What is The CryptoNaturalist?

The CryptoNaturalist podcast is a scripted, audio-fiction show in the tradition of classic nature documentaries, but profoundly weirder. The podcast has been called "Night Vale meets A Prairie Home Companion" and "David Attenborough meets The X Files." The CryptoNaturalist loves cryptids (hidden creatures like Big Foot), but focuses solely on creatures you've never encountered before.

Expect new and amazing animals, otherworldly locations, earnest love for the natural world, featured fiction and poetry from talented contributors, and field reports from fascinating lovers of strange nature. Guest voices have been provided by folks like Hank Green, Justin McElroy, and Cecil Baldwin.

Beyond the podcast, The CryptoNaturalist posts a constant stream of odd, poetic, and often philosophical observations about life, science, and the natural world across the show’s social media accounts. Currently, the show has over 250K followers across platforms.

Jarod K. Anderson, the creator and voice of The CryptoNaturalist, has three bestselling collections of poetry, and a forthcoming memoir about nature’s role in his mental health struggles (Timber Press/Hachette 2024).

The CryptoNaturalist is produced and edited by Tracy Barnett. You can find them online, anywhere at TheOtherTracy or TheOtherTracy.com.

Our credits are read by Leslie J. Anderson. Learn more about Leslie's work at www.lesliejanderson.com. 

To find bonus content and a variety of strange rewards, support our show by visiting Patreon.com/CryptoNaturalist. You can also help the show by rating, reviewing, and telling a friend.

Thanks to Adam Hurt for the use of his song Garfield’s Blackberry Blossom from his album Insight. For more information on Adam’s music, performances, and teaching, visit adamhurt.com.

Hidden Lore Submissions: Open

Email up to three poems or one short (400 words or less) prose piece to CryptoNaturalistPod@gmail.com. Your poetry/prose should involve some element of the natural world (or supernatural world related to nature/wilderness). All submissions should be in the body of your email. Please no attachments. I'm afraid we can't pay you at the moment, but I can thank you on the show, plug your website in the show notes, and spread word to all the cryptids I know that you're not to be eaten. We seek no rights beyond the right to read your work on the show. All episodes will remain available in our feed for the foreseeable future and your work will appear in our show transcripts.   

 
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