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.
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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 creature
Karl 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.
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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)
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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 Cults
Joe'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))
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Inside a recent episode
S05E13 - Liminal Space Invaders
Published 5 Jan 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] 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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