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Scarred For Life
Deep Dive: Alternative Universes with Gary Russell
This week on Scarred For Life, Andy Bush and Dave Lawrence welcome back writer, producer, former child actor, and all-round opinion-holder Gary Russell for a deep dive into one of science fiction's most enduring fascinations: alternative universes.
From evil doppelgängers and fascist Earths to Mirror Universes, multiverses and "what if?" storytelling, Gary traces his lifelong love of parallel realities back to childhood encounters with Lost in Space, Doctor Who's legendary Inferno, and classic Star Trek. Along the way, the team explore why alternative realities continue to capture our imagination, how they allow writers to twist familiar characters into unexpected shapes, and whether the concept still has a place in modern storytelling.
Expect passionate discussion of Deep Space Nine, The Next Generation, Marvel's What If...?, Batman's Elseworlds adventures, Spider-Verse, and much more. Plus: Gary's obsession with the London Underground, a spirited defence of maps, and the revelation that somewhere in the multiverse there may be a version of him who actually likes Star Trek: Enterprise.
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27. Johnny Vegas
43:53||Season 5, Ep. 27This week on Scarred For Life, Andy Bush and Dave Lawrence are joined by comedian, actor, artist and collector Johnny Vegas.From giant gorillas at the bedroom window to terrifying children's television, Jonny takes us on a wonderfully funny, surprisingly moving trip through the fears that shaped him growing up. Along the way he explains why he'll never watch The Exorcist, reveals his meticulously planned zombie apocalypse survival strategy, shares stories from his childhood in St Helens, and explains how frightening TV programmes may have inadvertently inspired both his artwork and his lifelong obsession with collecting unusual objects.His three scars are the deeply unsettling children's programme Ragtime, the unforgettable image of King Kong peering through a bedroom window, and the chilling realism of Threads, which he describes as one of the most terrifying pieces of television ever made.Plus, there's chat about antiques, haunted houses, mechanical drinking bears, zombie films, priests, ADHD, and why Crossfire might just be the greatest board game ever made.To join Scarred Club and get fortnightly bonus episodes, ad-free listening and access to the members forum - sign-up here - https://scarredforlife.supportingcast.fm/Send us a voice note on WhatsApp - 07457 404 279Follow us on socials:Scarred For Life - Facebook / InstagramProduction Company - Lock It In StudioAndy Bush - Twitter / Instagram
26. Mailbag - Rollercoasters, Dracula & The Mandela Effect
40:20||Season 5, Ep. 26It's time for another Scarred for Life Mailbag! Andy Bush and David Lawrence dive into listeners' memories of terrifying roller coasters, creepy video game glitches, spiral staircases, unsettling TV moments, and childhood books that left lasting scars. Along the way, they discuss comedy's darker side, Dracula, the Mandela Effect, and reveal how Scarred for Life has become the soundtrack to dog walks across the country. As always, expect nostalgia, laughs, and plenty of wonderfully weird pop culture memories from the Scarred for Life community.To join Scarred Club and get fortnightly bonus episodes, ad-free listening and access to the members forum - sign-up here - https://scarredforlife.supportingcast.fm/Send us a voice note on WhatsApp - 07457 404 279Email us scarredforlife@lockitin.studioFollow us on socials:Scarred For Life - Facebook / InstagramProduction Company - Lock It In StudioAndy Bush - Twitter / Instagram
25. Alexander J Newall
45:36||Season 5, Ep. 25This week on Scarred For Life, Andy and Dave are joined by writer, director and producer Alexander J. Newall, the founder of Rusty Quill and the creative force behind the hugely successful horror podcast The Magnus Archives.Alex explains how a childhood obsession with unsettling cartoons, classic horror films and British sci-fi shaped his love of the genre, before diving into the unique challenges of making audiences genuinely afraid in audio, theatre and games. From the eerie existential dread of old Hanna-Barbera cartoons to why immersive theatre might be the most effective horror medium of all, it's a fascinating deep dive into what actually makes something scary.His three scars are the terrifying hopelessness of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, the unsettlingly familiar Britain of 28 Days Later, and the enduring brilliance of The X-Files, which he credits with fundamentally changing the way he thinks about storytelling. Along the way, there's chat about creepy service stations, cults, liminal spaces, philosophical zombies, board games, and why some horror lingers long after the credits roll.To join Scarred Club and get fortnightly bonus episodes, ad-free listening and access to the members forum – sign-up here – https://scarredforlife.supportingcast.fm/Send us a voice note on WhatsApp - 07457 404 279Follow us on socials:Scarred For Life - Facebook / InstagramProduction Company - Lock It In StudioAndy Bush - Twitter / Instagram
24. Scary Mums Deep Dive with Lizzie Hopley
41:13||Season 5, Ep. 24In this special episode of Scarred for Life, Andy Bush, Dave Lawrence and returning guest Lizzie Hopley explore some of the most terrifying mothers in film and television. From Psycho and Carrie to The X-Files, The Sopranos and beyond, the trio discuss the mothers who scarred generations of viewers, examining why twisted family relationships remain such a powerful source of horror.To join Scarred Club and get fortnightly bonus episodes, ad-free listening and access to the members forum - sign-up here - https://scarredforlife.supportingcast.fm/Send us a voice note on WhatsApp - 07457 404 279Email us scarredforlife@lockitin.studioFollow us on socials:Scarred For Life - Facebook / InstagramProduction Company - Lock It In StudioAndy Bush - Twitter / Instagram
23. Sarah Douglas
01:04:00||Season 5, Ep. 23This week on Scarred For Life, Andy and Dave are joined by actor and sci-fi icon Sarah Douglas.Best known as the fearsome Ursa in the classic Superman films, Sarah looks back on a remarkable career that has taken her from the Royal Shakespeare Theatre to Hollywood, via Superman II, Falcon Crest, Babylon 5 and Conan the Destroyer.Along the way she shares stories of working with Christopher Reeve, Terence Stamp, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Grace Jones and John Pertwee, reveals how being "cranky" may have helped her land the role of Ursa, and explains why she eventually learned to embrace the character that changed her life.Her three scars include a terrifying on-set gun incident during Superman II that left her with a lifelong distrust of weapons on set, a traumatic prosthetics experience that triggered years of claustrophobia and anxiety, and a deeply personal story about meeting her estranged father for the first and last time.It's funny, moving, brutally honest and packed with incredible behind-the-scenes stories from one of British genre cinema's most memorable stars.To join Scarred Club and get fortnightly bonus episodes, ad-free listening and access to the members forum, sign-up here, https://scarredforlife.supportingcast.fm/Send us a voice note on WhatsApp - 07457 404 279Follow us on socials:Scarred For Life - Facebook / InstagramProduction Company - Lock It In StudioAndy Bush - Twitter / Instagram
21. Patton Oswalt
01:06:51||Season 5, Ep. 21This week on Scarred For Life, Andy Bush and Dave Lawrence are joined by comedian, actor, writer and genuine pop culture legend, Patton Oswalt.From Star Wars and Star Trek to horror movies, comic books and classic animation, Patton takes us on a journey through the strange and unsettling things that left a lasting mark on him growing up.Along the way, he explains why comedy and horror are essentially the same craft, reveals his all-time favourite horror films, discusses physical media, Doctor Who, Ghostwatch, Akira, nuclear war paranoia, and why some of the darkest moments in children's entertainment are far more disturbing than anything intended to be scary.His three scars are:• The endless torment lurking beneath classic Looney Tunes cartoons• The horrifying final moments of the original version of The Fly• The unforgettable robot transformation scene from Superman IIIPlus, Patton shares his thoughts on ghosts, body horror, animation, Star Wars, Star Trek, and why some fictional nightmares stay with us for decades.To join Scarred Club and get fortnightly bonus episodes, ad-free listening and access to the members forum - sign-up here - https://scarredforlife.supportingcast.fm/Send us a voice note on WhatsApp - 07457 404 279Follow us on socials:Scarred For Life - Facebook / InstagramProduction Company - Lock It In StudioAndy Bush - Twitter / Instagram
20. Mail Bag: Celeb Autographs, Time Lords & Points of View
34:33||Season 5, Ep. 20In this listener mailbag episode of Scarred for Life, Andy Bush and Dave Lawrence share stories from the show's Facebook page, Instagram, and members forum. They revisit childhood TV traumas, creepy public-information posters, unsettling museum exhibits, and memorable celebrity autograph encounters, while discussing how nostalgia, faulty memory, and the inability to revisit old media often make childhood fears even more powerful. The episode also teases possible future guests—including Charlie Brooker, a mega US Comedian and a Doctor Who actor.... To join Scarred Club and get fortnightly bonus episodes, ad-free listening and access to the members forum - sign-up here - https://scarredforlife.supportingcast.fm/ Send us a voice note on WhatsApp - 07457 404 279 Follow us on socials: Scarred For Life - Facebook / Instagram Production Company - Lock It In Studio Andy Bush - Twitter / Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
19. Suzie Preece (Ghost Huns)
56:23||Season 5, Ep. 19This week on Scarred For Life, Andy Bush and Dave Lawrence are joined by comedian, actor and Ghost Huns co-host Suzie Preece. Suzie has built a huge following exploring the paranormal with Ghost Huns, so it's no surprise that her scars are packed full of ghosts, witches and things that go bump in the night. Along the way, she shares stories of Ouija boards, haunted castles, psychic warnings, listener's creepy encounters, and her lifelong obsession with all things spooky. There's also discussion of time slips, poltergeists, ghost hunting, folklore, and why she thinks the world is currently experiencing a supernatural revival. Her three scars are: • The terrifying stage production of The Woman in Black• Michael Aspel's paranormal documentary series Strange But True?• The deeply unsettling painting of Erica trapped inside The Witches Plus, Barney the Dinosaur comes under unexpected attack, Andy reveals his complicated relationship with Mr Wimpy, and Dave shares a chilling woodland encounter involving his young son. Be warned, there's naughty words galore in this one. To join Scarred Club and get fortnightly bonus episodes, ad-free listening and access to the members forum - sign-up here - https://scarredforlife.supportingcast.fm/ Send us a voice note on WhatsApp - 07457 404 279 Follow us on socials: Scarred For Life - Facebook / Instagram Production Company - Lock It In Studio Andy Bush - Twitter / Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices