Monstrum
PBS Running
8 Seasons · 116 Episodes · Premiered April 10, 2019
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 in each new episode. Monstrum looks at humans unique drive to create and shape monster mythology through oral storytelling, literature, and film and digs deep into the history of those mythologies.
Where to Watch:
PBS
Next Air Time: No upcoming air date
Seasons & Episodes
Season 2019
20 episodes
E01
Are White Walkers Really Nordic Zombies?
Wed, Apr 10 2019 4:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E02
The Original Headless Horseman
Wed, Apr 24 2019 4:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E03
El Chupacabras, a Modern Mystery
Wed, May 8 2019 4:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E04
Godzilla and Mothra: King and Queen of the Kaiju
Wed, May 22 2019 4:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E05
How Dragons Conquered the World
Wed, Jun 5 2019 4:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E06
How Chimaera Mythology Became Reality
Fri, Jun 21 2019 4:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E07
La Llorona: Mother, Murderer, Victim
Wed, Jul 3 2019 4:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E08
Golem: The Mysterious Clay Monster of Jewish Lore
Wed, Jul 17 2019 4:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E09
Martians! How Aliens Invaded Earth
Thu, Aug 1 2019 4:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E10
Release the Kraken! Origins of the Legendary Sea Monster
Wed, Aug 14 2019 4:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E11
Windigo: The Flesh-Eating Monster of Native American Legend
Wed, Aug 28 2019 4:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E12
Dracula: The First Modern Vampire
Wed, Sep 11 2019 4:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E13
Banshee: Ireland's Screaming Harbinger of Death
Wed, Sep 25 2019 4:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E14
Mothman: America's Notorious Winged Monster
Wed, Oct 16 2019 4:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E15
Frankenstein is More Horrific Than You Might Think
Wed, Oct 23 2019 4:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E16
Cyclops: The Origin Story of This Terrifying One-Eyed Giant
Tue, Oct 29 2019 4:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E17
Blame the Tokoloshe! South Africa's Most Notorious Goblin
Wed, Nov 13 2019 8:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E18
Medusa: Victim or Villain?
Wed, Nov 27 2019 8:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E19
Manananggal: The Flying, Disembodied, Blood Sucking Nightmare
Wed, Dec 11 2019 8:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E20
The Wicked Feline Murder Floof, a Yule Cat Story
Fri, Dec 20 2019 8:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
Season 2020
18 episodes
E01
Leshy: The Slavic Lord of the Forest
Wed, Jan 29 2020 8:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E02
The Dark Origins of Hansel and Gretel
Wed, Feb 19 2020 8:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E03
The Crazed Hunt for the Himalayan Yeti
Wed, Mar 11 2020 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E04
How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse (with Dr. Z)
Mon, Apr 6 2020 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E05
Jinn: The Ancient Arabian Shapeshifter
Wed, Apr 15 2020 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E06
Slender Man: How The Internet Created a Monster
Thu, May 14 2020 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E07
Jorōgumo: The Deadly Spider Woman from Yokai Lore
Thu, Jun 11 2020 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E08
Bunyip: Australia's Mysterious Amphibian Monster
Wed, Jul 1 2020 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E09
The Fatal Song of the Sirens
Thu, Jul 23 2020 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E10
Unlocking the Mystery of Loch Ness
Fri, Aug 14 2020 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E11
The Original Urban Legend: Spring-heeled Jack
Thu, Sep 3 2020 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E12
How Gargoyles Became Monsters
Fri, Oct 2 2020 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E13
The Origins of the Zombie, from Haiti to the U.S.
Wed, Oct 14 2020 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E14
Why George Romero Changed Zombies Forever
Wed, Oct 21 2020 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E15
Modern Zombies: The Rebirth of the Undead
Thu, Oct 29 2020 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E16
Nuckelavee: Scotland's Skinless Evil Monstrosity
Fri, Nov 13 2020 8:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E17
Pontianak: The Vengeful, Violent Vampiric Ghost of Southeast Asia
Thu, Dec 3 2020 8:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E18
Kasagonagá: The Cute, Kind Monster We All Need Right Now
Wed, Dec 23 2020 8:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
Season 2021
17 episodes
E01
Baba Yaga: The Ancient Origins of the Famous ‘Witch'
Thu, Jan 14 2021 8:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E02
Werehyena: The Terrifying Shapeshifters of African Lore
Wed, Feb 3 2021 8:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E03
Taotie: The Mystery of Chinese Mythology's Famous Glutton
Wed, Mar 3 2021 8:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E04
Leprechaun: From Gold-Loving Cobbler to Cultural Icon
Tue, Mar 16 2021 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E05
Will-o'-the-Wisp: Monstrous Flame or Scientific Phenomenon?
