The Monsterfact: The Jiang Shi

In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert chats with Sam Kean about his new book “Dinner with King Tut: How Rogue Archaeologists Are Re-creating the Sights, Sounds, Smells, and Tastes of Lost Civilizations.” (originally published 7/3/2025)See omnystudio.com/liste ... Show More

In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss 1953’s “The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms,” a pivotal entry in the history of giant monster movies directed by Eugène Lourié and with effects by the legendary Ray Harryhausen. It stars Paul Hibschmid, Paula Raymond and Cecil K ... Show More

In this series from Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss the vast North American grasslands of which poet William Cullen Bryant wrote, “These are the gardens of the desert, these the unshorn fields, boundless and beautiful, for which the speech of England has no name — ... Show More

A corpse that hops through the night in Qing dynasty robes—sounds fake, right? But the jiāngshī was once a very real fear. This week, we’re talking about China’s “hopping vampires,” and how they came from something way less supernatural: family obligations, burial delays, and the ... Show More

Robert the Doll is decidedly creepy. So is his story. Listen in to this spooky tale right now!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 

Daniel and Kelly talk about Toxoplasma gondii, and the "science" of ghost hunting.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 

A story from China where we see a young man embark on a dangerous journey for love that definitely isn't a knock-off version of "The Journey to the West" and/or "The Hobbit". Then, we learn how the world's first selfie resulted in kind of more death than you'd think. The creature ... Show More

Out of obligation, Chuck and Josh mention Twilight, but it is the longstanding vampire lore that gets the most attention in this examination of how the bloodsucking undead evolved from baby-stealing demonesses to suave counts in our collective psyche. Explore the wild world of va ... Show More

Join us today as we talk about the history and stories behind mythological creatures, and find out that they have real-life animal counterparts who are just as magical. With special guest Alex Shifman.FOOTNOTES:1. Bombardier Beetles2. Warsaw Basilisk3. Basilisk lizard running on ... Show More

<p>Who&#39;s that with the blank stare, shuffling feet, and unholy moan of frustration? Is it someone trying to learn Chinese without ChinesePod? Or is it a zombie? Listen to today&#39;s Mandarin podcast and find out-- if you dare. Episode link: https://www.chinesepod.com/1116</p ... Show More

What in the world is a chupacabra? Is it even real or is it the stuff of legend? Listen in to find out. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 

A super-powered monkey from Chinese folklore meets more than he bargained for: a sloshing hollow gourd full of pus. The creature is the Mikaribaba (箕借り婆) from Japanese folklore, a great reason not to shower (because she will literally gouge out your eyes). -- Scoundrel! New episo ... Show More

On today's tapes...>> The Wall << A young girl has a nightmarish vision… but she’s definitely not sleeping.>> The Danger << She’s got to get out of there… now.>> Dog Man << Monsters followed him as a child, but now he’s an adult… and they’re still there.