Best PopCurse Podcasts (2024)

1
Mark Heylmun (Suicide Silence) 1:55:05

9M ago1:55:05

1:55:05

Suicide Silence guitarist Mark Heylmun on psychedelics, Catholicism, the occult, creative hiatuses, the making of the band’s self-titled album with Ross Robinson, losing a close friend in high school, the death of frontman Mitch Lucker, the band's subsequent rebirth, the ego, and much more. Follow No-Prize From God, Ryan J. Downey, and check out Do…

1
Karl Sanders (Nile) 55:03

11M ago55:03

55:03

NILE frontman Karl Sanders talks ancient Egypt, his meditative and transcendental solo work, several of the books and ideas that shaped him, and more. "A lot of the [religious] options available to us are restrictive by nature," he explains. "I gravitated to the [ancient] Egyptians because you know what? When those guys did religion, they imagined …

1
Bill Fisher (Church Of The Cosmic Skull) 1:21:34

12M ago1:21:34

1:21:34

Church Of The Cosmic Skull founder Bill Fisher's seven-piece, vocal-harmony-and-Hammond-organ heavy, English prog/psych/rock outfit fashions itself as a spiritual organization dedicated to “The Seven Objects,” which includes instructions to “recognize the hallucinatory nature of reality,” “celebrate and uphold the freedom of art, science and though…

1
Haela Ravenna Hunt-Hendrix (Liturgy) 1:06:54

1y ago1:06:54

1:06:54

Haela Ravenna Hunt-Hendrix's band, Liturgy, is a platform for both fine art and theology, delivered in waves of transcendental black metal possessed by the spirit of classical music and the energetic urgency of punk and indie rock. An unapologetic Christian with a love of the Orthodox Church and a spiritual practice many believers would deem decide…

1
Hasan Oswald (Higher Love) 52:56

1y ago52:56

52:56

Hasan Oswald started his professional career as a cameraman for National Geographic’s film Hell on Earth: The Fall of Syria and the Rise of ISIS. His verité style caught the eye of award-winning filmmakers Nick Quested & Sebastian Junger (Restrepo). His directorial debut, Higher Love, about the opioid crisis in New Jersey, arrived in 2020. He's als…

1
Dara Molloy (Celtic Monk) 1:08:13

1y ago1:08:13

1:08:13

Dara Molloy is a Celtic Monk, Priest, and Druid who lives on Inis Mor, the largest of the three islands that make up the Aran Islands in Ireland. He talks about his journey from Catholicism to the Celtic spiritual tradition. Follow No-Prize From God, Ryan J. Downey, and check out Downey's other podcasts: PopCurse (Musicians Talking Movies) and Spea…

1
Sergio Navarretta (The Cuban) 1:05:14

1y ago1:05:14

1:05:14

Sergio Navarretta directed Looking for Angelina (2005), The Colossal Failure of the Modern Relationship (2015), and The Cuban (2020), about Mina (Ana Golja), a naive pre-med student who strikes up an unlikely friendship with Luis (Louis Gossett Jr.), an elderly Cuban musician. Navaretta talks about filming in Cuba, the spiritual power of music, and…

1
Devin Townsend 2:05:08

1y ago2:05:08

2:05:08

"Making peace with who you are inevitably leads to the recognition that who you are is an illusion." In this revealing and in-depth conversation, Devin Townsend talks about music, meditation, collective unconscious, imposter syndrome, perfect happiness, emotional balance, and "a certain amount of transcendence." Follow No-Prize From God, Ryan J. Do…

1
Satyr Wongraven (Satyricon) II 1:07:55

1y ago1:07:55

1:07:55

SATYRICON frontman Satyr Wongraven returns to No-Prize From God. The Norwegian black metal musician talks about the spiritual and creative connections between nature, music, and visual arts, anchored specifically around the Satyricon & Munch - Munchmuseet exhibition, which ran for several months in 2022. Handpicked works of Norway's most famous art…

1
Aaron Weaver (Wolves In The Throne Room) 1:21:35

1+ y ago1:21:35

1:21:35

WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM drummer Aaron Weaver talks about the deep-rooted spirituality of the American black metal band he co-founded with his brother, Nathan. WITTR make iconoclastic (even for black metal) and often ritualistic music meant to evoke the forests and mountains around them in the Pacific Northwest. In this in-depth conversation, Aaro…

