Several years ago, radio journalist Laura Krantz read an article about anthropology professor and pioneering Bigfoot researcher Grover Krantz who died in 2002. Laura was surprised to find out that Grover was her grandfather's cousin. Her interest sparked, she began her own cryptozoological quest. The result is Wild Thing, a fantastic podcast about Bigfoot researchers, Sasquatch and science, legend and myth, pop culture, and other fascinating threads. From the Los Angeles Times:
Krantz, a self-identified skeptic, says she approached the story from a scientific standpoint like Grover would. For instance, she opted not to talk to people who thought Bigfoot was brought to Earth by aliens or had the ability to move through different dimensions of space and time. Instead, she delves into topics such as evolution, e.g. where Bigfoot would fit on the tree of life. Ultimately, it was the steady stream of wildlife biologists and seasoned outdoorsmen recounting their own Bigfoot sightings that moved the believability needle for Krantz…
The nine central story episodes of "Wild Thing" will be supplemented with intermittent bonus installments, which include in-depth conversations with writer Virginia Wade, who — at her peak — made about $20,000 a month writing Bigfoot erotica, says Krantz. She also talks with William Dear, writer and director of feel-good family flick, "Harry and the Hendersons." Krantz traveled to Northern California for the 50th anniversary of the quintessential Patterson-Gimlin film, in which grainy imagery captures an up-close Bigfoot sighting that's long been the source of debate. She also headed back to Los Angeles to speak with experts about the psychology of belief and the "business of Bigfoot" — like why companies use its name and imagery for branding.
While working on "Wild Thing," Krantz underwent a bit of a personal evolution herself. When she started the project, she saw Bigfoot mostly as "tabloid fodder."
"Finishing it, I still don't necessarily buy that Bigfoot is out there, but I'm a lot more open to the possibility of that than I was before," she says.
At least, Krantz adds, "I certainly hope Bigfoot is out there."
Listen to Wild Thing here.
And to get you started, here's Episode 1:
