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Strange TalkStrange Talk S4E24 Ep. 124 Sketches, Sasquatch, and Serendipity (feat. Ballyraven)This week, Alyx sits down with artist and Appalachian cryptid enthusiast Ballyraven, known for their stunning illustrations of Appalachian creatures and folklore. They talk all things cryptid festivals, favorite mysterious beasties, and what it’s like to bring legends to life through art. Partway through the interview, Alyx has a sudden realization: they actually met Ballyraven years ago attending their very first Mothman Festival, where they unknowingly won a print from Ballyraven’s booth! It’s a full-circle moment wrapped in weirdness, nostalgia, and just a touch of Appalachian magic.Plus, Ballyraven shares a bit about their upcoming book, C...2025-06-0658 min
unchARTed Creative Communities NetworkunchARTeDiscussion Bally Raven Kristen Cox E0005Join us at the table for our conversation with Bally Raven, the cryptid field researcher who's chronicling monsters one illustration at a time!Ever wondered what happens when scientific curiosity meets folklore? Grab your field journal and join us as we venture into the fascinating world of cryptid illustration with Kristen Cox (a.k.a. Bally Raven). From her meticulously crafted festival booths complete with specimen crates and nature sounds to her encyclopedic knowledge of obscure regional monsters, Kristen blends scientific precision with folkloric wonder to bring mythical creatures to vibrant life.In this episode...2025-05-092h 15
Ballyraven Cryptid Wildlife Protection Agencythe Killing Owl | Day Hoot #2Learn about the origins and current status of the - once - magical Day Hoot.SOURCES “OTHER IMPORTANT ECOSYSTEMS: Mature Forest.” islandtrust. Accessed 14 June 2018.“Barred Owl.” Science Museum of Minnesota. Accessed 14 June 2018.“Barred Owl Life History.” The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Accessed 15 June 2018.CREDITSThis public broadcast is made possible thanks to these BCWPA Agents: Brandon Ruch, Colten Williams, Daniel Berry, Donovan Scherer, Kimberly Nichols, Layla Leutwyler, Madelynn ODell, Matthew Schang, Shawn Murphey, Pyper Wilson, Lenin Roman, Ronald Miller, PHouseGames, Anthony Ferries, Dandan, Fox & Brambles, Jim Walke, C...2025-03-2405 min
Ballyraven Cryptid Wildlife Protection AgencyIt Lives Among Us | Arches Fork Skeleton #1A dramatized account of the Arches Fork Skeleton.SOURCES Telltale Lilac Bush by Ruth Ann MusickCREDITSThis public broadcast is made possible thanks to these BCWPA Agents: Brandon Ruch, Colten Williams, Daniel Berry, Donovan Scherer, Kimberly Nichols, Layla Leutwyler, Madelynn ODell, Matthew Schang, Pyper Wilson, Lenin Roman, Ronald Miller, PHouseGames, Anthony Ferries, Dandan, Fox & Brambles, Jim Walke, Claire, Hallesy, Heather, HELGA, Kris Mitchell, Kylie Reed, Rick Belcher, Cryptid Clyde, T. Carter Ross, Agus Mercado, Ead Daniels, Elizabeth Lukjanczuk, Shelby Fulton, Veronica Mulvaney, Zodiac Gaming Industry, Mr. Blue Sky 2025-03-1704 min
Ballyraven Cryptid Wildlife Protection AgencyOn the Trail of Giants | Popfrog #2Q: Where can Popfrogs be found?It was very difficult to determine where Popfrogs currently live - they are adept hiders! Using our knowledge of frogs, cryptid clues, and a few good guesses, the BCWPA team was able to locate the four remaining Popfrogs in the world. While they could thrive elsewhere, for some reason they are stuck here, in western Ohio, hidden in some of the state's small swamps. Next time: The team follows Rosie the Ribbiter - the last female Popfrog in existence, lovingly named by the BCWPA.2025-03-1004 min
Ballyraven Cryptid Wildlife Protection AgencyExploring Ohio's Swamps | Popfrog #1Ohio once was covered in more swampland - and populated by more strange and dangerous creatures within those swamps... From howling dogmen to aggressive bigfeet, gigantic snakes, and ominous, glowing orbs, Ohioan swamps remain active cryptozoological spots. Contained in diminishing biomes, the rarest of these swamp-dwelling creatures are a collection of amphibian cryptids; an oversized frog is the most endangered.CREDITSNostalgia by A. Cooper is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. This public broadcast is made possible thanks to these BCWPA Agents: Brandon Ruch, Colten Williams, Daniel Berry, Donovan Scherer, Kimberly Ni...2025-03-0304 min
