Macon Blair is a multi-hyphenate entertainer. You've seen him as an actor in films like Blue Ruin, Green Room, and a little small micro-budget film called Oppenheimer. His 2017 directorial debut, I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore, won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, and he wrote and directed the film we are here to talk about today, 2025's The Toxic Avenger, which is finally in theaters now around the world. On this very special episode of Talkin' Troma with Zack Beins, we have Macon Blair himself to guide us through his wild and wonderful new reinterpretation of Toxie. Join us as we explore the ins and outs of casting, working with Peter Dinklage and Elijah Wood, tales of shooting in Bulgaria, special FX shots, Lloyd Kaufman, and so much more! There are spoilers ahead, so make sure you see the film first!

Mentioned in this episode:

• Get tickets for The Toxic Avenger
• THE TOXIC AVENGER To Mop Up Medical Debt With Non-Profit Partnership

Hosted by Zack Beins. Produced by Chris Lanphear for Loudspeaker Studios. Talkin' Troma Theme Music by J57 and Bald Halfwit. Special thanks to Macon Blair, Cineverse, Legendary, and Katrina Wan PR.

Featured Music:

• "Nothing At All" by The Giraffes, originally written and performed by Marc Hoffman and Dean Simmons from The Toxic Avenger
• "The Look of Love (Part 1)" by ABC from The Toxic Avenger

Connect with Zack:

• https://twitter.com/legolarry
• https://www.instagram.com/legolarry/

Connect with Talkin' Troma:

• https://www.talkintroma.com
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/talkintroma/
• https://twitter.com/talkintroma
• https://www.youtube.com/@talkintroma

Connect with Loudspeaker:

• https://twitter.com/heyloudspeaker
• https://www.facebook.com/heyloudspeaker
• https://www.instagram.com/heyloudspeaker

Talkin' Troma is a listener-supported production of Loudspeaker Studios. Hear more great shows and commercial-free independent public radio at https://www.loudspeaker.org.

Zack and Chris return from San Diego Comic-Con with a full breakdown of Troma's biggest showing yet! From the long-awaited reimagining of The Toxic Avenger premiering with Peter Dinklage, Elijah Wood, Taylour Paige, and Jacob Tremblay, to an electrifying Hall H panel, exclusive screenings, and Troma's jam-packed booth, it was a landmark year for Lloyd Kaufman and the Troma family.

The guys dive into convention exclusives, collectibles, and comics, including the Toxic Crusaders series, new action figures, and even the long-rumored "Mr. Melvin" cut of Toxic Avenger II & III. Plus, behind-the-scenes stories from celebrity encounters, afterparties, and the surreal moment when Troma officially arrived on the Comic-Con main stage. Afterward, stay tuned for the entire Toxic Avenger panel live from Hall H with writer-director Macon Blair, Lloyd Kaufman, and the cast

If you couldn't make it to San Diego, this is your all-access pass to the chaos, creativity, and toxic love that defined Comic-Con 2025.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Get tickets for The Toxic Avenger
• Yesterdays SDCC Exclusive Toxie Pin
• Mother's Day VHS and Toxic Avenger VHS by Nerds Nest Collectibles
• Toxie 2025 Mask by Trick or Treat Studios
• Sgt. Kabukiman N.Y.P.D. 4K Ultra HD
• The Toxic Avenger: Kickstarter Deluxe Edition
• Mr. Melvin

Hosted by Zack Beins. Produced by Chris Lanphear for Loudspeaker Studios. Talkin' Troma Theme Music by J57 and Bald Halfwit. Special thanks to Cineverse, Legendary, and Katrina Wan PR.

Featured Music:

• "Nothing At All" by The Giraffes, originally written and performed by Marc Hoffman and Dean Simmons

Connect with Zack:

• https://twitter.com/legolarry
• https://www.instagram.com/legolarry/

Connect with Talkin' Troma:

• https://www.talkintroma.com
• https://twitter.com/talkintroma
• https://www.youtube.com/@talkintroma

Connect with Loudspeaker:

• https://twitter.com/heyloudspeaker
• https://www.facebook.com/heyloudspeaker
• https://www.instagram.com/heyloudspeaker

Talkin' Troma is a listener-supported production of Loudspeaker Studios. Hear more...

Tiffany Shepis is one of the most iconic scream queens. Known for her fearless performances and magnetic presence, Tiffany first splashed onto the horror scene with Troma. From her breakout role as Peter in Tromeo and Juliet to her hosting duties as Super Tromette Bulimia in Troma's Edge TV, Shepis quickly became a fan favorite in the underground film world. Outside of the silver screen, Tiffany is an outspoken advocate for gun safety with firsthand experience to back it up. Join us as we explore her career, her impact on cult horror, and how her time with Troma helped launch a genre-spanning journey that's still going strong. Recorded live at the Colorado Festival of Horror.

Hosted by Zack Beins. Produced by Chris Lanphear for Loudspeaker Studios. Talkin' Troma Theme Music by J57 and Bald Halfwit. Special thanks to Tiffany Shepis, Dan Crosier, and Bret Smith from the Colorado Festival of Horror.

