Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Vampires... but were too scared to ask!

Folks have a fear and fascination with bloodsuckers like Count Dracula and Akasha, the ancient vampire Queen of the Damned and others, so, to celebrate Halloween I’m bringing in vampire expert Prof. Stanley Stepanic of The University of Virginia to, not exactly shed some light one the subject, because, according to lore, that might make the vampires burst into flames, but to give us a lively history of the undead.

To date he has published three textbooks that have been released in recent editions - these are "Dracula or the Timeless Path of the Vampire," "Russian and East European Film", and "Russian Folklore". His latest book, a novella titled “A Vamp There Was,” is set in 1920s Virginia, and looks at the vamp archetype… that of a desirable woman who manipulates men. A young man from Virginia investigates the secrets of her past and the devastating effect on the men who fall for her. 

Professor Stepanic teaches a popular class on Dracula at The University of Virginia which covers the history of the vampire from pre-Christian Slavic belief to the present and often appears on lists of students’ favorite University courses.

Then, at the end of the show I share a taste of an interview I did with director Matt Reeves. He’s directed movies like “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,” “War for the Planet of the Apes” and “The Batman” with Robert Pattinson, but here we talk about his unique vampire film “Let Me In.” It’s a remake of a Swedish film, but unlike so many remakes, this story of a bullied young boy who befriends a young female vampire who lives in secrecy with her guardian, really works and is perfect Halloween viewing.

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Vampires... but were too scared to ask!
Folks have a fear and fascination with bloodsuckers like Count Dracula and Akasha, the ancient vampire Queen of the Damned and others, so, to celebrate Halloween I’m bringing in vampire expert Prof. Stanley Stepanic of The University of Virginia to, not exactly shed some light one the subject, because, according to lore, that might make the vampires burst into flames, but to give us a lively history of the undead.
To date he has published three textbooks that have been released in recent editions - these are "Dracula or the Timeless Path of the Vampire," "Russian and East European Film", and "Russian Folklore". His latest book, a novella titled “A Vamp There Was,” is set in 1920s Virginia, and looks at the vamp archetype… that of a desirable woman who manipulates men. A young man from Virginia investigates the secrets of her past and the devastating effect on the men who fall for her. 
Professor Stepanic teaches a popular class on Dracula at The University of Virginia which covers the history of the vampire from pre-Christian Slavic belief to the present and often appears on lists of students’ favorite University courses.
Then, at the end of the show I share a taste of an interview I did with director Matt Reeves. He’s directed movies like “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,” “War for the Planet of the Apes” and “The Batman” with Robert Pattinson, but here we talk about his unique vampire film “Let Me In.” It’s a remake of a Swedish film, but unlike so many remakes, this story of a bullied young boy who befriends a young female vampire who lives in secrecy with her guardian, really works and is perfect Halloween viewing.

Every week THE RICHARD CROUSE SHOW features in depth conversations with the actors, writers and movers-and-shakers who are not only part of pop culture but helping create the pop culture we enjoy. Recent guests include Fresh Off the Boat star Randall Park, comedian Greg Proops, Toy Story 4 star Tony Hale, Muppet master Brian Henson, Emily Mortimer, Woman Enough: How a Boy Became a Woman and Changed the World of Sport author Kristen Worley, superstar English novelist Ian McEwan, best-selling Black Leopard, Red Wolf author Marlon James and many others.

The Richard Crouse Show Podcast

The Richard Crouse Show

Every week THE RICHARD CROUSE SHOW features in depth conversations with the actors, writers and movers-and-shakers who create the pop culture we enjoy. Recently Fresh Off the Boat's Randall Park talked about working as a barista while starring on a TV show. Best-selling Black Leopard, Red Wolf author Marlon James described why Miles Davis is an integral part of his writing process and  Woman Enough: How a Boy Became a Woman and Changed the World of Sport author Kristen Worley detailed how she blazed a trail for gender diversity in sport. Join Richard and his guests for relaxed,  revealing and in-depth conversations.

HALLOWEEN SPECIAL EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT VAMPIRES!

On this edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet multi-award-winning journalist, author and broadcaster Carol Off. For almost 16 years, she co-hosted CBC Radio’s flagship current affairs program, As It Happens. As a television journalist, writer and radio host it’s estimated she did 25,000 interviews with newsmakers and noticed that as politics became more polarized than ever before, words that used to define civil society were being put to work for completely different political agendas.    

In her new book, “At a Loss for Words: Conversation in the Age of Rage,” she analyzes six terms—freedom, democracy, truth, woke, choice and taxes—and how their meanings have been twisted.

Then, we meet a guest who began his career as a child actor, appearing in everything from “Back tio the Future II” to Internal Affairs opposite Richard Gere. He became an international star after playing Frodo Baggins in the acclaimed "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. He’s Elijah Wood, and his extensive filmography now includes “Bookworm,” an intriguing film about a 12-year-old named Mildred whose life is turned upside down when her mother lands in hospital and estranged, American magician father, Strawn Wise, played by Elijah Wood, comes to look after her. Hoping to entertain the bookish tween, Strawn takes Mildred camping in the notoriously rugged New Zealand wilderness, and the pair embark on the ultimate test of family bonding -- a quest to find the mythological beast known as the Canterbury Panther.

Finally, we meet director Tim Fehlbaum. He’s an award-winning Swiss filmmaker whose previous films, like “Tides” and “Hell,” focused on post-apocalyptic and science fiction stories. He returns to the real world with “September 5,” a new thriller starring Peter Sarsgaard and Ben Chaplin, and now playing in select theatres, an American sports broadcasting crew finds itself thrust into covering the hostage crisis involving Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

On this edition of The Richard Crouse Show we’ll meet multi-award-winning journalist, author and broadcaster Carol Off. For almost 16 years, she co-hosted CBC Radio’s flagship current affairs program, As It Happens. As a television journalist, writer and radio host it’s estimated she did 25,000 interviews with newsmakers and noticed that as politics became more polarized than ever before, words that used to define civil society were being put to work for completely different political agendas.    
In her new book, “At a Loss for Words: Conversation in the Age of Rage,” she analyzes six terms—freedom, democracy, truth, woke, choice and taxes—and how their meanings have been twisted.
Then, we meet a guest who began his career as a child actor, appearing in everything from “Back tio the Future II” to Internal Affairs opposite Richard Gere. He became an international star after playing Frodo Baggins in the acclaimed "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. He’s Elijah Wood, and his extensive filmography now includes “Bookworm,” an intriguing film about a 12-year-old named Mildred whose life is turned upside down when her mother lands in hospital and estranged, American magician father, Strawn Wise, played by Elijah Wood, comes to look after her. Hoping to entertain the bookish tween, Strawn takes Mildred camping in the notoriously rugged New Zealand wilderness, and the pair embark on the ultimate test of family bonding -- a quest to find the mythological beast known as the Canterbury Panther.
Finally, we meet director Tim Fehlbaum. He’s an award-winning Swiss filmmaker whose previous films, like “Tides” and “Hell,” focused on post-apocalyptic and science fiction stories. He returns to the real world with “September 5,” a new thriller starring Peter Sarsgaard and Ben Chaplin, and now playing in select theatres, an American sports broadcasting crew finds itself thrust into covering the hostage crisis involving Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

CAROL OFF + ELIJAH WOOD + TIM FEHLBAUM  

On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show we meet musician, broadcaster, photographer, empresario, and author who joins me today to talk about his newest book “Rollin’ Through the ‘70s. Weed, Woman and Song.” Born in Indiana, his recording career began in 1965 with a cover of jazz great Bobby Timmon’s song “Moanin’” by his band The Chateaus. Since then, he was mentored by jazz legend Oscar Peterson, and worked with everyone from Janis Joplin and The Pointer Sisters to Linda Ronstadt and Howdy Doody.  

I’ve had a remarkable life, he says, and he joins me today to talk about Vietnam and his arrival in Canada, smoking hash and many other stories from his book “Rollin’ Through the ‘70s. Weed, Woman and Song.”

Then we get to know ChristopheLebold, a professor of literature, performance studies and rock culture from Strasbourg, France, joins me to talk about his book “Leonard Cohen: The Man Who Saw the Angels Fall.” It’s an intriguing, massive, 543-page compendium that takes a deep metaphysical dive into the late Montrealer’s world.

On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show we meet musician, broadcaster, photographer, empresario, and author who joins me today to talk about his newest book “Rollin’ Through the ‘70s. Weed, Woman and Song.” Born in Indiana, his recording career began in 1965 with a cover of jazz great Bobby Timmon’s song “Moanin’” by his band The Chateaus. Since then, he was mentored by jazz legend Oscar Peterson, and worked with everyone from Janis Joplin and The Pointer Sisters to Linda Ronstadt and Howdy Doody.  
I’ve had a remarkable life, he says, and he joins me today to talk about Vietnam and his arrival in Canada, smoking hash and many other stories from his book “Rollin’ Through the ‘70s. Weed, Woman and Song.”
Then we get to know Christophe Lebold, a professor of literature, performance studies and rock culture from Strasbourg, France, joins me to talk about his book “Leonard Cohen: The Man Who Saw the Angels Fall.” It’s an intriguing, massive, 543-page compendium that takes a deep metaphysical dive into the late Montrealer’s world.

BILL KING + CHRISTOPHE LEBOLD 

On the Saturday November 30, 2024 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet Ronnie Shuker, author, editor, freelance writer, and an editor-at-large for The Hockey News. He has traveled to places such as North Korea, Chernobyl, Transnistria, and the Himalayas, where he took part in the Guinness World Record for the highest altitude hockey game ever played. He stayed closer to home for his new book, “The Country and the Game: 30,000 Miles of Hockey Stories.” In the waning days of the pandemic, sportswriter Ronnie Shuker stuffed his skates, sticks, and backpack into his faithful automobile, Gumpy, named for legendary goaltender Gump Worsley, and set off on a 30,000-mile, coast-to-coast-to-coast investigation of the many ways hockey touches the lives of Canadians.

Then, we’ll meet Vass Bednar is the executive director of McMaster University’s Master of Public Policy in Digital Society program, a contributing columnist to The Globe and Mail, and the host of its podcast Lately. Today we talk about her new book “The Big Fix,” co-authored with Denise Hearn. The book examines how corporate concentration is growing across many industries, leading to higher prices for consumers, lower worker’s wages, more inequality, fewer startups, less innovation, and lower growth and productivity. 

On the Saturday November 30, 2024 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet Ronnie Shuker, author, editor, freelance writer, and an editor-at-large for The Hockey News. He has traveled to places such as North Korea, Chernobyl, Transnistria, and the Himalayas, where he took part in the Guinness World Record for the highest altitude hockey game ever played. He stayed closer to home for his new book, “The Country and the Game: 30,000 Miles of Hockey Stories.” In the waning days of the pandemic, sportswriter Ronnie Shuker stuffed his skates, sticks, and backpack into his faithful automobile, Gumpy, named for legendary goaltender Gump Worsley, and set off on a 30,000-mile, coast-to-coast-to-coast investigation of the many ways hockey touches the lives of Canadians.
Then, we’ll meet Vass Bednar is the executive director of McMaster University’s Master of Public Policy in Digital Society program, a contributing columnist to The Globe and Mail, and the host of its podcast Lately. Today we talk about her new book “The Big Fix,” co-authored with Denise Hearn. The book examines how corporate concentration is growing across many industries, leading to higher prices for consumers, lower worker’s wages, more inequality, fewer startups, less innovation, and lower growth and productivity.

HALLOWEEN SPECIAL EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT VAMPIRES!

In 3 playlist(s)

The Richard Crouse Show

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips