Alley Chats

Welcome to Alley Chats — where creativity meets conversation. In each episode, we step into the alley for unfiltered, inspiring talks with creators of all kinds — from authors and artists to podcasters, performers, and innovators. Hosted by Rob Southgate from the Southgate Media Group, Alley Chats is your backstage pass into the minds of people shaping pop culture, one project at a time. Whether you're looking for creative motivation, behind-the-scenes insight, or just great storytelling, you’ll find it here. Pull up a chair, grab your favorite drink, and join us in the alley — where great conversations happen.

Elizabeth Devecchi | Books and Brews 24 10/30/2024

Elizabeth Devecchi | Books and Brews 24 About A Whisper in the Dark Sarah Parker thinks she has found the perfect place for a fresh start when she moves her family from the Midwest to a sleepy suburban neighborhood in an idyllic southern town. Leaving a position as a serious journalist to write fluff pieces for a local paper is a compromise she is willing to make to escape the past and rebuild her family. Ten years earlier, Ben and Mary moved to the same neighborhood in search of their own fresh start, leaving a trail of death and disfigurement in their wake. Now that cancer has taken Mary, a blossoming friendship with the Parker family offers Ben a glimpse of the things he missed out on and the child he and Mary were denied. As he questions the sacrifices he made to be with Mary and the evil he harbored to protect her, that evil has set its sights on Sarah’s eleven-year-old son, Sam, putting the entire town in danger. About Elizabeth Devecchi Elizabeth Devecchi spent most of her formative years in the tiny state of Rhode Island, striking out after high school to gather degrees while exploring the world. This has resulted in an undergraduate degree in French from Wittenberg University, polished during a year abroad in Montpelier, France; an Italian Law Degree from the Università di Torino, Italy; an L.LM in International Law bestowed by The University of Iowa; and formal Mediation training. When she started her hobby blog, The Moon, The Sun, and Little Man (since incorporated into her author website), Elizabeth knew she wanted to get back to one of her earliest passions: writing. She officially began her career as an author in her in her early 50s with a short story titled “The Hunt,” which can still be found floating around the internet as part of the December 2021 issue of international literary journal, Ariel Chart. Elizabeth writes in a variety of genres and styles. Elizabeth's debut horror novel, A Whisper in the Dark, was signed by Wicked House Publishing and released October 4th of 2024. _____________________________________________________________________ Our theme song is by Benny and the No Goods. Bennyandthenogoods.bandcamp.com One easy way to support this show is to rate and review Alley Chats wherever you listen to our podcast. Those ratings really help us and help others find our show. Alley Chats is produced and edited by Rob Southgate for Southgate Media Group. Follow this show on Facebook Follow our parent network on Twitter at Make sure to follow SMG on Facebook too at Learn more, subscribe, or contact Southgate Media Group at . Check out our webpage at If you’re an artist or writer or creative type that would have a table at in artist alley and would like to be on Alley Chats, message us through the Facebook page or email us directly at /episode/index/show/alleychats/id/33639502

Shawn Whitney | Deads Rise! 10/28/2024

Shawn Whitney | Deads Rise! About Deads Rise! It was as sudden as it was devastating. Everyone on the planet between 13-45 years old died simultaneously. Eight hours later they woke up again but with no vital signs. The world was changed forever. Most survivors think the zombie apocalypse has arrived. A few think what is occurring is a startling evolutionary leap. But why now? And what are the Deads changing into? As anti-Dead militias form to hunt them down, the Deads struggle to escape destruction. Tanitia Mortero, a young scientist in California, embarks on a perilous cross-country journey to join a research team. Another leads the Deads of New York towards civil war with an anti-Dead, messianic militia called the Year Zero Army. A young man raised in a small town cult, fights to stay alive as his neighbors try to burn him at the stake as a demon. An explosion is inevitable, a post-apocalyptic collapse is unfolding. About Sawn Whitney Shawn is an award-winning screenwriter with three feature film credits and several TV series in development internationally. He has ghostwritten more than a dozen books and has 9 novels published under his own name. He writes subversive fantastical fiction with a pulp vibe. Join his newsletter at shawnwriteshere dot com if you want to get musings and meanderings as well as free stories and announcements of upcoming releases. You can also find him on Facebook as Shawn Whitney - author guy. _____________________________________________________________________ Our theme song is by Benny and the No Goods. Bennyandthenogoods.bandcamp.com One easy way to support this show is to rate and review Alley Chats wherever you listen to our podcast. Those ratings really help us and help others find our show. Alley Chats is produced and edited by Rob Southgate for Southgate Media Group. Follow this show on Facebook Follow our parent network on Twitter at Make sure to follow SMG on Facebook too at Learn more, subscribe, or contact Southgate Media Group at . Check out our webpage at If you’re an artist or writer or creative type that would have a table at in artist alley and would like to be on Alley Chats, message us through the Facebook page or email us directly at /episode/index/show/alleychats/id/33639322

