7Robots Fantastically Terrible Podcast

Last week we looked at the History of the End of the World. Today, we'll look at more recent doomsday predictions, which, surprise, surprise, never happened. It's time to celebrate failed predictions of armageddon, from the population bomb, to Y2K, to the Mayan apocalypse, to the black hole of doom! From thousands of years ago to the present day, there have been countless predictions about the end of the world that have...well, failed. Lucky for us, we're still alive and kicking. The Fantastically Terrible Character or creature this week is Meng Po, the Chinese goddess of forgetfulness. She gives you forgetfulness soup to wipe away any memories of your previous life or time in hell. =^._.^= ∫ Read GHOST METAL, our FREE sci-fi/horror comic on Webtoon: bit.ly/3jZ3z6N​ LINKS ★ For links to everything we mention on the show, visit: www.7robots.com/podcast/​​​​​​ ★ We turned this podcast into a documentary (available a few days after this podcast): www.youtube.com/7Robotsinc (⌐■_■)ノ♪♬ Script & music by Suzy Dias

People think of the end of the world as a singular event. After all, it is THE END. But humans are nothing if not creative about their own destruction. The ultimate annihilation, the end of the world, Armageddon or the apocalypse has a long history. It seems the end is always near. The Fantastically Terrible Character or creature this week is the plague doctor. They were physicians who treated victims of the Black Death in the 1600s. Close your eyes and imagine a steampunk bird man showing up at your door after you've contracted a disease that's killing everyone in your town. MUSIC ♪♪ - Creepy Doll Halloween Music https://www.freesoundslibrary.com/creepy-doll-halloween-music/ - Sehgah by Asghar Bahari https://bit.ly/3rp2TNj - Gregorian Chants for Pentecost https://youtu.be/w64btMQ5YQg =^._.^= ∫ Read GHOST METAL, our FREE sci-fi/horror comic on Webtoon: bit.ly/3jZ3z6N​ LINKS ★ For links to everything we mention on the show, visit: www.7robots.com/podcast/​​​​​​ ★ We turned this podcast into a documentary (available a few days after this podcast): www.youtube.com/7Robotsinc (⌐■_■)ノ♪♬ Script & music by Suzy Dias

We're going to put on our Indiana Jones outfit and travel the globe searching for the Green Man. We were surprised by how global the Green Man motif is. He's a superstar from Scotland to Egypt to Mesopotamia to Thailand, and everywhere in between. We'll travel around the world and put a pin in each stop along the way. The Fantastically Terrible Character or creature this week is Melusine. Melusine is a feminine water spirit that resembles a mermaid. You've probably seen her on the logo of a little coffee shop called Starbucks. She's popular in the folklore of northern France. She's a good wife and mother, but give her one day to be by herself. It's not much to ask is it? When her husband decides one day to see what she does alone on her day of rest, he sees that she's transformed into something that makes mermaids seem normal. MUSIC ♪♪ - Collegium Musicum Of Yale University School Of Music Volume by Paul Hindemith https://bit.ly/3xXfqdf - Mysterious Atmosphere Music by Spanac https://bit.ly/2TrADNj - Beyond the Warriors Guifrog https://bit.ly/2UyQF8J - Sehgah by Asghar Bahari https://bit.ly/3rp2TNj =^._.^= ∫ Read GHOST METAL, our FREE sci-fi/horror comic on Webtoon: bit.ly/3jZ3z6N​ LINKS ★ For links to everything we mention on the show, visit: www.7robots.com/podcast/​​​​​​ ★ We turned this podcast into a documentary (2 day delay): www.youtube.com/7Robotsinc (⌐■_■)ノ♪♬ Script & music by Suzy Dias

Temptation, sex, magic and beheadings! This is the tale of "Gawain and the Green Knight". Gawain is King Arthur's nephew and a knight at the Round Table. He must face his deepest fears and anxieties while confronting a supernatural giant known as the Green Knight. He's a lean and green head chopping machine! The Fantastically Terrible Character or creature this week is King Edward III of England and his Order of the Garter. =^._.^= ∫ Read GHOST METAL, our FREE sci-fi/horror comic on Webtoon: bit.ly/3jZ3z6N​ LINKS ★ For links to everything we mention on the show, visit: www.7robots.com/podcast/​​​​​​ ★ We turned this podcast into a documentary (2 day delay): www.youtube.com/7Robotsinc (⌐■_■)ノ♪♬ Script and music by Suzy Dias

