Writers, artists, and other creators discuss their work, and how art–books, music, and more–helped them through some of the most challenging times of their lives.
Vaughn A. Jackson styles himself as a writer of novels about kaiju, creatures, and cosmic horror, yet his stories defy easy categorization. His most recent novel, Southern Cross, introduces characters from the Civil War era, some of whom are from the ranks of the undead. In this episode, Vaughn opens up about his fear of jellyfish, how his love of fantasy evolved into a love of horror, and the enduring inspiration of the one and only Godzilla.
17 Sept 2026
Nicole M. Wolverton and the Philosophy of Horror
Take a seat at the table with Nicole M. Wolverton, horror scholar and author of the YA horror novel A Misfortune of Lake Monsters and the forthcoming Meat Sweats (2027). Nicole talks about why horror consumers tend to be better prepared to face the terrors of real life, how her childhood “doomed” her to a life as a writer of dark fiction, and the inspiration behind her novel about a character who becomes, in her words, “an accidental cannibal.”
9 Jul 2026
Novelist Michael Pogach: Grief, Vengeance, and Vikings
In his forthcoming historical fantasy novel Valhalla Burning, Michael Pogach explores the lives, landscapes, and lore of Northmen in 9th century Scandinavia. We discuss his talent for writing about vengeance and brutality, his interest in mythology, and why his fiction tends to focus on unhappy people. He also shares the pluses and minuses of life as a college professor, including the role of generative AI.
14 May 2026
The Ballad of Thomas G. Waites
Thomas G. Waites has cultivated a long and varied acting career on both stage and screen, probably best known for his roles in some of Hollywood’s best-known films, including The Thing, The Warriors, and The Clan of the Cave Bear. He has since honed his talents as a screenwriter, a director, and an acting instructor, as well as a musician; he’s the front man for the band Heartbreak Waites, which released its debut album earlier this year. In this episode, Waites discusses the things he learned from John Carpenter, his struggles and successes, and what he considers “the most powerful force in the world.”
“If you want something done, give it to a busy person.” The saying certainly applies to Candace Nola, an award-winning horror writer, editor, and publisher, among other designations. She’s also exceptionally goodhearted, as proven by the time and energy she devotes to building community and otherwise helping her writerly peers through her platform, Uncomfortably Dark Horror. She leaves few stones unturned in this wide-ranging conversation, including the thread that connects all her stories, the pain and power of grief, and how she finds balance amid the chaos of daily life.
18 Dec 2025
The Many Lives of Daemon Manx
Horror author, publisher, musician, influencer, someone who eagerly shares his personal story about his years-long saga of addiction, recovery, and reinvention—the man known as Daemon Manx wears a lot of hats. In this episode, Manx discusses the incident that upended his life—saved his life, he would say—and put him not only on the path to recovery but also toward becoming one of the most prominent voices in indie horror. He also talks about his work, including The Ojanox series and the recently released Abigail: The Terrible Twos, a sequel to his 2021 novel, and why his platform of positivity has resonated with so many people.
4 Dec 2025
Whispers in the Dark With Steve Capone, Jr.
As far as writers go, Steve Capone, Jr. defies easy description. His 2024 novel Max in the Capital of Spies is a YA Cold War thriller, with a side of time travel, though he’s perhaps best known for his work in horror. As the founder of Whisper House Press, he has published anthologies such as Dread Mondays and Costs of Living. In this episode, he details the lessons he learned by running his own press, the benefits of writing across genre lines, and why he doesn’t like to be scared. He also opens up about the perils of being a teacher in 2025, and the importance of doing his part to “repair the world.”
13 Nov 2025
Breaking Bread (and Bones) With Richard Shifman
Bucks County, Pennsylvania-based writer Richard Shifman made quite an impression with his story “Mayo Monday,” an insanely compelling piece of weird fiction published by Cosmic Horror Monthly in 2023. He added to his wide-ranging body of work earlier this year with Paper Airplane, Broken Bones, a coming-of-age novel published under the name R.B. Shifman. In this episode, Shifman talks about the early experiences that shaped his life and influenced his work, why corporate environments and horror go hand in hand, and quite a bit more.
