The Dark Mind Podcast

In this episode of The Dark Mind Podcast, Vincent Midgard welcomes author Blaine Daigle back to discuss his latest Gothic-folk horror novel, The Ashes of August Manor. The conversation dives deep into the novel’s themes of grief, mortality, and the quiet dread that lingers in spaces where time feels frozen. Blaine shares how the story follows Noelle, a hospice worker and struggling writer, whose life takes a surreal turn after acce...

Join host Vincent Midgard in a chilling discussion with Andrew Najberg, author of Extinction Dream, as we journey into a hidden war waged through dreams. Markus, a soldier stationed on a research outpost in orbit, defends Earth against a telepathic alien force that weaponizes humanity’s nightmares. As bonds—mental and emotional—fracture, we explore memory, trauma, and the blurry edges between peace and oblivion. Andrew shares his p...

In this episode, Vincent Midgard is joined by author Elizabeth Devecchi to discuss her slow-burn psychological thriller A Twist of the Lens. They explore the novel’s complex themes of childhood manipulation, familial tension, and the subtle grooming that isn’t sexual—but is no less horrifying. Elizabeth shares the inspiration behind her enigmatic protagonist Charlie, the real-life story that shaped one of the novel’s most unsettlin...

In this episode of The Dark Mind Podcast, I sit down with author Caleb Jones to dissect the disturbing technological and psychological terrain of his new novel, The Eliza Test. We explore the book’s chilling premise: a team of scientists uploads mental illnesses—starting with borderline personality disorder—into a sentient AI designed to simulate and respond to therapy. But when consciousness meets trauma in a machine that was neve...

In this powerful episode, we sit down with author, producer, and journalist Tamika Thompson to explore her genre-defying short story collection Unshod, Cackling and Naked. From beauty pageants to beast transformations, from societal collapse to personal revenge, Thompson’s work challenges what horror can do—and who it can empower. We discuss creature features, unreliable narrators, body horror, and the radical idea that “terror is ...

What happens when trauma doesn’t end—it mutates? In this episode, I sit down with S.E. Howard, whose debut novel The Vessel strips away pretense to expose the raw aftermath of abduction, memory loss, and survival. We talk sex work, shame, emotional fragmentation—and why the scariest parts of horror aren’t always supernatural.

This one’s for listeners who want more than surface-level horror. It’s about what happens after the worst is...

In this episode, I sit down once again with author Andrew Adams to dive deep into his chilling new novel, Son of a Serial Killer. We explore the terrifying legacy of fictional killer Brock Blackwood, and his troubled (and possibly hallucinating) son, Glenn Overton—a man slowly unraveling under the weight of routine, trauma, and maybe something supernatural.

Andrew and I discuss everything from inherited guilt and toxic workplace dyn...

In this episode, I sit down once again with author and poet Stephanie Parent to explore her haunting and deeply personal poetry collection, Cinder Girl Grows Wings. We discuss the visceral power of free verse, the symbolic structure of the collection—from Kindling to Phoenix—and how themes of girlhood, desire, BDSM, and body image are woven through her work with gothic sensitivity and raw emotional truth.

Stephanie opens up about he...

Today’s guest is Matthew R. Corr, author of the retro-inspired horror novel Camp 1985 and creator of the ever-expanding Slasherverse series.

What begins as a tongue-in-cheek sendup of influencer culture quickly descends into something far more sinister—and emotionally resonant.

We dive deep into how Corr blends analog horror tropes with modern anxieties, explores identity and mental health through characters like Ander and Liam, and...

In this episode, host Vincent Midgard is joined by author, podcaster, and epidemiologist Viggy Parr Hampton to discuss her haunting new novel The Rotting Room. Together, they explore the disturbing intersection of religious ritual, bodily decay, and psychological trauma in a cloistered convent where silence reigns and something sinister festers beneath the surface.

Viggy shares how her background in epidemiology shaped her fascinati...

In this episode, we sit down with Tiffany Koplin—curator, community builder, and indie horror champion—to explore the thriving world of self-published horror fiction.

From her roots at Half Price Books to her leadership of the 63,000-member Books of Horror community, Tiffany shares how a passion for the genre turned into a full-blown movement.

We dive into her creation of the Indie Author Book Brawl, her vision for anonymous chapbo...

In this unsettling and unforgettable episode, acclaimed author Eric LaRocca joins host Vincent Midgard to delve into his haunting new novel At Dark I Become Loathsome—a disturbing tale of grief, ritual rebirth, and self-destruction. LaRocca discusses the real-life burial therapy practices that inspired the story, the claustrophobic horror of confronting mortality, and his fascination with the grotesque, both physical and emotional.

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In this visceral and thought-provoking episode, extreme horror author Lesley Camphouse joins Vincent Midgard to dive deep into her latest novel, Eternal Wives. They unpack the brutal cult at the heart of the story, discuss how real-world influences like Sister Wives and reformed communities helped shape its terrifying world, and explore how horror can push boundaries without losing narrative integrity.

Lesley shares her writing proc...

Nick Roberts joins Vincent on The Dark Mind Podcast to discuss his blistering short story collection Nocturnal by Nature.

They explore the fine line between intensity and excess in horror, how addiction and recovery fuel Nick’s storytelling, and why he believes horror should hit hard—or not at all.

From body horror and psychological claustrophobia to giallo influences and moral collapse, this episode dives into the craft and chaos ...

In this episode, Vincent sits down with author and artist Chris Panatier to discuss his haunting novel, The Redemption of Morgan Bright — a psychological horror story that explores identity, grief, institutional abuse, and the terrifying blur between reality and delusion. Recorded just after their meeting at the Ghoulish Book Festival, the conversation dives deep into the novel’s inspirations, including the Victorian-era treatment ...

In this episode, author Mark Towse returns for a chaotic, hilarious, and deeply insightful conversation about his revised and expanded horror-comedy One Last Shindig. 

We talk cranky old folks, creeping dread, and the art of pulling the floor out from under readers when they least expect it. Mark opens up about finding creative balance, grief and legacy, the catharsis of writing terrifying things, and what it’s like turning coach ho...

In this episode returning guest Christy Aldridge joins Vince on the show to discuss her haunting new novel—a slow-burn supernatural creature feature with deep emotional resonance. 

The story follows Joe, a man with a traumatic childhood who’s trying to build a better life with his fiancée and stepdaughter—only to be haunted by the return of his monstrous imaginary friend, Boo.

They dive into the themes of childhood trauma, toxic atta...

Poet Nathaniel Blackhelm joins Vince to discuss his latest collection, Lothario—a bold and reflective work that navigates the terrain of midlife, identity, and the surreal beauty of being human. 

In this conversation, we unpack the archetype of the Lothario, the friction between cultural identities, and the role of lust, humor, and self-worth in shaping how we live and love. 

Blackhelm speaks candidly about the absurdity of modern ex...

In this episode, acclaimed author Philip Fracassi joins us to talk about his gripping new novel, The Third Rule of Time Travel.

We dive deep into the emotional and psychological layers of time travel, the haunting consequences of reliving the past, and the blurred lines between science and corporate ambition.

Fracassi unpacks the complex dynamics between his characters—especially the fragile trust between protagonist Beth and the m...