Edward Nguyen Borey and Lou Peterson | Final Interview #1 10/24/2024

Alan Shivers | Books and Brews 2024 10/10/2024

Alan Shivers | Books and Brews 2024 ABOUT THE NAMASTE SLASHER Meditating has never been this frightening. Think "Friday The 13th", but set in a modern day Mindfulness retreat. A deliciously camp yet gruesome slasher with nods to the classic 80s Slashers. When five people from all over Europe take part in an exclusive Mindfulness retreat on mountain Velebit in Croatia, they have no idea what's in store for them once a masked killer shows up. Let's hope their healing crystals can provide the necessary protection. Twists & Turns, Chase Scenes and Queer Representation. ABOUT ALAN SHIVERS Alan Shivers is an indie horror author hailing from Belgium, and he's just been announced as an attending author for Books & Brews 2.0, taking place on August 2, 2025 in McCordsville, IN! You can find more details about the event on the Events page. He also just released his latest book, The Namaste Slasher, on October 1. In honor of the release and the announcement for Books & Brews 2.0, "The Heart of Indie Horror" blog is giving away TWO paperback copies of The Namaste Slasher. Here are the rules: In order to enter, you must either share their blog on your social media platform OR sign up for the email subscriptions. You must also agree to bump this book right up to the top of your TBR and review it on whatever platforms you normally use to review! Winners will be chosen on 10/8/24 at 4:00 PM EST. Here's the link to the blog where you can potentially win "The Namaste Slasher" _____________________________________________________________________ Our theme song is by Benny and the No Goods. Bennyandthenogoods.bandcamp.com One easy way to support this show is to rate and review Alley Chats wherever you listen to our podcast. Those ratings really help us and help others find our show. Alley Chats is produced and edited by Rob Southgate for Southgate Media Group. Follow this show on Facebook Follow our parent network on Twitter at Make sure to follow SMG on Facebook too at Learn more, subscribe, or contact Southgate Media Group at . Check out our webpage at If you’re an artist or writer or creative type that would have a table at in artist alley and would like to be on Alley Chats, message us through the Facebook page or email us directly at /episode/index/show/alleychats/id/33408587

MJ Mars | Books and Brews 2024 07/25/2024

MJ Mars | Books and Brews 2024 About MJ Mars MJ Mars is a geek, ghoul, and horror enthusiast living in Lancaster, UK. Her debut novel, The Suffering, was published by Wicked House in 2023. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find MJ playing pool, trying to skateboard (badly), or listening to rock music. She owes every success to her mis-spent youth. Short story collection, We’ve Already Gone Too Far out now! Coming in 2025: The Fovea Experiments, a second novel to be published by Wicked House. MJ is currently working on a sequel to The Suffering. About We've Already Gone Too Far A father takes his son on a camping trip but isn’t sure who he brings home. When passengers begin to disappear from her flight, a cabin crew member faces the childhood fears she thought she’d long overcome. At his mother’s funeral, a magician contemplates a family curse. Two graduates listen to a retired soldier talking about his participation in a death-defying experiment, and a punk band trying to be polite at a high-brow art installation step up when monsters attack. These stories and more await you in We’ve Already Gone Too Far, 8 Nasty Little Tales by MJ Mars. _____________________________________________________________________ Our theme song is by Benny and the No Goods. Bennyandthenogoods.bandcamp.com One easy way to support this show is to rate and review Alley Chats wherever you listen to our podcast. Those ratings really help us and help others find our show. Alley Chats is produced and edited by Rob Southgate for Southgate Media Group. Follow this show on Facebook Follow our parent network on Twitter at Make sure to follow SMG on Facebook too at Learn more, subscribe, or contact Southgate Media Group at . Check out our webpage at If you’re an artist or writer or creative type that would have a table at in artist alley and would like to be on Alley Chats, message us through the Facebook page or email us directly at /episode/index/show/alleychats/id/32293027

