Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network 

Show Name:  Unraveling the Unknown

Episode Title: Finale- Dragons

Hello curious people and welcome to a world of mystery, 

You are listening to Unraveling the Unknown with your hosts Lily and Tessa.

In this episode of Unraveling the Unknown, the Podcast we will discuss: Dragons. 

In ancient Mesopotamia, dark forests spread wide across the hilly landscape, dipped in the moonlit glow from far above. A great warrior roamed the land. Looking for adventure and glory in times of peace. The warrior walked along the edges of the forest,

As he spotted a small gold coin gleaming in the moonlight. He picked it up and looked further into the darkness of the moon-crested forest, spotting an extravagant necklace of gold and jewels. Traveling further in, he followed the trail of misplaced gold, leading to a huge carved-out opening in the side of the mountain. 

The warrior had found it! Treasure! Something good for his tribe he could bring back to them. 

Soon the warrior noticed something- a ginormous winged beast splayed out on a mountain of gold the warrior thought could encompass the ocean. A dragon. It was sleeping but far less soundly than a few minutes prior, it's breathing was less smooth and slow, becoming jagged like the walls of the cave.

The warrior dropped down and grabbed whatever gold was within grasp, scooping it up and then rushing as quietly as possible back home. 

The next morning, the warrior woke up to the sounds of screaming and terror. Outside, people ran for their lives and cried in pain and disbelief as a dragon- the likes of which most had only heard stories- spit tsunamis of flame over the kingdom. 

Most were destroyed and many were killed, although some were able to find refuge in the dark lapses of the surrounding forest. 

No one had defeated a dragon and learned to tell the tale- not even in legends-

So, the kingdom abandoned their home, fleeing to the woods and other settlements, never to see their home or their lost loved ones again. 

• Next, we will discuss the origins of a dragon. Dragons have appeared in mythology throughout every Country. The main theory of Dragons is derived from the discovery of dinosaur bones. The first dragon myths appear with the Sumerian(soo-meh-ree-uhn) legends of the god-mother Tiamat. Dragons appear in Chinese and Indian Legends in about 2700 B.C. 
• In 1335, a huge skull was found in Australia in Claren Fort. It was known to be the skull of an old water dragon Legend. This dragon was known to flood the town with water. Then, in 1590, they created a statue for the Capital Corinthia based on this skull. This Dragon statue represents a dragon that spouts water out of its mouth.
• During the 1600s, an Englishman named Robert Plot found a huge bone, thinking it was part of a giant something. This fossil turned out to be from the Meglosaurus bucki (meg-la-sore-us buck-eye). 
• The dragon symbolizes power, good fortune, and strength and is associated with intelligence. Chinese emperors consider themselves descendants of dragons. Dragons are also thought of as evil and satanic in some places of the world. Serpents are often associated with the devil/ evil. Sometimes dragons are thought of as protective, and sometimes harmful and dangerous.
• Often, dragons are guardians of something either gold and treasure or of a town
• Many believe dragons could have originated from a fear of snakes. - mesopotamian art and drawings. 

Let's discuss. 

From a scale of 1-10, 10 being absolutely real, 1 being completely fake, how believable do you think dragons are? 

-How to Train Your Dragon- movies

-toothless and Hiccup

-Avatar-are those dragons? 

            -The third Avatar movie coming of in December 2025- about fire people, and the avatars are red and live in volcanic regions 

-Avatar the Last Airbender- dragons and culture in Avatar are based on East Asian culture, mostly Japanese and Chinese in the Fire Nation. Dragons Ran and Shaw, Sun Warriors tech fire bending. Fire Festival in Fire Nation with dragon dance and costume

Dragons are seen in a positive light- hunting them is bad. wise

-Harry potter

• Basilisk and hydra types of dragons

Hey Curiosos! If you enjoyed listening to this weeks podcast or have been tuning in every week, we would love it you could leave a review and follow us on Apple Podcasts.  Thank you for being part of our inquisitive community!

Thank you for tuning into this week's episode about Dragons! 

This will be the last and final episode of our podcast, Unraveling the Unknown. Thank you for listening!

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• Missing Persons by Jeremy Blake
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• Devil’s Organ by Jimena Contreras
• Frightmare by Jimena Contreras

• @theHVSPN

Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network 

Show Name:  Unraveling the Unknown

Episode Title: Triple Threat; Cerberus

Hello curious people and welcome to a world of mystery, 

You are listening to Unraveling the Unknown with your hosts Lily and Tessa.

In this episode of Unraveling the Unknown, the Podcast we will discuss: Cerberus and other multiheaded creatures.

This podcast will be a little special. In this week's episode, we have not one but two special guests. We are here with…

Guests

Seamus- he used to be a big fan of the Percy Jackson series

Zoe- 

Segment 1: Q/A

-What do you think Cerberus symbolizes in Greek mythology? Is it just a guardian, or is there a deeper meaning to his role?

