I’ve been meaning to review this podcast for quite some time! Not only does Neil feature authors who are hugely talented, but the time and attention he takes in researching the authors and their work is such a huge component. It’s the same thing that I enjoy in watching Hot Ones, where it’s clear the host has done so much work behind the scenes to make this an interesting conversation for the listeners and the guests!

This is as much a sociological endeavor as it is a fun literary podcast. I started listening to this podcast as a teenager, and it has helped guide me into an adult who loves writing. Just fantastic conversations and tips and book recommendations. Highly recommend to anyone.

Neil is an amazing interviewer and always gets to the heart of the story and what drives the writers. I’ve myself purchasing books almost weekly since starting the pod and I’ve had to split my TBR pile into 3 separate piles lest it reach my ceiling. An Insightful and charming host as well as the ever pleasant, brilliant guests make this a MUST listen for all enjoyers of horror and dark fiction.

Talking Scared is my go-to literary podcast. Neil is an excellent interviewer and has fantastic insights. He always has the best authors of the macabre and I always learn something new or fascinating every time I listen.

A perfectly balanced expression of the human condition through horror. Think you don’t like horror… think again. It’s fun, witty, and Neil is one of the best interviewers I’ve listened to in recent years. My daughters listen with me almost every ep, and it’s become a cool father-daughter highlight of our week. Has been the perfect spring board into discourse about all sort of heavy subjects. Love this pod!

I’m so glad I found a podcast that reveres the horror genre like I do! Neil is such a fantastic interviewer and I’m so grateful for the books and authors I’ve discovered!

McRobert perfectly balances fanlike enthusiasm and informed guide with his conversations with some of the best horror writers out there. Always fun, always informative. When writers are on press tours, they sometimes come off as bored answering the same questions over and over. I’ve never gotten that sense on Talking Scared. Even when he landed an interview with Stephen King, who’s been asked every question possible, the interview was fresh, unique, and lots of fun.

I love the way Neil thinks about and talks about horror literature. He is making a place for authors to share and readers to learn more about the best genre out there. This podcast is lots of fun!

Listening to this show is one of my greatest motivations to keep writing. As a writer it gives me that push, as a reader it piques my interests, and as an overall horror-loving person in the world, it just plain rules. Neil’s impeccable interview style has become such a staple to my week, the thing that “truly scares me” is thinking what I’d do without it.

These episodes are a true treasure trove for any lover of bookish horror! I find myself reading books only to find that the most recent episode is an interview with the author! My TBR pile is getting out of control, thanks to Talking Scared! I love, love, love this podcast! Keep up the incredible work!

It’s an interesting place to go. Into the darkest parts of human nature, but it’s there where we are entertained when we pick up a book or a pen and stroll on in. As a writer who has just produced a ghost story, this podcast is rich with ideas and inspiration. Than you!!!

Host Neil McRobert leads an in-depth and wide ranging discussion with some of the biggest and/or most interesting authors on the horror and dark fiction scene. Neil, while having some questionable opinions about film, has an infectious enthusiasm and deep knowledge of the genre and has created an excellent podcast for other horror fiction enthusiasts to either learn about authors and/or novels that they might not have been immediately familiar or to get greater insight into novels they have already read and enjoyed. I’m slowly but steadily making my way through the back catalogue but I highly recommend it.

So many great authors and stories I would otherwise never have heard of plus the great ones I do know. Great insight and perspectives. Highly recommend.

It’s a grey, rainy day in Georgia—perfect for curling up with a podcast about horror novels. You can’t do better than Talking Scared with Neil McRobert. Smart, erudite, incisive questions and lively chat . If you like wide-ranging conversations with horror writers you need to check it out. Margaret Atwood, Catriona Ward, Stephen Graham-Homes, Tananarive Due, Victor Lavalle, and Stephen King are only some of the famous names, Neil talks with debut novelists and masters of the craft. Great stuff. Watch out—your book budget is going to explode.

I just found Neil McRobert’s fantastic podcast and it has instantly provided me with nearly endless hourly of quality conversations with many of today’s best horror literature writers. I love that the focus is nearly entirely on horror lit instead of branching out too broadly into the world of horror cinema. I have learned so much in a short time about so many authors and books that I only really knew by their titles previously and that many people considered them good. I have been avidly following the horrorlit subreddit for quite awhile and Talking Scared provides a perfect companion to that informative thread. Many of the recommended authors from that thread have extensive interviews on Talking Scared and listening to those have allowed me to get a much clearer understanding of which books I should read and which books may not appeal to me. Neil’s recent interview with John Langan hooked me (pun intended) to give the podcast a try and I am so happy that I did. Neil is a great guy, well informed, funny, and intelligent. I highly recommended this podcast to anyone wanting to learn more about the incredible world of modern horror literature. Thanks, Neil!

