MonsterTalk
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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.
MonsterTalk
4d ago
Is Bigfoot making peculiar stacks of bones in the forests of Mt. St. Helens? Archaeologist Andy White joins us to discuss the hypothesis that was the topic of a research paper by a Bigfoot proponent Mitchell Townsend.
Andy's website (and response to Townsend's claims)
Andy also has a YOUTUBE CHANNEL.
Taphonomy
Bigfoot proponent Townsend has been on Coast-to-Coast-AM more than once, where he also promoted his ideas about hidden images in stones.
Mitchell's ideas are VERY reminiscent of the Richard Shaver work which we described as both apophenia and art.
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MonsterTalk
1w ago
Karen and Blake discuss three little mysteries they've run across while doing research that didn't quite warrant an individual episode, and which might benefit from some crowd-sourcing.
Examples of "Bigfoot Tree Forts"
Colorado Site discussing
Tik-Tok Bigfoot Structures
Fairy-Braids:
This is a real phenomenon - example article with photos
Loren Coleman discussing MK Davis discussing Bigfoot braids (Cryptomundo)
Some examples of algorithmic analysis of biological behaviors (gScholar)
Silver and Milk Preservation:
Example of claims in modern source: Ask A Prepper
Article about histori ..read more
MonsterTalk
2w ago
Matt and Karen report back from their trip to Devil's Tower, Wyoming.
reuters debunk traced to Facebook Satirical Post
Watch CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND via Amazon affiliate link
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MonsterTalk
3w ago
[This episode contains some adult language.]
This is the story of the search for Bigfoot as conducted by the NORTH AMERICAN WILDLIFE RESEARCH CENTER. (Which sounds a lot like the real Bigfoot research group North American Wildlife Research Team that famously setup the only permanent Bigfoot trap maintained by the national park service.) But while a lot of the stuff in this film sounds real - the whole thing is made up. The IMDB page gives you the details on the cast.
A very good widescreen version of the movie is available streaming on Amazon. (Affiliate Link)
The film follows a team ..read more
MonsterTalk
1M ago
We're excited to have Professor Chris French back to introduce his brand new book, The Science of Weird Shit: Why Our Minds Conjure The Paranormal (Affiliate Link).
Links:
Wilson & Barber and the "fantasy prone personality"
Richard Wiseman appearances on MonsterTalk
Susan Blackmore (wikipedia)
Anomalistic Psychology
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MonsterTalk
1M ago
We catch up with Richard Estep and Bil Bungay, co-authors of The Black Monk of Pontefract: The World's Most Violent and Relentless Poltergeist to talk about the history and strange happenings alleged to take place in the village of Pontefract in Yorkshire.
Website of the house (for bookings and photos)
You can rent Bil's movie When The Lights Went Out on Vimeo for a small fee.
And here is Bil's Parapod movie on Apple's platform.
Colin Wilson's book on the topic (Poltergeist) which has the chapter that made Pontefrat famous.
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MonsterTalk
1M ago
This week Blake, Karen and Matt Baxter discuss celebrity UFO encounters. Why are they so popular? Why do we care?
Some examples:
John Lennon
Olivia Newton John
Elvis
Russell Crowe
Mick Jagger
David Bowie
Kesha
Demi Lovato
Jimmy Carter (see The UFO Movie They Don't Want You To See)
Heck - YouTube is just full of these stories.
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MonsterTalk
1M ago
Blake and Karen discuss The Secret History of Bigfoot by John O'Connor.
The Secret History of Bigfoot (affiliate link)
NYT Book Review
Trey the Explainer on Bigfoot and Indigenous Culture (YouTube)
Michael Barkun's Culture of Conspiracy (affiliate link)
Spokane Washington Public Library reading by O'Connor (YouTube)
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MonsterTalk
2M ago
There are lots of things to read about this on the Internet and you will not find a definitive answer, I'm afraid. My conclusions are based on parsimony not on explicit proof. Besides, we all know how hard it is to prove a negative. It's a complex topic with many black-box elements and those tend to lend themselves to conspiratorial thinking.
If you have things to say on the topic, come comment on the episode on our Patreon.
Some articles of interest:
Test showing negative results (Wandera)
Tests showing the phones are capable of much monitoring (Medium)
BBC Coverage of the ques ..read more
MonsterTalk
2M ago
A lighthearted discussion of the cryptids of Connecticut with the author and illustrator of
Connecticut Cryptids: A Field Guide to the Weird & Wonderful Creatures of the Nutmeg State, Patrick Scalisi and Valerie Ruby-Omen.
Patrick's Amazon Author's Page (affiliate link)
Valerie's facebook page
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