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MonsterTalk

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

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes496Founded17 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceSociety & CultureNatural Sciences

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Artwork for MonsterTalk

Latest Episodes

On the morning of February 9, 1855, residents across south Devon, England, discovered strange hoof-shaped tracks in the snow. The prints - about 4 inches long, 3 inches wide, and spaced roughly 8 inches apart in single file - appeared to have been le... more

Darren joins Blake and Karen to discuss his new article in Geology Today, which grew out of his work on the Monsters of the Deep museum exhibition. That exhibition originally opened at the National Maritime Museum in Falmouth, Cornwall in 2020, trave... more

This is part two of our conversation with Kyle Crosby, creator and host of Louisiana Dread. In Part 1, we covered the history of the Acadians and how they carried the loup-garou legend from France to the bayous of Louisiana. Now, in Part 2, Kyle walk... more

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

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Recent Guests

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
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
A British historian and leading academic authority on witchcraft, magic, and related popular beliefs in Europe.
University of Hertfordshire
Episode: S05E17 - America Bewitched with Owen Davies (part 1)

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
    4 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
    6 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.

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.
S05E32 - Monsters of the Deep with Dr. Darren Naish
Q: Are there parallels in how modern sea monster reports have evolved over time with the discovery of new fossils?
Yes, discoveries such as plesiosaurs shaped how people imagined sea monsters, and the sharing of fossil information influenced eyewitness reports and popular depictions, creating a feedback loop between science and folklore.
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.

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. Richard Hatem's Paranormal Bookshelf
4. Astonishing Legends
5. Our Fake History

How many episodes of MonsterTalk are there?

MonsterTalk launched 17 years ago and published 496 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?

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What guests have appeared on MonsterTalk?

Recent guests on MonsterTalk include:

1. Kyle Crosby
2. Melissa Maffeo
3. Chet Van Duzer
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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