Outlook Mixtape: The Halloween edition

The Rocky Horror Show’s themes of liberation and sexual freedom have resonated with audiences for over 50 years. For its creator, Richard O'Brien, the musical also contained something much more personal, an expression of his repressed sexuality. Richard's son Linus O'Brien discusses his new documentary Strange Journey, The Story of Rocky Horror, looking at why so many people found comfort and community in the musicals themes, including eventually his father.

Brent Underwood spent his life savings on the remains of an abandoned 19th century mining town in California. He was fascinated by its Wild West history, but when he got trapped there by heavy snow in 2020, all alone, the ghostly tales about the place began to feel all too real. Brent Underwood spoke to Emily Webb in 2020.

Mattie Do was the first woman to direct a feature film in Laos. Her film, Dearest Sister, is primarily a ghost story, but based very firmly around traditional belief in Laos, drawing on ideas around the afterlife especially. Mattie Do explained the connections to Nicki Paxman in 2016.

Rodrigo Medellin has made it his life's mission to redeem the scary reputation of bats and highlight their importance to the ecosystem. His interest began as a child; he appeared on a general knowledge quiz for adults on prime-time Mexican TV showing off his huge knowledge of mammals. This led to a call from the University of Mexico inviting young Rodrigo to join students researching bats in the Mayan jungle. Clayton Conn joined Rodrigo on a bat surveying expedition in 2017.

Presenter Asya Fouks.
Producer: Hetal Bapodra

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(Photo: A transparent 60-minute cassette tape spooled halfway through and lying on a white background. It bears a slim white label with the words ‘THE OUTLOOK MIXTAPE’ written in black. Credit: Getty Images)