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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

00:29:19

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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00:45:25

Monsters, Myths, & Modern Iran with Reza Rajebi

The Spooky Scholars Podcast ·

2025/07/22

Iranian-American sci-fi author Reza Rajebi (pen. Daiko Hazhir) joins us to explore the thin, often terrifying line between imagined monsters and real-world horrors. Get a mini lesson in Iranian culture, an overview of the brutal realities of the U.S.-Iran conflict, and also a reminder of the internal conflict Iran now faces with itself. We also discuss the historical role of repression, exile, the next regime, the resilience of youth, and the role of storytelling and art in surviving and resisting

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00:29:21

The Monstrous Elite: Eat the Rich Horror

The Spooky Scholars Podcast ·

2025/07/15

We’re meeting the moment that is 2025, where the fight against power seems to be playing out both in the streets and on our screens. Together we'll dissect the subgenre, of "Eat-the-Rich" horror that oozes out much more when there's unrest among the common people, and more tax breaks for the already-wealthy. Let's talk about standout horror stories that call out billionaire greed, the link between wealth and corruption, and how the working class often steps in as the unlikely

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00:34:21

Native Nouveau: Indigenous Sci-Fi & Horror with Drew...

The Spooky Scholars Podcast ·

2025/07/01

Mind-bending and culture-crossing things are happening in Indigenous horror and sci-fi literature and film today and we need to know more!If you've never explored this creepy corner of our genre before, let's get started with acclaimed author Drew Hayden Taylor.In this special Canada Day episode, we attempt to unravel the intertwining themes of culture, monsters, and storytelling through the lens of native literature.Drew helps us navigate how these tales of terror and monsters reflect the

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00:21:46

Manic Pixie Dream Girl: A Horror Reject

The Spooky Scholars Podcast ·

2025/06/24

In this episode, we trace the rise (and backlash) of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl trope and explores why this character rarely survives in horror. Unlike the indie rom-coms that birthed her, horror has no use for a paper-thin catalyst character. Here, the “manic” gets dialed up to maniacal, the “dream” turns nightmare, and instead of saving sad boys, she’s reclaiming her own narrative or getting messily destroyed in the process.We’ll talk final girls, feminine rage, and what happens when you give the

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00:41:14

Adventures in Anxiety: The Mental Health Benefits of...

The Spooky Scholars Podcast ·

2025/06/17

In this episode we are steeped in spooky adventures as therapist and author, Chad Scott, shares his insights and unforgettable experiences at haunting cemeteries and captivating locations steeped in history. Not only that, but good news for us frequent travellers of darkness: Chad explains how visiting historical sites can rival psychedelic drug effects in addressing mental health challenges like anxiety and PTSD. We learn how confronting the darker aspects of our cultural past can profoundly affect

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00:21:50

Zombie Business: ZOMBIE AWARENESS MONTH EP.4

The Spooky Scholars Podcast ·

2025/05/27

Welcome to our wrap-up of Zombie Awareness Month! In this finale episode, we dissect the dark tech world of zombie data, zombie businesses, and zombie networks and how these lurk in the shadows of our modern society. This special episode is a true reflection of the impact of zombies in our culture and how we’ve incorporated them in everyday speech to truly bring them to…life! Discover how zombies have influenced our language, risen Napster from its digital grave, and sparked conversations about

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00:24:14

Zombie Zeitgeist | ZOMBIE AWARENESS MONTH EP.3

The Spooky Scholars Podcast ·

2025/05/20

For our third installment in our series for Zombie Awareness Month we look at more ways that the zombies have shaped our culture. Journey back with us to 17th/18th colonial France to uncover how Voodoo spirituality transformed this infamous monster from folklore to film. We’ll trace the zombie’s impact through history and dissect its pop culture icon status, including Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and its unforgettable contribution to the zombie phenomenon and to the history of the documentary

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00:20:05

Reliving Romero's 'Dead Part Two | ZOMBIE AWARENESS...

The Spooky Scholars Podcast ·

2025/05/13

Join us as we journey through the last three 'Dead' films by the legendary George Romero, uncovering their sharp political commentary on a post-9/11 world. From "Land " to "Survival" to "Diary," we experience Romero's clever use of zombies to confront societal fears and anxieties that plagued the 2010s. Discover how Romero’s work encapsulated the struggles of our times, blending terror with relevance. If you're intrigued by horror's deeper meanings

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00:25:05

Reliving Romero's 'Dead' Part One | ZOMBIE AWARENESS...