Wed, Apr 7 2021 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E06
Yara-ma-yha-who: Australia's Regurgitating, Blood-Sucking Monster
Wed, Apr 28 2021 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E07
Basilisk or Cockatrice? The Mysterious King of Serpents
Wed, May 19 2021 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E08
Don't Let Them In! The Urban Legends of Black-Eyed Children
Wed, Jun 23 2021 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E09
The Macabre Origins of the Grim Reaper
Thu, Jul 1 2021 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E10
El Silbón: The Deadly Whistler of the South American Grasslands
Wed, Jul 21 2021 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E11
Fire Cat or Fire Cart? The History of Japan's Kasha
Wed, Aug 11 2021 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E12
Death Worms: Fact or Fiction?
Wed, Sep 29 2021 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E13
The Killer Origins of the Werewolf
Thu, Oct 21 2021 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E14
The Werewolf's Modern Metamorphosis
Thu, Oct 28 2021 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E15
Trolls: Scandinavia's Malevolent, Magical Outcasts
Wed, Nov 10 2021 8:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E16
Monster Bugs, Attack! The Origins of ‘Big Bug' Science Fiction
Tue, Nov 23 2021 8:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E17
Krampus: Origins of the Yuletide Monster
Wed, Dec 15 2021 8:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
Season 2022
15 episodes
E01
The Enchanting Fairies of Celtic Lore
Tue, Feb 8 2022 8:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E02
Adze: the Shapeshifting Firefly from West Africa
Tue, Mar 1 2022 8:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E03
Why the Dragon is Central to Chinese Culture
Tue, Mar 22 2022 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E04
Have Humans Always Feared Sharks?
Tue, Apr 12 2022 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E05
Why Has the Majestic Griffin Been Forgotten?
Tue, May 3 2022 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E06
Mapinguari: Fearsome Beast and Protector of the Amazon
Thu, Jun 2 2022 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E07
Alien Abduction and UFOs: Why Are Grays So Common?
Thu, Jun 16 2022 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E08
What Hellhounds Reveal about Humans' Oldest Companion
Wed, Jul 6 2022 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E09
Is Siren Head the Ultimate Modern Monster?
Tue, Aug 9 2022 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E10
How Cthulhu Transcended its Creator, H.P. Lovecraft
Tue, Aug 23 2022 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E11
Monster Plants and the Humans who Invent Them
Tue, Sep 13 2022 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E12
Tikbálang: The Filipino Nightmare Shapeshifter
Tue, Oct 4 2022 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E13
The Golden Age of Movie Monsters
Tue, Nov 1 2022 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E14
Egyptian Mummies: From Sacred Vessels to Scary Undead
Wed, Nov 16 2022 8:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E15
Can All Monsters Be Traced Back to Tiamat?
Tue, Dec 13 2022 8:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
Season 2023
15 episodes
E01
Is Yuki-onna the Most Terrifying Snow Monster?
Thu, Feb 9 2023 8:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E02
How Bloody Mary Turns Fear Into Fun
Thu, Mar 9 2023 8:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E03
Unicorns: Magical Icons or Violent Beasts?
Tue, Apr 11 2023 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E04
Why Do Cyborgs Inspire Special Fear in Humans
Thu, May 4 2023 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E05
Hero, Beast, or Both? The Complex Lore of the Centaur
Thu, May 18 2023 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E06
The Untold Secrets of Pokémon's Monster Mythology
Thu, Jun 8 2023 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E07
The Nighttime Horror of the Bengalis' Nishi Ghost
Thu, Jul 6 2023 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E08
The Hidden Origins of the Water Nixie, the Scariest Little Mermaid
Wed, Jul 19 2023 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E09
Was Púca the Nightmare Bunny That Inspired Donnie Darko?
