MonsterTalk

This is the audio from our 2024 livestream (http://youtube.com/monstertalk).  If you saw that live, this is the same audio without the moving picture bits. If you didn't see it but want to see our mugs waggin' synchronously to our voices, you can find this particular episode here.Otherwise - happy new year! We'll be back next week talking about how to make a successful monster festival with some guys who just did it for the Green Eyes Festival.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

We're joined by fellow podcaster and friend of the show, Andy Driscoll, to introduce a peculiar region in Massachusetts said to be home to concentrated high strangeness. We'll definitely be coming back to deep dive in these swamps for more details on particular claims but Andy gives us a great "hometown" introduction to this fascinating area.Video Segment with Jeff Bellanger introducing the topic (CBS News)The popular podcast Lore's coverage during their first season (2015)PukwudgieMaushopDighton RockLarry Kusche Obituary and his Wiki PageMore with Andy Driscoll:The Old Colony Cast (YouTube) or Apple PodcastsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

One of the most "Christmas Ghost Story" ghost stories for Christmas that I've ever come across. Smee tells of a night of holiday revelry turned chilling and mysterious by the appearance of an unexpected attendee at the festivities.You can read along with the ebook by purchasing it here. (affiliate Link)Read more about A. M. Burrage if you like. (Wikipedia)Art for this episode is by one of my progeny. -BBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

We're excited to have Laura Krantz back to talk about her latest book - a youth-focused look at how to distinguish between magical and scientific thinking: Do You Believe in Magic?Laura's very entertaining and informative podcasts:  LINKLaura's other writings (affiliate LINK)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

An interview with writer, researcher and podcaster Aaron Gulyas - host of the UFO themed history podcast The Saucer Life.Gulyas is also the author of many books (affiliate link) including some likely to be of particular interest to MT listeners:Extraterrestrials and the American Zeitgeist: Alien Contact Tales Since the 1950sConspiracy Theories: The Roots, Themes and Propagation of Paranoid Political and Cultural Narratives -----If you like the 1970s In Search Of... why not check out our sister show In reSearch Of...Blake (and his wife Kathleen) will be participating in the 2025 "Skeptoid Bermuda Triangle Adventure" - details here if you want to come along and explore Robert the Doll, the Bimini Wall, or to look for the missing planes of Flight 19...Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

We welcome back Chris Woodyard to discuss the very odd story of the Wollaton Gnomes - a 1979 reported sighting of little men in little cars by a group of children in a British park. Chris & Simon's podcast Boggarts & Banshees (Apple Podcasts)Transcript of the gnome witness children's Interview (courtesy Simon Young)Wollaton Hall (wiki)Blog by Frank Earp, who claims to have investigated the gnomes  contemporary to the events. Laughing Gnome (1967) David Bowie songThe Original Fairy Investigation Society (wiki)The reborn Fairy Investigation Society (facebook)Fairy Census OneFairy Census TwoGeorge Harrison's Friar Park (and gnomes)Gnomes (wiki)Garden Gnomes (wiki)Kabouter (wiki)Klabautermann (wiki)Paracelsus book about various spirits (wiki)Tom Clark Gnomes (retail site)Books (Affiliate Links):Gnomes by Wil HuygenThe Wollaton Gnomes: A Nottingham Fairy Mystery by Dr. Simon Young (and others)A is for Arsenic - by Chris WoodyardOther books by Chris Woodyard========Got a show suggestion?  Fill out this form: https://bit.ly/MTsuggestionsWant to buy someone a subscription to the commercial-free Patreon version of the show? Gift SubscriptionsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

We're delighted to celebrate Thanksgiving with the return of Dr. Brian Regal. He's here to talk about a favorite monster film, and announce the release of his autobiography, The Monster from Newark.Links:   Brian's autobiography - The Monster From Newark (affiliate link)Karen's anthology of skeptics having weird experiences:Would You Believe It? (affiliate link)Lucky Dragon No 5 (wiki)Castle Bravo test & "maru" ship (wiki)List of Giant Ant Movies List of Giant Monster MoviesThe Pet (1921)The Lost World (1925)Reptilicus MST3KBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

Thanks to your generous support I was able to make it to CryptidCon 2024 and this is a chat with Karen and me, reporting on day one.I'll be heading out later today for the five and a half hour drive back home but this has been delightful and you're sure to hear more from the connections I made and the ideas I heard while immersing myself in the cryptid community once more.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

