Episode 321 "All That Smolders" with James Sulzer

Gregg Owen was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, on December 25, 1948. He spent part of his childhood in Gemmell, Minnesota, a small town near the Canadian border, where his mother lived in the back of his grandparents' tavern while his father served as a United States Air Force pilot in Korea.  At age ten, his family moved to the Chicago suburbs. By fifteen, Gregg was playing keyboards professionally while still in high school. Music took him on the road. Law took him somewhere very different. Gregg toured and recorded with bands including the Shady Daze, the American Breed, and Jerico while earning his law degree.  He shared the stage with artists such as Janis Joplin and The Doors and recorded with major labels across the United States.  In 1975, he entered the Cook County State's Attorney's Office as a legal intern. Within a year, he became an Assistant State's Attorney. He went on to prosecute murder cases at 26th and California during one of the most corrupt periods in Chicago courthouse history. Before leaving the office in 1984, he had tried 64 felony jury trials — 61 of them murder cases — and later became the first Chief of Gang Prosecutions in Cook County history. In his new book, "Convergence" Gregg tells the compelling true story of a cocaine fueled double murder that shook the city of Chicago...not only from the brutality of the crime, but because of the corruption that almost kept a murderer out of jail and evading justice. Gregg Owen's official website. "Convergence" available from Amazon. Support the Necronomicast and "Buy Me A Coffee"!  Thank you! "Phantom from Space" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

I am very excited to present to you faithful listeners of Necronomicast a wide ranging and fascinating conversation with Jonathan Kendall, MD! Jonathan Kendall is a board-certified medical doctor in internal medicine and nephrology. As a physician, he is in a relatively unique position to evaluate potential medical and psychological explanations for paranormal encounters. He is well-versed in ufology literature, physical research, quantum mechanics, and theoretical physics. The worlds of paranormal activity, metaphysics, religious studies, and science has always fascinated him. We are discussing his incredible new book "The Metaphysics of UFOs". The evidence he presents has implications that could lead to revolutionary breakthroughs in communications, energy use, medicine, interstellar travel, religion, and the nature of reality. This eye-opening book investigates the connection between UFOs and kindred phenomena like monsters, Men in Black, and poltergeists. It also explores the harrowing world of UFO abductions and why the aftereffects are so similar to those of both near-death experiences and encounters with mystical realms. These case studies shatter conventional views of reality and prove that far more is at stake than answering the question, "Are we alone in the universe?" Official Website of Jonathan Kendall, MD. Jonathan Kendall, MD at Llewellyn Books. Support Necronomicast at "Buy Me A Coffee"  Thank you!   "Phantom from Space" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Look!  Up in the sky...it's a bird, it's a plane...it's Necronomicast with author/speaker/lawyer William Bernhardt as a special guest! Blending legal insight, historical research, and deeply human storytelling, William Bernhardt delivers the definitive account of one of the most consequential and misunderstood creator-rights battles in American pop culture history. For generations, Superman has stood as a symbol of hope, morality, and idealism. Yet few readers know the true story behind his creation or the devastating cost paid by his original creators. In his book, "The Superman Wars", Bernhardt pulls back the curtain on the legal, cultural, and ethical conflicts that shaped the Man of Steel and forever changed the comics industry. Rather than retelling a well-known pop culture narrative, Bernhardt reframes Superman as history. He traces the character's creation to two young men, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, whose work helped define an industry while leaving them financially and creatively vulnerable. Their experience became one of the earliest and most influential examples of creators losing control of their intellectual property to powerful corporations. Bernhardt's background as a lawyer gives him a unique lens through which to examine the legal battles surrounding Superman. He translates complex copyright disputes into an accessible narrative, showing how early publishing contracts routinely stripped creators of long-term rights in exchange for modest, short-term compensation. These practices shaped not only the comics industry but the broader entertainment landscape. The Superman Wars places Superman within the social and historical context of the late 1930s, a time marked by economic hardship and global uncertainty. Bernhardt explains why Superman emerged at precisely the right moment in American history and why his emphasis on moral clarity and justice resonated so deeply with readers seeking reassurance and hope. The Superman Wars also speaks directly to modern creators. The book raises enduring questions about ownership, fairness, and the balance between art and commerce. Bernhardt argues that Siegel's story remains deeply relevant in today's publishing, film, and digital media industries. The Superman Wars stands as both a tribute to creative vision and a cautionary tale about power, legacy, and justice. Willam Bernhardt's official website. "The Superman Wars" at Amazon. Support the Necronomicast at "Buy Me A Coffee".   Thank you! "Phantom from Space" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

