For centuries, something has haunted the dark waters of Loch Ness. Is the Loch Ness Monster a surviving prehistoric creature or something far stranger?

In this episode of the Wondering Monsters Podcast, we explore the full Nessie cryptid history, tracing the legend of the Loch Ness Monster from ancient Scottish folklore and medieval encounters to modern sightings, scientific investigations, and occult theory.

We examine early accounts involving St. Columba, the role of kelpies and water spirits in Scottish mythology, and how Victorian-era fascination with dinosaurs reshaped Nessie into the creature we recognize today. We also break down sonar scans, environmental DNA studies, and why science has struggled to fully explain what people continue to see in the loch.

Beyond biology, this episode dives into darker territory exploring Boleskine House, Aleister Crowley, and the possibility that Nessie may be a thought-form sustained by belief itself. Loch Ness is more than a lake; it’s a liminal space where myth, history, and human perception collide.

Whether Nessie is monster, myth, or manifestation, one thing is clear: the legend refuses to sink.

Listen now and decide for yourself what’s really lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness.

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Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
1:14 - The surgeon's photo and creating hoaxes
4:23 - First reports
5:38 - Size and shape of Loch Ness
8:09 - Sonar challenges for Loch Ness
10:44 - The role of the Boleskine House
26:48 - Loch Ness and Scottish Lore
30:50 - Early history and monster sightings at different lakes
34:57 - Loch Ness and dinosaurs
40:09 - Alligators, sewers, and old games
42:49 - Wild theories
52:51 - Sightings not in liminal spaces?
54:46 - Desert monsters, Predator, and Bigfoot
1:01:38 - Un/Likely Explanations and ratings
1:05:44 - A lot of money game
1:11:24 - Outro

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• What are Liminal Spaces and Why Do They Feel So Weird?
• Necronomicon & Cursed Books Explained
• Mothman and a Horrific Bridge Collapse
• The History of the Boogeyman
• Bigfoot, Sasquatch, and the Wild Man Tradition

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Full Show Notes and Licensing Information.

Wondering Monster Links:

Official Website: Wondering Monsters Podcast Website
YouTube: Wondering Monsters Podcast on YouTube
Spotify: Wondering Monsters Podcast on Spotify
Apple Podcasts: Wondering Monsters Podcast on Apple Podcasts
More Podcast Platforms: Wondering Monsters Podcast on Other Platforms
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Ghost ships have haunted sailors for centuries, but what really happens when a ship is found drifting with no crew?

In this episode of the Wondering Monsters Podcast, we dive into the chilling world of ghost ships, abandoned vessels, and cursed voyages. From legendary phantom ships like the Flying Dutchman to real-life maritime mysteries such as the Mary Celeste, we explore why the ocean has produced so many unsettling stories.

We break down the two main types of ghost ships:

• Legendary and haunted vessels doomed to sail forever
• Real ships discovered intact but mysteriously empty

Along the way, we examine famous cases including the Mary Celeste, the Flying Dutchman, the Carol A. Deering, the Octavius, and the Ourang Medan. Are these stories the result of supernatural forces, psychological breakdowns at sea, toxic cargo, or natural phenomena like strange lights and mirages?

This episode also explores why the ocean itself is such a powerful source of fear ... a vast liminal space where isolation, uncertainty, and sudden disaster can turn reality into legend. Whether you believe ghost ships are paranormal, psychological, or something in between, these stories reveal just how thin the line can be between history and myth.

If you’re fascinated by maritime mysteries, abandoned ships, haunted oceans, or unexplained phenomena, this episode is for you.

