S20 Ep41: 10-Year Anniversary Creature Feature: Stories of monsters, beasts and beings (Sn. 20 Ep. 41)

Monsters Among Us
S20 Ep41: 10-Year Anniversary Creature Feature
Host: Derek Hayes | Audioboom Studios
Date: March 17, 2026

Episode Overview

To mark the ten-year anniversary of Monsters Among Us, host Derek Hayes curates a special "Creature Feature," focusing on listener-submitted true encounters with cryptids and strange beings. This episode is a nostalgic and spooky celebration of the show's legacy, drawing parallels to its first-ever episode and delving into stories featuring everything from leprechauns and water monsters to big cats, little people, Mothman, bipedal wolves, and unexplainable beings. Derek offers intimate commentary with signature warmth and curiosity, connecting the dots, proposing skeptical and supernatural possibilities, and inviting listeners deeper into the mystery.

Key Discussion Points & Stories

10 Years of Monsters Among Us

[00:30-03:52]

Derek recalls humble beginnings in his makeshift studio.
Speaks to his mission: “I just knew I wanted to make it easier for folks to share their spooky stories. And I wanted to have a good time doing it.”
Reveals the first episode aired on St. Patrick’s Day, setting up the first story.

Leprechaun Pot at the End of the Rainbow

Bridget from Detroit
[03:52–08:28]

As a child, Bridget saw the end of a rainbow in her front yard: “I saw a little brown pot... what you would think of as a stereotypical leprechaun pot.”
Her brother remembers the event too, describing only seeing a “deep round impression” by the time he arrived, supporting her memory.
Derek’s commentary: “Super wild and too bad there weren’t any gold coins in that pot. That story could have had a much happier ending.”

Unidentified Aquatic "Tentacle" Encounter

Mike H., Minnesota
[10:44–13:02]

1995-96 fishing trip in Canada: Mike witnesses a strange, tentacle-like object surface—“like a sea lamprey or a tentacle of an octopus, with a sucker on the end…10ft offshore in the middle of Canada.”
Both he and his friend saw the creature but couldn’t identify it.
Derek suggests a spiny softshell turtle as a possible explanation but admits, “I’m afraid I’m stumped here, Mike, but I can tell you that I love the entry.”

Alien Big Cat (“Panther”) Encounters

Anonymous, East Texas/South Louisiana
[14:53–19:07]

Caller’s recurring firsthand and family experiences with large black panthers in Texas and Louisiana.
- Describes a “100 pound doe up in a tree” explained only by a big cat’s abilities.
- “She was so big, when she walked past this dachshund, I could still see her back.”
Local game warden supports the theory; goats disappear mysteriously.
Derek: “They exist. I’ve seen one. I just don’t know what they are. But thanks to calls like this one, we’re one step closer to figuring it all out.”

Tatzelwurm – Obscure European Cryptid

Chance, parts unknown
[20:45–24:52]

During tarot-based divination, Chance receives a vision matching the cryptid Tatzelwurm—“body like a snake…two lizard-like arms, and a raccoon head…riding on top of a cow with wings.”
Later hears about the Tatzelwurm on MAU and is stunned by the similarity—a classic ‘synchronicity.’
Derek brings in European researcher Ulrich Megan: “200 years ago…head of a mammal. So, like mainly a cat’s head or a goat’s head or a dog’s head or even a child’s head.”
Promotes the show notes for more context (including Chance’s journal entry).

Little People Throw a “Cat Rodeo”

Pistol, East Texas
[27:05–29:48]

Pistol describes seeing “eight little people” in her kitchen, energetically playing and even riding her cat: “It looked like they were trying to have a little rodeo…my cat comes back through…one of them are on her back.”
On being discovered, the beings run out the “kitty door.”
Derek discusses the recent theory of Lilliputian hallucinations caused by mushrooms but notes Pistol’s experience likely can’t be explained away so easily: “I’m not real sure how to explain away your cat rodeo, Pistol. But I hope if it happens again this time, you’ll take a video.”

