Bench Tested: A Ghostbusters Podcast

Harsh Media
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Bench Tested is a Ghostbusters podcast built for the fans who care how the gear gets made. Hosted by Charlie, the show goes beyond surface-level fandom and gets into the craft behind the community: proton packs, traps, wands, flight suits, electronics, weathering, prop design, collecting, restoration, franchise work, and the creative decisions that make every build personal. Each episode features conversations with builders, makers, collectors, designers, and Ghostbusters community members who bring real experience to the bench. It is fan-driven, builder-focused, and made for anyone who has ever studied a reference photo, debated screen accuracy, upgraded a pack, or wondered what separates a good prop from a great one. Bench Tested celebrates the people keeping Ghostbusters craft alive: serious about the work, honest about the process, and always ready to compare notes.

  1. 30 mins ago

    Bench Tested: Building the Franchise, Inside the Capital Ghostbusters

    In this episode of Bench Tested, Charlie Harsh is joined by Ryan aka McFonz and Renel from the Capital Ghostbusters, a franchise that’s been combining incredible Ghostbusters craftsmanship with community fundraising since 2016 in support of CHEO, the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. The conversation explores the evolution of their builds, from Spirit Pack and HasLab modifications to custom weathering, flight suits, and screen-inspired prop upgrades. McFonz shares the story behind his first proton pack build, his Janine and Venkman uniforms, and his GBSU-inspired PKE Meter, while Renel dives into the extensive modifications that transformed his HasLab proton pack into a truly one-of-a-kind build. The discussion then shifts into the technical side of the hobby as they pull back the curtain on the Capital Ghostbusters’ custom ECU project, explaining the engineering challenges, design philosophy, and how real-world troop experience is shaping a new generation of Ghostbusters electronics. Whether you’re just starting with a Spirit Pack or you’re designing custom hardware from the ground up, this episode is packed with practical insights, inspiration, and a behind-the-scenes look at how passionate builders continue to push the Ghostbusters hobby forward, all while making a difference in their community. Visit: benchtestedpod.com Follow: @BenchTestedPod for new episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and upcoming guest announcements.

    Bench Tested: Building the Franchise, Inside the Capital Ghostbusters

  2. Aug 5

    Season 2, Episode 4: Beyond Screen Accuracy

    This week on Bench Tested, Charlie sits down with Archer from Nerd Affiliated for a conversation that goes well beyond simply recreating what’s seen on screen. From flight suits and weathering techniques to proton packs, electronics, HasLab upgrades, and the excitement surrounding Ghostbusters: Night Shift, they explore what truly makes a great build. They also discuss the balance between screen accuracy and personal creativity, how today’s builders have more tools than ever before, and why the Ghostbusters community continues to thrive through collaboration, craftsmanship, and a shared passion for making something uniquely their own. If you’ve ever obsessed over a reference photo, debated a paint color, or wondered whether “movie accurate” should really be the end goal, this episode is for you.

    Season 2, Episode 4: Beyond Screen Accuracy

  3. Jul 22

    Season 2, Episode 3: Collecting the Community

    In Season 2, Episode 3 of Bench Tested, Charlie Harsh sits down with Luke Ellis, better known as The Green Haired Ghostbuster, to talk about the Ghostbusters Community Trading Card Project. They get into how the project started, how it has connected fans and franchises around the world, and what it says about the larger Ghostbusters community. The conversation also covers Luke’s own cosplay, builds, fandom, and how people can get involved. This one is about more than props. It’s about the people behind the patches, packs, and cards.

    Season 2, Episode 3: Collecting the Community

  4. Jul 8

    Season 2, Episode 2: Building the Future with GPStar Technologies

    In this episode of Bench Tested, Charlie Harsh sits down with Dustin Grau and Nomake Wan from GPStar Technologies to talk about the brains behind modern Ghostbusters electronics. They get into pack and wand integration, firmware development, troubleshooting, installation mistakes, customization, and how GPStar has evolved into a full electronics ecosystem for builders. From HasLab upgrades to custom packs, this conversation breaks down what it takes to make Ghostbusters gear feel responsive, reliable, and alive. If you’re building, upgrading, or just trying to understand how the tech side works, this one is for you.

    Season 2, Episode 2: Building the Future with GPStar Technologies

  5. Jun 24

    Bench Tested: Solving Problems, One Bracket at a Time with Dirt Farmer Industries

    In the Season 2 premiere of Bench Tested, Charlie Harsh sits down with Sepp from Dirt Farmer Industries, a builder whose ideas have quietly become some of the most widely used upgrades in the Ghostbusters community. From the early days of discovering Ghostbusters to creating the HasBrackets system that has now sold nearly 600 sets worldwide, Sepp shares how a simple solution to a common problem evolved into a must-have upgrade for HasLab Proton Pack owners. The conversation dives into the design process behind his products, the challenges of creating parts that are both functional and easy to install, and why solving real-world problems for fellow builders has become the foundation of Dirt Farmer Industries. Along the way, Charlie and Sepp discuss 3D printing, community collaboration, DIY innovation, and the future of fan-built Ghostbusters gear. Whether you’re upgrading a Spirit Pack, customizing a HasLab, designing your own props, or just love hearing how great ideas become reality, this episode is packed with insight, inspiration, and practical knowledge from one of the community’s most respected makers.

    Bench Tested: Solving Problems, One Bracket at a Time with Dirt Farmer Industries

  6. May 27

    Bench Tested: The Upgrade Path: Spirit Packs, HasLabs, and Custom Builds with David Farrell

    This week on Bench Tested, Charlie Harsh sits down with David Farrell from the Buffalo Ghostbusters to talk proton pack mods, 3D printing, HasLab upgrades, and what it really takes to level up a Ghostbusters build. From modifying Spirit Halloween packs and traps to assembling a BenofKent proton pack and diving deep into custom electronics and printed props, David breaks down the lessons he’s learned through years of building, experimenting, and refining his gear. The conversation digs into the balance between durability and screen accuracy, why iteration matters more than perfection, and how modern tools like 3D printing have completely changed what fans can create at home. Whether you’re just starting your first build or already deep into custom packs and upgrades, this episode is packed with practical insight, behind-the-scenes build philosophy, and a reminder that every great prop starts somewhere. Because at the end of the day, no pack stays stock forever.

    Bench Tested: The Upgrade Path: Spirit Packs, HasLabs, and Custom Builds with David Farrell

  7. May 13

    Bench Tested: Screen Accurate Is a Lie: Building Ghostbusters Gear That Actually Feels Real

    Here’s the truth. Most builds stall out because people chase “screen accuracy” without understanding what actually makes something feel real. This episode fixes that. In this episode of Bench Tested, I sit down with Indy Magnoli of Magnoli Clothiers to break down what separates a costume from something that genuinely looks and feels like it came off a film set. This isn’t surface-level talk about fabrics and stitching. We get into the decisions behind material choice, construction, durability, and why what works on camera doesn’t always translate in the real world. Indy shares how he approaches recreating Ghostbusters uniforms at a professional level, what most builders get wrong, and how small details completely change the way a build reads. We also dig into the myth of “screen accuracy,” the balance between authenticity and practicality, and how modern tools are changing the barrier to entry for builders today. If you’re serious about leveling up your gear, this is the episode that forces you to rethink how you build. Listen now at benchtestedpod.com

    Bench Tested: Screen Accurate Is a Lie: Building Ghostbusters Gear That Actually Feels Real

  8. May 6

    Bench Tested: Function Over Perfection with Sean Charlesworth

    In this episode of Bench Tested, Charlie Harsh talks with Sean Charlesworth about what really makes a Ghostbusters build work. From his early love of the films to building detailed, functional props like ghost traps, the RTV, the Keymaster helmet, and the ESP shock machine, Sean breaks down the difference between props that only look right and props that actually feel right. The conversation gets into 3D printing, engineering around real-world limitations, balancing durability with accuracy, why “screen accurate” is often more complicated than fans think, and how iteration is what truly levels up a build. If you’ve ever struggled with overthinking, design compromises, internal layout, or just getting started, this episode is packed with practical insight from someone who lives in that space between fan obsession and real-world problem solving.

    Bench Tested: Function Over Perfection with Sean Charlesworth
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About

Bench Tested is a Ghostbusters podcast built for the fans who care how the gear gets made. Hosted by Charlie, the show goes beyond surface-level fandom and gets into the craft behind the community: proton packs, traps, wands, flight suits, electronics, weathering, prop design, collecting, restoration, franchise work, and the creative decisions that make every build personal. Each episode features conversations with builders, makers, collectors, designers, and Ghostbusters community members who bring real experience to the bench. It is fan-driven, builder-focused, and made for anyone who has ever studied a reference photo, debated screen accuracy, upgraded a pack, or wondered what separates a good prop from a great one. Bench Tested celebrates the people keeping Ghostbusters craft alive: serious about the work, honest about the process, and always ready to compare notes.

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