In the first half, guest host Rich Berra (email) welcomed Matt Moneymaker, a prominent Bigfoot researcher and founder of the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization, to share his extensive background studying Sasquatch.
Moneymaker began by recounting his childhood fascination with Bigfoot. His enthusiasm only grew when, during his college years, he found evidence of tracks while backpacking in Southern California. He delved into the history of Sasquatch sightings, noting that Native American tribes across North America have documented similar creatures for centuries under various names. "In fact, that's one of the big misconceptions about the subject. People think we're talking about this one creature... as opposed to a population of creatures," Moneymaker stated.
He also described the challenges of filming Bigfoot and the creature's innate ability to evade cameras. Moneymaker explained that contrary to popular belief, these cryptids are intelligent and stealthy — they're mostly nocturnal and often avoid open areas during the day. "They won't expose themselves... and they're a lot more mobile," he said.
Moneymaker then claimed to have encountered a Bigfoot up to 20 feet away during a stakeout in Ohio, and recalled his intense adrenaline-fueled validation from finally witnessing something he had long believed in.
When asked about the lack of Bigfoot graves or carcasses, Moneymaker reasoned that these creatures may bury their dead or die in remote areas. He drew parallels to mountain lions, suggesting, "If they die out in the woods, you'd have to come across their body within a couple of weeks… Otherwise, you wouldn't even know." Moneymaker went on to discuss an interesting case from the 1960s involving an alleged Bigfoot skull, and the complications surrounding its investigation at UCLA.
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In the second half, parapsychologist Loyd Auerbach provided insights into his field and its intersection with psychic phenomena and ghosts. He explained some of the history of parapsychology and how it involves concepts such as extra-sensory perception and psychokinesis. Auerbach noted that America's fascination with the paranormal traces back to the spiritualism movement of the 1800s, initiated by the Fox sisters.
He insisted that psychic gifts are not exclusive, but rather talents present in everyone that many often dismiss. "Everybody has some potential aptitude," he affirmed, citing the work of the Duke Parapsychology Lab and its founder, JB Rhine, who believed in innate psychic abilities across the population.
Auerbach noted that children often exhibit these gifts, sometimes engaging with deceased relatives. "Our culture has said that it's a weird thing, or it just doesn't exist at all," he lamented. According to Auerbach, many reports of children speaking with the dead might reflect genuine connections.
He also mentioned several reincarnation studies, speaking of a notable case where a young girl in India remembered a past life with impressive detail. The concept of locations holding emotional imprints was another core topic. Auerbach described what might be referred to as "residual hauntings," when emotional experiences, both joyous and tragic, can leave a trace in physical spaces.
On the subject of psychokinesis, Auerbach shared his personal experiences and experiments. He recalled instances where individuals could move objects using their mind, stating, "I have on occasion... watched people who can actually cause something to move and then freak out when they did that."