Episodes
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This week's guest, Carson Fredriksen, is a neurodivergent writer from Calgary, Alberta, who often enjoys rummaging through his dark, albeit unique, imagination to enhance his mundane life. His previous short stories have appeared in such online publications as CommuterLit, Rooster Republic Press, and Howling Wolf Press. In 2022, his short story (Your Biggest Fans) was named an ‘Honourable Mention’ in Tales from the MoonlitPath’s Halloween challenge. A full transcript can be found here.
More from Carson Fredriksen here and here. Check out a free short story from him here. We talk Autism for service workers, B-shark movies, how families inspire horror stories, and Carson offers advice for aspiring writers with autism.
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A transcript of this episode can be found here.
Skye Spectrum is a multi-talented artist and activist. Zi is proud to be part of the Ypsi / Ann Arbor Michigan LGBTQIA+ community. Where you can see either Kevin or Skye on The Trans Narrative Podcast or locally around town associated with The Neighborhood Theatre Group. Active with two choirs, the Chalice Singers from the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Ann Arbor and Measure for Measure, a men’s choral group out of drag as Kevin. To see all that Skye Spectrum (or Kevin Skye Werner) is showcasing, check out skyerainbow.com or the YouTube channel Skye Rainbow Productions.
This week, we talk trans rights and trans wrongs. The fash takeover of America, Disney's bad call, Stonewall the musical, and Skye describes their visit from Homeland Security.
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Missing episodes?
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Three Michigan educators discuss the incoming regime (recorded in late November). Actionable tips on local organizing, resistance, "weaponizing empathy," School of choice, Title IX, and more. A full transcript of this episode can be found here.
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We know people are struggling with their sobriety and mental health. This week, guests Chris, Matt, and Denise (all sober folk with stories to tell and expertise to share) all discuss what works, what doesn't, and how the heck people are supposed to hold themselves together when their own government wants to tear us apart.
A full transcript of this episode can be found here.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Helpline
Alcoholics Anonymous Virtual Meeting Directory
Harriet Lerner
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Thinking about gun ownership but don't know the first thing about it? Wednesday Lee Friday talks with ammosexual J Grant (LOL) and martial artist Mel Hynes about how to choose the right gun for you, what training you should expect to do, the four pillars of gun safety, and why John Wick is so friggin' awesome. Also self-defense vs home protection, the NRA, survivalists, and a Mad Lib. Relevant Links:
Failure to Fire
Urban Survival with J Grant.
Two Lumps
A full transcript of this ep can be found here.
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Author, Editor, and hedge witch Nora Peevy explains why she doesn't write to an audience. We talk the many shades of witchcraft, how stress and anxiety impact writing schedules (I was shocked, honestly), and why so many girls with ADHD in the 70's and 80's were undiagnosed. Also slush piles, industry drama, and flesh-eating turtles. Nora's book For the Sake of Brigid, is available now.
A transcript of this episode can be found here.
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Gnelfs author and editor Sidney Williams and Wednesday Lee Friday talk influences, introverts, Gnelfs, and Salem's Lot. We name-drop our publisher, and discuss the ways we acknowledge or avoid the need for help with mental health issues. Plus self-doubt, writer's block, horror aesthetics, convention stories, and a Mad Lib.
A transcript of this episode can be found below.
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Wednesday Lee Friday talks with Robin Zabiegalski about body dysmorphia, depression and anxiety. We discuss sex writing and education, recovery and medication, why your diagnosis matters, and the consistent Call of the Void. TW for suicide and addiction/recovery/
Robin Zabiegalski (they/them) is a queer, non-binary writer and editor with several years of experience in digital media. Their specialties include: sexual health, sexuality, relationships, mental health, LGBTQIA+ issues, and wellness. Robin's work has been published in Insider, Health Digest, Glam, The Establishment, The Tempest, Heavy.com, The Inquisitr and several other digital publications.
A transcript of this episode can be found here.
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Violet Fawkes is a sex writer, dildo designer, podcaster, and person living with neurodivergence. We discuss the impact of horror scores on fear, the intricacies and philosophies of dildo design (seriously), and how labels and stigma can keep some people from seeking mental health treatment.
We also talk about what compels us to do what we do, and why happiness is kind of a lousy goal in the long term. Plus narcissism, sociopathy, medication...and a whole bunch of talk about sex writing.
A transcript of this episode can be found here.
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Author, reviewer, publisher, and entertaining cat J.C. Macek III discusses the line between professionalism and self-preservation, drawing lines in the industry, and why AI is an affront to the concept of the humanities. We also talk 70's horror, true crime as portrayed in his novel The Black Dahlia, Hitchcock, anthologies, and I explain my video series on DIY Fleshlights.
J.C. Maçek III is the editor and curator of Symptom of the Universe: A Horror Tribute to Black Sabbath, the author of the hit true crime novel The Black Dahlia(2024) and the producer of the 2018 film [CARGO], starring Ron Thompson of American Pop fame, as well as the author of the film’s tie-in novel.
His other novels include The Antagonist and Seven Days to Die. More recently, the author has found success in shorter stories and novellas, though novels are still his primary focus. An experienced and prolific entertainment journalist and celebrity interviewer, he has written thousands of articles, reviews, and interviews. In addition to his work in Symptom of the Universe: A Horror Tribute to Black Sabbath, he also appears in the anthologies Confessions from the Think Tank, Weird Fiction Quarterly, Flapping Doodles, Nature Triumphs, and many new upcoming anthologies.
He resides in Southern California with his wife, family and a veritable ZOO of pets.
A transcript of this episode can be found here.
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This week the Neurodivergent Rebel joins us to discuss their book detailing how bosses and employees can create better environments for neurodivergent people in the workplace. We also talk scary movies, medical care in America, how demographics can influence care. Wednes tells about her lesbian lizard collection and we spend time opining on why dating can be a lot more fun when you're already cuffed.
A transcript of this episode can be found here.
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That's right, we landed an interview with the guy who does Yacht Rock...the podcast. Hollywood Steve Huey talks about his history with anxiety and his path to getting treatment for PTSD. He also regales us with tales of Yacht or Nacht, being in Pirates of the Caribbean, and body-oriented therapy. Just for funsies, we talk Zappa, Velicipastor, how comedic actors get the shaft at Oscar time, and why the PMRC is still pretty irritating today.
A transcript of this episode can be found here.
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This week, Wednes learns about the transfemme nonbinary experience via Nikki Mariotti. They reveal their journey of discovery and transformation--and it's dope. We also talk Fiddler on the Roof, Aliens, sarcasm, and what happens when you need the police but you aren't confident that they'll actually help you. Also violins, the word enby, honorifics, guitar, and of course, pronouns--verbs and adjectives--because Mad Lib!!
A transcript of this episode can be found here.
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We take a deep dive into pedagogy as Musician and Educator Roger Humphrey tells us about how music has helped him and his students build confidence, cope with tragedy and loss, and the permissions that being a musician gives. Also, process versus results, weird versus foreign, and tablature versus standard notation.
Find Roger here!
A transcript of this ep can be found here.
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This week, we talk with actress and singer Kailin Kenerly. Kailin lives with PTSD and bi-polar disorder, and shares her experiences with self-harm, relationship violence and its aftermath, and what happens when police are better at protecting property than protecting women. We talk about why the demographic of your therapist matters, my moment of sociopoliitcal shame, and the difference between nurturing and co-dependency.
We also talk musical theatre, Night of the Living Dead, and how lucky i feel that the internet didn't exist yet when I was in undergrad.
A transcript of this episode can be found here.
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Maddie is a trauma survivor, artist, and person living with neurodivergence. She's also a socialist, a service industry worker, and a damn interesting chick. We talk about using horror to manage anxiety, why shame is probably not the best motivator, and how fear and anger make some people mean.
Also, depression and creativity, how art and math play off each other, a little bit of lib-talk, and a MadLib.Find a transcript of this episode here.
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Adam Millard is the author of 29 novels, 13 novellas, and more than 200 short stories. Probably best known for his post-apocalyptic and comedy-horror fiction, Adam also writes fantasy/horror for children and Bizarro fiction for several publishers. His work has been translated for the German, Russian, and Spanish markets. He lives in Newcastle-Under-Lyme, UK, with his wife, Dawn, and her cats, which were not his idea at all.
www.adam-millard.com
X - @adammillard
We talk addiction and recovery, dual diagnoses, the Faces of Death franchise. Adam talks about writing a horror series for his son, and how babysitting set his feet on a path. Later, Wednes says way too much about the subject of her current WIP, and of course, a MadLib.
A transcript of this episode can be found here.
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The creator of Nightmare Man, Larry Lugosi discusses his influences, getting misdiagnosed, why humor and horror go so well together, and whether there's a connection between isolation and artistry. We name drop ZombieBurger and Drink Lab and a few other Des Moines landmarks. We talk Godzilla, SPAWN, Punisher, Poe, and why retail work is so much more difficult when you have to remember to smile.
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Caryl Hallberg is a USA citizen living in Tomar, Portugal. She has been writing fantasy fiction since the 70s under a pseudonym, and has recently released her first fiction novel under her own name. A Brush with Mortality is a psychological suspense mystery.
Caryl and Wednes talk Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, the perils of writing demographics we don't live in, Literary Fiction, and how her experiences as a patient during the onset of the AIDS epidemic fueled her to write her most recent book. Also, hunting dogs, Baby Jane Hudson, allyship, and why everyone can benefit from therapy.
A transcript of this episode is available here.
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Alex S. Johnson is the author of numerous books of science fiction, fantasy, Bizarro and horror, among which are The Doom Hippies, Doctor Flesh, The Death Jazz and Bad Sunset: A Splatter Western. His work has been praised by the likes of John Shirley, Bram Stoker Award winning author, screenwriter (The Crow with Brandon Lee), and lyricist for bands like Blue Oyster Cult; the late horror grandmaster Ray Garton, and esteemed poet Ellyn Maybe. He is the creator of the anthologies Floppy Shoes Apocalypse (clown horror) and Dreams of Fire and Steel (sword and sorcery) among many others. He was a music journalist for 25 years with publications in Metal Hammer and Experience Hendrix. He has taught college composition. Johnson currently is semi retired and lives in Sacramento, California where he runs Nocturnicorn Press. He’s also doing a poets interview archive project called Songs of Myself. Yet...he'd never done a MadLib before this interview.
We talk clown horror, hysteria, brain diseases and cognitive tests, circuses, Gregor Samsa, Kaiser Permanente, and a whole bunch of horror movies.
This ep is the last one recorded before we got a new host and a better mic. Pardon my sniffles, but there was nothing to be done. A transcript of this episode can be found here. - Show more
