February 1959. Nine experienced Soviet hikers enter the Ural Mountains. Their tent is found slashed open from the inside. The bodies are scattered across the snow — some barefoot, some with injuries a forensic doctor compared to a car crash, with no car. Some clothing is radioactive. And multiple independent witnesses reported glowing orange orbs in the sky above the mountain that night — testimony the lead investigator later said he was ordered by the Communist Party to destroy.

Russia says it was an avalanche. We're not so sure.

This week: the Dyatlov Pass. The Menk. The orbs. The coverup. All of it.

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Sources:

• DyatlovPass.com (by Teodora Hadjiyska and Igor Pavlov) The most comprehensive independent archive: translated case files, diaries, photos, maps, autopsies, and timelines from the original Soviet investigation. It's the go-to for raw primary sources. Link: https://dyatlovpass.com/
• Dead Mountain: The Untold True Story of the Dyatlov Pass Incident by Donnie Eichar (2013) A highly regarded nonfiction bestseller with access to journals, photos, interviews (including survivor Yuri Yudin), and the author's own trek to the site. Balanced and narrative-driven—great for storytelling. Widely available on Amazon/Barnes & Noble.
• "Has an Old Soviet Mystery at Last Been Solved?" by Douglas Preston (The New Yorker, May 2021) Excellent long-form article covering the history, theories, and the 2019-2020 Russian reopening/avalanche conclusion. Thoughtful and well-sourced. Link: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/05/17/has-an-old-soviet-mystery-at-last-been-solved
• 2020 Russian Prosecutor-General's Office Conclusion Official ruling after the 2019 reopening: death due to a slab avalanche forcing the hikers to flee, followed by hypothermia. Announced by Andrey Kuryakov (summarized in Wikipedia and many reports). Ties into the scientific modeling from Swiss researchers (Gaume & Puzrin, 2021 Nature study). For details: Wikipedia entry on Dyatlov Pass incident (well-footnoted) or cross-reference with dyatlovpass.com case files.
• BBC Interactive Feature: "The Mystery of Dyatlov Pass" Solid overview with diaries, letters, photos, and interviews—includes perspectives from Russian authors/books on the case. Good for visual/multimedia elements. Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/extra/SoLiOdJyCK/mystery_of_dyatlov_pass

The Arctic was supposed to be warm. It wasn't. Twenty men paid for that mistake with their lives.

In 1879, the USS Jeannette sailed north chasing one of the most seductive myths in scientific history — the Open Polar Sea, a supposedly warm, navigable ocean surrounding the North Pole. The theory had been on maps since 1531. The world's most respected geographers swore by it. A media mogul funded an entire expedition to prove it.

The ice had other plans.

This week, Russell, Mitch, and guest Jake unpack how a centuries-old geographic fantasy sent 33 men into the Arctic — and brought only 13 of them home. Plus: the shipwreck debris that drifted to Greenland three years later and accidentally revolutionized our understanding of the Arctic Ocean forever.

Featuring: bad science that lasted 350 years, a newspaper publisher who treated exploration like content, and the eerie modern twist nobody saw coming.

Sponsor: Top Squatch use code YETI15 to get 15% off your order at Topqsquatch.com

Sources:

• Wikipedia: Open Polar Seahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Polar_Sea A solid starting point with historical context, key figures (e.g., Robert Thorne, August Petermann), and references to its influence on 19th-century exploration.
• Wikipedia: Jeannette Expeditionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeannette_expedition Detailed account of the expedition, its connection to the Open Polar Sea theory, the ship's fate, scientific contributions, and aftermath (including the transpolar drift discovery).
• JSTOR Daily: "The Open Polar Sea: Myth and Science at the North Pole"https://daily.jstor.org/the-open-polar-sea-myth-and-science-at-the-north-pole Excellent overview of the theory's evolution, scientific rationales (e.g., geomagnetism, currents), and why it persisted despite evidence.
• WHOI Oceanus: "An open polar sea?"https://www.whoi.edu/oceanus/feature/an-open-polar-sea Explains various explanations for the theory (warm currents, salinity myths) and how the Jeannette's failure helped debunk it.
• History.com: "The Doomed Expedition to Sail Across the North Pole"https://www.history.com/articles/arctic-passage-expedition
• Hampton Sides – In the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette (2014)
• U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command: USS Jeannette (1879–1881)https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/us-navy-ships/alphabetical-listing/j/uss-jeannette--1879-1881-0.html Official naval perspective with primary source references, photos, and reports from the era.

