This week on That Would Be Rad, we’re heading into the heart of a real-life catastrophe and the enduring mystery it birthed: The Butterfly People of Joplin, Missouri.
On May 22, 2011, an EF5 tornado tore through Joplin—one of the deadliest and costliest in U.S. history. In the storm’s wake, survivors (especially children) began telling eerily similar stories: glowing, winged figures who shielded them from debris, guided them to safety, and then vanished.
From roadside rescues and ditch-side miracles to a teenager who later found butterflies drawn to her like a living halo, we unpack the most compelling accounts—plus the city’s response, including the Butterfly Effect: Dreams Take Flight mural that turned grief into symbol and story.

We dig into everything from firsthand narratives and angel folklore to deeper frameworks like the Third Man Factor (the “mysterious helper” reported by mountaineers and disaster survivors), and we trace parallels in other crises and legends.
And at the end, Woody and Tyler lay out their theories—are these guardian angels, trauma-born protectors of the mind, something paranormal… or a combination that says as much about us as it does about the unknown?

Whether you’re a believer, a skeptic, or just fascinated by how humans find meaning in the unexplainable, this episode blends chills, heart, and hope in classic RAD fashion.
So dim the lights, listen for the wind, and join us as we step into the storm—and the stories that refuse to let go.

Mentioned in this episode:
– The 2011 Joplin EF5 tornado (context & timeline)– Children’s “butterfly people” encounters: car flips, ditch shelters, open-field protection– The Morgan family “green rug” mystery & the brown-haired figure– The church basement rescue by “six large men”– Emily Huddleston’s recovery and the butterflies that “wouldn’t leave her alone”– Butterfly Effect: Dreams Take Flight mural (community remembrance)– The Third Man Factor & disaster-helper parallels

Got a story like this? We’d love to hear it—send us your experience (anonymous is fine).

CONNECT WITH US:
📲 Instagram: @thatwouldberad — Tag us, DM us, or share your strange stories.🎙 Share a story / send a voice message: thatwouldberadpodcast.com✉️ Email: thatwouldberadpod@gmail.com

SHOW 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 Society

RAD WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR SHOW:
🎧 JOIN OUR PATREON: Unlock exclusive content and help us keep the weirdness coming at patreon.com/thatwouldberad☕️ BUY US A COFFEE: Fuel our late-night research at buymeacoffee.com/thatwouldberad🛍 CHECK OUT OUR MERCH: Snag official RAD gear at thatwouldberad.myspreadshop.com

This week on That Would Be Rad, we’re joined by the creative duo and founders of Sozo Bear Films: Luke Pilgrim and Brad Kennedy - as they share the story behind their latest mini-docuseries, Unknown Ellijay.

Set in the quiet mountain town of Ellijay, Georgia, the series explores the eerie legends, paranormal encounters, and cryptid sightings that have haunted the area for generations.

From ghostly tavern tales to whispers of the elusive Dogman — and yes, even stories of Bigfoot lurking in the North Georgia mountains - Luke and Brad take us behind the scenes of filming, revealing the strange stories, fascinating characters, and spine-tingling moments they uncovered along the way.

We dive into everything from their creative process and challenges on location to bigger questions about belief, skepticism, and how folklore shapes the identity of a community.

Whether you’re a lifelong believer in the unexplained or just curious about the stories that keep people looking over their shoulder at night, this episode is packed with chills, laughs, and plenty of rad conversation.

So grab your lantern, settle in, and join us as we step into the shadows of Unknown Ellijay.

Be sure to check out SOZO BEAR FILMS docuseries on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SozoBearFilms

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.com⁠⁠⁠

SHOW INFO:

Hosts & Producers: Woody Brown & Tyler Bence

Recorded At: Midnight Radio Studios

Sound Wizardry: Woody Brown (Sound Design, Editing, & Music) & Tyler Bence (Mixing, Mastering, & Art Design)

Outro Jam: "Ghost Story" by The Modern Society

CONNECT 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

or email it: thatwouldberadpod@gmail.com

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.com⁠⁠

SHOW INFO:
Hosts & Producers: Woody Brown & Tyler Bence
Recorded At: Midnight Radio Studios
Sound Wizardry: Woody Brown (Sound Design, Editing, & Music) & Tyler Bence (Mixing, Mastering, & Art Design)
Outro Jam: "Ghost Story" by The Modern Society

CONNECT 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