The Wayward Podcast Episode 2, Wayward Halloween: Fear is good

Welcome back to The Wayward Podcast for a Halloween edition. Yes, it was that but then, it wasn’t. Kim and Briana took us down a road where we think about where fear comes from and what it’s all about.

The Wayward Podcast is in its second week and continues to evolve and amaze. Last Monday we listened to “The Wayward Pilot,” which turned out to be a podcast about a podcast. This week, it’s all about fear.

I don’t think it’s just the audience that is delighted with the subject matters either, because we clearly hear the enjoyment and surprise in the voices of Kim and Briana as their conversation moves from one topic to another through a vine of wonderment. While it felt like it was over all too fast this time, it took me down a long road of thought.

Here’s what went on this week during “Wayward Halloween,” and what I took from it.

Fear: Movies and mayhem

This week’s episode of The Wayward Podcast started out with the intent of Halloween topics. In the beginning moments, the ladies talked about spooky business. We heard about horror movies and how they watched them (or didn’t) as children and then as adults. They were split on whether or not it was something they each like to do.

Kim mentioned a certain movie called Gargoyles (WARNING: Kim Rhodes, do not click that, sorry). Let me tell you lovely people, I had to pause the podcast (something I enjoy being able to do, btw) and take a moment. I was listening with my Mom (this was her first episode), and I told her this story about when I watched that movie as a child. Yes, I was damaged for life.

Those gargoyles had wings and spoiler, he let them go in the end! This is why I know they will jump right down from the trees on that road from my Dad’s old house and I’m doomed if I don’t watch out. I’m not scared of it now (no, you’re scared), but I sure did dread that drive home every time. And this is sort of where their conversation went, too.

The things that made us fearful as children are sometimes things we carry into adulthood. Things like the fear of loss or of being alone in the dark can be carried over. In some cases, these are rational fears that we should pay mind to in order to stay safe.

It’s that fear that prevents us from taking a shortcut through the forest at night, getting into a car with a creep we don’t know, or driving down that long road with the trees and the gargoyles without a spare tire.

In other cases, like watching The Fog (original), the fear changes. Do you get numb to it? Do you just not worry anymore? Whatever the case may be, I have no trouble watching those specific movies now but I’m sure not going to be visiting any lighthouses after dark, like, ever.

Yes, I can get a jump scare like anyone, but I don’t worry about Ghoulies creeping in through the toilet (they’ll get you in the end), or those little demon things from The Gate turning up every time my parents weren’t home.

Like Kim, I absolutely immersed myself in scary stories as a young child. She didn’t have TV and movies to turn to and while I had one, my mom wasn’t having any of me seeing Nosferatu grace my eyeballs. That’s what led us both to the glorious library. There I found every volume of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, Lois Duncan, and eventually true accounts of the Supernatural world.

I loved it all and I thrived on it. Kim Rhodes went on to star in a show about monsters and fear and here I am writing about the same. These things we do and attach to as children carry on with us into our wayward adulthoods, for better or worse.

Fear: Friend or foe?

Kim and Briana theorized that those fears we experience are often rooted in childhood. Freud would agree, as his theories state that our relationships with our parents are always lingering at the bottom (of everything). As we mature, we shift the fears to suit us in new ways until such time that we might find resolution within.

There are other theories, as well, such as the idea that fears are conditioned and we can overcome them through exposure. The Wayward Podcast ladies don’t like that plan any more than I do, but it does stand as a maybe in some cases.

More from Supernatural

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• Will The Winchesters be saved? (Can Supernatural fans save the prequel?)
• Did The Winchesters get renewed? (Is The Winchesters season 2 happening?)
• Is a new episode of The Winchesters on tonight? (March 14, 2023)
• The Winchesters Season1 finale explained: Did it connect to Supernatural?

The idea that we create our own fears and deliberately seek out terrifying experiences may seem crazy to some, but I get it. Why would we like watching scary movies so much when we’re young? Is it to be allowed to do something we’re not supposed to? Not necessarily.

On The Wayward Podcast, it’s suggested that fears we impose upon ourselves are being used as a tool to strengthen us. Briana says we might use the scary situation to freak ourselves out so that when we are faced with something we can’t control, we refer back to having survived that other awful situation for strength. Kim refers to it as a sort of weight to lift that builds the muscles we need to face fears.

“Overcoming [fear] takes practice, not just a decision.” I agree with Kim 100% on this statement. While it takes that decision to face the fear, it doesn’t mean I just won’t worry about it ever again because I took my power back, so to speak.

And this is what it all boils down to. Fear is very real. The presence of strong fears can cause crippling anxiety and panic attacks, as Briana talked about having just the night before this show. For some, panic or fright can manifest physically and cause us to shake, cry, throw up, pass out, even have a seizure.

On a lower scale, fear can make us jump or scream and many of us even enjoy that. This is the solid reason I pay $56 a month for my gold season pass to that theme park (again this year). It’s why we have roller coasters and haunted houses. It’s one of the reasons we love Supernatural.

“Wayward Halloween” talks about how fear isn’t just about monsters or jumping out of your boots. Fear goes to our core and has roots in the bottom line. “Do I have what I need to survive?”

Being left behind by your parents even for a date night could result in even the fleeting question about whether they will ever return. Briana and Kim experienced these exact things, as did I. Without them, will you die? As a child, you might assume so. At least the life you know will, that’s for sure.

And that’s what plays into adulthood. Are we afraid of getting dumped? Not really, but if it happens and it wasn’t our idea, we weren’t ready for it, life as we know it will change all of a sudden. Some people may choose to go ahead and do the deed first to avoid that potential shock in later days. Fear can rule us if we allow it.

But if we say, “No, I see you and I raise you 1,000,” then we have a chance. Not only will we make it through this one situation, but we will be stronger next time and it won’t feel so hard. I know this is true and Kim and Briana hit the nail right on the head with this.

Kim says she gets to ask herself, “what is this reaction actually about?” and they both agree fears and phobias can offer an opportunity to grow by examining that question. As a student of Psychology and a mother of six, I have seen some crazy things. I am totally down with everything they said. Not only are they addressing some real sciency stuff, but it just hits home as a human.

If this is what we can continue to expect from The Wayward Podcast, I’m afraid to miss it! Will I die without it? I doubt it. Will I miss out on something that might make me a better, stronger person? Probably. Could I use that in my life? Name someone who wouldn’t. Thanks again, ladies! Carry on!

Did you listen to the second episode of The Wayward Podcast? What do you think of fear? Is it useful or do you consider it a weakness? Let us know in the comments or send us a tweet with your thoughts!

The Wayward Podcast airs on Mondays and is available from then on at podbean, iTunes, iHeartRadio and more!