MonsterTalk

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains frank discussion of animal death, carcass predation, and graphic descriptions of animal mutilation. Listener discretion is advised.Blake and Karen continue their conversation with religious studies scholar Lee Weiss on the cattle mutilation mystery. If you missed part one, wind your podcast player back an episode - this one picks up right where the panic peaked. At the center of part two is Emmy Award-winning reporter Linda Moulton Howe, whose 1980 documentary A Strange Harvest wrapped a decade of dead cows, black helicopters, and hypnotic regressions into a single package and delivered it to America.Lee walks through what happened next: the government's Rommel Report and its verdict of "Mother Nature," the tragic Bennewitz affair, cow parts arriving by mail in Alberta, a declassified CIA remote-viewing file, and how the whole phenomenon finally hardened into alien orthodoxy. It all ends with the big question - what's actually killing these animals?Extended show notes at Monstertalk.orgBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains detailed discussion of animal injuries and death. Both parts carry an explicit tag.⚠️Blake and Karen welcome Lee Weiss, a religious studies scholar whose deep dive into the FBI's declassified cattle mutilation files grew into a sweeping study of one of America's strangest panics. Blake first met Lee at the Of Gods and Monsters conference in 2019, and the two reconnected at its 2026 sequel - both contributed to the academic volume Religion, Culture, and the Monstrous. (affiliate link)In part one of this two-part investigation, Lee lays out the anatomy of the "classic mute" - the missing eyes, ears, and soft tissue, the reportedly bloodless wounds, the absent tracks - and traces the phenomenon back to its 1967 case zero: Snippy the horse, found dead in Colorado's San Luis Valley. From Victorian sheep panics and escaped menagerie cats to the economic collapse of the 1970s American rancher, the picture that emerges is far stranger than dead livestock. And that's before the unmarked helicopters show up.Part two lands next week.Extended show notes at MonsterTalk.orgBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

Champ Across the Border: Blake and Karen welcome back historian Dr. Joseph Gagné, a specialist in New France and the French colonial period of North America, to talk about Champ - the famous monster of Lake Champlain. Most of the lake sits between New York and Vermont, but about 7% of it lies in Quebec, and Joseph's upcoming paper in the ethnology journal Rabaska asks a question almost nobody else has: how does the French-speaking side of the border see this most American of lake monsters? The answer involves a fabricated Samuel de Champlain quote, a five-foot fish that really was a monster in its own way, nearly 300 years of digitized Quebec newspapers, and a curious case of cross-border monster pride - because why borrow Champ when you already have Ponik and Memphré? Plus hoax serpents, colonial werewolf panics, and how Nessie taught every lake monster what a lake monster is supposed to look like.Extended show notes at MonsterTalk.orgBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

Note: This episode deals with murder and goes into some detail, so we're putting the "explicit tag" for the mature content, perhaps not suitable for all audiences.MonsterTalk steps outside its usual territory for a true-crime case with a paranormal afterlife. Blake and Karen welcome Hallie, host of The Morbid Curiosity Podcast, to revisit one of the most notorious unsolved crimes in American history: the August 1892 axe murders of Andrew and Abby Borden in Fall River, Massachusetts, and the trial that acquitted Andrew's daughter Lizzie while leaving much of the public convinced she did it.Drawing on Hallie's background in anthropology and skeletal analysis, the conversation lays out the timeline, the forensic evidence, and the tangle of rumor and theory that has kept the case alive for more than a century - before turning to the crime scene itself, now run as "America's most haunted" bed-and-breakfast, and asking what, if anything, still lingers there.Extended show notes at MonsterTalk.orgBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

A skeptical look at one of the most famous ghost photographs ever taken - the 1959 "backseat ghost" snapped by Mrs. Mabel Chinnery in Ipswich, England. This episode is distilled from a recent MonsterTalk Live stream with Blake, Karen Stollznow, and special guest Matt Baxter, who brought fresh research (and one neat new idea) to a very old mystery.It's also a companion piece to our Newby Church Ghost coverage and the spirit-photography episode of Arthur C. Clarke's World of Strange Powers (1985), which examined the Chinnery photo alongside the Cottingley Fairies and the Newby ghost.Extended show notes at our Patreon site.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

Blake, Karen and Matt discover that this famous ghost photo isn't as old as they expected, and perhaps not as mysterious either. Do we get it right? Do you have a different explanation? Let us know in the comments.👻 The Spectre of Newby ChurchIn one black-and-white photograph of a church altar, a tall, hooded figure stands where the photographer swore no one was standing. The "Newby Monk" has haunted paranormal books, websites, and late-night clip shows for decades, and it remains one of the most reproduced ghost photographs ever taken. In this episode we dig into where the image really came from, who took it, when it was actually shot, and how a clever photographer might have made it.Extensive show notes at monstertalk.orgBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

