Erich Stranger created the podcast “The Ghost of Thor Radio Show” about 2.5 years ago. His in-depth interviews are focused on honest conversations about all manner of topics, from politics and religion to unique human interest stories. He’s now getting ready to try out a live “variety show” later this month.
Stranger — whose real name is Aaron Brown — said the podcast is based out of Owensboro and showcases interesting people inside the community and surrounding areas.
“What I like to tell people is that it’s an everything show,” he said. “Not every show will be for every person, but every person can find a show that they connect with. The majority of the show is interview-style content where I sit down with a person of interest and ask them questions about their lives, their history, their beliefs, etc., and give them a place where they can be open and honest, and say what they need to say.”
He noted the show is also censorship-free. He said that can mean foul language and dirty jokes, but often means people talking about trauma, a controversial opinion, a success story, a moment of hope, and much more.
“Giving people an opportunity to be comfortable and speak freely allows for genuine and honest expression, and that is what my show thrives on,” Stranger said. “When you have that, you can have an opportunity to work through potential areas of conflict. With COVID and the rise of social media, we have lost the ability to communicate clearly and empathetically. My goal is to provide a platform in which people are able to freely express themselves, without judgment, and have a fair and balanced conversation about their point of view.”
Stranger said the best way to experience the podcast is to scroll through the episodes, find a topic or person you’re interested in, and give it a listen.
“I cannot begin to explain the variety of content available on my show. I have episodes about mental health, success, money, relationships, God, religion, politics, current events, small businesses, local art, music, etc. The list goes on and on and will continue to grow as I move forward with my show,” he said.
Local guests that have appeared on the show include Josh Merrit, P.J. Starks, Eric Huskinsson, Turner Vaughn, Shane Devon, Scott Ethridge of Yellow Banks, Brittany Nicole of Art By Brittany, Tayvis Akpan (Owensboro’s Dancing Man), Rich Jorn, YouTubers B. Town and Mooseville, Jordan Roos, Jonathan S. Baker, Freddie Bourne, and more.
Stranger said one of the reasons he thinks people like his show, which has now released more than 170 official episodes, is because he provides a structure in which people can easily insert themselves and be able to express themselves.
“At the end of the day people just like to talk, but they don’t really want to go through all the hassle of building and maintaining their own podcast,” he said. “My platform gives them that opportunity.”
To make people as comfortable as possible, Stranger records in public venues such as Milligan’s Bar and The Spot Coffee Shop, depending on the type of person and the discussion.
The live variety show will take place from 9 p.m. to midnight on August 30 at Milligan’s Bar (located at 2210 West Second Street).
According to the event page, it will function “somewhat as an open mic night, with an open invitation to anybody who wishes to perform, showcase their artwork, or speak about their business. Spots will be about 5-10 minutes, depending on how many people sign up.”
There event is free to attend but guests must be 21 or older. The event is being hosted by Ghost of Thor Entertainment, Zach Jennings Music, LS Music Promotions, and Milligan’s Bar. For more information, visit the event page here.
The Ghost of Thor is built off of another podcast Stranger ran called “The Paper Bag Philosophy Podcast,” but he stopped that one after about 15 episodes.
When he decided to get back into podcasting, he rebranded as The Ghost of Thor Radio Show and invited his sister (and her dog) on for the first episode.
“As it just so happened, one of my childhood friends caught that episode. He instantly fell in love with the concept, but hated the audio quality and ended up buying me the microphone that I still use to this day,” Stranger said. “To my audience, this man is known as The Famous Mr. Birch, the Almost Mysterious Producer who works behind the scenes on the show. For me, he is my best friend and my number one supporter. He listens to every single episode and is the real rock behind everything I’ve been able to do for the last few years. When it comes down to it, I make the show for myself first and for Mr. Birch second. Anybody who decides to come along for the ride is a bonus.”
Stranger said he sees nothing but positivity for the future of his show.
“In the near future, I have some great episodes that I haven’t posted yet, and I’ve got some great shows lined up still to do. For the far future, I have one goal,” he said. “When I talk to people about podcasting, one name gets mentioned over and over again: Joe Rogan. People always talk about Joe Rogan’s podcast, and I want The Ghost of Thor Radio Show to be something that is as naturally mentioned as the Joe Rogan Experience.”
Stranger said his podcast can currently be found for free on Spotify.
“Ultimately, I’m really proud of my show and I see a lot of potential for its future,” he said. “I think it’s unique, I think it’s focused on real people and how they are feeling.”
