Building a Business Around Fun

Mike shares how his obsession with storytelling and filmmaking helped him leave coal mining behind and start Mothboys. For him, obsession isn’t just about work: it’s about passion. 

“Literally if you want to build a business that is ‘successful’, it’s very lonely… I always told myself when we started this podcast if it stops being fun, I’m out of it.”

He shares how late nights perfecting effects, crafting stories, and running the show have never felt like a burden because he’s doing what he loves. Fun, he says, is non-negotiable; without it, the work loses meaning.

Encounters With the Unexplained

“The first time I ever saw a UFO, it was a black triangle with three lights on it. It went over our heads, dead silent. I’ve never seen anything like it before.”

From the swamps of Sherman, New York, to West Virginia’s most famous haunted sites, Mike recounts eerie encounters that shaped Creepalachia. He talks about UFOs, the Flatwoods Monster, and other cryptids, explaining why these stories captivate him. With the Mothboys, investigations become adventures, filled with zigzagging lights in the sky, mysterious black triangles, and a shared thrill of exploring the unknown.

Honoring the Legends and Community

“For Gray Barker’s 100th birthday, we all got together at the museum, paid respects at his cemetery, and celebrated one of West Virginia’s weirdos.”

The podcast isn’t just about hunting the unknown: it’s about preserving history. Mike shares how the Mothboys honor cryptid culture, from celebrating Gray Barker’s legacy to maintaining his cemetery in the woods. Through events, storytelling, and genuine reverence for the weird and wonderful, we all create a space where West Virginia’s strangest legends live on—and where fans can be part of the story.

Want to hear the full stories, see the behind-the-scenes adventures, and meet the Mothboys in action? Tune in to the Creepalachia video for all the chills, laughs, and cryptid chaos!