Explore every episode of the podcast Arcane Carolinas
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AC 00129 - Stay Humble Out There | 20 Jul 2025 | 00:45:16 | |
We know plenty of legends based on and built around real people, from the Hunter of Purgatory Mountain to Lavinia Fisher to Hezekiah Jones. But how often do we see a legend spring up around a person as events unfold? Join Charlie and Michael for the summer road trip episode about a notorious driver and a couple of legend-encrusted vehicles! Links:
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| AC 00128 - Arcane Carolinas Case Files for April 2025 | 27 Apr 2025 | 00:36:08 | |
Join Charlie for two AC Case Files interviews regarding strange experiences, one on the coast of North Carolina and one on the streets of Pittsburgh, PA! Links:
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| AC 00119 - The Heroes of America - Part Two of Two | 29 Sep 2024 | 00:49:45 | |
This episode is the second half of our history deep dive into the Heroes of America, an anti-Confederate secret society that started in the "Quaker Belt" region of NC. If you're looking for a way to help people affected by Hurricane Helene in the Carolinas and beyond, consider donating to the American Red Cross' Hurricane Helene efforts. If you see this on Facebook, there's a link in the show notes for this episode. We hope everyone is safe and we're thinking of them all the time. Michael will also donate all royalties from Arcane Carolinas: Volume 2 for the rest of 2024. Another reminder: the deadlines to register to vote are looming. Please check the links below if you need any information on voting, especially if you need to vote absentee or if you're unsure what to bring with you when you vote. Hurricane Helene has disrupted many people's lives, including displacing people, so if you're not sure what the status of services and travel in your community will be a month from now (a very real possibility) and voting is a priority for you, start planning now. Link: Register & Vote:
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| AC 00029 - Becky Cotton - The Devil in Petticoats | 16 May 2021 | 00:25:06 | |
Becky Cotton, of Edgefield, SC, is renowned as "The Devil in Petticoats" for a sequence of murders in the early 19th century. But are the legends of her many victims' colorful demises actually true? Join us as Charlie dredges up some shocking facts about this blood-curdling tale from another time! Links: Edgefield County Historical Society Follow us! Contact us! | |||
| AC 00028 - Monkey Island South Carolina | 02 May 2021 | 00:15:35 | |
Morgan Island, South Carolina, is a sea island off the coast near Charleston--and its other name is MONKEY ISLAND! Charlie and Michael discuss this fascinating example of the modern weird and then welcome a guest onto the show who's seen it firsthand. Paddle out to sea with us, but do not go ashore! Follow us! Contact us! | |||
| AC 00027 - Carolina Sasquatches 101 | 18 Apr 2021 | 00:30:37 | |
The Carolinas have a rich history of Bigfoot, and in every flavor: historical, recent, compellingly sincere, and entertainingly fake. Charlie & Michael kick off an ongoing series on occasions everybody's favorite cryptid cropped up in the Carolinas! Be sure to check the Facebook post for scans of contemporary news reports! Follow us! Contact us!