This podcast is a must listen for all fans of horror literature! Who doesn’t want to hear from the authors who write the books we love. Great podcast

I don’t have the time to get a PhD in dark, horror, or gothic fiction ( ;) ) but I desperately want to deep dive in the genre. This podcast helps me stay on top of the best writers and works in those areas, both the current big names and the classics, and the interviews help me get the most out of my reads. I don’t know that Neil McRobert and I would be friends IRL (though I’m sure his dog and I would get on!), but his interview questions are smart. You can tell that guests enjoy being on his podcast because they really get to talk about their work rather than being asked the same boring, surface questions they get asked everywhere else; that’s really special and the hallmark of a great show. I think he also does a good job attending to diversity, highlighting great writers in the genre of different races, sexualities, gender, and so on, which is important not just because its unfair for writers to be missed simply because they’re not white straight cis men but also because the genre is so much richer when we read diverse authors. This should be a bare minimum requirement, but it isn’t always easy or natural, and Neil McRobert is clearly committed to it, This podcast often gets me to buy or check out books I wouldn’t otherwise, and I’ve found some real favorites. I can’t wait for more Talking Scared!

Neil McRobert is a smart, engaging, funny and always thoughtful host, and his podcast outshines all other similar efforts that I’ve encountered. He’s erudite w/o being stuffy, enthusiastic w/o being gushy, and he gets the most fantastic guests (a recent episode w/ Tananarive Due being particularly stellar). Five stars all around. So what are you waiting for? Dive in.

Absolutely love this podcast. Discovered it this past year. The most insightful and professionally done podcast on horror fiction I have listened to yet. Neil is a world class interviewer.

Grateful for finally getting around the Apple glitch that wouldn't let me subscribe. I've got a lot to catch up on here, but every episode has been fantastic. Neil lets the author's work guide the discussion, so each one is a treasure trove of interesting ideas from both author and host. The reading lists alone would make the show worth it, but the conversation never disappoints. The only drawback is not being able to join the conversation yourself, but that's probably for the best.

I will keep listening. And reading—all of your top ten! Thank you for your dedication to our shared scary genre.

When I started listening to this podcast, I was not really a huge fan of horror, but more of a curious bystander. In the ensuing year and much in line with my listening here, I have become engrossed in what I now consider to be the most interesting genre of fiction today. Neil is the perfect host, blending an engrossing personality, self-deprecating wit, and a graduate student’s level of passion to his interviews. The most important thing he does is listen and let the authors build the conversation. Amazing stuff. Do yourself a favor and listen now, and do yourself a second favor and hide your credit card and your cash because you’re gonna wanna start buying books.

Neil’s podcast is brilliant. He is an incredibly thoughtful and passionate interviewer, you can tell he really loves the horror genre. And he successfully dodges spoilers for the books he is discussing each episode - which is really important to me because I am a slow reader and don’t have all the time I wish I did to dive into every book he discusses. So as a result each episode is an extended, more tantalizing preview of the books without giving anything away, he creates excitement for them. And for the ones I have read, his interviews are spot on and create more of an appreciation for the book and author.

I have to take so many breaks through each episode. And it’s because these conversations make me think about my own writing in newer, darker, smarter, and more joyful ways. If you’re hopelessly in love with horror and all the goes into writing it, you’ll find some great camaraderie here.

To be brief, there are two things I love about this podcast. First, it’s obvious that Neil is a fan of the authors he interviews. He has read their work and generally has insights about their work that sometimes I think the author may not have been aware of. Secondly, there are no shortages of book suggestions that pop up over the course of the conversation. Keep it up!

Finally! A wicked spooky (intelligent) podcast about wicked spooky books!!! 🖤 I have been binge-listening to this show, desperately trying to catch up to the current timeline, and what a dark joy it’s been. Neil is THE most knowledgeable podcast host and I appreciate his enthusiasm and skill in discussing all of the things that go bump in the night. I’m buying so many recommendations but am listening too much to sit down and read. Heehee… Keep up the incredible job of freaking me out, and I promise I will catch up asap!

i love deep dives into story. this podcast is amazing, goes far under the surface and brings up new and interesting writers and stories.

Love the podcast!! Listening from the beginning!

I just discovered the podcast a few weeks ago and I am really digging it. I sort of gave up on horror in the mid 90s, but this guy and his guests are sucking me back in! Give it a listen, especially the interviews the Stephen King and the Mother of Horror.

This podcast has it all when it comes to horror fiction—intriguing recommendations, fantastic interviews, smart discussions about the genre, everything you could want. Neil McRobert’s “Talking Scared” should be on every horror fan’s list of must-listen podcasts.

And I’m so happy he did! If you’re a Horror fan or author, like me, you’ll enjoy all the interviews and in-depth discussions about classics and the newly out! IT’S SPOOKTACULAR!

This podcast is incredible. I love discussing media or listening to podcasts that discuss media and have been yearning for one that discusses the horror books that I love so much. None of my friends read the books that I read, so this podcast is filling a void in my life that I was longing for! Not only is the podcast conceptually great, but Neil is brilliant. He asks incredible questions and treats his hosts and their stories with awe and respect. I know I am going to burn through this podcast and that it will get me to burn through my TBD list so that I can listen to those episodes. I cannot express how happy I am that this podcast exists lol.

