With two decades’ experience in video games, Richard Dansky has contributed to over 40 AAA titles in iconic franchises like Ghost Recon, Assassins Creed, Might & Magic, Splinter Cell, Far Cry, Hunt: Showdown and Rainbow Six. For this final BRIG of season 6, we'll hear all about his incredible career—how he started writing for Vampire: The Masquerad…

Many of us played with plastic "guys" when we were kids. Specifically action figures from our favorite cartoons and movies. This episode is all about the phenomenon of modern day companies like NECA, Super7, Storm Collectibles, Boss Fight Studios and others who are putting out insanely high quality figures of these same properties we loved as kids!…

Back for his second stint in the brig, we've got Keith Lansdale! Keith is a gifted writer, editor and director of horror and humor... including comics, short stories, novels, screenplays and his new Weird Western novella Elijah’s Elixer! We chat about all the cool stuff he's been up to in the last two years and later on, he delivers a reading from …

Rounding out our trio of monster-riffic episodes for October 2024, we are spotlighting yet another classic monster... THE MUMMY! And to do it, we have two of our favorite returning guest hosts, Greenie (The Green Witch of the Shire) and our Icelandic buddy Birkir AKA Leikjarinn! Whether mention of a shambling, bandage-wrapped, curse-inflicting badd…

We met Jonny Ruckus at Granite State Comic Con and were totally blown away by his amazing work for the BIG DUMB ROBOT CON! This is a collective of like-minded 3-D printer hobbyists and robot builders dedicated to fabricating screen perfect robot characters from your favorite movies and cartoons! We chat with Jonny about the building process and wha…

Awooooooo!! The moon is full and things are about to get HAIRY! For our second monster-riffic epsiode in a row, we are going werewolf hunting! Along for the ride is Hollywood special effects artist, Michael Broom! Mike is the writer/artist of the insanely original graphic novel Membrane and with credits like The Walking Dead, American Horror Story,…

The first of three consecutive Retro Ridoctopus monster-riffic episodes for season 6's month of October! This episode is broken up into two distinct parts. The first covers those made for TV specials that would have us marking our calendars and TV Guides. Sometimes it would be a 25 minutes cartoon, sometimes a made for TV movie, either way, Hallowe…

8-Bit Alchemy leads a walk down memory PAIN, as we dredge up all the video games we loved but could never beat. Sometimes this was do to us just never getting good enough, but other times, we have to consider the quality of the games themselves. Were they hard but fair? Or, in the end, were they complete F*@2ing bull$!#?!?!? This is an episode of f…

Is this episode a dissertation, an audio essay, or just a chat between friends? L. Marie Wood becomes the second person in Ridoctopus history to get locked in the BRIG three times! On this occasion, she chats about new new non-fiction book, "The Horror Aesthetic: Essays from the Dark Corners of the Genre"! It's a book that shares perspectives of th…

We've all got that one best friend. Your bestest buddy, your #1 pal, your BFF! The one person who's seen you at your worst and ALWAYS had your back. Well, this episode is dedicated to characters we feel set the standard for what it means to be best buddies! Your Octo-hosts will share 6 pairs of some of the all time greatest friendships in cartoons …

We welcome our buddy Nintenjoe back again to talk about one of the most memorable aspects of any video game, the BOSSES!! Whether they're in charge of a single stage or are the final challenge waiting at the end, these characters are sure to make an impact. We'll tackle the more iconic "last guys" first, spotlighting iconic final bosses who come ba…

This week we have a talented author whom NY Times Best Seller Christopher Golden called “one of the most talented under-the-radar writers the horror genre has to offer”. Kristin Dearborn has written numerous published short stories, novels and novellas including Woman in White, Stolen Away, The Amazing Alligator Girl and her newest novel Faith of D…

