The United States Department of Nerds Podcast

USDN_Chairman
  • 5.0 (7)
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USDN Podcast is a cinematic indie comics interview series hosted by the USDN_Chairman and the Council of Nerds — spotlighting the creators, storytellers, and worldbuilders shaping the future of independent comics. Each episode dives beyond headlines into the real journeys behind the books — from Kickstarter launches and creative struggles to the philosophies driving today’s indie storytelling movement. This isn’t about rumors or recycled news. It’s about the people creating the worlds. Through in-depth conversations, creator spotlights, and crowdfunding discussions, USDN explores: • The rise of indie comics • The business of crowdfunding • The art of worldbuilding • The realities of independent storytelling USDN is where indie comics come to life — for the fans, by the creators, and powered by the community.

  1. Alfred Paige — Hostile Assets: Gun Goth × Footpath Crossover & Indie Kickstarter Chaos

    16H AGO

    Alfred Paige — Hostile Assets: Gun Goth × Footpath Crossover & Indie Kickstarter Chaos

    On this episode of The USDN Podcast, we sit down with indie comic creator Alfred Paige to discuss Hostile Assets — an upcoming crossover event uniting Gun Goth and Footpath in a brutal horror-action one-shot heading to Kickstarter this April. We explore Alfred’s journey in indie comics, the collaboration with Mark Poulton of Haunted Pizza Comics, the creative process behind crossover storytelling, and what it takes to launch and sustain creator-owned comic projects through crowdfunding. This conversation dives into worldbuilding, indie publishing realities, horror storytelling influences, and the evolving landscape of Kickstarter comics. Kickstarter Links:https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/koniwaves/gun-goth-x-footpath-hostile-assetshttps://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jonathanhedrick/footpath-dangerous-nightshttps://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sixfifteencomics/the-bear Guest Socials:https://www.facebook.com/Paige1productionshttps://www.facebook.com/paige.dollarz The USDN Podcast — Where Indie Comics Come to Life.

    50 min
  2. 🎧 S. Xing Xin. B — From Indie Rejections to Walmart Shelves | USDN Podcast Interview

    3D AGO

    🎧 S. Xing Xin. B — From Indie Rejections to Walmart Shelves | USDN Podcast Interview

    🎧 S. Xing Xin. B — From Indie Rejections to Walmart Shelves | USDN Podcast Interview Rejected more than 200 times by the mainstream comic industry, S. Xing Xin. B chose persistence over permission — building his own publishing path and developing the Ximphonic Versus universe over a 32-year journey. With 17 volumes published, nearly 13,000 physical copies sold without crowdfunding, direct market distribution, streaming adaptations in development, and a toy line heading toward Walmart retail, his story reflects the long-game reality of independent comic creation. In this episode of The USDN Podcast, we explore: • Turning rejection into momentum• Building an indie audience without crowdfunding• Artistic craft and anti-AI perspectives• Expanding a comic IP beyond print• Direct market distribution realities• Creator endurance and legacy Follow the project: Website: www.ximphonicversus.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ximphonic_versusFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Dqg7XZHdY/Threads: https://www.threads.com/@ximphonic_versus The USDN Podcast - Where Indie Comics Come to Life. #IndieComics, #ComicPodcast, #CreatorOwnedComics, #IndependentPublishing, #ComicBookIndustry, #IndieComicInterview, #ComicCreators, #USDNPodcast

    1h 23m
  3. Legacy Rising: Building Gods, Monsters & Myth with Gary Seaward

    5D AGO

    Legacy Rising: Building Gods, Monsters & Myth with Gary Seaward

    Legacy Rising: Building Gods, Monsters & Myth with Gary Seaward A story carried since 2008 finally takes shape. This week on The USDN Podcast, we welcome creator and artist Gary Seaward to discuss Legacy: Idols & Bones — a new indie comic universe blending superhero mythology, sci-fi scale, and horror-driven consequences. We explore the origins of the world, the characters shaping its future, and the Kickstarter campaign launching Issues #1 and #2. From Eidolon and Carcass to Pulse, Widow-Maker, and Re’Ordain — this is a deep dive into building modern indie mythology from the ground up. 🔗 Kickstarter Pre-Launch: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/garyseaward/legacy-idols-and-bones-issues-1-and-2 🔗 Read Issue #1: https://globalcomix.com/c/legacy-idols-bones The USDN Podcast — Where Indie Comics Come to Life. #IndieComics, #ComicPodcast, #USDNPodcast, #KickstarterComics, #ComicCreators, #CrowdfundedComics, #IndieStorytelling