Featured Music:

• "Radetzky March" by Johann Strauss

Connect with Tiffany:

• https://trauma-triumph.org/
• https://www.instagram.com/tiffanyshepis/
• https://x.com/tiffanyshepis

Connect with Zack:

• https://twitter.com/legolarry
• https://www.instagram.com/legolarry/

Connect with Talkin' Troma:

• https://www.talkintroma.com
• https://twitter.com/talkintroma
• https://www.youtube.com/@talkintroma

Connect with Loudspeaker:

• https://twitter.com/heyloudspeaker
• https://www.facebook.com/heyloudspeaker
• https://www.instagram.com/heyloudspeaker

Talkin' Troma is a listener-supported production of Loudspeaker Studios. Hear more great shows and commercial-free independent public radio at https://www.loudspeaker.org.

Zack sits down with writer Mathew Klickstein as they discuss his new book, Lloyd Kaufman: Interviews, available now from University Press of Mississippi. Mathew culled through nearly 50 years of interviews with the Troma president/co-founder to deliver a detailed, sometimes academic, sometimes silly portrait of the man who, along with partner Michael Herz, has kept Troma in business for the last half century.

Mathew Klickstein is a longtime multiplatform storyteller. His publications include SLIMED! An Oral History of Nickelodeon's Golden Age; Springfield Confidential: Jokes, Secrets, and Outright Lies from a Lifetime Writing for "The Simpsons"; and See You at San Diego: An Oral History of Comic-Con, Fandom, and the Triumph of Geek Culture.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Mathew Klickstein
• Lloyd Kaufman: Interviews on Amazon
• Mother's Day - Mathew's favorite Troma film
• April 2025: Total Troma Takeover at Lyric Cinema Cafe

Hosted by Zack Beins. Produced by Chris Lanphear for Loudspeaker Studios. Talkin' Troma Theme Music by J57 and Bald Halfwit.

Connect with Zack:

• https://twitter.com/legolarry
• https://www.instagram.com/legolarry/

Connect with Talkin' Troma:

• https://www.talkintroma.com
• https://bsky.app/profile/talkintroma.bsky.social
• https://twitter.com/talkintroma
• https://www.youtube.com/@talkintroma

Connect with Loudspeaker:

• https://twitter.com/heyloudspeaker
• https://www.facebook.com/heyloudspeaker
• https://www.instagram.com/heyloudspeaker

Talkin' Troma is a listener-supported production of Loudspeaker Studios. Hear more great shows and commercial-free independent public radio at https://www.loudspeaker.org.

Earlier today, Variety broke the news that distributor Cineverse (Terrifier 3) has signed a deal to distribute writer-director Macon Blair's The Toxic Avenger in theaters and streaming across North America in 2025. Filmed in 2021 in Bulgaria, the reimagining of the classic Troma film was first shown at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas in 2023 but then things went... silent. Word was that the film had trouble securing distribution. Legendary Pictures, who produced the film, remained mostly silent on its potential release until today's announcement. Host Zack Beins and Talkin' Troma correspondent Chaz Kangas break down the news and talk about a brighter, more Tromatic Tomorrow in this special report! NO SPOILERS! We also round up recent news about the upcoming Toxic Crusaders video game, the release of #ShakespearesShitstorm, TromaDance, and much more!

Support the show! Make a donation at https://my.loudspeaker.org

Mentioned in this episode:

• Announcement in Variety
• The Toxic Avenger Teaser Trailer
• Toxic Crusaders Video Game Update
• The TromArchive Collection - Refuse Films
• The TromArchive Collection - Grindhouse Video (US)

Hosted by Zack Beins and Chaz Kangas. Produced by Chris Lanphear for Loudspeaker Studios. Talkin' Troma Theme Music by J57 and Bald Halfwit.

Featured Music:

"Radetzky March" by Johann Strauss

Connect with Zack:

• https://twitter.com/legolarry
• https://www.instagram.com/legolarry/

Connect with Talkin' Troma:

• https://www.talkintroma.com
• https://bsky.app/profile/talkintroma.bsky.social
• https://twitter.com/talkintroma
• https://www.youtube.com/@talkintroma

Connect with Loudspeaker:

• https://twitter.com/heyloudspeaker
• https://www.facebook.com/heyloudspeaker
• https://www.instagram.com/heyloudspeaker

Talkin' Troma is a listener-supported production of Loudspeaker Studios. Hear more great shows and commercial-free independent public radio at https://www.loudspeaker.org.

Tonight, host Zack Beins chats with writer/director Charles Kaufman (WHEN NATURE CALLS, JAKARTA) in front of a live crowd following a screening of his infamous 1980 horror-comedy classic, MOTHER'S DAY. Hear about the making of the film, relationships on set, working with siblings Lloyd and Susan Kaufman, what his mother thought of the finished product, shooting stunts in Indonesia, and even a little-known entry in his filmography called THE SECRET DREAMS OF MONA Q – all on Talkin' Troma! Produced in association with The Colorado Festival of Horror. Recorded live on May 17, 2024.

