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 finding...
May 20, 2024•35 min•Season 3Ep. 34
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 Nickell Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support ....
May 13, 2024•33 min•Season 3Ep. 33
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 Davidians Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/suppo...
May 06, 2024•45 min•Season 3Ep. 32
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 ....
Apr 29, 2024•51 min•Season 3Ep. 31
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 Richar...
Apr 22, 2024•39 min•Season 3Ep. 30
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 M...
Apr 15, 2024•39 min•Season 3Ep. 29
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 link Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support .
Apr 08, 2024•31 min•Season 3Ep. 28
[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 versi...
Apr 01, 2024•33 min•Season 3Ep. 27
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 Psychology Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support ....
Mar 25, 2024•45 min•Season 3Ep. 26
We catch up with Richard Estep and Bil Bungay, co-authors of The Black Monk of Pontefract: The World's Most Violent and Relentless Poltergeist to talk about the history and strange happenings alleged to take place in the village of Pontefract in Yorkshire. Website of the house (for bookings and photos) You can rent Bil's movie When The Lights Went Out on Vimeo for a small fee. And here is Bil's Parapod movie on Apple's platform. Colin Wilson's book on the topic (Poltergeist) which has the chapte...
Mar 18, 2024•50 min•Season 3Ep. 25
This week Blake, Karen and Matt Baxter discuss celebrity UFO encounters. Why are they so popular? Why do we care? Some examples: John Lennon Olivia Newton John Elvis Russell Crowe Mick Jagger David Bowie Kesha Demi Lovato Jimmy Carter (see The UFO Movie They Don't Want You To See) Heck - YouTube is just full of these stories. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support ....
Mar 11, 2024•45 min•Season 3Ep. 24
Blake and Karen discuss The Secret History of Bigfoot by John O'Connor. The Secret History of Bigfoot (affiliate link) NYT Book Review Trey the Explainer on Bigfoot and Indigenous Culture (YouTube) Michael Barkun's Culture of Conspiracy (affiliate link) Spokane Washington Public Library reading by O'Connor (YouTube) Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support ....
Mar 04, 2024•34 min•Season 3Ep. 23
There are lots of things to read about this on the Internet and you will not find a definitive answer, I'm afraid. My conclusions are based on parsimony not on explicit proof. Besides, we all know how hard it is to prove a negative. It's a complex topic with many black-box elements and those tend to lend themselves to conspiratorial thinking. If you have things to say on the topic, come comment on the episode on our Patreon. Some articles of interest: Test showing negative results (Wandera) Test...
Feb 26, 2024•45 min•Season 3Ep. 22
A lighthearted discussion of the cryptids of Connecticut with the author and illustrator of Connecticut Cryptids: A Field Guide to the Weird & Wonderful Creatures of the Nutmeg State, Patrick Scalisi and Valerie Ruby-Omen. Patrick's Amazon Author's Page (affiliate link) Valerie's facebook page Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support ....
Feb 19, 2024•41 min•Season 3Ep. 21
We conclude our two-part look at Boleskine House, on the shores of Loch Ness. Matt Baxter joins Karen and Blake to wrap up this investigation. Links for Part 2: Article about sale of Boleskine Report of death of Major Grant (1960) A Dark Song (movie loosely based on Crowley/Abramelin working) (affiliate link) The Cadco Affair - or the great sausage scandal Pre-fire article (2015) about Boleskine after Page sale Current owners hope link to Outlander series will generate restoration funds The Bole...
Feb 12, 2024•36 min•Season 3Ep. 20
Part 1 of a 2-part look at Boleskine House, the little house on the shores of Loch Ness that allegedly once hosted an infamous ceremony attempt by Mr. Aleister Crowley. Matt Baxter joins Karen and Blake to discuss. Thanks to previous guests Peter Bebergal, Jerry Drake and Al Ridenour for their assistance on preparing this episode. Related Links - Part 1 News article chock full of the legends we discuss What happened to the kids from that Led Zeppelin album cover? Who was Kenneth Anger? Documenta...
Feb 05, 2024•42 min•Season 3Ep. 19
Blake wraps up his seven year deep dive into the Kelly-Hopkinsville Goblins case by taking a look at the many myths and misconceptions still enshrined in the Wikepedia article at the time of this recording. Yep - it's Blake rant time again... The two-part article is published in the UK's Skeptic. Part one is live now: https://www.skeptic.org.uk/2024/01/guns-and-goblins-what-really-happened-during-the-kentucky-alien-invasion/ Part two should be live Monday, Jan 29th, 2024. If this link is wrong, ...
Jan 29, 2024•36 min•Season 3Ep. 18
A look at Blake's ongoing research into the missing history of the Patterson-Gimlin film. This is pre-publication and the raw data is not ready to share yet, but we discuss some of the findings. Episode 12 - Greg Long Cryptid Cinema - Steve Bissette (affiliate link) Cryptid Cinema vol 2 (affiliate link) Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support ....
Jan 22, 2024•35 min•Season 3Ep. 17
In 1979 a man named Ernest encountered a mysterious creature in a tunnel in the Cabbagetown neighborhood of Toronto. Now, four decades on, we're joined by author Jeff Dupuis to look back on this peculiar incident and ask talk about why some monsters go viral and others remain "deep cuts" of cryptozoology. LINKS: Jeff Dupuis and the TORONTO Cabbage Town Monster: Jeff Dupuis - cryptid-themed novels Additional: The UFO "Commander-X" - possibly Timothy Green Beckley (at least in part) Obit for Timot...
Jan 15, 2024•43 min•Season 3Ep. 16
We talk with the multi-talented Miles Greb about AI Art in the first part of what will likely be several episodes this year touching on "artificial intelligence." Miles' work can be found on his website and his podcast (Plastic Plesiosaur) can be found on your favorite podcasting platform.* Show Notes Orwell on Politics and the English Language Understanding Machine Learning with Carrie Anne Philbin Recent story about artists not-consenting to be training material for AI Specific AI Art Tools: D...
Jan 08, 2024•47 min•Season 3Ep. 15
A 2023 end-of-year weird story roundup and some lighthearted chatting with Blake, Karen and Matt. Links to coverage follow: UAP Hearings Colorado Bigfoot Nigerian Humanoid Champ Sonar Rat Boy Gaffe Tasmanian Tiger Videos Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support .
Jan 01, 2024•40 min•Season 3Ep. 14
Once again we have Ghost Stories for Christmas in the tradition of the BBC's MR James inspired intermittent television series. John Charrington's Wedding is a creepy tale by E. Nesbit. Edith Nesbit may be more well known to you for her series The Railway Children. Patrons get a bonus ghost story The Secret of Macarger's Gulch by Ambrose Bierce. I picked this because of Bierce's brilliant mix of genuine horrors with comedy of manners and wordplay. Happy Holidays from Blake and Karen! Become a sup...
Dec 25, 2023•21 min•Season 3Ep. 13
Dr. Joe Nickell recalls his experiences working on the Season 4 episode of In Search Of… dealing with The Shroud of Turin. note: if you also subscribe to IN RESEARCH OF, the interview audio in this episode is identical to the IRO cut, but the wrapping intro/outro are customized to the respective feeds. -B In Research Of… (Patreon) In Research Of (free feed) In Search Of… The Shroud of Turin (YouTube) Joe Nickell covered by The Daily Mail That's Incredible! segment on THE AMITYVILLE HORROR. (YouT...
Dec 18, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Season 3Ep. 12
Join us for a continuing discussion of Joe Laycock and Eric Harrelson's new book, The Exorcist Effect. In this part we will discuss the legacy of Ed and Lorraine Warren, and father Malachi Martin and how their imaginative contributions to the field of Demonology riffed on movies and ended up changing how people perceive, practice, and perform modern Exorcisms. Remember that Eric and Joe will be signing their book in December of 2023 in the Austin area. Dec 15th - Signing at Glass Coffin Boutique...
Dec 11, 2023•36 min•Season 3Ep. 11
We're joined by Joseph Laycock and Eric Harrelson to discuss their new book THE EXORCIST EFFECT. This book is a great deep-dive into how fiction and fact intermingle in culture to generate new ways of interacting with the supernatural and paranormal. It's a feedback loop. It's a mobius strip. It's ouroboros. And it's really informative to be aware of this process. The Exorcist Effect book (Affiliate Link) Remember that Eric and Joe will be signing their book in December of 2023 in the Austin are...
Dec 04, 2023•37 min•Season 3Ep. 10
There's a park in Denver that is home to some macabre legends - and some of those legends are based in fact! Matt Baxter joins us to talk of the strange and macabre history of Cheesman Park. [Warning this episode does contain numerous references to the disposition, disarticulation, and desecration of the dead.] Victorian thoughts on burial The Changeling (discussed via MTLive) Poltergeist (DOATS) The history of Cheesman Park Denver area park vandalism in news What is Bentonite? Stories about "ha...
Nov 27, 2023•47 min
Blake and Karen discuss their trip to JSU, and begin a conversation about the enigmatic Wampus Cat. Show Notes: Wampus Cat in Potterverse Wampus Cat (wiki) Underwater Panthers (wiki) Example of early 20th century newspaper report (there are many) More on the Wampus (and a list of schools who use it for mascot/team name) Pop Culture: Hunt the WUMPUS ← note spelling M.U.L.E. video game featuring "hunt the mountain wampus" mini-game Some bio on Dani Bunten (whose games were tremendously influential...
Nov 20, 2023•42 min•Season 3Ep. 8
We continue our discussion of feral hogs as monsters with Dr. John Mayer. He was a forensic investigator on three alleged giant hog cases. Join us as we root around for the facts perhaps left unexcavated by the media at the time. (Sausage?) Links for Part 2 Brucellosis Pseudo-Rabies Rhonda Shearer's site on media & giant pig stories. MonsterQuest tackles giant pigs (full episode) MonsterPig A list of notable pigs - Wikipedia In the media: Razorback (1984) - Amz affiliate link Become a suppor...
Nov 13, 2023•38 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Learn about the biology of feral hogs and how their morphology changes when farm pigs go hog wild. Our guest is Dr. John J. Mayer who has spent more than five decades studying pig morphology, and who investigated several famous allegedly monstrous feral pig kills in the mid 2000s. In part one of this interview, we will look into pig biology and discuss the facts and myths around these animals. Next week we will look into the specific news stories around the "giant feral hog" craze of the first d...
Nov 06, 2023•36 min•Season 3Ep. 6
[Content Warning] Hey we're back again with Dr. Brian Sharpless to talk about more of his new book - which is now available everywhere books are sold: MONSTERS ON THE COUCH - the real psychological disorders behind your favorite movies! This one gets a content warning because many of the things that people with these psychological disorders have gotten up to has been quite disturbing and might not be suitable for all audiences. Listener discretion is advised. Show Notes: Brian's Book MONSTERS ON...
Oct 30, 2023•41 min•Season 3Ep. 5
