2026 Guest Speakers
Learn about these mysterious creatures from well-respected researchers!
Dr. Mireya Mayor
Dr. Mireya Mayor is a world-renowned primatologist, explorer, award-winning television host, and respected science communicator whose career blends daring fieldwork with groundbreaking discovery. As National Geographic’s first female wildlife correspondent, she has hosted dozens of documentaries, including her Nat Geo Wild! series Wild Nights with Mireya Mayor, Expedition Africa for the History Channel, and she currently stars in Travel Channel’s hit series Expedition Bigfoot. A former NFL cheerleader, daughter of Cuban immigrants, and mother of six, Dr. Mayor followed an unconventional path to become a National Science Foundation Fellow, Fulbright Scholar, and Emmy Award–nominated wildlife correspondent. Known for exploring the most remote regions of the world in search of rare and elusive species, her scientific achievements include the co-discovery in Madagascar of the world’s smallest primate, a species previously unknown to science—earning her the nickname “the female Indiana Jones.” Beyond television, she serves as Executive Director of Strategic Projects at Florida International University (FIU) and regularly lectures nationwide as a featured speaker for the National Geographic Speakers Bureau.
Russell Acord
An author and part-time filmmaker with a full-time career in the nuclear industry, Russell Acord is perhaps best-known as the fearless Bigfoot researcher on the Travel Channel’s Expedition Bigfoot, working alongside respected researchers and bringing a high level of professionalism to the field. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, and raised in Montana, the Bitterroot Mountains profoundly influenced his life and writing, serving as the backdrop for his Bigfoot-focused trilogy, which is grounded in years of studying consistent elements found in eyewitness accounts rather than a single personal encounter. After completing his education in Montana and traveling extensively, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, experiencing both the greatest challenges and proudest moments of his life before being honorably medically discharged. The military later provided the opportunity to earn a degree in Safety and Health Management, graduating magna cum laude, and leading to a career in nuclear safety. While balancing professional responsibilities, he completed the first book of his trilogy in 2012, the second in 2016, and continues work on the third. Guided by a philosophy of hard work and open-minded curiosity, he believes there are still unexplained mysteries in the world and remains committed to the search for answers, including the possibility of tangible evidence of Bigfoot.
Turtleman & Swampman
For nearly 43 years, Ernie Brown Jr., better known as Turtleman, has been diving into Kentucky’s murky ponds in search of snapping turtles. Born and raised in Washington County, he caught his first 75-pound turtle at just seven years old, learning the risky technique from his father and uncle. By 17, he’d captured his largest ever—a massive 123-pound snapper nicknamed the “Loch Ness Turtle.”
Ernie has rescued and relocated thousands of turtles, averaging 300 captures a year, surviving 35 injuries along the way, and amassing a lifetime total of more than 12,000 turtles. Before dedicating himself to wildlife rescue, he worked a variety of labor-intensive jobs, from cutting barrel boards to construction and farm work.
Today, Turtleman lives deep in the backwoods of Kentucky, fully immersed in the wild and proving that no challenge is too big when it comes to the creatures of his home state.
As a bonus, Swampman his partner and friend, will join us as well!
AND do you know, Turtleman had a Bigfoot encounter when he was nine years old while squirrel hunting in Kentucky??? Here's the 2011 KBRO's interview: https://youtu.be/S-NJdbq1nf4
Lyle Blackburn
Lyle Blackburn is a native Texan known for his work as an author, musician, podcaster, and cryptid researcher. His early attraction to cryptid creatures and strange phenomena has resulted in a lifelong exploration of these subjects. Lyle has written several acclaimed books, including “The Beast of Boggy Creek” and “Texas Bigfoot,” which offer a balanced view of the topics while delivering gripping accounts of real-life mysteries. His research into The Legend of Boggy Creek reports in particular, has been instrumental in preserving the history of this notable Bigfoot case.