The Spooky Scholars Podcast ·

2025/05/06

In this first gruesome episode in our zombie movie series for Zombie Awareness Month (yes, it’s a real thing!) we’re looking at none other than George Romero’s 'Dead' series: Night of the Living Dead (1968), Dawn of the Dead (1978), and Day of the Dead (1985).We'll dive into how each entry builds upon one another, highlighting and strengthening a stance and cultural commentary on important socio-political themes like race, media, war, government and the patriarchal family

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00:44:09

Horror Vs. Climate Change with Planet Bonehead

The Spooky Scholars Podcast ·

2025/04/29

Just when you thought horror couldn't get more political, we join the fight against climate change!Bobby Donohue is the creator and host of Planet Bonehead, where horror characters are part of fun, unforgettable lessons for kids (and horror nerds) about one of the scariest realities we face—climate change!Bobby shares how he sees horror and monsters as a way to keep the conversation on climate change from going stale, right when we need everyone to stand up and more people to get into green tech

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01:00:22

The Horror of Cults with Cultimatum

The Spooky Scholars Podcast ·

2025/04/22

Ever wondered what it's like to escape a religious cult? Have you ever been curious about why so many horror movies feature cults and how that reflects our real anxieties of being duped?In this eye-opening episode, we delve into the harrowing experiences of an ex-cult member and co-host of the hit podcast, Cultimatum. Melody, an ex-member of the House of Yahweh cult, along with her co-host, Andrew, reveal the secretive nature of cult culture, rules, and the profound impact of years spent under

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00:07:28

Forgetting Fallout: Retrofuturism BONUS Track

The Spooky Scholars Podcast ·

2025/04/18

In this BONUS EPISODE on retrofuturism we dive back in to the fascinating intersection of old-fashioned aesthetics and futuristic dreams in the dystopian series, Fallout.We look at how the show places the past on a pedestal in the shelters from the uniformity to the propaganda. But then, what is the message on the surface? How are we to see the decay of vintage designs? Are we still yearning for the past or is this world of 2161 warning us that progress can all be undone? *This bonus episode may

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00:28:29

Retrofuturism: Making the Future Past Again

The Spooky Scholars Podcast ·

2025/04/15

Retrofuturism is an art form, a philosophy but it’s found its way into film as a subgenre of science fiction. Think spacecraft and high technology mixed with mid 20th century 'values' like traditional gender roles and life before the civil rights act.While sci-fi is horror’s nerdy sister, retro futurism is at odds with both of us in its conservatism and anti-progressive agenda.So what are the elements of retrofuturism we need to look out for? How is retrofuturism promoting a conservative

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00:40:08

Pulp Politics: Comic Book Code with Michael Storm

The Spooky Scholars Podcast ·

2025/04/08

Are your favourite comic book characters being altered to fit political agendas? Join me and comic book store owner, Michael Storm, to explore how politics and censorship shape the superhero narratives we've come to love. Discover the hidden battles between comic creators and the Hollywood (read: MCU) elite. Learn more about what's at stake, what we might lose of traditional comic book culture to new technology, but also what is great news about the next wave and new generation of comic book

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00:31:42

Sitting Down with Satan and Michael Harbron

The Spooky Scholars Podcast ·

2025/04/01

Today I’m talking with horror author Michael Harbron of the Interview with the Devil series. Writing religious, supernatural horror takes time and creepy, deep dive research. So not only do we discuss his chilling six-book (so far) series, but we also talk about Satan himself and the very real and growing attraction to The Satanic Temple. *no worries - there are no real spoilers in this episode. >michaelharbron.com>supporting listener businesses: thesmelloffear.com

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00:26:39

Tales from the Crib: Baby Horror

The Spooky Scholars Podcast ·

2025/03/25

Horror may be about darkness and death, but spring is about light and life.So what happens when horror combines with the themes of spring and rebirth? What kind of uncomfortable tension are we in for?In this episode we look at films with a big spring theme: Babies! And we dive into why this horror can give anyone the creeps, whether you have your own little demons or not.Immaculate (2024)

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