Two Geeks Talking

Adriano Ariganello’s Creative Pinfall: Ending ‘From Parts Unknown’ & What’s Next

In this episode, Adriano Ariganello creator of Pesto Comics publishing and the indie comic force behind his most recent wrestling-infused series From Parts Unknown (Issues #4 and #5). 
We dive into:- The art of endings: Why wrapping a series feels like a “creative body slam” (and how to do it with grace).- Unexpected lessons from wrestling storytelling: How kayfabe, drama, and real athlete struggles shaped his comic’s emotional core.- Pesto Comics’ survival: Bootstrapping, niche audiences, and why “small press” doesn’t mean “small ambitions.”- What’s next after the final bell rings: New projects, collaborations, and the business pivots no one talks about.- Advice for creators: From Kickstarter grit to embracing the “weird” that makes your work unforgettable.

Secret to Great Storytelling Was Playing Games Online: Author Richard Sparks - New Rock Series

"What if the secret to great storytelling was playing an online game with your guild?"
In this episode, I sit down with Richard Sparks, the imaginative mind behind the New Rock novel series (New Rock, New Role and New Rock, New Realm) available on Amazon, to explore how gaming, language, and fandom shape extraordinary fiction.
Richard’s journey is anything but ordinary:- Playing games with lifelong school mate, Douglas Adams—and the unexpected storytelling lessons he learned growing up with the Hitchhiker’s Guide legend.- How playing with a top-tiered guild in Elder Scrolls Online became the spark for his latest New Rock novels.- The power of language—why he obsesses over words and how audiobooks fuel his creativity.- Finding a community and inspiration speaking at sci-fi/fantasy conventions—and why the fandom is the unsung hero of creativity.

From Dracula to Angel Hunter: Eisner Nominated Comic Creator Rich Davis

"Sometimes the most pivotal moments in life come from the most unexpected places."
In this episode, I sit down with Rich Davis, an Eisner-nominated comic writer and the mastermind behind gripping series like Cult of Dracula, Rise of Dracula, Prometheus in Chains, REIGN OF DRACULA, and his latest project, Angel/Hunter.
Rich’s journey is a testament to the power of serendipity, passion, and relentless curiosity. We dive into:- How walking into a drama class and signing up for a 400-level Japanese history course set him on the path to becoming a storyteller.- The joy of writing—why he still finds magic in the craft, even after years in the industry.- Finding purpose early in life—and why he believes creative fulfillment is about more than just success.- The unexpected moments that shaped his career, from indie comics to Eisner recognition.- His latest project, Angel/Hunter, and how he reinvents classic horror myths.
Rich is one of those rare creators who radiates enthusiasm for his work, and this conversation is packed with insights for writers, artists, and anyone looking to turn their passion into a life’s work.

What Does An Audio/Podcast/Music Engineer Do? Jay "The Engineer" Yow

Just like that meme: "What Does An Audio Engineer Do do do do..." Jay Yow has had a successful 16 year career as an Audio, Music, Podcast Engineer with his own work and being a Producer on The James Altucher Show.  As an engineer he's learned a few tricks of the trade from managing issues on the fly, to giving a master class in under 10 minutes to fledgling Engineers. We dove into Tech of a successful podcast; How to properly use AI for your podcast / engineering job, The use of Descript and much more!

Blazing A Musical Journey From Backstage to Americana: Musician William John Titus Bishop

Musician William John Titus Bishop grew up with music on the mind and in the soul. From his days being classically trained in Cello to learning the drums and the guitar on his own, he has taken his love of music to the next level by learning the folk styling of Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens, Janis Joplin and more. 

Pod Talk: Four Podcast Secrets No One Tells You: PR Collab, Interview Tips, Editing Choices

After our January livestream broke expectations (thank you!), host Izolda Trakhtenberg (Your Creative Mind Podcast) reassembles an all-star panel to dissect the unspoken challenges of podcasting. No fluff—just tactical insights from veterans who’ve navigated these waters.
This Episode’s Firestarters:
Kurt Sasso (Two Geeks Talking)"How to Ask The Right Questions & Extract Jaw-Dropping Stories from Guests (without sounding like a robot or a therapist)"
Reena Friedman Watts (Better Call Daddy)"To Edit Or Not To Edit! That is the question. The ethics of editing—and when to leave the mess in"
Barney Smith (Story Comic Presents)"Turn your Podcast Passion and Hobby into a Long-Term Sustainable Career!"
Izolda Trakhtenberg (Your Creative Mind Podcast)"Paradigm of Podcasters: How to Make PR Pros Your Podcast Partners and allies who work for your show’s growth"

Preserving Stories, One Comic at a Time: Michael Regina’s Mission with Read The Freaking Comics

Michael Regina, the passionate voice behind  @readthefreakingcomics  dives into the fascinating intersection of comic books, comic book research, and historical preservation. Michael shares his journey exploring single-issue comics from Marvel, DC, Image, Dark Horse. This is more than just entertainment; it highlights these cultural artifacts and their importance in documenting the history of comics. From uncovering hidden stories from the artists and writers who created them; to examining the history of these single issues through their advertisements, current events and the legacy of local comic shops. Michael offers a unique perspective on why these comics deserve recognition in the broader conversation about art, history, and pop culture.

Hot Sauce, Horror, and Heroes: The Many Layers of Laurie Calcaterra

Laurie Calcaterra is the creator and writer of the comic series Path of the Pale Rider, a podcast host, martial arts master, hot sauce maker, and advocate for undead ethics in comics. We explore her creative process, from naming characters and animals to creating scratch-and-sniff stickers that smell like the undead. Plus, we discuss her Kickstarter for Issue 6, which has funded and hit stretch goals!

From Rock and Roll to the Peace Corps: The Unstoppable Journey of Eric Sonnenschein

Author Eric Sonnenschein is a Writer, Poet, Journalist, was in a Rock and Roll band called the Erotics in the 1970s in New York, joined the Peace Corps and because a teacher, a husband and father. From a continuous drive to  write and never stop writing to creating "Rocked and Rolled!" his account of the New York Rock Scene playing in a band and more!

"Nuclear War is so Passe. Drones are the Future" Patrick Joseph Healy talks Please Let Me Save You Book 2

Patrick Joseph Healy returns to Two Geeks Talking to discuss "Please, Let Me Save You" Book Two in the Agony Trilogy series. We discuss the characters of this next book. How nuclear dystopia compared to reality of this current dystopia is passé. How having ADHD has allowed him to access short content marketing and creativity he never knew he possessed and more!