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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
Clown In a Cornfield
Empathy
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 weeklyEpisodes327Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksSociety & CultureArts

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Artwork for Talking Scared

Latest Episodes

Whilst the wind and world howls outside, we can all hunker indoors for the latest Dark Tower Deep Dive into King’s 2012 novel-of-stories, The Wind Through the Keyhole.

To some, this could be an inessential pitstop, a mere nostalgic coda, written lon... more

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

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

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
Kaelyn Moore
Host and creator of Heart Starts Pounding
Heart Starts Pounding
Episode: Off Book #19 – Dark Documentaries, with Kaelyn from Heart Starts Pounding
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

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
#182
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#153
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#192
Germany/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#166
South Africa/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#227
Argentina/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#235
United Arab Emirates/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.

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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 327 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. Sarah Langan
2. Kaelyn Moore
3. Daisy Pearce
4. Damian McCarthy
5. Marcus Kliewer
6. Kylie Lee Baker
7. Caroline Bicks
8. Ian Tuason

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