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

S05E35 The Newby Church Specter

June 14, 2026 • 58 mins

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, webs...

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S05E34 - Rakshasas

June 7, 2026 • 53 mins

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 Zseb...

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S05E33 - The Devil Went Down to Devon

May 31, 2026 • 68 mins

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 corres...

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S05E32 - Monsters of the Deep with Dr. Darren Naish

May 24, 2026 • 52 mins

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 ex...

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S05E31 - From Loup Garou to Rougarou (pt 2) with Louisiana Dread's Kyle Crosby

May 17, 2026 • 39 mins

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...

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S05E30 - From Loup Garou to Rougarou with Louisiana Dread's Kyle Crosby

May 10, 2026 • 38 mins

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 fe...

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S05E29 - Science of the Supernatural with Melissa Maffeo

May 3, 2026 • 45 mins

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 p...

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FLASHBACK BONUS: S01E069 The Key to the Legend of the Map Monsters

May 1, 2026 • 50 mins

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 Duzer

Or snag it in English here:
Sea Monsters on Medeival and Renaissance Maps

Extensive show notes here!

Become a supporter ...

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S05E28 The Cottingley Fairies

April 26, 2026 • 70 mins

Blake and Karen are joined by Matt Baxter to discuss the strange case of the Cottingley Fairies.

https://www.monstertalk.org/?p=2706

Hosts: Karen Stollznow, Blake Smith
Guest: Matt Baxter

In this episode, the MonsterTalk crew tackles one of the most famous photographic hoaxes in history - the Cottingley Fairies. In 1917, two young cousins in West Yorkshire produced five photographs that...

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S05E27 - Monsters: Myths, Legends, and Real Encounters with Richard Estep

April 19, 2026 • 52 mins

🎙️ 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...

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S05E26 Haunted Cemeteries

April 12, 2026 • 35 mins

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.org

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

Some product links may be affiliated with ...

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S05E25 - Headless Motorcyclist Ghosts

April 5, 2026 • 42 mins

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 m...

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S05E24 - ParaMormonal Activity with Steve Cuno

March 29, 2026 • 54 mins

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 Thread

Between Pulpit and Pew: The Supernatural ...

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S05E23 - The Stately Ghosts of England (pt2)

March 22, 2026 • 40 mins

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.org

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support...

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S05E22 - The Stately Ghosts of England (pt1)

March 15, 2026 • 37 mins

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.org

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon reve...

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BONUS: Weirdumentary with Gary Rhodes

March 8, 2026 • 57 mins

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...

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S05E21 - Dragons & Trolls of the Marsh

March 1, 2026 • 55 mins

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.

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S05E20 - Cults, Corps, and the Culinary with Christina Ward

February 22, 2026 • 52 mins

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.

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S05E19 A Season of Madness - Old World Carnival with Al Ridenour

February 15, 2026 • 48 mins

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.

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S05E18 - America Bewitched with Owen Davies (part 2)

February 8, 2026 • 41 mins

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 Norfolk

Blake's article about the "PA Hex Hollow" murders (Skept...

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MonsterTalk

Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}S05E35 The Newby Church Specter

.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}S05E34 - Rakshasas

S05E33 - The Devil Went Down to Devon

S05E32 - Monsters of the Deep with Dr. Darren Naish

S05E31 - From Loup Garou to Rougarou (pt 2) with Louisiana Dread's Kyle Crosby

S05E30 - From Loup Garou to Rougarou with Louisiana Dread's Kyle Crosby

S05E29 - Science of the Supernatural with Melissa Maffeo

FLASHBACK BONUS: S01E069 The Key to the Legend of the Map Monsters

S05E28 The Cottingley Fairies

S05E27 - Monsters: Myths, Legends, and Real Encounters with Richard Estep

S05E26 Haunted Cemeteries

S05E25 - Headless Motorcyclist Ghosts

S05E24 - ParaMormonal Activity with Steve Cuno

S05E23 - The Stately Ghosts of England (pt2)

S05E22 - The Stately Ghosts of England (pt1)

BONUS: Weirdumentary with Gary Rhodes

S05E21 - Dragons & Trolls of the Marsh

S05E20 - Cults, Corps, and the Culinary with Christina Ward

S05E19 A Season of Madness - Old World Carnival with Al Ridenour

S05E18 - America Bewitched with Owen Davies (part 2)

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S05E35 The Newby Church Specter

S05E34 - Rakshasas