Southern Gothic - podcast cover

Southern Gothic

Southern Gothic Mediawww.southerngothicmedia.com
Step into the world of the unknown and unravel the dark history, and infamous legends of the American South. Join us as we journey into the heart of this rich and fascinating region, uncovering its ghostly stories, haunted places, and eeriest tales through captivating storytelling, in-depth historical research, and an immersive audio soundscape. From the Bell Witch of Tennessee to the haunted Waverly Hills Sanatorium, the ghostly tales of the Myrtles Plantation, the Curse of Lake Lanier and beyond, get ready for an unforgettable experience that brings history to life and uncovers the truth behind classic tales of the paranormal.

Episodes

The Ballad of Casey Jones

In the early hours of April 30, 1900, railroad engineer Casey Jones made a quick decision to sacrifice his own life in an attempt to save those of the passengers on his train-- a decision that has cemented his legacy as one of the most iconic figures in American folklore. Connect with Southern Gothic Media: Become a Patreon Supporter Join our New Facebook Group! Website: SouthernGothicMedia.com Merch Store: https://www.southerngothicmedia.com/merch Pinterest: @SouthernGothicMedia Facebook: @Sout...

Aug 28, 202334 minEp. 116

Introducing: One Strange Thing

This week we introduce you to One Strange Thing, a podcast that brings you some of the oddest stories from America's regional newspaper archives. And these tales all have something in common: they are entirely true, and feature elements that can't be explained by logic alone. In this preview, they explore how a mannequin with human hair became a doll, and lifelong companion and/or scapegoat, for an eccentric Floridian artist. The rest is (haunted? possessed?) history, and it’s exactly as unsettl...

Aug 21, 202312 min

The Unsolved Murder of Ethel Allen

Ethel Allen was last seen alive at Jack’s Tavern in Rockledge, Florida on the night of November 17, 1934. Her body was discovered only several days later in an utterly horrific state, dumped in the Indian River Lagoon. Unfortunately, her killer was never brought to justice, but some say that her spirit still continues to haunt the establishment where she was last seen in life. Thanks HelloFresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/50gothic and use code 50gothic for 50% off plus free shipping! Connect with Sout...

Aug 14, 202327 minEp. 115

Tuberculosis in Mammoth Cave | Minisode

Last week we returned to the Mammoth Cave National Park to discuss the tragedy of Floyd Collins, but the death of the infamous explorer is far from the only dark tale in the cave. This week's minisode explores one of those tales, one in which a man named Dr. John Croghan attempted to use part of Mammoth as a sanitarium for people with tuberculosis. Y'all looking for bonus content? Head on over to Patreon and get some today!! Connect with Southern Gothic Media: Join our New Facebook Group! Websit...

Aug 10, 202310 minEp. 114

Tragedy in Sand Cave

In 1925, cave explorer Floyd Collins discovered Sand Cave, not far from what would one day become Mammoth Cave National Park. Floyd, like many others in Kentucky cave country, had hoped to discover a cave of his own that he could profit from as a tourist attraction. Unfortunately, while attempting to uncover the secrets of his new found cave, Floyd Collins became trapped. The resulting rescue attempts fueled a media frenzy that stretched across the nation. Y'all looking for bonus content? Head o...

Jul 31, 202338 minEp. 113

Kathryn Tucker Windham Museum | Interview

Kathryn Tucker Windham was an American storyteller, author, photographer, folklorist, and journalist born and raised in Alabama. Of course if you've been listening to Southern Gothic you've probably heard us mention her before, after all, she's one of the most prolific Southern ghost story collectors we know of! Join us on this week's special episode as we talk to Kelly Gates Elmore, the curator of the Kathryn Tucker Windham Museum at the Coastal Alabama Community College. Connect with the Kathr...

