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.
Episodes
January 4, 2026 • 45 mins
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 ...
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.
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Mark as Played
December 28, 2025 • 51 mins
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 Cults
Joe'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 Kingdom
Brotherhood of the White Temple
Shaver Mysteries
Kull
Dark Shadows (Soap Opera) "Leviathan" storyline
The Naga who wanted to b...
Joe'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 Kingdom
Brotherhood of the White Temple
Shaver Mysteries
Kull
Dark Shadows (Soap Opera) "Leviathan" storyline
The Naga who wanted to b...
Mark as Played
December 21, 2025 • 33 mins
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 t...
But for now here is some really nice artwork that captures the ideas of t...
Mark as Played
December 14, 2025 • 49 mins
Blake and Karen visit again with Colorado author of paranormal and true crime, Richard Estep. Richard's Books
discussed in this episode:
Ghostly Encounters
The Horrors of Fox Hollow Farm
Mothman: Sightings and Investigations of the Iconic Flying Cryptid
Help 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 Gh...
discussed in this episode:
Ghostly Encounters
The Horrors of Fox Hollow Farm
Mothman: Sightings and Investigations of the Iconic Flying Cryptid
Help 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 Gh...
Mark as Played
December 7, 2025 • 49 mins
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-publicat...
Later, Karen reviews a pre-publicat...
Mark as Played
December 1, 2025 • 28 mins
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 ...
Mark as Played
November 23, 2025 • 38 mins
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 Frog
The Myth of Disenchantment
Frogman Festival 2026
Close Encounters at Kelly And Others of 1955 (affiliate link)
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://w...
Darren Naish on The Loveland Frog
The Myth of Disenchantment
Frogman Festival 2026
Close Encounters at Kelly And Others of 1955 (affiliate link)
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://w...
Mark as Played
November 16, 2025 • 62 mins
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 Drawers
AGT: Special Head (levitation trick)
The Indian Rope Trick - Penn & Teller documentary about the history of the...
Additional Links:
BBC Archive Clip - A Haunted Chest of Drawers
AGT: Special Head (levitation trick)
The Indian Rope Trick - Penn & Teller documentary about the history of the...
Mark as Played
November 10, 2025 • 55 mins
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 & Demigods
BBC: The Great 1980s D&D Panic
Michael Stackpole and the Pulling Report (counter to B.A.D...
Further Reading:
Deities & Demigods
BBC: The Great 1980s D&D Panic
Michael Stackpole and the Pulling Report (counter to B.A.D...
Mark as Played
November 3, 2025 • 21 mins
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 O...
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 O...
Mark as Played
October 26, 2025 • 50 mins
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 Ha...
• Origins of Ha...
Mark as Played
October 20, 2025 • 44 mins
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 ...
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 ...
Mark as Played
October 12, 2025 • 46 mins
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 f...
Mark as Played
October 5, 2025 • 43 mins
🎙 MonsterTalk — The Cult of Moloch
Show Notes · Hosts: Blake Smith & Karen Stollznow
In 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 ag...
Show Notes · Hosts: Blake Smith & Karen Stollznow
In 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 ag...
Mark as Played
September 28, 2025 • 61 mins
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.
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.
Mark as Played
September 21, 2025 • 47 mins
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 ties
James Arthur Ray - Guru of Death?
Tony Robbins (more from Quora and Redd...
Did they make a Dire Wolf? (Spoiler: NOT EVEN REMOTELY CLOSE)
George Church's explanation of Epstein ties
James Arthur Ray - Guru of Death?
Tony Robbins (more from Quora and Redd...
Mark as Played
September 14, 2025 • 57 mins
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 hunter
Andrew Green - the Spectre Inspector
John Cutten (SPR, Inventor)
Watch this masterpiece on YouTube here.
Yes - the Ion Gun is, i...
Anybody know something about these plastic pub barrels from the 1970s?
Show Notes:
Benson Herbert - ghost hunter
Andrew Green - the Spectre Inspector
John Cutten (SPR, Inventor)
Watch this masterpiece on YouTube here.
Yes - the Ion Gun is, i...
Mark as Played
September 7, 2025 • 43 mins
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.
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.
Mark as Played
August 31, 2025 • 34 mins
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 Packer
Colorado Parks & Wildlife
Colorado Parks & Wildlife Karl Shuker's blog about Jackalope
99% ...
News reports of "rabbits with tentacles"
Deer wasting disease (zombie deer)
"Colorado Cannibal" Alfred Packer
Colorado Parks & Wildlife
Colorado Parks & Wildlife Karl Shuker's blog about Jackalope
99% ...
Mark as Played
August 24, 2025 • 58 mins
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 sh...
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 sh...
Mark as Played
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