The Scares That Shaped Us

Latest Episodes:

Episode 42: The Stand with Christopher Golden and Brian Keene Aug 13, 2025

Show notes

It's our first-ever double-bill on the podcast! Christopher Golden and Brian Keene are on the show this week to talk all things The Stand, from their first encounters with Stephen King's epic to their work editing the massive new anthology The End of the World as We Know It: New Tales of Stephen King's The Stand! Strap in, Constant Readers, it's a fun ride.

- Be sure to find Christopher and Brian on social media, and pre-order The End of the World as We Know It!

- 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 41: The Last Unicorn with Gretchen Felker-Martin Aug 06, 2025

Show notes

Gretchen Felker-Martin, the celebrated author of Manhunt and Cuckoo, joins the show this week! We talk about her new novel Black Flame, suppressed film history, writing about fascism in a time of fascism, and more. Then, we dig into the influence of The Last Unicorn on Gretchen's life and work. What's a fantasy movie doing on a horror podcast? You're about to find out!

- Be sure to find Gretchen on BlueSky and Instagram, and check out her Patreon!

- 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 40: Creepshow with Daniel Kraus Jul 30, 2025

Show notes

Daniel Kraus, celebrated author of books like Whalefall and much more, returns to the show this week in celebration of his new novel Angel Down! We talk about the book's unique style, writing World War I, and much more before pivoting to a discussion of the classic collaboration between George A. Romero and Stephen King, 1982's Creepshow!

- Check out Daniel's website for updates on everything he has coming up, including Angel Down events!

- 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 39: "The Raft" with Wendy N. Wagner Jul 23, 2025

Show notes

Author and Nightmare magazine editor Wendy N. Wagner joins the show this week to talk about her new novel Girl in the Creek, and to dive into one of Stephen King's most famous short stories, "The Raft." We talk about what Wendy looks for in short fiction, our shared rural childhoods, the inherent spookiness of lakes, and much more! Plus, Matthew's got a story up at Fangoria!

- Check out Wendy's website and be sure to 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.com

Hosted by Matthew Jackson

Produced by Matthew and Lyndsay Jackson

Logo and Web Design by Lyndsay Jackson

Music by Dmytro Kuvalin

Episode 38: Quatermass and the Pit with Paul Tremblay Jul 16, 2025

Show notes

Paul Tremblay, the Bram Stoker Award-winning author of A Head Full of Ghosts, Horror Movie, and more, joins the show this week to talk about his new middle-grade horror novel, Another! We discuss the horror of kids in crisis, why teaching during the pandemic drove this novel, and of course, we dive deep into the Hammer Horror classic Quatermass and the PIt!

- Check out Paul's website and be sure to follow him on socials!

- 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 37: "A Fish Story" with Stephen Graham Jones Jul 09, 2025

Show notes

Stephen Graham Jones returns for his third visit to the show! We talk about Stephen's latest double-feature book release, Killer on the Road/The Babysitter Lives, along with writing short fiction, what Stephen does when he's stuck on a project, and of course, Gene Wolfe's haunting "A Fish Story."

It's also possible that the Mothman interrupted our communications at one point. We love cryptids.

- Check out Stephen's website for everything he's got going on.

- Check out Matthew's original short story on Ko-fi, with all proceeds going to the Transgender Law Center!

- 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 36: Splatterhouse with Valkyrie Loughcrewe Jun 25, 2025

Show notes

Valkyrie Loughcrewe, one of horror's most exciting rising voices, joins us this week to talk about their new books Decrepit Ritual and Puppet's Banquet, and to dig into Splatterhouse, an '80s arcade game with a surprising amount of lore attached. Plus, we talk about tarot, music, gore, and much more!

SHOW NOTES:

- Find Val on Instagram!

- Check out Matthew's original short story on Ko-fi, with all proceeds going to the Transgender Law Center!

- 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 35: Suspiria (2018) with Valentina Rojas Jun 18, 2025

Show notes

This week, Valentina Rojas joins the show to talk about her amazing debut novella, A Feast of Putrid Delights! We talk about how the book came together, co-working on Twitch, co-editing a short story anthology, and more, before diving in to this week's story, Luca Guadagnino's 2018 re-imagining of Suspiria!

SHOW NOTES:

- Find Valentina on Instagram!

- Pick up A Feast of Putrid Delights right now from Ghoulish!

- Check out Matthew's original short story on Ko-fi, with all proceeds going to the Transgender Law Center!

- 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 34: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre with Josh Rountree Jun 11, 2025

Show notes

This week, Texas-based author Josh Rountree joins the show! We talk about his new book, The Unkillable Frank Lightning, and we take on the most famous Texas horror movie of all time, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre!

SHOW NOTES:

- Head to Josh's website!

- Check out Matthew's original short story on Ko-fi, with all proceeds going to the Transgender Law Center!

- 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 33: Nightmare Ned with Sam Rebelein Jun 04, 2025

Show notes

This week, The Scares That Shaped Us takes on video games for the very first time. Sam Rebelein, celebrated author of Edenville, stops by to talk about his latest book, The Poorly Made and Other Things, and to dive into a somewhat forgotten piece of 1990s PC weirdness, Nightmare Ned!

SHOW NOTES:

- Head to Sam's website!

- Check out Matthew's original short story on Ko-fi, with all proceeds going to the Transgender Law Center!

- 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