Staring Into the Abyss: A Podcast

Staring Into The Abyss podcast is a round-table discussion of all things horror. Join hosts and authors Richard Gerlach, Matt Brandenburg, and Villimey Mist as they discuss a horror story of the week, along with the latest releases in horror films, television, games, and literature every Thursday.

Angela of Death with John Cady 04/17/2025

Angela of Death with John Cady Happy Death Day to us all!!! This week the gang welcomes John Cady to discuss his book series Angela of Death. Before learning about the intricices of Death, they chat about Martha Wells' Murderbot Diaries, Lily by Daniel Barnett, 825 Forest Road, Charlene Elsby's The Organization Is Here to Support You, TRVE CVLT by Michael Bettendorf, and Eric LaRocca's This Skin Was Once Mine and Other Distrubances. /episode/index/show/staringintotheabyss/id/36189610

In Our Skin by Kelsea Yu 04/03/2025

In Our Skin by Kelsea Yu Come on down and get yourself some horror podcast fun!! This week the Abyss gang dives into mother daughter trauma and cyber bodies in Kelsea Yu's In Our Skin. Before that they chat about The Rule of Jenny Penn, Ghoulish Book Fest, Ryan C. Bradley's Say Uncle, Puppet's Banquet by Valkyrie Loughcrewe, Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins, and The Devil in the Family. /episode/index/show/staringintotheabyss/id/35966740

She Sheds Her Skin by Raven Jakubowski 03/13/2025

She Sheds Her Skin by Raven Jakubowski Hey yo Children! Welcome back to the podcast hour! This week the Abyss crew tackles She Sheds Her Skin by Raven Jakubowski. Before diving in, they chat about Common Side Effects, Invincible, Evil, Daredevil: Born Again, and Ghosts. Now sit down and listen in! /episode/index/show/staringintotheabyss/id/35670450

The Vaults of Yoh-Vombis by Clark Ashton Smith 03/06/2025

The Vaults of Yoh-Vombis by Clark Ashton Smith Do you have a minute to accept head slugs as our lords and saviors? This week the gang go on a pulpy adventure to Mars to discuss The Vaults of Yoh-Vombis by Clark Ashton Smith. Before removing their hats and giving their craniums up to the slugs, they chat about Pantheon, The Pitt, S.M. Stirling's Conan: Blood of the Serpent, The Heritic, The Black Maybe by Attila Veres, Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle, and Duncan Ralston's Puzzle House. Now give in to the head slugs and let them do their thing! /episode/index/show/staringintotheabyss/id/35544300

The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark 02/20/2025

The Dead Cat Tail Assassins by P. Djèlí Clark Roll for sanity! This week the Abyss gang dives into P. Djèlí Clark's The Dead Cat Tail Assassins. Before they get deep into this world, they discuss Cobra Kai, Captain America: Brave New World, Grotesquerie, Dexter: Original Sin, Brian McNaughton's The Throne of Bones, and Interplanetaries by Clark Ashton Smith. Awww, looks like you rolled a one, so you have to listen now! /episode/index/show/staringintotheabyss/id/35349685

The Abyss emerges into 2025 02/13/2025

The Abyss emerges into 2025 Holy crap we still exist! That's right folks, the Abyss gang is back! This time they discuss a bit about what they are looking forward to in 2025 as well get back into the swing of things by chatting what they've consummed recently. /episode/index/show/staringintotheabyss/id/35254750

Little Horn by Gemma Files 12/12/2024

Little Horn by Gemma Files Run! The Season is upon us! This week the Abyss crew asks the question "is it really boring being an antichrist?" as they talk about Gemma Files' Little Horn. Before finding the answer they chat about Creature Commandos, Brian Asman's Good Dogs, Vermus, Dark Property by Brian Evenson, The Hour of the Oxrun Dead by Charles L Grant, and Smile 2. Now pick up some coffee and check out that crazy face monster! /episode/index/show/staringintotheabyss/id/34394325

Random Abyss love for 2024 12/05/2024

Random Abyss love for 2024 It's the last friggin' month of the year! We at the Abyss thought it might be fun to discuss some things we liked throughout 2024. From graphic novels to movies to anime to books, it's a great look at what was happening. Now grab some eggnog and listen in! /episode/index/show/staringintotheabyss/id/34282905