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| AC 00026 - The Chatham County Hole | 11 Apr 2021 | 00:28:09 | |
For decades, locals have shared rumors and theories regarding what's known as The Hole, including everything from alien bases to secret missile silos. Join us as we dig into the past--and present--of this site and others like it! We also cover some other not-so-secret-facilities in North Carolina as well as a couple of conspiracy theories about such sites being tucked away in the mountains. Did you know we have a space camp in NC? It sounds awesome! Be sure to watch the story from WFAE, linked below! Links:
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| AC 00025 - The Little Red Man of Old Salem | 28 Mar 2021 | 00:34:49 | |
Named for his colorful cap and his short stature, the Little Red Man of Old Salem is described both as terrifying and beloved. Join us for a deep dive into one of the most interesting ghost stories--and communities--of the Carolinas! 14 Links:
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| AC 00024 - Bath, NC - Part 04 | 21 Mar 2021 | 00:12:24 | |
Come along on one last gallop around Bath, NC, where there were many strange goings-on in the year 1898! Did a witch-man "ride" a local and cause stones to rain on a family farm, or did said shenanigans have a source a little bit closer to home? Check out our Facebook page for photos and scans of contemporary reports, too! 12 EDIT: Whoops, a more knowledgeable listener noticed we referred to The Watchtower as a publication of the Latter Day Saints when actually it's published by the Jehovah's Witnesses. Our mistake - and thank you to that listener! We will always welcome corrections! Follow us! Contact us! | |||
| AC 00023 - AC Case Files for February-ish 2021 | 06 Mar 2021 | 00:30:46 | |
For this February(-ish) Case Files episode of Arcane Carolinas we had the pleasure of talking to Bryce Gibson, author of the County Line Horror and Killer Tech series set in South Carolina, and to Chuy with the Exploring the Myths Behind the Legends podcast! 4 Follow us! Contact us! | |||
| AC 00022 - Bath, NC - Part 03 | 28 Feb 2021 | 00:09:03 | |
Join us for the third installment of our mini-episodes about the strange and fascinating history of Bath, NC! We talk about The Devil's Hoofprints, permanent markings that once were a well-known roadside attraction. Guess what: they're still there! (And a descendant of the property owner showed up in comments when we posted photos on Facebook!) 1 Links: NC Department of Natural & Cultural Resources North Carolina To-Day (vol. 1, issue 3) Follow us! Contact us! 1 | |||
| AC 00021 - Thunderbird Sightings in South Carolina | 12 Feb 2021 | 00:24:32 | |
Many of the cryptids and other wonders we encounter in legends, tales, and our own experiences are decidedly terrestrial. But what of thunderbirds: giant bats? Giant birds? Living fossils? Or are they agents of the spirit of the sky? Whatever they might be, South Carolina has plenty! Join Charlie and Michael as we discuss these fascinating and frightening beings! Links: A Few Great Stories of the Santee People (University of Nebraska - Lincoln) Cooper's Country Store (Facebook Page) "Horrifying Flying Cryptid Encounter - Northeast South Carolina" (phantomsandmonsters.com) Follow us! Contact us! 18 | |||
| AC 00020 - Bath NC - Part 02 | 07 Feb 2021 | 00:10:44 | |
Join us for the second installment of our ongoing deep-dive series of episodes about the history of Bath, NC. This time we've got traveling preachers who haul around their own coffins, a curse, and a town that refused to give up its fun! Follow us! Contact us! 2 | |||
| AC 00118 - The Heroes of America - Part One of Two | 22 Sep 2024 | 00:48:58 | |
Did you know a sprawling network of anti-Confederate organizers formed in the Piedmont of NC at the outset of the US Civil War? Join Michael and Charlie for a history deep-dive into a little-discussed corner of the reality of political organizing in the south during that era! Note: the sound is different on this one because we got to use an awesome podcasting studio and record face to face! Don't forget, Arcane Carolinas: Volume 2 is out now! Register & Vote:
