The Twilight Zone Podcast

Alan Sepinwall returns to The Twilight Zone Podcast as his landmark biography Serling officially hits shelves. In this new conversation, Alan dives deeper into the life and legacy of Rod Serling — expanding on revelations from our first interview and exploring fresh insights that emerged as the book reached its final form. With Serling now released to the world, Alan joins me once again to talk about the man behind the myth: the writer who reshaped television, the human being who wrestled with trauma, and the cultural force whose influence still echoes through the television world. It’s a timely, illuminating return — and a perfect companion to the book’s debut. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

Tonight, The Twilight Zone Podcast shares something truly special: a live Serlingfest 2026 interview with Jodi Serling. Hosted by Tony Albarella and recorded in Binghamton, the conversation offers a rare, intimate look at Rod Serling through the eyes of his daughter. It’s thoughtful, funny, and full of personal memories that bring the Serling family to life. Join the Rod Serling Memorial Foundation HERE. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

Tom Elliot hands over the mic to some of the attendees at this year's Serlingfest! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

August 2026 saw Rod Serling fans from across the globe descend on Binghamton, New York, for the tenth annual Serlingfest — a milestone gathering in the hometown of the man who reshaped television storytelling.There, amid panels, screenings, and the familiar hum of shared enthusiasm, Tom Elliot, Gus Holwerda, Emi O’Sullivan, and Zach Moore sat down together in Binghamton to reflect on the event, the community, and what a decade of Serlingfests has come to mean. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

Listeners have their say on this divisive Season Five episode! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

Tonight Tom Elliot looks at a story where goodbyes echo louder than the plot itself — a farewell to director John Brahm, a final bow for Charles Beaumont, and a reminder that even the brightest lights in The Twilight Zone eventually fade. But standing in stark contrast is Pamela Morris, a woman who refuses to say goodbye to anything, including life. In a tale where real‑world mortality meets fictional immortality, Tom steps once more into the fifth dimension… and he’s about to meet… The Queen of the Nile. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

Tom Elliot gives an update on plans for The Twilight Zone Podcast this summer. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

Tom Elliot speaks with celebrated TV journalist Alan Sepinwall about his upcoming book Serling, A Journey into the Twilight Zone with TV's First Visionary. Pre order the book HERE Visit Alan's website HERE Visit What's Alan Watching HERE Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

Tom gathers the thoughts and reactions of Twilight Zone Podcast listeners as they weigh in on one of the strangest outliers in the show’s history: An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

The Twilight Zone Podcast returns to its usual format… but not everything is as it seems. Can a story that was never meant to be a Twilight Zone truly earn its place in the fifth dimension? Tom Elliot steps onto the bridge to find out... Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

Roving reporter Harold Clark reports from the world premier of the upcoming documentary SERLING, at SXSW in March 2026. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

Tom Elliot sits down with author Samuel Garza Bernstein to explore his new biography of Roddy McDowall—an actor whose career threaded through The Twilight Zone, Night Gallery, and of course the Planet of the Apes franchise. Together, Tom and Samuel dig into McDowall’s remarkable life, his artistic discipline, his quiet influence in Hollywood, and the creative instincts that made him such a natural fit for the worlds of Serling and beyond.If you’ve ever been captivated by McDowall’s performances—or wondered about the man behind the roles—this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. Check out Samuels website HERE Order the book at Amazon US HERE Order the book at Amazon UK HERE Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

Tom and Zach head back to the comic book store to check out the final issue of IDW's Twilight Zone comic....or is it? A brilliant scientist uncovers a celestial enigma—a meteor submerged in the ocean's depths, pulsing with a cryptic audio signal that could determine the fate of the world. As she fights to decode this extraterrestrial transmission, she finds herself trapped between the cold urgency of hard data and the crushing weight of human apathy. It is a haunting descent into the "silent warning" of the deep, where the most dangerous threat isn't the mystery from the stars, but a society that refuses to listen until the static finally takes hold Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