I Believe in Mister Bones with Max Booth III 11/14/2024

I Believe in Mister Bones with Max Booth III Do you believe in bones? This week the Abyss crew gets Ghoulish with Max Booth to discuss their newest book I Believe in Mister Bones. Before they start questioning what those bones are doing, they chat about Heretic, Justin Lutz's Give Unto Us, The Flick by Annie Baker, Sinclair Lewis' It Can't Happen Here, and Tone-Bone by Kyle Winkler. Now strap those jaws to a garage door opener and listen in! /episode/index/show/staringintotheabyss/id/33913947

Spookiest time of year! 10/17/2024

Spookiest time of year! Grab your plastic pumpkins and Dollar Store skeletons! It's time for our annual Halloween season tradition of having Matt Wildasin on to discuss spooky stuff! This year we chat about what gets you in the mood for October. Before putting on our costumes, we review Teacup, Jonathan Maberry's The Dragon in Winter, Milk & Cereal, Critters, Bone Tomahawk, and Absolute Batman. Now turn the lights low, hand out some candy, and listen in! /episode/index/show/staringintotheabyss/id/33481277

Bonesoup by Eugenia Triantafyllou 10/10/2024

Bonesoup by Eugenia Triantafyllou Come get your podcasts here!! This week the whole Abyss crew is together to dig into some tasty Bonesoup by Eugenia Triantafyllou. Before visiting a witch for cooking tips, they chat up The WNUF Halloween Special, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Voidcon recap, Uzumaki, The Platform 2, Don't Hold Your Breath, and Whispers IV edited by Stuart David Schiff. Now make sure you eat every bite and listen in! /episode/index/show/staringintotheabyss/id/33389582

Come Closer by Sara Gran 10/03/2024

Come Closer by Sara Gran Did you hear they're making podcasts now? The Abyss crew, minus one, get together to discuss a demon with Sara Gran's Come Closer. Before they dig in, they chat about A Sunny Place for Shady People by Mariana Enriquez, The Circle, and Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2. Now slide those headphones on and listen in! /episode/index/show/staringintotheabyss/id/33297712

The Carnival is Dead and Gone by LC von Hessen 09/26/2024

The Carnival is Dead and Gone by LC von Hessen Y'all wanna buy a packet of flesh? This week the Abyss gang explores the wretched carnival district in LC von Hessen's The Carnival is Dead and Gone(in Cosmic Horror Monthly). Before they make a strange deal they discuss I was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones, Anthony Engebretson's Lumberjack, Morgana and Oz, Marvel's new run of Ultimate Spiderman, Stay on the Line by Clay McCleod Chapman, and Katherine Silva's Undead Folk. Now put on your mask and close the blinds, things are going to get Ligottian! /episode/index/show/staringintotheabyss/id/33200657

Back from the Abyss...again! 09/12/2024

Back from the Abyss...again! Somehow Staring Into The Abyss returned!! That's right, after a month of silence part of the gang is back. This week we take a look at what we've been reading and watching while we were gone, chatting up Danger Slater's Starlet, Umbrella Academy, A Spectre is Haunting Greentree by Carson Winter, Nathan Ballingrud's Crypt of the Moon Spider, Glass Stories by Ivy Grimes, Alien: Romulus, Scavenger's Reign, The Book of Bill by Bill Cipher, Baghead, and Taunt. Now, keep staring into that void and maybe we'll come back soon!!! /episode/index/show/staringintotheabyss/id/32972367

The Dissonance with Shaun Hamill 08/08/2024

The Dissonance with Shaun Hamill You all wanna do some magic?! This week the Abyss gang is joined by Shaun Hamill to discuss his new book The Dissonance. Before digging into his writing process and influences they chat about Trap, Patrick Barb's The Children's Horror, Longlegs, House of Bone and Rain by Gabino Iglesias, John Fram's No Road Home, Deadpool & Wolverine, Invaginies by Joe Koch, What We Do In the Shadows, and Scavenger's Reign. Now let's go in the woods and learn some secrets! /episode/index/show/staringintotheabyss/id/32481157

Where are the horror fiction sequels? 07/25/2024

Where are the horror fiction sequels? In a very special Abyss episode: sequels! The gang sits down to discuss horror fiction sequels and ask why don't we see more of them. Before this deep dive they chat about Josh Malerman's Incidents Around the House, Chronicles of the Black Company by Glen Cook, Moses Ose Utomi's The Lies of the Ajungo and The Truth of the Aleke, City in Ruins by Don Winslow, Longlegs, The Haunted Bath, and Haunted Reels: Tales From the Minds of Professional Filmmakers. Now get ready for the gang to be serious!!! /episode/index/show/staringintotheabyss/id/32273852

Paradise Retouched by Marc Laidlaw 07/18/2024

Paradise Retouched by Marc Laidlaw Let's join the abyss crew on vacation!!!! They found this cool little house in Hawaii, Marc Laidlaw suggested it in his story Paradise Retouched. Before they check out the pictures on the wall, they discuss My Favorite Thing is Monsters vol 2 by Emil Ferris, Ryo Hanada's Betwixt: A Horror Manga Anthology, and The Acolyte. Now listen in as we try to figure out who's whistling outside... /episode/index/show/staringintotheabyss/id/32178207

The Age of Decayed Futurity by Mark Samuels 07/04/2024

The Age of Decayed Futurity by Mark Samuels Remember when TVs had static? Crazy times! This week the Abyss gang find the truth behind the world in Mark Samuels' The Age of Decayed Futurity. Before freezing to death they discuss Thomas Ligotti's Michigan Basement, Ancient Images by Ramsey Campbell, A Cure For Wellness, Under the Banner of Heaven, Rob Ramierez's Doomsday Daytrip, and Cold, Black & Infinite by Todd Kiesling. Now strap in and get ready for the future! /episode/index/show/staringintotheabyss/id/31996952

Pride Month Short Story Twofer! 06/13/2024

Pride Month Short Story Twofer! Awww yeah, magically horror times ahead!! This week the Abyss gang discuss two short stories! Spirit Tasting for Ridley House, April 2016 by Alex Acks and You Were Once Wild Here by Carlie St. George. Before the dive into these amazing tales they take a look at Under Paris, Nathaniel Benchly's The Visitors, Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult, and Violent Faculties by Charlene Elsby. Now sit back and enjoy! /episode/index/show/staringintotheabyss/id/31715952

The Vast by Matt Wildasin 06/06/2024

The Vast by Matt Wildasin [Insert witty welcome here] This week the Abyss gang is joined by Matt Wildasin to discuss his new book The Vast. Before entering the apartment that might be from Silent Hill, they chat about In A Violent Nature, Furiosa, Clarkson's Farm, Bodkin, and Late Night With the Devil. Now fight back thoses ghosts and listen in! /episode/index/show/staringintotheabyss/id/31612672

Things are about to get weird 05/30/2024

Things are about to get weird You want the weird? I got your weird right here! This week the gang digs into some weird media outside of the book world. Before they get there they discuss Animal Well, I Saw the TV Glow, Carnosaur by Harry Adam Knight, Stephen King's You Like it Darker, Perchance to Dream: Selected Stories by Charles Beaumont, and Smarty Pants. Now let's get crazy, wait, no, I mean, let's get weird! /episode/index/show/staringintotheabyss/id/31511907

The Day of the Door with Laurel Hightower 05/09/2024

The Day of the Door with Laurel Hightower Calling all ghost and trauma enthusiasts! The Abyss crew wants you! Join them and Laurel Hightower as they delve deep into narcissim and hauntings in her newest book: The Day of the Door. Before exploring the past they discuss Matthew M. Bartlett's Creeping Waves, Rebel Moon, A Spectre is Haunting Greentree by Carson Winter, Michael Tichy's The Winnowing Draw, Them, Late Night With the Devil, The Fall of the House of Usher, Welcome to Your Body: Lessons in Evisceration, Dredge, and Peter Walker's Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving. Now, don't look behind you and listen in! /episode/index/show/staringintotheabyss/id/31194002

Clear Lake Killer: 1974 with Sean Malia Thompson 05/02/2024

Clear Lake Killer: 1974 with Sean Malia Thompson It's time kiddos! The Abyss crew talk with Sean Malia Thompson about his upcoming book Clear Lake Killer: 1974. Before that they discuss 2023, serial killers, and dive in to Abigail, Infested, Love LIes Bleeding, Humane, Baby Reindeer, and The Circle. Now dig and enjoy! /episode/index/show/staringintotheabyss/id/31068433

