The Cromcast: A Weird Fiction Podcast

Hile, Cromrades! Here we delve into the first 10 chapters of Poul Anderson's The Broken Sword! We had a ton of fun with this discussion, and hopefully you enjoy it too! We'll return with the next discussion in the coming weeks!One ThingsJon: Devolution and other things by Max Brooks!Josh: From Hell: Master Edition by Alan[...]

 An eerie mist shrouds the podcast waves, it's plain to hear that the faeries and elves must be about. They are stalking for a new podcast season to steal away before its named. Alas for them, The Cromcast knows exactly what their next season is all about. Tune in and hear about our plans to[...]

Welcome back to the show, Cromrades! This week, we take a second look at Red Nails, ten years after visiting the lost city of Xuchotl for the first time. This story is widely regarded as a classic amongst the Conan tales. Do you enjoy it? Let us know!Zap! Zap! Lightning Bolt! One ThingsJon: Peyton's PlacesJosh: True[...]

Welcome back, Cromrades! We return with a long-awaited and much merited 'mail bag' at the start of the episode. From there we tackle a discussion of on Mr. Robert Eggers' 'The Northman.' Do we like this movie? NAY! We love it! So, if you love it to, please join us for a bit of a[...]

Greetings Cromrades! We are so excited to bring you the return of Jim Zub to the show. In the time since we last spoke, Jim has been a part of a high flying launch of Titan Comic's Conan the Barbarian monthly series. If the numbers are any indication, we're guessing most of you are already[...]

Welcome back, Cromrades, to the conclusion of our discussion on Hour of the Dragon! As always, we hope you enjoy the insights and observations we share during this episode of the podcast.  One ThingsJon: Ed Brubaker's Captain AmericaJosh: Dungeons and Dragons B/XLuke: Warhammer 40K Questions? Comments? Curses?Call us at (859) 429-CROM!You know you want to follow[...]

Welcome back, Cromrades! Here we revisit Robert E. Howard's "Hour of the Dragon," which you may also know as "Conan the Conquerer!" This is REH's only novel-length Conan story, so we only get through about the front half of the book! It's a heck of a tale, and we hope you join us for this[...]

 Welcome back, Cromrades! Today, we join Conan as he ventures into an area of colonization, where native peoples are being hectored by imperial forces and pioneers. Essentially, we're joining him in Texas circa the late 1600's or the mid- 1800's. As such, we've invited Ben Friberg to join us. He's a friend of the show,[...]

 Welcome back, Boils and Ghouls! Your three-headed podcast hosting ogre has selected a couple of delightfully frightful tales for tonight's Cromtober recording! They are of the nautical horror bent, set in demon-haunted New England: Dagon, and The Shadow Over Innsmouth by H.P. Lovecraft! We discuss all manner of horrific details regarding these two thematically linked[...]

Greetings, Cromrades! We're kicking off our 2023 Halloween festivities with a bang! We're pleased and thankful to have had the opportunity to chat with Mr. Gaunt, otherwise known as John Langan! We meander around a ton of topics, discussing horror writing styles, the importance of regionalism in horror, the focus / intent of the Corpsemouth[...]

Welcome back, Cromrades! Here we revisit the Robert E. Howard story "Jewels of Gwahlur," another yarn in the Hyborian Age of Conan the Cimmerian. While it isn't our favorite Conan story, there are some interesting facets to discuss. One ThingsJon: Legacy DC Characters, and the ending of Irredeemable. Josh: Dragon Quest!Luke: The Last House on Needless Street,[...]

Have you heard of the wickedness seeping out from the city of Khauran? The queen, her majesty Taramis, has seemingly gone mad or been possessed by a demon... They're even crucifying men in the dessert. I recently heard all the gory, delicious details from three fools performing in the street. You too can listen to[...]

 Listen not to this episode if you fear the immaterial but destructive sound waves of the three podcasters of the Black Circle. If you are of steely stuff, then plug those headphones in and join The Cromcast as they analyze Robert E. Howard's novella, "The People of the Black Circle". Originally published between September and[...]

Welcome back, Cromrades! This week's show is a double-feature! We not only unpack 'The Devil in Iron,' but we're also joined by Howard Andrew Jones! HAJ happens to have a book of his own that has just dropped, entitled 'Lord of a Shattered Land.' You can buy it direct from Baen here!Needless to say, this[...]

Welcome back to the show, Cromrades! One of our jokes became an idea for an episode, and now we present to you our fantasy draft of characters featured in the Conan stories we've read and covered up through Queen of the Black Coast. We hope you enjoy the shenanigans! The list of characters we compiled prior[...]

 Hello Cromrades and welcome to another nautical episode here on The Cromcast. This is no ordinary sea tale though, today we ride the gusty seas with the one and only Queen of the Black Coast. Tune in for a tale of how love transcends all, for piratical fun, and for the finest winged ape you've[...]

Welcome back, Cromrades! This week's show is a banger! Join us as we not only unpack 'Iron Shadows in the Moon,' but also get deep into a discussion of mythos! You can read 'Iron Shadows' here!If you are looking for some guide posts, be sure to check out the recent episode from Weird Studies for their own[...]

Welcome back to the show, Cromrades! This week we are thrilled to share a conversation we had with sword and sorcery fan and comic book writer Jim Zub! Jim tells us about the upcoming Conan comic series from Titan Comics. By now, hopefully you've all had a chance to pick up the Free Comic Book[...]

Today's Cromcast ventures into the home of Nabonidus, who knows what wonders and magic we may perceive. We are also joined by a friends fourth rogue, Matt John of the aptly named, Rogues in the House podcast!Tune in for cartoonish violence and Scooby-Doo traps galore!Be sure to find Matt on his usual channel with Rogues[...]

