Whiskey Morgue Podcast

David Weiner joins me on the Whiskey Morgue Podcast to discuss In Search of Darkness: The Golden Age of Horror, the upcoming documentary celebrating 1970s horror cinema. Over a few drinks, we talk about the films, filmmakers, and cultural impact that helped define the golden age of horror. If you’re a fan of 70s horror movies, horror documentaries, and classics like Halloween (1978), The Texas Cha...

TERRIFIER 3 Secrets, Horror Legends & the Most Whiskey Ever Drank on the Podcast This week on the Whiskey Morgue Podcast, Mike sits down with filmmaker and producer Marcus Slabine to talk horror, filmmaking, and the winding road that led him from working on blockbuster productions like The Dark Knight Rises and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 to projects including STREAM, Dark Offerings, Terrifier 3,...

The Most Overhated Horror Remake of the 2000s?   In this episode of After the Last Rental, Zack pulls House of Wax off the shelf while Mike pours a glass of Maker’s Mark. From Paris Hilton’s infamous “See Paris Die” marketing to the sticky practical effects overshadowed by the glossy early-2000s cast, the guys revisit a remake that may deserve more credit than its reputation suggests. Along the wa...

This week on the Whiskey Morgue Podcast, I’m joined by whiskey reviewer, sneaker enthusiast, former Malt Review contributor, and Bourbon Pursuit regular Matt Kusek for a conversation that blends horror, whiskey, wrestling, and sneaker culture. We talk about growing up with Chicago horror icon Svengoolie, the magic of late-night horror hosts, and the uniquely weird cultural identity of Chicago. We...

On this episode of After the Last Rental, Zack and Mike re-visit Freddy’s Dead: The Final Nightmare, the one that was supposed to actually bury the franchise, but somehow brought it roaring back to life. Zack pulls a final chapter that leans into bigger lore, bigger cameos, and bigger spectacle, while Mike pairs it with a pour of Weller Antique. Together, they break down a sequel that trades scare...

On this episode of the Whiskey Morgue Podcast, Mike sits down with professional wrestler and actor Vinny Pacifico to talk about his journey from the wrestling ring to the world of horror with his upcoming indie horror film Mr. Reset and the Society of Turnbuckle & Bone . Vinny shares stories from working shows connected to All Elite Wrestling, training with some of the industry’s best, and dev...

Mike from Whiskey Morgue is teaming up with Zack Lovitz of Terror Racks Video in this episode of, After the Last Rental. We're pouring a drink, reviewing a VHS from Zack's video store, and discussing why these classic movies still matter. In this episode, Mike and Zack rewind the tape on Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh, pairing the Mardi Gras–set sequel with a pour of Starlight Honey Finish Bourbo...

Mike from Whiskey Morgue is teaming up with Zack Lovitz of Terror Racks Video in this new series, After the Last Rental. We're pouring a drink, pulling a VHS from Zack's video store, and digging into why these classic movies still matter.  We kick off the series with a childhood favorite, Ernest Scared Stupid while sipping some Eagle Rare 10 year bourbon.   After the Last Rental is where the video...

Christmas might be over, but the chaos lives on. In this episode of The Whiskey Morgue Podcast, Mike is joined by director and producer Steven LaMorte to talk about Christmas Chaos: The Making of The Mean One, a behind-the-scenes look at turning a viral Hallmark-horror trailer into a full-blown feature. From bootstrapping a production with almost no budget—building caves in living rooms to racing...

On this episode of Whiskey Morgue, Mike cracks open Moonlight Mayhem bourbon with the minds behind Filmland Spirits — Charlie Flint and Steve Canepa. We dig into how Film Land blends whiskey culture with cinematic nostalgia, why the story and the liquid have to speak the same language, and which horror tropes they’d happily bury six feet under in the spirits world. The conversation dives into thei...

On this episode of The Whiskey Morgue, Mike is joined by Richard T. Wilson, writer and creator of Halloween Girl and founder of Mad Shelley Comics. They dive into Richard’s path from Emmy-winning educational programming to horror storytelling, exploring how grief, identity, and catharsis shaped the evolution of Charlotte and the expanding world of Halloween Girl Book 3: Gods and Monsters.  Richard...

This week on The Whiskey Morgue Podcast, I sit down with Justin Ware — producer and co-founder of Find Familiar Spirits, the creative force behind the fantasy-inspired Quest’s End and the hauntingly immersive Macabre Spirits. We dive into how Justin and Matthew Lillard built entire worlds around their whiskies, blending storytelling, art, and community into every bottle. From the origins of Dawn o...

