The Cryptid Keeper

Well friends, we've reached the end of this particular journey together. Please don't worry, we're both okay and planning to create more projects together in the future! But after some long, hard conversations (that have been quite a long time coming) we realized that it's time for this particular one to come to an end. We know it may feel sudden from the outside, but we would not make this decision rashly or without careful consideration. Thank you all so much for joining us for 145 episodes of this show that started with just a couple of friends and a microphone on a living room floor. We never expected it to last this long or come this far. It's been an incredible journey and we're so grateful for all the learning, laughs, and love that have come along the way. Don't think of it as an ending, but as a chance to start fresh with something we can all be proud of together. We hope you'll stick around with us for whatever the next chapter holds. From Alex, Addison, and the whole Cryptid Keeper team: Stay Safe out There.

Will-o-the-wisps, haunted dolls, and big box stores with a ghost problem? Looks like it's time for another listener stories episode! Treat yourself to a buffet of creatures, critters, and stories submitted by out very own Cryptid Keepers (that's all of you)! Our inbox was overflowing with stories yet again, so we decided to put together a collection to share with you all! Gather round the campfire and hear us spin some tales! Or rather, share some pre-spun tales that we put together. NOTE: In this episode, we shared a story from a listener detailing their experience with a giant bird. In their story, they repeatedly refer to it as a Thunderbird. We should have said something on the air, and it was wrong of us not to. White people have a long history of appropriating, bastardizing, and commodifying Native culture, it is not ok to treat important aspects of Native culture as cryptids or behave in a culturally insensitive way while talking about them. It was wrong on this episode, and it has been wrong when we’ve done it in the past. While we have appropriated and behaved insensitively in the past, we do not condone it nor do we wish to further normalize it. We understand that our ignorant behavior hurt people. We are sorry, and we are making a commitment to do better. Thank you to those that reached out, we are immensely grateful. We will do our best not to let you down. Content Warning: Mention of animal death, ghosts, shadow people, death

It's a dark and stormy night, and we're going to call on some voices from the beyond. Just put your fingers on the planchette, clear your mind, ask a question, and hope the wrong thing doesn't answer. This week is all about the world's most controversial board game, the Ouija Board. Derived from the Spirit Boards of olden days, this tool of contacting the dead is now the property of the Hasbro corporation! Join us as we discuss scary Ouija Board stories, the history of the board itself, and how housewives have moved and shaped American culture. Content Warnings: Death, violence, supernatural/demonic elements

Let's go for a swim! Don't worry about that feeling of something brushing up against your feet, it's just algae! OR it's the subject of this week's episode, the Naheulito! Native to Argentina, this little (okay, big) lake monster has made quite a name for itself, inspiring news coverage, hunting parties, and more! Join us as we discuss what kind of creature it might be, the bizarre history of hoaxes and hunts surrounding it, and whether it would be nice to ride on its back and be its best friend.

My my my, this sure is some scary spaghetti! Some menacing manicotti! Some...creepy pasta, if you will? This week we're covering the intersection of internet horror and cryptid culture, a spindly pale humanoid creature so scary it spawned an online horror movement and a subreddit to boot! We're here to discuss Crawlers, a type of unsettling creature made famous by the creepypasta story of The Rake. Join us as we get into the origins of The Rake, the cryptozoological possibility of crawlers, and more than a fair share of spine-tingling sightings. Content Warnings: Body horror, frightening imagery, mention of animal death

She's beauty and she's grace, she'll heal you with her face. This week we're talking about the often-requested Amabie, a mermaid like creature from Japan that protects people from pandemics in a very particular way. Join us as we discuss the story of the Amabie, the first meme, the Amabie challenge, and more! We'll also get into how the Amabie has become a symbol of hope and solidarity in the current moment. CW disease, pandemic

Hippity Hoppity, Pooka's on its way! This week, we're talking about another creature from Irish folklore, the shapeshifting trickster spirit that loves to take the form of a rabbit, horse, and human: The pooka/puca/phouka! If you were wondering what cryptid is good for advice, financial tips, or the most terrifying horseback ride of your life? We've got you covered. CW body horror, animal death

We've got a shell of a show for you this week! We're diving into Indiana waters where the mighty Beast of Busco dwells! A massive snapping turtle and local celebrity with a lot of character, this big old friend is a (potentially dangerous) icon and lake monster like no other! Join us as we talk turtles, sightings, and how the Beast of Busco started a long-running local festival! Content Warnings: Animal death, injury

No need to lose your head! It's just another episode of The Cryptid Keeper! This one takes us back the familiar rolling green hills of Ireland, and the darkness of its faery lore. We're talking about the Dullahan, or the "headless rider" of legend who comes into town at night, bringing death with him. Call us Ichabod Crane because we're very scared but VERY fascinated with the Headless Horseman! Join us as we discuss the endless nightmare fuel of the Dullahan, the Death Coach, and also somehow talk about Emily Dickinson and anime for good measure! Hold onto your heads! Content warning: death, body horror, decapitation, blood, mutilation

