What if the best survival manual for a zombie apocalypse was written tens of thousands of years ago into our biology? This week on Zombie Book Club, we’re joined by Andie from Ancestral Habits to explore how our Paleolithic past still shapes the way humans cooperate, address unfairness, care for the vulnerable, and rebuild after collapse. From egalitarian small groups and complementary cognition to food sharing, justice, and ritual, we unpack why humans aren’t wired for lone-wolf survival, and never have been.

Using zombies as a pressure test, we talk through real post-collapse questions: how groups of 25 might organize, why cooperation often outperforms violence, how circadian rhythms and time perception reset without modern schedules, and what archaeology could someday reveal about us through our bones, teeth, and fire pits. The core takeaway? You’re not broken; your environment changed faster than your evolution. And under stress, humans tend to rediscover connection, fairness, and shared value.

Guest Contact & Relevant Links

Andie – Ancestral Habits

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ancestralhabits
• Substack: https://ancestralhabits.substack.com
  
  

Topics & References Discussed

• Civilized to Death by Christopher Ryan: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Civilized-to-Death/Christopher-Ryan/9781451659115

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What happens when a Brooklyn drag show collides with a glitter-dusted zombie outbreak? We dig into Queens of the Dead; from rhinestoned drills and throwing axe gags to a soundtrack that slides from Romero-esque synths into club heat. We talk cast highlights; Nina West’s grounding presence, Margaret Cho’s physical comedy, Katie O’Brien’s steady cool, Jack Haven’s scene-stealing Kelsey; and why names, pronouns, and chosen family matter.

Under the glitter, the film is a community survival manual. Leadership shifts by need, not title. Drag isn’t costume; it’s equipment. Code-switching becomes a life-saving disguise as queens “drag up” as first responders to move through a hostile city. Representation isn’t a footnote—anxiety, addiction, and reconciliation arcs sit alongside gore, proving a zombie movie can do heart without losing bite. We close with what this homage borrows from Romero’s DNA—satire, memory, and a maybe-open ending—while staking out its own space as a cult-classic contender made by and for queer audiences.

Support the show

Zombie Book Club Links

• Join us on on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ZombieBookClub
• Join the Brain Muncher’s Zombie Collective: https://discord.gg/rn3nPDa4CB
• ZBC Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zombiebookclubpodcast/
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• Zombie Book Club Voicemail: (614) 699-0006‬
• Zombie Book Club Email: ZombieBookClubPodcast@gmail.com

In this emotionally charged episode of Zombie Book Club, Dan and Leah unpack We Bury The Dead; a quiet, haunting zombie film that prioritizes grief, moral ambiguity, and empathy over action - and use it as a springboard to examine the real-world toll of trauma. We explore how the film’s focus on loss, PTSD, and complex grief resonates with collective experiences of institutional brutality, and why facing sorrow is an act of radical care in a world that often demands we numb ourselves.

A significant portion of our conversation expands into the present moment: the recent fatal shooting of 37-year-old Renée Nicole Good by an ICE agent during immigration enforcement in Minneapolis on January 7, 2026, and the nationwide protests, public outcry, and political fallout that followed. We connect these events with PTSD, moral injury, and the psychological impacts of witnessing or surviving state violence, and we offer grounded ways to stay present, support community healing, and take meaningful action when systems (from law enforcement to immigration enforcement) fail those they claim to protect.

Relevant Links

• We Bury The Dead (film info & credits)
  • IMDb: We Bury the Dead on IMDb
• Ice Isn't The Gestapo - by @Ashleytheebarroness
  • https://www.youtube.com/shorts/4x4KM_QESTw

Support the show

Zombie Book Club Links

• Join us on on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ZombieBookClub
• Join the Brain Muncher’s Zombie Collective: https://discord.gg/rn3nPDa4CB
• ZBC Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zombiebookclubpodcast/
• ZBC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/710957975263518/
• Zombie Book Club Voicemail: (614) 699-0006‬
• Zombie Book Club Email: ZombieBookClubPodcast@gmail.com