I'm with actor David Hern who was involved in the spinoff series,Freddy’s Nightmares, among other horror finds like Summercamp Nightmare and Zombie Voodoo Scream Party.

In our conversation, David gives his insight on being a working actor and some healthy, practical advice for anyone looking to get into the business.  

You can find out more about David and his take on being an actor in his book, How Not to Make it in Hollywood

Hypnosis and the 'evil psychiatrist' is a horror movie trope of a storyline that goes ALL the way back to the very first horror film. So is this one of our deepest rooted fears?

In this episode a real life hypnotist gives her take on several hypnosis horror movies that really gave real hypnotherapists a hard time in the middle of last century.

We'll also look at how hypnosis is portrayed in modern horror and whether it's accurate or just a fun and powerful device to add to the idea of mind control and demon possession.

*This episode may contain spoilers for:

Late Night with the Devil (2023)

The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)

The Hypnotic Eye (1960)

Horrors of the Black Museum (1960)

Suitable Flesh (2023)

Get Out (2018)

Camp and Cult Classic horror seem to go hand in hand at times but there IS a difference! With help from some experts like Susan Sontag to help us sort through it all and we'll talk about the classic films we love but some people really really hate!

We'll also look at how these movies amass a following over time and what kind of 'cults' are created from this film worship.

*this episode is spoiler free!

Kimberley Pinzon joins me to discuss her book, Final Girl Redux: A Relaxed Exploration of Women’s Place in Horror. And, as happens when two horror nerds get together, we go into a lot of other ideas and films as well.

Kimberly is especially wise in is how gender is portrayed in horror movies and she has new insights you may not have thought of before when it comes to final girls and the representation of all genders in horror films.

So get ready to see even your favourite movies in a new way!

*Somewhat Spoilers:

Get Out

Hereditary

Hostel

Behind the Mask

*Bonus material and show notes on patreon.com/spookyscholars

Does your favourite horror movie pass the test? Maybe it does with you, but what if we're talking about representation and diversity in film (and we are!)

Tests like the Bechdel, Mako Mari and the Sexy Lamp test aim to call out lack of representation of race, gender (happy pride!) and disabilities so that we're not left with superficial and flat characters.

We want more from our horror, right?

Join me to see who will pass or fail miserably [HINT: it's not who you think!]

Pink Horror is a fierce and expanding subgenre - but what is it exactly? Horror for girls? Rage horror? Feminists on their $#!* again?

Author Wendy Dalrymple is championing the genre with her work and support of the writers and film directors who are bringing women's issues to the forefront of horror and, even though you may not think so, it's something for everyone of every background and orientation to enjoy.

Wendy gives us more than a peek at pink horror with a robust starter pack of authors and films to add to our TBR and TBW lists.

In this episode Ashe is joined by Wendy Dalrymple @wendydalrymplewrites

Have you heard?!

King Charles's 'blood ritual portrait' that has a striking resemblance to Dracula and Vigo the Carpathian in Ghostbusters 2?...

...The Met Gala missed the point of the dystopian short story theme they chose?Gross!

...Also, Stormy Daniels, among other things she's up to lately... is directing horror?

Yikes! We gotta talk about this!

In this episode we look at current events from this month (and this week!) that have surprising and even shocking horror connections.

Have you ever heard sparrows described as 'vicious' or 'hateful'? Have you ever thought they could be liminal creatures or soul carriers?

Find out more about the dark reputation of this omnipresent and seemingly innocent and sweet little bird in this episode.

We'll fly from The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina to *spoilers of* Stephen King's The Dark Half to learn more and see sparrows in a whole new spooky way!

Does horror make you want to snuggle or want your space?

How about this: have you ever heard that horror could "scare us into submission to perform socially acceptable gender roles?" Ummmm, What?!

Well, it's all true and wrapped up in a neat little (deceiving) bow called, 'snuggle theory'.

And while it sounds super ick to our 2024 ears, we're going to step INTO IT on this episode and find out what it is and if it has any place now in our world or in our horror.

Y'know those shirts? The ones you might call a 'baseball tee'?

Well, they have a name - Raglan Shirts. And the history of the Raglan and Lord Raglan goes back A LOT farther than you think.

On this episode I look at the history of the Raglan shirt and why it very often pops up in horror movies. Hint: there's a practical reason - not just a fashionable one.