Surrounded by Eyeless “White Eyes” in Missouri

Bailey (on behalf of husband), Spokane/Missouri
[31:49–34:53]

Skeptical outdoorsman husband, hunting at 3am, is surrounded by “tons of eyes…white [in] their eye shine” that “didn’t move” even when he shot at them.
Eyes vanish only when approached; no sound or visible animals.
Derek theorizes about groups of spiders (which have white eye-shine), but acknowledges the strange scale and behavior: “It almost seems like what he had encountered was bigger.”

Human Eyes with Animalistic Glow?

Tanya, North Central Minnesota
[37:46–41:42]

Alone at night, Tanya follows a slow truck: “the passenger...turned back, looking at me…And his eyes illuminated. I’m talking dead on. Exactly like if you saw a deer look at you or a cat in your headlights.”
The sensation leaves her “absolute terror...then curiosity.”
Derek recounts his own story of seeing red reflective “eye-shine” on a neighbor—explains classic red-eye effect, but notes something “super creepy” about Tanya’s case.

Childhood Mothman Premonition & Mysterious Numbers

Ellen, Vancouver/Canada
[44:15–46:46]

Ellen finds a childhood journal with a chilling Mothman entry: “And when he calls, he says, 2, 4, 8, 5, and your eyes will bleed…he’s behind me. Help.”
Ellen never heard of Mothman as a kid, wonders about prescient details and random number.
Derek investigates: notes “Mothman Prophecies” movie could be an influence, but the number “2485” also appears in a later (2005) episode of the TV show “Supernatural” involving a demonic plane crash.

Generational Sleep Paralysis with a Crawling Humanoid

Anonymous, San Bernardino/Corcoran, CA & 2016
[48:44–51:00]

Stepdad experienced sleep paralysis with a humanoid entity “crawling onto him” since age 16; mother later sees the same entity during sleep paralysis.
“She gets woken up just out of nowhere. But when she wakes up, she sees this humanoid figure crawl onto her bed towards her. And it starts like suffocating her.”
Derek: “Incubus? Succubus? Old hag?...Whatever it was, caller, I agree—it is weird that two separate people had the exact same encounter.”

Bipedal Wolf in Arizona's White Mountains

D out of Idaho
[53:51–56:03]

D encounters a “bipedal wolf…not like a Beast of Bray Road thing, but like a bipedal wolf” while elk hunting.
Compares it to a famous (but likely faked) 2020 "Beast of Bray Road" photograph showing a wolf on its hind legs.
Derek suspects taxidermy trickery in the famous photo but is left unsettled by the firsthand account.

Frog-skinned, Inhuman Cornfield Entity Returns a Thrown Bottle

Anonymous, Wisconsin (near Elmwood)
[57:35–61:46]

After a late-night drive, caller and daughters spot a strange being “the head of whatever this was turned around and it looked in my direction…body itself kind of had a sheen…like frog skin.”
Throws a Gatorade bottle at it; later, the bottle appears back at his house.
Derek suggests: “It brought the bottle back—which means it can remember, which means it can carry things, which means it knows where our caller lives.” Posits a prank, but also the possibility of a Dogman, cryptid, or even aliens—supported by Elmwood’s rich UFO folkloric history and annual “UFO Days.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

“It all comes down to fungus…these mushrooms make people see tiny humans.” – Derek, about recent research on Lilliputian hallucinations ([30:06])
“If you have a story you would like to share...call my hotline at 888-608-KNIGHT.” – Derek’s call for listener stories ([19:07])
“There’s a bigger predator out there than humans, and it’s a big cat.” – Anonymous panther witness ([18:45])
“The feeling that went through my body was absolute terror for a moment. And then it rushed into, like, curiosity.” – Tanya, describing the “glowing-eyed” truck passenger ([40:47])
“She gets woken up just out of nowhere. But when she wakes up, she sees this humanoid figure crawl onto her bed towards her. And it starts like suffocating her. But she can’t move her wrists, she can't move her arms, her legs, nothing.” – Anonymous caller ([50:06])
“It brought the bottle back…an instant classic, no doubt.” – Derek, on the Wisconsin frog-skin entity ([61:46])

