The United States Department of Nerds Podcast

Sci-fi author, filmmaker, comic creator, and Hip Hop Horror pioneer Jeff Carroll joins The USDN Podcast for a deep conversation about Black speculative fiction, indie comics, Afrofuturism, Hip Hop culture, horror, AI, filmmaking, and the future of storytelling.

Inspired by his documentary Why I Love Sci-Fi, Jeff discusses why imagination matters, how science fiction shapes culture, and why indie comics provide creative freedom that Hollywood often cannot.

Topics include:

• Black sci-fi and Afrofuturism
• Indie comics & creator-owned storytelling
• Hip Hop horror
• AI and speculative fiction
• Comic culture & filmmaking
• Def Comedy Jam and entertainment history
• Why science fiction matters

This episode explores creator-owned comics, Black sci-fi, speculative storytelling, comic culture, and the future of independent creativity.

If you love indie comics, science fiction, horror, Afrofuturism, worldbuilding, creator interviews, or speculative fiction — this episode is for you.

🎥 Subscribe to USDN:
https://www.youtube.com/@USDN_Podcast

🎬 Watch “Why I Love Sci-Fi”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJaWn46r69w

📸 Follow Jeff Carroll:
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/coachyojeff

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/CoachYoJeff

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The USDN Podcast - Where Indie Comics Come to Life.

On this episode of The USDN Podcast, The Chairman sits down with David Luján, creator of Nerida, to discuss indie fantasy comics, creator-owned storytelling, folklore inspiration, Kickstarter comics, and building a nine-part fantasy universe from the ground up.

David shares how mythology, fairytales, comics like Saga and Akira, and his own artistic journey shaped the world of Nerida. The conversation dives into worldbuilding, emotional storytelling, indie publishing, visual pacing, and the realities of creating comics independently in today’s industry.

If you love fantasy comics, indie creators, manga-inspired storytelling, and deep conversations about comic creation, this episode is for you.

Follow David Luján / Nerida

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neridacomic
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/neridacomic.bsky.social
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@neridacomic

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The USDN Podcast is a creator-focused media platform spotlighting indie comics, creator-owned storytelling, Kickstarter comics, horror comics, fantasy comics, manga-inspired storytelling, and the creators building the future of independent comics.

The USDN Podcast - Where Indie Comics Come to Life.

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Todd Black returns to the USDN Podcast to discuss Seekers of Science; a STEM-focused indie comic series that blends real-world science, educational storytelling, and creator-owned comics.

We discuss how the project uses real scientists and real-world scenarios to make science more engaging for younger readers while exploring the role comics can play in education and inspiration.

Todd also shares insights into the crowdfunding process, future science topics the series could tackle, and the growing crossover potential between comics, science, and pop culture.

Topics include:

•  STEM storytelling in comics 
•  Educational indie comics 
•  Real science in fiction 
•  Kickstarter strategy 
•  Hurricane science and disaster recovery 
•  Space exploration 
•  The future of creator-owned comics 
•  Potential Ring of Honor comic discussions 

🚀 Kickstarter:
 https://seekersofscience.com/Kickstarter

🎙️ The USDN Podcast - Where Indie Comics Come to Life

Dionne Waterman - From Actress to Comic Book Muse

What does it mean to inspire a comic book character?

On this episode of the USDN Podcast, Dionne Waterman (FilmGirlDee) joins us to share her journey from acting into the world of indie comics—where she became the real-life inspiration behind Rita Rivera.

We explore how that experience shaped her creative path, leading her into modeling and cosplay for comic book covers, including Marion Maxx, Jenna the beer-loving vampire, and the Witch of Yazoo from Mississippi Macabre project.

This conversation breaks down the connection between acting, visual storytelling, and indie comics, offering a unique look at how characters are brought to life both on and off the page.

If you’re a fan of indie comics or a creator looking to understand the full creative process behind character development, this episode is for you.

🔗 CONNECT WITH DIONNE WATERMAN (FILMGIRLDEE):

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/filmgirldee/
🛍️ Redbubble: https://www.redbubble.com/people/filmgirldee/shop
🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@filmgirldee
🎬 IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm14069921/
🧵 Threads: https://www.threads.com/@filmgirldee

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📩 BUSINESS / MEDIA INQUIRIES: [email protected]

🎙️ The USDN Podcast - Where Indie Comics Come to Life

What happens after a successful Kickstarter campaign?

On this episode of the USDN Podcast, we sit down with Saurabh Bhatia, founder of Comix.one, to explore the challenges indie comic creators face after crowdfunding—and how his platform aims to solve them.

Drawing from his own experience launching a Kickstarter comic, Saurabh breaks down the biggest gaps in the current system: loss of momentum, discoverability issues, and the lack of long-term infrastructure for creators.

We discuss:

•  The lifecycle of indie comics after crowdfunding 
•  The need for a unified ecosystem for creators 
•  Digital and print-on-demand distribution 
•  Integrated crowdfunding and fulfillment solutions 
•  Creator subscriptions and recurring revenue 
•  Live selling, streaming, and fan engagement 
•  Building a shared comics economy 

This episode is a deep dive into the future of indie comics and the systems being built to support creators long-term.

🔗 Learn More

Comix.one: https://www.comix.one/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comix_app/
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@comix_app

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🎙️ ABOUT USDN

The USDN Podcast is a creator-focused media platform spotlighting the people shaping independent comics through cinematic, in-depth conversations.

🎙️ The USDN Podcast - Where Indie Comics Come to Life

Parker Newman joins the USDN Podcast to discuss City of Demons, a 12-part indie noir comic set in 1920s Los Angeles and published by Wise Acre Comics.

In this episode, Parker shares his journey into comics, from early inspiration to navigating the realities of indie publishing. We dive into how City of Demons evolved from a screenplay into a full comic series, the challenges of breaking into the industry, and the impact of distribution issues on independent creators.

This conversation explores the realities behind indie comics — including rejection, persistence, and building a creator-owned project from the ground up.

👤 ABOUT PARKER NEWMAN:

Parker Newman is the creator of City of Demons, a 12-part noir miniseries set in 1920s Los Angeles and published by Wise Acre Comics. His work blends classic noir storytelling with modern indie comic sensibilities.

👤 FOLLOW CITY OF DEMONS:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cityofdemons_comic

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🎯 ABOUT USDN PODCAST:

Featuring cinematic, in-depth conversations with indie creators building the future of comics.

📩 BUSINESS / MEDIA INQUIRIES:  [email protected]

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🎙️ The USDN Podcast - Where Indie Comics Come to Life

On this episode of the USDN Podcast, we’re joined by Kevin Davis, creator of Skinshifter Volume 1, an indie horror comic that explores identity, fear, and survival through a supernatural lens.

We dive into the origins of the project, the creation of The Jackel Bunny—a soul-hunting entity sent by the Prince of Hell—and how Skinshifter builds a unique horror experience rooted in psychological tension and high-stakes storytelling.

Kevin also shares insight into his creative process, working with artist Daya Negron, and what it takes to bring a creator-owned comic to life through Kickstarter.

If you’re interested in indie comics, horror storytelling, and the journey of independent creators, this episode delivers a deep look into building a world from the ground up.

🔗 LINKS

Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kevisyde/skinshifter-volume-1
Website: https://www.kevisyde.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamkevindavisofficial
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamkevindavisceo
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@kevisyde

📺 WATCH MORE INDIE COMICS INTERVIEWS

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💼 BUSINESS / MEDIA INQUIRIES

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Use code USDN for 10% off

Affiliate Disclosure: USDN may earn a small commission if you use our affiliate link or code. This helps support the show at no extra cost to you.

🎙️ ABOUT USDN PODCAST

The USDN Podcast is a creator-focused platform spotlighting indie comic creators, Kickstarter comics, and creator-owned stories.

New episodes weekly featuring the voices shaping indie comics.

The USDN Podcast - Where Indie Comics Come to Life

Tom Rasch - Marvel Comics, Black Alpha, and Creator-Owned IP

On this episode, we sit down with comic artist and creator Tom Rasch to explore his journey through the comic book industry.

From early inspiration rooted in classic pop culture like Batman, Spider-Man, and Star Trek, Tom developed a passion for storytelling and art that led him to pursue comics professionally. 

He shares the realities of breaking into the industry; from early rejection at San Diego Comic-Con portfolio reviews to eventually landing work with Marvel Comics on Punisher.

But the journey didn’t stop there.

Tom dives into:

•  The lessons learned working inside Marvel 
•  The challenges of the comic industry during market shifts 
•  The importance of mastering storytelling fundamentals 
•  His transition into building his own creator-owned universe 
•  The origins and future of Black Alpha

This episode is a powerful look at what it takes to evolve from aspiring artist...to professional...to creator of your own world.

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👤 FOLLOW TOM RASCH

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trasch65/

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 #TomRasch #BlackAlpha #IndieComics #ComicBookCreators #USDNPodcast #MarvelComics #Punisher2099 #CreatorOwned #ComicArtists #ComicBookPodcast #IndieCreators #WorldBuilding #ConceptArt #IndependentComics #ComicCommunity 

In the final episode of the AHA Horror Anthology series, The Chairman sits down with Evan Johnston to explore Artifacts, a sci-fi horror story set on the dangerous sand planet Threlka-5.

The conversation dives into survival, desperation, cosmic horror, and the psychological toll of discovery while also reflecting on the full AHA anthology and what it represents for indie creators.

From character motivations to the deeper themes of greed and consequence, this episode closes out the anthology with a powerful look at what indie comics are capable of.

👉 SUPPORT THE AHA KICKSTARTER:
 https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/imchrisstall/chk-comics-presents-aha-a-horror-anthology

🎙️ Guest: Evan Johnston
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evanjohnstonart/
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@evanjohnstonart
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/evanjohnstondesign.bsky.social
Portfolio: https://evanjohnstondesign.com/portfoliocomics.html

📺 Watch USDN Podcast:
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#IndieComics #SciFiHorror #HorrorComics #KickstarterComics #USDNPodcast #ComicCreators #CosmicHorror #AHAAnthology

What happens when one of the greatest stories ever told is reimagined through indie comics?

Bruno Catarino returns to the USDN Podcast to discuss Space Odyssey, a sci-fi reinterpretation of The Odyssey that transforms myth into a galaxy-spanning journey. From redefining gods as modern systems of power to exploring the unknown depths of space, this conversation dives deep into storytelling, worldbuilding, and the evolution of mythology.

We also discuss Bruno’s live Kickstarter campaign Family and Honour, along with insights into indie publishing and building momentum for successful launches.

🚀 FOLLOW THE PROJECTS

Space Odyssey:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/redwulfcomics/space-odyssey-1-homers-epic-like-youve-never-seen-it

Family and Honour (LIVE):
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/redwulfcomics/family-and-honour-a-12th-century-historical-drama

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