He has been a symbol of protection in many stories even to this day including Percy Jackson and Harry Potter. 

His name literally means flesh devouring, he is an important part of a system like the cerberus molecules in the human body that build the heart, head, and help create left-right symmetry. He is also often related to the military and war, using its name as a military protocol.

 I think it is really important how he prevents the living from entering the underworld and devours those who try to leave. He kind of protects life.

Cerberus is often seen as the complexity of Death. With his multiple heads, he might symbolize the multifaceted nature of death. 

I think Cerberus could represent a lot of different things, and it is up to the mind's interpretation that makes him such a unique mythological figure. 

-Cerberus is often depicted as a fearsome beast with three heads. What do you think the multiple heads represent? Could they symbolize anything beyond just being intimidating?

I feel like they probably relate to the three parts of the underworld:

Elysium, where the righteous and heroes go 

Tartarus, where the evil go, pretty much a dark pit

Asphodel Meadows, where ordinary souls go who did nothing with their lives, their minds were numbed.

I also agree with zoe, I think the three heads could represent the three parts of the underworld. I think the three heads could also represent the past, the present and the future. 

Since Cerberus guards the underworld, the heads may represent the different phases of human existence, meaning Cerberus overs those who have died but also the flow of souls and in inevitable passage of time. 

-Cerberus guards the gates of the Underworld, preventing souls from leaving. Do you see him as a symbol of the inevitability of death or something more complex?

Some myths describe Cerberus being tamed or subdued by certain heroes, like Heracles or Orpheus. What do these interactions tell us about human nature and our relationship with death or fear?

Death is inescapable in real life for normal people and stories of heroes are used to cope with this idea that people cannot escape death. Heros give people hope and inspiration 

Hesiod

-What do you personally find most fascinating about Cerberus? Is it his loyalty to Hades, his terrifying appearance, or something else entirely?

-If you were tasked with designing a modern version of Cerberus for a film or game, how would you change his appearance, abilities, or personality to make him resonate with today's audience?

-If Cerberus had a human counterpart or a voice, what kind of personality do you imagine he would have? Would he be more philosophical, menacing, or indifferent?

Quick overview of Cerberus/ three headed beasts- 

Cerberus is known as the watchdog of the underworld and hound of Hades, god of the underworld. Cerberus prevents souls from leaving or escaping the underworld and guards the gates into the underworld. 

Cerberus is the offspring of the mythological monsters Echidna and Typhon. 

Echidna- half woman half snake 

Typhon- a half snake and half human god of storms with many heads.

Sibling of the hydra.

Cerberus is often depicted as only a huge canine with three heads, however many older descriptions include a mane of snakes or a tail consisting of several snakes (often three), 

Hera gave cerberus to hades, her brother, after receiving cerberus as a gift from echidna.

Today, cerberus often symbolizes ferocious loyalty, vigilance, strength, power, protection, death and the afterlife.

Segment 2:  Free Discussion 

How believable on a scale from 1-10? 1 being not believable 10 being super real. 

Harry potter

Thank you for tuning into this week's episode about three-headed monsters

Next week we will be discussing the Banshee

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Music Credits:   

Missing Persons by Jeremy Blake

Dead Wrong by Jeremy Blake

Devil’s Organ by Jimena Contreras

Frightmare by Jimena Contreras

Connect with us on Social Media

@theHVSPN

Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network 

Show Name: Unraveling the Unknown

Episode Title: Wailing Banshee

Hello curious people and welcome to a world of mystery, 

You are listening to Unraveling the Unknown with your hosts Lily and Tessa.

In this episode of Unraveling the Unknown, the Podcast we will discuss: Banshees. 

On one grassy town hill in Ireland, a family house sat, brick and stone, under the soft sun of the falling afternoon. The wind blew into welcoming windows, infusing the smell of grass and earth into the house. A mother and father began to cook in the kitchen while three kids ran around the house, breaking through the calm noise outside. Unexpectedly, a loud screaming wail, like a mother losing her love, faced with death and despair, rang through the house and hillside. The family was shocked still, with the children running to the kitchen questioning the noise. The mother and father slowly looked at each other, horrified by the meaning of the scream. A banshee. Their children were not yet old enough to have heard of the legends- a haunted woman- an Irish folktale who screams and shrieks to warn families of a coming death. Many see her as a bad omen and curse, while others believe she is trying to protect the family. The mother rushed to check on her children and husband, and they began to get ready to leave the house when a storm began, soon rain and lighting were beating down on their roof, until one lighting strike hit a tree that teetered and crashed into the side of their home. One of the children, a 4-year-old boy was crushed under the tree, breathing his last breath as rain began to cover his face. Is she a curse? Or a protector? 

• Banshee, known as “Women of the Fairies”, or the Irish angel of death is a supernatural female spirit in Irish and Scottish folklore. 
• Banshees are normally depicted as evil, as they enjoy wailing out to their victims until they either commit suicide or go insane.
• These Banshees were described as frightening old witches who emit howls that shatter glass and torment the living and are filled with such hatred that direct eye contact with one would cause immediate death. 
• Not all Banshees need to be feared. In an Irish household, many believed every family had its own Banshee, and this spirit would watch over the family members in life and death.
• The family Banshee has the power to safely pass deceased family members to the other side. 
• People assumed Banshees appeared as beautiful young women, and they would sing a mournful song filled with love and concern for their families. 
•  Banshees could only come from five prominent Irish family names: O’Neills, O’Connors, O’Briens, Kavanaghs, and O’Grady. 
• The Banshee’s cry is said to be so piercing that it can be heard from miles away. Each Banshee’s cry can be different for each family, which can be used as identification for the particular family branch. 

From a scale of 1-10, 10 being absolutely real, 1 being completely fake, how believable do you think the Banshee is? 

Curse or protector or just murderer? 

How do you think this legend started?

• Banshees are known for keening which is an Irish word for what  a woman does to fend off evil 

spirits from a dead body

• Banshees are often seen combing their hair which could represent a washer woman who prepares the dead for burial.
• A banshee can be killed by ripping out its heart or cutting off its head or any fatal wound
• In media today, especially Western banshees are often seen as evil ghost spirits with superhumanly strong lungs, throats, and vocal cords whose voices and screams stun and harm hearing and shake things around them.
• In Teen Wolf, the banshee is a human woman with the ability to access the supernatural and is a harbinger of death. 
• Cry of the Banshee is a 1970 horror film directed by Gordon Hessler and starring Vincent Price. It was released by American International Pictures. It was written by Tim Kelly and Christopher Wicking.

Hey Curiosos! If you enjoyed listening to this week's podcast or have been tuning in every week, we would love it if you could leave a star review on Apple Podcasts.  Your support would help us out a ton and would be greatly appreciated! Thank you for being part of our inquisitive community!

Thank you for tuning into this week's episode about Banshee 

Next week we will be discussing dragons

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Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network 

Show Name:  Unraveling the Unknown

Episode Title: The Basilisk

Hello Curious people and welcome to a world of mystery.

You are listening to Unraveling the Unknown with your hosts Lily and Tessa.

In this episode of Unraveling the Unknown, the Podcast we will discuss: The Basilisk.

• One day on a farmhouse in ancient times, a farmer was shaken awake by loud screams and croaks from his farm animals. He dashed out of bed and rushed outside. 
• Eyes adjusting to the light of morning, he glanced around, spotting an abnormally large chicken egg cracked and broken on the ground. The farmer looked around at all the commotion, roosters running around, feathers and dirt flying in the air. The horses, cows, and other livestock were spooked, breaking fences and crying out. 
• He saw dead black grass near where the chicken egg was hatched, and dead livestock littering the ground around it. Then, following this trail of death, he looked up, meeting the gaze of a huge rooster-like creature with the characteristics of a serpent. He gasped, Immediately falling over, face banging against the muddy ground. He was petrified, dead. 
• This creature was a basilisk, a Serpent-like creature with the ability to turn things into stone with its glance- even in a reflection, causing immediate death. The basilisk also is extremely venomous. It originates in Ancient Greece and Rome and is often thought of as the King of Serpents. Basilisk is also the name of a genus of small lizards, The Green Basilisk, also called plumed basilisk, is often called the "Jesus lizard" for its ability to run on the surface of water. They are roughly 2.5 feet in length, so relatively small, and kind of cute.
• There are a lot of variations and species that originate with the basilisk. For example, Medusa is a side species of basilisk - a lot of legends of the basilisk involve a mixture of a snake or serpent combined with other animals. 
• Medusa is an example of this because she is part snake and part human. Other combinations can often include farm animals like cows, roosters, etc. 
• Basilisks have haunted legends and terrorized kings, kingdoms, and people all over the world since ancient times.
• The only two weaknesses of a basilisk ever recorded are hearing the crow of a rooster and seeing its own deadly gaze in a mirror. 

SPOILER WARNING!!!

• HARRY POTTER- the movie Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets has a basilisk as its main enemy. 
• When Harry Potter discovers the chamber of secrets and Voldemort plans to resurrect himself, he goes into the chamber, preparing to destroy a powerful notebook with the basilisk venom. 
• Hary encounters the huge Basilisk creature who petrified a female student Ginny at Hogwarts. 
• He has to kill the giant snake with a sword without looking it in the eye. Harry uses the shadows on the basilisk in the tunnels to predict and see where the basilisk is without looking at it. 
• The basilisk in Harry Potter is really scary and very powerful. It is a giant scaly snake that lives in the tunnels under Hogwarts. 
• Like most legends, It has a petrifying gaze and extremely poisonous venom.

Thank you for tuning into this week's episode about The Basilisk 

Next week we will be discussing a three-headed creature which also makes an appearance in Harry Potter.

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Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network 

Show Name:  Unraveling the Unknown

Episode Title: Wicked Werewolves 

Hello Curious people and welcome to a world of mystery.

