What would you do if you couldn’t make your art anymore? If you couldn’t write? If you couldn’t cook, or play music, or read? If your creative outlet and passion were taken away?

Those are just a few of the horrifying questions I discuss with special guest J.R. Blanes, whose novel Portraits of Decay will make you consider the meaning of art, dark magic, the tension between the Hollywood version of voodoo and the reality, and more!

J.R. Blanes is the author of multiple short horror stories, appearing via Wicked Shadow Press, Hiraeth Publishing, Dark Horses Magazine, the NoSleep Podcast, Tales to Terrify and more. His debut novel, the New Orleans-inspired Portraits of Decay, was recently published through Ruadán Books.

Connect with J.R.: https://jrblanes.com

Connect with Viggy: https://viggyhampton.com

Purchase A Veritable Household Pet along with Viggy’s other books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B082DC79CG/allbooks?ingress=0&lp_context_query=viggy+parr+hampton&visitId=de1e27e5-1287-480a-b6e5-8e57fcd3f214&ref_=ap_rdr&ccs_id=d71bd3f1-0606-455c-b57f-3eb3635a30d1

Sound effects courtesy of Pixabay and Apple

Keep up with Horror Humor Hunger:
- Instagram: @horrorhumorhungerpodcast
- Viggy's Instagram: @viggyparrhampton
- Twitter: @HHHPodwithViggy
- Sign up for Viggy's monthly newsletter at www.viggyhampton.com

Who else loves The Twilight Zone? Who else enjoys being plunged into a strange, surreal world? If this describes you, then join me and author Daniel Braum as we discuss strange tales, why we’re drawn to the macabre, and what we wish we saw more of in the horror world.

Daniel Braum writes short stories that explore the tension between the psychological and the supernatural. His debut short story collection The Night Marchers and Other Strange Tales was re-released in 2023 in a new edition from Cemetery Dance Publications. His stories have also appeared in many magazines and anthologies including the The Best Horror of the Year Volume 12 edited by Ellen Datlow.

Connect with Daniel: https://bloodandstardust.wordpress.com

Connect with Viggy: https://viggyhampton.com

Purchase A Veritable Household Pet along with Viggy’s other books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B082DC79CG/allbooks?ingress=0&lp_context_query=viggy+parr+hampton&visitId=de1e27e5-1287-480a-b6e5-8e57fcd3f214&ref_=ap_rdr&ccs_id=d71bd3f1-0606-455c-b57f-3eb3635a30d1

Sound effects courtesy of Pixabay and Apple

Keep up with Horror Humor Hunger:
- Instagram: @horrorhumorhungerpodcast
- Viggy's Instagram: @viggyparrhampton
- Twitter: @HHHPodwithViggy
- Sign up for Viggy's monthly newsletter at www.viggyhampton.com

This very special bonus encore episode featuring the horrors of modern dating celebrates the publication of my satirical novel-in-stories, The Tinder Chronicles!

First dates can be hell… or hilarious. Dating can be horrible, but the right attitude can turn even the worst date into something memorable. From wannabe rappers to semi-pro golfers, from naughty ventriloquists to unicycle-riding parrot dads, this novel-in-stories showcases the humor of modern dating in over fifty snappy, witty vignettes—most of which are based on true stories.

It’s safe to say dating today is very different compared to dating a few decades ago. The introduction of smartphones and dating apps has radically changed how we meet people--and not always for the better. Today’s special guest, Dr. Camille Holiner, and I both met our husbands on dating apps, and we’re here to discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly of the dating process. We also have a bonus mystery guest who shares some hilarious, horrifying, and spicy stories from his dating app experience!

Connect with Viggy: https://viggyhampton.com

Purchase The Tinder Chronicles: https://www.amazon.com/Tinder-Chronicles-Novel-Stories-ebook/dp/B0GRSFS44R/

Sound effects courtesy of Pixabay and Apple

Keep up with Horror Humor Hunger:
- Instagram: @horrorhumorhungerpodcast
- Viggy's Instagram: @viggyparrhampton
- Twitter: @HHHPodwithViggy
- Sign up for Viggy's monthly newsletter at www.viggyhampton.com

T.J. Payne is the author of the smash hit INTERCEPTS, which has sold over 95,000 copies and has had over 25 million page reads on Kindle Unlimited since its publication in 2019. He’s also the author of THE VENUE and IN MY FATHER’S BASEMENT. Born and raised in Portland, OR, he moved to Hollywood with plans to write romantic comedies, but as he worked on his craft, he found his stories drifting toward more sinister themes--and aren’t we all so grateful he found his home in horror!

Join us as we discuss the hardcover release of INTERCEPTS, going from self-publishing to traditional publishing, TV and movie writing, and relationships as the heart of horror stories.

