Podsothoth: A Lovecraft Book Club

Claire and Tod discuss HP Lovecraft's "The Outsider," which was first published in the April, 1926 issue of Weird Tales, though purportedly written around 1921. Is it really about body dysmorphia? Could be! Is it goth a fuck? Absolutely it is!Anyway, here are some links!First off, check out Hell Cat Speed and Design's YouTube channel. If that's not quite noisy enough for you, then you're urged to experience Nile's Amongst the Catacombs of Nephrem-Ka with your entire body. Too loud? Head on over to Walking on Mars' Stacy's Mom (from Stacy's Perspective), since it's delightful.Finally, if you're physically and psychologically able, you are COMMANDED to visit with the fine folks and deranged cultists at London Lovecraft Festival at the Drayton Arms in South Kensington on February 16-17, 2025! Go! Now! No time to explain!As always, you can read this story yourself at HPLovecraft.com if you can't be bothered to back up one episode. You might also enjoy The Eve of St. Agnes, if you want just a little smackeral of goth in an otherwise Romantic love story.(BTW, I think all these links are clickable in all normal podcast players. If they're not, please tell me! I spot checked Apple's and Spotify's, and those work just fine.)(And yes, I know how to math. I'm deeply embarrassed for getting my powers of two wrong.)You can text us now. Why? That’s between you and your Elder God. Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

2/11/25 • 37:34

A reading of HP Lovecraft's "The Outsider," first published in the April, 1926 issue of Weird Tales, and first read here by Tod in January, 2025. As this is a horror podcast, it may not be for everyone. Notably, this story contains depictions of a dark and brooding forest of secrets, a crumbling castle of misery, silent rats and other ethereal vermin, screaming, wind-riding ghouls, and, (no spoilers) the most shocking, soul-crushing revelation of abomination and hellishness. If any of that goth as heck stuff is likely to trouble you, you're advised to skip this episode.You can read this story yourself at https://hplovecraft.com/writings/texts/fiction/o.aspx , or enjoy the ambience sounds by themselves at "D&D Ambience - Catacombs," by Sword Coast Soundscapes at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPpVMmTt74Q .You can text us now. Why? That’s between you and your Elder God. Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

1/22/25 • 16:48

Tod and Claire discuss HP Lovecraft's "A Reminiscence of Dr. Samuel Johnson," which was published in the November, 1917 issue of the United Amateur under the name "Humphrey Littlewit, Esq." and have a couple different takes on this story. Is it self satire? Probably. Is it actually a story about imposter syndrome? Maybe! Is it perhaps the most cosmically horrifying story of them all, since even if you're 200 years old, your life may well be vanishingly insignificant? I kind of think so! Happy New Year, and hope you have a couple hundred more!Oh, you want more Sam Jackson lines? Go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMLdPE5OoWI - weirdly, it's mostly variations on "Motherfucker" and no Star Wars or Incredibles zingers, but hey.We talked a little about AHA! around minute 10. Come by if you hack stuff and are in Austin.You can text us now. Why? That’s between you and your Elder God. Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

12/28/24 • 33:35

A reading of HP Lovecraft's "A Reminiscence of Dr. Samuel Johnson," first published in the November, 1917 issue of the United Amateur, and first read here by Tod in December, 2024. This this work is a rarity in Lovecraft's oeuvre, as it was intended as a bit of satirical parody of Lovecraft himself.As this is pointedly not a horror story, there are no content warnings for this episode. However, you are still advised to steer clear if you are troubled by excessive name-dropping, overblown intellectual pretension, imagined slights and reactions to the same, or the very concept of 18th Century style satire.You can read this story yourself at https://hplovecraft.com/writings/texts/fiction/rdsj.aspx , or enjoy the backing ambience, "Crowded Local Tavern," by Sword Coast Soundscapes at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EULoybB2Nsw on Youtube.You can text us now. Why? That’s between you and your Elder God. Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