Most Americans meet the Rakshasa in exactly two places: a 1974 episode of a beloved horror TV series and the pages of the Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual. Both versions give you a debonair, tiger-faced shape-changer with a taste for human flesh - but neither prepares you for how deep, how old, and how genuinely alive these creatures are. To dig us out of that pop-culture foxhole, we sat down with academic researcher Eric Zsebenyi for a tour that runs from the Rig Veda to the Ramayana, into Buddhism, through present-day Sri Lankan politics, and finishes at the tent-shaped tomb of a very naughty Victorian translator.🎙️ Our GuestEric Zsebenyi holds a master's degree from Naropa University (2000) and has pursued Buddhist studies as a lifelong avocation alongside a career as a civil servant. His path to the Rakshasas began with a Dharma protector named Vetali in his own meditation practice - which, as you'll hear, leads straight back to one of India's stranger monsters. Blake met Eric at the recent Gods & Monsters Conference, where Eric delivered a paper on the Vetala.You can find Eric's work here: Eric Zsebenyi on Academia.eduExtensive show notes at Monstertalk.orgBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

On the morning of February 9, 1855, residents across south Devon, England, discovered strange hoof-shaped tracks in the snow. The prints - about 4 inches long, 3 inches wide, and spaced roughly 8 inches apart in single file - appeared to have been left by a biped with a donkey-like hoof. Reports came in from more than 30 locations across the county. Within days, the Illustrated London News published a letter from a correspondent calling himself "South Devon" that would define the legend for generations: a continuous 100-mile trail, identical prints in every parish, passage over rooftops and through haystacks, a crossing of the two-mile-wide River Exe. The Devil, some locals whispered, had walked through Devon.In this episode, Blake, Karen, and Matt dig into the original sources, trace how the story was embellished over 170 years of retelling, and examine the many theories - from wood mice to Romani conspiracies - that have been offered to explain the Great Devon Mystery. EXTENSIVE show notes at https://monstertalk.orgBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

Darren joins Blake and Karen to discuss his new article in Geology Today, which grew out of his work on the Monsters of the Deep museum exhibition. That exhibition originally opened at the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth, Cornwall in 2020, traveled to two additional venues, and most recently ran at the Aberdeen Art Gallery in Scotland. Darren describes how each venue's unique architecture required a complete redesign of the exhibition, changing both the visual layout and the narrative flow.Extensive show notes at monstertalk.orgBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

This is part two of our conversation with Kyle Crosby, creator and host of Louisiana Dread. In Part 1, we covered the history of the Acadians and how they carried the loup-garou legend from France to the bayous of Louisiana. Now, in Part 2, Kyle walks us through the transformation of the loup-garou into the Rougarou - from strict werewolf to all-purpose shapeshifting boogeyman - and takes us on a tour of Louisiana's other legendary creatures, from the Axeman of New Orleans to the feu follet to the Grunch.Extensive show notes at MonsterTalk.orgBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

This is part one of a two-part conversation. Blake and Karen are joined by Kyle Crosby, filmmaker, historian, and founder of Louisiana Dread, a multimedia project dedicated to documenting the dark history, folklore, and culture of the Pelican State. Kyle is a native of Larose, Louisiana, who grew up in Lafourche Parish and on Grand Isle. He spent years working in the film industry before returning home to preserve the stories he felt were being lost to time. Through his popular YouTube channel and social media platforms, he bridges the gap between scholarly history and regional folklore - covering everything from the legend of the Rougarou and the Honey Island Swamp Monster to the real-life mysteries of the Cajun Coast. Kyle is currently adapting his historical deep dives into a scripted horror anthology series, with one episode in the festival circuit and a second in pre-production. Blake met Kyle at the second Gods and Monsters conference at Texas State University, where Kyle's presentation on Louisiana's history and folklore inspired Blake and Karen to finally tackle the Rougarou as a proper episode. In this first part, the conversation digs into the history of the Acadian expulsion, the cultural forces that produced Cajun and Creole Louisiana, and the Old World roots of the Rougarou legend. In part two, they'll get into what the Rougarou actually became - a shape-shifting boogeyman with regional variants, plus feux follets, and a monster that might have been born from a traveling circus. Extensive show notes at MonsterTalk.OrgBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

