The Scares That Shaped Us
@scaresshapedus.bsky.social
A podcast from @awalrusdarkly.bsky.social about horror writers and the stories that made them. New episodes every Wednesday!
This October I will write 31 essays in 31 days about THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE. They'll be at @popheist.com for subscribers only. That's a serialized book-length analysis of one of the greatest horror films of all time from a noted Texan horror critic. 7 bucks a month. Let's fucking go.
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NEW EPISODE! Chloe Lauter joins the show to talk about her amazing debut THE FLAYED MAN, and we dig into a TWILIGHT ZONE classic! LISTEN NOW:
Episode 89: "Time Enough at Last" with Chloe Lauter
Listen to The Scares That Shaped Us on RedCircle
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NEW EPISODE! Chloe Lauter joins the show to talk about her amazing debut THE FLAYED MAN, and we dig into a TWILIGHT ZONE classic! LISTEN NOW:
Episode 89: "Time Enough at Last" with Chloe Lauter
Listen to The Scares That Shaped Us on RedCircle
redcircle.com
Go follow @popheist.com, visit the site, sign up for free newsletters, spread the word, and if you have 7 bucks to drop on a subscription, please toss that our way. We're trying to build something great here and we need your help to do it.
Matthew Jackson@awalrusdarkly.bsky.social · 7d agoIt is more important than ever to support independent, original pop culture media in a landscape dominated by private equity and algorithms. Pop Heist is 100% worked-owned and reader-supported. No algorithms, no ads, just great pop culture writing. 7 bucks a month. Help us keep it goin'.
THIS WEEK: Chloe Lauter, author of the stunning literary horror debut THE FLAYED MAN, joins the show to talk about her first novel, and we dig into one of the best TWILIGHT ZONE episodes ever, "Time Enough At Last." Episode drops Wednesday at Noon Central!
Had a blast talking about my new book AND getting to chat about a very influential Stephen Graham Jones story, "Broken Record," which you can read for free here: www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/brok... And listen to the episode down here:
The Scares That Shaped Us@scaresshapedus.bsky.social · 2w agoNEW EPISODE! @haileypiperfights.bsky.social returns to talk about her new novel THIS MOVIE DOESN'T END THE WAY WE WANT, and we dig into @stephengrahamjones.com's story "Broken Record." LISTEN NOW:
NEW EPISODE! @haileypiperfights.bsky.social returns to talk about her new novel THIS MOVIE DOESN'T END THE WAY WE WANT, and we dig into @stephengrahamjones.com's story "Broken Record." LISTEN NOW:
Episode 88: "Broken Record" with Hailey Piper
Listen to The Scares That Shaped Us on RedCircle
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Haha our baby is due in less than two months neat cool here's this link for absolutely no reason.
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NEXT WEEK: @haileypiperfights.bsky.social returns to the show to talk about her amazing new novel THIS MOVIE DOESN'T END THE WAY WE WANT, and we dig deep into the cosmic chills of @stephengrahamjones.com's story "Broken Record"! Episode drops 9/16 at Noon Central!
This week we did a Scares That Shaped Us First: An episode in which we discussed the work of a writer who's *already been on the show.* A Friend of the Show talking about another Friend of the Show! Guest reveal tomorrow!
NEW EPISODE! @editrixemma.bsky.social joins the show to talk about her new book LOVE NEVER DIES, and we dig into BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA! LISTEN NOW:
Episode 87: Bram Stoker's Dracula with Emma Cole
Listen to The Scares That Shaped Us on RedCircle
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My first podcast interview about Love Never Dies, very grateful it was mostly about one of the best vampire romance movies ever (Near Dark is a better movie but I like Bram Stoker's Dracula more)!
The Scares That Shaped Us@scaresshapedus.bsky.social · 3w agoTOMORROW at Noon Central! Editor and author Emma Cole (@editrixemma.bsky.social) joins the show to talk about her new nonfiction exploration of romance in horror movies, LOVE NEVER DIES, and we dig into arguably the greatest horror romance ever made, Francis Ford Coppola's BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA!
TOMORROW at Noon Central! Editor and author Emma Cole (@editrixemma.bsky.social) joins the show to talk about her new nonfiction exploration of romance in horror movies, LOVE NEVER DIES, and we dig into arguably the greatest horror romance ever made, Francis Ford Coppola's BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA!
I'm so thrilled to be this week's guest on The Scares that Shaped Us! @awalrusdarkly.bsky.social & I talk all about my old 90s favorite, Eerie, Indiana! redcircle.com/shows/41a2d4...
Episode 86: Eerie, Indiana with Gwendolyn Kiste
Listen to The Scares That Shaped Us on RedCircle
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NEW EPISODE! @gwendolynkiste.bsky.social returns to talk about her new novella, and we dive deep into EERIE, INDIANA! LISTEN NOW:
Episode 86: Eerie, Indiana with Gwendolyn Kiste
Listen to The Scares That Shaped Us on RedCircle
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NEW EPISODE! @gwendolynkiste.bsky.social returns to talk about her new novella, and we dive deep into EERIE, INDIANA! LISTEN NOW:
Episode 86: Eerie, Indiana with Gwendolyn Kiste
Listen to The Scares That Shaped Us on RedCircle
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Today at @bloody-disgusting.com, my double-sized list of the biggest horror books to look out for in September! We've got @rachelharrison.bsky.social, @haileypiperfights.bsky.social, @tananarivedue.bsky.social, @almakatsu.bsky.social, @ericlarocca.com, @pfracassi.bsky.social, AND MORE!
Time Loops, Dark Gods, and More: A Massive Guide To The Most Anticipated Horror Books of September
Halloween season is here, bringing with it a massive slate of horror books. Here's your guide to all the must reads in September 2026.
bloody-disgusting.com
THIS WEEK: @gwendolynkiste.bsky.social returns to The Scares That Shaped Us to talk about her new novella IN THESE GILDED GHOSTLY HEARTS, writing a horror sequel to THE GREAT GATSBY, and the '90s kid horror staple EERIE INDIANA! Episode drops Wednesday at Noon Central!
Had a fantastic time talking September horror books on The ARC Party! Thanks so much to Robb for having me!
The ARC Party@thearcparty.com · 4w agoThanks to @scaresshapedus.bsky.social for joining me to tackle September’s most exciting releases. Find links to the episode and preorder lists in my bio. www.thearcparty.com/p/horror-tbr...
Just got this email so I figured I'd make it into a lil sign. The Scares That Shaped Us does not and will not associate with GenAI "writing" of any kind. Ever. Do not bring that trash in here. Thanks, Matthew
And this is my stack, minus some e-ARCs. Yes that new Mieville novel is just as imposing in person.
The ARC Party@thearcparty.com · last mo.Last night I recorded the September Horror TBR episode with Matthew Jackson from @scaresshapedus.bsky.social September is a huge horror month, so we covered twenty books! Pictured are the ones we discussed that I have print copies of already! Be sure you’re subscribed so you see when episodes drop!
What's that, you say? A Scares That Shaped Us/ARC Party Crossover?! It's real and you can listen to it soon!
The ARC Party@thearcparty.com · last mo.Last night I recorded the September Horror TBR episode with Matthew Jackson from @scaresshapedus.bsky.social September is a huge horror month, so we covered twenty books! Pictured are the ones we discussed that I have print copies of already! Be sure you’re subscribed so you see when episodes drop!
LOVED this discussion @jonathanjanz.bsky.social @scaresshapedus.bsky.social Janz is a great person and a great writer. (I met him once and he was the coolest.) While listening to this, I made an unscheduled Barnes pit stop and picked up MARLA. Let’s go! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Fantastic episode here @jonathanjanz.bsky.social always brings it
The Scares That Shaped Us@scaresshapedus.bsky.social · last mo.NEW EPISODE! @jonathanjanz.bsky.social joins us to talk about the new release of his cult hit MARLA, and we dive into our personal connections to Stephen King's IT! LISTEN NOW:
NEW EPISODE! @jonathanjanz.bsky.social joins us to talk about the new release of his cult hit MARLA, and we dive into our personal connections to Stephen King's IT! LISTEN NOW:
Episode 85: Stephen King's IT with Jonathan Janz
Listen to The Scares That Shaped Us on RedCircle
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THIS WEEK @jonathanjanz.bsky.social joins the show to talk about the much-anticipated re-release of his novel MARLA, and we dig into our personal journeys with Stephen King's immortal classic IT! Episode drops Wednesday at Noon Central!
Weekend listeners, don't miss our chat with Cynthia Pelayo!
The Scares That Shaped Us@scaresshapedus.bsky.social · last mo.NEW EPISODE @cynthiapelayo.bsky.social returns to talk about her books IT CAME FROM NEVERLAND and SOMETHING FOLLOWED US HOME, and we dig into some classic Edgar Allan Poe! LISTEN NOW:
