Welcome back to Sound Bites where I highlight the best horror podcasts I’ve heard through the week. If you’re looking for content to haunt your earbuds, these podcasts are just what you need.
My Scream of the Week goes to:
Spoils of Horror
Out in podcast land there are more movie review shows than you can count, so it takes something special to stand out in this crowded space, and Spoils of Horror has a whole lot of special. In this show, hosts Steven and Leo have created a wonderful horror hangout space, where they talk about horror movies in their full glory (and yes, that means spoilers abound).
By moving away from a straight review format, these two engage in fantastic discussions, linking the films to the larger mosaic of the horror genre, dissecting specific scenes and lines for hidden or implied meanings, and introduce a lot of chuckles along the way. Just take a look at some of their episode titles and you’ll get a feel for their sense of humour. For example, Episode #22 Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022) – The Woke and the Wicked.
Beyond cracking jokes (of which there are many, and many of which made me truly laugh like a maniac), Spoils of Horror provides an intelligent analysis of these films, why they work, and why they fall flat. The range of movies Steven and Leo tackle is also impressive. You’ll find early cinema like 1935s Bride of Frankenstein, Hitchcock’s masterpiece Psycho, the 1984 Silent Night, Deadly Night, and most recently Art the Clown in Terrifier. All of these episodes are entertaining, so take a scroll through their backlog and start with any of the films you’ve enjoyed. I particularly savoured Episode #12 Ravenous (1999) – Hungry Hungry Privates.
Spoils of Horror release new episodes on Wednesdays, which typically run about an hour long. The podcast is available on most platforms and you can find them all through LinkTree SpoilsOfHorror
Shiver-Worthy Runner-Up:
The GeanerikC Podcast
Through social media I’ve met some really cool people, including Geanerikc, a writer, student, gamer, and all-round horror fan. In February of this year, he launched The GeanerikC Podcast with a great introductory episode and the show has only been getting stronger since.
Touted as a podcast about “All things horror, sci-fi and sometimes fantasy,” each week Geanerikc brings on a new guest who creates within these genres. While the episodes are interviews in a sense, the conversations flow more like a dialogue tackling subjects such as writing style, inspiration, marketing, and personal relationships to speculative fiction. From discussing books, movies, and video games, to practical ‘how-to’ knowledge for working in these industries, every episode of The GeanerikC Podcast offers something new and interesting.
Some of my favourite episodes so far have been “We’re Not Out of the Forest Yet” with Steve Stred, “Adding to Your Literary Toolbox” with Alan Baxter, and “A Stroll Through the Woods” with author and owner of Timber Ghost Press, C.R. Langille. From these conversations I’ve picked up terrific ideas to apply to my own writing process, plus I’ve learned more about these talented folks.
Whether you’re looking to expand your own skills, or just want to learn more about some interesting people, I highly recommend checking out The GeanerikC Podcast. New episodes drop every Wednesday, available on Spotify and other links via LinkTree Geanerikc
Hot New Frequency:
Haunted: The Audio Drama by Impala Films
After a small town is rocked by a bizarre murder-suicide, Abigail Corbin believes something supernatural is behind the heinous crimes and convinces paranormal investigator James Hunter to come to the town’s aid. But before they even begin, more mysterious deaths shroud the area, all with links to a sinister radio broadcast and a series of ancient symbols.
Having heard the first 3 episodes of this new horror series, I cannot wait to see where this story goes. Fans of shows like The X-Files and reality paranormal investigation series will find themselves entranced quickly with the enthusiastic Abigail and the gruff but sensible James. Haunted is told mostly through an audio drama format though it does slip into James’ inner narration from time to time which helps to move the story along and bring the listener even closer to the character.
Jamie Evans, the writer of Haunted and also the voice behind James Hunter, has described the show as “Doctor Who with the horror dialled up.” With 32 episodes planned, this is sure to be a fun ride, and now is the perfect time to catch up and get hooked.
New episodes hit the airwaves each Sunday with an average runtime of half an hour. Haunted: The Audio Drama is available on most podcast platforms and you can find all links on LinkTree ImpalaFilms
That’s a wrap for this week’s Sound Bites!
As always, thanks so much to the awesome podcast listeners and creators who have been sending me terrific recommendations. Keep them coming via the comments section below, or direct messaging on Twitter or Instagram (links below). I can’t promise I’ll enjoy every podcast you throw my way, but I’ll give everyone a fair shot.
Remember, I’m all about scary things and spooky podcasts are what I’m after. Content focused on reviewing horror movies and horror books, true paranormal encounters, facts about cryptids, true crimes, and original scary stories are exactly what I want to hear.
Can’t wait to listen to all the dark podcasts you fine fiends suggest, and I hope you’ll join me next Friday for more Sound Bites.
J.A. Sullivan
J. A. Sullivan is a horror writer and paranormal enthusiast, based in Brantford, ON, Canada. Attracted to everything non-horror folks consider strange, she’s spent years as a paranormal investigator, has an insatiable appetite for serial killer information, and would live inside a library if she could.
As curator of “Scary’s Voices” on Kendall Reviews, an article series reviewing horror podcasts, Sullivan loves listening to all things spooky. If you have a horror podcast recommendation, let her know.
On top of contributing short stories to Kendall Reviews, her fiction has appeared in Don’t Open the Door (2019), It Came From The Darkness (2020), and she acted as an assistant editor for Black Dogs, Black Tales (2020). Other spooky tales and updates on her writing journey can be found on her blog.
You can follow J. A. on Twitter @ScaryJASullivan
Check out her blog https://writingscaredblog.wordpress.com
Find her on Instagram www.instagram.com/j.a_sullivan
Find her on Instagram www.instagram.com/j.a_sullivan
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