You are listening to Unraveling the Unknown with your hosts Lily and Tessa.

In this episode of Unraveling the Unknown, the Podcast we will discuss: werewolves.

Segment 1: Story Time

In 1589 Germany, in the village of Epprath on a simple farm ranch, Peter Stumpp, worked as a successful farmer for many years of his life until one day when mysterious disappearances from nearby towns began to conjure up suspicion.

Neighboring farms and passersby began sensing strange and dark energy as well as hearing occasional unexplainable noises coming from Stump's house. 

Soon, Peter was accused of werewolves, witchcraft, and cannibalism.

 He was put on trial and confessed after being tortured to killing and eating several of his livestock and villagers including women and children

He confessed further that he had made a pact with the devil to become a werewolf. He was then sentenced to death after they found several half-consumed human remains on his property.  He was executed in one of the most horrible and tortuous deaths on record, execution by wheel.

His daughter and mistress were also put to death in fear of further werewolf tendencies spreading through the village. 

 In Germany at the time, Roman Catholics were attempting to push out Protestantism, of which Stupp was a proud member. 

 This could have influenced his trial and story into a monstrous devilish horror story in order to create paranoia and switch people to catholicism.

At the same time, werewolf panics and witch hunts were springing up around Germany, causing mass hysteria and paranoia.

 He could have been innocent, or he could have been just a serial killer with no other abilities who went crazy and made up a story. There are many different versions of the story that could have been stretched or misinterpreted. 

Segment 2:  Origin and Facts

Werewolf is a well-known mythological animal and is commonly throughout many stories throughout the world

People can morph into vicious powerful wolves, or can be half- human half-wolf. No matter the form, all of them are bloodthirsty monsters who cannot control themselves when it comes to killing animals and people. 

Werewolves did make an early appearance in Greek mythology with the Legend of Lycaon. Lycaon, the son of Pelasgus, made Zeus mad, and as a punishment Zeus turned Lycaon and his sons into wolves.

Back in 1521, in France, people thought that werewolves were the serial killers.  Frenchman Pierre Burgot and Michel Verdun allegedly swore to the devil and claimed to have turned them into wolves. After they confessed to brutally murdering several children they were burned to death at the stake.

 The Beast of Gévaudan, a man-eating animal killed by the hunter Jean Chastel in 1767, brought the idea of bullets with a coat of silver to kill werewolves.

Silver is known to have antimicrobial properties, and the substance is even used in some forms of medicine. Silver is extremely pure, and effective against impure forces.

 In multiple stories of werewolves, we only see werewolves turning into her beast-like form during a full moon. According to a study conducted at Australia;s Calvary Mater Newcastle hospital, a full moon brings out the “beast” in many humans. 

At this hospital during a full moon, patients attacked staff, and showed wolf-like behaviors such as biting, scratching, and spitting. 

Although most of these patients were under the influence of drugs or alcohol, it is unclear why they became intensely violent when the moon was full.

It is scientifically proven that moons can affect people due to its gravitational pull, just like how the mood affects the ocean's tides. Humans are made up of 70% water, so it is not uncommon for people to feel different or experience mood changes during a full moon. 

Segment 3:  Discussion

How believable are werewolves on a scale from 1-10? 1 being not believable 10 being super real. 

Wendigo

Lily- Werewolves make me think of wendigos. Because they are both mythological cannibalistic monsters that are hungry to eat human flesh. Wendigos and werewolves are also known to both be afraid of fire. 

Tessa- wendigos are from native american stories of a hunter whose spirit transformed into a crazed beast after he was starved and driven mad. They sort of shape shift like werewolves but resemble more of human fear and loss of humanity.

-Vampire diaries- there are people who are werewolves in Vampire diaries, and they have many abilities such as super strength, super speed, enhanced healing, and heightened senses of smell, sight and hearing. The vampires and werewolves do not get along in this show, because the werewolves are hardwired to kill vampires, and their venomous bite is lethal to vampires. 

-Twilight- werewolves in twilight are represented as native american tribes with special powers. Being a werewolf is considered special and honorable. They protect humans and are enemies of vampires. help stop vampires from killing people. They are normal people that can transform into large dogs/wolves at whim. They have super strength, speed, and healing as well as other enhanced senses.

Thank you for tuning into this week's episode about werewolves 

Next week we will be discussing a scaly creature that's petrifyingly terrifying! (basilisk)

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Music Credits:   

Missing Persons by Jeremy Blake

Dead Wrong by Jeremy Blake

Devil’s Organ by Jimena Contreras

Frightmare by Jimena Contreras

Connect with us on Social Media

@theHVSPN

Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network 

Show Name:  Unraveling the Unknown

Episode Title: La Llorona

You are listening to Unraveling the Unknown with your hosts Lily and Tessa.

