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In this episode of Horror Heals, Corey and Kendall sit down with Jennifer Ginty, a passionate horror fan and entrepreneur. Jennifer shares her personal journey of growing up in a horror-loving family while dealing with trauma, PTSD, and depression. She opens up about how horror became a source of comfort for her and how it continues to help her manage her mental health. Jennifer also discusses her incredible creation, Moody—a therapeutic doll designed to help children and adults alike process emotions and trauma. Moody’s customizable features, including detachable limbs, provide a safe outlet for frustration and stress. Throughout the conversation, Jennifer reflects on her favorite horror movies, the complex nature of PTSD, and her aspirations for expanding the Moody line to help even more people.
Monsters and Mental Health: How Horror Saved Me
Episode Highlights:
- Jennifer shares her upbringing in a family that adored horror and how this connection to horror movies and books was integral to her mental health.
- Discussion on how horror culture, especially films like Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Nightmare on Elm Street, provide comfort and grounding during PTSD episodes.
- Insight into the development of Jennifer's entrepreneurial project, Moody, a therapeutic doll created to help people cope with emotional struggles by allowing them to physically release tension and anxiety.
- Jennifer's thoughts on how horror genres, like body horror and religious horror, intersect with her personal life and healing journey.
- A deep dive into Jennifer's personal experience with childhood trauma, navigating PTSD, and how horror movies helped her find emotional solace during difficult moments.
- Conversation about Jennifer’s love for characters like Ash from Evil Dead and how those horror icons became a source of comfort and empowerment.
Jennifer’s Journey with Moody:
- The origin story of Moody, born from Jennifer’s desire to create something that could physically represent and help process emotional distress.
- Moody’s arms, legs, and head are detachable, allowing users to rip it apart and release anger and frustration in a healthy way.
- Moody has been embraced by therapists, teachers, and families, and Jennifer shares her vision of expanding the product line to include customized dolls for children with ADHD and autism.
- Jennifer discusses plans for a Make-a-Monster feature, where kids and adults can design their own Moody doll, tailoring it to their specific needs.
Key Takeaways:
- Horror isn’t just about scares; for some, it’s a therapeutic and healing experience that helps them navigate trauma and emotional challenges.
- Jennifer’s story is a testament to the power of creativity, as she turned her own struggles into something that can help others with similar challenges.
- The horror community continues to be a place of comfort and connection for those who feel like outsiders or who are managing difficult life experiences.
Favorite Final Person: Jennifer’s favorite final person is Ash from Evil Dead. She loves everything about his character and the series, calling Ash her “ab
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If you want to support our guests, check the show notes for links to their work, conventions, and fundraising pages.
You can also listen to our sister podcast Family Twist, a show about DNA surprises, identity, and the families we find along the way.
Horror Heals is produced by How the Cow Ate the Cabbage LLC.
Is horror good for mental wellness? Of corpse it is.
