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The Scares That Shaped Us

Matthew Jackson
Stephen King
Folk Horror
Edgar Allan Poe
Horror
The Stand
Invasion Of the Body Snatchers
The Amityville Horror
The Small Hours
The Thing
Night Of the Living Dead
I Saw the TV Glow
The Wicker Man
Anne Rice
Dark Shadows
Poltergeist
The Shining
The Woman In Black
Jack Cady
The Red Sacrament
Eraserhead

A podcast about horror writers and the stories that made them. Join host Matthew Jackson as he talks to some of the biggest names in horror about the scary stories that built their imaginations, from movies to books and everything in between.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes89Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArtsFilm InterviewsTV & Film

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Artwork for The Scares That Shaped Us

Latest Episodes

Chloe Lauter, author of the fierce debut The Flayed Man, joins the show this week! We talk about the genesis of the book, her take on vampires, and much more, all while we discuss the Twilight Zone classic "Time Enough At Last!"

- The Flayed Man is ... more

It's a Scares That Shaped Us first: A guest discussing the work of another guest! This week, Hailey Piper returns to the show to talk about her new novel, This Movie Doesn't End The Way We Want. We discuss cursed movies, cosmic horror, and we dive in... more

This week on the show, we're joined by editor and author Emma Cole! We talk about the blending of horror and romance, how they work to complement each other, Emma's new nonfiction book on romance in horror movies, and much more all wrapped up in a di... more

Gwendolyn Kiste returns! The multi Stoker Award-winning author of Reluctant Immortals and The Haunting of Velkwood is back on the show this week to talk about her new novella In These Gilded Ghostly Hearts, how she came to write a horror sequel to Th... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Recent Guests

Emma Cole
Editor specializing in romance; author of Love Never Dies, Romance in Horror Movies
Mira Books; Night Tide Magazine
Episode: Episode 87: Bram Stoker's Dracula with Emma Cole
Gwendolyn Kiste
Bram Stoker Award-winning author of The Rust Maidens, Reluctant Immortals, and The Haunting of Velkwood
Creature Publishing (optional, if mentioned)
Episode: Episode 86: Eerie, Indiana with Gwendolyn Kiste
Jonathan Janz
Horror author
Author (Marla, It era works)
Episode: Episode 85: Stephen King's IT with Jonathan Janz
Cynthia Pelayo
Bram Stoker Award–winning author
Episode: Episode 84: "The Black Cat" with Cynthia Pelayo
Clay McLeod Chapman
Newly minted Bram Stoker Award–winning author known for Ghost Eaters, What Kind of Mother, and Devil Inside
Episode: Episode 83: The Possession Horror Special with Clay McLeod Chapman
Paul Tremblay
Bram Stoker award-winning author
Episode: Episode 82: "The Intoxicated" with Paul Tremblay
Aoife Josie Clements
Author of Persona; composer/musician
Little Puss Press (Persona)
Episode: Episode 81: Eraserhead with Aoife Josie Clements
Sara Hinkley
Costume designer and author of The Red Sacrament
Independent author and designer
Episode: Episode 80: Sleepy Hollow (1999) with Sara Hinkley
David Demchuk
Horror writer and author of Red X (and Bone Mother)
Author
Episode: Episode 79: Dark Shadows with David Demchuk

Host

Matthew Jackson
Host of The Scares That Shaped Us

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 52 ratings
  • What??

    No ‘Halloween’ or ‘Exorcist III’?? Classics I tell you, classics. You know what to do.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Castermt
    United States3 months ago
  • Witty & Fun!

    This is a really fun show with great guests, a charming host, and insightful perspectives. i love all the book and movie recommendations and can’t wait for more fun each week.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LJS in the ATX
    United States8 months ago
  • Good show, lots of filler

    Good show, great guests, great concept, great topics. Be prepared: they never start discussing the actual topic until 25-30 minutes into the show on average.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    c.rib
    United Statesa year ago
  • Love This

    Great show. Great concept. Great host. Great guests.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ritter Fan
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great listen

    It’s always fun to listen to creators and experts nerd out on what they are passionate about. Even though I wasn’t familiar with some of the books, authors and films that were discussed, it made me want to check them out.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bpoff3
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise The show's blend of literary and film discussions.
Positive sentiment around the show's professional tone and depth of craft analysis.
Some listeners note the pacing can be slow before topic-focused discussion begins.
Fans appreciate deep dives into classic and contemporary horror works.
Reviews highlight engaging guests and a host with a charming delivery.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 85: Stephen King's IT with Jonathan Janz
Q: What makes It feel audacious in its storytelling?
It defies traditional genre boundaries by weaving multiple timelines, viewpoints, and mythic elements into a single, cohesive narrative that still feels intimate and character-driven.
Episode 84: "The Black Cat" with Cynthia Pelayo
Q: Why do you think The Black Cat remains such a potent example of domestic horror, even when there isn't overt supernatural phenomena?
Pelayo argues that the domestic setting amplifies the horror because it mirrors ordinary life, and the supernatural feel emerges from the narrator's unreliable confessional voice and the moral collapse happening within a familiar home.
Episode 84: "The Black Cat" with Cynthia Pelayo
Q: How does the symbolism of walls and plaster function in the story, and what does it reveal about the narrator?
Pelayo discusses walls and plaster as devices for suppression and later revelation, illustrating how the narrator's attempts to bury guilt literally and figuratively reveal the hollowness of his psyche.
Episode 84: "The Black Cat" with Cynthia Pelayo
Q: What was the driving force behind choosing to write this particular Black Cat discussion, and did you have the story ready in your back pocket?
Pelayo explains she had long been drawn to the story through its themes of guilt, addiction, and the duality of human nature, and confirms she had a strong idea for her take on the prompt well before inviting the other writers.
Episode 81: Eraserhead with Aoife Josie Clements
Q: Where did the book begin for you, and how did your own journey with trans identity influence the narrative?
The book grew from a period in my early 20s when I was transitioning, financially constrained, and processing identity; I used it as a way to explore different perspectives through characters that could argue with each other, mirroring the inner debate I was having.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Scares That Shaped Us

What is The Scares That Shaped Us about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers horror writers and the stories that inspired them, often delving into how films, books, and cultural moments shape craft. Episodes spotlight deep dives into specific works, plus discussions on writing process, genre boundaries, and the author's personal experiences. A notable strength is the host's ability to blend literary analysis with behind-the-scenes storytelling, guest anecdotes, and live audience Q&A, which keeps conversations vivid and book- and film-forward. The format tends to attract listeners who love literary horror, film history, and craft-focused interviews with a tilt toward gothic, folk, and possession-themed storytelling.

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Which podcasts are similar to The Scares That Shaped Us?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Scares That Shaped Us:

1. Talking Scared
2. Anna Rose Reads - The Podcast
3. The ARC Party
4. This Is Horror Podcast
5. Books in the Freezer - A Horror Fiction Podcast

How many episodes of The Scares That Shaped Us are there?

The Scares That Shaped Us launched 2 years ago and published 89 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 The Scares That Shaped Us?

Recent guests on The Scares That Shaped Us include:

1. Emma Cole
2. Gwendolyn Kiste
3. Jonathan Janz
4. Cynthia Pelayo
5. Clay McLeod Chapman
6. Paul Tremblay
7. Aoife Josie Clements
8. Sara Hinkley

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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