MonsterTalk

On July 18, 2021 the AiPT SciPhiFest Conference included a 45 min segment of my  interview with author and comic-book artist Stephen R. Bissette (who is probably best known for his work on the Alan Moore run of the DC comic Swamp Thing). The interview is about Stephen's book CRYPTID CINEMA (http://bit.ly/CryptidCinema) with a special focus on the little-known touring film used by Roger Patterson to promote (and profit from) his famous alleged Bigfoot film.

This is the extended cut of that interview. The interview was video streamed and if you want to watch  this discussion rather than just listen to it, you will find a link in the show notes. Be sure to like and share the video on YouTube and social media if you enjoy it. We're working to grow our video footprint and your engagement through liking and sharing helps that effort.

Special thanks to AIPT's Russ Dobler for setting up the convention AND this interview!

They're everywhere. They're inside you. You can't escape them - and can't live without them: Bacteria!

We're joined by microbiology experts Maddy Love and Kurt Jude to talk about the fascinating (but sometimes disgusting) lifeforms we call "bacteria."  

What is bacteria? 

Bacterial vs Viral infections 

CDC on antibiotics 

Additional Links:

The impact of thawing bacteria 

 Should I freak out about flesh-eating bacteria? 

AIPT Comics - is putting on a free online convention Sunday July 18th. 

The online convention starts at 10 am and I'll be participating in a couple of ways if you're interested. At noon, I've got a special interview with Stephen R. Bissette.  You might know him as a key artist on Alan Moore's run of Swamp Thing in the 80s - but if you've been subscribing to BIG FOOTAGE the Patreon bonus cast, you'll know him as the author of CRYPTID CINEMA.

I'll also be on at 3:30 pm with Jeb Card to discuss conspiracies and comics.

Other guests include paleontologist Jim Lehane, psychologist Craig Foster, paranormal investigator Kenny Biddle, artist Celestia World, archaeologist David Anderson, and Matt Brady. author of THE SCIENCE OF RICK AND MORTY.

A link to Cryptid Cinemais here:  http://bit.ly/CryptidCinema

The convention details are here: 

https://aiptcomics.com/2021/06/28/aipt-sciphi-fest-science-skepticism/

The direct ZOOM link is here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86109451697

I hope you can catch the show tomorrow but if you can't, I know that many of the interviews will end up on YouTube and I'm happy to report that Steve Bissette and I talked quite a while longer and the full version of that discussion will be up on YouTube *AND* will drop as a regular episode because it's all right up your alley, dear audience.  Fun and informative stuff indeed - and chock full of monsters.

Also chock full of monsters is also my favorite imaginary coffee.

Sapphire Sandalo is the host of the web series Stories with Sapphire. She's a writer, animator, podcaster, TV personality, and part-time university instructor. Her series tells stories with distinctive music and animation and has a strong representation of many monsters, ghosts and creatures that come from Asian folklore from multiple cultures and stories submitted by her audience.

Sapphire Sandalo's YouTube Channel 

Sapphire's IMDB entry 

Mentioned in this episode:

Manananggal - bat-winged upper torso monster

Aswang - a class of shape-shifting evil monster

Krasue - the floating head vampire (Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, others)

Duende - mischievous spirit/creatures

Raw Head and Blood Bones

Raw Head Rex - good short story, not a great film

Pre-Colonial deities of the Philippines 

Kuchisake-onna - the slit-mouth woman

Hacheshakusama - the eight foot tall woman

(There are lots and lots more such creatures.)

Previously on MonsterTalk:

Yokai

Yurei

Chinese Ghosts

Karen and Blake are joined by the hosts of MonsterFuzz, Eamonn O'Neill and Rob Billington, to discuss monsters and folklore of Ireland. Well, that's what we were supposed to talk about but we wandered a bit because it was obvious we all loved talking about monsters. So... that's on brand right? 

