Monstertalk

Episode Summary: In this episode, hosts Blake Smith and Dr. Karen Stollznow catch up on recent headlines and new literature. First, Blake discusses a "ripped from the headlines" update regarding the 2014 Slender Man stabbing case. We revisit the tragic story of Morgan Geyser, her recent escape from a halfway house, and the media’s handling of the mental health and transgender aspects of the story.Later, Karen reviews a pre-publication copy of the upcoming book How to Build a Haunted House: The History of a Cultural Obsession by Caitlin Blackwell Baines. Does the book provide a blueprint for creating ghosts, or is it a cultural tour of famous haunts? Karen breaks down the architectural history, the folklore, and where the book lands on the spectrum of skepticism.Key Topics• Shout-outs for the Cryptid and Godzilla Advent calendars.• Slenderman Segment:    • Recap of the 2014 Waukesha stabbing (MonsterTalk Ep #86).    • Morgan Geyser’s conditional release and subsequent escape attempt.    • A critical look at th