With Halloween just days away, monsters are everywhere — in horror movies, haunted houses and costumes inspired by legendary creatures. But the stories behind vampires, werewolves and other monsters can reveal something about human psychology, cultural traditions and the fears that shape our imaginations.

Matt Hurtado, host of Radio Catskill’s Virtual Soundscapes, recently spoke with Dr. Emily Zarka, host of PBS’s Monstrum, about why people are drawn to horror and how monsters have evolved through storytelling, from folklore and literature to video games and internet culture.

Hurtado says he’s been a longtime fan of Zarka’s work and that her episodes exploring horror video games, including Five Nights at Freddy’s and Resident Evil, inspired him to invite her on the show.

In their conversation, Zarka discussed why people seek out fear as entertainment, pointing to both biological and social explanations. She also invoked philosopher Edmund Burke’s concept of the sublime: the idea that something terrifying or extraordinarily beautiful can overwhelm our ability to process it.

Hurtado said one of the fascinating aspects of horror is the distance it creates between people and the things that frighten them.

“If we encountered this kind of stuff in real life, it would be just a horrible traumatic experience,” he said. But experiencing fear through movies, books and video games can help people become more comfortable with what frightens them.

Hurtado offered his own fear of spiders as an example, recalling how watching the movie Arachnophobia initially frightened him, but became easier with time.

The conversation also explores how monsters reflect the cultures that create them. Hurtado pointed to the internet’s role in spreading creepypastas — horror stories shared online that allow people to contribute their own frightening tales.

“People are sharing what they call creepypastas online,” Hurtado said. “People are writing their own little horror stories from their own corners of the world.”

Hurtado and Zarka also discuss the complicated line between terror and attraction. Hurtado says creatures such as Dracula can be portrayed as both frightening and alluring, challenging assumptions about what makes something monstrous.

Hurtado hopes listeners come away understanding that fear isn’t always something to avoid.

“It’s okay to be afraid,” he said. “Sometimes being afraid can be fun. Sometimes being afraid can be something that helps us get through hard times.”

The full interview airs on Virtual Soundscapes Wednesday at 9 p.m. on Radio Catskill.