Podcasts & Popular Science

Popular Science Writing

  • Vintage-style illustration with text "Morbidly Curious Thoughts" next to an ornate candleholder on a dark background.

    MORBIDLY CURIOUS THOUGHTS

    My Substack, where I write about the science behind our fascination with the darker side of life.

    Read
  • Psychology Today logo in dark blue text on a white background.

    MORBID MINDS

    My Psychology Today Blog

    Read

  • The Perks of Morbid Curiosity

    Horror does more than just scare us for fun. It trains us for life.

    READ
  • Scientific American logo

    SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN

    The Evolutionary Reasons We Are Drawn to Horror Movies and Haunted Houses

    READ

  • Lean Into Your Morbid Curiosity

    Humans Have Evolved to Navigate a Complex World Because of It

    READ
  • Logo of Slate with bold white lettering on a dark background

    SLATE MAGAZINE

    Could Your City Survive The Zombie Apocalypse?

    READ
  • Nautilus logo with yellow spiral on black background.

    NAUTILUS MAGAZINE

    Why Horror Films Are More Popular Than Ever

    READ
  • Yellow spiral design above the word 'NAUTILUS' in white on a black background.

    NAUTILUS MAGAZINE

    Horror Fans Have More Fun During a Pandemic

    READ
  • The Conversation logo with a red speech bubble icon.

    THE CONVERSATION

    How Morbid Curiosity Can Lead People To Conspiracy Theories

    READ
  • "The Conversation" logo with stylized speech bubble in red.

    THE CONVERSATION

    6 Reasons Why People Enjoy Horror Movies

    READ

  • Horror fans aren't cold and unfeeling – just listen to the science

    Research contradicts the prevailing wisdom about horror fans

    READ

PODCAST & VIDEO INTERVIEWS

  • ARMCHAIR EXPERT

    Coltan Scrivner (on morbid curiosities)

    Watch

  • MODERN WISDOM

    Why we’re drawn to death, crime, & danger

    WATCH

  • PBS NEWSHOUR

    'Morbidly Curious' explores the fascination with horror movies and the macabre

    WATCH

  • HIDDEN BRAIN

    Murder Mystery

    LISTEN

  • ALL THINGS CONSIDERED | NPR

    In 'Morbidly Curious,' a psychologist explores the human draw to ghosts and gore

    LISTEN

  • THE HAPPINESS LAB

    How Horror Movies and True Crime Can Make You Happier

    LISTEN
  • Illustration of a brain wearing headphones with text "The Psychology Podcast."

    THE PSYCHOLOGY PODCAST

    The Science of Morbid Curiosity with Dr. Coltan Scrivner

    LISTEN
  • NPR logo with letters 'n', 'p', 'r' on red, black, and blue backgrounds respectively.

    WEEKEND EDITION | NPR

    Why do we like horror?

    LISTEN
  • A man in a suit stands in front of a backdrop featuring the U.S. Capitol and the Washington Monument at sunset. The word 'Smerconish' is displayed alongside the CNN logo.

    SMERCONISH | CNN

    Why Do We Rubberneck?

    WATCH
  • Podcast logo for 'Speaking of Psychology' by the American Psychological Association, featuring a stylized brain and speech bubble on a yellow background.

    SPEAKING OF PSYCHOLOGY

    Why do we love scary movies? With Coltan Scrivner, PhD

    LISTEN

  • THE EXCERPT | USA TODAY

    Love gore and horror, the dark and scary? There’s a scientific reason why.

    LISTEN

  • SCIENCE FRIDAY

    Why Morbid Curiosity Is So Common—And So Fun

    LISTEN
  • Abstract graphic of a planet with orbiting rings labeled 'Science Quickly' over a black and purple background, with 'SCI AM' logo.

    SCIENCE QUICKLY | SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN

    Exploring the science of spookiness at the Recreational Fear Lab

    LISTEN

  • RAZIB KHAN'S UNSUPERVISED LEARNING

    Coltan Scrivner: the evolution and psychology of horror

    LISTEN
  • Green text "Inside McKamey Manor" with two hands pressed against a window, VHS effect, timestamp "PM 00:13 Oct 29 2024."

    INSIDE MCKAMEY MANOR

    Description goes here
    LISTEN
  • Blue graphic with "The Connection with Marty Moss-Coane" in white text, surrounded by rectangles. WHYY and NPR logos at the bottom.

