A myriad of AI, science, and technology experts explore the real challenges and enormous opportunities facing entrepreneurs who are building the future of health. Raising Health, a podcast by a16z Bio + Health and hosted by Kris Tatiossian and Olivia Webb, dives deep into the heart of biotechnology and healthcare innovation. Join veteran company builders, operators, and investors Vijay Pande, Julie Yoo, Vineeta Agarwala, and Jorge Conde, along with distinguished guests like Mark Cuban, Greg ...
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Content provided by Monster House LLC and Blake Smith. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Monster House LLC and Blake Smith or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.
Similar to MonsterTalk
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S05E01 - Think of the Children!
Manage episode 511267147 series 170188
Content provided by Monster House LLC and Blake Smith. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Monster House LLC and Blake Smith or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.
🎙 MonsterTalk — The Cult of Moloch
Show Notes · Hosts: Blake Smith & Karen Stollznow
In this episode, Blake Smith and Karen Stollznow explore the history, mythology, and propaganda surrounding the idea of the Cult of Moloch—a figure long associated with child sacrifice and moral panic. They trace Moloch’s biblical origins in Leviticus and Kings, the contested archaeological claims from Carthage’s Tophet, and Roman accusations against rivals such as the Celts and Druids. The discussion moves through how child-sacrifice narratives have been weaponized across history—from Rome’s propaganda and medieval blood libel to the Satanic Panic and modern conspiracy culture—while separating those myths from documented, contemporary abuse scandals.
Topics in this episode:
🔥 Moloch in Scripture and History
⚱️ Archaeology of Carthage & the Tophet Debate
🪵 Celts, Druids & the Wicker Man
🎃 Samhain, Halloween & Sacrificial Myths
🗡 Accusations as Propaganda
😈 Satanic Panic & Modern Moral Panics
⚖️ Real Scandals & Institutional Abuse
🧠 Critical Thinking & Evidence
⚠️ Content Warning:
This episode includes discussion of child sacrifice, infanticide, sexual abuse, religious violence, and moral panics. While handled through a skeptical and historical lens, some material may be distressing to listeners. Parental discretion is advised.
🔥 Moloch in Scripture and History
• Hebrew Bible: Leviticus 18:21; 20:2–5; 2 Kings 23:10.
• Further reading:
— John Day, Molech: A God of Human Sacrifice in the Old Testament
— Jewish Virtual Library — “Molech”
⚱️ Archaeology of Carthage & the Tophet Debate
• Quinn & Xella (2014), “Carthaginian Child Sacrifice: Reassessing the Evidence,” Antiquity
• Lawrence Stager, “The Rite of Child Sacrifice at Carthage,” Biblical Archaeology Review
🪵 Celts, Druids & the Wicker Man
• Miranda Aldhouse-Green, Human Sacrifice: Archaeological Perspectives (affiliate link)
• BBC History — “Who Were the Druids?”
🎃 Samhain, Halloween & Sacrificial Myths
• Ronald Hutton, The Stations of the Sun (affiliate link)
• History.com — “Samhain and the Origins of Halloween”
🗡 Accusations as Propaganda
• USHMM — “Blood Libel”
• Tertullian, Apologeticus (English)
😈 Satanic Panic & Modern Moral Panics
• Skeptical Inquirer — “The Return of the Satanic Panic”
• FBI (1992) — “Satanic Ritual Abuse” report
⚖️ Real Scandals & Institutional Abuse
• Rotherham CSE — Alexis Jay Report (2014)
• Jimmy Savile — BBC Inquiry Findings
• Jeffrey Epstein — BBC Timeline
• Catholic Church — John Jay Report (2004)
🧠 Critical Thinking & Evidence
• Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World
• The Foundation for Critical Thinking
📚 Bonus:
Don’t forget Karen’s latest short story, The Walsingham Ghosts — available as text or audiobook exclusively from Amazon!
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.
Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.
…
continue reading
Show Notes · Hosts: Blake Smith & Karen Stollznow
In this episode, Blake Smith and Karen Stollznow explore the history, mythology, and propaganda surrounding the idea of the Cult of Moloch—a figure long associated with child sacrifice and moral panic. They trace Moloch’s biblical origins in Leviticus and Kings, the contested archaeological claims from Carthage’s Tophet, and Roman accusations against rivals such as the Celts and Druids. The discussion moves through how child-sacrifice narratives have been weaponized across history—from Rome’s propaganda and medieval blood libel to the Satanic Panic and modern conspiracy culture—while separating those myths from documented, contemporary abuse scandals.
