The Confessionals is an interesting podcast hosted by Tony Merkel. The show is dedicated to exploring the intersection of the supernatural firsthand testimony and a Christian worldview. On the podcast, which I recommend, listeners will find a wide array of interesting topics, including but not limited to UFOs, interdimensional portals, and conspiracies. Merkel’s show is particularly well-known within the cryptid community for its extensive documentation of “Dogman” encounters (u/rebel-of-the-day, 2021, October 1). These episodes range from historical analyses of “cynocephali” (dog-headed men) in ancient manuscripts to harrowing modern reports of aggressive, bipedal canine entities in the American wilderness. The podcast correctly frames these encounters as part of a larger spiritual warfare narrative. Cryptids like the Dogman are interdimensional and demonic, not simply biological creatures. Merkel‘s show, whether recounting stories of hunters face-to-face with monsters or exploring the “hidden history” of these beings, aims to expose the veil of hidden forces shaping our reality. Merkel provides an interesting platform for witnesses to share experiences that defy conventional understanding.
It is within this framework of spiritual warfare and hidden history that Seth Vanderbrook, a Biblical researcher, provides an interesting topic for this show. Utilizing a hermeneutic approach, Seth explores the deep intersections among scripture, apocryphal texts, and historical accounts to discuss a curious paranormal phenomenon: a Dogman. Through his blog, Project Elazar, he provides the documented proof to bridge the gap between the ancient accounts and our modern world (Vanderbrook, n.d.). Seth’s work draws on the biblical worldview popularized by scholars like Michael Heiser, focusing on the Nephilim, the “unseen realm,” and finding credible evidence to support the actuality of creatures often dismissed as only a myth. By connecting documented history with modern accounts, Seth demystifies these legends, making them tangible for those seeking to understand the true nature of the world.
Seth’s Research into Biblical and Historical Is Very Strange and Interesting
One of the most striking aspects of Seth’s research is the historical documentation of “Cynocephali,” or dog-headed people. On the show, Seth references ancient maps, such as the 1507 Waldseemüller map and the 1516 Carta Marina. These maps depict dog-headed beings found in regions of Northern India. He claims that, although these maps are often dismissed by modern critics as mere monkeys, Seth sees more detail in these accounts from historians like Pliny the Elder and the Roman orator Cicero, which further point to this strange possibility. These figures describe aspects of the Dogmen in great detail, including hygiene, clothing, and linguistic habits. With these qualitative thick descriptions of these beings, from authentic historical records, it can be suggested that they were a distinct, physical race rather than a zoological error.
On this podcast, Seth proposes that these “Dogmen” may have a genetic basis linked to the Nephilim bloodlines. Based on his evidence, he suggests that 17th-century historical texts, such as Fortunio Liceti’s De Monstris, include illustrations of conjoined twins. It can be argued that, from these images of one head appearing to be human and the other canine, it can be concluded that strange, blended entities existed (and presumably continue to exist). On the show, Seth suggests that these genetic anomalies recorded in these old texts indicate that Dogmen had latent genetic traits within the human gene pool. In other words, Seth suggests that the genetic “code” for these ancient or anomalous features is still present, but it has been “switched off.” Like a computer program installed on a hard drive that isn’t currently running. This perspective reframes the cryptid not just as a forest-dwelling monster, but as a recurring biological anomaly tied to ancient hybridity.
A key aspect of Seth’s studies, as conveyed on the show, is genetic variability. Just as human families exhibit diverse physical traits, historical texts such as the Book of Jubilees and the Book of Giants describe the Nephilim and their offspring as having a wide range of appearances, from giants to animal-hybrid monsters. Seth believes we should not assume that all these entities look identical, which he claims is not a logical way to approach the topic; instead, he says a spectrum of hybrid beings populated the ancient world. He feels that the variety of these beings would include the “Satyrs” (goat-like demons) mentioned in Leviticus and Isaiah, as well as numerous other creatures.
Seth also makes a distinction between the actual existence of a dog-headed people-race and the shape-shifting beings known as “lycanthropy.” In the podcast, Seth notes that credible Greek historians, such as Herodotus, documented the existence of Cynocephali. They also expressed skepticism toward stories of men turning into wolves. Seth believes the ambivalence shown in historical accounts of these beings adds a realistic layer of historical credibility to the sightings, suggesting the observers were capable of separating physical biological entities from the “fabulous” or magical tales of transformation, while also questioning what they saw, much like we do today!
The conversation also included the many facets of the Bible. This included some of the curious technologies described in the Bible, like the “bands” mentioned in Ezekiel 13. In the Bible, this verse reads, “And say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Woe to the women who sew magic bands on all wrists and make veils for the heads of persons of every stature to hunt down lives! Will you hunt down the lives of My people, but preserve the lives of others for yourselves?” — Ezekiel 13:18. Seth interprets these not as metaphors, but as ancient soul-trapping devices used by principalities to hunt human lives. This aligns with modern accounts of “Soul Trappers,” which are entities capable of extracting human essence. Thus, suggesting that the technology of the fallen angels has remained with mankind from ancient Egypt to our modern-day paranormal encounters.
The spiritual hierarchy of the world is another interesting aspect of Seth’s research. The spiritual hierarchy Seth provides is based on Deuteronomy 32:8, which reads, “But the Lord’s portion is his people, Jacob his allotted inheritance.” According to Seth, the verse describes how God allotted different nations to various heavenly principalities. Seth explains that while God originally placed these beings, many have fallen, becoming the “powers and principalities” mentioned in the New Testament. This framework describes the global consistency of stories about hybrid creatures, as different cultures interacted with the same fallen spiritual entities that governed their regions.
Near the conclusion of the podcast, Seth bridges his research with personal experience, recounting an incident in which he was held down by an unseen “force field” that was accompanied by heavy footsteps in his home. Seth knows that his freedom from supernatural oppression, like this example, is only because of Jesus Christ. Seth also attributes his research to spiritual warfare. In his work, Seth documents anomalies and, as a result, aims to provide a comprehensive Biblical context for the mysterious phenomena that continue to manifest in the modern world.
Closing Reflections From the Dogman Podcast
Vanderbrook’s work, discussed in this episode, serves as a detailed synthesis of theology, challenging the tendency to compartmentalize faith and strange, unexplainable events. By examining the phenomenon of the Dogman and other entities in historical maps, Roman legal letters, and Biblical genealogies, Seth provides listeners with more than just campfire stories but a very real realm of historical inquiry. His research suggests that the world is more complex than a purely materialist worldview can account for. Seth’s descriptions allow for a deeper understanding of our world, which is inhabited by the remnants of ancient genetic and spiritual beings. At the end of the podcast, Seth argues that understanding these beings isn’t just an academic exercise—it’s a necessary part of living in a world where the physical and spiritual realms are wholly intertwined.
References:
The Confessionals. (2024, November 27). 708: Hidden history of Dogman [Video]. YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lDXPCA0vco
u/rebel-of-the-day. (2021, October 1). The Confessionals [Online forum post]. Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/dogman/comments/pzg21s/the_confessionals/
Vanderbrook, S. (n.d.). Project Elazar. https://projectelazar.com