Give a group of boys from anywhere a backyard, a stretch of woods, hell, a vacant lot even — and you can watch it rise to a place of hallowed glory. A patch of trees in between houses becomes an ancient battlefield where two sides of some long-remembered, or forgotten, conflict plays out again and again after school hours. An empty, fallow field becomes an arena or tournament ground where rasslin, foot racin and some form of ball-related sport are contested and pushed to the highest form of the ...
Oct 22, 2020•26 min•Ep 14•Transcript available on Metacast The Gibson family meets their fate. CW: Gunshots, dog/monster sounds, references to murder, death by structural collapse, earthquake sounds. Written by Steve Shell Sound design by Steve Shell Narrated by Steve Shell Intro music: "The Land Unknown," written and performed by Landon Blood Outro music: "I Cannot Escape the Darkness," written and performed by Those Poor Bastards LEARN MORE ABOUT OLD GODS OF APPALACHIA: www.oldgodsofappalachia.com COMPLETE YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA RITUAL: Facebook Instagram ...
Oct 08, 2020•31 min•Ep 13•Transcript available on Metacast These yarns were spun to teach you to stay safe and mind common sense, and most importantly, your mama. The stories that get lost though — the ones hardly nobody ever lived to tell — were often just blunt and simple warnings. There is darkness here: fear it. Trust those who can see through it and you might live to see the dawn. Or then again... maybe not. CW: References to regional ghost stories, monster/dog sounds, vomiting, mind control. Written by Steve Shell Sound design by Steve Shell Narra...
Sep 24, 2020•25 min•Ep 12•Transcript available on Metacast O Appalachia: mother and maw that births and devours us, roots sunk deep and winding as gnarled hands clasped in prayer, hold us fast and give us foundation. O knotted cage and vine wrought chains O feast of hills and green, that which feeds our hearts but often starves our blood: Hear us now. Written by Steve Shell Sound design by Steve Shell Narrated by Steve Shell Intro music: "The Land Unknown," written and performed by Landon Blood Outro music: "In the Pines" (traditional), performed by Kee...
Sep 10, 2020•14 min•Ep 11•Transcript available on Metacast The Walker Sisters and their man Melvin journey into the darkest night Baker's Gap, TN has known in thirty years in this thrilling finale to The Wolf Sisters series, originally performed live on Discord. CW: Frank discussion of historical racism and treatment of migrant workers, depictions of period racism, cult activity, shapeshifting, supernatural animal violence, gore, dismemberment of a dead body, references to the KKK (pejorative), spiritual/demonic possession themed elements, references to...
Apr 16, 2020•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast In which we properly meet The Walker Sisters and their man Melvin. CW: Frank discussion of historical racism and treatment of migrant workers, depictions of period racism, cult activity, shapeshifting, supernatural animal violence, gore, dismemberment of a dead body, references to the KKK (pejorative), spiritual/demonic possession themed elements, references to historical sex work, references to the death of an adult child. Written by Steve Shell Sound design by Steve Shell Narrated by Steve She...
Apr 09, 2020•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast To be a wolf is a thing of spring loaded joy, of black gummed panting death. Of pack and ground. Torn tendon and blood and broken bones in feasting abandon beneath a split and howling sky. But to be a wolf with the mind of mortal man or woman? No-we can’t be trusted with that kind of power without being broken by it. Not even wise women of The Clutch. Not even them. CW: Frank discussion of historical racism and treatment of migrant workers, depictions of period racism, cult activity, shapeshifti...
Apr 02, 2020•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast A whole new story set in the world of Old Gods of Appalachia. Exclusively on Patreon. Come tithe and come a with us to Esau County, VA in the fall of 1927. Written by Steve Shell Sound design by Steve Shell Narrated by Steve Shell Outro music: "Build Mama a Coffin," written and performed by Blood on the Harp To learn more about Old Gods of Appalachia, visit our website at www.oldgodsofappalachia.com , and be sure to complete your social media ritual and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @oldgo...
Feb 06, 2020•3 min•Transcript available on Metacast Season One comes to a close as we follow Daughter Dooley to the far reaches of Last Harbor and witness what changed her and The Black Stag whose name sounds like, but is not Horn-ed Head or Hornet Head. CW: Medical horror, death of the elderly and physical trauma patients in a period hospital setting, theft and endangerment of a newborn, blood, cult activities. Written by Steve Shell Sound design by Steve Shell Narrated by Steve Shell Intro music: "The Land Unknown," written and performed by Lan...
Jan 30, 2020•36 min•Ep 10•Transcript available on Metacast In this, our penultimate episode of Season One, we examine what makes a home and the power of kinfolk as we say good-bye to young Sarah Avery. CW: Religious themes, endangerment of a child, cannibalism, implied death of children in the care of an institution, ableist attitudes towards a being with a facial difference, supernatural/magical violence. Written by Steve Shell Sound design by Steve Shell Narrated by Steve Shell Intro music: "The Land Unknown," written and performed by Landon Blood Out...
Jan 23, 2020•28 min•Ep 9•Transcript available on Metacast We return for a visit with the good Pastor of the Tabernacle of the Elder Covenant, as he and his family prepare to relocate. CW: Death of spouse and family members by monster-related violence, implied death of an infant, resurrection/corruption of the dead. Written by Cam Collins Sound design by Steve Shell Narrated by Steve Shell Intro music: "The Land Unknown," written and performed by Landon Blood Outro music: "I Cannot Escape the Darkness," written and performed by Those Poor Bastards...
Jan 16, 2020•25 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast Before our time in Barlo moves forward towards its inevitable conclusion, we take one last look back to honor a life that might otherwise remain overshadowed and left hanging from the branches of our family tree. CW: Frank discussion of historical sex work, discussion of childbirth, insect/creature themed body horror, gore, monster-related terror, death by hanging, explosion-related gore, potential danger to a child. Written by Steve Shell Sound design by Steve Shell Narrated by Steve Shell Intr...
Jan 09, 2020•28 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast "To live forever and keep this land..." was the promise made. What happens when a promise is kept but with a vile and broken spirit? CW: Physical trauma as a result of a fall, descriptions of occult practices, implied death of a family by monster violence. Written by Steve Shell Sound design by Steve Shell Narrated by Steve Shell Intro music: "The Land Unknown," written and performed by Landon Blood Outro music: "I Cannot Escape the Darkness," written and performed by Those Poor Bastards LEARN M...
Dec 26, 2019•24 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast Who speaks for the young dead lost beneath the fair earth? The Boy comes to Barlo. CW: Frank discussion of historical child labor and depictions of injuries/death as a result of child labor and intentional harm, death by industrial fire, traumatic memories, references to a period psychiatric hospital, explosions. Written by Steve Shell Sound design by Steve Shell Narrated by Steve Shell Intro music: "The Land Unknown," written and performed by Landon Blood Outro music: "I Cannot Escape the Darkn...
Dec 19, 2019•28 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast An interlude. CW: Religious themes, gore, eye mutilation/blinding/death/ facial mutilation/resurrection by monsters/supernatural means. Written by Steve Shell Sound design by Steve Shell Narrated by Steve Shell Intro music: "The Land Unknown," written and performed by Landon Blood Outro music: "God's Dark Heaven," written and performed by Those Poor Bastards Additional vocal work by Allison Mullins LEARN MORE ABOUT OLD GODS OF APPALACHIA: www.oldgodsofappalachia.com COMPLETE YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA RI...
Dec 13, 2019•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast In the wake of the Old Number Seven Disaster, the Tabernacle of the Elder Covenant does what it can to save their own. Choices are made that cannot be unmade. CW: Frank discussion of religious fundamentalism and depiction of an altered worship service, church related horror/cult activity, non-pet animal deaths (a family dog is mentioned in this context but is not harmed), blood, parental reaction to the death of an adult child. Written by Cam Collins Sound design by Steve Shell Narrated by Steve...
Dec 05, 2019•21 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast Cletus Garvin should have died in 1910 but instead has been the pastor of The Tabernacle of the Elder Covenant for the past seven years. Debts are called to account in the shadow of the Old Number Seven Disaster. CW: Frank discussion of religious fundamentalism, religious horror/cult activity, discussion of death by disease, thoughts of self harm/suicide. Written by Cam Collins Sound design by Steve Shell Narrated by Steve Shell Intro music: "The Land Unknown," written and performed by Landon Bl...
Nov 28, 2019•20 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast An interlude. CW: Supernatural events involving a child. Written by Steve Shell Sound design by Steve Shell Narrated by Steve Shell Intro music: "The Land Unknown," written and performed by Landon Blood Outro music: "God's Dark Heaven," written and performed by Those Poor Bastards Additional vocal work by Veronica Limeberry LEARN MORE ABOUT OLD GODS OF APPALACHIA: www.oldgodsofappalachia.com COMPLETE YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA RITUAL: Facebook Instagram Twitter Bluesky SUPPORT THE SHOW: Join us over at T...
Nov 21, 2019•11 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ten year old Sarah Avery continues to deal with the fallout of the elders of Barlo's choices. A promise is made. CW: Frank discussion of historical racism, explicit gore, death by industrial disaster, desecration of dead bodies, reanimated dead, discovery of a body dead by hanging, endangerment of a child by monsters, bear attack with animal sounds. Written by Steve Shell Sound design by Steve Shell Narrated by Steve Shell Intro music: "The Land Unknown," written and performed by Landon Blood Ou...
Nov 14, 2019•18 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast Darkness comes to the tiny town of Barlo in the form of the worst mining disaster in Kentucky history. Young Sarah Avery runs. CW: Frank discussion of historical racism, explicit gore including facial and eye mutilation, death by industrial disaster, desecration of dead bodies, reanimated dead, discovery of a body dead by hanging, endangerment of a child by monsters. Written by Steve Shell Sound design by Steve Shell Narrated by Steve Shell Intro music: "The Land Unknown," written and performed ...
Nov 07, 2019•16 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast They say there's a witch in that valley and you'd do well to stay away from there. Join us as we journey back to the settling of the central plateau and witness the power of mountain women. CW: Religious fundamentalism, death of parents by illness and implied suicide, child abandonment, offscreen attempted romantic coercion, shapeshifting, description of monstrous animal, discussions of mortality. Written by Steve Shell Sound design by Steve Shell Narrated by Steve Shell Intro music: "The Land U...
Nov 06, 2019•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Welcome to our Appalachia, where hearts are good, hands are strong and no one wants to talk about what sleeps beneath us. First come, first served. Written by Steve Shell Sound design by Steve Shell Narrated by Steve Shell Intro music: "The Land Unknown," written and performed by Landon Blood Outro music: "I Cannot Escape the Darkness," written and performed by Those Poor Bastards LEARN MORE ABOUT OLD GODS OF APPALACHIA: www.oldgodsofappalachia.com COMPLETE YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA RITUAL: Facebook Ins...
Oct 31, 2019•10 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
