Legends of hairy creatures stalking the forests and edges of civilization have been a key part of mythology and folklore since humans first started telling stories. Traditions of Bigfoot-like creatures are shared all over the world, and tie together many seemingly unconnected traditions. But how did they end up becoming Bigfoot, the mercurial wild man that we are obsessed with today? That question is what we seek to answer on this episode of Mythic Existence, as we track down the history of Bigfoot.  

In the Fall of 1903, the small town of Van Meter, Iowa was visited by a strange creature that had no business being there. Over the course of several days, well-respected residents of Van Meter saw a giant flying creature with a horrible, uncanny smell, and a light glowing from a horn atop its dinosauric head. This pterodactyl-like being has come to be known as the Van Meter Visitor. For a week it haunted the town, until it was eventually hunted down to a coal mine shaft alongside it’s child, never to be seen again. This episode from cryptid history was largely lost for about a century until some intrepid reporters brought the story back to life after reading articles from the surrounding newspapers of the time. But what really happened in Van Meter in 1903? Was this really a monster, or was it a hoax or maybe even an example of mass hysteria? On this episode of Mythic Existence, we’ll get to the bottom of the legend of the Van Meter Visitor. 

Deep in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, folklore says that there is a hideous monster with cloven feet, the head of a horse, and giant wings that flies among the remote forests. This creature is said to be the cursed 13th child of an 18th century witch, and it became to be known as the Jersey Devil. But recent historical research has shown that the Jersey Devil was originally known as the Leeds Devil, and was actually a name given to a family of almanac publishers who were political rivals of Ben Franklin. On this episode of Mythic Existence, we try to get to the bottom of the legend of the jersey devil.  

 The Holy Grail is one of the most enduring images in world culture. But what is the grail exactly, and if we can determine that, can it be found? The grail has been described as a cup, a dish, the chalice used by Jesus during the last supper, the philosopher’s stone, and even the holy bloodline. The grail itself seems to be everywhere and nowhere at once, and on this episode of Mythic Existence, we’ll try to get to the bottom of this endless mystery. 

Deep in the valleys of the Ozarks, lore tells of a terrifying horned beast with glowing eyes and the power to either bring luck to those who see it or predict their death. This monster is known as the Ozark Howler, and on today's episode of The Monster Folklorist with Jack Daly, we'll dive into the legends surrounding this creature. As it turns out, America's Ozark Howler has strong resemblances to the black dogs of British and Irish folklore, and their legends express an anxiety about the encroaching age of industrialism.  

On this episode of The Monster Folklorist, host Jack Daly explores the phenomenon of "the Old Hag," and David Hufford's experience-based approach to the supernatural. 

On this episode of Mythic Existence, host Jack Daly investigates one of the most notorious figures from the halls of legend: The Cropsey Maniac.

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Comfortable Mystery 4 - Film Noire by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
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On today's episode of Mythic Existence, host Jack Daly covers the origins of one of literature's greatest villains: Sauron. Listen to learn how Sauron's story stretches back to the origins of Arda, and how he was the student of the original dark lord of Middle Earth. 

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Comfortable Mystery 4 - Film Noire by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100535
Artist: http://incompetech.com/

On this episode of Mythic Existence, host Jack Daly discusses contemporary legendary monsters. We build off of one of our most popular episodes, the monster theory episode, by discussing North American monsters that are at times believed to exist, and explore what cultural purposes these creatures serve. By the end, we’ll hope to see how these beings have a complex and multifaceted existence and should be studied as such. 
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On this episode of Mythic Existence, guest Steven Merrell joins to talk about his cyclic belief theory and how it applies to folklore and myth. Steven is a second-year graduate folklore student and is finishing his degree at Utah State University in Logan, Utah, and in this episode he and host Jack Daly discuss topics like the experiential source hypothesis, Jung's theories of the anima and the animus, and the purpose and function of myths and legends. 
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