Bloody Mary Podcast

In this episode I'm joined by Chicago comic, Jessica Misra. Jessica hates horror movies and was duped into watching Barbarian by a friend who told her, "it was the funniest movie they'd ever seen." Honestly, this is probably the only way we'd get Jessica on the podcast so I'll take it! We chatted about Air B and B's, bidets, the Alternating Currents festival where we met and more! Jessica runs No Gimmicks Comedy the first Friday of the month at the Lincoln Lodge and you can follow her on instagram at @jessicamisracomedy

Happy Halloween everyone! This is a very special episode because it's live! As part of the Altercation Comedy fest in Austin, Texas I had conversations with comedians about their favorite horror movies. JT Habersaat, creator and curator of the fest chatted about Pearl and X, Chicago's Caitlin Checkeroski chatted about Casper, English Matt of Houston discussed Night of the Demons and Sari Beliak talked about Fire in the Sky from her home state of Arizona. This was very fun to do! Enjoy! Check out more about Altercation here: https://altercationcomedyfest.com/ Follow everyone on Instagram: @JTCustomtoys @CaitlinCheck @englishmattdonovan @saribeliak

In this episode I'm rejoined by Chicago's Deanna Ortiz. The two of us chatted about REAL LIFE Orphan situations, Esther's fashion choices and our celebrity crushes. You can catch Deanna at the Lincoln Lodge every weekend since she's a cast member there and watch The Drunk Cooking Show here: https://www.deannaortiz.com/ Listen to Deanna's podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crushes-with-deanna-ortiz/id1474962053 Follow her on Instagram @deannaortiz_

In this episode Kass Smiley and I discuss a movie whose reputation proceeds it, I Spit On Your Grave. Kass is a comedian and curator of the Alaskan comedy festival, Before You Die. We chatted about the film, Kass' grandma's response to the film, what Alaska is like and so much more!!! Follow Kass on Twitter and Instagram -- @KassSmiley Check out the B4UDie Comedy Fest https://www.alaskab4udiefest.com/

In this episode I'm joined by Madison's own Sasha Rosser. Sasha is a comedian and musician who regularly tours the country while also producing hit variety and comedy shows in Madison. Sasha picked Tokyo Gore Police and I gotta say I was blown away by how deep it was. I thought we were getting into a regular old splatter flick and boy was I wrong. We chatted about Vince Vaughn's intestines, sleepovers, the militarization of the police, and the importance of therapy and friendship bracelets. Enjoy and check out Sasha more here: Instagram @sasha.rosser Sasha's Music Exandroid https://soundcloud.com/exandroid

Kicking off October with the return of Kaitlin McCarthy to discuss The Autopsy of Jane Doe. We discussed how underrated this movie is, how relationships to your parents change as we grow and the current state of being a woman in our home state of Wisconsin. This week kicks off the Milwaukee Comedy Festival which Kaitlin is a part of so be sure to check out some shows at the Laughing Tap! https://laughingtap.com/ And follow Kaitlin on instagram @the_kaits_meow

Iowa and Wisconsin have a certain kinship when it comes to all things creepy. I was thrilled to explore that with Cedar Rapids' own Haley Flenker. Haley is the owner of The Lucky Cat, a comedy club and community hub that features dance, yoga, trivia and more. While talking about Sinister we discussed Fred Thompson's presidential run, Mr. Boogie's TRUE identity, our love for Deputy So and So and how hard it is to be atheists who believe in ghosts and vibes. Check out The Lucky Cat Here: https://www.theluckycatcr.com/ And follow Haley on insta: @lostabet

In this episode I'm joined by Denver comedian and artist, Katie Bowman! Katie is a fellow lover of horror and overall a great hang. We chatted about being cancers, Kurt Russell, her dog Dante, the importance of liking your coworkers and so much more. Check out Katie's podcast Help Me, I'm Scared, her artwork and upcoming shows here: https://www.katiebowman.rocks/ And don't forget to follow her on social media--(the greatest assimilation of them all lol) @katiebowmancomic

In this episode I'm joined by Ameerah Sanders an artist from Kansas City, MO. Ameerah is a comedian, writer, model, burlesque dancer and more. I was delighted she could sit down and chat about The Conjuring with me. We talked about woofing, how creepy the clapping game could be and how refreshing it was to see a positive father character in a horror movie. We discussed the Conjuring as a metaphor for how the bonds of community, friends and family, can help us counteract the American idea of "individualism" to take on our own demons. You can follow Ameerah's work on Instagram & Twitter -- @AmeerahSanders TikTok-- @dumptruckassshawty Read more here! https://www.kcur.org/arts-life/2022-02-27/a-kansas-city-comic-wants-to-give-herself-the-joy-and-laughter-she-once-saved-for-her-audience

In this episode I chat with Alyssa Lentz about The Others. Alyssa is an organizer for Planned Parenthood Wisconsin and a photographer with a specific lens for (See what I did there?) fat positivity, queer community and people's gender journeys. Alyssa chose this film based on her own relationship with being raised religious. We chatted about creepy tiktoks, our perception of religion as children and the future of abortion access in Wisconsin. Check out Alyssa's photography here: http://www.alentzphotography.com/ And learn more about abortion access here: https://abortionfunds.org/fund/womens-medical-fund-2/ Planned Parenthood in Wisconsin:https: //www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-wisconsin Follow Alyssa on Instagram @alyssa_lentz

