What's Kraken with Jo Szewczyk

In this episode of What's Kraken, Jo sits down with Mad Ange — artist, writer, publisher, burlesque performer, and lifelong Vegas weirdo — for two hours on sobriety, grief, the old internet, and the long crawl back to yourself. Funny, filthy, and a lot more personal than either of them planned. Support Mad Ange's work at Crafty Bat: - Grab the Ephemeronomicon here : We are Amazon Affiliates. If yo...

In this episode of What’s Kraken, Jo talks with Georgie Ray about RIP Man 2, indie horror, acting, and building characters from the inside out. From self-doubt on set to the joy of making art on a budget, this one gets personal, funny, and inspiring. Support the work at https://linktr.ee/Emptyhell Support the new movie here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/z12/the-rip-man-2-rest-in-pain-again...

In this episode of What’s Kraken, Jo sits down with filmmakers Madeleine Sims-Fewer and Dusty Mancinelli about their chilling new Shudder premiere, Honey Bunch—a psychological thriller exploring lost memories, experimental trauma treatments, and the dark underbelly of a marriage tested to its limits. They open up about their collaborative writing-directing process, the challenges of indie horror,...

In this episode of What’s Kraken, Jo surprises co-host Amelie with a deep dive into her fascinating life – from growing up in a historic French bed and breakfast to working hotels across Europe, Asia, and beyond. Amelie shares heartfelt stories of family work ethic, saving fiercely for independence, falling in love with Asia's community spirit, and her burning dream of owning a B&B that empowe...

Jo goes FULL chaotic energy with Lee Hatfield (S.I.P.A. Paranormal Chronicles) as they unpack how Lee launched a paranormal podcast that exploded in 2025, booked guests until mid-January, and still finds time to get stroked by ghosts in creepy jails. From EVPs that make jaws drop to seeing a full apparition walk past his bed in New York, Lee spills the real tea on scientific investigating, time sl...

Jo gets local—and real—with author Robert Howell in this surprising and heartfelt episode of What’s Kraken. From childhood storytelling to publishing paranormal thrillers, Robert shares how a single rejection letter helped shape his 50-year writing journey. They dive into the origin stories behind Blood Mansion and Blood Castle , the quirks of self-publishing, and the minefield of indie publishing...

Jo chats with Matt Henderson of Loke Battle Mats about building portable, erasable battle-map books, why modular tools beat bulky map tubes, and turning “players derailed my prep” into a feature. Matt also teases Loke’s party-at-the-table card decks— Deck of Many Insults and Dumb Dares & Silly Sidequests —plus the new Dungeon Designer toolkit for instant encounters and solo play. He shares his...

In this episode of What’s Kraken , Jo sits down with Derek Chung from Nomnivore Games to talk accessibility, inclusivity, and why fun should always come first in game design. From the origins of the “Nomnivore” name to building games that double as therapeutic tools, Derek shares how titles like Emberwind , Snack Attack , and Nomaventure are breaking barriers and bringing players of all ages and a...

Jo sits down with Michael from Weathered Dragon, a true craftsman who turned a personal Dungeons & Dragons passion project into some of the most stunning custom gaming tables on the market. From his Gen Con beginnings to barstool-height builds that actually save your back, Michael shares the journey of bringing artistry, woodworking, and community into every design. 🎲 Check out Weathered Drag...

In this episode of What’s Kraken , Jo sits down with Kyona Jiles , award-winning romance and fantasy author of First Death and Second Chance . They dive into her creative escape into writing, her early struggles with vanity publishing, and the resilience it took to turn setbacks into award-winning success. From dark humor in grief to building entire worlds filled with vampires, shapeshifters, and...

Jo welcomes Medium Jenny Lea , a psychic medium and empath whose journey from a childhood filled with ghost stories to professional readings is anything but ordinary. Jenny shares how a chance TV moment sparked her realization that she was a medium, the difference between empaths and mediums, and how she learned to protect and ground herself while working with spirit energy. They dive deep into: W...

Jo welcomes Christopher and Lawrence Connolly , the powerhouse creative duo behind the upcoming novel Minutemen: Execute and Run (out October 14). Born from Christopher’s vivid character sketches and Lawrence’s storytelling, this action-driven tale follows a team of wounded warriors who gain incredible powers that last only 60 seconds — and then leave them completely vulnerable. The brothers share...

