Mothman in the Bible Belt

West Virginia filmmakers Calvin Grimm and Herbert Gardner discuss their  2022 scifi-horror-thriller "Return of the Mothman", the infamous cryptid behind it and the newly revamped and reinstated West Virginia film tax  credit. Grimm also discusses his doc "37 Fallen" and West Virginia State University historical drama "River of Hope."  

"Return of the Mothman" is based on Logan County, West Virginia native Michael Knost's book of the same name. 

Grimm and Gardner are co-founders of the Vandalia Filmworx Foundation and its co-directors

Legendary parapsychologist Dr. Barry E. Taff dishes on how he got into researching ESP, poltergeists and hauntings at UCLA's famed parapsychology lab and his parapsychology work following the lab's closure. The Entity case, San Pedro Haunting, alien abductions, Zak Bagans, and stories from Taff's debut 2010 book "Aliens Above, Ghosts Below" are discussed in depth. 

***Disclaimer: This podcast episode is about dispelling myths about ghosts and poltergeists and searching for rational explanations to these things verses blaming demons and devils for potential paranormal phenomena. I do not claim to have any in-depth knowledge about extraterrestrials nor have I encountered any. People should be more concerned with the U.S. potentially getting into a nuclear war with Russia verses worrying about extraterrestrials abducting them. 

Dr. Barry E. Taff investigated and researched paranormal phenomena for over 50-years. Taff got his start at UCLA's famed parapsychology lab first helping with ESP (a.k.a. remote viewing) research and later researching poltergeists and hauntings. Taff was the lead researcher on The Entity(Doris Bither) case in 1974 and in 1989, investigated the San Pedro Haunting. 

Taff has appeared on numerous TV shows, docs and radio programs including Sightings, NBC's The Otherside, California's Most Haunted, Ghost Adventures, Zak Bagans' Demon House, and Art Bell's Coast to Coast. In 2010, Taff released a book about his work investigating and researching the things that go bump in the night titled "Aliens Above, Ghosts Below."

Copyright © 2022 Jeremy Brannon. All Rights Reserved.

First time author Brian Cochran talks about his debut book "The Spring House", growing up gay in Georgia, real life ghosts, and seeing the B-52s and REM live in Athens before they made it big. Cochran lives in Charleston, West Virginia with his husband Stephen and their three dogs. 

George Patterson started Hernshaw Farms on an old strip mine in Hernshaw, West Virginia in 2018. They raise nearly 20 varieties of gourmet mushrooms and sell a host of ag products to consumers in West Virginia and beyond. Patterson discusses his mushroom enterprise, and gives his two cents on the State of West Virginia possibly decriminalizing magic mushrooms in the future and also West Virginia's astringent opportunity blocking financial requirements for medical cannabis growers and processors.  

You can purchase Hernshaw Farms gourmet mushrooms, mushroom kits and more at www.HernshawFarms.com. 

Copyright © 2022 Jeremy Brannon. All Rights Reserved.

Trans activist, educator, entrepreneur and former pornstar Buck Angel discusses his life, career, fatherhood, controversial statements and legacy. Angel also gives his thoughts on the doc "What is a Woman?", Rachel Dolezal being "trans racial", Kate Pierson's "Mr. Sister", and where he stands politically. 

Buck Angel is the subject of the 2013 documentary "Mr. Angel."

Copyright © 2022 Jeremy Brannon. All Rights Reserved.

Out entertainer Ted Brightwell is a legend in West Virginia. He's resided in the Mountain State since the mid-70s. Brightwell is a hair stylist, actor, drag performer, emcee, and LGBT rights advocate. Brightwell is the man behind drag diva Vicki Williams.

Brightwell discusses his life, Rupaul's Drag Race, the gay scene in Charleston in the '70s and '80s, acting, pageants, Cher, Barbra Streisand, and legendary Charleston drag queens of long ago. He also discusses the state of LGBT rights in West Virginia and his concerns over the U.S. Supreme Court recently overturning Roe V. Wade.

Copyright © 2022 Jeremy Brannon. All Rights Reserved.

Journalist and documentary filmmaker Amanda Page discusses her debut doc "Peerless City" about the "pill mill capitol of America" Portsmouth, Ohio. Page also chimes in on poverty and drug addiction in Portsmouth and in West Virginia. Page's articles have been featured in Belt Magazine, The Daily Yonder, 100 Days in Appalachia, Literary Hub and Yes! Magazine.

Copyright © 2022 Jeremy Brannon. All Rights Reserved.

Homelessness and unaffordable housing are two problems that many Americans face. Openly gay homeless rights activist, social media influencer and New Yorker Karim Walker experienced both while living in the Big Apple. Walker shares his story of survival and talks candidly about homelessness, poverty, unaffordable housing, race in America, and corporate America using Pride Month to make a buck off of LGBT folks while giving to anti-LGBT candidates. 

Copyright © 2022 Jeremy Brannon. All Rights Reserved.

The Palestinian-Israeli Conflict is an enigma to most Americans. Many Americans think the so-called "conflict" is simply a Jews verses Muslims thing. It's not. It's about land grabbing and keeping the promise of statehood to Palestinians.

Guest Philip Weiss discusses his online publication Mondoweiss, the Israeli Occupation of Palestine, BDS, Zionism, and the role U.S. Zionist organizations are playing in the Occupation and their influence in U.S. politics. Also discussed, the Israeli Defense Forces recently murdering journalists Shireen Abu Akleh and Ghufran Harun Warasneh.

Weiss is the founder of Mondoweiss, where he serves as senior editor and journalist. Mondoweiss is an online news and analysis publication aimed at bringing the Palestinian perspective of the Occupation to the United States.

Copyright © 2022 Jeremy Brannon. All Rights Reserved.

West Virginia author Matt Browning dishes on his latest book "The Definitive Golden Girls Cultural Reference Guide". Browning also discusses the Golden-Con: Thank You for Being a Fan Convention, life growing up in the Southern Coalfields, and whether or not coal mining is sexy. 

Browning's other literary works include "Bookstore Explorer: West Virginia" and the children’s book "Chicks and the City." 

You can purchase Browning's books at www.MattBrowningBooks.com. 

Copyright © 2022 Jeremy Brannon. All Rights Reserved.