Back for his second stint in the BRIG… it’s writer/comedian/producer Chris Gersbeck! With his company Dumb Industries, Chris produces and hosts a metric ton of hilarious weekly programs (including but not limited to) The Mads Are Back, The Mary-Jo Pehl Show, The Dave Hill Goodtime Hour and the retro gaming centric, Super Dumb Bros! Chris talks abou…

It's music time again, folks! And holy crap, Nintenjoe has returned to the helm for his first episode of season 6 as the main host! Appropriately, it's his popular recurring Themes From a Memory series!! This time, the mission was to choose intro theme songs from Nickelodeon cartoons and live action shows! As we've done so many times before, each h…

The work of K. H. (Ken) Vaughan has appeared in numerous volumes of the New England Horror Writers’ WICKED series, as well as a myriad of other anthologies such as both volumes of Once Upon an Apocalypse, New Moon Quarterly, the award winning Nox Pareidolia, and more! For this episode, we'll chat about Ken's short fiction and his involvement with t…

The legendary Ellen Datlow has been called “the venerable queen of horror anthologies” per the New York Times, and with over 40 years in the business, it's not hard to see why! In celebration of her new horror anthology, "Fears: Tales of Psychological Horror" from Tachyon Publications... Retro Ridoctopus proudly presents "The Fears of Ellen Datlow"…

For many of us, rushing home to plop our butts in front of the Disney Afternoon was a seminal part of childhood! From Gummi Bears, Ducktales and Rescue Rangers to Goof Troop, Tail Spin and beyond, these were some of the best produced children's cartoons on television and we ate 'em up! In this episode, Coopster Gold leads us through a discussion of…

Returning guest, Bobby Canipe Jr. started his film making career with the killer 2022 documentary "Mom n' Pop: The Indie Video Store Boom of the 80s/90s" but has been making horror flicks ever since! For this episode, we'll touch upon what it was like starting from nothing to doing a documentary on video stores to making numerous scary movies a yea…

In a rare non-celebratory episode, we welcome the co-writer/star/director of the hilarious flick, BAD CGI SHARKS, Jason Ellsworth to join us in a critical discussion on some of the LESS impressive FX we've seen in movies. These are the sequences that are so jarringly inadequate, they hit like a Mac truck, smashing any semblance of immersion to smit…

A 'beat 'em up' or 'brawler' is a style of video game where the player character walks from left to right, beating up a seemingly endless number of enemies, until reaching the inevitable boss encounter at the end of the level. Simple, repetitive and addictive as heck, this genre of games were very popular in the late 80s and early 90s with beloved …

Rotting in the BRIG this week, we have another returning guest, Paul R. McNamee! Paul is a talented author and lover of all things pulp… who’s short stories have appeared in multiple anthologies and magazines including STORYHACK, WEIRDBOOK, and BLOOD ON THE BLADE. And in 2021, he released the superhero novel Hour of the Robot!. His brand new collec…

The X-men theme that was just too big for one episode continues! In this second action-packed installment of our X-Men Cartoon Apocalypse, we celebrate 2 more of the 4 major X-men cartoons! As with last time, each host will present a favorite episode from each. Joining the team just time is new recruit and X-Men über fan, Kevin "Kex" Hayes! For thi…

This idea has been brewing for a while and it was just too big for one episode! This action-packed episode celebrates 2 of the 4 major X-men cartoons! Each host presents a favorite episode from each with the help of our very special guest... our returning pal and constant poster Santino "The San Man" Mancebo! For this first part, we are covering...…

Good friend of the show, Josh Nealis (from Cutthroat Comics) makes Ridoctopus history by becoming the only person to get locked in THE BRIG for a THIRD TIME! He talks candidly with Parasite Steve about his latest books "Gloves Off: Going Toe-to-Toe with Cancer", "Judy and Her Irrational Fears" the final issue of his "Turkey Sharks" comic series and…

Roger Corman did it all and he did it in spades. Whether you call him the King of Cult or the Pope of Pop Cinema, it's no exaggeration to say that Corman had an output unmatched by anyone in the industry. And while he is perhaps known as much for his schlock as his amazing Poe Cycle with Vincent Price, one thing is for sure. The man constantly did …

This week, in THE BRIG… Deader is Better! We welcome the co-creator of the world's longest continually running series of collectible horror themed dolls. The Living Dead Dolls. Make no mistake, folks… this is a guy who makes nightmares come to life, New Jersey’s own… Damien Glonek! Ever wondered how you can turn a quirky little idea into a vast 26 …

The 1980s and 90s saw the release of an unprecedented number of cartoons, movies, toys and games starring DINOSAURS! And unlike the adventure films of the 60s & 70s these projects took everyone's favorite extinct behemoths out of their hidden savage land environments and made them cool again. Mashing them together with genres like science fiction, …

It's 11:00 in Nosgoth. Do you know where your vampires are? This week's motley crew includes Parasite Steve, Synopsis (Boss Rush Mode) Grim and Lady Carianna (in her first appearance)! All three have stocked up on Hearts of Darkness and have a serious blood lust for the classic PS1/PS2 series known as THE LEGACY OF KAIN! These gothic dark fantasy t…

The GODFOE Universe: APOLLYON 20XX is a gritty new indie comic from the team of artist Joshua Adams and writer Dan Evans. For this episode, the book's artist Joshua give the lowdown on this massive media-panning project, which will eventually span comic, novels, films and even video games. Is that ambitious enough for ya?! For more info on this awe…

Our secret nerdom revealed at last! We at the Retro Ridoctopus cephalopodcast are all huge geeks about animals and all sorts of creatures that walk, crawl, swim and fly over this fantastic blue marble we call Earth! For this science-centric episode, the Octo-hosts each pick 4 animals we think are the most fascinating and share a bunch of fun facts …

This week, down in the dank and the dark of that den of madness we call the BRIG… we've got the wicked cool Renee S. DeCamillis! Renee is a talented writer and editor of all types of horror, the author of numerous published short stories and her recently released debut novel, Chisel The Bone. And as if that wasn’t enough, she’s also the rhythm guit…

Is it Duck Season? Wabbit Season?! With over one thousand episodes of Looney Tunes and Merry Melodies you never have to choose! Before the pig pops out of the drum... we'll build blocks of episode-picks around 4 of the most legendary characters! We'll talk some history, personal memories and fun facts about these screwball heroes of the Golden Age …

In the 90s was when the anime floodgates opened in America, when programs like FOX KIDS started playing blocks of Japanese cartoons! But did we really need to catch 'em all? Shows like Shaman King, Yu-Gi-Oh, Digimon, Monster Rancher and even (the best left forgotten) Fighting Foodons were trying to cash in on the enormous Pokemon craze. But there w…

When it comes to classic RPG series, Final Fantasy is always in the conversation. This long running series has achieved LEGENDARY status with 16 main titles and a Bahamut-sized hoard of sequels and spin-offs. This week, with the help of our Retroid Bobby MacGibbon, we'll spotlight our favorite games, characters and even summon monsters in the serie…

This episode is dedicated to someone who has been my second Mother since I was ten years old, Parasite Steve and 8 Bit Alchemy's Mom Nancy. Please check out Crow's Nest: Our Mom's Favorite Games first as I play the music from the games mentioned in that episode plus some of the music that reminds me of her. I also share some personal memories and s…

Parasite Steve leads a sprawling discussion between two true-blooded fans, who unabashedly gush over both movies and books in the horror genre! Not every kid learns to read with Salem's Lot, but our guest this week is exactly that cool! When journalist Michael Miller isn't writing an article or interviewing one of horror's top stars, you can bet he…

Even before the internet, rumors about weird stuff in video games were always swirling around the playground. Sometimes it was how to get a new character or access to part of a stage. Other times it would be a code for more lives, a secret boss fight or even just some crazy glitch. But how many of those tantalizing tricks and tidbits ended up being…

Xardion isn't exactly a classic of the SNES, but 8-Bit Alchemy & Parasite Steve recently discussed it as one of the games their mother used to love and was actually able to beat. Well, thanks to much perseverance and level grinding, when if comes to this bizarre Run and Gun RPG Platformer, the boys are now (almost) as cool as she was! This game is …

With host 8-Bit Alchemy at the wheel, the crew hits the road. We've got plenty of snacks, a trunk full of AA batteries and our favorite classic portable video game systems! Our companions are the Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, the DS, the Game Gear, the PSP and on this long and lonesome highway, we're gonna play 'em all! Oh did we mention that Nintenj…

Noy Jitat! Pirates of Dark Water is a pirate fantasy adventure series by Hanna Barbera, which originally aired between 1991 and 1993. And since our very own Coopster Gold happens to be a HUGE fan of the show, he's at the helm with one eye set on ADVENTURE in the land of Mer! So grab your nearest monkey-bird and settle into the CROW'S NEST for a com…

Dedicated to the only person we know who could beat Xardion, our mom Nancy. This is a Crow's Nest that's not only totally on brand, but functions as a bit of therapy for the hosts. As tribute to the mother of Parasite Steve and 8-Bit Alchemy, the boys endeavor to spotlight all the random video games she loved over the years. Expect NES, SNES, Turbo…

With the Green Witch of the Shire (AKA Greenie) on deck, our new host Coopster Gold takes the helm for the first time, setting his spyglass on those swashbuckling, scallywags that once sailed the seven seas. YARRR, of course we be talking pirates! After some basic history on the real deal, we begin building our own personal crews (fantasy football …

If you don't know what the difference between EXTREME HORROR and SPLATTERPUNK is, author Thomas R. Clark is here with the low down! For about two hour hours, we chat about the craft, what he digs about the extreme stuff and his newest Splatterpunk collection, Immoral Dilemmas! And later on, we dive headfirst into a sprawling discussion about that b…

Sometimes, bad movies are the most fun you'll have in front of a small screen. All you gotta do is grab some like-minded friends and good times can be had by all. And while your personal mileage may vary, is there a science to the phenomenon? A credible explanation as to what separates the Good-Bad from the downright awful? Eh, who cares. In the sp…

Down in the eldritch unknown of the BRIG… we have a writer, monster hunter and lover of staring too long into the abyss! Rey Nichols is the author of the Apollo Grant books and is here to talk all about the newly released third in that series GRANT NO QUARTER! And if you stick around to the end, you'll find out how she got to be 2 degrees from Kevi…

It's season 6 and the start of a whole new era of Ridoctopus with our new host Justin Cooper (AKA Coopster Gold)! Our man from Shytown wastes no time settling in as we celebrate some mean pinball video games. But there's no need to drive to your nearest amusement hall because these games can be played on such home platforms as the original Nintendo…

What can we say? We just didn't want this season to end... After copious amounts of reminiscing over another amazing year, we dive into our annual final topic. Like every year, we asked you for voice mails, giving your quick reviews of a classic movie you watched for the first time this year. Every single year, this block gets longer and longer and…

To celebrate the release of Godzilla Minus One and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, we've got an episode so full of kaiju mayhem, we had to split it into two parts! Back for the conclusion of this epic journey is our buddy Aldo, who continues to flex his superfan knowledge along the way. This time, Nintenjoe and Parasite Steve deliver the goods on the …

To celebrate the release of Godzilla Minus One and Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, we've got an episode so full of kaiju mayhem, we had to split it into two parts! Along for this epic journey is our pal Aldo, who takes us through the first 15 Godzilla movies (which comprise what is known as the Showa period) starting with the original Gojira in 1954, …

For our last BRIG of season 5, Parasite Steve welcomes an old & dear friend who just happens to be another insanely talented writer! Morgan Sylvia is an author from Maine with numerous published works including novels, short stories, poetry collections and everything in between. Whether she's writing long or short form, one thing is clear, the qual…