Podcast of the Week: ‘The Stone Tapes’

Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror related chat!

We’re big fans of podcasts here at We Are Cult, and we’re always looking for more shows to subscribe to. So if you’re looking for ear candy, we’re here to help!

This week: Telos Publishing’s David J Howe tells us all about radio series and podcast The Stone Tapes, which he co-hosts with writer Sam Stone.

What’s your podcast about?

The Stone Tapes is a genre show. We feature book and film reviews, discussion and chat about all manner of topics from television and comics to film and everything else genre – so Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror related topics.

If you had to describe your show in 10 words or less, what would you say?

Just listen to it! It’s great 🙂

Which episode would you recommend for a first-time listener?

That’s a tricky one as they are all different.  Maybe episode 7 which is a fun zombie-themed one, or there’s always 23 which was a live show in front of an audience.

Do you have a favourite episode?

Usually it’s the last one we did! For that one, host Sam Stone wasn’t with us, and I had to teleport some people to take part in! [LINK] But as mentioned, episode 7 was a fun one as we were missing most of the regular team and so staged it during a zombie apocalypse where we are cut off from the world!

What inspired you to create this podcast?

It was a love of the genre, and wanting to do something slightly different.  It’s a chance to get to talk about the things we love, and to have guests on to discuss elements in more detail with us.  It was a delight, for example to chat to Chris Smith, director of Creep and Triangle about his work … and to hear from  Tom Spilsbury about Doctor Who Magazine‘s 500th issue celebrations …

Which guests have you had on your podcast so far?

We’ve had authors (Simon Clark, Tim Lebbon, Freda Warrington), film directors (Chris Smith, Kyle Rankin, Mike Mendez), Comics people (George Mann), editors (Tom Spilsbury, John Gilbert), Effects folk (Mike Tucker), Actors (Frazer Hines, Chase Masterson, Mark Lester) … quite a few.  Plus there’s our regular team of author Sam Stone (who presents), David J Howe, Patricia H Ash, George Mann, Robin Pierce with occasional visits and cocktail recipies from Josh Lou Friedman in LA …

L-R: David J. Howe with George Mann, Sam Stone, Daphne Ashbrook, Robin Pierce and Patricia Ash at the University of Lincoln Stephen Langton Building.

Who would be your dream guest?

We’re interested in all things genre, so perhaps someone like David Bradley?  Or Peter Capaldi … maybe Tom Ellis (Lucifer) …  Stan Lee would be cool!  And Luc Besson… Lots and lots and lots…

Which equipment do you use for your podcast set-up?

The show is not just a Podcast as it is transmitted on FM Radio by Siren FM, which is Lincoln University’s own Radio Station.  So we have the ability to play music each episode as well – and we do!  We try and theme the music to the show, and have tracks which are in some way related to whatever it is the ‘theme’ of the show is.

Once it has been transmitted, the shows are then available as a downloadable Podcast on the internet.

So the equipment is a fully functional radio studio with mics and headphones and a console desk …  We all travel into Lincoln to record it each month, with phone and studio guests as available, and then it’s transmitted usually the next Thursday evening.

What would you say is the best length of time for a podcast episode?

Probably about an hour.  Any longer and it can start to drag.  We find that the hour long format works well – we always seem to run out of time, and the shows are fast and interesting to listen to as a result.

Sam Stone, horror writer and host of ‘The Stone Tapes’.

Where is your podcast available to listen to?

All the episodes are archived here for download and streaming: http://southsidebroadcasting.podbean.com/category/the-stone-tapes/

There’s a Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/thestonetapes

And it can be listened to live on transmission here (It can be heard live over the Internet anywhere in the world): www.sirenonline.co.uk/about/how-to-listen

What is the future of podcasting as a creative medium?

I think it’s doing quite well. I’m sure there is a future as everyone likes listening to things, as well as watching and reading them; and creatively it’s really a matter of the time to prepare. The more creative you want to be, the longer it takes to prepare scripts and sound effects and music … as well as possible voice effects and so on.  A basic talk-show is fairly easy, but it’s all the extras which make it special.

I quite like composing soundscapes and so we often discuss a film while listening to the title music, or have little clips to listen to as we talk to the director. We did a sequence of old TV themes one show which was great fun, and film music too… lots of audio possibilities.

❉ ‘Like’ The Stone Tapes page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thestonetapes

❉ Follow Stone Tapes host and horror writer Sam Stone on Twitter: @SamStoneReal

❉ Download or stream past of The Stone Tapes via Podbean: http://southsidebroadcasting.podbean.com/category/the-stone-tapes/


❉ Have you got a podcast? Email wearecultcontent@gmail.com if you would like it to be featured.

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