The Cromcast: A Weird Fiction Podcast - podcast cover

The Cromcast: A Weird Fiction Podcast

A Hyborian Age podcast featuring the works of Robert E. Howard, his pop culture legacy, and other weird fiction.
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Episodes

Season 18 Episode 10: Iron Shadows in the Moon & Mythos Talk

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 discussion of 'mythos' and the third season of 'Twin Peaks' here!One

Jun 15, 20231 hr 29 min

Season 18, Episode 9: Conan in Comics with Jim Zub!

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 Day copy of Conan the Barbarian Issue #0! The art by Robert De La Torre absolutely rips, and the story

Jun 01, 20231 hr 49 min

Season 18 Episode 8: The Rogues in the House

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 in the HouseOne ThingsMatt: Has been toiling away with Elden RingJosh: Pines

May 18, 20231 hr 31 min

Season 18 Episode 7: The Pool of the Black One

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 Came Conan' blog series on The Black Gate. You can check it here!One ThingsJon: Frank Miller

May 08, 20231 hr 13 min

Season 18, Episode 06: Xuthal of the Dusk

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 world and mythos filters placed over the real world. Luke:

Apr 18, 20231 hr 51 min

Season 18 Episode 5: The Black Colossus

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 it. Dissect the role of the Yasmeela, the woman in charge or Khoraja

Mar 28, 20230

Season 18 Episode 4: The Tower of the Elephant

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 Ward's Reread and DiscussionWaltz's Hither Came

Mar 07, 20230

Season 18 Episode 3: The Scarlet Citadel

Welcome back, Cromrades! This week, we follow Conan (or is it, Amra?) into the bowels of 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, won't you? One ThingsJon: Rosalind Kerven's Viking Myths and Sagas.Josh: Wednesday

Feb 21, 20231 hr 22 min

Season 18 Episode 2: The Frost Giant’s Daughter

"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 nerveless hand yet gripped the broken hilt; helmeted heads back-drawn

Jan 31, 20231 hr 29 min

Season 18, Episode 1: The Phoenix on the Sword!

"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 discuss the "The Phoenix on The Sword", published in the December 1932 issue of Weird Tales. You can find a

Jan 17, 20231 hr 19 min

Season 17, Episode 4: Robert E. Howard’s Poetry Pals

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 Season 17, we thought we would take a whirlwind tour through six of REH's favorite poets

Dec 31, 20221 hr 38 min

Announcing The Cromcast Chronicle #3!

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 dot com)You know you want to follow us on

Dec 23, 202225 min

Season 17, Episode 3: Pulp Weirdos!

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

Dec 15, 20220

Season 17 Episode 2: The Many Hues of Robert E. Howard’s Poetry

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 to minute 29 if you are hoping to dive right in to the poetry portion

Dec 01, 20220

Season 17, Episode 1: Pulp Poetry

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 down the well for a bit. We hope you enjoy the show! LinksFrank Coffman's sonnet essayThe Dark

Nov 17, 20221 hr 57 min

Cromtober 2022 Episode 2: Dickens’ ’The Signalman’ and Leiber’s ’Belsen Express’

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 new to Scott's

Oct 27, 20221 hr 18 min

Cromtober 2022 Episode 1: Get on the Ghost Train and Head to Willoughby

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 . For our first episode, we focus most of

Oct 13, 20221 hr 25 min

Season 16 Episode 4: The Winter Players, Part 2

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 Players by Tanith Lee! One ThingsJon: Getting into genealogy, with a gift

Sep 22, 20221 hr 41 min

Season 16 Episode 3: The Winter Players, Part 1

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 go. If not, then maybe exercise some level of responsibility and

Sep 05, 20221 hr 13 min

Season 16 Episode 2: The Finale to Companions on the Road

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 who craves adventure but lacks timeLuke: Has been buying into The Horus

Aug 26, 20221 hr 27 min

Season 16, Episode 1: Companions on the Road by Tanith Lee, Part 1

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 Conan, particularly the letters and Two Gun Bob back matter.Luke:

Aug 12, 20221 hr 18 min

The Cromcast S15 EP 10: The Gothic Road Finale!

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? Comments? Curses?Call us at (859) 429-CROM!You know you want to follow us on Twitter!Did you

Jul 19, 20220

The Cromcast S15 EP 9: The Strange Analysis of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

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 Stevenson's "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde". Another epistolary

Jul 05, 20221 hr 6 min

Howard Days 2022 - Part 9 - A Chat with Matt John of Rogues in the House!

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 (and you know you have!), please consider donating to Project Pride.

Jun 30, 202225 min

Howard Days 2022 - Part 8 - What’s Up with REH?

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 story (and you

Jun 29, 202256 min

Howard Days 2022 - Part 7 - A Chat with Rusty and Shelly Burke!

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 Project Pride. Whether it's $1, $5, or more, anything you

Jun 28, 202227 min

Howard Days 2022 - Part 6 - Conan the Barbarian at 40!

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 have!), please consider donating to Project Pride.

Jun 27, 202256 min

Howard Days 2022 - Part 5 - Late Night Conversation at the Pavilion!

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 $1, $5, or more, anything you can do to support

Jun 24, 20221 hr 10 min

Howard Days 2022 - Part 4 - The Robert E. Howard Celebration Banquet!

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 Howard on the history of gaming. The guest of honor is introduced by

Jun 23, 20220

Howard Days 2022 - Part 3 - The Glenn Lord Symposium!

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 you have!), please consider donating to Project

Jun 22, 20220
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