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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.

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.

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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 Scream

If 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.

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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.

Send us Fan Mail

Horror isn’t just about fear. For Kamaria Williams, it’s about healing.

In this episode of Horror Heals, we sit down with actor, writer, and filmmaker Kamaria Williams to explore how horror became her creative outlet and emotional processing tool. Growing up surrounded by horror films, Kamaria developed a deep connection to the genre, not because it scared her, but because it helped her understand the world.

We talk about her award-winning short film Haunted, inspired by her real-life fears as a new driver navigating Los Angeles and the deeper societal anxieties that come with it. Kamaria shares how horror allows her to explore moral dilemmas, identity, and the realities faced by marginalized communities in ways other genres simply cannot.

We also dive into:

• Why horror is one of the most honest reflections of society
• How horror helps process grief, fear, and depression
• The importance of representation in modern horror storytelling
• Why horror fans are more open to diverse voices
• The surprising humor inside even the darkest films

And of course, Kamaria answers our signature question about her favorite final survivor, with a twist you won’t see coming.

If you’ve ever used horror to cope, escape, or understand your own fears, this episode will hit home.

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.

Send us Fan Mail

It’s Christmas, dammnit, and Horror Heals is decking the halls with horror, heart, and holiday cheer.

This episode marks the relaunch of one of our most beloved Christmas conversations, featuring horror icon Jill Schoelen, actress, fan favorite, and now holiday music maker. Jill joins us to talk about returning to creativity after stepping away, why the horror community remains one of the most welcoming spaces around, and how Christmas music can coexist beautifully with a love of all things spooky.

We dive into Jill’s holiday release, Christmas Is Forever, including her joyful original song Mingle and Jingle, which is all about showing up for life, leaning into connection, and letting the season pull you back into the moment.

We also talk about one of the most fun horror holiday collaborations you will hear all year, Here Comes Santa Claus, featuring a lineup of horror royalty including Barbara Crampton, Judie Aronson, Diane Franklin, and more. It’s festive, playful, and proof that horror fans know how to bring the light when it counts.

Along the way, Jill shares thoughtful insight into why horror resonates so deeply with so many people, how fear can be cathartic rather than harmful, and why physical media like vinyl still matters, especially when it comes to art made with intention.

If the holidays are joyful for you, this episode adds to the fun. If the holidays are complicated, this episode reminds you that you are not alone.

Because horror has always been a home for outsiders, survivors, and people who feel deeply. And yes, even at Christmas.

Stream Jill’s music, support independent artists, hug your fellow weirdos, and remember, when someone asks, is horror good for mental wellness, you tell them, 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.

Send us Fan Mail

Black Christmas may have turned fifty last year, but its power has never faded. This episode is a relaunch of one of Horror Heals’ most important holiday conversations, revisiting why Bob Clark’s bleak, unsettling classic still feels disturbingly real decades later.

Corey and Kendall are joined by Lynne Griffin, who played Claire, one of the most enduring images in horror history. Together, they explore why Black Christmas refuses to age out of relevance, how fear of the unseen hits deeper than gore, and why this film continues to resonate with audiences who feel like outsiders.

The conversation moves beyond nostalgia into fandom, conventions, mental wellness, and the surprising comfort horror can bring during the darkest time of year. Lynn reflects on the strength of the film’s women, the strange intimacy of fan connections, and why horror fans often form some of the most compassionate communities.

This is not just a Christmas horror movie. It is a ritual. One that asks us to sit with discomfort, uncertainty, and survival.

And if you are still wondering, 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.

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.

Send us Fan Mail

To celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of Wicked, we bring you something rare and unexpected. Years ago Corey sat down with Gregory Maguire for a candid, hilarious and deeply thoughtful conversation about the moral complexity of Oz, the origins of Elphaba, the impact of politics on fantasy, and the loose ends that make his work feel so human. The original audio has been lost to time. But with the help of AI we rebuilt the conversation from Corey’s transcript. And because it is Horror Heals we could not resist adding a twist. The recreated Corey voice is performed as a British woman named Imogen, which gives the entire interview a surprising charm.

What makes this conversation special is how timely it still feels. Gregory speaks openly about public rage, war, art under pressure, and the ways fantasy helps us process the truths we cannot face directly. He talks about readers who misinterpret his work, fans who adore his characters, and the younger audiences who discovered Wicked through the musical and wanted more. He also shares early and often painful stories from his first book signings, which proves that even bestselling authors start small.

Corey opens the episode by explaining why The Wizard of Oz has always carried a streak of horror. Baum’s original books, the classic MGM film, and the darker modern retellings all share unsettling elements. Flying monkeys. Bewitched forests. Shifting reality. Dreams that turn against you. For many of us, Oz was our first exposure to the uncanny, long before we had the vocabulary for horror. It is no surprise that fans of Wicked often overlap with fans of the horror genre.

This special episode blends nostalgia, literature, Oz lore and the darker emotional themes that make Wicked endure. Whether you came for the witch, the musical, or the monsters under the yellow brick road, this conversation shines a light on why Gregory Maguire’s world continues to resonate.

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.