Psychoanalysis: A Horror Therapy Podcast

Psychoanalysis: A Horror Therapy Podcast

Ever wonder why anxious people love horror movies? Curious about how having the daylights scared out of you can help you feel better? Hosts Jenn Adams, Lara Unnerstall, and therapist Mike Snoonian break it down (and back it up with academic research) on Psychoanalysis: A Horror Therapy Podcast. Each month, we’ll take an in-depth look at a topic in the mental health field like anxiety, PTSD, and toxic relationships. For our bi-weekly episodes, we’ll pair topics with a horror film and analyze its plot and characters through the lens of mental health. We’ll also discuss our own mental health exp

  • 1 hour 50 minutes
    Attachment Theory / M3GAN (2023) with Rachel Reeves and Sally Hourigan

    This week Mike is joined by Rachel Reeves (the Losers’ Club, The Pod & The Pendulum) and voice actor Sally Hourigan to talk about the viral sensation that danced into our hearts, M3GAN. We discuss how attachments formed in infancy influence our relationships throughout life, and how this film handles the sticky AI questions. Plus, the challenges of unexpected caregiving and Mike’s random thoughts when stuffed with cold medicine. It’s a rollicking good time. 

    6 April 2023, 5:00 am
  • 1 hour 58 minutes
    Movies for Life / Rocky (1976)

    It’s the fifth Thursday of the month which means we’re doing something a little out of the box for this week’s show. We’re taking this opportunity to spotlight our dear friends Brian Keiper and Michele Eggen at the MOVIES FOR LIFE podcast. The two friends run a lovely podcast that mixes sharp critiques with an absolute heart-on-the-sleeve love for all things cinema. Mike was fortunate enough to join them recently and we talked about one of his favorite movies of all time, ROCKY. This classic story about the proverbial underdog that just wanted his one shot to prove himself  has reverberated with audiences for almost five decades, across two franchises. We talk about the behind the scenes drama that went into creating this story, how it’s one of the greatest romances of all time and why it still leaves audiences cheering today. So lace up the gloves, drink down those raw eggs and get ready to go the distance with Movies For Life, and make sure you follow them: (Apple podcasts(Spotify(Twitter)

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    30 March 2023, 5:00 am
  • 57 minutes 43 seconds
    A Conversation with Kay Lynch (Salem Horror Fest)

    This week Mike is joined by Kay Lynch. She's the founder and program director of the Salem Horror Festival which is returning this April for two weekends in lovely, scenic Salem Massachusetts. Kay is on hand to talk about why the festival took a year off in 2022 and all the ways it plans on returning in bigger and better fashion this spring. We talk about the lineup and events as well as why it is so important for the festival to be a safe haven for queer persons, women, and trans artists. For listeners that wonder why we're talking about an event that 99% of you won't be able to travel to, have no fear, we do talk about the virtual component to the festival which will be announced shortly. In the meantime check out the links below where you can check out the program, the special events and purchase passes to the festival right now. 

    Salem Horror Main Page

    Salem Horror Fest Passes & Tickets

    Follow us on social media:

    Twitter: @PsychoAPod

    Instagram: The Psychoanalysis podcast

    Facebook: Psychoanalysis Podcast Support group

    If you really like the show, and want more of us, join our patreon for bonus shows and more content. Psychoanalysis Patreon Page

    23 March 2023, 5:00 am
  • 1 hour 49 minutes
    Sibling Rivalry / Basket Case (1982) with Nichole Goble

    This week Mike is joined once again by Nichole Goble of the Bodies of Horror podcast to discuss the 1982 exploitation and cult classic Basket Case directed by Frank Hennenlotter. This movie is a look at the sleazy underbelly of early '80s New York City and a piece of classic Gore in Camp. It’s also a deeply empathetic movie about how we look at those that are different from ourselves. We talk about how the beauty in this movie lies in how it treats its subjects in a very humane way whereas others would disregard them as freaks. We talk about the strong bond and stronger tension between twins and talk about the stress that comes with being the person who needs the care and support of a caregiver. We discuss the unique stressors that come with that Dynamic and how it can often lead to tense battles between siblings. We keep it loose and we keep it real and we hope you enjoy this episode.

    Follow us on social media:

    Twitter: @PsychoAPod

    Instagram: The Psychoanalysis podcast

    Facebook: Psychoanalysis Podcast Support group

    If you really like the show, and want more of us, join our patreon for bonus shows and more content. Psychoanalysis Patreon Page

    16 March 2023, 5:24 am
  • 1 hour 11 minutes
    Comfort Horror / You Are Not My Mother (2021) with Ygraine Hackett-Cantabara

    This week Mike is joined by Ygraine Hackett-Cantabrana (Ghouls’ magazine, What A Scream pod, Moving Pictures Film Club) to talk about the 2022 psychological horror from Ireland “You Are Not My Mother.” Ygraine Discusses the deep roots in Irish folklore that this film contains as well as the effects of colonization in terms of how the world perceives Ireland in cinema and the arts. We explore the ways Irish traditions influence modern life. We discuss the difficulties that mental health challenges can have when it comes to motherhood and the fear that comes with knowing a parent or caregiver is not well. It's a wide-ranging discussion about one of the best unheralded gems of the horror genre over the past few years.

    9 March 2023, 6:00 am
  • 2 hours 16 minutes
    Sibling Rivalry / What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) with Taffeta V

    This week brings a new month and a new topic. What better way to kick off the topic of sibling rivalry with a classic of old world Hollywood that featured one of the most iconic feuds in movie history? Mike is joined by good friend Taffeta V (of the LATE podcast) to talk about WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE? We discuss the real hatred between its stars Bette Davis & Joan Crawford, the burden of long term caregiving, the multitude of ways sibling rivalry rears its ugly head, and why Hollywood loves watching women of a certain age duke it out. We also explore the causes of sibling rivalry and discuss theories on birth order and personality development in our mental health section.

    If you’ve enjoyed the show, please take a moment to rate, review and subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

    Follow us on social media:

    Twitter: @PsychoAPod

    Instagram: The Psychoanalysis podcast

    Facebook: Psychoanalysis Podcast Support group

    If you really like the show, and want more of us, join our patreon for bonus shows and more content. Psychoanalysis Patreon Page

    Music notes:

    "Infinite Perspective" by Kevin MacLeod

    "Long Note Three" by Kevin MacLeod

    "Emotion Picture" by Bill Ironfield

    Logo artwork by Jess Snively

    2 March 2023, 6:00 am
  • 1 hour 41 minutes
    Comfort Horror / The Wolf Man (1941) with Lindsay Moore

    Even a pod who is pure in heart and says his prayers by night, may become a Comfort Horror episode on Universal Monsters when the wolfbane blooms and the autumn moon is bright.

    Meet us in the light of the full moon for comfort horror episode with Lindsay Moore on

    George Waggner’s The Wolf Man.

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    Psychoanalysis Patreon

    Music notes:

    "Infinite Perspective" by Kevin MacLeod

    "Long Note Three" by Kevin MacLeod

    "Emotion Picture" by Bill Ironfield

    Logo artwork by Jess Snively

    23 February 2023, 10:52 am
  • 1 hour 57 minutes
    Aging and Relationships / X (2022) with Dan Pfleegor and Nichole Goble

    This week Mike is joined by Dan Pfleegor (Losers’ Club) and Nichole Goble (Bodies of Horror) to talk To West’s X. This mashup of Boogie Nights And The Texas Chain Saw Massacre gifts the world with two head turning performances from Mia Goth, while offering a surprisingly tender look at sex work and sexuality as we age. That it does so while also delivering a nasty slasher experience filled with gore and carnage just makes it all the better. We explore everything above and also discuss how rewatching this movie after checking out its surprise follow up Pearl helps deepen our experience and understanding of this one. 


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    Psychoanalysis Patreon


    Music notes:

    "Infinite Perspective" by Kevin MacLeod

    "Long Note Three" by Kevin MacLeod

    "Emotion Picture" by Bill Ironfield

    Logo artwork by Jess Snively


    16 February 2023, 9:31 am
  • 2 hours 4 minutes
    New Relationship Energy / An American Werewolf in London (1981) with Rebecca McCallum

    This week, Mike talks about his favorite horror movie of all time when he discusses 1981’s An American werewolf in London, written and directed by John Landis. Once deemed “too funny to be scary and too scary to be funny” it went on to invent or at least refine the horror-comedy hybrid. This week he is joined by England’s own Rebecca McCallum of Ghouls magazine and the Moving Pictures Film Club to talk about their mutual love for this movie. We discuss the standout special effects created by Rick Baker, how the comedy and horror still hit 4 decades later, the mutual attraction between David and Alex, and also the queer overtones that permeate this film with the relationship of Jack and David. We also discuss the idea of othering and how it feels to be a stranger trapped in an unfamiliar territory in extraordinary circumstances. For our mental health topic this month we talk about new relationship energy and the many factors that go into why we're attracted to certain people. This was a fun one to record and if there's one thing Mike feels like he could talk about for days it's this movie. So beware the moon friends and stay off the moors because it's about to get all hairy up in here.

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    Music notes:

    "Infinite Perspective" by Kevin MacLeod

    "Long Note Three" by Kevin MacLeod

    "Emotion Picture" by Bill Ironfield

    Logo artwork by Jess Snively

    9 February 2023, 9:06 am
  • 2 hours 13 minutes
    Bad Romance / Possession (1981) with Jessica Scott and Taffeta V.

    We’re kicking off bad romance and couples issues month with one of the greatest stories about a marriage going up in flames ever told. To try to relay the events of this movie is to grab madness itself by the horns. Rooted in his own acrimonious divorce, Polish director Andrez Zulawski’s POSSESSION tells the volatile, violent, and disturbing breakup of the marriage between Mark and Anna, played in spectacular fashion by Sam Neil and Isabelle Adjani respectively. But it's also so much more than that. It dives into cosmic horror in ways that are shocking and thrilling. Through the deployment of doppelgangers it explores how we try to excise the parts of our loved ones we dislike in order to mold a more perfect union. It mirrors the tensions of its setting-Cold War era West Berlin-while also incorporating modern dance into the movements of its characters in a way that adds depth and nuance to the story.

    There’s no way Mike could talk about this one on his own, so he’s brought out two good friends and great podcasters: Jessica Scott (We Who Walk Here) and TaffetaV (Late podcast). We get down and dirty with the details of this one, while also discussing the common factors in divorce and relationships ending.

    If you’ve enjoyed the show, please take a moment to rate, review and subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts.

    Follow us on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

    If you really like the show, and want more of us, join our patreon for bonus shows and more content. Psychoanalysis Patreon Page

    Music notes:

    "Infinite Perspective" by Kevin MacLeod

    "Long Note Three" by Kevin MacLeod

    "Emotion Picture" by Bill Ironfield

    Logo artwork by Jess Snively

    2 February 2023, 10:52 am
  • 1 hour 44 minutes
    Discomfort Horror / Eden Lake (2008) with Joe Lipsett

    This week Mike is joined by the wonderful Joe Lipsett (Horror Queers, Anatomy of a Scream podcast network) for a discomfort horror movie. We’re packing our tents and sleeping bags and heading to the English lakeside for the incredibly unpleasant EDEN LAKE. It’s hard to believe that this unsettling, gory little thriller gave rise to two massive stars with Michael Fassbender and Yellowstone’s Kelly Reily. We dive into the “hoodie horror” phenomenon and explore the conservative messaging that helped fuel the boon this subgenre enjoyed during the aughts. We also explore the class issues at play, the mental health effects of systemic poverty, the challenges of parenting unruly bastards of kids, and just why the kids seem so scary when we get old(er). Despite never wanting to watch even a single second of this movie again, Mike had a fantastic conversation with Joe that we hope you’ll enjoy.

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    Psychoanalysis Patreon

    Music notes:

    "Infinite Perspective" by Kevin MacLeod

    "Long Note Three" by Kevin MacLeod

    "Emotion Picture" by Bill Ironfield

    Logo artwork by Jess Snively

    26 January 2023, 6:00 am
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