1
HALLOWEEN (Franchise) with Alla Xul Elu 1:13:27

2+ y ago1:13:27

1:13:27

ALLA XUL ELU arrive from another dimension to talk Michael Myers and the HALLOWEEN franchise, from John Carpenter's original, through the many sequels, remakes, and reboots. This episode is excerpted from an episode of Screen Crusades, the movies, TV, and music show hosted by Ryan J. Downey on the Knotfest Twitch Channel. Visit PopCurse.com and fol…

1
BLACK VEIL BRIDES The PhantomCast - Episode 04 40:48

2+ y ago40:48

40:48

The fourth episode in a special podcast series, The PhantomCast is the exclusive behind-the-scenes story of the brand new album from BLACK VEIL BRIDES, The Phantom Tomorrow. Andy Biersack, Jinxx, Jake Pitts, Christian Coma, and Lonny Eagleton tell Ryan J. Downey about the dark period preceding this new era, and the creative and personal rebirth hap…

1
BLACK VEIL BRIDES The PhantomCast - Episode 03 32:33

2+ y ago32:33

32:33

The third episode in a special podcast series, The PhantomCast is the exclusive behind-the-scenes story of the brand new album from BLACK VEIL BRIDES, The Phantom Tomorrow. Andy Biersack, Jinxx, Jake Pitts, Christian Coma, and Lonny Eagleton tell Ryan J. Downey about the dark period preceding this new era, and the creative and personal rebirth happ…

1
BLACK VEIL BRIDES The PhantomCast - Episode 02 56:38

2+ y ago56:38

56:38

The second episode in a special podcast series, The PhantomCast is the exclusive behind-the-scenes story of the brand new album from BLACK VEIL BRIDES, The Phantom Tomorrow. Andy Biersack, Jinxx, Jake Pitts, Christian Coma, and Lonny Eagleton tell Ryan J. Downey about the dark period preceding this new era, and the creative and personal rebirth hap…

1
BLACK VEIL BRIDES The PhantomCast - Episode 01 46:54

2+ y ago46:54

46:54

The first in a special podcast series, The PhantomCast is the exclusive behind-the-scenes story of the brand new album from BLACK VEIL BRIDES, The Phantom Tomorrow. Andy Biersack, Jinxx, Jake Pitts, Christian Coma, and Lonny Eagleton tell Ryan J. Downey about the dark period preceding this new era, and the creative and personal rebirth happening ri…

1
COBRA KAI (2018) with Krizz Kaliko 49:13

2+ y ago49:13

49:13

Krizz Kaliko joins Ryan J. Downey to talk COBRA KAI (2018), the Netflix TV series starring William Zabka, Ralph Macchio, Xolo Maridueña, Mary Mouser, and Tanner Buchanan, created by Jon Hurwitz, Josh Heald, and Hayden Schlossberg, based on the KARATE KID film franchise. This episode is excerpted from an episode of Screen Crusades on the Knotfest Tw…

1
Otrebor (Botanist) 57:45

3y ago57:45

57:45

BOTANIST is a post-black metal band from San Francisco founded on the principle of "worship of the Natural world." A distorted hammered dulcimer stands in for guitars in Botanist, with drums free from editing in order to capture Otrebor at the "edge" of his ability. Otrebor channels an alter-ego with a romantic vision of a world overtaken by plant …

1
Brian D. McLaren (Faith After Doubt) 58:46

3y ago58:46

58:46

Author and public theologian Brian D. McLaren is a former college English teacher whose newest book is Faith After Doubt (January 2021), and his next release, Do I Stay Christian? will be available Spring 2022. In 2004, he was awarded a Doctor of Divinity Degree (honoris causa) from Carey Theological Seminary in Vancouver, BC, Canada, and in 2010, …

1
Dan Koch (You Have Permission) 1:13:36

3+ y ago1:13:36

1:13:36

You Have Permission podcast host Dan Koch is a doctoral student in counseling psychology, the former co-host of the Reconstruct and Depolarize! podcasts, and member of the band Sherwood. Listen to No-Prize From God: Playlist For the Podcast on Spotify. Follow No-Prize From God on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow Ryan J. Downey on Twitter, I…

