The CryptoNaturalist is a scripted fiction podcast all about real love for imaginary nature. It’s about cryptids and other weird and wild topics. Featuring poetry and field reports to make our world a richer, stranger place. New episodes 1st/15th.
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Jarod K. Anderson unveils "Strange Animals," his debut novel set in The Cryptonaturalist universe, exploring the origin story of its world through protagonist Green's journey. Described as "cozy creepy," the book blends human warmth with the mysterious dangers of nature. This episode features rave blurbs from acclaimed authors and an immersive excerpt detailing Green's inexplicable near-death experience and a bizarre encounter that sets him on a new, cryptid-filled path.
"Crypto" is a slippery prefix, and it's best to be careful with it. Thanks to Evan Dicken for writing the bulk of today’s episode. By day, Evan Dicken studies old Japanese Maps and crunches data for medical research at Ohio State University. By night, he does neither of these things. His audio fiction can be heard performed on: The NoSleep Podcast, Pseudopod, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, and Podcastle. He also writes media tie-in fiction for Legend of the Five Rings and Warhammer: Age of Sigmar. If ...
Autumn is full of fun, cozy traditions, like keeping watch on the knothole man so he doesn’t reach too far into our world. Thanks to Harrison Hamm for this episode’s hidden lore segment. Harrison Hamm is an LA-based poet, screenwriter, and essayist originally from rural Tennessee. Selected for fellowships with New York Stage & Film Filmmakers Workshop, Diverso's The Minority Report, and Roadmap Writers, he has also received research grants for interdisciplinary academic, creative, and pedago...
Best to have a telepathic microphone when searching for cryptid dragonflies. Sometimes the simple, straightforward solutions are the best option. Thanks to Luísa Black Ellis for this week’s hidden lore poetry. Luísa is a Brazilian-American poet and self-taught ecologist methodically inspecting mosses in traditional Nansemond and Chesepian territory. She lives a quiet and devotional life in a monastery with her husband, renowned interdisciplinary artist JJJJJerome Ellis. Her loyalties lie with th...
This episode is an audiobook preview for Something in the Woods Loves You , Jarod K. Anderson's new memoir coming this September from Timber Press and Hachette Books . For more information, visit JarodKAnderson.com ....
Many seemingly common corvids are cryptids. There’s a world of difference between perceiving a thing and knowing the full story. Thanks to Jamie Lackey for today’s hidden lore. Jamie Lackey lives in Pittsburgh with her husband and their cats. She has had over 200 short stories published in places like Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Apex Magazine , and Escape Pod . In addition to writing, she spends her time reading, playing tabletop RPGs, and hiking. Check out Jamie’s new short story collection Shadow...
Volunteering is a great reminder that many of the most important things in life don’t involve money changing hands. Thanks to Bennett Berardi for this week’s hidden lore poem. Bennett is an arborist and honorary goblin moonlighting as a gardener-poet in Nevada County, California. He draws inspiration from forests, fields, and fairy realms as well as the works of Gary Snyder, Mary Oliver, and the vibrant community of contemporary haiku and eco poets around the world. You can find a trove of photo...
Contentment is both a skill and a gift we grant ourselves. The CryptoNaturalist is written and read by Jarod K. Anderson. Preorders for Jarod K. Anderson’s new memoir about loving nature and struggling with depression are now open. Visit JarodKAnderson.com for more information. To find bonus content and a variety of strange rewards, support our show by visiting Patreon.com/CryptoNaturalist . You can also help by rating, reviewing, and telling a friend. For books and poetry collections by Jarod K...
Ebbing and flowing, teaming with life, soft to the touch. Some things are better left to themselves. Thanks to Emily Kramer for today’s hidden lore poem “An Absence of Ants.” Emily is a poet from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania with an MA in English from Ohio University. She currently works at a nonprofit for domestic violence and crime survivors. Outside of work, she loves hiking, playing cozy video games, and spending time with her two cats. Her work has appeared in Ghost City Review, Split Rock Revi...
Night is Earth’s shadow and many creatures call it home. The moon’s shadow is a different sort of night entirely. Thanks to Nicolette Nuytten for today’s hidden lore, “Water Beetles.” Nicolette works at the library and spends her free time walking in the woods or reading everything she can get her grubby little hands on. She lives in Manitoba with her wife and a little grey chinchilla. You can find her at www.nicolettenuytten.com or on Twitter @LibraryNii The CryptoNaturalist is written and read...
