Best Phil K James Podcasts (2024)

1
Ecstasy of Influence – The Age of Innocence (1992)

11d ago

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In 1992, Martin Scorsese directed a movie that is either his magnum opus, or a load of HOGWASH. It’s “The Age of Innocence” and we really get into it! https://ia600802.us.archive.org/27/items/del-toro-age-innocence/DelToro-AgeInnocence.mp3By philgonzales

1
Ecstasy of Influence – Defending Your Life (1991)

11d ago

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Welcome to the JUDGMENT ZONE! It’s Phil and Willow and we’re back to talk about Albert Brooks’ 1991 classic “Defending Your Life!” What a weird movie to come back on, I swear. Anyways, here it is! https://ia600800.us.archive.org/0/items/ecstacy-defending-your-life/Ecstacy-Defending%20Your%20Life.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “A Little Something for Us Tempunauts” by Philip K. Dick

5M ago

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Aaaaaaaand, we’re done! It’s “A Little Something For Us Tempunauts” by Philip K. Dick and “The Dark Descent” is over! PARTY HORN NOISE! https://ia600308.us.archive.org/7/items/del-toro-tempu/DelToro-Tempu.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “The Hospice” by Robert Aickman

5M ago

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WE’RE SO CLOSE TO THE END! It’s the penultimate “Dark Descent” story and it’s a whopper! “The Hospice” is quintessential Robert Aickman: it’s creepy, offbeat, weird, strange, chilling and inexplicable. We really loved it and now… only one story to go! https://ia600303.us.archive.org/23/items/deltoro-hospice/Deltoro-Hospice.mp3…

1
The Dark Descent – “The Asian Shore” by Thomas M. Disch

5M ago

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What a mystery this story is! Willow isn’t sure if she likes it, or if it even qualifies as horror. I’m enamored of it, but can’t really decide what it’s about! PERFECT! It’s “The Asian Shore” by Thomas M. Disch! https://ia800307.us.archive.org/20/items/del-toro-asian-shore/DelToro-AsianShore.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “The Willows” by Algernon Blackwood

5M ago

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This week, it’s one of the most terrifying and terribly intimate stories we’ve yet covered. The cosmic horror of “The Willows” by Algernon Blackwood! https://ia600206.us.archive.org/15/items/del-toro-the-willows_202403/DelToro-TheWillows.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “Afterward” by Edith Wharton

6M ago

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This week, Willow and I take a look at the creepy effects of UNFETTERED CAPITALISM with Edith Wharton’s “Afterward!” https://ia600203.us.archive.org/29/items/del-toro-afterward/DelToro-Afterward-1.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “The Damned Thing” by Ambrose Bierce

7M ago

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Whaddaya get when you take a dead guy, an invisible monster and a heaping dose of post-Civil War Traumatic Stress Disorder? “The Damned Thing” by Ambrose Bierce! The missingest author in the history of Weird Fiction! https://ia600206.us.archive.org/25/items/del-toro-bierce/DelToro-Bierce.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “The Beautiful Stranger” by Shirley Jackson

7M ago

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This week, Willow and Phil take a quick look at a quick story: “The Beautiful Stranger” by Shirley Jackson. We throw out a lot of theories as to the actual nature of this story, but the one thing we can agree on? That stranger is beautiful. https://ia601307.us.archive.org/32/items/del-toro-beautiful-s/DelToro-BeautifulS.mp3…

1
The Dark Descent – “What Was It?” by Fitz-James O’Brien

8M ago

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Sometimes, you don’t even need to ask. “What Was It?” by Fitz-James O’Brien! https://ia601302.us.archive.org/31/items/del-toro-what-was-it/DelToro-WhatWasIt.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “The Beckoning Fair One” by Oliver Onions

8M ago

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Boy oh boy are we ever getting tired of sad men dying for their ghosts. It’s “The Beckoning Fair One” by Oliver Onions! A good story, but jeez, guys. See a therapist or something. https://ia601304.us.archive.org/16/items/del-toro-beckoning/DelToro-Beckoning.mp3By philgonzales

