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PODCAST

MonsterTalk

MonsterTalk: The Science Show About Monsters is a free audio podcast that critically examines the science behind cryptozoological (and legendary) creatures, such as Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, or werewolves. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

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All Episodes

33:40

Christmas Special #13 - The Mezzotint by M. R. James

MonsterTalk ·

2025/12/22

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

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49:19

S05E11 Ghostly Encounters with Richard Estep

MonsterTalk ·

2025/12/15

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

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49:00

S05E10_Monstertalk

MonsterTalk ·

2025/12/08

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

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28:08

S05E09 Flashback: Bad Wolf

MonsterTalk ·

2025/12/02

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

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38:51

S05E08 A Survey of Frogmen Festivals

MonsterTalk ·

2025/11/24

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

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62:26

S05E07 A Haunted Chest of Drawers

MonsterTalk ·

2025/11/17

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

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55:04

S05E06 Monster Manual & Mamer

MonsterTalk ·

2025/11/10

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

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21:20

S05E05 Why I don't believe in... BIGFOOT

MonsterTalk ·

2025/11/04

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:

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50:30

S05E04 Haunting America Revisited

MonsterTalk ·

2025/10/27

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

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44:06

S05E03 So Much for the Show Me State

MonsterTalk ·

2025/10/21

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.🎥

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46:55

S05E02_Monstertalk

MonsterTalk ·

2025/10/13

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

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43:34

S05E01 - Think of the Children!

MonsterTalk ·

2025/10/06

🎙 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

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61:58

S04E46 - SciCom and Science Comedy with Brian Malow

MonsterTalk ·

2025/09/29

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.

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47:29

S04E45 - Resurrecting Dire Wolves and Moa Bad Ideas

MonsterTalk ·

2025/09/22

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

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57:05

S04E44 Ghost Hunting 1975

MonsterTalk ·

2025/09/15

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

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43:21

S04E43 - Big Foot and Van Meter

MonsterTalk ·

2025/09/08

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.

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34:41

S04E42 You Don't Know Jackalopes

MonsterTalk ·

2025/09/01

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

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58:46

S04E41 Karen and Matt in Scotland

MonsterTalk ·

2025/08/25

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.

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170:11

Flashback: Shaver Mystery Super-cut

MonsterTalk ·

2025/08/18

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.

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43:00

S04E40 - Catching Up: UK Edition

MonsterTalk ·

2025/08/11

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.

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