Folklore and Urban Legends

FromMonsterTalk

Start listening View podcast show

Folklore and Urban Legends

FromMonsterTalk

ratings:

Length:

74 minutes

Released:

Sep 14, 2016

Format:

Podcast episode

Description

We are joined by Heather Joseph-Witham, Associate Professor in the Liberal Arts and Sciences Department at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles. She has a PhD in Folklore and Mythology from UCLA. In this episode, we talk about folklore as an academic field, urban legends, the nature of culture and story, and much more… Read the episode notes

Released:

Sep 14, 2016

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

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.

Skip carousel

Ghost Bird: What happens when a creature thought to be extinct is spotted alive in the swamps of Arkansas? Can such a creature have survived? Can scientists verify the story? And when a town’s hopes and a school’s grant money are on the line, to what... by MonsterTalk
69 min listen
The Rise of Bat Boy: In the pantheon of American monsters, only one truly dominated the newspapers of the 1990s. Checkout lines everywhere were haunted by the bald-headed, wide-mawed visage of Bat Boy. What was Bat Boy, and where did he come from? The MonsterTalk team... by MonsterTalk
63 min listen
They Came From Outer Space!: Are creatures from other planets visiting the earth, trampling our crops to create cryptic messages, violating people in their sleep, and doing terrible things to our livestock? How plausible is it that we are being visited by intelligent beings from... by MonsterTalk
55 min listen
Fins & Fossil Footprints: Did a Japanese fishing vessel catch the body of a prehistoric aquatic dinosaur? In this week's MonsterTalk, we interview Glen Kuban to discuss the 1977 case of the Zuiyo-Maru, dinosaurs, paleontology, cryptozoology and why so many creationists want to... by MonsterTalk
60 min listen
Darwin vs. the Wolfman: In this week's Halloween episode, MonsterTalk ventures into the realm of the werewolves -- and asks what Charles Darwin's Origin of Species implies for this fearsome monster's plausibility. Guest Dr. Brian Regal (Assistant Professor for the History of... by MonsterTalk
68 min listen
Anatomy of a Beast: In this week's MonsterTalk, we interview Michael McLeod, a writer, producer, and director who has created documentaries for PBS, the PBS series Frontline, the Discovery Channel, and other national venues. His book "Anatomy of a Beast" is an in-depth... by MonsterTalk
59 min listen
Bigfoot: First Impressions: In the world of Bigfoot, good evidence is hard to come by. Anecdotes and blurry photos keep the documentaries coming, but most skeptics agree that a body or a living specimen are needed to confirm the existence of a large North American mystery... by MonsterTalk
83 min listen
Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum!: Giants appear in cultures around the world: Biblical tales of giants more than ten feet tall; Roman and Greek stories of titans and heroes; European stories of giants of mountain and hill. They all have one thing in common: enormous monsters. On this... by MonsterTalk
77 min listen
Suitable for Framing: In this episode, the hosts of MonsterTalk talk with Greg Long, author of the 2004 book The Making of Bigfoot (which was reviewed at the time by Skeptic’s own Daniel Loxton). Long’s book is built from hours of interviews with surviving... by MonsterTalk
63 min listen
Pterosaurs: Paleontologist Dr. David Martill joins us to talk about prehistoric flying reptiles and his visit to Papua New Guinea with the TV show MonsterQuest to search for the legendary Ropen, an animal which some say is a modern day surviving Pterosaur. Dr.... by MonsterTalk
54 min listen
Historical Ghost Investigations Part II: Sinking the Watertown: This week, MonsterTalk continues its two-part discussion of historical ghost investigations. Blake Smith describes his investigation into a famous photo that allegedly shows two dead sailors floating off the side of a 1920’s oil tanker.... by MonsterTalk
63 min listen
Ancient Alien Astronauts: Interview with Ken Feder: Did ancient humans gain their technological achievements through the assistance of creatures from other planets? This week on MonsterTalk, Dr. Feder, an archaeology professor who has taught a course on the topic, shares his thoughts. Feder is the... by MonsterTalk
84 min listen
Monsters from the Lab: In this week’s episode, MonsterTalk looks once again at genetics and creatures created in the laboratory. Dr. Marcus C. Davis joins the hosts to discuss what constitutes a “monster.” In his work, Davis deals with paleontology, as... by MonsterTalk
75 min listen
Cryptozoology & Science: Part 1: What is cryptozoology? Is it science? Is it folklore? Does it make predictions? In part 1 of a 2-part series, MonsterTalk examines cryptozoology as a field, including speculation on the cryptids most likely to turn out to be real. Guest Dr. Darren... by MonsterTalk
