Blurry Photos: The Kraken! | 477
Fri Feb 06 2026
This week we dig into the Blurry Photos coffers for a cryptid adventure on the high seas!
Man the oars and put yer backs into it, the Kraken surfaces! A legendary sea-beast the size of an island, the Kraken is said to swallow men whole and snap ships in half effortlessly, but what’s true and what’s a fish story? Join Flora as he braves the open seas of historical folklore for a deep dive on this fascinating fiend. The oceans are big, but are they big enough to hide a colossal cephalopod? David seeks answers to the questions on its origins, descriptions, and possible real-life species. So much culture has been inspired by this mega-monster, could there be a kernel of truth to the tales? Grab your trident and prepare to release this episode into your ears!
Music
Myst on the Moor, Big Eyes, Dark Fog, Dark Standoff, Danse Macabre, Evil Incoming, Infinite Peace, Some Amount of Evil, Spider Eyes, Temple of the Manes – Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
Cornfield Chase, Lonely Mountain, Mothership – Rafael Krux
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
Sources
Anderson, Nate. Release the kraken! 2,000 years of tall tales (and a smattering of truth). ArsTechnica.com. Web. Jan. 9, 2013. https://arstechnica.com/science/2013/01/release-the-kraken-2000-years-of-tall-tales-and-a-smattering-of-truth/
Denys de Montfort, Pierre. Histoire naturelle, générale et particulière des mollusques. Paris: L’Imprimerie de F. Dufart. pp. 256–412 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library. 1801–1805.
Haslam, Garth. Kraken: Myths, Legends, and History. Anomalyinfo.com. Web. 2017. http://anomalyinfo.com/Topics/kraken-myths-legends-and-history
Jardine, Sir William. The Naturalist’s Library. Edinburgh. W.H. Lizars. 1833https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/60177#page/398/mode/1up
Pontoppidan, Erich. The Natural History of Norway. Copenhagen: Berlingske Arvingers Bogtrykkerie, 1752. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/131226#page/520/mode/1up
SALVADOR, Rodrigo B.; TOMOTANI, Barbara M. The Kraken: when myth encounters science. História, Ciências, Saúde – Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, v.21, n.3, jul.-set. 2014, p.971-994. http://www.scielo.br/pdf/hcsm/v21n3/0104-5970-hcsm-21-3-0971.pdf
Wallenberg, J. Min son på galejan, eller en ostindisk resa innehållande allehanda bläckhornskram, samlade på skeppet Finland, som afseglade ifrån Götheborg i Dec. 1769, och återkom dersammastädes i Junii 1771. (5th ed.). Elméns och Granbergs Tryckeri, Stockholm. (in Swedish). 1835.
Williams, Wendy. Kraken: The Curious, Exciting, and Slightly Disturbing Science of Squid. New York. Abrams Image. Mar. 4, 2011.
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This week we dig into the Blurry Photos coffers for a cryptid adventure on the high seas! Man the oars and put yer backs into it, the Kraken surfaces! A legendary sea-beast the size of an island, the Kraken is said to swallow men whole and snap ships in half effortlessly, but what’s true and what’s a fish story? Join Flora as he braves the open seas of historical folklore for a deep dive on this fascinating fiend. The oceans are big, but are they big enough to hide a colossal cephalopod? David seeks answers to the questions on its origins, descriptions, and possible real-life species. So much culture has been inspired by this mega-monster, could there be a kernel of truth to the tales? Grab your trident and prepare to release this episode into your ears! Music Myst on the Moor, Big Eyes, Dark Fog, Dark Standoff, Danse Macabre, Evil Incoming, Infinite Peace, Some Amount of Evil, Spider Eyes, Temple of the Manes – Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Cornfield Chase, Lonely Mountain, Mothership – Rafael Krux Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 Sources Anderson, Nate. Release the kraken! 2,000 years of tall tales (and a smattering of truth). ArsTechnica.com. Web. Jan. 9, 2013. https://arstechnica.com/science/2013/01/release-the-kraken-2000-years-of-tall-tales-and-a-smattering-of-truth/ Denys de Montfort, Pierre. Histoire naturelle, générale et particulière des mollusques. Paris: L’Imprimerie de F. Dufart. pp. 256–412 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library. 1801–1805. Haslam, Garth. Kraken: Myths, Legends, and History. Anomalyinfo.com. Web. 2017. http://anomalyinfo.com/Topics/kraken-myths-legends-and-history Jardine, Sir William. The Naturalist’s Library. Edinburgh. W.H. Lizars. 1833https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/60177#page/398/mode/1up Pontoppidan, Erich. The Natural History of Norway. Copenhagen: Berlingske Arvingers Bogtrykkerie, 1752. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/131226#page/520/mode/1up SALVADOR, Rodrigo B.; TOMOTANI, Barbara M. The Kraken: when myth encounters science. História, Ciências, Saúde – Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, v.21, n.3, jul.-set. 2014, p.971-994. http://www.scielo.br/pdf/hcsm/v21n3/0104-5970-hcsm-21-3-0971.pdf Wallenberg, J. Min son på galejan, eller en ostindisk resa innehållande allehanda bläckhornskram, samlade på skeppet Finland, som afseglade ifrån Götheborg i Dec. 1769, och återkom dersammastädes i Junii 1771. (5th ed.). Elméns och Granbergs Tryckeri, Stockholm. (in Swedish). 1835. Williams, Wendy. Kraken: The Curious, Exciting, and Slightly Disturbing Science of Squid. New York. Abrams Image. Mar. 4, 2011. Email us your favorite WEIRD news stories: weird@hysteria51.com Support the Show Get exclusive content & perks as well as an ad and sponsor free experience at https://www.patreon.com/Hysteria51 from just $1 Shop Be the Best Dressed at your Cult Meeting! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/hysteria51?ref_id=9022 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.