We are joined by Heather Joseph-Witham, Associate Professor in the Liberal Arts and Sciences Department at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles. She has a PhD in Folklore and Mythology from UCLA. In this episode, we talk about folklore as an academic field, urban legends, the nature of culture and story, and much more… Read the episode notes Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support ....
Sep 14, 2016•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 112
In this episode of MonsterTalk, Karen and Blake thank listeners for their amazing support, and discuss upcoming episodes in the works. Read the episode notes Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support .
Aug 31, 2016•39 min•Ep. 111
MonsterTalk explores the life of author and research Montague Summers, a researcher of dogged determination whose own life is shrouded in mystery and occluded by the theatrical. Brian Regal discusses his research into this fascinating and controversial figure of occult studies. Read the episode notes Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support ....
Aug 16, 2016•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 110
James “The Amazing” Randi joins us to discuss his work on the Long John Nebel “Party Line,” a late-night AM radio show from New York’s WOR that defined the paranormal-themed chat show and was a precursor to shows like those of Art Bell, George Noory and Dave Schrader. This episode features clips from the Long John Nebel show and from Randi’s tenure after he took over Nebel’s slot. Read the episode notes Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/sup...
Aug 02, 2016•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 109
In this episode of MonsterTalk, we talk with Deborah Hyde, editor of the British magazine The Skeptic. Deborah is deeply interested in folklore, anthropology, monsters and skepticism. Our conversation covers a variety of topics including vampires, werewolves, ghosts and movies. Follow Deborah on Twitter @jourdemayne. Read the episode notes Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support ....
Jul 20, 2016•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 108
Rob Brotherton is the author of Suspicious Minds: Why We Believe Conspiracy Theories. Rob has a doctorate in the psychology of conspiracy theories, and taught classes at the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit at Goldsmiths. He joins us in this episode to discuss the psychology of conspiracies. Read the episode notes Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support ....
Jul 06, 2016•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 107
Lyle Blackburn is a musician, actor, and cryptid researcher who explores the US in search of creatures in swamplands and backwoods. He is the author of The Beast of Boggy Creek: The True Story of the Fouke Monster and Lizard Man: The True Story of the Bishopville Monster. Lyle is a staff writer for the horror magazine Rue Morgue, he has been featured on Coast to Coast AM, and on numerous TV shows on Discovery, Animal Planet and more. Lyle joins us to discuss the history and impact of “the Boggy ...
Jun 08, 2016•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 106
Eugenie Scott is an anthropologist but is probably most well known for her work fighting against Creationism in the American public education system as director of the National Center for Science Education (NCSE). Perhaps less well-known is the fact that she’s long been interested in Bigfoot. In this episode of MonsterTalk we discuss Bigfoot, science promotion, and the usefulness of thinking about monsters in honing critical thinking skills. Read the episode notes Become a supporter of this podc...
May 24, 2016•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 105
Have you learned most of your UFO stories from The History Channel and motion pictures? Chances are these glossy presentations of aliens and mysterious craft have hidden from you some of the shocking and silly history of this fascinating field. Join us as we interview UFO researcher Robert Sheaffer about Bad UFOs. Read episode notes Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support ....
May 04, 2016•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 104
Tales of enormous snakes have been a part of folklore for thousands of years. From myths to legends, to eyewitness testimony and photographs, these stories slither through our culture and seem inescapable. Prepare to recoil in horror as we talk about giant snakes with John C. Murphy, co-author of the fascinating book Tales of Giant Snakes. Do giant man-eating snakes lurk out there waiting to swallow the unwary? The answer is more complicated than you might suspect. Listen to episode 103 Become a...
Apr 19, 2016•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 103
What is a Skeptic anyway? Are they just naysayers? Are they cynics? Do they just automatically say “that’s not real” to anything exciting and mysterious? Find out the true meaning of Skepticism in this MonsterTalk special episode — Skepticism 101, featuring Dr. Steven Novella. Dr. Steven Novella is a clinical neurologist and assistant professor at Yale University School of Medicine. He is a prominent figure in the Skeptic community, he is the host of The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe, and he i...
Apr 13, 2016•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 102
In this episode of MonsterTalk, paleontologist Dr. Darren Naish (@TetZoo) returns to discuss his newest book, an overview of the field of cryptozoology, titled Hunting Monsters: Cryptozoology and the Reality Behind the Myths. READ the episode notes Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support .
Mar 09, 2016•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 101
In this MonsterTalk Christmas Special episode, Blake Smith reads aloud Pickman’s Model, a story by H.P. Lovecraft and gives a brief update about the MonsterTalk podcast. Read the episode notes Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support .
Dec 30, 2015•33 min
In the 100th episode of MonsterTalk: The Science Show About Monsters, DNA researcher and author Bryan Sykes discusses the research behind his landmark book The Nature of the Beast: The First Genetic Evidence on the Survival of Apemen, Yeti, Bigfoot and Other Mysterious Creatures into Modern Times; plus, thoughts and reflections on 100 episodes of MonsterTalk, including hearing from many listeners about their own favorite monsters… READ the episode notes Become a supporter of this podcast: https:...