Neuroscientist Dr. Melissa Maffeo joins Blake and Karen to discuss her new book Science of the Supernatural: Critical Thinking for the Mind and Brain (Cambridge University Press, 2026). Melissa is an associate teaching professor of psychology at Wake Forest University, where she also serves as Associate Director of the Neuroscience Program.In this episode, Melissa talks about using paranormal topics as an accessible entry point for teaching psychology and neuroscience, and shares her view that most supernatural experiences can likely be explained by what's happening in our brains - even if we don't yet have all the answers. The conversation covers a wide range of topics from the book, including the God Helmet experiments, the neuroscience of out-of-body experiences, how parasites can hijack behavior, and whether prior belief shapes what we experience. Extended show notes at our website.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

To announce (and celebrate) the Spanish language release of Chet Van Duzer's beautiful and informative book on map monsters, I'm re-releasing episode S01E69!Grab your copy in Spanish here:SPANISH LANGUAGE : Monstruos marinos en mapas medievales y renacentistas by Chet Van DuzerOr snag it in English here:Sea Monsters on Medeival and Renaissance MapsExtensive show notes here!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

🎙️ Blake and Karen welcome back author and paranormal investigator Richard Estep to discuss his new book from Visible Ink Press, Monsters: Myths, Legends, and Real Encounters. Richard is a paramedic, clinical educator, and the author of more than 30 books on the paranormal, true crime, and history. Karen wrote the foreword for this one - and donated her fee to Doctors Without Borders. 👏Extended show notes available at Our Website.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

In Part 2 of our chat with folklorist Chris Woodyard we talk about the lore of haunted cemeteries.Find Chris on BlueSky, FaceBook, and our back catalog!Chris also partners with Dr. Simon Young on the Boggart & Banshee podcast!Extended notes at https://monstertalk.orgBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

In part 1 of our chat with folklorist Chris Woodyard, we discuss haunted roads and headless motorcycle ghosts.Find Chris on BlueSky, FaceBook, and our back catalog!Chris also partners with Dr. Simon Young on the Boggart & Banshee podcast!Extended notes at https://monstertalk.org Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

We talk with Karen's friend, author and Ex-Mormon, Steve Cuno about paranormal ideas in the Mormon religion. Steve Cuno: Behind the Mormon Curtain: Selling Sex in America’s Holy City“It’s Not About the Sex” My Ass: Confessions of an Ex-Mormon, Ex-Polygamist, Ex-Wife David W. Patten and Mormon Bigfoot:Reddit ThreadBetween Pulpit and Pew: The Supernatural World in Mormon History and FolkloreBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

Part two of our discussion of the interesting made-for-TV film The Stately Ghosts of England(1965). Blake and Karen are joined by Matt Baxter and this is a continuation of part 1. The film stars Margaret Rutherford, her husband Stringer Davis, and celebrity clairvoyant Tom Corbett.Extended notes at http://monstertalk.orgBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

Blake and Karen are joined by Matt Baxter to discuss the 1965 made-for-TV film The Stately Ghosts of England. The film stars Margaret Rutherford, her husband Stringer Davis, and celebrity clairvoyant Tom Corbett.Extended show notes available at MonsterTalk.orgBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

I'm excited to be posting this BONUS content - an interview with film historian Gary D. Rhodes. Gary is joining me to talk about his newest book Weirdumentary: Ancient Aliens, Fallacious Prophecies, and Mysterious Monsters from 1970s Documentaries. I can't overstate how enjoyable this book was and how likely listeners to MonsterTalk and In ReSearch Of... are to be equally thrilled with it.extended episode notes available on our website. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

We are delighted to talk with Dr. Christopher Beatty about his research into Dragonflies. From ancient times these insects have been the subject of wonder, fear and misinformation. Let's keep the wonder but get rid of some of the other stuff as we dive in on a creature whose lifecycle, morphology, and effectiveness as a hunter elevate its place in the lore of humanity.Why this title for the episode? Tune in and find out.Petroglyphs of Dragonflies 1000y/o (Atlas Obscura)Dragonflies in Japan - Akitsu ShimaDragonfly Helmet (Japanese)Those are from a class of helmets called Kiwari Kabuto - amazing varietySome cool electronica I used to listen to back in "the day" from an album named after dragonflies:  Odonata by AmethystiumGood lord - has it been 25 years?? Tempus fugit.Additional note from Dr. Beatty:"I’m the past-president of the Dragonfly Society of the Americas, a group that promotes public awareness, as well as research and conservation of dragonflies.  We are open to anyone with interest in odonates, and membership is quite inexpensive ($15/year).We have an annual meeting, which for 2026 will be taking place in Hot Springs, North Carolina, in the last week of June.  Info on the meeting can be found here:https://www.dragonflysocietyamericas.org/hotsprings2026."Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

We're joined by Christina Ward of Feral House publishing to talk about the intersection of food, culture, belief, control, and the weird as she tells us about two of her recent projects: American Advertising Cookbooks and Holy Food.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

Host of Bone & Sickle, Al Ridenour joins us to talk about the traditions of European Carnival season. It's the subject of his latest book, A Season of Madness.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

In part two of our two-part interview with Owen Davies, we continue the discussion of witches and witch prosecutions with thoughtful considerations of the meaning of witch and how it can be an identity or an accusation.  Be sure and catch both parts of this fascinating chat. Some related viewing/reading:A curious case of Black Magic in NorfolkBlake's article about the "PA Hex Hollow" murders (Skeptoid #996)Books by Owen*:Grimoires: A History of Magic BooksPopular Magic: Cunning-folk in English HistoryMagic: A Very Short IntroductionFolklore: A journey through the past and present (with Ceri Houlbrook)The Oxford Illustrated History of Witchcraft and Magic America Bewitched: The Story of Witchcraft After Salem*We use Amazon affiliate links for books when availableBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

In part one of our two-part interview with Owen Davies, we discuss the history of witch trials, accusations, murder, and other troubles bubbling up from post-Salem accusations in America. In part two, next week, we will continue the discussion with thoughtful considerations of the meaning of witch and how it can be an identity or an accusation.  Be sure and catch both parts of this fascinating chat. Some related viewing/reading:A curious case of Black Magic in NorfolkBlake's article about the "PA Hex Hollow" murders (Skeptoid #996)Books by Owen*:Grimoires: A History of Magic BooksPopular Magic: Cunning-folk in English HistoryMagic: A Very Short IntroductionFolklore: A journey through the past and present (with Ceri Houlbrook)The Oxford Illustrated History of Witchcraft and Magic America Bewitched: The Story of Witchcraft After Salem*We use Amazon affiliate links for books when availableBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

We are joined by author and researcher Greg Skomal to talk about the mysterious and long-lived Greenland Shark. Books by Greg:Chasing Shadows: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Great White Shark - Greg's book about Great Whites The Shark Handbook 3rd Edition: The Essential Guide for Understanding the Sharks of the World by Greg SkomalThe Great White Shark HandbookAdditional online reading:Greenland SharkCookie Cutter Shark Ommatokoita - the eye parasite endemic to Greenland SharksNew paper on the visual system of Greenland Sharks (Jan 2026) suggests the parasites don't make the sharks blind, despite longstanding belief that they must. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

In this episode we talk with Dr. Alice Vernon about her fascinating look at the history of ghost hunting and psychical research, from the late 19th century to today.Ghosted: A History of Ghost Hunting, and Why We Keep Looking (Affiliate Link)Night Terrors: Troubled Sleep and the Stories we Tell About ItGhostwatch (wikipedia) - (our previous coverage)The Society for Psychical Research (UK)Most Haunted (wikipedia)The Haunting of Borley Rectory - the text of this critical book appears to be on the Harry Price website.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

Blake and Karen discuss the legendary photo said to capture 19th century cowboys or soldiers with a giant bird or pterosaur.SHOW NOTE LINKS:The original Tombstone Epitaph article about the winged creatureKarl Shuker's blogged several times on the Thunderbird Photo and wrote a eulogy for Mark Chovinsky, author of a thorough Strange Magazine article about the Thunderbird photo.Ivan T. Sanderson figures into the story prominently.  Kevin J. Guhl has written an extensive article about this.I think all the researchers - the serious researchers - are converging on the "False Memory" hypothesis to explain this story. However, debates about the photo continue.Some of the online photos were promotional photos for Freaky Links TV show.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

We talk with journalist Lana Hall about her piece The Dead Mall Society, which details her journey to decaying malls in the Toronto area in search of Liminal Spaces.Liminality (Wikipedia)Victor Turner: Liminality and Communitas (PDF)The Liminality Project (blog)Liminal Space (Wikipedia)The Backrooms CreepyPasta (Wikipedia)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

Friend of the show Dr. Joe Laycock returns to talk about LIZARD PEOPLE with us. He also has a new book: The Penguin Book of CultsJoe's Books:Penguin Book of Cults (publisher) (amazon affiliate link)The Exorcist Effect: Horror, Religion, and Demonic Belief (affiliate link)Other topics of discussion:Shadow KingdomBrotherhood of the White TempleShaver MysteriesKullDark Shadows (Soap Opera) "Leviathan" storylineThe Naga who wanted to be a priestSerpent PeopleAum Shenrikyo Japanese death cultSkeptoid looks at famous rumor that Aum Shenrikyo had a nuclear bombThe Secret Rulers of the World - Jon Ronson (YouTube)V - the Mini SeriesBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

It took a minute but I finally managed to read one of these "live" to my own family for the holidays. This is such an evocative story that I wanted to add a little art to the mix. I really want to put together a slow but detailed "animated gif" that goes through the cycles of the print as described in the tale - and maybe I'll get around to that at some point.But for now here is some really nice artwork that captures the ideas of the tale in gothic majesty. This piece is by Catherine Gogerty. (link to her work)In 1986, the BBC ran a series featuring Robert Powell reading ghost stories. The episode featuring The Mezzotint included creepy illustrations such as this:I've been unable to track that series down, but the illustration is quite chilling. Artist Richard Svensson produced this remarkable and evocative work - which is available in his self-published collection of M. R. James inspired images. Some previews from that set look really great over at DeviantArt.Finally - UK artist Rich Johnson has a lovely set of James inspired images that generally aspire to haunt without beating you over the head with explicitness.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

Blake and Karen visit again with Colorado author of paranormal and true crime, Richard Estep. Richard's Booksdiscussed in this episode:Ghostly EncountersThe Horrors of Fox Hollow FarmMothman: Sightings and Investigations of the Iconic Flying CryptidHelp is on the Way (pre-order for Feb 2026 Richard's memoir of being a paramedic)Monsters: Myths, Legends and Real Encounters (pre-order March 2026)Additional Links:The Hamlyn Book of Ghosts (affiliate)The Haunting of Borley Rectory: The Story of a Ghost Story by Sean O'Connor (affiliate)The World's Greatest Ghosts book that Karen remembered from her youthBBC's 2025 Ghost Story for ChristmasBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

Episode Summary: In this episode, hosts Blake Smith and Dr. Karen Stollznow catch up on recent headlines and new literature. First, Blake discusses a "ripped from the headlines" update regarding the 2014 Slender Man stabbing case. We revisit the tragic story of Morgan Geyser, her recent escape from a halfway house, and the media’s handling of the mental health and transgender aspects of the story.Later, Karen reviews a pre-publication copy of the upcoming book How to Build a Haunted House: The History of a Cultural Obsession by Caitlin Blackwell Baines. Does the book provide a blueprint for creating ghosts, or is it a cultural tour of famous haunts? Karen breaks down the architectural history, the folklore, and where the book lands on the spectrum of skepticism.Key Topics• Shout-outs for the Cryptid and Godzilla Advent calendars.• Slenderman Segment:    • Recap of the 2014 Waukesha stabbing (MonsterTalk Ep #86).    • Morgan Geyser’s conditional release and subsequent escape attempt.    • A critical look at the prison industrial complex, mental health care in the US, and the current moral panic surrounding transgender individuals in media coverage.• Book Review Segment: How to Build a Haunted House (Coming April 2026).    • A review of the book for the Society for Psychical Research (SPR).    • Analysis of the Myrtles Plantation, Borley Rectory, and the Winchester Mystery House.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

FLASHBACKWe're looking back at October 5, 2011 this week and an interview with Valerius Geist (February 2, 1938 – July 6, 2021) about the myths and reality of wolves.  How dangerous are they? There's complexity and nuance here.  Some people fiercely believe wolves are just peaceful misunderstood beautiful animals that would not hurt a person.  Others believe they're fierce and dangerous predators.  Internet debates will happen but history - and Valerius Geist - suggest using extreme caution if you find yourself in close proximity to these beautiful predators in the wild. MonsterTalk Live (Disco Edition)----FLASHBACK----ON NOVEMBER 8, 2005 Canadian geological engineering student Kenton Carnegie went for a walk. He told people that he’d be back by 5 pm. When he hadn’t returned by 7 pm, a search party went out and discovered his remains in the woods. In this episode of Monstertalk (a follow-up to last week’s), we interview professor Valerius Geist about the true cause of Kenton Carnegie’s death. Some people thought he was killed by a bear, but more likely he was killed by a myth.Todd Svarckopf confronting a habituated wolf, four days before the Kenton Joel Carnegie wolf attack. (Photo by Chris van Gelder at North Point Landing Saskatchewan)Further ReadingWhen do wolves become dangerous to humans? (by Valerius Geist)The Kenton Carnegie Wolf Attack on WikipediaMusicOur Breath Shall Intermix by Symbion Project (used with permission)Le Fétichisme Dans L’amour by Symbion Project (used with permission)Monstertalk Theme: Monster by Peach Stealing MonkeysBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

We're joined by Sydney Davidson - student of Dr. Jeb Card (IRO) - to discuss her research into Frogmen Festivals, and to discuss monster festivals and some of the reasons people report they attend. (And it's not all about the plushies and t-shirts.)Darren Naish on The Loveland FrogThe Myth of DisenchantmentFrogman Festival 2026Close Encounters at Kelly And Others of 1955 (affiliate link)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

We're joined by Matt Baxter to watch and discuss another vintage BBC look at the paranormal - this time in the form of an allegedly haunted chest of drawers. Check the links and watch it yourself if you've got 12 mins to spare. What do you think of our takes?Additional Links:BBC Archive Clip - A Haunted Chest of DrawersAGT: Special Head (levitation trick)The Indian Rope Trick - Penn & Teller documentary about the history of the trickDavid Berglas - Magician and Skeptical InvestigatorMassimo Polidoro - modern skeptical investigatorTony Cornell - British Parapsychologist and antiquarianBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

We're joined by host of the Conspiracy Skeptic Podcast, Karl Mamer. Karl's working on a new book in his series of skeptically themed books of lists (The Skeptic's Book of Lists, The Conspiracy Skeptic's Book of Lists) and has been looking into the origins of demons & devils in Dungeons & Dragons.Further Reading:Deities & DemigodsBBC: The Great 1980s D&D PanicMichael Stackpole and the Pulling Report (counter to B.A.D.D.)The composite D&D title card is based on the work of David C. Sutherland III.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

In this episode, I talk about why I don't believe in Bigfoot and the core of my basis of doubt. This is part of a new intermittent series wherein we'll be looking at why a lot of monster stories fall apart when you attack them with Occam's Razor and other similarly sharp tools.The clip in the intro is from In Search Of... Season 1, Episode 5. If you want to hear A LOT more about that episode, check out this episode of In ReSearch Of.... Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

This week on MonsterTalk, Blake and Karen are joined by Matthew Baxter to revisit Karen’s classic investigation book Haunting America — newly re-released in paperback just in time for Halloween 🎃. Together they discuss how the book began as a project for the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF), the fieldwork behind its famous cases, and the updated edition’s new conclusion and color photos.👻 Topics discussed:• Origins of Haunting America — conceived at the JREF as a skeptical investigation anthology.• Behind-the-scenes stories from Karen and Matt’s fieldwork across the U.S.• Visits to legendary “haunted” sites including:  🏠 The Myrtles Plantation — tracing the truth behind the tale of “Chloe.”  🏥 Waverly Hills Sanatorium — separating tuberculosis history from ghost folklore.  🔫 Winchester Mystery House — examining Sarah Winchester’s real story vs. myth.• Working with the JREF and Tim Farley (“What’s the Harm?”) on skeptical outreach.• Revisiting historic ghost claims through the historical method rather than gadgets and TV tropes.• Comparing early 2000s ghost hunting culture with modern media portrayals.• The enduring folklore vs. fact tension in places like the Stanley Hotel, Amityville, and Lizzie Borden House.• The value of myth-busting as a form of respect for real history and real people.🕯️ About the new edition:• Now in paperback with color photographs and updated research.• Includes follow-up findings on the Myrtles Plantation and San Antonio Railroad “ghost tracks.”• Adds a new concluding chapter reflecting on skepticism and folklore after a decade of investigations.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

UAPs, “Disclosure,” and the Influence Machine 🔦🛰️This episode looks at the latest UAP theater around Rep. Eric Burlison’s congressional presentation of the “Hellfire vs. orb” video, how it intersects with long-running media and funding networks (Skinwalker Ranch/NIDS/Las Vegas circle), and why skepticism and provenance still matter. We discuss the hearing, witness line-up, and the ecosystem that amplifies these claims—along with grounded, testable explanations where available.With Matt Baxter.🎥 Primary Items from the Episode• Eric Burlison’s Congressional Presentation of Video (with George Knapp testimony)• Eric Burlison’s UAP DISCLOSURE ACT🧪 Skeptical Takes & Analysis• Mick West’s take — It’s a balloon again• Hank Green’s take — Seriously — it’s just a balloon🎧 Related Listening from the Episode• Strange Arrivals podcast• Toby Ball’s visits to MonsterTalk📚 Books & Authors Mentioned• Sarah Scoles — They Are Already Here• Sarah’s visits to MonsterTalk🧩 Quick Reference: Acronyms, Players, and Context• AATIP — Pentagon program often associated with Luis Elizondo• TTSA — To The Stars Academy (Tom DeLonge, Hal Puthoff): company, Tom DeLonge, Harold Puthoff• UAP — Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon (newer terminology): overview• UFO — Unidentified Flying Object (classic term with cultural baggage): background• Robert Bigelow — hotelier, space entrepreneur, longtime funder in the anomaly space: bio📰 Key Reporting That Shifted the Conversation• The New York Times story that broke AATIP publicly: read• The 2020 follow-up from two of the authors (Kean & Blumenthal): readBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

