The Days Grimm Podcast
The Days Grimm, "arguably Indiana's most comical, thrilling, and controversial podcast", This three-pronged mandate acts as a primary filter for their guest selection. The "comical" aspect is reflected in its official genre of "COMEDY INTERVIEWS" and its history of hosting local stand-up comedians. The "thrilling" component is evident in interviews with individuals who have extraordinary life stories, such as people who survived shootings, rare medical conditions, and combat. Finally, the "controversial" element is demonstrated by Brian & Thomas’ willingness to engage in difficult or unfiltered conversations, touching on topics like homelessness, artificial intelligence, and religious hypotheticals.
A crucial element of the show's tone is its tagline, "Brought to you by Sadness & ADHD (non-medicated)". This self-aware and raw positioning signals a modern comedic sensibility that embraces vulnerability and finds humor in personal struggle. The podcast's brand is not built on polished narratives but on the authentic, often messy, intersection of hardship and humor. The most compelling guests are those who have navigated a "Grimm" reality and emerged with a story to tell, and ideally, a sense of humor about it. This dynamic is the core of the show's appeal and the primary filter for identifying a story worth telling.
The Days Grimm Podcast
Ep 273 The Wild Reality of Running a Comic Con with Matt Grisham
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Wondering what it takes to start a pop culture convention from scratch? In this episode, Matt Grisham, the mastermind behind Evansville RaptorCon and HorrorCon, reveals the chaotic, hilarious, and sometimes heartbreaking reality of the convention world.
The Days of Grimm crew sit down with Matt Grisham to discuss the origins of Evansville's premier pop culture and horror conventions. Matt shares wild behind-the-scenes stories, from losing a massive payout to the boxer Butterbean due to a contract misunderstanding, to navigating the tragic, sudden passing of voice actor Mark Dodson during a convention weekend. We also dive into Matt’s previous career traveling the country as a stage hypnotist and magician, the logistics of booking huge voice actors and horror icons like the cast of Terrifier, and why keeping conventions focused on local vendors is the ultimate key to success. This episode is for anyone fascinated by event production, pop culture, and the gritty behind-the-scenes work of building a community from the ground up.
If you are a fan of comic conventions, horror movies, or just want to hear the unfiltered truth about event production, this episode is packed with invaluable lessons. It strips away the glamour to reveal the high-stakes, problem-solving reality of hosting thousands of people and major celebrities. Viewers will walk away with a newfound appreciation for the event organizers who make pop culture magic happen.
If you enjoyed this deep dive into the convention world, be sure to hit that subscribe button, leave a comment with your favorite con memory, and share this episode with a fellow pop culture fan!
TIMELINE:
00:00:00 - Introduction and Welcoming Matt Grisham
00:04:34 - The Origins of RaptorCon and Expanding to HorrorCon
00:08:53 - Death of the Week: Epic Universe Roller Coaster Tragedy
00:16:47 - The Butterbean Contract Misunderstanding
00:23:49 - Bringing the Cast of Terrifier to Evansville
00:30:41 - Hosting Panels with Legendary Voice Actors
00:44:40 - Why Conventions Need to Prioritize Local Vendors
00:51:11 - Matt’s Wild Career as a Magician and Hypnotist
01:02:08 - The Tragic Passing of Mark Dodson at a Convention
01:07:38 - Matt’s Darkest Moment and Overcoming Burnout
01:11:09 - Upcoming Dates for RaptorCon and HorrorCon
The Raptor Con Link:
https://www.theraptorcon.com/
Evansville Horror Con Link:
https://www.evansvillehorror.com/
[The Days Grimm Podcast Links]
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheDaysGrimm
- Our link tree: linktr.ee/Thedaysgrimm
- GoFundMe account for The Days Grimm: https://gofund.me/02527e7c
[The Days Grimm is brought to you by]
Sadness & ADHD (non-medicated)