I have the tremendous pleasure of welcoming to the show an incredibly talented and respected writer, educator, and journalist, Phyllis Karas! Phyllis Karas is a professor of journalism at Boston University, a stringer for People Magazine, and the author of ten books.  Brutal-- The Untold Story of My Life Inside Whitey Bulger's Irish Mob was a NYT bestseller; The Onassis Woman, was the subject of a Dateline NBC Special.  Her work has appeared in Vogue,  Miami Herald, Boston Magazine and Moment Magazine,where her story on Kosher Slaughter received the Simon Rockower Award for Excellence. She has been interviewed on Extra, Access Hollywood and Hard Ball. We are going to chat about her latest offering, a deeply personal account.  "Curse of the Blumenthals", the history of one close-knit New England-based, Jewish American family and their dark relationship with alcohol, from bootlegging arrests in 1920s Providence, a drunk driver killing six members of their family in 1935, the 1954 murder of a Boston seamstress committed by teenager Ronnie Blumenthal, to Ronnie's death and burial in 2012 in an unmarked pauper's grave, ending the curse. New York Times bestselling author Phyllis Karas is on this episode of Necronomicast! Phyllis Karas Official Website "Curse of the Blumenthals" available at Amazon Support Necronomicast at "Buy Me A Coffee"!  Thank you!

Necronomicast is back from a summer break with a very distinguished guest...Alan Murdie! His day job is a lawyer, but his night job is much more interesting. Alan Murdie is the chairman of the Ghost Club (founded 1862) and he investigates cases of ghosts, poltergeists and the survival of consciousness after death and bodily dissolution. For over thirty years Alan has investigated cases of ghosts and hauntings both in Britain and around the world, seeking to apply skills and techniques used in courts and tribunals for assessing evidence and finding out the truth. In this conversation he details of some of his investigations past and present, together with some of his own ideas about ghosts and the paranormal after many years. Since 2006 Alan has written a monthly column 'Ghostwatch' for Fortean Times magazine on the latest things in ghosts. Over the years he has also benefitted from the work of a number of leading figures in the field and he is always pleased to share details as a tribute to their work. Alan states, "I am quite convinced certain paranormal phenomena are a reality and are proven beyond reasonable doubt to a standard that would satisfy a court or tribunal at law. Others remain uncertain and yet others look destined to stay a mystery." Renowned world class "ghost hunter" Alan Murdie, on this episode of "Necronomicast!" Alan Murdie Official Website Website for The Ghost Club, UK

For this episode of Necronomicast, it is my pleasure to welcome to the show one of the top writing talents in the world today. Luke Goebel is an American novelist, screenwriter, producer, and publisher. He is the author of Fourteen Stories, None of Them Are Yours, winner of the Ronald Sukenick Innovative Fiction Prize, and the brand new novel Kill Dick.  Dark, satirical, and razor-sharp, Kill Dick is a modern literary thriller that unflinchingly dissects wealth, exploitation, and the perilous line between survival and self-destruction. He co-wrote the films Causeway and Eileen, starring Thomasin McKenzie and Anne Hathaway; for Causeway, Brian Tyree Henry received an Academy Award nomination. Goebel is co-owner and president of Tyrant Books and lives in Los Angeles. Los Angeles, drugs, murder, addiction, making art, music, UFOs, ghosts, hauntings, psychedelic experiences, and chatting with Anne Hathaway on this episode of NECRONOMICAST! Luke Goebel official website. Order "Kill Dick" here! Support the Necronomicast and "Buy Me A Coffee"!  Thank you!