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| AC 00019 - AC Case Files for January 2021 | 24 Jan 2021 | 00:38:31 | |
Welcome to the January, 2021, installment of AC Case Files! Joining us this month are Gabe from Wayward America to talk treasure hunts; mother/daughter team PACT to discuss lanky shapes in the night; and Tony from Spirit of the Appalachians Paranormal Research Society to talk about Penland School of Craft. Give it a listen! Guest Links: P.ACT. Paranormal Investigations Spirit of the Appalachians Paranormal Research Society on YouTube Follow us! Contact us! 15 | |||
| AC 00018 - Bath NC - Part 01 | 19 Jan 2021 | 00:14:57 | |
The quiet and inviting coastal village of Bath was the first town chartered in colonial North Carolina. Home to many of the state's firsts, it boasts NC's first public library, first extremely corrupt local government, one of the homes of Blackbeard, and more! Join us as we discuss the fascinating--and grisly--history of this lovely destination! Follow us! Contact us! 5 | |||
| AC 00017 - Spontaneous Human Combustion + Boglins | 11 Jan 2021 | 00:27:31 | |
Join us for a two-segment episode! First up: spontaneous human combustion in the Carolinas! Specifically, a specific case from Greenville, SC, and a discussion of the difficulty our institutions have dealing with the unexplained and inexplicable, as well as the real science behind this fascinating and gruesome phenomenon. Second: Boglins! A North Carolina company is about to revive a beloved toy from the 1980's. We figure folks who like monsters might like to know about a cool monster toy! Links: Follow us! Contact us! 2 | |||
| AC 00016 - AC Case Files for December 2020 | 26 Dec 2020 | 00:31:11 | |
Happy holidays, and welcome to the second installment of Arcane Carolinas Case Files! In the month of December, we're first joined by Dan from the Carolina Haints podcast. Then we have a wide-ranging and absolutely fascinating discussion with The Grim Wanderers, a group of artisans, practitioners, and paranormal investigators in Abbeville, South Carolina. But really, do you need to hear anything more than that this one has a werewolf story? (The Grim Wanderers' website isn't up yet - but it will be soon! Keep an eye on thegrimwanderers.com.) Follow us! Contact us! | |||
| AC 00015 - To the Skies | 14 Dec 2020 | 00:30:14 | |
If you're a resident of or visitor to Myrtle Beach or the many other towns along the region where the coasts of North and South Carolina meet, look out over the water at night and then look up. Horry County, SC, is home to three of the top ten towns in North America for UFO sightings per capita. Join Charlie and Michael to discuss what folks are seeing, hear a very personal tale, and discuss the MADAR project! The particular sighting Michael read Follow us! Contact us! | |||
| AC 00014 - The Legend of Purgatory Mountain | 05 Dec 2020 | 00:26:48 | |
Lore--and history--tell us of a sinister figure from the Civil War known as "The Hunter," whose spirit is said to wander the slopes of Purgatory Mountain in the Uwharries of central North Carolina to this very day. Let's dig into this story of misunderstood outsiders determined to survive! Follow us! Contact us! | |||
| AC 00013 - Arcane Carolinas Case Files for November 2020 | 24 Nov 2020 | 00:44:15 | |
To celebrate the holiday we're serving up a feast of interviews! Welcome to the first installment of "Arcane Carolinas Case Files," a new monthly feature in which we welcome actual experts from around the Carolinas to tell us about their investigations and experiences. Who you gonna call? These folks!
For more on The Beer City Ghost Hunters or True CrimeBuzz: Beer City Ghost Hunters (Asheville, NC) - Not professionals, just in it for the fun! YouTube video of our first investigation at TALA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9ZpvEVWKDw Suggestions for locations can be directed to amberdorine28@gmail.com True Crime Buzz (podcast) - Hosted by Amber and Vanessa Freeman, available on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, Youtube and more by searching “True Crime Buzz” or visiting these links:
