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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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

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.

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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

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

On this double date edition of Zombie Book Club, we sit down with married indie filmmakers Erin Áine and Kyle Valle of Big Squid Productions, the creative duo behind the cosplay-meets-zombie feature ZombieCON Vol. 1. From their Studio City meet-cute to a decade-long journey of crowdfunding, micro-crew shoots, DIY effects, and relentless post-production, Erin and Kyle share the unvarnished story of how a wild concept about assholes turning into zombies became a crowd-pleasing indie with an 86% Rotten Tomatoes score.

Erin and Kyle offer a behind-the-scenes window into set life, stunt safety, DVD extras, and the bold, futuristic ideas waiting in Volume 2 and beyond. Whether you’re a horror fan, indie creator, or just love a good story about passion and perseverance, this episode is a bloody, funny, heartfelt ride.

Guest Contact & Relevant Links

• Official Film Website:
  • ZombieCON Vol. 1: https://zombieconvol1.com
  • Big Squid Productions: https://bigsquidproductions.com
• Social Media (Guests):
  • ZombieCON Vol. 1 Instagram: @zombieconmovie
  • Big Squid Productions Instagram: @bigsquidfilms
  • Erin Áine Instagram: @Erin_Aine
  • Kyle Valle Instagram: @kykyv71

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

In this episode we sit down with Rebecca Cuthbertson to talk about her debut novel Waves of Undead. Set on the surf‑soaked cliffs of Tofino, the story blends a tsunami and zombie outbreak with a gritty but sometimes hilarious take on the genre. Rebecca walks us through the twin‑bond of Anna and Paul, the multi‑POV structure that gives the narrative a cinematic pulse, and her own activism at the Fairy Creek blockade which informed the novel’s environmental undercurrents.

She also shares about the realities of writing while caring for a toddler, the challenges of indie publishing, and the joy of seeing readers connect with a story that respects both nature and the horror genre. Whether you’re a fan of grounded zombie fiction or just love a good coastal thriller, this conversation offers plenty of fresh takes on the genre and some laughs along the way.

Author Links:

• Rebeccas website - https://rcuthbertsonwrites.com/
• Buy 'Waves of Undead' - Link

Come join our Zombie Survivor camp on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/cw/ZombieBookClub

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

The horde keeps growing, and so does the heart. We’re kicking off season four by turning our loose, joyful shenanighans into a real book club you can actually join; slow reads, inclusive picks, live conversation, and clear values that put people first. Think of it like building a survivor camp together: strong walls, warm fires, and a shared map for what we read and why it matters.

Here’s what’s new: four to five community reads a year at a humane pace; monthly author spotlights that dive into craft, worldbuilding, and big topics like mutual aid and the economics of survival; and casual dead episodes for experiments, movie talk, and small acts of preparedness. Patreon becomes our free home base for polls, voting, and book discussions where you can speak your mind as we read along. Also perks like early bonus episodes, stickers, and a zombie art calendar for paid members.

Join us June 12 - 14th at Living Dead Weekend! If you're going, let us know and we can plan a meetup.

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

Texas Solves the outbreak in 5 minutes, sorry New York.

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. David Perlmutter, professor of Media & Communication at Texas Tech University, to dissect how societies record—and eventually lose—their histories when the grid goes dark. From ancient clay tablets to floppy disks, we explore why the very mediums we trust to preserve culture can become our Achilles’ heel. Dr. Perlmutter breaks down the role of teachers, archivists, and storytellers in a crisis, weighs the ethics of propaganda versus transparent messaging, and shows how decentralized decision‑making keep military units cohesive when supply lines crumble.

Links relevant to the episode topics

• Dr. David Perlmutter's bio: https://www.depts.ttu.edu/comc/faculty/faculty/dperlmutter.php
• The Last of Us analysis (why it resonates with real‑world apocalypse thinking): https://writersblockmagazine.com/2023/05/23/the-last-of-us-love-and-humanity-in-a-post-apocalyptic-world
• “Apocalypse software” – building resilient local intranets and offline digital libraries: https://apocalypse.support/7_level_7_early_digital_civilization/s_4_local_isplike_services.html
• Ötzi the Ice Man: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%96tzi
• Collapse OS’ an Open Source Operating System for the Post-Apocalypse: https://www.vice.com/en/article/collapse-os-is-an-open-source-operating-system-for-the-post-apocalypse/

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

We join special guest Jack Callaghan for a deep dive into the unlikely heroics of Eugene from The Walking Dead and the eerie rural mystery of his upcoming novel Wyrd Water. After a quick chat about Jack’s creative pivot from the stalled Zombie Nerd series to this 1979‑set folk‑horror tale, the conversation turns to Eugene’s evolution; from a self‑proclaimed “coward with a mullet” to the logistical mastermind who saves Alexandria with sabotaged ammunition.

Together they explore why brains beats brawn in apocalyptic storytelling, how flawed characters can anchor thriving communities, and what makes Wyrd Water so mysterious.

Links

• Jack Callaghan on Instagram - @JackCallaghanAuthor
• Wyrd Water - Buy now on Ingram Spark

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