We're all familiar with Norse mythology, but did you know that one fantastic story about Thor's wedding to a Giant? Yes, Thor was a lovely bearded bride and Loki was his manly maiden who couldn't stop laughing. Since this is Norse mythology, it still ends with massive amounts of carnage, but before the blood starts to flow, let's enjoy Thor's big day with his buddy Loki. We'll also discuss Loki's often overlooked and pivotal role in arming and protecting the Aesir. It's only when they kill his children and torture him that he seeks revenge. Our Fantastically Terrible Character or Creature this week is Thor's hammer, Mjölnir. We all know it's the mightiest weapon forged in mythology, but did you know that it was also a holy object? Capable of blessing, consecrating and even banishing the forces of chaos in the universe! Does that make Thor a type of cosmic pope? =^._.^= ∫ Read GHOST METAL, our FREE sci-fi/horror comic on Webtoon: bit.ly/3jZ3z6N​ LINKS ★ For links to everything we mention on the show, visit: www.7robots.com/podcast/​​​​​​ ★ We turned this podcast into a documentary (2 day delay): www.youtube.com/7Robotsinc ☆ Episode 31: Golden Apples in Norse Mythology (Loki & Idun) (⌐■_■)ノ♪♬ Script and music by Suzy Dias

Last week in episode 30, we looked at Golden Apples in Greek mythology. Today, we're going to continue with the Golden Apples in Norse mythology with “The Kidnapping of Idun”. The apples provide immortality, strength, fight disease, they slice, they dice...as long as you take them regularly. It's like a prescription from your family doctor or an illegal drug, depending on how you want to look at it. We'll also look at some of the key differences between Greek and Norse mythology. It was not our intention to described Idun as a drug dealer, the Aesir as addicts and Odin as an alcoholic, but in the end, that's exactly what happened. We hope you can share a laugh as you listen and learn. The Fantastically Terrible Character or Creature this week is Sæhrímnir, the god of bacon! =^._.^= ∫ Read GHOST METAL, our FREE sci-fi/horror Webtoon: bit.ly/3jZ3z6N​ LINKS ★ For links to everything we mention on the show, visit: www.7robots.com/podcast/​​​​​​ ★ We turned this podcast into a documentary (2 day delay): www.youtube.com/7Robotsinc ☆ Episode 31: Golden Apples in Norse Mythology (Loki & Idun) ☆ Episode 30: Golden Apples in Greek Mythology (⌐■_■)ノ♪♬ Script and music by Suzy Dias

In Greek mythology, there are a lot of golden apples being tossed around, but they're not the same apples. Some provide immortality, some a punishment, others are a distraction to win a race and still others are used to crash a wedding. All lead to tragic consequences. I mean, it's Greek mythology. There are always tragic consequences. Today we'll look at three absolutely legendary stories from Greek mythology that promptly feature golden apples. 1. Hercules and Garden of Hesperides 2. Atalanta the swift-footed huntress 3. The golden apple of Discord which eventually lead to the Trojan War The Fantastically Terrible Character or Creature this week is “immortality”. Or more specifically, 3 mythological ways to become immortal. But as you'll see, it never works out. LINKS ☆ Episode 31: Golden Apples in Norse Mythology https://soundcloud.com/7robotspodcast/episode-31-golden-apples-in-norse-mythology ★ For links to everything we mention on the show, visit: www.7robots.com/podcast/​​​​​​ ★ We turned this podcast into a documentary (2 day delay): www.youtube.com/7Robotsinc =^._.^= ∫ Read GHOST METAL, our FREE sci-fi & horror comic: bit.ly/3jZ3z6N​ (⌐■_■)ノ♪♬ Script and music by Suzy Dias

Today we look at three tragic jaw dropping moments in history! Three coincidences that are unbelievable... but they're true. And most of us have never heard of them. We're here to remedy that. 1. The unlucky “Lucky” Yamaguchi: the man who survived both the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombs. 2. How Edwin Booth saved Robert Todd Lincoln's life. 3. Where did future dictators go to hang out in 1913? Apparently, they preferred Vienna. The Fantastically Terrible Character or Creature is the original Snow White from the Brothers Grimm. The fairy tale is not for children! It includes murder, violence, child marriage and even cannibalism. LINKS ★ For links to everything we mention on the show, visit: www.7robots.com/podcast/​​​​​​ ★ We turned this podcast into a documentary (2 day delay): www.youtube.com/7Robotsinc