Giant Otter Irish cryptid/folklore

Human occupancy of Australia is really, really old

Interactive 3D model of Newgrange tomb

Bridget Cleary "Changeling" murder

Roland Doe "Exorcist" case

Banshee

The Beast of Craggy Island (Father Ted reference)

MonsterFuzz Podcast

It's been nearly a century since the uncropped photo of the alleged Watertown Ghosts was seen by the public. In that time a tiny cropped version of the original has become an iconic member of the "greatest ghost photos of all time" club.  Blake's research which was published in 2010 showed that the photo was manipulated, but he never forgot the missing uncropped photo and unanswered questions about the case.

But thanks to his research we can now see the original photo in its uncropped state and it's a surprisingly dramatic image.

If you'd like to share the story of this photo with friends please consider checking out his write-up of the case on Medium. "Clapping" for the article and sharing it may help other paranormal enthusiasts see the full photo and new details. 

Below you can see the cropped and uncropped photos:

The uncropped full version of the famous ghost photo, rediscovered after more than fifty years:

Karen Stollznow and Matt Baxter team up to discuss one of Karen's favorite mysteries: The moving coffins of Chase Vault, Barbados. 

Note: 

This episode deals with themes of suicide and death. If you're feeling at all suicidal please get help immediately by calling the national suicide hotline: 1-800-273-8255. (TALK)

Some links for today's episode:

Chase Vault (Atlas Obscura)

Transatlantic Sketches (Vol 1) by By Sir James Edward Alexander

An article with excellent photos of the tomb & cemetery.

Referenced in this episode: Joe Nickell's 2-part coverage of the Chase Vaults in Fate Magazine:

Nickell, J. "Barbados' restless coffins laid to rest." Fate. 1 Apr. 1982, Volume 35, Number 4: 50-56.  (story continues in part 2 in the May 1982 issue pages 79-86.)

Lang & Payley's folklore "bi-located story"

Skeptoid coverage of the case.

I don't think it's a conspiracy per se, but there has long been an effort to (as today's guests call it) "Weirdwash" many unusual features out of Bigfoot cryptozoology.  To mend that gap, they've co-written a book in two volumes:

Where the Footprints End: High Strangeness and the Bigfoot Phenomenon

Volume I: The Folklore 

Volume 2: The Evidence 

Joshua Cutchin is the author of several books covering weird topics including cryptozoological, Fortean phenomena, UFOs and fairies.  These include A Trojan Feast, The Brimstone Deceit, and Thieves in the Night. 

Timothy Renner is an author, illustrator and musician living in Pennsylvania.  His work can be found in books, magazines, comics and album covers.  He's also a podcaster - creator of Strange Familiars, and has frequently appeared on the show Where did the Road Go.  His books include Beyond the Seventh Gate, Bigfoot in PA, Bigfoot: West Coast Wild Man,  and Don't Look Behind You.

We are joined by entertainer Jon Culshaw to talk about the influential children's book UFOs, (affiliate link) part of the Usborne "World of the Unknown" series that was recently reissued.  Jon brings his love of the mysterious and his uncanny ability to do voice impressions as we talk about how UFOs were presented in the 1970s, the wonders of space, and - of course - Doctor Who.

Jon's got a Wikipedia page! In addition to his work on Dead Ringers and BBC Radio adaptations of Doctor Who, Jon will soon be taking to the stage in an adaptation of Bill Bryson's Notes from a Small Island. 

BBC Out of this World (1977) segments mentioned are available on YouTube:

Orange Light 

Nordic Aliens 

Attached:I've added a couple of articles by the original author of the UFO book, Theodore Mather Wilding-White, from his 1970s stint as a journalist covering Space.  Also, I attached a contemporary review of the book.

Blake and Karen are joined again by Matt Baxter to talk about the latest Thylacine claims from the TAGOA. The photos dropped last night (US Time) and sadly don't meet up with the hype - but there's still much to talk about with this story.

Triple M Radio with Neil Waters on Thylacine News

Thylacine probably didn't attack sheep in the way feared by 1920's Sheep Herders.

Was climate change a big factor in the decline of Thylacine?

Thylacine Awareness Group of Australia (TAGOA)

What are pademelons?

Example of a "Buderim Beast" news story.

Karl Shuker on the Buderim Beast.

Previous MonsterTalk coverage of Thylacine.

Some photos from Matt & Karen's trip to look for the Buderim Beast: