We discuss the sketchy "science by press release" of Colossal Biosciences and the controversies lurking in the history of its lead scientist. Have they resurrected dire wolves? No. Definitely not. If only overblown celebrity endorsed hype was the only problem…

Did they make a Dire Wolf? (Spoiler: NOT EVEN REMOTELY CLOSE)

George Church's explanation of Epstein ties

James Arthur Ray - Guru of Death?

Tony Robbins (more from Quora and Reddit)

Peter Jackson and the Moa

George R. R. Martin and the Dire Wolf

For a more… salacious take on this, check out the 2-part "Behind the Bastards" coverage of this topic. Part 1 and Part 2.

--- on a more positive note ---
What is CRISPR?


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We take a look at a fascinating slice of paranormal history in the form of a 1975 BBC documentary The Ghost Hunters. How much has changed in paranormal research since 1975? Not much, after a fashion… 

Anybody know something about these plastic pub barrels from the 1970s?

Show Notes:
Benson Herbert - ghost hunter
Andrew Green - the Spectre Inspector

John Cutten (SPR, Inventor)
Watch this masterpiece on YouTube here.
Yes - the Ion Gun is, in fact, a device for cleaning vinyl records.
Hugh’s other paranormal doco - "Out of this World" from 1977
The Three Horseshoes Pub (Wiltshire)

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Blake catches Karen up on his current research projects: The four-wall tour dates of the PGF, and a contextual look at the Van Meter Visitor. Neither of these projects are finished but he is excited to share what he's been working on.

Dolemite is mentioned favorably.

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Blake is joined by regular contributor Matt Baxter, and special guest Kara Van Hoose from the Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife to discuss the (not that mysterious) outbreak of "tentacle bunnies" in Colorado this summer.  

News reports of "rabbits with tentacles"

Deer wasting disease (zombie deer)

"Colorado Cannibal" Alfred Packer

Colorado Parks & Wildlife 

Colorado Parks & Wildlife Karl Shuker's blog about Jackalope

99% Invisible episode on Jackalope

Wall Drug

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Karen and Matt are back from their book tour in the UK and they got to have some real MonsterTalk moments! Loch Ness, Boleskine House and more plus Blake wrestles with gremlins!

More photos will be available on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/137274189?pr=true&cr=true 

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It's Hollow Earth, UFOs, the birth of Sci-Fi, and more wierdshit than you can believe as we present a super-cut of our 2-part interview with Jerry Drake and Jeb Card about one of the foundational stories of "weirdshitology" in a new ginormous single episode. 

And there's a little bit of reading if you want to follow us down the rabbit hole... 

EXTENSIVE show notes freely viewable at Patreon.




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Karen and Matt check in from the UK! Karen is on tour promoting her new book Bitch: The Journey of a Word.  (affiliate link)

Islands are engines of language diversity

Borley Rectory

Mentioned for future coverage (but touched on before):

The Black Monk of Pontefract

Episodes covering Enfield and Poltergeists

Boleskine House

Some Nessie & Scotland coverage

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A fascinating chat about Australian Magpies (Gymnorhina tibicen) with Dr. Grainne Cleary in which we talk about the role of stories in creating monsters, the role of citizen science, and lots of cool biology facts about these birds. Not everything about Magpies is black and white, it turns out.

Why do birds do that? (affiliate link)

Your Backyard Birds (booktopia - Australian bookshop)

And remember:
Why do Birds Sing? will be dropping into stores September 2nd, 2025!

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Blake recounts his recent visit to see Robert the Doll, and his findings after a deep dive into newspapers and other literature.   Patrons get follow-up info from the girl who was the subject of the "true doll haunting" from episode #114! 


Karen's latest book:  Bitch: The Journey of a Word

Recent death "associated" with demonic doll Annabelle

Official website of the museum hosting Robert the Doll

Call for Papers: Of Gods and Monsters II (July 15, 2025 - November 1, 2025)


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Flashback to October 2016! Updated content on Robert coming soon.In this week’s episode of MonsterTalk, we talk about demonic or evil dolls, and look into the history of one of America’s most famous creepy playthings: Robert the Doll. Our interview is with Dr. Cori Convertito, Curator of the Key West Art and Historical Society, which oversees the Fort East Martello Museum, home of Robert the Doll.Robert the Doll links

• dramatized film (now "Films" as of 2025)
• authorized history book
• novel
• Facebook page
• Twitter account
• official website
• Stories about Robert — Lore podcast

Videos

• Child’s Play (not based on Robert the Doll. See episode for details.)
• Twilight Zone — Season 5, Episode 6: Living Doll
  (watch Episode 6 on Amazon)
• Twilight Zone — Season 3, Episode 33: The Dummy
  (watch Episode 33 on Amazon)
• Trilogy of Terror — a creepy doll classic

Further Reading

• The Science of Superstition: How the Developing Brain Creates Supernatural Beliefs by Bruce M. Hood

Music

• Monstertalk Theme: Monster by Peach Stealing Monkeys
• Additional music: Creepy Doll by Jonathan Coulton.

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