Tracing Owls

A full-time cryptozoologist shares stories of his expeditions around the world tracking the most elusive cryptids!

Richard Freeman is an author, former zookeeper, and the Zoological Director for the Centre for Fortean Zoology, who organize international expeditions in search of cryptids which very likely might exist: the Orang-Pendek of Sumatra, living specimens of the Tasmanian wolf, Giant anacondas of the Amazon, and even the Mongolian death worm!

Though Richard is a flesh-and-blood cryptozoologist, he is also a fellow Fortean, so along the way we also discuss paranormal activity, light phenomena, high strangeness, and the possibility that numerous cryptids might actually be otherworldly entities, and dare we even say... tulpas!

I highly recommend reading Richard's books "Adventures in Cryptozoology - Volumes I and II", which you may find on Amazon

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Huge THANK YOU!!! to Richard Freeman for sitting down to speak with a huge fan of his work, and sharing that it is well worth keeping an open, and even paranormal, mind when researching cryptids ❤️

Contact Richard via e-mail at [email protected]

You can check out the The Centre for Fortean Zoology on their website cfz.org.uk

Grab a copy of Richard's books "Adventures in Cryptozoology - Volumes I and II" on Amazon

Also check out his earlier book "The Great Yokai Encyclopaedia" on Amazon

...and be on the lookout for his upcoming book "The Highest Strangeness" later this year!

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Send us suggestions and comments to [email protected]

Follow us on Instagram @tracingowls or Twitter @TracingOwls

Check our Linktree: linktr.ee/tracingowls

Intro sampled from "Something strange lurks in the shadows" by Francisco Sánchez (@fanchisanchez)

Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com

Lisa from Cryptid Comforts shares her journey and role in revitalizing the myth of the Squonk, an oftentimes overlooked critter of lumberjack lore, probably because it cries itself into a puddle of tears if you even look at it!

Lisa is best known for traveling to cryptid conventions all across the States with the cutest assortment of cryptid stuffies you will ever lay your eyes on! But in an attempt to defy the shyness of the Squonk, she deemed 2022 The Year of The Squonk, started dressing in full costume as the Squonk, and even authored a children's book about the Squonk!

I know I said the word Squonk too many times here, but it seems people can't get enough of the Squonk! It is cute, it is sad, it has remained hidden for over a century only to boom in popularity the past few years, and with the help of Lisa get its very own convention later this year: Squonkapalooza!

Be sure to plan a trip to Central Park, Johnstown, PA on August 26th for this inaugural Squonk convention!

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Huge THANK YOU!!! to Lisa Russell from Cryptid Comforts for keeping this wonderful legend alive!

Follow Cryptid Comforts on Instagram @cryptid_comforts and their website CryptidComforts.com

More info on Squonkapalooza can be found on their Instagram @squonkapalooza or their website Squonkapalooza.com

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Episode artwork by Ben from @thehodagstore

Send us suggestions and comments to [email protected]

Follow us on Instagram @tracingowls or Twitter @TracingOwls

Check our Linktree: linktr.ee/tracingowls

Intro sampled from "Something strange lurks in the shadows" by Francisco Sánchez (@fanchisanchez)

Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com

Kate joins in on my wild frenzy as we nerd over weird animals, parasites, poop, and our mutual hate for Bigfoot!

As the host of Strange Animals Podcast, Kate spends each week meticulously researching unusual animal species with all their magnificent adaptations. At over 300 episodes and counting, she still finds herself blown away by the sheer number of animals left to discover and learn about!

Today we joined forces to share stories of photosynthetic slugs, creepy deep sea fish, nasty parasites, giant prehistoric bugs, and an insane amount of poop-eaters! But along the way we put our debunker caps on to completely stomp over your love for Bigfoot, Nessie and aliens! Because real animals are so much cooler!

