Searching for Sasquatch
History, Hoaxes, and the Hunt for the Camera-shy Bigfoot
Episode Description
According to a 2025 survey, nearly one in three people believes in Bigfoot: that fantastical, forest-dwelling hominid, famously captivating yet camera-shy. And interest is growing. But why? What does science have to say about our contemporary concept of Sasquatch? And how would anyone know what a “Bigfoot call” actually sounds like?
Grab your night-vision goggles and join us as journalist Laura Krantz, host of the podcast Wild Thing and author of The Search for Sasquatch, tracks footprints on a journey that will tantalize true believers and skeptics alike. You’ll hear early Indigenous stories about Bigfoot-like creatures; learn about the Northern California hoax that first sparked widespread interest in the 1950s; and get a firsthand account of the modern-day Bigfoot-hunting expedition Krantz joined in the wilds of Oregon, where she learned to use apples as bait and distinguish between Bigfoot howls, snorts, and roars. Proof may be elusive, but in its place you’ll find mythology, anthropology, pop culture—and the knowledge that sometimes unsolved mysteries are the best kind.
Bigfoot hot spots mentioned include:
- Six Rivers National Forest, California
- China Flats Bigfoot Museum, Willow Creek, California
- Mount Hood National Forest, Oregon
- Olympic National Park, Washington
- Lake Quinault, Washington
- Sasquatch Outpost, Bailey, Colorado
Guest
Journalist Laura Krantz believes that exploring the unknown can help us better understand ourselves. In the first season of her acclaimed podcast, Wild Thing, she chased after Sasquatch. Season 2 found her looking skyward for extraterrestrial life. The deeply reported series garnered praise from Scientific American, Rolling Stone, and Esquire. The Atlantic called it “a mind-altering experience” and twice named it one of the year’s best podcasts. The show is also the inspiration for a series of kids books, including Do You Believe In Magic?, Is There Anybody Out There?, and The Search for Sasquatch.
In addition to Wild Thing, Laura has worked on multiple award-winning podcasts, including Master Plan, Blood Vines, and The Syndicate. Laura’s prior experience includes close to a decade of editing and producing at NPR in Washington, D.C., and at KPCC in Los Angeles. An Idaho native who grew up camping in the woods, Laura now lives in Colorado—conveniently close to prime Sasquatch territory. This is her second appearance on the Via podcast; last season, she took us on a road trip to the West’s most notorious UFO hot spots.
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