Savanah Moss Talks About Encounters with Mountain Lions and Mediocre Men

It kind of feels like you're trying to beat a level in a video game and you keep dying and and and respawning, you know, and there's like a bunch of teddy bears and clowns and random Starbucks employees violently spinning around flinging milk with reckless abandon Or is that just me? Maybe I need to pump the brakes on the melotone and gummies, or probably need to stop watching

Savannah Moss's TikTok's Before Bed Now. Savannah is a twenty two year old content creator from Phoenix, Arizona, who exploded on TikTok a few years ago with her trippy fever dream style content. She's got over ten and a half million followers on the platform now. Savannah and I sat down at VidCon last summer and she told me a harrowing tale about wandering in the desert one night. I'm Will Milk Spins McFadden, and this is hashtag Storytime, brought

to you by iHeartRadio. Okay, so the story takes place in Arizona. Of course, that's where I'm from. Scary already, I know, it's very scary. And this one was about five years ago. Okay. So it was me and my three friends and it was about midnight. Just for context, okay, yeah, set the scene, paint the pictures. Okay. So super dark midnight, Arizona in the summer. It's pretty hot, but not too hot at night. Okay. So we decide to get my friend's car and go kind of like explore wearing in

the desert ish area. There's lots of that in Arizona. Sounds like a great idea already, Oh yes, just way. So we drive to like this big open plane area where there's like nothing right. Basically there's a big drop off like a cliff yes, if you will, if you will, a small cliff rum and it was like behind a Walmart, but like it goes back really far, like you can you can't even see the end of it. Yeah. Um, so we decided to go like walk around, you know,

which is going on? Walk about? Yeah, with our flashlights, you know, just just the four of us. So we go out there and everything was fine. We made it to the cliff, okay, and we're like looking at the moon like everything was so awesome. Yeah, I bet it was beautiful. Oh yeah, with the Walmart and the background and then the moon and the plane. Yeah, well the Walmart was kind of far. Yeah, and a little part I missed was the do not enter signs? Oh yet

the front the whole trespassing right right right? Yeah, I usually ignore those two, right, Yeah, I just didn't see them. Sure that, Yeah, that's why do you tell the cops. I didn't know that. I couldn't be here. I can't read. Yeah, I am very dyslexic. Yeah. I thought it said come in, please come in, you're well walk around food over there. Yeah. But yeah, so when we made it to the cliff, um, we it was kind of getting late. I mean it was already late, but were we talking like it's midnight

or is this like two in the morning or where? No, it's about like twelve thirty. Now all right, we weren't out there for two twitching hour. Yes, um, So we were out there and we wanted to head back, and one of my friends was like, you know, let's turn off our flashlights and try to make it back. Bold choice. I think it would be a really good idea, right, Let's make this harder and more dangerous. Yeah. So we did, and it was pitch black except for like the moonlight,

of course, but you can't really see anything, right. So we're walking back and all of a sudden, all of us stop in our tracks, like because we heard a noise. Okay, And when I tell you, this noise is these gariest noise I've ever heard in my life. Okay, I'm not joking. It was like like a dragon mixed with a lion. I wish I could have recorded it, Honestly, I don't even know how to describe it very well. But I heard this noise. It was a beast of some sort, Yes,

a beast, a mythical or real beast? Like was this? No? It was real? It was a real animal. Yeah, okay, cool, No, you'll find out which animal it was, Okay, great, because I'm picturing like, yeah, I'm picturing a liger or like a griffin or something. Or liger is real, I think, so really Yeah, they're bread for speed and power. How do you know that? Look, I'm a big I love. I have a liger tattooed on my back. Oh my gosh. Yeah, they breathed lions and tigers together. I think bread for

speed and power. Yeah right, yeah, I want to get that as a good tattoo anyway, I would be honored. Yes. So we heard the noise and I thought it was coming from someone's phone, right, I thought it was just like a video or something. So I was like, stop watching them, stop watching those liger videos. Come on. And we're all like, no, like, it wasn't me. It wasn't me. How to be you? Right? And then um, we turn on our flashlights of course, and we're like looking around,

like scanning the area. There's like little sparse bushes here and there. Yeah, and we didn't really see anything, but the noise was coming from like right in front of us. So one of my friends threw a rock at the bush. Why I have no idea, right, but the animal started to come out right and we saw its eyes. It was a mountain lion. Oh god, it was a mountain lion. And I didn't even know what animal that was at first, Like I didn't, I didn't even know what it's like.

So I to look it up after I thought, you're gonna say, so, I looked it up. Hold on, mountain lion, what are you be? Still for a moment? Hey, Siri? What is this sandimal? You know? I asked it its name, and it just like what it starts talking, Hey, what are you? I'm a mountain line. My name is Terry. Terry dragons sound oh my gosh. But yeah, basically we just started running back. I was going to ask, what

are you supposed to do? Because like certain animals, you're like you're supposed to make yourself really big or like bang on pots and pans. I think a bear you're supposed to be, like whoa bear? Or you you play dead? I saw a TikTok video this I don't even know what. Yeah, okay, so grizzly bears apparently you go fetal position and just play dead and just pray, just pray to whatever god you believe it. That's only grizzly bears, not like other bears.

Mistake one and you're just like in a fetal position, like I'm a black are, so you're doing it wrong. Oh my gosh, you idiot. Yeah. I think cougars you're probably like I feel like you're supposed to make yourself big. I heard that too. Yeah, but mountain minds, I have no idea. I mean, I think you're supposed to just like not run cougars. You're supposed to buy them a shot of tequila. And then, oh, I get it, I do.

I thought you were talking about real cougars. At first I was, and then I was like, wait a second, there's a there's a there's a double entendre here. I'm gonna go for it. But yes, mountain lions. Sure, is there a difference between a cougar and the mountain lion? Same? Is it the same thing? We have Mason our our wildlife expert. Yeah, he's like, if you run into an armadillo,

also just don't step on them. Okay, okay, So you see the cougar, yes, the mountain lion, right, and you guys all run in different directions or to you know, Honestly, I wasn't even looking at them. I just kind of yeah, you're like you're on your own, went for it, ran as fast as I could in the direction I feel like you're pretty fast too. Yeah, I would say I'm

speed red for speed and power, red for speed and comedy. Right, I feel like I would be screwed because I feel like you if I were in your group of friends. And I mean it would be weird if like I was walking around in the desert with teenage girls, So it would be weird if I was there. But I feel like you would all outpace me and I would be last, like wait please and the go go god without me. Oh god, it's it's staring me to pieces. I bought her a shot of tequila. It's not working.

Oh no, that was the end of will. But yeah, basically, we just ran as fast as we could back to the cars, got in and we're like, what the heck was that? And then we looked it up after the fact, like on our phone, like that noises too, like on YouTube the sound of sound effects. That is the exact sound exactly they're like on YouTube, it's labeled. It's like the sound of mountain lion makes before devouring its prey, right, sounds like a dragon liger griffin combo, Like, wow, that's close. Yeah.

I'm also picturing you guys like running through the desert in the night and there's just a Walmart that you're like, gotta get back to the wall, gotta get back to the walmart. The walmart. Safe, Yeah, safe, all the all the oxen free at the walmart. Oh my god, that's crazy. I'm glad you guys lived. Yeah. Are they like will they eat you? I think so? Really? Yeah. I think they're pretty. They're very dangerous. Oh yeah, well that's yeah, so moral the story. Moral story. Kids don't wander in

the desert without flashlights. Yeah, in the night, not behind a walmart. Yeah, that's where they all hang out, is hanging out. Yeah, you're like, we got our coup lots and they're like, now we're gonna go hiding the bushes and yeah, wait for the kids to come out. Maybe it was a cougar in a cougar costume. Oh my god. You know this sounds like a like one of your videos where you're like here we are and you're like,

oh my god, it's a cougar. And then it's just like a like an attractive older woman and she's like, hey, do like the sound effect of like the cougar, and then you like turn over and it's just like the woman and she's like she's like hey young man, hello young man. Oh yeah, yeah, perfect, I want to buy me a drink. You're like level level past level completed. Yeah, I would that sounds like a good video. You have to write that down after this. Okay, we're making content, right, Um,

what would you say the moral of the story? I would do What did you learn in that moment? Um? Don't turn off your flashlights if you're exploring the dark. Yeah, yes, I always keep your flashlights on. I like that message. Always keep your flashlights on. Kids. I feel like in the movies they always run out of batteries the perfect time and then they're like hitting the flashlights like come on please, and then as soon as it turns back on,

