In this episode, Jim welcomes back Richard Estep to discuss his latest book Monsters, Myths, Legends, and Real Encounters. They dive into why monster stories continue to captivate us from childhood into adulthood, exploring everything from classic cryptids like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster to lesser-known oddities like the Fresno Nightcrawler.

Richard shares how he approached balancing well-known creatures with more obscure cases, and the two explore fascinating stories including the eerie Flatwoods Monster and the ever-evolving legend of the Chupacabra.

Along the way, the conversation takes some intriguing turns, including whether any of these creatures could actually exist, why certain monsters endure across generations, and how folklore, psychology, and even medical conditions intersect with these legends.

Richard also shares surprising insights from his research, including real-world military planning for a hypothetical zombie apocalypse and the enduring mystery of what may lie hidden in Earth’s largely unexplored oceans. It’s a wide-ranging and thought-provoking discussion that will leave you questioning just how much we really know about the unknown.

You can find Richard's new book, Monsters, Myths, Legends, and Real Encounters, at Amazon: https://amzn.to/40OlXHh
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