1
Daniel G. Karslake (For They Know Not What They Do) 53:53

3+ y ago53:53

53:53

For They Know Not What They Do filmmaker Daniel G. Karslake deals with the intersection of religion, sexuality, gender identity, and social justice in his work. Every Three Seconds (2014), which he began as a visiting scholar at Stanford University, amplified practical solutions to global poverty and hunger. For the Bible Tells Me So (2007) premier…

1
HALLOWEEN (1978) with Twiztid 42:36

3+ y ago42:36

42:36

TWIZTID joins Ryan J. Downey to talk HALLOWEEN (1978), directed by John Carpenter, written by Carpenter and Debra Hill, and starring Jamie Lee Curtis. Visit PopCurse.com and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/popcurse/message…

1
Liam Wilson (The Dillinger Escape Plan) 44:22

3+ y ago44:22

44:22

THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN bassist Liam Wilson is a warm-hearted, thoughtful, and fascinating individual. A longtime yoga practitioner, animal advocate, and freethinker, he's the consummate "seeker," with a firm moral compass and spiritual grounding. Liam made several groundbreaking albums with Dillinger Escape Plan. In more recent years, he's playe…

1
ROBOCOP (1987) with Blöthar the Berserker 31:52

3+ y ago31:52

31:52

GWAR frontman Blöthar the Berserker joins Ryan J. Downey to talk ROBOCOP (1987), directed by Paul Verhoeven, written by Edward Neumeier and Michael Miner, and starring Peter Weller. Visit PopCurse.com and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/popcurse/message…

1
THE SHINING (1980) with Spencer Charnas 1:09:50

3+ y ago1:09:50

1:09:50

ICE NINE KILLS frontman Spencer Charnas joins Ryan J. Downey to talk The Shining (1980), directed by Stanley Kubrick, from a screenplay by Kubrick and Diane Johnson, adapted from the Stephen King story of the same name. The Shining stars Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny Lloyd, and Scatman Crothers. Visit PopCurse.com and follow us on Instagram…

1
Adam Morris (American Messiahs) 1:16:54

3+ y ago1:16:54

1:16:54

American Messiahs author Adam Morris joins No-Prize From God to talk about the book NPR called "sharp and entertaining." American Messiahs: False Prophets of a Damned Nation argues that, far from aberrant blips on the historical radar, false prophets and saviors are an essential part of the American story. The book joins together stories of cult le…

1
Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II, III, IV) 56:38

3+ y ago56:38

56:38

Filmmaker Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II, III, IV) is the first writer/director to come on No-Prize From God. The wide-ranging discussion includes: strange occurrences on the set of 2011’s 11-11-11; the quasi-religious story of 2012’s The Devil’s Carnival; his fascination with “the strange,” the occult, and secret societies; Will Storr vs. The Superna…

1
Stephen Christian 1:22:38

3+ y ago1:22:38

1:22:38

ANBERLIN frontman Stephen Christian talks about his formative years with music and faith; moving from city to city as a kid; and gives a fascinating run-down of the arc of Anberlin's career. It's an excellent guide that should be required listening for anyone in any professional band. Stephen serves as a pastor and worship leader in Florida. He rel…

1
Spencer Chamberlain (Underoath) 1:26:14

3+ y ago1:26:14

1:26:14

UNDEROATH vocalist Spencer Chamberlain goes deep, with topics including: his religious upbringing; the challenges and pressures of fronting one of the most successful Christian hard rock/metal bands ever; the responsibility of the artist to the audience; struggling with addiction in the public eye; his evolving beliefs and the position of the band;…

1
Ryan Clark (Demon Hunter) II 1:16:40

3+ y ago1:16:40

1:16:40

DEMON HUNTER frontman and Grammy Award-nominated designer Ryan Clark returns. Panic attacks, health scares, weight loss; cold showers; the breathing and cold therapy exercises of the Wim Hof Method; an examination of the phrase "the Fear of God"; reverence; iconography; symbolism; reflecting on the sheer volume of album artwork he's created; and mo…

1
Eric July (Rippaverse) 2:03:44

4y ago2:03:44

2:03:44

BACKWORDZ. Reason Magazine described Eric July as “America’s top black Christian anarcho-capitalist rap-metal artist.” Eric has been on right-leaning media outlets like Fox News and The Blaze, but he doesn’t "cape" for any political party or elected official; he’s not even an official member of the Libertarian Party. As he told the Dallas Observer,…