Timestamps for Key Segments

[00:30] Derek’s 10-year anniversary intro
[03:52] Bridget’s leprechaun/pot-of-gold story
[10:44] Mike’s Canadian water “tentacle” encounter
[14:53] East Texas “alien big cat” tales
[20:45] Chance’s divination/Tatzelwurm synchronicity
[27:05] Pistol’s little people “cat rodeo”
[31:49] Bailey’s “white-eyed” hunting encounter
[37:46] Tanya’s “glowing human eyes” road story
[44:15] Ellen’s childhood Mothman journal
[48:44] Anonymous—family sleep paralysis/crawling entity
[53:51] D’s bipedal wolf sighting
[57:35] Wisconsin caller’s “frog skin” cornfield being

Tone & Atmosphere

Derek’s hallmark approach is compassionate, skeptical yet open-minded, and always strives to validate the experiencers' emotions. He weaves in cultural, folkloric, and scientific context for each encounter, rounding out the eerie, nostalgia-rich ambiance the podcast is celebrated for. Humor, humility, and heart all shine through, especially in the milestone moments and nods to longtime fans.

Closing

Derek highlights the show's statistics, longevity, and listener contributions: “Monsters Among Us Podcast is written and produced by me…ten years in the bag and here’s to at least 10 more. Cheers. Thank you. Keep it spooky and have a great night.” ([68:00])

This special anniversary episode offers an immersive cross-section of MAU’s unique community and the enduring power of sharing the unknown.

Monsters Among Us
S20 Ep41: 10-Year Anniversary Creature Feature
Host: Derek Hayes | Audioboom Studios
Date: March 17, 2026

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Stories

10 Years of Monsters Among Us

[00:30-03:52]

Derek recalls humble beginnings in his makeshift studio.
Speaks to his mission: “I just knew I wanted to make it easier for folks to share their spooky stories. And I wanted to have a good time doing it.”
Reveals the first episode aired on St. Patrick’s Day, setting up the first story.

Leprechaun Pot at the End of the Rainbow

Bridget from Detroit
[03:52–08:28]

As a child, Bridget saw the end of a rainbow in her front yard: “I saw a little brown pot... what you would think of as a stereotypical leprechaun pot.”
Her brother remembers the event too, describing only seeing a “deep round impression” by the time he arrived, supporting her memory.
Derek’s commentary: “Super wild and too bad there weren’t any gold coins in that pot. That story could have had a much happier ending.”

Unidentified Aquatic "Tentacle" Encounter

Mike H., Minnesota
[10:44–13:02]

1995-96 fishing trip in Canada: Mike witnesses a strange, tentacle-like object surface—“like a sea lamprey or a tentacle of an octopus, with a sucker on the end…10ft offshore in the middle of Canada.”
Both he and his friend saw the creature but couldn’t identify it.
Derek suggests a spiny softshell turtle as a possible explanation but admits, “I’m afraid I’m stumped here, Mike, but I can tell you that I love the entry.”

Alien Big Cat (“Panther”) Encounters

Anonymous, East Texas/South Louisiana
[14:53–19:07]

Caller’s recurring firsthand and family experiences with large black panthers in Texas and Louisiana.
- Describes a “100 pound doe up in a tree” explained only by a big cat’s abilities.
- “She was so big, when she walked past this dachshund, I could still see her back.”
Local game warden supports the theory; goats disappear mysteriously.
Derek: “They exist. I’ve seen one. I just don’t know what they are. But thanks to calls like this one, we’re one step closer to figuring it all out.”

