Back to Show
Monstrum
Leprechaun: From Gold-Loving Cobbler to Cultural Icon
Season 3
Episode 4
Leprechauns are associated with St. Patrick’s Day and Irish culture, but do you know why? The jovial, red-haired little man dressed in green standing next to a pot of gold is a modern invention—the diminutive faerie folk was once more popularly known for their role as tricksters and expert cobblers.
Support Provided By

9:01
The okapi sounds made-up—but it’s very real (and very cute).

10:20
What makes a monster?

10:27
How did Van Helsing go from academic in Dracula to action hero icon?

14:27
Was the 1952 Flatwoods Monster sighting an alien, a Cold War experiment, or mass hysteria?

8:36
Lore of the ghostly whale skeleton, Bake-kujira, reveals an ominous twist of the marine giants.

10:33
Let’s talk about the eerie and unsettling legend of changelings.

7:11
Rooted in Greek culture, the Christmas monster Kallikantzaros is a goblin-like creature.

8:15
You think you know Gremlins—but their story is far deeper than just the 1984 movie.

32:44
Let’s talk slasher films–their origins, their lasting impact, and why we love them so much!

12:47
Is the Manticore a man-eating monster from Persian myth or simply a misidentified tiger?

12:13
Jiangshi, is a variation on the vampire that you won’t soon forget!

8:44
Translation has shaped the lore of Grendel's Mother as a fearsome yet misunderstood figure.