MonsterTalk

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

S05E19 A Season of Madness - Old World Carnival with Al Ridenour

February 15, 2026 • 48 mins
Host of Bone & Sickle, Al Ridenour joins us to talk about the traditions of European Carnival season. It's the subject of his latest book, A Season of Madness.

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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S05E18 - America Bewitched with Owen Davies (part 2)

February 8, 2026 • 41 mins
In part two of our two-part interview with Owen Davies, we continue the discussion of witches and witch prosecutions with thoughtful considerations of the meaning of witch and how it can be an identity or an accusation.  Be sure and catch both parts of this fascinating chat. 

Some related viewing/reading:

A curious case of Black Magic in Norfolk

Blake's article about the "PA Hex Hollow" murders (Skeptoid #996)

Books by Owen*:
Grimoires:...
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S05E17 - America Bewitched with Owen Davies (part 1)

February 1, 2026 • 33 mins
In part one of our two-part interview with Owen Davies, we discuss the history of witch trials, accusations, murder, and other troubles bubbling up from post-Salem accusations in America. In part two, next week, we will continue the discussion with thoughtful considerations of the meaning of witch and how it can be an identity or an accusation.  Be sure and catch both parts of this fascinating chat. 

Some related viewing/reading:

A c...
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S05E16 Greenland Sharks with Greg Skomal

January 25, 2026 • 48 mins
We are joined by author and researcher Greg Skomal to talk about the mysterious and long-lived Greenland Shark. 

Books by Greg:
Chasing Shadows: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Great White Shark - Greg's book about Great Whites 

The Shark Handbook 3rd Edition: The Essential Guide for Understanding the Sharks of the World by Greg Skomal

The Great White Shark Handbook

Additional online reading:

Greenland Shark

Cookie Cutter Shark 

Ommatokoit...
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S05E15 Ghosted with Alice Vernon

January 18, 2026 • 50 mins
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S05E14 The Case of the Missing Thunderbird Photo

January 11, 2026 • 39 mins
Blake and Karen discuss the legendary photo said to capture 19th century cowboys or soldiers with a giant bird or pterosaur.

SHOW NOTE LINKS:

The original Tombstone Epitaph article about the winged creature

Karl Shuker's blogged several times on the Thunderbird Photo and wrote a eulogy for Mark Chovinsky, author of a thorough Strange Magazine article about the Thunderbird photo.

Ivan T. Sanderson figures into the story prominently.  Ke...
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S05E13 - Liminal Space Invaders

January 4, 2026 • 45 mins
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S05E12 The Secret History of Lizard People

December 28, 2025 • 51 mins
Friend of the show Dr. Joe Laycock returns to talk about LIZARD PEOPLE with us. He also has a new book: The Penguin Book of Cults

Joe's Books:
Penguin Book of Cults (publisher) (amazon affiliate link)
The Exorcist Effect: Horror, Religion, and Demonic Belief (affiliate link)

Other topics of discussion:
Shadow Kingdom
Brotherhood of the White Temple
Shaver Mysteries
Kull
Dark Shadows (Soap Opera) "Leviathan" storyline
The Naga who wanted to b...
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Christmas Special #13 - The Mezzotint by M. R. James

December 21, 2025 • 33 mins
It took a minute but I finally managed to read one of these "live" to my own family for the holidays. This is such an evocative story that I wanted to add a little art to the mix. I really want to put together a slow but detailed "animated gif" that goes through the cycles of the print as described in the tale - and maybe I'll get around to that at some point.

But for now here is some really nice artwork that captures the ideas of t...
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S05E11 Ghostly Encounters with Richard Estep

December 14, 2025 • 49 mins
Blake and Karen visit again with Colorado author of paranormal and true crime, Richard Estep. Richard's Books

discussed in this episode:
Ghostly Encounters

The Horrors of Fox Hollow Farm

Mothman: Sightings and Investigations of the Iconic Flying Cryptid

Help is on the Way (pre-order for Feb 2026 Richard's memoir of being a paramedic)

Monsters: Myths, Legends and Real Encounters (pre-order March 2026)

Additional Links:The Hamlyn Book of Gh...
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S05E10_Monstertalk

December 7, 2025 • 49 mins
Episode Summary: In this episode, hosts Blake Smith and Dr. Karen Stollznow catch up on recent headlines and new literature. First, Blake discusses a "ripped from the headlines" update regarding the 2014 Slender Man stabbing case. We revisit the tragic story of Morgan Geyser, her recent escape from a halfway house, and the media’s handling of the mental health and transgender aspects of the story.

Later, Karen reviews a pre-publicat...
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S05E09 Flashback: Bad Wolf

December 1, 2025 • 28 mins
FLASHBACKWe're looking back at October 5, 2011 this week and an interview with Valerius Geist (February 2, 1938 – July 6, 2021) about the myths and reality of wolves.  How dangerous are they? There's complexity and nuance here.  Some people fiercely believe wolves are just peaceful misunderstood beautiful animals that would not hurt a person.  Others believe they're fierce and dangerous predators.  Internet debates will happen but ...
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S05E08 A Survey of Frogmen Festivals

November 23, 2025 • 38 mins
We're joined by Sydney Davidson - student of Dr. Jeb Card (IRO) - to discuss her research into Frogmen Festivals, and to discuss monster festivals and some of the reasons people report they attend. (And it's not all about the plushies and t-shirts.)

Darren Naish on The Loveland Frog

The Myth of Disenchantment

Frogman Festival 2026

Close Encounters at Kelly And Others of 1955 (affiliate link)

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://w...
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S05E07 A Haunted Chest of Drawers

November 16, 2025 • 62 mins
We're joined by Matt Baxter to watch and discuss another vintage BBC look at the paranormal - this time in the form of an allegedly haunted chest of drawers. Check the links and watch it yourself if you've got 12 mins to spare. What do you think of our takes?

Additional Links:

BBC Archive Clip - A Haunted Chest of Drawers

AGT: Special Head (levitation trick)

The Indian Rope Trick - Penn & Teller documentary about the history of the...
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S05E06 Monster Manual & Mamer

November 10, 2025 • 55 mins
We're joined by host of the Conspiracy Skeptic Podcast, Karl Mamer. Karl's working on a new book in his series of skeptically themed books of lists (The Skeptic's Book of Lists, The Conspiracy Skeptic's Book of Lists) and has been looking into the origins of demons & devils in Dungeons & Dragons.

Further Reading:

Deities & Demigods
BBC: The Great 1980s D&D Panic
Michael Stackpole and the Pulling Report (counter to B.A.D...
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S05E05 Why I don't believe in... BIGFOOT

November 3, 2025 • 21 mins
In this episode, I talk about why I don't believe in Bigfoot and the core of my basis of doubt. This is part of a new intermittent series wherein we'll be looking at why a lot of monster stories fall apart when you attack them with Occam's Razor and other similarly sharp tools.

The clip in the intro is from In Search Of... Season 1, Episode 5. If you want to hear A LOT more about that episode, check out this episode of In ReSearch O...
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S05E04 Haunting America Revisited

October 26, 2025 • 50 mins
This week on MonsterTalk, Blake and Karen are joined by Matthew Baxter to revisit Karen’s classic investigation book Haunting America — newly re-released in paperback just in time for Halloween 🎃. Together they discuss how the book began as a project for the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF), the fieldwork behind its famous cases, and the updated edition’s new conclusion and color photos.👻 Topics discussed:

• Origins of Ha...
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S05E03 So Much for the Show Me State

October 20, 2025 • 44 mins
UAPs, “Disclosure,” and the Influence Machine 🔦🛰️
This episode looks at the latest UAP theater around Rep. Eric Burlison’s congressional presentation of the “Hellfire vs. orb” video, how it intersects with long-running media and funding networks (Skinwalker Ranch/NIDS/Las Vegas circle), and why skepticism and provenance still matter. We discuss the hearing, witness line-up, and the ecosystem that amplifies these claims—along with ...
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S05E02 Autocannibalism Is Not The Answer

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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S05E01 - Think of the Children!

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...
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