the Mentally Oddcast

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 experi...

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 grandmaste...

As an all-around great dude and the producer of Way Too Late TV , Sam joins us to discuss his experiences with electro-convulsive therapy, giant robot fighting games, and television production. We talk about language, Velocipastor, and how by and large--most abled folk will eventually go through times of being disabled. We also talk Robert Englund, Voltaire, and coping with memory loss. Plus, a Ma...

Best known by the public as the author of Vessel , Lisa Nichols lives with anxiety, PTSD, and occasional writer's block. Lisa explains how she parlayed a passion for Sherlock fanfic into an agent and a major publishing deal. We talk 1970's diet fads, what it means to be queer, the language of romance lit, and why Book 3 of the Savior Trilogy still isn't written. Also, a MadLib.  Beware of mil...

Despite being beset by technical problems, Matt Fleming discusses his journey through alcoholism and anxiety--and how he came out a musician on the other side. Also, why AI isn't taking over music like art and lit. We talk about rich people in ways that could totally get us sued, and I explain why the third President's Son book is taking a Song-of-Ice-and-Fire amount of time to finish. Plus, a son...

Brought to you by Sometimes Hilarious Horror , Nickolas Cook shares stories from his life with brutal honesty. We talk depression and writer's block, genre faves, Late Night with the Devil, the many shades of sobriety, and why horror has a unique appeal to the traumatized. Plus self-publishing, the noveling process, incels and MAGA and entitlement (oh my!) and more.  

Kill by Kill Podcaster and writer, Gena Radcliffe discusses media depictions of mental illness in her upcoming book. Wednes and Gena also talk about old-school electroshock therapy, the Russian takeover of Livejournal, therapy and "Safety Contracts," and why Wednes adores Jeffrey DeMunn. Also 'Salem's Lot, Rob Zombie movies, and why the customer has never been "always right." 

Artist Quinn Rowan Dex is a surrealist, a poet, a mom, and a fascinating person all around. We discuss duality in art, freedom of speech and expression, our experiences with homelessness. We drag AI art and discuss the storied history of Sometimes Hilarious Horror magazine.  And of course, there's a MadLib. 

Renaissance Man Excelsior Smith and host Wednesday Lee Friday talk about addiction and recovery and the dual diagnosis experience. We offer advice for men and opine on how InCels are sooo very close to getting it. We talk EMDR, MAGA and fear, and what it really means to 'sell your body' as a job.  CW for talk about hate crimes, SA, and unaliving. Wanna know more about Excelsior Smith and his...

Dania Denise is a filmmaker, writer, editor, actor, and producer. She is also an empath who lives with anxiety. We discuss the role of empathy in collaboration and storytelling. Dania tells us about her new project, You Were Just Here , and how it relates to her own life. We talk funding, writing, emulating versus imitating, and Dania offers some advice for creators still trying to find their voic...

Mel Hynes is best known as the writer of the cat comic Two Lumps . But they also write horror and maintain a well-loved blog that includes Mel's cooking adventures. This week, Wednesday and Mel talk rejection letters, early depressive episodes, creators we find unassailable. We name-drop authors, throw shade at AI, and reveal why Sometimes Hilarious Horror doesn't pay by the word. 

This week, writer and editor Alison Huff discusses the ups and downs of being undiagnosed. We talk sex writing, politics, sociopathy, TayTay and her upcoming book . I also learned how to bleep stuff! A transcript of this episode can be found here!

Our guest, poet and author, Ennis Rook Bashe , discusses Speculative Disability Poetics, old-school internet, bookTok, and what it can mean to be non-binary. We also crack wise and deadname Twitter.  After the interview stick around as they read poetry selections from an upcoming issue of Sometimes Hilarious Horror . 

In our premiere episode, host Wednesday Lee Friday discusses our mission statement and goals for the Mentally Oddcast. Media guy and nerd Ryan Wilcox leads a discussion on what it means to be neurotypical, religion and community, and when it's time to stop watching a TV series.  Plus, a Mad Lib!