The White Meat Podcast
by David Thomas
Beneath a quiet park in Philly lie buried the bodies of hundreds of enslaved people. What if, one night, they all came back as zombies, but they only ate white people? That's the premise of White Meat, a movie being written and directed by David Dylan Thomas. On this podcast you'll hear from him as he interviews the people helping make and inspire this movie on topics as varied as film production, Black horror, and Black history, and get updates about the film itself.
Episodes
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Afro-Indigenous Horror w/ Ron Williams
On this episode we talk to “Prophet of Horror” Ron Williams about how his African and Indigenous heritage ties into his horror storytelling and his ongoing short film trilogy. Support the Kickstarter for Him the Beast. Learn more about White Meat at whitemeatmovie.com Follow us on Insta White…
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Ourika w/ Xenia Matthews
On this episode we talk to Xenia Matthews about her fantastic short Ourika and tellings stories about Black women’s interiority. Learn more about White Meat at whitemeatmovie.com Follow us on Insta White Meat Podcast theme by Gangstagrass
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United We Heal w/ Ebony Roberts
In this episode we speak to Ebony Roberts, founder of the United We Heal Film Festival, about the meaning of progress in the Black community and the role of art in that journey. Learn more about White Meat at whitemeatmovie.com Follow us on Insta White Meat Podcast theme by Gangstagrass
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Long Live VHS w/ Nicole Goicuria
On this episode we talk to Nicole Goicuria of VHS Club about the resurgence of VHS and the joys of the community she’s helped create around it. Learn more about White Meat at whitemeatmovie.com Follow us on Insta White Meat Podcast theme by Gangstagrass
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Top Ten Horror Films of 2025
Better late than never? In this episode I run through my favorite horror films of 2025. (Oh, and when I say Pete Postlethwaite, I mean Ralph Fiennes. It happens.) Learn more about White Meat at whitemeatmovie.com Follow us on Insta White Meat Podcast theme by Gangstagrass
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J-Setting and verticals w/ Frederick Taylor
n this episode we talk to content creator Frederick Taylor about documenting the HBCU-inspired dance style J-Setting and pushing the boundaries of Black art with forms like verticals. Learn more about White Meat at whitemeatmovie.com Follow us on Insta White Meat Podcast theme by Gangstagrass
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Kayla Naomi Watkins on revealing hidden histories and celebrating Black bodies
On this episode we talke to filmmaker Kayla Naomi Watkins on how she illuminate Black history in her work for PBS and how she celebrates twerking, Black bodies, and Trini culture in her new short Bumpa. Learn more about White Meat at whitemeatmovie.com Follow us on Insta White Meat Podcast theme…
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Jared Leaf on making a horror short with Jordan Peele
On our Season Four premiere we talk to Jared Leaf, writer/director of Spilled Milk about working with Jordan Peele and Monkeypaw, the joy of Black audiences, and how to do previz with LEGO. Learn more about White Meat at whitemeatmovie.com Follow us on Insta White Meat Podcast theme by Gangstagrass
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How to Raise $60k on Kickstarter w/ Alex Hillman
On this episode Alex Hillman returns to see how the advice he gave in season one worked out. Spoiler alert: It worked. We discuss how pre-crowdfunding seeded the ground for a successful $60k Kickstarter campaign for White Meat: Appetizer and what lessons we learned along the way. Learn more about...
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The Role of the Artist During a Crisis w/ Gauri Mangala
This episode we talk to playwright (and White Meat: Appetizer actor) Gauri Mangala about her new work Badmaash: An Internet-y Play and the role of artists during a time of social and political upheaval. Learn more about White Meat at whitemeatmovie.com Follow us on Insta White Meat Podcast theme…
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The Mainstreaming of Horror w/ Joanna Goldberg
This episode we talk to Joanna Goldberg of the Media Film Festival, where White Meat: Appetizer will be screening, about the mainstreaming of horror, our favorite subgenres, and how to Trojan horse your friends into enjoying horror. Learn more about White Meat at whitemeatmovie.com Follow us on...