Lisa Braenne | Books and Brews 2024 07/24/2024

Tiffany Koplin | Books and Brews 2024 07/24/2024

Lisa Vasquez | Books and Brews 2024 07/24/2024

Lisa Vasquez | Books and Brews 2024 About Lisa Vasquez Lisa Vasquez, (known by her readers and fans as the Unsaintly Queen) creates vivid, twisted horror with the precision of a scalpel, and cuts into the reader's psyche with fleshed out characters. Vasquez is a mentor for the HWA, is head of Stitched Smile Publications, and retired editor-in-chief of the company’s quarterly publication, House of Stitched Magazine. Vasquez now focuses on her own stories which range from slow and subtle gothic horror, to the more extreme sub-genres of horror. Her writing style has been compared to the works of Mary Shelley, Baz Luhrman, and the Grand Guignol (John Palisano, Bram Stoker-winning author of NERVES), and is hailed as, "A writer of nightmarish vision and a new, poetic voice in today's horror genre" (Peter Molnar, author of THE CLOCKWORK LAZARUS). A native Chicagoan who spent half her life on the city’s south side, she now lives in Houston, Texas, fighting off mosquitos large enough to carry off small children, and avoiding direct sunlight. The Unsaintly Queen is rumored to only accept offerings of “sparklies.” For more information about Books & Brews, check out the event on Facebook right here _____________________________________________________________________Our theme song is by Benny and the No Goods. Bennyandthenogoods.bandcamp.com One easy way to support this show is to rate and review Alley Chats wherever you listen to our podcast. Those ratings really help us and help others find our show. Alley Chats is produced and edited by Rob Southgate for Southgate Media Group. Follow this show on Facebook Follow our parent network on Twitter at Make sure to follow SMG on Facebook too at Learn more, subscribe, or contact Southgate Media Group at . Check out our webpage at If you’re an artist or writer or creative type that would have a table at in artist alley and would like to be on Alley Chats, message us through the Facebook page or email us directly at /episode/index/show/alleychats/id/32275052

Blaine Daigel | Books and Brews 2024 07/24/2024

Leigh Kenney | Books and Brews 2024 07/24/2024

Jeff Strand | Books and Brews 2024 07/17/2024

Matthew Lutton | Books and Brews 2024 07/12/2024

Matthew Lutton | Books and Brews 2024 About Matthew Lutton Matthew Lutton is an up-and-coming author hailing from Newport Beach, California. Growing up in the sunny beach town, Matthew's imagination was sparked by the eerie and unexplainable happenings that would occur in the quiet corners of the city. He has always been fascinated with the horror genre, and began writing his own stories as a way to explore his dark and twisted thoughts. Matthew's debut anthology, "10 Drink Minimum" delves deep into the darkness of the human soul, exploring themes like fear, desperation, and madness. His tales are a unique blend of psychological horror, supernatural mystique, and visceral violence. Each story is crafted with precision, creating a world that is both hauntingly realistic and unforgettably surreal. When he's not writing, Matthew loves to explore the California coastline and mountains, soaking up inspiration for his next tale of terror. He is a self-proclaimed film buff, especially when it comes to horror, and has a knack for spotting creative storytelling techniques that others may miss. "10 Drink Minimum" has been met with critical acclaim, and has made its way onto many horror fans' must-read lists. Available now on Amazon, it showcases Matthew's unique storytelling voice and is a chilling journey into the depths of horror. For more information about Books & Brews, check out the event on Facebook right here _____________________________________________________________________Our theme song is by Benny and the No Goods. Bennyandthenogoods.bandcamp.com One easy way to support this show is to rate and review Alley Chats wherever you listen to our podcast. Those ratings really help us and help others find our show. Alley Chats is produced and edited by Rob Southgate for Southgate Media Group. Follow this show on Facebook Follow our parent network on Twitter at Make sure to follow SMG on Facebook too at Learn more, subscribe, or contact Southgate Media Group at . Check out our webpage at If you’re an artist or writer or creative type that would have a table at in artist alley and would like to be on Alley Chats, message us through the Facebook page or email us directly at /episode/index/show/alleychats/id/32111682

