"Adam Talks Scary Stories with Unspookable"

Podcast: Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest
Host: Pinna
Guests: Adam Gidwitz (Host of Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest), Elise Parisian (Host of Unspookable)
Date: October 31, 2025
Episode Theme:
A lively and insightful conversation between Adam Gidwitz and Elise Parisian exploring the enduring fascination with scary stories—why we love them, what they teach us, and how fairy tales evolve across cultures and generations. The episode explores the magic of retelling the “Grimmest” tales, children’s reactions, and practical advice for young storytellers.

Main Theme & Purpose

This special crossover episode, part of the “Kooky Spooky Countdown,” brings together Adam Gidwitz, celebrated storyteller and host of Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest, and Elise Parisian from Unspookable. Together, they dive into questions like:

• Why do people seek out scary stories?
• What do fairy tales and scary stories teach us, especially children?
• What makes a scary story for kids different from one for adults?

The episode is enriched with personal anecdotes, behind-the-scenes insights from Adam’s podcast, and playful banter that keeps the tone fun while addressing deep themes about bravery, storytelling, and growing up.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Childhood Tastes for Scary Tales

• Adam's Confession (05:07):
  Adam admits he wasn't a fan of scary stories as a child—preferring mysteries to horror, and actively avoided tales that kept him up at night.

  “I did not love scary stories as a kid…and I’m going to admit something really terrible and probably everyone in your audience is going to stop listening as soon as I say this. Are you ready? I don't even really like scary stories. Now that's not true. I love telling scary stories, but I don't love hearing them." — Adam Gidwitz (05:07)

• His joy: The thrill of telling scary stories, not hearing them.

2. The Power of Storytelling & Emotional Authenticity

• Becoming the Story (07:44):
  Adam always tests his stories by telling them aloud, gauging their scariness, humor, or catharsis by his own emotional reactions—even in public parks!

  “If I’m not legitimately scared by the story I’m telling, you’re not going to be.” — Adam Gidwitz (07:44)
  “I write usually in the park...I look like a crazy person. But that's the only way I can write a good story for you all.” — Adam Gidwitz (08:18)

3. Why We Love Scary Stories

• Facing Fears & Growing Up (09:23):
  Adam sees scary stories—especially fairy tales—as a way kids practice dealing with the scary or unfair parts of life in a safe way, gaining confidence and resilience for real challenges.

  “Scary stories are an attempt for us to practice the hard task of living, of growing up, of getting through difficult stuff… Horror stories and fairy tales give us a chance to experience things that are hard, scary, and then realize that we can get through them.” — Adam Gidwitz (09:23)

4. Scary Stories as Teachers

• Learning Through Stories (11:35):
  Adam recounts how his live podcast audience (children) reacts passionately to tales of injustice, and how these reactions help kids process and respond to unfairness in their own lives.
  • Crab Man’s Daughter episode: Listeners demanded revolution and resonated with themes of empowerment.

  “This other girl says, ‘We are women and we are terrifying.’ And again. Right. It's like, how do we take these unfair, scary situations… and how are we brave and terrifying ourselves? And how can we revolution?” — Adam Gidwitz (13:10)

5. Folktale vs. Fairy Tale vs. Myth

• Definitions & Etymology (14:00):
  Adam explains the historical blur between folktale and fairy tale, how the term "fairy tale" is a mistranslation, and the unique German term “märchen” for Grimm stories (which have no fairies!).

  “There are in the German stories, literally no fairies. Not one fairy in the Grimm fairy tales.” — Adam Gidwitz (15:30)

6. What Makes Children’s Vs. Adults’ Scary Stories?

• Hope in Children’s Horror (16:47):
  Adam contrasts the darker, often hopeless tone of adult horror with children's need for cathartic, hopeful endings—even after the scariest journeys.

  “In stories for young people...things get bad and then really bad and then really bad, and then we find a way for cathartic triumph at the end.” — Adam Gidwitz (17:39)

7. True Grimm Details & Weird Facts

• Authentic Grim(m):
  Adam shares the origins and authenticity of Grimm’s tales, noting their surprising gruesomeness and philosophical depth compared to sanitized modern retellings.
  • Cinderella (22:15): Stepsisters mutilate their feet for the slipper.
  • Sleeping Beauty (23:17): Corpses of princes in the thorn bush!

