MEET OUR ESTEEMED GUESTS
Dr. Mireya Mayor
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PRIMATOLOGIST, EXPLORER, TV HOST, AUTHOR
Hailed by The New York Times as “The Female Indiana Jones” and referred to as “Her Wildness”—Dr. Mayor is a world-renowned primatologist, author, explorer, and Emmy Award winning TV host.
As National Geographic’s first female wildlife correspondent, Dr. Mayor has hosted dozens of documentaries, including her own Nat Geo Wild! Series, Wild Nights with Mireya Mayor, and Mark Burnett’s Expedition Africa for History Channel and currently stars in Discovery Channel’s hit series, Expedition Bigfoot. But the former NFL cheerleader, daughter of Cuban immigrants, and mother of six, is not your typical scientist.
A Fulbright Scholar and Explorer’s Club Fellow, Dr. Mayor is known for exploring the most remote regions of the earth in search of elusive, rare and little-known animals. A field correspondent for the National Geographic Channel, Mayor has reported to audiences worldwide on pertinent wildlife and habitat issues. Her explorations have led to several scientific discoveries, most notably her discovery in Madagascar of the world’s smallest primate, a brand new species to science. Her work with this rare primate inspired the prime minister of Madagascar to establish a national park to help protect the new species, conserving the 10 percent that remains of the African island nation’s once vast forest. Mayor earned her Ph.D. at Stony Brook University on her field research on the effects of forest fragmentation and isolation on two types of lemurs found only in northern Madagascar.
Dr. Mayor is the author of the best-selling book, Pink Boots and a Machete, and the subject of the award-winning children’s book, Just Wild Enough. She is the founder of Her Wildness Foundation, a non-profit focused on conservation efforts, and highlighting the contributions and roles of women in the frontlines protecting some of the most endangered animals on Earth.
A Miami native, Dr. Mayor also plays a leading role on Florida International University’s strategic management team, where she champions environmental resilience and leads conservation initiatives, including the recent designation of the Florida Keys, Biscayne Bay and Ten Thousand Islands as a new Mission Blue Hope Spot.
In addition to serving as the Executive Director of Strategic Projects at FIU, she regularly speaks to audiences across the country and internationally about the importance of conservation for a vigorous and healthy planet.
Mireya Mayor, PhD
Lyle Blackburn
Lyle Blackburn is a native Texan known for his work as an author, 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.
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Lyle is a frequent guest on radio programs such as Coast To Coast AM, and has contributed to the production of eight documentaries by the Small Town Monsters film company. Lyle has also appeared on numerous television shows, including The UnXplained, Monsters and Mysteries in America, Strange Evidence, Finding Bigfoot, and The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs.
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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.
For more information visit www.lyleblackburn.com
Dave Schrader
Dave Schrader is a seasoned paranormal investigator, podcast host, and TV personality known for *The Paranormal 60* podcast and his work on *The Holzer Files* and *Ghosts of Devil’s Perch* on Travel Channel & Discovery+. A familiar face on *Ghost Adventures*, *Paranormal State*, and Shock Docs like *The Curse of Lizzie Borden*, Dave has spent a lifetime exploring haunted locations, cryptid encounters, and UFO phenomena. With a mix of curiosity, humor, and respect for the unknown, he brings the supernatural to life, making the mysterious both thrilling and accessible to audiences worldwide.
Dr. Jeff Meldrum
Dr. Jeff Meldrum is a Full Professor of Anatomy & Anthropology at Idaho State University (since 1993). His research centers on the evolution of hominin bipedalism. His professional interest in the footprints attributed to sasquatch began when he personally examined a line of 15-inch tracks, in 1996. Over 25 years later, his lab houses well over 300 footprint casts attributed to relict hominoids around the world. He is author of Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science (Tom Doherty Publishers, 2006). He is editor-in-chief of the scholarly refereed journal, The Relict Hominoid Inquiry (www.isu.edu/rhi), now in its thirteenth year.
Ronny LeBlanc
Ronny LeBlanc is the author of the best-selling book Monsterland: Encounters with UFOs, Bigfoot, and
Orange Orbs and MONSTERLAND: Shamans, Sasquatch, Synchronicity and High Strangeness.
He has been featured on Animal Planet’s FINDING BIGFOOT, the Travel Channel Series IN SEARCH OF
MONSTERS aka WHEN MONSTERS ATTACK and stars in the history-making new series from Travel
Channel entitled: EXPEDITION BIGFOOT.
Ronny is a researcher, speaker, screenwriter, and he is also the creator and host of the Monsterland Podcast, which can be found on all platforms and covers topics
including the Paranormal and Supernatural, Bigfoot and UFOs, and The Strange.
Ron Yacovetti
Four-time author Ron Yacovetti is living in his home state of New Jersey. However, he began
investigating the paranormal during his 14 years as a resident of Los Angeles, California. This
geographic diversity gave him the opportunity to investigate some of the most notable haunts
on both coasts.nHe has a unique background as a stand-up comedian, a writer, and Paranormal Investigator. Ron’s background with satire, along with this empirical experience, has shaped his
philosophical view of the absurd and paranormal. He applies a keen sense of awareness when
hypocrisy and a lack of continuity of thought pervade the paranormal landscape. He is truly the
cynic’s, cynic.
Gail Gamble & Cara Cilento
With a shared passion for the unknown, they have
delved deep into the supernatural, investigating some of the most infamous hauntings along the
East Coast and beyond. Their expertise and dedication have earned them recognition as authors with two upcoming books set to be published through Beyond the Fray Publishing. Audiences may also recognize Gail and Cara from their appearance on Haunt TV’s My Haunted Hometown, where they brought their family’s personal haunting to life. Their journeys have
taken them to renowned locations like Pennhurst Asylum, White Hill Mansion, the Cashtown
Inn, Isaac Morse Estate, the Conjuring House, and many more. These historic sites have provided the perfect backdrop for their mission: giving the past a voice through meticulous research and compelling evidence. Recently, Nine Lives Paranormal has expanded its focus to include private residences and
cases of possessions and oppressions. This new chapter demonstrates their unwavering commitment to helping those impacted by unexplained phenomena while continuing to explore the boundaries of the spiritual realm.