What counts as a ghost is, perhaps, open to interpretation. Thanks to Steve Shell for voicing today’s field report. Steve is a co-creator, writer, and voice of the narrator on the Old Gods of Appalachia podcast. Old Gods is entering the homestretch of their fourth season and will be heading out on tour again this summer. Thanks to Emilie Lygren for today’s hidden lore poem, “Chrysalis.” Emilie Lygren is a poet and educator who has published poems in several literary journals and anthologies and ...
An early morning record focusing on starting the day The CryptoNaturalist way. Thanks to Joseph Giglio for today’s hidden lore, “The Sky.” Joseph is currently an MFA student at George Mason University and originally from Buffalo, NY. He has been previously published in Corvus Review and Dead Fern Press amongst others. He is often somewhere he shouldn't be looking for birds or ghosts, but never bird ghosts. You can find him @JoeWritesWeird on Twitter. Thanks to Ella Watts for voicing today’s hidd...
There’s something playing music just down the path, but that isn’t the only worthy mystery beneath the trees. Today’s hidden lore was “The Bone Mother’s Daughter” by Tim Goldstone. Tim Goldstone is based on a true event. He has roamed widely and currently writes in remote rural Wales Published internationally in numerous print and online journals and anthologies, including The Speculative Book, Altered States, Veil: Journal of Darker Musings, Selcouth Station, I Become The Beast, DarkWinter, Med...
The Feather Fountain is as beautiful as it is deadly and it’s plenty of both. Thanks to Cecil Baldwin for voicing the Stairway Keeper. Cecil has long been one of my favorite voices in podcasting and you can hear him on the show that first inspired me to create audio-fiction, Welcome to Night Vale. Thanks to Kathryn Nuernberger for today’s hidden lore poem. Kathryn is the author of THE WITCH OF EYE, essays about witches and witch trials, and RUE, poems about plants historically used for birth con...
The mirror falls, like all water, links us to many other versions of ourself. Thanks to Cat Stone for lending her voice to this episode. Hidden lore poetry by Matt Dennison. Matt is the author of Kind Surgery, from Urtica Press (Fr.) and Waiting for Better, from Main Street Rag Press. His poetry has appeared in Verse Daily, Rattle, Bayou Magazine, Redivider and Cider Press Review, among others. His fiction has appeared in ShortStory Substack, THEMA, GUD, The Blue Crow (Aus), Prole (UK), The Wond...
The Uneasiness waits and watches somewhere beyond dark windows. Thanks to Tim Murphy for his hidden lore poem “Wildness Unafraid.” Tim Murphy (he/him) is a disabled, bisexual poet who lives in Portland, Oregon. His writing explores disability and our complex, tenuous relationship to the more-than-human world. Tim's poetry appears in Wordgathering, Remington Review, Writers Resist, The Long COVID Reader, and more. “Wildness Unafraid” originally appeared in Writers Resist. You can find him on Inst...
Rumor has it the mecha-shrew is extinct, but not all rumors are trustworthy. Thanks to Emily Benson for this episode’s hidden lore poem, “On the Question of the Happiness of Clams.” Emily Benson lives in Western New York with her husband and two sons. Previous publications include Deep Wild Journal, Gastropoda , Literary Mama, Moist Poetry Journal, Paddler Press , and The Dillydoun Review . Her work can be found at www.emilybensonpoet.com. To find bonus content and a variety of strange rewards, ...
The Shadow Fly drinks from your shadow, which, in turn, drinks from you. Thanks to Hannah Ringler for this episodes hidden lore poem. Hannah Ringler is a poet, parent, and gardener from North Carolina. She is the coordinator for the North Carolina Poetry Society's Poetry in Plain Sight program, which is a community outreach program across North Carolina to bring North Carolina poets and readers together. To find bonus content and a variety of strange rewards, support our show by visiting Patreon...
All trees talk. Some trees walk. Special thanks to Ellen Weatherford for voicing today’s field report! Ellen is a co-host on the Just the Zoo of Us podcast, a family-friendly show that researches, rates, and reviews wildlife, along with hosting a wonderful variety of expert guests.
Hidden lore poetry by Mia Cong. Mia is an aspiring chef, occasional poet, and current scribe working under the handle theshitpostcalligrapher across all platforms. Still looking through the urban wilds of Toronto Canada for a kitchen to call home, you can find her writings and love of the deep ocean and decay at genericpoetryblog on tumblr. Special thanks to Guy Montgomery for voicing this episode’s field report. Guy does stand up comedy and you can watch him do his new show “Guy Montgomery By N...