68 min listen
Dragon*Con's Skeptrack 2010: THIS WEEK’S EPISODE was recorded before a live studio audience at Dragon*Con’s Skeptrack 2010 (in Atlanta, Georgia). MonsterTalk hosts Ben Radford and Blake Smith bravely faced the horror of live questions from listeners —... by MonsterTalk
64 min listen
I'm Gonna Get You, Goat Sucker!: The most famous of the Latin American cryptids is El Chupacabra, the goat sucker. This episode of MonsterTalk examines the lore behind this slinking, sinister, blood-sucking creature. Is it a real animal? A creation of secret scientific experiments?... by MonsterTalk
54 min listen
The Plesiosaur Hypothesis: Is there a mysterious prehistoric "living fossil" lurking beneath the waters of Loch Ness? The idea that a colony of Plesiosaurs might have survived into modern times in the deep dark waters of Loch Ness has long captured the imagination of... by MonsterTalk
69 min listen
Historical Ghost Investigations Part I: Kimo / Therapy: Ghost investigations often feature in television shows and other media. Typically, these amount to people wandering around at night with EMF detectors, talking into the darkness and jumping at shadows and noises. But how does one do a scientific... by MonsterTalk
64 min listen
Bigfoot DNA: Our panel (Ben Radford, Dr. Karen Stollznow and Blake Smith) interview Professor Todd Disotell, PhD. Todd has been a guest on multiple television shows to examine potential Bigfoot and Yeti DNA. We ask him about the science of DNA analysis, his... by MonsterTalk
75 min listen
On Monsters: This week on MonsterTalk, author Stephen Asma (Professor of Philosophy at Columbia College Chicago) speaks about his comprehensive book surveying Western monster-lore. Is humankind’s fascination with monsters broader than any single cause?... by MonsterTalk
58 min listen
Cthulhu Rises: In this special literary edition, MonsterTalk ventures into a dark domain that can be confidently called fiction: the monstrous, genre-defining oeuvre of horror writer Howard Philips Lovecraft. Joined by noted Lovecraft scholar Robert M. Price and... by MonsterTalk
80 min listen
Bringing Light to a Moth: In this episode, Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (formerly CSICOP) investigator Joe Nickell joins the MonsterTalk crew for a look into the West Virginian legend of Mothman — allegedly a human-sized creature with wings and glowing red eyes.... by MonsterTalk
50 min listen
Getting into the Spirit of Things: What does neuroscience have to say about the possibility of consciousness or mind existing outside the body — or continuing on after the body has died? This episode’s guest is neurologist Dr. Steven Novella (veteran of on-site ghost... by MonsterTalk
70 min listen
Horrifying Hybrids: In this episode, MonsterTalk examines monsters that genetically blend humans with the other. Hosts Blake Smith, Ben Radford, and Dr. Karen Stollznow explore the plausibility of alien-human hybridizations, dig into the real science of genetics -- and... by MonsterTalk
69 min listen
A Bestiary of Creatures: Author Christopher Dell has collected an astonishing array of art from around the world depicting many obscure and mysterious creatures in his new book Monsters: A Bestiary of Devils, Demons, Vampires, Werewolves, and Other Magical... by MonsterTalk
62 min listen
Cryptozoology & Science, Part 2: This week, MonsterTalk continues its discussion of the intersection between science and cryptozoology. The hosts interview Dr. Donald Prothero and Daniel Loxton, who are working on a book that will give a deep overview of the field of cryptozoology... by MonsterTalk
36 min listen
MonsterTalk Special #002: The Tetrapod Zoology Podcast Super Cross-Over Tetrapodcats (sic erat scriptum) MonsterTalk host Blake Smith teams up with paleontologist Darren Naish and artist John Conway to introduce MonsterTalk listeners to this entertaining and educational... by MonsterTalk
106 min listen
Is The Skookum Fair Dinkum?: In the year 2000 startling claims of a body cast of a Bigfoot emerged from the deep woods of Washington State. More than a decade later, MonsterTalk interviews Bigfoot researcher Daniel Perez about the facts behind this contentious artifact —... by MonsterTalk
66 min listen
ThylaCinema and Nocturnal Submissions: Join the hosts of MonsterTalk for an interview with Daniel Nettheim, director of a new film about a man hunting for thylacines. The Hunter stars Willem Dafoe as the eponymous character tasked with seeking out the last living thylacine in the... by MonsterTalk
30 min listen
Just Scratching the Surface: MonsterTalk frequently explores tales of imaginary monsters — creatures of myth, fiction, and folklore. Today, the hosts consider a real creature, one that preys on humans and their closest animal companions. It is often invisible. It drinks... by MonsterTalk
76 min listen

