About this season
The world is full of monsters, myths, and legends and Monstrum isn’t afraid to take a closer look. The show, hosted by Emily Zarka, Ph.D., takes us on a journey to discover a new monster for each new episode. Monstrum looks at humans unique drive to create and shape monster mythology through oral storytelling, literature and film.
Episodes (5)
1. Who Is This Japanese Yōkai That Is Obsessed With Your Butt?
Aired 8 February 2024 • 11 min
What looks like a reptile-amphibian hybrid, has a dish shaped skull, smells like fish, is child-like and out to steal your crops and drown your livestock? The Japanese water yokai, Kappa.
2. Where the Wild Things Are and the Darkness of Max's Inner Journey
Aired 7 March 2024 • 9 min
As a kid, the monsters in Where the Wild Things Are were downright frightening. But thinking about the book as an adult, it’s clear there’s something deeper to this fantastically monstrous story.
3. Kong Unleashed: The Making of the Original 1933 Film
Aired 4 April 2024 • 9 min
In this episode, we explore the legacy of the monumental 1933 film, King Kong, its groundbreaking special effects, and the complex racial and colonial undertones that continue to shape our understanding of this timeless classic.
4. Is This North American Sea Serpent Real or a Hoax?
Aired 9 May 2024 • 11 min
Many say that the waters of America’s northern coasts are home to an elusive sea serpent of legend. Named Caddy! Or Cadborosaurus, for long. Sightings and testimonials go back generations. Who is Caddy? And why are serpentine water creatures among humanity’s most prevalent monsters?
5. Lost in the Backrooms: Exploring the Internet's Creepiest Liminal Space
Aired 6 June 2024 • 11 min
Ever felt like a place seems real yet oddly unsettling? Welcome to The Backrooms, a digital folklore phenomenon that blurs the lines between reality and fiction, exploring the eerie and uncanny through playful, yet terrifying, community-driven digital storytelling.