Podcast Summary: Monsters Among Us
Host: Derek Hayes
Episode: S20 Ep8 – Duendes, Gnomes & Forest Folk: Best of Little People
Date: November 6, 2025
Overview
In this "Best Of" episode, Derek Hayes curates true, first-hand accounts from listeners across North America (and beyond) encountering “little people” — entities variously known as duendes, gnomes, fairies, elves, trolls, and other forest folk. The stories, spanning decades and cultures, are relayed by witnesses themselves and explore an array of eerie, mysterious, and sometimes playful experiences with tiny, human-like entities. Hayes lets the calls take center stage, providing only occasional context or brief commentary.
Key Topics and Discussion Points
Introduction: A World of Wee Folk
[02:07] Derek Hayes
- Introduces the episode focus on mysterious small entities — describing them as 6-inch to 2-foot humanoids, often with clothing, shoes, and tools.
- Notes the variety of cultural names: forest folk, elves, trolls, fairies, gnomes, duende, and more.
- Promises a compilation of “best of” and never-before-heard listener stories.
Listener Encounters & Notable Stories
1. Cherokee Little People in the Appalachians
[03:32] Floyd/Boyd
- Witnessed as a young boy in the Southern Appalachians.
- Recounts a “little fist” rising from between the wall and bed to knock three times (“just as vividly as I can see these mountains”) — a memory he insists was not a dream.
“A little fist, about the size of a fist that you would imagine on an elf or a little person or a fairy, came up from the crack... knocked three times on the wall, and went back down.”
— Floyd/Boyd [04:12]
2. The Little Man in the Alabama Woods
[06:11] TJ (Wife’s Secondhand Account)
- Teen girls park in a field, hear “a kind of glug noise.”
- On turning headlights on, they spot a 2–3 ft tall man in “nature clothing” (leaves, skins), who runs for the trees.
“She said, there is this little man... dressed in what she describes as basically natural nature clothing... The headlights caught him perfectly…”
— TJ [07:21]
3. Running Gnome — Mississippi Suburbs
[08:47] Anonymous
- While on a delivery route, spots what he thinks is a garden gnome — but it suddenly runs off into the woods.
- Described as “like a little jockey.”
- Wonders if others have similar experiences.
4. Elf on the Bed — Windsor, Ontario
[11:35] Alexander
- Childhood memory: an “elf figure” appears on his bed on Christmas Eve, behaving mischievously (“weirdly trying to mess with me”).
- 20+ years later, learns from a Filipino stranger online this matches “duende” folklore.
“Very vivid in my memory... It was not a dream. I was completely awake.”
— Alexander [12:41]
5. Iceland’s Hidden People (Huldufólk)
[14:51] Michelle (Arizona)
- Shares a retold Icelandic tale of invisible elves thwarting road construction (equipment repeatedly breaking down).
- “Elf hill” in Iceland still stands, road goes around it.
6. Giggling Leprechauns & Family Heritage — Texas & Ireland
[17:16] James
- As a child, hears a group of distinct, tiny giggles moving around the room, lasting 10–15 minutes.
- Later, as an adult in Ireland, hears the exact same giggles in a hotel room.
“It was literally like a little person giggle. Like you would think leprechauns or, you know, trolls or fairies...”
— James [17:44]
- Connects experiences with his strong Irish heritage.
7. Black “Gnome” Sighting & Community Validation — Omaha, Nebraska
[23:37] Andy
- Girlfriend glimpses a 1-foot-tall figure “running on two feet” by a creepy old house — not an animal but “like a gnome or leprechaun”.
- At a later public talk, another local, Carl, reports the same sighting in the 1970s, seen with friends through a basement window.
“It looked like maybe a garden gnome or leprechaun is the only thing that she could compare it to.”
— Andy [24:48]
8. Lightning, Tiny Clothes, and a Fear of Small Doors — Houston, Texas
[29:44] Anonymous and Sibling
- As children, during a storm, both see a “tiny little creature shaped like a person” dash across a darkened loft during a flash of lightning.
- Mother finds a set of tiny red-and-green clothes a little later — neither child owned dolls.
- Family matriarch has a lifelong fear of tiny doors, fearing what might come from them.
“She told me, it’s not the door so much as what I’m afraid might come out of them.”
— Anonymous, relaying mother’s words [33:19]
9. Cherokee “Little People” Seen as a Child — Midwest
[34:15] Anonymous
- At 4–5, sees a toddler-sized figure in “Native American” dress, armed with a bow and arrow, run from under her bed.
- Decades later, recognizes the entity in a book of Cherokee folklore.
“It was a little figure...about toddler size...with a little bow and arrow.”
— Anonymous [36:24]
10. The Underground Society of Duende — South America (Colombia)
[39:16] Dave (Retelling a Friend's Story)
- Friend met a 2-foot duende as a child — an old man’s face, child’s stature, wore dirty overalls.
- Duende said only the “pure” can see him, mentioned an entire subterranean civilization, invited the boy to visit.
- Encounters include shrinking sensations after eating duende-given food, multiple sightings of a cave he senses is connected.
“This duende did also say that under the ground there was a whole society of these duende and that they had oceans.”
— Dave [41:14]
11. Mexican Duende — Houston, Texas (Family Story)
[45:42] Caleb (Father’s Story)
- As a boy in Guerrero, Mexico, Caleb’s father sees a small figure running in a field, later wakes to find a “gnome” with brown-olive skin and a pot belly laughing at him at close range in his bedroom.
“He had a big beard, a pointy hat... had the body of a baby... but the face of a grown ass man.”
— Caleb (father’s description) [48:03]
12. Métis “Mama Hua Sisa” — Manitoba, Canada
[51:15] Anonymous (Army Training Experience)
- Reports seeing “dwarves” in night vision during a military exercise, others on the team report similar sightings, strange misplacements and missing items.