More Episodes from MonsterTalk

Skip carousel

S03E32 - Late Night with the Devil by MonsterTalk
48 min listen
S03E31 - The Myth of Disenchantment: with Jason A. Josephson-Storm by MonsterTalk
54 min listen
S03E30 - Bone Stacks of Mt. St. Helens: with archaeologist Andy White by MonsterTalk
41 min listen
S03E29 - Three Mini Mysteries by MonsterTalk
42 min listen
S03E28 - Legend Tripping: Devil's Tower: Karen and Matt report back on a field excursion. by MonsterTalk
34 min listen
S03E27 - BigFootage [Explicit]: Sasquatch: The Legend of Bigfoot by MonsterTalk
36 min listen
S03E26 - The Science of Weird Sh*t [explicit]: The Science of Weird Shit: Why Our Minds Conjure The Paranormal by MonsterTalk
48 min listen
S03E25 - The Black Monk of Pontefract by MonsterTalk
53 min listen
$S03E25 - The Black Monk of Pontefract$
S03E24 - Celebrity UFO Encounters by MonsterTalk
48 min listen
S03E23 - REVIEW: The Secret History of Bigfoot: by MonsterTalk
36 min listen
S03E22 - Are Our Phones Listening To Us? by MonsterTalk
47 min listen
S03E21 - Connecticut Cryptids: interview with author & illustrator Patrick Scalisi and Valerie Ruby-Omen by MonsterTalk
43 min listen
S03E20 - House of the Unholy (pt 2): Wrapping up our look at the facts and lore around Boleskine House, Scotland by MonsterTalk
38 min listen
S03E19 - House of the Unholy (pt 1): A look at the legends and facts of Boleskine House by MonsterTalk
45 min listen
S03E18 - The Goblins of Wikipedia: a wrap-up look at the remaining mysteries of the Kelly-Hopkinsville KY Goblins case by MonsterTalk
39 min listen
S03E17 - Maximum PG Effort: A look at the secret history of the PGF by MonsterTalk
37 min listen
S03E16 - The Toronto Tunnel Monster: with Jeff Dupuis by MonsterTalk
45 min listen
S03E15 - The Dall-E Lament: A discussion of "AI Generated" art and text with Miles Greb, artists, author and podcaster. by MonsterTalk
49 min listen
S03E14 - 2023 Weird in Review by MonsterTalk
43 min listen
S03E13 - A Ghost Story For Christmas: John Charrington's Wedding by MonsterTalk
23 min listen
S03E12 - Remembering IN SEARCH OF with Joe Nickell: with Dr. Joe Nickell by MonsterTalk
71 min listen
S03E11 - The Exorcist Effect part 2: with Joseph Laycock and Eric Harrelson by MonsterTalk
39 min listen
S03E10 - The Exorcist Effect part 1: part 1 by MonsterTalk
40 min listen
S03E09 - Cheesman Park: with Matt Baxter by MonsterTalk
49 min listen
S03E08 - Hunt the Wampus by MonsterTalk
44 min listen
S03E07 - Hogzilla part 2: with Dr. John J. Mayer by MonsterTalk
40 min listen
S03E06 - Hogzilla part 1: with Dr. John J. Mayer by MonsterTalk
38 min listen
S03E05 - The Imitation Gang: with Dr. Brian Sharpless by MonsterTalk
43 min listen
S03E04 - Haunted Cars: with the return of Matt Baxter by MonsterTalk
44 min listen
S03E03 - UFOs over Italy with Massimo Polidoro: The Florence Soccer UFO of 1954 by MonsterTalk
44 min listen

