Did you know I co-host a podcast with Mike from All Hallows Geek? By Pumpkin's Light is our little side project where we get to know fellow creatives in the online Halloween community.
We’re nearly three years into this adventure and closing in on 80 spooky creatives we’ve interviewed…with a handful of just-for-fun episodes thrown in for our listeners as well.
Our goal in producing an interview-style podcast is this: to introduce you to new content creators, small business owners, industry professionals, and other creatives who are dedicated to creating Halloween magic all year long.
There is a TON in the archives to enjoy. Jump around to the names you know. Check out the ones you don’t know who sound interesting.
Every conversation has been so much fun, and it is extra rewarding hearing from so many of you in person at events how much you’re loving joining us in the lair.
Here is your quarterly recap of everyone we’ve chatted with in the past season.
Winter 2025/26 Guests on By Pumpkin’s Light
Episode 72: Christopher Cox
Halloween fine artist Christopher Cox explores the childhood memories, handmade costumes, and year-round traditions that shaped his lifelong love of the holiday. He also talks about the story behind his intricate sculpted creations and his brand October Rds, offering a look into his creative process, inspirations, and the magic that fuels his witchy, whimsical work.
Episode 73: Juli Draney
Composer and pianist Juli Draney joins the lair to explore the childhood Halloween memories and musical inspirations that eventually led her to create the whimsical world of Henry’s Halloween. She shares how her early love of costumes, traditions, and storytelling shaped both the original book and its evolution into a full rock opera ballet that blends classical, metal, funk, and dance into a magical, immersive experience.
Episode 74: Ben Farthing
Meet Ben Farthing, a horror author whose love of Halloween and storytelling began in childhood and now fuels a body of work steeped in liminal spaces, nightmares, and eerie imagination. He joins the lair to explore his earliest Halloween memories, the traditions he keeps today, the writers and weird tales that shaped him, and the inspirations behind his viral books — including The 31st Trick-or-Treater and the “I Found Horror” series.
Episode 75: Spooky Professor
Meet the wildly creative Spooky Professor, a professional cosplayer known for bringing iconic horror characters and her own original creations to life at SoCal’s biggest Halloween and horror events. From childhood Halloween memories and dream costumes to the painstaking process behind transformations like Poe and Gilly Anne Phibian, she shares what fuels her love of spooky cosplay. It’s a fun, fang-filled look at Halloween, horror, and the art of becoming someone (or something) else for the night.
Episode 76: Jason McKittrick
Jason McKittrick, the artist behind The Cryptocurium and co-creator of the beloved Order of the Thinned Veil, joins Mike and Miranda in the lair to talk about Halloween, horror, and the art of handmade monsters. Jason shares stories from his childhood Halloweens, his love of vintage autumnal nostalgia, and the eerie inspirations behind his “handmade horrors,” including his longtime fascination with Lovecraftian creatures. From sculpting rituals to a decade of creative chemistry with Sam Heimer — and even a peek inside his paranormal podcast Other Dangers — this episode is a celebration of spooky art and the magic of keeping Halloween alive all year long.
Episode 77: Julia Halina Hadas
In this episode, we welcome Julia Halina Hadas, the magical mixologist behind Witchcraft Cocktails, to discuss how she blends her witchcraft practice with craft cocktail expertise. Julia shares her journey from San Francisco bartender to author, explaining how she transforms recipes into spells and why ingredients like herbs, crystals, and intention matter. We also dive into her latest book, Mystical Mocktails, her Halloween memories and traditions, and how she celebrates spooky season as a practicing witch.
Episode 78: John Brhel
Today, Mike and Miranda welcome John Brhel, the artist behind Spooky Shake Studios, to the lair to discuss how he turned his year-round Halloween obsession into a thriving business creating spooky-cute art that celebrates all things October 31st. John shares childhood Halloween memories from New York, reveals how he makes every day feel like Halloween, and the surreal experience of having Jennifer Love Hewitt tattoo his artwork on her arm.
Episode 79: Claire Dunlap
Claire Dunlap, event producer behind Spooky Swap Meet and co-producer of Midsummer Scream, joins Mike and Miranda in the lair to share how Spooky Swap Meet was born during the pandemic, why Heritage Square Museum's Victorian manors are the perfect setting, and how she creates inclusive events for families and haunt fans alike. They also discuss Claire’s childhood Halloween obsession, life as a self-described "decor hoarder," and favorite moments from the year-round Halloween community.
Who should we have on next?
Drop your suggestions in the comments, and we’ll do our best to get them into our line-up.
You can also sign up for our monthly newsletter for recaps of recent episodes and insights into what our past guests are up to now!