12/27/24 • 13:54

Tod and Claire discuss "The Evil Clergyman" by H.P. Lovecraft, which was first published in the April, 1939 issue of Weird Tales. As this is a horror podcast, this episode might not be for everyone. Notably, the story features an attempted suicide by hanging, an accidental manslaughter, book burning, the Anglican church, possession or possibly hallucination, and abnormally high foreheads. If these elements are likely to disturb you, you should skip this episode.Correction: Tod erroneously implied, rather strongly, that the Vampire card game discussed in episode 58 was out of print for a long time. Turns out, it was just me who wasn't paying attention. We here at Huge Success regret the error.Go now and pick up NecronimiRom-Com from your local bookseller, online! Bookshop.org matches up local buyers and sellers where they can, and source their material from local, democracy- and worker-friendly bookstores. The print editions are gorgeous and make great horror-holiday gifts!https://bookshop.org/a/108817/9781963760019https://bookshop.org/a/108817/9781963760002Check out Zraitor's international live-play Call of Cthulhu RPG podcast, "Big CoC Energy" using your favorite podcatcher. Or, jump straight to the first episode that has Tod in it at the link below:https://www.spreaker.com/episode/episode-14-blackwater-creek-part-one-call-of-cthulhu-7th-edition-ttrpg-actual-play--62596024 Finally, listen to, or even buy, "Speakeasy on Yuggoth" at our Bandcamp site. It's stupid, but maybe it's your kind of stupid.https://podsothoth.bandcamp.comYou can text us now. Why? That’s between you and your Elder God. Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

12/7/24 • 40:37

A reading of HP Lovecraft's The Evil Clergyman, first published in the April, 1939 issue of Weird Tales, and first read here by Tod in October, 2024. As this is a horror podcast, this episode might not be for everyone. Notably, this story features an attempted suicide by hanging, an accidental manslaughter, book burning, the Anglican church, possession or possibly hallucination, and abnormally high foreheads. If these elements are likely to disturb you, you should skip this episode.And hey, happy Halloween!. Also just around the corner is the American election for President, and many other offices. You know our politics. If you want to help us beat back fascism in the USA, check out Vote Save America: https://votesaveamerica.comWe are not going back.You can text us now. Why? That’s between you and your Elder God. Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

10/26/24 • 11:11

In this episode, we present a lecture and discussion on issue spotting and the nightmarish legal landscape that Lovecraft and his characters occupy. Featuring a barely audible Tod, and a very audible Claire and Harley, presenting their findings in Vanitas Horrendum Lex: From Beyond The Bar.This was recorded live at NecoronomiCon Providence on August 16, 2024, in the beautiful Omni Hotel.You can text us now. Why? That’s between you and your Elder God. Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

9/25/24 • 22:23

Tod and Claire discuss "The Festival," by H.P. Lovecraft, which was was first published in the January, 1925 issue of Weird Tales. As this is a horror podcast, this episode might not be for everyone. Specifically, this story deals with Yuletide and the winter solstice, madness, probable hallucinated delusions, hybridized winged monsters, cultic activity, the silent treatment,  claustrophobia, atonal piping, the Necronomicon, an attempted suicide, and the resultant hospitalization. If such things are likely to bother you, you are urged to skip this episode. If you have a problem with our lefty politics, then you definitely want to skip this and all other discussion episodes.---Stay tuned for the bonus episode, "Vanitas Horendum Lex: From Beyond the Bar!" Editing is nearly done. In the meantime, you can listen to the runaway hit album (hitness not guaranteed) "Speakeasy on Yuggoth" at:https://podsothoth.bandcamp.comStream it for free, or save it for dollars. Seems fair!Read about Liminal, a pretty easy and fun urban fantasy RPG:https://modiphius.net/en-us/collections/liminalWant to ruin your life savings by getting really involved in a collectible trading card game? Great, get super invested in Magic: The Gathering. But, if you just want a fun little hobby collecting a much better game may I suggest _Vampire: The Eternal Struggle_ (formerly known as _Jyhad_), and specifically, Wesley Dodds' Ebay store:https://www.ebay.com/str/ricksjyhadandvtescardshopHe has just oodles of these cards and wants to trade with you.Here are the materials provided by Matthew, as mentioned on the show. Thanks Matthew!* Annotated edition of *Fungi from Yuggoth* by David E. Schultz, with illustrations by Jason Eckhardt, from Hippocampus Press: https://www.hippocampuspress.com/h.-p.-lovecraft/poetry/fungi-from-yuggoth-by-h.-p.-lovecraft-an-annotated-edition-paperback* Anne K. Schwader's sonnet cycle *In the Yaddith Time,* inspired by *Fungi from Yuggoth,* included in her collected works *Twisted in Dream,* from Hippocampus Press: https://www.hippocampuspress.com/mythos-and-other-authors/poetry/twisted-in-dream-the-collected-weird-poetry-of-ann-k.-schwader* Wilum Pugmire’s prose poems responding to each sonnet in *Fungi from Yuggoth,* found in his collection *Monstrous Aftermath,* from Hippocampus Press: https://www.hippocampuspress.com/mythos-and-other-authors/fiction/monstrous-aftermath-by-w.-h.-pugmire* Reading of the sonnets by John Arthur, with original music by Mike Olsen and bonus tracks by Farnese (the Farnese tracks were approved by HPL in 1932), from Fedogan & Bremer: https://fedoganandbremer.com/products/fungi-from-yuggoth-deluxe-2-disk-setWant to get in touch? Search for "Podsothoth" on TikTok, Mastodon, or YouTube and you're bound to find us. Or, email us directly: hideous@podsothoth.club and feel free to include a pronunciation guide for your preferred name.You can text us now. Why? That’s between you and your Elder God. Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

9/10/24 • 57:17

A reading of H.P. Lovecraft's "The Festival," which was first published in the January, 1925 issue of Weird Tales, and first read by Tod on September 2, 2024.As this is a horror podcast, this episode might not be for everyone. Specifically, this story deals with Yuletide and the winter solstice, madness, probable hallucinated delusions, hybridized winged monsters, cultic activity, the silent treatment,  claustrophobia, atonal piping, the Necronomicon, an attempted suicide, and the resultant hospitalization. If such things are likely to bother you, you are urged to skip this episode. Also, there's a creepy audio effect at the end which I quite enjoy, but you might find a little unsettling.Ambiance for this episode is from Dark Chantings Occult Temple Music by Santino. It's droning and off-putting. Check it out!Only one editorial choice was made on this episode, and that was substituting out an archaic ableist slur for the less problematic "mute." You can text us now. Why? That’s between you and your Elder God. Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

9/2/24 • 22:29

Only lightly edited for loudness normalization, this is the live Fungi From Yuggoth discussion recorded at NecronomiCon 2024. If AI generated music offends you, then you definitely want to skip this episode, and we shall never speak of this again. In fact, you should never go looking for such things at https://podsothoth.bandcamp.com,You can text us now. Why? That’s between you and your Elder God. Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

8/16/24 • 56:52

A reading of "The Fungi From Yuggoth," by H.P. Lovecraft, first published in its entirety in _Beyond the Wall of Sleep_ by Arkham House in 1943, though published individually and sporadically in _Weird Tales_ and other magazines after they were completed on January 4th, 1930.  It was first read by Tod on July 21, 2024.As this is a horror podcast, this episode might not be for everyone. Specifically, this sequence of sonnets deals with shoplifting, several ancient farmhouses, glimpses of alien worlds, madness, and some very scary tickle monsters. If such elements are likely to disturb or offend you, you are urged to skip this episode.On the other hand, if you'd like to dive into Lovecraft's poetry, we'll be discussing this sequence of sonnets, as well as other Lovecraftian nonsense live and in person, on Thursday, August 15, 2024 at 7:00pm at the historic Black Box Theater in downtown Providence, Rhode Island. Come join us, as audience participation will be encouraged, though not required. Ticketing info can be found at https://hugesuccess.org/necro2024, and entrance is free for NecronomiCon badge holders.The complete text can be found on HPLovecraft.com, at https://www.hplovecraft.com/writings/poetry/p289.aspxThe ambience sounds for this episode can be found at "Ambiance:  Star Trek TNG Warp Core Ambient Engine Noise," at  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRk-DQUUlz8You can text us now. Why? That’s between you and your Elder God. Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