In this episode of Unraveling the Unknown, the Podcast we will discuss: La Llorona

Story

In Mexico City, around 1550, a woman gave birth to two children of a man she was arranged to marry. 

the woman caught her husband having an affair with someone else. 

One day soon after she went with her children by the riverbank near her house. 

her children playing in the river reminded her of her husband's betrayal. 

she rushed into the river, pushing the small heads in front of her down until they were submerged in water, drowning the happiness of the man who had stabbed out her heart.

she was filled with regret and sorrow

She held their floating bodies in her arms and wept for her lost children. 

she then drowned herself in the river. 

Today in her regret, the ghost of La Llorona- “the weeping woman”- haunts children, always by the dark of night, looking for children to keep with her forever.

Origin

Now we'll take a short break but stay tuned for what secrets will be revealed about La Llorona and classified information next  

PAUSE…. 

Welcome back, get excited to unravel this ghost spirt. 

La Llorona is a mythological woman throughout Mexican and Latin American stories. La Llorona is a popular ghost story that is said to be about a siren-like woman who wails to lure adults and children to their imident deaths. 

La Llorona was once a beautiful woman named Maria who had a husband who was unfaithful and abusive towards Maria. 

In another retelling they say that her husband left Maria for a wealthier woman, and out of jealousy and anger, she lured her two sons to a nearby river and drowned them. 

After realizing what she had done she then drowned herself. 

In another version, she neglected sons who drowned accidently while she was talking and distracted talking with gentlemen callers.  

Maria’s ghost, now La Llorona, is wandering the Earth searching for her lost sons, and she has a distinct wailing cry, “My sons! My Sons! Where are my Sons?”

The rumor has it that she appears when children misbehave or when lost men are alone by a lake or river. She appears as mothers and steals their children, mistaking them for her two lost sons. 

La Llorona is described to have long hair, dressed entirely in black or white or having the bones of her dead children embedded in her backbone. She is normally associated with water. You should avoid encountering La Llorona at all costs. If you even hear her cries you are destined for misfortune or death. 

People do not know exactly where her tale originated from. Some say it originated in Mexico and others say it traveled through oral tradition from Spain. 

La Llorona also known as the crying women is a mexican legend that is at least 500 years old.

 La Llorona possesses great powers, both to create life and to destroy life. 

Discussion

How believable is La Llorona on a scale from 1-10? 1 being not believable 10 being super real. 

Do you believe in ghosts?

Have you ever seen a ghost?

La Llornoa serves as a symbol of loss, grief, and the consequences of one’s actions. 

Did you know that if you see a person with a La Llorona tattoo that is signifies that the person has gotten cheated on. 

La Llorona’s narrative is passed down through the centuries as a reminder that our voices are being listened to and acknowledged. She is not only a reflection of our innermost fears, but she is the living and breathing proof that we can overcome our fears as well. 

Thank you for tuning into this weeks episode about a famous ghost 

Next week we will be discussing a hairy creature that howls at the moon.

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Music Credits:   

Missing Persons by Jeremy Blake

Dead Wrong by Jeremy Blake

Devil’s Organ by Jimena Contreras

Frightmare by Jimena Contreras

Connect with us on Social Media

@theHVSPN

Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network 

Show Name: Unraveling the Unknown

Episode Title: Loch Ness Monster

Hello Curious people and welcome to a world of mystery. 

You are listening to Unraveling the Unknown with your hosts Lily and Tessa.

In this episode of Unraveling the Unknown, the Podcast we will discuss: Lock Ness Monster.

• Earliest written record from 565 AD by St. Columba
• St Columb awas an irish abbot, missionary and scholar that helped spread christianity througout Scotland
• Columba helped bring back someone with his staff, that was attcked and killed my the loch ness monster
• Columa scared away the monster, and saved one of his monks in the water that was splashing around
• Columa stood at the side of the shore and bravely spoke out the the monster in a commanding voice “You will go no further! Do not touch the man, Leave at Once!”
• The monster swam away and was rarely seen again until the 1900s

• Loch ness monster nicknamed ness
• This monster originates from Loch Ness, Ireland
• There is the ancient ruins of Urquhart castle standing nearby this river
• This castle is said to have been the home of a Celtic winter queen and goddess Dark Biera.
• With an explosion of rage, she turned her maid Nessa into the Ness River after she was repeatedly late to attend to the Queen.
• As Nessa’s fury and grief for her punishment unleashed, the River Ness grew and she was able to escape the rivers flow and become Loch Ness. 
• A loch is a body of water like a lake or sea inlet. The Loch Ness is the largest body or water in the entire UK with a depth of around 755 feet.
• The legend of the monster dates back as far as 565 AD and can be seen on stone and wood carvings from ancient times. 
• Many legends and mythology from all around the world result from people long ago and their fears and anxieties regarding the world around them. 
• Throughout time, Nesse has appeared as a gigantic serpent or dinosaur like creature with a long neck and tail and huge flippers, but can vary greatly from sighting to sighting. 
• The Loch ness waters are also very deep and have low visibility because of their high levels of peat. From 9m and below, visibility is vastly considered to be 0.
• Even today with our advanced technology, there is no conclusive evidence that the monster exists but there is also little evidence to disprove the existence of The Loch Ness Monster. 