Welcome back, Cromrades! This week we join Conan to sail the seas and explore a fantastic island where intrigue abounds! Hope you brought a jaunty hat and your cutlass!If you are looking for a great review / lit crit piece on this story, we reference David C. Smith's take on this story from the 'Hither[...]

Welcome back, Cromrades! We are still cruising down the ReRoad of Kings, and it's time to make a stop at Xuthal! Do we have any thoughts about titillating and exciting Slithering Shadow? Do we ever! Join us, won't you? One ThingsJon: Snowblind by Rangar Jonasson.Josh: The Call of Cthulhu, and the blurred line between the real[...]

Howdy, Cromrades. Today The Cromcast continues down their 10th anniversary trail by stopping in at the small kingdom of Khoraja where we'll come face to face with Natohk... or is that Thugra Khotan hiding under those mummy bandages? Tune in to hear about the first world war in Hyborea and the role that Conan plays in[...]

Hile, Cromrades! We continue our season with another humdinger! For this episode we read the much lauded The Tower of the Elephant, and frame up the episode in a less conventional fashion using the old TSR Conan Role-Playing Game System from 1985! Join us, won't you?Useful Reads about The Tower of the ElephantHoward Andrew Jones and Bill[...]

Welcome back, Cromrades! This week, we follow Conan (or is it, Amra?) into the bowels of hell beneath The Scarlet Citadel. Here we meet Pelias, who, as it has been said, does like to party. We spend the majority of the discussion devoted to the labyrinth beneath the Scarlet Citadel and its denizens. Join us,[...]

 "The clangor of the swords had died away, the shouting of the slaughter was hushed; silence lay on the red-stained snow. The bleak pale sun that glittered so blindingly from the ice-fields and the snow-covered plains struck sheens of silver from rent corselet and broken blade, where the dead lay as they had fallen. The[...]

"Know, oh prince, that between the years when the oceans drank Atlantis and the gleaming cities, and the years of the rise of the Sons of Aryas, there was an Age undreamed of..."Here it is - a return to Conan on The Cromcast!A decade in the making, we circle back around to REH's Conan! We[...]

Happy New Year Cromrades! Thank you for tuning in for our last episode of 2022 and our last episode dedicated to poetry. We have enjoyed digging into poetry by our patron saint, Robert E. Howard, as well as his lyrical companions in "Weird Tales" H.P. Lovecraft and Clark Ashton Smith. For this last episode in[...]

Hello Cromrades! We are proud to announce the release of The Cromcast Chronicle #3! You can find the newest issue here, as well as our past years' entries here!You can peruse the Cover and the Table of Contents below. And, you can hear us talk about what's inside!Happy holidays, everyone!!!Questions? Comments? Curses?Email us! (thecromcast at gmail[...]

Hile, Cromrades! We continue our poetry season by opening things up a bit... For this episode we contrast select poems of the Weird Tales Three! Read the entries here:Clark Ashton Smith's Nyctalops!H.P. Lovecraft's Fungi from Yuggoth!Robert E. Howard's Adventurer!One ThingsLuke: The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones!Jon: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, starring the incomparable John

Hello again Cromrades and welcome to another lyrical Cromcast episode featuring even more poetry by Robert E. Howard. Today's selections come from Luke and he was inspired by REH's use of color in his poems and pulled three top shelf choices for the show. Be sure to check 'em out-Summer MornHigh Blue HallsAlways Comes EveningGo[...]

 Well met, Cromrades! We are beginning a brief jaunt into the weird world of pulp poetry this week, with a look at Robert E. Howard as a poet, and some of our favorite poems of his. We discuss what a poem even is, how we differentiate it from prose writing, and follow a hip-hop tangent[...]

Hile, Cromrades! We return for our second spooktacular episode for this October. Our Halloween festivities this year are focused on spectral locomotives! For this episode we read Dicken's 'The Signalman' and Leiber's 'Belsen Express.' Heady talk around the firepit await you!One ThingsJosh: Is absolutely DIGGING some Scott Oden, particularly 'A Gathering of Ravens!' If you are[...]

 Howdy Cromrades! It's the most wonderful and spooktacular time of the year, around these parts we call it Cromtober. Our 2022 Halloween festivities are focused on spectral locomotives, you know,  ghost trains! Trains have long inspired tales of ghosts and haints and even sometimes serve as means of conveyance to get your soul down to[...]

Welcome back, Cromrades! We're closing in on the end of this short road. The temperatures are dropping, and the sound of wolves echoes around us. Time feels a little... strange, these days. Doesn't it? Whatever the case, you should pour yourself a drink, kick back, and join us for the second half of The Winter[...]

Hile, Cromrades! We gather for an episode centered on the front half of Tanith Lee's 'The Winter Players.' Join us, won't you? One ThingsJon: Better Call Saul. 'nuff said.Josh: The Standups on Netflix. Get some chucks in...Luke: Warhammer's Kill Team. If you are gullible, and want to spend a paycheck or three, then give it a[...]

 Welcome back to the show Cromrades! In this episode, we return the road with some ghosts on our tail. Join us as we wrap up Tanith Lee's "The Companions on the Road" and discuss some cool motifs, the evocative imagery, and more about Lee's prowess as a writer. One ThingsJosh: Blades and Spells, for the gamer[...]

Welcome back, Cromrades! It's a new season and a journey down a new road, with new companions. We're taking a trip with Tanith Lee! Join us as we discuss the first half of her sword and sorcery novella "Companions on the Road!" Learn more about Tanith Lee on Blackgate.com!One ThingsJon: 50 Years of WatergateJosh: Dark Horse[...]

Hile, Cromrades! We gather a final time on the end of our Gothic Road. Join us as we put some final nails in the coffin of this season!One ThingsJon: Jack Kirby: The Epic Life of the King of Comics!Josh: Jason Aaron's take on Thor: God of Thunder!Luke: Barry on HBO (he just can't quit it).Questions?[...]

  The Cromcast has reached the final story of the Gothic road and boy is it a doozy. Before we jump into it though, you should probably drink this potion. It might help... release your inner podcaster. Join the fellas as they dissect the themes of repression, guilt, and resentment at the center of Robert Louis[...]

Hile, Cromrades! For our final episode from Howard Days 2022, we present a most excellent crossover event! In this recording from Saturday, June 11, Josh and Luke are joined by Matt John of Rogues in the House Podcast, Monolith Games, and Modiphius Entertainment!If you enjoy this recording, or you have ever enjoyed a REH story[...]

 Hile, Cromrades! For this episode, we present another recording from Howard Days 2022!The panelists discuss the latest news regarding Howard publishing, entertainment and how his influence continues. Panelists include Joel Bylos, Paul Herman, Matt John, Fred Malmberg, Matt Murray, Steve Saffel, and Jay Zetterberg.If you enjoy this recording, or you have ever enjoyed a REH[...]

 Welcome, Cromrades! For this episode, we present another recording from Howard Days 2022!In this recording, Josh and Luke chat with Rusty and Shelly Burke at the Cross Plains Public Library on Saturday, June 11th.If you enjoy this recording, or you have ever enjoyed a REH story (and you know you have!), please consider donating to[...]

Hile, Cromrades! For this episode, we present another recording from Howard Days 2022!In this recording from Saturday, June 11, Paul Sammon shares comments and stories related to his involvement with the first two Conan movies starring Arnold Schwarzenegger .If you enjoy this recording, or you have ever enjoyed a REH story (and you know you[...]

Hile, Cromrades! For this episode, we present another recording from Howard Days 2022!For this recording, Josh and Luke are joined by various attendees for afterhours conversations on Friday, June 10th.If you enjoy this recording, or you have ever enjoyed a REH story (and you know you have!), please consider donating to Project Pride. Whether it's[...]

Hile, Cromrades! For this episode, we present another recording from Howard Days 2022!This recording is from Friday, June 10th, and is from the Robert E. Howard Celebration Banquet. The guest of honor is Fred Malmberg, who shares comments and stories about his years in the gaming industry, as well as the influence of Robert E[...]

Hile, Cromrades! For this episode, we present another recording from Howard Days 2022!This recording from Friday, June 10th includes academic papers delivered by Drs. Dierk Guenther, Gabriel Mamola, and James McGlothlin. The panel is moderated by Dr. Jason Ray Carney.If you enjoy this recording, or you have ever enjoyed a REH story (and you know[...]

Hile, Cromrades! For this episode, we present another recording from Howard Days 2022!The panelists discuss the 90th Anniversaries of Conan, Worms of the Earth, the poem "Cimmeria" plus other notable REH events in 1932. Panelists include Rusty Burke, Patrice Louinet, Deuce Richardson, and Paul Sammon. The panel is moderated by Bobby Derie.If you enjoy this[...]

Hile, Cromrades! What a whirlwind, Howard Days 2022 has come and went! If you didn't get a chance to attend, gird thy loins! The rest of this month will be dedicated to the audio we recorded while at this gathering!For this episode, we present the inaugural panel from the event on Friday, June 10th. The[...]

Welcome back to The Cromcast Theater! This week, we discuss different variations of the Frankenstein story as filtered through the lens of Hollywood. In particular, we discuss I, Frankenstein, the classic Universal Frankenstein movies, and give the briefest of nods to the Kenneth Branagh adaptation. What is it about Frankenstein's monster that makes it such[...]

Hile, Cromrades! In just a few short days Howard Days will be upon us! In the spirit of the season, we thought we'd take a minute to revisit some of our past recordings from the road:Check out the near 3-hour episode following Josh and Jon's pilgrimage back in 2016 here!Here's the 2+ hour episode of[...]

Hile, Cromrades! We gather yet again! In this episode we cover the final act of Mary Shelley's seminal novel Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus. We pack in a ton of discussion in this episode, and set ourselves up for one more episode of Frankie in film!One ThingsJon: National Park After Dark, a weird and wonderful[...]

Welcome back Cromrades! When last we met, we saw the twisted fruits of Victor Frankenstein's machinations spring to horrible, terrible life! Now, tune in to hear about how the Monster spends his first months on Earth. He takes a bit of a gap year, learns a new language, a little about living, and a lot[...]

 Welcome back, Cromrades! Join us as we dig up some corpses, perform some long-researched alchemical processes, and bring the spark of life to the dead! We dig into the first third of Mary Shelley's seminal novel Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus this week. Will we take care of our creature or cut it loose and let it[...]

Greetings, travelers! We spend just a little bit more time with Drac, discussing the classic Dracula (1931) and the divisive Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992). Join us!One ThingsJonathan: Mowing through 'Busiek's Thunderbolts!'Luke: Blew through Stephen King's 'On Writing!'Josh: Getting into some John Cena in 'Peacemaker!'Questions? Comments? Curses?Call us at (859) 429-CROM!You know you want to

 If you hear wolves in the distance, pay no heed to them for far greater evils are afoot in the ultimate episode of The Cromcast's reading of Dracula. We join the cabal of Dracula hunters as they chase their vampiric quarry back to his homeland in an attempt to destroy him for good. Not just[...]

