S8 Ep4: A History of Goblins: An Interview with Matt King

Welcome back to the Whispering Gallery podcast. Tonight we’re heading into goblin territory.In a Whispering Gallery first, I’m joined by Matt King, author of A History of Goblins and associate professor at University of South Florida.Hidden in caves, lurking in poems and folklore, tangled through fairy tales, demons, and fantasy worlds — goblins have followed humanity through centuries of storytelling. But where did goblins come from? Were they once connected to demons, house spirits, or something even older?Tonight we explore the strange evolution of goblins across folklore, literature, religion, fantasy art, and modern culture. Along the way we discuss Tolkien, Dungeons & Dragons, supernatural traditions, and the shifting ways humans have imagined creatures living just beyond sight.We also talk about how goblins have historically been used as symbols for social fears and “outsiders.”We briefly wander into the weirdness of the Kelly-Hopkinsville encounter and the high strangeness explored in Hellier, where goblins, fae, aliens, and folklore begin to blur together.Parental discretion is advised for some mature humor and discussions involving fantasy creature art and character design.https://whisperinggallerypodcast.com/(c) 2026 Suzanne Nikolaisen, Whispering Gallery Podcast