8/7/24 • 30:24

Send your Lovecraftian legal questions to Claire at hideous@podsothoth.club (not dot-com, dot-club)! Have you been driven insane by glimpsing the ineffable chaos of Azathoth during a seance? Has a loved one been lost to the dark guiles of Nyarlathotep? You may be entitled to compensation!In this episode, Claire and Tod discuss "The Thing In the Moonlight," by H.P. Lovecraft and J. Chapman Miske, first published in the January, 1941 issue of Bizzare, which was based on a letter from Lovecraft to Donald Wandrei in November of 1927.As this is a horror podcast, this episode might not be for everyone. This discussion, in particular, involves the forbidden art of oneiromancy, the unspeakable crime of taking 28 samples at an ice cream parlor, and ends up with some pretty juvenile potty-talk about buttholes (thanks, Kris!). If such elements are likely to disturb or offend you, you are urged to skip this episode.Hey, get your tickets for our live show! Only $10, and details are at https://hugesuccess.org/necro2024 . But even better, you should just get a pass to NecronomiCon proper, at https://necronomicon-providence.com, and come to our show for free! NecronomiCon this year runs August 15-18, 2024. Ia! Ia! Cthulhu? F'Tagn! F'Tagn? Cthulhu!You can text us now. Why? That’s between you and your Elder God. Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

8/3/24 • 31:37

A reading of "The Thing In the Moonlight," by H.P. Lovecraft and J. Chapman Miske. This story was first published in the January, 1941 issue of Bizzare, and is based on a letter from Lovecraft to Donald Wandrei in November of 1927. It was first read by Tod on July 21, 2024.As this is a horror podcast, this episode might not be for everyone. This story involves a swampy dreamscape, an ancient trolley car, and a furtive yet fruitless escape from a howling motorman monster, all as part of a never-ending nightmare. If such elements are likely to disturb or offend you, you are urged to skip this episode.Ambience for this episode is from Dream Era (Dark Ambient Hour) by Iron Cthulhu Apocalypse. Check it out, as it's pretty spooky, and if you're into that sort of thing, visit their Bandcamp. Remember, buying music from artists who list on Bandcamp ensures that the artist gets way, way more money than from the streaming services.You can text us now. Why? That’s between you and your Elder God. Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

7/21/24 • 06:04

In which Tod and Claire discuss HP Lovecraft's "The Picture in the House," first published in the July, 1919 issue of The National Amateur. You can read the complete text at hplovecraft.com.As this is a horror podcast, this episode might not be for everyone. Specifically, this story focuses quite a bit on cannibalism, as practiced in the unexplored Congo and backwoods New England, as well as an overstuffing of queso, a probable death by lightning strike (or, as Claire believes, an axe to the head), a singularly unkempt front lawn, and a side discussion of Tobe Hooper's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) and how it's the greatest "folk horror" movie of all time. If such elements are likely to disturb or offend you, you are urged to skip this episode.Hey, want to read NoCornflake's treatment of Pickman's Model? Check it out at WattPad!Want to catch Tod and Claire and HARLEY GEIGER at NecronomiCon? Go get tickets, or swing by https://hugesuccess.org/necro2024 for updates!You can text us now. Why? That’s between you and your Elder God. Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

7/15/24 • 46:55

In which Tod reads HP Lovecraft's "The Picture in the House," first published in the July, 1919 issue of The National Amateur, and first read by Tod on June 29, 2024. You can read the complete text at hplovecraft.com. Note that a couple words have been changed in this reading. You can guess which ones.As this is a horror podcast, this episode might not be for everyone. Specifically, this story focuses quite a bit on cannibalism, as practiced in the unexplored Congo and backwoods New England, as well as implied murder, farm animal slaughter, a probable death by lightning strike, a singularly unkempt front lawn, and a poor impersonation of an ancient Yankee accent. If such elements are likely to disturb or offend you, you are urged to skip this episode.Ambiance provided by Hidden Used Book Store.You can text us now. Why? That’s between you and your Elder God. Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

6/29/24 • 20:57

In which Claire and Tod talk about HP Lovecraft's "Polaris," first published by HP Lovecraft in the December, 1920 issue of The Philosopher , and available at hplovecraft.com.As this is a horror podcast, please know that this episode may not be for everyone. The discussed story includes descriptions of siderophobia (the fear of stars), a swampy cemetery, a mention of cannibalism, a confusion between waking and dreaming life, and many poorly pronounced fantastical place and race names. If these things are likely to bother you unduly, you are urged to skip this episode.Catch us at Necronomicon Providence, where we'll be playing live at AS220! And for a full recap of the Eldritch Ball of 2022, listen to the beginning of The Curse of Yig (Discussion). (For the flashback sequence to that episode, we used this bit of ambience from Berlin Atmospheres.)Finally, the mentioned TikTok is Lukas T Arnold's Trump Down for What, which is truly quite catchy. The YouTube series, The Most Popular Girls in School, appears to take place one town over from Olathoë.You can text us now. Why? That’s between you and your Elder God. Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