Jul 24, 202338 min

The Boyington Oak Tree

A beautiful oak tree stands by the Church Street Cemetery in Mobile, Alabama. According to legend, the tree has been there for almost two hundred years, and it is growing from the grave of a man who was hanged for murder-- a man who claimed he was innocent and that this tree would serve as evidence. Thanks HelloFresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/gothic50 and use code gothic50 for 50% off plus free shipping! Connect with Southern Gothic Media: Become a Patreon Supporter Join our New Facebook Group! Webs...

Jul 17, 202328 minEp. 112

The Hoofprints of Bath

Just outside of Bath, North Carolina is a unique landmark that has puzzled folks for over two centuries-- a series of small depressions in the ground, known as the Hoofprints of Bath. According to legend, not only have these depressions been around for over two centuries but they are also the product of a legendary horse race with the devil. Connect with Southern Gothic Media: Become a Patreon Supporter Join our New Facebook Group! Website: SouthernGothicMedia.com Merch Store: https://www.southe...

Jul 06, 202326 minEp. 111

Paranormal Podcast Special!

Recently Southern Gothic took part in a special ghost story throwdown with a handful of other paranormal podcasters! Join us in this veritable grab bag of ghostly tales featuring these wonderful podcasts: Real Life Ghost Stories Haunted Happenstance They're Not Shadows You Can See Me In the Dark The Ghost Story Guys Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 30, 20231 hr

Introducing: The Conspirators

The Conspirators is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Nate Hale, an entirely fictional identity, as he likes to tell everyone. In each episode, Nate tells you the stories from history your teacher never told you. He’s done episodes on serial killers, strange disappearances, unsolved mysteries, survival stories, horrific disasters and much more. Nate brings you each story in a single-person narrative, bringing to life the colorful characters and most despicable people from history. Be sure to follow ...

Jun 26, 202336 min

Creation of the Arlington National Cemetery

The Arlington National Cemetery is the final resting place for over 400,000 United States service members and their eligible family members, and the most well-known and highly esteemed national cemetery in the country. Yet few know of how this esteemed burial ground came to be; a result of overcrowding cemeteries during the Civil War, in a place that was seemingly chosen out of spite-- the home of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Connect with Southern Gothic Media: Become a Patreon Supporter J...

Jun 20, 202336 minEp. 110

The Crybaby Bridge of Anderson County | Minisode

If you travel southwest on High Shoals Road from Broadway Lake, near Anderson, South Carolina, you’ll cross a modern concrete bridge over Rocky River that was built back in 1987. But as you cross its hard not to notice that just to the west of you is the rusted, century-old iron structure that it was built to replace– a now infamous landmark in Anderson county known simply as the Crybaby Bridge. Connect with Southern Gothic Media: Become a Patreon Supporter Join our New Facebook Group! Website: ...

Jun 14, 20239 minEp. 109

Legend of Stuckey's Bridge

On a lonely gravel road in Mississippi, 12 miles southwest of Meridian, is a dilapidated old truss bridge, no longer open to cars or traffic. It spans 112 feet, giving travelers access across the Chunky River, a short tributary of the Chicksasawhy River. This bridge, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988, had been built to replace one erected by early settlers of the region in 1850 which give carriages and horseback travelers a Southwestern route in and out of Merid...

Jun 07, 202324 minEp. 108

Introducing: History Daily

On History Daily, we do history, daily. Every weekday, host Lindsay Graham (American Scandal, American History Tellers) takes you back in time to explore a momentous event that happened ‘on this day’ in history. Whether it’s to remember the tragedy of December 7th, 1941, the day “that will live in infamy,” or to celebrate that 20th day in July, 1969, when mankind reached the moon, History Daily is there to tell you the true stories of the people and events that shaped our world—one day at a time...

May 29, 202343 min

The Chanting Friars of St. Catherine's Island

St. Catherine's Island sits off the coast of Georgia, just fifty miles south of Savannah. This beautiful barrier island has served as a wildlife refuge for several decades, but its history is far darker than what anyone who has visited the island's serene forests and peaceful beaches could ever imagine. In 1597, it was the site of a violent rebellion that left several Spanish friars dead. According to legend, some believe that the echoes of those friars can still be heard chanting in the night, ...

