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: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss).
Blake and Karen discuss the legendary photo said to capture 19th century cowboys or soldiers with a giant bird or pterosaur.SHOW NOTE LINKS:The original Tombstone Epitaph article (https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn95060905/1890-04-26/ed-1/?sp=3&r=0.619,0.248,0.383,0.413,0) about the winged creatureKarl Shuker's blogged (https://karlshuker.blogspot.com/2021/01/elucidating-two-civil-war-pterodactyl.html) several (https://karlshuker.blogspot.com/2014/11/seeking-missing-thunderbird-photograph.html) times (https://karlshuker.blogspot.com/2020/10/exposing-truly-batty-example-of-fake.html) on the Thunderbird Photo and wrote a eulogy for Mark Chovinsky (https://karlshuker.blogspot.com/2020/10/when-i-interviewed-mark-chorvinsky.html), author of a thorough (http://www.strangemag.com/strangemag/strange21/thunderbird21/thunderbird1_21.html)Strange Magazine (http://www.strangemag.com/strangemag/strange21/thunderbird21/thunderbird1_21.html)article (http://www.strangemag.com/strangemag/strange21/thunderbird21/thunderbird1_21.html) about the Thunderbird photo.Ivan T. Sanderson figures into the story prominently. Kevin J. Guhl has written an extensive article about this. (https://thunderbirdphoto.com/f/the-ivan-t-sanderson-files-origin-of-the-thunderbird-photo)I think all the researchers - the serious researchers - are converging on the "False Memory (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_memory)" hypothesis to explain this story. However, debates (https://www.reddit.com/r/Cryptozoology/comments/11fom00/the_thunderbird_photo_is_a_lost_photograph/) about the photo continue (https://www.reddit.com/r/Cryptozoology/comments/1kxu82j/the_thunderbird_photo_isnt_lost_mediait_simply/#lightbox).Some of the online photos were promotional photos for Freaky Links (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FreakyLinks) TV show.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss).Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.
5 Jan 2026TRANSCRIPT
S05E13 - Liminal Space Invaders
We talk with journalist Lana Hall (https://www.lanahallwrites.com/about)about her piece The Dead Mall Society (https://hazlitt.net/longreads/dead-mall-society), (https://hazlitt.net/longreads/dead-mall-society) which details her journey to decaying malls in the Toronto area in search of Liminal Spaces.Liminality (Wikipedia) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liminality)Victor Turner: Liminality and Communitas (PDF) (https://faculty.trinity.edu/mbrown/whatisreligion/PDF%20readings/TurnerVictor-%20Liminality%20and%20Communitas.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com)The Liminality Project (blog) (https://www.theliminalityproject.org/the-liminality-primer/)Liminal Space (Wikipedia) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liminal_space_%28aesthetic%29)The Backrooms (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Backrooms)CreepyPasta (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Backrooms) (Wikipedia) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Backrooms)Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss).Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.
29 Dec 2025
S05E12 The Secret History of Lizard People
Friend of the show Dr. Joe Laycock returns to talk about LIZARD PEOPLE with us. He also has a new book: The Penguin Book of CultsJoe's Books:Penguin Book of Cults (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/771266/the-penguin-book-of-cults-by-edited-by-joseph-p-laycock/) (publisher) (amazon affiliate link (https://amzn.to/4jpliVe))The Exorcist Effect: Horror, Religion, and Demonic Belief (https://amzn.to/4q17vGT) (affiliate link)Other topics of discussion:Shadow Kingdom (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shadow_Kingdom)Brotherhood of the White Temple (https://brotherhoodofthewhitetemple.com/)Shaver Mysteries (https://www.monstertalk.org/flashback-shaver-mysteries-super-cut/)Kull (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kull_the_Conqueror)Dark Shadows (Soap Opera) "Leviathan" storyline (https://darkshadows.fandom.com/wiki/Leviathan)The Naga who wanted to be a priest (https://kotharianlightning.ca/2022/07/24/a-naga-ordained/)Serpent People (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serpent_Men)Aum Shenrikyo Japanese death cult (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aum_Shinrikyo)Skeptoid looks at famous rumor that Aum Shenrikyo had a nuclear bomb (https://skeptoid.com/episodes/531)The Secret Rulers of the World - Jon Ronson (YouTube) (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlXBB1EYkTwYYT7nCd6tK9hWlWuEp7uIx)V - the Mini Series (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_(1983_miniseries))Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss).Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.
Inside a recent episode
S05E13 - Liminal Space Invaders
Published 5 Jan 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] I don't think I had quite realized what a strong and almost protective cult following these spaces had. So I started sort of asking the question, what is the appeal of these liminal spaces? Why are there people that seek them out? And why are there people that will spend their spare time you know, walking around in them or experience them? What is it that they're getting from this? And the answers were also complex and surprising and thoughtful. But what I kept hearing consistently is that sometimes when people are in these liminal spaces, they have this feeling of being a little bit unsettled, a little bit disquieted. […]
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