Nightmares of the Americas: Indigenous Tales

Send us a text In today’s episode, we talk about the Smithsonian—how it was created and what they are really hiding. Who was James Smithson, and why did this Englishman want to give his fortune to the U.S., a country that England had just lost a war to? And don’t worry, this does tie back to our people. We’re looking at how the founders of this country decided our fate with a propaganda machine di...

Send us a text It’s been three years — thanks for sticking with us. Without you, this show wouldn’t even be possible. For our anniversary episode, we’re going a little X-Files with it. First, we head down to Arizona and talk about the Vatican, the Jesuits, and a telescope on Apache land nicknamed Lucifer . Yeah, you read that right. A state-of-the-art observatory in the middle of a land dispute, w...

Send us a text We’re back with a full table of listener stories — and they’re wild. Garrett’s got a bald, gray-skinned thing popping up in a Texas field like it’s playing peekaboo. Someone else swears a mimic opened the garage door and called them in their mom’s voice. Jarett runs into a pale, twisted figure in South Jersey that could give the Jersey Devil nightmares. And from Australia, River sha...

Send us a text In this episode of Nightmares of the Americas: Indigenous Tales , the crew dives back into the forest to revisit one of the most iconic figures in North American lore: Bigfoot. But this isn’t your typical campfire story. We explore how a few different Native tribes view Bigfoot — not as a monster, but as a spiritual guardian, a symbol of nature’s balance, and sometimes even a teache...

Send us a text This week we are continuing our story about the Stikini – Part 2. Last episode, we explored the Seminole origins of this terrifying owl-like being, the legends of transformation, and the powerful warnings that still ripple through Native oral traditions today. But now, things get weirder. This time, Joseph, RedBear, and Gabe dig deeper into the blood-chilling reality of the Stikini’...

Send us a text In this episode of Nightmares of the Americas: Indigenous Tales, we talk about survival, resistance, and the things that still haunt the night. We explore the history of the Seminole people —how they formed out of conflict, escaped colonization, and built a life deep in the Florida swamps. From alligator wrestling to stomp dances, their culture is rooted in power and defiance. But w...

Send us a text This week, we keep moving with the season.  The weather’s shifting, the land’s changing, and Native people are doing what we’ve always done: preparing, planting, dancing, gathering, and listening. We talk about the Snake Men that still guard the Fraser Canyon, the horned serpents that rise from Salish waters.  We visit the Ute Bear Dance, where people come together every spring to h...

Send us a text We’re back, turt turt! 🐢 And what better way to kick things off than with a brand-new Turtle Island Talk. In this episode, your hosts Joseph, Gabe, and RedBear catch up, talk trash cookies, Waffle House memories, and dive into some real stories from Native communities across Turtle Island. We’re talking about Canada’s $24 million investment into dementia care that actually centers...

Send us a text This week, we’re taking a different path—one that starts in Cherokee and Mohawk territory and winds its way across the Americas, ending with the Rarámuri in northern Mexico. We’re not talking about monsters or murder today. We’re talking about what Indigenous people would be doing right now— planting, gathering, fishing, dreaming —and the spirits, warnings, and weirdness that come w...

Send us a text On this episode of Nightmares of the Americas: Indigenous Tales , we dive into Part Two of our deep-dive into the lava tubes of Northern California and the surrounding sacred land. We pick up where we left off — with the Achomawi and their warnings, the government mapping that followed the Indian Wars, and the places where people keep going missing without a trace. We’ll get into fi...

Send us a text This week, we’re taking a real look at the River People — the Achomawi — who made a life out of some of the roughest ground in Northern California. Volcanic fields, cold rivers, high desert — they knew every inch of it. They fished, they hunted, they moved with the seasons — and they passed down warnings about something they knew was still living underneath all of it. Pale beings th...

Send us a text In this episode of Nightmares of the Americas: Indigenous Tales , we uncover the patterns from the ceque lines of the Inca to the serpent coils of the Mississippi Valley, sacred geometry was functional. Ceremonial. Required. We cover the knowledge keepers who still carry it, the lines that organize spirit roads and cities, and the songs tied to visual patterns in the Amazon.  We als...

