Merry Christmas, friends and FoGgers! We're still in our off-season for regular episodes, but in keeping with recent tradition we're jumping in again to cover an adaptation of Charles Dickens' immortal classic, A Christmas Carol. This time, we're covering a decisively less traditional and straight-forward version of the story with a conversation about Bharat Nalluri's film THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS, based on the book by Les Standiford. The story focuses on Dickens himself (played by Dan Stevens) who, following a disappointing streak of low-selling works, hurls himself into a swift bid for success by attempting to write and publish a small book for Christmas within 6 short weeks. The film explores Dickens' various personal troubles, including tensions with his father and his peers, and the ways in which the creation of his timeless story pointed to a personal redemption and sparked a fervor for a holiday that too-long been ignored. It also deploys a creative narrative device by having the characters from A Christmas Carol blur the lines between Dickens' imagination and his experiences. Our conversation also features a brief excursion examining the classic animated short MICKEY'S CHRISTMAS CAROL and a Patron-only return of the long absent WHATCHA segment, this is a lively and heartfelt discussion about the ways the stories in our hearts can teach and guide us and how the season of Christmas can point us to so much more than a mere celebration. We hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year! Patron Only Segment: Whatcha Watchin' / Readin' / Listenin' To (Task, It: Welcome to Derry, The Chair Company, and Freakier Friday) 6:53 - The Christmas Carol Tradition 11:56 - MICKEY'S CHRISTMAS CAROL 27:56 - THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As difficult as it is to believe, STRANGER THINGS is coming to an end. The show premiered just one month before The Fear of God Podcast debuted, which feels difficult to fathom for a number of reasons. Stranger Things has also directly influenced the way we cover TV media on the show, yielding to segments like #tvguideposts where we cover one episode of a show at a time. What you are about to hear is our complete coverage of Stranger Things Season 4, which consisted of a focused discussion of each episode with a host of different guests, both old and (at the time) new. We then gathered together some friends for a full discussion of the season as a whole (and to play a very fun Stranger Things Trivial Pursuit game). So, as we all prepare to bid Stranger Things farewell, acquaint yourself with how we felt about the last season. Yes, it's a lot of conversation but it is also briefer than Season 4 itself, believe it or not. Roll the dice on your favorite DND campaign, pop that Surfer Boy pizza in the oven, or just snag yourself some roller skates and a very metal electric guitar. Either way, we hope you enjoy this run up memory lane hill as we present the Complete Collection of Stranger Things Season 4 in the FoG 1:00 - Episode 1, The Hellfire Club 27:06 - Episode 2, Vecna's Curse 56:54 - Episode 3, The Monster and the Superhero 1:26:43 - Episode 4, Dear Billy 1:55:26 - Episode 5, The Nina Project 2:19:35 - Episode 6, The Dive 2:54:09 - Episode 7, The Massacre at Hawkins Lab 3:20:30 - Episode 8, Papa 3:49:39 - Episode 9, The Piggyback (intros and summaries) 4:00:48 - Stranger Things Trivial Pursuit Round 1 4:09:49 - Episode 9, The Piggyback (favorites and least favorites) 4:57:55 - Stranger Things Trivial Pursuit, Conclusion 5:15:33 - Stranger Things, Season 4 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We hope you're having a wonderful holiday season! While we're in our off-season as the year winds to a close, we have another special episode for you this week, courtesy of the famous Ghoul Scouts! Vera, Jess, and Jocee take over the show again this week to discuss the 1989 Winona Ryder starring satire, HEATHERS. Sharply written and tackling some heavy topics with remarkable intention, Heathers tells the story of Veronica Sawyer (Ryder) who attends Westerburg High amidst an ungodly number of cliques and an even more pervasive collection of girls named Heather. When JD (Christian Slater) comes into her life, he shakes everything up -- including stacking up an actual body count. Heathers deserves a bit of discretion given some of its potentially triggering subject matter, but it is so thoughtfully scripted and skillfully constructed that it feels astoundingly relevant even after more than 35 years. Also featuring a fun, throwback, Patron-only segment featuring an 80s teen-zine personality quiz, this is a lively and insightful conversation that we hope you enjoy! Patron Only Segment: Which Heather Are You? 5:45 - HEATHERS See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to another special interview with writers and directors Peter Hall and Paul Gandersman about their new film MAN FINDS TAPE, which hits theaters and VOD on December 5th. Man Finds Tape tells a richly textured story about two siblings -- Lynn (Kelsey Pribilski), who is a documentary filmmaker and Lucas (William Magnuson), whose series of viral videos have previously stirred tremendous controversy. When shocking footage of local residents emerges, and no one can recall the events they depict, the siblings launch an investigation that will unravel their understanding of their personal histories -- and of reality itself. Man Finds Tape also threads a fascinating thematic needle by integrating a decisively religious element to the narrative in the form of Rev Endicott Carr (John Gholson) whose small local church and public access sermons might be the key to all of the mysterious occurrences in the town. Man Finds Tape is riddled with unexpected narrative surprises and remarkable thematic layers about trust, belief, perception, and control. Reed sat down with Peter and Paul to discuss their exciting debut feature. We hope you'll check it out and we hope you enjoy this conversation! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We have a special interview for you this week which arrives just in time for your holiday shopping considerations. The concept behind Restoration Games is that the team rescues fun, buzz-generating board games that have largely been lost to obscurity and brings them back in rejuvenated and modernized editions. Their bestselling UnMatched Series has generated tremendous excitement permitting characters like Daredevil or Sherlock Holmes to do battle against Dracula or King Arthur. Their upcoming release Battle Monsters already created huge excitement at Gen Con, especially for one Mr. Nathan Rouse. We got to sit down with two key staffers at Restoration Games, Lead Marketing Alchemist Beth Erikson and Meeple Mover Josh Willenbrink, to discuss the company's primary efforts in restoring once-popular games and what makes their bestselling titles so accessible and addicting. It's a fun and lively conversation that we think you're going to love. Check out all the fun at Restoration Games and we hope you enjoy this special interview! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We have a unique and special interview for your feed this week. Much like our budding relationship with local Charlotte bookstore Troubadour Booksellers, our desire to highlight those doing good work in the spaces that overlap with ours continues with a special conversation with a representative from a wonderful establishment in Charlotte called the INDEPENDENT PICTURE HOUSE. The Independent Picture House, or IPH, is a movie theater in most ways that matter, but with some significant differences from the multiplexes you might be familiar with. Nathan sat down with their Director of Education and Community Engagement, de'Angelo Dia -- who describes himself as a theopoet and mystic whose work explores culture and moral imagination through poetry, performance art, and photography. The pair of them have an invigorating discussion about the IPH, its purpose and intention, as well as broader ways of engaging culture and art and film in more intentional, thoughtful, and spiritual ways. If you're in the Charlotte area, please check out Independent Picture House and meanwhile we hope you enjoy this special conversation! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We have another special interview for you this week with another great book recommendation. This time, we hosted bestselling author Rachel Harrison to talk about her latest book, PLAY NICE. Rachel is a Bram Stoker nominated writer who has been remarkably prolific since her hit debut novel The Return landed on shelves in 2020. Her latest book, Play Nice, centers around Clio Barnes, a stylist and successful influencer with a complex past: the home she grew up in wasn't just haunted, it was possessed. When her mother passes away suddenly, she returns home to find herself navigating the tricky perspectives of her upbringing. As she confronts her own perceptions about her childhood and her family, she will be forced to come to terms with some metaphorical -- and possibly very literal -- demons. Rachel's conversation with us quickly reveals the thoughtful depth that she brings to this unconventional haunted house tale as well as her strong talents at characterization and human observation which have made her prose so captivating. Play Nice is on bookshelves now and we highly recommend you check it out. Meanwhile, enjoy our special interview! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Spooky season never ends around here and we have a special Friday interview for you today where we host author Christina Henry to discuss her latest book, THE PLACE WHERE THEY BURIED YOUR HEART. Christina is a bestselling author of horror and dark fantasy novels, many of which include sequels or original reinventions of classic children's tales. The Place Where They Buried Your Heart tells the story of a "house that doesn't belong" on an otherwise ordinary street in Chicago. When Jessie Campanelli's brother went into the house and never came out, it tore Jessie's family apart in irreparable ways and forever changed the course of her life. Now, grown and with a child of her own, Jessie senses a growing darkness spreading from the house -- a darkness that seems alive... and hungry. We sat down with Christina to discuss her richly textured novel that examines the nature of communities, the haunting power of regret, and the ways that sometimes the smallest of choices may come to define our whole future. It's available wherever books are sold and we highly recommend it. We hope you enjoy this special conversation! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Another Spooky Season (ahhhhhh) has come and gone, friends and FoGgers. In the grand tradition we've developed these past few years, we offer you a coda on our Final Destination franchise run by looking back on some of our favorite thematic observations throughout the discussions, ranking each of the films in the franchise, selecting our most "Ain't Right" moments across all six films, and -- of course -- the moment you've all been waiting for: the official Mack Daddy Kills Hall of Fame for the FINAL DESTINATION franchise. The next couple of months will be rather unconventional programming as we wind down the year, including more interviews, some complete conversations, and a couple other surprises. But we will be back in January with a whole new slate of FoGgy episodes, because the Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, but not the end of the conversation. In that spirit, we encourage you to fear nothing else and be on your way rejoicing. 