The Horror Heals Podcast

How the Cow Ate the Cabbage LLC

The Horror Heals Podcast is about how horror culture, movies, and performers aid so many of us with mental wellness. Firsthand we’ve seen and heard the power of horror to help us feel better mentally. (Being part of the horror convention community is great for lowering our anxiety!)Here’s the “why and how” of the Horror Heals Podcast:Kendall and Corey host the podcast with guests on each episode, including horror enthusiasts who are willing to share their stories about how horror has helped them heal, be it from trauma, anxiety, depression, or whatever their circumstances.They will also feature luminaries from the horror world who will share—one—how being part of the community is great for their own mental health and—two—will share stories of meeting fans and their experiences with healing through horror.After hosting our successful Family Twist podcast for two years, Kendall and Corey pondered a horror podcast, but with so many in existence, we wondered, “How can we be heard in the noise?” Corey had an “aha” moment at the horror convention earlier this year.He was in line to meet director, Sam Raimi, packed in tightly. Corey observed a young man in the next row, clearly nearing a panic attack. He was obviously in distress. Corey was about to ask the people in front of and behind him if they wouldn’t mind holding his spot in line so he could step away if he needed to. Then someone asked the young man about the stack of DVDs he was holding.Immediately, the distressed young man’s demeanor changed. The anxiety seemed to melt away as he chatted with his new friend. He was seemingly fine and relaxed for the duration of the line. That is the healing magic of horror—just one example of many.

  1. 16h ago

    The Monsters We Call Family

    Send us Fan Mail What if the hardest people to face aren't the monsters? They're family. This week on Horror Heals, Kendall sits down with actor, writer, and producer Rae Jones to celebrate Soul Sisters, a Halloween-set horror short that proves family reunions can be every bit as terrifying as the darkest haunted house. The film follows three estranged sisters who come together hoping to reconnect, exchange gifts, and put the past behind them. Instead, old wounds reopen, trust is tested, and long-buried trauma collides with dark humor and horror in ways that feel both unsettling and surprisingly relatable. The conversation quickly becomes personal. Kendall shares how his own adoption journey and relationships with half-siblings unexpectedly mirrored some of the emotions at the heart of Soul Sisters, leading to a thoughtful discussion about fractured families, giving people grace, and the stories we inherit from the people who raised us and the people we find later in life. It's also a celebration of independent horror and the incredible women bringing fresh voices to the genre. Rae Jones is an actor, writer, and producer passionate about telling character-driven horror stories that blend emotion, humor, and suspense. She stars alongside Kamaria Williams, actor, filmmaker, and Horror Heals alum whose previous appearance quickly became one of our favorite conversations about representation, creativity, and finding community through horror. Kamaria continues to champion diverse voices both in front of and behind the camera. Rounding out the trio is Amber Watson, whose performance helps ground the film's emotional core while navigating the complicated dynamics of sisters trying to reconnect after years apart. Along the way, Kendall and Rae celebrate practical effects, haunted attractions, horror dates, final girls, and why scary movies have a unique ability to help us process grief, trauma, and the complicated relationships that shape who we become. Because every family has secrets. Some are just a little deadlier than others. Is horror good for mental wellness? Of corpse it is. In this episode: The inspiration behind Soul SistersThree sisters, one Halloween, and a reunion gone terribly wrongFamily trauma, half-siblings, and found familyWhy horror and comedy belong togetherIndependent filmmaking and women in horrorHorror as catharsis, connection, and communityWhy the monsters we fear most sometimes share our last nameThank 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.

