Monstertalk

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.

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.

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.

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 into stores September 2nd, 2025!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

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 WordRecent death "associated" with demonic doll AnnabelleOfficial website of the museum hosting Robert the DollCall for Papers: Of Gods and Monsters II (July 15, 2025 - November 1, 2025)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

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 linksdramatized film (now "Films" as of 2025)authorized history booknovelFacebook pageTwitter accountofficial websiteStories about Robert — Lore podcastVideosChild’s Play (not based on Robert the Doll. See episode for details.)Twilight Zone — Season 5, Episode 6: Living Doll(watch Episode 6 on Amazon)Twilight Zone — Season 3, Episode 33: The Dummy(watch Episode 33 on Amazon)Trilogy of Terror — a creepy doll classicFurther ReadingThe Science of Superstition: How the Developing Brain Creates Supernatural Beliefs by Bruce M. HoodMusicMonstertalk Theme: Monster by Peach Stealing MonkeysAdditional music: C

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 evangelical creationist film which suggests that aliens and UFOs are actually demonic. We are joined by MonsterTalk alum Joe Laycock, Natasha Mikles and Jeb Card to discuss the UTH and Jeb’s Paranormal Unified Field Theory (PUFT) as it relates to this film and the work of John Keel and others.In Research Of…MonsterTalkJoe Laycock Natasha MiklesJeb CardMusicMonstertalk Theme: Monster by Peach Stealing MonkeysBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

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 InterestHaunting America on AmazonMore information on the case of Anneliese MichelWade Davis’s book on Haitian zombies — The Serpent and the RainbowMore reading on the Satanic Panic — In Pursuit of Satan: The Police and the OccultMusicMonstertalk Theme: Monster by Peach Stealing MonkeysBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

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 WorksThe Past in PerspectiveFrauds, Myths and MysteriesLinking to the PastRelated LinksAtlantis by DonovanPodcast — Archeology FantasiesIn Search Of… AtlantisMusicMonstertalk Theme: Monster by Peach Stealing MonkeysBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

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 Nickell and Steven Novella.Full NotesBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

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 McKennaPhilip K. DickRobert Anton WilsonPyrrho - ancient Greek skepticOur coverage of Operation Mindf*ck (part 1 and part 2)Erik Davis links:Burning Shore (Substack)Techgnosis (huge web archive)Techgnosis (Book - Affiliate Link)High Weirdness (Affiliate Link) - the Audiobook read by the author is very good.  -B.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

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 LinkMore on Blaze MediaSome reviews:7th Day Adventist reviewA Christian review with interesting commentsReddit tackles NefariousHorror Obsessive – really didn’t care for the “bait & switch”Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

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 AssociationBBC’s Uncanny episodes we mention:Don’t Sleep in this House – December 2021Return to Luibeilt Christmas Special 2024Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

Jerry Drake returns to discuss his new book:Hazel was a Good Girl: The Murder that Inspired Twin PeaksJerry has been with quite a few times to discuss Grimoires, Jack Parsons, The Hollow Earth, Internet Mysteries and Ghost Lights and we're excited to see what he makes of this real life unsolved murder with ties to one of the most influential shows to ever air on TV.This episode does discuss murder, sexual assault, and other sensitive topics. It's not really explicit but it might not be suitable for children, hence the tag.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

We're back with part two of our 2-part coverage of the 1976 episode of The Six Million Dollar Man that introduced a generation of kids to Bigfoot, and the idea that the creature might be interconnected with space aliens living inside a California mountain.RelatedLinks:The Bionic Book by Herbie Pilato (affiliate link)Operation PlowshareThe Six Million Dollar Man series (DVD)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

Karen joins Blake to discuss the influential 2-part episodes of The Six Million Dollar Man that introduced a generation of kids to Bigfoot, and the idea that the creature might be interconnected with space aliens living inside a California mountain.This is part one of a two-part special edition.The patron edition has extended footage and no modern commercials.Extensive show notes available here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/128686370?forSale=true Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

Blake and Karen take a minute to catch their breath and talk about where things are in their lives and what's up next in MonsterTalk news.Links:Bitch: The Journey of a WordAdhesive Capsulitis Idiopathic IllnessesMechanical TurkSpeaking MachineReplica of Speaking Machine (YouTube)Wolfgang von KempelenDeep MindDeep BlueMarvin MinskyJohn McCarthyBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.