6/18/24 • 34:04

In which Tod reads HP Lovecraft's Polaris, first published by HP Lovecraft in the December, 1920 issue of The Philosopher and first read by Tod on May 12, 2024.Please be forewarned that this is a horror podcast, and so it might not be for everyone. As a warning, this short story includes descriptions of siderophobia, (the fear of stars), a swampy cemetery, a mention of cannibalism, a confusion between waking and dreaming life, and many poorly pronounced fantastical place and race names. If these things are likely to bother you unduly, you are urged to skip this episode.The ambiance for this episode is provided by Horror Wind Ambience. Scary Wind Sounds and Swamp Sounds at Night. Check their YouTube links for much longer versions!You can text us now. Why? That’s between you and your Elder God. Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

5/12/24 • 10:36

In which Claire and Tod talk about HP Lovecraft's "The Music of Erich Zann," first published in the March, 1922 issue of The National Amateur, and available at hplovecraft.com. As this is a horror podcast, please know that this episode may not be for everyone. This story, in particular, features some poorly pronounced French, a number of awkward social encounters, some disturbing and dangerous architecture, descriptions of fantastic otherworldly musical elements and the implied posthumous playing of the same.The video for Sparks's Edith Piaf (Said It Better Than Me) looks like the  Rue d'Auseil, to me.Read up on Pittsburgh's crazy city steps situation. 15 miles of steps!One drop in the episode comes from this amazing compilation of every time the word "cook" is spoken in Breaking Bad.Tod and Claire totally forgot to talk about, at length, the whole spectral music movement in contemporary classical. Go listen to to some,  and then read up on Kaija Saariaho. She was a genius.Also, the abyss, in this story, is really just the horror of neighborhood gentrification.You can text us now. Why? That’s between you and your Elder God. Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

5/3/24 • 40:44

In which Tod reads HP Lovecraft's The Music of Erich Zann, first published in the March, 1922 issue of The National Amateur, and first read by Tod on April 13, 2024.As this is a horror podcast, please know that this episode may not be for everyone. This story, in particular, features some poorly pronounced French, a number of awkward social encounters, some disturbing and dangerous architecture, descriptions of fantastic otherworldly musical elements, the implied, posthumous playing of the same, and the real otherworldly compositions of Kaija Saariaho, performed here by Jakob Koranyi on the ambiance track. Definitely check out her life and work, as it gets much, much weirder than what was used in this episode.You can text us now. Why? That’s between you and your Elder God. Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

4/13/24 • 20:54

In which Tod and Claire discuss The Descendant, by HP Lovecraft, first published in the winter 1938 issue of Leaves. We also talk about Charles Fort and the Fortean Times, kind of a lot.Links to things mentioned in the show include Angela Collier's "physics crackpots: a theory" and https://hplovecraft.com. We also talked about NecronomiCON Providence, which I hope you go to in mid-August.Please be aware, this is a horror podcast, so it might not be for everyone. Notably, this story fragment touches on the troubling topics of the ravages of age and dementia, the Roman empire and medieval England, the dreaded Necronomicon, 90's-era Satanism, and a nihilistic longing to escape the natural world. If these topics are likely to trouble you, you are urged to skip this episode.Editor's note: At about 12m30s, Tod states that Rats in the Walls was written in 1929. That is incorrect. Rats in the Walls was published in 1924, two years before this was written, which implies that maybe this actually was intended as a sequel (but with different names and not really a sequel). In other words, Claire was right and Tod was wrong. That's fine.You can text us now. Why? That’s between you and your Elder God. Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

3/21/24 • 54:12

In which Tod reads HP Lovecraft's The Descendant, first published in the winter 1938 issue of "Leaves," and first read by Tod on February 25, 2024.Please be aware, this is a horror podcast, so it might not be for everyone. Notably, this story fragment touches on the troubling topics of the ravages of age and dementia, the Roman empire and medieval England, the dreaded Necronomicon, 90's-era Satanism, and a nihilistic longing to escape the natural world. If these topics are likely to trouble you, you are urged to skip this episode.Background ambience in the episode is Hidden Used Book Store ASMR, on YouTube.You can text us now. Why? That’s between you and your Elder God. Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

