I am joined by journalist Eric Wickham to discuss something that's been a mounting background problem in everybody's lives: why are food prices so dang high and who helps to maintain this profound injustice? Turns out it's The Food Gooner. ~~~ Eric Wickham Links Eric on Twitter The Hoser Grocery Tracker Big Shiny Takes ~~~ Support Haus of Decline o…

I am joined by Shannon Strucci to do Round 2 of Body Horror talk. This time it's gender though. This also leads us to a long discussion of I Saw The Glow. Yes, it's as good as everyone says it is. ~~~ Shannon Strucci Links Oddity Roadshow StrucciMovies on YouTube Shannon Strucci on Twitter ~~~ Support Haus of Decline on Patreon! Visit hausofdecline…

I am joined by Jerry Holkins aka Tycho Brahe of Penny Arcade to discuss some of the queer themes inherent to the Canonical Gaming Webcomic of Record. We also discuss his experiences with being a parent to a Trans kid and navigating the expectations of a younger generation that is growing up in vastly different circumstance than you. ~~~ Penny Arcad…

I am joined by author and artist Bitter Karella to discuss our mutual obsession with the bizarre political trajectory of the webcomic Sinfest, whose creator Tatsuya Ishida went from centrist liberal to second wave feminist to SWERF to TERF to outright Fascist in the span of a few years. ~~~ Bitter Karella Links Bitter Karella's Books Bitter Karella…

I talk to musician Alex Riggs about our shared love and significant attachment to Ween and how their music unexpectedly intersected with our experiences as Trans women. Resisting urge to say shit like "These Baby Bitches get into a real Transdermal Celebration" and failing. ~~~ Alex Riggs Links Alex Riggs Instagram Alex Riggs Twitter ~~~ Support Ha…

I talk about how being Trans has now led to estrangement from my Jordan Peterson-loving dad and how I'm dealing with it. ~~~ Support Haus of Decline on Patreon! Visit hausofdecline.com Nostalgia is fleeting, but @hausofdecline is forever Please email complaints, suggestions, or requests to hausofdecline@gmail.com Thank you for listening. Explicit C…

I am coming out as Trans. Tired of being secretive about it. Didn't really want to make a comic or post about it, but long audio format actually is optimal for saying what I want to say in the way I want to say it, so here you go... a freakin' podcast. ~~~ Support Haus of Decline on Patreon! Visit hausofdecline.com Nostalgia is fleeting, but @hauso…

I talk to writer and filmmaker StolenDans about the legacy of Bob Dylan and how he's poised for a revival in the popular consciousness due to continuing political and social relevance of his music. It gets a little 'freewheeling,' but our 'desire' to show you 'another side' of the man will have you 'empire burlesque.' ~~~ StolenDans Links StolenDan…

I talk to legendary online cartoon man KC Green about the shifting winds of fortune when it comes to hocking your illustrated wares on the world wide web. We get into influences, webcomic history, and the ethics of merchandising. A good time is had by all! ~~~ KC Green Links KC's Website KC's Twitter KC's Instagram KC's Patreon Skulltenders Website…

I am by nature, a luddite and some vast cultural networks, like Twitch streaming have utterly passed me by in terms of my awareness of its impact. Lucky I have on streamer extraordinaire Amber Carr to initiate an old chunk of coal like me into this wily world. We also discuss her new DnD podcast Skulltenders and how streaming and TTRPGs can both al…

I am joined by writer Michelle Perez to discuss her and Remy Boydell's incredible 2018 graphic novel, The Pervert. I reacted VERY strongly to this book as do most people who read it, so it is a great thrill for me to have Michelle on to answer some of the questions that were lingering in my mind after I finished reading it. ~~~ Michelle Perez Links…

I am joined by Rob DenBleyker of Cyanide & Happiness to discuss our current, bizarre age of webcomic distribution and monetization. We also discuss the incongruous nature of having been given a platform through crude jokes but then feeling compelled to use it to comment on serious matters like the genocide in Gaza. ~~~ Cyanide and Happiness Links E…

