Kathleen of Girl, That’s Scary Pod for Women in Horror Month
1. Introduce yourself. What do you want people to know about you and your work?
Howdy *waves* I'm Kathleen (Kat). I am one half of the Girl, That's Scary podcast and a part-time lover/writer. On our podcast, we cover all things Horror, Sci-Fi, and everything that falls in between.
2. Who or what were your earliest horror influences?
My earliest horror influences were my parents, more so my Mom. My parents are huge horror/sci-fi fans, so this was always a thing in my household. My mom's older sister actually introduced me to international horror films as a young warthog, so the "bug" was always there.
3. Your podcast is really something special. It was the first I remember seeing of its kind—two Black women talking about the horror genre. What inspired you to create your podcast, and what kind of reception have you received from other Black horror fans?
Thank you for the kind words!
Our podcast was birthed from a random idea that I tossed Jazz's way. We're always deep diving into horror films at any given time (amongst ourselves and with friends) and folks would put a battery in our backs saying that we should be on the radio or create some sort of discussion space. So I pulled up on Jazz and asked her to host a podcast with me. I have HUGE respect for hosts of solo podcasts (Re: being able to carry a conversation dolo), but I knew that choppin' it up with Jazz (like we always do) was the move. And so, Girl, That's Scary was born.
The reception that we have received from the community has been crazy. Honestly, there are so many adjectives that are flowing to my mind, but the overwhelming amount of support we have received since day one always leaves me in awe. Folks are so supportive of our work and we are truly grateful that we have gotten the chance to connect with so many people throughout the 5+ years that we have been doing this. We feel so blessed to be able to learn from so many people and to have the chance to connect with other Black creatives in a space where there isn't that many of us who are seen on the forefront. So shoutout to community for always providing space for folks to connect, support, and see each other.
4. Take us through a day-in-the-life of Kat.
Chilleeee lol. My days are loonnggg, but they always start and end on a "high note" - me ending up in my home/in my bed.
During the day, I spend a good chunk of my time at a non-profit supporting students and families in my community. Outside of work, I'm a proud Auntie & a Dog Mama. Most of my time is spent working on GTS things, disassociating with cozy hobbies, and checking out horror movies (old & new). I know time is a flat circle, but I wish there were more hours in the day to do all of the fun things. Adulting is a journey!
5. Imagine you're standing in front of a crowd of every horror creative—authors, filmmakers, podcasters, journalists, etc. What would you want them to know about your experience as a Black woman in the genre?
My experience as a Black woman in the genre has been an interesting one. There have been highs and lows, but I am grateful for every opportunity that I have had the privilege to experience. In that same breath, I hope that people who placed those black boxes on their social media profiles during the uprisings and those who claim to allys, actually show up and do the work. I hope that folks venture outside of their "norm" and connect with "new" creatives to actually pump some fresh air back into the genre. Put your money (and your resources) where your mouth is because there's space at the table for everyone to eat.
Kathleen is one half of Girl, That’s Scary Podcast, part of the Dread Central podcast network. Find Kat and Jazz on BlueSky and Instagram.