Lyle is a frequent guest on radio programs such as Coast To Coast AM, and has contributed to the production of ten documentaries by the Small Town Monsters film company. Lyle has also appeared on numerous television shows, including Expedition X, The UnXplained, Monsters and Mysteries in America, Strange Evidence, and Finding Bigfoot.
When Lyle isn’t writing books, researching cryptids, or creating episodes of his Monstro Bizarro podcast, he can be found speaking at various cryptozoology and paranormal conferences around the United States. Just look for the trademark black cowboy hat.
Ken Gerhard
Ken Gerhard is a widely recognized cryptozoologist, author, and lecturer who frequently appears on television. Ken has traveled the world searching for evidence of mysterious creatures including Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, the Chupacabra, Mothman, and the Beast of Gevaudan.In addition, he’s written six books on the subject of unknown animals. His research has been featured on numerous TV shows including: Missing in Alaska, MonsterQuest, Ancient Aliens, America Unearthed, The UnXplained (with William Shatner) and Legend Hunters. Ken has appeared on major networks including Travel Channel, Science Channel, National Geographic, Syfy and Animal Planet. He can currently be seen on the History Channel series – The Proof Is Out There.
Adam Davies
British explorer Adam Davies is widely regarded as one of the most dedicated field researchers searching for undiscovered animals, having conducted more off-camera, hands-on investigations than anyone else in the field today. From the jungles of the Congo and Sumatra to the deserts of Mongolia and the mountains of Nepal, Adam has traveled the globe in pursuit of scientific evidence for elusive creatures, successfully bringing back physical evidence—an achievement unmatched in modern cryptozoology—including findings related to the Orang-Pendek in Sumatra, the Yeren in China, and the Seljord Serpent in Norway, and even collaborating with a leading geneticist intrigued by Bigfoot research. An accomplished animal tracker since childhood, Adam also brings a unique analytical edge from his seven years working in courtroom cross-examination for the British Government’s Home Office. While limited to dedicating his personal time and resources to this passion, he remains a frequent contributor to documentary television, appearing on History Channel’s MonsterQuest, National Geographic’s Is It Real?, Animal Planet’s Finding Bigfoot, Science Channel’s Unexplained Files, and Travel Channel’s Expedition Unknown. He is also the author of the Extreme Expeditions book series, including Travel Adventures Stalking the World’s Mystery Animals, Manbeasts – A Personal Investigation, and Extreme Expeditions 3: Bigfoot Versus The Yeti, which details his most recent expedition to Nepal searching for the yeti alongside Josh Gates.
Charlie Raymond
Charlie Raymond is the founder of the Kentucky Bigfoot Research Organization (KBRO) and a dedicated Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO) investigator with over three decades of experience in Bigfoot research. A passionate, boots-on-the-ground investigator, Charlie has interviewed nearly 800 credible eyewitnesses across Kentucky, documenting encounters with a meticulous approach grounded in science and psychology. With a degree in Psychology from the University of Florida, Charlie leverages his expertise in human behavior to assess the credibility of witness accounts, carefully discerning between authentic experiences and exaggeration. His commitment to ensuring the legitimacy of the encounters he documents has earned him respect in the field of Bigfoot research. Unlike armchair researchers, Charlie spends almost every weekend immersed in the wilderness, leading private and public expeditions in pursuit of evidence and answers. Through years of dedication, he has amassed a wealth of knowledge, contributing valuable insights to the study of this elusive creature. Charlie’s work has been featured on The Animal Planet, The History Channel, and The BBC. A captivating speaker, he frequently presents at libraries and Bigfoot conferences across Kentucky and the United States, using his engaging style to entertain, educate, and inspire audiences. He is also the author of the highly successful books, Bluegrass Bigfoot: Encounters With The Kentucky Wildman and Bluegrass Bigfoot: Daniel Boone Encounters.
Kentucky's Largest Bigfoot Festival will take place in the Red River Gorge on May 30, 2026! World renowned guest speakers, celebrities, family activities, movies, music, food trucks and tons of unique vendors!
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