Related podcast episodes

Skip carousel

Ep. 59 Professor Daniel Liechty, Death and a Psychosocial Theory of Religion.: Professor Liechty teaches in the Department of Social Work at Illinois State University. This year he was named as a College of Arts and Science Distinguished Lecturer for the 2018-19 Academic Year which is the highest honor awarded by the... by End of the Road Podcast (Immanence = Transcendence)
65 min listen
Jennifer Eun-Jung Row, "Queer Velocities: Time, Sex, and Biopower on the Early Modern Stage" (Northwestern UP, 2022): An interview with Jennifer Eun-Jung Row by New Books in Early Modern History
50 min listen
Jennifer Eun-Jung Row, "Queer Velocities: Time, Sex, and Biopower on the Early Modern Stage" (Northwestern UP, 2022): An interview with Jennifer Eun-Jung Row by New Books in Literary Studies
50 min listen
Jennifer Eun-Jung Row, "Queer Velocities: Time, Sex, and Biopower on the Early Modern Stage" (Northwestern UP, 2022): An interview with Jennifer Eun-Jung Row by New Books in Sex, Sexuality, and Sex Work
50 min listen
Dr. Heather Lynn: Xenoarchaeology and the Interplanetary Search for Lost Civilizations: WHO IS DR. HEATHER LYNN? Dr. Heather Lynn is an author, historian, and renegade archaeologist on a quest to discover what's behind the doors of perception. She is a professor teaching undergraduate courses in humanities, society, and other special... by Earth Ancients
100 min listen
Ashley Remer and Tiffany Isselhardt, "Exploring American Girlhood through 50 Historic Treasures" (Rowman and Littlefield, 2021): An interview with Ashley Remer and Tiffany Isselhardt by New Books in Art
66 min listen
Hollis Robbins, "Forms of Contention: Influence and the African American Sonnet Tradition" (U Georgia Press, 2020): An interview with Hollis Robbins by New Books in Literary Studies
94 min listen
Drifters: Laurie Taylor explores the life and times of the American train hopping hobo. by Thinking Allowed
29 min listen
Lindsey Claire Smith, "Urban Homelands: Writing the Native City from Oklahoma" (U Nebraska Press, 2023): An interview with Lindsey Claire Smith by New Books in Literary Studies
35 min listen
Lowery Stokes Sims and Chloë Bass Talk Empathy, Art, and Education: What does it mean to have empathy? How do we navigate difference? Can contemporary art contribute to our understanding of all this? by Hyperallergic
52 min listen
Amy Sherald, Ekow Eshun & Jenni Sorkin: Frieze Masters presents this conversation with Amy Sherald, Ekow Eshun and Jenni Sorkin in partnership with Hauser & Wirth (). The panelists discuss Sherald’s practice and the relevance of her work within the canon of historical... by Frieze Masters Podcast
52 min listen
Migrants - Refugees: Migrants and refugees. by Thinking Allowed
29 min listen
Danielle Haque, “Interrogating Secularism: Race and Religion in Arab Transnational Art and Literature” (Syracuse UP, 2019): Haque deconstructs liberal accounts of secularism through an examination of the work of authors and artists from ethnic and religious minorities... by New Books in Religion
59 min listen
Danielle Haque, “Interrogating Secularism: Race and Religion in Arab Transnational Art and Literature” (Syracuse UP, 2019): Haque deconstructs liberal accounts of secularism through an examination of the work of authors and artists from ethnic and religious minorities... by New Books in Islamic Studies
59 min listen
