Episode 68 — Guardians of the... Lake?

What if a lake monster wasn’t something to fear—but something that watches over the dead? In this episode, Talk Deathy To Me looks at Champ, the legendary creature said to inhabit Lake Champlain, through the lens of death, memory, and protection.

Creature or legend, Champ has been part of regional folklore for centuries. But unlike typical monster stories, some traditions—especially Indigenous Abenaki beliefs—frame the lake and its creature as sacred, not threatening. The episode explores how Champ may serve as a kind of guardian of the lake’s dead, surfacing not to scare, but to remind us of what lies beneath: shipwrecks, drowned lives, and untold stories.

We also examine natural and cultural explanations behind the sightings, from sturgeon and seismic activity to the idea of Champ as a symbolic presence—a reflection of how we process grief and the spaces where the dead may linger.

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This episode was produced and edited by Kelsey Jae.