Podcast Summary
Tony Merkel shares an uncanny encounter on The Confessionals Podcast: Listeners are encouraged to share their unexplained experiences on the podcast, featuring a sponsor and an upcoming interview with a wildlife biologist exploring legends and monsters from a scientific perspective
Tony Merkel, the host of The Confessionals Podcast, shares a bizarre and unexplained encounter involving a giant, monsters, and a decapitation. The podcast features guests sharing their wild experiences, and Merkel encourages listeners to share their own stories. The show is available on the website and as a mobile app, with additional content for members. Empshield.com is a sponsor, offering protection against various threats for homes and vehicles. In an upcoming episode, Pat Spain, a wildlife biologist and adventurer, is interviewed about his experiences hunting legends and monsters from a scientific perspective. Merkel expresses admiration for Spain's ambition and adventurous spirit.
From biologist street performer to National Geographic show host: Passion and determination can lead to unexpected opportunities despite challenges and setbacks
Passion and determination can lead to extraordinary opportunities. Pat Spain, a wildlife biologist, shares how his love for wildlife drove him to pursue answers beyond what was available in books and documentaries. He started giving impromptu talks as a child and continued into college, where he studied marine biology. However, he found that being a "biologist street performer" didn't pay the bills, so he went into biotech for his day job. To reach a larger audience, his wife suggested TV, leading him to create his own wildlife show, "Nature Calls," and eventually landing a show on National Geographic. This journey was not easy, taking years of hard work, countless meetings, and significant debt. Despite the challenges, Spain's passion for wildlife and conservation fueled his persistence. Even when faced with a diagnosis of cancer, he continued to write books and produce shows. Spain's story illustrates the power of following one's passions, even when the path is uncertain and filled with obstacles.
The intersection of science and cryptozoology: Stay open-minded to unexplained phenomena and bridge the gap between science and those fascinated by the unknown.
The intersection of science and the unexplained can lead to fascinating discoveries. The speaker, a biologist with a background in marine biology and cultural anthropology, shares how he was approached for a cryptozoology-based show due to his great uncle's connection to the field. He emphasizes that being open-minded and considering the evidence, even for seemingly impossible creatures, is essential. The speaker also discusses the importance of bridging the gap between the scientific community and those fascinated by the unknown, encouraging curiosity and questioning the boundaries of what is known in the natural world.
Exploring Cultural Significance of Mythical Creatures: Consider the importance of mythical creatures in culture, even if there's no evidence for their existence. Legends might serve as a way to avoid dangerous behaviors.
When encountering stories of mythical or legendary creatures, it's essential to consider their cultural significance, even if there's little to no evidence supporting their existence. The speaker shares their personal experience with this concept while living among pygmy tribes in West Africa, where strong oral traditions exist. The creature Mokele mbembe, believed to be a living dinosaur in West African folklore, is an example of this. Although the speaker found no evidence of a surviving sauropod, they acknowledge the importance of these stories in the culture and the potential for undiscovered creatures. The legends of Mokele mbembe vary greatly, and the speaker suggests that they might serve as a culturally acceptable way to avoid dangerous behaviors. Overall, the speaker's approach is to approach these stories with an open mind and respect their cultural significance.
Cultural explanations for uncomfortable phenomena: Legends and myths provide socially acceptable explanations for unexplained phenomena, allowing individuals to cope with unexpected situations and explore the unknown.
Across different cultures, legends and myths exist to explain away uncomfortable or unexplained phenomena. These stories provide a socially acceptable way to deal with unexpected situations, acting as an unwritten secret that everyone acknowledges but rarely talks about. For example, in some cultures, there are legends of monsters or mythical creatures that impregnate women, providing an explanation for unexpected pregnancies. Meanwhile, some individuals, like Pat Spain, have a fascination with the creepy and crawly, defying societal norms and pushing boundaries. Spain's extreme experiences, such as lying in a pit of snakes, demonstrate his desire to prove his resilience and continue living life to the fullest after facing personal challenges. Overall, these stories and experiences show the power of cultural acceptance and the human desire to explore the unknown.
Encounter with Red-Sided Garter Snakes and Fear of Snakes: An unpleasant encounter with red-sided garter snakes left a lasting smell and fear in the speaker, leading him to sell his car and express skepticism towards the existence of giant snakes like cobra grande.
The speaker had an encounter with a large number of red-sided garter snakes, which released a strong musk as a defense mechanism, leaving him with an unpleasant experience. He sold his car after the encounter due to the lingering smell. The speaker also shared his fear of snakes, which was triggered by a bite from a garter snake as a child. The conversation also touched upon the existence of large snakes, particularly the legend of cobra grande, a supposed giant snake in Brazil. However, the speaker expressed skepticism towards the existence of such a snake due to the physiological challenges it would face in the current environment. The conversation also mentioned the existence of mating balls in anacondas, which can give the illusion of a giant snake.