Topics in this episode:
🔥 Moloch in Scripture and History
⚱️ Archaeology of Carthage & the Tophet Debate
🪵 Celts, Druids & the Wicker Man
🎃 Samhain, Halloween & Sacrificial Myths
🗡 Accusations as Propaganda
😈 Satanic Panic & Modern Moral Panics
⚖️ Real Scandals & Institutional Abuse
🧠 Critical Thinking & Evidence
⚠️ Content Warning:
This episode includes discussion of child sacrifice, infanticide, sexual abuse, religious violence, and moral panics. While handled through a skeptical and historical lens, some material may be distressing to listeners. Parental discretion is advised.
🔥 Moloch in Scripture and History
• Hebrew Bible: Leviticus 18:21; 20:2–5; 2 Kings 23:10.
• Further reading:
— John Day, Molech: A God of Human Sacrifice in the Old Testament
— Jewish Virtual Library — “Molech”
⚱️ Archaeology of Carthage & the Tophet Debate
• Quinn & Xella (2014), “Carthaginian Child Sacrifice: Reassessing the Evidence,” Antiquity
• Lawrence Stager, “The Rite of Child Sacrifice at Carthage,” Biblical Archaeology Review
🪵 Celts, Druids & the Wicker Man
• Miranda Aldhouse-Green, Human Sacrifice: Archaeological Perspectives (affiliate link)
• BBC History — “Who Were the Druids?”
🎃 Samhain, Halloween & Sacrificial Myths
• Ronald Hutton, The Stations of the Sun (affiliate link)
• History.com — “Samhain and the Origins of Halloween”
🗡 Accusations as Propaganda
• USHMM — “Blood Libel”
• Tertullian, Apologeticus (English)
😈 Satanic Panic & Modern Moral Panics
• Skeptical Inquirer — “The Return of the Satanic Panic”
• FBI (1992) — “Satanic Ritual Abuse” report
⚖️ Real Scandals & Institutional Abuse
• Rotherham CSE — Alexis Jay Report (2014)
• Jimmy Savile — BBC Inquiry Findings
• Jeffrey Epstein — BBC Timeline
• Catholic Church — John Jay Report (2004)
🧠 Critical Thinking & Evidence
• Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World
• The Foundation for Critical Thinking
📚 Bonus:
Don’t forget Karen’s latest short story, The Walsingham Ghosts — available as text or audiobook exclusively from Amazon!
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.
Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.
469 episodes
Share
Manage episode 511267147 series 170188
Content provided by Monster House LLC and Blake Smith. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Monster House LLC and Blake Smith or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://podcastplayer.com/legal.
🎙 MonsterTalk — The Cult of Moloch
Show Notes · Hosts: Blake Smith & Karen Stollznow
In this episode, Blake Smith and Karen Stollznow explore the history, mythology, and propaganda surrounding the idea of the Cult of Moloch—a figure long associated with child sacrifice and moral panic. They trace Moloch’s biblical origins in Leviticus and Kings, the contested archaeological claims from Carthage’s Tophet, and Roman accusations against rivals such as the Celts and Druids. The discussion moves through how child-sacrifice narratives have been weaponized across history—from Rome’s propaganda and medieval blood libel to the Satanic Panic and modern conspiracy culture—while separating those myths from documented, contemporary abuse scandals.
Topics in this episode:
🔥 Moloch in Scripture and History
⚱️ Archaeology of Carthage & the Tophet Debate
🪵 Celts, Druids & the Wicker Man
🎃 Samhain, Halloween & Sacrificial Myths
🗡 Accusations as Propaganda
😈 Satanic Panic & Modern Moral Panics
⚖️ Real Scandals & Institutional Abuse
🧠 Critical Thinking & Evidence
⚠️ Content Warning:
This episode includes discussion of child sacrifice, infanticide, sexual abuse, religious violence, and moral panics. While handled through a skeptical and historical lens, some material may be distressing to listeners. Parental discretion is advised.
🔥 Moloch in Scripture and History
• Hebrew Bible: Leviticus 18:21; 20:2–5; 2 Kings 23:10.
• Further reading:
— John Day, Molech: A God of Human Sacrifice in the Old Testament
— Jewish Virtual Library — “Molech”
⚱️ Archaeology of Carthage & the Tophet Debate
• Quinn & Xella (2014), “Carthaginian Child Sacrifice: Reassessing the Evidence,” Antiquity
• Lawrence Stager, “The Rite of Child Sacrifice at Carthage,” Biblical Archaeology Review
🪵 Celts, Druids & the Wicker Man
• Miranda Aldhouse-Green, Human Sacrifice: Archaeological Perspectives (affiliate link)
• BBC History — “Who Were the Druids?”
