The Campfire's Edge

The Campfire's Edge is a media project to collect the paranormal experiences of hunters, anglers and others encountering the more-than-human in wild places. Hosted by Sarah Rose and Matt Stansberry. Sarah is an outdoorswoman, mother and artist documenting the physical interaction of humans and animals in the landscape. Matt is a writer, fly fisherman, father, deer hunter and magician. They live in the Haw River watershed in North Carolina.

Latest episodes

28 July 2025

On the Nature of Violence with Conner Habib

In this episode, Matt and Sarah talk to Conner Habib, novelist and host of the podcast Against Everyone With Conner Habib.

Conner's debut novel, Hawk Mountain (July, 2022 ), pairs instances of human violence, and animal violence throughout the book, inviting comparison. We talk about that, and also discuss whether the natural history emphasis in the book makes this novel "nature writing".

You can find Conner's work at ConnerHabib.com. For episode art and show notes, visit TheCampFiresEdge.com. For Sarah's artwork vist SarahDangerwood.com. And Matt's on Substack at Therianthrope.

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01 June 2025

Trail Camera Strategies for Daimonic Encounters

Sarah and Matt give updates on their projects before diving into a conversation about Sarah's experience operating trail cameras, as a artist and graduate student in Mexican Gray Wolf country. She also expands on her experiences with our trail cameras in North Carolina's Haw River watershed and we talk about our favorite captures. Sarah shares insight from our trail cam experiments and gives tips if you are looking get more wildlife on film.

You can find Matt's Therianthrope Substack here.

The Bartram 250 Celebration and art Symposium is here.

Sarah's Artist page is here.

Original episode art, show notes and library at TheCampfiresEdge.com.

Outro is a demo song from dad-duo, Matt on guitar and Josh Lane on drums aka. Castle Goat .

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37:27

01 April 2025

Crossing the Dark Divide: Q&A with Dr. Robert Michael Pyle

Dr. Robert Michael Pyle is a naturalist and the author of 28 books, including Chasing Monarchs, Where Bigfoot Walks, Wintergreen, Nature Matrix, Butterflies of the Pacific Northwest, the novel Magdalena Mountain, and four collections of poetry. In this episode, we talk about his 2022 bigfoot sighting, what it's like playing in a band with Nirvana's Krist Novoselic, and his experience as a naturalist and scientist writing about sasquatch. For more episodes and original art, go to TheCampfiresEdge.com.

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02:21:39

25 March 2025

Experiencer Interview: Faeries, UFOs, Land Spirits and Chaos Magic

In this episode, our friend Jason describes his experiences growing up in Ohio with fairy phenomenon, ghost trains, UFO dreams and his practice of chaos magic. Be sure to check out TheCampFiresEdge.com for original show art and other episodes.

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01:23:48

22 February 2025

Lyanda Fern Lynn Haupt: Bird Synchronicities, Saints and True-Names

Nature writer Lyanda Fern Lynn Haupt joins us to talk about bird synchronicities, the communion of saints, and love for Earthsea, etymology and corvid culture. Lyanda is the author of six incredible books, including most recently, Rooted: Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature and Spirit. You can find all of Lyanda's books here. You can find episode art and extras at TheCampfiresEdge.com.

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10 February 2025

Corpse Lights in the Cowee Valley

In this Episode, we visit Little Tennessee River guides Brent Martin and Angela Faye Martin of Alarka Expeditions in Cowee, North Carolina. Brent is the Director of the William Bartram Trail Conservancy and Angela is a musician. They share stories about supernatural incidents that occured in and around their old house on in the mountainside, and offer some perspective on how this place's layered history weighs on the atmosphere and mindset of the people who live and experience this area. Then we interview Brent and Angela's friend Dallas, who witnessed a light in the sky and experienced four hours of missing time. You can see original art and show notes at TheCampfiresEdge.com and if you're interested in Brent and Angela's work be sure to check out Alarka Expeditions.

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01:07:53