Tales from the Pit

Andy Bush (Picnicface, Cavendish, My Gorgeous Son) has a POWERTHIRST for creative fulfillment, but that doesn't mean he's always going to get the creatrilytes his art-glands crave. In fact, he's spent a fair amount of his creative journey failing upward, literally, from Los Angeles back to Canada, the final refuge of all showbiz cowards (SHOTS FIRED, JOHN CANDY'S CORPSE!).

Anyway, two aspiring writers compare their imperfect journeys in a challenging field. Also, Michael presents a short story about aliens who steal language!

Art by Seth Laster.

Music by Abe Epperson, Kevin Clark and Kelsey Hudgins.

Support Small Beans and access Additional Content: https://www.patreon.com/SmallBeans

SB Merch: https://www.smallbeans.bigcartel.com

Griffin Rowell, Michael's oldest pal, joins him in the Pit to trace the shape of a friendship and hold fast to the weapons that help us ward off the darkness.

Art by Seth Laster.

Music by Abe Epperson.

Support Small Beans and access Additional Content: https://www.patreon.com/SmallBeans

SB Merch: https://smallbeans.bigcartel.com

Your sick host Michael Swaim is super-stoked to welcome tight guest Vanessa Gritton to discuss hella-pertinent issues like romance and dating through the lens of mental illness, addiction, and family drama.

Support Small Beans and access Additional Content: https://www.patreon.com/SmallBeans

Jamie Loftus joins Michael in the Pit of Odiousness to discuss her dealings with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, the importance of wearing long sleeves at work, Lilo & Stitch merchandise, and how all of these things conspired to make her the hackstress she is t0d4y.

Art by Seth Laster.

Music by Abe Epperson and Kevin Clark.

Sage of Boning and Bodily Juices (also licensed Sex Therapist) Jamila Dawson returns to help explain what exactly she does, why kink and poly relationships are on the rise, and what to do when it all explodes in your face (and not in the good way). At the top, Michael ruins your mental image of him forever, and all future prospects of holding elected office.

Small Beans favorite Katie Willert stops in to discuss the long, hard road of trying to break into Hollywood, the many odd jobs she's taken in the interim, and how to appreciate what life gives you, even when it's not what you expected. Michael opens with a short story that lasts about forty-five minutes, in case you Skippers were wondering.

Music by Kevin Clark and Abe Epperson.

Art by Seth Laster.

Writer/comedian Talia Jane recounts her travails dealing with John Cheese (real name Mack Leighty), whom she helped to out as a serial sexual harasser and general creep this year, in spite of a startling lack of support from the systems we expect to support us through that type of thing.

Wonder where all of Cheese's Cracked by-lines went? After hearing about Talia's shitty experiences and kickass responses in the face of those experiences, you won't anymore.

Art by Seth Laster.

Music by Abe Epperson and Kevin Clark.

Biba Pickles discusses art, battling bi-polar disorder, and covering her body with cereal and self-inflicted cigarette burns. It's a party!

Art by Seth Laster.

Music by Abe Epperson, Kelsey Hudgins and Kevin Clark.

Menendez Brothers trial juror Hazel Thornton, author of Hung Jury, stops by to discuss her time engaged with one of the most high-profile cases of the century. Topics include gender bias, political bias, and flow charts.

Bridgett Greenberg, co-host of Rough Stuff, takes a dose of her own medicine in The Pit and gets personal about her relationship to anxiety, panic attacks, and spinning tubes.