Cheap Chills - On Art and Monsters (Cheap Chills)

Ben Walker-Storey is back for a new kind of Cheap Chills Podcast!

This is a quick check-in to let you know what we'll be doing here each week. 

For me, there’s nothing better than wrapping myself into a blanket-burrito and checking out something spooky and weird. Whether its a reclusive creep inviting lone travelers into his castle or there are monsters battling it out over Tokyo, I want more!
(just no blood, OK?)

I’m also an illustrator, graphic artist and animator and for the last seven years I’ve been creating for my own spooky, weird brand called Cheap Chills. 

But more and more lately, I’ve been wondering about other creators. What are their stories? What drives them to paint monsters or make latex masks, little dioramas of VHS rental stores, synth-wave soundtracks or even their own genre films? 

So for this series I’m going to be talking with other artists and creators about our memories of all things spooky and weird and how they influence what we do now.

Plus as often as humanly possible I’ll be delving into some deep-dive histories from monster-kid pop culture.
 
Subscribe now and join me every week for the Cheap Chills Podcast!

Cheap Chills on Instagram

Cheapchillsfanclub.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cheapchills.substack.com

The Cheap Chills Podcast is back with a new format! Host Ben Walker-Storey talks with other creatives about the spooky, weird stuff from our younger days and how it influenced the art, film, music et cetera that we make now.
 
This week Ben is joined by Joshua Sterling, also known as Haunting Season on TikTok, Instagram and Youtube. He tells Ben about how a friendship made through Twitter led to a ghost hunting trip to Minnesota. And they compare stories about hauntings, sneaking around in churches, collaborating (or not) on films, sobriety, the way our brains envision things (or not) and our random mental associations. 
 
Not to be a spoiler but the films, The 6th Sense, Alien, Dr Sleep, Terrifier, Terrifier 2, And Your Name is Jonah, the Saw movies, It Comes at Night, Under the Skin, Hereditary, and Pet Sematary come up as well. 
 
Find Joshua here: 
@hauntingseason on Tiktok
@Hauntingseason on Instagram
 
Get More Cheap Chills: 
cheapchillsfanclub.com
Follow us on Instagram
Cheap Chills on YouTube

Buy me a Coffee

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cheapchills.substack.com

This week Ben’s flying solo! First its the odd tale of the time Hammer Films and Walt Disney both set out to make a film about Dr. Syn, the Pirate turned Preacher/ Smuggler.
 
Then, in a very special Let’s Check in With Ben, he talks about the emotional roller-coaster ride that was the recent Estate Sale of someone with geeky, Gen X taste and a flair for hoarding. 

Ben also chats about a book that was his first glimpse into grown-up comic book art, The Penguin Book of Comics, 1967.



The Cheap Chills Podcast is Produced by Ben Walker-Storey

** Some of the links below are affiliate links, earning a royalty on any purchases at no extra expense to you, thank you! **

Hammer Horror 8-Film Collection [Blu-ray or DVD]
 https://amzn.to/3L4dMyH

Dr. Syn, alias The Scarecrow on YouTube
https://youtu.be/7sOHSwbrZzs?si=pOhBdyH8Np-p3aWU

The Penguin Book of Comics
https://amzn.to/463zGMh




This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cheapchills.substack.com

This week Ben is joined by someone who was there for all of it, Ben’s brother Jimmy Walker. They get into memories and thoughts on the series, Friday the 13th...The Series (1987-90). That’s the one not featuring anyone with a hockey mask or machete. Instead this one stars (Louise) Robey and John D. LeMay as Micki and Bryan, two VERY attractive, young cousins who hunt for cursed objects and return them to an evil antique Store. This show was a HUGE influence on Ben in his High School years. And apparently for Jimmy, not so much.

In a very special Let's check in with Ben (mid-point break), Ben talks about ways he currently deals with anxiety and overwhelm. He's found that his forms of escapism can help alleviate stress in the moment and ultimately lead to some clarity on goals and what can be done in the now- Which you also get to hear about. 
 
Ben and Jimmy also get into some movies that scared the craps out of them back in the day and explore the idea that some horror is great for dates and some is not.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cheapchills.substack.com

This week I am joined by Kenneth Filmer, who is half of a Film and Television/Promotion company in New York City called Khloaris. Khloaris produces films and hosts screening parties in unusual places like back-alleys of industrial neighborhoods and has built a community of like-minded, film-loving oddballs. 
 
We came into this with a theme in mind so keep an ear out for the part of our conversation about working at video rental stores (Tower video and Kim's Video) but we got into so much more! From the purpose of transgressive media to Davie Allan's fuzz-guitar film scores to what exactly an executive producer does for a film like Ghost Team starring Amy Sedaris, Jon Heder and Justin Long.
 
