The Scares That Shaped Us

Latest Episodes:

Episode 92: Only Lovers Left Alive with Caitlin Starling Oct 28, 2026

Show notes

Caitlin Starling returns! The author of The Starving Saints and The Graceview Patient is back to talk about her new vampire novel, Milkteeth, and we get even more vampiric with a discussion of Jim Jarmusch's Only Lovers Left Alive!

- Pre-order Milkteeth now!

- Subscribe to Pop Heist for more of Matthew's writing!

- Follow the show on BlueSky and Facebook!

- Want to ask Matthew a question? Offer a recommendation? Something else? Email us: scaresthatshapeduspodcast@gmail.com

Episode 91: I Spit On Your Grave with Madeline Blondeau Oct 14, 2026

Show notes

Madeline Blondeau joins the show this week! We talk about her excellent debut novel Penitents from Ghoulish Books, taking inspiration from New French Extremity films, writing multiple perspectives without breaking chapters, and much more. And of course, we dig into 1970s rape revenge classic I Spit On Your Grave!

- Penitents is available now!

- Subscribe to Pop Heist for more of Matthew's writing!

- Follow the show on BlueSky and Facebook!

- Want to ask Matthew a question? Offer a recommendation? Something else? Email us: scaresthatshapeduspodcast@gmail.com

Episode 90: Aura with Ito Romo Oct 07, 2026

Show notes

Ito Romo, the writer behind the epic vampire novella Filth Eaters, joins the show this week! We talk about the ten-year process of writing the book, research, creating a fully realized world with a short page count, and more, all wrapped up in a discussion of Carlos Fuentes' haunting book Aura!

- Filth Eaters is available now!

- Subscribe to Pop Heist for more of Matthew's writing!

- Follow the show on BlueSky and Facebook!

- Want to ask Matthew a question? Offer a recommendation? Something else? Email us: scaresthatshapeduspodcast@gmail.com

Episode 89: "Time Enough at Last" with Chloe Lauter Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

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 available now!

- Check out Chloe's website!

- Subscribe to Pop Heist for more of Matthew's writing!

- Follow the show on BlueSky and Facebook!

- Want to ask Matthew a question? Offer a recommendation? Something else? Email us: scaresthatshapeduspodcast@gmail.com

Episode 88: "Broken Record" with Hailey Piper Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

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 into a deep breakdown of Stephen Graham Jones' amazing story "Broken Record!"

- Read "Broken Record" for free at Lightspeed Magazine!

- Check out Hailey's website!

- Subscribe to Pop Heist for more of Matthew's writing!

- Follow the show on BlueSky and Facebook!

- Want to ask Matthew a question? Offer a recommendation? Something else? Email us: scaresthatshapeduspodcast@gmail.com

Episode 87: Bram Stoker's Dracula with Emma Cole Sep 09, 2026

Show notes

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 discussion of the legendary Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)!

- Pre-order Love Never Dies!

- Check out Emma's website!

- Subscribe to Pop Heist for more of Matthew's writing!

- Follow the show on BlueSky and Facebook!

- Want to ask Matthew a question? Offer a recommendation? Something else? Email us: scaresthatshapeduspodcast@gmail.com

Episode 86: Eerie, Indiana with Gwendolyn Kiste Sep 02, 2026

Show notes

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 The Great Gatsby, and more, all while we dive into '90s kid horror classic Eerie, Indiana!

- Pre-order In These Gilded Ghostly Hearts!

- Check out Gwendolyn's website!

- Subscribe to Pop Heist for more of Matthew's writing!

- Follow the show on BlueSky and Facebook!

- Want to ask Matthew a question? Offer a recommendation? Something else? Email us: scaresthatshapeduspodcast@gmail.com

Episode 85: Stephen King's IT with Jonathan Janz Aug 26, 2026

Show notes

Jonathan Janz, author of Children of the Dark and Veil, joins the show this week! We talk about the re-release of his cult classic book Marla, the relationship between writing and coaching basketball, and we dig deep into one of the greatest horror novels of all time, Stephen King's IT!

- Pick up your copy of Marla!

- Check out Jonathan's website!

- Subscribe to Pop Heist for more of Matthew's writing!

- Follow the show on BlueSky and Facebook!

- Want to ask Matthew a question? Offer a recommendation? Something else? Email us: scaresthatshapeduspodcast@gmail.com

Episode 84: "The Black Cat" with Cynthia Pelayo Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

Bram Stoker Award-winning author Cynthia Pelayo returns to the show this week! We caught up with her about her new novel, It Came From Neverland, talked about her upcoming anthology Something Followed Us Home, and dug into the Edgar Allan Poe classic "The Black Cat!"

- Pre-order Something Followed Us Home!

- Check out Cynthia's website!

- Subscribe to Pop Heist for more of Matthew's writing!

- Follow the show on BlueSky and Facebook!

- Want to ask Matthew a question? Offer a recommendation? Something else? Email us: scaresthatshapeduspodcast@gmail.com

Episode 83: The Possession Horror Special with Clay McLeod Chapman Aug 12, 2026

Show notes

On August 6, we went live on a YouTube for a special episode with our original Friend of the Show, Clay McLeod Chapman! Now that episode's in the main feed! We talk about Clay's new book Devil Inside, dig into his five favorite possession horror movies ever, take listener questions, and much more!

- Devil Inside is available now!

- We're doing a live show on YouTube on August 6! Subscribe to our YouTube channel so you don't miss it!

- Subscribe to Pop Heist for more of Matthew's writing!

- Follow the show on BlueSky and Facebook!

- Want to ask Matthew a question? Offer a recommendation? Something else? Email us: scaresthatshapeduspodcast@gmail.com

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