Jo sits down with Colin Krawchuk, director of Jester 2 —the best horror movie of the year (Jo's words, not just hype). From its humble beginnings as a Halloween short film to a full-blown feature with indie grit and real emotional pull, Colin breaks down how Jester 2 became a must-see slasher with a soul. 🎟️ Catch Jester 2 in theaters nationwide September 15 & 16 — https://hubs.la/Q03xX7Wj0 🧨...

What if the future of AI wasn’t built on silicon — but on living neurons ? 🧠💻 Jo sits down with Dr. Ewelina Kurtys from Final Spark , a Swiss startup pioneering the world’s first biohybrid computers. They dive into how neurons are sourced from human skin cells, why these living computers could be a million times more energy-efficient than current AI, and how philosophy is being brought in early...

Jo sits down with longtime friend and creative powerhouse Paula Hightower , the mind behind InstantRealityShift.com . Paula shares her journey from music and web design to creating powerful Afformations — not just statements, but questions that spark your brain into making change possible. They dive deep into battling imposter syndrome, rebuilding self-confidence, and why these targeted mindset to...

In this enlightening episode of What’s Kraken , Jo sits down with Mary Van Doorn of SugarMamaStrong.com . A warrior on a 12‑year wellness journey, Mary shares how motherhood and a diabetes diagnosis sparked a complete life transformation. From triathlons at 215 lbs to founding a thriving women’s support group, she speaks frankly about emotional eating, mental health work, and community building. L...

Jo dives into the strange and science-meets-spiritual world of the paranormal with Dr. Heather Leigh Carroll‑Landon , a researcher and ghost investigator who blends metaphysical studies with boots-on-the-ground evidence. From seeing spirits as a child to using fidget spinners as ghost tools, Heather brings decades of personal experience, academic study, and wild stories. She opens up about a power...

Jeremy Rudd — writer, director, actor, and all-around horror craftsman — joins Jo to talk about his debut feature DIE’CED: Reloaded . What started as a pandemic-fueled love letter to 80s slashers became a viral short, caught the eye of Dread Central & Epic Pictures, and is now a blood-soaked, Seattle-set horror romp hitting theaters August 8th and VOD August 12th. From building a “final girl”...

You read that right— JD BARKER is in the Kraken lair. Jo sits down with the international bestselling author of Dracul , Forsaken , and The Fourth Monkey to talk horror, publishing, and why chasing fear is the real writer’s journey. JD opens up about how Dracula changed his life at a garage sale, nearly getting buried alive in hay bales as a kid (yes, really), and why he writes in Scrivener, on ty...

Dr. Jo sits down with award-winning author and lifelong educator Dr. Randy Overbeck to talk about his chilling and thought-provoking Haunted Shores Mystery Series . These aren’t your average ghost stories—each novel dives into real societal issues like racial injustice , human trafficking , migrant abuse , and Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) , all wrapped in meticulously researched,...

n this spine-tingling episode, Jo sits down with horror writer, podcaster, and screenwriter Justin Wood to explore the haunted roots of storytelling—from Southern Gothic folklore and ghostly childhood inspirations to self-publishing Needless Nightmares and crafting the screenplay Granny Willow . They discuss the evolution of writing style, the brutal honesty of editing, and how podcasting is all a...

Fantasy lovers, this one’s for you! Jo sits down with indie author Jaxon Schelhaas to talk worldbuilding, language creation, and the journey from handwritten notebooks to 600-page epics. Jaxon shares how Tolkien’s Silmarillion sparked his creative fire, the process behind his five-book fantasy series Lands of Ordia , and how he invented a full fictional language—complete with its own alphabet. It’...

Ready for a fang-tastic journey through Dracula’s homeland, Universal Monsters nostalgia, and real-life haunted events? Jo sits down with Charles Rosenay of DracTours —the original vampire vacation master—for a wild ride through horror travel, celebrity top-10 horror booklists, and convention chaos. From Romanian castles to Connecticut’s Paracon and Salem Horror Con, this ep is packed with spooky...

What do Victorian tea parties, buried skeletons under Philly sidewalks, and kosher cheesesteaks have in common? Public historian and founder of Offbeat Philly, Fayge, joins Jo to talk about the quirky, hidden, and jaw-dropping side of Philadelphia’s history. From guiding ghost-curious tourists past forgotten graves to designing historical adult coloring books (yes, really), this episode is a deep...

Join Jo for a fascinating conversation with author Jack LaFountain about his latest book "Return to Deadwood" - a collection of paranormal Western short stories rooted in South Dakota folklore and history. Jack shares his unique approach to blending historical accuracy with supernatural elements, his annual pilgrimage to Wild Deadwood Reads festival, and how he creates authentic characters that wa...