This is a long one so we also got into our thoughts on the Gene Simmons and Kiss, Corey Feldman, how social media can limit our ability as creators and the origin story of Cheap Chills.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cheapchills.substack.com

Ben is joined this week by artist, mom and teacher, Audrey Rose, also known as Mad Monster Lady.
This week's (official) topic is the Crestwood Monsters series of books. They talk about how monsters are relatable because they are also weirdos dealing with rejection. They also get into real life monsters like narcissists, sociopaths and serial killers and why Satanism isn’t scary. 
And in a very special “Let’s Check in with Ben,” Ben defers to next week to unload all that’s going on with him.
You may notice the podcast is AD-FREE! If you dig the show and want to show support, please leave a review wherever you get podcasts. If you'd like to "Buy me a Coffee" that would be amazing too! Whenever you want. No subsciption involved.
buymeacoffee.com/cheapchills
Follow Audrey Rose in Instagram at @madmonsterlady

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cheapchills.substack.com

Hey gang, this week Ben is taking calls on the new Lost Movie Hotline. Listeners who caught a movie when they were little, one that seared itself into their memories, can now call in with a voicemail for Ben. If he doesn't recognize your lost movie maybe the Cheap Chills community will! We do what we can.
Ben describes his own lost movie. It's something that he's been wondering about for 45 YEARS! If you like terror and intrigue among a handful of people stranded on the beach, this film is for you. 
Then in a very special "Let's Check in with Ben" he talks about the art projects he's just finished and bigger ones on the slab. And a bit about what's going on with him at home. 
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You may notice the Cheap Chills podcast is AD-FREE! If you dig the show and want to show support, please leave a review wherever you get podcasts. If you'd like to "Buy me a Coffee" that would be amazing too! Whenever you want. No subsciption involved.
buymeacoffee.com/cheapchills
Some links below are affilate links. Clicking through helps support the pod at no extra expense to you, thanks! 
Watch The Flesh Eaters on Tubi
Buy The Mutations on Amazon - https://amzn.to/3WEyjQT
Rent James and the Giant Peach - https://amzn.to/3WEyjQT


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cheapchills.substack.com

Hey Gang! This week I'm joined by Jules Fischer, an Indi Comic book Artist from Berlin, Germany. We get into all kinds of stuff! Her influeces, Charles Burns, Dan Clowes and Jamie Hernandez sent her down a path of self discovery through comic-book making. Plus fake food freaks her out, but in a good way! 
We also get into how horror stories help us deal with anxiety and depression. And how creating art will expose your deepest thoughts and feelings to the world. 
In a very special Let's Check in With Ben, I talk about something that blew me away this week, The Sweet Electric's New Planet (Liam Lynch). It reminded me of a "song" I made like 15, 16 years ago called Another Planet Entirely. It's oddly personal and never been heard by the public before but its included at the end of the podcast, yer welcome!
Jules Fischer on Instagram
Cheap Chills on Instagram
Walter Wick Studio

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You may notice the Cheap Chills podcast is has no commercials. If you dig the show and want to support us, please leave a review wherever you get podcasts. If you'd like to "Buy me a Coffee" that would be amazing too! I literally have no money. Is anyone reading this? 
buymeacoffee.com/cheapchills
Links below are affilate links. Clicking through helps support the pod at no extra expense to you, thanks! 
The Lottery and Other Stories by Shirley Jackson
Parents 1989 starring Randy Quaid, Blu-Ray
Like a Velvet Glove Cast in Iron by Daniel Clowes, paperback
Black Hole by Charles Burns, paperback


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cheapchills.substack.com

Introducing a new segment, "Continue Watching?" where Ben goes through his Tubi, Continue Watching list and talks about the movies he didn't get through; gems like Yeti: Giant of the 20th Century, War of The God Monsters, The Monster Club TV show and more.
Ben takes a call on the Lost Movie Hotline. Does he know what film this caller’s talking about? If not, maybe you do! Call in and let us know! speakpipe.com/CheapChills
And in a very special Let’s check in with Ben, Ben’s feeling rusty. Specifically when it comes to drawing on paper. What if we draw together with some weekly prompts? #CheapChillsSketchClub? #CheapchillsMonster? #DoHashtagsEvenWorkAnymore?He also talks his alter-ego, Roman Candelabrä and how it can help with his life-long discomfort in front of video cameras.

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You may notice the Cheap Chills podcast is has no commercials. If you dig the show and want to support us, please leave a review wherever you get podcasts. If you'd like to "Buy me a Coffee" that would be amazing too! I literally have no money. Is anyone reading this? 
buymeacoffee.com/cheapchills

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Music and editing for the Cheap Chills Podcast by Ben Walker-Storey.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cheapchills.substack.com

This week Ben is busy with something very frightening if common among us these days, bills! So we've dug up (get it? GET IT??) a spooky gem from the early days of this podcast, Monsters in Turtlenecks has Ben and his wife (who is her own person) Amanda getting into what is likely THE biggest influence on how Ben became the monster-loving weirdo he is today, The Monster Club starring Vincent Price, John Carradine and Donald Pleasence.
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You may notice the Cheap Chills podcast is has no commercials. If you dig the show and want to support us, please leave a review wherever you get podcasts. If you'd like to "Buy me a Coffee" that would be amazing too! I literally have no money. Is anyone reading this? 
buymeacoffee.com/cheapchills

Affiliate Links below (commissions may be earned):
Get the Monster Club on Amazon

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Music and editing for the Cheap Chills Podcast by Ben Walker-Storey.


