This week on Horror Heals, we’re joined by debut horror author Grace Daly, who once called herself “a coward to the core.” Jump scares? No thanks. Gore? Absolutely not. But everything changed when Grace's chronic illness forced her to confront a very real kind of body horror—one she couldn't turn off, mute, or escape.

In this powerful and unflinchingly honest episode, Grace shares how her diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome cracked open a terrifying but oddly comforting door into the horror genre. We talk about finding catharsis in blood and guts, the comfort of monsters when your body feels like the enemy, and why disabled voices are crucial in horror storytelling.

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• The surprising role of Tucker & Dale vs. Evil in her healing
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• Why horror comedy makes brutal truths easier to face
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• Menstrual blood, dismembered limbs, and other “normal” things
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• Her upcoming debut novel The Scald Crow and the joy of haunting the Midwest
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• And yes—how being a full-size candy bar house is a sacred Halloween duty 🎃
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Grace proves you don’t have to be fearless to face the dark—you just have to be ready.

📚 Guest: Grace Daly

Grace is a former IT project manager turned horror writer who lives with multiple chronic invisible illnesses. Her debut novel The Scald Crow drops this October and blends Irish folklore, body horror, and razor-sharp humor with unflinching honesty about disability and identity.

💬 “My body is a horror show. So I figured—I might as well write one.”

What happens when childhood nightmares become your calling card? In this episode of Horror Heals, scare actor Omar Ortega joins Corey and Kendall to talk about growing up inside a family-owned video store, how Nightmare on Elm Street haunted his imagination, and how horror evolved from fear to fuel.

Omar opens up about his journey from VHS kid to veteran scare actor, sharing the emotional highs and behind-the-scenes lows of working in iconic haunts like Universal Studios Hollywood and LA’s Haunted Hayride. From bad fan placement to drag in the dark, this conversation digs into the ways horror helps Omar process rage, build confidence, and offer guests a uniquely immersive experience they’ll never forget.

Whether he’s channeling Madman Marz, playing The Butcher, or embodying the spirit of Divine in full wig-slap glory, Omar reminds us that scaring others can be healing — and horror is far more than just a seasonal thrill.

Because… is horror good for mental wellness?

Of corpse it is.

Confessions of a Scare Actor

🎭 In This Episode:

• Omar’s horror origin story: family movie nights, Halloween II, and Freddy nightmares
• What it's really like to audition as a scare actor at Universal Studios
• The power of performance: transforming breakups, frustration, and rejection into compelling characters
• Honoring Janelle Monáe’s haunted vision and finding surprise joy in queer expression
• VHS nostalgia, underrated sequels, and why Nancy Thompson remains a top-tier Final Girl
• A brilliant take on The Exorcist… as a drama?

🧠 Horror-Healing Themes:

• Emotional catharsis through character work
• Channeling anger and grief into immersive performance
• Finding identity and power in horror personas
• The unique thrill of being seen in the shadows
• Community, resilience, and the evolution of haunted house acting

🩸 About Our Guest:

Omar Ortega is a Los Angeles–based scare actor and lifelong horror fan who has spent nearly a decade performing in haunted attractions like LA’s Haunted Hayride and Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights. Raised in a family-run video store, Omar fell in love with horror from a young age — and now channels that passion into immersive, emotionally charged performances that blur the line between fear and therapy. He’s played everything from brutal butchers to haunted drag queens and believes that horror is a powerful vehicle for release, reinvention, and connection.

🎙️ Horror Heals is the podcast that asks:

Is horror good for mental wellness?

Of corpse it is.

This is not your average horror podcast interview.

In this raw, unfiltered conversation, Corey and Kendall sit down with author and illustrator Drew Huff, whose work isn’t just inspired by trauma, it is shaped by it. Drew speaks openly about the lasting effects of growing up with an alcoholic father, and the surreal, devastating responsibility of handling his estate after his sudden overdose. At 22, she was the next of kin, and the only one left to clean up the mess.

We trace the emotional terrain between that loss and her debut horror novel Free Burn, a splatterpunk epic soaked in unresolved rage, haunted inheritance, and the desire to break generational cycles. We also dive into the dark underbelly of creative industries, as Drew recounts her experience being emotionally manipulated and professionally exploited by a predatory freelance editor.

We talk about how The Shining saved her. How Doctor Sleep helped her forgive. And how Pet Sematary revealed the quiet truth of grief: that we sometimes choose destruction over despair, because destruction hurts less.

This is a conversation about being queer in a community that doesn’t always feel like yours. About leaving behind the security of a paycheck for the hope of a future. About the monstrous parts of ourselves we write not to hide, but to understand.

The Weight of the Ghosts We Inherit

🖊️ About Drew Huff

Drew Huff (she/her) is a queer horror and speculative fiction author and illustrator based in Washington State. Her debut novel, Free Burn, was released by Dark Matter INK in 2024, and her next cosmic horror release, The Divine Flesh, arrived March 2025. Her work explores themes of grief, addiction, emotional inheritance, and queer rage—with stories that don’t flinch from life’s ugliest truths.

She is currently preparing to relocate from a conservative hometown to Seattle in pursuit of creative community and healing. Drew is living proof that horror can be both a weapon and a mirror—and that survival doesn’t have to be silent.

📖 Books Mentioned:

• Free Burn (2024) – Rage-fueled, grief-scarred splatterpunk debut
• Landlocked in Foreign Skin (2025) – Queer sci-fi novella about isolation, identity, and transformation
• The Divine Flesh – Cosmic horror meets spiritual collapse
• Sweetthing (WIP) – Sapphic vampire tale and religious satire
• Exodus (2026) – Halloween-themed horror with a monster family at its core
• Run to Beat the Devil (WIP) – A character’s slow realization she’s become the very monster she feared

🧠 Topics Covered:

• The emotional violence of losing an abusive parent without resolution
• The actual cost of grief (financial, psychological, existential)
• Processing trauma through horror—why King gets it
• Mental health hierarchies: why people shut down at “the hard stuff”
• Writing characters who are harder to love than the monsters
• Queer loneliness in rural America—and finding strength outside the mainstream
• Rebuilding your life from scratch at 26—when it feels like the world has already swallowed you

🔗 Where to Follow Drew:

• Website: drewehuff.com
• Instagram: @druhuf
• X/Twitter: @dreadnought_dru

What do you get when you cross two horror-loving writers, a glow-in-the-dark monster, and a six-year-old in a Jason mask? A conversation that’s equal parts creepy, creative, and surprisingly grounded.

Vienna and John join Corey (with Kendall in the main episode) to talk about their upcoming gothic novel Victoria Frankenstein, how horror shaped their relationship, and why fear is sometimes the most honest tool for growth. From Halloween chaos and killer clowns to writing trauma into fiction and raising spooky kids, this episode dives into horror as a lifestyle, a lens, and a language.

They break down their reimagined Frankenstein mythology (no erotica here, thank you), their DIY book design process, and how horror helps them, and their daughter, understand red flags, emotional safety, and the world at large.

Scream Together, Dream Together

🕷️ Topics Include:

• A new Frankenstein myth rooted in science, not sorcery (and glowing veins!)
• Vienna’s goth-mom origin story and John's fear-as-community philosophy
• Horror as emotional training: how spooky movies taught survival instincts
• Trick-or-treat streets, horror cons, and the great Fear Street defense
• Raising a “spooky girl” with good boundaries and better costumes
• Building a book series as a couple without killing each other
• Favorite final people and why Ready or Not still slaps
• How the Horror Heals podcast sparked personal reflection

🔬 About Victoria Frankenstein

Vienna and John’s debut novel reimagines Mary Shelley’s monster through a gothic-sci-fi lens, centered on a woman forced to rebuild her life after unleashing something she may not be able to stop. There’s bioluminescent blood, a juggernaut creature, and zero apologies for staying rooted in real science. Book one of The Dread Legacies series drops October 1st.

📚 Referenced in This Episode:

• Fear Street trilogy
• Ready or Not, The Others, Killer Klowns from Outer Space
• Dream House, Goosebumps, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
• Victoria Frankenstein: The Dread Legacies, Book One (pre-order coming soon)

👻 Stay Connected:

• Follow Vienna and John on Instagram: @dreadlegacies

In this cathartic and wonderfully chaotic episode of Horror Heals, Corey and Kendall sit down with cult horror icon Sean Whalen, best known as Roach from Wes Craven’s The People Under the Stairs, to talk about sock monsters, emotional healing, and his directorial debut, Crust.

Sean opens up about how Crust was born out of a deep depression following his divorce, and how he used humor, horror, and a laundry-dwelling murder sock to process grief and rage. The conversation dives into mental health, chosen family, fan community, and why horror may be the only genre where you never “age out," you just become more beloved.

