ABOUT HERE BE MONSTERS

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"Somewhere between being wrapped in your favorite blanket and jumping off a cliff. This show is magic."


⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review by Wingilote on Apple Podcasts

 

Here Be Monsters is an independent podcast about fear, beauty and the unknown.

We talk to people about crow death rituals, flesh eating beetles, internet scammers, nudism, hitchhiking, faith healing, transgender childhood, fake Sasquatch sightings, Cthulhu, psychological warfare, prayers to Satan, etc. Dig through our episodes a bit and you'll find shows about nearly everything.

Here are some more in-depth write-ups about the show:

Where have I heard HBM before? 

Lots of places. Host Jeff Emtman has been on This American Life, RISK, and performed at a Moth grand slam. Also, HBM's been featured on other shows like:

 
 

How do I listen?

Just search for "Here Be Monsters" in any podcast app and look for our rainbow HBM logo. 

If you'd like more instructions, read our How To Listen page.

Do I need to start from the beginning?

No. In fact, we recommend starting with more recent episodes and working your way backwards. 

Here are some episodes we recommend to new listeners:

Who makes Here Be Monsters?

Jeff Emtman started the show in 2012 and continues to produce and edit the episodes. Bethany Denton co-produced Seasons 4 through 8. Lots of other people make episodes for us too. Read about them on our Contributors page.

How can I support the show?

  • 🗣️ Spread the word. Free!
    The way we grow most is when you tell your friends about the show. So text to your weird friend with links to your favorite episodes. 

  • 📆 Become a Patron. $3+ per month
    These monthly donations are incredibly helpful as they give HBM the security to plan for the future. 

  • 👚 Buy our Merch. $2.50+
    We make odd things and sell them to you.  

  • 🔊 Sponsor Episodes. Sliding scale
    Sell your product, promote your work, or just make a statement by buying a sponsorship slot on an episode.  

  • 💰 One Time Donation. $5 - $500
    One time donations are very much appreciated.  Please note that they are not tax-deductible.

Can I advertise my business/product/service/something else on Here Be Monsters?

Yes! Here Be Monsters is largely funded through business and listener sponsorships.

Interested? Please fill out the form on our Sponsorship page. 

You on Twitter / Facebook / Instagram / Patreon et al?

Glad you asked:

 
 


Also, join our super secret Facebook group if you’d like a very casual way to connect with us and other listeners. We use this group as a sounding board and as a place to share half-cooked ideas for future episodes and merch, you get the drift.

Where does the show’s music come from?

We license music (mostly) from independent musicians.

Do you accept episode pitches?

Yes! Mail us a pitch. We look for fleshed out ideas about any topic touching on fear or the unknown. Concept trumps format. Weird and heartfelt are our bread and butter. Also, we especially want pitches from producers who have access to communities, identities and perspectives which we do not have. If we make an episode together, we will pay you.

Do you accept music pitches?

Yes! Mail us a link. We look for the same things in music that we do in episode pitches: “weird and heartfelt.” It’s easier for us to work with you if you’re unsigned. Also, bonus points if you can send us stems. If we put your music on HBM, we’ll pay you

Is Here Be Monsters "explicit"? 

Sometimes. If we think an episode is especially rough on the ears, we'll give a verbal note at the beginning of the show. 

Our general rule is to not be cruel and to only punch up. 

We do talk about dark things a lot, though, and so, here on the website, we get a bit more descriptive about what could cause offense in each episode. Look for pink text on the episode page labelled “Content Note”. In this content note, we provide specifics about what material could be difficult to hear. We started this system with episode 81. Prior to episode 81, we simply used the word “EXPLICIT” in the titles. 

If you have questions about an episode, don't hesitate to write us. And just remember, our definitions of offensive material may differ from yours.

What Equipment/Software/Hosting Do You Use?

Jeff started the show with a cheap recorder, a pair of headphones, and a copy of Reaper. Since then, the equipment's grown considerably. But the long and short of it is that good sound doesn’t have to cost much. Prices listed below are in USD and are highly approximate.

Recording Equipment:

Post Production Equipment:

Software:

Web:

What Other Podcasts Should I Listen To?