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Artwork for Talking Scared

Talking Scared

Neil McRobert
Horror Fiction
Stephen King
Horror Literature
The Dark Tower
Vampires
The Stand
Mental Health
Dark Tower
Salem's Lot
Psychological Horror
Horror
Gothic Literature
Cosmic Horror
Gun Violence
Empathy
Cannibalism
Clown In a Cornfield
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter
Social Media
Grief

Conversations with the biggest names in horror fiction. A podcast for horror readers who want to know where their favourite stories came from . . . and what frightens the people who wrote them.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes326Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureBooksArts

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Artwork for Talking Scared

Latest Episodes

Trad wives are taking over horror in 2026 – but I predict none will be more frightening and more gorgeously WEIRD than Sarah Langan’s novel.

It’s the tale of a young woman in the dying era of journalism and the YouTube influencer who offers her hope... more

Kaelyn Moore returns to talk scared, straight from the helm of Heart Starts Pounding – her mega podcast of mysteries, murder and the

macabre.

She watches a lot of dark documentaries for research. I asked her to come talk about a few that recently in... more

This week is full of muck and murk and mushrooms. We flit amongst the trees, we bed on moss, we howl at the moon.

Daisy Pearce is entering her bog witch era!

The author takes us to her native Cornwall, for a story of haunting and imprisonment, smal... more

This week we host one of the most exciting horror filmmakers of the decade – Damian McCarthy, the twisted mind behind Caveat, Oddity and

now, Hokum.

It’s the biggest film in Damian’s career so far, with his biggest star, Adam Scott playing Ohm, a de... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Daisy Pearce
Author of horror/crime thriller novels
Author
Episode: 278 – Daisy Pearce & Bog Witches of the World Unite!
Damian McCarthy
Horror writer and director
Caveat, Oddity, Hokum
Episode: Off Book #18 – Hokum, with Damian McCarthy
Marcus Kliewer
Author of We Used to Live Here and The Caretaker
Author
Episode: 277 – Marcus Kliewer & Rules Help Control the Fun
Kylie Lee Baker
Author of Bat Eater and Japanese Gothic
Episode: 276 – Kylie Lee Baker & Swords Make Everything Worse
Caroline Bicks
Stephen King scholar, inaugural Stephen Edwin King Chair in Literature at the University of Maine
University of Maine
Episode: 275 – Caroline Bicks & The Stuff Too Dark for Even Stephen King
Ian Tuason
Director of Undertone
Undertone (film)
Episode: Off Book #17 – Undertone, with Ian Tuason and Nina Kiri
Nina Kiri
Actor in Undertone
Undertone (film)
Episode: Off Book #17 – Undertone, with Ian Tuason and Nina Kiri
Carter Keane
Author of Morsel, Ohio-based writer
Tor Nightfire (publisher)
Episode: 274 – Carter Keane & Working Ourselves to Death!!
Haley Z. Boston
Writer, creator and showrunner of Something Very Bad is Going to Happen
Netflix / The Duffer Brothers project
Episode: Off Book #16 – Something Very Bad is Going to Happen, with Haley Z. Boston

Host

Neil McRobert
Host of Talking Scared

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1k ratings
  • Between two fires.

    I am enjoying this tale! Thanks for the Buehlman interview.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Emmy3212
    United States2 months ago
  • Please, more on King

    I love this show. I take the occasion to suggest a deeper analysis of Salem’s Lot. I think most of King’s books stated there. Thanks for the fun!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AnaBel RO
    United States4 months ago
  • Leftist propaganda?

    Why does a horror podcast have to be blatantly political and clearly run by anti English leftist?

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    419Dggusji346
    United States4 months ago
  • Stephen King fans will love this

    If you are a King fan then this podcast is for you. I started listening because of the King connection. I’ve really enjoyed the ongoing Dark Tower analysis. I then listened to other episodes with horror authors and OMG I got some great book recommendations which I would have otherwise missed out on. Enjoy!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Peckers UK
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • Wizard in Glass!

    Love the show! Audibly gasped when I saw the new Tower episode

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TheDoorTalks
    United Kingdom5 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the interviews for insight and breadth across horror authors.
The show is seen as a trusted source for recommendations and literary analysis.
The host is knowledgeable and thoughtful, with deep respect for guests.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#141
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#114
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#169
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#220
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#179
Ireland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#191
Argentina/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Off Book #18 – Hokum, with Damian McCarthy
Q: Was it a struggle to maintain a low-key Irish flavor with a bigger budget and a more international cast?
It wasn't, because I approached the process by first locking the script, then discussing every deal breaker upfront, which kept the core tone intact. The team understood my style and the script, so the budget didn't derail the distinctive Irish flavor; they supported the approach and trusted the plan.
276 – Kylie Lee Baker & Swords Make Everything Worse
Q: How did you decide on the role of folklore in the narrative, like the Okiku and other tales?
Folklore functions as a guiding scaffold for the book's structure, giving each section a mythic anchor that deepens the sense of fate and recurrence. The tales also echo the characters' traumas and desires, making the horror feel universal rather than simply cinematic.
276 – Kylie Lee Baker & Swords Make Everything Worse
Q: What drew you to the dual timeline structure and the integration of samurai history with a haunted-house framework?
I was drawn to pairing a historical legacy with a contemporary, intimate obsession, using the two timelines to mirror how memory and myth haunt the present. It felt like a natural way to explore themes of identity, heritage, and belonging, while letting the mystery unfold in a way that rewards patient readers.
Off Book #17 – Undertone, with Ian Tuason and Nina Kiri
Q: What drew you to make Undertone a possession story rooted in caregiving experiences?
I wanted to explore how personal grief and the responsibility of caring for a parent could morph into a horror narrative, using Evie's isolation and the tapes as a conduit for that inner battle.
274 – Carter Keane & Working Ourselves to Death!!
Q: How did personal experiences with poverty influence Lou's story and the book's themes?
Keane connects Lou's experiences to their own upbringing and working life, explaining that the book channels the constant, existential challenges of poverty and the violence—both tangible and intangible—of the workplace.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About Talking Scared

What is Talking Scared about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show combines in-depth conversations with leading horror writers, critics, and creators to explore how fear, folklore, and literary craft shape some of the genre's most influential works. Episodes range from author deep-dives and book-by-book analyses to discussions of adaptation, ethics, and cultural context, often blending close readings with personal storytelling. A standout angle is the sustained focus on beloved—and sometimes overlooked—masters of horror, plus crossovers into related media like graphic novels and TV adaptations, giving listeners a rich map of how horror stories are born and why they resonate. The host's thoughtful questioning and reverent enthusiasm tend to attract a dedicated community of readers, writers, and ge... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Talking Scared?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Talking Scared:

1. The Kingcast
2. The Losers' Club: A Stephen King Podcast
3. Books in the Freezer - A Horror Fiction Podcast
4. Colors of the Dark
5. Halloweenies: A Horror Franchise Podcast

How many episodes of Talking Scared are there?

Talking Scared launched 6 years ago and published 326 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Talking Scared?

Recent guests on Talking Scared include:

1. Daisy Pearce
2. Damian McCarthy
3. Marcus Kliewer
4. Kylie Lee Baker
5. Caroline Bicks
6. Ian Tuason
7. Nina Kiri
8. Carter Keane

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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