{"podcast":{"title":"The United States Department of Nerds Podcast","slug":"the-united-states-department-of-nerds-podcast-6458372","podcast_index_feed_id":6458372,"rss_url":"https://feeds.transistor.fm/the-united-states-department-of-nerds-podcast","website_url":null,"image_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/3uR7wzHPN4OuGqAXjlJP-WKXevDcYxp6TefwvEFCYkI/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8xMDE0/NzI5MzBlZGRiOGQ2/MzFlNGI2NzJiMzc2/MTczOC5wbmc.jpg","author":"Datfeelin Podcast Network","episode_count":126,"summary":"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.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-31T02:20:16.542664+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-united-states-department-of-nerds-podcast-6458372"},"episode":{"title":"Shawn McBee & MJ Jankowski - Westron #2 & Building Horror From Slavic Mythology","slug":"shawn-mcbee-mj-jankowski-westron-2-building-horror-from-slavic-mythology","published_at":"2026-07-13T14:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-united-states-department-of-nerds-podcast-6458372/shawn-mcbee-mj-jankowski-westron-2-building-horror-from-slavic-mythology","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-united-states-department-of-nerds-podcast-6458372","url":"https://share.transistor.fm/s/d4a4ca01","audio_url":"https://media.transistor.fm/d4a4ca01/b7782103.mp3","summary":"Shawn McBee and Maciej “MJ” Jankowski join The Chairman on the USDN Podcast to discuss Westron #2, their supernatural horror detective comic inspired by the creatures, legends, and folklore of Slavic mythology. After the first issue reached its Kickstarter goal in just six hours, Shawn and MJ return to expand the dark supernatural world of Westron. In this conversation, they share how a chance connection through Discord led to their creative partnership and the creation of the series, why Slavic mythology offers an untapped world of terrifying creatures and stories, and how they balance authentic folklore with building an original comic universe. The conversation also explores the realities of independent publishing and creator-owned comics, lessons learned from crowdfunding, the Kickstarter mistake they won’t make again, the challenges of funding future issues, planning a long-term story with a definitive ending, and what lies ahead for Westron. Support Westron #2 on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/propsmith/westron-2 Learn more about Westron: https://westroncomic.com Connect with the USDN Podcast: https://linktr.ee/USDN_Podcast Business & Media Inquiries: thechairman@usdnpodcast.com 🛒 PROTECT YOUR COLLECTION WITH BCW SUPPLIES Save 5% on your order with code USDN : https://www.bcwsupplies.com/?acc=usdn As a BCW affiliate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. The USDN Podcast - Where Indie Comics Come To Life","meta_description":"Shawn McBee and Maciej “MJ” Jankowski join The Chairman on the USDN Podcast to discuss Westron #2, their supernatural horror detective comic inspired by t…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":5117,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-united-states-department-of-nerds-podcast-6458372/episodes/shawn-mcbee-mj-jankowski-westron-2-building-horror-from-slavic-mythology/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-united-states-department-of-nerds-podcast-6458372/shawn-mcbee-mj-jankowski-westron-2-building-horror-from-slavic-mythology.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}