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The Scares That Shaped Us
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Description
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.
62 Episodes
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Happy New Year! For our first episode of 2026, we're finishing up our Best of 2025 wrap-up with a discussion on the best horror movies of the past year. We're joined by Matt Donato, one of the finest horror critics on the web, and while we touch on a lot of the expected hits, you'll also hear about some horror films that deserve more attention. It's a great chat! - Sign up for our newsletter for even more horror goodness.- Check out Matt's Linktree for info on everything he does!- Follow the show on BlueSky and Facebook!- Want to ask Matthew a question? Offer a recommendation? Something else? Email us: scaresthatshapeduspodcast@gmail.comHosted by Matthew JacksonProduced by Matthew and Lyndsay JacksonLogo and Web Design by Lyndsay JacksonMusic by Dmytro Kuvalin
It's our final show of 2025, and we're using it to look back on the best horror books we read this year. Joining us this week we've got Mother Horror herself, Sadie Hartmann! We talk with Sadie about her latest book, Feral and Hysterical, and we dig into the best horror books of the year. You'll get a lot of cool book recommendations in this episode!- Sign up for our newsletter for even more horror goodness.- Check out Sadie's socials for everything she has going on!- Follow the show on BlueSky and Facebook!- Want to ask Matthew a question? Offer a recommendation? Something else? Email us: scaresthatshapeduspodcast@gmail.comHosted by Matthew JacksonProduced by Matthew and Lyndsay JacksonLogo and Web Design by Lyndsay JacksonMusic by Dmytro Kuvalin
It's Christmas time! C. Robert Cargill returns! Based on a brief conversation we had back during Fantastic Fest, Cargill was kind enough to stop by for the second time this year to talk Black Phone 2 spoilers and to unpack a fascinating take he has on 1980's Christmas Evil! It's killer Santa time on The Scares That Shaped Us!- Sign up for our newsletter for even more horror goodness.- Black Phone 2 is available now! - Follow the show on BlueSky and Facebook!- Want to ask Matthew a question? Offer a recommendation? Something else? Email us: scaresthatshapeduspodcast@gmail.comHosted by Matthew JacksonProduced by Matthew and Lyndsay JacksonLogo and Web Design by Lyndsay JacksonMusic by Dmytro Kuvalin
It's Clay McLeod Chapman time once again! Our friend of the show returns for his fourth (!!!) visit to talk about his new book Shiny Happy People, everything he's got coming up in 2026, and of course, we dig deep into 1978's amazing Invasion of the Body Snatchers!- Sign up for our newsletter for even more horror goodness.- Shiny Happy People is available now wherever books are sold! - Follow the show on BlueSky and Facebook!- Want to ask Matthew a question? Offer a recommendation? Something else? Email us: scaresthatshapeduspodcast@gmail.comHosted by Matthew JacksonProduced by Matthew and Lyndsay JacksonLogo and Web Design by Lyndsay JacksonMusic by Dmytro Kuvalin
It's our first two-story episode! Peter Hall and Paul Gandersman, writers and directors behind the new horror film Man Finds Tape, join the show this week. We talk about making a fake documentary horror film, Texas inspirations, playing with found footage, and much more. Plus, we dig into Rob Reiner's Stand By Me and James Cameron's Aliens! - Sign up for our newsletter for even more horror goodness.- Man Finds Tape is in select theaters and on VOD December 5! - Follow the show on BlueSky and Facebook!- Want to ask Matthew a question? Offer a recommendation? Something else? Email us: scaresthatshapeduspodcast@gmail.comHosted by Matthew JacksonProduced by Matthew and Lyndsay JacksonLogo and Web Design by Lyndsay JacksonMusic by Dmytro Kuvalin
Chris Panatier, author of The Redemption of Morgan Bright, joins the show this week to talk about his new book, Shitshow, and we dig into the festive madness that is Gremlins, as well as the stealth masterpiece that is Gremlins 2: The New Batch. We also talk about Dublin Dr. Pepper, because Central Texas boys know. - Sign up for our newsletter for even more horror goodness.- Pick up Shitshow from Sobelo Books! - Follow the show on BlueSky and Facebook!- Want to ask Matthew a question? Offer a recommendation? Something else? Email us: scaresthatshapeduspodcast@gmail.comHosted by Matthew JacksonProduced by Matthew and Lyndsay JacksonLogo and Web Design by Lyndsay JacksonMusic by Dmytro Kuvalin
