The Best Stuff In The World

It's the return of our occasional segment where guests come on to talk about albums that changed their lives - the last time we did this was about a year ago when Gary Mitchel joined to talk about Portishead’s Dummy and this time I’m welcoming back to the show writer and musician Andre Salles to talk about two of his favorite records, Tori Amos’ Little Earthquakes and Talk Talk’s Laughing Stock!We get into why Andre chose these particular albums in the episode, and there are links to Andre’s bandcamp and old music blog Tuesday Morning 3am in the shownotes. We recorded this episode a few months ago, and since the recording Andre has launched a patreon - he’s making three albums this year with the support of his patrons: an instrumental guitar record, an album of songs with lyrics about grief, and an electronic ambient suite. He’s also creating improvised diaries each month and those are on the band camp: andresalles.bandcamp.com. The patreon is patreon.com/andresalles.Our theme music is by Mister Michael BrousseauPer usual, You can email this show at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’m joined by author Michael Blanding to talk about his fascinating new book THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO HOBBY LOBBY.Hobby Lobby is the multibillion-dollar craft store chain you may have wandered through for picture frames and fake flowers at some point, founded and owned by the Greens, an evangelical Christian family who have spent decades quietly using their fortune to push their religious beliefs into American law and culture, from a Supreme Court case that gutted contraception coverage, to a Bible museum blocks from the Capitol, to a long, well-funded campaign to remake the country in their image.Michael’s book traces the Greens' rise from a single picture-frame shop in Oklahoma to one of the most quietly powerful families in the country. His reporting took him from the Oklahoma prairie to plundered museums in Iraq to a monastery library in Egypt, and he's also the author of THE MAP THIEF and IN SHAKESPEARE'S SHADOW. This episode’s a little heavier than our usual fare, but I loved hearing Michael talk about the process of writing this book and I think you will too.Check out Michael and his upcoming appearances in support of the book at his website: https://www.michaelblanding.com/You can get THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO HOBBY LOBBY at a cool indie bookstore near you, or through bookshop.org: THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO HOBBY LOBBYI was recently a guest on the podcast Channel 37's After Midnight to talk about the bonkers 1977 Japanese horror movie House! Listen here: AFTER MIDNIGHT: HOUSEOur theme music is by Mister Michael BrousseauPer usual, You can email this show at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AMC's The Vampire Lestat is based on the popular novel by the late Anne Rice, part of her VAMPIRE CHRONICLES series and continuing on from Interview with the Vampire, which is what the previous two seasons of the tv show were called.It’s a really bonkers show where Lestat, played by Sam Reid, forms a rock band where he sings about vampire stuff and goes on tour and kills people and has sex with people, not necessarily in that order. Joining me to unpack all of it are Hanako M. Ricks from the Fandom Hybrid Podcast, where she and her co-hosts dig into all corners of pop culture and storytelling, and writer, filmmaker and VAMPIRE CHRONICLES SUPERFAN Erica Robert Pallo, who was absolutely wearing a LESTAT LIVES t-shirt while we recorded this. Spoilers absolutely abound in this discussion, both for the tv show and for the first two books in the novel series, so if you haven't caught up yet, go do that and come on back. Or just listen. Lestat would be okay with that, and so would I.You can find Hanako M Ricks and the Fandom Hybrid podcast here: Fandom Hybrid PodcastYou can find Erica Robert Pallo here: https://www.instagram.com/ericarobertpalloYou can also find Erica's past podcast appearances on Linktree: Erica Robert PalloOur theme music is by Mister Michael BrousseauPer usual, You can email this show at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're talking with writer, director, producer, and actor Julia Campanelli!Julia is the founder of SHELTER FILM and SHELTER THEATRE GROUP in New York City, companies built around a simple but urgent mission: changing the narrative through visually provocative, genre-expanding, socially impactful projects by and about women.As a filmmaker, she's written, directed, and produced a string of award-winning short films, including 116, Choose to Love, and A Day in November. She's currently developing her feature script The Paisley Witch Trial (winner of Best Screenplay at Raindance) for production in Scotland and she is crowdfunding a new short film called The Deer.On stage, Julia has directed and produced thirteen productions across NYC, including the critically acclaimed Macbeth on LES. I first came to know Julia when she joined the cast of the long running immersive theater juggernaut Sleep No More in New York and I know I have had my share of Sleep No More people on this podcast and my main goal with wanting to talk to Julia was to talk about The Deer and the Paisley Witches script but - surprise surprise - we wind up talking a lot about Sleep No More too. We cover a lot of ground that I don't feel was covered in previous interviews about the show - the early days of the Gallow Green rooftop space (and the secrets of the Gallow Green one on one scene!), the 6th floor one on one, and performing as one of the interactive characters in the Manderley Bar.Julia’s up to so much cool stuff and she’s such an interesting person that this is a long interview but I think it’s well worth your time.Check out the crowdfunding campaign for The Deer here: The Deer Film CampaignMore information about Julia can be found on her website: juliacampanelli.comOur theme music is by Mister Michael BrousseauPer usual, You can email this show at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Put down that chainsaw and listen to me! My guests and I are spending this episode talking all about the life and career of a singular American artist: "Weird Al" Yankovic!"Weird Al" has been making music for over forty years now and I think his story is genuinely one of the most interesting in music - he's outlasted pretty much everyone he's ever parodied, he's won five Grammys, and he seems to be more popular than ever, selling out Madison Square Garden on his most recent tour. I’m joined by returning guests and "Weird Al" superfans Kevin Eldridge from the great podcast The Flopcast and by musician and writer Dana Stinson to talk all things Al - the videos, the parodies, the non-parodies, the movies, the just-announced Broadway show, and more!Check out Kevin Eldridge's podcast here: The FlopcastYou can check out Kevin's comedy music band here: The Sponge Awareness FoundationDana's on Bluesky! https://bsky.app/profile/bimbokatan.bsky.socialDana