Rent Free History

How did a handful of horror movies become some of entertainment's most recognizable franchises? This week on Rent Free History, we're celebrating Halloween by tracing modern horror's evolution, from the slasher boom sparked by  Halloween , to the franchise formula perfected by  Friday the 13th , to the dreamlike terror of  A Nightmare on Elm Street , to the self-aware revival of Scream...

Actor, writer, and producer Niki J. Borger joins the show for a wide-ranging conversation about carving out a career in entertainment. From launching Firewolf Entertainment and balancing multiple creative roles to working on horror film sets and finding inspiration in unexpected places, Niki shares the experiences that have shaped her journey. Chapters 0:00 - Intro 2:57 - Firewolf Entertainment  5...

This week, Annabelle Soto returns to look back on her time studying screenwriting at Cal State Fullerton, sharing stories about memorable classmates, creative discussions, and the professor who always managed to take the conversation somewhere unexpected. Annabelle also discusses her upcoming romantic comedy, the overwhelming response to casting, and why she wanted to make a film centered on frien...

This week, we're joined by Patrick McCarthy, storyboard artist for Family Guy , to explore what really goes into making one of television's most iconic animated comedies. From the storyboard process and working alongside Seth MacFarlane's productions to the future of original animation, crowdfunding, franchise building, and the jump from 2D to 3D, Patrick shares a behind-the-scenes loo...

In our 50th episode of Rent Free History, Tamara Dever shares her deep knowledge of MTV's golden age, the impact of music videos, and her personal journey with 80s music and culture. Chapters 0:00 - Intro, 50th Episode and Revisiting MTV 2:47 - Golden Age of MTV 9:30 - Role of Video Jockeys 12:40 - Interviewing Martha Quinn 19:13 - Memorable MTV Moments and Iconic Music Videos 25:18 - Rock Me...

What starts as a conversation about writing quickly turns into a deep dive into one of America's biggest mysteries. This week, Dave Kenney joins the show to talk about his creative process, his novel Helium , Roswell, Area 51, and why UFO disclosure continues to capture our imagination decades later. Chapters 0:00 - Intro, Dave’s Early Career 2:48 - Writing Process 5:43 - Shift to Fiction  8:1...

If you've ever gone down a Wikipedia rabbit hole at 2 a.m., this episode is for you. Every tangent leads to another unexpected story, moving from nepo babies to 9/11's connection with Ellen to controversial sports figures. Chapters 0:00 - Nepo Babies 8:55 - 9/11 to Ellen Pipeline 13:09 - Ellen Show Story, Ellen’s Career, Anne Heche 18:29 - Steve Buscemi, Spy Kids 25:58 - Advertising, Child...

Long before the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Spider-Man's journey to becoming one of Hollywood's biggest superheroes was filled with television experiments, canceled movies, legendary scripts, and behind-the-scenes chaos. In this episode of Rent Free History, we trace Spider-Man's evolution from his comic book origins to The Electric Company , the 1970s TV series, Cannon Films' faile...

In this week's episode, we sit down with Tara Connaghan, Irish fiddle player, podcaster, educator, tour guide, and expert on Irish traditional music. We explore how folk music has helped preserve Irish culture for generations, the unwritten rules of Irish music sessions, and why storytelling remains at the heart of Ireland's identity. From ancient legends and oral traditions to social medi...

With back-to-school season right around the corner, we thought it was best to do an episode based on how we met and our college experiences. Chapters 0:00 - Intro 2:28 - Freedom and Responsibility 6:03 - How We Met in College 17:10 - Peyton’s College Experience 25:15 - Kemdi’s College Experience 37:45 - Advice for College 48:04 - Outro

Sara from 2coolcinema joins the show. We discuss our film school experiences, the new Minions movie, Peyton's Marvel fandom, the future of entertainment, and the role of AI. Check out 2coolcinema on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. Chapters 0:00 - Intro 2:20 - Sara’s Social Media Journey  3:47 - Film School Experiences 21:43 - Minions and Monsters  29:16 - Spiderman Tangent and Discussion 33:04...

Stand-up comedy has survived every technological revolution imaginable. From vaudeville stages and Catskills resorts to comedy clubs, late-night television, HBO specials, YouTube, podcasts, TikTok, and livestreams, comedians have always found new ways to make people laugh. This week on Rent Free History , we're joined by comedian, author, and Plauzzable founder Leanne Linsky to explore how com...

In this special game show edition of Rent Free History, we're putting our musical theater knowledge to the test with a simple question: Is it a real musical... or did we make it up? From Broadway classics to bizarre productions that sound too ridiculous to exist, we compete to separate fact from fiction—while somehow ending up discussing everything from Cats, Dear Evan Hansen, Night at the Mus...

The 1960s remain one of the most influential and controversial decades in American history. In this episode, we examine how the optimism of postwar America gave way to a decade defined by social movements, political unrest, cultural transformation, and technological achievement. We explore why many people romanticize the 1950s before examining television's role in shaping public opinion, the C...

Episode 40 of Rent Free History explores the pop culture revolution that defined the Baby Boomer generation and laid the foundation for the entertainment world we know today. From the birth of the modern teenager and the explosion of television to The Twilight Zone , The Ed Sullivan Show , rock 'n' roll, the British Invasion, drive-in theaters, B-movies, and the toys that filled childhoods...

The history of Hollywood is more than just famous movies; it's the story of an industry that transformed entertainment forever. In this episode of Rent Free History, we trace the evolution of American filmmaking from the birth of motion pictures and the rise of Southern California as the center of movie production to the creation of the powerful studio system that dominated Hollywood for decad...

Not every exorcism story comes from Hollywood. In this episode of Rent Free History, we're exploring the real events that inspired one of the most influential horror films ever made. We begin with the origins of demonic possession beliefs before diving into the infamous case of Roland Doe, the alleged possession that inspired The Exorcist . From there, we discuss the making of the film, the in...

This week on Rent Free History, Peyton and Kemdi are diving into the legacy of The Phantom of the Opera and The Creature from the Black Lagoon, exploring how one monster has been reimagined time and time again while the other has spent decades trapped in development hell. Along the way, they take a few unexpected detours into the design of the Phantom's mask, The Addams Family , sponsored ente...

In this episode of Rent Free History, Peyton and Kemdi explore the origins and lasting legacy of the Universal Monsters, from Frankenstein's tragic search for acceptance to Dracula's immortal influence on vampire fiction, the curse of the Wolfman, the mysteries of The Mummy, and the terrifying power of The Invisible Man. The two dive into the deeper themes hidden beneath these classic horr...

For decades, urban legends have spread through campfires, whispered rumors, chain letters, and eventually the internet. In this episode of Rent Free History, Peyton and Kemdi explore the stories that have lived rent-free in our heads for generations. From classic legends like Bloody Mary, La Llorona, the Hookman, and the Slit-Mouthed Woman to internet-born nightmares like Slenderman, Jeff the Kill...

What happened to memorable commercials? This week on Rent Free History, we dive into the ads, jingles, mascots, and marketing campaigns that have lived rent-free in our heads for decades. From Empire Today, Kars 4 Kids, State Farm, Progressive, Verizon, and Vonage to legendary jingles like Stanley Steemer and Education Connection, we explore why these commercials became part of pop culture. We als...

The line between celebrity, influencer, politician, and brand mascot has completely collapsed. From the awkwardness of the “Imagine” video and the downfall of Diddy to PR machine manipulation, parasocial relationships, internet backlash cycles, and the slow death of Hollywood mystique, we break down how celebrity culture evolved into the strange mess we live with today. We also talk about JoJo Siw...

Prom is supposed to be one night, so why does it linger for decades? In this episode of Rent Free History, Peyton and Kemdi explore prom culture, nostalgia, social media, “prom moms,” and the strange pressure surrounding high school milestones. From parents reliving their youth through their kids to the idea of “peaking in high school,” this conversation dives into how adolescence became something...

In episode 31 of Rent Free History , Peyton and Kemdi break down the unlikely rise of Star Wars, from George Lucas’ early experimental films like THX 1138 to the game-changing success of a galaxy far, far away. Along the way, we explore his friendship with Francis Ford Coppola, and how shifting drafts, bold casting choices, and groundbreaking special effects shaped the film we know today. We also...

In episode 30 of Rent Free History , we sit down with the author of Nowhere Man , Robert Rosen, to unpack one of the most controversial portrayals of John Lennon ever put to page. From the origins of the book to the backlash it sparked, Rosen walks us through the research, the accusations of deception, and the lasting impact his work has had on Lennon’s legacy. We also unpack rarely discussed aspe...