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World Building w/ Eunice Levis
On this episode we talk to writer/director Eunice Levis about building worlds in horror and sci-fi, getting shorts onto Netflix, and the best music to listen to while writing. Learn more about White Meat at whitemeatmovie.com Follow us on Insta White Meat Podcast theme by Gangstagrass
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Costume Design for Horror w/ Azalea Fairley
On this episode we talk to White Meat: Appetizer costume designer Azalea Fairley about the iconic looks she created for the zombies in our short. Learn more about White Meat at whitemeatmovie.com Follow us on Insta White Meat Podcast theme by Gangstagrass
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What to Expect in 2026
In this episode we preview what to expect for White Meat and White Meat: Appetizer in the coming year. Our hopes. Our dreams. And how you can stay up to date. Learn more about White Meat at whitemeatmovie.com Follow us on Insta White Meat Podcast theme by Gangstagrass
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Queer Horror w/ Brent Satterly
On this episode to we talk to author and professor Dr. Brent Satterly (a.k.a. Clitty Umbridge) about queerness in horror and horror in queerness and all of the opportunities horror onscreen presents us with to confront and reckon with horror offscreen. Learn more about White Meat at...
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The Sound of Horror w/ Timothy Day
In this episode we speak to our sound guy Timothy Day about the sounds of horror and how he got into recording and creating sounds for cinema. Learn more about White Meat at whitemeatmovie.com Learn more about White Meat at whitemeatmovie.com Follow us on Insta White Meat Podcast theme by...
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The Choreography of Horror w/ Lela Aisha Jones
In this episode we talk to White Meat: Appetizer choreographer Lela Aisha Jones about witnessing, embodiment, and all of the other concepts informing the movement of zombies in our film. The White Meat website Follow us on Insta Learn more about White Meat at whitemeatmovie.com Follow us on Insta...
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Shooting Horror w/ Jalen Ramseur-Williams
On this episode we talk to cinematographer Jalen Ramseur-Williams about his work on White Meat: Appetizer, his influences, and the challenges of shooting on an iPhone. Learn mroe about White Meat at whitemeatmovie.com Learn more about White Meat at whitemeatmovie.com Follow us on Insta White Meat...
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Affordable Housing w/ Wi-Moto Nyoka
On this episode we talk to horror filmmaker and immersive storyteller Wi-Moto Nyoka about her new film Affordable Housing and the value of face-to-face communications. Her latest event, Black Girls Are Scary Live!, is happening October 16th, 2025. Learn more about White Meat. Learn more about…
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Where the bodies are buried w/ Doug Mooney
On this episode we talk to Doug Mooney, President of the Philadelphia Archeological Forum about the bodies buried beneath Washington Square Park and the battle for control of the land where African American ancestors reside. Read Reverie in an Ancient Potters Field (on page 167) Meet me and our...
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Memoir of a zombie victim w/ Billie Swiggard
In this episode we talk to Billie Swiggard who plays Rich Lady in White Meat: Appetizer and whose real life backstory involves going from acting on Brodway to fighting AIDS as a doctor to transitioning at 67 years old. Learn more about White Meat. Learn more about White Meat at whitemeatmovie.com...
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Horror’s greatest zombies w/ Elliot West
This episode we talk to White Meat: Appetizer production assistant (and high school student) Elliot West about his love of zombie movies as well as his adventures on set. Learn more about White Meat at our website and follow us on Instagram. Learn more about White Meat at whitemeatmovie.com…
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When puppets attack w/ Dan Ludwig
On this episode we talk to Breaking Mayberry co-host Dan Ludwig about the Puppet Master series and other beloved li’l killers from Chucky to the dolls of Tales from the Hood. Learn more at whitemeatmovie.com and vote for our SXSW panel, Black FXellence: Unsung Women of Color in FX. Learn more…
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Creating reality w/ Jai Monee
This episode we talk to White Meat: Appetizer production designer Jai Monee about how she uses objects and color to turn a real restaurant into a fake coffee shop. Learn more about White Meat at whitemeatmovie.com Learn more about White Meat at whitemeatmovie.com Follow us on Insta White Meat...
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Black FX-ellence part two w/ Fre Howard
We begin season three by welcoming our first return guest, makeup and FX artist Fre Howard, to discuss her work on White Meat: Appetizer. Also check out our new theme by Gangstagrass. Learn more at whitemeatmovie.com. Learn more about White Meat at whitemeatmovie.com Follow us on Insta White Meat...
