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The Last Podcast on the Left

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The Last Podcast on the Left
Genre
Country of originUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Creative team
Created by
  • Marcus Parks
  • Ben Kissel
Cast and voices
Hosted by
Production
Length30–150 minutes
Technical specifications
Audio formatMP3
Publication
No. of episodes1000+
Original releaseMarch 29, 2011 (2011-03-29)
ProviderSiriusXM
UpdatesTwice-weekly
Related
Websitewww.lastpodcastontheleft.com

The Last Podcast on the Left is a weekly podcast on the Last Podcast Network[1] featuring podcast producer and researcher Marcus Parks, comedian and actor Henry Zebrowski, and comedian Ed Larson, three longtime friends. Episodes have explored the topics of serial killers, cults, conspiracy theories, UFO sightings, ghosts, cryptids, the occult, and readings of fan-submitted creepypastas.[2] The name is a reference to the 1972 horror movie The Last House on the Left.

Premise

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Episodes explore real and imagined horror, with a typical runtime of one to two hours. The show releases two episodes weekly: a main episode and a side story episode.

Main episodes, currently hosted by Marcus Parks, Henry Zebrowski, and Ed Larson and formerly hosted by Ben Kissel, are focused on a singular topic and multiple episodes may be dedicated to one topic. Side Stories are typically hosted by Larson and Zebrowski (previously only Kissel and Zebrowski) and cover weekly true crime and other unusual news stories, with an additional “Hero of the Week” segment and often a “Listener Emails” segment. Occasionally, guests are invited onto the show for interviews, including Dan Aykroyd.[3]

The opening theme of the podcast features a snippet from serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer who utters the line, "That's when the cannibalism started." It also includes the line and subsequent advertisement transition "Rise from your grave!" uttered by Zeus from the Sega action game Altered Beast (1988). The closing theme is Al Bowlly's "Midnight, the Stars and You", a reference to The Shining (1980).

Several repeat characters are present on the podcast (primarily voiced by Zebrowski) such as "Detective Popcorn" (the semi-erotic food-focused and incompetent police detective); Charles Ng (a notorious serial killer); "Terry the Gnome", "The Bone-Slicer"; and Minnie and Nannie Williams (victims of serial killer H. H. Holmes).[4]

Hosts

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Marcus Parks

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Marcus Parks
Marcus Parks speaking at the 2023 WonderCon
Born (1983-01-19) January 19, 1983 (age 43)
Rochester, Texas
Occupations
SpouseCarolina Hidalgo

Marcus Parks (born January 19, 1983)[5] is from Rochester, Texas,[6] graduated[7] from Texas Tech University, where he studied English and acted as KTXT-FM's station manager for around 4 years.[8]

Along with The Last Podcast on the Left, Parks also co-hosts the music history podcast No Dogs in Space with comedian and podcaster Carolina Hidalgo, who is also his wife.[9][10]

Henry Zebrowski

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Henry Zebrowski
Henry Zebrowski speaking at the 2023 WonderCon
Born
Henry Thomas Zebrowski Jr.

(1984-05-01) May 1, 1984 (age 42)
Queens, New York
Occupations
SpouseNatalie Jean (m. 2018)

Henry Zebrowski is an American actor, podcast host, and comedian, known for his work on the Adult Swim series Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell, the film The Wolf of Wall Street, and the NBC series Heroes Reborn.

Ed Larson

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Ed Larson
Born
Edward William Larson

(1981-10-09) October 9, 1981 (age 44)
Orlando, Florida
Occupations
Websitehttps://www.eddietunes.com/

Ed Larson (born October 9, 1981)[11] is an American comedian, writer and actor. Larson was made a temporary co-host of The Last Podcast on the Left in late 2023, following Ben Kissel's departure, and eventually became a permanent co-host of the show. He was previously a member of Zebrowski's sketch comedy troupe Murderfist.[12]

Larson also co-hosts another Last Podcast Network show called The Brighter Side with Amber Nelson, a show exploring and talking about the brighter side of a topic they choose every week.[13]

Outside of the Last Podcast Network, he performs stand-up comedy,[14] and has released a documentary called "How America Killed My Mother". The documentary explores how the health insurance and banking systems in the United States contributed to his mother's death.[15]

Ben Kissel (formerly)

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Ben Kissel
Ben Kissel speaking at the 2023 WonderCon
Born (1981-07-21) July 21, 1981 (age 45)
Fargo, North Dakota
OccupationComedian

Ben Kissel is an American comedian and former politician. Kissel was born in Fargo, North Dakota and raised in Stevens Point, Wisconsin and attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he received a degree in political science.[16][17]

After co-creating The Last Podcast on the Left in 2011, Kissel would continue to co-host the show until 2023.[18] In 2017, Kissel ran for Brooklyn borough president as the candidate for the Reform Party but lost with 1.79% (6,017) of the vote.[19] Kissel also co-hosted Abe Lincoln's Top Hat, a political podcast that ran under the Last Podcast Network.[20]

On October 4, 2023, it was announced that Kissel would no longer be part of the podcast or the Last Podcast Network. This came following allegations of abuse.[21][22] (See Co-host abuse allegations)

History

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Last Podcast on the Left was launched in 2011[4] as a conversation between friends who love horror movies. The name was inspired by the horror movie The Last House on the Left. The podcast's discussions have delved into topics including aliens, cryptids and other macabre topics.[18][23]

In 2017, The Last Podcast on the Left received the People's Voice Webby in the Podcasts & Digital Audio (Comedy) category.[24]

In 2018, they filmed their first live show at Thalia Hall in Chicago, IL. In 2019, they filmed their second live show in New Orleans, LA.[25] The hosts have toured extensively in the US and internationally, including Iceland,[26] Australia,[27] and Canada[28] for live events.[10]

On November 19, 2019, it was announced that the show was moving exclusively to Spotify[29] for ad-sponsored episodes. This arrangement was short-lived, ending in October 2021.[18]

In 2020, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt released The Last Book on the Left,[30][31] written by Kissel, Parks, and Zebrowski, and illustrated by Tom Neely.[32][33] The book debuted at number three on the New York Times Bestseller List under Hardcover nonfiction.[34]

On September 13, 2023, it was announced that co-host Ben Kissel would be "going into treatment" for his mental and physical health, and would not feature on the podcast until his treatment was completed. This came following accusations of abuse by a former girlfriend, though this was not explicitly stated as a contributing factor for his leave.[35][36] On October 4, 2023, it was announced that Kissel would no longer be part of the podcast or the Last Podcast Network.[21]

Co-host abuse allegations

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On October 12, 2023, Rolling Stone released an article that outlined allegations against former Last Podcast on the Left co-host Ben Kissel, which included multiple alleged instances of sexual misconduct and verbal and physical abuse against women over the span of several years. The article further included testimony of former and current associates of Kissel who allege that he had issues with alcoholism, some of whom claimed that it would lead to drastic changes in his personality. Other individuals contacted by Rolling Stone went against many of the allegations, such as denying Kissel's personality would drastically change by consuming alcohol or attesting that they had never seen Kissel be abusive towards a woman or violent in any capacity.[22]

Former acquaintances also implied that there may have been a "willful blindness" towards Kissel's alleged behaviour and alcohol abuse among The Last Podcast Network, though this was disputed by individuals close to the network. One person outlined in the article claimed that Kissel's substance abuse was a known issue in the workplace, and lengthy discussions over it had taken place over a "seven year period." They further stated that this had become enough of an issue that discussions were being made to remove Kissel from the show weeks before his eventual departure. Parks and Zebrowski are specifically named as individuals who attempted to discuss and intervene in Kissel's drinking problems.[22] A statement was released on the Last Podcast on the Left Instagram page on October 14, in which it was claimed that they had no knowledge of the alleged abusive behavior.[37]