I am joined by journalist Séamus Malekafzali to discuss the potential future of the genocide in Gaza, whether Israel's military will expand further into countries outside of Palestine, and the Biden administration's continued infuriating obliviousness. ~~~ Séamus Malekafzali Links Séamus Malekafzali's Website Séamus Malekafzali's Twitter ~~~ Suppor…

A giant of Canadian independent media is faltering, so we are cynically picking up the slack and pivoting to Canadian politics. As such, the show will now be called Good Canadaland. Our first guest on Good Canadaland is journalist Jeremy Appel who discusses his new book, "Kenneyism: Jason Kenney's Pursuit of Power" and takes us through an oral hist…

I am joined by Palestinian-American writer and game dev Nadia Shammas to discuss the ongoing genocide in Gaza, her experience in the Palestinian diaspora, and the need to create histories that reflect events as they actually happened in the face of false counter-narratives by prevailing authorities. ~~~ Nadia Shammas Links Nadia Shammas on Twitter …

I am joined by Dono and Audrey of the Radio Free Tote Bag podcast to discuss the ego-satisfying but inherently depersonalizing and potentially depraved act of turning yourself into an online media 'brand.' While attractive because it means you can be self-employed through your dumb thoughts alone, it also means contributing to our nightmare world o…

In this episode, I talk about a comic I did delightfully and unexpectedly becoming a meme format so ubiquitous I lost authorship over it, and how this loss of authorship was the fulfillment of a long held life goal. ~~~ Support Haus of Decline on Patreon! Visit hausofdecline.com Nostalgia is fleeting, but @hausofdecline is forever Please email comp…

Low-budget movie mogul Roger Corman sets out to produce a papier maché blockbuster adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's classic tale of psychological suspense. Loosely following the plot of the original, Poe is tasked with taking care of a Scottish castle belonging to a certain formerly popular children's author. But uh oh! His wacky pal Stephen King ar…

I talk about the terrible feeling of burning out on something you actually enjoy doing, why that burnout can occur, and potential solutions for mitigating it. That's right, this is a wellness podcast now. ~~~ Please email complaints, suggestions, or requests to hausofdecline@gmail.com Thank you for listening. Explicit Content Warning. You WERE warn…

It's winter at the campfire, and that means one thing—snow-themed holiday special! The Midnight Pals are visited by Junji Ito, adorable catboy and terrifying master of fucked-up-face-filled manga horror, accompanied by original weeaboo Lafcadio Hearn. The pair narrate an ancient Japanese folktale of ripped samurai, distressed noblewomen, and season…

Happy Holidays! On this final episode of 2023 I'm joined by Aubrey Curtis and frequent guest John Ferrer to talk about one of our favorite films of the year, Wes Anderson's Asteroid City. We touch on Anderson’s oft-misunderstood ouvre and continuing influence, navigate the film’s labyrinthine meta-commentary on the creative process, marvel at the r…

Clive Barker takes the stage and relates his cult classic of an eternal battle—gay monsters versus redneck cops. Cabal has always had unsettling dreams of becoming a gay monster, but his personal journey to gay monsterhood is obstructed by queer-gatekeeping monsters, Nazi sheriffs' departments, and unconvincing gimp-mask serial killer David Cronenb…

Patricia Highsmith, crime writer, snail friend, and lovable weirdo known for her shabby trenchcoat, eccentric habits, and possibly imaginary wife, investigates a bizarre double murder. Two people who don't know each other, or if you will, "strangers", meet on a rail vehicle, or as it were, "train", and plan the perfect crime. What really happened w…

Arthur Conan Doyle stumbles upon the Midnight Pals' storytelling circle and reluctantly agrees to bring beloved supersleuth Sherlock Holmes back for one last, final, final case. A locked-room murder mystery turns to metafictional highjinks as the Pals are embroiled in the world of Holmes's adventures, sort of like when the holodeck malfunctions on …

I am joined by cartoonist Rory Blank to discuss the recent sperm retrieval cartoon that was produced by Israel as well as the concept of using the simplified appeal of cartoons to launder politically monstrous ideas. ~~~ RORY BLANK Rory Blank Twitter https://twitter.com/BoneJail Rory Blank Instagram https://www.instagram.com/roryblank/ Rory Blank S…

