Want to dig deeper into the history and legends discussed in this episode? Here are some accessible sources and starting points:

🐺 Werewolf History & Lore

Encyclopaedia Britannica – “Lycanthropy”

A clear overview of where the word and belief come from, including mythological and historical context.

“Werewolf” – Wikipedia

A broad, easy-to-navigate summary of global werewolf folklore and how the legend evolved across cultures.

“Werewolf Trials” – Wikipedia

Covers real historical cases where people were accused and executed for allegedly being werewolves in medieval Europe.

American Werewolf-Type Legends

Michigan Dogman – Wikipedia

An overview of reported sightings, legend history, and how the Dogman became part of modern American folklore.

Beast of Bray Road – Wikipedia

Details the Wisconsin sightings from the late 20th century and journalist Linda Godfrey’s investigations.

HowStuffWorks – “Is the Dogman Real?”

A balanced look at Dogman reports, cultural influence, and skeptical explanations.

Regional Traditions

Rougarou – Wikipedia

Explores the Cajun and Creole werewolf tradition in Louisiana and its role as a cultural cautionary tale.

The Converse, Texas Werewolf

KSAT (San Antonio) – “The Tale of the Converse Werewolf”

A local news feature covering the legend, its origins, and why it still circulates in South Texas folklore.

WerewolfPage – Converse Werewolf Legend

A classic cryptid retelling that preserves one of the most complete versions of the story.

MySanAntonio.com – Haunted Stories & Urban Legends

A regional collection that includes the Converse Werewolf alongside other South Texas legends.

Books & Deep Dives

Linda S. Godfrey – The Beast of Bray Road

One of the most influential books on American werewolf-type cryptids, written by the journalist who helped popularize the legend.

Barry Jean Ancelet – Cajun and Creole Folktales

Explores Louisiana folklore, including Rougarou traditions, from a cultural and historical perspective.

A Note on Folklore

Many of the stories discussed in this episode come from oral tradition, regional legend, and eyewitness accounts. While some historical context is documented, others persist because they are experienced, shared, and remembered — not because they were ever meant to be proven.

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Mike Gardner and his family hosts explore the chilling phenomenon known as the Hat Man, a shadowy figure reported by many people during sleep paralysis and other altered states. The episode explains how sleep paralysis works and why it often produces terrifying hallucinations, including shadow figures and feelings of dread. They highlight the eerie consistency of Hat Man sightings across different cultures, mental states, and even psychedelic experiences. The hosts discuss possible explanations ranging from neurological misfires to interdimensional or supernatural theories. The episode closes by inviting listeners to question why so many people report seeing the exact same silent figure watching them in the dark.

Cryptidz Wiki – “Dalby Spook (Gef the Talking Mongoose)”

An overview of the Dalby Spook legend, including reported behaviors, witness accounts, and later explanations.

Source: Cryptidz Wiki, Dalby Spook

https://cryptidz.fandom.com/wiki/Dalby_Spook

National Geographic – “Gef, the Talking Mongoose of the Isle of Man”

A historical deep dive into the Gef phenomenon, including cultural context, primary sources, and analysis of the claims.

Source: National Geographic History

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/gef-talking-mongoose-isle-of-man

Buckland, Raymond. (2005). The Spirit Book: The Encyclopedia of Clairvoyance, Channeling, and Spirit Communication. Visible Ink Press. p. 144. ISBN 978-1578592135

Episode Summary

Gef the Talking Mongoose was a mysterious entity reported in the 1930s by the Irving family of Dalby on the Isle of Man, who claimed a mongoose spoke to them from inside their farmhouse walls.

Gef described himself as an “extra, extra clever mongoose,” an earthbound spirit, and a ghost in animal form, displaying knowledge of events beyond the home.

He allegedly warned the family of visitors, kept watch over the property, and accepted food offerings like biscuits and bananas in return.

Journalists and investigators visited the farm, some claiming to hear Gef, though physical evidence such as hair samples was later linked to the family dog.

To this day, the case remains debated as either an elaborate hoax or one of folklore’s most playful and enduring mysteries.

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Credits

Host: Michael, Chris, Mark, and Pam Gardner

Writer: Michael Gardner

Editor: Pam Gardner

Special Thanks: Thank you Tonya for letting us take over the basement of your home.