MonsterTalk

We're making big changes in MonsterTalk, joining up with the AirWave podcasting network. This should mean more regular release schedules!  Karen and I have been banking content and I've been working my arse off with behind-the-scenes administrative work.   So our next regular episode is about UFOs and I'm excited about it because there is a lot of really interesting stuff to be said about what's happening in that part of our culture right now. But for now? Let's relax and just talk monsters! I'm excited to bring on Mike Mason of the roleplaying company Chaosium to discuss their new 2-volume book of Lovecraftian monsters: The Malleus Monstrorum! MonsterTalk Podcast Chaosium and the Malleus Monstrorum Guest: Mike Mason Episode Summary In this episode, we're talking with Mike Mason of Chaosium, the gaming company that makes the role-playing system Call of Cthulhu. Mike is here to talk about the newest version of Chaosium's monstrous bestiary, which is called the Malleus Monstrorum, for the seventh edition of the classic game ecosystem based on the works of HP Lovecraft, and all kinds of Lovecraft-adjacent horror. Notable Quotes “Storytelling is a tradition and an art form that goes back to the very beginnings of humanity. And I think role-playing is just a different iteration of the same kind of will to tell stories.” - Mike Mason “At the very heart of the [Call of Cthulhu], it's a horror role-playing system. And if you want to not use the Cthulhu mythos in any way, and you want to focus on traditional folklore monsters like werewolves and vampires, you can do. You could do a version of Dracula or whatever horror film you want to name, and use the game as a vehicle to do that.” - Mike Mason “I've described in my own work how important narrative is to literally every culture. Like there's elements that are repeated inside these cultures, in their own different sort of idioms, but the storytelling process itself seems to be a very human thing. I'm not aware of any culture... and I don't know if you can have culture without story.” - Blake Smith “I've mentioned it before, I'll mention it again. People ask me, wait, if you're going to start with Lovecraft, what do you think the best book to begin with is? And I always say a dictionary.” - Blake Smith Relevant Links Chaosium.com Cthulhu mythos Call of Cthulhu RPG game Malleus Monstrorum Call of Cthulhu by H. P. Lovecraft Shadow over Innsmouth by H. P. Lovecraft The Dunwich Horror by H. P. Lovecraft Dreams of the Witch House by H. P. Lovecraft The Horror from Red Hook by H. P. Lovecraft The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle Pulp Cthulhu Down Darker Trails The Children of Fear Roll20 Fantasy Grounds Demon Slayer Horror on the Orient Express RuneQuest Superworld George RR Martin's WIldcards to become TV Series  Basic Role-Playing system (BRP) Lovecraft Country Re-Animator From Beyond Call of Cthulhu Starter Set Call of Cthulhu Quickstart Call of Cthulhu Keeper Rule Book DriveThruRPG.com Usborne Book of Ghosts Gef! The Strange Tale of an Extra-Special Talking Mongoose by Christopher Josiffe In this Episode of MonsterTalk · (00:00:01) Introducing Mike · (00:03:04) Call of Cthulhu, the role-playing game · (00:08:21) Shadow over Innsmouth and The Dunwich Horror · (00:09:27) Call of Cthulhu and Delta Green · (00:11:42) The sanity game mechanic · (00:14:50) Long-form, continuous gaming campaigns · (00:16:36) Pulp Cthulhu · (00:18:32) The Malleus Monstrorum, Book One: the monsters · (00:21:00) The Malleus Monstrorum, Book Two: the deities · (00:22:40) The art of The Malleus Monstrorum · (00:26:03) The versatility of Call of Cthulhu’s game mechanics · (00:30:12) Role-playing games and the pandemic · (00:33:44) Demon Slayer · (00:36:36) Role-playing and the cultural importance of storytelling · (00:40:29) RuneQuest, Superworld, and the Basic Role-Playing (BRP) system · (00:44:02) Lovecraft Country and the new, diverse voices of Lovecraftian horror · (00:50:09) How to start playing Call of Cthulhu · (00:53:35) Mike’s favorite monster · (00:59:27) Embracing contemporary technology in horror role-playing · (01:00:43) The importance of “the Onion” in storytelling Check out Chaosium on social: Twitter | Facebook Catch Mike Mason on social: Twitter | Facebook You can also listen to our episodes on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify| Stitcher | TuneIn Follow us on our social networks: Facebook | Twitter | YouTube Love the show? Support us on Patreon!

On July 18, 2021 the AiPT SciPhiFest Conference included a 45 min segment of my  interview with author and comic-book artist Stephen R. Bissette (who is probably best known for his work on the Alan Moore run of the DC comic Swamp Thing). The interview is about Stephen's book CRYPTID CINEMA (http://bit.ly/CryptidCinema) with a special focus on the little-known touring film used by Roger Patterson to promote (and profit from) his famous alleged Bigfoot film. This is the extended cut of that interview. The interview was video streamed and if you want to watch  this discussion rather than just listen to it, you will find a link in the show notes. Be sure to like and share the video on YouTube and social media if you enjoy it. We're working to grow our video footprint and your engagement through liking and sharing helps that effort. Special thanks to AIPT's Russ Dobler for setting up the convention AND this interview!

They're everywhere. They're inside you. You can't escape them - and can't live without them: Bacteria! We're joined by microbiology experts Maddy Love and Kurt Jude to talk about the fascinating (but sometimes disgusting) lifeforms we call "bacteria."   What is bacteria?  Bacterial vs Viral infections  CDC on antibiotics    Additional Links: The impact of thawing bacteria   Should I freak out about flesh-eating bacteria? 

AIPT Comics - is putting on a free online convention Sunday July 18th.  The online convention starts at 10 am and I'll be participating in a couple of ways if you're interested. At noon, I've got a special interview with Stephen R. Bissette.  You might know him as a key artist on Alan Moore's run of Swamp Thing in the 80s - but if you've been subscribing to BIG FOOTAGE the Patreon bonus cast, you'll know him as the author of CRYPTID CINEMA. I'll also be on at 3:30 pm with Jeb Card to discuss conspiracies and comics. Other guests include paleontologist Jim Lehane, psychologist Craig Foster, paranormal investigator Kenny Biddle, artist Celestia World, archaeologist David Anderson, and Matt Brady. author of THE SCIENCE OF RICK AND MORTY.   A link to Cryptid Cinemais here:  http://bit.ly/CryptidCinema   The convention details are here:  https://aiptcomics.com/2021/06/28/aipt-sciphi-fest-science-skepticism/   The direct ZOOM link is here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86109451697   I hope you can catch the show tomorrow but if you can't, I know that many of the interviews will end up on YouTube and I'm happy to report that Steve Bissette and I talked quite a while longer and the full version of that discussion will be up on YouTube *AND* will drop as a regular episode because it's all right up your alley, dear audience.  Fun and informative stuff indeed - and chock full of monsters.   Also chock full of monsters is also my favorite imaginary coffee.

Sapphire Sandalo is the host of the web series Stories with Sapphire. She's a writer, animator, podcaster, TV personality, and part-time university instructor. Her series tells stories with distinctive music and animation and has a strong representation of many monsters, ghosts and creatures that come from Asian folklore from multiple cultures and stories submitted by her audience. Sapphire Sandalo's YouTube Channel  Sapphire's IMDB entry  Mentioned in this episode: Manananggal - bat-winged upper torso monster Aswang - a class of shape-shifting evil monster Krasue - the floating head vampire (Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, others) Duende - mischievous spirit/creatures Raw Head and Blood Bones Raw Head Rex - good short story, not a great film Pre-Colonial deities of the Philippines  Kuchisake-onna - the slit-mouth woman Hacheshakusama - the eight foot tall woman (There are lots and lots more such creatures.) Previously on MonsterTalk: Yokai Yurei Chinese Ghosts