What if everything you see, feel, and experience is generated by a computer? Mitch and Russell dig into simulation theory — tracing it from Plato's cave through Descartes' evil demon to Nick Bostrom's landmark 2003 paper and Elon Musk's one-in-a-billion odds. They cover the full case for and against, what quantum mechanics has to do with it, and what it would mean for God, free will, and consciousness if the theory turned out to be true. Then they give you their honest takes.

Sponsor: Top Squatch use code YETI15 for 15% off your order! Topsquatch.com

Sources:

• Nick Bostrom's seminal paper — "Are You Living in a Computer Simulation?" (2003) The original philosophical argument that popularized the modern version of the idea. Available at: https://simulation-argument.com/simulation.pdf (or via Philosophical Quarterly).
• Rizwan Virk's book — The Simulation Hypothesis: An MIT Computer Scientist Shows Why AI, Quantum Physics, and Eastern Mystics All Agree We Are in a Video Game (updated edition, 2025) A comprehensive, accessible exploration blending tech, science, and philosophy; often called one of the definitive books on the topic.
• David Chalmers' work — Reality+: Virtual Worlds and the Problems of Philosophy (2022), plus related papers like "Taking the simulation hypothesis seriously" (2024) Deep philosophical analysis from a leading mind in the field, addressing metaphysics, epistemology, and whether simulations can be "real."
• Scientific American article — "Do We Live in a Simulation? Chances Are about 50–50" (2020) A balanced overview of the probabilities, referencing Bostrom and counterpoints.
• Elon Musk's popular discussions — Interviews and talks (e.g., Code Conference 2016, Joe Rogan podcast appearances) Where he famously stated the odds of base reality are "one in billions." Key clips are widely available on YouTube for engaging soundbites.
• Recent critiques and updates — David Wolpert's "What computer science has to say about the simulation hypothesis" (Journal of Physics: Complexity, 2025) A mathematical reframing that challenges some assumptions and adds new layers to the debate.

What do a medieval devil, two guys with a plank of wood, and a group of intoxicated wallabies all have in common? They're all part of the wild, centuries-spanning story of crop circles.

In this episode, we trace the full history of one of pop culture's most enduring mysteries — from a 1678 English pamphlet blaming the Devil for flattened oat fields, to the two Southampton pranksters who accidentally sparked a global phenomenon, to the professional artists now encoding pi and fractals into wheat fields overnight using GPS and laser levels.

We break down the explosive 1990s media frenzy, the science that tried — and largely failed — to explain the unexplainable, and the controversial research that claimed plants inside formations showed signs of microwave-like heating. We also get into the real economic impact on farmers, the tourism boom in Wiltshire, and why England still dominates the scene decades later.

Whether you're a believer, a skeptic, or just someone who loves a good rabbit hole, this episode has something for you. By the end, you might not be any closer to calling it alien — but you'll never look at a wheat field the same way again.

Episode Sponsor: Top Squatch topsquatch.com use code YETI15 for 15% off

Sources:

1. Temporary Temples (temporarytemples.co.uk) Primary archive for recent and historical UK crop circles (1994–present). Run by Steve & Karen Alexander, it includes high-res drone/aerial photos, location maps, etiquette guides, and year galleries (e.g., 2025 season updates). Essential for visuals and modern activity.
2. Crop Circle Connector (cropcircleconnector.com) Long-running database with reports, maps, discussions, and photos of formations worldwide (heavy UK focus). Great for timelines, eyewitness accounts, and community debates—often cited alongside Temporary Temples.
3. Circular Evidence by Pat Delgado and Colin Andrews (1989) The groundbreaking book that popularized the phenomenon ("Crop Circle Bible"). Details early investigations, photos, and proponent arguments for non-human origins.
4. The Circles Effect and Its Mysteries by Terence Meaden (1989/1992)
5. Live Science: "Crop circles: Myth, mystery and history" (livescience.com/26540-crop-circles.html)
6. Smithsonian Magazine: "Crop Circles: The Art of the Hoax" (smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/crop-circles-the-art-of-the-hoax-2524283) In-depth piece on hoaxing history, artistic evolution, and cultural allure—excellent for the 1990s peak and commercialization shift.
7. Skeptical Inquirer: "Levengood's Crop-Circle Plant Research" (skepticalinquirer.org) Critical analysis of BLT Research (W.C. Levengood) claims on plant/soil anomalies—highlights methodological flaws and bias.
8. Wikipedia: Crop Circle (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crop_circle) Well-sourced overview with citations to primary docs (e.g., 1880 Nature letter, Meaden/Andrews books). Use for quick refs, but cross-check primaries.