People have been reporting inexplicable things flying in the sky for 100s of years. When did the U.S. government start to sit up and pay attention? In the 1940s and early 1950s, UFO investigators seemed genuinely interested in listening to witnesses and finding answers. Then there was a period of denial. The focus was no longer on finding the truth, or leaving cases “unidentified”, but on providing an answer to every sighting, no matter how absurd it sounded. So, where do things stand now? The U.S. government in 2021 finally admitted that it has credible witnesses and physical proof of UFOs or UAPs (unidentified aerial phenomenon) that are “unidentified”. Thanks for the 360 that brought us all the way back to 1947. Now let's take a look back at where it all started and where things changed. There were probably three critical moments that lead to the US government to focus on UFOs. 1. World War II ending and the start of the Cold War with the Soviet Union. 2. Kenneth Arnold's historic 1947 sighting of a UFO. 3. The Roswell incident the summer of 1947. The Fantastically Terrible Character or Creature are the Nommo, the ancestral spirits venerated by the Dogon people of Mali. According to French anthropologists Marcel Griaule and Germaine Dieterlen who consistently stayed with the Dogon in the 1920s and 1930s, the tribe was aware of the existence of Sirius B, which is where the Nommo game from....on spaceships. They knew every detail of the white dwarf near Sirius B. They knew the length of its orbit in years, the shape of its orbit and the fact that the white dwarf is quite dense. LINKS ★ For links to everything we mention on the show, visit: www.7robots.com/podcast/​​​​​​ ★ We turned this podcast into a documentary (2 day delay): www.youtube.com/7Robotsinc

How many times have you heard the term “black Africa”? Or the sub-continent? Africa is at a disadvantage by how we describe it. Northwestern Africa, also known as the Maghreb, includes Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia. “North Africa” is often removed from the continent or treated as fundamentally different from “black” Africa. Let's point out some obvious facts. Arabs are not indigenous to Africa. Being Muslim doesn't make you Arab. And speaking Arabic doesn't mean you don't also speak your own local language. King Masinissa of Numidia, whom we mentioned as being an ally of Rome in the 2nd Punic War said, “Africa for Africans.” Would you call people from Hong Kong or Ireland British? Would you call Brazilians Portuguese or Mexicans Spaniards? Of course not. So why do we do that to North Africa? Why do we constantly associate them with Arabs? We turned this podcast into a documentary. Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/7Robotsinc The Fantastically Terrible Character or Creature are Hungry Ghosts. If you commit the lowest of the low evil acts while alive, it may cause your soul to be reborn as a hungry ghost, never satisfied. Stick around until the end of the show and we'll tell you how to avoid becoming a Hungry Ghost. LINKS

Today we'll look at 5 scientific myths about the human body. #1 You have a dominant left brain and right brain , #2 We only use 10% of our brain #3 We only have five senses #4 Blood is blue and #5 Only Europeans and Asians have Neanderthal DNA. We turned this podcast into a documentary. Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/7Robotsinc The Fantastically Terrible Character or Creature asks the question - did they burn witches at the stake during the Salem Witch trials? LINKS ★ For links to everything we mention on the show, visit: www.7robots.com/podcast/​​​​​​ ★ We turned this podcast into a documentary (2 day delay): www.youtube.com/7Robotsinc

Today we'll discuss two of the top Myths About Native Americans. 1. Myth: The Plains Indians over hunted and killed off the buffalo. 2. Myth: There are no more Indians left. They all died out a long time ago. We turned this podcast into a documentary. Watch here: https://youtu.be/nQekVLwaFmU The Fantastically Terrible Character or Creature is tied to our show last week, episode 24 on Alexandre Dumas. We mentioned his ghost and vampire novels, but forgot one hairy monster. With Dumas' werewolf, you get three wishes in exchange for a few hairs on your head. LINKS ★ For links to everything we mention on the show, visit: www.7robots.com/podcast/​​​​​​ ★ We turned this podcast into a documentary (2 day delay): www.youtube.com/7Robotsinc