The Brambleberry Scrambler is just on the edge of being real, which is a perfectly lovely place to call home. Hidden Lore poetry by Katelyn Allred. Katelyn is a writer and student currently working towards a Bachelor’s Degree in English. Her work has been featured in The Merrimack Review, and you can find her on Instagram @katelynallredwrites. Special thanks to Matthew Zahnzinger for playing Professor Taylor Hoyt. Matthew is a stage actor in the Greater Boston area, a devotee of Peter Cushing, a...
In this episode, The CryptoNaturalist shares a homemade winter tradition and ponders the importance of making meaning, ritual, and gratitude. Check out Field Guide to the Haunted Forest by Jarod K. Anderson wherever books are sold. Reminder: Transcripts of this and every episode are available at cryptonaturalist.com. Mailing Address: The CryptoNaturalist PO Box 837 Delaware, OH 43015 Exclusive stickers, pins, shirts, and access to bonus content and strange expertise on strange topics awaits you ...
Humans once believed that doorways were a separate place – neither one room nor the other, but their own distinct world. Broadly speaking, people don’t believe that anymore, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true. Reminder: Transcripts of this and every episode are available at cryptonaturalist.com. Exclusive stickers, pins, shirts, and access to bonus content and strange expertise on strange topics awaits you at our patreon page. Patreon.com/CryptoNaturalist. You’ll find information about submitti...
Thoughts about loving ourselves in an imperfect world in a strange tavern on a dark hill. Thanks to Andrew Collins for the use of his song Farewell my Old Friend. I borrowed it with his permission from a 2020 YouTube performance. I just love Andrew’s playing. Find out more about his music and check out his mandolin lessons at www.andrewcollinstrio.com. Hidden lore poetry by Eric Fisher Stone. Eric Fisher Stone is a poet and writing tutor from Fort Worth, Texas. He received his MFA in writing and...
Cassandra recalls an old friend and a nameless fish. The CryptoNaturalist is written by Jarod K. Anderson and Leslie J. Anderson. Cassandra is voiced by Leslie J. Anderson. The CryptoNaturalist is voiced by Jarod K. Anderson. Reminder: Transcripts of this and every episode are available at cryptonaturalist.com. Exclusive stickers, pins, shirts, and access to bonus content and strange expertise on strange topics awaits you at our patreon page. Patreon.com/CryptoNaturalist. You’ll find information...
Special thanks to Sarah Rhea Werner for reprising her role as Valentina Blackwood. Sarah has so many wonderful projects, including The Write Now Podcast and Girl in Space. Sarah has all sorts of ways to entertain, educate, and inspire you and you should really learn more about her at sarahwerner.com. And double-special thanks to Elena Fernández Collins for voicing Ave María’s field report. Elena Fernández Collins is a genderfluid podcast critic and reporter and a forensic sociolinguist living in...
Welcome to the Cassandra Logs. In this episode, Cassandra visits with a dragon. Reminder: Transcripts of this and every episode are available at cryptonaturalist.com. Exclusive stickers, pins, shirts, and access to bonus content and strange expertise on strange topics awaits you at our patreon page. Patreon.com/CryptoNaturalist. You’ll find information about submitting your poetry or prose for our hidden lore segments in the about section of our website at CryptoNaturalist.com. The CryptoNatural...
The thing about an unexplainable RV is that it’s unexplainable, but let’s give it a shot anyway. Thanks to Fara Tucker for this week’s hidden lore poetry. Fara Tucker is a writer, poet, storyteller, teacher, photographer, former therapist, and current therapy client. She is currently wading through liminal space, which is occasionally good for producing poetry, and consistently good for producing anxiety. You can find her on IG @faratucker where she shares reflections on this beautiful and devas...
A jellyfish is part ghost part flower and part trap. Is it any surprise that some defy explanation? Check out Field Guide to the Haunted Forest by Jarod K. Anderson wherever books are sold. An audio version as well as signed bookplates are coming soon. Reminder: Transcripts of this and every episode are available at cryptonaturalist.com. Ticking clock sound effect courtesy of: www.freesfx.co.uk
The forest. The fire. The guitar in the wind. The covered bridge that has no business being there. Background guitar music was “Three Ravens” by Axletree. Downloaded from https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Axletree. Thanks to Meredith Smith for this episode’s hidden lore poetry. Meredith is a flash fiction writer and micropoet in Seattle, WA. She is an alumna of the Hugo House and student of writers who are students of Raymond Carver. She lives in a brick building by the lake with her tiny human...