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cheapchills.substack.com

Welcome to the Cheap Chills podcast, where artists and creators who love spooky, weird stuff can get together and talk spooky weird art ….talk.
A few months ago, I was alone in bed watching The Cup Head show. It’s something I had tried to put on for our son when it came out but it was too creepy for him and he went back to watching something about trains with eyes.
Anyway, I was blown away by just how good this cartoon was! It’s very very inspired by animation from the  1930s but looks better than studios like Fliescher could manage back then. The animation, the jokes, holy craps the backgrounds. The second episode came on and I paid more attention to the credits. Created by Dave Wasson.
It was one of those moments where I thought, man if I can get back into podcasting, maybe I could talk to people like this. A few months and a few Instagram DMs later and here we are.
You’ve seen his work on the Mickey Mouse shorts on Disney+, Time Squad, Star vs the Forces of Evil, oh Yeah cartoons and The Cuphead Show. Here it is, my conversation with animation Writer and Director, Dave Wasson.

We discuss the Cuphead game developed by Chad and Jared Moldenhauer, advice for indie animators, The most inspiring music for making 1930s-style animation (Check out the playlist below!), jazz album covers of the 50s, Popeye, Betty Boop, Roger Ramjet, Rocky and Bulwinkle, and those amazing 3-dimensional backgrounds they incorporated into Fleischer brothers cartoons.

Plus a new segment! Join Roman Candelabrä for Roman Candelabrä's Mystery Moment as he explores the strange connection between Betty Boop and The Smiths. 

Follow Dave Wasson on Instagram: @arkansassugarpants

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You may notice the Cheap Chills podcast is has no commercials. If you dig the show and want to support us, please leave a review wherever you get podcasts. If you'd like to "Buy me a Coffee" that would be amazing too! I literally have no money. Is anyone reading this? 
buymeacoffee.com/cheapchills

*****
Music and editing for the Cheap Chills Podcast by Ben Walker-Storey.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cheapchills.substack.com

This week I’m joined by Art Director, Justin Moll, who is known as Dr. Wolfenbergen by night (and likely weekends). His personal art (and upcoming zine) is stripped down, simple yet gritty...and kinda dark. So I love it. We talk about the hot rod scene, making zines, the lost art of making band flyers at the 24 hour photocopy shop and then we really get into the nitty, grits of making low-fi digital art and the power of squinting. 
We also get into comparing notes on musical inspiration (Mortician or Skinny Puppy? Is Iron Maiden relaxing?) and tell about the times we were kinda scared to buy an album but totally did.
In a very special “Let’s Check in with Ben” I talk about the new drawing club I’m starting on Instagram and reflect on the rebooted podcast.
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Follow Justin on Instagram: @Dr.Wolfenbergen

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If you dig the show and want to support us, please leave a review wherever you get podcasts. If you'd like to "Buy me a Coffee" that would be amazing too! 
buymeacoffee.com/cheapchills

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Music for the Cheap Chills Podcast by Badger Meyer.


**Also discussed word dump: Return of the Living Dead, the Art of Friend Prices, True Grit brush collection, High Tide Recordings, The CSA Charles S Anderson Catalog, Evil on Paramount+

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cheapchills.substack.com

I think you’re really like this episode. I Got to chat with cartoonist, David DeGrand. His art is mixes elements of silly, cute and gross in a way that really gets me excited to draw. 
We also came in with an agenda; to talk about our shared all-time favorite movies, Pee Wee's Big Adventure and Ed Wood.
But we also get into David’s background and influences and his wildly cool list of clients. Mad Magazine, comic book treatments of SpongeBob, The Simpsons, Garfield, Adventure Time, Uncle Grandpa, and his work appears in the newest video for Weird Al Yankovic! 
 
Oh and we warm up by talking about our experiences with folks who are worried about things like vaccines magnetizing them and the coming apocalypse.
See more of David DeGrand:
degrandland.com
David on Instagram


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You may notice the Cheap Chills podcast is has no commercials. If you dig the show and want to support us, please leave a review wherever you get podcasts. If you'd like to "Buy me a Coffee" that would be amazing too! 
buymeacoffee.com/cheapchills

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Music for the Cheap Chills Podcast by Badger Meyer.


**Also discussed word dump: 
The Zombie Chasers, 70s Horror, Godman, Godzilla Minus 1



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cheapchills.substack.com

Welcome to the Cheap Chills podcast, where artists can talk, mostly about monsters.
This week, Ben breaks down one major bit of inspiration from his past: The Bollock Brothers song, Horror Movies. 
How many of the movies mentioned in this song have we seen?
Then, in a very special “Let’s Check in with Ben” Ben talks about stress and burnout in what amounts to an explanation for why this podcast is going bi-weekly.
The episode wraps up with a segment about Ben’s process for illustration work and how he’s using it to make artwork for #MonsterFunkMonday. Yeah, we’re making monsters and posting them on Instagram, Mondays. 
This is episode is brought to you by the Cheap Chills shop on Etsy. Ben’s designed a bunch of T-shirts and prints for people who love spooky weird stuff. There’s new stickers and prints coming and even some of the vintage toys and clothes for you to check out.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cheapchills.substack.com

I am so thrilled to bring you the conversation for this episode! I got a chance to catch up with my friend, world renown painter, Isabel Samaras. Years before we ever met I discovered her work through art magazines like Juxtapoz and Hi Fructose. I was blown away by Isabel’s work because she’s not just an incredible painter but she’s someone who has a take on popular culture, romance and humor that is all her own.
There's literally too much to go over with Isabel as far as monsters and pop culture characters. But we get into our love for The Bride of Frankenstein and how we as artists can use imagery to add to popular stories and even give our beloved fictitious characters a more fulfilling life. 
Apologies to A24, the movie we were talking about is The Hole in the Ground, not A Hole in the Woods or whatever Ben said.
Here's some heady subjects for you artists: Are you making art you think an audience wants or creating what excites you and bringing people along for the ride? And do you have “Kulaks” in your portfolio?
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This is episode is brought to you by Ben's Shadowplay digital brushes and the Cheap Chills Etsy shop. 
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If you dig the show and want to support us, please leave a review wherever you get podcasts. If you'd like to "Buy me a Coffee" that would be amazing too! 
buymeacoffee.com/cheapchills
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Music for the Cheap Chills Podcast by Badger Meyer.


