A Podcast Family Tree
Can you imagine a time when there were only a handful of horror podcasts? That was the landscape when Jack Campisi and I started Monster Men way back in 2011. We had no idea what we were doing, but decided to give it a go to help promote my first book. Thirteen years later, we’re still at it…and more!
Since then, we’ve met some amazing people who have branched out into their own podcasts. So, here’s a little podcast history all the way to the present. If you’re looking for some rabbit holes of entertainment to tumble down, there’s plenty to choose from.
Now, take my hand and let’s walk to where it all began, with two guys who love horror and wanted to do a podcast about buds at a bar talking about their favorite genre. Monster Men was born in my living room. We started with an episode called Vampires Kinda Suck and now, 186 episodes later, we talked to author Kristin Dearborn about her latest book and all things skunk apes. Quite a few episodes under our belt about cryptids. 🙂
A few years later, we were contacted by this dude called Jason Brant who had a new show called Drinking with Jason (RIP…to the show, not Jason). The concept was and is brilliant. He invited horror authors and the like to his show, asked them for their favorite adult beverage so he would drink it along with them during the show. It made for funny conversations. Until he discovered that most horror authors drank milk or water. Sigh. Jack and I were on separate episodes. You can watch them here. And yes, we imbibed a lot of booze.
Now, Jack and I must have made a good impression, because in 2017, Jason had an idea to do a horror review show and he asked the crusty Monster Men to join the band. On a late May evening, Final Guys was born! As of this date with just under 350 episodes under our belt, we’re going stronger than ever, broadcasting live every Tuesday night. Every episode features a drinking game, award winning news, a curation of horror movies, books and games, and a deep dive into our main feature. Oh, and a gang of nut bars in the live chat who we can’t live without!
In 2020 while we were trapped in our houses drinking way too much, the Final Guys added author Tim Meyer to the gang. He had a long running audio podcast called Aperture Hour that has since closed their microphones. When Tim had to step away from being a regular, we added author Chad Lutzke to the regular lineup. Now, Chad had a pretty cool long form podcast called PaleoCheeze (another RIP). Here’s an episode with the Monster Men as we discuss The Fly!
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the most popular podcast of them all, Jason Brant’s hilarious So Bad It’s Good. Think MST for a new generation. Big ups to Steven Seagal for making so many terrible movies. Jason and the gang kill it every week, and now have a warehouse full of crappy movies to mine for the next thousand years.
But that’s not all! Jason and Chad have since started another podcast, Bleeding Page. On it, they interview some pretty incredible horror authors. If you’re a writer or fan of the genre, it’s a must listen. Here’s an episode with Chad’s writing hero, the legendary Joe Lansdale.
I have joined forces with some great folks across the pond and their fun movie review show, Bloody Good Screen. I’m usually called to action when there are terrible movies to review and no one else wants to watch them, but I did just compete in their annual trivia contest (and came in a respectable second).
Brand new, out of the box, is Chad’s Creepy Couch, where he and his lovely wife watch horror flicks new to both or one of them. You get their funny reactions as they watch, sometimes a quirky skit or two, and a wrap up. And a pretty cool 70s feeling opening.
Last but not least is another new podcast, but this one has nothing to do with horror. Jason’s alpha male brother Bryan and his family sold their beautiful McMansion in TX to rebuild the family farm in rural PA. Armstrong Acres Farm is a no-holds barred riches to rags, DIY story that unfolds every week, showing all of the warts that come with rebuilding a property. Turn off that ridiculous HG channel and see how this kind of work is really done.
And that, for now, is the whole shebang. Will there be more? I’m sure. Until then, check these fun shows out and escape from the total misery of real life for a while.
The Last Word in Horror – Birth of THE FINAL GUYS Podcast
In an effort to spread the love of horror far and wide, I’ve teamed up with my Monster Men brother, Jack Campisi, and author Jason Brant to start a brand new podcast called THE FINAL GUYS. This time around, it’s an audio podcast with a live feed on YouTube every Tuesday night at 7pm EST. We kicked things off last week with a review of Alien : Covenant.
THE LAST WORD ON HORROR!
Each week, we’ll talk about the movies we’ve watched in our lairs and books we’ve read, all the latest horror news and devote the second half of the show to reviewing the newest offering in terror and suspense.
Now, I know there are a lot of horror podcasts out there, so my question is : what do you want in a horror podcast that you’re not getting elsewhere? We’re doing this for you, the fans, so your input is invaluable. Send us suggestions and we’ll give you a shout out and perhaps some special prize packs.