it like shows the jump scare. Yeah, these are their formulaic, these movies. Yeah, that's pretty crazy. Okay, cool, that's a great story. I want to play a quick game with you. Um we call it first, last, best, worst, okay, and we pick a category and then we hear you're the first time that happened, the last time that happened, The best time in the worst time. All right, Um, we just did jobs with DeMarcus. But I am intrigued to know all about what you've had, right, Yeah, but um,

we did concerts, So what about would you? What about dates? Is that the best one would be kind of hard to pick honestly, because there's not been a lot of good ones. Okay, let's do dates? Is that? Okay? Sure? Okay? So what was the first date you ever went on? Um? Hmm, okay, I think it was. I don't really know if this is considered a date. But it was in high school, okay, And it was with my like first crush, Like we had a thing going on, I guess is what people

call it. But we went to one of the high school football games together and then we went on to eat afterward. Yeah that's a date. I mean, I'm sure he thought it was a date. Yeah, I guess so. Yeah, But yeah, it was fun. Um, I don't really remember much of it, so I don't know if it was the best did Where where did he take you to? Did? I don't even know. I can't even remember Walmart parking, probably the back of Walter in one of the trucks we just opened it up and got whatever food was it? Yeah,

so it was. It was a pretty forgettable date, the first date. Okay, this poor boy is probably listening like, oh no, I blew it. He's the one that ended it with me. What a fool? So yeah, yeah, okay, so that was your first date. What about what's the last date that you've been on the most recent date? The most recent date? Um was to Top Golf? Actually cool, you guys know? Yeah yeah, Top Golf. It's a it's

a golf bar. Yeah yeah, so it was fun. It's super hot though outside, but there's like the misters and stuff. I am not the best at golf. Okay, so it was funny to watch, Yeah for sure, Um, did you pick that location or did they? Did you want to go to Top Golf? I'm going to Top Golf anyway, So if you want to come with, just call it a date as basically how it went. Guys, if you're listening, uh, I mean, unless the person you're going on a date with is into golf, maybe don't pick Top Golf. Yeah

maybe not for the first yeah date. It's like, but you want to go hunting for a first date? Cougar hunting cougar hunting. Sure, I guess trying to think of what a terrible date ideas? I mean, top golf. It's fun for like I don't know. Yeah, yeah, it was fun. You see. It seems like you made the most of it. Yeah, okay, all right, what about what about the best date you've ever been on? Okay? Um, the best date was actually like it was at his house, was the date? Okay,

But so I had no idea. This was a surprise. Um, just like invited me over, said we're going to have dinner, blah blah blah. Like you can dress fancy if you want, just like do whatever you want. Yeah. So it's like, okay, cool. Like I showed up as doctor Strange exactly the mustache and everything. You said, whatever he wants. I would be literally hilarious. I need to try that on the next day. Like I showed up dressed as a mountain lion. Look it was you gave me options, so you're going to

take it. Oh my gosh. Um. Yeah. So I walk in and there's like the classic rose petals like laid out in like the candles. Wow. I thought that only happened in like CW shows. So did I so that's why I was very shocked. Is the real life thing. I know it was done that for me, not yet, Okay, one day, one day, I'm gonna get home today and my girlfriend's gonna be like, yes, today's the day. Okay. So he had candles, he had rose petals. Was there

like shod a playing or like some saxophone music. He playing saxophone at the like the end of the rose petals, he was in the corner playing the keyboard. Actually, oh my god, okay, I was gonna say I was clothes no, um, but yeah. Then he made like an Italian um like pasta dish outside and then we had some wine and like it was it was just it was really cute. That's beautiful, I know, right see because there's effort. Ye, there's thought put into it. Yes, did he What kind

of pasta did he make? Um? Two types? Actually, one was I know, overachiever. Yeah, it's on the comet down um. One was chicken alfredo and the other was like a red sauce like Marin. He was like, take a your pig. I'm just assuming he's Italian. No, he's like you. And we even had the bread on the side too. Wow. He did he make the bread. I highly doubt that. Yeah, like the flower. Yeah, he's like, I handmade the pasta today. I needed the dough. This guy. I want to date

this guy. Okay, so that's the best date. That's hard to top. What's the worst date you've ever been on? Um it isn't. Actually, no, there's something worse. Um So, I don't even know if I would consider this a date as well, but I'm still gonna share it anyway. Yeah. So, um so, I was driving to go meet this guy for our like maybe it was like a second date or something, Okay, and um he called me when I was on my way. I was like, hey, can you

pick up some food? I'm like yeah, sure, you know I'm I'm a super nice person, like I like love to make people happy. And I'm like I'm hungry too, so yeah, sure I'll get this food. So it's like pick up one hundred tacos literally and some gallons of milk on the side. That's three gallons of milk, one hundred tacos. Okay, sure I guess. Um So, I think