**Also discussed word dump: 
Shirley Jackson, Kathryn Bigelow, Ana Lily Amirpour, a girl walks home alone at night, Batman's love life

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cheapchills.substack.com

Welcome to Cheap Chills on Art and Monsters. I probably need a new intro but I do love the announcer I snagged for the original cheap chills podcast.
This week's guest is Nick Prueher, best known as being half of the Found Footage Festival team along with his childhood friend, Joe Pickett.
Nick is also a film producer writer having writen for The Onion and Late Night with David Letterman.
We came together to talk about his favorite monster, John Carpenter's The Thing, but of course we got into what it's like being the funny, creative weirdo in your small town, irrational fears that could make a good horror movie, some of the movies that horrified us as kids and how hot Dianne Franklin is in Better Off Dead. 

Find more from Nick at foundfootagefest.com
on Instagram @chimplips, @foundfootagefestival

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cheapchills.substack.com

This week, Illustrator, Creator (and your host) Ben Walker-Storey talks about his two big time-sucks: Procrastination and Distractions, what could be at the root of these problems and some thoughts, tricks and tips on working around them. 
Then its time to talk about monsters! We need to talk about the 1988 film, Doomed Megalopolis the Last Megalopolis (or Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis) from Director, Akio Jissôji 
Ben does his best to avoid big, clinical words or armchair diagnosis but (spoiler) this episode is monstly about mental health issues like Anxiety, Depression and ADHD. 
Regardless of any neurodivergence (dammit! a big clinical word) you may or may not have, Ben has some tips that have helped him stay more productive in recent years and get back into what was so fun about art before adulthood and money was involved. If nothing else let's remember to go easy on ourselves. 
This episode is brought to you by the Cheap Chills Etsy shop. Ben’s designed a bunch of T-shirts and prints for people who love spooky weird stuff, custom art brushes for Clip Studio Paint and there's even some vintage toys and clothes for you to check out.
Use PROMO CODE: GREENFIFTEEN for 15% off your order

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cheapchills.substack.com

Reed Randolph is an animation artist, most recently working as a character designer on Exposing Kittens. 
This week Ben's chatting with  Reed about how he went from working as a teenage Scare Artist in the famous steel factory-turned haunted house, Sloss Fright Furnace to designing for an indie Dark Ride.
In between he worked with Jim Henson Company, desiged concept art for Blippi’s Treehouse and went to Ringling College of Art (not necessarily in that order!) The guys talk about going to art school and whether its still recommended for young artists these days. What’s it like to pitch a "dark ride" to IAAPA? (The Global Association for the Attractions Industry) What's the best paint for black-light artwork? Reed has stories about that too! 
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If you dig the show and want to support us, please leave a review wherever you get podcasts.

You can now call and leave a voicemail about whatever you want! Do you have art/career questions? want to recommend a movie? Do you have memories of a "Lost Movie" you need help tracking down? Tell Ben about it at-
speakpipe.com/cheapchills

Do you draw digitally and like FREE stuff? Ben's new brush pack Build a Goth Boy is available free at his Buymeacoffee.
If you'd like to "Buy me a Coffee" that would be amazing too! 
buymeacoffee.com/cheapchills

More brushes, T-shirts, stickers and stuff at the Cheap Chills Etsy shop.
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Music for the Cheap Chills Podcast by Badger Meyer.




This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cheapchills.substack.com

*STAY TUNED AFTER THIS EP! a track from the David Hartman (as Zorgon) Electronica album, D1m3n51on X
This week I’m joined by Director and Storyboard Artist, David Hartman. He’s the Director of the 2016 film, Phantasm: Ravager. Plus 25 years worth of other film  and Television work like Godzilla: the Series, Astroboy, Jackie Chan Adventures, Laser Fart and the animated video for Rob Zombie’s American Witch. Just to list a few.
He’s also done storyboarding and artwork for Tenacious D, Bubba Ho-Tep, the Boondocks, Tranformers Prime, Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous, Extreme Ghostbusters and John Dies at the End and more. 
Above all(?) He’s a phenomenal artist who loves to draw monsters!
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ON ART: We talk about the benefits of drawing first thing in the morning, keeping your dogs away from your Apple Pencil, the disturbing drawings and destroyed toys of our childhoods, and how storyboarding on Bubba Ho Two led to David directing the 2016 film Phantasm Ravager. Plus a boatload of movie geek talk about Mario Baba Inframan YOR: the Hunter from the Future, Legend of Boggy Creek, Yeti: Giant of the 20rh Century. And David made short films for Dan Harmon, and Rob Schrab’s Channel 101. We talk about that too!
ON MONSTERS: At an early age, David had a run-in with a Bigfoot-like creature known as the Minnesota Iceman. Is the term “run-in” a wild exaggeration? Listen and find out!
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If you dig the show and want to support us, please leave a review wherever you get podcasts.
You can now call and leave a voicemail about whatever you want! Do you have art/career questions? want to recommend a movie? Do you have memories of a "Lost Movie" you need help tracking down? Tell Ben about it at-
speakpipe.com/cheapchills
Ben's new brush pack Build a Goth Boy is available, Free!
Go to buymeacoffee.com/cheapchills 
If you'd like to leave a lil' tip while you're there, that would be amazing too!
More brushes, T-shirts, stickers and stuff at the Cheap Chills Etsy shop.
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Music for the Cheap Chills Podcast by Badger Meyer.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cheapchills.substack.com