While in Colorado I performed on a few shows with Idaho's Emma Arnold and am so thrilled to have her on the podcast. Emma chose Mandy, more than just a classic revenge story Mandy examines healthy and toxic masculinity with a dash of satanic panic nostalgia! The two of us discussed sadists, cults, the shifting narrative of horror and more! Learn more about Emma's comedy and bees here: https://www.emmaarnoldcomedy.com/ Check out her patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/EmmaArnold

In this episode I'm joined by my long time friend Emma Johnson to discuss Censor. Emma is an author and conservationist living and reviving prairie preserves in Northern Wisconsin. We chatted about how outrage and censorship are often used to distract from larger, more important issues, being gals in the horror and punk rock communities and sexy green M&M's. Hope you enjoy it! Learn more about Emma's writing here: http://www.freaktension.com Chip in to her Farm Patreon and get some wildflower seeds to start your very own habitat: https://www.patreon.com/wildflowerfarm Buy her new book Unicorn Wasteland: https://everybodypress.com/products/unicorn-wasteland-by-emma-alice-johnson I can't stress this enough, buy her book it's so good!

In this episode I'm joined by Gwen Sunkel to discuss the 1994 made for tv adaptation of Steven King's The Stand. Gwen is a phenomenal comic from Indianapolis, Indiana who just released her first album, No More Tears. We chatted about how campy and fun this movie was, the 90's and Steven King's superb acting skills. Check out more about Gwen and her future dates on instagram: @gwenderwoman And be sure to get her new album here: https://music.apple.com/us/album/no-more-tears/1610380460?uo=2

In Episode 51 Whitney Wasson, creator of Sober Rabbit, and I talk about An American Werewolf in London. We discussed the metaphor of transformation and how embarrassing it is to wake up naked at the zoo. An American Werewolf in London uses humor to approach dark subject matter like suicide, murder and what accountability looks like. I hope you enjoy it and See you next Wednesday! Check out more about Whitney here: https://www.soberrabbit.com/ And follow Sober Rabbit on Instagram: @soberrabbit

In Episode 50 I'm joined by fellow trade unionist Sabrina Johnson to talk about the movie that almost didn't happen- The Hunt! We discuss how this film is a metaphor for rage working people feel in these times and how we are seeing a ton of strikes and workplace actions through out the country, our experiences as women in labor, and so much more! Check it out! And reach out if you are curious about starting a union at your workplace.

In Episode 49 Kristin Lytie discusses Get Out with Meg Indurti. Meg is a phenomenal comedian, researcher and writer. If you haven't read her pieces in the New Yorker I don't know what you're doing with your time-get on it! We discussed Meg's personal connection to the film, the sunken place as it relates to suppressing revolutionary fervor and the tension of covert racist aggression that Peele captures so perfectly in his critique of white liberals. Enjoy! And be sure to follow Meg on Instagram and Twitter: @megindurti

On episode 48 I'm joined by the wonderfully creative Alexandra Tsarpalas. She is the other other half of Mom Genes, our long running Chicago comedy show that we hosted as your weird moms and invited other comics to portray their family members. After years of telling me she doesn't like scary movies, she FINALLY agreed to do my podcast. Together we discussed Troll 2 and all the campy ridiculousness absolutely told me why she picked it. This movie starts as a PETA propaganda film and ends as an Oscar Meyer commercial. And you better not be expecting trolls because there aren't any! Enjoy! You can follow Alexandra on all the platforms @keenobservation and check out her work here: https://www.alexandratsarpalas.com/

Wow we're back! Miss me? In Episode 47 I sit down with Chicago's very own Jamie Shriner to discuss Midsommar. We chat about why exactly the Maypole was so fun, watching horror movies with your parents, the similarities between Midsommar and the Shining and Dani's journey of self discovery through grief to find community in Sweden. Lots of spoilers so watch Midsommar first! Check out Jamie on Instagram @jamieshrinerbiddle

In Episode 46 I invited Professor Alison Staudinger over to discuss her pick, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night. Alison is an Associate Professor at UWGB and teaches Freedom and Democracy Studies as well as Women and Gender Studies. We also discussed Ted Bundy and America's fascination with serial killers, how it's never ever going to stop snowing here, and Alisons' new book-Gender in the Political Science Classroom. We also deliberated the significance of the cat, which personally hit home for me as I spend a lot of time thinking about my cat. Enjoy! And check out Alison's book here: http://www.iupress.indiana.edu/product_info.php?products_id=809189

In Episode 45 I'm joined by Milwaukee comedian Kaitlin McCarthy to discuss Hereditary. This is one of my favorite new movies, be warned we go full spoilers! We discussed using comedy as a tool to explore dark personal issues and how powerful that can be ....and sometimes alienating. We also discussed how comedy can be a community to turn to when those larger issues hit. In addition to working on the Milwaukee Comedy Festival, Kaitlin also produces one of my favorite shows, Subjective: A Comedic Showing The second Friday of every month in Milwaukee Check it out here: https://www.facebook.com/SubjectiveAComedicShowing/?ref=br_rs And follow her on twitter at: @The_Kaits_Meow