<b>Episode Summary:</b> 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.<br /><br />Later, Karen reviews a pre-publication copy of the upcoming book <i><a href="https://www.spr.ac.uk/HauntedHouse" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">How to Build a Haunted House: The History of a Cultural Obsession</a></i> 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.<br /><br /><b>Key Topics</b><br />• Shout-outs for the Cryptid and Godzilla Advent calendars.<br />• Slenderman Segment:<br /> • Recap of the 2014 Waukesha stabbing (<a href="https://www.monstertalk.org/086-slenderman-tulpas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><i>MonsterTalk</i> Ep #86</a>).<br /> • Morgan Geyser’s conditional release and subsequent escape attempt.<br /> • A critical look at the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prison%E2%80%93industrial_complex" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">prison industrial complex</a>, mental health care in the US, and the current moral panic surrounding transgender individuals in media coverage.<br /><br />• Book Review Segment: <i><a href="https://www.spr.ac.uk/HauntedHouse" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">How to Build a Haunted House</a></i> (Coming April 2026).<br /> • A review of the book for the Society for Psychical Research (SPR).<br /> • Analysis of the Myrtles Plantation, Borley Rectory, and the Winchester Mystery House.<br /><br />Become a supporter of this podcast: <a href="https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss">https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support</a>.<br /><br />Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.
