Best Richard Hatems Paranormal Bookshelf Podcasts (2025)

1
SPECIAL BONUS EPISODE - The Close Encounters Man with Mark O'Connell 1:09:39

7d ago1:09:39

1:09:39

NEW RHPB SEASON 3 PREMIERE DATE -- FRIDAY JUNE 13TH! In this Special Bonus Episode, Richard catches up with good friend and writer Mark O’Connell, author of the modern UFO classic The Close Encounters Man: How One Man Made the World Believe in UFOs -- the wildly entertaining story of J. Allen Hynek, the astronomer who invented the concept of "Close…

1
S04E32 - BigFootage: The Secret of Bigfoot pt 1 52:50

4d ago52:50

52:50

Karen joins Blake to discuss the influential 2-part episodes of The Six Million Dollar Man that introduced a generation of kids to Bigfoot, and the idea that the creature might be interconnected with space aliens living inside a California mountain. This is part one of a two-part special edition. The patron edition has extended footage and no moder…

1
S04E31 - Catching Up May 2025 43:06

11d ago43:06

43:06

Blake and Karen take a minute to catch their breath and talk about where things are in their lives and what's up next in MonsterTalk news. Links: Bitch: The Journey of a Word Adhesive Capsulitis Idiopathic Illnesses Mechanical Turk Speaking Machine Replica of Speaking Machine (YouTube) Wolfgang von Kempelen Deep Mind Deep Blue Marvin Minsky John Mc…

1
S04E30 Dinos & Dragons - Part 2 34:55

18d ago34:55

34:55

This is part two of our two part look at Dragons and how these mythical beasts are being used to promote Creationism. Our guest is Dr. Philip Senter and he's the author of a new book about this topic. We use the word bullsh!t a lot in this episode so I slapped an explicit tag on - but I don't think it's too explicit otherwise. Get Dr. Senter's book…

1
S04E29 - Dinos & Dragons - Part 1 31:30

25d ago31:30

31:30

This is part one of our two part look at Dragons and how these mythical beasts are being used to promote Creationism. Our guest is Dr. Philip Senter and he's the author of a new book about this topic. Get Dr. Senter's book here: The Real Story of Dinosaurs and Dragons Read more about "The Dragon of Bologna" Another Book about fake historical zoolog…

1
SPECIAL BONUS EPISODE: Living with Ghosts 1:33:34

28d ago1:33:34

1:33:34

What does it actually feel like to be a psychic medium? What is it like to have ghosts be a constant part of your otherwise normal life? Cindy Valenzuela and Colleen McKinnie can tell you -- because they are both in touch with the spirit world every day. They are both wives and mothers, they have professional careers -- and they can communicate wit…

1
S04E28 The Victor Hotel Ghost 47:48

1M ago47:48

47:48

Matt & Karen went out for a little getaway weekend to Victor, Colorado and ended up investigating the allegedly haunted Victor Hotel. Did Eddie die in the hotel elevator? Was Matt caught in embarrassing circumstances? Find out inside! The show notes here won't show the images so you'll need to hop over to our episode webpage to see them. https://ww…

1
S04E27 - Jewish Mysticism and Dybbuks with Peter Bebergal 51:51

1M ago51:51

51:51

We're excited to welcome back Peter Bebergal. This time we're talking about mysticism and dybbuks. Be sure and check out the links below including the upcoming talk Peter is giving April 14th for The Last Tuesday Society. Peter on Jewish Boston podcast All the Haunts Be Ours (affiliate link) 15-Disk Horror Collection The Ibbur from Jewish mysticism…

1
S04E26 - A Natural History of Sea Serpents with Adrian Shine 54:31

2M ago54:31

54:31

We're delighted to get to talk with Adrian Shine, who has worked for decades to raise awareness about Loch Ness and investigated the legendary creature said to inhabit the dark waters of that deep Scottish lake. He's written a new book about Sea Monsters and their connection to the Loch Ness Mystery which releases April 1st, 2025. A Natural History…

1
RHPB First Anniversary! 41:00

2M ago41:00

41:00

It’s our First Anniversary! Richard Hatem’s Paranormal Bookshelf debuted one year ago today, and to celebrate we’re re-broadcasting the very first episode where Richard receives the book that changes his life -- and gets introduced to his very first paranormal bookshelf. Join Richard and everyone here at RHPB as we celebrate the episode that starte…

