All Episodes

April 3, 2025 167 mins

Does Bigfoot exist? Dr. Jeff Meldrum – a professor of anatomy and anthropology specializing in primate locomotor adaptations and bipedalism at Idaho State University – believes Bigfoot is real (and probably prefers the term “Sasquatch”). Today on the show, Dr. Meldrum drops by TBM HQ to talk all things Sasquatch, as well as his life-long fascination with the controversial “relict hominoid.” In our conversation, we cover: 

  • Bigfoot vs Sasquatch 
  • The origins of Bigfoot
  • The Bluff Creek Site
  • The Patterson Gimlin Film 
  • Bigfoot footprints
  • Pressure ridges and anatomical characteristics
  • Why it's so hard to fake a footprint
  • Bigfoot Skeptics 
  • Bigfoot Range
  • An estimate of the current Bigfoot population
  • Why we haven’t found a Bigfoot body
  • Dr. Meldrum's experiences hunting Bigfoot
  • The biggest question: Will we ever find Bigfoot?

All that and more in this episode. If you’re a Bigfoot nerd or just interested in an academic’s perspective on the mystery primate, this episode of TBM is for you! 

Links mentioned in this episode Connect Our Partners
  • Special thanks to our partners at Shared Pour! Visit SharedPour.com - Use code “BACKCOUNTRY” for 10% off at checkout.
  • Special thanks to our patterns at Out Yonder Company! Visit OutYonderCompany.com and use code “BACKCOUNTRY15” for 15% off at checkout.
Credits
  • Featuring Dr. Jeff Meldrum
  • Produced by Andrew O'Neill with Hayden Sammak
  • Intro and Animations by Barry Thompson
  • Photograph Contributions for Animation by Carver Weeks
  • Additional Graphics by Andrew O’Neill 
  • Production Assistance by John Stock 
  • “Welcome to the Backcountry” theme song by Logan Roth, Will Brown, Arjun Dube and produced at Treacle Mine Studios, Phila, PA
Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Crime Junkie

Crime Junkie

Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

24/7 News: The Latest

24/7 News: The Latest

The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.

Stuff You Should Know

Stuff You Should Know

If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.