Tatzelwurm – Obscure European Cryptid

Chance, parts unknown
[20:45–24:52]

During tarot-based divination, Chance receives a vision matching the cryptid Tatzelwurm—“body like a snake…two lizard-like arms, and a raccoon head…riding on top of a cow with wings.”
Later hears about the Tatzelwurm on MAU and is stunned by the similarity—a classic ‘synchronicity.’
Derek brings in European researcher Ulrich Megan: “200 years ago…head of a mammal. So, like mainly a cat’s head or a goat’s head or a dog’s head or even a child’s head.”
Promotes the show notes for more context (including Chance’s journal entry).

Little People Throw a “Cat Rodeo”

Pistol, East Texas
[27:05–29:48]

Pistol describes seeing “eight little people” in her kitchen, energetically playing and even riding her cat: “It looked like they were trying to have a little rodeo…my cat comes back through…one of them are on her back.”
On being discovered, the beings run out the “kitty door.”
Derek discusses the recent theory of Lilliputian hallucinations caused by mushrooms but notes Pistol’s experience likely can’t be explained away so easily: “I’m not real sure how to explain away your cat rodeo, Pistol. But I hope if it happens again this time, you’ll take a video.”

Surrounded by Eyeless “White Eyes” in Missouri

Bailey (on behalf of husband), Spokane/Missouri
[31:49–34:53]

Skeptical outdoorsman husband, hunting at 3am, is surrounded by “tons of eyes…white [in] their eye shine” that “didn’t move” even when he shot at them.
Eyes vanish only when approached; no sound or visible animals.
Derek theorizes about groups of spiders (which have white eye-shine), but acknowledges the strange scale and behavior: “It almost seems like what he had encountered was bigger.”

Human Eyes with Animalistic Glow?

Tanya, North Central Minnesota
[37:46–41:42]

Alone at night, Tanya follows a slow truck: “the passenger...turned back, looking at me…And his eyes illuminated. I’m talking dead on. Exactly like if you saw a deer look at you or a cat in your headlights.”
The sensation leaves her “absolute terror...then curiosity.”
Derek recounts his own story of seeing red reflective “eye-shine” on a neighbor—explains classic red-eye effect, but notes something “super creepy” about Tanya’s case.

Childhood Mothman Premonition & Mysterious Numbers

Ellen, Vancouver/Canada
[44:15–46:46]

Ellen finds a childhood journal with a chilling Mothman entry: “And when he calls, he says, 2, 4, 8, 5, and your eyes will bleed…he’s behind me. Help.”
Ellen never heard of Mothman as a kid, wonders about prescient details and random number.
Derek investigates: notes “Mothman Prophecies” movie could be an influence, but the number “2485” also appears in a later (2005) episode of the TV show “Supernatural” involving a demonic plane crash.

Generational Sleep Paralysis with a Crawling Humanoid

Anonymous, San Bernardino/Corcoran, CA & 2016
[48:44–51:00]

Stepdad experienced sleep paralysis with a humanoid entity “crawling onto him” since age 16; mother later sees the same entity during sleep paralysis.
“She gets woken up just out of nowhere. But when she wakes up, she sees this humanoid figure crawl onto her bed towards her. And it starts like suffocating her.”
Derek: “Incubus? Succubus? Old hag?...Whatever it was, caller, I agree—it is weird that two separate people had the exact same encounter.”

Bipedal Wolf in Arizona's White Mountains

D out of Idaho
[53:51–56:03]

D encounters a “bipedal wolf…not like a Beast of Bray Road thing, but like a bipedal wolf” while elk hunting.
Compares it to a famous (but likely faked) 2020 "Beast of Bray Road" photograph showing a wolf on its hind legs.
Derek suspects taxidermy trickery in the famous photo but is left unsettled by the firsthand account.

