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5/31/25 - Chasing Shadows: The Bigfoot Hunt with Natalie Smearman

In this episode, the hosts welcome Bigfoot researcher Natalie Smearman from Relic Films to discuss her work and experiences. The conversation covers her personal paranormal encounters, her transition from skepticism to active cryptid research, and the challenges of investigating in the field.
Natalie Smearman shares her journey into Bigfoot research, starting with a childhood visit from her deceased grandmother's spirit and escalating paranormal activity in her Florida home. She describes a shadow figure haunting her family, which she believes was attached to a military souvenir. Her Bigfoot investigations began with skepticism in West Virginia, leading her to study skunk ape activity in Florida. She recounts camping alone to attract a skunk ape but instead encountering a Florida panther, emphasizing the importance of ruling out other animals. Natalie discusses the skunk ape's smell from swamp conditions and their survival alongside alligators. She shares experiences in Arkansas and the Everglades, including witnessing indigenous alligator wrestling. In Big Cypress National Forest, she found unexplained bent trees and argues against the theory that skunk apes are black bears. She defends the credibility of the 2000 Myakka Skunk Ape photos and Dave Shealy's video. Natalie describes a terrifying Bigfoot hunt in the Smoky Mountains, where she felt a predator's presence and saw intelligent orbs reacting to the group's emotions. Her upcoming documentary with Relic Films is set for release in early 2026.
00:00
00:00
Host shares personal news about his son's graduation
20:25
20:25
A souvenir unlocked a shadow figure in our home.
27:04
27:04
It growled at my son.
42:34
42:34
Rule out other animals before concluding it's a cryptid.
57:44
57:44
Indigenous tribes capture alligators for photos then release them unharmed.
1:04:32
1:04:32
Bears cannot walk upright through swamp muck
1:07:47
1:07:47
I want to go to that exact spot.
1:17:10
1:17:10
Overwhelming sense of dread and pressure on her chest
1:20:04
1:20:04
Orbs reacted to the group's emotions and actions.