Mike Gardner and his family hosts explore the chilling phenomenon known as the Hat Man, a shadowy figure reported by many people during sleep paralysis and other altered states. The episode explains how sleep paralysis works and why it often produces terrifying hallucinations, including shadow figures and feelings of dread. They highlight the eerie consistency of Hat Man sightings across different cultures, mental states, and even psychedelic experiences. The hosts discuss possible explanations ranging from neurological misfires to interdimensional or supernatural theories. The episode closes by inviting listeners to question why so many people report seeing the exact same silent figure watching them in the dark.

Cryptidz Wiki – “Dalby Spook (Gef the Talking Mongoose)”

An overview of the Dalby Spook legend, including reported behaviors, witness accounts, and later explanations.

Source: Cryptidz Wiki, Dalby Spook

https://cryptidz.fandom.com/wiki/Dalby_Spook

National Geographic – “Gef, the Talking Mongoose of the Isle of Man”

A historical deep dive into the Gef phenomenon, including cultural context, primary sources, and analysis of the claims.

Source: National Geographic History

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/gef-talking-mongoose-isle-of-man

Buckland, Raymond. (2005). The Spirit Book: The Encyclopedia of Clairvoyance, Channeling, and Spirit Communication. Visible Ink Press. p. 144. ISBN 978-1578592135

Episode Summary

Gef the Talking Mongoose was a mysterious entity reported in the 1930s by the Irving family of Dalby on the Isle of Man, who claimed a mongoose spoke to them from inside their farmhouse walls.

Gef described himself as an “extra, extra clever mongoose,” an earthbound spirit, and a ghost in animal form, displaying knowledge of events beyond the home.

He allegedly warned the family of visitors, kept watch over the property, and accepted food offerings like biscuits and bananas in return.

Journalists and investigators visited the farm, some claiming to hear Gef, though physical evidence such as hair samples was later linked to the family dog.

To this day, the case remains debated as either an elaborate hoax or one of folklore’s most playful and enduring mysteries.

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Credits

Host: Michael, Chris, Mark, and Pam Gardner

Writer: Michael Gardner

Editor: Pam Gardner

Special Thanks: Thank you Tonya for letting us take over the basement of your home.

Episode Summary

The west desert is a little too quiet. Out in the middle of nowhere sits Dugway Proving Grounds. Are they really testing high tech, top secret equipment there or is it all just an alien conspiracy.

References

UFO sightings at Dugway Proving Grounds investigated by the Utah UFO Hunters, reported by Tooele Online.

https://www.tooeleonline.com/articles/news/ufo-hunters-report-strange-lights-at-dugway/ Tooele Online

Reddit thread showing green flashing lights near Dugway, sparking local discussion.

https://www.reddit.com/r/SaltLakeCity/comments/1ogma3g/green_light_flashing_across_the_mountains_any/

BLM info on Dugway Geode Beds, a quartz-rich area near Dugway.

https://www.blm.gov/visit/dugway-geode-beds Bureau of Land Management

Archived info on the West Desert Test Center / Dugway military facility.

https://web.archive.org/web/20051112184230/http://www.wdtc.army.mil/ Wayback Machine

AirNav listing for Michael Army Airfield (KDPG) at Dugway Proving Ground.

https://www.airnav.com/airport/KDPG AirNav

Utah Geological Survey on the March 18, 2020 Magna earthquake near Dugway.

https://geology.utah.gov/map-pub/survey-notes/the-ugs-response-to-the-march-18-2020-magnitude-5-7-magna-utah-earthquake-and-aftershock-sequence/ Utah Geological Survey

Historical weather data for June 2004 (context for sightings).

https://weatherspark.com/h/m/2694/2004/6/Historical-Weather-in-June-2004-in-Midway-Utah-United-States Video Highlight

Join the Community

Send your own ghost story for a Listener Tale

Email: cryptidhauntings@gmail.com

Instagram: cryptidhauntings

TikTok: @cryptid.hauntings

Credits

Host: Michael, Chris, Mark, and Pam Gardner

Writer: Michael Gardner

Editor: Pam Gardner

Special Thanks: Thank you Tonya for letting us take over the basement of your home.