1
S04E25 - Demon Sex in Medieval Times PT 2 32:24

2M ago32:24

32:24

We're back with part 2 of our interview with Dr. Eleanor Janega to discuss Demons in Medieval Europe - and a lot of that has to do with sexy sex. So… another EXPLICIT tag! Eleanor's Blog Going-Medieval Eleanor's book The Once and Future Sex The Apocalypse Tapestry of Angers (The Guardian) The Apocalypse Tapestry (Wikipedia) YouTube videos with Elea…

1
S04E24 Demon Sex in Medieval Times 28:44

2M ago28:44

28:44

We're joined by the engaging historian Dr. Eleanor Janega to talk about how the people of Europe considered demonic sex during the medieval period of history. This episode is in two parts, and both are explicit. Presenter on the History Hit channel - https://www.historyhit.com/ Blog - https://going-medieval.com/ Medievalist, author, blogs about med…

1
S04E23 Remembering Joe Nickell 17:10

2M ago17:10

17:10

A brief remembrance of our friend, Joe Nickell. (December 1, 1944 – March 4, 2025) Joe Nickell's extraordinary life came to an end on Tuesday, March 4th and we're posting this brief remembrance this week instead of our regular episode. Check out Joe's many "personas." The Science of Monsters: Tracking the Real-Life Creatures Archive episodes with J…

1
S2 Ep10: Glimpses of Eternity 1:05:25

2M ago1:05:25

1:05:25

On July 27, 2011, Richard Hatem came home from work to find a book waiting for him—Glimpses of Eternity by Raymond Moody. He remembers the date well, because it was also the day he got fired. And if you’ve ever been fired, you know the feeling: shock, relief, maybe a strange sense of joy. It also ushered in a phase of creative revival and explorati…

1
S04E22 Women in the Paranormal 57:24

2M ago57:24

57:24

We're joined by Allison Jornlin (paranormalwomen.com) to talk about the footprint of women in the field of parapsychology and paranormal investigation. We most recently talked with Allison during "the dark times" on our COVID-era MonsterTalk Live series. She also covered the Chicago Mothman flap with us back in 2018! Become a supporter of this podc…

1
S04E21 The Cave of the Winds 48:25

3M ago48:25

48:25

Is the cave of the winds near Manitou Springs, CO HAUNTED!? Matt Baxter has investigated and he joins us to talk about what he found. Related Links: Spooky Science Sisters - Roanoke episode with Karen In Research Of… The Lost Colony - Blake & Jeb Card discuss the In Search Of… episode about Roanoke. Eclectic Shopping options in Manitou Springs The …

1
S2 Ep9: Investigating Mediums 54:29

3M ago54:29

54:29

Investigating Mediums by Julie Beischel, PhD. In this episode, join Richard Hatem as he cracks open Investigating Mediums by Dr. Julie Beischel. In her book, Dr. Beischel attempts a scientific exploration into the world of psychic mediums. What began as an academic pursuit for Dr. Beischel evolved into years of testing and research—none of which ha…

1
S04E20 - Understand Japan's Dan Da Dan [Explicit] 53:15

3M ago53:15

53:15

We're joined by Dr. Justin Mullis to get a better understanding of the incredibly lore-dense anime series Dan Da Dan. Justin's academia profile Legend of Momotaro Some links recommended by Justin: This is a really good video about the history of the Flatwoods Monster in Japanese video games. Highly recommended. This is the Religious Dispatches arti…

1
S04E19 - Monsters of the Heart 40:57

3M ago40:57

40:57

As Valentine's day bears down upon us, we turn to the monsters whose origins lie in passion, betrayal, and tragedy. If love is the strongest human emotion, surely rage at betrayal is its nightmarish mirror - and such emotions are embodied in a variety of creatures around the world and throughout history. Content Warning - this episode contains stor…

1
S2: SPECIAL BONUS EPISODE: Questions & Answers — with Richard Hatem 53:19

3M ago53:19

53:19

It's a SPECIAL RHPB BONUS EPISODE! Grab a drink, sit down by the fireplace and join Richard as he answers the questions you've been asking him since the show began! From favorite authors to TV show plot twists; from Bible classes to the Sex Pistols; from cocktails to cats-and-dogs to cursing — he covers it all! And find out just how and when he'll …

