
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.
| Publishes | Twice weekly | Episodes | 359 | Founded | 6 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | BooksArtsSociety & Culture | |||

Following the debate and disagreements of the main deep dive into Hearts in Atlantis, Nat stuck around to discuss some more spoiler-laden details. We talk about the wider impact of the Low Men, and how this book is starting to hint at a major secret ... more
Deep dives don’t go any deeper than lost Atlantis!
In this latest station of the Dark Tower readalong, we head back to the 1960s for Stephen King’s Hearts in Atlantis – a book closer to my heart than almost anything King has ever written. As such, t... more
You may know Jane Schoenbrun as the genius behind I Saw the TV Glow and Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasm, but I’m telling you that you HAVE to check out their debut novel.
Public Access Afterworld is an epic of the inbetween. It’s
about a mysteri... more
The 300th author interview is here. And I’m delighted it’s with a debut author, about a truly wonderful book.
Dorian Ravenscroft’s The White North Has Thy Bones is a supreme slice of Polar Gothic and Queer Horror alike. It’s the story of a disastrou... more
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Absolutely devoured the back catalogue and will be subscribing to the patreon for more. Great guests, insightful questions, and fascinating discussions.
I absolutely LOVE Talking Scared. Neil's knowledge of the genre really shines during his conversations, and his questions are both thought provoking and insightful. I also love that spoilers are kept to absolute minimum. If you love horror lit, Talking Scared is an absolute MUST.
Neil really has put together such an essential listening experience. Superb interviews with such an apparent passion and verve for horror & weird fiction. The podcast has switched me onto so many great authors and great book. Love the Dark Tower deep dives too, excellent stuff.
I didn’t realise that horror has become such a wide and varied genre. But thanks to Neil and his brilliant and thoughtfully presented podcast, my TBR pile has increased exponentially. I’m thoroughly enjoying going through the back catalogue of episodes, discovering new titles and authors. What a (darkly) wonderful podcast!
Amazing podcast book talks about he talks writing and how writing makes books interesting and inspiring listening
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
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Apple Podcasts | #249 | |
Apple Podcasts | #238 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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This show features in-depth conversations with prominent horror authors and creators, digging into craft, influence, and the realities of writing dark fiction. Episodes span folk horror, cosmic horror, literary analysis, and the ethics of art, with recurring attention to narrative structure, research processes, and the cultural resonance of fear. A standout quality is the host's prep and thoughtful, respectful interviewing style that often surfaces nuanced reasoning behind genre-bending works and authorial choices. The mix of celebrated names and rising voices makes it a strong fit for listeners who crave thoughtful, literary horror discussions and book recommendations across subgenres.
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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. Anna Rose Reads - The Podcast
Talking Scared launched 6 years ago and published 359 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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Recent guests on Talking Scared include:
1. Jane Schoenbrun
2. Dorian Ravenscroft
3. Brian Duffield
4. Daniel Kraus
5. Will Maclean
6. Stephen King
7. Kyle Winkler
8. Deena Helm
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