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PODCAST

The Spooky Scholars Podcast

The best horror analysis podcast for the BIG questions we ask of horror movies and literature: The symbolism of slime? A zombie zeitgeist? Your weapon choice to survive a slasher? Anyone can summarize and review a horror movie but there"s SO much more to horror than the list of shrills and kills. Horror is the genre pushing boundaries and taking society to task with monsters and mayhem, slashing and sex/gender play. Horror is EXTRA, and you need a friend (or podcast host) to ask, "WTF did I just

tv & film film history

All Episodes

00:42:34

Wild Women with Expert Cinda Gault

The Spooky Scholars Podcast ·

2026/02/17

In this episode we’re with Canadian historical fiction author, Cinda Gault.Cinda schools us on incredible Canadian women of history we all should know more about and how she is remedying that with her fiction. We also discuss the roots of the horror genre, slaying vampires, 18th century final girls, Canadian abortion law, and Cinda's own incredible work in the feminist movement in the 1970s.Cinda brings a deep reverence for women’s stories, and through her historical fiction, she continues to

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00:31:03

Robot Replacement: The Horror of Artificial Intimacy

The Spooky Scholars Podcast ·

2026/02/10

Are we (already) letting AI replace us? In this episode, I explore the growing cultural shift toward AI companionship, AI relationships, and emotional automation. Artificial intelligence is increasingly over-stepping into our world and now, even into roles once reserved for real human intimacy and connection.But this episode isn’t just about digital horror or even AI ethics or even the future of technology.It’s about language and how we’re using computer and robot terminology to describe human

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00:44:09

Liminal Horror and Lived Experience: Inside Darkest...

The Spooky Scholars Podcast ·

2026/02/03

Let's explore liminality, trauma, and coming-of-age horror through the lens of my newest project as part of Darkest Margins, curated and edited by our guest, Matt Rogerson.We get into more of what to expect from a much-needed contribution to horror scholarship and a little of what Matt went through to bring this project to the horror community. We'll then talk about Matt's own contribution to the project where he analyzes adolescence and generational representation to uncover why horror

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00:39:30

Artistic Expression or Exploitation? A Serious Call...

The Spooky Scholars Podcast ·

2026/01/27

Joined in this episode by author, friend, and returning guest, Kimberly Pinzon, to critically examine how sexual assault is portrayed in horror films and why these depictions are so often shaped by male directors. She's got some stuff to say!We specifically look at rape revenge horror and question who has the authority to tell these stories and whether “artistic freedom” is being used to justify gendered harm on screen.We explore how horror cinema repeatedly centers female suffering, the power

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00:45:40

Nostalgia Horror: Rose-Colored Memories with Wendy...

The Spooky Scholars Podcast ·

2026/01/20

They’re calling 2026 the year we go back to analog. And in this first episode of Season 6, I’m joined by authors Wendy Dalrymple and Grace Reynolds, the editors behind a new anthology of nostalgia horror that digs into our first precious memories of the genre we all love. We explore how modern horror has embraced nostalgia through shows like Stranger Things, the rise of horror remakes, and our collective obsession with reboots, and retro media. Plus we learn more about the global experiences of

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01:06:10

Ritual Roulette: Bro Trip Horror with Horror Roulette...

The Spooky Scholars Podcast ·

2025/12/16

A nightmare team collab episode that unpacks modern masculinity in lad/bro holiday horror, all by random selection with Horror Roulette Pod. During the month of Movember we watched a film that examines how traditional ideas of masculinity are challenged, and sometimes reinforced, when men seek escape, connection, and meaning. This episode is a mash up of scholarly analysis with random fun and a new podcast friendship.Join Spooky Scholars host, Ashe Woodward and guests Nellie and Anthony from Horror

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00:45:16

Hand-Picked Horror: Inside MOMETU’s Anti-Algorithm...

The Spooky Scholars Podcast ·

2025/12/09

Mometu is carving out a rare space in the (FREE) streaming world: a platform that refuses to let algorithms decide what audiences see. In this episode, president of Mometu, Bryan Louzil, joins me to discuss the philosophy behind hand-picking films, the challenges of curation in an automated landscape, and why horror and horror lovers especially benefit from a human touch.Plus, learn more about how Mometu is also hands on in the indie film space, supporting new filmmakers and literally funding the

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00:23:42

Afterlife Architecture: Gothic Liminality in the...

The Spooky Scholars Podcast ·

2025/12/02

To celebrate our 100th episode, we’re diving straight into my newest writing project: an exploration of the Flatliners universe and how its gothic architecture, liminal spaces, and resurrection imagery mirror the film’s trauma narrative and each character’s desperate push toward restoration and rebirth.And because it’s episode 100, we’re turning that lens on ourselves too. We look at our own restoration arc: where the show started, how it’s evolved, and where Spooky Scholars is heading in 2026 as we

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00:38:50

The Darkness of Divergence: Expert Russel Von...

The Spooky Scholars Podcast ·

2025/11/25

Ever noticed how many horror characters and plots mirror the experience of neurodivergence? Think Carrie channeling raw emotion into telekinesis, Percy Jackson reframing dyslexia and ADHD as signs of his power, or how just the disorientation and misreadings in Evil Dead echo the anxieties baked into our standardized school system.My guest this week, Russell Von Brocklen, is a dyslexia expert and someone who lives with dyslexia himself. His work has helped countless learners tap into their own

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00:46:26

Dementia Dames: Hagsploitation with Jessica Rose

The Spooky Scholars Podcast ·

2025/11/18

In this episode, I chat with one of my co-authors from our upcoming publication, Darkest Margins: 24 Essays on Liminality and Liminal Spaces in Horror, which is set to be one of the most extensive horror essay anthologies on liminality EVER published! Jessica and I discuss our contributions to the work and the omnipresence of liminality and the fear of liminal spaces in horror. We discuss her essay, "Dementia in Dimensions: Trapped between the Horrors of Cognitive Disease and Death" which

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00:49:15

Rebellious Roots: Punk Rock Vampire Horror with...