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Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
0:35 - Types of and defining ghost ships
2:38 - The Mary Celeste
5:39 - Weird Lights and St. Elmo's Fire
6:40 - The Flying Dutchman
16:39 - The Carol A. Deering
19:40 - MV Lyubov Orlova
21:42 - MV Joyita
22:50 - The Philadelphia Experiment
24:09 - Sailors and bad omens
27:10 - The Queen Mary
30:17 - SS Ourang Medan
36:14 - Future - ghost space ships?
38:38 - Other explanations for ghost ships
48:41 - Ratings
56:08 - Practical advice regarding ghost ships
57:56 - Outro

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• Bigfoot, Sasquatch, and the Wild Man Tradition
• The Legend of the Headless Horseman and Sleepy Hollow
• What are Liminal Spaces and Why Do They Feel So Weird?
• Are Ouija Boards Real?
• Hellhounds in Mythology & Folklore

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Full Show Notes and Licensing Information.

Wondering Monster Links:

Official Website: Wondering Monsters Podcast Website
YouTube: Wondering Monsters Podcast on YouTube
Spotify: Wondering Monsters Podcast on Spotify
Apple Podcasts: Wondering Monsters Podcast on Apple Podcasts
More Podcast Platforms: Wondering Monsters Podcast on Other Platforms
Bluesky: Wondering Monsters Podcast on Bluesky
Instagram: Wondering Monsters Podcast on Instagram

What happens if you meet a massive black dog with glowing red eyes at a crossroads... at night?

In this episode of the Wondering Monsters Podcast, we explore the terrifying and fascinating mythology of Hellhounds—spectral black dogs that appear in cemeteries, lonely roads, graveyards, and liminal spaces between worlds.

From Cerberus, the three-headed guardian of the Greek underworld, to Anubis, guide of the dead in ancient Egypt, to the infamous Black Shuck of England, Hellhounds appear across cultures as omens of death, protectors of sacred boundaries, and agents of the devil himself. Some chase souls who made deals at the crossroads. Others guide the lost safely home. And a few… decide your time is up.

We discuss:

• Why Hellhounds are tied to crossroads and liminal spaces
• The Wild Hunt and spectral dogs across Europe
• Graveyard Grims and protective black dogs
• Devil deals, blues legends, and being chased by Hellhounds
• Real historical encounters and modern sightings
• Whether Hellhounds are evil… or simply doing their job
• Are Hellhounds monsters, guardians, or something in between?

Listen now ... and watch the road when you’re walking home at night.

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Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
0:23 - What are hellhounds?
5:47 - Hellhounds and the Crossroads
6:37 - Getting away from Hellhounds and MythBusters
9:10 - Hecate and threshold guardians
10:37 - Walpurgis Night or Walpurgisnacht
14:29 - Back to what hellhounds look like
16:09 - How stories change over time
17:22 - Drug sniffing hellhounds, Hades, Anubis, Vampire Dogs, and helper dogs
21:34 - Call to action for you!
26:23 - Throwback to the Crossroads
27:34 - Hellhound at a church in 1577
29:23 - Hellhound (Black Shuck) spotted in 1972
30:51 - Rick Moranis's party and a hellhound sighting
31:58 - Zuul, snacks, and Devil Dogs
33:14 - Hellhounds and ghost ships
34:29 - Hellhounds guarding cemeteries
38:36 - Shoutout to the Dave Benson Show
39:16 - Practical advice regarding encounters with hellhounds
41:44 - Ratings and ways to escape from a hellhound revealed!
51:41 - The power of a dog instincts, hellhounds included!
51:40 - Scenarios play out for escaping hellhounds
54:41 - Outro

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• Crossroads, Spirits, and Dangerous Deals
• The History of the Boogeyman
• The Legend of the Headless Horseman and Sleepy Hollow
• Mothman and a Horrific Bridge Collapse
• Why are Graveyards SO Scary?
• What are Liminal Spaces and Why Do They Feel So Weird?

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Full Show Notes and Licensing Information.

Wondering Monster Links:

Official Website: Wondering Monsters Podcast Website
YouTube: Wondering Monsters Podcast on YouTube
Spotify: Wondering Monsters Podcast on Spotify
Apple Podcasts: Wondering Monsters Podcast on Apple Podcasts
More Podcast Platforms: Wondering Monsters Podcast on Other Platforms
Bluesky: Wondering Monsters Podcast on Bluesky
Instagram: Wondering Monsters Podcast on Instagram