Danielle Haque, “Interrogating Secularism: Race and Religion in Arab Transnational Art and Literature” (Syracuse UP, 2019): Haque deconstructs liberal accounts of secularism through an examination of the work of authors and artists from ethnic and religious minorities... by New Books in Literary Studies
59 min listen
Con Men in New York, Iconography of punishment: A look at con men in New York and the iconography of punishment. by Thinking Allowed
28 min listen
Robert J. Antony, "Rats, Cats, Rogues, and Heroes: Glimpses of China's Hidden Past" (Rowman & Littlefield, 2023): An interview with Robert J. Antony by New Books in Chinese Studies
49 min listen
Elizabeth Eva Leach, "Medieval Sex Lives: The Sounds of Courtly Intimacy on the Francophone Borders" (Cornell UP, 2023): An interview with Elizabeth Eva Leach by New Books in Sex, Sexuality, and Sex Work
38 min listen
Anne A. Cheng, "Ornamentalism" (Oxford UP, 2019): Anne A. Cheng illustrates the longstanding relationship between the ‘oriental’ and the ‘ornamental’... by New Books in Art
36 min listen
Anne A. Cheng, "Ornamentalism" (Oxford UP, 2019): Anne A. Cheng illustrates the longstanding relationship between the ‘oriental’ and the ‘ornamental’... by New Books in Critical Theory
36 min listen
Anne A. Cheng, "Ornamentalism" (Oxford UP, 2019): Anne A. Cheng illustrates the longstanding relationship between the ‘oriental’ and the ‘ornamental’... by New Books in Literary Studies
36 min listen
406) Eshe Lewis: Black anthropology and streamlining storytelling: In the episode, we welcome Dr. Eshe Lewis to discuss her life and learnings as an activist, anthropologist, and storyteller. Eshe walks us through glimpses of her time with Afro-Peruvian women as part of her doctoral research and how this experience... by Green Dreamer: Seeding change towards collective healing, sustainability, regeneration
50 min listen
Elizabeth Eva Leach, "Medieval Sex Lives: The Sounds of Courtly Intimacy on the Francophone Borders" (Cornell UP, 2023): An interview with Elizabeth Eva Leach by New Books in Gender
38 min listen
Free Speech 69: Campus Misinformation with Bradford Vivian: An interview with Bradford Vivian by New Books in Education
74 min listen
Sexuality, Gender, and Race in the Middle Ages: A Discussion with Roland Betancourt: An interview with Roland Betancourt by New Books in Art
68 min listen
Elizabeth Eva Leach, "Medieval Sex Lives: The Sounds of Courtly Intimacy on the Francophone Borders" (Cornell UP, 2023): An interview with Elizabeth Eva Leach by New Books in History
38 min listen
Love and Romance: Love and romance in changing times. by Thinking Allowed
29 min listen
Jiwei Xiao, "Telling Details: Chinese Fiction, World Literature" (Routledge, 2022): An interview with Jiwei Xiao by New Books in Chinese Studies
142 min listen
Jiwei Xiao, "Telling Details: Chinese Fiction, World Literature" (Routledge, 2022): An interview with Jiwei Xiao by New Books in Literary Studies
142 min listen
Lauren Lessing, et.al., “A Usable Past: American Folk Art at the Colby College Museum of Art”(Colby College Museum of Art, 2016): A Usable Past: American Folk Art at the Colby College Museum of Art (Colby College Museum of Art, 2016) is a contemporary analysis of paintings, works on paper, sculptures, needlework, quilts and other forms of folk art drawn primarily from the college... by New Books in Art
39 min listen

Discover this podcast and so much more

Folklore and Urban Legends

Folklore and Urban Legends

Description

Titles in the series (100)

More Episodes from MonsterTalk

Related podcast episodes