MonsterTalk

Blake Smith
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Dec 18, 2023 • 1h 8min

S03E12 - Remembering IN SEARCH OF with Joe Nickell

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. (YouTube) Joe Nickell's website Joe's Amazon Author's Page (affiliate link)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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Dec 11, 2023 • 36min

S03E11 - The Exorcist Effect part 2

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 3009 N Interstate Hwy 35, Austin, TX 78722 Dec 17th - Curio Arcanum  5924 S Congress Ave Unit 23, Austin, TX 78745 And I should also say that while in Austin you should check out the Minnesota IceMan over at the MUSEUM OF THE WEIRD over on 6th street. Tell 'em MonsterTalk sent you.  We don't have any promotional relationship - but it would be pretty cool of a bunch of folks dropped in and said that.  Maybe you'd weird them out at the museum of the weird.  Worth a shot. If you somehow haven't seen THE EXORCIST you can watch it here. (Affiliate Link)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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Dec 4, 2023 • 37min

S03E10 - The Exorcist Effect part 1

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 area.   Dec 15th - Signing at Glass Coffin Boutique 3009 N Interstate Hwy 35, Austin, TX 78722 Dec 17th - Curio Arcanum  5924 S Congress Ave Unit 23, Austin, TX 78745 And I should also say that while in Austin you should check out the Minnesota IceMan over at the MUSEUM OF THE WEIRD over on 6th street. Tell 'em MonsterTalk sent you.  We don't have any promotional relationship - but it would be pretty cool of a bunch of folks dropped in and said that.  Maybe you'd weird them out at the museum of the weird.  Worth a shot. If you somehow haven't seen THE EXORCIST you can watch it here. (Affiliate Link)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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Nov 27, 2023 • 47min

S03E09 - Cheesman Park

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 "haunted Cheesman park" (note how many are dated to October)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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Nov 20, 2023 • 42min

S03E08 - Hunt the Wampus

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 to Blake)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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Nov 13, 2023 • 38min

S03E07 - Hogzilla part 2

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 linkBecome 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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Nov 6, 2023 • 36min

S03E06 - Hogzilla part 1

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 decade of the 21st century. Dr. Mayer's webpage  USDA Guide to Feral Hogs  Pigs have been domesticated since 8,000 BCE  Religions that eschew the chewing of pigs  The Feral Pig time-bomb 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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Oct 30, 2023 • 41min

S03E05 - The Imitation Gang

[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 THE COUCH (Amz affiliate link) Brian's Website  Movies mentioned (affiliate links): The Thing (John Carpenter)  Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) It Follows Additional: The Irish Changeling Murder Capgras Syndrome (NIH) Fregoli Syndrome (Wikipedia)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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Oct 23, 2023 • 41min

S03E04 - Haunted Cars

Buckle up as Blake and Karen are joined by Matt Baxter to discuss haunted automobiles and creepy highway adjacent stuff like cursed vehicles.  Spooky stories abound and check the show notes for lots of links. WARNING: This episode does contain brief discussion of suicide and murder.  As we always like to mention, if you're having troubling thoughts related to self harm please seek help.  You don't have to struggle alone - in the USA you can call 988 any time and get real help immediately from people who care. The Wraith Christine Maximum Overdrive The Manitou  Link back to Telly Savalas episode The Hitchhiker (TZ) James Dean's Little Bastard | Jason Colavito on this topic The Golden Eagle (allegedly very cursed murder car) A famous British "ghost car" crash The ghost in the back seat (Blake's research) The Hairy HandsBecome 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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Oct 16, 2023 • 41min

S03E03 - UFOs over Italy with Massimo Polidoro

We're joined by psychologist, writer, journalist, television personality, and co-founder and executive director of the Italian Committee for the Investigation of Claims of the Pseudosciences (CICAP), Massimo Polidoro to discuss the 1954 Florence "Soccer" mass sighting of UFOs. BBC article: “The day UFOs stopped play” The unlikely story that this case inspired David Bowie Pwdre Ser (Star Jelly)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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