the Mentally Oddcast

Guest: Playwright and Author Frank Anthony Polito

This week Wednes matches wits (and witty barbs) with Frankie [http://linktr.ee/frankanthonypolito]--cutest kid in elementary school and award-winning writer with the medal to prove it. We talk about the perils of marketing with Zuckerbots afoot. Wednes learns what a Literary Death Match is, and we both realize we named characters after each other in our debut novels (even though we hadn't talked in decades at the time). We share childhood memories including bullies, therapy, revelations of abuse, and one of us figuring out they were gay--you'll never guess which one. LOL TW for domestic violence, child abuse, bullying, suicide, and slurs

Author, Tie-in Writer, and Podcaster Cat Voleur

This week's guest, Cat Voleur, [https://linktr.ee/catvoleur] wears many hats and tackles a variety of issues in her life and work. We talk movie tie-in novels and Graveyard Shark in general. Also representation, horror and comedy, politics, non-fiction, and of course, a MadLib. The ep concludes with a killer short story you will not want to miss.

Guest: Screenwriter and Author Eric Miller

This week has lots of movie talk--especially B movies and horror movies. Wednes and author Eric Mille [https://linktr.ee/ragingeric]r disagree about The Mist, agree on Matheson and BSG, and parse whether all demons are bad or if some just have bad press. Miller shares his journey of seeking help for depression, navigating a world where rejections are common, and his own bouts with impostor syndrome. Plus his first MadLib, Halloween vs Friday the 13th, Swamp Shark, seeing your work onscreen, and we end with a short story that you will NOT want to miss. TW for suicide talk.

Australian Author, Publisher, and LGBTQ+ Advocate: David-Jack Fletcher

This week, Wednes and David-Jack [https://linktr.ee/djfletcher] speak frankly and angrily about propaganda and contemporary politics. We also talk borderline disorder, trauma, horror movies of the 90s, and how we can receive love even when we don't feel worthy of it. Also representation, why "Hell is other people," and how we might eat differently if we could communicate with animals. TW for suicidal ideation and planning.

Guest: Author and Activist: TT Madden

This week Wednes speaks with gender-fluid author of sci-fi, spec-fic, and the perpetually weird. We opine on the importance of support systems, when gender dysphoria shows up later in life, and the mandela effect. We also talk zombies, publishing, and Conrad Veidt. Also TWs and why anyone opposing them can eff off, plus what qualifies as 'weird fiction," and TT talks about their book: Loading the Machine Child. We close with a MadLib and a fantastic short story read by our guest.