Christopher Hawkins | Books and Brews 2024 07/10/2024

Christopher Bevard | Books and Brews 2024 07/08/2024

Edmund Stone | Books and Brews 2024 07/05/2024

The Girl Who Cried Her Eyes Out 06/26/2024

Jay Bower | Books and Brews 2024 06/24/2024

C.M. Forest | Books and Brews 2024 06/24/2024

Ty Carlson | The Dadirri Saga 06/19/2024

Ty Carlson | The Dadirri Saga Rob interviews author Ty Carlson, about her book series, "The Dadirri Saga". You can order Ty Carlson's books at Order now and use the Promo Code 4HP10 for 10% off! Support the author by ordering from the 4 Horsemen Publications directly. By ordering at www,, you save 10% and the author gets more than if you order from other places. About Ty Carlson: Ty Carlson is a sci-fi writer who delights in the unseen strangeness and wonder of “what if.” Growing up in the Ozarks of Arkansas gave him and his three siblings plenty of room to play knights and dragons or jungle explorers, igniting his imagination early on. Ty started writing at a very young age and his passion has only grown over time. He loved to read so much that he once was grounded from reading, a fact that his brothers tease him about to this day. He hopes readers discover new ways to see the world through the perspectives offered in the stories he tells. Some of Ty’s favorite reads include the classics from Fitzgerald to Tolkien to Card and has fallen in love with a multitude of worlds. When he’s not writing, he’s playing with his kids or enjoying some time in a video game. On the rare occasion, when his wife and him can get a few minutes to themselves, they enjoy listening to the sounds of the world waking up while enjoying a cup of coffee – with cream of course. His Debut book is “The Bench” which marks his first steps as a Sci-Fi author like so many he’s admired (and been grounded from!)! ________________________________________________________________________ Our theme song is by Benny and the No Goods. Bennyandthenogoods.bandcamp.com One easy way to support this show is to rate and review Alley Chats wherever you listen to our podcast. Those ratings really help us and help others find our show. Alley Chats is produced and edited by Rob Southgate for Southgate Media Group. Follow this show on Facebook Follow our parent network on Twitter at Make sure to follow SMG on Facebook too at Learn more, subscribe, or contact Southgate Media Group at . Check out our webpage at If you’re an artist or writer or creative type that would have a table at in artist alley and would like to be on Alley Chats, message us through the Facebook page or email us directly at /episode/index/show/alleychats/id/29615943

John Maly | Juris Ex Machina *Author Interview* 06/11/2024

Andrew Najberg | Books and Brews 2024 06/08/2024

Daemon Manx | Books and Brews 2024 06/07/2024

Filmmaker Phil Mucci 05/17/2024

K.T. Bond 05/09/2024

K.T. Bond Rob interviews author K.T. Bond, about her book series, "Serendipity" You can order K.T. Bonds' books at Order now and use the Promo Code 4HP10 for 10% off! Support the author by ordering from the 4 Horsemen Publications directly. By ordering at www,, you save 10% and the author gets more than if you order from other places. About K.T. Bond: Eight years ago, Emma-award-winning author K.T. Bond began her second career as a ghostwriter. This Halloween baby likes to think the seed for romance writing was planted in her soul way back when she was a preteen reading Janet Daley, Betty Neels, and Georgette Heyer. With a greatly enlarged reading list including such diverse authors as Olivia Gaines, Julia Quinn, and JR Ward, K.T. has been publishing her own stories since 2017. K.T. wrote almost forty sweet and steamy contemporary romances for her clients. Now, continuing in that trend, her own stories feature men and women from many walks of life, different races and cultural heritages, ranging in age from mid-twenties to over fifty, all embracing a second chance for love and passion. K.T. is a retired English educator, an avid reader, Nana to a sweet little Japanese-Jamaican girl, the chief cook and dog walker in her family, and an unashamed binge watcher of Midsomer Murders. A lifetime learner and member of the renewed Romance Writers of America, she’s a true believer in Ben Franklin’s axiom, “Those who love deeply never grow old.” ________________________________________________________________________________ Our theme song is by Benny and the No Goods. Bennyandthenogoods.bandcamp.com One easy way to support this show is to rate and review Alley Chats wherever you listen to our podcast. Those ratings really help us and help others find our show. Alley Chats is produced and edited by Rob Southgate for Southgate Media Group. Follow this show on Facebook Follow our parent network on Twitter at Make sure to follow SMG on Facebook too at Learn more, subscribe, or contact Southgate Media Group at . Check out our webpage at If you’re an artist or writer or creative type that would have a table at in artist alley and would like to be on Alley Chats, message us through the Facebook page or email us directly at /episode/index/show/alleychats/id/29615918

Frank W. Baker about his graphic novel, "We Survived the Holocaust" 05/02/2024

Author D Lambert discusses fantasy writing 02/27/2024

Peter Bagge - Slacker Cartoonist Legend 01/23/2024

Amin Amat about his comic, "The Road To" 01/23/2024

John Maxwell about his TTRPG "The First Gate" 01/16/2024

Jonathan Buchanan about 8 Found Dead 10/31/2023

Alley Chats

TOPICS