Jess Hagemann, who wrote one of the best horror novels of the year with Mother-Eating: A Documentary, joins the show this week to talk about her book and the historical deep dive that inspired it. Then we dig deep into the surreal, often disturbing short films of the great Jan Svankmajer! - Sign up for our newsletter for even more horror goodness.- Pick up Mother-Eating from Ghoulish Books! - Follow the show on BlueSky and Facebook!- Want to ask Matthew a question? Offer a recommendation? Something else? Email us: scaresthatshapeduspodcast@gmail.comHosted by Matthew JacksonProduced by Matthew and Lyndsay JacksonLogo and Web Design by Lyndsay JacksonMusic by Dmytro Kuvalin
Bram Stoker-winning writer and editor Jonathan Maberry joins the show this week! We talk about his NecroTek and Joe Ledger series, blending genres, editing Weird Tales, and more as we dive into a discussion of Richard Matheson's post-apocalyptic classic I Am Legend.- Sign up for our newsletter for even more horror goodness.- Visit Jonathan's website for updates on everything he's doing. - Follow the show on BlueSky and Facebook!- Want to ask Matthew a question? Offer a recommendation? Something else? Email us: scaresthatshapeduspodcast@gmail.comHosted by Matthew JacksonProduced by Matthew and Lyndsay JacksonLogo and Web Design by Lyndsay JacksonMusic by Dmytro Kuvalin
Nathan Ballingrud, author of North American Lake Monsters and The Lunar Gothic Trilogy, joins the show this week! We talk about Nathan's latest book, Cathedral of the Drowned, the importance of taking notes in his writing process, taking inspiration from classic pulp artists, and much more while we dive into one of Clive Barker's best short stories, "Dread." - Sign up for our newsletter for even more horror goodness. - Cathedral of the Drowned is available now! - Follow the show on BlueSky and Facebook!- Want to ask Matthew a question? Offer a recommendation? Something else? Email us: scaresthatshapeduspodcast@gmail.comHosted by Matthew JacksonProduced by Matthew and Lyndsay JacksonLogo and Web Design by Lyndsay JacksonMusic by Dmytro Kuvalin
Trevor Henderson, legendary internet monster-maker and creator of the Scarewaves series, joins the show for our Halloween episode! We talk about Trevor's many creature designs, writing for a middle grade audience, and much more while digging into the classic syndicated TV series Monsters! - Sign up for our newsletter for even more horror goodness, including a new essay on John Carpenter's Halloween every day this month!- Check out Trevor's Linktree to find him all over the web!- Follow the show on BlueSky and Facebook!- Want to ask Matthew a question? Offer a recommendation? Something else? Email us: scaresthatshapeduspodcast@gmail.comHosted by Matthew JacksonProduced by Matthew and Lyndsay JacksonLogo and Web Design by Lyndsay JacksonMusic by Dmytro Kuvalin
Ally Malinenko, author of middle-grade horror novels like Ghost Girl and This Appearing House, joins the show this week! We talk about her new novel Broken Dolls, writing for young readers, approaching horror as children, and of course, Edgar Allan Poe's legendary short story, "The Tell-Tale Heart"!- Sign up for our newsletter for even more horror goodness, including a new essay on John Carpenter's Halloween every day this month!- Broken Dolls is available now!- Follow the show on BlueSky and Facebook!- Want to ask Matthew a question? Offer a recommendation? Something else? Email us: scaresthatshapeduspodcast@gmail.comHosted by Matthew JacksonProduced by Matthew and Lyndsay JacksonLogo and Web Design by Lyndsay JacksonMusic by Dmytro Kuvalin
This Is Horror co-host Bob Pastorella joins the show this week to talk about his new vampire novel The Small Hours! We talk Texas horror, Dracula, merging the crime and horror genres, and much more as we dive into Bob's work and its connection to a 1970s vampire classic, Let's Scare Jessica to Death!- Sign up for our newsletter for even more horror goodness, including a new essay on John Carpenter's Halloween every day this month!- The Small Hours is available now from Ghoulish Books!- Follow the show on BlueSky and Facebook!- Want to ask Matthew a question? Offer a recommendation? Something else? Email us: scaresthatshapeduspodcast@gmail.comHosted by Matthew JacksonProduced by Matthew and Lyndsay JacksonLogo and Web Design by Lyndsay JacksonMusic by Dmytro Kuvalin
C. Robert Cargill, screenwriter behind movies like Sinister and The Black Phone and author of books like Sea of Rust and Day Zero, joins the show this week! We talk about his new movie Black Phone 2, his collaboration with Scott Derrickson, and much more. Then, we dive into a very particular portion of Stephen King's The Stand, and how it shaped Cargill as a writer!- Sign up for our newsletter for even more horror goodness, including a new essay on John Carpenter's Halloween every day this month!- Black Phone 2 is in theaters October 17! - Follow the show on BlueSky and Facebook!- Want to ask Matthew a question? Offer a recommendation? Something else? Email us: scaresthatshapeduspodcast@gmail.comHosted by Matthew JacksonProduced by Matthew and Lyndsay JacksonLogo and Web Design by Lyndsay JacksonMusic by Dmytro Kuvalin
