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.

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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

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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.

Join us on Cosmic Catastrophes as we explore the five major mass extinction events that reshaped life on Earth. From ancient ice ages and oxygen crises to volcanic eruptions, climate shifts, and asteroid impacts, discover the causes, survivors, and lasting impacts. Learn about resilient creatures like crocodiles and horseshoe crabs, the slim odds of enduring them all, and possible links to modern cryptids.

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

Special Mention: The Ancients Podcast and their incredible episodes

Sources:

• Mass Extinctions Through Geologic Time - National Park Service: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/mass-extinctions-through-geologic-time.htm
• There have been five mass extinctions in Earth's history - Our World in Data: https://ourworldindata.org/mass-extinctions
• Extinction event - Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extinction_event
• Forty years later: The status of the “Big Five” mass extinctions - PMC: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11895713/
• 11.2: "The Big Five" - Geosciences LibreTexts: https://geo.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Geology/Historical_Geology_%28Bentley_et_al.%29/11%253A_Mass_Extinctions/11.02%253A_The_Big_Five
• What caused Earth's biggest mass extinction? - Stanford Sustainability: https://sustainability.stanford.edu/news/what-caused-earths-biggest-mass-extinction
• What are mass extinctions? - Understanding Evolution (UC Berkeley): https://evolution.berkeley.edu/mass-extinction/what-are-mass-extinctions/
• Mass Extinction: What Happened 65 Million Years Ago? - AMNH: https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/dinosaurs-ancient-fossils/extinction/mass-extinction

In this chilling episode of "Mysteries of the Mountains," we dive deep into the legend of the Yeti—the elusive Abominable Snowman that has haunted the Himalayas for centuries. From ancient Tibetan folklore depicting it as a rock bear spirit or guardian deity, to the first Western encounters in the 19th century by explorers like B.H. Hodgson and Laurence Waddell, we trace how this mythical creature captured global imagination. Hear about iconic sightings, including the 1921 Everest expedition's mysterious footprints that birthed the "Abominable Snowman" moniker, and the famous 1951 Shipton photo that still fuels debates today. We'll explore the Yeti's described traits—bipedal, fur-covered giants with reversed feet and supernatural vulnerabilities—plus modern hoaxes, DNA debunkings, and rare recent reports like the 2019 Indian Army tracks. Is it a misidentified bear, a lost primate like Gigantopithecus, or something more otherworldly? Join us as we unpack the science, stories, and secrets behind one of cryptozoology's greatest enigmas. Perfect for skeptics and believers alike!

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

Sources:

• Yeti - Wikipedia: Comprehensive overview of folklore, sightings, and scientific analysis.
• This Man Searched for the Yeti for 60 Years—and Found It (National Geographic): Explores expeditions, footprints like Shipton's 1951 photo, and bear explanations.
• Science Solves the Mystery of the Elusive Yeti (CNN): Details DNA studies linking samples to Himalayan bears.
• The Yeti: A Story of Scientific Misunderstanding (Cool Green Science): Discusses physical evidence debunked as bear-related.
• The Real Abominable Snowman: The History of the Hunt for the Yeti (History Extra): Covers Western interest, from 19th-century reports to modern appeals like Bryan Sykes' 2013 study.
• NEPAL: Myth and Folklore of the Yeti (earthstOriez): Focuses on Himalayan traditions, early footprints, and cultural beliefs.

Dive into the shimmering realm of unicorns in this magical episode of Mythical Beasts Unleashed with guest kid guest hosts Addison and Liam! From ancient seals in the Indus Valley to medieval tapestries and modern pop culture icons, uncover how these one-horned wonders have captivated hearts for thousands of years. We'll trot through tales of their healing horns, fierce battles with lions, and symbolic roles in heraldry—like being Scotland's national animal. Explore theories on real animals (think rhinos and narwhals) that sparked the legends, plus quirky facts like fake "unicorn bones" in museums and their omens in Asian folklore. Whether you're a young dreamer or a lore enthusiast, join us for a sparkling journey that celebrates purity, power, and a dash of whimsy. Who knows—you might spot a rainbow after listening!

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Sources:

• Unicorn | Legend, History, & Facts | Britannica - Covers ancient Mesopotamian artworks, Greek accounts, and medieval symbolism.
• Unicorns – a brief history - St Neots Museum - Explores Indus Valley origins, medieval lore, and fake horns like narwhal tusks.
• The Legend and History of the Unicorn - by Steph Rae Moran - Details Ctesias' early descriptions, symbolic meanings, and evolution in folklore.
• What's the origin of the unicorn myth? - Live Science - Discusses Indus Valley imagery, possible real animal inspirations like rhinos, and global myths.
• Unicorn - Wikipedia - Comprehensive overview of Greek natural history accounts, biblical references, and cultural enemies like lions.

The Shadows Among Us: Unveiling the Men in Black

Dive into the eerie origins of the Men in Black, shadowy figures who have haunted UFO witnesses since the 1940s. This episode explores real historical accounts, from the 1947 Maury Island hoax to chilling encounters documented by ufologists like John Keel and Albert Bender, blending conspiracy theories with declassified insights. Discover how these enigmatic enforcers—often described as pale, robotic men in black suits—allegedly suppress extraterrestrial secrets through intimidation and bizarre phenomena.

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Sources:

• Gray Barker, They Knew Too Much About Flying Saucers (1956) – Introduces MIB through Bender's story. Available via archives like WVU Libraries: news.lib.wvu.edu
• Albert K. Bender, Flying Saucers and the Three Men (1962) – Primary account of his encounter. Discussed in Bridgeport Library: bportlibrary.org
• John A. Keel, The Mothman Prophecies (1975) – Details MIB in Point Pleasant. Available on Amazon: amazon.com
• FBI Declassified Files on Maury Island – Primary government records. Accessible via HistoryLink: historylink.org
• Jenny Randles, The Truth Behind Men in Black (1997) – Analyzes cases like Hopkins. PDF available: pub.deadnet.se