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That’s a Wrap on White Meat: Appetizer!
We finished shooting! I reminisce about how it felt to be on set, tell some tales, and let you know just how far folks will travel to be a part of the experience. Learn more at whitemeatmovie.com. Learn more about White Meat at whitemeatmovie.com Follow us on Insta White Meat Podcast theme by...
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The Horror of Body Image w/ Madison Wheatley
In this episode we talk to author Madison Wheatley about her latest novel Ambrosia and how it deals with the fear that comes with how we think we should look, how she approaches writing villains, and her own inspirations as a writer. Learn more about White Meat at whitemeatmovie.com Learn more...
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100 Horror Movies a Year w/ David Katznelson
On this episode we talk to horror buff David Katznelson about his project to watch every horror film from 50 years prior to the current year. So right now it’s 2025. He’s looking at movies from 1975. Back in ’24 he was looking at ’74 and so on. Find out what hidden gems he’s found and how…
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The Horror of Washington Square Park w/ Sarah Stopper
On this episode we talk to interpretive specialist, tour guide, and horror fanatic Sarah Stopper about the hidden histories of Washington Square Park and Philadelphia in general and the struggle to preserve history in a time when those in power would rather we forget. Learn more at...
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Scoring Horror w/ Clayton Worbeck
On this week’s episode we talk to film composer Clayton Worbeck about what it’s like to score horror and how it differs from composing for other genres. We also talk about his favorite film composers and why heavy metal seems to pair so well with scary movies. In other news we got a write up in…
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Creating a Dark Universe w/ Dalton Deschain
In this episode we to talk to Are You Afraid of the Dark Universe? cohost Dalton Deschain about extending Universal’s failed attempt at a horror version of the MCU into nearly 30 “fake” movies that people love as much as if they were real. Learn more about White Meat at…
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Self-publishing horror w/ Lisa Meehan
On this week’s episode we talk to horror author Lisa Meehan about her debut novel Killian Farm and how her past as a filmmaker informs her current work. This is the final week of our Kickstarter for White Meat: Appetizer. The last day you can contribute is March 2nd. Support us now! Learn more...
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The London Coffee House and the erasure of Black history
This week I talk about news that Penn is replicating a famous coffee house without talking about the literal slave trading that went on there and how this is indicative of the erasure of Black history that’s going on right now and how that makes me wanna make White Meat that much more. Support…
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Best horror of 2024 w/ Marta Rusek
On this episode we talk to horror aficionado Marta Rusek about our favorite horror films of 2024 and some of the themes that emerge.(Mild spoilers for Longlegs, Heretic, The Substance, and The Girl with the Needle) Back our Kickstarter for White Meat: Appetizer. Learn more about White Meat. Learn...
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Building a horror community w/ Delco Horror Haven
On this week’s episode we talk to Delco Horror Haven founders Karen Chiarini, Tamme McClelland, and Lisa Pietras about supporting horror creators and fans in Delaware County and why we all love horror so damn much. Back our Kickstarter for White Meat: Appetizer at...
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Great action sequences w/ Miles Chapman
On this episode, we talk to Escape Plan scribe Miles Chapman about what makes for a great action sequence, what it’s like to be a screenwriter in Hollywood, and the challenges of an ever shifting business model for film. Support our Kickstarter launch on February 1st! Learn more about White Meat…
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Storytelling lessons from Disney w/ Joel Eden
On this episode we talk to our storyboard artist Joel Eden about the wonder and humility that makes for good storytelling, and some of the things he learned working in the hallowed halls of Disney Animation. The Kickstarter for our short film White Meat: Appetizer launches on February 1st, 2025....
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Lest We Forget Museum of Slavery w/ Gwen Ragsdale
On this episode we talk to Gwen Ragsdale, executive director of the Lest We Forget Museum of Slavery in Philadelphia about this amazing establishment and review some of its astonishing artifacts and the outsize influence the legacy of slavery has to this very day. Our Kickstarter for White Meat:...