The Spooky Scholars Podcast ·

2025/11/11

Steve Sxaks’s novel, Invasion of the Punk Rockers, Who Drink Blood! taps into and explores how counter-culture is a key part of horror history. His horror narratives about punk rock vampires, get to the heart of punk and goth culture and what it means to be part of a group and part of the system. As a former soldier, Steve has a unique take on what it means to be part of a group, a clique, and what it really means to wear a ‘uniform’.We talk influences like Troma Entertainment, horror comics, other

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00:42:45

Dollar Baby Dreams: Bringing Stephen King's 'Popsy'...

The Spooky Scholars Podcast ·

2025/11/04

Join us for a conversation with the talented Jon Mann, a filmmaker from New Brunswick, Canada. We're so honoured to discuss his gripping adaptation of Stephen King's short story, "Popsy," and his journey in the Dollar Baby Program that has been pivotal for so many new filmmakers.We discuss the thrilling challenges of bringing King’s chilling narratives to life. Plus, hear more about how Mann's adaptation is being screened at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles

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00:35:50

Indie Horror Insights with Director George Miranda

The Spooky Scholars Podcast ·

2025/10/28

A conversation with emerging indie horror director, George Miranda, where we scrutinize the indie horror film industry and highlight the important role that horror creatives play.We'll explore his unwavering passion for the iconic A Nightmare on Elm Street and how it has influenced his unique vision and specific projects. We also get his candid thoughts on the limitations of traditional filmmaking tools (spoiler: tripods don't make the cut!) and where he sees horror moving in the near

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00:36:05

Cutting Through 250 Slashers with Director Chris Kelly

The Spooky Scholars Podcast ·

2025/10/21

Chatting with horror film director Chris Kelly about his newest project, Bishop's Day, and his inspiration from over 250 slashers.He's here to share the formulaic secrets behind crafting iconic horror villains that we, the horror community, are ready to gobble up!Discover his latest project, Bishop's Day, that takes a gruesome twist on the average barbershop and learn why Sweeney Todd need not apply.This episode may contain spoilers for:Sweeney Todd (2007)The Haunting (1963)Targets

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00:30:03

Selling Screams: BTS of a Halloween Funhouse with...

The Spooky Scholars Podcast ·

2025/10/14

Every Halloween we willingly put ourselves at the mercy of Haunted Funhouses and their antics. But ever wondered what really goes into building a terrifying and thrilling haunted funhouse that sends thousands running and screaming ... and then coming back for more?In this episode, we chat with Marty, the visionary owner & mad mastermind behind Long Island’s Haunted Firehouse.With Halloween just around the corner, join us to learn from Marty about the creativity, dedication, and passion involved

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00:50:27

Hellraiser and the Human Experience with Hypnotist...

The Spooky Scholars Podcast ·

2025/10/07

In this episode, former chemist turned hypnotist, Amethysta Herrick, joins us to discuss Clive Barker’s Hellraiser. We explore how in its 'puzzle', the film may hold some answers to our questions about society’s categorical systems of gender, identity, pain, and pleasure.Together we examine how conformity is its own form of horror, and how queerness, hypnosis, and self-liberation challenge the boundaries of what we’re told we should be.💀Find Amethysta at purplepawclan.com💀Follow us on

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00:29:19

If It Bleeds, It Leads with Journalist and Author...

The Spooky Scholars Podcast ·

2025/09/30

We’re back and jumping right into the scandalous worlds of storytelling and journalism with former CNN International journalist, Chris Riker.Join us as we dissect the gripping themes of the Australian sci-fi horror, Monolith (2022) and the allegory that calls out and rips open the dire state of today’s media landscape. Learn more from Chris on how horror, creativity, and ethics interweave in both journalism and his own writing. And with Riker's experience at the forefront of free speech and the

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00:23:12

Ask Alice Part 2: First, Final, and Favourite Girls.

The Spooky Scholars Podcast ·

2025/08/12

In this episode we explore Alice of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland as part of the final girl ancesty. We take into account Lewis Carroll's questionable legacy and what that means for how Alice was presented, constructed and how we conceive of this legacy after all Alice has influenced today. We'll touch on how Alice's character and Carroll's themes reverberate through the horror genre, lighting the path for modern slasher and iconic franchises like The Matrix and Sabrina the Teenage Witch and

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00:23:25

Ask Alice Part 1: Lies, LSD, and the Literary Hoax...

The Spooky Scholars Podcast ·

2025/08/05

Go Ask Alice was a seemingly innocent diary-style narrative that took America by storm, sold millions of copies, and rocked a generation by pointing out the dangers of drugs.Too bad it was all a lie!In this episode we uncover the baffling connections between the iconic 70s novel, its controversial author Beatrice Sparks, and the psychedelic anthem 'White Rabbit' by Grace Slick and Jefferson Airplane. There are layers of deception here and questions we need to sort out before we even get to

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00:19:29

Killer Keys: The Power of the Piano in Horror

The Spooky Scholars Podcast ·

2025/07/29

Have you ever noticed the power the piano holds in horror films? From its haunting minor or off-key melodies that evoke anxiety and fear to its imposing presence symbolizing intimidation in the Gothic, the piano serves as a captivating character in itself. In this 88th episode (no coincidence!) we look more closely at how this seemingly elegant instrument becomes a sinister force of anxiety and fear in the world of horror, 'playing' on our anxieties of performance, class, and ableism.*This

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109 results

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