Welcome back to our castle, Cromrades! Enter freely, and leave something of the happiness you bring! This week, we bring you a discussion of the middle section of Dracula by Bram Stoker, covering the events of chapters 9 through 18. Lucy is attacked by unseen forces in the night, eventually succumbs to the darkness calling[...]

Welcome to Transylvania! We kick off Season 15 with a discussion of the first chunk of Bram Stoker's "Dracula," setting the stage for a trip down The Gothic Road! Join us!One ThingsJonathan: Mowing through Kirkman's 'Invincible,' in omnibus fashion!Luke: Listening to a favorite album from 2021, 'The Year of the Horse!'Josh: Getting into the catalog[...]

Hello Cromrades! We are proud to announce the release of The Cromcast Chronicle #2! This is a free PDF that will be hosted on the blog (thecromcast.blogspot.com) and we hope you will check it out. You can find fiction, an RPG module, and a dash of articles and reviews all intermixed with some wonderful art.[...]

On today's show, we conclude our reading and interpretation of Chester Himes' "Cotton Comes to Harlem". This hardboiled look at a caper gone horribly wrong in Harlem has been a great read and we think a perfect capstone to our tour of hardboiled fiction. Tune in to find out how Coffin Ed and Gravedigger wrap[...]

Welcome back to the Hardboiled Road, Cromrades! Our path takes us to Harlem, where a smooth talking con man's operations are being foiled all around him, and Coffin Ed and Gravedigger Jones seek to return the swindled money to the families it was stolen from. It's Cotton Comes to Harlem, a novel by Chester Himes![...]

Welcome back, Cromrades! For Halloween 2021, we have a mega-episode for you all about vampires! Listen here as we discuss 'Dracula's Guest' by Bram Stoker, 'A Rendezvous in Averoigne' by Clark Ashton Smith, and 'The Horror from the Mound' by Robert E. Howard!One ThingsJon: 'The Enchanted World' Series, by Time-Life Books!Josh: The Muppets' 'Haunted Mansion!'Luke:[...]

 On this episode of The Cromcast, we host a cinema night in celebration of hardboiled cinema for our hardboiled season. We chose to watch "Mildred Pierce" starring Joan Crawford, Luke did some extra credit and read the story by James Cain and watched the Kate Winslet miniseries as well!This is a sordid tale of murder,[...]

Hi gang, it's starting to feel a bit spooky these evenings, huh? We'll have Cromtober 2021 content out for you soon enough, but in the spirit of the season, we wanted to put all our links to all our past Cromtober episodes in one place for easy access:Cromtober 2014, Part I: "The End of the Story,"[...]

Cromrades, are you ready to go deep on the finale of The Big Sleep? Double crosses, plot twists, blackmail, murder, and dirty money - sound hard boiled enough for ya? Why don't you fill up your lowball with rye and kick back with us as we finish up our discussion of this classic tale by[...]

Welcome back, Cromrades! We're headed to the West Coast to check in on Philip Marlowe. For this episode we're tackling the front end of Raymond Chandler's 'The Big Sleep!'One ThingsJonathan: Paul M.M. Cooper's 'Fall of Civilizations' Podcast!Josh: Bo Burnham's 'Inside!'Luke: The S&S books of Schuyler Hernstrom! Questions? Comments? Curses?You know you want to follow us on Twitter!

 Welcome back to these dark, dank alleys. Today we're heading back to Poisonville, MT to see what the heck the Continental Op is gonna do about all these sons of guns. We dive in to a discussion about the Howardian aspects of this tale and how the Op deals with civilization/is a tool of civilization.[...]

Our first stop in Season 14 is a little 'burg called Personville up in Montana, as seedy and corrupt as they come. We'll be meeting up with our buddy, we just call him the Continental Op- no need for first names. So, join us as we dive into hardboiled fiction by starting with Dashiell Hammett's "Red[...]

 To prep for the next season, we hope you will take a look at the story list below! There are lots of detectives, mean streets, and day drinking for you to see in the Hardboiled Alley!Season 141. Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett- Meet up with the Continental Op as he takes on the corrupt burg[...]

Hi everyone! In order to get the full Howard Days experience out to as many folks as possible, we wanted to do one more thing... We have put the 4+ hours of audio recordings of the event in a shareable folder so that folks can access them all at once, and all in once place![...]

Hile, Cromrades! We're rounding our our audio recordings from Howard Days 2021! For this episode, we present the second portion of 'Porchlight Poetry' from Saturday, June 12th. Here, we have various attendees reciting their favorite Howard poems!!!If you enjoy this recording, or you have ever enjoyed a REH story (and you know you have!), please[...]

Hile, Cromrades! We're rounding our our audio recordings from Howard Days 2021! For this episode, we present the first portion of 'Porchlight Poetry' from Saturday, June 12th. For this episode, we have a multilingual recitation of Howard's 'Cimmeria.'If you enjoy this recording, or you have ever enjoyed a REH story (and you know you have!),[...]

Hile, Cromrades! We're back with another recording from Howard Days 2021! For this episode, we present 'The Roy Thomas Interview' from Saturday, June 12th. The guest of honor is interviewed by John Cimino.If you enjoy this recording, or you have ever enjoyed a REH story (and you know you have!), please consider donating to Project[...]

Hile, Cromrades! We're back with another recording from Howard Days 2021! For this episode, we present a recording of the keynote speech from the Robert E. Howard Celebration Banquet from Friday, June 11th. The guest of honor is Roy Thomas, and introductory remarks are offered by Rusty Burke.If you enjoy this recording, or you have[...]

