Ep. 448: Render - The Mena Connection
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In this deeply personal and historically rich episode of Bear Grease Render, Clay Newcomb brings his parents, Juju and Gary Newcomb, into the Tecova's love seat for a heartfelt conversation that blends family legacy, outdoor storytelling, and the haunting history of Mena, Arkansas. The episode opens with Clay recounting a dramatic turkey hunt where he uses a 'chaos cackle'—a frantic, aggressive calling technique inspired by Bear's advice—to finally lure in a gobbler after multiple failed attempts. This story serves as a metaphor for the episode’s broader theme: the power of persistence and the unexpected turns in life. The narrative then pivots to a deep dive into two legendary local legends: Maria de Campa, a young girl killed by a circus lion in 1951, and Pete Berryman, a mentally unstable man lynched in 1901 after allegedly assaulting a young girl. The family reflects on the moral ambiguity of these stories, the silence surrounding them, and the complex legacy of small-town justice. They explore how history is remembered—or forgotten—and how stories like these, though dark, reveal deeper truths about human nature, community, and the weight of memory. The episode closes with a poignant reflection on family, storytelling, and the enduring presence of the past in the present.
The 'chaos cackle' is a high-pressure turkey calling technique involving fighting purrs, hat slapping, and ground busting—best used as a last resort when other calls fail.
Small towns like Mena, Arkansas, carry deep, often unspoken histories that shape community identity, even when those stories are painful or controversial.
The way communities handle tragedy—whether through vigilante justice, silence, or memorialization—reveals more about their values than their public image.
Family stories, even those passed down through generations, can be unreliable or incomplete; truth often lies in the gaps and contradictions.
Cemeteries are archives of local history, where the placement, orientation, and condition of graves can tell powerful stories about race, class, and segregation.
The Tecova's Love Seat: Family, Boots, and a Turkey Hunt
“I took my hat off and started doing some fighting purrs on this yelper. Can you give us an example? I mean, just like loud. A fighting purr? I'm too excited. I'm too excited.”
The Maria de Campa Mystery: A Circus Lion and a Forgotten Grave
“If you're a circus runner, like if that's the thing you do for a living, it's pretty important that you show up for the circus and that you bring it there. And these people would have been completely out of pocket.”
Pete Berryman: The Lynching That Shaped a Town
“Without a person governing themselves by a high standard, it's a slippery slope, and I think we've seen that in our society these days.”
Cemeteries, Ciphers, and the Weight of Memory
The episode explores the physical and symbolic significance of cemeteries in Mena, particularly the segregated burial ground where Pete Berryman and Union soldiers are interred. The family reflects on how grave orientation, location, and the presence of flowers reveal hidden narratives about race, power, and remembrance.
The Legacy of Storytelling: From Black Panthers to Barry Seal
The conversation broadens to include folklore about Black Panthers in Arkansas, the Falk Monster legend, and the controversial figure of Barry Seal. The family debates the line between fact and myth, and how local legends become cultural touchstones—even when their truth is uncertain.
“Without a person governing themselves by a high standard, it's a slippery slope, and I think we've seen that in our society these days.”
“I don't think it's that. Oh, segregated. You would segregate a cemetery. I mean, that's just, that's just terrible. I mean, just what?”
“If you're a circus runner, like if that's the thing you do for a living, it's pretty important that you show up for the circus and that you bring it there. And these people would have been completely out of pocket.”
Host
Guests
Clay Newcomb
person
Bear Grease
media
Juju Newcomb
person
Gary Newcomb
person
Misty Newcomb
person
Mena, Arkansas
place
Josh Lambridge
person
Maria de Campa
person
Pete Berryman
person
Harold Coogan
person
Special Drop: Clay's Utah Mountain Lion Hunt | 12 in '26
Bear Grease • 1h 10m • 3/31/2026
Ep. 438: Render - Turkey Girl on the Sorority Lawn
Bear Grease • 1h 13m • 4/1/2026
Ep. 439: This Country Life - The Art of Turkey Hunting According to a Finger Painter
Bear Grease • 19m • 4/3/2026
Ep. 440: Turkey Stories - Bears, Bows, and a Pot Belly Pig
Bear Grease • 54m • 4/8/2026
Ep. 441: This Country Life - The One That Got Away And The One That Kind Of Didn't
Bear Grease • 25m • 4/10/2026
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