🎃 Samhain, Halloween & Sacrificial Myths
• Ronald Hutton, The Stations of the Sun (affiliate link)
• History.com — “Samhain and the Origins of Halloween”
🗡 Accusations as Propaganda
• USHMM — “Blood Libel”
• Tertullian, Apologeticus (English)
😈 Satanic Panic & Modern Moral Panics
• Skeptical Inquirer — “The Return of the Satanic Panic”
• FBI (1992) — “Satanic Ritual Abuse” report
⚖️ Real Scandals & Institutional Abuse
• Rotherham CSE — Alexis Jay Report (2014)
• Jimmy Savile — BBC Inquiry Findings
• Jeffrey Epstein — BBC Timeline
• Catholic Church — John Jay Report (2004)
🧠 Critical Thinking & Evidence
• Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World
• The Foundation for Critical Thinking
📚 Bonus:
Don’t forget Karen’s latest short story, The Walsingham Ghosts — available as text or audiobook exclusively from Amazon!
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.
Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.
…
continue reading
Show Notes · Hosts: Blake Smith & Karen Stollznow
In this episode, Blake Smith and Karen Stollznow explore the history, mythology, and propaganda surrounding the idea of the Cult of Moloch—a figure long associated with child sacrifice and moral panic. They trace Moloch’s biblical origins in Leviticus and Kings, the contested archaeological claims from Carthage’s Tophet, and Roman accusations against rivals such as the Celts and Druids. The discussion moves through how child-sacrifice narratives have been weaponized across history—from Rome’s propaganda and medieval blood libel to the Satanic Panic and modern conspiracy culture—while separating those myths from documented, contemporary abuse scandals.
Topics in this episode:
🔥 Moloch in Scripture and History
⚱️ Archaeology of Carthage & the Tophet Debate
🪵 Celts, Druids & the Wicker Man
🎃 Samhain, Halloween & Sacrificial Myths
🗡 Accusations as Propaganda
😈 Satanic Panic & Modern Moral Panics
⚖️ Real Scandals & Institutional Abuse
🧠 Critical Thinking & Evidence
⚠️ Content Warning:
This episode includes discussion of child sacrifice, infanticide, sexual abuse, religious violence, and moral panics. While handled through a skeptical and historical lens, some material may be distressing to listeners. Parental discretion is advised.
🔥 Moloch in Scripture and History
• Hebrew Bible: Leviticus 18:21; 20:2–5; 2 Kings 23:10.
• Further reading:
— John Day, Molech: A God of Human Sacrifice in the Old Testament
— Jewish Virtual Library — “Molech”
⚱️ Archaeology of Carthage & the Tophet Debate
• Quinn & Xella (2014), “Carthaginian Child Sacrifice: Reassessing the Evidence,” Antiquity
• Lawrence Stager, “The Rite of Child Sacrifice at Carthage,” Biblical Archaeology Review
🪵 Celts, Druids & the Wicker Man
• Miranda Aldhouse-Green, Human Sacrifice: Archaeological Perspectives (affiliate link)
• BBC History — “Who Were the Druids?”
🎃 Samhain, Halloween & Sacrificial Myths
• Ronald Hutton, The Stations of the Sun (affiliate link)
• History.com — “Samhain and the Origins of Halloween”
🗡 Accusations as Propaganda
• USHMM — “Blood Libel”
• Tertullian, Apologeticus (English)
😈 Satanic Panic & Modern Moral Panics
• Skeptical Inquirer — “The Return of the Satanic Panic”
• FBI (1992) — “Satanic Ritual Abuse” report
⚖️ Real Scandals & Institutional Abuse
• Rotherham CSE — Alexis Jay Report (2014)
• Jimmy Savile — BBC Inquiry Findings
• Jeffrey Epstein — BBC Timeline
• Catholic Church — John Jay Report (2004)
🧠 Critical Thinking & Evidence
• Carl Sagan, The Demon-Haunted World
• The Foundation for Critical Thinking
📚 Bonus:
Don’t forget Karen’s latest short story, The Walsingham Ghosts — available as text or audiobook exclusively from Amazon!
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.
Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.
469 episodes
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When you hear the words Alzheimer's disease, what do you think of? The truth is, the picture most of us have of the disease is incomplete. Alzheimer's disease doesn't start when someone starts to lose their memory. It actually starts years – sometimes decades – earlier. The Rethinking Alzheimer's Disease Podcast is an engaging, narrative-style podcast miniseries for those curious or motivated to learn about Alzheimer’s disease. Perhaps you have a family member with Alzheimer’s disease, or ca ...
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…
continue reading
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…
continue reading
Flash Forward is a show about possible (and not so possible) future scenarios. What would the warranty on a sex robot look like? How would diplomacy work if we couldn’t lie? Could there ever be a fecal transplant black market? (Complicated, it wouldn’t, and yes, respectively, in case you’re curious.) Hosted and produced by award winning science journalist Rose Eveleth, each episode combines audio drama and journalism to go deep on potential tomorrows, and uncovers what those futures might re ...
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