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Artwork for MonsterTalk

MonsterTalk

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

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes493Founded17 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Natural SciencesScienceSociety & Culture

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Artwork for MonsterTalk

Latest Episodes

This is part one of a two-part conversation. Blake and Karen are joined by Kyle Crosby, filmmaker, historian, and founder of Louisiana Dread, a multimedia project dedicated to documenting the dark history, folklore, and culture of the Pelican State. ... more

Neuroscientist Dr. Melissa Maffeo joins Blake and Karen to discuss her new book Science of the Supernatural: Critical Thinking for the Mind and Brain (Cambridge University Press, 2026). Melissa is an associate teaching professor of psychology at Wake... more

To announce (and celebrate) the Spanish language release of Chet Van Duzer's beautiful and informative book on map monsters, I'm re-releasing episode S01E69!

Grab your copy in Spanish here:

SPANISH LANGUAGE : Monstruos marinos en mapas medievales y ... more

Blake and Karen are joined by Matt Baxter to discuss the strange case of the Cottingley Fairies.

www.monstertalk.org/?p=2706

Hosts: Karen Stollznow, Blake Smith

Guest: Matt Baxter

In this episode, the MonsterTalk crew tackles one of the m... more

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Recent Guests

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
Richard Estep
Author, paramedic, paranormal investigator
Visible Ink Press (books) / Paranormal investigator
Episode: S05E27 - Monsters: Myths, Legends, and Real Encounters with Richard Estep
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
Christina Ward
Food historian, writer, and master food preserver
Feral House
Episode: S05E20 - Cults, Corps, and the Culinary with Christina Ward
Al Ridenour
Cultural historian, folklorist, and author known for his work on Krampus and Old World Carnival traditions.
Bone & Sickle Podcast
Episode: S05E19 A Season of Madness - Old World Carnival with Al Ridenour
Owen Davies
Historian focusing on witchcraft and magic
Episode: S05E18 - America Bewitched with Owen Davies (part 2)

Hosts

Blake Smith
Host of discussions integrating scientific perspectives with cultural narratives regarding monsters and folklore.
Karen Stollznow
Co-host and contributor exploring themes of skepticism and the human experience concerning legendary subjects.

Reviews

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

    Podcast Addict
    5
    electricrain
    3 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
    5 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!
    Canada10 months 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.

Overall, the podcast is recognized for its thoughtful analysis of cultural narratives surrounding monsters as well as its fun and light-hearted presentation of otherwise serious subjects.
The hosts are seen as knowledgeable and entertaining, with a strong ability to connect with guests while exploring complex topics intriguingly.
Some feedback highlights a dissonance regarding the presentation of critical views, with a small fraction expressing discomfort with how beliefs are addressed.
Listeners often commend the show's ability to integrate humor with factual discussions of paranormal phenomena, providing both entertainment and education.
Listeners appreciate the show's unique blend of skepticism and respect for folklore, emphasizing its educational value and engaging discussions.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

S05E27 - Monsters: Myths, Legends, and Real Encounters with Richard Estep
Q: Which locations or encounters stood out in your research for this book?
He highlights encounters around the Hawkesbury River in Australia, Bailey, Colorado for squatching, and points to New Orleans for vampire culture as particularly evocative, illustrating how geography influences monster lore.
S05E27 - Monsters: Myths, Legends, and Real Encounters with Richard Estep
Q: What inspired you to write Monsters, Myths, Legends, and Real Encounters?
Estep describes growing up loving monster media and wanting to explore a broad array of creatures beyond the usual suspects, while retaining a critical, evidence-based approach.
S05E25 - Headless Motorcyclist Ghosts
Q: Tell us a bit about why this particular type of road ghost has become so popular over the years and the decades.
Woodyard explains that headless motorcyclists tap into dramatic, solitary, heroic imagery and common road experiences, like accidents and fatal losses, which makes the legend compelling and easy to localize on specific bridges or roads. The format echoes broader folklore motifs adapted to modern transportation, helping the story endure by remaining visually striking and emotionally resonant.
BONUS: Weirdumentary with Gary Rhodes
Q: But can you talk a little bit about your other interests before we get into the weirdumentaries? You've done a lot of work on Bela Lugosi and early horror cinema.
Rhodes describes his broad scholarly and filmmaking background, bridging academic analysis with popular culture writing for outlets like USA Today and Washington Post, and explains how the field has always connected documentary aesthetics with entertainment, setting up his focus on Weirdumentary.
S05E19 A Season of Madness - Old World Carnival with Al Ridenour
Q: What role do masks play in Carnival?
Masks serve as a means of concealment and expression during Carnival, creating a license for people to engage in behaviors that may typically be taboo.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About MonsterTalk

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

The content emphasizes a unique intersection of science and folklore, exploring the cultural narratives surrounding legendary creatures and cryptids. Episodes frequently feature expert guests from various fields such as history, linguistics, and environmental science, providing scholarly insights into myths and legends, while discussing social implications like misogyny or mental health. The show appears to showcase a blend of curiosity and skepticism, respecting the beliefs of individuals while grounding discussions in critical thinking and factual examination. This makes it particularly valuable for audience members interested in a rational approach to supernatural themes.

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?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for MonsterTalk, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

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. Richard Hatem's Paranormal Bookshelf

How many episodes of MonsterTalk are there?

MonsterTalk launched 17 years ago and published 493 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.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

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. Melissa Maffeo
2. Chet Van Duzer
3. Richard Estep
4. Steve Cuno
5. Gary D. Rhodes
6. Christopher Beatty
7. Christina Ward
8. Al Ridenour

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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