Together we'll complete the compiling of a list of Raglans all over horror movies and prove that it is the quintessential horror costume for final girls and killers alike!

'The Cave of Death' is a real place in Costa Rica but in this episode we question the reality inside the cave in The Descent (2005) and The Descent Part II (2009) and what is really happening with Sarah's (the protagonist) story of survival. Hint: it's DEEP!

We’ll also use Plato’s cave analogy to guide us 'through the dark' to the reality and to the meaning we’re meant to take away from this iconic film series - no matter which ending you're used to.

*This episode contains spoiler for The Descent (2005) and The Descent II (2009)

What is the deal with female heroes in high heels? Is the disbelief supposed to be that we see this as an added superpower, like killing and slaying in impractical footwear is like a part of their magic?

Or is it something else?

...You already know the answer. 

It’s totally something else. But it makes total sense and will give you a new way to watch and see your favourite horror heroines.

Has the Pope seen The Exorcist? Is the Vatican watching horror movies? Well, my guest, Matt Rogerson, has all the answers in the episode and more in his upcoming book, The Vatican Versus Horror Movies.

While it may not be by the Pope, there are definitely horror movies being watched by a council of 'important' Vatican leaders all (allegedly) in the name of the safety of the community. You HAVE to hear this!

AND! Spooky Susan joins this episode for a special review of The Wasp Woman (1959)

*This episode may contain spoilers for:

The Exorcist (1973) But if you haven’t seen it, what are you even doing with your life?

The Wasp Woman (1959)

Il Demonio (1963)

Beatrice Cece (1969)

Immaculate (2024)

A look at the effects of diegetic sound in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer, episode “The Body,” as well as how other masters of horror cinema use diegetic and non-diegetic sound to add layers of major creep to our viewing experience - such as in The Shining, Us and Sinister.

*This episode contains spoilers of the Buffy episode but it’s been, like, 23 years so… hurry up and binge the rest of the series so we can be best friends!

In this episide we celebrate spring by looking at the story and retelling of the Persephone myth.

I question the validity, importance or maybe even the necessity of sanitzing the classics. Is it really helpful or harmful? Revisionist or revolutionary? Do we still need to keep talking about Ancient Greece when there's more than enough choice on Netflix?

*Important trigger warning of sexual harm and discussions of R*** in this one.

Welcome to the first episode as The Spooky Scholars Podcast!

In this episode we learn more about the effect of the uncanny valley.

We look at how this psychological phenomenon is at play and working to add layer of creep to your favourite films.

Also, we do a deep dive into the use of the effect in M3gan and a peak at how this all applies to our favourite puppet horror like Annabelle and Chucky.

‘No tears please, it’s a waste of good suffering,’

- Hellraiser's Pinhead (Barker 1987).

Fayge and Mazal Horesh join me to talk about morbid history in Philadelphia. Fayge is a public historian and also produces the podcast, D-Listers of History. Mazal is Fayge's wife and co-host.

They bring us the story of The Boy in the Box also known as Joseph Augustus Zarelli. It’s tragic, mostly unsolved murder that has been a part of Philadelphia's history since the 1950s.

They also share an interesting connection for us to another body found in nearby Virginia that will definitely give you the feels and the creeps all at once.

We also get into the history of death masks, 1990s website timecapsule's, escaped wild animals in the city and how a hatmaker almost led to solving the case of 'America's Unknown Child'.

This is a really interesting look at social history in the Philadelphia area and how murders and unknown victims can get lost in the system.

This is a long one so listen in parts if you must, but I promise you won’t want to miss what we talk about at the end - especially if you're planning on skipping a "down ballot" vote in your county.  

*For joining us all the way to end of the episode I’ll have a special announcement for you that you won't want to miss out on either!

It’s Part Two of Hellhounds. This time we look more closely (if we dare!) at theStalking Type.

Where are these beasts usually spotted and what kind of people see them the most? Will you be their next victim or the next mark to protect? Plus, what is up with the patterns we see about black dog legends around the world and what does it all mean?

The Grim, The Barghast, El Cadejo- find out what’s these hellhounds from around the world have in common and why they might be lurking at your door … or following you home tonight!

In this first part of the Hell Hound series, let's look at the Cerberus-like hounds that are found in cultures all over the world. These hell-dwelling dogs that protect the entryways to the Underworld and Otherworlds have a longer history and wider influence than you think.

