Cryptids Across the Atlas

Cryptids Across the Atlas

Your weekly tour into obscure Cryptids: both the legends & facts, presented as a narrative story. Join us every week as we uncover the truth behind the mystery and learn how the belief in these creatures has shaped our history and culture. You're touring Cryptids Across the Atlas with Cody & Elaine Johnston

Episodes

July 4, 2025 20 mins

Arizona’s Mogollon Rim is a place of rugged beauty—towering cliffs, dense forests, and endless trails for those brave enough to explore them. But among the pines, something else may be lurking.

For over a century, whispers of a towering, hair-covered beast have echoed through the canyons. Some call it a myth, others claim to have seen it with their own eyes. But one thing’s for sure: the Mogollon Monster isn’t a story that fades qu...

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In the icy depths of the Arctic waters, where the sea blurs into the endless night sky, legends speak of a creature as mystical as the aurora borealis itself.


Among the Inuit, it was whispered that a ghostly beast roamed these frigid seas, its long, spiraled horn cutting through the cold mist. This "unicorn of the sea" was steeped in mystery and awe, its horn believed to possess magical powers capable of countering poison and cur...

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When you think of Kansas, you probably envision golden fields and windmills that go for miles. If you’re simply passing through, driving down the flat highways doesn’t typically drum up exciting stories of legendary beasts. But don’t let these sweeping plains fool you. Kansas is known to harbor it own fair share of mystery lurking beneath the surface. Some of these tales, like the legend of Sinkhole Sam, may just leave you guessing...

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Welcome to the Cryptid Archives: Narrative short stories based on real cryptid encounters. Presented by Cryptids Across the Atlas.


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As deep-sea exploration began to push the boundaries of human knowledge, something remarkable happened. The creature that had haunted the dreams of seafarers for generations was finally brought into the light. It was a strange and unsettling sight—its skin a pale, pinkish-gray, its elongated snout more fearsome up close, and its jaw mechanism a marvel of evolutionary design. This creature, with its uncanny ability to project its ja...

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What happens when you mix UFO sightings, strange lights in the sky, and rumors of reptilian robots hiding in the woods of rural America? You get one of American folklore's most eerie and intriguing cryptids—the Flatwoods Monster. But be warned. They don't call West Virginia "wild and weird" for nothing. ----- CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Start 01:15 - An Unexpected Crash Landing in Flatwoods: The Original Flatwoods Monster Sighting 05:21 - ...

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The locals spoke of these beings as ghostly figures, moving like shadows among the trees—seldom seen but always heard. Their songs were said to hold deep meaning, predicting the weather and serving as omens for those who understood their melodies. To the indigenous people, these creatures were as much a part of the landscape as the mountains themselves, embodying the spirit and mystery of the highlands. If you ever find yourself de...

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What has spikes down the entire length of its body, a fistful of needle-sharp pointed spears at the end of its tail, and fangs that would rival a saber-tooth tiger as it could easily rip out the belly of the biggest bear? If you ask a few Wisconsin residents about a terrifying creature that seems to be living amongst them but hiding in plain sight, they might share their own Hodag encounters with you. But it's up to you to decide w...

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The Western Ghats, recognized as one of the world’s eight "hottest hotspots" of biological diversity, is a land where the line between myth and reality often blurs. Among the countless tales whispered by the locals, one stood out: a creature with oddly colored dusk-like skin, known to emerge only with the monsoon rains and vanish as swiftly as it appeared, leaving behind nothing but stories passed down through generations. Let’s h...

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In 1929, Montana Wildlife shared a story that quickly spread among fishermen across the United States, sparking curiosity and wonder. It was a tale of a remote lake in Montana, so cold that it seemed to defy nature itself. The water was said to be so frigid that fishing hooks, upon touching the surface, would shatter like glass. For those daring enough to fish these icy depths, ordinary tactics simply wouldn't do. Let’s investigat...

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October 11, 2024 4 mins

In the depths of the jungle lives a Devil Bird of the night whose cry was said to be the last sound you'd ever hear. And its black, hollow eyes that reflected nothing but her torment, her cray, a haunting, mournful wail, carrying the weight of her endless grief, and horns that jutted from her head like a crown of despair, the spot bellied eagle owl was a sight that could freeze blood. Let’s take a look into the discovery of a ...

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Japan is known for many yokai-cryptid types. One such cryptid is a terrifying sea phantom that's said to emerge from the depths of calm waters on moonlit nights. This dark, shadowy presence is said to bring upon torrential downpours, rocky waters, and stormy nights as it towers over unsuspecting sailors. Legend has it that the Umibōzu is said to ask one simple question just before attacking sailors and capsizing their ships—answer ...

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What began as a subject of ridicule became a cornerstone in the study of Australian wildlife. The platypus, once dismissed as a mere oddity, now stands as a testament to the wonders of evolution and the surprises nature still holds. It serves as a reminder that sometimes, the truth is stranger than fiction—and that even the most skeptical minds can be swayed by evidence that is impossible to ignore. Let’s uncover the bizarre myste...

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The term “eldritch horror” has seen a lot of popularity in the darker corners of the internet. Monstrous beings like Cthulhu have cemented themselves in popular culture. But what if H.P. Lovecraft, the founder of Cosmic Horror, wasn’t the first to create such artistic works? What if Lovecraft borrowed inspiration from something far more tangible than we ever hope to admit? Well, according to Maryland locals, the Snallygaster, a b...

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Lets learn about a creature once believed to be a spiritual watchman reincarnate that wasn’t proven true until the late 1980’s. I’m Cody and Cryptids Across the Atlas is taking a pit stop to learn about animals that used to be cryptids. This creature, once thought to be the reincarnated spirits of Moni elders, was in fact a living, breathing species—a tree-dwelling mammal that no one outside the native tribes had ever seen before...

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When hundreds of Florida residents reported a large, hairy beast breaking into their homes, stealing their belongings, and torturing their beloved pets in 1973, badged officials were brought in to oversee the crime scenes. But having always showed up just a little too late, the unknown cryptid seemed to always be a few steps ahead. From seeing the beast from afar on dark nights to seeing something strange waddle through the Florida...

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Let’s take a look into the discovery of a patchwork creature that was once deemed a legendary tale. I’m Cody and Cryptids Across the Atlas is taking a pit stop to learn about animals that used to be cryptids. As English explorers ventured deeper into central Africa during the late 19th century, they began to hear tales from the local inhabitants that sounded like something straight out of a fantastical storybook. The natives spoke...

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West Virginia is known for its cryptids but here’s one you might not know: The Abbagoochie. The Abbagoochie is a dear-fox hybrid brought over from Costa Rica to thin down the Coyote problem but after releasing 13 Abbagoochies into the West Virginia Hills, Wildlife Management started to realize this might just be a huge mistake. Is the Abbagoochie true, a hoax, or somewhere in between? Find out here on Cryptids Across the Atlas. C...

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Out in some of the most wild land in the world, there lives a creature so tough, it once defied the logic of the explorers who documented it.  I’m Cody and Cryptids Across the Atlas is taking a pit stop to learn about animals that used to be cryptids.

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Cryptid Map 👉🏻 https://thecryptidatlas.com/cryptid-map/ To listen to or watch our weekly episodes, check out “Cryptids Across the Atlas,” available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple...

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For over a century, Montana has seen more than 100+ sightings of an underwater mystery. Of course, there are the skeptics who believe it’s all one hoax or, at the very least, a misidentification. Others believe that this tale is one of prehistoric nature. But then, there’s the vast majority that believe something unknown is lurking beneath the surface and it’s worth investigating. ----- CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Start 01:16 - Captain Jame...

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