Blake and Karen are joined by Matt Baxter to discuss the 2023 film Nandor Fodor and the Talking Mongoose, based on the story of Gef, the talking mongoose at the heart of the story.Visit our original coverage of Gef in episode #67Watch the film (Amazon affiliate link) A list of the clever things a mongoose might say...The Haunting of Alma Fielding - a recent book about Nandor Fodor's investigation of an alleged psychic (Affiliate Link)  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

We're joined by author and professor Anne McClannan to discuss her new book Griffinology.  These monsters are visually easily recognized - but how much do you know about their history?Links:Griffinology is available directly from University of Chicago Press.Coupon code UCPNEW is good through Dec 2024 for 30% off - which brings the price down to $28 off its regular cover price of $40! Griffins (wikipedia)Here is a link to some Griffins in ancient artwork. The artwork in Griffinology is a stunning and impressive selection of such examples.PopSci article on plausibility of Griffin/Fossil ConnectionAdditional:The Leucrotta (per Reddit)The same beast per D&DBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

We managed to catch up with Joe Laycock for ONE MORE VAMPIRE EPISODE! This time we're having a look at the world of people who believe they are really vampires. Some drink blood, some drink energy, most embrace vampire gaming.Joe wrote Vampires Today: The Truth About Modern Vampirism In fact, Joe has written a lot of books that will be of interest to you guys!And I'm so excited about Joe's current research - which you'll hear about at the end.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

Blake and Karen are joined again by Matt Baxter to talk about vampires in books, film, tv, and comics! This episode is EXPLICIT and contains adult language. We talk about a ton of topics in this one and too many shows and movies to list - but I'll try and post a list when I get time to all the things referenced over at this episode's page on MonsterTalk.org - Thanks for your patience!You can watch this video on YouTube here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vBNyYz6y0M Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

We’re joined by researcher Katarzyna “Kasia” Ancuta to learn more about the Chinese creature known as the Jiangshi – but more famous in the West as “Hopping Vampires.” It turns out that their history is being complicated by their appearances in pop-culture!Jiangshi Movies: (affiliate links)Encounters of the Spooky KindMr. VampireRigor MortisThe Legend of the 7 Golden VampiresAdditional Reading:The Hun and Po soulScared Stiff: Jiangshi and Chinese Vampires – from the Palgrave Handbook of VampiresStrange Tales from a Chinese Studio by Pu Songling (wiki)The Shibian (The Animated Corpse) by Pu Songling (project gutenberg)Penanggal (pen-nan-gal)Manananggal  (Mana nan gal)Pop (Thai Ghost) – wikiKrasue (Thai version of Manananggal)  “pop krasue” in episode audio – sounds like “pi-krasue”Previous Episodes Related:Chinese GhostsMr. Vampire is available on DVD and Blu-Ray now, but you might have to track down an import.  Or you can watch it streaming on The Criterion Channel.  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

We're delighted to have Brian Sharpless (Monsters on the Couch) back with us to discuss some of the Psychology elements of vampirism, as well as some of his favorite historical cases. Be sure and grab his book if you're at all interested in the intersection of monsters and Psychology.Show Notes:Monsters on the CouchRenfield Syndrome (wikipedia)2005 Romanian Vampire case (The Guardian)Richard Chase - Serial Killer (wikipedia)Mercy Brown vampire case (wikipedia)Vlad the Impaler (wikipedia)Example of Vlad's violence on the Turks (wikipedia)Elizabeth Bathory (wikipedia)Hungarian Ghoulish - MT 235Be sure and check out Karen's new book Bitch: The Journey of a Word from Cambridge University Press!Our show uses Amazon affiliate links to help raise funds to support our research and outreach.Title card image courtesy Brian Sharpless - walkway where alleged vampire Jure Grando was most likely buriedBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

We kick off our Vampire October with the story of Arnold Paole and we're joined by Matt Baxter. This story appeared in the 1979 edition of Usborne's Haunted Houses, Ghosts, and Spectors. Arnold PaoleLee Illis 1964 - Porphyria and Werewolves1985 - David Dolphin - NYT article on Porphyria and VampiresPenanggal ManananggalBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

In this episode we look at the history of the Vampire in folklore and literature with professor Nick Groom - aka "The Prof of Goth."Links related to Professor Groom:The Vampire: A New History by Nick Groom (affiliate link)Nick Groom - University of Macau faculty page - NickGroom@um.edu.mo University of Exeter faculty page - N.Groom@exeter.ac.uk Times Literary Supplement - articles by Nick GroomAuthor's page at Simon & SchusterInterview with The One Ring about Groom's Tolkien scholarshipArticles at Literary Hub by GroomSome Vampire Links:The Vampyre - John Polidori (Full Text - 1819)The Black Vampyre: A Legend of St. Domingo (Full Text - 1819)  (affiliate link) - wiki Varney the Vampire: Or the Feast of Blood (Full Text - 1847) (affiliate link) - wikiCarmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu (Full Text - 1872) (affiliate link) - wikiDracula by Bram Stoker (Full Text - 1897) (affiliate link) - wikiVampire Panics (1790s - 1890s)The AckermansionThis episode brought to you by Factor Meals – use our link or code MonsterTalk50 to 50% off your first order!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

Karen and her husband Matt are back from visiting Australia and in this episode we discuss some viral ghost photos. The photos will be in the show notes, and we will cross-post a version of this on our YouTube page with image inserts. Karen's new book BITCH is on sale now.  Blake's recent article about mind viruses seems to be backed up by an even more recent article confirming that clinical evidence doesn't support a "mind virus" explanation for idea spread.  This episode brought to you by Factor Meals – use our link or code MonsterTalk50 to 50% off your first order!  ===========  Now on to our photos that we talk about in this episode: Giant "humanoid" over mall in Zambia. (Or over photoshop in Internet)  Party scene with crying girl also hides "ghost face"  2007 - Parma Gas Station "ghost" or "angel"  Ghostly "shadow person" walks through traffic(original video is gone but version here)  "Cowboy ghost" at abandoned mine A bird landing can look like a hat in the distance - but we don't know the scale here.It could be a lot of things.  This (pretty obvious) long exposure shot shows up on a lot of ghost photo sites.  Irish Flax Workers and the mysterious "extra hand" Detail shows "ghost hand" but you can also see manipulation has been done to the plate, erasing some of the pleats in the dress behind the woman with the hand on her shoulder.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

Part two of our two-part talk with author Adam Gorightly about his research into the very strange history of Discordianism and The Illuminati. If you have never heard of Operation Mindf*ck, then you didn’t listen to part 1 – so get back over there!Due to the chance that I might have failed to bleep out an “F-bomb” somewhere, I’m labeling this explicit. LINKS:Adam Gorightly Books (affiliate)Historia Discordia (affiliate)Illuminati (wiki)INWO game (SJGAMES) and Board Game Geek reviewCan’t Get You Out Of My Head  (Youtube)JFK Movie (affiliate link)The famous Playboy Illuminati LetterBarkun – A Culture of Conspiracy60s Counter CultureRobert Anton Wilson Kerry Thornley (wiki)Can’t Get You Out of My Head or Documenting Operation Mindf*ck – POV Magazine The same “immigrants eating pets” rumor explored by folklorist in the 1980s.This episode brought to you by Factor Meals – use our link or code MonsterTalk50 to 50% off your first order!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

Part one of our two-part talk with author Adam Gorightly about his research into the very strange history of Discordianism and The Illuminati. If you have never heard of Operation Mindf*ck, get ready for a ride.LINKS:Adam Gorightly Books (affiliate)  Historia Discordia (affiliate)  Illuminati (wiki)  INWO game (SJGAMES) and Board Game Geek review  Can't Get You Out Of My Head  (Youtube)  JFK Movie (affiliate link)  The famous Playboy Illuminati Letter  Barkun - A Culture of Conspiracy  60s Counter Culture  Robert Anton Wilson   Kerry Thornley (wiki)  Can’t Get You Out of My Head or Documenting Operation Mindf*ck - POV Magazine  This episode brought to you by Factor Meals – use our link or code MonsterTalk50 to 50% off your first order!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

In this episode Blake continues his conversation with Richard Hatem (Mothman Prophecies, Titans, Under Siege 2) about his new podcast.  Karen was away during this episode but will be back next week.Additional Links:Spiricom via Encyclopedia.comSpiricom – by Kenny Biddle via Skeptical InquirerRecording of a Spiricom Session (YouTube)The Mothman Prophecies (amz affiliate link)Titans (amz affiliate link)Miracles (amz affiliate link - to DVD)This episode brought to you by Factor Meals - use our link or code MonsterTalk50 to 50% off your first order!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.