- Connects to Métis folklore about small beings in the land.
“You can see movement in the trees... like Snow White and the seven dwarves running around.”
— Anonymous [51:57]
13. Action Figure-Sized Being Plays with a Cat — McAllen, Texas
[56:07] Michael
- After work, sees friend’s kitten “playing” with something — turns out to be an “action figure-sized” little person, which scurries away.
- Family stories suggest little people have been caught before (kept in a jar, then vanished).
“...we’re talking about something about, gosh, he’s five inches tall.”
— Michael [59:11]
14. Forest Duende Follows Boy Home — Mexico
[59:23] Marcos (via brother’s story)
- Boy walking home from school spots and is then trailed by a duende (“like Dobby from Harry Potter”), which won’t cross a stream.
“He just kept walking and never went back to that place again.”
— Marcos [61:51]
15. Micro-People and Surveillance — Portland, Oregon
[62:59] Anonymous
- Dreams of “micro people” living in Keurig pods; hears unexplained ticks and movements in the house.
- Believes he’s being watched, sees a suspicious vehicle with a figure whose “head was the size of a damn orange.”
“Ain’t no damn human got the head the size of an orange with some glasses on it...”
— Anonymous [65:47]
Notable Quotes & Moments
| Timestamp | Speaker & Quote | |-----------|-----------------| | [04:12] | Floyd/Boyd: “A little fist, about the size of a fist you would imagine on an elf...came up from the crack...knocked three times...” | | [07:21] | TJ: “She said, there is this little man...dressed in...basically natural nature clothing...” | | [12:41] | Alexander: “Very vivid in my memory...It was not a dream. I was completely awake.” | | [17:44] | James: “It was literally like a little person giggle...like you would think leprechauns...trolls or fairies...” | | [24:48] | Andy: “It looked like maybe a garden gnome or leprechaun is the only thing she could compare it to.” | | [33:19] | Anonymous (mom’s fear): “It’s not the door so much as what I’m afraid might come out of them.” | | [41:14] | Dave: “This duende did also say that under the ground there was a whole society...and that they had oceans.” | | [48:03] | Caleb (father’s story): “He had a big beard, a pointy hat...the face of a grown ass man.” | | [51:57] | Anonymous (Metis): “It was going to sound weird, but you can see movement in the trees and it looked almost like dwarves...running around.” | | [59:11] | Michael: “We’re talking about something about, gosh, he’s five inches tall.” | | [65:47] | Portland Anonymous: “Ain’t no damn human got the head the size of an orange with some glasses on it...” |
Thematic Insights
- Cross-cultural Universality: Strikingly similar “little people” sightings arise in North, Central, and South America, Europe, and the Philippines, each culture giving its own name: duende, huldufólk, leprechauns, Mama Hua Sisa, Cherokee Little People, etc.
- Childhood Encounters: Many stories stem from childhood, the witnesses insisting they were not dreams, with adulthood validations through folklore or shared stories with others.
- Physical Details: Common descriptions include: 1–2 feet tall, human-like bodies, old faces, sometimes pointed hats, and clothing made from leaves or found materials.
- Playfulness and Mischief: These creatures are portrayed as mischievous rather than malign in many instances—moving objects, causing minor chaos, sometimes inviting children to join them.
- Ominous Moments: A few encounters hint at more threatening undertones (e.g., attempts to lead children away, unsettling laughter, deep-seated family fears).
Chronological Guide to Key Stories
| Timestamp | Caller & Location | Summary | |-----------|------------------|---------| | 03:32 | Floyd/Boyd – Appalachians | Cherokee Little People knock at night | | 06:11 | TJ (wife’s story) – Alabama | Little man in forested field | | 08:47 | Anonymous – Mississippi | “Gnome” runs from front yard | | 11:35 | Alexander – Ontario | Childhood elf/duende experience | | 14:51 | Michelle – Arizona/Iceland | Hidden folk halt construction | | 17:16 | James – Texas/Ireland | Giggling fairies in childhood and adulthood | | 23:37 | Andy – Nebraska | Two local gnome sightings, decades apart | | 29:44 | Anonymous – Texas | Lightning flash reveals tiny creature; tiny clothes found | | 34:14 | Anonymous – Midwest | Toddler-sized Native “little person” with bow & arrow | | 39:16 | Dave (friend's story) – Colombia | Underground duende society | | 45:42 | Caleb (father’s story) – Mexico | Duende appears bedside; historical artifacts connection | | 51:15 | Anonymous – Manitoba | Metis “Mama Hua Sisa” seen by soldiers | | 56:07 | Michael – Texas | Action figure-sized “little person” seen with kitten | | 59:23 | Marcos (brother’s story) – Mexico | Duende stalks boy in forest | | 62:59 | Anonymous – Oregon | Dreams of “micro-people,” odd surveillance |
Tone & Style
- Storytelling: Conversational, personal, and often emotional firsthand accounts.
- Host’s Role: Derek Hayes offers gentle guidance, brief thanks, and contextual bridges; the main tone is nostalgic, spooky, and respectful toward folklore and its witnesses.
- Atmosphere: The show maintains its “spooky, nostalgia-rich atmosphere,” allowing stories to carry genuine eeriness and intrigue.
Final Thoughts
This episode illustrates the remarkable similarity of “little people” tales from a multitude of cultures and times, creating a tapestry of shared folklore that crosses generations and borders. Hayes curates stories with wonder and respect, allowing listeners to reflect on the possibilities that may be lurking just out of sight, in forests, fields, old houses, and even beneath our beds.
If you enjoy first-hand, spine-tingling accounts of the unexplained, this installment is a gold mine of folklore and personal testimony on the world’s mysterious “wee folk.”
End of Summary