published a "Hamilton" parody song about Dragon Con last year! Go check it out: You Will WaitOur theme music is by Mister Michael BrousseauPer usual, You can email this show at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are talking to writer, designer, filmmaker, editor and other multi-hyphens I can’t come up with right now Rachel Lichtman!Rachel’s latest project is Programme 4 - a multimedia video project that creates an entire world centered around the fictional tv station Programme 4. Rachel has been touring with a roughly 90 minute Programme 4 compilation featuring ads, music videos, and opening credits to shows that don’t exist. Rachel’s able to bring to bear her design skills and her filmmaking skills on Programme 4 and I can honestly say there’s not really much like it. Rachel does a better job describing Programme 4 in the interview than I’m doing here but it’s really unique and cool and she collaborates with a ton of awesome and talented folks like Aimee Mann, Juliana Hatfield, Ted Leo, Eugene Mirman, and way more than I can list here including former guest of THIS show Josh Kantor. She’s been taking it on the road so if it comes to your town make sure to check it out.Check out Programme 4 here! Programme 4July 16 in New York! Make the scene with With Dave Hill, Josh Gondelman, Ted Leo, Tammy Faye Starlite, Angela DiCarlo, Nath Ann Carrera, Eszter Balint, and Eric Drysdale + Musical Director, David Nagler: https://kydlabs.com/e/EV6b612b7e-4b07-468c-8c61-c1560b02b180?referral_id=g-2f289b97-e394-4114-ab7f-c002e7f82474Per usual, You can email this show at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This time out I am talking to musician Chris Principe about his time in the band Hooray for Earth and his new solo digital release under his own name - Judge and Jury and Us vs. Them!It was great talking to Chris about the music that inspired him and the music he’s making. You can find the new single on Bandcamp here: https://chrisprincipemusic.bandcamp.com/album/judge-jury-us-vs-themFind out Chris's various goings-on over at his Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/chrisprincipemusic/Per usual, You can email this show at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’m excited to talk to musician and playwright Alexia Rowe! Alexia describes herself as an award-winning third-culture kid playwright and singer-songwriter who got her first production professionally produced while still in college.Alexia is currently running a crowdfunding campaign for her House Plays initiative - an attempt to make theater more affordable and accessible by embracing diverse performances, community engagement, and unique venues. Check out the link to her kickstarter in the show notes - in addition to House Plays Alexia is a musician, and wrote the award winning site-specific show This Is Not A Bill. She is up to a ton of cool stuff and it was great to talk to her about all of it.Alexia's House Plays Kickstarter can be found here.You can find out about more of Alexia's projects at her website: Alexia RoweYou can email this show at [email protected] music by Mister Michael Brousseau Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’m excited to talk to Micah Huang about the upcoming course he’s teaching at Tufts University: Punk Rock: History, Theory, and Practice!The punk rock class was what brought Micah to my attention - I love talking about the punk scene with people and I was curious about how someone builds a syllabus for a course like that (what do you include, what do you leave out?) but in addition to his punk course Micah’s a musician, storyteller and community advocate so we also talk about how he took what learned from the punk scene for events he’s involved with like the LA Hungry Ghost Festival, a community-driven cultural event held in Chinatown. This was a super interesting conversation and I hope you enjoy it.Check out the course here: Punk Rock: History, Theory, and PracticeCheck out the Hungry Ghost festival here: LA Hungry Ghost FestivalSee all the other amazing stuff Micah is up to here: Micah Huang MusicYou can email this show at [email protected] music by Mister Michael Brousseau Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For our 50th episode I'm welcoming back Kellian Adams Pletcher and her husband Brian Pletcher to talk about the new immersive mystery puzzle show they are helping to put on in Boston along with the Secret City Group: The Wedding Party!The Wedding Party is a 2.5-hour mystery dinner experience at The W Hotel in Boston - it runs from May 1 to June 14. Six live actors play the wedding party, and you, the attendee, play an old friend of the bride who gets pulled deeper into the story as the night unfolds. Expect puzzles, hidden messages, dramatic revelations, and a delicious meal while it all plays out.Kellian was on the show last year to talk about her show The Cthulhu Luau and she and Brian have been putting on these sorts of live immersive events for the past ten years in the Boston area, Club Drosselmeyer is probably the most well-known and I was really excited to talk to them about this new show.You can find out about The Wedding Party and get tickets here: The Wedding PartyThe YouTube video of Kellian and Brian's viral first wedding dance can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OP8zft_SvSMYou can, as always, contact the show at [email protected] theme song is by Mister Michael Brousseau Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Babylon 5 was a science fiction television series created by writer and producer J. Michael Straczynski. The show ran in syndication for its first four seasons before moving to TNT for its final season.Babylon 5 was a hugely ambitious show, and sometimes its reach was more than its grasp but I love that it was going for something big. When it worked there was nothing like it on television and I’m so excited to discuss it with returning guest Denise Lhamon, who you may remember from our Charlie Chaplin episode, and with Nathan Laws from the podcast The 42cast. Spoilers for the show abound in this discussion, so proceed with caution. Check out Nathan Laws over at The 42cast, the ultimate answer to fandom, geekiness and everything: https://42cast.com/I was a guest on the podcast Wait, You Haven't Seen..? to discuss the classic Hollywood musical Singin' in the Rain: Singin' in the RainYou can, as always, contact the show at [email protected] theme song is by Mister Michael Brousseau Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Athena Z. Peters from Incantrix Productions joins us to discuss the company's work and their upcoming shows. Incantrix Productions have been putting on immersive/interactive shows in the Boston area for about 10 years and they have two shows coming up in the near future: Romancing Jan, which is coming out the Saturday after this episode releases (so hopefully you haven’t let this sit in your queue for too long) and TAVERN CRAWL, a Dungeons & Dragons pub crawl in Malden. Links for tickets to both events are below:Romancing Jan: Buy Tickets!Tavern Crawl: Buy Tickets!Find out more about Incantrix Productions here: https://www.incantrixproductions.com/You can, as always, email me at [email protected] music by Mister Michael Brousseau. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I am delighted to be talking with Hudson Leick - yoga teacher, intuitive astrologer, dance instructor, and so many other things. In the nerdy circles I sometimes run in Hudson is perhaps best known for portraying Callisto, the best and most iconic villain on the classic television show Xena: Warrior Princess. We talk a little bit about Xena and a lot about all of the amazing things Hudson is doing now, from hosting yoga retreats to emotional healing talks to 5 Rhythms Dance seminars. This one went deeper than I thought it would - Hudson is clearly someone who has a natural ability to connect with people and I was genuinely surprised by how open we both were. While editing I had to ask myself, "Is Hudson Leick my therapist?" (She's not, but she'd be very good at it if she were.) I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.You can find Hudson and sign up for one of her yoga retreats or astrology readings at her website: https://www.hudsonleick.com/Hudson Leick is scheduled to be a guest at the upcoming Salute to Xena convention this October, where you can sign up for a yoga class, a 5 Rhythms Dance Class or an Emotional Healing Talk: https://creationent.com/events/xena/You can, as always, email me at [email protected] music by Mister Michael Brousseau. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode I have gathered a panel of weapons-grade music enthusiasts to discuss some of our favorite holiday music songs - mostly Christmas tunes but a few more general “it’s wintertime” numbers.The picks run the gamut from beloved songs almost everybody knows (Johnny Mathis! Darlene Love!) to oddball novelty numbers (Max Headroom! Weird Al!) to songs that should be more well-known because they’re so great. I’m joined in this endeavor by returning guest Guy Benoit, who has written and directed independent films and plays, was the singer for the amazing Providence, RI bands Von Ryan’s Express and Thee Hydrogen Terrors, and whose creativity always inspires and impresses me and by two new guests to the show. Chris Cummins has appeared on my other podcast GLEAMING THE TUBE and I don’t know anyone who is better at unearthing strange and wonderful artifacts and clips from recent pop culture. He’s written for Archie Comics, streams a wonderful array of classic pop culture ephemera at his Sci-Fi Explosion Twitch channel, hosts fun live events in the Philadelphia area and at various Sci-Fi conventions around the country and co-DJs the MTV’s 120 Minutes Dance party with me every year at Dragon Con. And Dana Stinson, aka BimboKatan, is a brass band musician, photographer, and passionate music fan.You can find most of (but not all) of our songs picks on my holiday Spotify playlist: XMASPer usual, You can email this show at [email protected] Best Stuff in the World theme song by Mister Michael Brousseau Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I am talking to Jaina Cipriano: photographer/experiential designer/filmmaker/Executive Director of the Arlington International Film Festival!Jaina and I talk all about her art and the film festival, including the immersive experience that Witch Hunt Theatre staged at this year’s event. (You may remember that I chatted with Witch Hunt’s artistic director Taylor Stark earlier this year.) Jaina is working on a ton of interesting stuff and it was great chatting with her about the art she makes and the art she loves. Per usual, You can email this show at [email protected]. You can find out more about Jaina Cipriano at her website: https://www.jainaciprianophotography.com/Check out the Arlington International Film Festival: https://www.arlingtonfilmfest.com/Jaina's experimental tv series The Imposter Syndrome is screening at the Capitol Theatre on January 24th. Get tickets here: https://www.capitoltheatreusa.com/movie/the-imposter-syndrome/The Best Stuff in the World theme song by Mister Michael Brousseau Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this edition of The Best Stuff in the World my guests and I are diving into our collective love of MAD Magazine! For decades, MAD skewered politics, pop culture, advertising, television, and almost anything else you can think of. Joining me to discuss MAD and the "usual gang of idiots" who wrote and drew it are two of The Best Stuff in the World’s usual gang of idiots, returning guests Kevin Eldridge from the great podcast The Flopcast and Michael Brousseau, who I co-host the skateboard movie podcast Gleaming the Tube with and who wrote and sang this very podcast’s theme song!You can find Kevin Eldridge over The Flopcast! You can find Michael Brousseau co-hosting Gleaming the Tube with me!I was a guest on the GIMMICKS podcast to talk all about the series finale of Pee-Wee's Playhouse! Check it out here: Pee-Wee's Playhouse: Playhouse for Sale!You can email me at [email protected] music by Mister Michael Brousseau Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I am BACK ON MY BULLSHIT talking to a former cast member of SLEEP NO MORE - I am delighted to welcome the great Tori Sparks to the podcast this week.I first saw Tori perform in the Boston production of Sleep No More, which is the show that sparked my interest in immersive theater and, in my opinion, was the big bang for what we call “immersive theater” in the U.S. If you’re a person who follows that art form it’s hard not to notice that Tori has been possibly the most significant performer in that space, especially on the East Coast. In addition to her work with Punchdrunk she’s done amazing work with Third Rail Productions on a number of their shows (which we get into), she was one of the people who helped build Life & Trust (Emursive’s attempt to follow up Sleep No More with another big sprawling show that you could lost in), she worked on Kelly Bartnik’s HERE, one-off Punchdrunk shows at MIT, and was the "immersive specialist" on MASQUERADE, the new promenade version of Phantom of the Opera that’s running in New York. She’s everywhere, and I think the reason why is that she’s one of the most gifted and intuitive performers in that space. Her Lady Macbeth in Sleep No More is up there with the greatest performances I’ve seen anybody do in any medium - I genuinely consider her one of the best immersive theater performers in the world. We get into all of that - there is a lot to cover and this could have easily been a three hour conversation because Tori has done so much - as well as the Sleep No More episode of Gossip Girl, her work in horticulture and our shared background in DIY punk scene and how that world informs her work.Find out more about Tori and the amazing things she is doing and has done and will do at her website: Tori SparksYou can email me at [email protected] music by Mister Michael