What's Kraken with Jo Szewczyk

Jo dives into the strange and science-meets-spiritual world of the paranormal with Dr. Heather Leigh Carroll‑Landon, a researcher and ghost investigator who blends metaphysical studies with boots-on-the-ground evidence. From seeing spirits as a child to using fidget spinners as ghost tools, Heather brings decades of personal experience, academic study, and wild stories.

She opens up about a powerful dream where a spirit warned her of a health crisis—and how that dream may have saved her life. Jo and Heather also unpack the creep factor of the Hat Man, why this shadowy figure shows up in multiple cultures, and how locations like ghost towns, petroglyph sites, and even ley lines might be tied to paranormal energy.

This episode is equal parts goosebumps and grounding. Whether you’re a believer or just paranormal-curious, you’ll walk away with chills and new questions.

• Opening riff – A Coke Zero wardrobe malfunction kicks things off
• Personal story – Dr Heather shares a dream-visitation from a spirit during a major health scare
• Guest’s big insight – Paranormal research needs rigor, data, and respect
• Behind-the-scenes moment – A mysterious miner appears to a museum guest—no one was there
• Why it matters – How belief, intention, and repeatable methods bridge science and spirit

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Jeremy Rudd — writer, director, actor, and all-around horror craftsman — joins Jo to talk about his debut feature DIE’CED: Reloaded. What started as a pandemic-fueled love letter to 80s slashers became a viral short, caught the eye of Dread Central & Epic Pictures, and is now a blood-soaked, Seattle-set horror romp hitting theaters August 8th and VOD August 12th.

From building a “final girl” you can root for, to designing Benny the Clown’s creepy scarecrow look, Jeremy shares how he recreated the VHS-era horror feel while adding modern twists. Jo and Jeremy dig into the art of proof-of-concept filmmaking, the thrill of practical effects, and why the 80s were the perfect hunting ground for Benny’s rampage.

There’s talk of sequels, advice to the younger self (“keep the grind alive”), and why a first-time director can still swing an EPIC-level scare.
🎥 Watch DIE’CED: Reloaded in theaters August 8 or on VOD August 12 — and keep your eyes peeled for that sequel.

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Key Moments:

• Opening riff: Jo spots the Seattle 80s setting on the poster and is instantly hooked.
• Jeremy’s inspiration: 80s slashers on repeat during the pandemic lead to creating his own throwback killer.
• Proof of concept win: The short film goes viral, catching Dread Central & Epic Pictures’ attention.
• Benny the Clown’s look: A creepy mix of clown face and scarecrow body.
• Filming in the past: Dial phones, vintage Airbnbs, and a no-smartphone rule on set.
• Practical effects love: Makeup over CGI for a grittier, real horror feel.
• The sequel tease: More depth for Benny and the final girl.
• Jeremy’s advice: Keep going, stay focused, and push through the potholes.

You read that right—JD BARKER is in the Kraken lair. Jo sits down with the international bestselling author of Dracul, Forsaken, and The Fourth Monkey to talk horror, publishing, and why chasing fear is the real writer’s journey. JD opens up about how Dracula changed his life at a garage sale, nearly getting buried alive in hay bales as a kid (yes, really), and why he writes in Scrivener, on typewriters, and even legal pads—all to tap into a different voice.

This episode goes deep on indie vs. traditional publishing, why JD launched his own Simon & Schuster imprint, and the real haunted island that inspired his new book Something I Keep Upstairs. Bonus? He gives killer advice for aspiring writers and shares the unbelievable moment he was handed Bram Stoker’s actual notes.

🎧 Listen up, horror nerds. This one’s your love letter.

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• 00:13 – JD Barker is HERE: Jo freaks out (appropriately)
• 01:36 – The garage sale Dracula that changed JD’s life
• 02:25 – “That was a job interview”: How JD got the Dracul deal
• 04:06 – Revisiting Forsaken: Cringe or career-launcher?
• 05:54 – Something I Keep Upstairs: The haunted island is real
• 10:34 – Childhood trauma: buried in hay, haunted forever
• 13:04 – Gen X horror hits different (yes, even Halloween 3)
• 17:02 – Why JD writes in Scrivener, typewriter, and legal pads
• 21:17 – Total creative control: How JD got his own imprint
• 23:08 – Indie vs. traditional: royalties, rights, and regrets
• 24:32 – Advice to younger JD: “I needed the fumbles”
• 25:43 – Where to find him (and yes, his site is 🔥). https://jdbarker.com/

Dr. Jo sits down with award-winning author and lifelong educator Dr. Randy Overbeck to talk about his chilling and thought-provoking Haunted Shores Mystery Series. These aren’t your average ghost stories—each novel dives into real societal issues like racial injustice, human trafficking, migrant abuse, and Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW), all wrapped in meticulously researched, historically-set mysteries.

They dig into how a background in education shapes narrative depth, why setting a book in 1998 means saying goodbye to Google, and how a haunted athletic office kickstarts a story of justice from beyond the grave. Plus: why authenticity matters, how his characters evolve across books, and how his five-year-old character with ghost sight ups the emotional ante.

This one is for the mystery lovers, the educators, the history nerds, and the folks who believe fiction can shine a flashlight on the things we try to forget.

📘 Randy’s books & podcast: authorrandyoverbeck.com
📖 Get Red Shadows at Saugatuck on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3IJyQfR
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n this spine-tingling episode, Jo sits down with horror writer, podcaster, and screenwriter Justin Wood to explore the haunted roots of storytelling—from Southern Gothic folklore and ghostly childhood inspirations to self-publishing Needless Nightmares and crafting the screenplay Granny Willow. They discuss the evolution of writing style, the brutal honesty of editing, and how podcasting is all about the long game. Plus, Justin opens up about seasonal creativity, unexpected podcast hits (including a surprise 10K+ kid-friendly episode!), and the joy of doing it all just for the love of it.

Whether you're into folklore, horror, screenwriting, or just the art of showing up and doing the reps—this one's for you. Dive in!

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Get a copy of Justin's book here.

Fantasy lovers, this one’s for you! Jo sits down with indie author Jaxon Schelhaas to talk worldbuilding, language creation, and the journey from handwritten notebooks to 600-page epics. Jaxon shares how Tolkien’s Silmarillion sparked his creative fire, the process behind his five-book fantasy series Lands of Ordia, and how he invented a full fictional language—complete with its own alphabet. It’s an inspiring deep-dive into creativity, consistency, and why you just need to keep writing.
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⏰ Key Moments:

• 00:20 – Tolkien shirt? Confirmed.
• 01:10 – Jaxon discovers fantasy via The Silmarillion
• 04:00 – Writing three novels in spiral notebooks at age 13
• 06:30 – How Lands of Ordia got its name and scope
• 10:50 – From Iowa forests to 600-page tomes
• 13:00 – Building lore, cities, characters—and a magic system
• 15:00 – Creating an original language (symbols and all)
• 18:00 – Writing advice for younger self: “Just keep going”
• 22:00 – How moving from Iowa to Chicago shaped his storytelling
• 26:00 – Where to find Jaxon online + future book and language plans

Ready for a fang-tastic journey through Dracula’s homeland, Universal Monsters nostalgia, and real-life haunted events? Jo sits down with Charles Rosenay of DracTours—the original vampire vacation master—for a wild ride through horror travel, celebrity top-10 horror booklists, and convention chaos. From Romanian castles to Connecticut’s Paracon and Salem Horror Con, this ep is packed with spooky insight and behind-the-scenes tales from one of horror’s friendliest promoters.

🦇 Planning your next creepy vacation? Curious how celebrities rank their scariest flicks? This episode slaps harder than a coffin lid in a thunderstorm.

👻 More at dractours.com, ghosttour.com, and paraconn.org
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• 00:00 – Charles’s horror book & love for Universal Monsters
• 06:40 – Vampire trivia on the tour bus!?
• 12:30 – The horror book born from celebrity “Top 10” lists
• 17:20 – Lists from Boris Karloff’s daughter, John Lennon’s sister, & more
• 18:20 – Paranormal + True Crime Con sneak peek (CT, July 12–13)
• 28:30 – How he designs vendor-first, fan-friendly cons
• 37:00 – Life tips from a decades-long horror fan’s journey

What do Victorian tea parties, buried skeletons under Philly sidewalks, and kosher cheesesteaks have in common? Public historian and founder of Offbeat Philly, Fayge, joins Jo to talk about the quirky, hidden, and jaw-dropping side of Philadelphia’s history. From guiding ghost-curious tourists past forgotten graves to designing historical adult coloring books (yes, really), this episode is a deep dive into the fun, freaky, and fascinating world of Offbeat Philly.

🎨 Learn how Fayge crafts tours that balance fact and flair, why graveyards are everywhere, and which Philly cheesesteak actually counts.

👟 Whether you're into dead presidents or vegan cheesesteaks, this one’s a walk through time—with laughs, drama, and sandwiches.

🔗 Find Fayge at OffbeatPhilly.com and the full pod at https://linktr.ee/Emptyhell

🧨 KEY MOMENTS:

• 2:00 — What makes Offbeat Philly... offbeat?
• 3:45 — Dead bodies under the sidewalks of Old City
• 5:50 — The mystery of the missing container of bones
• 10:00 — Arlington Cemetery’s hidden origin story
• 14:00 — The most unusual tour request ever
• 17:00 — The truth about Philly cheesesteaks (and sesame seed rolls?!)
• 22:30 — “Phillies Forgotten Dead” tour breakdown
• 30:00 — Why tour guides are really storytellers
• 34:30 — Fayge’s dream: coloring books for history nerds
• 36:20 — Where to find Offbeat Philly and get weird

Join Jo for a fascinating conversation with author Jack LaFountain about his latest book "Return to Deadwood" - a collection of paranormal Western short stories rooted in South Dakota folklore and history. Jack shares his unique approach to blending historical accuracy with supernatural elements, his annual pilgrimage to Wild Deadwood Reads festival, and how he creates authentic characters that wake him up at night with story ideas. From the mysterious Miniwashitu cryptid to unsolved World War II murders, Jack's work brings Native American legends and real historical events to life through a paranormal lens. Plus, discover how his grandson's third-grade story helped unlock a fantasy trilogy that had been stuck for years!

## Episode Highlights
- Jack's annual tradition of writing a new book for Wild Deadwood Reads festival during Wild Bill Hickok weekend
- The "unnamed author" character who dies in every Deadwood book but keeps coming back
- Discovery of the Miniwashitu- a spine-covered Missouri River cryptid that drives people insane if seen in daylight
- How Jack incorporates real unsolved crimes, including South Dakota's oldest unsolved murder from WWII
- Writing from Bigfoot's perspective and flipping the monster narrative
- Characters that literally wake him up at night with story ideas
- The difference between his fast-paced novels and tight short story collections
- Transitioning from pen and paper to digital writing (and why Grammarly hates dialogue)
- Publishing his first book at 50 and going full-time at 65 - proving it's never too late
- How his grandson's story provided the missing piece for a fantasy trilogy
- The challenge of editing other authors while maintaining his own voice
- "Return to Deadwood" launching as an e-book the morning of this interview

## Guest Information
**Jack LaFountain** - Paranormal Western Author
- Author of 17 novels and 5-6 short story collections
- Specializes in supernatural Western stories with historical elements
- Partner in publishing company, does first edits for other authors
- Writes three blogs on a weekly schedule
- Annual attendee of Wild Deadwood Reads festival in South Dakota

## Book Information
**Return to Deadwood** - Available now on Amazon (e-book launched day of interview)
- Collection of dozen short stories based on South Dakota folklore and history
- Features Native American legends, actual locations, and true crime elements
- Part of Jack's annual tradition of writing for Wild Deadwood Reads festival

## Key Advice
"If you want to write, write, do it, and don't give up, no matter what. I didn't publish my first book until I was in my fifties and didn't start writing full time until I was 65."

Join Jo on What's Kraken as we dive deep with award-winning paranormal mystery author Phil Giunta, who made the fascinating journey from Star Trek fan fiction to publishing acclaimed novels like "Testing the Prisoner" and "By Your Side." Discover how Phil writes across multiple genres including science fiction, fantasy, horror, and detective fiction, following in the footsteps of literary giants like Ray Bradbury and Harlan Ellison. Phil shares insights on the paranormal mystery genre, his self-publishing journey, and the crucial importance of reading your work aloud. Learn about his protagonist Daniel's haunting by angelic and demonic entities, psychic medium Miranda's story of self-forgiveness, and Phil's evolution from a young writer influenced by critique partners to a confident author who knows when to hold the line on creative decisions. Whether you're an aspiring writer or paranormal fiction fan, this conversation is packed with practical advice.

• Phil's journey from fan fiction to award-winning original novels
• Paranormal mystery genre explained and explored
• Writing across multiple genres vs. specialization debate
• Self-publishing journey and re-editing older works
• The importance of reading your work aloud for flow
• Dealing with critique partners and beta readers effectively
• "Testing the Prisoner" - supernatural haunting story
• "By Your Side" - psychic medium redemption tale
• Building confidence as a writer and handling rejection

Phil Giunta - Award-Winning Paranormal Mystery Author

• Website: philgiunta.com
• Books: "Testing the Prisoner," "By Your Side," "Like Mother, Like Daughters"
• Awards: 8 combined awards for his paranormal mystery novels
• Published: 32 short stories across various anthologies and magazines
• Available on: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and major retailers

Host: Jo Szewczyk
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What's Kraken Podcast: Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and Amazon