Matriarchs of Horror

Hello, Matriarchs! Today's episode is an oldie but goodie. Back in February I had the opportunity to interview 'Victorian Psycho' author, Virginia Feito. In fact, Feito was one of the very first guests on the podcast. To celebrate the release of the film adaptation hitting theaters this Friday, I thought I would re-release our conversation. I would also highly recommend you go and read the book before watching the film because it just hits differently.

Hello, Matriarchs! If you're sick of AI popping up everywhere, join the club. Honestly, at this point, it's getting a little creepy. Between AI-generated influencers and the growing obsession with creating the perfect digital version of ourselves, it's starting to feel like we're living in a horror movie. This week I'm joined by acclaimed horror author Alma Katsu to talk about her new novel, Incarnate, and the unsettling ways AI and influencer culture are changing how we think about what it means to be human. We get into the increasingly blurry line between what's real and what's artificial, and why horror might be the perfect genre to explore our complicated relationship with technology.

Hello, Matriarchs! The midterms are just a few days away and if you thought Republicans were done coming after abortion rights, think again. This week, I'm joined by Nourbese Flint, President of All* Above All to talk about the many ways Republicans are working to chip away at reproductive freedom and the tactics you might not even know about.We get into what's happening behind the scenes and various ways Republicans are pushing an anti-abortion agenda. We also talk about how environmental justice and reproductive healthcare are two sides of the same coin. Because as much as I love a good horror story, there's nothing quite as terrifying as politicians trying to control our bodies. Also, please go an vote on November 2nd, if you haven't already voted early. This is an extremely contentious election and it's one Democrats need to win if we have any hope of securing our democracy. Intro Music: Halloween BGM~Tarantella~dark & gothic piano” by pianocafe_Kumi. Music sourced from Pixabay under the Pixabay Content License.

Hello, Matriarchs! The Brooklyn Horror Film Festival kicked off last week, and I was fortunate enough to catch some truly incredible screenings. This year’s lineup features an exciting selection of films directed by women, including one that quickly became a personal favorite: Ópi, the debut feature from today’s guest, filmmaker Marta Giec.Her film is an eerie exploration of generational trauma, female rage, and the oppressive forces of patriarchy, weaving folklore and horror together. I’m really thrilled Marta was able to take some time out of her busy festival schedule to join me on the podcast. We get into all kinds of juicy topics, including the creepy (and true!) inspiration behind her filmmaking, the importance of women supporting women, and how the patriarchy has a way of revealing itself in the most unexpected places.

Hello, Matriarchs! Today we're going down the perplexing rabbit hole that is trad wife culture. I've been dying to do an episode on this topic, but struggled to find an angle that feels nuanced enough rather than recycled. I'm joined by author Sarah Langan whose new horror novel, 'Trad Wife' explores that exact distinction, where we try and figure out how a lifestyle, that was once restrictive to women, has suddenly become so culturally appealing. We also discuss the state of journalism and the ways media institutions can fail the very people they're supposed to serve. Also, here the link to my Nov. 2nd event: https://qedastoria.com/products/the-body-is-political

What makes a woman monstrous?For centuries, women who refused to behave the way society expected them to have been labeled either a witch, or a slut, or even a bitch, and get roped into being monsters. And horror has been particularly fascinated with turning those anxieties into something literal.In this episode, I’m joined by Eleanor Johnson, whose new book Monstrous Bitch, examines the long, complicated history of the “dangerous woman," from the monstrous women of mythology and folklore to the witches and vampires we so often see on screen. We also talk about what happens when women actually embrace the monster and whether being called a “monstrous woman” might sometimes be the most interesting place to be.

Hello, Matriarchs! Today, I want to do something a little different. If you followed me on TikTok before I started this podcast, you might remember that I used to regularly spotlight women throughout horror history whose work had been forgotten or overlooked. Those women were the original Matriarchs, in my opinion. In fact, that series is where the name for this podcast came from. So I thought I would bring it back. And our first Matriarch has one hell of a story. And if you’re a horror fan like me, you absolutely know her work. You just might not know her name.

Hello, Matriarchs!The topic of today’s episode is something that has been weighing on my mind a lot lately. Because despite all the progress we’ve supposedly made when it comes to gender equality, Hollywood still has a massive problem with actually giving women opportunities behind the camera.According to an annual study from USC Annenberg, women directed just 8% of the films that reached the domestic box office in 2025. And when you narrow that down to horror, somehow it gets even more depressing. Of those films, only two were horror: Five Nights at Freddy’s 2, directed by Emma Tammi and I Know What You Did Last Summer, directed by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson.And just to pour some salt into an already disgusting, infected wound, several major studios didn’t hire a single woman to direct one of their top films that year. This is exactly why festivals like Etheria, which specifically champion women filmmakers working in horror and sci-fi, are so important.So for today’s episode, I’m joined by director Vivian Owen, whose short film Do Not Rewind is featured in this year’s lineup. We talked about the film, the women who inspired her, and, of course, Hollywood’s ongoing problem with actually putting women behind the lens.

Hello, Matriarchs! This week's episode includes a recycled conversation with Haley Piper because it coincides with the release of Jane Shoenbrun's latest film, Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma. In this episode I unpack the complicated relationship between female fantasy, desire, and shame, and how horror has long played a role in judging women for what they want. From forbidden fantasies to the ways women’s sexuality has historically been policed, I'm asking a bigger question: Who decided what women are allowed to desire in the first place?

Hello, Matriarchs!This week, author Cynthia Gomez joins the podcast to discuss her new novel, Muñeca which is a haunting exploration of identity, class, race, and the price women pay for inheriting legacies they never chose. We also dive into what it means to be third-generation Mexican American, the complexities of navigating two cultures at once, and the feeling of existing in a cultural limbo where you're never quite "enough" of either.