The Kickback - w/ Beards, Brews, and BBQs

This week on Kraken Cans Cast, we're taking to the skies with two of the strangest and downright dumbest creatures in North American lumberjack folklore: the Goofus Bird and the Philamaloo Bird!These bizarre Fearsome Critters are known for their unusual flying habits, questionable nesting skills, and some seriously questionable life choices. One flies backward because it doesn't care where it's going, while the other flies upside down to keep its legs warm. Because apparently, that's how birds handle arthritis!Join us as we dive into the history, folklore, and ridiculous descriptions of these legendary lumberjack birds. Are the Goofus and Philamaloo two separate creatures, or just two names for the same feathered disaster? We'll explore their origins, their strange behaviors, and why lumberjacks loved telling stories about creatures like these.Grab a cold one, keep an eye on the skies, and whatever you do, don't follow a bird flying backward. It probably doesn't know where it's going either!Give us a shoutSupport the show

In 1977, a 10-year-old boy in Lawndale, Illinois, reportedly found himself under attack by two enormous birds. According to the story, these massive creatures swooped down, clawed at him, and one even attempted to carry him off the ground. But what exactly did Marlon Lowe and his mother encounter that night?This week, we’re diving into the bizarre Lawndale Thunderbird incident, examining the family’s account, the reported injuries, and the descriptions of these enormous, dark-colored birds. Could they have been unusually large condors, prehistoric throwbacks, or something we haven’t identified?We’ll also look at the history of Thunderbird legends, the famous Piasa Bird, the Lake Shelbyville footage, and some downright wild reports from right here in Pennsylvania.For this week’s pairing, we’re cracking open the OG green can of Hard Mountain Dew (5% ABV). Why? Because there’s a bird right on the can, and we’ve been saving this one for the Thunderbird episode. And judging by the position of those talons, this bird looks like it’s ready to grab somebody and take off!Grab a cold one and keep your eyes on the sky. You never know what’s flying overhead.Let’s go there!Give us a shoutSupport the show

For this month’s Kickback, we’re hanging out with our boy Marc from Beards, Brews, & BBQs!We had Marc on back in July 2025 for our one-year anniversary episode, where we dove into the strange story of the Shamokin Mystery Head. This time around, we’re getting to know more about what he does with his page, from checking out different beers and breweries to highlighting local restaurants and some of the great food and drink spots out there.We also talk about his Daddy-Daughter series, where he and his little one take on some of the newest and strangest snacks and foods hitting the shelves. And let’s just say not everything is a winner… Ranch ice cream? Yeah, we’ll let you decide how that one sounds.So crack open a cold one, kick back, and hang out with us and Marc!Find Beards, Brews, & BBQs on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok!Give us a shoutSupport the show

Clowns are supposed to make us laugh, but somewhere along the way, those painted smiles became downright terrifying. So how did a symbol of happiness turn into one of horror’s most unsettling figures?In this episode of Kraken Cans Cast, we’re diving into the strange history and pop culture of clowns, from Pagliacci and the Joker to John Wayne Gacy, Poltergeist, and Stephen King’s Pennywise. We’ll explore how clowns went from entertaining audiences to giving people nightmares, why some of us find them so unsettling, and how the 2016 creepy-clown panic brought those fears into the real world.Our beer pairing is Second Sight (6% ABV), a West Coast IPA from Forest & Main Brewing Company in Ambler, PA. Because sometimes that first impression is all smiles and laughter, but take a second look and things can get a whole lot darker.Grab a cold one, Krakheads, and let’s get into it!Give us a shoutSupport the show

The Conjuring Quadfecta gets a Plus One! This time we're diving into the real-life stories of Ed and Lorraine Warren, the paranormal investigators who became the heroes of The Conjuring universe. But how much of what we see in the movies actually happened, and how much is Hollywood magic?We're looking at the lives of the Warrens, their childhood experiences, how they got their start in the paranormal world, and some of their most famous investigations, including Amityville, Annabelle, and their museum. We'll also get into the controversies, the questionable claims, the house-painting strategy that helped them land investigations, and the complicated legacy behind the couple who became horror movie legends.Were Ed and Lorraine Warren fearless defenders against the forces of evil, passionate paranormal investigators, or something a little more complicated? We're keeping things fun, following the facts, questioning the stories, and separating Hollywood horror from real-life hauntings the best we can.Grab a beer and join us as we wrap up our Conjuring series with the Warrens themselves. Because sometimes the real story behind the horror is stranger than the movie.Follow the show for more paranormal investigations, cryptids, urban legends, haunted locations, unexplained mysteries, and plenty of questionable decisions fueled by beer.Give us a shoutSupport the show

Deep in the California wilderness lurks one of the strangest creatures in Fearsome Critter folklore: the Tripodero! With two telescoping legs, a kangaroo-like tail, and a talent for making the great outdoors even weirder, this bizarre beast sounds like something Mother Nature came up with after a few too many drinks.In this episode of Kraken Cans Cast, we're diving into the strange world of American lumberjack folklore to uncover the legend of the Tripodero, also known as Collapsofemuris geocatapeltes. We'll explore its unusual appearance, the stories behind its incredible leg mechanics, and how it fits into the wonderfully ridiculous world of Fearsome Critters — the tall tales, mythical beasts, and creatures that helped keep lumberjacks entertained in the wilderness.Is the Tripodero just another hilarious piece of folklore, a forgotten campfire story, or proof that the woods are a lot stranger than we give them credit for? Grab a beer, settle in, and join us as we investigate one of the weirdest creatures to ever crawl, hop, or spring its way into cryptid lore.Give us a shoutSupport the show

In Part 4 of our Conjuring Quadfecta, Mike and Corey dive into the terrifying Smurl haunting of West Pittston, Pennsylvania!  The Smurl family claimed their home was plagued by disturbing paranormal activity, from unexplained noises and foul odors to terrifying encounters with something sinister lurking inside their house. But was it a genuine demonic haunting, a family caught in a nightmare, or something else entirely?We’re breaking down the history, the reported encounters, Ed and Lorraine Warren’s involvement, and the real-life story that inspired The Haunted and other adaptations. As always, expect spooky stories, questionable theories, plenty of laughs, and a craft beer to pair with the paranormal!Give us a shoutSupport the show

Is she human… or is something a little off? 🍻 This week we're diving into one of the internet's strangest rabbit holes: the bizarre viral speculation surrounding Susan Dell, wife of billionaire Dell Technologies founder Michael Dell. From her unusual appearance and mannerisms to wild theories about aliens, clones, robots, and everything in between, the internet has some questions—and apparently, so do we!Are we looking at a perfectly ordinary human being caught in the crosshairs of internet conspiracy culture? Could there be something more mysterious going on? Or has the internet officially gone full tinfoil hat? We're breaking down the viral theories, the strange speculation, and the downright ridiculous possibilities while asking the big question: What the heck is going on here?Grab a beer and join us as we explore the line between conspiracy theory, the unexplained, and the internet's endless search for something strange. As always, expect questionable theories, plenty of laughs, and a healthy dose of Kraken Cans Cast chaos.Give us a shoutSupport the show

The Conjuring Quadfecta – Part 3: The Devil Made Me Do ItFor Part 3 of our Conjuring Quadfecta, we’re diving into one of the strangest and most controversial cases connected to Ed and Lorraine Warren: The Devil Made Me Do It.In 1981, Arne Cheyenne Johnson became the center of a bizarre murder case after claiming that he was under demonic influence when he killed his landlord, Alan Bono. The case made headlines and became known as the infamous “Devil Made Me Do It” trial — one of the first times in American history that demonic possession was reportedly used as a defense in a murder case.But what actually happened?We’re going beyond the Hollywood version of The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It to look at the real story behind the movie. We’ll get into David Glatzel, the alleged possession, Arne Johnson, Ed and Lorraine Warren, the exorcism claims, the murder of Alan Bono, the trial, and the infamous “demonic possession defense.”And, of course, we’ll break down what the movie got right, what it changed, and what may have been exaggerated for Hollywood.Was Arne Johnson truly possessed? Was there something paranormal happening in the Glatzel family? Or was there a much more complicated explanation behind one of the most famous cases in paranormal history?Give us a shoutSupport the show

This past weekend, the Kraken Cans crew packed up and made the 6.5-hour trip to Ada, Ohio for the Ohio Bigfoot Jamboree 2026 — and holy crap, what a weekend.This was our first time attending the Jamboree, hosted by our friends at Cryptids of the Corn, and we had an absolute blast. From finally meeting some of our podcast friends in person, to a VIP night at the bowling alley, way too much cold weather, a podcast panel, questionable sleeping arrangements, and a whole lot of hanging out with some seriously awesome people… this one was less about Bigfoot and more about the people behind the weird.We take you along for the whole weekend — the long drive to Ada, arriving at the park, setting up, hunting down beer, waiting for the Chumming with the Spirits and Drunken Cryptids crews to arrive, and kicking off the weekend at Norada Lanes with Cryptids of the Corn.Then it was time for the Jamboree.We’ll talk about setting up our spot, freezing our asses off, handing out Kraken Cans koozies, the podcast panel, and all the friends and fellow creators we got to hang out with, including Chumming with the Spirits, Drunken Cryptids, Myths, Monsters, and Mullets, Cryptids of the Corn, Believing the Bizarre, The Rustic Supply Company, Nevermore Hollows / Black Sheep Studios, Timothy Wayne Williams, Wolf Rock Radio, and Roadside Sodas.We’ll also get into the afterparty, a look at the new Cryptids of the Corn studio, an impressive bowling ball collection, hanging out back at the hotel, and finally making the long drive home.A huge shoutout to Cryptids of the Corn for putting on the Ohio Bigfoot Jamboree for the third year in a row and for making our first trip one hell of a good time.So grab a cold one and come hang out with us as we relive the Ohio Bigfoot Jamboree 2026 — Kraken Cans style.Give us a shoutSupport the show