Rephonic
Artwork for Talking Scared

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
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 weeklyEpisodes344Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArtsSociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Talking Scared

Latest Episodes

Finally, we dare venture to the darkest land of all. Wales!

After years of avoiding the terror of the Valleys, Liam Higginson takes us to The Hill in the Dark Grove – his debut novel of isolation, folk-memory, and things unearthed from the soil of a... more

This may be my scariest episode ever!

We’ve covered non-fiction before, but rarely is the truth more frightening than the stories we tell. This week it just might be… cos Annie Jacobsen is here with Biological War: A Scenario.

It unveils a narrativ... more

In our main Wolves of the Calla Deep Dive, we came within touching distance of the Dark Tower’s biggest secret yet. Chris doesn’t know

what to think, which is just where Nat and I want him.

So we stuck around to talk in full-spoiler terms about all... more

Hallelujah, come commala, we’re back together!

Finally, after stopping for side missions with Jack Sawyer, and a pair of stories of Roland’s younger days, we’re back in Midworld’s here-and-now to push on towards the Dark Tower. It’s time for Wolves ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Annie Jacobsen
Investigative journalist focusing on national security, conspiracy theories, and top-secret research
Episode: 289 – Annie Jacobsen & Be Afraid… Be Very Afraid
Danielle Giles
Author of Gentle Things
Author, Gentle Things
Episode: 288 – Danielle Giles & A Spoonful of Skulldust (Makes the Medicine Go Down)
Megan Bontrager
Author of The Sea Hides its Dead
Self-published author / Orbit (publisher)
Episode: 287 – Megan Bontrager & The Cave of Cosmic Narcissism
Chuck Tingle
Author
Self-published/Traditional horror author
Episode: 286 – Chuck Tingle & Kill the Vegan Rockstars
Paul Tremblay
Horror author
Author, various published works including Dead But Dreaming of Electric Sheep
Episode: 285 – Paul Tremblay & Eternity at Bernie’s
Tom Lin
Author of Babylon South Dakota
Episode: 284 – Tom Lin & Who Wants to Live Forever?
Damian Robb
Member of the Scaredy Boys, horror podcaster
Scaredy Boys
Episode: Off Book #21 – Scaredy Boys & The Coward’s Guide to Horror Movies (Part 1)
Naomi Kritzer
Author of Obstetrix
Author, Obstetrix
Episode: 283 – Naomi Kritzer & It Could Happen Anywhere
CJ Leede
Author of Maeve Fly, American Rapture, Headlights
Episode: 282 – CJ Leede & Peeling Back the Skin of the World

Host

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

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.1k ratings
  • 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 Kingdom15 days 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 Statesa month ago
  • King of Ashes

    I really like Talking Scared. Not being hugely widely read in the horror genre, I really enjoy discovering new authors after hearing them interviewed. Neil’s own book, Good Boy, is also excellent, especially for dog lovers like me.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hammer Harv
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • 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 States3 months ago
  • Between two fires.

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Emmy3212
    United States5 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
#109
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#222
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#218
Norway/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#220
Ireland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#232
Finland/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

288 – Danielle Giles & A Spoonful of Skulldust (Makes the Medicine Go Down)
Q: Why did you choose 1668 as the setting?
Because the period sits between major upheavals—the plague, the Great Fire, and a shifting Restoration society—and offers a ripe backdrop to explore how people are reshaped by crisis, as well as the lingering inequalities that surface in medical practices and gender dynamics.
282 – CJ Leede & Peeling Back the Skin of the World
Q: Can you tell us about the idea of people waking up in someone else's skin and how it started?
CJ Leede explains that the image came to her during a walk; it was a starting point that grew into a broader exploration of home, grief, and humanity, driven by the image's unsettling shock and its ecological and existential resonances.
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.

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?

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

Where can I find podcast stats for Talking Scared?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Talking Scared. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Talking Scared and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Talking Scared get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Talking Scared, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Talking Scared?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Talking Scared, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Talking Scared have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Talking Scared has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

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 344 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?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Talking Scared?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Talking Scared from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Talking Scared?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Talking Scared. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Talking Scared?

Recent guests on Talking Scared include:

1. Annie Jacobsen
2. Danielle Giles
3. Megan Bontrager
4. Chuck Tingle
5. Paul Tremblay
6. Tom Lin
7. Damian Robb
8. Naomi Kritzer

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days