Alexandre Dumas was a French author, born in 1802. He entertained people with his wit, panache and humor. He had over 600 pieces of writing and more than 200 novels, including his timeless classics, and is best known for his timeless classics "The Three Musketeers" and "The Count of Monte Cristo". With all that being said, let's dive deeper into his past like growing up in poverty during an increasingly racist period in French history. We'll also examine amazing adventures of his own, like advising and smuggling guns into Italy to aid his friend Guiseppi Garabaldi and the fight of Italian unification. What inspired him? What drove him to work so hard? We turned this podcast into a documentary. Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeUmSp-R65c LINKS ★ For links to everything we mention on the show, visit: www.7robots.com/podcast/​​​​​​ ★ We turned this podcast into a documentary (2 day delay): www.youtube.com/7Robotsinc

Josephine Baker is most known for being a glamorous showgirl who wore her famous banana skirt in 1920s and '30s. But she was so much more! As a child she survived East St. Louis Massacre in 1917 and the red summer to eventually dazzle audiences from NYC to Paris. During WWII, she was a spy, a volunteer nurse and a pilot for the Red Cross, reached the level of lieutenant and won the Croix de Guerre for her part in the French resistance. She worked tirelessly for civil rights and was the only female speaker at the March on Washington in 1963. Josephine was an entertainer, civil rights activist, war hero and mother who never lost her courage or sense of humor. The Fantastically Terrible Character or Creature is the Cheval Bayard. In the folklore of Normandy, France, this is a type of water spirit that may appear as a human or as a horse. The Cheval Bayard lures foolhardy humans into riding it's back and tosses them into the water...or romances peasant women when their husbands are out. LINKS ★ For links to everything we mention on the show, visit: www.7robots.com/podcast/​​​​​​ ★ We turned this podcast into a documentary (2 day delay): www.youtube.com/7Robotsinc

Today we will release the Kraken! 

We decided to unleash Miguel Guerra's stupendous skill for tangents. We'll be doing some comparative mythology and we'll see how far Miguel will push our discussion. We're also making this a challenge for you. See how many tangents you can count and let us know in the comments. Then, come back next week and we'll reveal the true number and read your comments on the show. The Fantastically Terrible Character or Creature is Roman Moronie from the 1984 movie, Johnny Dangerously. Richard Dimitri played this hard working murdering Mafia stereotype before they deported his butt back to...Sweden? In the words of Johnny (played by Michael Keaton), “The years hadn't softened Moronie. He continued to murder the English Language, and anyone who got in his way.” LINKS

So you want to create something. Maybe a comic, write a book or a song, create a Star Base that can destroy planets. Great, let's do it! But wait…how do you begin? To copyright or not to copyright? Here's some real, hands on, practical information that we hope provides you with a good start. We'll cover the basics of US Copyright Law and review why it's a good idea to register your work. The 'Fantastically Terrible Character or Creature' is Disney's Pluto. Did Disney purposefully muzzle this artist genius? You be the judge. ♫ The song is "Hot Mittens” by The Bucktown Five (from the Internet Archive) LINKS ★ For links to everything we mention on the show, visit: www.7robots.com/podcast/​​​​​​ ★ We turned this podcast into a documentary (2 day delay): www.youtube.com/7Robotsinc

Today we'll discuss the long relationship between Asia and Europe. We've been trading, creating art and inspiring each other for millennia. The East is not exotic and strange, they're our neighbors...we just happen to live a little further west down the silk road. The 'Fantastically Terrible Character or Creature' is Christopher Pike from “Star Trek”. He was portrayed by Jeffrey Hunter in the original Star Trek pilot, but left the show after it was initially rejected. Later they bring him back as a promoted fleet captain (so far, so good), but he's been left paralyzed, disfigured and unable to speak (rough!). LINKS ★ For links to everything we mention on the show, visit: www.7robots.com/podcast/​​​​​​ ★ We turned this podcast into a documentary (2 day delay): www.youtube.com/7Robotsinc

Today we're looking at a few fears that artists might have before starting something new or changing their routine. To do this, we'll examine one of Miguel's longstanding fears and how he overcame it. What was his fear? Yes, even a man who can draw practically anything would turn 180° in the other direction at the thought of starting to learn ANIMATION! Visions of golden age Disney artists drowning in hundreds of pages and Katsuhiro Otomo's storyboards for his masterpiece, “Akira”, made his blood run cold. So, Miguel broke out of his comfort zone with a super easy program called Pyxel Edit. Pixel art is a great bridge from illustration to animation and video games. We all have our hang ups. What's yours? The 'Fantastically Terrible Character or Creature' is the Ass of Balaam from the Torah or the Old Testament. We learn that even the lowly donkey can see angels and speak for God while the man is too busy acting like an ass to notice. Don't avoid the obvious because you've made other plans. REFERENCES For links to everything we mention on the show, visit: https://www.7robots.com/podcast/​​​​​ LINKS ★ For links to everything we mention on the show, visit: www.7robots.com/podcast/​​​​​​ ★ We turned this podcast into a documentary (2 day delay): www.youtube.com/7Robotsinc

Today we'll discuss 8 types of creative block and how to punch them in the face! Your art is what communicates your feelings and emotions. So much of art has been commercialized that this simple fact gets lost. We'll discuss problems that we face with creative or writer's block and how we dig our way out and continue working. So, grab your favorite drink, sit back and relax. Hopefully, you'll learn a few ways to sumo smash creative block! The 'Fantastically Terrible Character or Creature' is Major Asshole and all the other Assholes that make up the crew in Mel Brooks' classic comedy, "Space Balls" (1987). We've all either worked with a bunch of assholes or felt like an asshole, so it's time to pay tribute to a movie that wasn't shy about admitting there was a problem. REFERENCES For links to everything we mention on the show, visit: www.7robots.com/podcast/​​​​​ LINKS ★ For links to everything we mention on the show, visit: www.7robots.com/podcast/​​​​​​ ★ We turned this podcast into a documentary (2 day delay): www.youtube.com/7Robotsinc

Today's discussion is about Medusa! The story we're familiar with is from Ovid's "Metamorphoses." Here, Medusa was known for her stunning beauty and served as a priestess of Athena until one fateful day when Poseidon forced himself upon her (Ovid leaves this up to the reader). We can all agree that Medusa was cruelly and unjustly cursed by Athena (Minerva). She was eventually killed by Perseus, who used her still potent head as a weapon before gifting it to Athena. So, the same god who cursed Medusa to a torturous existence now kept her head on her shield. Damn, that's ice cold! We'll also talk about Medusa's older origin stories and the many meanings we can still get from her story. The 'Fantastically Terrible Character or Creature' is Alectryon from Homer's "Odyssey". Ares, the god of war, ordered Alectryon to stand guard outside his door while he and Aphrodite secretly got busy. Unfortunately, Alectryon fell asleep while on guard duty and the sun-god, Helios, discovered the lovers the following morning. Helios then ran to tell her husband Hephaestus. Furious, Ares turned Alectryon into a rooster. The irony wasn't lost. As an eternal rooster, he would forever crow to announce the arrival of rising sun. LINKS ★ For links to everything we mention on the show, visit: www.7robots.com/podcast/​​​​​​ ★ We turned this podcast into a documentary (2 day delay): www.youtube.com/7Robotsinc

Today's discussion is about a remarkable woman named, Abdaraya Toya, or Victoria Montou. She was an elite “Dahomey Amazon”, which inspired "Black Panther's" Dora Milaje, was sold into slavery and later helped lead the only successful save revolt in history! The Haitian revolution. Wow! What a story. The 'Fantastically Terrible Character or Creature' this week is the woman riding a bright blue Harley-Davidson motorcycle in "Lovecraft Country" s1 ep7. She is none other than the legendary Bessie Stringfield. In the 1930s, she became the first black woman to ride solo through all 48 US mainland states, including the Jim Crow south (listen to learn more). LINKS ★ For links to everything we mention on the show, visit: www.7robots.com/podcast/​​​​​​ ★ We turned this podcast into a documentary (2 day delay): www.youtube.com/7Robotsinc

As in our last episode, we're going to stay in France during the revolution to talk about a man who is larger than life - the Chevalier de Saint-Georges. He not only defies conventional thinking, even in our own time, he was a real life hero of epic proportions! If you mix Muhammad Ali and Bruce Lee with the world's most celebrated musical genius, you'll start to get a good idea. The next time you think of the great composers of classical music, remember the him. He earned his place in history. The 'Fantastically Terrible Character or Creature' is the Baccoo from Guyana and Barbados. You better feed this little guy bananas and milk or you'll incur his wrath! Also, if you find a bottle floating in the ocean, perhaps it's best to leave it alone. LINKS ★ For links to everything we mention on the show, visit: www.7robots.com/podcast/​​​​​​ ★ We turned this podcast into a documentary (2 day delay): www.youtube.com/7Robotsinc

We're going to France during the Revolution to look at black heroes that everyone should know. The things they achieved and the lack of attention they receive is mind boggling. You may have heard of Alexandre Dumas. Few writers have been as consistently popular for the last two centuries. He penned such beloved books as "The Three Musketeers" and "The Count of Monte Cristo". We're going to focus on his father - Thomas Alexandre Dumas, who preferred to go by Alex Dumas. In spite of of his humble origins in Haiti, the son of an enslaved woman, Dumas would become a 4-star general and a shining example of the first true age of emancipation. The 'Fantastically Terrible Character or Creature' is the original zombie from Haiti. Tragically, many believed the captured souls were used for ‘undead' slave labor on farms and sugarcane plantations. Thus, not even death could release them from their bondage. REFERENCES For links to everything we mention on the show, visit: www.7robots.com/podcast/​​​​​ LINKS

Today we continue with our discussion on the whitewashing of history with “Whitewash part 2: The Dark Side of the Enlightenment.” We'll look at the major contributions of St. Origen and St. Augustine, two African intellectual giants that helped form the early Christian church, African Empires that flourished before colonization, including King Mansa Musa the richest man who ever lived, and how the Enlightenment brought scientific racism to the modern world. Yes, that includes David Hume and Thomas Jefferson. REFERENCES For links to everything we mention on the show, visit: www.7robots.com/podcast/​​​​​ LINKS

Today is all about the Whitewashing of History. What do Greek mythology, the Bible and Arthurian legends have in common? Major African characters that have been overlooked or erased. We're here to set the record straight! We'll cover King Memnon in the Trojan War, Andromeda and Perseus, the Queen of Sheba and Solomon, and Parzival and his brother Feirefiz from the King Arthur legends. LINKS ★ For links to everything we mention on the show, visit: www.7robots.com/podcast/​​​​​​ ★ We turned this podcast into a documentary (2 day delay): www.youtube.com/7Robotsinc

Today's discussion is about…two African Americans whose undeniable talent changed the comics industry forever.  George Herriman (1880-1944) created "Krazy Kat" (1913-1944), the most revered strip ever made. When "The Comics Journal" chose its greatest comics of the 20th Century, Herriman's strip was #1. There is arguably no comic work as canonical as Krazy Kat.  "The comic counted E.E. Cummings, Picasso and De Kooning among its fans." And Matt Baker (1921-1959), who created the endlessly imitated "good girl" style in comics, like "Phantom Lady". He created the first black hero/superhero, "Voodah" (1945) and was the artist on the first graphic novel ever made, "It Rhymes with Lust" (1950). We'll discuss their groundbreaking work and put their lives into historical context to truly understand the struggle they must have had during Jim Crow era America. Their stories are not well known, but they should be...because of...you know...racism. REFERENCES For links to everything we mention on the show, visit: www.7robots.com/podcast/​​​​​ LINKS

Today's discussion is about writing scripts, creating worlds and not breaking the rules you establish. Stick around to hear Miguel's epic LAUGH ATTACK at the end of the show! We'll start with the ‘craft' of writing with books to help your write and develop your ideas and characters. We'll also dissect famous movie sequels like Star Wars and The Matrix to see if they followed the rules set in their worlds. Did they succeed? REFERENCES For links to everything we mention on the show, visit: www.7robots.com/podcast/​​​​​ LINKS

Today's discussion is a rolling conversation about our hopes for the future. What inspires us, what we suck at, our puppies cigarette habit (more on that later), and how the best way to stay motivated is through community and constantly refining your craft. Read what you love and do what you love. REFERENCES For links to everything we mention on the show, visit: www.7robots.com/podcast/​​​​​ LINKS

Scaring the crap out of your guests was once an integral part of Christmas Eve festivities in Victorian England. What's Christmas without murder, sadistic torture by a horned demon, or being boiled alive and eaten by an Icelandic ogress? Well, today we'll list our top 10 favorite Christmas monsters from around the world and discuss a few classic Victorian ghost stories. If this all sounds new to you, stay tuned. It gets even more bizarre. REFERENCES For links to everything we mention on the show, visit: www.7robots.com/podcast/​​​​​ LINKS

From shroom loving shamans in Siberia to ancient Egypt, we'll look at some of the tripped out origins of our most enduring Christmas symbols and traditions. Hang on to your Santa hats! There will be magic mushrooms, parties, gift giving, revolutions and characters taking a crap near the baby Jesus. REFERENCES For links to everything we mention on the show, visit: www.7robots.com/podcast/​​​​​ LINKS

