Monstertalk

We're delighted to welcome back Dr. Ken Feder to talk about his new YouTube series that covers many archaeological frauds & hoaxes, and explains how archaeologists know what they know. Catch his web series here. Ken's books are great - here's an affiliate link to his author's page. Catch our previous episodes with Ken.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

We're excited to bring you an interview with Dr. Emily Zarka, host of PBS's Monstrum series on the humanities web channel Storied.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

Werewolves are an ancient idea, but the meaning and beliefs around the concept have changed over time. How were they viewed in the classical world and even earlier? Find out in this week's episode as we interview Dr. Tanika Koosmen. Dr. Koosmen's thesis at Newcastle online archive The werewolf story in Satyricon Some movies mentioned: Van Helsing (2004) Deep Rising (1998) Interesting terms: Versipellis - In Roman mythology and literature, a "versipellis" is literally a "skin changer" and referred to someone who could change their skin or shape, similar to a shapeshifter. The term is derived from "versus" (changed) and "pellis" (skin). Episode art by Team Smith (my kids worked together on this one)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

We welcome back Dr. Justin Mullis to tell us about the interesting connection he found between Cryptozoology and the Godzilla franchise. He just appeared at G-Fest in Chicago where he spoke on this topic. Justin's profile at Academia.Edu Justin visiting with Cian at The Lost World Podcast talking Kong Skull Island Justin writes for AIPT in NYC The Impossible Archive podcast Justin discussing "little people" with Cian Gill Thanks to Stephen & William Smith for this week's episode art.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

We're joined by mosquito and disease expert Dr. Louisa Messenger of the Las Vegas PARAVEC lab. It turns out that gators and snakes aren't the big danger in a swamp. And this monster isn't constrained to swamps. In fact, it's probably in your own backyard. Mosquito problem in Las Vegas How to fight Mosquitos Dr. Messenger's Lab website Additional Reading: History of antimalarial drugs Modern use of Quinine The Color Mauve History of Malaria Lyle Blackburn's Sinister Swamps (affiliate link) Theodore Sturgeon's IT!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

Karen Stollznow and Matt Baxter recount their journey to solve the mystery of the ghost lights of Silver Cliff Cemetery, in Colorado. Silver Cliff Cemetery Prisoner's Cinema History Colorado Karen's book Haunting America (Amz affiliate link) Announcing the release of Karen's latest title:  bitch: The Journey of a WordBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

We answer a listener question that takes us down some interesting rabbit holes and face to face with the apparently never-ending tendrils of the Satanic Panic. Photo of Tokoloshe statue courtesy Peter Aller. Lots of show notes for this one: South Africa’s Occult Crimes Unit: How Apartheid shaped South African attitudes toward Paganism and the Occult Dr. Kobus Jonker More on "Donker" Jonker What is a Sangoma? Wikipedia: Tokoloshe A sample of The Daily Sun coverage of Tokoloshe The SAPS Occult Unit was never truly disbanded? How Apartheid shaped SA attitudes about Paganism and the Occult Article about the 666 Gangs and the Occult Task Force Frighteningly familiar SA Police web page about spotting Occult in kids 1999 article about failures of the Occult Task forceBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

The US Library of Congress says the Cassowary is the world's "Most Dangerous Bird!?" But is it? We talked with biologist Steven Portugal to find out. Steven Portugal's search for the Cassowary trip Cassowary (Wiki) Darren Naish on the 2023 Cassowary Florida Relocation EventBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

Blake and Karen discuss some recent werewolf projects, and what to do with all this research material accrued since this project started in 2011.  Wolf-related MonsterTalk (previous episodes) Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 Jay Smith’s historical research on hyenas and French wolf attacks. (Behind a paywall, but you may be able to get free access at your local public or university libraries. Be sure and check with a librarian.) Scott Lilienfeld (et al) book on Psychology Myths mentioned regarding full moon The Werewolf of Livonia Blake's Werewolf BibliographyBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

Friend of the show Ray Garton, author of many horror books including In a Dark Place, passed away April 21, 2024 of lung cancer. This show is largely a rebroadcast of episode #039 from 2011. Ray was one of the first and most prominent people who worked with Ed and Lorraine Warren who then went on to call them out for their duplicity. He wouldn't be the only one either, as we covered in The Warren Omission a few years later. Content Warning: Many of the alleged events that Ray wrote about for the Warrens involved sexual and physical trauma, and this episode needs the explicit tag due to discussion of that content. Ray Garton's Amazon Author page (affiliate link) Ray's ObituaryBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