In the same article, a statement written by Kissel was published, where he denied all allegations of abuse, but conceded he had been using alcohol to "cope with childhood trauma," and was in rehab to deal with his issues.[22]

Last Stream on the Left

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The Last Stream on the Left is a spin-off show originally hosted on the Adult Swim website.[38][39] The episodes typically consist of commentary of a selection of videos found by the hosts. After 8 seasons on Adult Swim,[40] the Adult Swim streaming platform stopped hosting original content late in 2020. The program moved to Twitch on December 22, 2020; but the first episode was 'very quickly removed' from the network and the account banned.[41] Subsequently, the stream was hosted on the LPOTL Patreon page,[42] with the video uploaded to their YouTube account after the live episode airs.[43] The live stream show aired what was intended to be its final episode on February 18, 2022, but returned once again in February 2023.[44]

Soul Plumber

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Soul Plumber is a DC horror comic which includes adaptions of Last Podcast on the Left hosts Marcus Parks, Henry Zebrowski, and former host Ben Kissel. The hosts worked with artist John McCrea of DC Comics on the project. The plot follows Edgar Wiggins, a former seminary student who works at a gas station. Wiggins left seminary school in disgrace but joins a group called the Soul Plumbers out of the desire to continue saving souls.[45] The comic is a six-issue series.[46]

Open Lines

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Open Lines was a live radio talk show available exclusively on SiriusXM's Faction Talk. The show consists of listeners calling in to tell personal accounts on a previously established topic. Topics are usually related to themes covered in the podcast such as paranormal encounters, cryptozoology, and true crime. The weekly live show aired on Mondays at 7pm ET and listeners can participate by calling 855-355-4741.

Side Stories: Excerpts

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Side Stories: Excerpts is a short video series hosted on YouTube. As the name suggests, the videos consist of short excerpts of the full-length Patreon exclusive video. The first Side Stories video recording of their March 8, 2022, episode was uploaded on March 11, 2022.[47] The full-length Patreon exclusive video is uploaded every Wednesday, and the 10-minute YouTube excerpt episodes are uploaded on Fridays.

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ "The Last Podcast Network". The Last Podcast Network. April 21, 2022. Archived from the original on January 24, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Podcast Review: The Last Podcast On The Left". HuffPost. July 23, 2016. Archived from the original on April 12, 2017. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  3. ↑ Brown, August (July 19, 2019). "In the Trump era, a comedy podcast about conspiracy theories finds a home in the mainstream". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  4. 1 2 Kelly, Laura (March 19, 2018). "The Last Podcast On The Left: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". heavy.com. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  5. ↑ "EPISODE 499 - JOEL RIFKIN II". Last Podcast on the Left. August 4, 2022. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  6. ↑ Bell, Andrew (March 10, 2004). "Parks named 2004-05 KTXT station major". The Daily Toreador. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Soul Plumber: Henry Zebrowski & Marcus Parks Preview DC Horror's Latest Scary Story". CBR. October 5, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Justice to be next KTXT station manager". The Daily Toreador. March 10, 2005. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  9. ↑ "No Dogs In Space". The Last Podcast Network. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  10. 1 2 Jordan, Jerilyn (September 3, 2003). "'The Last Podcast on the Left' uses comedy to shine a light on the darkest corners of the universe". Detroit Metro Times. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  11. ↑ Phillips, Bill (October 15, 1981). "A big boy!". The Orlando Sentinel.
  12. ↑ "The Last Podcast on the Left". The Last Podcast Network. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  13. ↑ "The Brighter Side". The Last Podcast Network. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  14. ↑ Acuna, Jason (March 14, 2025). "Comedian Ed Larson to roast Tallahassee in a Florida-focused stand-up". WFSU News. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
  15. ↑ "How America Killed My Mother". How America Killed My Mother. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Last Podcast on the Left Controversy: The Most Shocking Stories - OtakuKart". otakukart.com. November 1, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  17. ↑ "UW-MILWAUKEE ALUM BEN KISSEL COMBINES KILLERS AND COMEDY ON LAST PODCAST ON THE LEFT". Milwaukee Record. June 27, 2017.
  18. 1 2 3 "Why 'Last Podcast on the Left' will no longer be a Spotify exclusive". Los Angeles Times. October 12, 2021. Archived from the original on April 3, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Kings Borough President Recap" (PDF).
  20. ↑ "Pod People: How "The Last Podcast on the Left" Explores the Dark Side". Flood Magazine. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  21. 1 2 "Instagram". Instagram. October 4, 2023. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  22. 1 2 3 4 "His True-Crime Podcast Stood Up for Victims. Now, He's Accused of Abuse". Rolling Stone. October 12, 2023. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  23. ↑ Pinson, Travis (February 18, 2025). "Horror takes center stage with 'Last Podcast on the Left' show in Grand Prairie". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  24. ↑ "The Last Podcast On The Left | The Webby Awards". Archived from the original on September 14, 2018. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  25. ↑ "Last Podcast on the Left: Live in New Orleans 2019". Last Podcast on the Left Live. Archived from the original on July 9, 2023. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  26. ↑ "The Last Podcast On The Left Is Coming For You, Reykjavík". October 10, 2024. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  27. ↑ "Last Podcast on the Left Bringing the Horror Down Under This August". thenote.com. July 23, 2024. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  28. ↑ "Toronto Theatre Guide 2025: Performing Arts and Live Theatre in Toronto". April 5, 2025. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
  29. ↑ "'Last Podcast on the Left' Moving Exclusively to Spotify". The Hollywood Reporter. November 19, 2019. Archived from the original on November 20, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  30. ↑ "'They're Idiots': Ripping On Serial Killers For A Laugh, 'Last Book On The Left' Takes Away Some Of Their Mystique". Oxygen Official Site. May 28, 2020. Archived from the original on September 25, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  31. ↑ Marks, Andrea (April 28, 2020). "'Last Book on the Left' Cuts Serial Killers Down to Size". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 2, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  32. ↑ "The Last Book on the Left: Stories of Murder and Mayhem from History's Most Notorious Serial Killers | HMH Books". www.hmhbooks.com. Archived from the original on December 16, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  33. ↑ "The Last Podcast on the Left Hosts Break Down the Art of True-Crime Comedy". Vulture. Archived from the original on April 7, 2020. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  34. ↑ "Hardcover Nonfiction Books – Best Sellers – Books – April 26, 2020 – The New York Times". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on September 10, 2021. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
  35. ↑ Allen, Joseph (September 14, 2023). "Podcaster Ben Kissel Is in Treatment for His Mental and Physical Health". Distractify. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  36. ↑ "Side Stories: The Bullet in the Backseat". IMDb. September 13, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  37. ↑ "Last Podcast On The Left on Instagram". Instagram. October 14, 2023.
  38. ↑ "Last Stream on the Left". imdb.com. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  39. ↑ "Adult Swim MOBILE APP FAQS". adultswim.com. The Cartoon Network, Inc. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  40. ↑ "Last Stream on the Left - All Seasons". thetvdb.com. TheTVDB.com. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  41. ↑ "Last Stream on the Left - Tuesday, December 22nd, 2020". archive.org. December 22, 2020. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  42. ↑ "Last Podcast On The Left". patreon.com. patreon. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  43. ↑ "Last Podcast On The Left". youtube.com. Google LLC. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  44. ↑ "Last Podcast On The Left". youtube.com. Google LLC. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  45. ↑ "DC Horror Announces 'Soul Plumber' From Last Podcast On the Left Hosts". ScreenRant. July 15, 2021. Archived from the original on February 11, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  46. ↑ Squires, John (July 14, 2021). "DC Horror Joins Forces With 'Last Podcast on the Left' Team for New Comic 'Soul Plumber'". Bloody Disgusting!. Archived from the original on February 11, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  47. ↑ "Side Stories: Excerpts /// March 8th, 2022". YouTube. March 11, 2022.

Sources

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