Welcome back everybody! This very special episode is a conversation with comic-book artist, Patrick Carson Sparrow. Its also a candid chat between two people who yes, are artists who love monsters but are also middle-aged dads, trying to figure out how to get all the needs met, and sometimes struggle with mental health issues. 

So we talk about fatherhood, marriage, ADHD, day jobs, depression, anxiety and how we manage to get any of our personal art done.So this is a trigger-warning that the subject of self harm, suicidal ideation, domestic abuse, come up and if you’re not in a good place to be hearing about that, maybe turn us off at the half-hour mark. 

988 is the number for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Talk to anyone about it, really!

We also talk about Batman (the dark, effed-up version) Conan the Barbarian, and Bryan Cranston (the Walter White and the Malcom Dad versions). 

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If you dig the show and want to support us, please leave a review wherever you get podcasts.

You can now call and leave a voicemail about whatever you want! Do you have art/career questions? want to recommend a movie? Do you have memories of a "Lost Movie" you need help tracking down? Tell Ben about it at-

speakpipe.com/cheapchills

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This podcast is now hosted on Substack! If you want to see more of Ben's art process and hear solo episodes on having an art career, how to overcome obstacles, etc. subscribe to the Substack. Its all FREE for now! 

substack.com/@benwalkerstorey

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cheapchills.substack.com

This week’s guest is Robb Mommaerts. We talk about art school, starting out as a graphic designer, Wisconsin, those magical, late night horror TV shows of the late 80s like Monsters and Tales From the Darkside.

Robb Mommaerts is a cartoonist and illustrator who always hoped that his hobby of doodling bizarre creatures in school notebooks would eventually turn into a career. From his basement dungeon, he’s been hopping between the realms of children’s book illustration, comic books, game art, and character design. He’s recently had the opportunity to illustrate The Monstrous Adventures of Mummy Man and Waffles and The Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat series, written by Johnny Marciano and Emily Chenoweth. Before that he completed eight picture book titles and provided artwork for several top-selling tabletop game projects. He lives in Wisconsin with his wife, two kids, and a dog.

*******If you dig the show and want to support us, please Subscribe and leave a review wherever you get podcasts.You can now call and leave a voicemail about whatever you want! Do you have art/career questions? want to recommend a movie? Do you have memories of a "Lost Movie" you need help tracking down? Tell Ben about it at-speakpipe.com/cheapchills******************

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cheapchills.substack.com

Welcome to part 2 of my talk with illustrator and cartoonist Robb Mommaerts.

In this second half of our discussion, we talk mostly about monsters and other stuff that stood out from our childhood. Things like Star Wars creatures, Halloween sequels, Revenge of the Nerds, Satanic panic, Thundar the Barbarian, The Herculoids (which is which??) American ninja movies, and “Who would win in a fight between ___ and ___?” debates.

And in a very special Let’s Check in with Ben, I talk about having difficulties seeing and prioritizing projects and tasks. What is important to do first and when are “done”?

Find Robb at: robbmommaerts.com

More of Ben at: Cheapchillsfanclub.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cheapchills.substack.com

Ben here, also sometimes known as Cheap Chills and this is Cheap Chills: On Art and Monsters. My guest for this episode is author and youth mentor Shawn Pryor. He’s written over 40 books, his latest being Kaiju Unleashed. So Shawn and I cram as much Japanese giant monsters and Tokusatsu TV hero-talk as we can fit in a one hour podcast!

We also talk about the arts industry as a whole, how it’s already being affected so much by AI and what kind of future is out there for creative young people.

Find Shawn Pryor

Shawn on Instagram

ALSO!

I’m sure you’ve heard about the fires that are still going on in Southern California. They have affected a lot of good people, including recent guest and friend of the podcast Dave Wasson. He lost his home in Altadena and just today he posted pictures of his family literally sifting through the ashes of their life. It’s heartbreaking.

If you would like to help out Dave and his family, his friend set up a GoFundMe page-

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-dave-wasson-rebuild-after-fire

You can also send general support to those affected by donating to verified fundraisers on this page-

https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/wildfire-relief/california

Thank you.

Here’s where to find some of the films, etc. we get into in this episode:

*Some of the links below are affiliate links, so I may get a royalty on sales at no extra expense to you. Thanks for supporting the show!