We take a look at the 1992 BBC Halloween tv special, Ghostwatch. Ghostwatch (streaming Affiliate Link)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

This week we take a look at some recent news stories that fall within our bailiwick. We've got big cats, big-not-really-cats, and some UFO data to discuss. (with Matt Baxter.) Note - check out the articles for images of the "Thylacine", especially the Reddit thread and Galante's video. Tasmanian Tiger: Forrest Galante's YT Video Coverage in Newsweek Reddit readers have a go at the photos Alien Big Cat in UK BBC says DNA confirms big cat in UK Local news coverage 2023 article with similar findings UFO Hotspot Analysis Axios story about the analysis NUFORC's website Data Analyst considers this data Cool - NUFORC uses an old missile silo as HQ?? About NUFORC (Wiki)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

This week we're going to take a quick peek behind the curtains as to how THE SCIENCE OF MONSTERS came to be published by MonsterHouse, and what you can find inside. Sales of the book directly help the show, and all of that is explained during our MonsterTalking. The Science of Monsters - paperback & kindle The many lives of Joe NickellBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

Blake and Karen are joined by Matt Baxter to discuss the new horror film Late Night with the Devil (AMZ affiliate link), a fictional work that draws very heavily from "real" paranormal history to anchor its verisimilitude.  Trailer for LNwtD Don Lane vs Randi incident CSICOP Randi vs James Hydrick Randi vs Popov Randi and Don Lane incident Randi Michelle Remembers Anton LaVey Jim Jones Branch DavidiansBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

In this episode we talk with professor Jason Josephson-Storm about the concept of Disenchantment, why it's an important and influential concept, and why it is also a pervasive myth.  The Dialectic of Enlightenment by Max Horkheimer and Theodor W. Adorno Max Weber The Golden Bough by James Frazer  Deadly Words by by Jeanne Favret-Saada Our coverage of the homunculus - way back in episode 53!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

Is Bigfoot making peculiar stacks of bones in the forests of Mt. St. Helens? Archaeologist Andy White joins us to discuss the hypothesis that was the topic of a research paper by a Bigfoot proponent Mitchell Townsend. Andy's website (and response to Townsend's claims) Andy also has a YOUTUBE CHANNEL. Taphonomy Bigfoot proponent Townsend has been on Coast-to-Coast-AM more than once, where he also promoted his ideas about hidden images in stones. Mitchell's ideas are VERY reminiscent of the Richard Shaver work which we described as both apophenia and art.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

Karen and Blake discuss three little mysteries they've run across while doing research that didn't quite warrant an individual episode, and which might benefit from some crowd-sourcing. Examples of "Bigfoot Tree Forts" Colorado Site discussing Tik-Tok Bigfoot Structures Fairy-Braids: This is a real phenomenon - example article with photos Loren Coleman discussing MK Davis discussing Bigfoot braids (Cryptomundo) Some examples of algorithmic analysis of biological behaviors (gScholar) Silver and Milk Preservation: Example of claims in modern source:  Ask A Prepper Article about historic use of silver in baby bottles The Oligodynamic Effect Side-chat on Rat Kings: An article (with some great photos) on Rat Kings The less regal Squirrel King Who invented Pasteurization? The Smurfing Danger of Colloidal Silver Emily Rosa Science-Fair ProgramBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

Matt and Karen report back from their trip to Devil's Tower, Wyoming. reuters debunk traced to Facebook Satirical Post Watch CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND via Amazon affiliate linkBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

[This episode contains some adult language.] This is the story of the search for Bigfoot as conducted by the NORTH AMERICAN WILDLIFE RESEARCH CENTER. (Which sounds a lot like the real Bigfoot research group North American Wildlife Research Team that famously setup the only permanent Bigfoot trap maintained by the national park service.) But while a lot of the stuff in this film sounds real - the whole thing is made up. The IMDB page gives you the details on the cast. A very good widescreen version of the movie is available streaming on Amazon. (Affiliate Link) The film follows a team of investigators who travel for months into British Columbia on horseback to find the secret valley of the Bigfoot where they will radio-tag a creature for study. Along the way they will tell Bigfoot stories and watch stock nature footage play out to a Jaws-derivative soundtrack.  If that sound sketchy, keep in mind their whole trip was planned by computer. The computer even gave them a sketch of what they should be looking for!

We're excited to have Professor Chris French back to introduce his brand new book, The Science of Weird Shit: Why Our Minds Conjure The Paranormal (Affiliate Link). Links: Wilson & Barber and the "fantasy prone personality" Richard Wiseman appearances on MonsterTalk Susan Blackmore (wikipedia) Anomalistic PsychologyBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.