Happy Friday! Today is the end of another month, and what a crazy month it was. Running a website is difficult and there are a lot of variables to take into account. I always do my best to make sure everything is running efficiently. I want your art and the art of other independent creators to be seen by as many people as possible.
None of this would be possible without the readers, friends, and family of Effective Nerd. This month was possibly the most exciting month in the history of the website. I had a lot of new experiences and met a lot of great people. There are some exciting things coming in the future. For now, I just wanted to say thank you.
It wouldn’t be Friday if we didn’t do an interview. It wouldn’t be the best month ever without some great interviews. Today is no exception.
Today’s interview breaks an Effective Nerd record. I was able to interview not one, but four creators! The previous record was held by Johnny and Jake of the webcomic Lumber Jackson.
I first heard of Hack or Slash around the same time that I started this website. I met a few of the hosts through our mutual friend Matt from Fearter Horror. I subscribed to the Hack or Slash podcast and have been a listener ever since.
What I love about Hack or Slash is their diverse set of personalities and perspectives. I was very excited to be able to bring this dynamic into the interview. I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as we did.
An Interview With Hack or Slash
This interview contains four creators: Kris, Leah, Dan, and Parker (Peej). Their names will be labeled accordingly.
Aaron Iara: Thank you for taking the time to speak to me this week! I have been a big fan of Hack or Slash for a while now. Leah and Dan were two of the first people I met on Twitter when I started Effective Nerd. Please tell the readers a little bit about yourself and the podcast.
Kris: First and foremost, thanks for making the time for us! We’re stoked you’ve grown fond of the show, and we’ve enjoyed your contributions to our community. Hack or Slash is a horror movie review podcast born from the idea that horror is for everyone, regardless of how familiar you are with the genre or what flavor of horror you fancy.
Exhibit A of our belief in that idea is the composition of our cast. We assembled a diverse team from varying walks of life to view and discuss each movie. That allows us to celebrate how successful a film is based on the filter of our own perspectives — whether that be in terms of our cultures, lifestyles, professions, or experiences.
Our main goal for each episode is to tell our audience whether a movie is a hack (a total joke, a waste of time) or a slash (totally killer, pun intended). Our ultimate goal, though, is to foster an environment in which conversations about horror movies are used as catalysts to build enriching connections between people.
My name is Kris, and I’m the Showrunner for Hack or Slash. In a nutshell, I’m responsible for the execution of the show — what takes it from being just a casual chat among friends to becoming a polished show the world can access. I produce the show alongside four wonderful humans (Dan, Leah, Alexis, and Peej). Outside the realm of the podcast, I’m a Miami Marlins enthusiast, productivity nerd, and Star Wars aficionado.
Leah: I’m so happy I can be one of the firsts you met!! I currently live in VA with Dan and our pup, Daisy! I work in the mortgage business funding loans. Love to climb and spend time outside! As for the podcast – it’s always been a group of friends just chatting about horror! We try and stay open and available to our audience to stay different.
Dan: I am a data analyst and developer as well as a horror enthusiast! I love learning and trying everything from art to climbing and even music. My favorite month is October and I wish it could be fall year round. I love discussing almost anything and chatting horror with everyone, so shoot me a message.
Aaron Iara: It is great to finally chat with you all. I love your inclusive mindset toward both the horror genre and podcasting.
I love you knowledge and insight into filmmaking. Do you have a background in this medium?
Kris: I have a professional background in journalism (print, broadcast and photo) as well as digital cinematography. I served as a journalist in the U.S. Navy for five years, which really bolstered my experience with storytelling. Following my enlistment I attended college (hooyah G.I. Bill) for a degree in digital cinematography. I also worked in marketing making commercial videos for a mortgage company. My passion, though, has always resided in independent filmmaking. I saw John Carpenter’s Halloween as a kid, and that movie took me from being a fan of movies to being an aspiring horror filmmaker.
Dan: I do not, just an armchair enthusiast! I do enjoy writing short scary stories or mini film ideas however!
Aaron Iara: One of my favorite parts of Hack or Slash is the fake commercials you make between segments. How would you describe your creative process when it comes to making the podcast?
Kris: That sponsor work is 100% Peej’s baby, and it’s pretty great to see the stuff his mind comes up with on a weekly basis. In terms of the podcast as a whole, I originally got the idea to start the show because I was looking for a way to blend my love of horror movies with a creative outlet. Our show at its core has always been about trying new things and pushing ourselves to be better.
While we have a brand to adhere to and a framework for everything we do, trying new things and fostering a spirit of creative courage is very much ingrained in the show’s DNA. When we think of something new we want to try, we’ll typically discuss it as a group, identify a time when we can execute it, and pull the trigger when we’re ready.
Dan: Try stuff and see what sticks and flows. Lots of our development has been trial and error, and we just stick with what seems to be working!
Peej: We disagree with the idea of putting sponsors in our show simply because that’s boring. Instead, I decided to incorporate fake sponsors to make fun of this idea. So far, it’s been very successful and has received great feedback from both our listeners and the team. Curating these fake sponsors is an exciting challenge, and a way to let my imagination run wild.
Each fake sponsor will be in relation to the movie we’re reviewing. In the process, I’ve been able to create new characters that listeners may hear from again in the future (Desmond Khaleesi, Derek Vanderskin, Herbert, etc.), and it’s been a lot of fun. Each sponsor is never my regular voice, as we try to make them sound like someone else. I’ll practice with Kris some different accents and we’ll note it as a possibility for a new character. Sometimes the scripts I write can become a little too inappropriate, so we dial it back as we believe necessary.
Aaron Iara: Making podcasts, especially in a round table format, requires collaboration with others. How do foster relationships and approach the collaboration process?
Kris: Fostering relationships was honestly an afterthought when we started the show, but that’s only because Dan, Leah, and I were already in the beginning of forming a great friendship. Our chemistry came naturally and wasn’t something we had to exert effort into working for. Outside of the show the three of us were constantly spending our Friday nights playing board games, surviving D&D campaigns, and working our way through haunted houses. Dan and I met because we worked together, and we’d often spend our lunch breaks together talking about our hopes and dreams for how the show would grow.
Since we’ve expanded it’s a little tough to have as much constant contact with each other (5 adult schedules will do that to a group), but we still try to connect individually as much as possible. In terms of collaboration, we try to keep everyone in the loop with group chats or relay conversations to keep each other up to date.
Leah: We had to change this as we gained more people, but people can bring up ideas to the group at a time they feel is appropriate and then we all discuss.
Aaron Iara: What are your biggest obstacles when it comes to making Hack or Slash? How do you overcome them?
Kris: Scheduling two hour recording sessions for five adults — two of whom have had (or previously had) two jobs — can make for a logistical nightmare. Beyond logistics, we have a group of passionate folks who share a common goal of making ours how the best it can be. The vision for how it can be best may vary slightly from person to person, but the beautiful thing about our team is that we value human connection and our relationships with each other above all else. This show has made us all better communicators, and ultimately our content is made better for it.
Dan: I think our obstacles are our strengths. We come from totally different backgrounds and perspectives, so at times aligning completely is challenging, but without these differences there would be no discussion or unique inputs.
Aaron Iara: Scheduling is definitely tough! That is what made me stop playing in bands for a while. I ended up teaching myself how to produce music solo. I have gigged with a few bands since but the scheduling always gets in the way.
Though I love horror movies and television shows, I primarily review and discuss horror comic books. Are you into horror comics at all?
Kris: I’ve wanted to get more into comics — it’s a world that’s largely unexplored for me. My favorite so far, though, is a horror storyline of the Archie comics: Afterlife with Archie. It’s basically the tale of how a zombie apocalypse consumes Riverdale, and the titular character and his friends have to make some tough decisions along their way to survival. 10/10 would recommend.
Dan: I have not read a single comic, horror or otherwise. I didn’t even know there were horror comics, send me a recommendation of one!
Aaron Iara: Kris, I LOVE Afterlife with Archie. I am a huge Archie-head (is that a thing? Am I a Jughead?). When I was little, my stepfather gave me his collection of Archie comics. It has been love ever since.
Dan, I think a fun place to start would be Image Comics’ Revival. It brands itself as a “rural-noir”. A small town is quarantined by the government after a handful of dead citizens came back to life. They are seemingly normal, but something is off about them.
Even though I do not exclusively write about horror, the horror community online has been incredibly supportive of Effective Nerd. I have made so many great friends through chatting about horror online. How do you feel about the horror community? Have you had the same experience?
Dan: The online horror community seems great! I have been able to get opinions and views on horror from around the world, which is unique and interesting to me.
Peej: I can agree with you on the social engagement you’ve received from the horror community. We’ve seen plenty of it ourselves, and they’re always willing to jump on-board granted that you provide an opportunity that’s easily accessible. They’re a very passionate bunch, and we are very thankful for they’re community engagements in horror. It’s a strong responsibility to continue doing what we do, because it’s the community that will always be our backbone. Horror is what has tied the strong bonds in our team, and we wanted to create those same bonds among our listeners.
Leah: I love the online horror community!! Everyone is so fun to chat with and share opinions. I’ve personally had some great conversations.
Aaron Iara: What advice can you give for people who want to start making podcasts?
Kris: Show up, be consistent, and be vulnerable.
There’s a fine line you have to walk that’s right between minimum viable product and putting your best foot forward. I’m a perfectionist and didn’t want to put out a product I couldn’t stand behind, but in our early days we didn’t have the financial resources to get the equipment to the point we wanted to be.
I’d say don’t be afraid to just start. You should take your planning and pre-production seriously. If your content is even 95% of the way to where you want it to be, that will shine through rough beginnings in audio quality. This will give you time to tweak the mechanics of your show before you invest in the gear you dream of.
Once you get started, keep going. Every show suffers at some point from podfade, and it can be tough to keep going when you don’t see the results you want to immediately. The secret is you’ll never see those results instantly — your audience will come when you prove to them you’re consistent and worth showing up for.
As you’re producing content you should be reflecting constantly; you should know yourself, objectively understand your show, and constantly seek self-improvement. While that doesn’t mean make radical changes every week, it does mean have a 30/60/90 day plan for how you want to steer your ship.
Dan: Make sure you enjoy it and set measurable goals to track progress. Without them you will be progressing blindly.
Aaron Iara: I think Kris summed it up perfectly. I feel that consistency and vulnerability are the two hardest parts of starting a creative endeavor. They were for me at least. However, it all gets easier with some experience.
Dan, I am a huge advocate for goals and progress tracking. I know its not hip to show that you care about your work in a quantitative or progressive manner. However, I think having a measurable strategy is essential.
Do you have any upcoming projects or events you would like to discuss?
Kris: We’re honestly looking forward to a few new theatrical releases we’ll be doing this summer. We have a few other plans for the show we’re keeping under wraps.
Our show heavily focuses on movies that preys on the fears of their audiences, and that’s been a blast to unpack. Later this year I’m going to be starting a podcast that’s just about the complete opposite of our current show. In short, it’s a podcast celebrating both the extraordinary and everyday endeavors of the human spirit by sharing stories of people who exhibit courage in their lives.
Peej: We have several ideas that we have jotted down, and I am currently working on a couple changes in collaboration with our team. We are not sure which will work and which will fall through, so we’re gonna keep that to ourselves for now.
Aaron Iara: Thank you for taking the time to speak with me this week! Please tell the readers where we can find your work.
Kris: You can reach out to us by shooting us an email to [email protected], shoot us a text or voicemail to the Hack or Slash Hotline (757) 606-0128, or check out our site www.hackorslash.com. To subscribe to our show in your podcast app of choice, just click here.
Check Out Hack or Slash!
A huge thank you to Kris, Leah, Peej, and Dan for taking the time to chat with me this week. I hope you like Hack or Slash as much as I do. It has grown to be one of my favorite podcasts over the past year.
Hack or Slash’s Official Website
Email Hack or Slash
Subscribe to Hack or Slash
Hack or Slash on Twitter
Hack or Slash on Instagram
Do You Like Horror Podcasts?
I love podcasts based in the horror genre. What are some of your favorite horror podcasts? Let me know on social media!
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