Thriller NYC! -With Zombie Papas: Jorge and Todd

In this episode, Kelly is joined by Zombie Papas Jorge and Todd, the organizers of Thriller NYC!

Join them as they introduce themselves. Jorge tells us how he came to New York, and what it was like moving here. Todd on the otherhand, talks about being third generation from Brooklyn. They tell us about how they met, as well as their costume wedding. They talk about how they found Thriller NYC and how long they've been involved with it.

Jorge talks about the founding of thriller in the west village Halloween parade. He talks about the first time it was done and what it was like when it first started. He talks about how he initially joined another thriller group because Thriller NYC was full. Todd talks about how Jorge invited him to join thriller one year, but not in the way that he had wanted to.

Kelly asks about the process of putting together something so massive. Todd talks about the process of how people get tickets and join the group. He goes over what the rehearsals look like as well as what the time table is like to put on something like that. They both talk about what people are getting out of their ticket. They talk about how it is important for them to form a safe community, and they emphasise moving your body in community, and the healing power that it can have.

Jorge and Todd thank Kelly for his viral video of the performance, and they talk about how that helped them get put back on the map and continue post Covid. They also talk about what it feels like to put together this massive project every year, and the cultural impact that it has on the world. They talk about their trip to South Africa and how Thriller even has an impact there.

Finally, Kelly asks them some quick fire questions about the dance, the halloween parade, the costumes, and where to eat after.

But, above all else; Jorge and Todd are New Yorkers.

Kelly's Social Media

@NewYorkCityKopp

Join Thriller NYC!

https://www.thrillernyc.com/

@Thrillernyc

Donate to the village Halloween parade!

https://halloween-nyc.com/donate/

Jae's Social Media

@Studiojae170

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - New Yorkers Podcast
• (00:01:57) - This New York Couple Had A 'Thriller' Wedding
• (00:05:18) - The Halloween Parade With Thriller
• (00:05:49) - The Thriller Dance in the NYC Parade
• (00:09:08) - How To Participate in the Parade Thriller Dance
• (00:11:52) - The West Village Thriller Parade
• (00:14:27) - The Memphis Thriller Parade
• (00:18:47) - The New York Thriller Dance
• (00:23:18) - Mets Mascots at the Parade
• (00:25:32) - The Cast of Thriller
• (00:28:33) - Thriller's Spring Parade
• (00:30:55) - What Makes The Thriller Dance So New York?
• (00:34:12) - Dancing To Michael Jackson's Thriller in Mozambique
• (00:36:21) - The New York City Zombie Parade
• (00:38:14) - How the Village Halloween Parade Works
• (00:41:02) - Thriller's NYC Parade
• (00:41:29) - Village Halloween Parade
• (00:43:12) - The Halloween Parade in New York
• (00:43:59) - What It Means to Be A New Yorker
• (00:46:02) - New Yorkers: Thank You!