Frog-skinned, Inhuman Cornfield Entity Returns a Thrown Bottle

Anonymous, Wisconsin (near Elmwood)
[57:35–61:46]

After a late-night drive, caller and daughters spot a strange being “the head of whatever this was turned around and it looked in my direction…body itself kind of had a sheen…like frog skin.”
Throws a Gatorade bottle at it; later, the bottle appears back at his house.
Derek suggests: “It brought the bottle back—which means it can remember, which means it can carry things, which means it knows where our caller lives.” Posits a prank, but also the possibility of a Dogman, cryptid, or even aliens—supported by Elmwood’s rich UFO folkloric history and annual “UFO Days.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

“It all comes down to fungus…these mushrooms make people see tiny humans.” – Derek, about recent research on Lilliputian hallucinations ([30:06])
“If you have a story you would like to share...call my hotline at 888-608-KNIGHT.” – Derek’s call for listener stories ([19:07])
“There’s a bigger predator out there than humans, and it’s a big cat.” – Anonymous panther witness ([18:45])
“The feeling that went through my body was absolute terror for a moment. And then it rushed into, like, curiosity.” – Tanya, describing the “glowing-eyed” truck passenger ([40:47])
“She gets woken up just out of nowhere. But when she wakes up, she sees this humanoid figure crawl onto her bed towards her. And it starts like suffocating her. But she can’t move her wrists, she can't move her arms, her legs, nothing.” – Anonymous caller ([50:06])
“It brought the bottle back…an instant classic, no doubt.” – Derek, on the Wisconsin frog-skin entity ([61:46])

Timestamps for Key Segments

[00:30] Derek’s 10-year anniversary intro
[03:52] Bridget’s leprechaun/pot-of-gold story
[10:44] Mike’s Canadian water “tentacle” encounter
[14:53] East Texas “alien big cat” tales
[20:45] Chance’s divination/Tatzelwurm synchronicity
[27:05] Pistol’s little people “cat rodeo”
[31:49] Bailey’s “white-eyed” hunting encounter
[37:46] Tanya’s “glowing human eyes” road story
[44:15] Ellen’s childhood Mothman journal
[48:44] Anonymous—family sleep paralysis/crawling entity
[53:51] D’s bipedal wolf sighting
[57:35] Wisconsin caller’s “frog skin” cornfield being

Tone & Atmosphere

Closing

This special anniversary episode offers an immersive cross-section of MAU’s unique community and the enduring power of sharing the unknown.

wavePod

Summary

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Stories

10 Years of Monsters Among Us

Leprechaun Pot at the End of the Rainbow

Unidentified Aquatic "Tentacle" Encounter

Alien Big Cat (“Panther”) Encounters

Tatzelwurm – Obscure European Cryptid

Little People Throw a “Cat Rodeo”

Surrounded by Eyeless “White Eyes” in Missouri

Human Eyes with Animalistic Glow?

Childhood Mothman Premonition & Mysterious Numbers

Generational Sleep Paralysis with a Crawling Humanoid

Bipedal Wolf in Arizona's White Mountains

Frog-skinned, Inhuman Cornfield Entity Returns a Thrown Bottle

Notable Quotes & Moments

Timestamps for Key Segments

Tone & Atmosphere

Closing

Summary

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Stories

10 Years of Monsters Among Us

Leprechaun Pot at the End of the Rainbow

Unidentified Aquatic "Tentacle" Encounter

Alien Big Cat (“Panther”) Encounters

Tatzelwurm – Obscure European Cryptid

Little People Throw a “Cat Rodeo”

Surrounded by Eyeless “White Eyes” in Missouri

Human Eyes with Animalistic Glow?

Childhood Mothman Premonition & Mysterious Numbers

Generational Sleep Paralysis with a Crawling Humanoid

Bipedal Wolf in Arizona's White Mountains

Frog-skinned, Inhuman Cornfield Entity Returns a Thrown Bottle

Notable Quotes & Moments

Timestamps for Key Segments

Tone & Atmosphere

Closing