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
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...
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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...
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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.
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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...
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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...
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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.
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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% ...
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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...
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August 17, 2025 • 170 mins
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:/...
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:/...
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August 10, 2025 • 43 mins
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 diversity
Borley Rectory
Mentioned for future coverage (but touched on before):
The Black Monk of Pontefract
Episodes covering Enfield and Poltergeists
Boleskine House
Some Nessie & Scotland coverage
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--...
Islands are engines of language diversity
Borley Rectory
Mentioned for future coverage (but touched on before):
The Black Monk of Pontefract
Episodes covering Enfield and Poltergeists
Boleskine House
Some Nessie & Scotland coverage
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--...
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August 3, 2025 • 50 mins
A fascinating chat about Australian Magpies (Gymnorhina tibicen) with Dr. Grainne Cleary in which we talk about the role of stories in creating monsters, the role of citizen science, and lots of cool biology facts about these birds. Not everything about Magpies is black and white, it turns out.
Why do birds do that? (affiliate link)
Your Backyard Birds (booktopia - Australian bookshop)
And remember:
Why do Birds Sing? will be dropping...
Why do birds do that? (affiliate link)
Your Backyard Birds (booktopia - Australian bookshop)
And remember:
Why do Birds Sing? will be dropping...
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July 27, 2025 • 28 mins
Blake recounts his recent visit to see Robert the Doll, and his findings after a deep dive into newspapers and other literature. Patrons get follow-up info from the girl who was the subject of the "true doll haunting" from episode #114!
Karen's latest book: Bitch: The Journey of a Word
Recent death "associated" with demonic doll Annabelle
Official website of the museum hosting Robert the Doll
Call for Papers: Of Gods and Monsters I...
Karen's latest book: Bitch: The Journey of a Word
Recent death "associated" with demonic doll Annabelle
Official website of the museum hosting Robert the Doll
Call for Papers: Of Gods and Monsters I...
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July 20, 2025 • 66 mins
Flashback to October 2016! Updated content on Robert coming soon.In this week’s episode of MonsterTalk, we talk about demonic or evil dolls, and look into the history of one of America’s most famous creepy playthings: Robert the Doll. Our interview is with Dr. Cori Convertito, Curator of the Key West Art and Historical Society, which oversees the Fort East Martello Museum, home of Robert the Doll.Robert the Doll links
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July 13, 2025 • 79 mins
Flashback to January 2018:
In this episode of MonsterTalk, we return to discussion of the Ultraterrestrial Hypothesis (UTH) and what seems to be its growing influence in paranormal circles. It’s been used to explain UFOs, mothman, bigfoot, fairies, dogman, ghosts and many other phenomena which defy scientific demonstrability. Now it crops up again in a new film event titled Alien Intrusion which turned out to be a stealth evangelica...
In this episode of MonsterTalk, we return to discussion of the Ultraterrestrial Hypothesis (UTH) and what seems to be its growing influence in paranormal circles. It’s been used to explain UFOs, mothman, bigfoot, fairies, dogman, ghosts and many other phenomena which defy scientific demonstrability. Now it crops up again in a new film event titled Alien Intrusion which turned out to be a stealth evangelica...
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July 6, 2025 • 66 mins
FLASHBACK to December 2013:
A FAMILIAR VOICE returns to MonsterTalk as Dr. Karen Stollznow joins us to discuss her (then new) book, God Bless America.
Items of Interest
Haunting America on Amazon
More information on the case of Anneliese Michel
Wade Davis’s book on Haitian zombies — The Serpent and the Rainbow
More reading on the Satanic Panic — In Pursuit of Satan: The Police and the Occult
Music
Monstertalk Theme: Monster by Peach Steali...
A FAMILIAR VOICE returns to MonsterTalk as Dr. Karen Stollznow joins us to discuss her (then new) book, God Bless America.
Items of Interest
Haunting America on Amazon
More information on the case of Anneliese Michel
Wade Davis’s book on Haitian zombies — The Serpent and the Rainbow
More reading on the Satanic Panic — In Pursuit of Satan: The Police and the Occult
Music
Monstertalk Theme: Monster by Peach Steali...
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June 29, 2025 • 57 mins
Flashback to May 2015:
IS THERE A LOST CITY somewhere that formed the basis of the legend of Atlantis? Dr. Kenny Feder returns, not to praise Atlantis, but to bury it.
Kenny Feder: Selected Works
The Past in Perspective
Frauds, Myths and Mysteries
Linking to the Past
Related Links
Atlantis by Donovan
Podcast — Archeology Fantasies
In Search Of… Atlantis
Music
Monstertalk Theme: Monster by Peach Stealing Monkeys
Become a supporter of this podc...
IS THERE A LOST CITY somewhere that formed the basis of the legend of Atlantis? Dr. Kenny Feder returns, not to praise Atlantis, but to bury it.
Kenny Feder: Selected Works
The Past in Perspective
Frauds, Myths and Mysteries
Linking to the Past
Related Links
Atlantis by Donovan
Podcast — Archeology Fantasies
In Search Of… Atlantis
Music
Monstertalk Theme: Monster by Peach Stealing Monkeys
Become a supporter of this podc...
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June 22, 2025 • 80 mins
We will be playing some episodes from our archives for a few weeks this Summer - let's kick it off with this classic from October 2013! THE WARREN OMISSION.WAS THE STORY OF The Conjuring the true story of how Ed and Lorraine Warren fought demonic forces in Rhode Island? In this special episode of MonsterTalk, we hear a different side to the story of America’s first family of ghost hunting. Features interviews with investigators Joe...
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June 15, 2025 • 47 mins
We're joined by Erik Davis to discuss his book High Weirdness - a history of psychedelics and counterculture as a triptych embodied with three prominent figures: Terrence McKenna, Philip K. Dick, and Robert Anton Wilson. From Blade Runner to the Illuminati to Magic Mushrooms these three laid down foundational blocks decades ago that underpin (or perhaps undermine?) our present.
Terrence McKenna
Philip K. Dick
Robert Anton Wilson
Pyrrh...
Terrence McKenna
Philip K. Dick
Robert Anton Wilson
Pyrrh...
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June 8, 2025 • 49 mins
We’re joined by Matt Baxter to discuss what we thought was a horror film but turned out to be something quite different.Warning: This film and episode deal with suicide, murder, abortion, politics, religion, and pretty much most of the hot potato topics we generally try to eschew. Hopefully we do a decent job of discussing it.
Nefarious (streaming) – Affiliate Link
More on Blaze Media
Some reviews:
7th Day Adventist review
A Christian r...
Nefarious (streaming) – Affiliate Link
More on Blaze Media
Some reviews:
7th Day Adventist review
A Christian r...
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June 1, 2025 • 45 mins
Matt Baxter returns to join Karen and Blake in a discussion of allegedly haunted “bothies” in the remote hiking regions of the UK. This episode contains some discussion of guns, suicide, and cannibalism.
Links to further reading/listening:
What is a “bothy?”
Mountain Bothy Association
BBC’s Uncanny episodes we mention:
Don’t Sleep in this House – December 2021
Return to Luibeilt Christmas Special 2024
Become a supporter of this podcast: h...
Links to further reading/listening:
What is a “bothy?”
Mountain Bothy Association
BBC’s Uncanny episodes we mention:
Don’t Sleep in this House – December 2021
Return to Luibeilt Christmas Special 2024
Become a supporter of this podcast: h...
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