Comedian and filmmaker Heather Turman joins the Horror Nerds Comedy Podcast to talk about the art of blending horror and humor, her film The Green Ribbon, and how music, trauma, and tension shape the modern horror landscape. From Scream’s genre-defining self-awareness to the emotional depth of generational horror, this conversation dives deep into what makes horror powerful... and funny.

They discuss the emotional core of modern horror: generational trauma, personal fears, and how real-life experiences bleed into the stories we tell on screen. Plus, the trio geek out over their favorite scary movies, the evolution of the genre, and the surprisingly heartfelt side of being a horror nerd.

We also talk about:

• The parallels between joke writing and building tension in horror 
• Why Scream is a masterclass in screenwriting and satire 
• The difference between fictional scares and real-life horrors 
• Heather’s new projects (The Green Ribbon short + The Christmas Ribbon feature) 
• Why post-production and sound design can make or break a scare 
• Pets, Wi-Fi demons, and what happens when your cat delivers a jump scare 

Heather Turman — Writer/Director/Comedian

•  🎥 Watch The Green Ribbon on YouTube
•  📸 Follow Heather on Instagram
•  🌐 heatherturman.com

🎬 Subscribe for more interviews, laughs, and scares from the world of horror.

Credits: 

• Hosted by Samantha Hale and Bonnie Marie Williams
• Based on Horror Nerd Comedy created by Samantha Hale
• Social Media Manager: Joe White 
• Editor: Sarah Manners
• Post-Production: Sarah Manners and Bonnie Marie Williams
• Creative Producer: Adam Molloy
• Producers: Samantha Hale and Joe White
• Executive Producer: Bonnie Marie Williams 
• Horror Nerds Podcast music by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio 
• Podcast Intro by Joe White
• Magic Oil Box Commercial VO by Adam Molloy and Bonnie Marie Williams 
• Beamly.com Commercial Voiceover by Bonnie Marie Williams

Sponsorships:

Ever feel like your podcast workflow’s straight out of a horror movie? Plug-ins breaking, logins multiplying, hidden fees creeping up behind you? Time to scream — for joy — because Beamly has arrived. Build your site, host your podcast, add memberships, courses, and digital products — all in one place. No hidden monsters. No jump-scare fees. Just 0% platform costs and pure creative freedom. Bring your podcast back to life at Beamly.com — if you dare. 

The Magic Oil Box, LLC Small-batch, cruelty-free scents inspired by horror and pop culture, and handcrafted with love and magic by a proudly LGBTQ+ and Latino-owned business. Horror Nerds listeners can take 15% off with code SLAYNERDS15, thanks to our sponsor who keeps us slayin’.

Affiliates:

Take 10% off Shaped Ice Molds,

Affiliates:

Take 10% off Shaped Ice Molds, featuring the most iconic slashers in cinema, with code HorrorNerdsPodcast10

The Horror Nerds Comedy Podcast uses Riverside.fm to record our podcast and share to social media.