This week, Kenny and Garrett dive into the Pine Barrens of New Jersey to unravel the legend of the Jersey Devil—a bat-winged, horse-headed, hoofed oddball that’s been spooking locals since 1735. From cursed births to cannonball-proof shenanigans, this episode’s got it all!
- The Origin Story: Meet Mother Leeds, the overwhelmed mom of 12 who might’ve accidentally hexed her 13th kid into becoming a flying devil-baby. Did it slaughter the room or just slap folks with its tail before yeeting out the chimney? Depends on who’s telling the tale!
- Historical Hijinks: Commodore Stephen Decatur blasts the beast with a cannonball (spoiler: it didn’t care), Napoleon’s brother Joseph gets hissed at while hunting, and Garrett wonders if ergot’s to blame for these wild sightings.
- 1909 Madness: Schools shut down, trolley cars get attacked, and the Jersey Devil takes a fire hose to the face during a week-long rampage that had everyone losing their minds. Mass hysteria or just too much vintage Coca-Cola?
- Modern Mayhem: From a cab driver’s tire-changing nightmare to college kids fleeing a tent-stomping cryptid, the Devil’s still out there—maybe denting cars, maybe yeeting phones.
- What’s It Really? Sandhill crane? Black bear? A wino in a poncho? Garrett’s betting on a kangaroo with a kite duct-taped to it, while Kenny’s pretty sure something freaky’s lurking in the pines.
Housekeeping Note: We’re switching to a bi-weekly release schedule for a bit.
Sources:
American Folklore - The Jersey Devil
APP.com - Jersey Devil Very Real to Pine Barrens Origin
Atlantic County NJ - Jersey Devil Fact or Fiction
Gen X Traveler - The Jersey Devil: Legend, Lore, Hoax
Gloucester City News - In 1909, The Jersey Devil
History Collection - 16 Creepy Alleged Sightings of the Jersey Devil
Jersey History - Legend of the Jersey Devil
Pine Barrens Institute - Historical Cryptid Headlines: Jersey Devil
The Digest Online - Jersey Devil & Pine Barrens
What Lies Beyond - 200 Years of Jersey Devil Encounters
Music:
Intro: synthwave-background-music by Nver Avetyan
Outro: stranger-things-124008 by Music_Unlimited
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