Other figures like Hecate and Anubis belong on this list as well to super-charge this motif.

Let's look at where all this myth comes from and what's really behind the stories and depictions we come across in our favourite movies and shows today...especially if you're into My Little Pony (kidding, not kidding).

My guest is the go-to True Crime guy in the midwest, John Brassard Jr, also known as the Kitchen Table Historian. He’s an author and ghost story lover and in this episode he brings us all of that with some true crime tales from the Midwest.

John tells us the story of Ed Gein, one of the most famous serial killers of the Midwest, plus several tales of bank robberies, family murders and eerie local legends that live on and cross over into the paranormal. 

Gilles de Rais, one of France’s most disturbing serial killers, who was also (allegedly) a pedophile and demon summoner, and the inspiration for the tale of Bluebeard.

But how much is true and how much is sensationalizing this dark story of the so-called dark ages? Stick with me to the end to uncover the truth and the modern twist in this morbid medieval tale! 

Dr.Gary Simmons, neurosurgeon and professor of neuroscience, shares with me his experience from his days of cutting into ooey gooey brains! Plus, get MAJOR chills (as I did) learning about brain implants and the eerie applications...

Hear about the pressures and pleasures in the daily life of a typical brain surgeon, and even how Dr. Gary has (untypically) become a believer and even peddler of the paranormal.

This is a stand out episode so get your thinking caps on, your zombie movie references ready, and get ready to talk BRRRRAAAAIIINNNS!!!!

In horror literature and film we see books do powerful things: open gateways, call forth otherworldly beings, maybe even bring back spirits from the dead!

Books, especially those with supernatural powers of their own, are everywhere in horror. In this episode we'll look at a few familiar ones a little more closely to see if there are any other messages or knowledge these texts within a text or film are trying to tell us, especially for our world where so many books are being questioned as too influential and..powerful...

*This episode may contain spoilers for:

Hocus Pocus (1993)

Hocus Pocus 2 (2021)

Beetlejuice (1988)

Nightmare on Elm Street 2 (1985)

Welcome to Season 3 of That’s So Morbid with Ashe Woodward. In this episode Ashe looks at the Roman god of beginnings, Janus, and the larger influence of his legacy including a rare condition and even on the movie Frozen.

Somehow we make it to demonic twin heads and the sexual ritual between the Keymaster and the Gatekeeper in Ghostbusters. Then we round it all out with Dan Aykroyd and Crystal Skull vodka. 

It’s going to be quite a journey - both in this episode and the entire season.

It's the most DANGEROUS time of the year!

Just when you thought everything was slowing down as we get cozy in the darkness, this episode reminds you not to get too comfy this holiday - it's actually time to stay alert so you make it to the new year in tact.

We go over some brutal Christmas killings, poinsettia poisoning and Christmas tree fires, all adding up to about 300 Christmastime deaths each year.

PLUS! Find out how you made this year special for this podcaster and what's planned for 2024.

The third installment in my quest for the finest and fullest definition of the term, 'Dark Fiction'. I'm in conversation with magic realism author, Lale Davidson, who brilliantly guides me to some surreal and magical ideas - a great one for those of us who feel there's more magic around us at this time of year...

The classic combo of spooky meets merry has been around a lot longer than you may think (or may want to believe).

If your kids just aren't worried about the threat of 'coal in your stocking', how about telling them a couple tales of monsters that drag you to hell if you misbehave or a giant cat that will eat you alive for not getting any new underwear?

This is the Yule episode with everything you need to know about Krampus, The Christmas Cat, sarcastic goats and more!

Still on the hunt for the perfect Dark Fiction definition, this is my very dark chat with author Patrick Barb. We also talk (of course) about horror, horror sub genres and all the types of dark fiction we can think of.

Among all the horror and other theories, Patrick teases with some previews of tales out of his recent collection, upcoming novel and we even discuss the therapeutic value of horror and other dystopias.

This is a fun one for all my fellow horror theorists and dark fiction nerds out there.

Well look who's a teenager!

Not counting Morbid Morsels, this is our 13th episode!!! And also it's a morsel - but just go with it because today is the 13th of November and the 13th episode for me and I'm celebrating with bringing you the history and some possible origins and connections of number phobias.