5:15 - Reflections on FoG 2025 9:57 - That Ain't Right for the Final Destination franchise 24:52 - Ranking the Final Destination films 47:35 - Themes and Observations Across the Conversations 1:08:23 - The Mack Daddy Kills Hall of Fame 1:33:04 - Closing Credits and Special Thank Yous See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We hope you're having a safe and fun Halloween this year. As a special little Spooky Season bonus, we decided -- quite on a whim -- to drop in a little bonus chat for you wherein Nathan plays Reed's game known as TAKE FIVE. Take Five is meant to be a kind of primer for a specific category of films, identifying unique and important entries to flesh out your understanding. What film made the most money? What film is the most representative? What is underrated? What film changed everything? And what film stands out as a cult classic? As a special Halloween treat, we play the game of Take Five for the work of the one and only John Carpenter! Play along with us as we uncover his Blockbuster, Classic, Cult Hit, Hinge, and Gem. As we hope you have a wonderful and very Happy Halloween! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We've reached the penultimate episode of this year's spooky season franchise run. Earlier this year, the Final Destination franchise returned after a decade and a half hiatus with FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES. The sixth installment expands upon the universe of the franchise in ways that add both thematic and narrative weight. It features strong characterizations, clever, inventive sequencing, and -- of course -- a lot of surprising and elaborate deaths. It also features the final on screen performance of the legendary horror icon Tony Todd, who passed away before the film was released and whose final lines in the film serve as a coda for both his career and the franchise as a whole. Unpacking all of that and more with us is a host of fun guests, including Vera Goudie, Matt Ruff, Penny Rouse, Matt Murray, Steve Beckley, and Jocee Worley. It's not only a thoughtful and occasionally heartfelt conversation about the preciousness of life, it's also a laughter-filled joy machine of a discussion party. We truly find the hope in the horrific this week and we hope you all enjoy it! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We're kicking Halloween week off with a special interview we hosted with author Nick Medina about his latest book, THE WHISTLER. Nick writes horror, crime, and mystery fiction that sits at the intersection of social issues alongside Native American folklore. The Whistler, his third novel, centers around Henry, a man who suffers immense tragedy following his careless dismissal of an ancient traditional warning: never whistle at night. As Henry copes with the changes to his life and physical condition, he is haunted by a malevolent presence. As he is forced to wrestle with his past choices, he must come to terms with what has truly happened and what is truly haunting him. We sat down with Nick to discuss his very scary, very thoughtful, and disarmingly moving novel that tugs at the heart strings as often as it chills the spine. It's available wherever books are sold and is a perfect choice for spooky season. We hope you enjoy this special bonus interview! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We're almost to the end of our Spooky Season series where we examine every entry in the Final Destination franchise. The fifth installment was in many ways a reset. It started with fresh characters, tested out some new kill techniques, and even expanded the mythology of the franchise in ways the previous films hadn't. It had other surprises in store by the time it was over, which made it a remarkably invigorating conclusion (temporarily) to the franchise. Prior to this year's release of Bloodlines, FINAL DESTINATION 5 was the franchise's coda, and a pretty solid one at that. We're joined this week by pastor and friend of the show Fr Josh Bowron to dive a bit deeper into the metaphysical and theological ramifications of these elaborately conceived deaths. The result is a discussion not only littered with our usual frivolity and fun but also surprisingly contemplative and as thoughtful as we always try to be. Also featuring a Patron-only segment discussing THE SIMPSONS Treehouse of Horror XX, this is a conversation we're very proud of and one we really hope you enjoy. Patron Only Segment: The Simpsons, Treehouse of Horror XX 6:43 - FINAL DESTINATION 5 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The fourth installment in the Final Destination franchise slapped an article at the top of the title, threw some 3-D special effects at the wall, and largely dismissed virtually every sensible aspect of quality filmmaking. It's rescued (barely) by some genuinely memorable death sequences in an otherwise aggressively skippable installment. But we did not skip it! Instead, we gathered friend of the show Paula Deming and new friend of the show "Professor" Meg Oak to chat about it -- neither of whom had ever seen a Final Destination film before. It was an uproariously grand time filled with laughter, head-scratching film notes, and an absurd amount of references to THAT scene in the film. In the midst of all the rampant frivolity, there are even a few moments of earnest and thoughtful reflection about the nature of death when it comes to questions of consequence for abhorrent behavior. Also featuring a brief stint with The Simpsons, Treehouse of Horror XIX, this is a hearty and vibrant episode that we really hope you enjoy! 