Welcome to the Port Phenomenoes – a Port Washington podcast brought to you by a Skeptic, a Believer, and a Blank Slate. Y’all, we’ve made it to Episode 2 and you’re in for a treat...or maybe a nightmare? It may be summer here but we’re teleporting to the frigid winter months to discover the Wendigo, as known from indigenous lore. This isn’t your typical plot device in Hollywood, this is a look at the stories and also the psychology of the cannibalistic ‘cryptid’ of the North Woods. Our recommendation? 1) Always use the buddy system and 2) don’t respond if the woods at large call out your name.
Instead of chasing away the Sunday Scaries we’re bringing them to you – whoops! We’re a bit rusty on the podcast game but that doesn’t stop us from laughing away the fear of this week’s episode. We’d also like to indicate a trigger warning for familicide and general cannibalism in this episode, we try not to get too explicit but it may be uncomfortable for some listeners.
If you want to check out some of the sources we used, and specifically First Nations/Indigenous stories from Louis Bird, click the links below. We’ve also included the pop culture references mentioned in this episode.
Want to keep up to date with all things Phenomenoes? Follow us on Instagram @portphenomenoes. Plus, check our page to see if you got the answer right to our first Breakwater Quiz!
Thank you to Tabletop Audio for providing our backtrack to the Breakwater Quiz. You can find more ambient and gaming sounds from them at tabletopaudio.com
Culture & media references in this episode:
Pet Sematary by Stephen King
The Curse of the Wendigo by Rick Yancey
Supernatural • Netflix, TNT
The Wendigo in Marvel comics
Helltown (2017 Movie)Wendigo Stories: http://www.native-languages.org/windigo.htm
Our Voices CA: Louis Bird – https://www.ourvoices.ca/index/ourvoices-story-action/id.0002
Paper on Wendigo Psychosis: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/338109722_Wendigo_Psychosis