This month I'm teaching the Dark Fiction writing course so I'll be featuring some other pros in the genre to keep us all inspired.

So what's up with the 'Dark' part of Dark Fantasy anyway? What are the elements? What makes the monsters and themes hit different?And why are we obsessed?!

I pose all my inelegant questions to author JV Hilliard in this week's episode and he graciously lays it all out for us and even makes me question why dragons have gotten so much positive press over the years.

We also get into some other great stuff like working at haunted houses, researching medieval toilets and buying weird Mexican candy. So join us, won't you?

It's Devil's Night, the veil is thin and we're going from Crows to Curses.

Learn more about Scarecrow symbolism, Crow murders (or are they?) and a Holllywood curse to haunt your nightmares tonight!

Let's hang out on Halloween Eve!

What do you really know about the Headless Horseman? Is it a myth, legend or a beloved character from 19th century American literature...or all of the above? Does he really have a jack-o-lantern for a head or does he carry his head around with him?

Which one is it?!

Let's get to the bottom of this before Halloween, shall we? We need to know what we're dealing with...for when he returns...

Kicking off Halloween month with ... ghost stories!!

..some of the OGs in the literature world and some classic modern favourites. What is it about ghosts that we're so eager to learn from them, follow them and remember them from texts?

This week we'll explore how ghosts and ghost stories can guide us to our past, our history and even lure us in for a closer look at ourselves.

My guest, Ali Khamseh, is an expert in 1960s Hammer Horror in all its history, grit and modern influence.

Ali is a BIG fan of Christopher Lee so we talk a lot about the "mania" of Christopher Lee, his work with Tim Burton, how he felt about being Dracula and even playing his doppelganger, Rasputin, after meeting his killers. Whuuuh?!

This spooky season might have you searching back in time for more classic horror and this is a great place to start!

*How to find and follow Ali and his work:

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@AK88Studios

Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/AKhamseh88/

This episode may contain spoilers for the following:

The Devil Rides Out (1968)

Dracula A.D. 1972 (1972)

Unforgiven (1992)

The Good the Bad and the Ugly (1996)

The Batman Vs Dracula (2005)

No Country for Old Men (2007)

If you can't explain the difference between "poisonous" and "venomous" snakes (don't worry - neither could I!) then this is the episode for you.

I bring you all I learned, not only about this linguistic faux pas, but the treatment and potential lasting effects from a snake bite as well.

Plus, a haunting snake bite death story that will chill you in more ways than one!

A small musing on the traditional taboo of telling jokes at a funeral...

Can you stomach a leap from blood-sucking leeches to Angela Lansbury? In this episode we dive into the world of leeches, leeching and bring it all the way from ancient Egypt to the present...and somehow, yes, to Murder She Wrote royalty. How is that even possible? You'll have to listen to find out!

Do you remember your first horror movie? Chances are good that you do since there's research now to suggest that horror movies can cause long-lasting trauma. The other side of this, though, is that helicopter parents might be doing an even greater disservice to their kids by shielding them from experiencing fear, keeping them from safely gaining emotional skills they can use in the real world.

In this episode, my guest, @hazey_dave, gives us insight into how he navigates his daughter's readiness for horror movies and drops some excellent recommendations along the way.

Welcome to Season 2! To kick this off I get into a female monster fave and how the modern perception of Medusa needs a glow up. There's so much more this gorgeous gorgon - mother, matriarch, murderer - than is usually associated with her. So let's take a deeper look (but not directly, of course)!

It's almost time for Season Two but, in the meantime, Ashe brings you a startling discovery she made over the break that puts a spotlight on a very important female character in comic book history. And she's more goth than you ever knew.

Welcome Spring! Join us as we celebrate both of our BIG March birthdays, as well as the coming of the warmer weather. In this episode we remind you to look out for those fearsome flora that will soon be sprouting underfoot. It's also a great time to read some plant-inspired literature or watch a campy plant movie, and get to know Poison Ivy a little more intimately... and we've got some great recommendations! We'll also get into some famous plant related deaths to go over that will 'leaf' you breathless.

Join us for the episode and hang out with us on Discord via Patreon! patreon.com/thatssomorbid

P.S.

Why did the woman who wanted to poison her husband, cross the road?

To get to the other cyanide.