Neurotic closet-dweller Bram Stoker visits the campfire to tell his iconic vampire story. In Transylvania, hot twink Jon "Jonathan" Harker shacks up with a rich older man who wants to consume his bodily fluids. Meanwhile in England, notorious strumpet Lucy Westenra attempts to ensnare her innocent friend Mina into the dangerous and disgusting world…

(Note: this is a “rerun” of a previous episode. For some reason a few podcast platforms won’t display the first couple episodes so I am re-uploading them again for newer listeners.) Our movie this week is the 1995 made-for-television film Visitors of the Night. Directed by Jorge Montesi, it stars Markie Post and Candace Cameron. Joining me to discu…

(Note: this is a “rerun” of a previous episode. For some reason a few podcast platforms won’t display the first couple episodes so I am re-uploading them again for newer listeners.) Welcome to Saucer Cinema, the podcast about UFOs, aliens, and otherworldly phenomena in film, tv, and other media. For this inaugural episode I am joined by Erik Thybon…

I talk about trying to get over your natural laziness and desire for a tainted comfort in order to do more effective activism for issues you care about. I don't think I've been too successful yet in my own attempts, but I have some thoughts on it. ~~~ Please email complaints, suggestions, or requests to hausofdecline@gmail.com Thank you for listeni…

A new candidate for the Midnight Society, insufferable San Francisco hipster Robert Louis Stevenson, attempts to impress the Pals with the story of Henry Jekyll, a Victorian psychiatrist. On the steamship home from a business trip, Jekyll's seemingly chance meeting with a certain Edward Hyde will change his perception of reality forever. In a twist…

Happy Halloween! For this episode I am joined by Bryan White from the podcast Bring Me The Axe to talk about the 1980 sci-fi slasher flick Without Warning. We discuss the film's claim to fame as a precursor to 1987's Predator, the veritable rogues gallery of crusty character actors playing demented coots (Jack Palance, Martin Landau, Cameron Mitche…

Mary Shelley tells her Midnight Pals a chilling tale about a brilliant young researcher, Victor, whose arrogance leads him to pursue a deadly ambition. The experiment has been attempted by generations of mad scientists, but never successfully accomplished: the creation of a Frankenstein! Stephen King gets pedantic about terminology. Content notes: …

For this year's Halloween episode, I am joined by writer/director Kyle Edward Ball for a long conversation about his wonderful film Skinamarink, which leads us into a broader discussion about the theories and philosophies which animate the best genre, Horror. ~~~ KYLE EDWARD BALL LINKS Kyle on Twitter https://twitter.com/kyleedwardball Skinamarink …

How can you tell if your rationality is informing your qualitative, axiomatic understanding of history and world events or if it's the other way around? I don't really know for sure, but I talk about it for a while from a pro-Palestine perspective in the context of recent events. Medical Aid for Palestinians (https://www.map.org.uk/). Palestinian C…

It's Bram Stoker's turn at the campfire and he's brought a new story, "The Tale of The—" oh dear, we might have to do something about that title. Content notes: Discussion of racism; human and animal death; discussion of violence and torture. Season 1 Premiere: Our first full episode, The Tale of the Frankenstein, will release on our podcast feed o…

The main characters of Midnight Pals, plus a few regular visitors to the campfire, introduce themselves with a series of short skits based on their most popular works. A medley of midnight-snack size tales from Stephen King, Mary Shelley, HP Lovecraft, Clive Barker, Dean Koontz, Edgar Allan Poe and more. This is a consolidation of ten short ‘teaser…

I am joined by journalist Jeremy Appel for a long conversation about the current conflict in Palestine and how we both came to believe in Anti-Zionism despite Jewish upbringings which taught us to support Israel. Support Palestinian Relief Organizations. Medical Aid for Palestinians (https://www.map.org.uk/). Palestinian Children's Relief Fund (htt…