Hile, Cromrades! What a whirlwind, Howard Days 2021 has come and went! For this episode, we present a recording of the panel, 'REH in the Comics.' This conversation from Friday, June 11th, at the First United Methodist Church in Cross Plains, Texas. The panel focuses on the history of Robert E. Howard’s characters and stories[...]

Hile, Cromrades! In just a few short days Howard Days will be upon us! In the spirit of the season, we thought we'd take a minute to revisit just a portion of our recordings from The Cromcast's attendance of the big event back in 2016... This 'rewind episode' features interviews with Indy Cavalier and Rusty[...]

Hail, Cromrades! We return for a final discussion of 'Bloodstone' and wrap up our season on the Left-Handed Path! We mention Brian Murphy's essay juxtaposing 'Bloodstone' and 'Lord of the Rings' quite a bit... Find it here!One ThingsJon: 'The Snowman' by Jo Nesbo. Scandanavian neo-noir!Josh: 'Songs of a Dead Dreamer and Grimscribe' by Thomas Ligotti.[...]

 Welcome back, Cromrades! This episode is special for us, we have a nearly two hour conversation with John F. Mayer, a friend of Karl Edward Wagner's from back in the day and an insightful, creative person in his own right! We talk about Karl's inspirations for Kane, some Appalachian horror, what it was like to[...]

 Greetings, Cromrades! Today, The Cromcast Crew returns with a further analysis of "Bloodstone" by Karl Edward Wagner in part two of our three part reading. We venture deeper into the local politics, hear the low rumbling of a frog army, and try to unravel the Gordian knot of Kane's machinations. Join us for a weird[...]

Hail, Cromrades! We return with another episode as we continue down the Left-Handed Path! Here we discuss the front chunk of 'Bloodstone.' Be sure to check out our story list for details and links to ebooks!One ThingsJon: Ostrander and Mandrake's run on the 'Martian Manhunter.' Get into some funny books!Josh: Tim Burton 'Batman' films... You're[...]

 Welcome back, Cromrades! The winter is long and cold, and we have a chilling tale of vengeance for you to read in this season of darkness. Buckle up, and prepare to Sing A Last Song of Valdese with us. You know how it goes, don't you? Just in case you don't, we invited our pal Rusty[...]

Greetings, Cromrades and welcome back to Season 13 of The Cromcast. On deck today, Karl Edward Wagner and story of the pain and sorrow of War, "Lynortis Reprise". Tune in to hear about this visceral tale that opens with a hardcore prologue. Wagner clearly has a lot to say about War and what it means[...]

Hail, Cromrades! We return with discussion of another story as we continue down the Left-Handed Path! Here we discuss 'Raven's Eyrie. Be sure to check out our story list for details and links to ebooks!One ThingsJon: Get you some o' that Ostrander/Mandrake run on the Spectre! Josh: Diggin' on some board games like Return of the Heroes!Luke:[...]

 Hello Cromrades! We are proud to announce the release of our first ever publication, The Cromcast Chronicle #1! This is a free PDF that will be hosted on the blog (thecromcast.blogspot.com) and we hope you will check it out. You can find fiction, an RPG module, and a dash of articles and reviews all intermixed with[...]

Happy Yuletide, Cromrades! For this Midwinter, we have a surprise project for you!!! Access The Cromcast Chronicle #1 here!What is it? Well, download it for FREE and find out! But if you just can't wait, find a scan of the Table of Contents below :)Happy Holidays!!! 

Hail, Cromrades! This week we summon the Goddess of Dreams to inspire the greatest podcast in all of history! Or at least, we read Karl Edward Wagner's story "The Dark Muse", wherein Kane's friend does something similar! Except, there are risks to summoning this particular eternal, as we learn within this harrowing tale. What do you[...]

The Cromcast is back for a look at another Karl Edward Wagner tale, this time focusing their savage gaze on "Two Suns Setting". This story has got a far Howardian edge to it than our previous Kane story. It features some great debate on the merits of human civilization plus it has a giant and a[...]

Hail, Cromrades! We return for our 13th season! Here we have our inaugural episode for a season on Karl Edward Wagner's Kane, tackling the story Undertow! Be sure to check out our story list for details and links to ebooks!One ThingsJon: A Cook's Tour: In Search of the Perfect Meal by Anthony BourdainJosh: Spookiest Stories Ever:[...]

 Hi all, in prep for the new season, we wanted to spell out our reading list we'll follow as we meet Karl Edward Wagner's Kane. It's a pretty easy approach to things, in that we're reading one short story collection, and one novel. The reading list will follow Night Winds first, and then we'll tackle[...]

Cromrades - we have sad news to share with you. There will be no Wine & Witches episode this year. The Wine & Witches crew did assemble and were excited to record for you, but our recorder malfunctioned. They discussed their favorite Halloween TV specials. It would have been good, and we're sad that it[...]

Welcome back, boils and ghouls! Cromtober continues with a discussion of Washington Irving's classic tale The Legend of Sleepy Hollow in its various adaptations, and the nature of headless horsemen all around the world! Joinnnnn usssssssss!!!One ThingsJon - Harrow County - looks like a great comic for this time of year!Luke - Blumhouse's films on Hulu  -[...]

Cromtober 2020 continues with our examination of Halloween traditions. Part two features a discussion about that mainstay of the front Halloween front porch, the Jack O'Lantern! Why do we carve these grotesque effigies and leave them in front of our domiciles? What sort of story might inspire us to do so? Tune in to find out!One[...]

Welcome back Cromrades. Cromtober 2020 begins, and finds your three intrepid pulp podcasting heroes discussing the traditions and trappings of Halloween... This week, Luke submits 'The October Game' by Ray Bradbury. Join us, won't you?One ThingsJon: Unsolved MysteriesJosh: Old Gods of AppalachiaLuke: The Second World Fantasy Awards, an older anthology of fiction.Next time: Pumpkins, carvin',[...]

"Sing in me, Muse, and through me tell the story. of that man skilled in all ways of contending, the wanderer, harried for years on end”We of the Cromcast have what you might call, a proposition for ya. Just settle on down over yonder and prepare your ears and we shall regale you with analysis of a cinematic[...]

  There was a crooked man, and he walked a crooked mile,He found a crooked sixpence against a crooked stile;He bought a crooked cat which caught a crooked mouse,And they all lived together in a little crooked house. Welcome back to the mountain trail, Cromrades! We were just about to get dinner started - a little[...]

Hile, adventurers! Our adventurers conclude their exploration of classic module, I6: Castle Ravenloft. Do they dispatch Strahd?! Where do they go from here?! Listen to find out! Thanks so much for listening to this season of Bourbon & Barbarians. We hope you enjoyed listening... We sure loved playing! Our episode is freely available on archive.org and[...]

 Welcome back cromrades to another Silver John story. In this episode, the Cromcast crew tackles the last John story Wellman ever wrote and it's a pretty great one. If you have ever wondered what happens when you sing about a witchy pagan succubus at a bluegrass festival, then this story is for you! One ThingsLuke: Fantasy[...]

Hile, adventurers! Our adventurers continue their exploration of Castle Ravenloft, with this being the PENULTIMATE session of the season!Our episode is freely available on archive.org and is licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. "Gnarled Situation" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Likewise Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/

Welcome back, Cromrades! This week, we join John the Balladeer in a lonely cabin at the base of a secluded mountain, where possums as big as dogs wander, an ancient treasure lies buried, and Owls Hoot in the Daytime! This story was one of the later John the Balladeer stories that Manly Wade Wellman published,[...]

 Hile, adventurers! Our adventurers continue their exploration of Castle Ravenloft, with this session revolving around the aftermath of encountering Strahd. Apologies for the audio quality on this ep, we had issues with dropped calls a couple times, had to turn off our video, and we had some mics rubbing against a manly beard or two[...]

 We're down in a rainy holler today, trying to keep up with John the Balladeer. He's fixing to get into a cabin to escape the rain but who knows what sorts of haints may be up to something in such a hovel. Especially in a place touched by history like this one. I reckon if[...]

Hile, adventurers! Our adventurers continue their exploration of Castle Ravenloft, and stand against STRAHD!!! Our episode is freely available on archive.org and is licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. "Gnarled Situation" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Likewise Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/r . Our final track

Welcome, Cromrades! It has been a while, but we are still rolling down that Manly Road through the Appalachian Mountains with Manly Wade Wellman and his Silver John stories! This week, we take a ride on The Little Black Train (read it here) and see that, though death comes for each of us, a sinful[...]

Hail, Cromrades! Looking for a quick bit of fun around the game table? Well, you're in luck! Below is Luke's submission to this year's One Page Dungeon contest. This 'Borderlands' one-shot is system-agnostic, and is designed to be a fun (if disconcerting) splatterfest! If you are hungry for more one-page ideas for the gaming table,[...]

Hile, adventurers! Our adventurers continue their exploration of Castle Ravenloft, and we further explore the catacombs of Ravenloft! Our episode is freely available on archive.org and is licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. "Gnarled Situation" and "Black Vortex" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Likewise Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://

Howdy, y'all! Come on back in this holler a spell and learn a bit about the Silver John tale, "Vandy, Vandy". This is another terrific yarn by Manly Wade Wellman and features a witch man trying his magic on an innocent young gal. Luckily for her, Silver John has come a calling and he's carrying[...]

Hile, adventurers! Our adventurers continue their exploration of Castle Ravenloft, and we further explore the catacombs of Ravenloft! Our episode is freely available on archive.org and is licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. "Gnarled Situation" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Likewise Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/

Welcome back, Cromrades! We're excited to kick off Season 12 with O Ugly Bird (read it here), a John the Balladeer story first published in the December 1951 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. We have a backwoods wizard, a local populace under siege, and John, who breezes through the mountains writing[...]

Hile, adventurers! We interrupt your regularly-scheduled Bourbon & Barbarians broadcast for this special release... We are joined by an old school friend from way back, Levi Combs, who spearheads Planet X Games! Planet X has previously released Jungle Tomb of the Mummy Bride, and An Occurrence at Howling Crater. You may remember a previous episode[...]

We reckon it's time we become acquainted with Manly Wade Wellman, and what better way to do that than to journey through the Appalachians with John the Balladeer? Season 12 takes us East - to the mountains!  O Ugly Bird! – Introducing Manly Wade Wellman, John the Balladeer, and The Manly Road. John comes across[...]

Howdy, Cromrades! The end of The Road West is in sight, but we've got one more stop to make this week along the dusty trail, in a town called Whapeton. Or is it Wahpeton? We've been excited to get here, and now we're discussing The Vultures of Whapeton by Robert E. Howard! This is a fitting[...]

Howdy, howdy cromrades! Get ready for funny bone tickling and mule kicking in an episode that features the humorous western character Breckenridge Elkins. We're going to be covering the Howard story "Mountain Man" and talking about why tall tales appeal to us. It's a rip roaring good time full of corn juice and giggles.  Things[...]

Hile, adventurers! Our adventurers continue their exploration of Castle Ravenloft, and we encounters the BRIDES OF STRAHD. Our episode is freely available on archive.org and is licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. "Gnarled Situation" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Likewise Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Our

Howdy, Cromrades! This week we to back to the movies, and discuss classic and a modern takes on  revisionist westerns - The Wild Bunch (1969) co-written by Walon Green and Sam Peckinpah and directed by Sam Peckinpah, and The Proposition (2005) written by Nick Cave and directed by John Hillcoat. Both of these films depict[...]

Howdy, Cromrades. We hope you are all doing well, we're still trying to pump out some content while the quarantine is in effect. For your enjoyment today, we offer "Trap of Gold" by the essential western author Louis L'Amour. It's short and sweet but full of atmosphere!  One Things: Josh: Stardew Valley, the wholesome farming[...]

Hile, adventurers! Our adventurers continue their exploration of Castle Ravenloft, and take a spiral staircase, goin' dooowwwwnnnnn. Our episode is freely available on archive.org and is licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. "Gnarled Situation" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Likewise Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/

Greetings Cromrades! We're going to be releasing our stores of content in the next week to provide some podcast entertainment for you while you may be in quarantine. Up first, we have Dorothy M. Johnson's story, "A Man Called Horse". It's a quick read, you can find it here, but it has a lot to[...]

Greetings, brave wanderers! Herein we continue our third season of Bourbon & Barbarians! Our adventurers enter the castle and hear some creepy organ music. Our episode is freely available on archive.org and is licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. "Gnarled Situation" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Likewise Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://

Welcome back, Cromrades! Good to see you out here on the dusty Western Road. We just made camp and were about to drink some whiskey beside this here campfire and listen to our pal Rusty Burke tell some stories. Why don't ya join us?  This week's tale is a Robert E. Howard weird western about[...]

Greetings, brave wanderers! Herein we continue our third season of Bourbon & Barbarians! Our adventurers 'get on the  bus,' so to speak and are en route to the Keep on the Borderlands (i.e., Castle Ravenloft)! Our episode is freely available on archive.org and is licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. "Gnarled Situation" by Kevin[...]

Howdy, Cromrades! This week, we're heading down the dusty trail on the Stage to Lordsburg! This influential story by Ernest Haycox was first published by The Saturday Evening Post in 1937, and the 1939 adaptation was a cornerstone in the development of the western film genre! We were excited to talk about the archetypes found[...]

Greetings, brave wanderers! Herein we continue our third season of Bourbon & Barbarians! Our adventurers visit Marweena's cottage, and subsequently visit the Kalish encampment. Our episode is freely available on archive.org and is licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. "Gnarled Situation" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Likewise Licensed under Creative Commons: By

Hey cromrades! Today we have a surprise addition to our western season. Instead of covering a story, we got to talk with Robert E. Howard super-fan, "Indy" Bill Cavalier! Think of this as an open invitation to come to Cross Plains, TX this summer so you can take part in Howard Days 2020. This year[...]

Howdy, friends! We're lighting out down The Western Road this season, taking a look at Robert E. Howard's Western stories, along with tales from other influential western authors! We kick things off in wild fashion this week with "Law-Shooters of Cowtown" by Howard! You can find this story in  "The End of the Trail" collection[...]

Greetings, brave wanderers! We continue our third season of Bourbon & Barbarians! Herein our adventurers visit the Burgomaster, and prepare themselves to enter the proper, actual, for-real-this-time classic AD&D module, I6: Ravenloft! Our episode is freely available on archive.org and is licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. "Gnarled Situation" by Kevin MacLeod (

Hile, travelers! We return to our third season of Bourbon & Barbarians! Herein our adventurers have aged a couple years, learned a couple things, and now piece together the breadcrumbs that lead to STRAHD! Our episode is freely available on archive.org and is licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. "Gnarled Situation" by Kevin MacLeod[...]

Howdy, Cromrades! Where do we turn after our jaunt off-world to Arrakis? How about the Wild West? Saddle up and join us on our trip through the plains for stagecoach robberies, gunfights at high noon, and adventure! Season 11: The Western Road 1.    “Law-Shooters of Cowtown”- Robert E. Howard (Cross Plains 1974): An intro

Welcome back for one more episode this season, Fremen Cromrades! We wrap up our journey to Arrakis with a discussion of Book III of Dune entitled, "The Prophet." One Things: Jon: Blurry Photos' episode on Creepy Cults! Josh: David Fincher's Zodiac! Luke: Luca Guadagnino's Suspira! Where do we go from here? What road will we walk next? Lay[...]

We just can't quit you, Cromtober! We're back for one more episode, wherein we are just gathered around the fire and telling some spooky stories... Join us, won't you? Questions? Comments? Curses? Email us! (thecromcast at gmail dot com) You know you want to follow us on Twitter! Did you know that we're on Facebook?[...]

At last, Wine & Witches is back! Ashleigh, Kara, and Liz have returned to discuss frightening films that left a mark upon their childhood! Up first, Ashleigh presents why Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) is actually a horrific movie. Then, Kara discusses The Brave Little Toaster, an animated film from 1987 and the[...]

Welcome back Cromrades. Cromtober continues, and finds your three intrepid pulp podcasting heroes trapped within The Witch's hut, where their own worst fears are being used against them! This week, Josh discusses his fear of the unknown - not the darkness itself, but what lies concealed within it - in the context of H.P. Lovecraft's[...]

Welcome, Cromrades! Cromtober 2019 continues with the Witch using our fears against us! Today the wheel turns to Jonathan and his fear of being abducted by aliens. Instead of prepping with a story for this episode, you should check out this article on Betty and Barney Hill's alien abduction case. One Things Luke: Clive Barker's[...]

