Morbid Podcast – MiniMORBID x 2: Cryptids of the Midwest

Hosts: Ash Kelley & Alaina Urquhart
Date: October 23, 2025

Overview

Theme:
In this lighthearted but chilling “double mini-MORBID,” Ash and Alaina explore legendary cryptids of the American Midwest, focusing on the infamous Beast of Bray Road (Wisconsin) and the Enfield Monster (Illinois). The hosts blend true crime research, humor, tangents about nostalgia, and reflections on local legends into an engaging, spooky romp—perfect for the Halloween season.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Episode Structure and Purpose

• Two mini case deep-dives are combined into a “double mini MORBID.”
• Ash and Alaina bring back their “mini morbid” theme song to set a playful, nostalgic tone.
• They discuss the appeal of exploring short but compelling spooky cases that might not warrant full episodes.

2. Nostalgia, Personal Tangents, and Midwest Geography

[04:00-07:30]

• Ash and Alaina riff on 90s nostalgia and the phenomenon of being nostalgic for eras you didn’t experience firsthand (“anemoia”).
• Geographical banter: Are Wisconsin and Illinois the Midwest? “Your stomach said yes. Mine is from Illinois...”
• Light family stories: memories of falling from strollers, kids’ odd recollections, and family hospital anecdotes.

3. Cryptid 1: The Beast of Bray Road (Elkhorn, Wisconsin)

Story Summary:
[07:32-47:32]

• Initial Sightings

  • 1991: Doris Gypson, driving on Halloween night, encounters an upright, wolf-like creature. Her car is scratched by claw marks. Later, journalist Linda Godfrey sees the claw damage.
  • Multiple witnesses (Pat Lester, Lori, local bar manager Laurie Andrizzi) all report a “large, hairy, upright beast” with both canine and human characteristics.

• Notable Descriptions

  • “A biped, a walking humanoid dog...about 7 to 8 feet tall, hands hairy, not like a human, but humanoid hands with claws, deep-set fangs, enormous eyes...” – (Elkhorn animal welfare officer John Fredrickson, quoting reports) [18:21]
  • Laurie: “It was kneeling...in a way she didn’t think a canine could kneel...like a human.” [20:44]
  • “I could hear its feet on the asphalt…” – Doris [12:22]

• Key Incidents

  • 1992: Tom Brichta’s car hits something in a heavy fog, and he describes a giant, skunk-smelling, hairy being with “quite the nails” on its fingers. [30:44]
  • Many witnesses report the Beast running on two legs, challenging people, and smirking or “snickering.” [33:43]

• Historical Tie-In

  • 1936: Mark Shackleman, a night watchman, sees a beast at Native American burial mounds. The beast rises up, “sneers” at him, and utters “Gadara”—a possible biblical reference to a place where Jesus exorcised demons. [40:12]

• Interpretations & Theories

  • Some think the beast was summoned by satanic cults rumored in 1980s Wisconsin.
  • Others believe it is a natural, undiscovered species—possibly always present in Wisconsin’s woods.

• Tone Highlights & Memorable Moments

  • Alaina: “It’s a full morbid made out of two mini morbids, which is all the more morbid.” [02:52]
  • Running jokes about whether the beast is secretly the band Creed (“with arms wide open”), Twilight’s Jacob, or just a “dingus monster.” [26:15, 34:08]
  • “Don’t start none, won’t be none.” [41:54]
  • Tangent: Should they do a November bonus episode analyzing Twilight? “If you say you don’t want that, you’re breaking two hearts.” [14:09, 47:45]

4. Cryptid 2: The Enfield Monster (Enfield, Illinois)

Story Summary:
[48:00-79:52]

• Initial Encounter

  • April 25, 1973: Henry McDaniel and his family hear scratching/clawing at their house. Henry grabs his pistol and flashlight, seeing a “three-legged, short-bodied, two-short-armed, two pink-eyed” creature. [51:43]
  • “It had three legs on it, a short body, two little short arms, and two pink eyes as big as flashlights.” – Henry [51:43]
  • He fires four shots; the creature screams like a wildcat and leaps 50 feet away in a few bounds.

• Follow-up Investigations

  • State troopers find unusual tracks: six toe pads per foot. [57:53]
  • Some locals suggest it's a kangaroo; Henry, an army vet who had a pet kangaroo in Australia, rejects that explanation. [60:01]

• Community Reaction & New Sightings

  • Town is overrun with monster hunters—reports of illegal hunting; local sheriff threatens arrests: “Nothing I know of is in season now, especially monsters.” [72:54]
  • Next door neighbor kids, including 10-year-old Greg Garrett, claim encounters (“it stepped on his feet and tore his tennis shoes to shreds”). [69:47]
  • Reporter Rick Rainbow and others document more sightings and tracks.

• Alternative Theories

  • Letter from “Alan Yorkshire” claims his pet kangaroo, Macy, may be responsible, but this is unproven and seems unlikely. [76:05]
  • Later, sociologists dismiss the sightings as a case of “social contagion,” but Henry maintains he saw something real.

• Memorable Quotes

  • Henry: “If they do find it, they will find more than one, and they won’t be from this planet. I can tell you that.” [62:51]
  • “Cryptids love corn...Honey, it's the corn.” – Alaina [66:05, 66:08]

• Theme of Letting Local Monsters Be

  • Concerns about locals trying to hunt and kill the “monster,” with Ash and Alaina urging, “Let the cryptids live!”
  • “We have plenty of local monsters floating around the Bridgewater Triangle. None of us are out here trying to kill them...Just let them be.” – Alaina [78:02]

5. Podcast Tone, Running Gags, and Listener Engagement

• Frequent Twilight and Creed references, with multiple direct requests for listeners to comment/approve a future Twilight bonus episode.
• Playful jabs at each other (“similar to yours, almost looked human” [54:35]; “I think we have a connection because he keeps coming back to me” [68:53]).
• Ongoing banter about pets, children, being “almost human,” and how cryptids probably just want to teach humans survival instincts.
• Plenty of ad-libs and role-play around cryptids as quirky Midwest residents, with overt affection for local legends.

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• On the Beast of Bray Road:

  • “No, thank you. What do you mean, a large dog or wolf also with human characteristics?” – Alaina [08:19]
  • “The animal had scratched a small piece of the pinstriping from the exterior...the animal had scratched a small piece of the pinstriping from the exterior…” – [31:29]
  • “He described it to me as big and hairy and that it was walking and ‘reaching out in his direction.’” – Tom’s mother [25:45]

• On Midwest Monsters in General:

  • “Cryptids love corn...Honey, it's the corn.” – Alaina [66:05, 66:08]
  • “It ran faster than you. That’s it. If it can outrun you…Survival of the fittest, baby.” – Alaina [71:45]
  • “If you believe something could be ‘conjured from satanic cults,’ you cannot discount werewolves as being a thing.” – Alaina [44:11]

• On Listener Input (Twilight reference):

  • “If you say that you don’t want that, you’re breaking two hearts.” – Ash [15:12]

• On Social Contagion and Local Lore:

  • “Henry maintained that what he saw wasn’t a kangaroo. And other people saw the shit, too.” – Ash [64:53]
  • “He saw something.” – Alaina [79:43]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Intro and Theme Song Banter: 01:32-03:19
• Nostalgia and Midwest Geography: 04:00-07:30
• Beast of Bray Road Story (Elkhorn, WI): 07:32-47:32
• Transition to Enfield Monster (Enfield, IL): 48:00
• Enfield Monster Story: 48:00-79:52
• Conclusions, Cryptid Love, and Closing Banter: 80:00-81:26

Conclusion & Takeaways

• Ash and Alaina charm listeners with their trademark blend of humor, spooky storytelling, and personal asides, while highlighting how cryptid legends thrive on both kernel-of-truth encounters and vibrant retellings.
• Main message: Leave your local monsters/cryptids be—let them live life in the cornfields! And maybe—just maybe—they’re here to teach us a thing or two about survival (or snark).
• Call to Action: Listeners are encouraged to comment in support of a Twilight bonus episode and to share their own cryptid sightings or beliefs!

“We hope you keep listening and we hope you keep it weird—but not so weird that you actually do keep it so weird that you spot a cryptid in the wild and then please tell us all about it.” – Ash [81:16]

For fans of spooky folklore, irreverent humor, and “creepy-cute” cryptid tales, this episode is an absolute treat.