This episode of Strange Matters presents a number of legendary monsters found in various cultures and folklore from around the world. Some of these monsters date back hundreds of years, while others have more recent origins. This episode discusses the history and legacy behind these monsters, as well as some of their cultural impact on the locals.
The monsters discussed within the episode includes the Aswang from the Philippines, The Orang Minyak of Malaysia, the Popobawa of Tanzania, and the Grootslang of South Africa.
In this episode of Strange Matters a number of legends and myths that all come from various Native American cultures are presented and discussed.
The Thunderbird was a mighty bird which was said to have the power to create thunderstorms. Depending on the particular tribe’s version of this mythical creature, the Thunderbird could either be a protective force or a deadly menace. Even more interesting about this legendary creature is that there are still sightings and encounters with mysterious giant birds across America to this day, leading some to believe in the existence of the Thunderbird.
Much like the Thunderbird, the legend of the Little People is one that is seen across a wide range of Native American societies. Though extremely short in stature, the Little People would prove to be a big problem to many tribes, with their antics ranging all the way from simple pranks… to murder.
Finally, two creepy legendary creatures of the night are discussed. The Keelut was a skinless dog which possessed an evil spirit. This dark beast would stalk its prey through the snow, paralyzing and attacking anyone who was unfortunate to see it. The Baykok were once warriors and hunters of the Ojibwa who died in disgrace. Now, their restless spirits continue to roam the lands, hunting their living tribesman in the night and devouring them alive.
Enjoy this episode all about the legends and myths of the Native American people!
In this episode of Strange Matters we discuss a wide variety of creepy and unexplained activity all coming from British Columbia. This region of Canada is well known for its long history of bizarre stories and events. From UFO sightings, to haunted islands, and even its own legendary cryptid, British Columbia is a treasure trove for anyone who is interested in the strange and unusual.
Around the same time that reports of the Mothman were surfacing, another mysterious creature had been sighted nearby. Encounters with a strange creature now known as Indrid Cold, a humanoid creature with strange features including an unusually large, frozen grin, were spreading around the area. While sightings were not as prevalent as with the Mothman, they were no less unsettling. Sometimes Cold would simply stare at passers-by, other times he would give chase and even engage in conversation. Just about everyone reports feeling at best, uncomfortable, at worst horrified for their life. However it is unclear at this time whether or not Cold actually possessed any nefarious intent or whether he was simply observing humankind. Furthermore no one truly understands Cold’s purpose for visiting our planet or whether or not this was even an alien in the first place. While some witnesses claim that Cold revealed all to them and even took them to their home planet, other simply report being terrified. Could this mysterious “Grinning Man” be an alien from another planet or even a government “Man in Black”? Is he a single entity or a community or species? Or was Point Pleasant West Virginia simply a hot spot for paranormal activity at time?
“It’s a bird! It’s a plane! Wait what is that really? Oh no it’s following us, run for your lives!” This is probably what a young couple was thinking in Point Pleasant, West Virginia back in the sixties when they first encountered what is now well-known around the world as the legendary Mothman. There were practically no reports of similar creatures until 1966, when suddenly there were dozens of sightings of this horrific, flying abomination. Residents of this small town were so petrified they actually held a town hall meeting so that citizens could publicly express their concerns and share tales of their encounters. Since then similar sightings have been reported all over the world; all to often the sightings precede some sort of cataclysmic event, leading some to think that it is an omen of bad things to come. While it is not one of the most popular cryptids of our time, it certainly produces arguably more convincing evidence then others of its kind. Explanations for these sightings range from large cranes or owls all the way to angels, genetic hybrids and flying military machines, however we must accept that mankind may never know the true identity of the Mothman.
In this episode of Strange Matters we discuss the phenomenon of Cynocephaly, the bizarre characteristic of humans that possess a dog-like head. Creatures of cynocephaly have been recorded in human history for thousands of years, dating back to the Ancient Greeks and Egyptians. Tales of these human/dog mixes have been seen throughout the middle ages and even up to the modern day. The origins of these mysterious beings remain a mystery, as well as to why stories of them exist all over the world.
Though commonly believed to be a mere myth, some have come up with several logical reasons behind the origins of these creatures to explain their existence and persistence throughout history. Some theories suggest ancient people mistook certain animals to be cynocephali, while others think people portrayed as these half-dog beasts were simply how civilized societies represented foreigners and barbarians. Whether there is any realistic explanations for these fantastical creatures will forever be unknown, but the legends of cynocephaly continue to be an intriguing historical mystery!
