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Talking Scared

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

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 weeklyEpisodes359Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArtsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Talking Scared

Latest Episodes

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

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Jane Schoenbrun
Filmmaker and novelist, writer-director of I Saw the TV Glow and We're All Going to the World's Fair
Episode: 301 – Jane Schoenbrun & Trapped by the Goonies?
Dorian Ravenscroft
Debut novelist of The White North Has Thy Bones and student of naval, maritime and coastal history
Episode: 300 – Dorian Ravenscroft & Finding Love in a Hopeless Place
Brian Duffield
Filmmaker and director of the Whalefall adaptation
Episode: Off Book #24 – Whalefall, with Brian Duffield & Daniel Kraus
Daniel Kraus
Novelist and author of Whalefall
Episode: Off Book #24 – Whalefall, with Brian Duffield & Daniel Kraus
Will Maclean
Author of Solace House
Author
Episode: 299 – Will Maclean & Uneasy Islands in Time
Stephen King
Author of multiple horror novels, collaborator with Peter Straub
Self
Episode: 298 – Stephen King & The Final Turn of the Big Combination
Kyle Winkler
Author of The Ship of Death
Author, The Ship of Death
Episode: 297 – Kyle Winkler & Roll For Your “F**K You” Stats
Deena Helm
Palestinian-American author of Our Cut of Salt
Author, Our Cut of Salt
Episode: 296 – Deena Helm & Horror Says Free Palestine
Chris Panatier
Author of Worry Box and Daytide
Author
Episode: 295 – Chris Panatier & If These Walls Could Talk

Host

Neil McRobert
Host of the show (variants include spellings such as McRobert, McRobber, McRober).

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.1k ratings
  • New favorite show!

    Absolutely devoured the back catalogue and will be subscribing to the patreon for more. Great guests, insightful questions, and fascinating discussions.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Byliamfrank
    United States2 months ago
  • The WORST podcast for your never-ending TBR...

    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.

    Audible
    5
    Jamie Cassidy
    United States2 months ago
  • Best of its kind

    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.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    cwhaggarty
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Brilliant!

    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!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Woolfie 70
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Podcast best

    Amazing podcast book talks about he talks writing and how writing makes books interesting and inspiring listening

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mary ann appigney
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the show's deep dives into craft and author processes.
The podcast is described as one of the best in horror for thoughtful analysis and reading recommendations.
The host blends intelligence, empathy, and deep genre knowledge, making conversations feel thoughtful and inspiring.
Guests are consistently presented with respect and insightful questions that uncover the author's work and influences.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#95
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#241
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#103
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#169
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#249
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#238
Australia/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

301 – Jane Schoenbrun & Trapped by the Goonies?
Q: So do you see that as a utopian idea or a nightmare?
Schoenbrun rejects the binary. They see reality-shifting fantasies as potentially isolating, but also view imagining other worlds and making inner truths real as meaningful, including in the experience of transition.
301 – Jane Schoenbrun & Trapped by the Goonies?
Q: Do you think that genre storytelling, whether it's horror, fantasy, sci-fi, whatever, do you think it's perhaps better equipped to document transition than realism?
Schoenbrun says no genre is inherently better; the artist's ability to communicate matters most. They focus on conveying the internal experience of transness and finding common ground with broader feelings of alienation.
300 – Dorian Ravenscroft & Finding Love in a Hopeless Place
Q: Why is polar horror such a fertile setting for queer stories?
Ravenscroft points to the isolation of expeditions, the intimacy of living among a small group for years, and the distance from the social rules of home.
300 – Dorian Ravenscroft & Finding Love in a Hopeless Place
Q: What was the question that came out of watching The Terror?
Ravenscroft wondered what mutineers would say if they returned to England and had to explain a disastrous expedition, especially what an ordinary sailor might claim happened.
Off Book #24 – Whalefall, with Brian Duffield & Daniel Kraus
Q: How did you film the practicalities of those interior sequences?
Duffield said the set was built for physical interaction, with water and lighting in a cramped space, and was filmed practically before being enhanced with computer-generated effects. The set was difficult to maintain and changed with heat and humidity.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Talking Scared

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

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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How many listeners does Talking Scared get?

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How many subscribers and views does Talking Scared have?

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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. Anna Rose Reads - The Podcast

How many episodes of Talking Scared are there?

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.

How do I contact Talking Scared?

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What guests have appeared on Talking Scared?

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

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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