The scientific community and the world of cryptozoology are mourning the loss of Dr. Jeff Meldrum, who passed away at the age of 67 following a brief battle with brain cancer. Surrounded by his family in his final moments, Dr. Meldrum is remembered not only as a respected scholar but also as a husband and father who cherished his loved ones.

In this crossover episode, Tony from The Confessionals Podcast joins the crew at Ninjas Are Butterflies for a deep dive into the unknown. The conversation spans government UFO cover-ups, suppressed evidence, and recent disclosure claims that hint at a far bigger mystery. From UFO conspiracies and alien agendas to cryptid legends and terrifying real-life encounters — If you’re drawn to the shadows of the unexplained, you won’t want to miss this one.

Every state in America has its own share of strange legends, mysterious creatures, and stories that blur the line between myth and memory. From swamp beasts in the bayous to ghostly hitchhikers on desolate highways, the U.S. is a patchwork of paranormal lore. And what better state to start with than the one we call home—Tennessee. With its ancient mist-covered mountains, deep lakes, and centuries of layered history, the Volunteer State is teeming with cryptid tales that refuse to die. Below are some of the most legendary monsters said to roam Tennessee’s woods and waters.

The following written confession was submitted via email: I’m not a believer in the whole Sasquatch theory but in 2019 my ex girlfriend and I and my son who was 5 at the time we were out early April looking for Morel Mushrooms and we were in a area that was deep in the woods in a large meadow with a run off lake that was at the max 4ft deep and I was about 20-25 yds in front of my ex and my son and about 50-70 yds from the tree line around the lake….

The following written confession was submitted via email: …When I was 18 or 19 yrs old I saw something at 1 or 2 am on Skyline Drive in Virginia, just north of the swift run entrance which is on Rt 33. I went up there during that winter night to listen to distant cb traffic in my car. If I'm not mistaken it was January or February of 1991. I had not long returned home from Ft Benning Georgia after completing basic training. I had driven 1 or 2 miles north after entering the drive and did a U turn to pull off at an overlook to listen to my Cb radio…

The following written confession was submitted via email: I’m from Washington State near Spokane, Cheney to be exact. Im 30 years old this year and this happened to me when i was a teenager. Its thickly wooded everywhere in the NW. Our family traps and hunts along with Predator abatement like coyotes, bobcats etc. One day id say around summer 2010 my brother and a close friend and i decided to go call in some coyotes near my parents property which is out of town a ways. It was mid to late afternoon which isnt ideal but we had seen a few wondering during the day earlier that week. We grabbed a  rifle and our predator call box with the rabbit wiggler and headed towards an old hay field deep in the woods….

The following written confession was submitted via email: …[Y]ears ago when I was a teenager, a small group of neighborhood boys and I were chased out of a cornfield that butted up against our subdivision. The thing (for lack of a better word) was Jet black and hunched over like an ape or some kind of beast. It was staring at us from about 20-30 feet away and practically motionless…

The following written confession was submitted via email: …Now this was last October. I was hunting from the ground and I had 4 does run by me very spooked and then 3 of those deer ran back by me . As I was sitting there I noticed that there was what I thought was a wild hog on the ground about 50 yards away from me. As I struggled to see what it was, looking back I believe this animal was fazing into our reality….

Two men from Portland, Oregon, tragically lost their lives in Gifford Pinchot National Forest during a search for Sasquatch. The incident highlights the risks of exploring remote wilderness areas unprepared, particularly in harsh winter conditions.

In Idaho's District 16 state representative race, Republican candidate Chandler Stewart Hadraba is making waves with a rather unexpected proposal—turning Idaho into the nation’s top destination for Bigfoot tourism! Unlike the usual political promises of job creation or education reform, Hadraba’s vision for Idaho involves luring cryptid enthusiasts, adventurers, and curious travelers to explore Idaho’s forests in search of the elusive Bigfoot.

The following written confession was shared via email: Here's my Bigfoot story of when the big guy morphed into a human and then three days later you won't believe what happened! At the end of July 2020 my husband and I went on a trip across the country to film for my YouTube channel and to attend a conference in Trout Lake, Washington....

Tony Merkel joins Larry and Sandy Ragland for an impromptu interview to explore the mystery of Bigfoot, interdimensional portals, demonic ties, Bigfoot’s potential link to our past, and bizarre eyewitness accounts.

If you’ve ever been curious about cryptids or love a good mystery, then you’ve probably heard of Bigfoot. But did you know that there’s a winged relative of Bigfoot flying around the Pacific Northwest? Meet our Creature Feature Friday: Batsquatch, the mysterious winged sasquatch that has folks scratching their heads and ducking for cover.

The following written confession was submitted via email: I live in Madera county California it borders Yosemite I am a hunter and twelve years ago I took a week off of work and couldn't find anyone to go up with me so I went by my self I hunted up sky ranch road and the first couple of nights something didn't feel right I don't scare easily but every night it felt worse and worse like something was getting closer and closer….

The digital world premiere of Merkel Media’s newest documentary, Sasquatch and the Missing Man, will air on May 5, 2024!

In the new film, Tony Merkel and his crew venture to the scene of the terrifying Bigfoot encounter that launched Wes Germer's massive podcast ‘Sasquatch Chronicles’ and uncover a mystery far more shocking than anything they could have imagined.