Welcome, Cromrades! It's our favorite time of the year, the season of Cromtober! This year, we go a little free-form with a discussion of our fears. For this first episode (click here) we use HPL's poem, "Nemesis," as a lynchpin for our discussion. Find it here! One Things Jon: Anthony Bourdain's 'Hungry Ghosts' Josh: Final Fantasy[...]

Welcome back, Fremen Cromrades! We are continuing our sojourn through the hot and arid sands of Arrakis, ever in search of that spice which makes intergalactic travel possible! This week, we discuss Book II of Dune, titled "Muad'Dib". Let's catch up with Paul and Jessica, meet Stilgar, become better acquainted with the complex interactions between civilization and[...]

Welcome back, Cromrades! This week we go deep into the first section of Frank Herbert's Dune, from the standpoint of civilization and barbarism, unwanted power, drugs, factions vying for control of Arrakis, ecology, fathers and sons, mothers and sons, conservation, perceptions of native cultures as noble savages, space nuns, adapting to new environments, and more![...]

Welcome, Cromrades! We embark upon a new season centered on Frank Herbert's Dune! Please join us as we start down the Road to Arrakis! In this episode we talk about the Golden Age of SF, the 3 B's (Bims, BEMs, and Bums), and how Dune breaks that mold of foundational science fiction pulps! One Things[...]

Welcome, Cromrades! We've reached the end of The Road of Revisions, and this week we reflect on what we've learned about Robert E. Howard's revision process and discuss the implications of posthumous collaborations. One Things Jon: The Helmet Project - an online index of the helmets worn by various American football teams at all levels of[...]

Greetings, Cromrades! This week, we are reading "Nekht Semerkhet" as orginally written by Robert E. Howard and then expanded upon by Andrew J. Offutt. There's a lot to cover today, including barbarism v. civilization, Egyptian contact theories, and how tropes can become larger than life. Tune in if you dare! One Things Jon: It was[...]

Hile, travelers! We have returned with a finale of sorts for the 'prologue' for our third season of Bourbon & Barbarians! Never fear, our current party will embark on a much bigger adventure soon... RAVENLOFT! If you are interested, the entire prologue series of sessions for Season 3 is based on a 'creative commons' module[...]

Hile, adventurers! We interrupt your regularly-scheduled Bourbon & Barbarians broadcast for this special release... We are joined by an old school friend from way back, Levi Combs, who is now spearheads Planet X Games! Planet X has previously released their first D&D 5E module, Jungle Tomb of the Mummy Bride, and you may remember our[...]

This is a big 'un! We were lucky enough to have Nicole Emmelhainz-Carney and Jason Ray Carney sit in with us for our discussion of "The Fire of Asshurbanpal," which progressed through a variety of iterations as written by Robert E. Howard. Beyond this, we have great discussions about this year's Howard Days, Jason and Nicole's[...]

The Cromcast crew dives into the progression of "The Spears of Clontarf" to "The Grey God Passes" and "The Cairn on the Headland" all by Robert E. Howard.  What starts as historical fiction featuring Brian Boru and Ireland vs. Brodir of Man and a bunch of Vikings becomes a Cthulu mythos tales featuring an Odin[...]

Hile, travlers! We have returned with another episode of Bourbon & Barbarians! Herein the party anger more kobolds, and uncover some loot! Our episode is freely available on archive.org and is licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. "Gnarled Situation" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Likewise Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/

Greetings, Cromrades! This week we set sail yet again, aboard The Tigress this time and with a different captain! We return to the Hyborian Age to discuss "Queen of the Black Coast", focusing on the original text and two comic book adaptations of the story; one from Marvel by Roy Thomas and John Buscema, and[...]

Hile, travlers! We have returned with another episode of Bourbon & Barbarians! Herein we jump straight into a spider fight! Our episode is freely available on archive.org and is licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. "Gnarled Situation" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Likewise Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Yo ho Cromrades! We sail still on the Road of Revisions! In this episode, we engage with "The Transformation"! How does Robert E. Howard's "The Black Stranger" become two other pirate tales- "The Swords of the Red Brotherhood" (also by Howard) and "The Treasure of Tranicos" (by L. Sprague de Camp)? To find out, tune[...]

Welcome back, Cromrades! We're chugging along The Road of Revisions! In this episode, which we term 'The Inspiration,' we tackle "The Striking of the Gong," which you can find in the Kull collection by Del Ray or perhaps a used copy of King Kull. A graphic interpretation of the story from The Savage Sword of[...]

Welcome back, Cromrades! We're picking up steam as we head down The Road of Revisions with our guest, Mark Finn! In this episode, which we term 'The Extension,' we tackle one of the earliest-written Conan stories, "The God in the Bowl," which didn't see publication until 1952 when it appeared in Space Science Fiction. An[...]

Hail, Cromrades! Looking for a quick bit of fun around the game table? Well, you're in luck! Below is Luke's submission to this year's One Page Dungeon contest. This 'Borderlands' one-shot is system-agnostic, and is designed to be a spooky little investigation! If you have an idea yourself, submit it to this year's contest before[...]

Welcome back, Cromrades! We're excited to get rolling down The Road of Revisions, and we go big with our first episode! Here we tackle the roots of Robert E. Howard's brand of sword and sorcery by going deep with the Kull/Conan dichotomy, and we call in our friend and Howard Scholar Karen Joan Kohoutek to[...]

Hile, travlers! We have returned with another episode of Bourbon & Barbarians! Herein we begin in earnest a play-through of Luke's mini-module, entitled "Into the Lair of the Slobbertooth Kobolds." You can check out the module here, or if you are interested otherwise, check out the "One Page Dungeon Compendium 2018 Tenth Anniversary Edition." You[...]