1
6. Being An Adult with Tessa Coates and Stevie Martin (Nobody Panic) 32:03

9M ago32:03

32:03

A crossover episode from the vaults - though can it be a crossover if I haven't been on their podcast yet? We're talking about language, Tessa tells us a story about losing her mind at a party, Stevie learns about Kool Aid and Saran wrap and I quote Britney. It's a good one! Bonus Spinster based quiz at the end for the audience too! Recorded LIVE a…

1
The Dark Descent – “The Repairer of Reputations” by Robert W. Chambers

9M ago

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We’ve got a big one this week! It’s “The Repairer of Reputations” by Robert W. Chambers and Willow goes OFF. If you’re looking for her sources, here they are! de Oliveira, Hugo Mendes. “An Empire of Delusion: The Process of Alienation as Expressed by Robert W. Chambers’ ‘The Repairer of Reputations.’” Thesis, Proquest Dissertations Publishing, 2021…

1
5. Taking up Space from 'I Call Myself A Feminist with my Elbows' 12:02

9M ago12:02

12:02

Ok ok it's just little old me, but I'm reading an essay I wrote in the critically acclaimed book 'I Call Myself A Feminist' . The essay collection was reprinted in a second format after being featured in Stylist, Dazed magazine, The Guardian, The Sunday Times, Independent on Sunday, The Herald, Independent and more. Of the book Sarah Millican remar…

1
The Dark Descent – “Clara Militch” by Ivan Turgenev

9M ago

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This week, we’re heading off to jolly ol’ Russia for a bit of nineteenth century whimsey titled “Clara Militch” or “Klara Milich” or any number of permutations. It’s by Ivan Turgenev and it’s a real cracker! By which I mean, we were utterly confused by it. https://ia601204.us.archive.org/5/items/del-toro-clara-militch/DelToro-ClaraMilitch.mp3…

1
4. Apologise: Kate Berlant and Rose Matafeo 23:36

9M ago23:36

23:36

Yes it's the worst sound quality yet!!! But I can't keep KATE BERLANT and ROSE MATAFEO languishing in a hard drive?!?! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1
3. Writing: Emily Gordon and Monica Heisey 58:01

9M ago58:01

58:01

Emily Gordon was in London and Monica Heisey was on my mind - and I pulled us all together to talk about writing, Martine McCuctheon's dramatic ass, how to (try) shutting down misogynists and the nature of writing books vs scripts. These are two smart people who have published/ written some very important and great writing - I'm also here. Enjoy! *…

1
The Dark Descent – “Seaton’s Aunt” by Walter de la Mare

9M ago

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It’s another headscratcher! “Seaton’s Aunt” by Walter de la Mare might not be the scariest story we’ve ever read, but it sure does make me feel sad! https://ia601201.us.archive.org/14/items/del-toro-seatons-aunt/DelToro-SeatonsAunt.mp3By philgonzales

1
2. Attention: Helen Bauer, Rosie Jones (Daddy Look At Me) 27:01

9M ago27:01

27:01

Here she is again. Sneaking back into your feed. Hoping the last ep didn't remind you to unsub. Join Amy (me) as she (me) attempts to corral the true forces of nature that are comedians Rosie Jones and Helen Bauer to talk about 'attention'. Do you want it? Sure. But what does it feel like when you get it? and are you getting the 'right' kind of att…

1
The Dark Descent – “Night-Side” by Joyce Carol Oates

10M ago

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Yes, I sing Hall and Oates at one point. It’s “Night-Side” by Joyce Carol Oates! https://ia801204.us.archive.org/26/items/del-toro-night-side/DelToro-NightSide.mp3By philgonzales

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1. Storytelling: Desiree Burch, Candice Carty-Williams and Nish Kumar 51:44

10M ago51:44

51:44

Well well well. Look who it is... slinking back in to your podcast feed hoping you haven't unsubscribed. Maybe a little offering of this episode of WWW with award-winning writers, comedians and all round good people Desiree Burch, Candice Carty-Williams and Nish Kumar will help? We're talking about Storytelling with some of my all time favourite st…