* Kaiju Unleashed, Shawn Pryor: https://amzn.to/3Eiclws

* Watch Spectreman on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxggNZmk73g&list=PLWwbiDzEvsEmD9vtv8cN9zeKmq6RBnzDh

* Kamen Rider Vol. 1 DVD: https://amzn.to/3WD1WBE

* Shin Godzilla: https://amzn.to/4jDblmD

* Watch Akumaizer 3 on Archive.org: https://archive.org/details/akumaizer-3-collection-06/%5BBunny_Hat_Raw%5DAkumaizer_3_16_(30F1B8F2).mkv

* Godzilla vs. Kong: https://amzn.to/4hfoaBU

* Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire: https://amzn.to/4hBwzQ1

* King Kong vs Godzilla, 1963: https://amzn.to/3Ct1EXf

* Seven Samurai: https://amzn.to/3CrIuRE

* Yojimbo: https://amzn.to/3PV1c79

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Welcome back! This week’s episode is a shorty, first about having “too many” creative pursuits and how they really can all come together in unpredictable ways.

Then we take a minute or 10 to go through my “Continue Watching” list (mostly) on Tubi and I’ll tell you some quick thoughts on why I will or won’t be finishing these movies and shows. Not to spoil everything but it’s:

Ninja Terminator —> https://tubitv.com/movies/592879/ninja-terminator

Space 1999 —> https://tubitv.com/series/3253/space-1999

The Bat-Woman (1968) —> https://tubitv.com/movies/100029264/the-batwoman

The Great Yokai War —> https://tubitv.com/movies/100014758/the-great-yokai-war

The Bat People (1974) —> https://tubitv.com/movies/100011938/the-bat-people

Frogs (1972) —> https://www.kanopy.com/en/product/fr

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Hello! This week's guest is my friend, pop-punk Legend and artist, Kepi Ghoulie!

Kepi founded Groovie Ghoulies in 1983 and has gone on to tour around the world with the band and solo. Kepi has run with too many punk bands to mention. They opened a bunch of times for The Cramps and there ARE stories. Kepi's still recording solo and touring, so catch him at the next show in your town!

Kepi took up painting in the 2000s and we talk about why he started focusing on selling Art at his shows over CDs.

We also talk about learning to show up and do YOUR best as an artist regardless of how many are watching. And how important it is to express yourself regardless of your skill level.

Plus Kepi has some tips on how to get your Tom Petty records for cheap! 

Kepi on Instagram

Kepi's Patreon

Kepi on FB

....................

Cheap Chills is now on Patreon! By joining you will get access to Cheap Chills watch parties! Once a month I’m hand-picking a movie and watching it along with y’all. There’s a chat feature on the side and maybe even video from me and special guests. Asteriks, I’m still working out the kinks on that stuff.

Our first watch will be March First, its Psychomania A.K.A the Death Wheelers.

You’ll also get some behind the scenes looks at my art-makin’ step-by-steps of my process and even extra podcast audio tidbits. 

So Join the Cheap Chills Fan Club over on Patreon and let’s keep this thing going!

or just Buy me a Coffee!! (if you would be so kind...)buymeacoffee.com/cheapchills

Thank ya!

-Ben

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This second half of my chat with Kepi has us talking about (of course) monsters and how their underlying metaphors work so perfectly for songs about misfit, teenage angst. We also talk about love, chemistry, break-ups, the synchronicity and other mysteries of the Universe.

And what about Bob Wilkins (of KTVU Creature Features) and his alter ego as Captain Cosmic? The universe truly is a strange and wondrous place.

Kepi on Instagram

Kepi's Patreon

Kepi on FB

Cheap Chills is now on Patreon!

By joining you will get access to Cheap Chills watch parties! Once a month I’m hand-picking a movie and watching it along with y’all. There’s a chat feature on the side and maybe even video from me and special guests. Asteriks, I’m still working out the kinks on that stuff.

Our first watch will be March First, its Psychomania A.K.A the Death Wheelers.

You’ll also get some behind the scenes looks at my art-makin’ step-by-steps of my process and even extra podcast audio tidbits.

So Join the Cheap Chills Fan Club over on Patreon and let’s keep this thing going!

or just Buy me a Coffee!! (if you would be so kind...)buymeacoffee.com/cheapchills

Thank you and StaAaAay Spooooky!

-Ben

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cheapchills.substack.com

Ben Walker Storey (Illustrator and comedy, horror nerd) and Amanda Walker Storey (Makeup Artist turned Vintage Clothing reseller) are husband and wife trying to find something to watch. Ben shows his wife trailers for horror and B movies. Tangents ensue.

It's Episode 1 (Part 1) of the Cheap Chills show!

In this episode Ben and Amanda talk a bit about how home life turned into the format of the show, then explore a couple classic horror films involving evil menacing vegetables, flowers and weeds: 1974's The Mutations (AKA Freakmaker)with Donald Pleasence, and Day of the Triffids. They finish out part 1 by improvising a pitch for their own modern plant monster film, Amazon Orchids.

Check back next week for Episode 1, part 2 of Plant Monsters.

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Part 2 of Ben and Amanda's exploration of weird plant monster movies. In this episode they look at Roger Corman's 1960 classic, Little Shop of Horrors. As well as Swamp Thing and Return of Swamp Thing. We learn a bit more about Amanda's hatred for all things swampy.

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Clearly, Ben has a Big Foot fetish. Ben shows Amanda trailers to some of the classic Sasquatch films of the 70s and on into the 80s. There are so many mysteries. What is the creature? How can something so conspicuous as Bigfoot stay hidden? Will there ever be an episode of Cheap Chills that doesn't bring up Arkansas?

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cheapchills.substack.com

In the second half of their Bigfoot / Yeti talk, Ben and Amanda examine the scariest of the Bigfoots. Here's a hint: He has major beef with Steve Austin.
Tangents include 80s movies named after food, and the holy trinity of childhood perils, piraña quicksand and lava. Plus Ben and Amanda come up with a Skiers vs. Snowboarders vs. Yeti movie.
Special thanks to Kepi Ghoulie for this episode’s Bigfoot outro music!

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Neighbor and comedian, Gabe Callahan joins Ben and Amanda as we examine The Asphyx, plus all the Ghostbusters.
Before they delve into deep personal fears and the movies that bothered their souls, Ben, Amanda and Gabe pitch a found footage-style movie about film students who stumble on their own Asphyx while re-hashing 1973's Asphyx.

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Bonus! Ben sits down with comedian, Drew Platt to talk about a movie that terrified him as a kid, Pet Sematary.

Plus Kepi Ghoulie's cover of Pet Sematatary! Thanks Kepi!

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This week, Ben and Amanda check out movies about evil body parts.
Amanda and Ben each pitch their own evil body part film.
Plus! Nightmares from childhood. Nightmare boyfriends. And Amanda discuses her aversion to being fed romantically.

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Welcome to the Club! Ben has a religious experience while watching the 1981 film, Monster Club. Amanda is on board with the whole thing. That's a first!

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Ben and Amanda watch clips from five movies that freaked people the eff out as kids. Can it be a good thing to be traumatized as a younger?

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It's Birthday Week so Ben and Amanda look at some cult movies from Amanda's birth year, 1981. Time Bandits, Ghost Story and Escape From New York. They launch seamlessly into tangents about American fast food in Asia, roping dad into a John Carpenter concert, the downside of pizza and benefits of lounge music.

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Ben and Amanda explore a few of the unforgettable movies of 1973, The Baby, Legend of Hell House, Godspell and Psychomania. Plus personal tales of cat attacks, a Second Coming movie pitch, and more!

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This episode is devoted to the mysterious disappearance of Jim Bray, star (along with Linda Blair) of 1978's Roller Boogie. Ben and Amanda reveal their personal attachment to roller-skating and pitch a heavily fictionalized Jim Bray biopic.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cheapchills.substack.com

Ben and Amanda watch the trailer for Stephen King's Graveyard Shift and swap tales of awful jobs from their pasts. Plus, reasons not to go to Art school, the wordy horror of Lovecraft and white jeans.

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We watch the trailers for Parents, Soylent Green and C.H.U.D. and talk man-eaters, man-made meat, and man-meat. Plus, do younger siblings get less genetic beauty juice? And, who said Sir-we-have-no-control-over-the-robots-at-all?

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cheapchills.substack.com

Ben and Amanda wipe the dust from Mom's VHS collection. It's a lovely evening at home complete with a workout, beauty and pampering, a feature film and some late night romance.

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Ben and Amanda watch the trailers for Duel, The Car, Christine and Maximum Overdrive. They talk about when it was cool to be a trucker, their own road rage, car chase experiences and the terror that lays waiting in the garbage disposal. The couple caps it off by writing a possessed car-teen comedy on the fly.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cheapchills.substack.com

In episode 18 of The Cheap Chills Show, Ben and Amanda delve into one of Ben's visceral fears, bodies dissolving into husks and vapors. The couple watch clips from cult classic films and discuss people melting, drying up and blowing away, turning into evil yogurt, and being left below. Plus a mysterious Hometown Horror and the couple come face to face with local wildlife in the foothills of California.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cheapchills.substack.com

In this episode, Ben and Amanda talk briefly about the horror of knowing the people in your hometown feel very differently about current events. Which leads to the theme of the show: The Addams Family and the hosts' goal of living "Full Addams". Ben reads his Addams Code. The couple also tell tales from the back rooms of Northern California's Goth dance clubs.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cheapchills.substack.com

In this episode, Ben and Amanda check out some favorite knock-offs of our favorite cult movies of the 1970s and 80s.
A few trailers for movies in post-apocalyptic and barbarian genres prompt some personal stories from Ben. Amanda also explores her lifelong fear of outer space.
Plus! Are we made by Ancient Aliens?

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cheapchills.substack.com

Ben and Amanda are joined by Entertainment journalist and former Famous Monsters of Filmland Editor, David. Weiner. We watch trailers to films that were featured on some of our favorite, classic FM covers. We recall some classic FM memories, and that time we teamed up to cover the release of Dana Gould's Stan Against Evil (IFC). Plus why is Vincent Price such a stud? And who else has the "IT" Factor?

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cheapchills.substack.com

This time Ben and Amanda are joined by Producer, Director, Actor, Lowell Northrop (Hap & Leonard). They watch trailers to some movies about extra parts growing out of people's bodies and talk about vestigial twins, love and loss between the conjoined, an awful lot about Ben's artwork and a bit about dark side.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cheapchills.substack.com

Ben and Amanda watch clips from Friday the 13th, The Series and wonder if there are cursed items in their own home. Plus Amanda gets a tour of the historic (haunted?)Cary House Hotel from Eugene Butler, The Halloween Man.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cheapchills.substack.com

This time, Ben and Amanda watch clips from David Cronenberg's Naked Lunch then tell their stories about cockroaches and hoarders. They check out clips from Videodrome which launches Ben into a Shark Tank pitch for a ground-breaking, new adult product. One more trailer, Chatterbox gets the two into the realm of disappointing sex comedies and those 80s movies about switching gender.

