Monstrum

He can grow higher than the trees, or smaller than a blade of grass. Both demon and deity, guardian and antagonist, the Leshy is rooted deep in the cultural and religious history of the Slavic people. Said to be the lord of the forest, the Leshy could lead people and animals astray, causes accidents, and even drive people to madness and death. But they could also be surprisingly helpful...if you asked nicely. In this episode, you’ll learn about the surprising history of this shapeshifting creature, and how to avoid becoming his victim.

Hansel and Gretel is one of the most famous fairy tales of the Western world, and contains one of the most notorious witches. The cannibal witch lives in an edible house in the woods, tricks children into her home, and keeps them prisoner. Add in some evil parents, a gingerbread house, and baking people in ovens and you’ve got herself a pretty scary story. What could possibly have prompted the creation of this twisted tale? In this episode you’ll learn about witch trials in Germany, the role famine and poverty play in creating monsters, and how the Grimm brothers evolved oral folklore into legendary tales. The real story of Hansel and Gretel is even more scary than you think.

The yeti is one of the world’s most notorious cryptids, one searched for in earnest and with great enthusiasm. The huge, hairy monster is said to roam the Himalayas and some people out there are convinced the “abominable snowman” is real. Does this snow monster really exist? Is it a bear? An unidentified humanoid species? Complete fiction? You’ll find out in this episode of Monstrum. Dr. Zarka examines the yeti’s origins, from Tibetan folklore and religion to the Westernized abominable snowman version. She explains how Buddhist beliefs, a series of intrepid 20th-century explorers, and a creatively translated word make the yeti the creature we recognize today—and how it led to some pretty incredible scientific discoveries.

In this special episode, Dr. Zarka shows you what’s inside her “go bag,” a kit of survival supplies she keeps on hand at all times. Why would someone need such a thing? For the inevitable zombie apocalypse of course! But in all seriousness, why do we have such a fascination with apocalyptic scenarios? In this episode you’ll find out how the horror genre can inspire real-word preparedness and take a look at how humans throughout history use literature, film, and art as ways to explore (and even practice for) real-world pandemics and disasters.

Crafted from smokeless fire, the shapeshifting jinni (known as ‘genie’ in the Western world) are far more important, and frightening, than pop culture would have us believe. Jinn are powerful, emotional beings capable of living for thousands of years. Usually invisible to the human eye, they can take any form to appear to humans. Once worshipped in ancient Arabic cultures, the jinni is now known for it’s wish-granting capabilities. This episode explains how jinn became a popular character in fiction, while looking at how their origins continue to influence Islamic cultures today. From the Qur’an to The Thousand and One Nights, the story of Aladdin to I Dream of Jeannie and everything in between—the jinn are more than just a being trapped in a lamp who grants wishes. They’re powerful, intellectual entities whose stories are woven into ancient Islamic culture.

There are few modern monster more notorious, or more recognized, than Slenderman. Although some Internet lore claims this thin, long-limbed, faceless creature in a suit has lurked in the background of human history for hundreds of years, the reality is that he was created online in 2009. Dr. Zarka explains the timeline of this Internet folklore sensation, examining how unlike so many other monster origins stories, we know exactly when and why this one was created. From Creepypasta to video games, horror movies to doctored photographs, Slenderman is everywhere. Find out why he consumes our imaginations in this episode of Monstrum.

Ararchnophobics beware—this shapeshifting female spider monster from Japan might be your worst nightmare. A type of yōkai, or any weird or supernatural creature or phenomena in Japanese folklore, this supernatural creature is both beautiful and deadly. Although able to appear as a beautiful young woman, the jorōgumo is really a deadly spider monster in disguise. But why is this monster exclusively female? This episode dives into the fascinating world of yōkai and the long history of beautiful women and spiders in Japanese folklore. You’ll learn about the real-world spider that may have inspired this monster, and discover two of the oldest recorded jorōgumo stories in existence.

An amphibious being that lurks in the inland waters of Australia, the mysterious, deadly bunyip defies consistent characterization. Also known as the Mulyawonk, some stories say it's a four-legged creature resembling a seal, others claim the monster has shaggy hair and appears to be a combination of other animals. But one thing that is constant in the stories of the bunyip —the role of Aboriginal storytelling and culture. Originating in the stories and beliefs of the southeastern Indigenous peoples of Australia, accounts of the bunyip are widely varied but were told with such conviction that European colonizers initially believed such a creature really existed. This episode uses Aboriginal stories, historical records, and fossils to explore the bunyip legend, and take a look at how European colonization impacted Australia and its Indigenous peoples.

We tend to picture sirens as seductive water creatures similar to mermaids, but the original first sirens weren’t actually fish-like creatures at all—they were sea-dwelling monsters with half human half bird bodies. The first depictions of sirens found from historical artifacts show these ocean-dwelling monsters with feathered bird bodies capable of flight, and of course...that ever beguiling song. That’s what really sets the siren apart—the hypnotic voice that drives all who hear it to destruction and even death. This episode explains how sirens appeared in ancient history, from literature to art, and looks at how the half human half bird creatures became more commonly associated with mermaids. From Ancient Greek legends to Medieval bestiaries, and even Egyptian hieroglyphics, the siren’s history is so much more complicated than you think.