2/25/24 • 09:53

In which Claire and Tod discuss the Rats in the Walls. Note we spend the first quarter talking about racism in literature sooooooooo there's that.Here's the Javascript to change the cats name, do with it what thou wilt: https://gist.github.com/todb/35aa059ef2a94cb86a2db63e5121ddebAnd here's Jason Buck's Linktree, if you get a chance to see him, he's real good, even though we make just a little bit of fun: https://linktr.ee/jasonbuckstoryteller/Okay I gotta pick Claire up from the airport like, right now.In the meantime, feel free to drop us a line!Email: hideous@podsothoth.clubMastodon: @podsothoth@defcon.socialTwitter: nahFacebook: idk, Claire runs that, but if you search "Podsothoth" I'm sure you'll find it.You can text us now. Why? That’s between you and your Elder God. Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

1/19/24 • 62:51

In which Tod reads for you The Rats in the Walls by HP Lovecraft, first published in the March 1924 issue of Weird Tales. Please note, this is a horror podcast, so this episode might not be for everyone. This story contains depictions of cult worship, mispronunciations of various Anatolian and Roman deities, the American Civil War and the Great War, ancient and medieval architecture, Piltdown Man, The Marquis de Sade, surprise cannibalism, and of course, swarms and swarms of rats. If such things are likely to bother you unduly, you are encouraged to skip this episode.That said, the offensive cat name has been altered for this reading. My cat's name is Mephistopheles, so now he's in the story. He's also a black cat in real life. The intro and outro bits were recorded without a proper microphone, oops, and sound a little weird. Maybe I'll re-record those when I get back home.The ambiance is Haunted Catacomb Ambiance. There's some squeaky, scurrying rat noises in there. That might bug you.You can text us now. Why? That’s between you and your Elder God. Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

1/13/24 • 47:23

In which Tod and Claire discuss "The Horror At Martin's Beach," by Sonia H Greene and HP Lovecraft, originally published as "The Invisible Monster" in the November, 1923 issue of Weird Tales.More about Sonia Greene:  https://www.gothamcenter.org/blog/marriage-failure-and-exile-hp-lovecraft-in-new-yorkMore about Captain Orne's possible connection to the Marsh family of Innsmouth: https://lovecraft.fandom.com/wiki/Marsh_familyI used a bit of short ambience in this recording, but if you want nine whole hours of creepy whispering, check it out at:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOCZe0rssPMMore about the Martin's Beach court fight over access:  https://www.surfer.com/features/scotus-ends-martins-beach-sagaWant to get in touch with us? Email works at hideous@podsothoth.club, and so does Mastodon at https://defcon.social/@podsothoth -- I sometimes post other horror/gothy things there.Finally, we have another podcast! It's called, "Hot for Teacher: The Greatest American Hero Watch Party" and you can find it at https://hotforteacher.tv . It's pretty fun, and it's Claire's show, she calls all the shots!You can text us now. Why? That’s between you and your Elder God. Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

12/18/23 • 30:21

Just in time for Halloween! In this episode of Podsothoth, a Lovecraft book club, Tod Beardsley reads to you The Horror at Martin's Beach by HP Lovecraft, which is also sometimes known as The Invisible Monster by Sonia H Greene. It was first published as the latter in the November, 1923 issue of Weird Tales.Please note, this is a horror podcast, so this episode might not be for everyone. This story contains depictions of fish monsters, Yankee capitalism, marine hypnosis, a decadent beachside hotel, and a mass oceanic drowning. If such things are likely to bother you unduly, you are enjoined to skip this episode.Ambiance is provided by Creaky Wooden Pirate Ship on the High Seas in a Thunderstorm by an unknown provider (it's since been deleted from YouTube, sadly).You can text us now. Why? That’s between you and your Elder God. Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