Jul 15, 2015•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 100
There are legends from around the world of a creature that comes to you at night and sits on your chest, sucking away your life force. The incubus, the succubus, the old hag — people really report these experiences, but how does science explain it? Dr. Brian Sharpless, co-author of the new book Sleep Paralysis: Historical, Psychological and Medical Perspectives, joins us to discuss the terrifying phenomenon. READ the episode notes Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podc...
Jun 03, 2015•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 99
You’ve heard the legend of Atlantis. But have you ever heard the facts behind the legend? Dr. Kenny Feder returns to talk about the true story of Atlantis and it isn’t what most people think. LISTEN to this episode Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support .
May 20, 2015•57 min•Ep. 98
Is the world secretly being controlled by a dark, shadowy cabal? Are many of the world’s leaders actually blood-drinking, child-abusing lizard people? No, they aren’t. But in this episode of MonsterTalk we talk with Jon Ronson about his experiences with conspiracy theorist David Icke. READ the episode notes Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support ....
Apr 15, 2015•39 min•Ep. 97
Why do we fear? What is fear? The Ressler Lab is located in the Yerkes Primate Research Center in Atlanta, and the studies they’re conducting seek to understand fear at the cellular, molecular and neural-circuitry level of granularity. Dr. Kerry Ressler, head of the lab, joins us to talk about that research and the neurological basis of fear. READ the episode notes Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support ....
Mar 18, 2015•42 min•Ep. 96
The late 1970s and 1980s saw the rise of a new kind of game. Dungeons & Dragons and its many competitors captivated many high-school and college students, but many parents and authority figures feared that these new games were a gateway to Satanic ritual and perhaps even murder. Author Joseph Laycock returns to discuss his new book: Dangerous Games. LISTEN to this episode Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support ....
Mar 04, 2015•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 95
One of the most common fears in the world is the fear of spiders. But what does a rationalist do when gripped by an irrational fear? MonsterTalk interviews author Lynne Kelly about her transition from arachnophobia to spider enthusiast. Note: This episode deals with spider sexual reproduction which includes masturbation and cannibalism. Read the episode notes Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support ....
Jan 28, 2015•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 94
Blake Smith reads aloud An Inhabitant of Carcosa, a story by Ambrose Bierce. The story itself is brief, but its impact on American horror literature is still being felt today. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support .
Jan 02, 2015•14 min
We’ve all seen the vampires of cinema and pop culture. Caped aristocrats, sparkling teens, monstrous revenants—which of these best corresponds to the real legends of vampires? Richard Sugg returns to talk about his fascinating research into historic vampire cases. He’s uncovered a recurring relationship between outbreaks of vampirism and poltergeist activity, which will be the subject of his next book. READ the episode notes Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/mo...
Oct 22, 2014•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 92
Can a domesticated cat be a monster? What if it can talk, fly, predict the future and grow to enormous size? Get ready for some of the strangest lore we’ve ever covered on MonsterTalk as we interview art historian Dr. Paul Koudounaris about demonically possessed cats. LISTEN to this episode Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support ....
Oct 15, 2014•51 min•Ep. 91
When the robots take over, will we all be forced to speak bocce? Author and robotics engineer Daniel H. Wilson visits MonsterTalk to discuss the nature of robots and the risk of a robot apocalypse. Steven Spielberg has purchased the rights to produce a film version of his New York Times bestseller, Robopocalypse. LISTEN to this episode Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support ....
Oct 08, 2014•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 90
In this episode of MonsterTalk, Blake conducts a pop-culture interview with historian Scott Poole on the first monstrous horror movie host, Vampira (Maila Nurmi). His new book is Vampira, Dark Goddess of Horror. READ the episode notes Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support .
Sep 24, 2014•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 89
Was an African lion wandering the streets of Los Angeles? The case of the Norwalk Lion is solved beyond reasonable doubt—yet why do questions linger? READ the episode notes Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support .
Sep 10, 2014•15 min•Ep. 88
What can a shambling zombie teach us about the human brain? According to Brad Voytek and Tim Verstynen, quite a lot. Their new book is called Do Zombies Dream of Undead Sheep? and in this episode of MonsterTalk we’ll be talking “Brainssss…” READ the episode notes Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support ....
Aug 20, 2014•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 87
They say Slenderman was created for a contest on a website. But the thin, faceless character has gone viral appearing in numerous art, stories, videos and even games. Some claim that all that combined focus has turned him real — a process known by ancient Tibetan Buddhists as forming a Tulpa. In this episode of MonsterTalk, Blake Smith interviews professor of religious studies Joe Laycock and doctoral student of Tibetan studies Natalia Mikels to discover the truth about Tulpas. Since the creatio...
Jul 30, 2014•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 86
What causes a person to be possessed? Are there demons? Is it mental illness? Is it abnormal neurology? Does exorcism work? in this episode of MonsterTalk, paranormal researcher psychologist Dr. Chris French joins us to discuss the psychology of demonic possession and exorcisms. READ the episode notes Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support ....
Jul 16, 2014•54 min•Ep. 85
The 10 Million Dollar Bigfoot Bounty television contest is over and we’re going to talk to the science advisers for the show to see how they felt about the outcome. Did science win the day? Did editing take away the good take-aways? Will Justin Smeja be getting in trouble for hunting feral humans? Check it out in this episode of MonsterTalk! READ the episode notes Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support ....
Jul 02, 2014•46 min•Ep. 84
