Part of the three-member team of the Horror and Hooch Podcast, K. Bly has helped move the show from a sporadic gathering of friends discussing horror on Facebook Live to a more genuine podcast that looks to tackle the releases of the day. Now, in honor of Women in Horror Month, I talk with her about the beginning stages of the show, how it's shaped over time and the future of their show.
Me: Hello, and thank you for taking the time to do this. First off, when did you first get into the genre?
KB: I have always been a fan of the horror genre. I remember watching shows like The X-Files, Tales from the Crypt, and Goosebumps as a child (I still watch a few currently). As an adult, I enjoy horror and sci-fi shows such as Black Mirror, American Horror Story, The Walking Dead, and Stranger Things. This genre provided me with a sense of escapism from my own life growing up.
Me: Were you always into the genre growing up? What were some of your favorite horror films that got you into the genre?
KB: Yes, horror books, movies, and shows. Some of my old school favorite movies are “The People Under the Stairs”, “Night of the Living Dead”, and “Child’s Play.” I also loved Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” I thought it was so creative to mix pop music with scary movie themes.
Me: How with the concept for the podcast start initially?
KB: On Halloween night of 2018, myself and Jade Astral decided to do a live discussion of the Netflix latest and trending horror show, “The Haunting of Hill House.” We wanted to add another horror concept to our media company, The 5th Wall, LLC and engage other horror fans on social sites. After the support and response, we received during the live chat on Facebook, we decided to continue discussing horror on Facebook live. I’ve known Jade since college, and we are both horror fanatics and loved the idea of talking about this subject more often, and with like-minded individuals. Desiree was introduced to us through one of The Vth Wall members because of her love of horror. She was also a bartender, and we thought that it might be fun to add the element of drinks while we chat. This sparked us to create the name Horror & Hooch, scary stuff and drinks. We also figured out a way to create a podcast using the audios from the live chats.
Me: Has the style of prepping and recording a show changed since then?
KB: As we start season 2, we will be pre-recording more due to our work schedules not lining up as they did last year.
Me: Is the structure and general format changed over time since you've first started?
KB: We haven’t changed our format, we just keep improving, learning, and remaining consistent.
Me: What is the usual strategy you employ for note-taking before a new recording?
KB: We meet as a team to brainstorm and discuss the show order a couple days before recording.
Me: Are there any pre-show rituals you perform before recording?
KB: We fix the featured drink before the episode to have it ready and enjoy a few sips! lol
Me: Has your relationship changed over the course of the shows' run?
KB: It has made us all closer and created a sisterhood bond between us.
Me: What has been the most surreal or unexpected experience the show has afforded you since you started?
KB: During October, we decided to spotlight different actors of color in the horror genre. One of the actors was from my favorite horror movie, “The People Under the Stairs.” We tagged Brandon Adams in the Instagram post and he liked and commented under the post!
Me: What is the overall goal of the show moving forward?
KB: We wanted people to understand our horror fandom and dedication to changing the narrative of African Americans and the horror genre, especially African American women. It is hard it is to find other women of color who enjoy horror, but we also know they exist. We wanted to provide an outlet for this group of people and all girls who love horror.
Me: Lastly, being that this is Women in Horror Month, what special message do you have for any women out there looking to join in the industry in any capacity as you are one yourself?
KB: Go for it! Don’t let excuses stop you! We don’t have fancy equipment or big investors yet, but we still create content with what we have. Thank you again for your time! No, thank you!
To check out a potential episode and get to know their style:
This interview ran as part of our month-long Women in Horror Month celebrations. Click the banner below to check out all of our reviews and interviews we've conducted for the event:
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