    THE CONNECTION | NPR

    What drives our morbid curiosity

    LISTEN

  • SOMETHING YOU SHOULD KNOW

    The Science of Morbid Curiosity

    LISTEN
  • Illustration of a frightened woman with glowing blue eyes, covering her mouth with her hands in a dark setting. Text reads: "BE AFRAID. Episode 02. 'What's your favorite scary movie?'"

    BE AFRAID

    What’s Your Favorite Scary Movie? On adrenaline junkies, white knucklers, and dark copers.

    LISTEN

  • WHO'S THERE?

    Dr. Coltan Scrivner (Researcher & Author of Morbidly Curious: A Scientist Explains Why We Can’t Look Away)

    LISTEN

  • SHELF LOVE

    Morbid Curiosity Meets Romance with Dr. Coltan Scrivner

    LISTEN
  • Logo of 'Horror Heals Podcast' featuring a teal heart with orange stitching on a black background.

    HORROR HEALS

    Horror Fans’ Morbid Curiosity Unmasked

    LISTEN
  • Podcast cover for "Where Is My Mind?" featuring a contemplative man with tattoos and a white shirt on an orange background. Lemonada brand logo is visible.

    WHERE IS MY MIND?

    Our Morbidly Curious Minds

    LISTEN

  • WGN CHICAGO MORNING NEWS

    'Morbidly Curious: A Scientist Explains Why We Can't Look Away'

    WATCH
  • "Show Me St. Louis" logo with fleur-de-lis on blue and purple gradient background.

    SHOW ME ST. LOUIS

    Wellness Wednesday: Expert weighs in on how horror is beneficial to your mental health

    WATCH
  • Dark forest background with "Dead Talk Live" in bold letters above "Horror Entertainment Talk Show." Red drips below "Dead Talk."

    DEAD TALK LIVE

    The Science of Horror and Morbid Curiosity

    WATCH
  • Illustration of two skulls wearing headphones with the text 'Horror Movie Talk' inside a speech bubble, set against a red background with concentric circles.

    HORROR MOVIE TALK

    The Descent Review and Coltan Scrivner Interview

    LISTEN
  • Logo for "Cognitive Revolution with Cody Kommers," featuring a lightbulb and fist icons, set against a brain illustration.

    COGNITIVE REVOLUTION

    First-Gen to Fame

    LISTEN
  • Abstract illustration featuring an eye with Earth as the iris, surrounded by DNA strands and galaxy patterns, with the text "Here We Are" at the bottom.

    HERE WE ARE

    Morbid Curiosity

    WATCH
  • Illustration of a man in a yellow shirt and a woman in a pink sweater, both with question marks above their heads, looking thoughtful. Text below says, "Why Do We Do That?" on a dark blue background.

    WHY DO WE DO THAT?

    Morbid Curiosity

    LISTEN
  • Illustration of two podcast hosts, one with rainbow and brain above head, text "dumb AF," "Listen now," microphone, "with Sare Bare Beins & Kiel Glassy Glass."

    DUMB AF

    Serial Killers Don't Watch True Crime

    LISTEN
  • Black and white photo of a smiling man next to the text 'The Neuro Network.'

    THE NEURO NETWORK

    The Science of Fear and Morbid Curiosity

    LISTEN
  • "Choose to Be Curious" text on orange background with "Conversations about curiosity in work & life." below.

    CHOOSE TO BE CURIOUS

    Morbid Curiosity

    LISTEN
  • "Converging Dialogues" text logo with a red and blue design element on a black background.

    CONVERGING DIALOGUES

    The Macabre Pleasures of Morbid Curiosity

    LISTEN
  • Podcast cover with blue virus illustration and text "Dr. Celine Gounder EPIDEMIC".

    EPIDEMIC

    Lessons from the zombie apocalypse

    LISTEN
  • Illustration of atoms with smiling faces and text 'Science Unscripted' on a black background.

    SCIENCE UNSCRIPTED

    Horror fans & Pandemic Psychology

    LISTEN
  • Promotional artwork for 'Alter Weekly' featuring two people with horror-themed graphics, including horns and claws, and the title in bold red letters. Produced by Gunpowder & Sky.

    ALTER WEEKLY

    If 2020 was a scary movie...

    Click Here
  • RNZ logo with stylized koru design and black background.

    RADIO NEW ZEALAND

    Are horror fans coping better with the pandemic?

    LISTEN

Contact

Please fill out this form if you’d like to interview Coltan.