Neil McRobert, host of Talking Scared, joins us this week for a horror lit podcast crossover to talk about his debut novella, Good Boy! We discuss Neil's writing process, our shared love for dogs, and more, then we dive into Wes Craven's legendary slasher classic A Nightmare on Elm Street!- Sign up for our newsletter for even more horror goodness, including a new essay on John Carpenter's Halloween every day this month!- Check out Talking Scared, and order Good Boy! - Follow the show on BlueSky and Facebook!- Want to ask Matthew a question? Offer a recommendation? Something else? Email us: scaresthatshapeduspodcast@gmail.comHosted by Matthew JacksonProduced by Matthew and Lyndsay JacksonLogo and Web Design by Lyndsay JacksonMusic by Dmytro Kuvalin
Becky Spratford, librarian, critic, and all-around horror lit icon, joins the show this week! We talk about her new book Why I Love Horror, editing a wide array of bestselling genre authors, and more, and then we dive into a discussion of Shel Silverstein's Where The Sidewalk Ends! Is it horror? Maybe. Does it serve as a springboard for young horror fans? Absolutely!- Sign up for our newsletter for even more horror goodness!- Check out Becky's blog for more on all the work she does!- Follow the show on BlueSky and Facebook!- Want to ask Matthew a question? Offer a recommendation? Something else? Email us: scaresthatshapeduspodcast@gmail.comHosted by Matthew JacksonProduced by Matthew and Lyndsay JacksonLogo and Web Design by Lyndsay JacksonMusic by Dmytro Kuvalin
Keith Rosson, author of the Fever House duology, joins the show this week to talk about his new vampire novel, Coffin Moon! We discuss his approach to vampire fiction, his writing process, and then we dig deep into a discussion of Stephen King's The Tommyknockers! - Sign up for our newsletter for even more horror goodness!- Check out Keith's website for his books and links to his social media!- Follow the show on BlueSky and Facebook!- Want to ask Matthew a question? Offer a recommendation? Something else? Email us: scaresthatshapeduspodcast@gmail.comHosted by Matthew JacksonProduced by Matthew and Lyndsay JacksonLogo and Web Design by Lyndsay JacksonMusic by Dmytro Kuvalin
Rachel Harrison returns! We talk about her amazing new novel, Play Nice, infamous houses, and of course, dive into all things The Amityville Horror! We're talking about everything from the real events to the possible hoax to the pop culture franchise that's evolved from it all, and much more!- Sign up for our newsletter for even more horror goodness!- Check out Rachel's website and follow her on socials!- Follow the show on BlueSky and Facebook!- Want to ask Matthew a question? Offer a recommendation? Something else? Email us: scaresthatshapeduspodcast@gmail.comHosted by Matthew JacksonProduced by Matthew and Lyndsay JacksonLogo and Web Design by Lyndsay JacksonMusic by Dmytro Kuvalin
Bram Stoker Award-winning legend John Langan joins the show this week! We talk about his new collection, Lost in the Dark and Other Excursions, crafting short fiction, building a story over years, and more. We also dig deep into an excellent Jack Cady story, "The Night We Buried Road Dog." It's a great way to kick off Spooky Season!- Sign up for our newsletter for even more horror goodness!- Check out John's blog!- Follow the show on BlueSky and Facebook!- Want to ask Matthew a question? Offer a recommendation? Something else? Email us: scaresthatshapeduspodcast@gmail.comHosted by Matthew JacksonProduced by Matthew and Lyndsay JacksonLogo and Web Design by Lyndsay JacksonMusic by Dmytro Kuvalin
It's our one-year anniversary! To celebrate, we brought back our original guest, Clay McLeod Chapman, to talk about his new short story collection Acquired Taste! We dig into why short fiction appeals to Clay, how he works to craft shorter works, and we dig into Stephen King's classic collection, Skeleton Crew! Plus, Matthew makes an announcement!- Sign up for our newsletter for even more horror goodness!- Follow Clay on BlueSky and Instagram! - Follow the show on BlueSky and Facebook!- Want to ask Matthew a question? Offer a recommendation? Something else? Email us: scaresthatshapeduspodcast@gmail.comHosted by Matthew JacksonProduced by Matthew and Lyndsay JacksonLogo and Web Design by Lyndsay JacksonMusic by Dmytro Kuvalin
1Celebrated historical horror author Isabel Cañas joins the show this week to talk about her new novel, The Possession of Alba Diaz. We talk about the book's origins, Isabel's fascination with history, and more, and then we dive into an exploration of 2002's The Others! - Check out Isabel's website and sign up for her newsletter! - Follow the show on BlueSky and Facebook!- Want to ask Matthew a question? Offer a recommendation? Something else? Email us: scaresthatshapeduspodcast@gmail.comHosted by Matthew JacksonProduced by Matthew and Lyndsay JacksonLogo and Web Design by Lyndsay JacksonMusic by Dmytro Kuvalin
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