Apologies for the long gap between episodes. I’ve been chipping away at a few of my favorite kind of projects; the ones that don’t pay. So this podcast has had to take a back seat. It may come back at some point or may not. Follow me on Instagram at Cheapchillsfanclub and do me a kindness? Check out my Twitch channel, Cheapchills to see what’s next.

This episode is really a break from a break because I have a special guest with a new book coming out.

Mattie Lubchansky is an Ignatz award-winning graphic novelist. Their new book Simplicity comes out July 29. It’s a vibrant new graphic novel about a timid academic sent out from the walled dystopian security territory of New York City to investigate a cult in the wilds of the Catskill Mountains.

Mattie and I talk about telling stories as an indie comic creator, political cartoons, podcasting about local government (corruption) and so, so much more!

We did forget to talk about monsters though so at the halfway point I’ll tell you about a movie I just saw that really hit different; the 2017 Japanese stop-motion film, Junkhead.

Get Simplicity

More at mattielubchansky.com

Watch Junkhead free on Tubi, Kanopi, and Hoopla

For this episode I’m joined by Anders Nilsen, the artist and author of ten books including Big Questions, The End, Poetry is Useless and Tongues. His work has been featured in the New York Times, Poetry Magazine, Kramer's Ergot, Pitchfork, The New Yorker and elsewhere.

On Art: We get into everything from pre-visualizing comic page layout to how Tin-Tin comics feel like plays.

On Monsters:The two of entered into a challenge. To watch that movie that we’ve been avoiding our whole lives and compare our thoughts and feelings. For Anders, it was John Carpenter’s 1982 film The Thing which he had seen around age 13 and not since. For me it was The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. We also get into Repo Man, Harold and Maude and a whole lot of Terry Gilliam talk (Brazil, Time Bandits, Fisher King).

More from Anders- andersbrekhusnilsen.com

Ben’s portfolio - benwalkerstorey.com

Below are some affiliate links. You can help support the show by clicking through at no extra expense to you. Thanks!

Get The Thing on DVD/Blu-ray

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre on DVD/Blu-ray

The Fisher King on DVD/Blu-ray

Brazil on DVD/Blu-ray

Time Bandits on DVD/Blu-ray

Welcome back to Cheap Chills: On Art & Monsters. This week I’m joined by cartoonist Drew Rausch, co-creator of the comic, Sullen Grey as well as Eldritch!

We talk about evolving art styles, David Lynch‘s influence on creators and all the time we spent watching gratuitous nudity on HBO even with our parents!

Plus, what’s more terrifying or having a child who will cross the street in a busy intersection one day? We get into the weeds on what is “scary” in movies and real life.

Find Drew:

https://drewrausch.com

https://www.instagram.com/drewrausch

https://bsky.app/profile/drewrausch.bsky.social

And check out MEGA BIG TIME, my vintage pop culture collaboration with my wife Amanda of IrreverentFinery, We’re @megabigtime on Instagram.

This week’s episode is a rerelease of my chat with Josh Herbolsheimer. You may know him from all the work he’s done with the epic toy company, Super 7 or from his appearances on The Toys that Made Us. He’s also a dad, husband, artist, monster and tokusatsu lover, and he’s an old friend from our Art School days. So there’s lots to talk about and it’s worth a revisit!

Josh on Instagram: @jjoshuajh

Cheap Chills is now on Patreon!

Check out the perks of supporting Cheap Chills on Patreon (aside from keeping us commercial free!)

Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

In this episode of Cheap Chills: On Art and Monsters, we sit down with artist and YouTuber BeeJayDel (AKA BeeJay DeLong) to talk about escaping the 9-to-5 and making money as an artist—without relying on employers or clients. Beejay shares why he dropped from studying graphic design early on, instead focusing on illustration and how he’s thriving despite the rise of AI-generated art. From selling physical products and custom digital brushes to growing his YouTube channel, he’s found ways to keep creative control while providing for his family.On the horror side, we dive into the movies that left a lasting impression on BeeJayDel—Tobe Hooper’s The Funhouse and the chaotic genius of Gremlins 2. From carnival creeps to corporate mutants, we break down what makes these films so memorable.

Whether you’re an artist looking to make a living on your own terms or a horror fan who loves deep dives into cult classics, this episode has something for you!

-Stay spoooooky!

More on BeeJay DeLong:

“BeeJay DeLong (BeeJayDeL for short) is an illustrator and graphic designer living in Northwest Ohio. He can also be found over on his YouTube channel, “Let’s Draw With BeeJayDeL,” where he makes tutorials for artists of all ages and skill levels!

BeeJay’s style is known for its cartoon aesthetics, bold lines, and bright colors!”

beejaydel.com

youtube.com/@BeeJayDeL

Cheap Chills is now on Patreon!

Check out the perks of supporting Cheap Chills on Patreon (aside from keeping us commercial free!)

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

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

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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

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

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

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