23 Oct 2025
Lisa Hodorovych Lives the Dream of a Writer’s Life
Lisa Hodorovych is living her dream as a writer of horror and horror romance. She opens up about the things that scare her, the publishing empire she’s building to help others breathe life into their writing, and the details of her own work—namely, the novels The Disappearance, He’s Here, and Vampire From Hell, Vol. 1. Other points addressed in our discussion: facing and overcoming rejection, lingering scars from the movies of her childhood, the never-ending joys of kaiju, and much more.
28 Aug 2025
Gary Frank: Storyteller, Dungeon Master, Monster Maker
Take a seat with Gary Frank, whose published works include the novels Institutional Memory, The Thing in the Woods, and Forever You Will Suffer. In this episode he talks about Godzilla, Creature from the Black Lagoon, and some of the other things that have ignited his imagination as a storyteller. Other points discussed in our hour-long discussion: his love of Dungeons & Dragons, how he copes when the world around him gets too heavy, and the inspiration he gets from being part of a community of writers at industry conventions.
31 Jul 2025
The Order of Ef Deal
Ef Deal’s fantastic Twins of Bellesfées series—Esprit de Corpse, Aeros & Heroes, and The Order of Duval—reimagines the landscape of 19th century France with shapeshifters, vampires, and all manner of retrofuturistic technology. She talks about why she chose that time and place to give life to her brand of horror-infused steampunk, what it was like to grow up in a haunted house, and the “wonderful letter” that made her think she would never be a published novelist; lucky for us, she kept going anyway.
24 Jul 2025
River Eno Slays
As an editor and co-owner of the Philly-based indie press Speculation Publications, River Eno plays a key role in bringing spectacular horror and dark fantasy into the world. Spec Pub’s most recent release is called Vampire Hunters: An Incomplete Record of Personal Accounts, which explores the lore of vampires—and the humans who hunt them—across oceans of time and space, from pre-Christianity Babylon to the New World in the 21st century. The anthology, which features chilling stories from the likes of Gwendolyn Kiste and A.C. Wise, came to life on July 22. In this episode, River speaks about the art of assembling such an ambitious project, her own relationship with vampire stories, and her history with magic and the macabre.
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3 Jul 2025
Marcus Versace: Heaven and Hell
Musician Marcus Versace discusses his lifelong passion for heavy metal, the formation of his band Blast Furnace at age 50, and the joy of creating music with others in this interview.
13 Jun 2025
Darlene Versak’s Journey to the Light Within
Author Darlene Versak shares her journey through dark times, discussing lessons learned and choosing love over fear, in an interview with host Dirty Rotten Bill.
5 Jun 2025
Into the Otherworld With Eric Mintel
Jazz musician and paranormal investigator Eric Mintel discusses his experiences with hauntings and cryptid sightings, sharing the strange phenomena that have challenged his skepticism in an interview with Bill Thompson.
29 May 2025
LCW Allingham’s History of Art and Horror
LCW Allingham explores the profound impact of art and early horror films on her creative journey as a writer, artist, and musician in this interview.
22 May 2025
Never Underestimate Daniel Sean Kaye
Meet Daniel Sean Kaye, writer, illustrator, and professional good guy. He has written/co-written and illustrated three books starring a rather resourceful hermit crab, beginning with 2013’s NEVER UNDERESTIMATE A HERMIT CRAB. He talks about his Spider-Man aspirations, why David Bowie’s music has had such a profound effect on his life, and the surprising question he posed to William Shatner. He also speaks frankly about his struggles with anxiety and depression, and how writing, drawing, and helping others help him cope when the dark clouds gather.
9 May 2025
Thriller Writer Chris Bauer Hears You Paint Cowboys
Sit down with award-winning thriller writer Chris Bauer, whose many published works include the novel I HEARD YOU PAINT COWBOYS, which came out in April. He talks about the controversial nature of the topics explored in his books, how his blue-collar Philadelphia roots influence his fiction, and how a kind and mild-mannered family man is able to write deeply flawed (and, in some cases, despicable) characters so well.
Who has been a guest on Taming Monsters with Dirty Rotten Bill
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Marcus Versace
Darlene Versak
Eric Mintel
LCW Allingham
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1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 2 / 100
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4
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