Horror Humor Hunger

“Jelly is so close to human flesh. That is why it’s delightful for us, because it’s made out of gelatin. It starts off quivering, then there’s a sort of lustrous motion as it dissolves in the mouth. There’s something rather fleshy about it, which I think is wonderful.” --Sam Bompas

Jelly, with its creepy, wobbly, wiggly appearance, inspired me to write my newest novel, It Must Be Jelly, about a killer jelly mold. In the course of my research, I found Bompas & Parr, a London-based design firm specializing in incredible jellies. In this episode, Sam Bompas of Bompas & Parr talks with me about the horror and humor of jelly and why it captivates our attention so fully.

You can follow Bompas & Parr on Instagram @‌bompasandparr, order their book, Jelly, on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Jelly-Bompas-Parr-glorious-spectacular/dp/1862058792), visit their website (https://bompasandparr.com/ ), watch them make a jelly (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwhkA4gdffE ), or read more about them and their work (https://www.ft.com/content/3b83cb0a-bf43-4eae-ba8e-61cf50b6f93b ).

If you’re interested in the article I first read that inspired me, you can find it here at Atlas Obscura: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/gelatin-art

As for the recipe, I tried this one (https://www.thespruceeats.com/strawberry-jelly-recipe-435894 ), but substituted frozen, thawed mixed berries for the fresh strawberries.

As Sam says, “Our challenge to listeners: What would you do with jelly? Where will it take your imagination?”

Keep up with Horror Humor Hunger:
- Instagram: @horrorhumorhungerpodcast
- Viggy's Instagram: @viggyparrhampton
- Twitter: @HHHPodwithViggy
- Sign up for Viggy's monthly newsletter at www.viggyhampton.com

What makes a work of literature ‘great?' Why are some books upheld as paragons of cultural and social critique while others are dismissed as ‘junk food’? Why is horror so often relegated to the junk food category?

In this episode, special guest and horror author Z.C. Krol helps us answer these questions and many others. We explore the concept of splatterpunk, how much is too much in horror, and the importance of horror as a genre to society at large.

You can find Z.C. Krol’s novella, Disseverment, on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com.au/Disseverment-Horror-Story-Z-C-Krol/dp/B0BBD7L316

You can follow him on Instagram @‌zc_krol and listen to his podcast, The Creepy Kroly, on Spotify.

This week’s recipe is JUNK FOOD COOKIES, which are the perfect accompaniment to every horror book and movie.

Ingredients

2 cups almond flour

1/8 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

2 Tbsp honey or maple syrup

1 Tbsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup dark, semisweet, or milk chocolate chips

1/2 cup lightly crushed salted potato chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. In a medium bowl, combine almond flour, salt, and baking soda.
3. In a small bowl, combine butter, honey, and vanilla.
4. Mix wet ingredients into dry until a soft dough forms.
5. Fold in chocolate chips and potato chips.
6. Scoop dough one tablespoon as a time (a spring-loaded disher works great) onto a parchment lined baking sheet.
7. Press balls of dough down gently.
8. Bake at 350 for 6-8 minutes.
9. Let cool for 15 minutes, then enjoy!

Keep up with Horror Humor Hunger:
- Instagram: @horrorhumorhungerpodcast
- Viggy's Instagram: @viggyparrhampton
- Twitter: @HHHPodwithViggy
- Sign up for Viggy's monthly newsletter at www.viggyhampton.com

Everybody’s favorite guilty pleasure isn’t always so benign. Reality TV can easily turn into a horror show, blurring the lines between what is really real and what is unreal. Join us as we unpack the nuances of reality TV, what it means for us as a culture, and how it can slide so quickly into true horror.

Here are a few of the shows we mention: Unreal, Rock of Love, The Bachelor, The Real Housewives franchise, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Love Is Blind, Too Hot To Handle

Some further reading:

https://medium.com/illumination/why-watching-the-bachelor-is-like-eating-a-diet-cupcake-f99b4142dac9?sk=fb38b12ef0db4ba2b17a32f7fa0e1b63

https://time.com/6265533/reality-tv-instagram-influencers-less-followers/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Kim_Wall

You can find the recipe for the “I’m Not Here to Make Friends” Grapefruit Mimosa Jellies here: https://vmp22.medium.com/the-im-not-here-to-make-friends-grapefruit-mimosa-jellies-598a2f9b0055?sk=63edaa797ee52e5ed5e8eeaaaab906a2

Keep up with Horror Humor Hunger:
- Instagram: @horrorhumorhungerpodcast
- Viggy's Instagram: @viggyparrhampton
- Twitter: @HHHPodwithViggy
- Sign up for Viggy's monthly newsletter at www.viggyhampton.com

Happy Mother’s Day! Special guest clinical psychologist Dr. Camille Holiner breaks down ‘mommy issues’ as we discuss why moms can be so darn scary. We’ll also hear from two very important moms who have some scary (and funny!) stories to tell about the reality of being a mother.

This episode’s recipe is ICE CREAM PIE, because mothers can be cold, and they come in so many different flavors!

Mom’s Cold as Ice Cream Pie (Dreamsicle Flavor!)

Ingredients

CRUST (you can make your own or use store-bought)

1 ½ cups finely ground graham crackers (~12 crackers)

5 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted

¼ cup sugar

1/8 tsp salt

FILLING

1 pint orange sherbet, slightly melted to softness

1 pint vanilla ice cream, slightly melted to softness

Chopped pecans for garnish

Directions

1. If making your own crust, preheat oven to 350°F. Pulse graham cracker crumbs, butter, sugar, and salt in a food processor until combined. Firmly press crumb mixture into bottom and up sides of a 9-inch pie pan. Bake until crust is fragrant and edges are golden, 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack.
2. Filling: Dump the orange sherbet into the piecrust and gently press down into a flat layer. Dump the vanilla on top and, using a spatula, gently spread over the entire top of pie. Freeze.
3. When ready to eat, let thaw slightly before cutting--then enjoy!