1
Dustin Kensrue (Thrice) 1:45:02

4y ago1:45:02

1:45:02

THRICE frontman Dustin Kensrue on his journey with life's big questions; his personal evolution; the relationship (or lack thereof) between Thrice and the so-called Christian Music genre; how toxic mismanagement caused the dissolution of the church where he served as worship leader; inerrancy in scripture; theologian Peter Enns, Alfred North Whiteh…

1
Mina Caputo (Life Of Agony) 1:02:05

4y ago1:02:05

1:02:05

LIFE OF AGONY. Singer Mina Caputo, whose band is responsible for the metallic hardcore classic River Runs Red, talks about culture, spirit, human history, religion, transgender issues, connectivity, social media, psychedelics, and the inspiration she's drawn from writers, thinkers, and mystics like Terence McKenna, Alan Watts, Graham Hancock, Ram D…

1
STAR WARS (1977) w/ Andy Hurley 1:07:54

4y ago1:07:54

1:07:54

Andy Hurley (Fall Out Boy, SECT, The Damned Things) joins Ryan J. Downey (MTV, The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard) for a new "show-within-a-show" where the two of them turn their ongoing conversation about STAR WARS into a podcast. In this kickoff, the duo talk about their lifelong relationship to the galaxy far, far away; the May the 4th news about…

1
Blackie Lawless (W.A.S.P.) 1:30:55

4y ago1:30:55

1:30:55

W.A.S.P. Heavy metal frontman and target (of the PMRC, Blackie Lawless talks about witnessing the birth of KISS; his Baptist upbringing; heavy metal’s obsession with faith, the devil, and God; how the church flourished under persecution; retracing Paul’s steps in ancient cities; predestination; Calvinism; spiritual warfare; why he won’t perform cer…

1
Nergal (Behemoth) 1:08:23

4y ago1:08:23

1:08:23

BEHEMOTH. Adam Darski talks about the religious atmosphere of his upbringing; discovering radical spiritual ideas; black metal music; legally changing his middle name to Nergal; formally leaving the Catholic Church; the onstage performance and more recent Instagram post that led to a charges of blasphemy in the Polish courts; whether or not his bat…

1
Kill Their Idols of the White Messiah 1:03:01

4+ y ago1:03:01

1:03:01

Neal and Ryan talk about their respective journeys as Indiana youngsters learning about racial justice, white supremacy, and activism, through hip-hop, hardcore / punk, skinhead culture, and lots o' book-learnin'. They discuss the idea that "treason to whiteness is loyalty to humanity," as espoused by the late author and historian Noel Ignatiev, wh…

1
Make Them Talk 46:42

4+ y ago46:42

46:42

Talk therapy and antidepressants have worked wonders for our two hosts, who between them boast a bunch of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, codependency, depression, and general anxiety. Listen in as Neal and Downey retrace their respective journeys into talk therapy as adults. Hoosier Illusion is on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Neal Taflinger is…

1
SPIDER-MAN (2002) w/ Neal Taflinger 1:19:21

4+ y ago1:19:21

1:19:21

How did Marvel lose the rights to Spider-Man? Why is it so complicated? Downey breaks it all down, in simple terms, with a look back at the history of the wall-crawler on the big screen. This includes near-misses that would've starred Tom Cruise, Charlie Sheen, or Leonardo DiCaprio as Peter Parker; Arnold Schwarzenegger as Doc Ock; the time Jake Gy…

1
Turns Out They Were Having Band Practice Without Us 37:51

4+ y ago37:51

37:51

Neal was in a band. No, not that band. The band before that one. Listen in as Neal tells a relatable tale of his first foray into band practices, songwriting, and playing hardcore shows, with an unflinching look at the small victories and bigger humiliations that were part of the ride. Follow Hoosier Illusion on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Fo…

1
Reader Meet Author 57:19

5y ago57:19

57:19

Losing touch in adulthood; vulnerability and vocation; social media; male fragility; Bagel Boss guy vs. Bed Intruder guy; Good Charlotte guy vs. Headbangers Ball guy; the Dukes of Hazzard; and the surprising feedback we've gotten about Hoosier Illusion's first half dozen episodes. Follow Hoosier Illusion on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Follow …