Dive into the depths of ancient myths with "Yeti To Rumble Podcast" Episode 19: Mermaids of Assyria and Scotland's Deadly Kelpie! From the goddess Atargatis' tragic love turning her into a fish-tailed temptress, to the shape-shifting water horse that lures victims to watery graves—uncover global sightings, eerie hoaxes like Barnum's Feejee Mermaid, hidden powers, vulnerabilities, and the science debunking these seductive sea horrors. Are they real, or just warnings from the waves? Tune in for chills, folklore facts, and lesser-known twists that will hook you!

Podcast Sponsor: Top Squatch use code YETI15 for 15% off your order topsquatch.com

Sources:

• https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/bizarre-legend-mermaids-caught-killed-1931097
• https://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends-europe/mermaid-tales-0010783
• https://www.exmouthjournal.co.uk/news/20333504.mermaid-seen-off-exmouth

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thessalonike_of_Macedon
• https://greekreporter.com/2025/07/17/alexander-the-great-sister-thessalonike-mermaid
• https://www.dailyartmagazine.com/alexander-the-great-mermaid-sister

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blakemere_Pond
• https://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/The-Mermaids-of-the-Peak-District
• https://archmdmag.com/the-mermaid-pool-by-dave-sadler
• Folklore Scotland (folklorescotland.com):
• The Graven Image Blog (madstonecrafts.blogspot.com):
• Historic UK (historic-uk.com):(talesofbritainandireland.com)
• Illuminating the Fool's Mirror Blog (illuminatingthefoolsmirror.wordpress.com)

In this wild ride through declassified Cold War secrets, Mitch and Russell expose some of the most bizarre U.S. government programs ever attempted. Hear the full story of the CIA’s Project Acoustic Kitty—surgically turning cats into mobile listening devices—Project Iceworm’s hidden nuclear missile tunnels beneath Greenland’s ice sheet (disguised as Camp Century), the Navy’s Project Headgear that tried to turn sharks into living underwater bombers, and Operation Northwoods, the rejected 1962 false-flag plans designed to justify an invasion of Cuba.

Equal parts jaw-dropping, hilarious, and terrifying—these forgotten experiments reveal just how far the U.S. was willing to go.

Animal cruelty warning: this episode discusses real government experiments on animals.

Episode Sponsor: Top Squatch use code YETI15 for 15% off your order topsquatch.com

Podcast Recommendation: Kraken Cans Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/4Lzm0LXsfpCHNzh88guXo2?si=808ea9adf83f439a

Sources:

1. CIA Memo: "Views on Trained Cats" (1967) - Declassified doc. Source: National Security Archive. Link: http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB54/st27.pdf
2. CIA FOIA Release (2001) - Project details. Source: CIA Reading Room. Link: https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/06802443

1. Greenland During the Cold War (1997) - Danish report. Source: Politica Journal. Link: https://doi.org/10.7146/politica.v29i2.68132
2. Abandoned Ice Sheet Base (2016) - Study. Source: AGU. Link: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/2016GL069688

1. Project Headgear: Final Report (1971) - Navy doc. Source: Scripps / FOIA via MuckRock. Link: Request via muckrock.com
2. Sharks as Suicide Bombers (2016) - Analysis. Source: Undark. Link: https://undark.org/2016/08/11/sharks-explosives-world-war-ii-mary-roach-what-i-left-out