    39 min

  2. Jun 9

    Why Rocky Horror Still Makes Us Feel Seen with Linus O'Brien

    Send us Fan Mail Let's do the Time Warp. This week, Corey speaks with filmmaker Linus O'Brien, director of Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror and son of Richard O'Brien, for a conversation that feels like hanging out in the lobby after a midnight screening. They talk about Tim Curry's impossible-to-replicate charisma, the magic of Frank-N-Furter, growing up around Rocky Horror, and how a movie that was never supposed to become a phenomenon somehow found millions of people who desperately needed it. For Corey and Kendall, Rocky Horror isn't just a favorite movie. It's part of their story. Their first Halloween together involved weeks of building screen-accurate Eddie and Frank-N-Furter costumes, homemade makeup, a leather jacket sacrificed in the name of authenticity, and a second- and third-place finish at a midnight screening costume contest. More than twenty years later, they still have a Rocky Horror display in their TV room. Because that's what Rocky does. It stays with you. Whether you discovered it in a theater, at a convention, through friends who handed you a bag of props, or by sneaking a VHS tape when nobody was looking, Rocky Horror has always been about finding your people and celebrating what makes you different. And because audience participation is mandatory, there may be a little surprise waiting in this episode that we think the Rocky faithful will appreciate. So grab your fishnets, your toast, your newspapers, and maybe a squirt gun. It's astounding. Of corpse it is. 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.

    30 min

  3. Jun 2

    Why Horror Fans Feel Like Family with Spooky Kisses, Part 2

    Send us Fan Mail In part two of our conversation with Spooky Kisses, the discussion shifts from haunted attractions and horror conventions to something even more interesting: the people who make these communities feel like home. We talk about why horror fans are some of the most loyal and passionate people you'll ever meet, the friendships that form inside haunt casts, and why so many scare actors describe their haunted attraction family as exactly that, a family. Along the way, we discuss iconic haunts like Pennhurst Asylum, Haunted Overload, Field of Screams, and The Darkness, plus Terrifier, The Ring, horror conventions, creepy wells, grave robbers, chainsaw scares, and the surprising number of nurses and healthcare professionals who spend their free time terrifying strangers. Spooky Kisses also shares her plans for the future of her show, her dream of bringing celebrities through haunted attractions, and why she believes horror can appeal to far more than just die-hard haunt fans. Most importantly, we explore one of the themes that keeps coming up on Horror Heals: sometimes the people who feel like outsiders everywhere else find acceptance, belonging, and community through horror. 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.

    25 min

  4. May 26

    Why Horror People Always Find Each Other with Spooky Kisses

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when horror fans sit down and just start talking? In part one of our conversation with Spooky Kisses, we go everywhere, haunted attractions, horror conventions, scare acting, creepy abandoned places, terrifying childhood memories of secretly watching The Exorcist, and why horror fans always seem to find each other. We talk about iconic haunts like Pennhurst Asylum, Haunted Overload, and The Darkness, plus Corey’s old journalism days working with haunted attractions in St. Louis. There’s also a surprising amount of conversation about Terrifier 3, creepy wells from The Ring, grave robbers in Pennsylvania, and one unforgettable family photo with Kane Hodder. But underneath all the horror nerding out, this episode also gets into something bigger: why horror spaces can feel so welcoming to outsiders, weird kids, healthcare workers, neurodivergent people, and anyone looking for a place to belong. Because sometimes haunted houses and horror conventions really do become a second family. Part 2 next week!  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.

    27 min

  5. May 19

    Horror, Anxiety, and the Videos We Shouldn’t Have Watched

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when the internet stops feeling like entertainment and starts feeling like a nightmare? On this episode of Horror Heals, Corey and Kendall talk with filmmaker Zack Ogle about his unsettling indie horror film It Needs Eyes, a story about isolation, disturbing online imagery, unreliable reality, and the strange emotional pull of internet rabbit holes. Zack discusses how growing up online shaped the film, from creepy internet lore and disturbing viral videos to the way social media and AI are changing how we process fear, truth, and human connection. The conversation also explores horror as emotional release, the psychology of ambiguous endings, found footage influences, and why horror audiences often seek out stories that make them deeply uncomfortable. Corey and Kendall also talk with Zack about taking the film on a grassroots national theater tour instead of relying on the traditional festival-to-streaming path, creating a more personal connection between filmmakers and horror fans across the country. If you’ve ever gone down a late-night internet rabbit hole, watched something you immediately regretted, or found comfort in horror’s ability to externalize anxiety, this episode will probably hit close to home. It Needs Eyes is currently touring theaters nationwide. Horror Heals asks: Is horror good for mental wellness? Of corpse it is.  Zack Ogle Bio Zack Ogle is an indie filmmaker, writer, and director whose work blends psychological horror, surreal imagery, and internet-age anxiety into deeply unsettling cinematic experiences. He is the co-creator and director of It Needs Eyes, an award-winning horror thriller that premiered on the festival circuit before launching a grassroots national theater tour. Inspired by internet folklore, found footage horror, online subcultures, and the emotional realities of growing up chronically online, Zack’s filmmaking explores fear, identity, obsession, and the blurry line between reality and perception. His work often combines experimental visuals, dream logic, and emotionally grounded characters to create horror that feels both intimate and deeply unnerving. In addition to directing, Zack is passionate about independent film distribution and building direct connections with horror audiences through live screenings, Q&As, and community-driven events.  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.

    23 min

  6. May 12

    From Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark to creating with blood and hair

    Send us Fan Mail Horror fans don’t just consume stories. A lot of us create because of them. In this episode of Horror Heals, Corey sits down with horror-inspired artist Christian Baloga for a deeply personal conversation about fear, trauma, creativity, and why horror has always felt like home for outsiders and survivors. Before the interview, Kendall reflects on the unique emotional honesty found in horror-inspired art, from paintings and tattoos to sculptures, masks, and mixed media creations. Horror fans often take fear, grief, anxiety, loneliness, and trauma and transform them into something tangible, beautiful, disturbing, and healing all at once. And Christian embodies that completely. Known for his gothic, horror-inspired artwork, Christian creates intensely personal pieces using unconventional materials including human hair and his own blood. His work has even been featured by Ripley's Believe It or Not!, which acquired several of his intricate life-sized hair sculptures. But beneath the striking imagery is something deeply human. Christian opens up about growing up with a difficult childhood, finding comfort in horror films and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, and how horror became a safe way to process emotions that otherwise felt impossible to face directly. There’s one quote from this episode that perfectly captures the spirit of Horror Heals: “Horror is that one genre that lets you metabolize anxiety instead of suppressing it.”  Corey and Christian also talk about:  Why horror endings felt comforting during childhood  Using creativity as survival and emotional release  Working with hair and blood as artistic mediums  Horror movies as a bonding experience in relationships  Tattoos, cemeteries, gothic aesthetics, and self-expression  Why horror fans are often some of the most emotionally expressive people This is a shorter episode, but it’s one of the most heartfelt conversations we’ve had about horror, art, and what it means to turn pain into creation. Is horror good for mental wellness? Of corpse it is. ABOUT CHRISTIAN BALOGA Christian Baloga is a Pennsylvania-based artist whose work blends horror, gothic imagery, sculpture, photography, jewelry, tattoo experimentation, and mixed media art into deeply personal creations rooted in identity, emotion, and survival. Using unconventional materials including human hair and blood, Christian creates work that is both unsettling and intimate, exploring the connection between the body, memory, fear, and healing. His intricate sculptures have been acquired by Ripley's Believe It or Not!, and his art continues to resonate with horror fans drawn to deeply emotional and original work. Learn more at Christian Baloga’s Website 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.

    17 min

  7. May 5

    The Final Girl Isn’t Lucky. She’s Prepared

    Send us Fan Mail What if horror isn’t just entertainment, but a tool for survival? In this episode of Horror Heals, Corey sits down with clinical psychologist Dr. Lana Holmes to explore how horror movies mirror real-life trauma, resilience, and mental health. From hiding behind the couch as a kid to integrating horror into her clinical work, Dr. Holmes shares how the genre can help people process fear, build coping strategies, and better understand themselves. Corey and Dr. Holmes dig into the psychology behind the “final girl,” why taking the threat seriously matters both on screen and in real life, and how horror can prepare us for moments of uncertainty, chaos, and change. They also explore:  Why people connect with villains like Freddy and Jason  How horror helped some people navigate the pandemic  The real meaning behind horror “rules”  Why horror is one of the most creative storytelling spaces today  How trauma shows up in films like Halloween and ScreamIf you’ve ever wondered why horror sticks with you, or why it sometimes feels strangely empowering, this conversation will change the way you see the genre. Is horror good for mental wellness? Of corpse it is. ABOUT DR. LANA HOLMES Dr. Lana Holmes is a licensed clinical psychologist and the founder of Inclusive Therapy & Wellness, where she specializes in trauma, anxiety, and depression. Her work focuses on supporting individuals from marginalized and underrepresented communities, creating a space that is affirming, culturally responsive, and grounded in real-world experiences. A self-described pop culture enthusiast and lifelong horror fan, Dr. Holmes incorporates media, including horror films, into her clinical approach to help clients better understand fear, survival, and resilience. Her perspective blends deep clinical expertise with a genuine love of storytelling, making complex psychological concepts accessible and relatable. Learn more: https://www.inclusivetherapywellness.com/lana 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.

    21 min

  8. Apr 28

    From Freddy to Fine Art, How Whit Hertford Uses Creativity to Heal

    Send us Fan Mail What happens when horror, art, and real-life trauma all collide? In this episode, we sit down with Whit Hertford, known to horror fans as Jacob from A Nightmare on Elm Street 5 and to movie lovers as the kid who gets shocked in Jurassic Park. But this conversation goes way beyond film credits. Whit opens up about losing his father at age 10 and how creativity became his way of processing grief, long before he had the language for it. From acting and writing to abstract painting and even cooking, he shares how art has served as a constant, grounding force through life’s hardest moments. We also dive into:  His experiences as a child actor in the horror world  Why horror fans and conventions feel like true community  The surprising healing power of abstract art  His current creative work, including a dark, surreal film project inspired by Eraserhead Shakespeare, storytelling, and why deeper meaning evolves with age This is one of those conversations that starts with horror, but quickly becomes something much bigger, about identity, loss, creativity, and finding your way forward. If you’ve ever used movies, art, or storytelling to cope with something difficult, this episode will hit home. Because at the end of the day… is horror good for mental wellness? Of corpse it is. 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.

    46 min
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4.9
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

The Horror Heals Podcast is about how horror culture, movies, and performers aid so many of us with mental wellness. Firsthand we’ve seen and heard the power of horror to help us feel better mentally. (Being part of the horror convention community is great for lowering our anxiety!)Here’s the “why and how” of the Horror Heals Podcast:Kendall and Corey host the podcast with guests on each episode, including horror enthusiasts who are willing to share their stories about how horror has helped them heal, be it from trauma, anxiety, depression, or whatever their circumstances.They will also feature luminaries from the horror world who will share—one—how being part of the community is great for their own mental health and—two—will share stories of meeting fans and their experiences with healing through horror.After hosting our successful Family Twist podcast for two years, Kendall and Corey pondered a horror podcast, but with so many in existence, we wondered, “How can we be heard in the noise?” Corey had an “aha” moment at the horror convention earlier this year.He was in line to meet director, Sam Raimi, packed in tightly. Corey observed a young man in the next row, clearly nearing a panic attack. He was obviously in distress. Corey was about to ask the people in front of and behind him if they wouldn’t mind holding his spot in line so he could step away if he needed to. Then someone asked the young man about the stack of DVDs he was holding.Immediately, the distressed young man’s demeanor changed. The anxiety seemed to melt away as he chatted with his new friend. He was seemingly fine and relaxed for the duration of the line. That is the healing magic of horror—just one example of many.

Information

  • Creator
    How the Cow Ate the Cabbage LLC
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    79
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 How the Cow Ate the Cabbage LLC
  • Show Website
    The Horror Heals Podcast

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