This week, I’m joined by my friend Eric, the Whiskey Mutant for our first ever Halloween special as we dive mask-first into Halloween III: Season of the Witch — the black sheep of the franchise that ditched Michael for Celtic curses, killer masks, and pure 80s weirdness. Join us, as we pair Halloween treats with whiskey and get as unhinged as frisky Tom Atkins with a six-pack and a theory.   Happy...

This week, Mike shares a few pours with The United States of Bourbon — Mitch Gerads (Eisner Award–winning DC Comics artist), Brandon Boone (World Soundtrack Award–winning composer), and Graham Rowat (actor and acclaimed narrator).   They do a deep dive into how art, music, and storytelling collide over a good pour. They share how the series came to life through their shared roots in the NoSleep Po...

In this episode, Mike sits down with award-winning filmmaker Steven LaMorte to talk about his horror parodies The Mean One and Screamboat, starring David Howard Thornton. With a few epic pours of Heaven Hill Distillery in hand, they dive into Steven’s early storytelling roots, his jump from working with Sony and WWE into horror, and how he balances camp, gore, and humor on screen. They also dig in...

Season 2 of The Whiskey Morgue Podcast kicks off with Chris Dudley of Underoath! We talk about the band’s Three Chord bourbon release, the making of their new album The Place After This One, and how recording in a cottage brought them back to their roots. Chris also dives into his passion for film scoring, from his work on Plastic Men to the movies that inspire him, plus we trade thoughts on some...

On this episode, I’m joined by my super pal Zack from Terror Racks Video to dissect the glorious mess that is Jason Goes to Hell. We dive into everything from the legal tangle that kept “Friday the 13th” off the title, to Jason’s supernatural body-hopping side quest that split fans harder than a pole through a camper. We show some love to the tense, trap-filled opening, and debate whether Creighto...

In Part II of this episode, I’m joined by director and cinematographer Jamie Root of JFR Media, whose horror credits include Terrifier 2 & 3, STREAM, and Screamboat. We dive into Jamie’s path through the genre, the organized chaos of working with blood, prosthetics, and passionate creatives, and the unique challenges of being a steady hand behind the camera when things get wild. Jamie shares b...

In Part I of this episode, I’m joined by director and cinematographer Jamie Root of JFR Media, whose horror credits include Terrifier 2 & 3, STREAM, and Screamboat. We dive into Jamie’s path through the genre, the organized chaos of working with blood, prosthetics, and passionate creatives, and the unique challenges of being a steady hand behind the camera when things get wild. Jamie shares be...

On this episode, I hang out with the gents from Boos Brews and BBQ, a thrilling new TV series that explores haunted histories and smoky flavors across America. Hosted by Barry Kerch (Shinedown), Ty Sherrell (BBQ guru), and John Guarnieri (Spear Talk podcast), each episode takes viewers to a new city where they dive into local BBQ traditions, investigate eerie legends, and sometimes get surprise vi...

On this episode, I’m joined by Jaz'min Weaver, National Brand Ambassador for Bardstown Bourbon Company. She shares her journey from crafting cocktail menus and working in hospitality in Metro Detroit to moving to Kentucky, falling down the bourbon rabbit hole, and joining Bardstown. We discuss the formative movies that ignited her love for horror and all things spooky, including her affinity for w...

On this episode I share a few drinks with the original Ghostface from Scream 1 and 2, Lee Waddell.  Lee shares the story of how he broke into the stunt business, kicking off an illustrious career that’s seen him work with legends like Spielberg, Burton, Bay — and of course, Wes Craven. Wes kept Lee on speed dial, and the two collaborated on multiple projects for over a decade. We dive into the mak...

On this episode, I dive into all things Barrell with Master Blender Nic Christiansen. Nic shares her journey before joining Barrell, honing her skills as Beverage Director at the renowned Butchertown Grocery. She discusses how managing an extensive whiskey program and crafting cocktails prepared her for her dream job—creating innovative whiskey blends. Nic takes me through a tasting of Batch 36 an...

In this episode, I sit down with my guy, Eric the Whiskey Mutant. We take a trip down memory lane to the video store and pick out one of our favourite movies growing up, Puppet Master. We discuss the cover art and posters that drew us to the film and then of course have some fun discussing the film itself. Turns out it’s not quite as we remembered.  Eric guides me through an epic Whiskey Mutant ta...

In this episode, I catch up with my longtime friend, Ben Scrivens, CEO of Fright-Rags Horror Apparel. We recap some highlights after finally reuniting at Frightmare in the Falls this past October. Ben shares epic stories from nearly two decades of attending conventions, including hanging with George Romero and drinking bourbon in a hotel lobby with Sam Raimi. Ben also pulls back the curtain on the...