUN Newsletter: https://unspun.beehiiv.com

One forgotten New Hampshire murder. One local filmmaker, a trailer, and a story that might be bigger than he ever imagined. Matthew Eames is building Roots of New Hampshire from the ground up, and this episode follows the project from eerie archive discoveries to the real-world clues that could turn a buried family secret into a full documentary.Matthew joins Robert Herr and Ryan Thomas for a wide-ranging conversation that starts with pop culture chaos and lands somewhere much more compelling: the obsession, discipline, and stubborn curiosity it takes to chase down a true story before it disappears. Along the way, Matthew opens up about his years in film, the unlikely path that took him from haunted houses and special effects into productions like Southpaw, Concussion, Fences, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Army of the Dead, and Mindhunter.You’ll discover:how Matthew found the deathbed confession that kicked off the Whitcherville mysterywhy the old letters, photos, and local records matter more than a polished theorywhat he learned filming his first interviews and why documentary storytelling is harder than it lookshow his background in props, makeup, and set work shapes the way he builds atmosphere nowwhat it takes to launch a one-man historical project with little gear, a drone, a Sony A6000, and a growing audienceIf you’re drawn to local legends, real-life mysteries, or the hard grind of turning art into something people can actually watch, this one delivers.Follow the show everywhere: https://linkbio.co/spinstatepodFollow us on Social Media: Robert: https://link.me/realrobertherrRyan:  https://x.com/ryanthomastalks, https://instagram.com/ryanthomastalksMatt: https://www.youtube.com/@mattneames Watch the trailer for his documentary here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRQsLOnBbRk Help Create the Documentary: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-launch-roots-of-new-hampshire-documentary Subscribe to the UNSPUN Newsletter: https://unspun.beehiiv.comCheck out our new Merch Store: https://stickermule.com/spinstatepodEclipse Holsters (Use code ‘RyanThomas’ at checkout):  https://eclipseholsters.com Get a free 30-day trial to Beehiiv & 20% off your first 3 months: https://www.beehiiv.com/?via=spinstatepod Join us on PickAx: https://pickax.com/?referralCode=suznlck&refSource=copy 

Forty trillion dollars in debt, a shaky Israel-NATO conversation, and a real question nobody in Washington wants to answer: what happens when the bill finally comes due?Ryan Thomas and Robert Herr rip into the headlines, the math, and the performative politics driving America deeper into the hole.They start with the absurdity of Darth Vader showing up at the San Diego City Council to defend surveillance cameras, then pivot into Trump, North Korea, and the growing sense that U.S. foreign policy is being shaped by ego, obedience, and alliance drama instead of strategy.From there, the conversation turns into a brutally honest breakdown of the national debt, war spending, and the systems that keep the country stuck. You’ll hear why a flat tax still does not fix the problem, why cutting the Department of Education and the IRS barely moves the needle, and why “growing our way out” of $40 trillion may be a fantasy.We also get into housing supply, regulation, fiat currency, and why real estate values - like money itself - are only worth what someone is willing to pay.Ryan and Robert connect the dots between debt, scarcity, tax policy, and the housing crisis in a way that is sharp, funny, and frustratingly believable.Along the way, they dig into music industry predation, old-school record label horror stories, the weird new wave of artists reclaiming their masters, and a little chaos from social media, Tim Pool, and the ongoing war between people who actually pay attention and people who just comment.Essential listening if you want a fast, funny, unfiltered take on debt, power, foreign policy, and why everybody keeps pretending the math will somehow save us.Please remember to like this video, share it, and follow for more! Follow the show everywhere: https://linkbio.co/spinstatepodFollow us on Social Media: Robert: https://link.me/realrobertherrRyan:  https://x.com/ryanthomastalks, https://instagram.com/ryanthomastalksRowan: https://x.com/RowanMichealsSubscribe to the UNSPUN Newsletter: https://unspun.beehiiv.comCheck out our new Merch Store: https://stickermule.com/spinstatepodEclipse Holsters (Use code ‘RyanThomas’ at checkout):  https://eclipseholsters.com Get a free 30-day trial to Beehiiv & 20% off your first 3 months: https://www.beehiiv.com/?via=spinstatepod Join us on PickAx: https://pickax.com/?referralCode=suznlck&refSource=copyNeed custom stickers? Unlock a free $10 credit from @stickermule when you visit: https://www.stickermule.com/unlock?ref_id=8729145801&utm_medium=social&utm_source=invite