Beyond Thundera Podcast

About Beyond Thundera Podcast

Welcome to Beyond Thundera — the podcast where Hall of Omens author Sean McKeone teams up with ThunderCats writer, Peter Lawrence to talk about the secrets, stories, and creative madness behind ThunderCats and everything that came after. We’re talking SilverHawks, TigerSharks, and the wild world of 80s and 90s animation. Expect behind the scenes info, untold production stories, toy talk, guests, and plenty of laughs! We are going to be joined by crew from all aspects of production, voice actors & fellow fans that want to share their personal stories as to why the shows means so much to them.

Publisher

Beyond Thundera Podcast

Category

tv & film

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

14 Feb 2026

Latest episode

29 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

40 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   29 Oct 2026

   The Burning (1981) at 45: Screen Writer Peter Lawrence Reveals the Stories Behind the Horror Classic

   What if one of the most memorable slasher movies of the 1980s was originally supposed to be something completely different? This week on Beyond Thundera, we're stepping away from ThunderCats and into the world of classic horror as Peter Lawrence takes us behind the scenes of the 1981 cult favorite The Burning. And he's got some incredible stories to tell! Peter was the film's screenwriter, working alongside the Weinstein brothers during their early years in the movie business. Now he's sharing his firsthand memories of how The Burning came together, including the surprising origins of Cropsey, the connection to Friday the 13th, and why his original vision for the movie looked nothing like the bloody slasher fans know today. We also get into his experiences with Harvey and Bob Weinstein, a heated dispute over writing credits, and the unusual story behind Cropsey's infamous garden shears. And here's something you probably wouldn't expect: Peter admits that despite writing The Burning, he's never actually sat down and watched the entire movie! Plus, he reveals that he's held onto something from the original production that horror collectors would love to get their hands on. Whether you're a longtime fan of The Burning, grew up on Friday the 13th and classic 80s slashers, or just love hearing the stories behind the movies, this is a fascinating look at a piece of horror history from someone who was actually there. What's your favorite 80s slasher movie, and where does The Burning rank on your list? Let us know in the comments, and subscribe for more conversations with the people behind the movies and shows we grew up loving!

2. 

   22 Oct 2026

   From ThunderCats & Rankin/Bass to Hollywood Legends & Groucho Marx: John Curcio's Incredible Career

   You might recognize John Curcio's name from the credits of ThunderCats, but his incredible career in entertainment goes back long before Lion-O ever raised the Sword of Omens! This week on Beyond Thundera, we're joined by the veteran recording engineer for a fascinating trip through decades of animation, music, and entertainment history, including his work with Rankin/Bass Productions and some of the biggest names in show business! John takes us behind the scenes of classic Rankin/Bass productions, including Festival of Family Classics, and shares memories of working with Jules Bass, Maury Laws, Bernie Hoffer, and Larry Franke. Ever wonder how animated television shows were put together before computers and today's digital recording technology? John recalls the days of mixing entire cartoons using little more than a stopwatch, along with stories about the people, music, and recording techniques that helped bring these beloved productions to life. But John's career reaches far beyond the world of animation! Hear his incredible stories about working with legendary producer Phil Ramone, painstakingly editing recordings of Groucho Marx, and crossing paths with entertainment icons like Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Ethel Merman, and Maynard Ferguson. From his early dreams of becoming a singer to finding himself working alongside artists whose records he grew up listening to, John shares a lifetime of fascinating experiences, unforgettable personalities, and behind-the-scenes memories. It's another trip beyond the cartoons and into the stories of the people who helped make entertainment history! Whether you're a fan of ThunderCats, classic Rankin/Bass animation, Saturday morning cartoons, music history, or good old-fashioned nostalgia, there's plenty to enjoy in this conversation! Be sure to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE to Beyond Thundera for more conversations with the incredible writers, artists, voice actors, musicians, and creative talent behind the shows we grew up loving! And let us know in the comments which of John's stories surprised you the most!

3. 

   15 Oct 2026

   ThunderCats, SilverHawks, & TigerSharks Artist Reunion w/ Jim Meskimen, Dennis Woodyard, & Pepe Moreno! Stories. Art, & Cartoon Secrets!

   You grew up watching ThunderCats, SilverHawks and TigerSharks. But you probably never imagined some of the things happening behind the scenes while these cartoons were being created!We're bringing together Jim Meskimen, Pepe Moreno and Dennis Woodard, three of the artists who helped shape the Rankin/Bass universe, alongside ThunderCats and SilverHawks writer and showrunner Peter Lawrence for a reunion that quickly turns into something much more than a trip down memory lane.What was it like working with Bob Camp? Apparently, it involved plenty of goofing around, wet towels flying across the studio, and somehow getting an incredible amount of artwork finished at the last minute!Then things get candid.What happened when the toy companies started influencing the cartoons? Why did the creative freedom begin disappearing? And what pushed Peter Lawrence to the point of wanting to walk away?We also get into original TigerSharks artwork, the unusual inspirations behind SilverHawks, forgotten voice acting credits, and plenty of stories from the people who were actually there making it all happen.Some of these stories are hilarious. Others offer a fascinating look at the realities of creating animated television in the 1980s.If you've ever loved these cartoons, collected the toys, or wondered how they were actually made, you're going to enjoy this one!Welcome back to the Beyond Thundera Podcast!Subscribe for more behind-the-scenes conversations with the people who created the shows we grew up loving, and tell us in the comments which cartoon you'd love to hear more about!For more on Jim Meskimen:Jim Meskimen’s official sitewww.jimmeskimen.comFollow Jim Meskimen on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063491981026Follow Jim on Instagram@jimpressions Subscribe to Jim Meskimen’s official Youtube Channel https://youtube.com/@UCMEV7kNfLED3O_LqNNDNjAA Check Out Jim featured on “ThunderCat of the Day” on Peter Lawrence’s official website https://www.gpeterlawrence.com/jim-meskimen-thundercat-of-the-day/For more on Dennis Woodyard:SUBSCRIBE to Dennis on YouTubehttps://youtube.com/@DennisWoodyard-DragonflyEntFollow Dennis J. Woodyard - Journeyman Artist on Facebook https://facebook.com/djwjourneymanartistCheck Out Dennis featured on “ThunderCat of the Day” on Peter Lawrence’s official website https://www.gpeterlawrence.com/dennis-woodyard-thundercat-of-the-day/For more on Pepe Moreno:Pepe’s official website:https://pepemorenostudio.com/Follow Pepe on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/pepemorenostudioFollow Pepe Moreno on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pepemorenostudiosBe sure to check out the EXCLUSIVE interviews with Jim & Dennis in the pages of Hall of Omens: Thunder-Verse https://thundercatstoyguide.com

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Contact Beyond Thundera Podcast

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.