1
S04E18 - Grave Rubbers from CyberSpace! 42:13

3M ago42:13

42:13

Cemeteries Cleaning and Grave Rubbing - Karen and Blake are joined by Matt Baxter to discuss the ethics and best practices around maintaining and preserving graveyards. Links for Grave Rubbers from CyberSpace: The article that inspired this conversation (via The Conversation) Ken Feder (friend of the show and emeritus professor of archaeology) sent…

1
S04E17 The Ghost of Ticonderoga with Joseph Gagne 42:26

4M ago42:26

42:26

This week we're welcoming back historian Dr Joseph Gagne to tell us about a ghost story that straddles North America and Scotland. He was last with us to tell us about the legend of La Corriveau in episode 181. Appearances of the Dead: A Cultural History of Ghosts by Ronald C. Finucane - mentioned by Joseph as his introduction to this story. This i…

1
S2 Ep8: The Other Side - Part 2 46:52

4M ago46:52

46:52

"The Other Side" by Bishop James A. Pike, with Diane Kennedy Part 2 We’re back on The Other Side, diving deeper into Bishop James A. Pike’s gripping search for a connection with his late son – and Richard Hatem’s high-stakes hijinks as a burgeoning writer chasing his dream. While Pike wrestles with the profound—and sometimes unsettling—realities of…

1
S04E16 - The Houdini Seance and Arthur Ford, Spiritualist 48:56

4M ago48:56

48:56

Today we're discussing the strange story of The Houdini Seance and Arthur Ford the Spiritualist. The last Houdini Seance (1936) - Audio + Story Bess Houdini Arthur Ford - Spiritualist Arthur Ford - Obituary The Houdini Code The Bishop James Pike Was Pike Seance Hoax? The Skeptics Dictionary: Arthur Ford Become a supporter of this podcast: https://w…

1
S04E15 The Green Eyes Festival 37:59

4M ago37:59

37:59

In the mountains of North Georgia on a spooky civil war battlefield there is a legend of a green eyed monster. This is not that story. This is the story of the new festival set up to commemorate the monster, but also bring people and revenue to this rural southern town. We'll be talking with Nate Tucker and Dillan Whisenant about their experience k…

1
S2 Ep7: The Other Side - Part 1 53:50

4M ago53:50

53:50

“I had heard of poltergeists – the spirit of a dead person causing some sort of disturbance in the house where the person resided before dying. For the first time I faced the real possibility that the source of all that had been happening could be my son – dead, but still living.” In this episode, travel with Richard Hatem to – “The Other Side” by …

1
S04E14 2024 Year In Review 1:05:57

4M ago1:05:57

1:05:57

This is the audio from our 2024 livestream (http://youtube.com/monstertalk). If you saw that live, this is the same audio without the moving picture bits. If you didn't see it but want to see our mugs waggin' synchronously to our voices, you can find this particular episode here. Otherwise - happy new year! We'll be back next week talking about how…

1
S04E13_Monstertalk 46:59

5M ago46:59

46:59

We're joined by fellow podcaster and friend of the show, Andy Driscoll, to introduce a peculiar region in Massachusetts said to be home to concentrated high strangeness. We'll definitely be coming back to deep dive in these swamps for more details on particular claims but Andy gives us a great "hometown" introduction to this fascinating area. Video…

1
Christmas Special #012 - Smee by A. M. Burrage 26:09

5M ago26:09

26:09

One of the most "Christmas Ghost Story" ghost stories for Christmas that I've ever come across. Smee tells of a night of holiday revelry turned chilling and mysterious by the appearance of an unexpected attendee at the festivities. You can read along with the ebook by purchasing it here. (affiliate Link) Read more about A. M. Burrage if you like. (…

1
S2 Ep6: Surgeon From Another World 1:04:03

5M ago1:04:03

1:04:03

This isn’t your typical Christmas story—but it is a Christmas story: one that delves into second chances, goodwill towards humanity, ghosts, and hope. And it’s true. Tonight, Richard Hatem brings you one of the strangest and most captivating tales he’s ever heard in Surgeon from Another World by George Chapman and Roy Stemman. It begins with a fath…

