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-publication copy of the upcoming book How to Build a Haunted House: The History of a Cultural Obsession by Caitlin Blackwell Baines. Does the book provide a blueprint for creating ghosts, or is it a cultural tour of famous haunts? Karen breaks down the architectural history, the folklore, and where the book lands on the spectrum of skepticism.
Key Topics
• Shout-outs for the Cryptid and Godzilla Advent calendars.
• Slenderman Segment:
• Recap of the 2014 Waukesha stabbing (MonsterTalk Ep #86).
• Morgan Geyser’s conditional release and subsequent escape attempt.
• A critical look at the prison industrial complex, mental health care in the US, and the current moral panic surrounding transgender individuals in media coverage.
• Book Review Segment: How to Build a Haunted House (Coming April 2026).
• A review of the book for the Society for Psychical Research (SPR).
• Analysis of the Myrtles Plantation, Borley Rectory, and the Winchester Mystery House.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.
Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.
Later, Karen reviews a pre-publication copy of the upcoming book How to Build a Haunted House: The History of a Cultural Obsession by Caitlin Blackwell Baines. Does the book provide a blueprint for creating ghosts, or is it a cultural tour of famous haunts? Karen breaks down the architectural history, the folklore, and where the book lands on the spectrum of skepticism.
Key Topics
• Shout-outs for the Cryptid and Godzilla Advent calendars.
• Slenderman Segment:
• Recap of the 2014 Waukesha stabbing (MonsterTalk Ep #86).
• Morgan Geyser’s conditional release and subsequent escape attempt.
• A critical look at the prison industrial complex, mental health care in the US, and the current moral panic surrounding transgender individuals in media coverage.
• Book Review Segment: How to Build a Haunted House (Coming April 2026).
• A review of the book for the Society for Psychical Research (SPR).
• Analysis of the Myrtles Plantation, Borley Rectory, and the Winchester Mystery House.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.
Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.