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MonsterTalk

Blake Smith
Cryptozoology
Bigfoot
Folklore
Ufos
Loch Ness Monster
Paranormal Investigation
Vampires
Witchcraft
Ghosts
Cryptids
Satanic Panic
Archaeology
Dogman
Monsters
Mosquitoes
Anomalistic Psychology
The Black Monk Of Pontefract
Ghost Stories
Cryptidcon
Spiritualism

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: www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes501Founded17 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Natural SciencesSociety & CultureScience

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Artwork for MonsterTalk

Latest Episodes

Champ Across the Border: Blake and Karen welcome back historian Dr. Joseph Gagné, a specialist in New France and the French colonial period of North America, to talk about Champ - the famous monster of Lake Champlain. Most of the lake sits between Ne... more

Note: This episode deals with murder and goes into some detail, so we're putting the "explicit tag" for the mature content, perhaps not suitable for all audiences.

MonsterTalk steps outside its usual territory for a true-crime case with a paranormal... more

A skeptical look at one of the most famous ghost photographs ever taken - the 1959 "backseat ghost" snapped by Mrs. Mabel Chinnery in Ipswich, England. This episode is distilled from a recent MonsterTalk Live stream with Blake, Karen Stollznow, and s... more

YouTube

Blake, Karen and Matt discover that this famous ghost photo isn't as old as they expected, and perhaps not as mysterious either. Do we get it right? Do you have a different explanation? Let us know in the comments.

👻 The Spectre of Newby ChurchIn o... more

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Recent Guests

Matthew Baxter
Karen Stollznow's partner, contributed research
Episode: S05E36 - The Chinnery Backseat Ghost
Eric Zsebenyi
Academic researcher specializing in Rakshasas
Episode: S05E34 - Rakshasas
Kyle Crosby
Filmmaker, historian, and cultural advocate
Louisiana Dread
Episode: S05E31 - From Loup Garou to Rougarou (pt 2) with Louisiana Dread's Kyle Crosby
Melissa Maffeo
Neuroscientist and Associate Teaching Professor of Psychology at Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University
Episode: S05E29 - Science of the Supernatural with Melissa Maffeo
Chet Van Duzer
Writer and researcher; invited research scholar at the John Carter Brown Library in Rhode Island
John Carter Brown Library
Episode: FLASHBACK BONUS: S01E069 The Key to the Legend of the Map Monsters
Chris Woodyard
Folklorist, author
Independent researcher/author
Episode: S05E25 - Headless Motorcyclist Ghosts
Steve Cuno
Portland-based author, columnist, and the award-winning mind behind books like Behind the Mormon Curtain, Selling Sex in America's Holy City
Author, Journalist
Episode: S05E24 - ParaMormonal Activity with Steve Cuno
Gary D. Rhodes
Filmmaker and professor of media production at Oklahoma Baptist University; expert on Bela Lugosi and early horror cinema
Oklahoma Baptist University
Episode: BONUS: Weirdumentary with Gary Rhodes
Christopher Beatty
Evolutionary ecologist; visiting scholar at Stanford University; research associate at the American Museum of Natural History
Stanford University; American Museum of Natural History
Episode: S05E21 - Dragons & Trolls of the Marsh

Hosts

Blake Smith
Host of MonsterTalk with a science-focused approach to cryptids and folklore; often leads interviews with researchers and authors.
Karen Stollznow
Co-host known for skeptical yet respectful interviewing style, bridging science and folklore.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.8k ratings
  • Most insightful long running show about the weird.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    electricrain
    5 months ago
  • Excellent pod cast just finished my first listen thru of all the episodes and im starting from the start again!

    Podchaser
    5
    John Smith
    7 months ago
  • It's a science show that uses monsters

    A show that uses the lure of monsters to teach something about science.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    IRateThings!MikeDropBoom!
    Canadaa year ago
  • It was a great podcast until they started getting into religious bigotry --claiming that science and religion are in opposition, when in actuality they are not.

    It's clear they have a deep bias against religion and religious people of all types. It's quite disrespectful, if not surprising. Sooner or later, all closeted bigots out themselves. This was just their turn.

    Podcast Addict
    3
    MGAC21
    a year ago
  • The most insidious hate speech...