Brousseau Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're joined by R. Alex Murray, a cast member of Dungeons & Dragons: The Twenty-Sided Tavern!Dungeons & Dragons: The Twenty-Sided Tavern bills itself as a live, onstage game of Dungeons & Dragons where YOU control the action. By calling out suggestions and making decisions on your smartphone, you’ll determine which heroes appear, where they explore, and ultimately how their story ends. The show is now on tour after an off-Broadway run - I caught it in Boston last month and I had a total blast seeing it and I had a total blast talking to Alex about it. This is one of those conversations that could have easily gone three hours between all the D&D talk and the talk of what it’s like to perform a show like this. If it comes to your town GO AND SEE IT! You can find out more about the the show (including the tour schedule) here: https://thetwentysidedtavern.com/You can find R. Alex Murray on his Instagram: @ralexmurrayAlex's podcast Childz Play is the world's premiere Kidz Bop review podcast! Go and listen: Childz PlayYou can see Alex roll two natural Twenties in Boston here: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1457830815331327You can email me at [email protected] music by Mister Michael Brousseau Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The time out we’re discussing the films of Alfred Hitchcock!For over half a century, Hitchcock reshaped how we experience fear, tension, and surprise in movies. He was able to turn ordinary setting (a shower, a staircase, a crop-dusted field) into unforgettable cinematic nightmares. At his best, he made us complicit in our own voyeurism, could make us laugh at danger, and had audiences at the edge of their seats wanting to know what would happen next. His title as THE MASTER OF SUSPENSE was totally earned.So today, we’re going to talk about why Hitchcock still matters. Why the best of his films (Psycho and Rear Window and Vertigo and North by Northwest and Rebecca and Shadow of a Doubt and my personal favorite Notorious) continue to haunt, thrill, and inspire. And we’ll explore how a man once dismissed as a “mere entertainer” became one of cinema’s defining artists.I’m delighted to be joined for this discussion by podcaster and book editor Michael Gordon and by Heather Stephenson, one of the volunteers at the Brit Track at Dragon Con, the big Atlanta pop culture convention. This was a really fun discussion and obviously with a career that was as long and filled with as many high points as Hitchcock’s it would be impossible to get to everything in the roughly 90 minutes we chatted but I had a blast and I hope you enjoy listening as well. I’ve got some fun stuff lined up for upcoming episodes, both interviews with people who make weird art and discussions like this about art that we love.You can find Mike Gordon's books and podcasts at his Linktree: https://linktr.ee/newlegendmikeHeather Johnson runs the Dragon Con Collectibles ExchangeYou can email me at [email protected] music by Mister Michael Brousseau Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Best Stuff in the World is back from summer break! I’m talking to Taylor Stark, the founder and artistic director of Witch Hunt Theatre, a Boston-area company that specializes in immersive site-specific horror theater. Taylor and Witch Hunt have a new show called HER RITES opening in Brookline Massachusetts this month and it was great talking to her about the upcoming show and Boston-area theater in general.Check out Witch Hunt Theatre and get tickets to HER RITES here: www.witchhunttheatre.comYou can email me at [email protected] music by Mister Michael Brousseau Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's our season finale episode and I'm excited to be chatting about the glory days of public access television with two folks who have first-hand experience in that world. Writer Keith DeCandido is best known these days for his novels and comics but back in the early 90s he was one of the hosts of the New York City science fiction public access show THE CHRONIC RIFT and Calvin Watts has been talking about science fiction on Rhode Island cable access for the past 30 years, first as one of the cohosts of the legendary STAR TREK THE UNOFFICIAL FAN CLUB and later as one of the hosts of SCI-FI JOURNAL, a show he is still one of the hosts of TO THIS DAY. A little while back I was a guest on The Flopcast and we discussed public access tv shows in Rhode Island and I look at this episode as kind of a companion piece to that - we cover a little of the same ground but it was super interesting hearing from Keith and Calvin all about what it was like to produce one of these shows both back in the day and, in Calvin’s case, still.You can find all things Keith R.A. DeCandido (books for sale, blog, etc.) at his website: http://decandido.net/Check out an archive of classic 1990s Chronic Rift episodes here: The Chronic RiftCalvin Watts' ongoing public access show Sci-Fi Journal can be found both on Rhode Island Interconnect A and on YouTube: Sci-Fi JournalYou can hear me reminisce about old Rhode Island public tv shows on the Flopcast here: Flopcast 670 - A Camcorder and a Dream Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’m excited to talk to writer and musician Luke MacPherson! Luke’s work explores the connections between music, film and philosophy and one of his most recent books, PRIME FORCE DIRECTIVE, draws connections between four cultural forces that shaped his life - the science fiction franchise Star Wars and Star Trek and the heavy metal bands Metallica and Iron Maiden. Luke’s also the lead singer and guitarist in the music project Iron Reverb (who did the cover of our theme song that you hear opening and closing the show this week) as well as the author of several other books that we discuss during our talk. I’ve known Luke for years, ever since his old punk band The Toss-Offs would come and play on my old radio show and it’s been awesome seeing him have this renewed outpouring of creativity lately. We talk about all of that and more during our pretty free ranging conversation.You can order Luke's books here: Author Page for Luke MacPhersonCheck out Luke's music project Iron Reverb!Kevin was a guest on The Flopcast talking all about the comic books of 1987: https://flopcast.net/687.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The second installment of our series of episodes focusing on a single album - I put out the call on social media for folks to get in touch with albums that changed their lives to possibly discuss on the show (with the caveat that I have to like the record as well) and the redoubtable Gary Mitchel (of A Podcask of Amontillado) suggested we discuss Portshead's Dummy. Naturally, I was delighted by this suggestion.When Dummy came out I hadn’t really heard anything like it - the phrase trip-hop wasn’t really in my vocabulary but I loved it’s mixture of noir soul, spy movie static, and hip-hop style productions, with Beth Gibbons' voice floating above everything as she sang about heartbreak and wandering stars.You can find the horror movie podcast Gary co-hosts (A Podcask of Amontillado) as well as his upcoming podcast on the Wheel of Time book series at Good to Be a Geek Media: https://www.goodtobeageek.com/You can email The Best Stuff in the World at [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are talking to Emily Arkin and Bridget Duggan from Identical Cousins about their upcoming event THE FILTY FORMAL AND TRASH TALENT SHOW, an immersive tribute to the work of the film director John Waters! The Filthy Formal is a dance party / variety show / excuse to wear your most vile, stupid, and repulsive formal fashions and it’s Saturday night, June 21st, in the Crystal Ballroom of the Somerville Theatre in Somerville Massachusetts!You can get tickets to the Filthy Formal and Trash Talent Show here: https://www.crystalballroomboston.com/events/filthy-formal-trash-talent-show-a-john-waters-tribute/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are discussing one of the most famous and successful movies of all time - Raiders of the Lost Ark! Do I even need to go into a little intro spiel about Raiders? Producer George Lucas, director Steven Spielberg, and star Harrison Ford team up to create one of the most iconic characters in the history of cinema - a swashbuckling archeologist named Indiana Jones who, in the 1930s, is in a race with the Nazis and his rival, the French archeologist Rene Belloq, to discover the lost ark of the covenant.Joining us this week are some top men: returning guest Kevin Eldridge from the great podcast The Flopcast and Michael Falkner from the website Creative Criticality. We discuss the film (arguably the greatest adventure film ever made), its inferior sequels, and even touch on some of the ancillary video games and tie-in novels. It's a great episode. Trust me.You can find Kevin Eldridge over at The Flopcast.You can find Michael Falkner at the website Creative Criticality.You can email this show at [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're discussing the musicals of lyricist and composer Stephen Sondheim and also talking about the current state of musicals on Broadway - has the supermusical killed the chance for smart shows like Sondheim's to find an audience? Where can his influence be found today? Where should you start with such a vast and acclaimed body of work? I'm joined by the mighty Sue Kisenwether from the Star Trek podcast Women at Warp and by returning guest Cash the Composer (who previously joined to talk about their own immersive musical Fantasmagoriana.)You can hear 10 years of awesome feminist Star Trek talk with Sue Kisenwether at Women at WarpSue has a piece in the upcoming book OUTSIDE IN CAN LIVE WITH IT: 171 New Perspectives on 171 Star Trek DS9 Stories by 171 WritersCash's immersive musical FANTASMAGORIANA is being staged June 3rd through 7th in Charleston, South Carolina. Get tickets here: https://cashcomposer.dudaone.com/fantasmagorianaYou can also see a video recording of the show on Cash's Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our first in a possible series of sporadic episodes focusing on a single album - I put out the call on social media for folks to get in touch with albums that changed their lives to possibly discuss on the show (with the caveat that I have to like the record as well) and the first response I got was from Christian Campagna of the Talk About the Passion podcast to discuss the seminal hardcore punk album The Crew by Reno, Nevada's 7 Seconds.Christian and I were are joined in the discussion by our mutual friend (and my former radio co-host) Liam Gray and the three of us wind up talking about other parts of the 7 Seconds discography and what it means to us - this was originally planned as a mini-episode but it wound up being around the length of a regular episode. 7 Seconds are worth it.You can find Christian's podcast here: Talk About the Passion (way back in 2018 I was a guest on episode 13)Liam is currently documenting his RV lifestyle on Instagram at www.instagram.com/thebelugarv/You may remember Gary Mitchel from our episodes on GI Joe and Dungeons & Dragons. I was a guest on Gary Mitchel's horror podcast A Podcask of Amontillado. Check it out here: The Devil You KnowYou can email The Best Stuff in the World at [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’m excited to be talking to the frontman of one of Providence, RI’s greatest bands, Jason “King” Kendall from the Amazing Royal Crowns!The Royal Crowns managed to combine rockabilly, garage, and punk rock energy into something that sounded both familiar and new and they recorded *great* songs - DO THE DEVIL is probably the most well-known one since the video played on MTV a few times - and put on an absolutely fantastic live show. Being a bystander in the Providence music scene while they conquered that city was a really cool experience and Jason and I talk a lot about that and also what came after, including how as great as the Crowns were they dealt with a number of setbacks that were kind of out of their control, from having to change their name to The Amazing Crowns due to a lawsuit and their label folding. But it's also worth stressing that despite those challenges they also put out a lot of fantastic music and live shows that people still talk about to this day.The Crowns are playing a show in Cambridge, MA on June 20th with Skavoovie & The Epitones and you can buy tickets here: Skavoovie and The Epitones with The Amazing Royal Crowns at The SinclairCheck out https://royaltotheloyal.com/ to get alerted about the Amazing Royal Crowns digital museum and merch store. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest Kellian Adams Pletcher joins to discuss the new interactive, immersive tiki show she has written, Cthulhu Luau, in advance of its sold-out run! We also discuss Kellian's origin in the swing music scene, her long-running seasonal show Club Drosselmeyer, the immersive theater scene in the Boston area, and why she doesn't like Sleep No More as much as I do.Check out Cthulhu Luau here: https://cthulhu-luau.com/Get notified when Club Drosselmeyer tickets go on sale here: https://www.clubdrosselmeyer.com/Our closing music this week is by Vic Ditches from The F.I.D's. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mystery Science Theater 3000 (or MST3K) can be a difficult show to explain to people who haven’t seen it. Wisecracking robot puppets making fun of cheesy movies, mad scientists, invention exchanges, and more. I could not believe something as smart and funny and silly as this show existed when I discovered it.I’m joined to discuss MST3k by two people who are as smart and silly as the show itself.Guest roll call!Dan Toland podcasts about cheesy movies, cult films, midnight movies and more on CHANNEL 37’s MIDNIGHT MOVIE SHOW Phaea Crede is a children’s picture book author whose new book Oh Deer! Has just hit bookstores everywhere: https://www.phaeacrede.com/Enough introducing on my part. We’ve got podcast sign! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're talking to a couple of the talented folks behind the new immersive theatrical company Artemis is Burning about their upcoming show The Death of Rasputin, which will begin performances at LMCC’s Arts Center at Governors Island on April 17, 2025, for a limited run. Ashley Brett Chipman, who conceived of the show, and her co-director Hope Youngblood discuss the inspiration behind the show and its upcoming run.Whispers in the candlelight, shadows in the corridors— The Death of Rasputin is no mere play; it is a descent into decadence, a fever-dream of power, prophecy, and betrayal. This debaucherous satire unfolds as a lavish, unholy revel, conjuring the espionage and mysticism that danced at the edges of the Romanov dynasty in its twilight hour. Here, every character claws for dominion, every ambition is laced with poison, and every grasp for power pulls them closer to the abyss. With history and legend entwined, and the specter of Rasputin looming large, this production dares to reclaim the grand spectacle of immersive performance, shattering the mold long held by the few. The revolution is here. The prophecy is written. Will you heed the call?Get tickets here: https://deathofrasputin.com/Find Rasputin on Discord here: https://discord.gg/XfgWkq5m Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fenway Park organist Josh Kantor joins Kevin to discuss his experience as a baseball organist for a team as beloved for the Boston Red Sox, the origins of his interest in both music and baseball, taking social media requests from fans, Stevie Wonder's "Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants" album, his pandemic-era streaming show "The Seventh Inning Stretch", playing onstage with his musical heroes, and - of course - KISS.When not playing at baseball games, Josh is also a member of the band Jim's Big EgoJosh is performing at the upcoming Hot Stove, Cool Music benefit show in BostonIn the tradition of the Seventh Inning Stretch, now is a good time to remind you all that the Greater Boston Food Bank can always use donations Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're discussing the work of someone who may be America’s greatest living cartoonist - YEAH I SAID IT - Jaime Hernandez!Jaime is best known for his groundbreaking work in the Love and Rockets comic book series and the LOCAS stories which are contained therein. LOCAS follows the tangled lives of a group of primarily chicano characters, from their teenage years in the early days of the California punk scene to the present day - the character themselves age in an approximation of real time. Most of the stories focus on two central characters - Margarita "Maggie" Luisa Chascarrillo and Esperanza "Hopey" Leticia Glass, whose on-again, off-again romance is a focus for many of the storylines. Love and Rockets made its debut in the early 80s, during a time when almost nobody was releasing comics stories that featured women in central roles, that featured characters who are queer, that featured chicano characters or showed any sort of realistic depiction of the punk scene. Jaime’s brother Gilbert is the other major contributor to Love and Rockets and he is deserving of his own episode but for this one we’re focusing on Jaime and Locas and I hope we’re able to impart a little bit of why this is the best American comic book ever made. I’m joined by returning guests Terri Harrington and Ryan Evans and this discussion was a total blast. If you’re a fan of Jaime’s work I hope you enjoy this episode and if you’re not familiar with the Maggie & Hopey comics I hope this inspires you to check them out. You will not be disappointed. Ryan's graphic novel discussion group can be found here: Reading Graphic NovelsTerri has been engaged in volunteer work with Punk Rock Saves Lives, a non-profit that focuses on wellness and equality through the power of music.Kevin recently appeared on The Flopcast, discussing weird Rhode Island public access television shows. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Musician/filmmaker/artist Rebecca Kopycinski joins Kevin to talk about her recent installation/performance The Thotbot Implantation Center, which is one piece of a larger multimedia narrative. Rebecca has created an entire dystopian storyworld through podcasts, installation art, immersive theater and performance. As she explains on her website, the project unfolds through a series of multi-platform "Episodes." While each of these Episodes stands alone narratively, together they weave together the serialized saga of one protagonist, Reagan Esther Myer, across an sprawling post-apocalyptic timeline set in the mid-1990s. At the center of this world is ThotBot, a government-mandated brain implant program instituted by a totalitarian regime known as The ULTRA, a group that seized control after Impact, an apocalyptic event that occurred on June 21, 1995.You can find out more about Rebecca's project at https://getthotbot.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are discussing the work of the great David Lynch. A filmmaker, writer, visual artist, and musician, Lynch spent decades crafting a unique cinematic language that blends the unsettling with the poetic, the surreal juxtaposed with images that could be either nightmarish or heartbreakingly beautiful. There was no one like him and like a lot of people who were affected by his work I was devastated to hear of his recent death. I’m joined by two returning guests: visual artist Emma McDonnell and Greg Bell, who does a lot of work in and around live theater in Baltimore. All three of us, as you’ll hear, have been profoundly moved by David Lynch’s work and my hope is that this episode pays some small tribute to the impact he had on all of us.Emma McDonnell can be found at https://www.ekmcdonnell.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Overture! Curtain! Lights! In this episode of The Best Stuff in the World we’re taking a look back at the classic Looney Tunes shorts. Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies were the umbrella titles for the short cartoons produced by the Warner Brothers studio from the early 1930s through the 1960s, although we’re mostly discussing the shorts released during what I think of as "the golden era" from the 1940s and 1950s, particularly the shorts starring the iconic characters from the studio - Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, the Road Runner, etc. The best of these shorts are among the greatest art America produced in the 20th century and I’m delighted to be joined by Joe Crowe, the co-director of Dragon Con’s American Sci-Fi Classics Track and by Dave West from the Needless Things YouTube channel and a bunch of other cool stuff (including the documentary Troublemaker about his adventures that he’s currently screening at different conventions) to discuss these masterpieces of American animation. On with the show, this is it!You can find Dragon Con's American Sci-Fi Classics Track at their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/americanscificlassics/Check out what Dave West is up to at The Needless Things YouTube Channel and via his Linktree! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're diving into the career of the great Charles Entertaiment Chaplin on THE BEST STUFF IN THE WORLD! Chaplin is one of the masters of silent film comedy, blending humor, sentimentality and social commentary - usually channeled through his iconic Little Tramp character. I’m joined this time by writer and podcaster Mike Gordon and artist Denise Lhamon to talk all things Chaplin - the short films, the silent features, and his rocky transition into talkies. A podcast episode with a smile—and perhaps a tear.You can find all of Mike Gordon's various endeavors (Tiki Zombie comic, Dragon Tales book, and his podcasts) at his linktree: https://linktr.ee/newlegendmike or at New Legend Productions.Denise Lhamon's art and historical writings and art about history can be found at https://www.instagram.com/laymonsterms/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are discussing THE SIMPSONS, the long-running animated sitcom on the FOX network. I’m joined for the episode by my friend Frank Burnham and by Derek B Gayle of the Glitterjaw Podcast Collective. The cover version of our theme song that starts the show this week is by Iron Reverb, the music project from my friend Luke MacPherson.If you ever want to email this podcast you can contact me at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the celebrated immersive theater show Sleep No More winds up its epic run in New York we're joined by original cast member Careena Melia (who originated the role of Hecate) to discuss her experience with the show, creating one on one scenes, the show's magical Boston run and what actually happens when you find Hecate's damn ring. Spoilers for the production abound, so proceed with caution. Screamcackle! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're diving deep into the eccentric and pioneering world of Kool Keith, one of the most influential and enigmatic figures in hip-hop. Keith has been around since his time in the 80s with the group ULTRAMAGNETIC MC’s and he first came to my attention for the album he released under the Doctor Octogon name in 1996, which was unlike anything I’d ever heard before. We get heavily into what’s so great about that record during the show, along with Keith’s various releases, his use of personas, and why we find him so fascinating. I’m joined by Michael Brousseau, who some of you may know as the cohost of my other podcast GLEAMING THE TUBE, and by rapper and recording artist Sage Francis who runs the Strange Famous record label and who has released a ton of great hip-hop albums of his own. Sage, Mike and I were all doing shows at the same college radio station around the time the Doctor Octagon album came out and it was awesome getting to chat with them about our shared appreciation for Kool Keith. I hope you enjoy listening!You can find out what Sage Francis is up to at Strange Famous Records website! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode we’re exploring one of the most iconic and enduring games of all time: Dungeons & Dragons!For 50 years, D&D has captivated players with its mix of imagination, strategy, and storytelling. When the game’s at its best it can function as this really fun way to do collaborative storytelling - it can seem life and death while also providing a lot of fodder for dumb jokes with your friends. It’s honestly the best game of all the games - I’d been hoping to do an episode about it since this podcast launched (hence it being referenced in the theme song my friend Mike Brousseau put together) and I was excited to be joined by my pal Gary Mitchel, who co-directs the American Sci-Fi Classics Track at Dragon Con and co-hosts the great horror podcast A PODCASK OF AMONTILLADO and writer James Palmer to talk all things D&D. Let’s roll for initiative and get into it!Gary is the co-host of the horror podcast A PODCASK OF AMONTILLADO!You can find James Palmer's books at https://www.jamespalmerbooks.net/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 We're discussing one of the most influential films ever made—the 1920 silent horror film, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.Directed by Robert Wiene and written by Hans Janowitz and Carl Mayer, Caligari is a film that not only redefined the horror genre but also helped lay the groundwork for German Expressionism in cinema. It’s got twisted abstract sets, eerie visuals, and one of the first horrifying twist endings in cinema. It’s a deeply unsettling film, especially when you factor in that it was made over 100 years ago.The plot of Caligari is that the sinister Dr. Caligari sets up a carnival sideshow attraction with a deadly secret - his sleepwalking accomplice Cesare, who carries out his murderous bidding. The film is widely considered to be the first full-length horror movie ever made and I was delighted to unpack it with two of the smartest people I know - artist Emma McDonnell and filmmaker and writer Guy Benoit. We discuss the film, the career of Conrad Veidt, German Expressionism, transformation scenes, and so much more. It's a wide-ranging discussion and I hope you enjoy listening to it as much I enjoyed engaging in it.Emma McDonnell's artwork can be found at https://ekmcdonnell.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I would like, if I may, to take you on a strange journey. We are talking THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW with special guest Greg Bell! Rocky Horror was originally a U.K. stage show that fused what was going on in the glam rock scene with old science fiction b-movies. The show was written by Richard O’Brien and was enough of a stage success that it was then adapted into what’s probably the most successful cult movie of all time - midnight showings have been running somewhere every weekend since the late 70s and there’s a robust fan culture around the whole thing. "Shadowcasts" dress up like the characters and act out the movie in front of the screen while the audience shouts out what’s become an evolving dialogue with the film in the form of callbacks. There are props and dancing and and people running around in their underwear and dirty jokes and it's a whole lot of fun.Greg discusses his long tenure in the fan culture, what has changed about the experience over the years, and where he sees things going as Rocky prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary as a film. Naturally, it wouldn't be an episode about Rocky Horror without several shout-outs to our mutual friend Arthur Levesque,too. So get your squirt guns and your toast and your cell phone flashlights (lighters aren't allowed anymore) as we head over to the Frankenstein place. It's just a jump to the left. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're joined by Cash the Composer to talk about their new immersive/interactive musical Fantasmagoriana! What’s Fantasmagoriana about? In the summer of 1816, at the Villa Diodati, Lord Byron, his personal physician John Polidori, his friend Percy Shelley, Shelley's fiancée Mary Godwin, their infant son William, and Godwin's stepsister Claire Clairmont, gather together on holiday. After a drunken night of exchanging ghost stories, Lord Byron challenges his contemporaries to write their own. And indeed, throughout a flurry of love and betrayal, sleepless nights and near death experiences, duels and an unending storm, every person in attendance walks away with their own ghost. Some, a great story, the likes of the Vampyre and Frankenstein. Others, the untimely deaths of their loved ones, or the specter of their own end.We discuss the show, the inspirations behind it, accessibility issues in immersive theater, Sondheim and - naturally - whether or not Mary Shelley would have liked Rocky Horror.You can get tickets to Fantasmagoriana at Cash's website: https://cashcomposer.dudaone.com/fantasmagoriana Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Doctor Who first aired on November 23, 1963, making its debut on BBC One. Initially conceived as a children’s show with educational elements, it quickly evolved into a groundbreaking science fiction series that captivated audiences of all ages. The story revolves around the Doctor, a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey, who travels through time and space in the TARDIS, a time machine that looks like a British police box on the outside but is much larger on the inside.Over the years, the Doctor has been portrayed by a variety of actors, thanks to the unique ability of Time Lords to regenerate into new forms. This concept has allowed the show to reinvent itself while maintaining a core sense of continuity. The series was originally canceled in 1989 but it never really went away - there were books and a tv movie in the 1990s and then the show returned in 2005. It had always had a cult following in the US but the new series really seemed to strike a chord in the fandom. I liked the show as a kid and think the 2005 revival is a lot of fun, too, and I was excited to talk to two of the biggest Doctor Who enthusiasts I know for this episode, writer and musician Andre Salles and the Mayor of Chickentwon herself, Felicity Kusinitz from The Flopcast!You can find Andre's music at andresalles.bandcamp.comYou can find Andre's music blog at tm3am.comFelicity is affiliated with great podcast The Flopcast! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're talking with Carly Dwyer and Tristan Reynolds from Intramersive Productions about their upcoming show DAEMONOLOGIE, SIGNALS AND SIRENGS!Daemonologie is an interactive, open-world theater anthology that explores the intersections of gender, social change, and the supernatural. The series encourages audiences to engage with the events around them, and the audience determines the ending, so no two shows are the same. I saw their first Daemonologie show, Oakham, in 2017 at the Pioneer Village in Salem and Carly, Tristan and I discuss that show and the subsequent shows in the cycle, which take place in different periods of American history and usually have the conceit that supernatural occurrences are real. Daemonologie: Signals & Sirens will take place at The House of the Seven Gables in Salem, MA from October 24–28 and November 1–2 at 7:30 PM. The show is set in 1952 and asks the question, "When something calls to you from the darkest depths, how will you answer?".  I haven’t seen the new show yet but I’m excited to see what they’ve what cooking.You can purchase tickets to the show here: Daemonologie Signals & Sirens Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

120 Minutes was an alternative music show that aired on MTV on Sunday nights from Midnight to 2am, playing some of the formative acts of the day (The Cure, Depeche Mode, The Smiths), introducing us to exciting new bands, and - particularly in the years before Nirvana hit big with "Smells Like Teen Spirit" - acting as an oasis for those of us interested in music that sat slightly outside of the mainstream. I'm joined by Amy Chandler and Terri Harrington to discuss the show but we also talk about the alternative music scene of the time more generally - the bands and shows we loved. We also bring up the Atlanta pop culture convention Dragon Con, which is coming up Labor Day weekend and which all three of us will be at in various capacities. I think this episode is a lot of fun and I hope you enjoy it as well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kevin is joined by Shaun Rosado (of Popcycled Baubles) to continue their discussion of Chris Claremont's epic run as writer of The Uncanny X-Men! Picking up where we left off in the previous installment, the two discuss The Asgardian Wars, the Wolverine mini-series with Frank Miller, the arrival of artist Jim Lee, the Brood, Magneto, Kitty's Fairy Tale and, of course, that one weird issue where Colossus dumps Kitty and then gets into a bar brawl with the Juggernaut!It's all the pulse pounding action you could hope for when two middle-aged men get together to chat about funnybooks that came out around 30 years ago! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm joined by Shaun Rosado (Popcycled Baubles) to discuss Chris Claremont's seminal run as writer of the Uncanny X-Men comic book from 1975-1991. Claremont did come back a few times after that but we limit our discussion to that initial run and its ancillary titles, which is a good thing because we talked so long that I felt I had to split this episode into two parts rather than stick you all with a two-hour podcast about comic books that came out over 40 years ago. We get into the many reasons why during the episode but I cannot overstate how much I loved these X-Men comics - Claremont excelled at soap opera style storytelling with characters you genuinely cared about. The X-Men were outcasts who were hated and feared by a world they were sworn to protect and I think that a lot of people who felt like outcasts (for whatever reason) at the time found something to connect with in this work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bloom County is a newspaper comic strip by Berke Breathed that originally ran from 1980 to 1989. (It returned with new strips in 2015.) The comic and its characters Bill the Cat, Steve Dallas, Opus the Penguin and many others would satirize politics, culture and the comics page itself. Like Peanuts the strip had children with adult vocabularies and personalities who interacted with animals but unlike Peanuts the child characters would regularly interact with adults and the animals would usually talk back. Peanuts also never had a character recite a poem about former Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger.Joining Kevin to discuss the strip are Michael Brousseau from the skateboard movie podcast Gleaming the Tube and Ann Gav from the Eurovision zine Dudepoints. 79 cents may be too much to pay for banana walrus wafers but this episode of THE BEST STUFF IN THE WORLD is free! Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.