Cryptid Campfire: Champ

Season 4 of Lunatic Soup launches the only way we know how: with technical disasters, unhinged laughter, birthday chaos, and a deep dive into one of America’s weirdest legends — Champ, the Lake Champlain Monster. In this episode, we spiral straight into cryptid lore, folklore, and paranormal history as we explore the 400-year mystery of Champ, Lake Champlain’s very own lake monster. From Native American accounts and 1600s sightings to the infamous Champ photograph and modern cryptozoology investigations, we break down why this elusive creature refuses to stay buried at the bottom of the lake. We talk: Why Vermont literally passed laws to protect Champ What cryptozoologists like Katie Elizabeth believe about undiscovered species Why eyewitness descriptions of Champ are wildly different (and wildly unhinged) How local festivals, mascots, and pop culture turned a lake monster into a regional icon Plus, because this is Lunatic Soup, we also derail into: Birthday chaos Internet weirdos Listener reactions And personal stories about water, fear, and why we’re all just one lake monster sighting away from becoming feral Is Champ a surviving prehistoric creature? A misidentified animal? A hoax? Or proof that cryptids are hiding in plain sight? We don’t solve the mystery — but we absolutely make it fun. If you love cryptids, lake monsters, paranormal podcasts, folklore, haunted history, weird legends, and chaotic storytelling, welcome to your new obsession. Grab a drink, embrace the absurd, and remember: being a little bit of a lunatic is how you survive this timeline.