• How beileveable is the Loch Ness Monster on a scale from 1-10? 1 being not believable 10 being super real. 
• Numerous theories have been put forward over the years, including that the creature may be a prehistoric marine reptile, a swimming circus elephant (yes, really) or, most recently, a giant eel.
•  it is widely thought that the monster is a myth.- however, the loch ness, does sort of represent a dinosaur. 
• Some people believe that the mythical Loch Ness Monster is a plesiosaur, a reptile with a small head and a long neck that became extinct some 65.5 million years ago.
• La llorona 

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Show Name: Unraveling the Unknown

Episode Title: Bigfoot Banter

You are listening to Unraveling the Unknown with your hosts Lily and Tessa.

In this episode of Unraveling the Unknown, the Podcast we will discuss: bigfoot. 

• In 1958, Ray Wallace would make mastings of alleged Bigfoot Footprints

• Bigfoot or Sasquatch may have originated from Native American legends and the Tsonoqua legend
• But the legend goes beyond recorded history
• most commonly attributed to North American western forests and mountains, originating from increasing sightings throughout history.  
• Cryptid - a creature that is suggested to exist but it's existence has not been confirmed by the scientific community. 
• 1800s- 1900s bigfoot sightings, footprint evidence, video and photo evidence coming up
• the word Sasq’ets from the north american Salish language. In Salish, Sasq’ets means “hairy man” or “wild man”. Native american tribes which used this dialect were found in present day British Columbia, Canada, and Montana, washington, and Idaho in The U.S.
• Humanoid creature around 8 ft tall, hairy, strong, powerful. Known to give off a foul smell.
• Some say bigfoot is silent and some say it gives off a high pitch cry. 
• Many indigenous legends around the world such as, the Yeti of Asia, the Abominable snowman of The Himalayas, the Sasquatch of North America, the Grassman of ohio, the Yeren of China, the Yowie of Australia, and even more. 
• Some believe that the sasquatch is a homanid creature that lives in isolation, nearly extinct, while others think that this creature is merely a made up legend or hoax, or a piece of folklore. 

• How believable is the bigfoot story? 
• Real scale 1-10 (1 being not beviable 10 being super real)

• Missing Persons by Jeremy Blake
• Dead Wrong by Jeremy Blake
• Devil’s Organ by Jimena Contreras
• Frightmare by Jimena Contreras

• @theHVSPN

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Show Name: Unraveling the Unknown

Episode Title: The Devil in Jersey

You are listening to Unraveling the Unknown with your hosts Lily and Tessa.

In this episode of Unraveling the Unknown, the Podcast we will discuss: The Jersey Devil,

Segment 1: Story  

Mary Ritzer Christianson was driving at night in 1972 in the dark when she spotted the Jersey Devil on Greentree Road. She said she had never been so scared in her life. Mary was driving from Blackwood to Glassboro when she said she saw a towering figure crossing the road around 25 feet behind her car. She described the figure to be extremely tall, taller than an average man, with goat-like features, and a wooly head with horns. Again in 1980, there was a brutal scene on a South Jersey farm where a pack of pigs had been killed. Their heads were eaten and their bodies were scratched and torn apart. This attack was unexplainable, could it be the Jersey Devil?

Wow, what a crazy story Tessa. Have you ever driven through the pine barrens?

No, I haven't, but now I'm not sure I ever want to. Have you?

Yes, I drive through the pine barrens when I go to visit my grandfather who lives close to the Jersey Shore. 

Have you ever noticed or felt anything unusual driving through it?

I don't know if it's just at night, but whenever I drive through the pines it seems to be never-ending, and when I stare out of my window, it's like my mind is playing tricks on me. I can’t tell if what I’m seeing is real or not.

Do you think the Jersey Devil could have actually killed those pigs or could it have been something else?

I think it's possible that the Jersey Devil could have killed them. Pigs aren't small, so to eat the whole head and leave them lacerated would have had to be done by a large animal., I can't think of any carnivorous animal, especially not in New Jersey that would be big enough to eat the entire head of a pig. 

Black bears are the largest land animals in New Jersey, which means they could have killed the pigs in this way, however, their diet mostly consists of berries and vegetation. Most of the meat they hunt is fish, not pigs. 

For cougars and coyotes, it is very unlikely that they will eat the head off of an animal. 

The pine barrens lost most of its top predators such as the American black bear, wolves, and cougars long ago to humans hunting and trapping. This leaves only one plausible predator, the New Jersey devil. 