    1h 5m
  4. He Was Dying… Then the Government Turned Him Into a Weapon | PorTroyal Smith – The Rogue Recordings

    6D AGO

    He Was Dying… Then the Government Turned Him Into a Weapon | PorTroyal Smith – The Rogue Recordings

    He Was Dying… Then the Government Turned Him Into a Weapon | PorTroyal Smith – The Rogue Recordings He was dying. Then the government offered him survival. The price? Becoming a weapon. In this episode of The USDN Podcast, we sit down with PorTroyal Smith (Nathan Lebens), author of The Rogue Recordings, to explore a superhero saga grounded in military realism, moral ambiguity, and the true cost of power. From operating missiles in North Dakota to building a layered narrative about government-created super soldiers, PorTroyal shares the journey behind Shadowalker and Shadowar — and the question that defines the series: When survival changes who you are… are you still the hero? We discuss: • Military influence in storytelling• Weaponized humanity• Power and moral consequence• The evolution from Shadowalker to Shadowar• Writing stories that deepen on a second read 📚 Featured Works — The Rogue Recordings Series 📘 Shadowalker (2019) Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08163LFPS Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/B0CQMDQSJY/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-380067&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_380067_rh_us 📕 Shadowar (2025) Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FWJ7K91K Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18185383.PorTroyal_Smith Power always comes with a cost. The USDN Podcast — Where Indie Comics Come to Life. #USDN, #PorTroyalSmith, #Shadowalker, #Shadowar, #IndieAuthor, #SciFiFiction, #SuperheroBooks, #PodcastInterview, #WritingCommunity, #Storytelling, #BookPodcast

    1h 11m
  5. Raised to Kill, Fighting Monsters — Akemi & Indie Comics with John Holland

    FEB 13

    Raised to Kill, Fighting Monsters — Akemi & Indie Comics with John Holland

    Raised to Kill, Fighting Monsters — Akemi & Indie Comics with John Holland Some stories are born from imagination. Others are forged through survival. In this episode of The USDN Podcast, we welcome writer and publisher John Holland of Die Bold Comics to the Council to discuss Akemi, his upcoming Fund My Comic crowdfunder launching around the time of this conversation. Akemi tells the story of a young woman raised as an assassin who escapes her past in Japan, only to find herself drawn into a hidden war against demons and monsters in the United States. We explore the emotional weight behind the story, the balance between action and trauma, and how monsters can serve as metaphors for the scars we carry. John also shares insight into his upcoming Die Bold Comics Digital Library campaign on Zoop — a digital collection of nearly 30 previously published works, including A Girl and Her Dog, Alma, Robot Sex, and more. This episode dives into legacy, longevity, crowdfunding strategy, and the realities of building a lasting indie comics career. If you care about bold storytelling and supporting creator-owned comics, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss. 🔗 Support John Holland & Die Bold Comics 🌐 Website: https://www.dieboldcomics.com/ 📰 Substack: https://jholland.substack.com/ ☕ Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/dieboldcomics 🦋 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/dieboldcomics.bsky.social 🧵 Threads: https://www.threads.com/@john.holland.1481 🐦 X / Twitter: https://x.com/dieboldcomics 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/john.holland.1481 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dieboldcomics/ 🔥 Support Akemi on Fund My Comic: https://www.fundmycomic.com/campaign/944/akemi Subscribe for more indie creator interviews, weekly comic recommendations, and deep dives into the stories shaping independent comics. The USDN Podcast — where indie comics come to life.

    1h 8m
  6. SaGia: Building an Anime-Inspired Indie World with Arnézia “wimbearn” Wimberly

    FEB 11

    SaGia: Building an Anime-Inspired Indie World with Arnézia “wimbearn” Wimberly

    SaGia: Building an Anime-Inspired Indie World with Arnézia “wimbearn” Wimberly On this episode of the USDN Podcast, The Chairman is joined by Arnézia “wimbearn” Wimberly, creator of SaGia, an anime-inspired indie sci-fi fantasy series blending dragons, fallen gods, alien races, and mythic relics into a bold original universe. Influenced by Akira Toriyama and Ken Sugimori, SaGia explores the fall of the Sagian Gods, the rise of the Drakens, and a cross-world conflict that threatens both Earth and Sariju. Through powerful character relationships, high-energy action, and deep lore, Arnézia is building a saga driven by legacy, consequence, and imagination. In this conversation, we cover: Artistic origins and anime influencesCharacter design and visual clarity in actionMythology, relics, and dragon legendsIndie creator realities and adviceThe future of the SaGia universe🎨 Creator: Arnézia “wimbearn” Wimberly 🔗 Follow & Support 🌐 https://sagiaofficial.weebly.com/ 🦋 https://bsky.app/profile/wimbearn.bsky.social 🧵 https://www.threads.com/@wimbearn 📸 https://www.instagram.com/wimbearn/ 📘 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557516137152 This has been the USDN Podcast — where indie comics come to life.