May 24, 202330 minEp. 107

Pearl Bryan's Gruesome Death

It was a chilly February morning in 1896 when Johnny Hewling, a young farm worker, made a grisly discovery on the land of his employer, John Locke, near Ft. Thomas, Kentucky. Hewling had stumbled upon the remains of a woman who had been decapitated, and her head was nowhere to be found. The police were called in to investigate, and they soon discovered the identity of the victim, a young woman named Pearl Bryan. Over the following year, Pearl's murder and the subsequent trial of her killers capt...

May 17, 202334 minEp. 106

Southern Gothic Live!

In October 2022, Brandon took to the stage of the haunted Palace Theatre for a night of ghost stories. Join us this week as we preview several of the stories from that night in anticipation of his appearance at the upcoming Haunted America Conference on June 22, 2023 in Alton, Illinois. Get your tickets now at GhostConference.net! Connect with Southern Gothic Media: Become a Patreon Supporter Join our New Facebook Group! Website: SouthernGothicMedia.com Merch Store: https://www.southerngothicmed...

May 09, 202317 min

The Boo Hag of Gullah Culture

According to Gullah folklore, the swamps of the Lowcountry are home to a mythical creature who is said to sneak into the homes of its victims while they sleep and then suck the life force from their breath. The creature, known as the Boo Hag, is described as a large, hideous creature with no skin and glowing red eyes. It is said to be able to change its shape, making it difficult to track or identify. The Boo Hag is also said to be very strong and can easily overpower its victims. Join us as we ...

Apr 24, 202330 minEp. 105

French Quarter Vampires: The Carter Brothers | Minisode

In 1932, a police officer encountered a woman frantically running down Royal Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans. She told him that she had just escaped from the home of a pair of brothers, who had attacked her, brought her home with them and tied her to a chair so that they could drink her blood. Their names were John and Wayne Carter. Join us as we explore the legend surrounding these French Quarter vampires. Connect with Southern Gothic Media: Become a Patreon Supporter Join our New F...

Apr 17, 202310 minEp. 104

French Quarter Vampire: Jacque Saint Germain

At the turn of the twentieth century, a mysterious man arrived in New Orleans from France. His name was Jacque Saint Germain, and he was both wealthy and handsome, exuding charm and intellect. He quickly became known amongst the high society in New Orleans for the elaborate parties he hosted at his home on Royal Street in the French Quarter. However, there was something peculiar about Saint Germain. He never seemed to eat in the presence of others, and he often regaled his guests with stories of...

Apr 10, 202331 minEp. 103

The Ghost Story Guys feat. Brandon Schexnayder

This week Southern Gothic is dark so we decided to share a recent episode of The Ghost Story Guys featuring Brandon! The podcast features true stories of the paranormal, told with humor, humanity, and just a pinch of skepticism and is hosted by Brennan Storr & Paul Bestall. If you enjoy the episode be sure to check them out and subscribe now! Help us out, by completing our listener survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/r/airwave Connect with Southern Gothic Media: Become a Patreon Supporter Join o...

Mar 31, 20232 hr 3 min

The Baynard Mausoleum of Hilton Head Island

The Baynard Mausoleum is the oldest surviving structure on Hilton Head Island, but eerily, the family once interred inside are no longer there. Now, after a century of vandalism and treasure hunters has taken its toll, we attempt to explore the local lore that has sprung up to give this unique tomb a romantic origin story. Help us out, by completing our listener survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/r/airwave Connect with Southern Gothic Media: Become a Patreon Supporter Join our New Facebook Grou...

Mar 27, 202332 minEp. 102

The Tragic End of the Steamboat Sultana

On April 27, 1865, tragedy struck the Steamboat Sultana, causing the worst maritime disaster in United States history. Overcrowded with former Confederate prisoners of war on their way home, the ship's boiler suddenly exploded, unleashing a catastrophic inferno that threatened the lives of everyone on board. Despite the magnitude of this disaster, it was overshadowed at the time by the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln just days prior. Join us as we delve into the heartbreaking story of...

Feb 24, 202337 minEp. 101

The Face in the Courthouse Window

On this episode of Southern Gothic we will take you on a journey to the Pickens County Courthouse in Carrollton, Alabama, where history and the supernatural collide. Built in 1877, this courthouse has seen its fair share of tumultuous times during the Civil War and Reconstruction era. Today, visitors to the courthouse can still witness a chilling reminder of these troubled times - the ghostly image of a terrified man etched into a window by an unknown force - a man named Henry Wells. Join us as ...

Feb 10, 202332 minEp. 100

Mystery of the Brown Mountain Lights

​​For hundreds of years, the Brown Mountain Lights in North Carolina have puzzled those who have encountered them. The lights, which appear over the Brown Mountain area, are often described as glowing orbs that move through the air. Some attribute the phenomenon to natural causes such as marsh gas or ball lightning, while others believe it could be related to ghost lights or even UFO activity. Despite numerous studies and investigations, the true cause of the Brown Mountain Lights remains a myst...

Jan 27, 202338 minEp. 99

History of the Mausoleum | Minisode

In 353 BCE, construction began on an elaborate structure meant to be the final resting place of Mausolus, a member of Persian royalty who ruled the small kingdom of Caria [Car-ia}. The immense temple-like tomb was built on a hill overlooking the city of Halicarnassus. While earthquakes would later destroy this grand monument in the 12th and 15th centuries, it earned the distinction of being considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and Mausolus’s name endured as the eponym for th...

Jan 20, 202310 minEp. 98

Little Nina's Bleeding Mausoleum

Cleveland, Tennessee is home to a unique piece of local lore. Just behind St. Luke’s Episcopal Church is a beautiful white mausoleum where a young girl named Nina Craigmiles was buried. But according to legend, the white marble does not stay perfectly white for long, as the tomb purportedly bleeds. Little Nina was only seven years old when she was killed in a tragic buggy accident. While riding with her grandfather, the cart’s horse was spooked while at a railroad crossing, causing the buggy to ...

Jan 13, 202331 minEp. 97

The Notorious Storyville of New Orleans | Minisode

In the early twentieth century, New Orleans Alderman Sidney Story promoted an ordinance to create a 38-block vice district that allowed legal sex work. Known by most as Storyville, this notorious red-light district not only helped New Orleans its reputation as a city of sin but also became an integral part of early Jazz. This week's episode, The Notorious Storyville of New Orleans, is a companion to The Fiery Tomb of Josie Arlington. Listen to some of the music to come out of Storyville on our S...

Jan 01, 202312 minEp. 96

The Fiery Tomb of Josie Arlington

Josie Arlington, one of the most infamous Madams in New Orleans’ red-light district, Storyville was born Mary Anna Deubler to impoverished German immigrants in 1864. Theories abound as to exactly why or when Josie entered the world of sex work, but by at least the age of seventeen she was working in the brothels of New Orleans. Entrepreneurial in spirit, Josie worked to create a life greater than what she knew, first owning the ‘Chateau Lobrano,’ and then with the creation of Storyville she buil...

Dec 18, 202241 minEp. 95

The Curse of Lorenzo Dow

In 1952 the Georgia Historical Commission erected a marker to commemorate the ghost town of Jacksonboro, Georgia, that many believe met its fate as the result of a preacher’s curse. Established at the seat for Screven County in 1797, it would be gone within fifty years. Known as a rowdy, lawless pioneer town Jacksonboro, Georgia met its match in Lorenzo Dow, one of the country’s first ‘celebrity’ evangelists. It was a community that balked at the thought they needed spiritual saving and refused ...

Dec 04, 202225 minEp. 94