September 20, 2017

#135 – THE TRACKS WE LEFT AT DRAGONCON AND CRYPTIDCON

In this episode of MonsterTalk, Karen and Blake discuss MonsterTalk’s presence at Dragon*Con and CryptidCon 2017. Blake got to travel to Kentucky for the inaugural cryptid-themed convention and had many interesting interactions with monster fans from across the country. Of Interest Karen Stollznow’s Author Page (Amazon) Would You Believe It?: Mysterious Tales From People You’d Least Expect, by Karen Stollznow Amazing Cryptid […]

Regular Episode 4 min read
August 30, 2017

#134 – THE SCIENCE BEHIND MONSTERS

In this episode of MonsterTalk, we take a look at the convergence of science and monsters, as Blake Smith prepares to talk at 2017’s CryptidCon in Frankfort, Kentucky. What does science have to tell us about monsters? Music Monstertalk Theme: Monster by Peach Stealing Monkeys

Regular Episode 4 min read
August 16, 2017

#133 – AUSTRALIA’S APEX MONSTERS: DROPBEARS

Australia is home to monsters both real and legendary. In a country where a tiny octopus is toxic enough to kill 20 adults, where huge spiders can catch birds and eat them, where people are so tough that they voluntarily eat Vegemite, what kind of creature could be the apex monster? Not the bunyip. Not the yowie. Keep looking up […]

Regular Episode 5 min read
July 26, 2017

#132 – THE LIFE AND EXTRAORDINARY AFTERLIFE OF H. P. LOVECRAFT

Author Scott Poole (previously with us for Vampira and Monsters in America) joins us to talk about his new biography on American horror writer H. P. Lovecraft, In The Mountains of Madness: The Life and Extraordinary Afterlife of H.P. Lovecraft. What is it about the writing of this peculiar and complicated writer from New England that has cast such an oversized shadow over American […]

Regular Episode 25 sec read
July 12, 2017

#131 – NAMING MONSTERS

What’s in a name? More than you might imagine, if you’re a scientist trying to officially name a new species. In this episode of MonsterTalk, we talk to Ichthyologist Ben Frable about the process (and many challenges) of scientifically identifying and naming new species. Benjamin Frable is an Ichthyologist and is the Collection Manager of the Marine Vertebrate Collection at Scripps […]

Regular Episode 6 min read
June 28, 2017

#130 – ENGLAND’S MOST HAUNTED VILLAGE

Is the little village of Pluckley truly the most haunted village in England? We interview skeptical ghost hunter Hayley Stevens (The Spooktater) about the curious little town more famous for its dead than its living. Pictured above is one of the many haunted buildings in Pluckley — St. Nicholas Church — said to be haunted by two ghosts of the […]

Regular Episode 6 min read
June 21, 2017

#129 – MINIONS, MOBS & MYRMIDONS

From ancient Greece to modern movies, monsters and villains often get their assistance from mindless mobs of maleficent minions. Are they simply plot devices, or do minions tell us something about the real-world role of the follower when loyal obedience is valued more than heroic ethics? In this episode of Monstertalk, David Perlumtter and Cait Mongrain join us to discuss Minions, Mobs and Myrmidons. Related […]

Regular Episode 7 min read
May 17, 2017

#128 – SPOOKY GEOLOGY

(Above) Jill Greeley (played by Jane Asher) in the The Stone Tape, a 1972 BBC drama by Nigel Kneale. In the movie, Jill can hear sounds and see the apparition of a young woman who apparently had fallen to her death here in the past. Read more about this story. In this episode, MonsterTalk welcomes back notable skeptic, scientist, researcher and author (and now […]

Regular Episode 4 min read
April 12, 2017

#126 – THE ENFIELD POLTERGEIST — PART 2

Part 2 of our look at the Enfield Poltergeist brings together interviews with Chris French (@ChrisCFrench), Joe Nickell (@RealJoeNickell) and Deborah Hyde (@jourdemayne). We look at why skeptics tend to be so reluctant to accept the existence of poltergeists. Related Links Skeptic’s Dictionary: Poltergeist Nickell on Enfield Anita Gregory Video: Janet & Margaret return to Enfield The Conjuring 2 The […]

Regular Episode 6 min read