June 6, 2018

#158 – AN INTERVIEW WITH RICHARD HATEM (PART II)

In this episode of MonsterTalk, we present part two of Blake’s interview with screenwriter Richard Hatem about his work adapting John Keel’s The Mothman Prophecies for the 2002 motion picture. If you missed Part I last week, listen to it first. Of Interest Richard Hatem on Astonishing Legends (#72) Richard Hatem on Astonishing Legends (#73) Richard Hatem on Astonishing Legends (#82) The Changeling The […]

Regular Episode 41 sec read
May 30, 2018

#157 – AN INTERVIEW WITH RICHARD HATEM (PART I)

In this episode of MonsterTalk, Blake interviews screenwriter Richard Hatem about his work adapting John Keel’s The Mothman Prophecies for the 2002 motion picture. This wide-ranging discussion is broken into two parts. Part two will air next week, but Patreon supporters will have early access through http://patreon.com/monstertalk. Of Interest Richard Hatem on Astonishing Legends (#72) Richard Hatem on Astonishing Legends (#73) Richard Hatem on […]

Regular Episode 43 sec read
May 23, 2018

#156 – MAGIC: SEX, DRUGS AND ROCKET PROPULSION

Warning: The subject matter of this episode may not be suitable for children. Listener discretion is advised. The history of magic and science converged in the explosive life of Jack Parsons. By day he was a pioneer in the field of rocket propulsion whose work helped win WWII. By night he performed magic rituals and hoped to invoke powers which would […]

Regular Episode 42 sec read
May 16, 2018

#155 – THE GREYFRIARS KIRKYARD GHOST

Since the late 1990s people have been reporting strange incidents and injuries when touring the graveyard known as the Greyfriars Kirkyard. Some call it The Mackenzie Poltergeist, but whatever you call it it’s been the claimed cause of numerous injuries and scary stories. In this episode we interview City of the Dead tour-guide Fred Fogarty. We discuss the history of the site, some of […]

Regular Episode 35 sec read
May 2, 2018

#154 – THE CHICAGO MOTHMAN—SITE SEEING

Allison Jornlin is a paranormal researcher and host of The Otherside podcast. She’s been diligently researching the recent (2017–present) Chicago Mothman sightings as popularized on Lon Strickler’s Phantoms and Monsters website and book. You can find all of Allison’s on-site video recordings from her Mothman research on YouTube. Of Interest Melrose Park Photo Two Red Lights Miller Park (2nd account on the page) — No basketball hoop […]

Regular Episode 56 sec read
April 18, 2018

#153 – SPOUTING OFF ABOUT GARGOYLES

We’re getting our minds in the gutter this week but hopefully won’t leave you drained as we climb into the nooks and crevices of Yale University’s gargoyles and grotesques with photographer and author Mathew Duman, author of An Education in the Grotesque: The Gargoyles of Yale University. Image copyright Mathew M. Duman Image copyright Mathew M. Duman Image copyright Mathew M. […]

Regular Episode 21 sec read
March 28, 2018

#152 – RAMPAGE: A HUGE CROC

In the new movie Rampage, a giant mutant crocodile joins up with a giant ape and a giant wolf to destroy Chicago. But this is not the first giant croc to hit the big screen. Lake Placid (1999) and Alligator (1980) are just two of the many horror films that pit giant crocodilians against puny humans. The fossil record tells us that giant crocs did once roam […]

Regular Episode 37 sec read
March 14, 2018

#151 – THE GREAT BEAST 666

In this episode of MonsterTalk, we complete our discussion about Western Esotericism with John L. Crow. In this final part we talk about the life of occultist Aleister Crowley, a man some called The Wickedest Man on Earth. Of Interest The Wickedest Man in the World—Masters of Darkness (2002) Contemporary newspaper articles on Crowley Aleister Crowley (Wikipedia) Thelema (Wikipedia) The Plymouth Brethren (Wikipedia) The Book of […]

Regular Episode 22 sec read
February 28, 2018

#150 – MAGIC: SPIRITUALISM AND THEOSOPHY, PART II

In this episode of MonsterTalk, we continue our discussion about Western Esotericism with John L. Crow. In part two, we talk about the origins of Theosophy, the nature of secret and occult societies in this era, and the groundwork that led to the rise of magical orders in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Theosophy figures into the modern Western conception […]

Regular Episode 25 sec read
February 14, 2018

#149 – WINCHESTER’S CATHEDRAL

The Winchester Mystery House is a sprawling Victorian mansion in San Jose, California. It is a famous piece of American architectural history, yet nearly every story commonly told about its mysterious history is likely untrue. In this episode of MonsterTalk, we are joined by Colin Dickey, author of the fantastic book Ghostland to discuss the case of the Winchester house and some of […]

Regular Episode 25 sec read