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!

🔗 Find everything we do right here: https://linktr.ee/Emptyhell
🛒 We're Amazon Affiliates: If we mention or link to Amazon, clicking and buying helps support the show—thank you!

Get a copy of Justin's book here [https://amzn.to/46gg0a0].

From Folklore to Fear: Justin Wood on Horror Writing, Podcasting & the Power of Storytelling

This week I had great fun talking to Karin, as we discussed Ghosts, the Historic Jamaica Inn in Cornwall, England.

Some of the things we speak about are why do ghosts not pay rent, seeing Gandolf as a ghost, Mr Chin’s worm Lozenges and period etiquette when trying to communicate with ghosts and spirits.

We also got to talk about the Danish Royal family visiting, as well as General Patton.

Our final conversation was more light hearted as we spoke about why do ghosts have to be serious, ghosts touching and pinching in personal areas.

S1 E26 Karin Beasant - Paranormal Investigator, Paranormal Consultant, and Historical Researcher 

In this week’s episode I am delighted to speak with Chris Moore, UFO Investigator

Chris and I start off talking about Project Blue Book, HG Wells, War of the Worlds and Jules Verne.

Chris then explains about what evidence makes a good UFO siting, we decided we both want a DAP Camera, and what is the most likely explanation for UFO’s.

We finish off with discussing the Galileo Project, Conspiracy theories and is there life on other planets

S1 E25 Chris Moore UFO Investigator

We’re definitely not wearing the same clothes,” and Jo & Amelie are back to dive headfirst into the madness that is Barry Season 2, Episode 1. It kicks off with a hotel hit gone completely sideways—wrong code, shotgun to the shin, and a guy jumping out the window. Fuchs is spinning, Barry’s missing, and it’s “a complete circus.”

Then it’s curtain up on Barry trying to direct a play (“The show must go on… probably”) while juggling grief, guilt, and a need to be anything other than a hitman. But when he delivers his big acting-class monologue about his first kill in Afghanistan? Sparks fly—Jo calls it a lie, Amelie says it’s how Barry sees it. Cue one of our best disagreements yet.

We also dig into the color language of the show (yes, that’s a thing), Hank’s shift from goofy sidekick to actual threat in a parking lot standoff, Barry’s bad British accent at Lululemon, and Sally’s classic flake-out.

And just a heads-up: we’re Amazon Associates, so if we ever drop a link to something, we might get a tiny cut—just keeping it transparent.

🎭 Full episodes, show notes & more: https://linktr.ee/Emptyhell

KEY MOMENTS

 * Clone chaos: A Barry double botches everything—“a fucking dumpster fire”
 * Afghanistan confession: Did Barry lie? Amelie vs. Jo, and it gets real
 * Color contrasts: Barry in shadows, NoHo Hank in sitcom brights—until he’s not
 * Parking lot Hank: Smiles drop, threats rise—“you don’t ask, I demand”
 * Sally being... Sally: Available “after yoga,” unless her agent calls first

Barry S2E1 Breakdown: Clone Chaos, “Show Must Go On” Lies & NoHo Hank Grows Teeth

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, [https://amzn.to/3GhOcHI] 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.
🎧 More interviews and chaos at: https://linktr.ee/Emptyhell
📦 This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we may earn from qualifying purchases.

⏰ 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

From Notebooks to Novels: How Jaxon Schelhaas Built a Tolkien-Level Fantasy World

I am joined this week by Jordan, Travis and Nick, from Gettysburg Pennsylvania.

I learnt a brief history about the battle of Gettysburg, as well as the Gettysburg address.

We talked about the Union Army General, JF Reynolds, ghost US Army Jeeps and Full Body apparitions.

I listened to Stories about the Jenny Wade Orphanage, The Apollo Theatre W Virginia, as well as the Devils Den and Valley of Death in Gettysburg.

We also discussed, being the sacrificial lamb, and being faster than the slowest runner.

We finished off with Grandfather Guardian Angels, go-to Pieces of equipment, personal faith and bucket list locations

S1 E24 Black Lantern Paranormal from Gettysburg Pennsylvania

Jo’s watched TWO movies—mark your calendars, haters! In this episode, he and Amelie deep-dive into “Don’t Log Off” (2025), a sleek virtual mystery wrapped in COVID-era anxiety and starring Ariel Winter, and “Frankie Freako” (2024), a bonkers horror-comedy drenched in 80s nostalgia, Muppet madness, and goblin party lines. From pandemic memories to puppet passion, this one’s got it all. Grab your mask and your VHS—let’s get weird.

🎧 Watch both or just vibe with us.
🎬 Streaming picks, trailer hot takes, and chaos included.
👉 linktr.ee/Emptyhell [https://linktr.ee/Emptyhell]

🔥 KEY MOMENTS:

 * 01:12 – Jo confesses: YES, he did watch the movies!
 * 02:13 – Breakdown of Don’t Log Off: mystery, horror, and COVID realism
 * 05:53 – Mask-wearing, trailer confusion, and Ariel Winter's transformation
 * 13:20 – Jo and Amelie’s personal COVID test horror stories
 * 26:14 – Switch-up to Frankie Freako: goblin puppets, retro magic
 * 30:52 – Praise for the 80s aesthetic and Muppet energy
 * 38:08 – Cult-classic potential and comparison to Psycho Goreman
 * 43:26 – Final verdicts: Watch both, but Frankie Freako is REWATCH GOLD

🎁 Like what you hear? Some links may be affiliate links—clicking them might toss a few coins in our goblin jar. No extra cost to you.

Don’t Log Off & Frankie Freako: Zoom Horrors, Goblin Puppets, and 80s Nostalgia Mayhem!

In this week’s fun episode Austin and I talk about growing up with movies such as IT and the 6th Sense.

We talk about Austin visiting Waverley Hills and Prospect Place, Spirits presenting themselves when the cameras are not recording and putting paranormal equipment to the test.

We discuss Austin’s two books, The Taylor Mill horror and Hell’s Carnival, and then move on to the Dead Chronicles.

Austin talks about the real stories of Ida Gunkel from the Randolph County Asylum, Indiana, and the Reverend Jim Jones.

We finish off with the Stagecoach Inn, Kentucky, why is Frank being left out of the investigation, Paranormal Investigators coming back to join in on hauntings, and seeing 11:11 on the clock

S1 E23 - Austin Lawrence - Paranormal Investigator, Author, Film Maker and creator of the Dead Chronicles

Grab your chainsaw and Hawaiian shirt—it's a Bruce Campbell appreciation bonanza! Jo and Brannyk deep-dive into the cult icon's insane filmography, from Evil Dead and Army of Darkness to Burn Notice, Bubba Ho-Tep, Spider-Man, Fargo, and beyond. They talk TV cameos, forgotten classics, franchise royalty, and why Bruce is the MVP of genre cinema. This is the ultimate chin-check episode.
🎧 More chaos at: https://linktr.ee/Emptyhell
📦 This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we may earn from qualifying purchases.

⏰ Key Moments:

 * 01:00 – Jo & Brannyk kick off Bruce’s IMDB rabbit hole
 * 04:00 – Bubba Ho-Tep, Elvis, and the audiobook fake-out
 * 07:00 – Evil Dead, cameos, and why Bruce is every director's secret weapon
 * 10:00 – Burn Notice vs Ash vs Evil Dead – Bruce’s TV dominance
 * 15:00 – His insane number of franchises
 * 21:00 – “Make Love the Bruce Campbell Way” and other curveballs
 * 28:00 – Dream roles: Ash vs. Pinhead? Bruce as Doctor Who?
 * 37:00 – Final thoughts + what Bruce Campbell film/show to start with

The Best of Bruce Campbell: Evil Dead, Burn Notice & B-Movie Royalty

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 [https://dractours.com/], ghosttour.com [https://ghosttour.com/], and paraconn.org [https://paracon.org/]
📲 Link up at https://linktr.ee/Emptyhell

🧭 KEY MOMENTS:

 * 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

Dracula Castles, Celebrity Horror Lists & Haunted Cons: A Spooky Ride with Charles from DracTours

Streamin' Demons is your bi-weekly guide through the vast world of streaming entertainment. Join host Jo Szewczyk and special guests as they dive deep into three carefully selected titles - from the latest releases to hidden gems and everything in between. Each 30-45 minute episode features unfiltered reviews, engaging discussions, and authentic reactions that help you decide what to watch next. Whether you're a casual viewer or a dedicated binge-watcher, our candid conversations and expert insights will keep you informed and entertained. Subscribe now to join our growing community of streaming enthusiasts!

🎬 New episodes every other week ⏱️ Quick, focused 30-45 minute format 👥 Featured guests and expert perspectives 📺 Coverage across all major streaming platforms

Streamin' Demons

Join bestselling author Jo Szewczyk in What’s Kraken?, Empty Hell’s signature interview series where raw, unfiltered conversations cut through the noise. In just 20 minutes, Jo—known for his dark narrative hit Surviving Gen X—dives deep with creators, artists, and the voices shaping culture, politics, and entertainment today.

From filmmakers to musicians, writers to activists, comedians to elected officials—What’s Kraken? brings you the stories, struggles, and process behind the people changing the world around us. No scripts. No pretense. Just real talk with real people.

Subscribe now and join our growing community of entertainment enthusiasts. New episodes drop regularly on our YouTube channel and everywhere you get your podcasts!

What's Kraken with Jo Szewczyk

Surviving Gen X

Welcome to the SIPA Paranormal Chronicles, a Weekly Podcast for believers, skeptics, and everyone in between.

Launched by an Ottawa based paranormal team SIPA - Scientific Investigation of Paranormal Activity

Join our enthusiastic host, Lee, as he attempts to unveil a new layer of the mysterious, from chilling tales of ghosts to traditional concepts of the afterlife, From the complex world of demonology to the intriguing world of reincarnation, and from the mysterious world of Cryptids to the Intergalactic world of UFO’s and Extraterrestrials.

Our episodes will be rich with content designed to intrigue and inform and will hopefully unravel some of the mysteries that have captivated humanity for centuries.

Guests include paranormal researchers, seasoned ghost hunters, mediums and ordinary individuals with extraordinary experiences.

Listeners are invited to share their own paranormal experiences, which may even become topics of future episodes. Contact us at:

https://www.facebook.com/people/SIPA-Canada/61559002901355/

So, grab your headphones, settle in, and prepare for an adventure that challenges what you think you know about the paranormal, one ghostly chronicle at a time!

Jo

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