And there came a day when the question was asked “Wouldn’t it be cool get together with your best friends on Saturday morning, eat big bowls of cereal, watch cartoons and talk about cool geek pop culture stuff we love?” The answer was “yes!” an a podcast was born! Back of the Cereal Box is the only podcast fortified with 8 essential vitamins and minerals! Hosted by "The Prophet of Pop Culture" John B. Pyka with Aubry Brewer, Dee Bartee and special guests! Let’s see what’s inside! For booking: cerealboxpodcast@gmail.com
About the Hosts
John Pyka
Back of the Cereal Box Producer/Host
John B Pyka “The Prophet of Pop Culture” is the creative genius behind the madness! John has had an extensive career as a professional entertainer and storyteller. As a producer and director, Johnny directed and hosted over 117 consecutive episodes of Tales From The Geek on ComicsPriceGuide, and over 130 consecutive episodes of Comixstravaganza on GraphicPolicy. Those shows averaged a viewership of 80,000 and 108,000 views over week respectively. John was also the producer and host of the Dieselpunk Podcast for 10 years, averaging over 10,000 downloads per episode! John knows how to create and audience and is on pace to strike gold again with Back of the Cereal Box!
John is also the author of 4 books on magic, including the industry best-seller Theatrical Magic. His first novella Night Reich will be published by Seventh Star Press in the Spring of 2021, and his original comic series The League of Impossibilists will be available in digital and print format in the Summer of 2021! 10,725 Social Media Followers
Dee Bartee
Back of the Cereal Box Host
Dee Bartee has been John Pyka’s broadcasting partner for over 10 years, having appeared as one half of “The Power Couple of Pop Culture” on Tales From the Geek and Comixstravaganza. Dee is a talented model, actress and photographer and is the only member of the BOTCB family that can boost a restraining order from former Superman actor Dean Cain! She is also the only cast member who thoroughly rejects breakfast cereal!
D'Elle Memphis
I-Scream Queens Host
D’Elle Memphis is the madness behind I-Scream Queens, the BOTCB series that covers the horror and gothic sides of geek pop culture! “The Pinup Cosplayer” is recognized at conventions throughout the Southeast US for her stunning cosplays that fuse her love of rockabilly pinup and comic book characters! She is the lead singer of the jazz/blues band The Murdering Crows and is no stranger to geek pop culture broadcasting. She hosts a regular product review show called Digging Deeper on her own YouTube channel! The first album from the Murdering Crows is titled 4 Bad Crow and is available on Apple Music, Amazon and anywhere you get music!
Geek Gumshoe
Geek Gumshoe Host
D.E. LaRiviere AKA the “Geek Gumshoe” is a writer, photographer, and filmmaker with 15 years’ experience as a police detective. D.E. is an instructor in the fields of photography and crime scene investigation and is an expert in computer and cell phone forensics. He is the investigative contributor on Cryptid Crunch providing forensic and investigative commentary about featured stories, with a slightly irreverent skeptic bent. D.E. is also a popular convention cosplay photographer (Toy Robot Visuals) and one of the founding members of the band The Murdering Crows!
Kelly Guentner
Cosplay Cafe Host
Kelly Guentner started as a guest on the show and became the first personality to host her own BOTCB spin off show! As the host of the Back Issue Breakfast Club, Kelly couples her encyclopedic knowledge of comics with her unbearable likability to create on of the most refreshing shows in digital entertainment! Kelly is one half of the popular cosplay duo Phoenix Sisters Cosplay and the host of Drunk Comics on her own Phoenix Sisters Cosplay YouTube Channel! She is also the author (Kelly Edwards) of the supervillain urban fantasy novel Scorcher: Forces of Nature! It’s available wherever books are sold, and a sequel is on the way!
Crayle Vanest
Co-host, Cosplay Cafe
Crayle Vanest is one half of the Phoenix Sisters Cosplay duo. She is also a freelance editor and the owner of Pokeballs by Crayle, a small business dedicated to Pokemon-related crafts. She has a deep love for anime, comics, and Disney and loves finding new ways to express her love for these fandoms.
Lauren Knight
I-Scream Queens Co-Host
Lauren Knight AKA GeekyGothicGamerGirl is a cosplayer and TikTok personality. She’s known for her comedy TikTok skits and gothic alt girl gender bent cosplays. She was the lead singer of The Right Mistakes and rewrites popular songs into parodies. She is 1/3 of the I-Scream Queens, covering horror and gothic flavored goodness!
Kat Malone
I-Scream Queens Co-Host
Kat Malone is a West Tennessee native who grew up watching horror films and frequenting every heavy metal show that she could get her foot in the door. She’s always had a natural love for entertainment of all creations that are creepy. Kat is a pin up enthusiast who curates her style from the mediums of goth and horror. When it comes to adventure, she’s not afraid to dive into the supernatural, hauntings or ancient mysteries!
Melissa Stecher
Back of the Cereal Box Co-Host
When she's not reminding people to Stay Hopeful, she's building her son’s character by being the ‘weird’ mom. With passions spanning from organizing to fandoms, one never knows what color will spill out. Her ‘Nerd’ badges include a funko pop collection expanding over 200+ pieces, an unexpected obsession with chainsaws and bringing out my inner Marcus Fenix, occasional cosplaying for GenCon that sometimes include duet costumes with her son, and of course any books, movies or music that take her on an adventure! If happy, hopeful, nerdy, and weird had a picture- it’d be Melissa
Willow Skylor
Cryptid Crunch Host
This self proclaimed Social media Socialite is a huge pop culture nerd, who enjoys a plethora of hobbies. From cosplaying to collecting and restoring classic Mopar vehicles with her husband. She has been broadcasting online since 2006, her long time dream has been to break into the broadcasting industry.
Willow is the Program Director for The Hangin’ With Web Show TV Network, where she hosts Willow’s Pillow Talk and Co-hosts Reels & Heels on Saturday afternoon. Find her here on The Back of the Cereal Box Network every first and third Sunday of the month on Cryptid Crunch, with Keisha Acuff and Johnny, as well as BOTCB After Dark.
Andrea Starnes
Cosplay Cafe Co-Host
Andrea Starnes has been cosplaying for roughly 20 years, but a fan of most things geeky her whole life. Growing up, she and her three brothers spent much of their time playing X-Men in the backyard, reading comics, and creating. Not much has changed, except she no longer plays X-Men in the backyard. Instead, she dedicates her free time to make costumes from many fandoms, as well as original designs. Many of the costumes are used to be a cosplay volunteer, bringing joy to kids and the young at heart. She hopes to be able to share her decades' worth of knowledge with the next generation of cosplayers.
Shawn Connors
Back of the Cereal Box Co-Host
Shawn Connors is a computer nerd, single father, Christian , LVAD enabled, podcaster, podcast producer, content creator, sneakerhead and foodie! Besides serving as a co-host of the Back of the Cereal Box, he is the host of the 757 Renaissance Man, a podcast that empowers entrepreneurs, leaders, artists, creatives, and activists from the Hampton Roads area. He is also the host of The LVAD Nation podcast that features conversations with LVAD patients, heart transplant recipients, and caregivers, we discuss life before, during and after the LVAD.