1
S04E12 Do You Believe in Magic with Laura Krantz 31:51

5M ago31:51

31:51

We're excited to have Laura Krantz back to talk about her latest book - a youth-focused look at how to distinguish between magical and scientific thinking: Do You Believe in Magic? Laura's very entertaining and informative podcasts: LINK Laura's other writings (affiliate LINK) Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/mon…

1
S04E11 - The Saucer Life with Aaron Gulyas 47:09

5M ago47:09

47:09

An interview with writer, researcher and podcaster Aaron Gulyas - host of the UFO themed history podcast The Saucer Life. Gulyas is also the author of many books (affiliate link) including some likely to be of particular interest to MT listeners: Extraterrestrials and the American Zeitgeist: Alien Contact Tales Since the 1950s Conspiracy Theories: …

1
S2: Bonus Patreon Episode - A Conversation With Farah Yurdozu 1:06:14

5M ago1:06:14

1:06:14

As a special treat, Richard shares with you a sample of what's happening on his Patreon feed —an interview with Turkish ufologist Farah Yurdozu. If you recognize the name, it's because she is the author of Love In An Alien Purgatory — The Life and Fantastic Art of David Huggins, which was featured on Episode 2 of Richard Hatem's Paranormal Bookshel…

1
S04E10 - The Wollaton Gnomes with Chris Woodyard 40:59

5M ago40:59

40:59

We welcome back Chris Woodyard to discuss the very odd story of the Wollaton Gnomes - a 1979 reported sighting of little men in little cars by a group of children in a British park. Chris & Simon's podcast Boggarts & Banshees (Apple Podcasts) Transcript of the gnome witness children's Interview (courtesy Simon Young) Wollaton Hall (wiki) Blog by Fr…

1
S04E09 - THEM! and The Monster from Newark 56:44

6M ago56:44

56:44

We're delighted to celebrate Thanksgiving with the return of Dr. Brian Regal. He's here to talk about a favorite monster film, and announce the release of his autobiography, The Monster from Newark. Links: Brian's autobiography - The Monster From Newark (affiliate link) Karen's anthology of skeptics having weird experiences:Would You Believe It? (a…

1
S2 Ep5: Phone Calls from the Dead 1:01:05

6M ago1:01:05

1:01:05

Losing your virginity, bargain-bin paperbacks, and phone calls from beyond the grave—just another summer in the life of Richard Hatem. This week, Richard dusts off one of his strangest books, Phone Calls From the Dead by D. Scott Rogo and Raymond Bayless. But before he cracks the spine, we a detour back to the summer of 1983—a tale of his teenage y…

1
S04E08 CryptidCon 20244 43:05

6M ago43:05

43:05

Thanks to your generous support I was able to make it to CryptidCon 2024 and this is a chat with Karen and me, reporting on day one. I'll be heading out later today for the five and a half hour drive back home but this has been delightful and you're sure to hear more from the connections I made and the ideas I heard while immersing myself in the cr…

1
GoFundMe - Van Repair Emergency 1:03

6M ago1:03

1:03

I'm sorry to come to you with hat in hand, but our family vehicle's water pump just went out a day before I was to head up to Kentucky to go to CryptidCon. If just 10% of our listeners would donate $1 it would absolutely cover this repair and restore my confidence in heading out of town. I hate to ask but I don't know any other way to come up with …

1
S04E07 Nandor Fodor and the Talking Mongoose 46:03

6M ago46:03

46:03

Blake and Karen are joined by Matt Baxter to discuss the 2023 film Nandor Fodor and the Talking Mongoose, based on the story of Gef, the talking mongoose at the heart of the story. Visit our original coverage of Gef in episode #67 Watch the film (Amazon affiliate link) A list of the clever things a mongoose might say... The Haunting of Alma Fieldin…

1
S2 Ep4: Voices of the Dead? 46:11

6M ago46:11

46:11

What do screenwriting, first dates, and electronic voice phenomena (EVP) have in common? For a teenaged Richard Hatem in December of 1982, it was the book: Voices of the Dead? By Susy Smith. Richard discovered something mind-blowing: you didn’t have to go anywhere to find a ghost. You just need a tape recorder, fresh batteries, and some time. With …

1
S04E06 Griffinology 43:29

6M ago43:29

43:29

We're joined by author and professor Anne McClannan to discuss her new book Griffinology. These monsters are visually easily recognized - but how much do you know about their history? Links: Griffinology is available directly from University of Chicago Press. Coupon code UCPNEW is good through Dec 2024 for 30% off - which brings the price down to $…

1
S04E05 Real Vampires with Joe Laycock 42:36

6M ago42:36

42:36

We managed to catch up with Joe Laycock for ONE MORE VAMPIRE EPISODE! This time we're having a look at the world of people who believe they are really vampires. Some drink blood, some drink energy, most embrace vampire gaming. Joe wrote Vampires Today: The Truth About Modern Vampirism In fact, Joe has written a lot of books that will be of interest…

1
S2 Ep3: The Mammoth Mountain Poltergeist 1:02:37

7M ago1:02:37

1:02:37

“Our first instinct was just sheer disbelief. We were trying to tell ourselves that it couldn't be real. It couldn't be happening. But it was.”—The Mammoth Mountain Poltergeist by Jenny Ashford and Tom Ross In this episode, Richard dives into The Mammoth Mountain Poltergeist by Jenny Ashford and Tom Ross—a book that’s part childhood memoir, part fu…

1
S04E04 (EXPLICIT) MonsterTalk Live Halloween 2024 - Vampires in Media 1:07:12

7M ago1:07:12

1:07:12

Blake and Karen are joined again by Matt Baxter to talk about vampires in books, film, tv, and comics! This episode is EXPLICIT and contains adult language. We talk about a ton of topics in this one and too many shows and movies to list - but I'll try and post a list when I get time to all the things referenced over at this episode's page on Monste…

1
S04E03 - Jiangshi - "Hopping Vampires?" 52:54

7M ago52:54

52:54

We’re joined by researcher Katarzyna “Kasia” Ancuta to learn more about the Chinese creature known as the Jiangshi – but more famous in the West as “Hopping Vampires.” It turns out that their history is being complicated by their appearances in pop-culture! Jiangshi Movies: (affiliate links) Encounters of the Spooky Kind Mr. Vampire Rigor Mortis Th…

1
S2 Ep2: They Knew Too Much About Flying Saucers 56:22

7M ago56:22

56:22

“The Saucers don’t interest me anymore. When Barker asked is that because you found out they were too ordinary to be interesting? Or because what you discovered about them is too painful for you to think about?”—They Knew Too Much About Flying Saucers by Gray Barker Richard picked up They Knew Too Much About Flying Saucers while trying to crack the…

1
S04E02 The Pathologies of Vampirism with Dr. Brian Sharpless 45:03

7M ago45:03

45:03

We're delighted to have Brian Sharpless (Monsters on the Couch) back with us to discuss some of the Psychology elements of vampirism, as well as some of his favorite historical cases. Be sure and grab his book if you're at all interested in the intersection of monsters and Psychology. Show Notes: Monsters on the Couch Renfield Syndrome (wikipedia) …

1
S04E01 Vampires: Dead Paole 40:22

7M ago40:22

40:22

We kick off our Vampire October with the story of Arnold Paole and we're joined by Matt Baxter. This story appeared in the 1979 edition of Usborne's Haunted Houses, Ghosts, and Spectors. Arnold Paole Lee Illis 1964 - Porphyria and Werewolves 1985 - David Dolphin - NYT article on Porphyria and Vampires Penanggal Manananggal Become a supporter of thi…

1
S2 Ep1: Monsters Among Us 55:03

8M ago55:03

55:03

“As we sat there, watching, she transformed into this huge beastly creature, similar to what people might call a wolf. Right there in the middle of our church. It stood on hind legs and rode a roar that would’ve made a lion cower.”—Monsters Among Us by Linda Godfrey Are you the kind of person who thinks ‘roughing it’ means staying at a hotel withou…

1
S03E53 Vampires with Professor Nick Groom 45:32

8M ago45:32

45:32

In this episode we look at the history of the Vampire in folklore and literature with professor Nick Groom - aka "The Prof of Goth." Links related to Professor Groom: The Vampire: A New History by Nick Groom (affiliate link) Nick Groom - University of Macau faculty page - [email protected] University of Exeter faculty page - [email protected] …

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Richard Hatems Paranormal Bookshelf Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide