the Mentally Oddcast

This week, Wednes and David-Jack speak frankly and angrily about propaganda and contemporary politics. We also talk borderline disorder, trauma, horror movies of the 90s, and how we can receive love even when we don't feel worthy of it. Also representation, why "Hell is other people," and how we might eat differently if we could communicate with animals.TW for suicidal ideation and planning. 

This week Wednes speaks with gender-fluid author of sci-fi, spec-fic, and the perpetually weird. We opine on the importance of support systems, when gender dysphoria shows up later in life, and the mandela effect. We also talk zombies, publishing, and Conrad Veidt. Also TWs and why anyone opposing them can eff off, plus what qualifies as 'weird fiction," and TT talks about their book: Loading the Machine Child. We close with a MadLib and a fantastic short story read by our guest. 

TW for discussions of an active shooter situation and frank anti-fash talk.Find more from Chloe Spencer here.Chloe Spencer is an author, advocate, and game developer in the great state of Minnesota. We talk MAGAboys, PTSD and treatments that help, what makes a good game, and dating via text and app. We also discuss why victim-blaming is for cowards, which horror character resonates with Wednes the most, a Mad Lib, and I choke on my own rage for a hot second. We end with Chloe absolutely nailing an unedited reading from her most recent book.  It's a fab episode that would have been perfection if my mic hadn't switched to my desktop.

This week we talk about the benefits of embedded journalism, escaping the fundamentalist mindset, wtf happened at cbs, Anxiety, idiot plots marketing kids, and how awesome it is being married to a "wife guy."  We also talk RFK jr and other shameless MAGAboys, and why meta wants you to believe everyone is terrible. Also, poor people helping each other, being bi, and what we do about women who are tools of the patriarchy. TW for SA, DV, and suicidal ideation. 

Jack of all trades and master of some, Ryan Lieske shares his experiences with depression, films, podcasting, and overcoming his fear of mental health meds. TW for suicidal ideation.We also talk horror comedy, gen AI, opium dens, and why MAGAboys think saying "you have cats" is some kind of insult. We also talk zombies, environment, and how kids intuitively engage in art therapy. We also parse TV's Bates Motel pilot movie (RIP Bud Cort) and do a MadLib. 

Riley ODell lives with (and advocates for) Autism and ADHD. This week, we talk about the value of satire, how autism and ADHD can impact productivity, and why some ND people love horror so much. We also parse The Simpsons as a measure of class and economy, and whether or not anyone should have to "earn a living." We end with a MadLib followed by a banger or a short story that is not for sensitive audiences. 

This week, the Empress of Tawnlandia and I discuss our horror beginnings, cozy fiction, genres Wednes doesn't write in, and why gets left out of yt feminism. We also talk "What is a Safe Space" and how the people who think they don't need them actually may need them the most. Plus hot chicks we like, community outreach, and Wednes learns a zillion things about piloting and airplanes.

Known as Mothshade to his peers, David A Hill is a passionate writer of fantasy, dark science fiction, and an array of TTRPGs. We talk about what makes a horror movie and horror in general. Plus living with a stutter, coping tools for anxiety, and what publishers mean when they say "doesn't meet our needs." Also zombies, breakdowns, secret spilling, and Wednes learns a whole bunch about RPG culture and alternative nerdery. 

Known by his stage name, Jarrett Lennon has appeared in beloved shows like Cheers and Freaks & Geeks, as well as the haunting Short Cuts. We talk about improv, acting, and what it's like when you succeed without trying as a kid. How ADHD can actually help you accomplish things, and why acting can be a coping tool for autism. Jarett debunks a few rumors of Hollywood dicketry, and helps parse the importance of community vs isolation. We also talk stage parents, prodigies, fakeness, rejections--and why people really ought to remember their passwords. 

This week 411Mania reviewer and new author Bryan Krystopowitz schools host Wednesday Lee Friday on the finer points of action movies with small budgets, the perils of affordable stunt work, and why representation is such a touchy topic in film. We also talk about why adult friendships are hard, why JD Vance should be ridden out of town on a rail, and we parse whether Sharknado movies are really better than Inhumanwich. 

This week, we talk with Sheldon Higdon about his new book and writing career. We discuss how Stephen King impacted our work as young writers, the perils of psyche meds...and the perils of living without them. Also movie scores as writing music, writing about family, living with the same name as a popular character, and classic zombie lore. 

How does being an unwanted child impact a person? Is there really an AI Authors Guild? What's it like getting doxxed? We talk about all of that--plus we call out Wellbutrin and Bill Burr. We talk politics, (ep was recorded a day after Charlie Kirk's killing) weed strains, were-panthers, MAGA trolls, and Zooskeeping. TW for suicide, DV, SA, and animal tragedy. Find more from Jaime Johnesee here. 

Our 50th episode features sci-fi/horror novelist, publisher, and podcast pioneer Scott Sigler. We talk the pro and cons of ADHD, King Kong, and parse ChatGPT for language creation. We also discuss AI ethics, a drug called caffeine, and close with a 1990's radiodrama that Scott and I made with some friends way back in undergrad. And of course, there's a MadLib. 

Michael Allen Rose talk horror and comedy, writing and art, and the remarkable resilience of the weird kid. We examine the changeable nature of success, wonder what the hell is wrong with Snoop Dogg, and opine on why humans make art in the first place. Also, the value of kindness, Jason Vorhees and Roy, and Wednes explains why she has a lifeaversary.

This week, we talk horror and comedy, women in television--behind the scenes, and examine why only 12-15% of TV comedy is written by women. Also, neurodivergence in media, why autistic folk don't understand liars, caving, code switching, and what I'd do with a giant grant. 

This week we get way political as we air our grievances with the rise of fascism in America--and share some ideas for resistance and collective action. Also, separating art from artists, writing as therapy, open carry dildos, and the rerelease of A Stabbing for Sadie. Find more from M Kelly Peach here. 

Pat Green and WLF talk consent and allyship, why grammar nazis kinda suck, plotters versus pantsers, why we need storytellers, and inspiration.TW for discussions of religious abuse, suicide, and sexual assault.

TW for discussion on DV, SA, and suicide. This week, discussion with Pandem Buckner includes Disney, horror movies, consent, shelter work, and the fact that there are no white people in the bible. Also rage toward education, depression, ADHD, and we accidentally invent the concept of propaganda. Find more from Pandem Buckner here. 

Amanda Morin is a special education and accessibility advocate who specializes in neurodiversity-affirming learning environments. We talk horror movies, labels vs stigma and the value of diagnoses. Also depression vs burnout, the "crip trope" and her work with Noggin. Fina Amanda at www.amandamorin.com

Season four kicks off with actor and editor of Resilient Brainforest (and a bunch of other stuff) Jonathan Harford. We talk about how ADD has affected our creative projects--and how we navigate the pitfalls now. Plus AI, how horror and comedy are more alike than we notice. Wednes talks lesbian lizards and learns about Cookie Clicker, Exquisite Monster, and a movie called Krisha. 

This week's guest is neither a horror guy nor neurodivergent. He lends his perspectives on TV production, neurotypical creativity, the early days of the internet, and Elon Musk. There's a live song, and a spirited discussion on whether or not suffering is required to make impactful art. Also The Last Broadcast, psychedelic therapy, and a Mad Lib.Find more from Vann Weller here.See The Last Broadcast here.Find a complete transcript of this episode here. 

Sumiko Saulson is a Bram Stoker Award® Finalist for Poetry for The Rat King (2022, Dooky Zines) and Melancholia (2024, Bludgeoned Girls Press). Elgin Award Nominee (2022). 2018 Afrosurrealist Writers Award, and 2021 Ladies of Horror Readers Choice Award winner. Their novel Somnalia: The Metamorphoses of Flynn Keahi is available on Mocha Memoirs Press.This week, we talk scary movies, church v state, aliens, magical thinking, and whether neo-pronouns are as new as they say. Also demons, The Rat King, and movies that made us realize we were bi. 

Tamara Thorne's first novel was published in 1991, and since then she has written many more, including international bestsellers Brimstone, Haunted, Bad Things, Moonfall, and Eternity. A lifelong lover of ghost stories, she is currently working on several collaborations with Alistair Cross, including the next installment in The Ravencrest Saga, as well as The Spiral Sea, the next Old Wives’ Tales novel.To learn more about Tamara and her books, visit her website. We talk Bette Davis movies, dads, cowardice, Don jr, writing partners, and polytheism. Also Bezos and journalism, that time the eggs were mad at me, why I'm still writing about Don jr, coping strategies, and Kung Fu panda. 

David Kempf has written over fifty short stories, many with horror themes. He’s won several writing awards and is a frequent contributor to the British website Masters of Horror U.K. He has written two children's books, four plays, two short story collections, and produced several short films and audio drama podcasts. David was a contributing author to More Modern Myth-makers (from Crystal Lake Publishing) where he interviewed some of the top names in horror. He's also had several of his short stories featured on Dead Airwaves, a horror story podcast. David also contributed to the poetry book Venomous Words, which made the preliminary ballot nomination for the Bram Stoker Awards.We talk Salem's Lot, shark movies and their ripoffs, the plusses and minuses of AA, living with tourettes, magic and magic movies, getting more than you bargained for, the Psycho franchise, and Tales from the Crypt.

Chapin Lennon is an activist and advocate who lives with dwarfism and is trans-masc. They are especially passionate about disability history and representation.  We talk Peter Dinklage and Billy Barty, fetishists, representation--and what to do should some maniac treat you as if you're "good luck." Plus Foul Play, The Greatest Showman, and The Station Agent.A full transcript of this ep can be found here.

Alistair Cross was born in the western United States and began penning his own stories by the age of eight. First published in 2012, Alistair has since released several more novels. In 2012, he joined forces with international bestselling author, Tamara Thorne, and as Thorne & Cross, they write the successful Gothic series, The Ravencrest Saga. Alistair is currently at work on the seventh book in his bestselling Vampires of Crimson Cove series as well as an upcoming release in the Ravencrest Saga with Tamara Thorne.We talk fiction, cookies, moms, bullies, sobriety, police, UHC, stalkers, addiction, and sobriety. Also, the Ravencrest Saga, the value of community, and why we love technology. An unedited transcript of this episode can be found here. 

Briana Cox was born and raised in Tullahoma, TN — a town inexplicably found on state maps. (It just got a Publix!) She is the oldest of seven children and a first-generation academic with degrees in cognitive linguistics, Japanese language, and speech-language pathology. In 2019, she became a fellow with the TN Playwrights Studio and has been writing stageplays and low-budget film scripts ever since. She has been featured on the 2024 Next List for emerging screenwriters and has placed in the Academy Nicholl fellowship. Stay abreast of Briana’s projects on Instagram. This week, we talk horror movies and representation, how media consumption is a political act, and the perils of pitching while disabled. Also, microaggressions, intentionality in casting, autism, and a MadLib. An original transcript of this episode can be found here. 

Bert is an author and editor who has always been one to read anything put in front of him, a passion he still enjoys, reading in all genres.He has recently been published in multiple anthologies of flash fiction as well as in a magazine dedicated to supporting children with special needs. He also has multiple non-fiction and fiction pieces accepted for future publication. When not writing, he is active as a martial arts instructor, software developer, an amateur chef, and a strong proponent for disability rights and empowerment of women.We talk bullying and ableism, Alice Cooper and charity anthologies, Evil Dead, audiobooks, and Edens' work. And of course there's a Madlib.https://linktr.ee/bertedens

Kody Boye Is a young adult horror, fantasy, and science-fiction author currently residing In the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. When not writing, he enjoys reading, playing video games, and pestering his many cats.www.kodyboye.comwww.youtube.com/@KodyBoyeBooksWe talk Shark movies, advocacy, Kody's HIV diagnosis, and why he avoids Mary Sues. Also generational trauma, YA fiction, and how bipolar disorder impacts work output. TW suicide. A complete transcript can be accessed here. 

Author Stefan Petrucha's work has sold several million copies worldwide, with over twenty novels to his name, including original works such as Ripperand Dead Mann Walking, and licensed prose novels like Spider-Man: Forever Young and Deadpool: Paws for Marvel. He's also written hundreds of graphic novels, spanning iconic franchises such as The X-Files, Beowulf, Mickey Mouse, and Nancy Drew. His latest, an effort of seven years, is the original science fiction epic, The Stars Within, on sale now.We talk mental health, redemption and voting, zombies, Frankenstein, and schizophrenic episodes. Plus the Hessius Mann books, writing in general, and a MadLib. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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

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 FireUrban Survival with J Grant.Two LumpsA full transcript of this ep can be found here. 

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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.comX - @adammillardWe 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. 

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.

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. 

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.