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Best Soundtracks w/ Gangstagrass
In this episode we talk to chart toppers Gangstagrass, whose unique blend of bluegrass and hip hop challenge institutional notions of music and race, about their favorite soundtracks. Bring a pen. (Please note: At around 41:30 there's a glitch where we go from talking about Die Hard to revenge...
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Feminist Frankenstein w/ Diana P. Cartwright
On the season two premiere we talk to astrologer coach Diana P. Cartwright about the political aspects of Mary Shelley’s foundational text. We explore the influence of the times and her personal life on her and her work and the implications for us in the here and now. Our White Meat: Appetizer...
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How Horror Saved My Life w/ Stephen L. Barton
In our season one finale, we talk to indie horror legend Stephen L. Barton, producer of Terrifier and Terrifier 2 and Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy and co-founder/previous editor-in-chief of Dread Central about how horror—and George Romero in particular—saved his life, the role of gore...
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Black FX-ellence w/ Fre Howard
In this episode we talk to White Meat: Appetizer‘s Head of Makeup and FX Fre Howard about what the industry refuses to believe a Black woman can do, what the election results tell us about America, and what it’s like to meet Jordan Peele. Learn more about White Meat at whitemeatmovie.com. Learn...
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Gen X and Millennial Zombies w/ Film Loop’s Darian Davis and Victor De Anda
This week we talk to Film Loop‘s Darian Davis and Victor De Anda about their favorite zombie movies from both the Gen X and Millennial era and, since we recorded this the day after the election, we get into some pretty deep Night of the Living Dead metaphors about America as well. You can learn...
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Prisoners of War and the True Meaning of “Zombie” w/ Michael O’Bryan
On this episode we talk to Humanature founder Michael O’Bryan about the origin of the term zombi and some of the myths that still persist about slavery and Blackness in America. Learn more about White Meat at whitemeatmovie.com. Learn more about White Meat at whitemeatmovie.com Follow us on Insta...
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You’re Golfing on Dead People: Secret Cemeteries w/ Courtney Minick
Just in time for Halloween, we talk to Here Lies a Story creator Courtney Winick about what lies beneath San Francisco. Namely, lots of dead people. We get into Poltergeist-style burial schemes and what how we treat the dead says about how we treat the living. All very relevant to our movie where...
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SNL, Startups, and Opening Bars w/ Dan Maccarone
On this episode we talk to White Meat producer Dan Maccarone about his experiences working with Saturday Night Live, Jimmy Fallon, and opening bars (without any experience in the industry) and how all of that informs his approach to helping make White Meat. Learn more about White Meat at...
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Are Zombies Communists? w/ Amy Santee
In this episode we talk to "anti-capitalist business owner" Amy Santee about unions and labor and their relationship with zombies and with The White Meat Manifesto driving the production of our film. Learn more about White Meat at whitemeatmovie.com. Learn more about White Meat at...
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Black Nerds and Black Aliveness w/ Rashid Zakat
In this episode we talk with Rashid Zakat, the visual artist who came up with the idea to turn White Meat into a podcast in the first place. We discuss the bigger-than-you-expect tent that is Black nerd-dom, his journey into filmmaking and the visual arts, and how he uses his work to explore…
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What Is Pre-Crowdfunding? w/ Alex Hillman
On this episode we talk to Indy Hall co-founder and Tiny MBA author Alex Hillman about the business side of indie filmmaking and, in particular, what it has in common with startups and small business. Also, we learn about the ancient technique of pre-crowdfunding, which White Meat: Appetizer will...
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Important Kickstarter Announcement
On this episode we’re proud to announce the launch date for our Kickstarter campaign to fund White Meat: Appetizer, the proof of concept short that takes place the same night as White Meat the feature. Learn more about White Meat at https://whitemeatmovie.com/ Learn more about White Meat at...
About this show
Beneath a quiet park in Philly lie buried the bodies of hundreds of enslaved people. What if, one night, they all came back as zombies, but they only ate white people?
That's the premise of White Meat, a movie being written and directed by David Dylan Thomas. On this podcast you'll hear from him as he interviews the people helping make and inspire this movie on topics as varied as film production, Black horror, and Black history, and get updates about the film itself.
Hosted by
David Thomas