1
Peterson Toscano (Beyond Ex-Gay) 1:01:07

6y ago1:01:07

1:01:07

BEYOND EX-GAY. Playwright, Bible scholar, and activist Peterson Toscano on his personal experience with so-called "conversion therapy"; what Scripture says about gender identity; climate change; comedy and social issues; changing hearts and minds within the church and without; and much more. Follow No-Prize From God on Twitter, Instagram, and Faceb…

1
Kellin Quinn (Sleeping With Sirens) 53:36

6y ago53:36

53:36

SLEEPING WITH SIRENS. Kellin Quinn talks about his early childhood experiences with the church; getting into bands like Showbread and Underoath; his issues with certain practices and failures of organized religion; life's big questions and prayer with his own children; overbearing musical missionaries on the road; and where he's at in his personal …

1
Ihsahn (Emperor) 1:05:18

6y ago1:05:18

1:05:18

EMPEROR is almost without equal in the black metal music scene. As frontman for the legendary Norwegian band and an accomplished solo artist, Ihsahn is uniquely qualified to speak with authority about the subculture. He talks about the evolution of his personal philosophy; the importance of meaning, purpose, and confrontation in art; Friedrich Niet…

1
Myles Kennedy (Alter Bridge) 48:23

6y ago48:23

48:23

ALTER BRIDGE. Alter Bridge and Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators vocalist Myles Kennedy lost his father when he was just four years old. His dad's undiagnosed appendicitis was likely treatable, but due to his devout Christian Scientist beliefs, he refused medical care. In this episode, the singer talks about that experience, his ow…

1
Chad Johnson (Come & Live!) 58:32

6y ago58:32

58:32

COME & LIVE! As A&R at Tooth & Nail Records, Chad Johnson helped guide the careers of Underoath, Anberlin, Haste The Day, and mewithoutyou, among others. He abruptly left the traditional music business in 2009, launching a radical new venture called Come&Live!, which gave music away and donated 100% of proceeds to mission work and humanitarian caus…

1
Sister Kate (Sisters Of The Valley) 59:22

6+ y ago59:22

59:22

SISTERS OF THE VALLEY. The Weed Nuns! Made famous by a viral video featuring the actress Aubrey Plaza smoking out with them, the Sisters Of The Valley represent so much more than getting baked. Sister Kate talks about the Central California sisterhood's commitment to service, sacrifice, and justice; their vows; the Beguines of the Middle Ages; the …

1
Karyn Crisis (Gospel Of The Witches) 1:06:47

6+ y ago1:06:47

1:06:47

GOSPEL OF THE WITCHES. A self-described Spirit Medium, Karyn Crisis gives classes, workshops, private readings, and demonstrations about the "Mediumship" system of channeling and communicating with the spirit world. Her work also focuses on the legacy of the "witches" of the past. She sings in occult metal band Gospel Of The Witches, whose debut al…

1
Patrick McKinney (Soldiers For Jesus MC) 1:17:52

6+ y ago1:17:52

1:17:52

SOLDIERS FOR JESUS MC. Patrick "Slo-Roll" McKinney is a National Officer with Soldiers for Jesus Motorcycle Club and author of the book Unchained Rebel: An Outlaw Biker's Toughest Fight. A retired Army veteran, Slo-Roll preaches at a small Biker Church in the Sandhills region of North Carolina and ministers to secular MCs. Follow No-Prize From God …

1
Ryan Clark (Demon Hunter) 1:16:51

6+ y ago1:16:51

1:16:51

DEMON HUNTER frontman and Grammy nominated designer Ryan Clark talks about growing up the son of a pastor; the obstacles and misconceptions that come with the phrase "Christian music"; creative inspiration; artistic credibility; his health scare and subsequent lifestyle changes; Western food and medicine; and much more. Follow No-Prize From God on …

1
NIGHTWORLD (2017) w/ Robert Englund 39:33

6+ y ago39:33

39:33

Freddy Krueger himself, horror icon Robert Englund, joins PopCurse to talk about tipping his pal Mark Hamill off about a new movie called "Star Wars"; why he wasn't cast as Han Solo; specifics about the way he played the Man of Our Dreams; late nights with the cast of "X-Men" while shooting "Freddy vs. Jason"; his favorite Freddy musical moments, f…

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