Connect with T.J.: https://www.instagram.com/tj.payne.author/

Connect with Viggy: https://viggyhampton.com

Purchase A Veritable Household Pet along with Viggy’s other books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B082DC79CG/allbooks?ingress=0&lp_context_query=viggy+parr+hampton&visitId=de1e27e5-1287-480a-b6e5-8e57fcd3f214&ref_=ap_rdr&ccs_id=d71bd3f1-0606-455c-b57f-3eb3635a30d1

Sound effects courtesy of Pixabay and Apple

Keep up with Horror Humor Hunger:
- Instagram: @horrorhumorhungerpodcast
- Viggy's Instagram: @viggyparrhampton
- Twitter: @HHHPodwithViggy
- Sign up for Viggy's monthly newsletter at www.viggyhampton.com

In this episode, I’m joined by award-winning author and actor Joey Powell! His recent published work includes Squirming All the Way Up and Night Games, co-authored with his twin Josh Powell. He’s also an incredible illustrator and book designer, and he’s the owner and operator of indie press Mad Axe Media. Join us as we discuss horror as art, what it’s like to operate a small press, what we wish we saw more of in the horror world, and more!

Keep up with Horror Humor Hunger:
- Instagram: @horrorhumorhungerpodcast
- Viggy's Instagram: @viggyparrhampton
- Twitter: @HHHPodwithViggy
- Sign up for Viggy's monthly newsletter at www.viggyhampton.com

Nat Cassidy is an award-winning actor, playwright, director, and the author of the acclaimed novels When the Wolf Comes Home, Mary: An Awakening of Terror, Nestlings, and Rest Stop. Esquire has named him one of the "writers shaping horror’s next golden age.” His newest collection, I Know a Place, drops TODAY, May 5!

Join us as we discuss the structure of writing horror, subversion, suspense, character-driven, compulsively readable stories, and the current golden age of horror we’re lucky enough to find ourselves in!

Connect with Nat: http://www.natcassidy.com

Connect with Viggy: https://viggyhampton.com

Purchase A Veritable Household Pet along with Viggy’s other books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B082DC79CG/allbooks?ingress=0&lp_context_query=viggy+parr+hampton&visitId=de1e27e5-1287-480a-b6e5-8e57fcd3f214&ref_=ap_rdr&ccs_id=d71bd3f1-0606-455c-b57f-3eb3635a30d1

Sound effects courtesy of Pixabay and Apple

Keep up with Horror Humor Hunger:
- Instagram: @horrorhumorhungerpodcast
- Viggy's Instagram: @viggyparrhampton
- Twitter: @HHHPodwithViggy
- Sign up for Viggy's monthly newsletter at www.viggyhampton.com

Stephanie Rose is a bookseller, publisher, editor, and author--a true Renaissance woman of horror. Join us as we discuss the best background media for writing (horror movies on mute!), why horror matters, weekly writing goals, handling reviews, and her style: cinematic, comedic, and cozy (we love an alliteration over here!).

Connect with Stephanie: https://stephanierosewriter.com

Order from Death by TBR Books: https://deathbytbrbooks.com

Connect with Viggy: https://viggyhampton.com

Purchase A Veritable Household Pet along with Viggy’s other books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B082DC79CG/allbooks?ingress=0&lp_context_query=viggy+parr+hampton&visitId=de1e27e5-1287-480a-b6e5-8e57fcd3f214&ref_=ap_rdr&ccs_id=d71bd3f1-0606-455c-b57f-3eb3635a30d1

Sound effects courtesy of Pixabay and Apple

Keep up with Horror Humor Hunger:
- Instagram: @horrorhumorhungerpodcast
- Viggy's Instagram: @viggyparrhampton
- Twitter: @HHHPodwithViggy
- Sign up for Viggy's monthly newsletter at www.viggyhampton.com

Who better to discuss medical and body horror than an emergency medicine physician with a flair for the macabre? N.J. Gallegos is an absolute powerhouse--her novella Just Desserts won an American Legacy Book Award in the Psychological Horror category in 2024, and in 2022 and 2025, she won first place in Alien Buddha Press' Horror Showdown. In 2025, she was nominated for two Pushcart Prizes. She’s also published 2 novels--The Broken Heart and The Fatal Mind, and her latest publications are a fabulous novella called Eat Your Heart Out and a collection called Time of Death (coming May 26, 2026). Join us as we discuss the gnarliest things she’s seen as a physician, how to balance work and writing, the best ways to decompress (hello, reality TV and writing horror!), and our favorite pathogens!

Connect with N.J.: https://njgallegos.com

Connect with Viggy: https://viggyhampton.com

Purchase A Veritable Household Pet along with Viggy’s other books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B082DC79CG/allbooks?ingress=0&lp_context_query=viggy+parr+hampton&visitId=de1e27e5-1287-480a-b6e5-8e57fcd3f214&ref_=ap_rdr&ccs_id=d71bd3f1-0606-455c-b57f-3eb3635a30d1

Sound effects courtesy of Pixabay and Apple

Keep up with Horror Humor Hunger:
- Instagram: @horrorhumorhungerpodcast
- Viggy's Instagram: @viggyparrhampton
- Twitter: @HHHPodwithViggy
- Sign up for Viggy's monthly newsletter at www.viggyhampton.com