The PopCulteer
January 2, 2026

With the week interrupted by New Year’s Eve and subsequent Day, we have a short column for the first PopCulteer of the new year. There are only two things to tell you about before your humble blogger and his lovely wife depart for a quick trip to Lexington for no particular reason.

Mothman In The Bible Belt

First up, tomorrow night yours truly will be the guest of that Fantastic Buck, Buck Fantastic, on The Mothman In The Bible Belt podcast.

Mothman in the Bible Belt is a West Virginia-based entertainment podcast hosted by charismatic organic farmer and line dance instructor, Buck Fantastic. Sprouted in 2021, the podcast initially focused on social issues, later evolving to encompass the Appalachian music and art scene. New episodes drop every two-weeks.

The wholesome Appalachian podcast is available to stream for free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, IHeartRadio, YouTube, Audacy, Deezer, Audible, and Amazon Music.

Buck and I have a rambling conversation about whatever the hell it is I do, and/or have done, for the last four decades or so.

Of note: if my voice sounds a bit off, it’s because I was laying flat on my back on a heating pad during the interview. I’d thrown my back out over Christmas. So it was sort of like laying in a tanning bed and being on a pyschiatrist’s couch at the same time. I had a blast.

This is a great podcast, and it’s a bit surreal for me to be rubbing podcasterly shoulders with Buck’s previous distinguished guests.

Here’s a trailer…

You can hear The Mothman In The Bible Belt podcast where ever you tune in to such things. For more details, check out the website.

Another Friend of PopCult In Need

Last week I told you about GoFundMe campaigns for Brian Diller and Jon Raider’s mother. I have another friend who could use a hand right now.

Michael Tawney, who is known and loved by many in Charleston from his time as the manager of The GameStop in The Charleston Town Center and even moreso as the manage of the Park Place Cinema, as well as his role as the promoter for IWA East Coast(where he is known as “Fattawn”), is currently in end-stage renal failure and is waiting on a kidney transplant.

He’s getting dialysis treatment and carefully being monitored while he awaits a donor kidney, and he could use some financial help.

His brother has organized a GoFundMe to help cover his living expenses, since he can’t work while he’s dealing with this situation, so if you know Michael from IWA EC or Park Place (or GameStop), please consider donating for one of the coolest people I know.

There will be an IWA East Coast benefit show on February 21, at the Koontz Gym in Clendenin. They are still building the card for what promises to be an amazing night of wrestling and fun. You can keep up with all the latest details and find ticket information at the Facebook Event page.

Tawney has been a friend for over twenty years, and is a fixture on the regional wrestling scene. He’s the guy who booked Pat McAfee for his first pro wrestling gig. They even covered this GoFundMe campaign at Fightful Wrestling, one of the top wrestling news sites in the world.

And with that, we wrap up this week’s PopCulteer. The way the calendar falls this year, I’m gonna have to crank out 52 more of these things for 2026. Check back every day for fresh content and all our regular features.