Segment 2: Origins, The Pine Barrens 

Most of the lore surrounding the Jersey Devil involves a woman named Jane Leeds. In 1735 in the New Jersey Pine Barrens, this woman gave birth to her 13th child. It was a very difficult pregnancy, and apparently, before giving birth, Mother Leeds exclaimed “Let this one be the devil”. According to legend, instead of a human baby, Jane Leeds gave birth to a devilish creature with wings, horns, hooves, and a tail, The Jersey Devil. This creature then reportedly flew away out the chimney, howling through the night, Going on to terrorize residents of New Jersey for years to come. 

Over the years, the original story and sightings of the Jersey devil have been questioned by historians. The origin story of the Jersey Devil, or Leed Devil, has been historically corrected by some as a child with deformities at birth that became exaggerated. 

I think this was definitely an exaggerated story that got passed down and stretched to what it is now.

Interesting how oral storytelling changes events

One explanation of the Jersey devil's origins goes back to the surname Leed. Leed in Leed Devil may correspond to Daniel Leeds, a prominent Protestant politician who was ostracized by the Quaker community in New Jersey. In colonial Burlington County in 1687, the Quaker community was shocked by an almanac they found published in their community containing mysterious symbols and creatures. The Quakers immediately acted against this and ordered the removal of Daniel Leeds’s almanac as well as another of Daniel Leeds’s books destroyed. 

In colonial New Jersey, Quakers found solace and refuge in New Jersey colonies from religious persecution elsewhere. 

Why would Quakers do this to Daniel Leeds? 

They had a lot of fear and wanted to keep their community. Scared, unknown, 

Daniel Leeds’s almanac (all-man-ak) contained astrological symbols and writings with reported dragons on the cover. Historians suspect this dragon figure could have been used by the fearful Quakers to start the legend of the Jersey Devil. 

Quakers are afraid of what they don't know/understand

Segment 3: Causal Conversation

On a scale factor from 1-10, how believable is this story? 1 being not believable, 10 being the Jersey devil is real.

Jersey Devil roller coaster

- this roller coaster hits 58 miles an hour with a 130-foot drop.

- One of the World's Fastest Single Rail Coasters

  - what/ where is it

  -have we been

  - like/ don't like

 -where do you sit on a roller coaster 

- talk about the head and how you thought the Jersey Devil would look like

What do you think the Jersey Devil looks like? 

Color, Horns, Human or goat, Wings, voice, height/size, 

Driving through the pine barens 

-would you drive through?

-If I got broken down on that road, it would definitely creep me out knowing what is out there. 

- that's so scary to think about i don't know what I would do 

How does it survive out there? What does it do? How does it live? Why is it just in New Jersey? Are there more devils out there we do not know of? 

Do you believe in the Jersey Devil?

I hope you learned something in this week's episode. Thank you for listening. Tune into next week's episode, 

Next week we will be talking about someone with big feet. 

Music Credits:  

Missing Persons by Jeremy Blake

Dead Wrong by Jeremy Blake

Devil's Organ by Jimena Contreras

Frightmare by Jimena Contreras

Monster Alien Grunt Sleepy- Youtube studios

dun-dun-duuun - Youtube Studios

Sources

https://pinelandsalliance.org/learn-about-the-pinelands/pinelands-history-and-culture/the-jersey-devil-and-folklore/ 

https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2016/10/13_places_the_jersey_devil_has_been_spotted_in_the.html 

https://www.jerseyshoreonline.com/southern-ocean/exploring-the-lore-of-the-jersey-devil/ 

https://www.loc.gov/resource/rbpe.14000100/ 

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@theHVSPN

Hopewell Valley Student Podcasting Network 

Show Name: Unraveling the Unknown

Episode Title: Tails of the Sea

You are listening to Unraveling the Unknown with your hosts Lily and Tessa.

In this episode of Unraveling the Unknown, the Podcast we will discuss: mermaids and sirens, compared. 

Segment 1: Origins and Appearance

First, we are going to discuss the origin of where mermaids and Sirens come from. 

The sirens of Greek mythology first appeared in text in the 3rd century BC, in Homer’s epic novel, The Odyssey. Legends of sirens were first used to account for lost sailors who were lured into dangerous waters by the beautiful voices of the treacherous half-bird half-woman monsters. 

The main hero of the Odyssey, Odysseus, and his crew were warned by the goddess of sorcery, Circe (sir see), to put soft wax in their ears so that they would not be affected by the siren's fatal voices. Odysseus, wanting to hear the voice of the sirens, doesn't clog his ears, but instead asks his crew to tie him to the mast of the ship so he wont be enchanted to his death in the water. However, in this epic, a physical description of the sirens Odysseus faces is missing. 

So where does the image of a half-bird, half-woman come from Lily? 

In ancient Greek artistry on everything from pots to vases, perfume bottles, and terracotta figurines, the siren is often depicted as a part woman, part bird.

Even earlier than in ancient Greece, ancient Egyptian depictions of half-human, half-bird figures sometimes appeared in correlation with death and the afterlife. The Egyptian symbol of half-human, half-bird could have been translated into ancient Greece’s half- human, half-bird legends of sirens used to symbolize the death of sailors.