Fewer monsters are more beloved than the Loch Ness Monster, more affectionately called Nessie. Descriptions of the water creature range from everything to sea-serpents and giant fish to the more popular depiction of a Jurassic era beast with a long neck and flippers. But is there really something giant and mysterious swimming in the depths of the lake? And why do we care anyway ? While reported sightings of a mysterious creature in Loch Ness go back hundreds of years, it received little global recognition until the 1930s. Historical records, newspapers articles, blockbuster films, and advanced scientific technologies all play a role in this story. Watch this episode to find out what theories have been disproven—and what questions are still unanswered. In a world of science and reason, does Nessie still offer us the possibilty of something extraordinary?

Nineteenth-century London—a time and place of scientific advancement and technological development, but also abject poverty and income inequality—and the hunting ground of Spring-Heeled Jack. The fire-breathing, wall-leaping, claw-wielding devil attacked women in their homes and in the streets, terrorizing England for more than 50 years. In this episode you’ll learn how Spring-Heeled Jack manifested the fears of the development of urban spaces and the upheaval of social classes and lifestyle changes city life afforded in the 1800s. Was he based on a notorious real-life aristocrat? Or a group of copycats using the mysterious monster as an excuse for bad behavior? Find out how Spring-heeled Jack, one of the first urban legends, became both a terrifying boogeyman in the press and an avenging hero in fiction.

Gargoyles peer down at us from buildings, pop up on our TV screens, and exist within the fantasy worlds of role-playing games but do you know where they originated from? Before these stoney grotesques became monsters they were just water spouts. We still adorn our buildings with the carvings and sculptures of the frightening, funny, and exaggerated forms—but why? Learn all about the strange history of the gargoyle monster and how the power of imagination turned some odd looking architecture into a legendary creature.

In the first episode of our three-part special series, we explore the complex history of the zombie—from its origins in the spiritual beliefs of the African diaspora to the development of Vodou in Haiti. Learn how one of the most enduring monsters in popular culture evolved in the midst of slavery, racism and prejudice. Featuring expert interviews from Voodoo Chief Divine Prince Ty Emmecca, Associate Professor of History at LSU Dr. Kodi Roberts, and Professor and Author Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror Dr. Robin Means Coleman, you’ll get a new perspective on the long and complicated history of Voodoo in America and some insight into how the “zombi” became the “zombie.”

In the second episode of our three-part special series, we move from the zombi which has its roots in spiritual beliefs developed during the African diaspora, to look at one of the most influential and enduring horror legacies of all time—the Romero zombie. Considered the “godfather of zombies,” Romero’s 1968 film The Night of the Living Dead introduced the flesh-eating reanimated corpse to popular culture. But that’s not all he did. More than just a reinvention of a frightening fiend, the Romero zombie’s introduction during a time of great political and cultural unrest in America impacted how it was received—and why we still talk about it. Featuring expert interviews from Author Daniel Kraus, who completed Romero’s novel The Living Dead, as well as Author, Screenwriter, and Lecturer of Black Horror and Afrofuturism at UCLA Tananarive Due, and Professor and Author Dr. Robin Means Coleman, you’ll learn just how influential Romero’s work became.

In the third and final episode of our three-part special series, we bring us to the 21st-century where the monstrous legacy of both the original Haiti zombi and the Romero ghoul play a role in the rebirth of public interest in the zombie. Modern zombies can be fast or slow, undead or clinging to life, but almost all are infected—and they all crave human flesh.

This horse-like horror of Scottish folklore emerges from the sea bringing death and disease. On land this gruesome creature takes the form of a fleshless horse with a single glowing red eye and an equally fleshless human torso fused to its back. With origins in Orcadian folklore this demonic creature was blamed for plagues, drought, and death in equal measure. This episode explores how the history of the Orkney Islands, the influence of Norse mythology, a real equine disease, and the kelp trade crafted a terrifying, skinless monster.

After suffering a horrible death while pregnant or during childbirth, the pontianak, or kuntilanak, has long been a staple of Malay horror. Known for her long black hair, sharp claws, and desire for blood and organs, this popular monster of Southeast Asia is as deadly as she is beautiful...(well, sometimes). In addition to serving as an allegory for the tension between traditional and modern cultural and spiritual practices, these monsters gave name to a real city. In this episode, you’ll learn how Islamic trade routes, animism, and the role of women in Southeast Asia contribute to stories of this notorious ghost.

A sky deity falling from the sky sounds bad, right? Not if it’s the Kasogonagá! From the mythology of the Toba peoples of South America, this god of lightning, thunder, and rain appears as a small, hairy anteater-like creature and needs a bit of human intervention to return to the skies. Not your typical scary Monstrum episode, this one even features guest illustrator Ellen Surrey. With a long history of helping the indigenous people of South America, this cute, benevolent ‘monster’ is what we all need to end 2020 with—a little hope and a smile.