While these shorter, 'Morbid Morsel' episodes will be Patron exclusive in the future, today Ashe joins you for a Valentine's Day treat! With Marco taking some time away, Ashe can really get into the mushy, gooey girly stuff––like the romance between one of the world's most talented composers of all time and the woman who loved him and was the reason his disembodied heart wasn't allowed to rest where he requested on his death bed. Also, why in the 1800s there was an obsession with being buried alive and what those kooky Victorians did to ensure it didn't happen...Tongue pinching anyone?... It's SO Romantic! -xo

Death by wallpaper? Women who glow in the dark? The most authentic type of heavy metal?  In this 'colourful' episode Marco shows off his art school training and shares everything about the toxic chemicals in paint and pigments. Ashe is along for the ride, providing hard facts and specific cases where people actually lost their lives because their livelihoods depended on paint.

We go deep into the 'cavity' of this very occult-laden topic. Join us as we talk about the history of the tooth fairy, La Petite Souris de France y el Raton de los Dientes de México! We talk about the history of teeth-keeping, the meaning of teeth in dreams and even our own personal tooth extraction nightmares!

Join us for the episode and if you want even more, check us out on Patreon! patreon.com/thatssomorbid

The Babadook's epic journey from an Australian film with stifled success to the separation of the Babadook monster who becomes a major global gay icon is a modern tale of how technology spreads information and even how modern cult classics are born.

What started as a Tumblr feud and a possible Netflix error is now part of queer horror lore. BUT WAIT - there's more!

What does director Jennifer Kent think of all this? Did she purposefully drop these notes of queerness in the film and the monster for us to find or is this all coincidence? Or are our queer lenses just coming on too strong?

You may not have thought there was even very much queer about the film on a first watch, but you'd be very much wrong... and the whole deep dive into the queer symbolism in this film is "fabulous".

This episode contains spoilers for:

The Babadook (2014) Directed by Jennifer Kent

Eclipse (1907) Directed by George Méliés

Did Mary Shelley really carry her dead husband's heart around with her? Why do all cultures revere relics from the dead? Why do we cling to the body when we're so sure the person who inhabited it is gone? Why are some body parts deemed more valuable than others? In this episode, I and my good friend, Marco, dive into these questions and more morbid phenomena surrounding the question of what can really happen to our body when we die?

Do you ever subject your houseguests to horror movies? I do - but only if they're already fans which is definitely my guest today - my friend, Doomsdave, who was visiting for a WHOLE WEEK - in my house - every day - watching horror with me!

In today's episode, we discuss 6 movies and the experience of watching together - looking at reactions, cheering for deaths and kills together and then having a chat about all the fun on a podcast...

We also somehow touch on creepy Christians, Satanic cults, how much modern dating sucks and the exact parameters for an evil pit to be effective.

This episode contains spoilers for:

Fresh (2022)- Directed by Mimi Cave

Werewolves Within (2021)- Directed by Josh Ruben

Late Night with the Devil (2023) - Directed by Cameron and Colin Cairnes

Jugface (2013) - Directed by Chad Crawford Kinkle

Ready or Not (2019) - Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olphon and Tyler Gillet

Vamps (2012)- Directed by Amy Heckerling and starring...EVERYONE.

Plants may be the new pets, but what do we actually know about these crafty characters we bring innocently into our homes and gardens? 

And how do horror stories about carnivorous and poisonous plants remind us that we are all technically their food in the end? What horror really being unlocked in plant horror or, more formally, the 'monstrous vegetal'?

Let’s look at some Gothic stories and some modern movies that remind us that humanity’s control over the natural world is tenuous, and that everything we do that’s unnatural or against nature will have consequences.

This episode contains spoilers of :

• Rappaccini’s Daughter (short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne)
• Carnivorene (short story by Lucy H. Hooper)
• The Ruins
• In the Tall Grass
• Little Shop of Horrors
• ..HUMANITY (yes, this is how we will all end up!)

We love horror movies because they give us ALL the feels, right?

In one film, the whole spectrum of human emotion can be covered—from fear, repulsion, abjection, sorrow and even to humour. But how does this work and what are horror movies doing to us?!

In this episode we look to the parasympathetic response, (AKA 'Rest and Digest') to find out exactly how horror is luring us in by trading fear for happy hormones.

*This episode does not contain any spoilers