"Jodorowsky's Dune" is a documentary about the greatest movie you'll never watch. You'll hear from Alejandro Jodoworsky, Dan O'Bannon and Frank Herbert. You'll also find out how we thought of the name for our podcast! Yes, it has something to do with Jodoworsky. We'll take on some of the biggest criticisms like... • Did Jodo even read the the book? • Was it economically impossible? • Was the movie 14 hours long? • The assertion that “Star Wars” ripped off “Jodoworsky's Dune”. No, they stole plenty from Frank Herbert's "Dune". REFERENCES For links to everything we mention on the show, visit: www.7robots.com/podcast/​​​​​ LINKS

Today, we're looking at the classic horror movie, "The Shining" (1980). It's such a superb film, that each time we watch it, we find a deeper meaning. This time the "restroom" scene with Delbert Grady and Jack Torrance really slapped us in the face. After doing some digging online, we found an excellent “Scraps from the Loft” interview with Stanley Kubrick's co-writer - Diane Johnson. We'll attempt to lay the groundwork for what makes the Overlook Hotel a haunted nightmare and whether or not the ghosts are real or all in Jack's psychotic mind. The Fantastically Terrible Character or Creature is Robert Shaw's portrayal of Quint in 1975s mega-hit Jaws. Hats off to the man that had his manliness eaten in the most manly way possible…by a 6,000 pound man-eater. There will be lots of blood, major family dysfunction, ghosts, the collective unconscious, freaky twins and terror! LINKS ★ For links to everything we mention on the show, visit: www.7robots.com/podcast/​​​​​​ ★ We turned this podcast into a documentary (2 day delay): www.youtube.com/7Robotsinc

Today we're going to do things a little bit differently. We've had a few inquisitive listeners ask us to provide more information about ourselves. So, we thought we'd interview each other (in our own way). Let the hilarity begin! We talk about where we're from, living in NYC, and our biggest influences for art and writing. We also talk about Miguel's imaginary youth, being raised by werewolves and living on the moon. Things get strange. For links to everything we discuss and a lot more, visit: www.7robots.com/podcast At the end of every episode, we like to highlight a 'Fantastically Terrible Character or Creature'. Today, we pay homage to Captain Lou Albano, a WWF/E Hall of Fame wrestler and the voice of Mario on “The Super Mario Bros. Super Show” and played him in the live-action segments. REFERENCES For links to everything we mention on the show, visit: www.7robots.com/podcast/​​​​​ LINKS

Today's discussion is about…Fists of Fury! We'll look at two new kick ass action packed Asian-American shows that that slap the whitewash off of racial stereotypes. They are Bruce Lee's “Warrior” from Cinemax and “WU Assassins” from Netflix. There are no lazy stereotypes or offensive caricatures to be found anywhere. Hallelujah! At the end of every episode, we like to highlight a 'Fantastically Terrible Character or Creature'. Today, we pay homage to the “Roaming Gnome” in the 2001 French film “Amélie”. REFERENCES For links to everything we mention on the show, visit: www.7robots.com/podcast/​​​​​ LINKS

Today's discussion is about...social horror. We're going to compare two TV shows that kept us on the edge of our seats - "Lovecraft Country" from HBO and "Ares" from Netflix. Both stories and performances provide a complexity that we find outstanding. Which is our favorite? That's really hard to say. Which show tied each episode into a brilliant ending? Well, you'll have to listen to find out. Along with all the fantastically creepy horror, both shows manage to infuse racial and social issues into the main artery of the narrative. The first show may not be a surprise. "Lovecraft Country" puts the Tulsa Massacre of 1921 at it's core. The second is a series from the Netherlands called "Ares" (that's Aries like the god of war). Ares eviscerates and lays bare the Dutch colonial past. The U.S. vs the Netherlands? It's like an MMA championship of horror.

We'll introduce ourselves and give you an idea of what to expect. Working in comics (and the arts) is the most fantastically terrible career you can have. What do we base this on? We've been independent comic creators for many years. Horror, sci-fi, comedy, satire, ghosts, aliens…we've done it all. We'll discuss many topics, including but not limited to...the shrewd dumbness of the comic industry, essential info about writing and creating art for a living, giving color commentary on movies and TV and other tender morsels. We'll end every episode with a 'Fantastically Terrible Character or Creature'. Thanks for listening! If you'd like to support the show, please follow us. We would really appreciate it and we'll personally thank you on the show.