1. Justification for Intervention (1962) - JCS Memo. Source: National Security Archive. Link: https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/news/20010430/northwoods.pdf
2. Pretexts for Invasion (2001) - Briefing. Source: National Security Archive. Link: https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/cuba/2021-03-09/operation-northwoods-pretext-invade-cuba

In this episode of Yeti To Rumble, we dive into the enigmatic Georgia Guidestones—America's mysterious "Stonehenge" shrouded in secrecy and controversy. From their anonymous origins and apocalyptic inscriptions to the explosive destruction in 2022, uncover the theories of eugenics, New World Order plots, and the man behind the pseudonym "R.C. Christian." Join us for a chilling exploration of this granite monument's message for humanity's future. Available now on all platforms! #GeorgiaGuidestones #ConspiracyTheories

Sponsor: Top Squatch use code YETI15 for 15% off your order topsquatch.com

Sources:

• New Georgia Encyclopedia - "Georgia Guidestones": A comprehensive historical overview from a state-supported academic resource, detailing origins, construction, and cultural significance. Link: https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/history-archaeology/georgia-guidestones
• Elberton Granite Association - "The Georgia Guidestones" (PDF): An official document from the local granite industry association, providing detailed specs on construction, materials, and features. Link: https://egaonline.com/sites/default/files/The%20Georgia%20Guidestones.pdf
• Wikipedia - "Georgia Guidestones": A well-sourced encyclopedia entry covering the monument's timeline, inscriptions, controversies, and 2022 destruction. Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_Guidestones
• CNN - "Georgia Guidestones: Monument mystery may have finally been solved": An investigative interactive report exploring the pseudonym "R.C. Christian," origins, and recent revelations. Link: https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2024/02/us/georgia-guidestones-mystery-cec-cnnphotos
• The New Yorker - "What Happened to America's Stonehenge?": A detailed article on the monument's history, political controversies, and the events leading to its demolition. Link: https://www.newyorker.com/news/letter-from-the-south/what-happened-to-americas-stonehenge

In this episode, hosts Russell and Zach explore the chilling legend of The Beast of Gévaudan—a mysterious man-eating creature that terrorized south-central France from 1764 to 1767, killing over 100 people, mostly women and children.

Described as calf-sized with reddish-brown fur, a massive head, fiery eyes, and uncanny intelligence, the beast targeted isolated victims with brutal attacks—ripping throats and partially devouring bodies—sparking panic, werewolf rumors, and sensational European press coverage.

We cover the key horrors: early fatal attacks, heroic defenses by kids like Jacques Portefaix, mother Jeanne Jouve, and spear-wielding "Maid of Gévaudan" Marie-Jeanne Valet; plus the royal hunts led by Captain Duhamel, the d'Ennevals, François Antoine (who killed a huge wolf in 1765), and the final shot by Jean Chastel in 1767 that ended the terror.

We sift fact from myth, including the beast's real vulnerabilities, bizarre details like a rotting carcass rejected by Versailles, and lingering theories: oversized wolf, pack, hybrid, or something stranger?

Packed with survivor stories and historical drama, this episode unpacks one of history's most enduring monster mysteries.

Tune in for fear, bravery, royal mishaps, and unanswered questions that still fascinate today.

Episode Sponsor: Top Squatch use code YETI15 for 15% off your order topsquatch.com

Sources:

• Wikipedia: Beast of Gévaudan (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beast_of_Gévaudan) — Comprehensive overview with extensive bibliography, including primary records like church registers and hunter reports.
• Jay M. Smith — Monsters of the Gévaudan: The Making of a Beast (Harvard University Press, 2011) — The leading modern scholarly book; deeply researched using 18th-century letters, newspapers, and official correspondence.
• The Public Domain Review: The Beast of Gévaudan (1764–1767) (publicdomainreview.org/collection/the-beast-of-gevaudan-1764-1767) — Collection of contemporary prints, eyewitness descriptions, and period newspaper excerpts.
• Smithsonian Magazine: "When the Beast of Gévaudan Terrorized France" (smithsonianmag.com/history/beast-gevaudan-terrorized-france-countryside-180963820, 2017) — Accessible article summarizing attacks, royal hunts, and historical context.
• Jean-Marc Moriceau — Histoire du méchant loup (Fayard, 2007) — Key French historical work on man-eating wolves in France, including Gévaudan as part of broader patterns.

