The Scares That Shaped Us

Latest Episodes:

Episode 82: "The Intoxicated" with Paul Tremblay Aug 05, 2026

Show notes

Paul Tremblay returns! The Bram Stoker-winning author stops by the show this week to talk about his new book, Dead But Dreaming of Electric Sheep, and we dig into the work of Shirley Jackson with a discussion built around her short story "The Intoxicated."

- Check out Paul's website to keep up with everything he's doing!

- 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

Episode 81: Eraserhead with Aoife Josie Clements Jul 29, 2026

Show notes

Aoife Josie Clements, author of the stunning debut horror novel Persona, joins the show this week, and we're talking David Lynch! Join us for a conversation about Aoife's writing process, balancing her composing and music with writing prose, and of course, the enduring power and influence of Eraserhead.

- Go buy Persona!

- 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

Episode 80: Sleepy Hollow (1999) with Sara Hinkley Jul 22, 2026

Show notes

Rising horror star Sara Hinkley is on the show this week! We talk about her amazing debut novel The Red Sacrament, writing about vampires in revolutionary times, and much more, all while discussing the impact of Tim Burton's Gothic 1999 classic, Sleepy Hollow!

- Check out Sara's website!

- 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

Episode 79: Dark Shadows with David Demchuk Jul 15, 2026

Show notes

David Demchuk stops by the show this week to talk about his astonishing novel Red X, writing queer horror, being a queer horror fan, and much more as we dig into the legacy and influence of the legendary horror soap opera Dark Shadows!

- Check out David's website!

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

- Sign up for our newsletter for even more horror goodness.

- Follow the show on BlueSky and Facebook!

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

Episode 78: Poltergeist with Emily Hughes Jul 01, 2026

Show notes

Emily Hughes, Stoker-winning author of Horror for Weenies, joins the show this week! We talk about writing for new horror fans, her new horror site Darker Times, and dig deep into the formative horror experience that is Tobe Hooper and Steven Spielberg's Poltergeist!

- Subscribe to Darker Times!

- Pick up a copy of Horror for Weenies!

- Follow CJ on Instagram!

- Sign up for our newsletter for even more horror goodness.

- Follow the show on BlueSky and Facebook!

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

Episode 77: The Shining with CJ Leede Jun 24, 2026

Show notes

CJ Leede, author of Maeve Fly and American Rapture, joins the show this week! We talk about the writing of her new novel Headlights, digging into a mystery narrative, making Colorado a character, and of course, the influence of Stephen King's classic The Shining!

- Headlights is available now!

- Follow CJ on Instagram!

- Sign up for our newsletter for even more horror goodness.

- Follow the show on BlueSky and Facebook!

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

Hosted by Matthew Jackson

Produced by Matthew and Lyndsay Jackson

Logo and by Lyndsay Jackson

Music by Dmytro Kuvalin

Episode 76: The Woman in Black with Johanna van Veen Jun 17, 2026

Show notes

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 Gothic delights of 2012's The Woman in Black and its predecessors!

- Bone of My Bone is available now!

- Check out Johanna's website for updates on everything she's doing!

- Sign up for our newsletter for even more horror goodness.

- Follow the show on BlueSky and Facebook!

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

Hosted by Matthew Jackson

Produced by Matthew and Lyndsay Jackson

Logo and by Lyndsay Jackson

Music by Dmytro Kuvalin

Episode 75: Rosemary's Baby with Cynthia Gomez Jun 10, 2026

Show notes

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 novels and films of the 20th century: Rosemary's Baby!

- Muneca is available now!

- Check out Cynthia's website for updates on everything she's doing!

- Sign up for our newsletter for even more horror goodness.

- Follow the show on BlueSky and Facebook!

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

Hosted by Matthew Jackson

Produced by Matthew and Lyndsay Jackson

Logo and by Lyndsay Jackson

Music by Dmytro Kuvalin

Episode 74: The Thief of Always with Sarah Gailey May 27, 2026

Show notes

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 discussion of Clive Barker's all-ages classic, The Thief of Always!

- Make Me Better is available now!

- Check out Gailey's website for updates on everything they're doing!

- Sign up for our newsletter for even more horror goodness.

- Follow the show on BlueSky and Facebook!

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

Hosted by Matthew Jackson

Produced by Matthew and Lyndsay Jackson

Logo and Web Design by Lyndsay Jackson

Music by Dmytro Kuvalin

Episode 73: The Thing with Leticia Urieta May 20, 2026

Show notes

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 greatest horror films of all time, John Carpenter's The Thing!

- The Remedy is the Disease is available now!

- Check out Leticia's website for updates on everything she's doing!

- Sign up for our newsletter for even more horror goodness.

- Follow the show on BlueSky and Facebook!

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

Hosted by Matthew Jackson

Produced by Matthew and Lyndsay Jackson

Logo and Web Design by Lyndsay Jackson

Music by Dmytro Kuvalin