Ballyraven Cryptid Wildlife Protection Agencythe Annihilation of the George Cabin | House Bats #1In Riverton, Virginia, in the 1870's, a truly horrific event occurred: an entire family was found deceased in their home - which had its own haunting clues. Called by the Department of Justice to determine if mass murder occurred, the Pinkerton National Detective Agency gave the case a quick, uncomfortable look over. Less than a day later, they determined that those inside were victims of natural, yet unknown, causes.CREDITSUndercover Vampire Policeman by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Source: http://chriszabriskie...2025-02-2604 min
Ballyraven Cryptid Wildlife Protection AgencyWinter's Bigfoot | Leaping Devil #2The Leaping Devil is the result of migrating, evolving bigfoot interacting with powerful, shapeshifting nymphs.Part 1 or 2 in: Fairfeet Origins: the Stonemen and Winter Nymphs CREDITSThis public broadcast is made possible thanks to these BCWPA Agents: Brandon Ruch, Colten Williams, Daniel Berry, Donovan Scherer, Kimberly Nichols, Layla Leutwyler, Madelynn ODell, Matthew Schang, Pyper Wilson, Lenin Roman, Ronald Miller, PHouseGames, Anthony Ferries, Dandan, Fox & Brambles, Jim Walke, Claire, Hallesy, Heather, HELGA, Kris Mitchell, Kylie Reed, Rick Belcher, Cryptid Clyde, T. Carter Ross, Agus Mercado, Ead Daniels, Elizabeth Lukjanczuk, Shelby Fulton, V...2025-02-2504 min
Ballyraven Cryptid Wildlife Protection Agencythe Discovery of the Lynx Machine | Old Saybrook Blockhead #4Walking through the forest, Ballyraven is investigating an alleged UFO crash site. While they expected to find a meteorite or some failed, human invention, they found something much more interesting - and much more alive!CREDITSThis public broadcast is made possible thanks to these BCWPA Agents: Brandon Ruch, Colten Williams, Daniel Berry, Donovan Scherer, Kimberly Nichols, Layla Leutwyler, Madelynn ODell, Matthew Schang, Pyper Wilson, Lenin Roman, Ronald Miller, PHouseGames, Anthony Ferries, Dandan, Fox & Brambles, Jim Walke, Claire, Hallesy, Heather, HELGA, Kris Mitchell, Kylie Reed, Rick Belcher, Cryptid Clyde, T. Carter Ross, Agus Mercado...2025-02-1705 min
Ballyraven Cryptid Wildlife Protection Agencythe Interdimensional Exploration UnitThe BCWPA's Interdimensional Exploration Unit is the oldest department in the agency. The IEU’s early years were plagued not only by disaster, but illness, technical failures, and interspecies brutality. Today, missions occurring in our atmosphere and our neighboring space are consistent and mostly safe.There is much to explore. There is much to learn. There is even more to mess up.CREDITSThis public broadcast is made possible thanks to these BCWPA Agents: Brandon Ruch, Colten Williams, Daniel Berry, Donovan Scherer, Kimberly Nichols, Layla Leutwyler, Madelynn ODell, Matthew Schang, Pyper Wilson, Le...2025-02-1307 min
Ballyraven Cryptid Wildlife Protection AgencyFootprints on the Roof | the Winter Bigfoot #1Have you ever seen strange footprints in the snow? Ones made from a long, large foot and having three bulky, square-ish toes? If not, you may have known someone who has seen such a phenomenon. Known to be particularly active on snowy days, "Leaping Devils" or "Winter Bigfeet" make their visits known by leaving these strange tracks. They are a type of bigfoot only found in West Virginia.CREDITSThis public broadcast is made possible thanks to these BCWPA Agents: Brandon Ruch, Colten Williams, Daniel Berry, Donovan Scherer, Kimberly Nichols, Layla Leutwyler, Madelynn ODell...2025-02-1005 min
Ballyraven Cryptid Wildlife Protection AgencyHoot of Death | Appalachian Death Owl #1Many dangerous creatures lurk in the Appalachian Mountains. Transmogrified animals - those transformed by magic - are some of the most threatening. All that remains of these creatures are folk stories associated with them. How much of the tales are real? How many tragedies can be attributed to them today?SOURCES “OTHER IMPORTANT ECOSYSTEMS: Mature Forest.” islandtrust. Accessed 14 June 2018.“Barred Owl.” Science Museum of Minnesota. Accessed 14 June 2018.“Barred Owl Life History.” The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Accessed 15 June 2018.CREDITSThis public broadcast is made possible thanks to th...2025-02-0305 min
Ballyraven Cryptid Wildlife Protection Agencythe Last Known Words of Wesley Nathaniel Holding | Old Saybrook Blockhead #3On January 22, 2002, a tape was discovered hidden in the walls of a long abandoned home. On it was the last known words of Wesley Holding - a conman said to have posed as a detective working cold cases.CREDITSотдушинка by Kosta T is licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal License. This public broadcast is made possible thanks to these BCWPA Agents: Brandon Ruch, Colten Williams, Daniel Berry, Donovan Scherer, Kimberly Nichols, Layla Leutwyler, Madelynn ODell, Matthew Schang, Pyper Wilson, Lenin Roman, Ronald Miller, PHouseGames, Anthony Ferries, Dandan, Fox & Brambles, Jim Walke, Claire, Hallesy, Heather, H...2025-01-2708 min
Ballyraven Cryptid Wildlife Protection Agencythe Investigation of Ambrose Briddle | Old Saybrook Blockhead #2What connects a mysterious shipment from 1956 with an unsolved murder, a defunct Television network, nameless agents, and a bizarre celestial event? Ambrose Gregory Briddle, a man at the center of a perplexing cold case, decades after the dust seemed to have settled. Detective Holding is on the brink of revelation as he revisits an unusual day in 1956. The start of an ever-worsening investigation, every answered question leads to another mystery and leaves you questioning the boundaries of our known reality. CREDITSLand-escape by Safir Nou is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 In...2025-01-2016 min
Ballyraven Cryptid Wildlife Protection AgencyOut the Window are Cube-Headed Spacemen | Old Saybrook Blockhead #1In Old Saybrook, CT on December 16, 1957, between the hours of 2 and 3 A.M., a local teacher witnessed something incredible: outside her window, Mary M. Starr saw a spaceship with aliens inside. Her encounter was not the first. Leaving behind a trail of mysteries and murders, the Case of the Saybrook Blockheads is one of fear, greed, and secrecy.CREDITSAtomic Snapshots of Shared Memory.mp3 by Geoff Keston is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International License.Zinc by CXR ATK is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.Manoeuvre by CXR...2025-01-1406 min
Small Town Monsters Broadcast NetworkHouse of Monsters: The Appalachian Apple ThiefThere is a small, mischevious, bigfoot-like creature lurking somewhere in the Appalachian mountains. And it likes apples. And it can turn invisible. But does this Appalachian folk tale have connections to a broader concept - one which spans oceans, and even centuries?
Visit the Ballyraven Bestiary
Question, comment or suggestion? Email aaron@smalltownmonsters.com
2024-12-0212 min
House of MonstersVolume XVIII: The Appalachian Apple ThiefThere is a small, mischevious, bigfoot-like creature lurking somewhere in the Appalachian mountains. And it likes apples. And it can turn invisible. But does this Appalachian folk tale have connections to a broader concept - one which spans oceans, and even centuries?
Visit the Ballyraven Bestiary
Question, comment or suggestion? Email aaron@smalltownmonsters.com
2024-12-0212 minBallyraven Cryptid Wildlife Protection Agencya New Season Wants to Make Contact with YouThe BCWPA has made contact - are you ready?Send the BCWPA a message!Support the showDo you have a story, sighting, or piece of folklore to share? Visit our office.Grab a cryptid study, visit the Ballyraven store.2024-11-1404 min
Enter The RiftLesser Known Monsters of WVHello Everyone! In this episode we discuss monsters that aren't as famous as the Mothman. These include The Vegetable Man, Ogua, and more!Sources: http://www.appalachianoddity.org/database-1968-1990/https://pinebarrensinstitute.com/cryptids/2018/8/18/cryptid-profile-oguahttps://www.ballyraven.com/encyclopedia/oguahttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0081E08QI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_d_asin_title_351_o00?ie=UTF8&psc=1Music: Intro: synthwave-background-music by Nver Avetyan Outro: stranger-things-124008 by Music_UnlimitedLet us know what you think! Share with your fr...2024-09-0834 min
Ballyraven Cryptid Wildlife Protection AgencyFollowing the Stallion of the MistAn early morning on the lake gets weird - and very foggy! Send the BCWPA a message!Support the showDo you have a story, sighting, or piece of folklore to share? Visit our office.Grab a cryptid study, visit the Ballyraven store.2024-06-1708 min
Ballyraven Cryptid Wildlife Protection Agencya History of Messenger BeesThere were once magical bees that told the weather and who was coming to visit; like all good things, people had to ruin it. This is the tale of Messenger Bee: glowing bumblebees with strange, precognitive abilities. Once friendly helpers, they became associated with evil spells and witchcraft, and so, as most magical things were in centuries past, they couldn't be allowed to exist.What color of Messenger Bee do you want to show up at your door? Send the BCWPA a message!Support the showDo you have a story, s...2024-06-1119 min
Ballyraven Cryptid Wildlife Protection AgencyBehind the Scenes: Behind Atmospheric BeastsWe ran a little short on time to get really into atmospheric beasts and the stories about them online, but, here is a short after-discussion of our thoughts on our Cloud Animal episode and the sources used to make it!OFFICIAL FEELINGSLycaon (L), Ballyraven (B)Atmoplankton: we made it upAir Rods: Maybe (L), Not Real (B)Atmospheric Jellyfish: Yes (L), Very Likely Not (B)Flying Squid: Not Real (L & B)Cloud Whale: Yes/Hope So (L), Not a Chance (B)...2024-05-1341 min
Ballyraven Cryptid Wildlife Protection AgencyBehind the Scenes: What & Who is In the Field?What is In the Field? Is it real cryptozoology work? Is it art? Are you trying to trick me? Should I be mad?In this bonus, behind-the-scenes-y episode, we talk a little about ourselves, why we want to do the show, and our vision for the future - plus how you can review all the sources used to create each episode (www.ballyraven.com).SKEPTIC LEVELBallyraven: very; believes that the Appalachian Mountain Lion might be real. Open to belief if convincing evidence is presented.does not believe in vampires (except...2024-05-0639 min
Ballyraven Cryptid Wildlife Protection AgencyFollowing Pike Lake's Wandering HandsThere's a strange creature afoot - er, ahand - in Pike Lake and the BCWPA is getting to the bottom of it!Learn more about Path Hands (ballyraven.com)! Sound Effects Attribution 4.0: Vintage Tape Recorder Button Clunks by iainmccurdy Woman Scream 5 by J.Zazvurek horror ghost 23.wav by klankbeeld CC SAMPLING+ 1.0 DEED: Kamelands Pond in the evening.wav by cmkendall Attribution NonCommercial 3.0: Wood Chopping.wav by jittels indian_creek_01_steve_bayer.mp3 by sanus_excipioMusic Shake That Lit...2024-04-2220 min
Ballyraven Cryptid Wildlife Protection Agencya Complete Study of the LoðsilungurHop aboard the BCWPA research boat for another aquatic expedition! The Loðsilungur is one of many oceanic cryptids from Iceland; a poisonous, furry trout related to the more well-known fur-bearing trout, it has an even stranger backstory and a more grim history. MUSICNocturne by Podington Bear (CC BY-NC)Releasing the Sculpture by Podington Bear (CC BY-NC)Ice Climb by Podington Bear (CC BY-NC)Assmack by Podington Bear (CC BY-NC)You Wasted My Time When I Was Timewasting by Podington Bear (C...2024-02-1415 min
Ballyraven Cryptid Wildlife Protection Agencya Complete Study of the Fur-Bearing TroutThe fur-bearing trout is an endangered species of fish that grows hair during the winter in the later years. Follow one such animal in this In the Field adventure! MUSICSnow Drift by HoliznaCC0Three Times by Jahzzar (CC BY-SA) Fragrant Rota by Michael Holt Hartford by Mary Halvorson and Jessica Pavone (CC BY-NC-ND) Vanlig by Jahzzar (CC BY-SA) Pony by Gillicuddy (CC BY-NC) Echoes Boogie Dancehall (ID 278) by Lobo Loco (CC BY-NC-SA)Good TImes Memory (ID 2037) by Lobo Loco (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 DEED)River S...2024-02-0626 min
Ballyraven Cryptid Wildlife Protection Agencyan Overview of Atmospheric BeastsHave you ever seen something strange in the sky? A bug that also looks not like a bug? A translucent thing that you catch only a glimpse of? A cloud that does not move like a cloud? An unsettling blip on a photo?People once thought that the bottom of the ocean was devoid of life, too extreme for anything to exist. Too lightless, too cold, too crushing, too empty. They were wrong. Even four miles down into the ocean’s depths, life exists. Mirroring this mysterious place, there is a similar ecosystem high in the sky, fi...2023-12-1250 min