This latest Necronomicast episode features a wide ranging discussion with one of the rising stars in contempory fiction today, Christine Carbo!  Christine's newest book "The Confession Artist" was released this week to great acclaim! A killer dubbed the Confession Artist is posting sketches of potential victims on social media. And paranoia spreads as strangers across the nation admit to their sins―fearing the consequences: You have six days to confess or die. Then former cop and first-year PI Crosbie Mitchell sees a sketch that bears a striking resemblance to her. How can that be? She's a nobody from Flathead Valley, Montana. Crosbie dismisses it as an unnerving coincidence. If not for one unmistakable detail that makes the threat hard to ignore. When the FBI is contacted, they are convinced that Crosbie is the next target. So is she. Crosbie has six days left to fess up online to something plaguing her conscience. But even if she wanted to play the killer's game, she has more than one secret. And if she ever dares to expose them for the world to see, the truth will destroy her. That's exactly what the Confession Artist wants.  Christine is also the author of an ensemble series called the Glacier Mystery Series, and a psychological suspense stand-alone. Her books include The Wild Inside, Mortal Fall, The Weight of Night, A Sharp Solitude, and The Confession Artist. She is a recipient of the Women's National Book Association Pinckley Prize, the Silver Falchion Award, the High Plains Book Award, and has been a finalist for the Barry Award. She has an MA in English/Linguistics and taught college-level courses for over a decade. She still teaches, in a vastly different realm, as a Pilates instructor. She lives in Montana where she finds inspiration from the wild beauty surrounding her. Murder and intrigue abound in the seductive beauty of the wilderness of Montana! Christine Carbo's official website. "The Confession Artist" at Amazon Support the efforts of Necronomicast in featuring the creatives of our day at "Buy Me A Coffee"  

My next guest on Necronomicast is one of my new favorite authors James Sulzer.  James Sulzer lives in Nantucket, Massachusetts. A graduate of Yale University, where he was a Yale National Scholar, he is the author of six novels.  Tonight we chat about his career and his newest book.  James Sulzer's All That Smolders is a perfect mystery. The classic themes of love and money, and who will do just how much to get it, had me turning pages—and being surprised by … well, see for yourself! James Sulzer's official website. "All That Smolders" available everywhere including at Amazon.  Support the Necronomicast and support the mission of lifting up the creative community....Buy Me A Coffee!  

It is my great pleasure to welcome to the show a globally recognized figure in the world of paranormal, Bigfoot and UFOs… Ronny LeBlanc!  Ronny starred in TRAVEL CHANNEL'S Hit Series EXPEDITION BIGFOOT (Seasons 1-4). He also stars in PARANORMAL CAUGHT ON CAMERA.   Ronny is an independent researcher, screenwriter and author of the critically-acclaimed and best-selling book Monsterland: Encounters with UFOs, Bigfoot and Orange Orbs, which details the history and connection between the various phenomena, highlighting his experience and a research area called Monsterland in central Massachusetts.  Ronny is a storyteller at the intersection of the unexplained and the deeply human. Known for his television work and decades of personal investigation, he approaches UFOs, UAPs, cryptids, folklore, and synchronicity not as isolated mysteries, but as signals pointing toward a broader intelligence at work. His writing and speaking focus on patterns, consciousness, and lived experience. He invites audiences to question how the unknown shapes culture, memory, and our relationship with the natural world.   Ronny LeBlanc's official website.   "Interdimensional" available at Amazon.   Support Necronomicast at "Buy Me A Coffee".  Thank you!   Tickets to the "May Day Manifestation" at Malvern Manor!

My guest for this episode of Necronomicast is best selling author/journalist Bob Reiss!  His work has always been inspired by the border between order and anarchy, the moment when peace becomes chaos, order becomes danger and events once considered impossible suddenly turn real. His journalism has brought him to research and military bases in the Arctic and Antarctica, where he's covered climate change and potential conflict in polar regions, to Sudan, Somalia and South Africa, where he wrote about drought, rebellion and civil unrest, and to the Amazon rainforest where his dispatches about murder and environmental destruction made him a national magazine award finalist. Bob has advised European politicians on US Arctic policy. He's moderated National Academy of Sciences meetings on disease outbreaks in polar regions. He's accompanied Coast Guard missions on a polar icebreaker and against drug runners off Central America.   Bob's fiction has been called "sparkling and fast paced." (Washington Post) "Dead On!" (People Magazine) "First Rate!" (Rocky Mountain News) "Gripping...Riveting" (Publishers Weekly. "Splendid. Great writing. Great suspense. Great action." (Los Angeles Times). He's appeared on TV shows including Morning Joe, Nightwatch, Nightline, CNN, Dan Rather Reports, Charlie Rose, Good Morning America and Al Jazeera, discussing his work. Bob's 18 novels reflect the same fascination with order versus anarchy and he is an incredible addition to the growing list of fascinating guests on NECRONOMICAST! Official Website of Bob Reiss "The Impossible Detective" on Amazon Support Necronomicast at "Buy Me A Coffee"! - Thank you!