From the early days working with Wes Craven to Sean’s plans for his next film (Swipe — it’s wild, just wait), this episode is a raw, hilarious, and unexpectedly uplifting look at how horror creates space for healing, connection, and unapologetic weirdness.

Sean Whalen Spills His Guts On Depression, Directing & the Power of Horror

🧠 Themes We Explore:

• Using horror as therapy for depression and grief
• How Crust became a love letter to weirdos and survivors
• The importance of horror conventions and chosen family
• Fans who don’t just support you, they show up with merch money
• The power of unconventional final girls and character actors
• What Wes Craven taught Sean about humanity in horror
• The emotional realism behind The People Under the Stairs
• Upcoming horror project Swipe, featuring… a bladed dildo? Yep.
• Why horror fans are the best fans (and Sean agrees!)

🩸 Mentioned in This Episode:

• 🎬 Crust (2024) on Tubi
• 🧦 The People Under the Stairs – IMDb
• 🎥 Late Night with the Devil, Smile 2, The Substance, and other indie horror gems
• 💡 Sean on TikTok – where horror meets hilarity

👻 Final Person Spotlight

Every episode, Corey and Kendall ask their guest: Who’s your favorite final person in horror?

Sean’s pick? Laurie Strode from Halloween — a misfit who survives because of her quiet strength and vulnerability.

(Also, she knows when to stab and when to scream.)

🎤 Guest Bio: Sean Whalen

Sean Whalen is a veteran character actor and fan-favorite in the horror world, with credits in The People Under the Stairs, Twister, Hatchet III, Never Been Kissed, and many more. With over 30 years in the industry, Sean recently made his directorial debut with Crust — a horror-comedy born from real-life heartbreak and a whole lot of indie spirit. He’s known for his deep connection with horror fans, his dark sense of humor, and his ongoing mission to make meaningful, weird, and heartfelt films.

🔗 Connect & Support

• Follow Sean Whalen:
• 📸 @sean_whalen_actor
• Follow Horror Heals:
• 🖤 @horrorhealspodcast on Instagram

What if your deepest trauma gave birth to the monster that saved you? In this revealing and powerful episode, we sink our teeth into a transformative conversation with a horror author and former teacher who quite literally wrote his way through pain—by creating werewolves.

After surviving a devastating car accident that left him with a broken back and a new reality filled with PTSD, nightmares, and cognitive setbacks, our guest found traditional therapy wasn't enough. What helped him claw his way out? Horror. Writing. Monsters. And a full moon’s worth of metaphor.

We explore how horror stories—particularly werewolves—became a vessel for healing, expression, and identity. From early literary love affairs with The Hobbit and Tales from the Crypt, to sneaking horror flicks as a kid, to launching a publishing press for authors seeking catharsis through darkness, this episode shows how horror isn’t just scary—it’s sacred.

A Werewolf Saved My Life

What We Talk About in This Episode:

• How a real-life trauma led to the creation of therapeutic monster fiction
• Why werewolves are the perfect metaphor for mental health and transformation
• The evolution from fantasy reader to horror writer
• Growing up on Poe, Price, and Friday the 13th
• The damaging effects of book banning—and why horror should be in the classroom
• Why horror helps kids process anxiety
• How creative outlets can be more effective than traditional therapy for some
• Launching a new horror anthology series, Dead Avenue, to showcase healing through fear

Links & Resources:

🐺 Visit Reader2Writer.com to explore books and the new Dead Avenue anthology

📚 Interested in writing horror as healing? Keep an eye on Reader to Writer Press for future submissions

🎧 Follow Horror Heals for more stories where the shadows offer shelter

In this episode of the Horror Heals podcast, Corey and Kendall are joined by the talented horror author Rachel M. Martens, who has made a career out of writing stories that not only thrill, but also serve as a therapeutic outlet. From childhood favorites like Scooby-Doo to deep dives into the gothic classics, Rachel’s love for horror has been a consistent thread throughout her life, and it's one that has helped her process trauma, overcome personal struggles, and ultimately find her voice as a writer.

Therapy in Terror: Why Horror is Good for the Mind

Rachel shares how writing horror has been a method of healing, helping her transform painful experiences into powerful, haunting tales that resonate with readers. She takes us on a journey through her writing process, including the influence of Edgar Allen Poe and classic gothic horror, and how her characters evolve as they battle their own demons. We also discuss her Poe series, which blends psychological horror with deeply personal themes of PTSD, depression, and healing, creating a world where the darkness isn't something to shy away from, but something that empowers.