This week Blake Smith and Karen Stollznow are joined by clinical psychologist Dr. Brian A. Sharpless, author of Monsters on the Couch, to discuss cannibalism—what it is, why humans have done it, and how the taboo shows up in archaeology, medicine, psychology, and horror cinema. They cover definitions (endocannibalism vs. survival cannibalism), prion diseases such as Kuru, criminal and paraphilic cases, and pop-culture touchpoints from Ravenous to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, plus legend-tripping at Lovelock Cave and the “giants” folklore around the Mound Builder myth.Don't forget to grab Karen's latest: Bitch: The Journey of a Word🔎 Quick Links & References• Cannibalism (overview) — Wikipedia: Cannibalism• Kuru & prion diseases — Kuru (Britannica) • Prion• Survival cannibalism cases — Donner Party • Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571• Medicinal cannibalism — Mumia (medication) • Hand of Glory• Criminal/forensic examples — Albert Fish • Jeffrey Dahmer• Paraphilias mentioned — Vorarephilia • Autosarcophagy (self-cannibalism)• Films discussed — Ravenous (1999) • The Hills Have Eyes • The Texas Chain Saw Massacre • A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors • Cannibal Holocaust • The Green Inferno (2013)• Legends & sites — Lovelock Cave • Paiute people • Mound Builder myth • Wendigo🧾 Episode Breakdown• 🍽️ What counts as cannibalism? Clear definition limited to consumption of human flesh; distinctions from blood drinking and other bodily materials.• 🗺️ How widespread is it? Cross-cultural evidence, past debates in anthropology, and the modern scholarly consensus that it occurred in multiple contexts (ritual, survival, criminal, etc.). See the overview above.• 📚 Ten motives framework (from Dr. Sharpless’s work): survival, ritual/endocannibalism, exocannibalism, benign/unwitting, criminal/cover-up, gastronomic preference, medicinal, and more—with historical examples. (See Monsters on the Couch)• 🧪 Prions & Kuru: funerary cannibalism among the Fore in Papua New Guinea, transmission via neural tissue, and broader prion disease context. See links above.• 💊 “Medicinal” cannibalism in early‑modern Europe: mummy powders, fat, and other preparations; “hand of glory” magical lore. Folger Shakespeare Library entry on corpse medicine.• ⚖️ Forensic & clinical angles: overlap with antisocial personality disorder, psychosis in some cases, and how/when behaviors rise to diagnosable paraphilias.• 🎥 Horror on screen: from Ravenous and The Hills Have Eyes to Texas Chain Saw Massacre, plus genre riffs on “taking the victim’s traits.”• 🧸 Vorarephilia & internet subcultures: “hard” vs. “soft” vore, online communities, and clinical caution about distress/impairment.• 🗿 Lovelock Cave & the “giants” stories: local legend‑tripping, Paiute lore about cannibal enemies, and a skeptical look at Mound Builder/“Smithsonian cover‑up” narratives.• 📖 Reading & viewing: Dr. Sharpless’s Monsters on the Couch; films noted above; folklore touchpoints like Wendigo.• 📖 Bob Burns Disambiguation: Texas Chainsaw Bob (Robert A. Burns) and Tracy the Gorilla Bob (Bob Burns III)📚 Books Mentioned• Brian A. Sharpless, Monsters on the Couch• Richard J. Dewhurst, The Ancient Giants Who Ruled America (decidedly NOT skeptical)• Jason Colavito, The Mound Builder Myth: Fake History and the Hunt for a "Lost White Race"Affiliate disclosure: Some links above are affiliate links that may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps support the show’s production. Thank you!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