    33 min
  7. Lighting the Shadows of Heroism: Dark City Comics & E.P.I.C Explained

    FEB 8

    Lighting the Shadows of Heroism: Dark City Comics & E.P.I.C Explained

    Lighting the Shadows of Heroism: Dark City Comics & E.P.I.C Explained In this episode of The United States Department of Nerds, The Chairman sits down with Lonnie Lowe Jr (Lo) — creator and founder of Dark City Comics — to shine a light on E.P.I.C (Earth’s Protector in Crisis) and the philosophy behind Lighting the Shadows of Heroism. Dark City Comics is building a universe where grit meets greatness, where heroes are shaped by culture, crisis, and consequence. From street-level struggles to cosmic stakes, Lo shares how lived experience fuels storytelling — and why indie comics are still one of the most powerful creative spaces today. This episode explores: • The origins of Dark City Comics• Redefining heroism for a new generation• The creation of E.P.I.C • The indie grind and the upcoming Kickstarter • The future vision for the Dark City universe If you believe comics should reflect the world we live in — this is a conversation you don’t want to miss. 🔗 CONNECT WITH DARK CITY COMICS 🌐 Website: https://www.darkcitychq.com 🚀 Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/darkcitycomics/epic-1-the-alpha-strand 🎵 TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@dark.city.comics 📘 Facebook: https://facebook.com/darkcitycomics 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/darkcitycomics ❌ X: https://x.com/Darkcitycomics The USDN Podcast — Where indie comics come to life.

    57 min
  8. JUNKET: Hidden Worlds Revealed — Building Myth, Meaning & Indie Worlds with Ray Reynet

    FEB 6

    JUNKET: Hidden Worlds Revealed — Building Myth, Meaning & Indie Worlds with Ray Reynet

    JUNKET: Hidden Worlds Revealed — Building Myth, Meaning & Indie Worlds with Ray Reynet On this episode of The USDN Podcast, we’re joined by Ray Reynet — independent comic creator, writer, illustrator, animator, and founder of Farlook Studios. Ray is the creator of JUNKET: Hidden Worlds Revealed, a creator-owned comic series that blends mythology, faith, adventure, and bold cartooning with the spirit of classic comics. Inspired by creators like Jack Kirby and Darwyn Cooke, JUNKET has earned a cult following in Florida comic shops and is now expanding into animation, short films, and other media. In this conversation, we explore: • Building an indie comic from the ground up • The realities of self-publishing and creative independence • Storytelling across comics, animation, and myth • Why creator-owned worlds matter now more than ever This episode is a deep dive into the mindset, process, and perseverance behind modern independent comics. 🔗 CONNECT WITH RAY REYNET Instagram (Creator): https://www.instagram.com/rayreynet/ Instagram (Studio): https://www.instagram.com/farlookstudios/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Farlook-studios Website: https://farlookstudios.com/ Store: https://farlook-store.myspreadshop.com/ JUNKET Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DGQWPC1J The USDN Podcast — Where indie comics come to life.

    1h 13m
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About

USDN Podcast is a cinematic indie comics interview series hosted by the USDN_Chairman and the Council of Nerds — spotlighting the creators, storytellers, and worldbuilders shaping the future of independent comics. Each episode dives beyond headlines into the real journeys behind the books — from Kickstarter launches and creative struggles to the philosophies driving today’s indie storytelling movement. This isn’t about rumors or recycled news. It’s about the people creating the worlds. Through in-depth conversations, creator spotlights, and crowdfunding discussions, USDN explores: • The rise of indie comics • The business of crowdfunding • The art of worldbuilding • The realities of independent storytelling USDN is where indie comics come to life — for the fans, by the creators, and powered by the community.

Information

  • Creator
    USDN_Chairman
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    76
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2023 The DFPN LLC