Bringing Extinct Animals Back: A Complex Process: While cloning extinct animals from their original DNA is not possible, researchers are exploring de-extinction through genetic engineering to breed modern animals back towards extinct ancestors.
While it's an intriguing concept, bringing back extinct animals like woolly mammoths, thylacines, or even dinosaurs, is not as simple as it seems. While some extinct animals like these could potentially survive in today's habitats, others, like dinosaurs, may not be able to due to the vast differences in environmental conditions millions of years ago. Furthermore, the technology to clone extinct animals using their original DNA doesn't exist yet, as DNA degrades over time. Instead, researchers are exploring the possibility of bringing extinct animals back through the process of de-extinction, which involves breeding modern animals back towards their extinct ancestors using genetic engineering. This process could take a long time and may not be an exact replica of the original animal, but it's a step closer to bringing extinct species back to life.
Genetic Engineering and Cloning: Nature vs Nurture: The debate around genetic engineering and cloning raises questions about what makes an organism unique - its genes or experiences. Ethical dilemmas arise in the potential to bring back extinct species or clone pets, with considerations for their identity and personality.
While we may have the technology to manipulate genes and potentially bring back extinct species, the nature versus nurture question arises as to what makes an organism unique - its genetic makeup or its experiences. The conversation also touched upon the possibility of cloning pets and the philosophical implications of their identity. The speaker shared a personal anecdote about a cat that behaved like a dog and wondered if a cloned version would have the same personality. The discussion then shifted to a book called "Little Bigfoot," but the details about the book were not explored in depth. Overall, the conversation highlighted the potential and ethical dilemmas of genetic engineering and cloning.
The Orangpendek: A Real Creature in Indonesian Forests?: Locals' reports and the discovery of Homo floresiensis suggest the Orangpendek, a small, possibly nocturnal, hominid, may be a real creature in Indonesia's forests.
The Orangpendek, a small hominid reportedly living in the forests of Sumatra, Indonesia, may be a real creature based on eyewitness accounts from locals and the discovery of Homo floresiensis, or the "hobbit," by Mike Morwood. The descriptions of the Orangpendek vary, with some resembling a gibbon and others a small, upright-walking hominid. The locals' nonchalant attitude towards the creature suggests it is a common sight, and Morwood's belief that Homo floresiensis could have survived until recently adds credence to the idea that similar creatures may still exist in Indonesia's vast forests. The discovery of Homo floresiensis also indicates that evolutionary pressures could have led to the development of nocturnal, trail-avoiding, and upright-walking primates, making it plausible that the Orangpendek could be a real creature.
The Orang Pendek: A Believable and Relatable Cryptid: The exotic, non-aggressive, potentially small population size Orang Pendek of Sumatra is a more open topic for skeptics compared to well-known cryptids. The idea of extinction as a process and the possibility of surviving remnants adds to its believability.
The Orang Pendek, a small, elusive creature believed to inhabit the forests of Sumatra, may be more believable and relatable to a broader audience compared to more well-known cryptids like Bigfoot. The creature's exotic location, relatively small size, non-aggressive nature, and potential small population size make it more open to discussion for those who are skeptical of cryptozoological creatures. Additionally, the idea that extinction is a process and not an event, and the possibility of surviving remnants, adds to the belief that the Orang Pendek, or similar creatures, could still exist. The discussion also touched upon the importance of biological plausibility and the role of witness accounts in lending credibility to such creatures.
Underwater Adventure: Discovering the Alien-like World Beneath: Pursuing dreams and human connection can overcome fear of the unknown, leading to incredible discoveries and experiences.
Exploring the unknown, whether it's the depths of the ocean or uncharted territories, can lead to incredible discoveries and experiences. The speaker shared how his childhood dream of going underwater came true, and he was amazed by the alien-like creatures and darkness he encountered. Despite his adventurous spirit, the fear of the unknown surfaced when he felt water dripping on him, but it turned out to be just condensation. The experience left a lasting impact on him, and even someone as experienced as their producer was affected by the shared fear. The importance of pursuing dreams and the power of human connection, even in the face of fear, was a key takeaway from the speaker's underwater adventure.
Discovering New Deep Sea Species and Mythical Creatures: New deep sea species like the coelacanth and Megamouth shark have been discovered, challenging our understanding of marine life. Mythical creatures like the Megalodon might not exist, but new, elusive species could still surprise us.
The deep sea continues to surprise us with undiscovered species and potential remnants of ancient creatures. The speaker's experience in witnessing unique marine life firsthand emphasizes the vast potential for new discoveries. For instance, the coelacanth, a fish once believed extinct for over 160 million years, was discovered in a fish market. The most likely discoveries are new species of bony fish, squid, or sharks, which could look significantly different from known species. However, if a new species of squid were found with modified tentacles that resembled a plesiosaur head, it could explain many sea serpent sightings. Cryptozoology, the study of hidden or unknown animals, often involves the intersection of myths, legends, and biology. For example, the Megalodon, a giant shark, is a popular cryptozoological creature. However, given what we know about the biggest sharks and their feeding habits, it's unlikely that Megalodon still exists. Nonetheless, there's a possibility of discovering a new, giant shark species that feeds on plankton or krill, which could be as elusive as the Megamouth shark, discovered only in the 1970s.
The Search for Mythical Creatures: Megalodon and Loch Ness Monster: Despite intrigue around rare deepwater sharks and the Loch Ness Monster, evidence suggests the latter is likely a myth. The Loch Ness's ecosystem isn't diverse enough to support a large creature as described, and the lack of a consistent description adds uncertainty.
While the existence of rare deepwater sharks like the frilled shark is intriguing, the likelihood of finding a living megalodon is highly unlikely. On a different note, the Loch Ness Monster, a legendary creature often described as a large aquatic creature, is a topic of ongoing debate. Some believe it could be a large eel or a wayward seal, while others think it might be a misidentification of common animals or natural phenomena. The Loch Ness Monster's description has evolved over time, and there isn't a unified description of its appearance. The Loch Ness, a large freshwater lake in Scotland, is not a diverse ecosystem, and it's unlikely to support a large population of a creature as described in the legends. The Loch Ness Monster has captivated people's imaginations for centuries, but the lack of a consistent description and the limitations of the Loch's ecosystem suggest that it might be a myth. However, the search for answers continues to attract visitors and researchers to the beautiful and mysterious Loch Ness.
Historical sightings of Loch Ness Monster don't align with popular image: Descriptions of Loch Ness Monster as large, aquatic creature with flippers or long neck from 1920s aren't definitive evidence of plesiosaur survival
The historical sightings of the Loch Ness Monster do not align with the popular image of a large, aquatic creature with flippers or a long neck. These descriptions emerged in the 1920s from newspaper reports and are not definitive evidence of a plesiosaur or other ancient marine reptile surviving into modern times. The discovery of the homo floresiensis skeleton, or "hobbit," in Indonesia raises the possibility of co-existing, smaller humanoid species in the past, but the evidence for their survival into the modern era is controversial and largely unpublished. The exploration of these discoveries and the ethical considerations of scientific expeditions in regions with a history of mistrust towards the West present complex challenges.
Isolation and Human Physical Changes: Isolation can lead to dwarfism or gigantism in human populations, as seen in pygmy tribes and potentially in isolated Smoky Mountain communities. Human evolution and geography's role in shaping physical development is a fascinating topic.
Geographical isolation can lead to significant physical changes in human populations, resulting in either dwarfism or gigantism. The speaker shared personal experiences of encountering pygmy tribes in Africa and the theory that isolated early human populations in the Smoky Mountains could have potentially shrunk due to this phenomenon. The topic of giant bones discovered on the Catalina Islands was brought up, but the evidence and its authenticity were not fully explored due to time constraints. Overall, the discussion emphasized the intriguing possibilities of human evolution and the impact of geography on physical development.
Documenting large, anomalous bones is crucial: Immediate documentation and scientific involvement are necessary when large, seemingly anomalous bones are discovered to prevent misinformation and skepticism.
The discovery of large, seemingly anomalous bones should be met with immediate documentation and involvement of scientific community. The speaker, a wildlife biologist and cryptozoologist, emphasized the importance of documenting such findings thoroughly and sharing it publicly to avoid any potential misinformation or skepticism. He also mentioned his personal excitement about investigating potential discoveries and the use of technology like ground penetrating radar to help uncover potential findings. The speaker also shared a personal story of a potential Bigfoot discovery and his plans to dig it up with proper authorities involvement. The cost of ground penetrating radar was not discussed in detail.
Exploring Passions and Discoveries with Pat Spain: Following passions can lead to thrilling adventures and discoveries, as wildlife biologist Pat Spain's experiences with Bigfoot illustrate. Connect with him through his website or Instagram to join his future expeditions or read about his past adventures in his On the Hunt series.
Passion and curiosity can lead to exciting adventures and discoveries. Pat Spain, a wildlife biologist and adventurer, shared his experiences of searching for Bigfoot and encouraged others to follow their interests. He emphasized the importance of having companions on such journeys and provided his contact information for anyone interested in joining him. Spain also promoted his books, the On the Hunt series, which detail his various wildlife expeditions. Overall, the conversation highlighted the importance of pursuing passions and the potential for extraordinary discoveries that can come from it. You can connect with Spain through his website, Patsbane.com, or on Instagram @patsbane. Don't miss out on his adventures and be sure to check out his books.