🎙 MonsterTalk — The Cult of MolochShow Notes · Hosts: Blake Smith & Karen StollznowIn this episode, Blake Smith and Karen Stollznow explore the history, mythology, and propaganda surrounding the idea of the Cult of Moloch—a figure long associated with child sacrifice and moral panic. They trace Moloch’s biblical origins in Leviticus and Kings, the contested archaeological claims from Carthage’s Tophet, and Roman accusations against rivals such as the Celts and Druids. The discussion moves through how child-sacrifice narratives have been weaponized across history—from Rome’s propaganda and medieval blood libel to the Satanic Panic and modern conspiracy culture—while separating those myths from documented, contemporary abuse scandals.Topics in this episode:🔥 Moloch in Scripture and History⚱️ Archaeology of Carthage & the Tophet Debate🪵 Celts, Druids & the Wicker Man🎃 Samhain, Halloween & Sacrificial Myths🗡 Accusations as Propaganda😈 Satanic Panic & Modern Moral Panics⚖️ Real Scandals & Institutional Abuse🧠 Critical Thinking & Evidence⚠️ Content Warning:This episode includes discussion of child sacrifice, infanticide, sexual abuse, religious violence, and moral panics. While handled through a skeptical and historical lens, some material may be distressing to listeners. Parental discretion is advised.🔥 Moloch in Scripture and History• Hebrew Bible: Leviticus 18:21; 20:2–5; 2 Kings 23:10.• Further reading:— John Day, Molech: A God of Human Sacrifice in the Old Testament— Jewish Virtual Library — “Molech”⚱️ Archaeology of Carthage & the Tophet Debate• Quinn & Xella (2014), “Carthaginian Child Sacrifice: Reassessing the Evidence,” Antiquity• Lawrence Stager, “The Rite of Child Sacrifice at Carthage,” Biblical Archaeology Review🪵 Celts, Druids & the Wicker Man• Miranda Aldhouse-Green, Human Sacrifice: Archaeological Perspectives (affiliate link)• BBC History — “Who Were the Druids?”🎃 Samhain, Halloween & Sacrificial Myths• Ronald Hutton, The Stations of the Sun (affiliate link)• History.com — “Samhain and the Origins of Halloween”🗡 Accusations as Propaganda• USHMM — “Blood Libel”• Tertullian, Apologeticus (English)😈 Satanic Panic & Modern Moral Panics• Skeptical Inquirer — “The Return of the Satanic Panic”• FBI (1992) — “Satanic Ritual Abuse” report⚖️ Real Scandals & Institutional Abuse• Rotherham CSE — Alexis Jay Report (2014)• Jimmy Savile — BBC Inquiry Findings• Jeffrey Epstein — BBC Timeline• Catholic Church — John Jay Report (2004)🧠 Critical Thinking & Evidence• Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World• The Foundation for Critical Thinking📚 Bonus:Don’t forget Karen’s latest short story, The Walsingham Ghosts — available as text or audiobook exclusively from Amazon!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

We finish up Season 4 of MonsterTalk, not with a bang - but a chuckle, as we welcome Science Comedian Brian Malow to talk about using humor and science to entertain. https://sciencecomedian.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

We discuss the sketchy "science by press release" of Colossal Biosciences and the controversies lurking in the history of its lead scientist. Have they resurrected dire wolves? No. Definitely not. If only overblown celebrity endorsed hype was the only problem…Did they make a Dire Wolf? (Spoiler: NOT EVEN REMOTELY CLOSE)George Church's explanation of Epstein tiesJames Arthur Ray - Guru of Death?Tony Robbins (more from Quora and Reddit)Peter Jackson and the MoaGeorge R. R. Martin and the Dire WolfFor a more… salacious take on this, check out the 2-part "Behind the Bastards" coverage of this topic. Part 1 and Part 2.--- on a more positive note ---What is CRISPR?Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

We take a look at a fascinating slice of paranormal history in the form of a 1975 BBC documentary The Ghost Hunters. How much has changed in paranormal research since 1975? Not much, after a fashion… Anybody know something about these plastic pub barrels from the 1970s?Show Notes:Benson Herbert - ghost hunterAndrew Green - the Spectre InspectorJohn Cutten (SPR, Inventor)Watch this masterpiece on YouTube here.Yes - the Ion Gun is, in fact, a device for cleaning vinyl records.Hugh’s other paranormal doco - "Out of this World" from 1977The Three Horseshoes Pub (Wiltshire)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

Blake catches Karen up on his current research projects: The four-wall tour dates of the PGF, and a contextual look at the Van Meter Visitor. Neither of these projects are finished but he is excited to share what he's been working on. Dolemite is mentioned favorably.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

Blake is joined by regular contributor Matt Baxter, and special guest Kara Van Hoose from the Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife to discuss the (not that mysterious) outbreak of "tentacle bunnies" in Colorado this summer.  News reports of "rabbits with tentacles"Deer wasting disease (zombie deer)"Colorado Cannibal" Alfred PackerColorado Parks & Wildlife Colorado Parks & Wildlife Karl Shuker's blog about Jackalope99% Invisible episode on JackalopeWall DrugBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

Karen and Matt are back from their book tour in the UK and they got to have some real MonsterTalk moments! Loch Ness, Boleskine House and more plus Blake wrestles with gremlins!More photos will be available on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/posts/137274189?pr=true&cr=true Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

It's Hollow Earth, UFOs, the birth of Sci-Fi, and more wierdshit than you can believe as we present a super-cut of our 2-part interview with Jerry Drake and Jeb Card about one of the foundational stories of "weirdshitology" in a new ginormous single episode. And there's a little bit of reading if you want to follow us down the rabbit hole... EXTENSIVE show notes freely viewable at Patreon.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

Karen and Matt check in from the UK! Karen is on tour promoting her new book Bitch: The Journey of a Word.  (affiliate link)Islands are engines of language diversityBorley RectoryMentioned for future coverage (but touched on before):The Black Monk of PontefractEpisodes covering Enfield and PoltergeistsBoleskine HouseSome Nessie & Scotland coverageBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.