    ...is speech masked in the guise of concern. Pretending to know the minds and motivations of the multitudes involved is hubris. No one is free of bias. When you are *certain* you are in the right, just remember that is likely what every other person believes about themselves as well. Please stick to monsters and puns, too many shows are spoiled by poorly qualified politicized opinions. Always careful to not offend anyone except people that you may not agree with, and then you call them ter... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    AdamlWard
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some critics note occasional harshness toward beliefs, while many appreciate balanced skepticism.
Audience generally views guests as credible and topic-appropriate, with strong production and thoughtful questions.
Praises the entertaining yet informative approach to monsters and folklore.
Listeners praise the show for scientific rigor blended with engaging storytelling.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

S05E35 The Newby Church Specter
Q: What about the camera and exposure methods—could this be an accident or a deliberate hoax using long or double exposure techniques?
The hosts and Matt discuss long exposures, the possibility of double exposures with specific cameras like the Rollei Cord IV, and how lens cap techniques or staged movement could create translucent apparitions; consensus leans toward a staged, deliberate fabrication rather than a genuine spirit photo.
S05E35 The Newby Church Specter
Q: Matt, do you want to give us a little bit of a kind of background on why this photograph was taken? Do we even know?
Matt explains that Reverend Kenneth Lord likely photographed the interior for personal reasons, postcards, and Christmas cards, with some accounts claiming multiple photos were taken around the time he became vicar; the exact intent remains partially documented and later sources conflict on dates.
S05E36 - The Chinnery Backseat Ghost
Q: In terms of double exposures, what would be a standard type of double exposure you might encounter, and how could it apply to this photo?
Double exposure typically occurs when the film isn't advanced between shots, causing two images to be captured on the same frame. In this case, it could theoretically pair a shot of the deceased mother with a shot of the living husband in the car, producing a convincing composite. However, the surrounding context and the specific overlap raise questions about whether this aligns with what would have happened in that roll and whether the other photos on the reel corroborate the sequence.
S05E32 - Monsters of the Deep with Dr. Darren Naish
Q: What is the value of maintaining a skeptical yet sympathetic stance toward cryptozoology?
A sympathetic skeptical approach respects eyewitness experiences while carefully evaluating evidence, avoiding automatic dismissal and examining how claims align with known biology and observation limitations.
S05E32 - Monsters of the Deep with Dr. Darren Naish
Q: How important is going back to the original sources versus relying on later retellings?
Going back to primary sources, like ship logs and firsthand accounts, often reveals discrepancies in popular narratives and shows how later books and art can misrepresent the original observations.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About MonsterTalk

What is MonsterTalk about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A science-forward exploration of monsters, folklore, and the paranormal that emphasizes critical thinking, empirical inquiry, and the cultural context of legendary creatures. Episodes pair skeptical, evidence-based discussion with deep dives into history, folklore, anthropology, and psychology, often featuring researchers, folklorists, and scientists who illuminate how myths arise, persist, and influence culture. Noteworthy is the consistent balance between science and storytelling, a welcoming attitude toward believers while maintaining rigorous scrutiny, and a catalog of diverse experts spanning biology, cartography, archaeology, and humanities that keeps conversations fresh and interdisciplinary.

Where can I find podcast stats for MonsterTalk?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for MonsterTalk. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to MonsterTalk and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does MonsterTalk get?

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What are the audience demographics for MonsterTalk?

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How many subscribers and views does MonsterTalk have?

To see how many followers or subscribers MonsterTalk has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to MonsterTalk?

These podcasts share a similar audience with MonsterTalk:

1. In Research Of
2. Skeptoid
3. Astonishing Legends
4. The Cryptonaut Podcast
5. Stuff They Don't Want You To Know

How many episodes of MonsterTalk are there?

MonsterTalk launched 17 years ago and published 501 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact MonsterTalk?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for MonsterTalk?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for MonsterTalk from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for MonsterTalk?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of MonsterTalk. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on MonsterTalk?

Recent guests on MonsterTalk include:

1. Matthew Baxter
2. Eric Zsebenyi
3. Kyle Crosby
4. Melissa Maffeo
5. Chet Van Duzer
6. Chris Woodyard
7. Steve Cuno
8. Gary D. Rhodes

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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