MonsterTalk

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.

In this episode Blake talks with Richard Hatem (Mothman Prophecies, Titans, Under Siege 2) about his new podcast.Additional Links:Spiricom via Encyclopedia.comSpiricom - by Kenny Biddle via Skeptical InquirerRecording of a Spiricom Session (YouTube)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 two of a two-part discussion with paleontologist Darren Naish about the history of Dogman lore. In part two, we discuss the current state of cryptozoology.Be sure and check out Darren's Dogman article below:Darren’s Dogman Article (TetZoo)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

Part one of a two-part discussion with paleontologist Darren Naish about the history of Dogman lore. Next week in part two, we discuss the current state of cryptozoology. Darren's Dogman Article (TetZoo) STM - Beast of Bray Road (YouTube) Drive down Bray Road on your computer (Google Maps) Linda Godfrey's Obituary Beast of Bray Road (wiki) Dogman (wiki)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

We're delighted to welcome back Dr. Ken Feder to talk about his new YouTube series that covers many archaeological frauds & hoaxes, and explains how archaeologists know what they know. Catch his web series here. Ken's books are great - here's an affiliate link to his author's page. Catch our previous episodes with Ken.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

We're excited to bring you an interview with Dr. Emily Zarka, host of PBS's Monstrum series on the humanities web channel Storied.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

Werewolves are an ancient idea, but the meaning and beliefs around the concept have changed over time. How were they viewed in the classical world and even earlier? Find out in this week's episode as we interview Dr. Tanika Koosmen. Dr. Koosmen's thesis at Newcastle online archive The werewolf story in Satyricon Some movies mentioned: Van Helsing (2004) Deep Rising (1998) Interesting terms: Versipellis - In Roman mythology and literature, a "versipellis" is literally a "skin changer" and referred to someone who could change their skin or shape, similar to a shapeshifter. The term is derived from "versus" (changed) and "pellis" (skin). Episode art by Team Smith (my kids worked together on this one)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

We welcome back Dr. Justin Mullis to tell us about the interesting connection he found between Cryptozoology and the Godzilla franchise. He just appeared at G-Fest in Chicago where he spoke on this topic. Justin's profile at Academia.Edu Justin visiting with Cian at The Lost World Podcast talking Kong Skull Island Justin writes for AIPT in NYC The Impossible Archive podcast Justin discussing "little people" with Cian Gill Thanks to Stephen & William Smith for this week's episode art.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

We're joined by mosquito and disease expert Dr. Louisa Messenger of the Las Vegas PARAVEC lab. It turns out that gators and snakes aren't the big danger in a swamp. And this monster isn't constrained to swamps. In fact, it's probably in your own backyard. Mosquito problem in Las Vegas How to fight Mosquitos Dr. Messenger's Lab website Additional Reading: History of antimalarial drugs Modern use of Quinine The Color Mauve History of Malaria Lyle Blackburn's Sinister Swamps (affiliate link) Theodore Sturgeon's IT!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.