I just picked up some sushi. I think is where I got all right for us that I show up and has he has his like gaming headphones on at like playing a video game and like did the classic like one ear off, like hey, yeah, yeah, you can just come on in. And I was like, oh great, cool, cool. So I sit on the bed. It's like I'm in the middle of a like really heated Call of Duty match right now. Like I don't even know what game he was playing, to be honest, some like like Crossing

Roads or you know, it's like Animal Crossing. I'm really busy right now building this house and we're crossing or like Minecraft. Yeah, I don't even know. Um. Basically I ended up eating the food by myself, okay, while he just plays the game. And then I ended up leaving. Did he even notice like when you left or did you like tap him on the shoulder You're like, hey, I'm I'm this is terrible. I think I did do

the tap on the shoulders. Things just go. That was his idea of a date, right, And then you know what I did, which I wish I wouldn't have. I left the sushi. Oh yeah, you should have taken that the one that I bought. Yeah, you should have absolutely been like and I'm taking the caliph the spicy tuna red rock with the Hellepeno on me. It was really good too. Yeah, but yeah, so that was Yeah, I'm glad you left. I'm glad you walked out on that. Yeah.

And then there was never another date after that, right, okay? Good? Yeah? Yeah that guy, that guy sucks. Yeah. Yeah. If you're listening right now wherever you are, he's probably playing games. It probably I wonder if he thought like, like, I'll just be like, it'll be cool if I'm like not really paying attention to her, and then she'll be like super into me, because I guy's brains are dumb sometimes, you know. Yeah, I don't. I don't know what he

was thinking about. I don't think, yeah, what an idiot. But yeah, so I'm sorry. I feel bad though, Like I don't know, guys are just so dumb. Well that's a great place to end. Guys are dumb. Don't be a dumb guy. That's the moral of the story, right, and then maybe like what I mean, you had the best date is I was gonna say, like, what would your dream date be? Ooh, that's a good question other than the rose petal Italian food, because that does seem

pretty dreamy, right, yes. Um, that's a really good question. I would say not not seeing a movie. Okay, like doing something active, yeah, for like, um, like a first date is a super cool Yeah, because real like adventure kind of like go on an adventure. I would love to go on an adventure and for it to end in like seeing the stars at night. Okay, something would be super cool adventure. You heard it here first, Yes, So like, get some flashlights, you know, to keep them on. Yes,

find a Walmart and just go explore the desert. I'm glad you guys didn't into like somebody cooking meth out there. You know, you could have just been like, oh, there's a Winnebago out here, like, let's see who's inside. Knock, it's just somebody's knocking on that. We didn't have the do not disturb sign enough. You're like the signs I thought they said, come on in. I'm dyslexic. I don't know how to read. I'm sorry. What a good date? Yeah? Great? Well,

thank you so much for being on the podcast. Just so much fun. Thank you for having me anytime. Until next time. Until next time. Well that about does it for this week's episode of Hashtag Storytime, A huge shout out again to Savannah Moss. Make sure to check out those hot links in the description. Also take a second to hit the subscribe button if you haven't done that yet, so you don't miss next week's episode. We've got friend of the pod, Lonnie Martz, and I'm like, Okay, this

is we're gonna do. Man. You are gonna go over to where all those tired, anxious moms are who are drinking their wine, and you're gonna start picking up their wine glasses and you're gonna take one of those trays and you're gonna start collecting and say, hey, can I get you anything else? Can I help you with that? Start cleaning off those tables? Okay, He's like, why am

I doing them? Like? Trust me? Also, give us a call at the Storytime hotline three two three, seven four one eighteen seventy three and tell us your story to be featured on an upcoming Listener Tales episode. And if you're enjoying the podcast, please leave us a review. It helps us out a lot and I literally read every single one of them. Hashtag Storytime is produced by iHeartRadio

and Curativity Productions. Hosted by Will McFadden Sound designed by Tony Maddox, Written by Will McFadden and Jason Shapiro, Produced by Jason Shapiro, Daniel Lama, and Jordan Elijah Michael. Theme song by Scott Simons.