Matthew Orton Recounted Cryptid Encounters and Podcast Origins on ARKAST Episode

Matthew Orton, host of the "Dunken Cryptids" podcast, recently joined Ti King for an in-depth discussion on a past episode of the ARKAST podcast, exploring his personal history with unexplained phenomena, the dramatic creation of his show, and his theories on various paranormal subjects.

Orton traced his fascination back to his Utah upbringing near the Uinta Mountains, where Bigfoot was a familiar topic. He shared significant early experiences, including his mother's sightings and their discovery of a mysterious footprint near Hellhole Lake in 1992. "It wasn't a full complete footprint," Orton explained of the track, "It almost looked like it was like the ball of his foot, like he was sprinting."

His time in the military provided another defining, albeit terrifying, encounter. Stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, Orton described being stalked alongside fellow soldiers one night while on guard duty. Recounting the intense fear he felt investigating strange noises in the pitch-black woods, Orton stated plainly, "...that night in those woods was probably the most scared I've ever been."

The origin of the "Drunken Cryptids" podcast itself was unconventional. After recounting paranormal stories at a local bar, a bartender encouraged him to share them more broadly.

"Matthew, you just start a podcast," she told him. Orton recalled his initial unfamiliarity with the medium: "I went, 'What's a podcast?'" The show launched with the help of his friend Maddie, but faced a crisis after Maddie's tragic and sudden passing just two months later. Orton candidly spoke of nearly abandoning the project during that dark time before friend Tommy stepped in. "[Tommy] used to do stuff for radio shows and I want to get involved," Orton recounted. Tommy's impact was immediate and transformative. "Within a week he had me on serving platforms... I was blown away," Orton said, adding, "I would not be today if it wasn't for Tommy on that side."

The conversation navigated various paranormal topics. When discussing Shadow People, Orton differentiated between fleeting figures and those that seem more aware. "I consider them... 'Peeping Toms'... They run away," he said of the former type, contrasting them with the "intelligent ones" where "they're letting you know, yeah, I see you. Yeah. And you see me, what's up?" Host Ti King chimed in, relating his own childhood sighting of a hatted figure and recalling his surprise when Orton brought up the detail: "...how ridiculous it was going to be if I had to tell you that he was wearing a hat."

Orton also elaborated on his theory that Arkansas is an overlooked paranormal hotspot, potentially due to its unique geology. "Arkansas's full. I mean, you can go dig in my backyard and dig up quartz," he noted. "Throughout history... quartz has always been used as a magical... element... the theory is it traps energy."

Regarding research in the field, Orton cautioned against accepting absolute claims. "Anybody in the paranormal world or the crypto world goes, 'I'm an expert.' Go ahead and just turn them off and move right on past them," he advised. He suggested the often-brief nature of encounters contributes to the lack of clear evidence. "Most of your encounters that people have are 15 to 20 seconds long," Orton observed. Referencing fumbling for a camera, he added, "By the time I get it, it's gone."

At the time of the recording, Orton discussed several future endeavors, including a planned appearance on the Tubi series "Searching for Sasquatch," a potential research expedition to Portlock, Alaska, speaking engagements, and the development of a "Little Cryptids" podcast aimed at children.

The extensive discussion on the ARKAST episode provided listeners with a compelling look into Matthew Orton's lifelong engagement with the unexplained. His podcast, Drunken Cryptids, continues to explore these topics.

Catch the episode of the ARKAST Podcast with Matthew Orton here: