Today we’d like to introduce you to Sean O’Connor.

Hi Sean, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?

Growing up in New York, I got into horror at a really early age with outlets like “Chiller Theater” and the “Million Dollar Movie” to start cultivating my love of all things spooky. Fast forward decades later and, like so many others quarantining during the COVID lockdown, I began to explore if a podcast was a possibility. Wanting to combine a relaxed chat with an insightful dive into some of the horrors, best and worst, I brought on my co-host Shannon Bushmann in August 2023, and we launched our first episode later that month. It’s been almost two years now and we couldn’t be happier. Our guest list is exploding and we’ve already booked well into the spring of 2025.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?

The road couldn’t be more bumpy, but if it’s your passion, you take on the obstacles as they come and use them as lessons learned and knowledge gained. We spent a year and a half under the branding of “The Cine-Ful Cuts Podcast” until we realized that the name was impossible for people to spell correctly if they were only hearing it and not seeing it. Given that such a high percentage of our base is audio only, we took it upon ourselves to completely rebrand to “The Blood, Guts, & Paper Cuts Podcast,” the results have been immediate and remarkable. People can find us! You need to be open to identifying your mistakes, no matter how invested in them you may be, and willing to accept hard truths to improve your projects.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?

There are so many literature and film-based podcasts, and some of them are truly unique and remarkable. We aspire to be one of them, but on our terms, with our personalities front and center. Our goal is to entertain; this is about scary movies. We shouldn’t take ourselves too seriously, but we shouldn’t come off like a pack of donkeys. We specialize in a laid-back, friendly approach to interviewing that has opened the door to more guests and repeat appearances. I’m so proud that we’ve gained a reputation as a fun, supportive place for creatives to talk about their work and their passion for literature and film. We’re now working on our schedule for 2025, and it’s filling up so quickly. We’re also putting together guest appearances for specific genres that will reoccur bi-monthly.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?

Test your brand before you launch. Had we taken our time and tested the original podcast’s name before launch, we would have uncovered its many issues in listener base retention. You’re going to make mistakes along the way, but don’t get too clever, like we did, and put yourself at a disadvantage because you’re in love with an untested idea.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @seanoc32
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@BLOODGUTSANDPAPERCUTS