{"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":"Tom Rasch Interview - Marvel Comics, Black Alpha, and Creator-Owned IP","slug":"tom-rasch-interview-marvel-comics-black-alpha-and-creator-owned-ip","published_at":"2026-04-26T14:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-united-states-department-of-nerds-podcast-6458372/tom-rasch-interview-marvel-comics-black-alpha-and-creator-owned-ip","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-united-states-department-of-nerds-podcast-6458372","url":"https://share.transistor.fm/s/833ebd57","audio_url":"https://media.transistor.fm/833ebd57/3a49cdcb.mp3","summary":"Tom Rasch - Marvel Comics, Black Alpha, and Creator-Owned IP On this episode, we sit down with comic artist and creator Tom Rasch to explore his journey through the comic book industry. From early inspiration rooted in classic pop culture like Batman , Spider-Man , and Star Trek , Tom developed a passion for storytelling and art that led him to pursue comics professionally. He shares the realities of breaking into the industry; from early rejection at San Diego Comic-Con portfolio reviews to eventually landing work with Marvel Comics on Punisher . But the journey didn’t stop there. Tom dives into: The lessons learned working inside Marvel The challenges of the comic industry during market shifts The importance of mastering storytelling fundamentals His transition into building his own creator-owned universe The origins and future of Black Alpha This episode is a powerful look at what it takes to evolve from aspiring artist...to professional...to creator of your own world. 🔗 WATCH / FOLLOW USDN 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@USDN_Podcast 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/usdepartmentofnerds 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/usdn_podcast/ 🧵 Threads: https://www.threads.com/@usdn_podcast 🦋 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/usdn-chairman.bsky.social 👤 FOLLOW TOM RASCH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trasch65/ 🧰 SUPPORT USDN (BCW AFFILIATE) Protect your comic collection with BCW Supplies: https://www.bcwsupplies.com/?acc=usdn Use code USDN at checkout Affiliate disclosure: USDN may earn a commission if you use our link or code. 📩 BUSINESS / MEDIA INQUIRIES: thechairman@usdnpodcast.com #TomRasch #BlackAlpha #IndieComics #ComicBookCreators #USDNPodcast #MarvelComics #Punisher2099 #CreatorOwned #ComicArtists #ComicBookPodcast #IndieCreators #WorldBuilding #Co…","meta_description":"Tom Rasch - Marvel Comics, Black Alpha, and Creator-Owned IP On this episode, we sit down with comic artist and creator Tom Rasch to explore his journey t…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":6047,"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/tom-rasch-interview-marvel-comics-black-alpha-and-creator-owned-ip/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/tom-rasch-interview-marvel-comics-black-alpha-and-creator-owned-ip.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}