Reality But More Fun with Madeleine Swann 04/25/2024

Reality But More Fun with Madeleine Swann Oh goodie, another podcast episode! This week the Abyss gang is joined by Madeleine Swann to discuss how reality can be better and her new book Reality But More Fun. Before diving into this wacky theme park they chat about The First Omen, Godzilla and Godzilla Raids Again by Shigeru Kayama, The Boogeyman, American Fiction, Fallout, and Michael Tichy's The Winnowing Draw. Now step into the headset and listen in! /episode/index/show/staringintotheabyss/id/30965513

Contastic!!! 04/18/2024

Contastic!!! How many times can we say con in this episode?? This week the Abyss crew takes a look at cons. They share their opinions on do's and don'ts, expectations, and their general thoughts about those fun things that happens when creatives get in one giant space. Before con talk, they discuss Harlan Ellison's Greatest Hits, Suzume, Where Wolf by Rob Saucedo, and Fallout. Now strap in and get your con education! *Note: this is just our opinions and thoughts, by no means does this represent everyone's experience at a con. /episode/index/show/staringintotheabyss/id/30863218

The Mother of All Monsters by Paula D Ashe 03/28/2024

The Mother of All Monsters by Paula D Ashe Dear listners, have we got a podcast for you! This week the Abyss gang digs into the layers of being a parent to a serial killer with Paula D Ashe's The Mother of All Monsters. Before they chat about the extreme measures taken to ensure your child stops, they discuss Late Night With the Devil, The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa, The Program, Quiet on the Set, and Kelly Link's White Cat, Black Dog: Stories. /episode/index/show/staringintotheabyss/id/30568503

The Haunting of Velkwood with Gwendolyn Kiste 03/14/2024

The Haunting of Velkwood with Gwendolyn Kiste What's scarier than a haunted neighborhood? A new episode!! This week the Abyss gang is joined by Gwendolyn Kiste to discuss her newest book The Haunting of Velkwood. Before diving into the grief and ghosts, they chat about Poor Things, The Crimson Labyrinth by Yusuke Kishi, Jamison Shea's I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me, FEUD: Capote Vs. The Swans, The Program, Joshua Hull's Mouth, and Happiness. Be just a little afraid as we dig in to the past and listen in! /episode/index/show/staringintotheabyss/id/30354813

Abyss Spotlight on Black Horror Writers 02/22/2024

Abyss Spotlight on Black Horror Writers It's time, Abyss time!!! On this week's episode the Abyss crew sit down to spotlight some of their favorite Black horror writers and their books. Before the deep dive they discuss All the Fiends of Hell by Adam Nevill, Maurice Broaddus' Knights of Breton Court, The Kill List, Mark Russell's Cereal, Enchanted Pilgrimage by Clifford D. Simak, Invincible, and The Marvels. Now listen in and hopefully you'll find a new favorite writer! /episode/index/show/staringintotheabyss/id/30049618

Grasshands with Kyle Winker and Laurel Hightower 02/15/2024

Grasshands with Kyle Winker and Laurel Hightower Hey kids! You have your moss ready? Good, because you'll need it when the Abyss gang chat with Kyle Winkler and Laurel Hightower about Winkler's Grasshands! Before they dive into libraries and nature, they discuss the last issue of Vastarien, Hailey Piper's Even the Worm Will Turn, From the Belly by Emmett Nahil, Richard Mirabella's Brother & Sister Enter the Forest, Michael Cisco's Pest, and Dan Chaon's Sleepwalk. Now, start eating that moss and listen in!! /episode/index/show/staringintotheabyss/id/29951473

The Wishing Pool - Tananarive Due 02/08/2024

The Wishing Pool - Tananarive Due Ahhh yeah!!! You can't escape the Abyss! The Abyss crew is back and discussing Tananarive Due's The Wishing Pool. Before they tell you why you should be careful what you wish for, they chat up True Detective, American Fiction, Cobra Kai, Adam Nevill's All the Fiends of Hell, The Hangman Feeds the Jackal by Coy Hall, MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios by Joanna Robinson, Robert E Howard's The Coming of Conan, American Nightmare, Hailey Piper's Even the Worm Will Turn. Now get ready for another year of Staring Into the Abyss!! /episode/index/show/staringintotheabyss/id/29841353

Staring Into the Abyss: A Podcast

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