I highly recommend checking Kate's book "Beyond Bigfoot & Nessie: Lesser-Known Mystery Animals from Around the World" on Amazon

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Huge THANK YOU!!! to Kate Shaw from Strange Animals Podcast for joining me in this magnificent nerd-out over the weirdest animals, and cryptids, we both love! ❤️ Also for joining me in multiple bouts of debunkery! 🤣

Check out her podcast Strange Animals Podcast HERE

Visit their website strangeanimalspodcast.blubrry.net

Follow them on Twitter @StrangeBeasties and Mastodon @[email protected]

Grab a copy of Kate's book "Beyond Bigfoot & Nessie: Lesser-Known Mystery Animals from Around the World" on Amazon

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Send us suggestions and comments to [email protected]

Follow us on Instagram @tracingowls or Twitter @TracingOwls

Check our Linktree: linktr.ee/tracingowls

Intro sampled from "Something strange lurks in the shadows" by Francisco Sánchez (@fanchisanchez)

Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com

Christina shares her childhood initiation into high strangeness, leading her down a path of UFO research and a Man in Black encounter!

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Huge THANK YOU!!! to The Crescent Hare, a.k.a. Christina (actually a barn owl in "human" disguise) for sharing the experience of us being fairy-led into the imaginal stream by her amazing cryptid art!!!

Show your support by following her on Instagram @thecrescenthare

If you wish to proudly display the Seal with a Wheel, or the very... "handsome" face of Indrid Cold, or even a newly fae-rified Braxxie, all of Christina's art can be found at www.thecrescenthare.com

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Episode artwork by The Crescent Hare @thecrescenthare

Send us suggestions and comments to [email protected]

Follow us on Instagram @tracingowls or Twitter @TracingOwls

Check our Linktree: linktr.ee/tracingowls

Intro sampled from "Something strange lurks in the shadows" by Francisco Sánchez (@fanchisanchez)

Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com

An amazing assortment of weirdo artists join to discuss the implications of A.I. on the future of art and creativity.

Jonathan, Easton and Todd amalgamate their imaginal forces to whoop the ass of our corporate overlords, while I try to remain neutral and pretend like I have not been exploiting A.I. to create episode art for a while now!

Along the way Todd co-hosts the episode which you may also find on his feed today, Easton attempts to share the secrets of the trade but is censored by a phantom train, Jonathan desperately tries to settle down his dog thinking I would not notice during editing, and I put my biologist cap on in an attempt to sound smart as a non-artist impostor among professionals!

Meet Easton Hawk and his amazing humanly-made artwork TODAY at Frogman Festival in Mason, Ohio!

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Huge THANK YOU!!! to Jonathan Dodd for bringing up tulpas! We can't have a Tracing Owls episode without tulpas! ❤️

Follow him and his beautiful cryptid paintings on Instagram @jonathandodd_draws

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Huge THANK YOU!!! to Easton Hawk for bringing up the Akashic records, another Tracing Owls staple! ❤️

Follow him and his intricately detailed badass art on Instagram @eastonhawkillustration ....or on Reddit at u/DiaperFeast

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Huge THANK YOU!!! to Todd Purse for co-hosting a joint episode with me... and also bringing up psychedelic mantises as always! ❤️

Follow Todd on Instagram @toddde85 and check his podcast Create Magic - Daily Weirdo Art

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Episode artwork by Todd Purse @toddde85

Send us suggestions and comments to [email protected]

Follow us on Instagram @tracingowls or Twitter @TracingOwls

Check our Linktree: linktr.ee/tracingowls

Intro sampled from "Something strange lurks in the shadows" by Francisco Sánchez (@fanchisanchez)

Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com

We end the season manuring a crop at the end of its season! As the autumn cold approaches, the Cornman seeks to gobble up naughty children who break the rules of its maze!

Gluttonously preying on the unwary, it seeks to re fertilize the soil for its vegetable brethren! As human greed led to overproduction and waste, we have become outnumbered by our own leftover food, which now seeks its revenge!