The Bing AI Image generator has set off a new wave of people using the technology. While I am still revulsed by AI image generators, it's clear to me it's going to be a more permanent fixture than something like NFTs, so I talk about how I'm dealing with the machines. ~~~ Support Haus of Decline on Patreon! Visit hausofdecline.com Nostalgia is flee…

I watched the Barbie movie. It is an excellent, perfectly executed piece of film. But in this perfection lies an ulterior purpose, one that makes me question its admittedly strong claim to artistic value. ~~~ Support Haus of Decline on Patreon! Visit hausofdecline.com Nostalgia is fleeting, but @hausofdecline is forever Please email complaints, sug…

It’s another super-sized episode this week! Veteran guest John Ferrer returns to talk about inter-dimensional high jinks, sentient fungi, dinosaur people and more in 1993’s video game adaptation Super Mario Bros. We also delve into the film’s unusual development and chaotic production as well a strange and somewhat tenuous connection to UFO lore (h…

On this episode, I talk about the difficulties of living your life when you are always under some degree of physical pain. I discuss my own experience with living this way and outline a few methods that help me get through it. ~~~ Support Haus of Decline on Patreon! Visit hausofdecline.com Nostalgia is fleeting, but @hausofdecline is forever Please…

Living and dead horror authors tell scary stories round the campfire in "Submitted for the Approval of the Midnight Pals", a hilarious audio adaptation of Bitter Karella's 3x Hugo-nominated comedy-horror microfiction. For more information, see https://midnightpals.com CAST, in order of appearance: EDGAR ALLAN POE – Rodrigo Borges ROBERT LOUIS STEVE…

In this episode, I talk about the pervasive notion that people nowadays are trapped in a perpetual adolescence, unwilling to take on the responsibilities that defined the adults of earlier generations. Is this true? I have no idea, but we sure seem to not be able to shut up about it. ~~~ Support Haus of Decline on Patreon! Visit hausofdecline.com N…

In this episode, I talk about The Beatles for over an hour. Have you heard of them? They're pretty good. ~~~ Support Haus of Decline on Patreon! Visit hausofdecline.com Nostalgia is fleeting, but @hausofdecline is forever Please email complaints, suggestions, or requests to hausofdecline@gmail.com Thank you for listening. Explicit Content Warning. …

We're back with a nice, long meaty episode! Eleanor Russell returns to talk about a film that embodies the Saucer Cinema ethos more than any other in recent memory: Jordan Peele's 2022 sci-fi/horror/satire Nope. We go into the film's examination of spectacle, showbiz history, and exploitation, its creative take on UFO mythology and iconography, and…

I am joined by posting phenom and podcaster June (@JUNlPER) to discuss the intricacies, nuances and dangers of going online and saying stuff for attention. We also talk about being raised religious, right wing joylessness and its interaction with art, and those horrible Matt Walsh baby dolls. ~~~ JUNE/WESTERN KABUKI LINKS June's Twitter https://twi…

I talk about my love of turn-based JRPGs that take place in urban settings. I mount a defence of turn-based combat before discussing three of my favourites in the genre: Final Fantasy VII, Shadow Hearts Covenant and Shin Megami Tensei V. ~~~ Support Haus of Decline on Patreon! Visit hausofdecline.com Nostalgia is fleeting, but @hausofdecline is for…

I talk about Ween, my favourite band of all time (except maybe The Minutemen). I review their nine studio albums in chronological order and discuss how their humour, often criticized for detracting from a sense of emotional honesty, actually does the opposite, and enhances the unexpectedly beautiful intimacy of their work. ~~~ Support Haus of Decli…

I talk about how overconsumption of cringe and drama content destroys your brain and how building your personality around constantly passing judgement on others leads you down a path of poor mental health. ~~~ Support Haus of Decline on Patreon! Visit hausofdecline.com Nostalgia is fleeting, but @hausofdecline is forever Please email complaints, su…

I talk about past video games that use large swathes of emptiness in their design and how it contributes to an almost meditative emotional quality that is lacking from current mainstream games whose design philosophy instead emphasizes massive amounts of content. Games mentioned include: The Wind Waker, Dark Souls, Kingdom Hearts, Penn and Teller's…