Throughout this conversation, Rachel’s passion for horror as a tool for mental wellness is clear. She explains how horror, whether through books, movies, or writing, allows us to confront our fears in a controlled space, providing us with the strength to face what’s lurking in the shadows of our own lives.

If you’re a fan of horror or just want to hear more about how creative expression can help us heal, this episode is a must-listen!

Guest Bio: Rachel M. Martens

Rachel M. Martens is a talented horror author whose work delves deep into the shadows of the human experience, blending gothic horror with psychological thrillers. Her passion for horror, which began in childhood, has shaped both her writing and her personal journey of healing. Drawing inspiration from classic figures like Edgar Allan Poe and the works of gothic horror legends, Rachel’s stories explore themes of trauma, grief, PTSD, and the strength found in confronting darkness head-on.

Rachel is the author of the Poe series, a gothic thriller that brings to life the terrifying and empowering world of a young woman battling a family curse, all while grappling with her own emotional scars. Her writing is not just a creative outlet but a form of catharsis, allowing her to process personal struggles and offer readers a sense of empowerment through powerful endings and haunting tales.

As an active member of the horror community, Rachel has embraced the camaraderie found at conventions and events, connecting with fans and fellow authors alike. With each book, she continues to inspire those who turn to horror for both entertainment and healing, proving that sometimes, the scariest stories hold the most transformative power.

This week on Horror Heals, we’re serving glamour, gore, and a whole lot of gratitude with none other than the high priestess of horror drag herself—Peaches Christ! 🎃👑💋

From her locker full of Fangoria centerfolds to commanding the San Francisco Symphony stage as Pinhead with fla-tits (you read that right), Peaches takes us on a full-throttle ride through her haunted, hilarious, and heartfelt journey. Along the way, we summon the spirits of John Waters, Divine, Elvira, Tim Curry, Heather Langenkamp, Adrienne King, Amanda Wyss, and Chloris Leachman—yes, all in one episode.

✨ Topics we sink our fangs into:

• Catholic schoolgirl horror and the bedroom that got a priest to do a blessing
• How Wes Craven and horror legends inspired survival and identity
• Peaches’ horror-soaked drag origin story—from Elvira to Frank-N-Furter
• Behind-the-scenes tea on meeting Tim Curry, working with Cassandra Peterson, and that iconic elevator moment with Nancy & Tina
• The legacy of Rocky Horror Picture Show, Nightmare on Elm Street, and Friday the 13th
• Building chosen family through drag and the power of celebration over cruelty
• Creating immersive horror experiences like Terror Vault
• Why horror drag is finally breaking into the mainstream (hi, Boulay Brothers!)
• Hope, horror, and being loud in a world that’s trying to silence us

🎤 Plus: A tribute to Nancy Thompson, a love letter to Adrienne King, and one very rogue moment with Chloris Leachman that involves a wig and a lap.

This episode is a lovefest to horror, queerness, drag, and the radical act of being exactly who you are—even when the world tells you not to. So don your fiercest wig, light your cult candles, and get ready to feel seen, slayed, and celebrated.

🩸 Episode Trigger Warning: We talk about bullying, religious trauma, political rhetoric, and safety for queer and trans communities in today’s climate—with love, strength, and dark humor.

👑 Guest Bio: Peaches Christ

Peaches Christ is the cult movie queen, horror hostess, drag icon, and all-around underground legend whose work has helped redefine the intersections of horror, queerness, and theatrical spectacle. Known for her long-running Midnight Mass movie series in San Francisco, Peaches has spent decades paying reverent, riotous tribute to cult classics and the queer creatives behind them.

She’s the mastermind behind immersive horror experiences like Terror Vault, the writer-director of the beloved horror-comedy All About Evil, and a celebrated performer who’s taken the stage everywhere from haunted attractions to highbrow symphony halls (often in Cenobite couture).

A drag mother to icons like Jinkx Monsoon and Bob the Drag Queen, Peaches is also a champion of horror’s healing power, creating space for misfits, Final Girls, and everyone in between to feel seen—and fabulous.

From her early days as a horror-obsessed Catholic school kid to rubbing elbows (and elevator rides) with Elvira, Tim Curry, John Waters, Heather Langenkamp, and Adrienne King, Peaches’ story is proof that when you embrace the strange, the world gets a whole lot more beautiful.

