The Cryptid Factor
Three comedians use cryptozoology and weird news as a launchpad for chaotic, frequently-derailed conversations and improvised sketches.
A comedy podcast where cryptozoology is the excuse, not always the subject. The three hosts use news about cryptids, aliens, and strange science as a jumping-off point for improvised characters, running gags, and chaotic friendly banter. While they occasionally conduct serious analysis, as with the 'Kelly Nessie footage,' the show's core is the comedic chemistry and the frequent, joyful derailments.
“The show's signature is Rhys Darby's arsenal of improvised vocal sound effects and character voices, which punctuate every discussion. Unlike more structured cryptozoology shows, its charm lies in its unpredictability and the hosts' tendency to abandon the topic entirely in favor of a bizarre comedic scenario.”
Who hosts this show
The Cryptid Factor features New Zealand actor/comedian Rhys Darby, Australian writer/podcaster Dan Schreiber, and their producer, Leon 'Buttons' Kirkbeck. The show is dedicated to cryptozoology and other weird phenomena not yet explained by science. While they approach topics like Bigfoot and Nessie with genuine interest, the conversations often spiral into hilarious, off-topic side shows and comedic bits.
Credentials & credits
- Rhys Darby: Actor (Our Flag Means Death, Flight of the Conchords, Jumanji), stand-up comedian, author.
- Dan Schreiber: Podcaster (No Such Thing as a Fish), author (The Theory of Everything Else), QI researcher ('elf').
- Leon Kirkbeck: Podcast Producer.
Other ventures
- Rhys Darby: Aliens Like Us (podcast), acting career, stand-up comedy tours, author of 'This Way to Spaceship'.
- Dan Schreiber: No Such Thing as a Fish (podcast), We Can Be Weirdos (podcast), The Museum of Curiosity (radio show).
- Leon 'Buttons' Kirkbeck: Cameo video messages.
What kind of podcast
When new episodes drop
- 01Loch Ness Monster Exclusive Footage - Photo SequenceMar 19, 2024 · 4 min
- 02Exclusive: Unseen Loch Ness Monster Footage! w/ Photographer & ExpertMar 19, 2024 · 40 min
- 03Episode 84 - The Backpack Issue - The Cryptid FactorFeb 21, 2024 · 1h 10m
- 04
- 05Episode 82 - - The Cryptid Factor PodcastFeb 19, 2024 · 1h 00m
- 06Episode 81 - The Artificial Xmas Issue - The Cryptid Factor PodcastFeb 19, 2024 · 1h 21m
- 07Episode 80 - The Irreversible Issue- The Cryptid Factor PodcastFeb 19, 2024 · 1h 33m
- 08Episode 79 - The Interrupted Issue (Part 2) - The Cryptid Factor PodcastFeb 19, 2024 · 33 min
Notable episodes
- 01Exclusive: Unseen Loch Ness Monster Footage! w/ Photographer & Expert
A rare, more focused episode where the team presents and analyzes exclusive photos of a potential Nessie sighting with the photographer and a veteran hunter.
- 02Episode 84 - The Backpack Issue - The Cryptid Factor
A representative example of the show's typical format: a chaotic chat about weird news leading to extended, improvised comedic skits and character work.
- 03Loch Ness Monster Exclusive Footage - Photo Sequence
The raw, animated sequence of the photos discussed in the main interview episode, which the podcast team itself helped create.
What you'll be asked on this show
This is primarily a co-hosted comedy chat show, not a standard interview podcast. On the rare occasion a guest is featured, the interview is a collaborative, informal group conversation rather than a structured Q&A. The hosts provide extensive context, build anticipation, and integrate the guests into their humorous, tangent-filled dynamic, as seen when they interviewed the photographer and an expert about new Loch Ness footage.
The format is a three-person conversational comedy show, often recorded remotely with hosts in different countries. Episodes frequently open with a long theme song and a comically out-of-sync introduction. Rhys Darby often provides live sound effects and stings, and producer Leon 'Buttons' Kirkbeck is a fully-fledged co-host and frequent target of jokes.
Questions the host keeps coming back to
3 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when the host reaches for it.
origin
2- Q.01
“Can you tell us the story of taking the photos?”
Asked of an eyewitness to get the direct, first-hand account of a strange event.
- Q.02
“What's your account of how this footage came about?”
Used to get an expert's perspective on the origin and discovery of a piece of evidence.
analysis
1- Q.01
“Do two seals hold onto each other and spiral like that?”
This is how the hosts challenge a mundane explanation for a weird event, pushing for the cryptozoological possibility.
Signature segments
- · Rhys Darby's improvised vocal sound effects
- · The 'Old Bond' / 'Old Finger' character
- · Comically out-of-sync introductions
- · Referring to producer Leon as 'Buttons'
- · Weekly World Weird News
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are rare and typically booked for special episodes to discuss a specific piece of evidence or event. For example, they interviewed photographer Chie Kelly and Nessie hunter Steve Feltham when presenting exclusive footage of a Loch Ness sighting.
- Chie Kellyon Exclusive: Unseen Loch Ness Monster Footage! w/ Photographer & Expert
- Steve Felthamon Exclusive: Unseen Loch Ness Monster Footage! w/ Photographer & Expert
- Avi Loebon Episode 83 - The Dusty Old Brain Stairwell Issue w/ Avi Loeb - The Cryptid Factor Podcast
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
Estimated: Sponsorship appears to be minimal, with the show relying more on live tours and merchandise. The one sponsor mentioned in the evidence, "Rodney's Exterior Wi-Fi," was a fictional, comedic ad read, suggesting a lighthearted approach to monetization.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
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People also ask
- Who are the hosts?
- The hosts are New Zealand comedian and actor Rhys Darby, Australian podcaster and QI researcher Dan Schreiber, and producer Leon 'Buttons' Kirkbeck.
- What is the format of the show?
- It's a conversational comedy podcast. The three hosts discuss cryptids, weird news, and paranormal stories, but the conversation frequently gets derailed by improvised skits, character bits, and friendly banter.
- Is this a serious cryptozoology podcast?
- No. While the hosts have a genuine interest in the subject, the primary focus is comedy. They take the pseudoscience seriously enough to have fun with it, but rarely take themselves seriously.
- Is the podcast still running?
- Yes, though the release schedule can be occasional. They also perform live shows.
- Who is 'Buttons'?
- Leon 'Buttons' Kirkbeck is the show's producer, who also acts as the third co-host and is often part of the comedy.
- Where can I listen to The Cryptid Factor?
- The podcast is available on YouTube, Acast, Apple Podcasts, Audible, and other major podcast platforms.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]Official Website of Rhys Darbyrhysdarby.com
- [02]Dan Schreiber - John Noel Managementjohnnoel.com
- [03]Dan Schreiber - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
- [04]Rhys Darby - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
- [05]The Cryptid Factor - Acastshows.acast.com
- [06]The Cryptid Factor Live - Squirrel Comedy Reviewsquirrelcomedy.com
- [07]The Cryptid Factor - iHeartiheart.com
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