Interview with the Vampire: A Bold Reimagining of Queerness, Race & Abuse

Ghouls Next Door

#Gabe & Kat #Ghoul Talk #Cinema

35:24

Let’s talk about adulting— actual adulting. Not just paying bills or keeping a houseplant alive, but the kind that involves emotional maturity, healthy boundaries, and conscious self-leadership. Because let’s be honest, most of us weren’t taught how to be fully functioning adults… and it shows. Joining us is Michelle Chalfant , licensed therapist turned holistic life coach, creator of The Adult Chair® model, and author of the new book The Adult Chair: Get Unstuck, Claim Your Power, and Transform Your Life . With millions reached through her podcast, coaching programs, and retreats, she’s here to walk us through the five pillars of being a healthy, grounded adult. Here’s the truth: being an adult isn’t about checking boxes or pretending you’re fine. It’s about owning your truth. Feeling your feelings. Practicing compassion without letting yourself off the hook. It’s about setting firm boundaries—with no need for justification—and recognizing that your triggers are not flaws, they’re clues. None of us were handed a guidebook for how to grow up emotionally. We inherited patterns from people who were figuring it out as they went. But what Michelle shares today is empowering: it’s never too late to unlearn what no longer serves you and become the adult you were meant to be. Whether you’re starting this work or knee-deep in your personal development era, this episode will meet you where you are—and help you move forward with clarity, self-trust, and strength. Connect with Michelle: Website: https://theadultchair.com/ Book: https://theadultchair.com/book IG: https://www.instagram.com/themichellechalfant/?hl=en FB: https://www.facebook.com/@TheMichelleChalfant/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/michellechalfant Related Podcast Episodes: How To Build Emotionally Mature Leaders with Dr. Christie Smith | 272 Boundaries vs. Ultimatums with Jan & Jillian Yuhas | 297 Gentleness: Cultivating Compassion for Yourself and Others with Courtney Carver | 282 Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

about a year ago 1:02:42

MP3•Episode home

Let’s break down the beauty, horror, and heartbreak of Interview with the Vampire.

AMC’s Interview with the Vampire is a haunting, gothic masterpiece that redefines Anne Rice’s classic story through the lens of race, queerness, and power. This deep dive explores the tragic, abusive relationship between Louis de Pointe du Lac and Lestat de Lioncourt—one built on manipulation, control, and toxic love.

This adaptation transforms Interview with the Vampire into a radical, hauntingly relevant story about survival, identity, and the devastating cost of love in a world built on power and control.

🔔 If you love horror analysis, media deep dives, and discussions on race, queerness, and power, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe!

305 episodes

Interview with the Vampire: A Bold Reimagining of Queerness, Race & Abuse

Ghouls Next Door

published about a year ago

MP3•Episode home

Let’s break down the beauty, horror, and heartbreak of Interview with the Vampire.

This adaptation transforms Interview with the Vampire into a radical, hauntingly relevant story about survival, identity, and the devastating cost of love in a world built on power and control.

🔔 If you love horror analysis, media deep dives, and discussions on race, queerness, and power, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe!

305 episodes

#Gabe & Kat #Ghoul Talk #Cinema

All episodes

Ghouls Next Door

1
Defying More Than Gravity: Race, Politics & Power in Wicked 59:32

12 days ago59:32

59:32

The Ghouls explore the revolutionary impact of Wicked in 2025. We dissect how Cynthia Erivo's Black Elphaba transforms the green-skinned witch's journey into a searing commentary on race, while simultaneously exposing the musical's chilling political prophecies. From "Defying Gravity" as a representation anthem to the Wizard's propaganda machine mirroring today's politics, we reveal why this story hits differently in 2025. When Animals lose their voice in Oz, marginalized communities recognize the playbook. When Elphaba is labeled "wicked" for speaking truth, activists see their reflection. Discover how one musical manages to challenge both Hollywood's casting traditions and America's political reality in a single, defiant gesture. Prepare to see "Wicked" through new eyes—where fantasy and reality collide in perfect, uncomfortable harmony.…

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Sinners: A Love Letter to Black Culture, Resiliency, and History 1:18:17

24 days ago1:18:17

1:18:17

Ryan Coogler’s Sinners feels like two movies in one and both are phenomenal pieces of media. At once a beautiful, heartbreaking, and emotional depiction of Jim Crow era America and a charming, hilarious, and horrific exploration of faith, culture, and folklore. Ghouls unpack their takeaways from a film ripe with meaning and impact diving into the intersectionality, intentionality, and fantastical nature of the film.…

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Severance: Innies, Exploitation & Modern Company Towns 1:17:12

6 weeks ago1:17:12

1:17:12

Severance has given us one of the most nuanced examinations of identity, consciousness, and labor rights in recent television. The Ghouls dissect Severance Season 2's brilliant dual commentary: the fight for innie personhood alongside corporate America's modern "Sunken Place" for Black professionals. From Helly's rebellion to Milchick's blackface paintings, Apple TV's workplace thriller mirrors our reality of eroding worker rights, modern company towns, and the dehumanizing effects of capitalism. "Did you think just because you gave us half a life, we wouldn't fight for it?"…

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Horror with Heart: From Shows the Power of Community in Crisis 1:13:57

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From brilliantly explores Rebecca Solnit's disaster utopia concept, showing how communities respond to catastrophes with solidarity rather than chaos. The Ghouls explore how the trapped townspeople build meaningful connections despite relentless threats. From creates a true disaster utopia, showing people cooperating across backgrounds and sharing resources in Colony House's socialist community. We also explore the psychological toll of perpetual danger, comparing adaptive vs. maladaptive coping mechanisms through characters like Jade, Sara, and Elgin, revealing why isolation leads to corruption while community offers survival. Plus: connections to current social movements and recent protest victories! Perfect for horror fans, social psychology enthusiasts, and anyone seeking hope in difficult times.…

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Ghouls Live 300th Celebration! 57:50

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57:50

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Ghouls Next Door

1
Interview with the Vampire: A Bold Reimagining of Queerness, Race & Abuse 1:02:42

15 weeks ago1:02:42

1:02:42

Let’s break down the beauty, horror, and heartbreak of Interview with the Vampire. AMC’s Interview with the Vampire is a haunting, gothic masterpiece that redefines Anne Rice’s classic story through the lens of race, queerness, and power. This deep dive explores the tragic, abusive relationship between Louis de Pointe du Lac and Lestat de Lioncourt—one built on manipulation, control, and toxic love. This adaptation transforms Interview with the Vampire into a radical, hauntingly relevant story about survival, identity, and the devastating cost of love in a world built on power and control. 🔔 If you love horror analysis, media deep dives, and discussions on race, queerness, and power, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe!…

Ghouls Next Door

1
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1:07:01

Is Nosferatu a cautionary tale about repression, or an empowering story of feminine defiance? Let’s dive into this gothic nightmare and uncover the terrifying truths behind the fiction. Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu (2024) is a chilling reflection of historical oppression, medical horror, and the fear of feminine autonomy. The film’s eerie atmosphere, psychological terror, and feminist themes connect directly to the real-life history of how women were controlled, misdiagnosed, and silenced in the 19th century. The Ghouls explore Nosferatu through both film analysis and historical context—examining how the gothic horror of Count Orlok reflects societal fears of independent women, medical oppression, and patriarchal control. From Ellen’s supernatural descent to the real-world horrors of hysteria diagnoses, forced medical treatments, and the suppression of female autonomy, Nosferatu becomes a terrifying metaphor for historical and systemic abuse.…

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The Power of Your Monster (2024): Feminine Rage and Confronting Emotional Neglect 57:25

19 weeks ago57:25

57:25

Ghouls break down the emotional depth and trauma explored in Your Monster (2024), highlighting themes of childhood neglect, feminine rage, and trauma responses like fawning. We dive into how Laura’s emotional repression—stemming from both physical and emotional neglect in childhood—shapes her adult life, relationships, and health. The film subtly explores how neglect, especially in Latine communities, goes beyond the physical and deeply affects emotional well-being, often manifesting as chronic illness. Laura's experiences reflect how people-pleasing and fawning behaviors become survival mechanisms when one's emotional needs are constantly dismissed. We also examine how societal structures like capitalism exacerbate childhood neglect, forcing parents into difficult situations where emotional care is neglected. Through Laura’s journey, Your Monster reveals the profound effects of generational trauma, microaggressions, and the systemic forces that limit the expression of emotional needs. In addition to the exploration of emotional neglect, the film gives voice to Latine anger, showcasing how Laura’s repressed rage becomes a form of empowerment and healing. This is a story about confronting the monsters inside, healing from trauma, and seeking self-empowerment in a world that often tells marginalized groups they don’t have permission to be angry.…

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21 weeks ago1:02:18

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The Shape of Water and America Today: Monsters, Empathy, and Division 56:24

23 weeks ago56:24

56:24

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Alien: Romulus – Corporate Greed, Bodily Autonomy, and the Fight for Freedom 55:55

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29 weeks ago58:55

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31 weeks ago49:30

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