Episode 4

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Published on:

29th Aug 2025

TT S3 E4: Reinventing The Toxic Avenger with Macon Blair

Macon Blair is a multi-hyphenate entertainer. You've seen him as an actor in films like Blue Ruin, Green Room, and a little small micro-budget film called Oppenheimer. His 2017 directorial debut, I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore, won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, and he wrote and directed the film we are here to talk about today, 2025's The Toxic Avenger, which is finally in theaters now around the world. On this very special episode of Talkin' Troma with Zack Beins, we have Macon Blair himself to guide us through his wild and wonderful new reinterpretation of Toxie. Join us as we explore the ins and outs of casting, working with Peter Dinklage and Elijah Wood, tales of shooting in Bulgaria, special FX shots, Lloyd Kaufman, and so much more! There are spoilers ahead, so make sure you see the film first!

Mentioned in this episode:

Hosted by Zack Beins. Produced by Chris Lanphear for Loudspeaker Studios. Talkin' Troma Theme Music by J57 and Bald Halfwit. Special thanks to Macon Blair, Cineverse, Legendary, and Katrina Wan PR.

Featured Music:

  • "Nothing At All" by The Giraffes, originally written and performed by Marc Hoffman and Dean Simmons from The Toxic Avenger
  • "The Look of Love (Part 1)" by ABC from The Toxic Avenger

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Talkin' Troma is a listener-supported production of Loudspeaker Studios. Hear more great shows and commercial-free independent public radio at https://www.loudspeaker.org.

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About the Podcast

Talkin' Troma with Zack Beins
A deep dive into the vast filmography of Troma films.
A deep dive into the vast filmography of the oldest independent film studio in the world: Troma Entertainment. Join host, filmmaker, and Troma super fan Zack Beins as he guides you through films like The Toxic Avenger, Sgt. Kabukiman, NYPD, and Terror Firmer, along with lesser-known entries from Troma's nearly fifty year history.

Hear the stories behind the films from those who worked on them and those who were inspired by them, only on Talkin' Troma!

A production of Loudspeaker Studios. Hear live, commercial-free independent radio, original podcasts, and discover everything we have to offer at https://www.loudspeaker.org.
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About your host

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Zack Beins

Zack Beins is a filmmaker from Denver, CO. He has made several films and music videos including The Misled Romance of Cannibal Girl and Incest Boy, and Atom the Amazing Zombie Killer. Zack has a life long passion for cinema and cult films. His love of celluloid brought him to Tromaville where he worked on Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead (2006) and volunteered at the TromaDance Film Festival, and now to Talkin' Troma with the Loudspeaker network!