Send us a text This week on Turtle Island Talk , we’re bringing you some powerful updates and stories from across Indigenous nations — from justice long overdue to spiritual encounters that defy explanation. We begin with a major update in the Jeremy Skibicki case out of Winnipeg. After continued advocacy, the remains of Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran have been found, and “Buffalo Woman” has now...

Send us a text Deep in the canyons of northern Mexico, the Rarámuri people tell stories about giants— real ones . They're called Ganokos , and they’re not friendly spirits or misunderstood creatures. These things are tied to an ancient vegetation god named Ganó , who was said to steal and eat children. In this episode, we break down the legend of the Ganokos and how it's still very real...

Send us a text The Ucumar, often called the Andean Bigfoot, is said to roam the remote mountainous regions of Argentina and Bolivia. Unlike its North American counterpart, it is typically described as shorter, stockier, and faster—ranging between five to seven feet tall. The body is covered in thick, dark fur, and most accounts claim it walks upright like a human but can drop to all fours when mov...

Send us a text Last week, things got a little… strange. Our equipment went haywire, and according to Gabriel, we even “lost” Joseph—who knows what happened? But we’re back, and this week, we’re continuing with  stories from you , the listener. Before we dive in, don’t forget to resubscribe on Apple Podcasts if you haven’t already! And while you’re at it, rate and review the show for a chance to sc...

Send us a text History isn’t just something we read about—it lingers. It listens. And sometimes… it reminds us it’s still here. In this episode of Nightmares of the Americas: Indigenous Tales, we dive into listener-submitted stories that bring us face-to-face with the unexplained. From Mission San Luis de Apalachee in Florida, where voices from the past still echo in locked rooms and empty churche...

Send us a text In this special edition of Nightmares of the Americas: Indigenous Tales , we are on a mission to determine the most feared Indigenous creature of Latin America! Six legendary nightmares, each with centuries of terror behind them , will face off in a single-elimination battle royale , where we decide who truly reigns as the most terrifying being of them all. Will it be Camazotz, the...

Send us a text Welcome to Turtle Island Talk 11 , where we go into real stories impacting Indigenous communities across North America. From government surveillance and historical injustices to Indigenous resilience, activism, and culture—nothing is off the table. In this episode, we explore the case of Jason Kennedy , a First Nations man who underwent surgery at Grace Hospital in Winnipeg—only to...

Send us a text In this episode of Nightmares of the Americas: Indigenous Tales , we sit down with one of the most compelling voices in country and folk music today— Vincent Neil Emerson . His music is raw, real, and deeply personal, weaving in stories of his Choctaw-Apache heritage, the displacement of his ancestors, and the struggles and triumphs that shape his sound. From growing up in East Texa...

Send us a text Nikki Apostolou, known online as @recycledstardust, is a Native American model, beauty and skincare enthusiast, and a proud mom of three. Based in New York City, she shares her passion for beauty, skincare, fashion, and parenting across various platforms. On Instagram, she manages multiple accounts: @native_stardust, @recycledstardust focuses on beauty and skincare, while @fabulousl...

Send us a text The Marfa Lights are mysterious orbs of light that appear in the desert near Marfa, Texas. Witnesses describe them as glowing balls, often white, yellow, orange, or red. They move erratically—floating, darting, and sometimes splitting into multiple lights before merging back together. These lights are most commonly seen from Highway 90, near a specially designated viewing area built...

Send us a text The Nalusa Falaya, descriptions vary, but they all share similarities. It stands unnaturally tall, its limbs thin and angular, like a body stretched beyond human proportions. Its movements are disturbingly smooth, almost like it’s gliding rather than walking. And its color—a black so deep it seems to absorb light itself—defies reality. This creature is also sometimes described in th...

Send us a text Nightmares of the americas and the behill network are teaming up with the long hairs. These guys have amazing products and have spent the last 10 years building a strong positive community for men with long hair. Click on the link below and enter code "NIGHTMARES" at check out.  https://thelonghairs.us/?dt_id=2267311&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAabJB5dlPL-NcZi-o-2tRQDtsTRO8llx...

Send us a text In this special winter solstice episode, we dive into traditions surrounding the longest night of the year. Across Native cultures, the solstice is more than an astronomical event—it's a time for renewal, gratitude, and storytelling. We'll share chilling yet inspiring tales like the story of Manabush and his brother, the origin of tobacco, and how a spirit bear blessed a m...