Talking Scared23 Sep 2025

254 – Philip Fracassi & The Fresh Young Heart of Old-School Horror

This week brings a bumper episode, cos Philip Fracassi never stops. Since he and I last spoke, in 2022, he’s published a wealth of amazing, terrifying, heartfelt horror, emerging as a major voice, and one of my favourite writers. First we spend a good hour on Philips’ new novel, The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre – talking about geriatric slashers, elderly protagonists and how Phil’s own loss transformed the novel. Then we take a tour through some of his other books, including the modern classic Boys in the Valley and the nasty demonic desk romp, Gothic. Plus, a lot of info about future books and movie adaptations. Enjoy! Phil is fantastic company. Other books mentioned: St Joseph's Orphanage - Buzzfeed Article Boys in the Valley (2021), by Philip Fracassi Gothic (2022), by Philip Fracassi A Child Alone With Strangers (2022), by Philip Fracassi No One Is Safe (2024), by Philip Fracassi The Third Rule of Time Travel (2025), by Philip Fracassi Serafina (2026), by Philip Fracassi The Thursday Murder Club (2020), by Richard Osman Fahrenheit-182 (2025), by Mark Hoppus “The Veldt” (1950), by Ray Bradbury Daytide (2026), by Chris Panatier The Reformatory (2023), by Tananarive Due Your Favorite Scary Movie: How the Scream Films Rewrote the Rules of Horror (2025), by Ashley Cullins EVENT LINKS Good Boy Book Launch, with Gemma Amor (October 10th) – Tickets Powerhouse of Horror Party (October 24th) – Tickets Creepaway Summer Camp (June 29th – July 3rd 2026) – Tickets Support Talking Scared on Patreon Check out the Talking Scared Merch line – at VoidMerch Come talk books on Bluesky @talkscaredpod.bsky.social on Instagram/Threads, or email direct to talkingscaredpod@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Episoder(346)

291 – Natasha Pulley & No Priests Were Harmed in the Making of this Podcast

No one let the Pope listen to this week’s episode. Our guest is Natasha Pulley, genre-defying author of The Watchmaker of Filigree Street, The Bedlam Stacks, The Kingdoms, and now, in the The Salt...

18 Aug 1h 29min

Off Book #23 – Are We Doomed? A Cheerful Guide to Apocalypse, with Ben Bradford

Happy Friday! Let’s talk about the end of the world. Our guest is Ben Bradford, creator and host of Are We Doomed? – the new hit podcast examining the existential risks facing humanity. “Dammit...

14 Aug 1h 15min

290 – Liam Higginson & Awful Things in Lonely Farmhouses

Finally, we dare venture to the darkest land of all. Wales! After years of avoiding the terror of the Valleys, Liam Higginson takes us to The Hill in the Dark Grove – his debut novel of isolation, fo...

11 Aug 1h 14min

289 – Annie Jacobsen & Be Afraid… Be Very Afraid

This may be my scariest episode ever! We’ve covered non-fiction before, but rarely is the truth more frightening than the stories we tell. This week it just might be… cos Annie Jacobsen is here wi...

4 Aug 1h 14min

Let Us Palaver #10 – Wolves of the Calla Debrief

In our main Wolves of the Calla Deep Dive, we came within touching distance of the Dark Tower’s biggest secret yet. Chris doesn’t know what to think, which is just where Nat and I want him. So we st...

31 Jul 41min

The Dark Tower Deep Dive #10 – Wolves of the Calla

Hallelujah, come commala, we’re back together! Finally, after stopping for side missions with Jack Sawyer, and a pair of stories of Roland’s younger days, we’re back in Midworld’s here-and-now to ...

28 Jul 2h 30min

288 – Danielle Giles & A Spoonful of Skulldust (Makes the Medicine Go Down)

Time for a horrid history lesson. Daniell Giles is the author of medieval gothic Mere (2025), and the brand-new Restoration horror-show, Gentle Things. In this episode she talks about the nightmar...

21 Jul 1h 11min

287 – Megan Bontrager & The Cave of Cosmic Narcissism

I hope you have your headtorch this week – cos we’re going to some deep, dark places. Megan Bontrager’s debut novel, The Sea Hides its Dead, is a story of a mysterious cave, an unprepared expediti...

14 Jul 1h 15min