10/31/23 • 16:03

In which Claire and Tod discuss The Shunned House, by HP Lovecraft, first published in the October, 1937 issue of Weird Tales.  And here are some links in case you're a weirdo who reads these show notes.Link to the Kickstarter project for publishing The Shunned House: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/helios-house/shunned-houseWikipedia article about The Shunned House, including the Gorey-esque illustration by Virgil Finlay: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shunned_HouseGirl with All the Gifts trailer, go watch it, it's pretty much my favorite zombie movie, and definitely my favorite fungus movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjGkB_oWTe0Learn all about Crookes Tubes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crookes_tubeSubscribe to our other podcast about The Greatest American Hero and also growing up in the 70s and 80s: https://hotforteacher.tvYou can text us now. Why? That’s between you and your Elder God. Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

9/24/23 • 37:49

In which Tod Beardsley reads The Shunned House, by HP Lovecraft, first published in the October, 1937 issue of Weird Tales. Since this is a horror podcast, it may not be for everyone. This reading contains detailed descriptions of 17th, 18th, and 19th Century architecture, a meandering genealogy, several child maladies and deaths, including stillbirth, an infectious madness, eerie fungi and vapors, a vampiric presence, and a rental property which certainly would not meet modern residential building codes. If any of these elements are likely to disturb you unduly, you are urged to skip this episode.Ambience provided by Haunted House Ambience 4 HOURS.If you like this episode, feel free to write to us at hideous@podsothoth.club, or hit us up on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social.You can text us now. Why? That’s between you and your Elder God. Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

8/2/23 • 63:05

In which Tod and Claire discuss HP Lovecraft's The Nameless City, which was first published in the November, 1921 issue of The Wolverine. Please know that this is a horror podcast, and may not be suitable for everyone, especially if you have problems with claustrophobia and the 20th Century plunder of archeological sites.We talked about John Shirley's Lovecraft Alive! from Hippocampus Press and you should buy it and read it.We also mentioned "The Austin Frog" which is more properly referred to as simply Hi, How Are You.Here's this year's Human Era Calendar from Kurzgesagt but wait until October or so and they'll print a new one for 12,024. They make great gifts for archeology nerds.If you need to calculate HE dates on the fly, the Holocene Era Calculator works pretty well.Also, here's the Arkham Horror AH:TCG expansion, Guardians of the Abyss, which we are convinced is impossible to win. Prove us wrong!Follow on Mastodon at @podsothoth@defcon.social, email at hideous@podsothoth.club, and join this unsanctioned Facebook group that Tod doesn't know anything about.You can text us now. Why? That’s between you and your Elder God. Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

7/2/23 • 34:20

HP Lovecraft's The The Nameless City, which was first published in the November, 1921 issue of The Wolverine, as read by Tod Beardsley in July of 2023.Please know that this is a horror podcast, and may not be suitable for everyone. This story in particular contains depictions of amateur, penetrative archeology by an imperialistic foreigner; various supernatural winds and sandstorms; claustrophobia and sightless spelunking; a very frightened camel who presumably dies alone in the desert; the mummified remains of prehistoric lizardmen; a portal to the hollow Earth; and an attack of a million ghosts. If these topics are likely to upset you, please skip this episode.On the other hand, if you like this episode and this sort of thing, be sure to leave a glowing review on your podcast app of choice. You can get in touch with us directly on Mastodon at @podsothoth@defcon.social, or by e-mailing us at hideous@podsothoth.club.Ambience for this episode is once again provided by Horror Wind Ambience. Scary Wind Sounds.You can text us now. Why? That’s between you and your Elder God. Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

7/1/23 • 30:25

In which Tod and Claire discuss The Unnamable, a short story by HP Lovecraft, first published in the July, 1925 issue of Weird Tales. Please know that this is a horror podcast, and may not be suitable for everyone. This is especially true if you have feelings about Cotton Mather.We discussed the Magnalia Christi Americana by Cotton Mather, not the "Christos Magnalia Americana" which is probably the cursed version.We also played a little of Modular Sessions 9, by Mark Jenkins, and you should defo spend real money and have it shipped to you by real postal mail!Feel free to strike up a conversation with us! We're on Mastodon at @podsothoth@defcon.social, or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. We also have a YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@Podsothoth for some reason.You can text us now. Why? That’s between you and your Elder God. Support the showLike the show? Say so with money! Or just hang out with us on Mastodon, at @podsothoth@defcon.social. Or email us at hideous@podsothoth.club. Best thing? Rate us (positively!) in your favorite podcast app. That helps other people find the show!

6/24/23 • 40:40