I’m beyond pleased to have discovered Talking Scared a couple years back. Every week, Neil manages to not only read and digest an entire horror novel, but also consider and ask the most thoughtful questions for these authors on any podcast I’ve ever listened to about *any* kind of literature. If you’re a horror fan in particular, this show is an absolute must.

I just discovered this show and I’m loving it. The host is kind and treats each guest with the utmost respect and care. His insights are intelligent. Every book that I have bought at his recommendation has been enjoyable. At the end of each show, he asks his guest to recommend a book, I have been building up my TBR pile like crazy based on these. Keep Talking Scared!

The host is gracious and gives generously to his guests so that they are the spotlight. He is an avid reader and understands horror fiction. He obviously prepares ahead of time with thoughtful and engaging questions.

I love this podcast! I found it after reading SGG’s Don’t Fear the Reaper and now I’m addicted. It’s great to listen to an author interview right after finishing the book being discussed. Also finding great new authors because of the show!

My TBR list is growing out of control listening to this show. The host knows his horror lit and his conversation with guests feels natural and honest.

This is hands-down, my favorite horror podcast, my favorite podcast in general. Neil interview every cool horror author--and his questions are smart, he's funny and self-effacing and I feel like I've learned something about the author, literature, and the world in general, by the end of every show.

This show is the gothic/horror book club of my dreams. I've learned so much from listening to the host's in-depth and thoughtful discussions with a spectacular lineup of writers. I especially appreciate when the conversation delves into structure, craft, and the writing process. Most of all, I love that it's not all about the scares here, but that horror is evaluated on the strength of its heart as well. Give it a listen, and watch your TBR list grow to monstrous proportions!

This is by far my favorite podcast! The host is amazing, intellectual, funny, and humble! The depth and breadth of knowledge he brings to analyzing the novels he covers is quite astounding. Also, I have SO many books to read now! If you love Horror literature, listen to this show. It is one of a kind!

Simply put, Neil is the best interviewer in horror lit. He is consistently thoughtful, considerate, and original. Not to mention, his recommendations for great reads are always spot on. Love this show!

I listen to several horror lit podcasts, and this shuffles in and out of first place as my favorite. When compared to other podcasts interviewing the same authors about the same books Neil always has the more interesting questions, and takes the interview down strange little avenues that the other podcasts don’t touch. The updates are a highlight of my week. P.S. My job involves litigating homicide cases. The city and countryside are both terrifying.

The host is smart, thoughtful, and a great interviewer, leaving their guests room to expand and talk. I love hearing the conversations, I always learn something new.

Every week, we’re treated to an in-depth conversation between Neil McRobert (the host) and the author or editor of a recently published work. The discussion offers both critical analyses of the narrative themes and an overview of the process that went into writing the work itself. As a bonus, each guest recommends a horror story or book not of their own for further reading at the end of the episode.

This is a standout podcast. I'd listen to him interview anyone because he asks interesting questions and knows the material. Because of this he constantly gets stellar guests. The hosts balances social issues, humor, writing, and horror throughout the interview. It's clear he knows what he'd like to discuss and has sharp questions. Book podcasts are a dime dozen. Many are just aimless and chatty because the hosts are just kinda there and haven't really read and THOUGHT about the material. But this podcast is different. Listen to this podcast. Or beware.

The host is a talented interviewer, the authors he interviews are top notch, the conversation is compelling, and I always walk away with new book recommendations to add to my “to read” list. What more could a podcast & horror fan want?

…but this is the best one.

I like the way Neil engages his guests with thoughtful questions about both their work and process, while also using his own academic background in horror to raise the bar on horror centered conversations.

An extremely intelligent deep dive interview series into horror authors and their work. Never fails to entertain

If you’re looking for a wonderful long-form podcast to subscribe to in order to get a weekly dose of insight into the minds of horror authors, then look no further! Talking Scared is hosted by Neil McRobert, a brilliant and charismatic host. I just love listening to Neil host these interviews! He always asks such wonderful questions and I love that he’s never afraid to share his personal opinions. Often, Neil will give compliments, discuss something that he loves about the author’s work, or share a story, and then he’ll jump right into a related question. It’s like this is mapped out with how perfectly it flows, but the show is so organically conversational. It’s a real treat to experience these chats! As the episode begins to wrap up, Neil has a set of questions he always asks. My favorite one? “What truly scares you.” I LOVE learning what spooks these horror writers! Before closing out, Neil will add a few more notes before telling readers to go do three things before he says, “…read good books, and remember, it’s good to be scared!” I look forward to seeing what these three things will be each week! Some of them have made me laugh out loud at work. You just never know what he’s going to serve up! I highly recommend checking out this show! I have such a blast listening. I have purchased so many books after listening to Neil interview the author. After reading the book, I love going back to re-listen to the episode as well now that I have a deeper understanding of the content Neil alludes to! Not a fan of horror? That’s okay! This is a great show to listen to for anyone, especially if you’re looking for some great writing tips. What are you waiting for? Go subscribe today!