Give THE FINAL GUYS a listen and join in the fun. Here’s where you can find us. We’re everywhere, kinda like a plague :
FB – facebook.com/FINALGUYS
TWITTER – @FINALGUYS
EMAIL – finalguyspodcast@gmail.com
YouTube Channel (click to view and subscribe)
100 Episodes of Monster Madness
It’s been 5 years and now 100 episodes of Monster Men! Wow. I wish I counted the number of beers we’ve had while filming all that time. It would be a pretty impressive number.
100 episodes. That’s a lot of aarrghs! And a lot of movie/book reviews, interviews, wine and beer tasting, ruminations on horror classics and general tomfoolery. I can’t wait to see what the next 100 bring. Thank you all for watching and encouraging our errant behavior.
I’m going to give away a signed copy of TORTURES OF THE DAMNED to one lucky winner. To enter, all you need to do is leave a comment here with your favorite episode.
Now, on to the show!
As always, please subscribe to our YouTube Channel, rate us and post comments and follow our blog.
The Very Best of Monster Men – Countdown to Episode 100!
With episode #100 right around the corner (and weeks later, I think I’m still recovering from the celebration), I thought it would be great to share the top viewed episodes with you, as a way to look back at our golden oldies.
First up is our field trip to the haunted Union Cemetery, home of the fabled ghost of the white lady. We caught something chilling on EVP that day. Filmed in 2013, it has over 7,00 views and counting. Which means we really need to get out more and show you some of the stranger places in the NY tri-state area!
Next up is an episode that took us completely by surprise. Remember the show Ghost Mine on Syfy? Well, our episode on that show has not only garnered over 5,000 views, but also put us in touch with several members of the cast. That first season was one of my favorite ghost shows of all time.
This next episode was a bit of a coup for us. We interviewed Lyle Blackburn, TV personality and author who specializes in cryptids, specifically the beast of Boggy Creak and the Lizard Man. He’s a man after my own heart, having the biggest collection of Creature of the Black Lagoon memorabilia I’ve ever seen!
Jack and I talking about the good old days of discovering new horror movie gems at the video store is probably our favorite of all time, and tons of viewers agree. Take a walk down memory lane, and wish like we do that Netflix and On Demand never came along.
And last but not least, perhaps our funniest episode is the great monster wine taste test! This is the reason why I drink beer. I hope you’ve enjoyed these past 5 years as much as we have. There’s a hell of a lot more to come!
The Truth Behind THEY RISE -A Ghost Shark Killer Thriller & Giveaway
First, thank you to everyone who has picked up a copy of my deep sea thriller, THEY RISE. Sales and reviews have been fantastic. You all make my monster heart grow 3 sizes.
Jack and I finally got an episode together to talk about THEY RISE and reveal what is real and what isn’t. You also get a little inside poop on how deeply personal the first chapter was for me. Plus, we give some shout outs to a few of our uber Monster Men fans!
But wait, there’s more! If you comment on the video, you’re eligible to win a free copy of They Rise. Winner will be announced on March 17th.
If our little gab fest has you in the mood for an entree of chimaera fish with a side of seaweed, hop on over to Amazon and snag a copy on your fishing line.
The Aliens Are Here! Interview with BOOM TOWN Author Glenn Rolfe1
It’s time to put on your tin foil hats and settle down in the bunker. Today, for your listening and viewing pleasure, the Monster Men interview Samhain author Glenn Rolfe to talk about his latest release, Boom Town. Glenn is a horror author in Maine (I think there’s some other guy up there who does stuff like that) and a real up-and-comer. Now first, check out the interview :
Here’s what Boom Town is about :
Terror from below!
In the summer of 1979, Eckert, Wisconsin, was the sight of the most unique UFO encounter in history. A young couple observed a saucer-like aircraft hovering over Hollers Hill. A blue beam blasted down from the center of the craft into the hill and caused the ground to rumble for miles.
Now, thirty years later, Eckert is experiencing nightly rumbles that stir up wild rumors and garner outside attention. The earthly tremors are being blamed on everything from earthquakes to underground earth dwellers. Two pre-teens discover a pipe out behind Packard’s Flea Market uprooted by the “booms” and come into contact with the powerful ooze bubbling from within. What begins as curiosity will end in an afternoon of unbridled terror for the entire town.
Now, this is why I love my job. I got an advanced copy of Boom Town from Glenn. I’m not sure if he was fully aware of my alien invasion obsession. So little did he know, I was already hooked by the premise, big time. Boom Town is set in a small, out of the way town, so you immediately get that sense of isolation, which always amps up the creep factor. Most of the main characters are kids in their teens, so folks who grew up loving It can rejoice.
Glenn wastes no time diving right in. I will say that this isn’t your typical alien invasion tale. There are no grays or reptilians skulking around, probing anuses and trying to gain world domination. Think of this more as The Blob on steroids. Snappy prose and non-stop action make this a real fun read. Take me to your leader, if that leader is Glenn Rolfe!
Horror Flix Gone Bad
I’ve often been overheard saying I prefer a bad horror movie to a good non-horror movie. I won’t go so far as to say I’d rather sit down and watch THE COLLECTION over THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY, but you get the point. On a side note, I saw an extended version of my favorite spaghetti western, introduced by the late Eli Wallach, about 8 years ago. I even got to meet him before the show. Talk about the most magical night you can have at the movies!
Anyway, if you dig horror, you regularly sift through a lot of stinkers, panning for terror gold. We here at Monster Men Central invited author Jason Brant to wax unpoetic about some of the worst the genre has had to offer. Some are so bad, they must be seen, sometimes enjoyed again and again. And others, well, we’ve warned you.
Finding More Found Footage Films In Time For Turkey Day
Yep, I dropped a lot of F bombs in this post’s title. Before I ramble on, I wanted to say Happy Thanksgiving to you all. If there’s one thing I’m grateful for (actually, there are many), it’s all of you who wander over to my blog and read my books and just keep me going. You are all bad motor scooters and mean go-getters.
I also want to give thanks to fellow author and horror douche (his words, not mine), Jason Brant for being on the Monster Men. We actually shot 2 episodes with Jason because we had such a good time. The first one is all about found footage movies. Just when I thought the subgenre was done, a slew of new flicks flooded the market this year. Jack, Jason and I go through a bunch, telling you which ones to seek out and which to avoid.
As you can see, I found my cowboy hat in the bottom of my closet just before we started filming, much to my wife and daughters’ chagrin. My youngest asked me if I was going to a rodeo, since I was also wearing a flannel shirt and jeans.
Just a quick update on the writing front, my next cryptid novel is in the hands of my beta readers and line editor, aka my sister. As soon as I sent it out, I got to work on a little novella that promises to be a demented ride straight to hell. If all goes well, expect 4 new books in 2015, plus some short stories.
And now I’ll leave you to your turkey and booze and football. Enjoy the long weekend.
The Best Pumpkin Beer For #Horrortober And Everything In Between
Sometimes as a Monster Man, you just have to bite the bullet for the greater good. Fall is here and the shelves are bursting with dozens of different seasonal pumpkin beers to choose from. Jack and I ponied up to the bar and did some taste tests to let you know what to run out and buy and what to avoid. Let me tell you, it was a way better experience than our monster wine taste test. Find out who rules #Horrortober!
Naturally, this is my favorite month, the time when I have all the irons in the fire and surround myself with all things horrific. I’m watching at least 1 horror movie a day and posting them on Twitter with the hashtag #Horrortober. I’m also posting some quick reviews on what I’m watching and reading over at The Monster Men blog.
Two of my books, SWAMP MONSTER MASSACRE and THE MONTAUK MONSTER, were just named in Horror Novel Reviews 100 Scariest Books of All Time. If you’re a horror reader, check out the list and see how many you’ve got under your belt.
Speaking of Swampy, a review of the audiobook was just posted at Reading Between the Wines (my favorite way to read!). I think they dug it. I mean, who doesn’t love a good, murderous skunk ape tale?
There’s a new review of my terror-filled western, HELL HOLE, over at the blog for Lindsey R. Loucks. We also did a fun, unique Q&A. Interviewers take note! She was truly original. I have a special I’ll be running for Hell Hole next week, so stay tuned.
Last but far from least, I was also happy to be on the return episode of POD OF HORROR, where we talked about The Montauk Monster and some of my upcoming projects. An awesome podcast that you should be checking out. Plus, they love Jonathan Janz, so they’re my kind of peeps.
Now, if you’ve made it this far, you should be properly rewarded. For those living in the US, send me an email at huntershea1@gmail.com with the subject : 100 Scary Books. Let me know the scariest book you ever read. I’ll pick 2 people at random to win a signed copy of The Montauk Monster.
Hunter Shea 