S5 E18: Flying Serpents & Other American Dragons

What this episode covers

This week on That Would Be Rad, we’re diving deep into the legends of American Dragons—winged, scaly nightmares that allegedly terrorized the skies and waterways of the 19th and early 20th century. From a flying serpent that attacked a speeding train in the Colorado Desert, to bulletproof lake monsters, salt-encrusted horse-eaters, and the legendary Tombstone Thunderbird, these tales blur the line between folklore, cryptid encounters, and pure frontier madness.We’ll travel coast to coast through historic newspaper accounts, Indigenous legends, and bizarre eyewitness reports that feature everything from flying crocodiles to “pair-odactyls” in California’s marshlands. And of course, we’ll end with our own theories—trying to decide if these stories are just tall tales… or if dragons really did roam the American West.Grab your six-shooters, keep your eyes on the skies, and BE RAD AND HIT PLAY NOW!RAD WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR SHOW:🎧 JOIN OUR PATREON: Unlock exclusive content and help us continue our quest for the truth at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/thatwouldberad⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠☕️ BUY US A COFFEE: Support our late-night research sessions at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buymeacoffee.com/thatwouldberad⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🛍 CHECK OUT OUR MERCH: Grab some official That Would Be Rad gear at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thatwouldberad.myspreadshop.com⁠⁠SHOW INFO:Hosts & Producers: Woody Brown & Tyler BenceRecorded At: Midnight Radio StudiosSound Wizardry: Woody Brown (Sound Design, Editing, & Music) & Tyler Bence (Mixing, Mastering, & Art Design)Outro Jam: "Ghost Story" by The Modern SocietyCONNECT WITH US:📲 Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠@thatwouldberad⁠⁠ — Tag us, message us, or share your own strange stories — we love hearing from you!🎙 Got a weird story? Send us a voice message at ⁠⁠thatwouldberadpodcast.com

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

I'm ok

Mar 26, 2026 ·1m

REMIX: Why we over-shop and compulsively acquire, and how to stop, with Dr Jan Eppingstall

Jan 9, 2026 ·61m

REMIX: OCD and hoarding disorder with Jenna Overbaugh

Jan 2, 2026 ·47m

REMIX: Therapy and hoarding disorder - what are the options? With Dr Jan Eppingstall

Dec 26, 2025 ·78m

REMIX: ADHD and hoarding disorder with Professor Sharon Morein

Dec 21, 2025 ·46m

#207 13 actionable pieces of mental health advice from six former podcast guests

Dec 12, 2025 ·53m

Similar Podcasts

French Your Way Jessica: Native French teacher founder of French Your Way Boost your French listening skills and test your comprehension with this one of a kind series of podcasts. Get the chance to listen to a real conversation between native speakers talking at normal speed AND customise your learning experience through carefully designed sets of questions (2 levels of difficulty) available for download at www.frenchvoicespodcast.com. All interviews also come with the transcript. French teacher Jessica interviews native speakers of French from around the world who share a bit of their life and passion. Where else would you meet in one same place a French yoga teacher based in Melbourne, a soap manufacturer from Provence, or a couple cycling around the world? That Hoarder: Overcome Compulsive Hoarding That Hoarder Hoarding disorder is stigmatised and people who hoard feel vast amounts of shame. This podcast began life as an audio diary, an anonymous outlet for somebody with this weird condition. That Hoarder speaks about her experiences living with compulsive hoarding, she interviews therapists, academics, researchers, children of hoarders, professional organisers and influencers, and she shares insight and tips for others with the problem. Listened to by people who hoard as well as those who love them and those who work with them, Overcome Compulsive Hoarding with That Hoarder aims to shatter the stigma, share the truth and speak openly and honestly to improve lives. The Small Business Startup School – Business Notes | Financial Literacy | Retail Psychology – For Professionals & Entrepreneurs The Small Business Startup School Inc. Starting or buying a small business? While personal circumstances may vary, business patterns remain timeless. On The Small Business Startup School, we explore strategies, insights, and practical solutions to help entrepreneurs confidently navigate their journey.Hosted by Ola Williams—a retail entrepreneur, fintech founder, and financial coach with over two decades of experience—this podcast marries financial awareness and retail psychology with optimism to deliver actionable takeaways.Join us to learn, grow, and connect as we uncover the keys to business success.Let’s continue to learn together and be encouraged to keep on connecting! HOMELAND HOMELAND The Church is a body not a building. It's the bride of Jesus Christ! Jesus is coming back for a mature bride. That means it's time for the church of Jesus Christ to move from milk to meat. This is the hour of maturity!HOMELAND is an announcement that the church is being set free. Only the church has the ability to transform the world. The kingdom's of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and Savior!All of creation has been waiting for this moment! Sons and daughters of God are rising up and taking their seat!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of That Would Be Rad?

This episode is 1 hour and 29 minutes long.

When was this That Would Be Rad episode published?

This episode was published on August 11, 2025.

What is this episode about?

This week on That Would Be Rad, we’re diving deep into the legends of American Dragons—winged, scaly nightmares that allegedly terrorized the skies and waterways of the 19th and early 20th century. From a flying serpent that attacked a speeding...

Can I download this That Would Be Rad episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.