Mix it up: You can swap in Oreos or other cookies for the graham crackers in the crust as well as any ice cream flavors or toppings you like!

Check out the podcast Instagram @horrorhumorhungerpodcast to see photos of Mom's Cold as Ice Cream Pie!

Keep up with Horror Humor Hunger:
- Instagram: @horrorhumorhungerpodcast
- Viggy's Instagram: @viggyparrhampton
- Twitter: @HHHPodwithViggy
- Sign up for Viggy's monthly newsletter at www.viggyhampton.com

I couldn't wait until October to get back into podcasting with Season 2, so I'd like to announce Hot Ghoul Summer!

What is Hot Ghoul Summer? Throughout the summer, I'll be releasing episodes about interesting topics that don't fit neatly into a season. Things like the wonderful world of aliens, the horrors of reality TV, the terror and hilarity of camping, and the intersection of horror and art will all be dissected and presented to you with all the humor and hunger you've been craving.

Join me for Hot Ghoul Summer starting in May, when we kick things off with a special Mother's Day episode. In the meantime, if you have any topic ideas or are interested in being a guest on the show, connect with me on Instagram @viggyparrhampton. I'd love to hear from you!

Thank you all so much--it's going to be a great summer!

Keep up with Horror Humor Hunger:
- Instagram: @horrorhumorhungerpodcast
- Viggy's Instagram: @viggyparrhampton
- Twitter: @HHHPodwithViggy
- Sign up for Viggy's monthly newsletter at www.viggyhampton.com

Expert bakeware inventor and recipe developer Becky Parr joins us again to share the recipe she created inspired by this season’s featured short story, ‘The Leak’! This Meatball Sub Casserole is sure to feed your fears!

You can find the full recipe here: https://vmp22.medium.com/the-meatball-sub-casserole-that-will-feed-your-fears-f9ec4195281b?sk=ee0aa90c1025bc114e9c3b568603ef9b

Keep up with Horror Humor Hunger:
- Instagram: @horrorhumorhungerpodcast
- Viggy's Instagram: @viggyparrhampton
- Twitter: @HHHPodwithViggy
- Sign up for Viggy's monthly newsletter at www.viggyhampton.com

Did last week’s episode leave you hanging? Fear not--here’s Part Two of the Mysterious Moist Ghost saga. We'll finally (maybe?) solve this mystery!

For a full breakdown (with photos and spoilers!) of this story, check out my article on Medium at: https://vmp22.medium.com/the-mysterious-very-moist-ghost-and-the-diabetic-schnoodle-fa21da54e8e2?sk=bb057b62d29539a62418e2acd2dea54d

Keep up with Horror Humor Hunger:
- Instagram: @horrorhumorhungerpodcast
- Viggy's Instagram: @viggyparrhampton
- Twitter: @HHHPodwithViggy
- Sign up for Viggy's monthly newsletter at www.viggyhampton.com

Fictional stories can be scary, that’s for sure--but what about a real-life ghost right across the street? In this episode, we’ll hear Part One of the Mysterious Moist Ghost that terrorized my parents in their new home.

A Medium article was mentioned in the episode, but to avoid spoiling the rest of the story, that article won’t be posted until next week when Part Two airs! Don’t worry, though--I won’t leave you hanging. For photos of the ghostly puddles, check out the podcast Instagram @‌horrorhumorhungerpodcast 👻

To find out more about the haunted Driskill Hotel guest Kim Gordon mentioned, check out: https://austinghosts.com/10-the-haunted-the-driskill-hotel/

Keep up with Horror Humor Hunger:
- Instagram: @horrorhumorhungerpodcast
- Viggy's Instagram: @viggyparrhampton
- Twitter: @HHHPodwithViggy
- Sign up for Viggy's monthly newsletter at www.viggyhampton.com

What is it about psychological horror that is so perpetually terrifying? Clinical psychologist Dr. Camille Tobolowsky helps us break down the connection between mental health and horror both in the story ‘The Leak’ and in other horror media.

Want another taste of psychological horror? Check out https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/g34287899/psychological-horror-movies/ , as well as the movies “The Witch” and “Orphan”. Enjoy!

Keep up with Horror Humor Hunger:
- Instagram: @horrorhumorhungerpodcast
- Viggy's Instagram: @viggyparrhampton
- Twitter: @HHHPodwithViggy
- Sign up for Viggy's monthly newsletter at www.viggyhampton.com

Why is ‘The Leak’ scary--or not [make sure you've listened to Episode 1!]? Host Viggy Hampton and special guest Becky Parr discuss the true events that inspired the story, why it’s scary (or not), how consuming horror can be a cathartic experience--and so much more.

Atlas Obscura article about MTA water barrier testing: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/subways-flood-without-rain

Chicago Tribune article about the 1970 Sly and the Family Stone riot: https://www.chicagotribune.com/history/ct-grant-park-rock-fest-riot-fest-flashback-0726-jm-20150722-story.html

Keep up with Horror Humor Hunger:
- Instagram: @horrorhumorhungerpodcast
- Viggy's Instagram: @viggyparrhampton
- Twitter: @HHHPodwithViggy
- Sign up for Viggy's monthly newsletter at www.viggyhampton.com