<div>Joe’s encounters don’t just blur the line between myth and reality, they obliterate it. In this episode, he recounts the night he came face-to-face with a Dogman and made a split-second decision that ended the creature’s life, an act that still follows him years later. But that moment was only one chapter in a much larger pattern that includes repeated Bigfoot encounters, territorial aggression in the woods, and intelligent creatures that seemed to understand weapons, intent, and fear. Joe describes behavior that goes far beyond animals, strategic movements, government intimidation displays, and moments that felt deliberately personal. As the stories stack up, a disturbing question emerges: what happens after you cross the line from witness to participant? This conversation explores the cost of survival, the reality of predatory entities in the wilderness, and why some encounters don’t end when you leave the woods, they follow you home.<br> <br> Please <strong>pray</strong> for Tony's wife, Lindsay, as she battles breast cancer. Your prayers make a difference!<br> <br> If you’re able, consider helping the Merkel family with medical expenses by donating to Lindsay’s<strong> GoFundMe:</strong> <a href="https://gofund.me/b8f76890">https://gofund.me/b8f76890</a><br> <br> Become a member for <strong>ad-free</strong> <strong>listening</strong>, <strong>extra shows</strong>, and <strong>exclusive</strong> access to our <strong>social media app</strong>: <a href="https://www.theconfessionalspodcast.com/join">theconfessionalspodcast.com/join</a><br> <br> <strong>The Confessionals Social Network App:</strong><br> <strong>Apple Store:</strong> <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-confessionals/id1666683243">https://apple.co/3UxhPrh</a><br> <strong>Google Play:</strong> <a href="https://play.google.com/store/search?q=the+confessionals&amp;c=apps&amp;pli=1">https://bit.ly/43mk8kZ</a><br> <br> <strong>The Counter Series Available NOW:<br> The Counter (YouTube):</strong> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e8Pa8OrFHM">WATCH HERE</a><br> <strong>The Counter (Full Episode): </strong><a href="https://odx.tv/thecounter/">WATCH HERE</a><br> <br> <strong>Tony's Recommended Reads: </strong><a href="https://shop.recomsale.com/merkel/">slingshotlibrary.com</a><br> <br> If you want to learn about <strong>Jesus</strong> and what it means to be <strong>saved</strong>: <a href="https://www.theconfessionalspodcast.com/gospel">Click Here</a><strong><br> <br> Bigfoot: The Journey To Belief:</strong> <a href="https://merkelfilms.com/programs/bigfoot-the-journey-to-belief">Stream Here</a><br> <strong>The Meadow Project:</strong> <a href="https://merkelfilms.com/programs/the-meadow-project-night-investigations">Stream Here</a><br> <strong>Merkel Media Apparel:</strong> <a href="https://merkmerch.com/">merkmerch.com</a><strong><br> </strong><br> <strong>My New YouTube Channel</strong><br> <strong>Merkel IRL:</strong> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@merkelIRL">@merkelIRL</a><br> <strong>My First Sermon: </strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r6jDWvlyuw&amp;t=1160s">Unseen Battles</a><br> <em><br> </em><strong>SPONSORS</strong><br> <strong>SIMPLISAFE TODAY:</strong> <a href="https://simplisafe.com/confessionals">simplisafe.com/confessionals</a><br> <strong>GHOSTBED: </strong><a href="https://www.ghostbed.com/pages/tony?utm_medium=influencer&amp;utm_source=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=tony">GhostBed.com/tony</a><br> <br> <strong>CONNECT WITH US</strong><br> <strong>Website</strong>: <a href="http://www.theconfessionalspodcast.com/">www.theconfessionalspodcast.com</a><br> <strong>Email</strong>: [email protected]<br> <br> <strong>MAILING ADDRESS:</strong><br> Merkel Media<br> 257 N. Calderwood St., #301<br> Alcoa, TN 37701<br> <br> <strong>SOCIAL MEDIA</strong><br> <strong>Subscribe to our YouTube</strong>: <a href="https://bit.ly/2TlREaI">https://bit.ly/2TlREaI</a><br> <strong>Reddit:</strong> <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/theconfessionals/">https://www.reddit.com/r/theconfessionals/</a><br> <strong>Discord:</strong> <a href="https://discord.gg/KDn4D2uw7h">https://discord.gg/KDn4D2uw7h</a><br> <strong>Show Instagram: </strong><a href="https://www.instagram.com/theconfessionalspodcast/">theconfessionalspodcast</a><br> <strong>Tony's Instagram: </strong><a href="https://www.instagram.com/tonymerkelofficial/">tonymerkelofficial</a><br> <strong>Facebook</strong>: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/TheConfessionalsPodcast">www.facebook.com/TheConfessionalsPodcas</a><br> <strong>Twitter</strong>:<a href="https://twitter.com/TConfessionals"> @TConfessionals</a><br> <strong>Tony's</strong> <strong>Twitter</strong>: <a href="https://twitter.com/tony_merkel">@tony_merkel</a><br> <strong>Produced by</strong>: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jack_theproducer/">@jack_theproducer</a><br> <br> <strong>OUTRO MUSIC</strong><br> <strong><em>Tony Merkel - The Forest Woke</em></strong> </div>