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Discover The Terror

Discover The Terror

By: Maximilian Schmidt
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 Welcome… to Discover the Terror! Your ghoulish host, Maximilian Schmidt and Zombaby co-host, Herbert, will lead you hand-in-hand through the dark corridors of hell, exploring some of horror’s most intriguing voices, both rising talents and established icons. But horror isn’t just fiction. It’s real. In addition to artists and filmmakers, Maximilian speaks with individuals immersed in the worlds of the supernatural, the paranormal, and the uncanny. Psychics, explorers, survivors… anyone with a story soaked in terror is welcome in Maximilian’s chair. This show exists to unpack and digest the subjects we’re too afraid to face. To ask: Why is humankind so obsessed with horror, and yet so repelled by it? Horror is the most universal genre. And fear is the most universal feeling. These are two abstract, unending forces that Maximilian and his guests dive into, headfirst, in every episode. With Discover the Terror, the unknown becomes known… or at least, a little less unknowable. Maximilian Schmidt is a devoted student of horror, a writer and director unafraid to confront the most complex, unsettling aspects of human nature and the physical body. His mission: to tell and uncover honest stories that focus on outsiders, “freaks,” and the beautifully dark corners of humanity.
Episodes
  • How to Break Into Horror: Filmmaking Lessons w/ Jay Goldberg

    How to Break Into Horror: Filmmaking Lessons w/ Jay Goldberg
    Nov 28 2025
    Step inside the blood-soaked world of writer/producer Jay Goldberg, the horror mind behind Stay Out of the F*ing Attic**, Glorious, and Creeping Death. In this episode of Discover the Terror, host Max Miller-Schmidt and co-host Herbert dive deep into indie horror filmmaking, practical effects, cosmic horror, and what it really takes to survive in the modern horror landscape. Jay shares how growing up in New Jersey shaped his voice, why he loves mixing horror and comedy, and how movies like Jaws, The Descent, Saw, and Donnie Darko influenced his approach to worldbuilding. From Nazi experiments in a haunted attic to a cosmic god behind a glory hole voiced by J.K. Simmons, Jay breaks down how to build bold concepts, unforgettable monsters, and emotionally grounded characters on a budget. If you’re a horror fan, screenwriter, director, producer, or film student, you’ll get real talk on festivals, script contests, financing, working with Shudder and Dark Sky, and why persistence and community matter more than connections. Jay also shares powerful advice for emerging filmmakers: how to build a script library, find your crew, and create a film that is undeniably you. In this episode, we cover: How Stay Out of the F**ing Attic* went from wild title to fully realized horror feature The making of Glorious and crafting a cosmic horror story in a single bathroom set Why practical effects artists are the sculptors of our nightmares How parenthood changes what scares you on screen The difference between gore with purpose vs. empty shock value Real-world advice on writing, producing, and getting your horror films made If you love indie horror, creature features, cosmic horror, and character-driven scares, this episode of Discover the Terror is for you. 01:15 – The Story Behind “Stay Out of the F*ing Attic”** 05:40 – Censorship, Shudder, and Making Nazi Monsters 10:18 – Practical Effects as Horror Artistry 14:52 – Growing Up in Jersey & Creative Influence 19:10 – Breaking Into the Industry 23:35 – The $75K Metamorphosis Short & Loving Practical FX 26:50 – Writing a Zombie Titanic & Early Contest Success 30:30 – The Art of Horror: Why Practical FX Matters 34:45 – The Gore Philosophy 38:20 – Building Glorious: Cosmic Horror in a Bathroom 42:30 – Why J.K. Simmons Said Yes 46:40 – Directing Dynamics with Rebecca McKendry 51:25 – Writing Slasher Variations & Subverting Tropes 55:00 – Survival Themes & Human Extremes 58:40 – Horror as a Parent 1:03:10 – Are Strangers or Ourselves Scarier? 1:06:45 – Experimental Horror’s Rise 1:10:20 – The State of Indie Horror & Microbudgets 1:14:40 – Building Worlds, Not Just Scares 1:19:00 – The High of Filmmaking 1:22:30 – Jay’s Writing Process & Music 1:26:55 – Using Lawsuit Money to Make His First Film 1:31:20 – Helping New Filmmakers & Paying It Forward 1:36:00 – Creeping Death and First Features 1:41:25 – The Truth About Script Libraries 1:45:40 – Finding Your Audience & Voice 1:50:28 – The Realities of Production & “Movie Gods” 1:55:10 – Final Advice for Filmmakers
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    59 mins
  • Tarot, Death & the Doorway to Intuition w/ Kristin Lambert

    Tarot, Death & the Doorway to Intuition w/ Kristin Lambert
    Nov 14 2025
    Step inside a world where tarot cards choose themselves, pendulums spin before anyone touches them, and death is not something to fear—but a doorway into deeper intuition. In this episode of Discover the Terror, hosts Maximilian Schmitt and Herbert sit down with Kristin Lambert—a mentalist, philosopher, intuitive reader, and former Criss Angel performer who has literally escaped death more than once. Kristin reveals: How surviving near-death experiences opened her “third eye” Why the Wheel of Fortune and High Priestess cards appeared at the perfect time What happens when a tarot reading goes wrong—and why that’s where truth begins How pendulums expose the intuition we all secretly have Why Americans fear death—and how horror gives us a safe way to face it The hidden connection between magic, metaphysics, and the subconscious This isn’t a magic show.It’s a journey into the real meaning of fear, intuition, and why we seek answers from the unknown. If you’re drawn to tarot, fascinated by the supernatural, or curious about the psychology of fear—this episode will pull you in deeper than you expect.
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    1 hr
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