Thu, Aug 17 2023 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E10
Uncovering the Enigma: Sasquatch Sightings and Our Deep Fear of the Wild
Thu, Sep 7 2023 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E11
The SCP Foundation: Declassified
Thu, Sep 28 2023 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E12
From Innocent Toys to Nightmare Fuel: The Evolution of Creepy Dolls
Thu, Oct 26 2023 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E13
Goosebumps and Sleepovers: Why We Love to Scare Each Other
Mon, Oct 30 2023 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E14
Creepy Clowns: The Horror Behind the Laughter
Wed, Nov 22 2023 8:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E15
Mari Lwyd: The Skeleton Horse's Deep Past with Christmas Tradition
Thu, Dec 14 2023 8:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
Season 2024
14 episodes
E01
Who Is This Japanese Yōkai That Is Obsessed With Your Butt?
Thu, Feb 8 2024 8:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E02
Where the Wild Things Are and the Darkness of Max's Inner Journey
Thu, Mar 7 2024 8:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E03
Kong Unleashed: The Making of the Original 1933 Film
Thu, Apr 4 2024 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E04
Is This North American Sea Serpent Real or a Hoax?
Thu, May 9 2024 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E05
Lost in the Backrooms: Exploring the Internet's Creepiest Liminal Space
Thu, Jun 6 2024 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E06
Why Kong Will Never Die
Thu, Jun 27 2024 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E07
La Lechuza: The Owl Lady of the Mexican Borderlands
Thu, Jul 18 2024 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E08
Was Grendel's Mother Really a Monster?
Thu, Aug 1 2024 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E09
The Ancient Terror of the Chinese Hopping Corpse, Jiangshi
Thu, Aug 29 2024 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E10
Why Manticore Is a Dungeons & Dragons Legend
Thu, Sep 26 2024 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E11
Slasher Lore Is Way Deeper Than You Think
Fri, Oct 25 2024 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E12
Why Did WWI Pilots Think Monsters Were Sabotaging Their Planes?
Thu, Dec 5 2024 8:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E13
Why Do These Christmas Monsters Want To Destroy the World?
Thu, Dec 12 2024 8:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E14
Why Did Changelings Terrorize the Victorian Age?
Thu, Dec 26 2024 8:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
Season 2025
14 episodes
E01
How This Thing Became a Modern Bigfoot
Thu, Feb 13 2025 8:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E02
Why Are So Many People Seeing The Hat Man?
Thu, Mar 13 2025 7:00 PM GMT+0000
7 min
E03
Why Does A Ghost Whale Terrorize The Japanese Coast?
Thu, Apr 10 2025 7:00 PM GMT+0000
E04
Why Did Vampires Become Sexy?
Thu, May 8 2025 7:00 PM GMT+0000
E05
The Terrifying Reign of the Beast of Gevaudan
Thu, Jun 5 2025 7:00 PM GMT+0000
E06
The Most Puzzling UFO Case of the 20th Century
Thu, Jul 3 2025 7:00 PM GMT+0000
E07
Real Life Monster Hunters Are More Hardcore Than Fiction
Thu, Aug 7 2025 7:00 PM GMT+0000
E08
The Disturbing Reasons We Invent Monsters
Thu, Sep 4 2025 7:00 PM GMT+0000
E09
These Mythical Monsters Turned Out To Be Real
Thu, Sep 18 2025 7:00 PM GMT+0000
E10
The Cursed Monster Born From Slavery
Tue, Sep 30 2025 7:00 PM GMT+0000
E11
The Deep Halloween Lore You Probably Don't Know
Tue, Oct 21 2025 7:00 PM GMT+0000
E12
The Deep Lore Behind KPop Demon Hunters
Tue, Nov 4 2025 8:00 PM GMT+0000
E13
A Monster Expert's Take on Mascot Horror
Tue, Dec 2 2025 8:00 PM GMT+0000
E14
Meet The Pacific Northwest's Most Mysterious Killer
Tue, Dec 16 2025 8:00 PM GMT+0000
Season 2026
3 episodes
E01
Why This UFO Sighting Was Different
Tue, Feb 24 2026 8:00 PM GMT+0000
E02
The Disturbing Case of America's Most Infamous Haunting
Tue, Mar 24 2026 7:00 PM GMT+0000
E03
The Monster They Needed You To Fear
Tue, Apr 21 2026 7:00 PM GMT+0000
Cast
Emily Zarka
as Host