🌐 Find Peaches Christ Online:

• 💻 Website: peacheschrist.com
• 🧛 Instagram: @thepeacheschrist
• 🩸 Twitter/X:

Is it possible for a witch to change the world? If you're Borah!, the answer is a wickedly enthusiastic YES.

In this enchanting episode of Horror Heals, we sit down with Salem’s spellbinding star, Borah! — the beloved persona of Brian Sims, who has become a mainstay in the spooky streets of Salem and a symbol of joy, healing, and self-expression for thousands.

Borah! The Witch Who Cast a Spell on Salem (and Us!)

We talk about:

• How a viral German witch dance sparked the creation of Borah!
• Moving to Salem and discovering a deeper connection to self and community
• What it's like officiating weddings (and divorce parties!) as a fabulous witch
• The healing power of horror, Halloween, and embracing your weirdness
• Stories of fans and strangers whose lives have been touched by Borah!'s presence
• Ghosts, haunted places, abandoned resorts — and why we love them
• And yes… why Jamie Lee Curtis needs to come on Horror Heals 🧡

Whether you’ve seen Borah! twirling through the Halloween streets of Salem, judging costume contests at cons, or spreading joy online, this episode is a celebration of the magic that happens when you fully become you.

Don’t miss this one — it’s warm, funny, heartfelt, and just a little witchy.

Guest Bio:

🧹 Meet Borah! (aka Brian Sims)

Borah! is the high-heeled, high-spirited witch alter ego of Brian Sims — a performer, creator, and community figure based in Salem, Massachusetts. What started as a Halloween witch dance in 2016 has evolved into a year-round celebration of spooky joy, inclusion, and personal expression. Borah! is a regular fixture at cons like Silver Scream and Spooky Empire, a judge of costume contests, an officiant of wonderfully weird weddings, and a source of healing and laughter for thousands who encounter them in person and online.

Borah!’s mission? To remind everyone that it's okay to be different, weird, and wildly yourself — and that sometimes, the best magic is just being seen and celebrated.

Follow Borah! on Instagram: @salemsblackhatsociety

In this deeply revealing and powerful episode of Horror Heals, hosts Corey and Kendall Stulce welcome Andy Grant, creator and host of the Real Men Feel podcast, for an unflinching exploration of how horror and esoteric teachings became vital to his survival and healing journey. Andy’s path, marked by battling depression and suicide attempts, took an unexpected turn into the shadowy worlds of ancient mystery schools, unlocking tools to embrace emotional vulnerability and resilience through the symbolic power of horror.

Suicide Attempts, Mystery Schools, and Healing Via Horror

Episode Highlights:

• Surviving Through Horror: Andy courageously details his darkest moments—surviving multiple suicide attempts—and reveals how engaging with horror provided an unexpected lifeline, helping him process trauma safely and profoundly.
• Ancient Mysteries and Modern Fears: Discover how Andy's immersive experiences with esoteric mystery schools transformed his understanding of fear and darkness, aligning seamlessly with horror’s potent symbols to provide genuine emotional catharsis.
• Breaking Free from Toxic Masculinity: Corey, Kendall, and Andy passionately explore how horror subverts harmful stereotypes about masculinity, empowering men to feel deeply, share authentically, and reject society’s emotional limitations.
• Transformative Tools for the Horror Fan: Learn how Andy incorporates mindfulness, gratitude rituals, and creative self-expression as practical healing methods—demonstrating how horror fandom and spiritual practices intersect powerfully to promote mental wellness.
• Finding Family in the Shadows: Andy reflects on the supportive, judgment-free embrace he found within the horror community, offering meaningful connection, empathy, and understanding for those who navigate mental health struggles.

About Andy Grant:

Andy Grant is the compelling voice and heart behind the Real Men Feel podcast. As a survivor, transformational energy coach, author, and suicide prevention advocate, Andy openly shares his story of mental health struggles and self-discovery. Combining emotional authenticity, ancient wisdom, and modern horror insights, Andy helps others embrace their full humanity and heal through the power of vulnerability.

Connect with Andy:

• TheAndyGrant.com
• Instagram: @theandygrant
• Facebook: Andy Grant

Resources Mentioned:

• Real Men Feel Podcast
• Book: Still Here: How to Succeed in Life After Failing at Suicide