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Huge THANK YOU!!! to Cassie Marozsan for hopping onboard my wacky project idea and helping bring these amazingly absurd (and slightly disturbing) creatures to life! 🧡

Meet Cassie and her wacky artwork at Frogman Festival on March 4th in Mason, Ohio!

Follow her on Instagram @cassiesland

You can find her art on her EtsyShop or on Tee Public

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Episode artwork by Cassie Marozsan @cassiesland

Send us suggestions and comments to [email protected]

Follow us on Instagram @tracingowls or Twitter @TracingOwls

Check our Linktree: linktr.ee/tracingowls

Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com

Within the storm, if you hear 

The beating of a drum so clear.

In a night, or in a day

Your visions creep and hide you away. 

While you weep is all that see or seem 

In a dream within a dream.

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Huge THANK YOU!!! to Cassie Marozsan for hopping onboard my wacky project idea and helping bring these amazingly absurd (and slightly disturbing) creatures to life! 🧡

Meet Cassie and her wacky artwork at Frogman Festival on March 4th in Mason, Ohio!

Follow her on Instagram @cassiesland

You can find her art on her EtsyShop or on Tee Public

======================

Episode artwork by Cassie Marozsan @cassiesland

Send us suggestions and comments to [email protected]

Follow us on Instagram @tracingowls or Twitter @TracingOwls

Check our Linktree: linktr.ee/tracingowls

Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com

Hop onboard the scream train, but only if you have a coin to spare! This greedy snake creature preys on train-hopping hobos, taking away their souls and their change for a slithery trek to purgatory!

Maybe we should have told you this before you hopped on, but oh well. 🤷 See you on the other side, sucker!

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Huge THANK YOU!!! to Cassie Marozsan for hopping onboard my wacky project idea and helping bring these amazingly absurd (and slightly disturbing) creatures to life! 🧡

Meet Cassie and her wacky artwork at Frogman Festival on March 4th in Mason, Ohio!

Follow her on Instagram @cassiesland

You can find her art on her EtsyShop or on Tee Public

======================

Episode artwork by Cassie Marozsan @cassiesland

Send us suggestions and comments to [email protected]

Follow us on Instagram @tracingowls or Twitter @TracingOwls

Check our Linktree: linktr.ee/tracingowls

Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com

Meet the perfectly-imperfect half-man, half-mole. Naked and proud, he corrupts the minds of unwary campers!

What hides under his robe is an ever-growing mystery to all, but it may actually hold the key to maintaining a positive body image in today's overly critical world.

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Huge THANK YOU!!! to Cassie Marozsan for hopping onboard my wacky project idea and helping bring these amazingly absurd (and slightly disturbing) creatures to life! 🧡

Meet Cassie and her wacky artwork at Frogman Festival on March 4th in Mason, Ohio!

Follow her on Instagram @cassiesland

You can find her art on her EtsyShop or on Tee Public

======================

Episode artwork by Cassie Marozsan @cassiesland

Send us suggestions and comments to [email protected]

Follow us on Instagram @tracingowls or Twitter @TracingOwls

Check our Linktree: linktr.ee/tracingowls

Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com

In the darkest of swamps lurks the cutest murder machine known to man! This fuzzy beaver will suck you dry and play with your bone!

Yes, you heard that right! By the time you realized that wasn't a sexy innuendo, your ass has already been taken away to be pounded into its dam!

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Huge THANK YOU!!! to Cassie Marozsan for hopping onboard my wacky project idea and helping bring these amazingly absurd (and slightly disturbing) creatures to life! 🧡

Meet Cassie and her wacky artwork at Frogman Festival on March 4th in Mason, Ohio!

Follow her on Instagram @cassiesland

You can find her art on her EtsyShop or on Tee Public

======================

Episode artwork by Cassie Marozsan @cassiesland

Send us suggestions and comments to [email protected]

Follow us on Instagram @tracingowls or Twitter @TracingOwls

Check our Linktree: linktr.ee/tracingowls

Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com