Rephonic
Artwork for The Scares That Shaped Us

The Scares That Shaped Us

Matthew Jackson
Folk Horror
Invasion Of the Body Snatchers
The Amityville Horror
The Small Hours
Stephen King
The Wicker Man
Night Of the Living Dead
I Saw the TV Glow
The Thing
Anne Rice
Shitshow
Play Nice
Body Horror
Interview With the Vampire
Rosemary's Baby
A Nightmare On Elm Street
Gremlins
Broken Dolls
Philip Kaufman
Texas

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.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes76Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Film InterviewsArtsTV & FilmBooks

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Scares That Shaped Us

Latest Episodes

Johanna van Veen, author of My Darling Dreadful Thing and Blood On Her Tongue, joins the show this week! We talk about her new novel, Bone of My Bone, historical horror, humanity's many ways of dealing with the dead, and of course we leap into the Go... more

Cynthia Gomez, author of the wonderful new Gothic novel Muneca, joins the show this week! We talk about the real history behind the book, the Gothic themes, and Cynthia's own Gothic fiction touchstones, and then we dive into one of the biggest horror... more

Sarah Gailey, the acclaimed author of books like Spread Me and Just Like Home, joins the show this week! We talk about their amazing new book Make Me Better, writing about grief, cult and wellness fiction, and much more, all wrapped up in a discussio... more

This week, author, poet, editor, and teacher Leticia Urieta joins the show! We talk about her new collection The Remedy is the Disease, balancing writing and teaching, body horror, and much more, all wrapped up in our discussion of one of the greates... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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

Cynthia Gomez
Author of Muneca
Author / Writer
Episode: Episode 75: Rosemary's Baby with Cynthia Gomez
Sarah Gailey
Speculative fiction author of The Echo Wife, Just Like Home, Spread Me, Make Me Better
Episode: Episode 74: The Thief of Always with Sarah Gailey
Leticia Urieta
Celebrated author, poet, editor, and teacher
Writer (Las Creaturas, The Remedy is the Disease)
Episode: Episode 73: The Thing with Leticia Urieta
Daniel Kraus
Author and horror writer discussed on the show
Author, various works including Partially Devoured
Episode: Episode 72: Night of the Living Dead with Daniel Kraus
Lindy Ryan
Author, editor, and educator in horror; author of Dollface, Bless Your Heart, Another Fine Mess, Cold Snap
Episode: Episode 71: Interview with the Vampire with Lindy Ryan
Candice Bailey
Founder and Editor of Crossroads Folk Horror
Crossroads Folk Horror
Episode: Episode 70: The Wicker Man with Crossroads Folk Horror
Gavin Lees
Founder and Editor of Crossroads Folk Horror
Crossroads Folk Horror
Episode: Episode 70: The Wicker Man with Crossroads Folk Horror
Briana N. Cox
Author and screenwriter discussed in the episode
Episode: Episode 69: I Saw The TV Glow with Kailee Pedersen and Briana N. Cox
Kailee Pedersen
Author, novelist and poet discussed in the episode
Episode: Episode 69: I Saw The TV Glow with Kailee Pedersen and Briana N. Cox

Host

Matthew Jackson
Host of The Scares That Shaped Us, guiding conversations with horror writers, editors, and filmmakers.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 49 ratings
  • 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 States5 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 States10 months 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
  • Review

    VERY professional and entertaining. I’ll follow and await the “horrific” ins-and-outs of my fave… “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”! Thanks!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    FasserCO
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise in-depth guest conversations and the host's engaging interview style.
Fans appreciate the blend of book and film references and industry insights for aspiring writers and publishers.
some episodes are noted for lengthy setup before topic discussion, which some listeners enjoy while others find slower pacing.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#102
Norway/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#147
United Arab Emirates/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 51: Let's Scare Jessica to Death with Bob Pastorella
Q: How did your work with This Is Horror shape your writing mindset or process?
It gave me a front-row seat to conversations with many authors, turning interviews into a masterclass that informs my own craft and helps me approach horror with a collaborative, learning mindset.
Episode 51: Let's Scare Jessica to Death with Bob Pastorella
Q: What inspired you to set the story in Texas and how did Dracula influence your approach?
I wanted to connect with Dracula lore by imagining a 'what if Dracula was caught on the Demeter,' then recontextualize it in a modern Texas setting, using that framework to ground the characters while letting the mythos breathe in its own regional flavor.
Episode 51: Let's Scare Jessica to Death with Bob Pastorella
Q: Could you just give our listeners a little taste of what The Small Hours is?
It's a story about a group of young adults who have lost a friend and, while investigating what happened, encounter a vampire-infused mystery that starts as a grounded crime plot and evolves into a supernatural nightmare.
Episode 48: Where the Sidewalk Ends with Becky Spratford
Q: How did the editor approach assembling Why I Love Horror with 18 authors?
The editor let authors write freely within a 4,000-word cap, organized essays around themes, and used a planning board to group pieces by shared ideas, which helped shape a cohesive, varied collection without stifling individual voices.
Episode 48: Where the Sidewalk Ends with Becky Spratford
Q: What is RA (readers' advisory) and why is it important for librarians?
RA is the practice of guiding readers to books that match their preferences, using questions about pacing, mood, setting, and character to connect readers with titles they'll love. Becky explains it as both an art and a science, crucial for helping readers discover horror when they think they don't like it.

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 The Scares That Shaped Us

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

A show centered on conversations with prominent horror writers, editors, and filmmakers about the stories and media that shaped them. Episodes explore craft, influences from literature and film, and the broader culture surrounding horror—covering writing process, publishing, adaptations, and thematic threads like memory, trauma, body horror, and folklore. The host often threads personal experiences and industry insights into wide-ranging discussions, and guests span authors, editors, and indie publishers who illuminate the business of genre, collaboration across media, and the evolving landscape of horror storytelling. A standout trait is the mix of deep craft talk with personal storytelling and behind-the-scenes industry perspectives, maki... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The Scares That Shaped Us?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Scares That Shaped Us. 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 The Scares That Shaped Us and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Scares That Shaped Us get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Scares That Shaped Us, 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 The Scares That Shaped Us?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Scares That Shaped Us, 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 The Scares That Shaped Us have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Scares That Shaped Us 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 The Scares That Shaped Us?

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

1. Talking Scared
2. The ARC Party
3. Anna Rose Reads - The Podcast
4. FEARMONGERS
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 76 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 The Scares That Shaped Us?

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 The Scares That Shaped Us?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Scares That Shaped Us 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 The Scares That Shaped Us?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Scares That Shaped Us. 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 The Scares That Shaped Us?

Recent guests on The Scares That Shaped Us include:

1. Cynthia Gomez
2. Sarah Gailey
3. Leticia Urieta
4. Daniel Kraus
5. Lindy Ryan
6. Candice Bailey
7. Gavin Lees
8. Briana N. Cox

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