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.

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

Sources:

Acoustic Kitty

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

Iceworm

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

Headgear

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

Northwoods

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.