In this episode, hosts Russell and Zach explore the chilling legend of The Beast of Gévaudan—a mysterious man-eating creature that terrorized south-central France from 1764 to 1767, killing over 100 people, mostly women and children.

Described as calf-sized with reddish-brown fur, a massive head, fiery eyes, and uncanny intelligence, the beast targeted isolated victims with brutal attacks—ripping throats and partially devouring bodies—sparking panic, werewolf rumors, and sensational European press coverage.

We cover the key horrors: early fatal attacks, heroic defenses by kids like Jacques Portefaix, mother Jeanne Jouve, and spear-wielding "Maid of Gévaudan" Marie-Jeanne Valet; plus the royal hunts led by Captain Duhamel, the d'Ennevals, François Antoine (who killed a huge wolf in 1765), and the final shot by Jean Chastel in 1767 that ended the terror.

We sift fact from myth, including the beast's real vulnerabilities, bizarre details like a rotting carcass rejected by Versailles, and lingering theories: oversized wolf, pack, hybrid, or something stranger?

Packed with survivor stories and historical drama, this episode unpacks one of history's most enduring monster mysteries.

Tune in for fear, bravery, royal mishaps, and unanswered questions that still fascinate today.

Episode Sponsor: Top Squatch use code YETI15 for 15% off your order topsquatch.com

Sources:

• Wikipedia: Beast of Gévaudan (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beast_of_Gévaudan) — Comprehensive overview with extensive bibliography, including primary records like church registers and hunter reports.
• Jay M. Smith — Monsters of the Gévaudan: The Making of a Beast (Harvard University Press, 2011) — The leading modern scholarly book; deeply researched using 18th-century letters, newspapers, and official correspondence.
• The Public Domain Review: The Beast of Gévaudan (1764–1767) (publicdomainreview.org/collection/the-beast-of-gevaudan-1764-1767) — Collection of contemporary prints, eyewitness descriptions, and period newspaper excerpts.
• Smithsonian Magazine: "When the Beast of Gévaudan Terrorized France" (smithsonianmag.com/history/beast-gevaudan-terrorized-france-countryside-180963820, 2017) — Accessible article summarizing attacks, royal hunts, and historical context.
• Jean-Marc Moriceau — Histoire du méchant loup (Fayard, 2007) — Key French historical work on man-eating wolves in France, including Gévaudan as part of broader patterns.

Dive into the depths of Norse legend on this episode of Yeti To Rumble Podcast as we unravel the terrifying tale of the Kraken! From its origins in medieval Scandinavian folklore as a colossal, tentacled beast mistaken for islands, to real-life inspirations like giant squid sightings that fueled sailor horrors—explore its ship-crushing behaviors, historical "encounters," and why this mythical monster still haunts our imaginations. Join us for myths, facts, and a splash of mystery! Listen now on your favorite platform. #KrakenLegend #MythicalBeasts

Sponsor: Top Squatch topsquatch.com use code YETI15 for 15% off your order

Sources:

• Sverris Saga (circa 1180) by King Sverre of Norway: One of the earliest mentions of a Kraken-like sea monster in Norwegian chronicles.
• Konungs Skuggsjá (The King's Mirror) (circa 1250): Norwegian educational text describing the hafgufa, a precursor to the Kraken myth.
• A Description of Greenland (1734) by Hans Egede: Equates the Kraken with ancient hafgufa based on Greenland explorations.
• The Natural History of Norway (1752) by Erik Pontoppidan: Popularized detailed descriptions of the Kraken as a giant cephalopod.

• Wikipedia: Kraken - Comprehensive entry on origins and evolution.
• Natural History Museum: Sea Monsters and Their Inspiration - Links myth to giant squid sightings.
• Medievalists.net: The Kraken: When Myth Encounters Science - Explores medieval roots and scientific connections.
• PubMed: The Kraken: When Myth Encounters Science - Scientific paper on giant squid as basis for legends.