Hi there, Keepers. We're back on our regular release schedule, but that doesn't mean the fight for black lives is over, or any of the vital conversations that have been happening. Scroll down in these show notes for some important resources/places to donate. We're keeping it simple this week with a good old giant octopus! Nothing better for your manmade lake than an octopus the size of a horse! Oh, what's that? That's one of the worst things to have in your manmade lake? If you say so. This week's topic is the Oklahoma Octopus, which is absolutely exactly what it sounds like. Join us as we dive into the apparently fairly dangerous waters of three Oklahoma lakes, where there have been whispers of a strange and aggressive tentacled creature for several years. We also take a moment to discuss an incredibly important and often overlooked piece of Oklahoma (and American) history. Content Warnings: Discussion of death, child death RESOURCES: (This is an incomplete list and should be considered a place to start, but we highly encourage you to get involved however you can and look for places to donate/support beyond just this list. Look for local grassroots organizations and community organizers to help out in your communities. Always research organizations before you donate to them, to make sure your money is going to the cause) https://www.theokraproject.com/ https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScFbCqnPzsY0pSi39i_AjsTpVZpqJ20IOlJoX37N5qOHqN6cA/viewform https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdDk1ZaSv_nCqc1wI0KH0ZsOS28FT9tH-BRviA-VUB_Cf-tZg/viewform https://secure.actblue.com/donate/naacp-1 https://blacklivesmatter.com/chapters/ https://www.change.org/p/andy-beshear-justice-for-breonna-taylor https://www.gofundme.com/f/9v4q2-justice-for-breonna-taylor? https://www.reclaimtheblock.org/home/#about https://www.communityjusticeexchange.org/ https://bailproject.org/ https://blackoutcollective.org/ https://www.knowyourrightscamp.com/

We're feeling foxy this week, and our new episode is all about kitsune! Join us as we discuss this famous, mischievous, shapeshifting fox spirit in all of its trickery and glory. From magic and murder to romance and noodle soup, the kitsune is a creature full of variety. Let us spin you a "tail" or two (or nine). Content warnings: Murder, animal death, food discussion

While so many of us are stuck at home, Alex and Addison are here with an episode all about creatures that dwell in the home. Normally we cover the spooky and scary, but this week is all about helpful household spirits! From hobs and brownies to domovoy and fire ghosts, we're covering a wide range of domestically based creatures. Some are helpful, some are mischievous, but they all have one thing in common: they're homebodies. So curl up with a blanket and a mug of something nice, and let's stay in.Content Warning: Discussion of pagan rituals

Hey there, Keepers! It's time for another Listener Stories episode. Everything in this episode was made possible by Listeners Like You! From aliens and ghosts to bog witches and shadow people, we're here to share a wild mixed bag of stories (with some tangents in between). Thank you so much to everyone who submitted, whether we read your story on air or not! We'll be back next week with a brand new creature but for now just sit back, dim the lights, and enjoy some spooky stories.Content Warnings: Body horror, death, weight loss/body image issues

Boo! Did we scare you? You look like you've seen a ghost. Or, maybe, like you've HEARD a ghost? This week's subject comes from a german word meaning "noisy ghost" and they sure are. These ghosts aren't your usual wispy apparitions in period dress, poltergeists can be rude, violent, and downright NASTY. Listen to Addison torment Alex and geek out over the Enfield Haunting, the Bell Witch, and the Black Monk of Pontefract, as well as some lesser known ghosties too. Content Warnings: Death, violence, sickness, murder (poisoning, specifically)

This week, special guest and Friend of the Show (and composer of our theme song) Andrew Giotta joins us to discuss the golem, a creature most often described as a humanoid being made from clay. HUGE thank you to Andrew for offering a personal perspective and having a thoughtful conversation with us, ranging from the story of the Golem of Prague to the much more unusual story of "The Clay Boy". We hope you all will join us as well!Content warning for: discussions of antisemitism, death, and animal death

Alex and Addison lit the bat(squatch) signal this week, and this is what we got. He's massive, he's hairy, he may or may not drink blood... We're talking about the Batsquatch! As the name might imply, this is a humanoid bat-like creature that loves caves, volcanoes, and scaring people on deserted roads at night. Join us as we discuss survival tips, bats of all shapes and sizes, and more! Content Warning: Animal death, cattle mutilation

Uh oh...do you feel that? It's a GALAXY WARP! The fabric of space and time is bending, and it's causing podcasts to...switch hosts??? On this day of April Foolery, our friends from Ending Pending have dropped in to host the show for us! They're here to give you a little midweek treat all about the infamous, the creepy, the one and only Goatman! Part man, part goat, all LEGEND. Content Warning: Animal death (18:39-19:15)We'll be back on Sunday with your regularly scheduled episode, and in the meantime enjoy! And Stay Safe out There!

In times of darkness, we all need a little bit of light. Sometimes that light is a metaphor, and sometimes it's a bird that literally glows in the dark. That bird is the Alicanto, a feathered friend with some pretty expensive tastes. Join us as we cover the traits and habits of this beautiful creature, the folklore surrounding it, and how to make a business deal with a bird. Follow the feathers.

Outside, it's very scary, but in here it's spooky with a capital OO. Addison's back to torment Alex, and everyone else, with tales of haunted dolls, cursed teddy bears, etsy listings, and more! It's the promised return of Haunted Dolls, back for Part Two! They just want to play, so sit down with us, turn out the lights, and let's get ghostly! Oh, and we meet possibly the MOST INCREDIBLE HAUNTED DOLL OF ALL TIME.CW demons, ghosts, child death, death

This week, our bodies may be stuck at home, but our minds are traveling to the wild wilderness of the Yukon! This episode is all about the majestic, mysterious, much-debated beast: The Yukon Beaver Eater. Does it eat beavers? IS it a beaver? Let's try to forget about the troubles of the world for an hour and find out for ourselves. Stay safe out there, and stay well.Content warnings: animal death, body horror