This episode is brought to you by Cheap Chills Clothing and Amazon.com. Support the show and get Halloween-inspired apparel, designed by Cheap Chills' own Ben Walker Storey by searching "Cheap Chills All Hallows Eve" on Amazon.

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Ben and Amanda start of with a bit of a State of the Podcast address as it's Episode 25 and the 1 year mark for Cheap Chills. Then it's Bad Apples spoiling....the World? at least the neighborhood. Ben and Amanda talk about their favorite bad boys, Damien from the Omen series and John Waters' Cry Baby Walker. What's up with doomsday people who are worried about the Mark of the Beast? The couple finish up the show by telling a strange story from 6th grade learning camp while creating an "Escalator Pitch" for a movie that brings together all the bad kids from the greaser to the Anti-Christ.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cheapchills.substack.com

In this special 1 year anniversary show, Ben and Amanda veer away from movies to have a fireside chat about their most memorable Halloweens. The costumes, trick or treating, taking sexy pictures with Gramma. Plus some tangents about unfortunate swimwear.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cheapchills.substack.com

Ben is joined by Super 7's Josh Herbolsheimer. They talk about the new lines of Reaction figures, Universal Monsters (Can we just call him Frankenstein, already?) Plus art school and collisions with celebrities.

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Ben is joined by guest, co-host Kristen Lucas. Kristen is a comedian and actor who once tried to win over the crowd at an audition with a Cry Baby reference. Ben and Kristen check out the fun in the sun and teenagers making Hey-Hey in some beach horror movies.

Plus! Hear the true story of the time Ben got a call from Gallagher.

This episode brought to you by Suckerman.

Check out www.kristenreneelucas.com
On Instagram & Twitter @TheKris10Lucas

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Amanda is Back! We're back!
Ben and Amanda talk about what happens when you are awake during surgery. They take a big step toward living "Full Addams" (Family). Then they explore the idea of "smudging" and bad vibes in a home. Plus a few personal ghost stories!

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Ben and Amanda introduce a new segment, Conspiracy Something, Say Something and talk about a strange pattern emerging in children's programing. They give more thought and tips on going "Full Addams" (living like the Addams Family), then launch into the main topic: Time Travel. What would you do if you went back to High School? Can you convince a stranger to do something just because you are from the future? Would a vapor trail help?

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Ben and Amanda talk Satan, Satanism and their experiences growing up Christian, going to church getting spooked by Devil-talk. Half-way through, the couple takes a break to have a crazy-mom-off.
Then it's back to the Beast, discussing the alleged former Satanic High Priest turned "Christian Comedian" of the 1980s, Mike Warnke. Plus, what are the best loved Satans in pop culture? And what are the "Satanic bands" of the 80s?

This episode is brought to you by Devil Dogs.

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In this return to greatness, Ben and Amanda unpack everything they know, think and feel about those sexy, blood-sucking fiends: Vampires. Ben starts the show with a brief rant about the age-old conflict between grumpy curmudgeons and you meddling, sardine-like teenagers. Then it's full-tilt into all the movie vampires: Bram Stoker's Dracula, Lost Boys, True Blood, Hammer films, Nosferatu, Ed Wood (it counts), Shadow of the Vampire, Blade. Ben even re-enacts a scene from a Twilight movie. Plus a few seedy personal vampire stories!

This episode is brought to you by our upcoming grown-up coloring book, Monster Funk.

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We're back! This time, Ben reads selections from his new self-published, Adult coloring book, Monster Funk. Friendship, rejection, career lows, embarrassment: Ben tells the incredibly personal stories that are behind the poo and fart jokes. Amanda recalls coloring with scented markers and rates all the smells. Plus Amanda and Ben share a Hometown Horror story and compare some of the grossest things about parenthood verses living in San Francisco.

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Live at STAB Comedy Theater in Sacramento, California! Ben & Amanda talk about the Hometown Horrors of the fun-zone in Grass Valley and fighting old ladies at estate sales. Then it's on to the cults! What is a cult? What is a sex-cult? Aren't they all sex-cults, really? Ben & Amanda discuss their favorite movies about cults and recount that time they went to a party thrown by pyramid-scheming, life-coaching, sex-cultists.

Then it's questions from the audience (and Instagram) for our super-computer, iDuddits!

Thank you Sacpodfest.

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They said it wouldn't happen. But the stars aligned and Cheap Chills lives on! This time Ben and Amanda talk about fate and destiny, delving into some personal stories after delving into other personal stories for their popular "Hometown Horrors" segment.

Check out Rin Tanaka's series of street fashion books, My Freedamn!

Pick up a copy of Ben's new book, Monster Funk, in adult coloring book form or as a full-color picture book (paperback or ebook), all on Amazon.com. THIS JUST IN! Ben just released one more version, this one for kids (no words, just fun monsters). "A Coloring Book of Gross Monsters" will be available on Amazon July 20th.

Amanda's new Etsy store is called Irreverent Finery. Follow the Instagram too, @Irreverent-Finery.

Thanks for your support!

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