Yeti To Rumble

Skinwalkers: — This episode steps carefully into a topic rooted in Navajo (Diné) teachings and often kept private. We outline what “skinwalker” commonly means versus the Diné concept of yee naaldlooshii—a harmful witch opposed to medicine and healing—then explore why this subject isn’t casually discussed with outsiders. From there, we trace how roadside lore and pop-culture touchstones like Skinwalker Ranch grew around the core idea, and we share a slate of eerie modern accounts: the “bulletproof” wolf, a midnight chase near Gallup, a farm besieged by mimics, a hitchhiker with the wrong smile, suburban shadows in New York, and a backcountry voice that sounds a little too familiar. Along the way, we emphasize respect for living communities and sacred lands, note protective traditions at a high level, and add historical context like the 1878 Navajo Witch Purge. Curiosity is welcome; care is required.

Sources:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skin-walker 
• https://www.legendsofamerica.com/navajo-skinwalkers/
• https://www.legendsofamerica.com/navajo-skinwalkers/ 
• https://skepticalinquirer.org/newsletter/skinwalkers/
• https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/navajo-skinwalker-legend-gains-massive-192501080.html?guccounter=1
• https://www.skinwalkerranch.com/
• https://www.ksl.com/article/50955342/sightings-and-reports-of-skinwalkers-in-utah-throughout-the-years
• https://cvltnation.com/12-people-tell-their-terrifying-encounters-with-navajo-skinwalkers/
• https://www.darkstories.org/post/skin-walker-encounters-13491032
•  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk1AkbS9f1c
• https://x.com/KiingDaave2/status/1982534387737477185?referrer=grok-com
• https://www.wattpad.com/244925288-scary-stories-skinwalker

Lord of the forest: Step into the old-growth hush where paths rearrange themselves and the woods feel…aware. In this solo episode, Russell explores the Leshy—the shapeshifting master of Slavic forests who can guide respectful travelers or bewilder the arrogant. You’ll hear how hunters and herders once bargained for safe passage, why mimicry and lost time are classic calling cards, and the curious counter-charms (inside-out clothes, backward steps) people still swear by. We connect folklore to real ecology—how a spirit story can double as a rulebook for not being a jerk to the forest—and touch on modern claimed encounters that keep the legend breathing. Pack a little humility, mind the trail, and meet the landlord of the green world.

Shoutout to TopSquatch.com for their awesome designs and apparel!

Sources:

• Encyclopedia Britannica
• Wikipedia, “Leshy” (for names/variants, shapeshifting, family terms, calendrical customs; cross-checked where possible). Wikipedia+1
• PBS/Monstrum, “Leshy — The Slavic Lord of the Forest.” (overview of traits and dual role). Described and Captioned Media Program
• Linda J. Ivanits, Russian Folk Belief (context for lower mythology and memorate genres; used here as background). Taylor & Francis+1
• ThoughtCo, “Leshy, Slavic Spirit of the Forest.” (accessible summary; corroborates trickster qualities and protective role). ThoughtCo
• Mae Clair blog post compiling common motifs (inside-out clothing counter-charm; included as a popular retelling, not a primary source). From the Pen of Mae Clair

Under the hum of ranch lights and rumor, the Chupacabra stalks fences, leaves two perfect punctures, and sprints straight into pop culture. Mitch and Russell trace the “goat-sucker” from 1990s Puerto Rico to Texas backroads—separating vampiric lore from veterinary reports, and movie monsters from mange-stricken coyotes. You’ll hear the big early sightings, the DNA tests behind those infamous “bodies,” and why folklore thrives when ecosystems are stressed. Less jump-scare, more truth serum. New episodes every Wednesday—bring your flashlight and your skepticism.

Sources:

• Radford, Benjamin. Tracking the Chupacabra: The Vampire Beast in Fact, Fiction, and Folklore. University of New Mexico Press.
  https://unmpress.com/books/tracking-chupacabra
  
  
• Smithsonian Magazine — “The True Story of the Chupacabra” (coverage of Radford’s investigation & DNA results)
  https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-true-story-of-the-chupacabra-63699302/
  
  
• National Geographic — reporting on Texas “chupacabra” carcasses & DNA as coyotes/dogs with mange
  https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/150325-chupacabra-animals-science-texas-myths
  
  
• Skeptical Inquirer — analyses of Puerto Rico cases, Species-influence hypothesis, and canine predation patterns
  https://skepticalinquirer.org/2011/03/the-chupacabra-science-finds-the-real-monster/
  
  
• BBC Mundo — historical overview of reports across Latin America (Spanish)
  https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias/2015/06/150612_cultura_chupacabras_historia_mito_lp
  
  
• Texas State University news releases on DNA identifications of “chupacabra” carcasses (various years)
  https://www.txst.edu/newsroom/articles/2014-chupacabra-dna.html
  
  

Journal of Wildlife Diseases — background on sarcoptic mange in canids (mechanisms, appearance)
https://meridian.allenpress.com/jwd/article/50/2/268/78335/Sarcoptic-Mange-in-Wildlife

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elmendorf_Beast 

https://www.texasobserver.org/chupacabra-legends-texas/

https://cwhl.vet.cornell.edu/disease/mange#:~:text=Mange%20is%20a%20skin%20disease,gray%20wolves%2C%20and%20red%20wolves.

Nuckelavee (Orkney, Scotland) — Mitch and Russell investigate the infamous skinless horse-demon of the North Sea. We break down first mentions, regional variants, and why islands like Sanday and Stronsay loom so large in the myth. Plus: the Sea Mither, red tides, and how local ecology can spawn enduring monsters. Research-forward, myth-lover approved.

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuckelavee Wikipedia
  
• https://folklorescotland.com/nuckelavee/ Folklore Scotland
  
• https://books.google.com/books?id=BBPaAAAAMAAJ ; https://archive.org/details/folkloreoforkney0000marw Google Books+1
  
• https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/briggss-dictionary-of-fairies-katharine-briggs/1147289915 ; Google Books. https://books.google.com/books/about/Briggs_s_Dictionary_of_Fairies.html?id=NqNAEQAAQBAJ Barnes & Noble+1
  
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_Mither Wikipedia
  
  https://www.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/the-terrifying-myth-of-orkneys-horse-demon-nuckelavee-607848 The Scotsman
  
  https://www.storiesofscotland.com/podcast/2024/4/26/nuckelavee Stories of Scotland
  
  
• Mack, C. K., & Mack, D. (1999). A Field Guide to Demons, Fairies, Fallen Angels and Other Subversive Spirits. Google Books

Dive into Australia’s wetlands as Mitch and Russell investigate the bunyip—an eerie creature rooted in Aboriginal lore and echoed in colonial-era sightings. We explore origin stories, reported encounters, and the natural-world explanations (from seals to giant eels) that might lurk beneath the ripples. Expect history, ecology, and a dash of mystery—Yeti To Rumble style.

Sources:

Wikipedia: Bunyip – General overview of the myth, cultural roots, and colonial accounts.

HowStuffWorks – “Does the Bunyip Really Haunt the Australian Wetlands?” – Discussion of natural explanations and folklore background.

American Museum of Natural History – Mutating Myths Exhibit – The “Bunyip skull” and colonial fascination.

Folklore Thursday – “The Bunyip: Australia’s Mysterious Man-eating Swamp Beast” – Detailed 19th-century sightings and Aboriginal lore.

Wikipedia: Edwin Roper Loftus Stocqueler – Artist who helped visualize early Bunyip depictions.

www.Study.com Pictures