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In this episode, Corey and Kendall sit down with Dr. Coltan Scrivner, a leading expert on the psychology of horror, morbid curiosity, and true crime. Coltan shares his journey from curious grad student to global thought leader, exploring why we’re drawn to the macabre, how horror can benefit mental health, and the fascinating science behind our fear-driven behaviors.

Horror Fans' Morbid Curiosity Unmasked

Coltan discusses:

• His upcoming book Morbidly Curious (releasing October 2025).
• The Eureka Springs Zombie Crawl and Nightmare in the Ozarks Film Festival.
• The evolution of horror villains like Freddy Krueger.
• How horror fans are more empathetic and better at perspective-taking than stereotypes suggest.
• The three types of horror fans: adrenaline junkies, white knucklers, and dark copers.
• Why zombies might just be the perfect monster.

Visit Coltan Scrivner's website to take the Morbid Curiosity Test and learn more about his work.

Thank you for listening to Horror Heals. 

Share the show with someone who loves horror and someone who needs a little healing.

If you want to support our guests, check the show notes for links to their work, conventions, and fundraising pages.

You can also listen to our sister podcast Family Twist, a show about DNA surprises, identity, and the families we find along the way.

Horror Heals is produced by How the Cow Ate the Cabbage LLC.

Is horror good for mental wellness? Of corpse it is.