1
The Dark Descent – “Crouch End” by Stephen King

10M ago

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We’re back in Lovecraft Country, this week! It’s Stephen King’s “Crouch End” and it’s a modern CLASSIC! https://ia801204.us.archive.org/14/items/del-toro-crouch-end/DelToro-CrouchEnd.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “The Signal-Man” by Charles Dickens

10M ago

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When is a ghost not a ghost? When it’s a SIGNAL-MAN! It’s “The Signal-Man” by Charles Discken and Willow has NOTES on the story! NOTES! https://ia601200.us.archive.org/26/items/del-toro-signalman/DelToro-Signalman.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “Seven American Nights” by Gene Wolfe

10M ago

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“Seven American Nights” is phenomenal and Gene Wolfe is brilliant. That’s all. https://ia801801.us.archive.org/3/items/del-toro-seven-american-nights/DelToro-SevenAmericanNights.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “Smoke Ghost” by Fritz Leiber

11M ago

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“Sssssssssmokin’!” Oh, somebody stop me. This week, we begin a new chunk of “The Dark Descent” as we wend our way into “A Fabulous Formless Darkness” by way of the game-changing short story “Smoke Ghost” by Fritz Leiber. Does it live up to the hype? Yes. Yes, it does. https://ia601509.us.archive.org/12/items/del-toro-smoke-ghost/DelToro-SmokeGhost.…

1
The Dark Descent – “The Jolly Corner” by Henry James

11M ago

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Oh, Henry James. Why must you be so obtuse? This week, it’s a return to the creeps and the spooks as we take a step inside “The Jolly Corner!” Any good? Well, Willow had no idea what was going on! https://ia800505.us.archive.org/32/items/del-toro-jolly-corner/DelToro-JollyCorner.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “Mackintosh Willy” by Ramsey Campbell

11M ago

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This week, it’s a story that really left a wild impression on us. Is it supernatural? Natural? A little bit of both? Who knows! It’s “Mackintosh Willy” by Ramsey Campbell! https://ia600505.us.archive.org/32/items/del-toro-time-mackintosh-willy/DelToroTime-MackintoshWilly.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “Good Country People” by Flannery O’Connor

12M ago

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This week, it’s a story that is remarkably similar in many ways to last weeks. So, we both loved it, of course! Right? RIGHT?! *sigh* It’s “Good Country People” by Flannery O’Connor. https://ia601402.us.archive.org/9/items/del-toro-time-good-country-people/DelToroTime-GoodCountryPeople.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “Three Days” by Tanith Lee

12M ago

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This week, it’s our first Tanith Lee story and, maybe not coincidentally, one of our favorites. Is it horror? Who cares? It’s awesome! It’s “Three Days” here on The Dark Descent! https://ia904600.us.archive.org/0/items/del-toro-three-days/DelToro-ThreeDays.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “The Rocking Horse Winner” by D. H. Lawrence

12M ago

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D. H. Lawrence’s “The Rocking Horse Winner” is no liar. It’s got a rocking horse. It’s got a winner. It’s all there on the tin! https://ia600501.us.archive.org/1/items/del-toro-rocking-horse/DelToro-RockingHorse.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “You Can Go Now” by Dennis Etchison

1y ago

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Are you ready for some heady noir? This week’s “You Can Go Now” by Dennis Etchison is weird and trippy and short and delightful! It’s a real headscratcher, I tells ya! https://ia600506.us.archive.org/34/items/del-toro-you-can-go-now/DelToro-YouCanGoNow.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “My Dear Emily” by Joanna Russ

1y ago

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Willow and I are back with more Dark Descent. This week, it’s “My Dear Emily” by Joanna Russ. It’s a vampire story, with a twist! The twist? Um… it’s good? https://ia902501.us.archive.org/14/items/del-toro-my-dear-emily/DelToro-MyDearEmily.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “Born of Man and Woman” by Richard Matheson

1y ago

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If there’s one person we love talking about at The Dark Descent, it’s Dick Math! Dickie the Math Man! Richard “Richie Rich” Matheson! Yes, this week we take a look at Dickie’s first ever published story “Born of Man and Woman!” And, it’s an icky one! https://ia902601.us.archive.org/7/items/del-toro-born-man-woman/DelToro-BornManWoman.mp3…

