Front Porch Forensics Panel Honors Bigfoot Researcher Dr. Jeff Meldrum

A recent episode of Juxtaposition on KLRN Radio featured a roundtable discussion that any longtime follower of Sasquatch research would appreciate. Host Rick Robinson brought together some familiar faces from the paranormal community for a long-overdue conversation about Bigfoot, and the timing felt significant given some of the personal stories shared. The standout guest was BZ, who goes by Bravo Zulu—a handle that clearly means something to him, and probably to anyone who's spent time in military or service circles. What makes BZ's appearance particularly compelling is the depth of his history with the subject. He's been into Bigfoot since 1961, when he was just 11 years old, and he still has the original copy of Ivan T. Sanderson's "Abominable Snowmen: Legend Come to Life" that he bought as a kid. That book is a foundational text in the field—Sanderson was a serious biologist who traveled the world investigating reports of unknown hominids, and his work helped lay the groundwork for modern Sasquatch research long before the Patterson-Gimlin film put Bigfoot on the map in 1967. BZ's journey through the decades is the kind of story that reminds you how long some people have been carrying this torch. He talked about attending a paranormal convention in Sacramento around 2006, making connections with like-minded folks, and eventually crossing paths with some of the biggest names in the field. The conversation took an emotional turn when he mentioned meeting Dr. Jeff Meldrum at the Bigfoot Investigative Group in Broomfield, Colorado. BZ drove 1,200 miles one way just to see Meldrum speak, and he talked about the encounter with genuine reverence. For anyone unfamiliar with his work, Dr. Jeff Meldrum was one of the most respected academic voices in Sasquatch research. He was a professor of anatomy and anthropology at Idaho State University, and his book "Sasquatch: Legend Meets Science" remains one of the most thorough scientific examinations of the subject ever published. He approached the topic with the kind of rigor that made it impossible for serious researchers to dismiss him, even if mainstream academia wasn't always comfortable with his conclusions. His passing in September 2025 from brain cancer was a significant loss for the community, and hearing BZ talk about meeting him carries real weight. The other guest, Bump Stock Ken from Front Porch Forensics, brought his own energy to the discussion. He'd just finished an episode of his show about the Creep movies and had Patrick Brice, the director, join the chat room during the recording. Ken's clearly someone who wears his love for the strange and unusual on his sleeve, and his presence added a nice dynamic to the roundtable. Rick Robinson himself was candid about the gap between episodes—he mentioned they hadn't put out a Juxtaposition since April 18th, partly because he hadn't been feeling well and partly because his usual co-host Amish was off handling some mysterious barn-related obligations. The honesty about the behind-the-scenes struggles of running a paranormal show felt relatable to anyone who's tried to keep a passion project going. There's also a lighter moment early on when BZ jokes about being born in 1776, making this his 250th year. The kind of self-deprecating humor that comes from decades of defending an interest most people dismiss. What makes this episode worth checking out isn't just the Bigfoot talk—it's the personal stories. BZ's decades-long journey, his connection to Meldrum, and the way these guys talk about the subject with genuine enthusiasm rather than mockery. There's something valuable about hearing people who've been interested in this stuff for 50, 60 years talk about why they never lost interest. The episode runs long, but it's the kind of conversation that rewards patience. Anyone who's spent time in the Sasquatch community will recognize the names, the references, and the shared history. And for newcomers, it's a solid introduction to some of the figures and texts that shaped modern Bigfoot research. Definitely worth carving out some time to watch the full thing.