Talking Horror

In this episode of Talking Horror, Rachel Redd sits down with the hilariously brilliant Neena Viel. Known for her critically acclaimed and terrifying debut Listen to Your Sister, Neena dives deep into how becoming the guardian of her teenage brother in her early 20s inspired her to craft a horror masterpiece about the realities of parentification and invisible caretaking. We discuss her childhood...

Ashley Winstead joins Rachel Redd on Talking Horror to explore how thriller and horror serve as a powerful mirror for the human condition, from the suffocating weight of hyper-competitiveness to the complex dynamics of control and submission. In this episode, Ashley and Rachel dive into: The Power of Words : How being a shy "Navy brat" moving every two years led Ashley to find companionship and an...

Diana Rodriguez Wallach (award-winning author of The Silenced , Small Town Monsters and Hatchet Girls ) joins Rachel Redd on Talking Horror to explore how horror serves as a powerful mirror for real-world fears, from the dangers of charismatic leaders to the dark side of the troubled teen industry. In this episode, Diana and Rachel dive into: The "Psychic" Origin Story: How a chance encounter with...

Kiersten White (New York Times bestselling author of Hide and Mister Magic ) joins Rachel Redd on Talking Horror to explore why horror is the ultimate tool for navigating religious trauma , from the "invisible" God of a high-control childhood to the cathartic power of a cursed children’s show. In this episode, Kiersten and Rachel dive into: Religious trauma and the "sucky foundation" of being rais...

Paulette Kennedy didn't finish a single manuscript until age 44. Her debut novel published at 46. Now Paulette Kennedy is one of gothic suspense's most talked-about voices, and this conversation is exactly why. In this episode, bestselling author Paulette Kennedy pulls back the curtain on her unexpected path to publication, the pandemic grocery run that sparked The Devil and Mrs. Davenport , and w...

Saratoga Schaefer (USA Today bestselling author of Serial Killer Support Group and TradWife) joins Rachel Redd on Talking Horror to explore why horror is the freest genre for the darkest truths, from the body horror of pregnancy to the real monster already on your phone screen. In this episode, Saratoga and Rachel dive into: Seven unpublished books and a decade of rejection before getting the "yes...

In this episode of Talking Horror, Rachel Redd sits down with the master of the "emotional highlighter," Clay McLeod Chapman. Known for his gut-wrenching novels like Ghost Eaters and What Kind of Mother, Clay dives deep into why the horror genre is the perfect sandbox for exploring our deepest fears, addictions, and "soft traumas." We discuss his "bromance" with Nat Cassidy, his origins in the sha...

Welcome to Talking Horror , the new home for readers, writers, and anyone fascinated by the stories that make us want to sleep with the lights on. In this series, host Rachel Redd explores the darker parts of being human through the lens of horror and thriller fiction. Why horror? Because it is one of the most honest forms of storytelling. It isn't just about being scared; it's a conversation abou...