When the pandemic disrupted his college plans in 2020, Mikah Fikes rediscovered a childhood passion for filmmaking. With no connections, he dove in by taking local actor classes, eventually landing roles that connected him to the Midwest film community.

In our candid conversation, Mikah shares how acting has shaped both his craft of acting and long term goals of directing. He opens up about the psychological challenges of accessing genuine emotions on set, recalling an intense crying scene in his upcoming film What’s Wrong Wendy

The craft of horror filmmaking reveals itself through the passionate voices behind the camera—where personal trauma transforms into powerful storytelling, and authenticity trumps high budgets every time. 

In this captivating conversation with Robyn, host of Horror Pop After Midnight podcast, we journey through the shadows of independent horror filmmaking and explore the unexpected parallels between podcasting and creating cinema. Robyn shares his evolution from a wrestling podcast host to doing press interviews at film festivals

"Nobody makes your movies, you have to make them." 

His upcoming psychological thriller "The Part" follows a struggling actress who wakes up after a car crash to find strangers claiming to be her family. The film explores identity and reality through an unsettling premise Baker describes as "what's it like to need someone to love you so badly, and then what happens when someone answers that call in the most fucked up way possible?" 

What makes the headaches and heartbreaks of filmmaking worthwhile? For Baker, it's the permanence: "Film is forever...you can go back and look at my short films and they're just snapshots in time of a story."

Production designer Stephonika Kaye shares how she transforms empty spaces into story-driven environments, drawing on her 15-year journey from community theater actor to filmmaking. She reveals the often-invisible work behind film sets—like painting props between takes, navigating shifting director demands, and designing full spaces even when only one angle is promised.

Through on-set chaos, interdepartmental collaboration, and creative improvisation, Stephonika offers a rare look into the world of production design turning abstract concepts into tangible plans.

After three failed feature attempts, a halted production due to the pandemic, and personal battles during Covid, indie filmmaker Richard Russel found himself at a crossroads. Eventually he channeled his frustrations into his latest production Shadow of Thulis—a revenge thriller inspired by Mike Leigh’s Naked. What started as a story of brutal violence evolved into something deeper: a character-driven exploration of pain, forgiveness, and the cost of vengeance.

In this episode, we dive into Richard’s journey as a zero-budget filmmaker navigating creative burnout, failed crowdfunding, and the harsh realities of independent cinema. Through stubborn persistence and a directing style built on trust and spontaneity.

Filmmaker Malakai Beisel takes us on an authentic journey from his childhood experiments with a borrowed VHS camera to his current work developing a feature film.

Aspiring filmmakers will find particular value in Malakai's candid insights about the business realities of independent production. From navigating festival submissions with a 40-minute film to understanding SAG requirements and complex attachment agreements, he doesn't shy away from the nitty-gritty details that can make or break a project. As he prepares for his upcoming drama-comedy feature Malakai shares lessons learned about budgeting, legal considerations, and the importance of thorough preparation.

His journey reminds us that in filmmaking, as he puts it, "you're relearning how to make a movie every time" - a humbling truth that keeps the creative process both challenging and endlessly rewarding.

Chase from Soft Stone Hearts takes us on a journey through the winding paths of creativity, from recovering from a serious knee injury to finding his artistic voice.

The discussion also tackles practical challenges facing independent musicians, from content creation strategies to finding your place in local music scenes. Chase's insights into collaboration, particularly with his bandmate Jess, highlight how creative partnerships can provide essential external filters that help elevate the work beyond what either artist could accomplish alone.

Whether you're a creator yourself or simply curious about the mysterious forces behind the music that moves you, this conversation offers a thoughtful glimpse into the mind of an artist who's committed to making meaningful connections through sound.

From psychology student to storyteller, Jason Johnston reveals how his background in psychological analysis became the foundation for his unique approach to visual composition. His recent work on the Western film "Killing Jimmy Kelly" becomes a case study as he unpacks the delicate balance between technical constraints and creative vision, while shooting in the punishing Texas heat with limited equipment.

His career philosophy echoes in his parting wisdom: "Don't be afraid to challenge yourself and go beyond what other people are probably expecting you to do and then surprise them."

Eric's path to stand-up comedy began unexpectedly following a medical crisis that left him physically injured. Rather than hide from the attention his appearance would draw, he embraced the spotlight, transforming vulnerability into art. "I'm a big guy with a cane and cast – people are going to stare anyway" 

His short film "Maps" exemplifies this philosophy, exploring grief through two sisters who represent different facets of Basso's own personality – the solitary artist versus the social connector. The film's emotional impact stems from its personal traegdy, drawing from real experiences with loss.

Meet Samantha, a filmmaker who after graduating from Full Sail University in 2014 with a degree in filmmaking, Samantha took a nine-year break before rediscovering her creative voice.

She shares stories from the set of "Grease Monkey" where she served as first AD, Samantha reveals the behind-the-scenes problem-solving that makes productions successful—from managing angry neighbors to maintaining positive crew dynamics. Her practical wisdom about effective leadership shines through as she discusses the importance of communication, organization, and treating crew members with respect.