Coltan Scrivner
Special guest
Coltan Scrivner is a behavioral scientist and one of the leading researchers on the psychology of morbid curiosity. He serves as the Director of the Morbid Curiosity Lab and is a Research Scientist at Aarhus University and the Recreational Fear Lab in Denmark. His work explores why humans are drawn to horror films, true crime, haunted attractions, and other unsettling experiences—and what that fascination reveals about our minds and our survival instincts.
Coltan’s research has been featured in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Guardian, and National Geographic. His debut book, Morbidly Curious, takes readers on a tour through the science of our darker fascinations, showing how leaning into the eerie and the macabre can actually make us more resilient, more prepared, and maybe even more creative.
Coltan Scrivner has been a guest on 1 episode.
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Episode 301: Morbidly Curious: A Scientist Explains Why We Can't Look Away, with Coltan Scrivner
September 7th, 2025 | 47 mins 3 secs
My guest today is Coltan Scrivner, a behavioral scientist who has spent years studying the psychology of why we’re drawn to the dark, the eerie, and the unsettling. His brand-new book, Morbidly Curious, takes us deep into the strange territory of horror films, true crime, haunted houses, and all the things we’d rather pretend we don’t think about—but secretly can’t look away from. In our conversation, we explore why being curious about the morbid isn’t a flaw—it’s a fundamental part of being human. From evolutionary survival to modern entertainment, Coltan makes the case that leaning into our fascination with the macabre can actually teach us something about ourselves and the world around us. It’s a provocative, fascinating, and—yes—morbidly fun discussion.