7:58 - Debriefing Gen Con with Paula Deming and Meg Oak 13:46 - Business Time -- FOGOWEEN! Patron Only Segment: The Simpsons, Treehouse of Horror XIX 18:27 - Two Questions with Meg Oak 28:40 - THE FINAL DESTINATION See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We carry on this week with our march through the franchise of death's design by discussing FINAL DESTINATION 3, a real roller coaster for the franchise (literally). The writers who started it all are back and return the franchise to a bit more of its original ominous flavor rather than the silly absurdity of part 2. It's questionable if that was the right choice or not, but to help us find out, we're joined by Vera Goudie and official newcomer to the FoG, Penny Rouse. Also featuring a Patron-only segment on THE SIMPSONS TREEHOUSE OF HORROR XVIII, it's a breezy and thoughtful discussion that we hope you enjoy! Patron Only Segment: The Simpsons, Treehouse of Horror XVIII 9:46 - Two Questions with Penny Rouse 16:24 - FINAL DESTINATION 3 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As part of a collegiate course on public speaking, Nathan and Reed were interviewed by professor Noel Manning II about the origins of The Fear of God, its development and change over time, and some of the behind-the-scenes aspects of sustaining a weekly podcast over several years. It was a privilege and delight to speak with Noel, and we would like to share that interview here for you all as well. You can view the full video interview on YouTube here. Enjoy! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We have another special interview for you for a film that's hitting theaters this weekend (Oct, 3, 2025). BONE LAKE is a sharp, clever, sensual thriller that explores the nature of trust and suspicion in relationships through a sleek and disarming, twist-filled narrative. A couple's vacation at a secluded estate is upended when they're forced to share the mansion with a mysterious couple. A dream getaway spirals into a nightmarish maze of sex, lies, and manipulation, triggering a battle for survival. It's a tightly scripted and wonderfully performed suspense thriller, with some big narrative surprises and notable thematic depth. We had the chance to sit briefly with the director, Mercedes Bryce Morgan, to talk about her unique approach to this fun, sleek, and gleefully twisted film. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We continue our date with destiny during this year's spooky season run by examining FINAL DESTINATION 2, the second installment in the franchise of elaborate, menacing deaths. This one ramps up both the cleverness and the humor for a remarkably fun and invigorating sequel that arguably surpasses its predecessor by better understanding the inherent premise. We're joined by friend of the show Sarah Welch-Larson and new friend of the show Joe George to break down all of the zany, bloody, and absurdly contrived ways that death forces these characters to pay for thwarting him. Along the way, we make some surprisingly poignant observations about how films like this can remind us of our fragility and to not take ourselves too seriously. Also featuring a Patron-only segment about THE SIMPSONS, Treehouse of Horror XVII, this is a funny and lively conversation that we really hope you enjoy. Patron Only Segment: The Simpsons, Treehouse of Horror XVII 8:59 - Two Questions with Joe George 17:31 - Sarah Welch-Larson reports on TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) 29:56 - FINAL DESTINATION 2 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We have a very special interview for you today about an upcoming book release that's perfect for The Fear of God spooky season. Friend of the show, professor Brandon Grafius, will release his powerful and thought-provoking book SCARED BY THE BIBLE: THE ROOTS OF HORROR IN SCRIPTURE on October 7th. Those who primarily view the Bible as a testament of faith may not recognize that it contains some of the world's first horror stories. Before Godzilla, there were the monsters arising from the sea in the book of Daniel. Before The Wicker Man, there was the folk horror violence of the book of Judges. And before The Fly, Leviticus and Paul understood that our bodies are untrustworthy. Sometimes, the Bible has decided that the best way to help us understand the world in new ways is to scare us. Brandon's book invites us to view both the text of the Bible and the horror genre write large in fresh and fascinating ways. His book is remarkably accessible, deeply engaging, and often quite moving. We sit down with him to briefly discuss its origins, its heart, and its intent. We can't overstate how much we think listeners who enjoy our show will love this book. You can purchase it here, or request a copy at your local library. You can also check out a really cool trailer for the book here. And meanwhile, we hope you enjoy this conversation! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's time for SPOOKY SEASON!!! We're continuing a tradition four years running where as we approach October, we make a run through an entire horror franchise. This year, we're dancing with death (the Mack Daddy!) as we encounter each of the FINAL DESTINATION films. We're starting with a Redux episode of the original from 2000, which we'd previously covered back in 2019 (our 99th episode, actually). We're joined by friends of the show Brandon Grafius and Charlie Baber to discuss where the "ending" all began. We discuss the possibilities of the premise and whether or not this first installment really understands the Mack Daddy it's messing with, as well as our very real compulsion as human beings to confront our own mortality and the limits of our control. Also including a Patron-only segment about The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror XVI, this is a fun and brisk conversation that we really hope you enjoy. Patron Only Segment: The Simpsons, Treehouse of Horror XVI 8:37 - FINAL DESTINATION REDUX See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.