Spooked: "Goatman – The Crossroads" (October 10, 2025)
Podcast: Spooked (KQED & Snap Studios)
Host: Glynn Washington
Guest: Colton Goss
Theme: True-life supernatural encounter with the legendary “Goatman” on the Blackfoot Reservation
Episode Overview
This eerie episode of Spooked delves into the mythos and firsthand encounter of the “Goatman,” a supernatural creature from Blackfoot lore. Told by rodeo cowboy Colton Goss, it’s a chilling exploration of Native stories, rural life, and the personal terror—and fascination—of coming face to face with legend. Through Colton's narrative, the episode investigates how ancient figures continue to shape and haunt the landscape of indigenous experience.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Myth of Light and Shadow (04:09–08:42)
- Opening Parable: The narrator delivers a poetic, mythological tale about the origins of Light and Shadow, ultimately revealing that humanity contains both, fractured and searching for unity.
- "But man opened his arms and Shadow felt the pull. Then Shadow screamed as Shadow and Light collapsed back into Man. Until man stood alone as he'd always been." (07:40)
- Foreshadowing: Sets the thematic undercurrent of duality, shape-shifting, and the blending of personal and mythic evil.
2. Colton’s Life and Character (08:42–09:59)
- Colton’s Identity: Rodeo daredevil and ranch kid from Browning, Blackfoot Reservation.
- "I've been a daredevil my whole life. Just the way I was part of being cowboy...I broke so many bones doing it, you know...But I was happy." (08:42)
- Humble Beginnings: He describes buying his first ranch and settling down with his girlfriend at 18.
3. The First Encounter (09:59–13:07)
- Supernatural Visitation: Colton wakes at 3 AM and sees a pair of blinding, white, inhuman eyes peering at him through the kitchen window.
- "My hair standing up on the back. And it gave me the ugliest, deepest smile there could ever be. It was just white—like he had a white glow stick in his mouth." (10:33)
- Physical Fear: He freezes in shock, runs to his girlfriend, and spends a sleepless night questioning reality.
4. Escalation: Sounds & Signs (13:20–15:27)
- Recurring Disturbances: A week later, knocks and heavy breathing outside the house; physical evidence of a “bare human footprint” and a “goat hoof” side-by-side in the mud.
- “That ain't a horse print. Too tiny. That's a goat print. I start putting details together. He's got a hoof. He's got a foot. And he can disappear. F** is a goat man?”* (14:40)
5. The Goatman Legend Retold (16:53–20:20)
- Origin Story: Sixth-grade teacher tells the class the local myth of Goatman, a settler who, after committing demonic acts and killing his goats, transformed into a half-man, half-goat creature. The legend ties back to 1889 and the building of the railroad.
- “He brought it back to way back in the day, to where Browning was just a small little community. … There was a guy that lived out there. He raised goats. One day he did some demonic stuff and ended up killing them goats. … Next day … there he was, Goatman.” (17:35)
- Legacy: The Goatman is thought to prowl the Deepakuli area, a familiar haunt of Colton’s youth.
6. Grandfather’s Caution (20:32–25:13)
- Spiritual Danger: Colton’s grandfather describes Goatman as a trickster and shape-shifter, likening him to the devil—capable of luring victims to madness.
- "The devil and the Goatman are basically the same thing. He's a trickster, the shape shifter… he'll lure you into stuff, trying to make you chase it, and then torture you at the end." (20:44)
- Emotional Toll: Colton becomes obsessed and emotionally shaken, tormented by knocks, scratches, and fleeting night visions; haunted by the belief in the “black figure”—a harbinger of doom in Blackfoot lore.
7. Confrontation and Chase (25:26–33:23)
- Ultimate Encounter: One night, Colton confronts Goatman—a towering, furry, horned, part-goat, part-man creature with “the laugh of a demon.”
- “You can see the face of a goat. ...Then all of a sudden, on the right side, teeth start showing. Slow motion, just sharp dog teeth. Just pearly white dog teeth. Then finally… the smile of him. Just a big, happy, pearly smile. And then it took off.” (28:40)
- Pursuit: Driven by adrenaline, Colton chases the Goatman—first on foot, then by truck—witnessing impossible physical feats as the creature outpaces and eventually vanishes.
- "We're off down the road, you know, gravel kicking, and I'm slipping and sliding, and I'm in my socks. ...And all I know is it's a foot race to the house. You know, he's gonna chase me now." (29:30)
- Strange Attachment: Despite his terror, Colton feels an inexplicable connection—tearing up as he realizes he wants to keep chasing the legend.
8. Aftermath and Reflection (33:23–35:10)
- Grandpa’s Wisdom: Seeking answers, Colton confides in his grandfather, who offers little explanation beyond the inscrutable mysteries of Blackfoot life.
- “Well, ain't no answer for that. Well, Blackfoot life works in mysterious ways and a lot of mysterious things.” (34:35)
- Enduring Obsession: Colton continues to scan the roads and fields for any sign—haunted but also strangely comforted by the possibility of Goatman’s return.
- “Probably to the day I die. I'll keep trying to see him.” (35:00)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Confronting Fear:
“My body just got cold. It shut down. I couldn't even think. I didn't remember my name. And everything was just getting black beside me.”
—Colton Goss (10:52) -
On Goatman’s Trickster Nature:
“He's a trickster, the shape shifter. He'll lure you into stuff, trying to make you chase it, and then torture you at the end.”
—Colton’s Grandfather (20:43) -
On Haunting and Hope:
“I cried because I didn't want him to go. I wanted to keep chasing him, you know? I just wanted to capture this myth, this legend...”
—Colton Goss (32:48)
Important Timestamps
- 04:09 – Opening parable: Light and Shadow
- 08:42 – Colton’s rodeo background
- 09:59 – First supernatural encounter at the ranch
- 13:20 – Second round: noises and the trail of footprints
- 16:53 – Childhood introduction to the Goatman myth
- 20:32 – Grandfather’s explanation: Trickster and black figure
- 25:26 – Colton’s resolve: “You can't outrun the goatman”
- 28:08–33:23 – Full confrontation and desperate chase
- 33:29 – Epilogue with Colton’s grandfather
- 35:10 – Closing reflection: Colton’s quest continues
Tone & Style
The episode maintains Spooked’s signature blend of unhurried, ambient storytelling, mixing Native folklore, personal testimony, and existential dread. Colton’s storytelling is raw, colloquial, and emotionally communicative, delivering shock, fear, and longing with unfiltered honesty. The narration adds mythic weight and a haunting sense of unresolved mystery.
Final Thoughts
“Goatman – The Crossroads” masterfully fuses Native legend and personal haunting, blurring the lines between myth and memory. Colton’s testimony lingers—a testament to the enduring power of stories, and the unending chase for understanding the darkness outside (and within) the door.
Quote for the Road:
"What is it about our fellow creatures that we envy them so much? … I've seen the monster, and the monster is me. Perhaps every beast we become is another shadow, another light, another fragment that we create to avoid the inner voice acting."
—Host/Narrator (37:10)
(Advertisements, show credits, and promos omitted as per instructions.)