Support the show! Make a donation at https://my.loudspeaker.org

Mentioned in this episode:

• Mother's Day 4K UHD
• Stream Mother's Day
• Stream When Nature Calls
• Bread & Cie in San Diego, CA
• The Colorado Festival of Horror
• The Bug Theatre

Hosted by Zack Beins. Produced by Chris Lanphear for Loudspeaker Studios. Additional research by Chaz Kangas. Charles Kaufman photo courtesy of Bryan Bonner. Talkin' Troma Theme Music by J57 and Bald Halfwit. Special thanks to Dan Crosier and Bret Smith of The Colorado Festival of Horror and The Bug Theatre in Denver, CO.

Featured Music:

• "Radetzky March" by Johann Strauss

Connect with Zack:

• https://twitter.com/legolarry
• https://www.instagram.com/legolarry/

Connect with Talkin' Troma:

• https://www.talkintroma.com
• https://twitter.com/talkintroma
• https://www.youtube.com/@talkintroma

Connect with Loudspeaker:

• https://twitter.com/heyloudspeaker
• https://www.facebook.com/heyloudspeaker
• https://www.instagram.com/heyloudspeaker

Talkin' Troma is a listener-supported production of Loudspeaker Studios. Hear more great shows and commercial-free independent public radio at https://www.loudspeaker.org.

Doug Sakmann was a truly special individual – a valued member of the Troma Team, friend, filmmaker, and shit disturber. Doug first joined Troma as a production assistant on Citizen Toxie, working his way up to an associate producer, and then going on to produce the Troma's Edge TV series while joining the company full-time as the Head of Production, a position he held until 2002 when he left to form his own production company Backseat Conceptions, which created the Punk Rock Holocaust film series in association with the Vans Warped Tour. Doug also produced and starred in the Kabukiman's Cocktail Corner web series, and he became synonymous with Sgt. Kabukiman, having portrayed the character far more times than anyone else. In addition, Doug was also a journeyman special effects artist, having created FX for everything from music videos to commercials to video games to TV shows and feature films, including the Return to Nuke 'Em High films and Shakespeare's Shitstorm.

Doug tragically passed away on June 27, 2024 at just 43 years old. In July of 2023, we sat down with Doug for over two hours to talk about his time in Tromaville. The original intent was to use clips of the interview across various topics that we're covering on the show. In light of what's happened we've decided to air the full interview (mostly) uncut along with remembrances from some of his friends and colleagues. Please enjoy our look back with Doug on a very special episode of Talkin' Troma.

Hosted by Zack Beins. Produced by Chris Lanphear for Loudspeaker Studios. Talkin' Troma Theme Music by J57 and Bald Halfwit. Special thanks to Liam Regan, Debbie Rochon, Lloyd Kaufman, Bjarni Tómasson, Tiffany Shepis, Chris Seaver, and Zac Amico.

Connect with Zack:

• https://twitter.com/legolarry
• https://www.instagram.com/legolarry/

Connect with Talkin' Troma:

• https://www.talkintroma.com
• https://twitter.com/talkintroma
• https://www.youtube.com/@talkintroma

Connect with Loudspeaker:

• https://twitter.com/heyloudspeaker
• https://www.facebook.com/heyloudspeaker
• https://www.instagram.com/heyloudspeaker

Talkin' Troma is a listener-supported production of Loudspeaker Studios. Hear more great shows and commercial-free independent public radio at https://www.loudspeaker.org.

It's a very special bonus episode as host Zack Beins is joined by Scream Queens Debbie Rochon (Terror Firmer, Tromeo & Juliet) and Monique Dupree (Shakespeare's Shitstorm) LIVE at the Colorado Festival of Horror. As a special treat, Ms. Rochon is also presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award for her service to independent cinema.

Hosted by Zack Beins. Produced by Chris Lanphear for Loudspeaker Studios. Talkin' Troma Theme Music by J57 and Bald Halfwit. Special thanks to Debbie Rochon, Monique Dupree, Dan Crosier, and Bret Smith from the Colorado Festival of Horror.

Featured Music:

• "Radetzky March" by Johann Strauss

Connect with Zack:

• https://twitter.com/legolarry
• https://www.instagram.com/legolarry/

Connect with our Guests:

• https://www.debbierochon.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/moniquegatadupree/
• https://cofestivalofhorror.com/

Connect with Talkin' Troma:

• https://www.talkintroma.com
• https://twitter.com/talkintroma
• https://www.youtube.com/@talkintroma

Connect with Loudspeaker:

• https://twitter.com/heyloudspeaker
• https://www.facebook.com/heyloudspeaker
• https://www.instagram.com/heyloudspeaker

Talkin' Troma is a listener-supported production of Loudspeaker Studios. Hear more great shows and commercial-free independent public radio at https://www.loudspeaker.org.