Some say that the half-bird half-woman version of Sirens originally came from the Middle East, and over time was passed to Greece through trade routes.  

Ovid, an ancient Roman poet, claims that Sirens were originally beautiful women who were turned into bloodthirsty monsters. In some Greek mythology, sirens, were originally nymphs and handmaidens of the goddess Persephone. When she was abducted by the god of the underworld, Hades, Persephone’s mother, Demeter, goddess of harvest and agriculture, sent the nymphs to search for Persephone. 

Demeter gave the Nymphs half-bird bodies in order to assist in the search for her daughter. It is said that they eventually retired from the search and settled on the island of Anthemoessa. (ant e mossa), rumored to be near the southwestern coast of Italy. Some legends claim that Demeter cursed the sirens with half-bird bodies in her grief for her daughter because they failed to find her, and banished them to an island. 

Over time, sirens being depicted near the sea and water, mixed the half-human, half-bird stories with other similar legends of half-human, half-fish creatures. In one ancient Greek myth, It was said that Alexander the Great's sister, Thessaloniki (Theh - suh - low - nee - kee), was transformed into a mermaid and sent to the Aegean Sea when she died in 295 BC. She was said to have controlled a great portion of the sea and would question passing sailors. If they answered her correctly, they would have a safe passage, however, if they answered wrong, her wrath would be unleashed and lead to the ships destruction and the death of the sailors. Throughout history, mermaids and sirens have been used to materialize and make sense of the unknown, dangerous, and mysterious sea. No matter what form they take, mermaids and sirens are a manifestation of the feelings of peril and uncertainty the ocean brings for those who choose to venture it.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IYisDTeycY
• https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/what-mermaid#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20earliest%20mermaid,top%20half%20in%20human%20form. 
• https://study.com/learn/lesson/siren-mythology.html#:~:text=Ovid%20claims%20that%20the%20Sirens,of%20art%2C%20as%20a%20mother. 
• https://www.theoi.com/Pontios/Seirenes.html#:~:text=Translation&text=THE%20SEIRENES%20(Sirens)%20were%20three,to%20assist%20in%20the%20search. 

Segment 2: Storytime

In 2009, in Israel, there was a possible sighting of a Mermaid. Dozens of Locals near Kiryat Yam Isreal claimed to see a mermaid just off the shore. There was rumors saying the creature resembled a young girl, and she would do unexplainable tricks in the water, which attracted crowds of people to watch from all around town.

The Israeli government started to notice this attention growing on this beach and issued a $1 million dollar reward for providing proof of the mermaid, with an authentic photo. NBC even got involved and wanted to get their own image. The film crew stationed on this beach for 4 days straight, night and day, even with underwater cameras. The crew claimed that late one night they spotted a human figure going into the water for a night swim but they never saw it come out, as if this person disappeared into the water. 

The research crew did their best to get proof that this human figure was the mermaid but could not trace its location. The research crew took all of the footage they had and transferred it to the Coastal Oceans Research Facility in Los Angeles to see if they could detect any real proof. But when they took a closer look at the images, there wasnt any proof captured of this human figure. However, much remains unexplained about these events, leading many to believe that mermaids could still be real. 

Tourists and locals are still on the lookout to get proof of the existence of the Kiryat Yam mermaid. The $1 million dollar reward is still available if you can capture a picture of the mermaid. 

https://folklorethursday.com/folktales/top-mermaid-sightings-in-the-last-century-that-are-hard-to-deny/

So Tessa, what are your thoughts on mermaids?

Well, around elementary school, I used to watch th shows H2O and mako mermaids. I really hoped that mermaids were real and i found them really fascinating.

I also liked Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire which had scary mermaid/siren-esk creatures in the lake. If you've seen it you'll know what i'm talking about- or go watch it if you haven't. They scared me but I also thought they were really cool because they had gills and could breathe underwater. They could also swim crazy fast. 

Yes, I also loved watching all of those Nextilx shows that had to do with mermaids and I would watch and re-watch them especially in the summer. I think Mermaids are such a fun idea, and I used to want to buy a mermaid tail and pretend I was a mermaid in the pool or ocean. I think there could be a possibility that there are mermaids due the fact of how deep and unexplored the ocean is, and I think it would be fascinating if one day there was proof of one. 

https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/facts/explored.html  

• Yes, it's crazy that the ocean covers most of our earch yet Only 26.1% of the ocean's seafloor is mapped, leaving about 73% of the ocean completely unexplored. Being able to swim and breathe underwater like a mermaid would allow us to explore more of the ocean and learn more about it. 

Make sure you tune in for our next episode where we will talk about the Jersey Devil!

Thank you for listening!

Missing Persons by Jeremy Blake

Dead Wrong by Jeremy Blake

Devil's Organ by Jimena Contreras

Frightmare by Jimena Contreras

Monster Alien Grunt Sleepy- Youtube studios

• @theHVSPN