

MonsterTalk
Blake Smith
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
Mentioned books

Mar 27, 2023 • 49min
286 - Strange Arrivals S3 with Toby Ball
We chat with podcaster and writer Toby Ball about season 3 of his show Strange Arrivals, which just began dropping new episodes. Discussed in this episode: Strange Arrivals podcast David M. Jacobs, Alien Abduction Researcher Zimbabwe UFO case (Ariel School) Skeptical Inquirer article Abductology Implodes Emma Woods back storyBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

Mar 20, 2023 • 1h 11min
285 - The Entity (DOATS)
From our YouTube collection, we bring you a podcast version of our coverage of the 1983 horror/thriller The Entity. CONTENT WARNING: Discusses sexual assault and trauma. SPOILER WARNING: We discuss many plot elements in detail and if you prefer surprises you may want to watch the movie before listening to this episode. Watch the film here (affiliate link) The novel of the story (affiliate link) Watch more of our deBased on a True Story series. Photo discussed in the episode (via Daily Grindhouse coverage of BluRay release)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

Mar 13, 2023 • 49min
284 - Mr. Savalas' Wild Ride
We've recently been looking at ghostly hitchhiker legends and in this episode Karen brings us a creepy tale from her childhood that is both a strange twist on the original formulation of the legend, and also one that comes to us from big and small-screen icon from the 60s to the 90s - the bald, Greek, lollipop sucking phenomenon Telly Savalas. Stand by as we take a wild ride with Mr. Savalas into the MonsterTalk Zone. Show Notes: The Extraordinary is available on YouTube for free (currently) Weird JFK PostScript If you want to see some of Mr. Savalas' work, a lot of it is available streaming: https://amzn.to/4002ukj (Affiliate Link) Please take a moment and fill out our Airwave survey - just go to the survey page and select MonsterTalk from the show list, then answer the questions. Thanks! This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/monstertalk and get on your way to being your best self.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

Mar 6, 2023 • 39min
283 - Mud Flood and the Tartarian Empire
We're joined by Karl Mamer (The Conspiracy Skeptic Podcast) to talk about one of the weirder alt-histories out there in the monster-adjacent world of conspiracies. Useful Links for Show Notes Tartaria Mudflood - video overview Karl's Conspiracy Podcast The Skeptics Book of Lists - Karl's book Bloomberg Deep Dive into Tartarian Mud Flood Please take a moment and fill out our Airwave survey - just go to the survey page and select MonsterTalk from the show list, then answer the questions. Thanks! This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/monstertalk and get on your way to being your best self.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

Feb 27, 2023 • 44min
282 - Hellmouths and Hell Gates
Al Ridenour (author & podcaster) joins us to discuss his research into Hellmouths and hell gates. Al's Book - Krampus and the Old Dark Christmas Al's podcast - Bone & Sickle Parco Dei Mostri - 16th century Italian folly 11 mouth-shaped portals from around the world "Gates to Hell" (Wikipedia) "Hellmouth" (Wikipedia) Fulci's "Gates of Hell" trilogy (The Horror Podcast - also by Blake Smith) City of the Living Dead (Streaming) aka The Gates of Hell The Beyond (Streaming) aka The 7 Doors of Death The House by the Cemetery (Streaming) New Orleans Seven Gates of Guineee More gates to Hell via Ripley's (believe it or not!) Poison gas kills animals at Yellowstone Lake Nyos CO2 burp kills 1700+ people and 3500 animals. The Aeneid by Virgil Blake's research into the Stull, Kansas "gate to Hell." Please take a moment and fill out our Airwave survey - just go to the survey page and select MonsterTalk from the show list, then answer the questions. Thanks! This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/monstertalk and get on your way to being your best self.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

Feb 20, 2023 • 59min
281 - The Dover Demon - Solved?
We're excited to be the premier venue for Joe Nickell's latest research on the case of the Dover Demon. The Dover Demon (Wikipedia) W. Halden Blackman's The Field Guide to North American Monsters Joe Nickell's Amazon Author Page Mysterious America by Loren Coleman NPR Coverage of Snowy Owl in California Please take a moment and fill out our Airwave survey - just go to the survey page and select MonsterTalk from the show list, then answer the questions. Thanks! This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/monstertalk and get on your way to being your best self.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

Feb 13, 2023 • 41min
280 - The Philadelphia Experiment : Part 2
We are delighted to be joined again by David Halperin to discuss part-2 of the convoluted but fascinating history of The Philadelphia Experiment. You can read a deep dive into this by Halperin here: The Revealer Mentioned in the episode: David’s most recent book – Intimate Alien : The Hidden Story of the UFO William Moore (and Charles Berlitz) : The Philadelphia Experiment The movie is loosely based on the story. David Halperin’s website & blog They Knew Too Much About Flying Saucers – by Gray Barker The Case for the UFO by Morris K. Jessup Jacques Vallee on the anatomy of a hoax (PDF) Harvey (1950) - AMZ affiliate link Mary Chase - author of Harvey Mary Chase (wikipedia) This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/monstertalk and get on your way to being your best self.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

Feb 6, 2023 • 36min
279 - The Philadelphia Experiment : Part 1
This story includes the topic of suicide. If you or anyone you love is struggling with thoughts of self-harm please contact your country's suicide prevention network. In the USA this can be reached by dialing 988. --- --- --- We are delighted to be joined again by David Halperin to discuss the convoluted but fascinating history of The Philadelphia Experiment. You can read a fascinating deep dive into this by Halperin here: The Revealer Mentioned in the episode: David's most recent book - Intimate Alien : The Hidden Story of the UFO William Moore (and Charles Berlitz) : The Philadelphia Experiment The movie loosely based on the story. David Halperin's website & blog They Knew Too Much About Flying Saucers - by Gray Barker The Case for the UFO by Morris K. Jessup This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/monstertalk and get on your way to being your best self.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

Jan 30, 2023 • 39min
278 - The Walsingham Ghost
We're excited to chat with Cian Gill, host of Wide Atlantic Weird, about the spooky story of The Walsingham Ghost. It's a tale that scared both Cian and Karen as kids - and they were introduced to it through yet another spooky volume from Usborne publishing! Haunted Houses: Ghosts & Spectres - by Usborne True Ghost Stories by Hereward Carrington (or find it here for free) San Francisco Examiner - Nov 29, 1891 Brooklyn Eagle - Dec 05, 1891 This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/monstertalk and get on your way to being your best self.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

Jan 23, 2023 • 44min
277 - Jeff Kripal & The Superhumanities pt 2
Part 2 of a 2-part interview with Dr. Jeff Kripal of Rice University’s Religious Studies dept. He’s the author of several books that cover topics overlapping MonsterTalk’s bailiwick including: The Superhumanities The Flip: Epiphanies of Mind and the Future of Knowledge Esalen: America and the Religion of No Religion The Super Natural: A New Vision of the Unexplained (co-authored with Whitley Streiber) and Mutants and Mystics: Science Fiction, Superhero Comics, and the Paranormal This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/monstertalk and get on your way to being your best self.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.