  “...in the German version [of Cinderella]…the oldest stepsister cuts off her big toe to get the shoe to fit. And the youngest one cuts off a chunk of her heel…” — Adam Gidwitz (22:37)

• Shares fascinating fact: Cinderella's origins may predate written history, connecting human storytelling across cultures and even primate species! (19:28)

8. Kids’ Surprising Reactions

• Unfiltered, Hilarious Insights (24:25):
  Kids often anticipate or internalize horror and humor in ways adults don’t expect.

  “They always surprise me with their reactions...That's why it's so fun to record with them.” — Adam Gidwitz (24:27)

  • Example: A kid’s comment that creepy old ladies “treat [kids] like soup” in fairy tales becomes hilariously literal.

9. Favorite & Weirdest Grimm Tales

• Current Favorite (25:48):
  "Two Travelers"—a philosophical, surreal, and grisly fairy tale involving optimism, pessimism, lost eyes, and corpse-given vision.

  “If you would like to hear, everybody, you need to be ready to turn down the volume because things get a little bit scary in the story.” — Adam Gidwitz (26:08)

• Funniest (29:02):
  “Little Chick,” featuring magical transformations, a villain named Potato Head, and recurring threats of being turned into soup.

10. Adam’s Top Tip for Young Storytellers

• Empathy & Stakes Over Gore (31:47):
  The true secret to a scary story: create a character the audience cares about, then put them in jeopardy—not just add “bloody stuff.”

  “What makes a story scary is there being a character that you care about and bad things might happen to that character.” — Adam Gidwitz (31:49)
  Relatable, even with a made-up (but anxiety-inducing!) story about almost peeing your pants in class.

11. Where Kids Can Find Safe Spooky Stories

• Adam recommends:
  • Podcasts: Unspookable, Grimm Grimmer Grimmest, Dorktails (33:18)
  • Books: Alvin Schwartz's Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, Dan Poblocki’s new series (33:35)
  • Grimm’s Fairy Tales—explore with care!

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I love scaring myself by trying to tell the scariest story I can...but I don’t want to hear you tell me a scary story that’s going to give me nightmares.” — Adam Gidwitz (05:07)
• “If I don’t literally laugh out loud at a joke that I’m writing or something funny that I’m writing, it doesn’t go in because it’s not funny enough.” — Adam Gidwitz (07:59)
• “It is about the process of growing up and getting stronger and getting wiser.” — Adam Gidwitz (10:38)
• “You shouldn't give in. You should just revolution.” — Unnamed kid listener in Crab Man’s Daughter (12:30)
• “We are women and we are terrifying.” — Kid listener, Crab Man’s Daughter (13:10)
• “There are in the German stories, literally no fairies. Not one fairy in the Grimm fairy tales." — Adam Gidwitz (15:30)
• “What makes a story scary is there being a character that you care about and bad things might happen to that character.” — Adam Gidwitz (31:49)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamps* | |---------|-------------| | Welcome & Intros | 00:42–04:11 | | Adam’s Childhood & First Scary Story | 04:56–05:59 | | Storytelling Process & Emotional Authenticity | 07:37–09:05 | | Why We Love Scary Stories | 09:16–11:12 | | Scary Stories as Teachers | 11:12–13:32 | | Vocab Battle: Myth, Folk Tale, Fairy Tale | 13:51–16:31 | | Children vs Adult Horror | 16:47–18:01 | | What Makes a Grimm Tale? | 18:12–24:18 | | Kids’ Hilarious Reactions | 24:25–25:41 | | Favorite “Grimmest” Tale – Two Travelers | 25:48–28:52 | | Weirdest/Funniest Tale – Little Chick | 29:02–31:28 | | Story Tip for Kids | 31:47–32:58 | | Where to Find Kid-Appropriate Spooks | 33:18–34:12 |

*Minor ad breaks and non-content sections have been omitted from these timestamps.

Episode Tone & Final Thoughts

The conversation is candid, warm, and funny. Adam’s passion for storytelling and his respect for children’s intelligence and emotional capacity shine through every answer. Elise acts as a knowledgeable, engaged, and sometimes amused interlocutor, making the episode accessible for listeners of all ages.

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or young writer, “Adam Talks Scary Stories with Unspookable” delivers wisdom and laughs about what frightens us—and why we keep coming back for more.

Happy (and safe) spooking!