Tom is joined by Zach Moore from Always Hold On to Smalville to check out issues #4 of The Twilight Zone comic book from IDW, False Bottom... The stage is set: a sun‑drenched lake in the height of summer, a houseboat waiting for a celebratory weekend. When Laura invites her abrasive brother, Chet, along for his birthday, their already‑fragile bond is hanging by a thread. With her devoted boyfriend at her side, she makes one last attempt to reach the little brother she once adored—now a young man hardened into bitterness. But when all three are swept into realms shaped by their deepest desires, the question becomes not how they’ll reunite… but whether they’ll even want to. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

Tom Elliot makes an announcement about this year's Serlingfest Celebration in Binghampton New York this August. To buy your tickets for Serlingfest go to RodSerling.com. To donate to Tom's travel costs go to thetwilightzonepodcast.com/donate Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

Tonight, Tom Elliot is joined by comic book super fans Zach Moore from Always Hold on to Smallville and Alan Burke from The All Star Superfan Podcast to discuss issue 3 of the IDW Twilight Zone comic, The Relic... Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

Tom is joined by Zach Moore from Always Hold on to Smallville, to continue their coverage of the IDW five issue Twilight Zone comic series with issue #2 - A World of Your Wildest Dreams. "At the farthest reaches of the galaxy- beyond the horizon of humanity and the hopes for salvation- a spaceship of slumbering astronauts journeys in search of intelligent alien life. They’ve left behind their families- their planet- their pasts- and all the trauma and comforts those things contained. But our crew of adventurers will find their pasts are never that far behind them and intelligent alien life has its own plans for their future…in the Twilight Zone!" Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

Day twenty four of the Twilight Zone Advent Calendar – play along in the comments… “If there was a sequel to any Twilight Zone episode in the original series, which one would it be and how would it play out…” Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

Day twenty three of the Twilight Zone Advent Calendar – play along in the comments… “What is your favorite Twilight Zone set in the past…” Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

Day twenty two of the Twilight Zone Advent Calendar – play along in the comments… “If Rod had stepped away from The Twilight Zone, but they brought in a new show runner, who would you have picked…” Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

Day twenty one of the Twilight Zone Advent Calendar – play along in the comments… “What episodes from TZ reboots would have made the best 60s TZ episodes…” Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

Day twenty of the Twilight Zone Advent Calendar – play along in the comments… “We think of Twilight Zone episodes as always having a twist at the end, but not all of them do. Which is your favorite "non-twist" episode and why…” Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

Day nineteen of the Twilight Zone Advent Calendar – play along in the comments… “What if you could step into the Twilight Zone and change the outcome of one episode, which one would it be and what would you change…” Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

Day eighteen of the Twilight Zone Advent Calendar – play along in the comments… “Which Christmas story would you like to have heard read by Rod Serling…” Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

Day seventeen of the Twilight Zone Advent Calendar – play along in the comments… “What is the best Twilight Zone episode penned by the following writers: Rod Serling Richard Matheson Charles Beaumont Earl Hamner Jr. George Clayton Johnson…” Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

Day sixteen of the Twilight Zone Advent Calendar – play along in the comments… “Of living Twilight Zone alums, and other than the very famous ones from other universes (ex. Shatner, Takei, Newmar, Howard, Duvall, Burnett, Astin), who would you most like to interview on the podcast…” Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

Day fifteen of the Twilight Zone Advent Calendar – play along in the comments… “Have you had a polar turnaround in your opinion of any episodes…” Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

Day fourteen of the Twilight Zone Advent Calendar – play along in the comments… “What are your favourite musical scores from the series?” Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

Day thirteen of the Twilight Zone Advent Calendar – play along in the comments… “Give your thoughts on the more controversial Twilight Zone episodes…” Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

TZ Advent Calendar – Day Twelve Day twelve of the Twilight Zone Advent Calendar – play along in the comments… “Which season ender is your favorite…” Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

TZ Advent Calendar – Day Eleven Day eleven of the Twilight Zone Advent Calendar – play along in the comments… “You can compile a DVD/Blu Ray with 5 episodes from each season of the original series. Which episodes would you choose…” Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

TZ Advent Calendar – Day Ten Day ten of the Twilight Zone Advent Calendar – play along in the comments… “Which color Night Gallery or Twilight Zone reboot show would most benefit from being in black and white…” Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

TZ Advent Calendar – Day Nine Day nine of the Twilight Zone Advent Calendar – play along in the comments… “Which hour long episode would most benefit by being a half-hour? And which half-hour would most benefit by being an hour?” Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

TZ Advent Calendar – Day Eight Day eight of the Twilight Zone Advent Calendar – play along in the comments… “You get an opportunity to stage a Twilight Zone episode in School/ College; which one would you pick and why…” Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

TZ Advent Calendar – Day Seven Day seven of the Twilight Zone Advent Calendar – play along in the comments… “You have just won an all expenses paid vacation for one week to a Twilight Zone destination of your choice. Where would you go and what would you do there…” Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

TZ Advent Calendar – Day Six Day six of the Twilight Zone Advent Calendar – play along in the comments… “If any character from an episode wrote a book about their experience, whose would you most like to read …” Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

TZ Advent Calendar – Day Five Day five of the Twilight Zone Advent Calendar – play along in the comments… “The series features early roles for several future major film stars (Robert Redford, Charles Bronson, Vera Miles, Martin Landau, Robert Duvall amongst others): which appearance did you most enjoy and why…” Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

TZ Advent Calendar – Day Four Day four of the Twilight Zone Advent Calendar – play along in the comments… “If you could choose a marquee actor from the time to appear in The Twilight Zone, who would it be and what episode would you put them in…” Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

TZ Advent Calendar – Day Three Day three of the Twilight Zone Advent Calendar – play along in the comments… “We all remember names of episodes from the original show, but can you name any from the reboots…” Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

TZ Advent Calendar – Day Two Day two of the Twilight Zone Advent Calendar – play along in the comments… “If Charles Dickens wrote a Twilight Zone, what might it look like and what might it be about…” Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

TZ Advent Calendar – Day One Day one of the Twilight Zone Advent Calendar – play along in the comments… “Which is your favorite one way trip to The Twilight Zone and which is your favorite round trip…” Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

To prepare us for the Twilight Zone episode An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, Tom Elliot invites you to sit by the fire to listen to the tale as performed by one of the greats, Vincent Price on the radio show, Suspense! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

In the 350th episode of The Twilight Zone Podcast, we conclude this year's Serlingfest coverage with interviews from: Jeff & Andrew Serling Joseph Dougherty Jonah Tulis Nick Parisi And a big thank you to Chad Ellis Boykin and Christopher Sadler for getting the interviews! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

If you missed Serlingfest 2025, then intrepid reporters Chad Boykin and Christopher Sadler have you covered! Right from the convention floor Chad and Chris present interviews with a selection of guests and attendees. To keep up with all things Serlingfest in the future visit RodSerling.com Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

Tom Elliot sits down with Zach Moore of Always Hold On To Smallville to check out the first issue of the new Twilight Zone comic from IDW. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

Tom Elliot hands over the reigns to the listeners to give their thoughts on this divisive episode of The Twilight Zone, Spur of the Moment. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

Ride with Tom Elliot into one of Season Five’s most chilling cautionary tales. Spur of the Moment gallops through time, regret, and the echoes of choices not yet made. Is this gothic thriller a forgotten masterpiece… or a melodramatic misfire? The Twilight Zone Podcast reins it in for a closer look. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

Tom Elliot steps out of the fiction to give an update on the status of The Twilight Zone Podcast, and to talk about some great summer Rod Serling events. To find out more about these events, visit rodserling.com Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

As we battle the summer heat, Tom Elliot digs into the archives for a discussion on another vintage piece of Serling work, The Arena. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.

The summer hiatus of The Twilight Zone Podcast continues, but fear not, tonight we take a look into the archives of The After Hours Club when I was joined by Al Schoerdsma to talk about Rod Serling's episode of Studio One: The Strike. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-twilight-zone-podcast--5856481/support.