1
The Dark Descent – “How Love Came To Professor Guildea” by Robert Hichens

1y ago

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When is a ghost not a ghost? When it’s your repressed homosexuality! It’s Robert Hichens’s “How Love Came To Professor Guildea” on The Dark Descent! https://ia902707.us.archive.org/4/items/del-toro-professor-guildea/DelToro-ProfessorGuildea.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner

1+ y ago

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In William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily” Emily doesn’t get a rose. How about that? It’s The Dark Descent and we’re back! https://ia902608.us.archive.org/33/items/del-toro-rose-emily/DelToro-RoseEmily.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “The Yellow Wall-Paper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

1+ y ago

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A woman really hates that wallpaper in Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wall-paper!” It’s yellow, alright! https://ia601607.us.archive.org/10/items/del-toro-yellow-wallpaper/DelToro-YellowWallpaper.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “Schalken the Painter” by J. Sheridan Le Fanu

1+ y ago

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This week, Willow and Phil schalk the schalk with J. Sheridan Le Fanu’s “Schalken the Painter!” It’s based on a real guy, but it’s not! It’s pretty sexy but also gross! It’s a rip roaring good time and also about the societal helplessness of women in the face of suffocating patriarchy. “Schalken the Painter!” https://ia904709.us.archive.org/23/item…

1
The Dark Descent – “The Rats in the Walls” by H. P. Lovecraft

1+ y ago

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This week, THE CAT HAS A RACIST NAME. And, YES, we discuss it! Also, Lovecraft’s impossibly wild interpretation of Roman mythology and, look, it’s actually a pretty good story about a grieving father. It’s “The Rats In The Walls!” https://ia804707.us.archive.org/14/items/del-toro-rats-walls/DelToro-RatsWalls.mp3…

1
The Dark Descent – “Within the Walls of Tyre” by Michael Bishop

1+ y ago

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This week, it’s all about Christmastime, Mega-Malls and Stone Babies, baby! It’s “Within the Walls of Tyre” by Michael Bishop and it’s MESSED UP. https://ia904707.us.archive.org/13/items/del-toro-tyre/DelToro-Tyre.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “The Monkey” by Stephen King

1+ y ago

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You better watch out! Baby who’s that? It’s Phil and Willow back with “The Monkey” by Stephen King! And, all we really need to say is that this is the best King character and he needs to come back, please. Thanks. https://ia801602.us.archive.org/20/items/del-toro-the-monkey/DelToro-the%20Monkey.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “The Fall of the House of Usher” by Edgar Allan Poe

1+ y ago

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Willow and I return to the world of Poe with “The Fall of the House of Usher!” It’s nice to be back on firm ground with a classic story and talk all about Poe and his 13 year old bride. No, really, it’s fun. https://ia904706.us.archive.org/32/items/del-toro-usher_202301/DelToro-Usher.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “Dread” by Clive Barker

1+ y ago

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Willow thinks I’m nuts for ever having liked this mess. It’s “Dread” by Clive Barker! https://ia904709.us.archive.org/29/items/del-toro-dread/DelToro-Dread.mp3By philgonzales

1
The Dark Descent – “Bright Segment” by Theodore Sturgeon

1+ y ago

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If you like non-verbal developmentally disabled men with borderline personality disorder performing inprov surgery on unconscious women, have we got a story for you! It’s “Bright Segment” by Theodore Sturgeon and it’s ICKY! https://ia904707.us.archive.org/12/items/del-toro-bright-segment/DelToro-BrightSegment.mp3…

1
The Dark Descent – “The Roaches” by Thomas M. Disch

1+ y ago

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Are you scared of roaches? Hope not! Because we’re talking about Thomas M. Disch’s “The Roaches” from “The Dark Descent” and it’s got ROACHES! https://ia904708.us.archive.org/12/items/del-toro-the-roaches/DelToro-TheRoaches.mp3By philgonzales

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