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Artwork for Talking Scared

Talking Scared

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

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 weeklyEpisodes332Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureBooksArts

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Artwork for Talking Scared

Latest Episodes

Horror’s reigning Queen of Extreme returns to the show!

CJ Leede is the author of Maeve Fly and American Rapture, and if you’re abreast of contemporary horror you’ve heard of her twisted take on Americana.

She’s back to talk about her third novel, ... more

Melissa Albert’s novel may be called The Children, but it’s certainly not for kids.

This is a story about the dark creativity behind bright make-believe,

about the pretty lies of childhood and the brutal truths of growing up. It’s

about writers and ... more

Off to Old Dublin Town to have creepy tales pumped direct

into our earholes this week. I’m joined by Peter Dunne, the writer and director of Petrified — Ireland’s premier horror drama podcast.

It’s a horror show with a vein of Irish humour, but it’s... more

Disgust, despair and belly laughs on the show this week – with Neena Viel and her new novel, I’ll Watch Your Baby.

It’s a dense, troubling tale of child theft, social horror and demons, with plenty of putrid feet to give you a summertime ick! But if... more

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Recent Guests

Peter Dunne
Creator and director of Petrified; horror audio producer
Petrified (Tales from a Darker Ireland)
Episode: Off Book #20 – Petrified, with Peter Dunne
Neena Viel
Author of Listen to Your Sister and I'll Watch Your Baby
Author
Episode: 280 – Neena Viel & Go Heinous or Go Home
Sarah Langan
Author of Tread Wife, The Keeper, The Missing, Good Neighbours, Pam Kowalski is a Monster (Stoker-nominated novella)
Author
Episode: 279 – Sarah Langan & The Mask Eats the Face
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

Host

Neil McRobert
Host known for thoughtful, well-prepared interviews and deep horror-literature insights.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1k ratings
  • Content warning:

    I have to give a major warning about this podcast- if you’re susceptible to adding books to your TBR list, this will be your doom. The interviews with authors are insightful and leave you feeling like you know them. They not only inspire you to want to read the book but make you invested in the author’s career. The last 4 books I’ve bought were recommended on this pod, and I don’t foresee that changing as I keep listening.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Me three
    United Statesa month ago
  • Between two fires.

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Emmy3212
    United States3 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 States5 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 Kingdom6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests are consistently engaging and thoughtfully selected, with insightful discussions.
Praise for the podcast's balance of literary analysis and accessibility, though a minority notes political slants in some episodes.
Listeners appreciate the host's preparedness and deep knowledge of horror.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#132
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#91
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#51
Ireland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#72
Austria/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#108
Sweden/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#134
South Africa/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

279 – Sarah Langan & The Mask Eats the Face
Q: When did you come to the idea of the Tread Wife concept, and did you plan the wider architecture before the specific elements?
The idea grew from a short story and a broader wish to explore how manipulation and online culture intersect with gendered power; the seven-day structure was developed to unfold the escalating horror while keeping a grounded emotional core.
279 – Sarah Langan & The Mask Eats the Face
Q: Tell us a bit about the story.
Sarah describes the novel's protagonist Jenny, a New York reporter who loses her job protections as corporations take over journalism; Jenny then spends a week at Mia's farm, where the personal and political power dynamics unfold into a consuming, dangerous narrative.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Talking Scared

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

A deep-dg dive into horror fiction with authors, critics, and industry voices. Conversations center on craft, thematic exploration, and the social and cultural angles shaping contemporary horror, often blending literary analysis with behind-the-scenes storytelling. Notable strengths include thoughtful, well-researched interviews, a strong emphasis on authorial process, and a willingness to connect genre work to broader cultural conversations. The show stands out for its approachable rigor, warmth, and focus on both classic and emergent voices in horror.

Listeners are likely drawn from a literate, genre-loving audience that enjoys on-record discussions of craft, inspirations, and the realities of publishing and adaptation. The format and ho... 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. Anna Rose Reads - The Podcast
5. The Evolution of Horror

How many episodes of Talking Scared are there?

Talking Scared launched 6 years ago and published 332 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. Peter Dunne
2. Neena Viel
3. Sarah Langan
4. Daisy Pearce
5. Damian McCarthy
6. Marcus Kliewer
7. Kylie Lee Baker
8. Caroline Bicks

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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