For more on Southeastern Paranormal:
For more information on Alex Matsuo: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok - @thespookystuff Websites - thespookystuff.com or alexmatsuo.com | |||
| AC 00012 - The Three-Eyed Man | 21 Nov 2020 | 00:26:11 | |
What's got three eyes, a mess of chicken, and one very bad attitude? Join us in the catacombs beneath Columbia, South Carolina, to find out! Charlie & Michael welcome Peter from the Nerds Adulting podcast to discuss this obscure figure of Carolinas lore and how he reminds us of other tales of visitors from below - and above - the Earth. Follow us! Contact us! | |||
| AC 00011 - The Raleigh Blob | 15 Nov 2020 | 00:20:46 | |
What lurks beneath Raleigh's Cameron Village neighborhood: a giant yarn-ball of worms, a zombie horde of single-cell lifeforms, or something altogether new? Let's go poke it and find out together! Of interest from this episode: Follow us! Contact us! | |||
| AC 00010 - Palmetto State Spirits with Tally Johnson | 25 Oct 2020 | 00:27:39 | |
Charlie and Michael sit down for ghost stories and spooky tales of the Palmetto State with author, historian, folklorist, and storyteller Tally Johnson, complete with a brief trip north to Brown Mountain Lights! Listen in for haunted theaters, railway apparitions, and what happens when kids in a small town decide to "go see if we can get scared." Links for this episode:
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| AC 00117 - Places of Power & Paranormal Bucket Lists - Live from ConGregate 2024 | 18 Sep 2024 | 00:36:56 | |
From the Devil's Tramping Ground to ghost chickens in the US Capitol, what are our paranormal bucket list items? And what makes any given paranormal hotspot such a focal point for the strange in the first place? Join Michael and special guest co-hosts Gary Mitchel and Tally Johnson for the rest of our ConGregate 2024 conversation! And don't forget, Arcane Carolinas: Volume 2 is out now! Upcoming Live Appearances:
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| AC 00009 - The Cora Tree | 17 Oct 2020 | 00:25:01 | |
Charlie and Michael talk to Dare County resident Joe about an ancient - or perhaps very new - legend of a witch, the town that tried to burn her, and the tree that still bears her mark! Blackbeard's Cup and Stories of the Outer Banks on AbeBooks.com Follow us! Contact us!
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| AC 00008 - Myers House NC & Spooky Cinema of the Carolinas | 10 Oct 2020 | 00:17:05 | |
Join us for a review of the spooky, scary, and suspenseful films made in the Carolinas and a conversation with Kenny Caperton, owner and resident of Myers House NC! Follow us! Contact us! (Episode/post artwork courtesy of myershousenc.com.) | |||
| AC 00007 - The Devil & Hezekiah Jones | 03 Oct 2020 | 00:21:07 | |
An old story from the coastal region of North Carolina warns of what fate awaits those who are cruel to others in this life - but was Hezekiah Jones real? Listen in to find out! Follow us! Contact us! | |||
| AC 00006 - Thank You! | 16 Sep 2020 | 00:07:47 | |
Enjoy a quick mini-episode to say thank you for your support, let you know what's coming in the future, and share a quick story of some of Charlie's family lore! Links:
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| AC 00005 - DragonCon Goes Virtual - Cryptids & Classic Sci Fi | 11 Sep 2020 | 00:34:21 | |
Many thanks to the DragonCon American Sci Fi Classics Track for hosting us as part of #DragonConGoesVirtual! This episode is the audio from our video presentation. If you want to know where to find more of our stuff in future, you can watch the video on the Arcane Carolinas YouTube channel! If you want to know whereto find a whole bunch of other fun things from the Classics Track folks, including ongoing quarantine panels, you can watch us on the American Sci Fi Classics YouTube channel as well! Follow us! Contact us! | |||
| AC 00004 - Boxing it Fairly! | 02 Sep 2020 | 00:18:44 | |
North and South Carolina have long been home to various sporting greats. But did you know about our very first boxing match? Join us as we talk about some of the more offbeat past and present instances of pugilism and combat sports! Follow us! Contact us! | |||
| AC 00003 - The Brown Mountain Lights | 02 Sep 2020 | 00:36:13 | |
One of North Carolina's most studied and yet resolutely mysterious phenomena is the Brown Mountain Lights. Are they simply headlights from trains and automobiles? Or do they date to a Cherokee battle at the turn of the 13th century? Links:
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| AC 00002 - The Vampire Beast of Bladenboro | 02 Sep 2020 | 00:33:49 | |
In the deepest part of one winter in the 1950's, the tiny town of Bladenboro was terrorized by a vampire beast - or was it "just" an extinct giant cat? Join us for one of Michael's favorite tales of the weird! Links: Follow us! Contact us! | |||
| AC 00001 - The Devil's Tramping Ground | 02 Sep 2020 | 00:25:06 | |
Our first story comes out of Bear Creek, NC, a town known not only as the home of Southern Supreme, a company that makes a very famous fruitcake, but also, where the preferred location devil himself is known to enjoy a stroll from time to time! Also, check us out on Facebook, where we've got photos! Follow us! Contact us! | |||
| Arcane Carolinas 00000 - Introductions & Histories | 26 Aug 2020 | 00:16:28 | |
Oddities and the unexplained abound in the Carolinas! In this introductory episode, we discuss what sparked our respective interests in the strange, the otherworldly, and the supernatural, and talk about the sorts of stories we'll feature in future episodes. Join us! Get more content and awesome swag on Patreon! | |||
| AC 00116 - Haunted Highways Near and Far - Live from ConGregate 2024 | 15 Sep 2024 | 00:57:27 | |
We've all heard of Route 66, but have you heard of Route 666? Did you know a phantom hotrod terrorizes a two-lane highway through South Carolina and North Carolina by night? Or have you seen the ghostly merchant in downtown Winston-Salem? Join Michael at ConGregate 2024 with special guest co-hosts Tally Johnson and Gary Mitchel to discuss these and other stories! And don't forget, Arcane Carolinas: Volume 2 is out now! Upcoming Live Appearances:
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| AC 00115 - Kentucky Fried Goat-Man - Do Not Go to the Trestle of Death - Live from Ret-Con 2024 | 11 Sep 2024 | 00:37:12 | |
As the episode title says, and as we say in the episode, DO NOT GO TO THIS PLACE. IT IS ILLEGAL AND IT IS VERY EASY TO DIE THERE. PLEASE DO NOT DO THAT. Goat-human hybrids: science gone wrong? Or magic gone wrong? Join Charlie and Michael for a lively and hilarious discussion of a unique (or perhaps not so unique!) legend from Kentucky of a deadly railroad trestle and the mutant who stalks those who foolishly visit it. This was recorded live at Ret-Con 2024! And don't forget, Arcane Carolinas: Volume 2 is out now! Upcoming Live Appearances:
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| AC 00114 - The Monkey-Dog | 08 Sep 2024 | 00:24:27 | |
On a spring-like December morning in 1954, dozens of school children, their teacher, and one exceptionally brave janitor had an encounter with what came to be known as The Monkey-Dog. Join Charlie and Michael for a discussion of one of the more obscure and fascinating stories out of Robeson County, NC, and a larger conversation about the distinction between a myth and a cryptid! And don't forget, Arcane Carolinas: Volume 2 is out now! Upcoming Live Appearances:
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| AC 00113 - Hope & Horror on Brown Mountain - Live from Black Mountain Public Library | 04 Sep 2024 | 01:12:00 | |
Y'all, this story has it all: country music, 19th century sightings, the Brown Mountain Lights, electoral politics, multiple varieties of entrepreneurship, UFOs, aliens, illegal construction on federal land, trailbreaking, John Keel, curiosity shops, and traffic jams. We don't even know what else to say! Join Michael and special guest co-host Michelle at the Black Mountain Library in May, 2024, as they discuss a story of hope and horror on Brown Mountain and beyond! Out now: Arcane Carolinas: Volume 2! Upcoming Live Appearances:
Links: If your local library doesn't have these books, ask them about interlibrary loan!
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| AC 00112 - UFOs over Lake Norman | 01 Sep 2024 | 00:27:35 | |
Lake Norman is sometimes referred to as North Carolina's only inland sea, and a review of its size and dimensions definitely back that up. But it's also a place where strange things are seen in, around, and sometimes over the water! Join Charlie and Michael for a chat about the upcoming spooky season and a discussion of Lake Norman as a locus of the strange! Out today: Arcane Carolinas: Volume 2! Pick it up now! Upcoming Live Appearances:
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| AC 00111 - AC Case Files - Tarheel Tales of Terror Vol 1 | 16 Aug 2024 | 00:27:17 | |
Do you love spooky tales such as the Boo Hag or the classic legend of The Rattlesnake Honeymoon? Do you love comic books and sequential art produced by folks right here in the Carolinas? Then check out this Arcane Carolinas Case Files episode where Michael interviews Fiona W. Dunn, co-creator and illustrator of Tarheel Tales of Terror! And, don't forget, we've got Arcane Carolinas, Volume 2 coming out on September 1st! You can preorder paperback and electronic copies now! AND we'll have some copies on hand for the Spooky Season Kickoff at Arcana on 9/26. Get your free ticket below! Upcoming Live Appearances:
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| AC 00110 - Arcane Destinations - Robert the Doll | 30 Jun 2024 | 00:43:42 | |
Michael here! I have no idea how to introduce this episode, honestly, because every time we say anything even remotely snarky about this episode's subject some piece of technology fails us: we had microphones go out in the middle of recording, our hosting provider ate the episode when it was supposed to go out, and even so small a thing as trying to add episode artwork caused me to lose the draft seconds before I would have clicked "publish." That said, I invite you to join us Charlie does a deep dive into the history and lore around Robert the Doll, star of stage and screen, and we discuss how such an item might come to hold powers beyond what one might expect. (Please, universe, just let me click "publish" and be done with this episode already. Yeesh.) Upcoming Live Appearances:
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| AC 00127 - Do Not Trespass at Salem Black River Church | 16 Mar 2025 | 00:41:53 | |
Salem Black River Church near Maysville, SC, is one of the oldest churches in South Carolina and has a rich history as a place of worship and community. From it sprang many other local institutions and activists of tremendous importance also. But the Internet holds that today it is a place of disturbing phenomena from hauntings to monsters. Is any of that true? Go creepin' around with Michael and Charlie as we talk about why no one should trespass at Salem Black River Church! Links: Upcoming Live Appearances:
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| AC 00109 - Arcane Destinations - Alabama's Bear Creek Swamp | 02 Jun 2024 | 00:37:17 | |
Hitch up your waders and fetch your log-pokin' stick, as ride along as Charlie and Michael talk about Alabama's Bear Creek Swamp! Do you like ghosts? Do you like creepy dolls? Do you like finding horrible things? Then this is the place for you! Bear Creek Swamp has anything you could want, and plenty you might not! Tally Johnson's Books: Upcoming Live Appearances:
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| AC 00108 - A Vampire Nest in The Queen City | 28 Apr 2024 | 00:27:23 | |
Grab your stakes and garlic necklaces and come along as Michael and Charlie dig into the history and lore of a Charlotte neighborhood where it was said for many years a particular place only came alive at night! Upcoming Live Appearances:
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| AC 00107 - The Ghost Rider of Hopewell Presbyterian Church | 07 Apr 2024 | 00:31:38 | |
Join Michael and Charlie as they take a deep dive into a pivotal battle of the Revolutionary War and the restless riding spirit who lingers from it still! Upcoming Live Appearances:
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| AC 00106 - Bigfoot Sightings & Museum of the Bizarre - Case Files for March 2024 | 16 Mar 2024 | 00:30:05 | |
Join Charlie and two very special guests to hear tales of Bigfoot encounters in the Piedmont and learn about the Museum of the Bizarre in Wilmington, NC, from Eric Odditorium! Upcoming Live Appearances:
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| AC 00105 - Poogan's Porch of Charleston SC | 10 Mar 2024 | 00:24:13 | |
Charleston, SC, has a reputation as a haunted city with a long and complex past. But what about newer, more contemporary sites? Can't they have ghosts, too? Pull a chair up to the table and join Charlie, Michael, and friend of the show Kevin as we dig in to the history and lore around one of the city's most famous restaurants! Don't forget to pick up Arcane Carolinas: Volume 1, out now! Upcoming Live Appearances:
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| AC 00104 - Arcane Destinations - The Bell Witch | 04 Feb 2024 | 01:01:52 | |
The Bell Witch of Adams, Tennessee, is one of the most adapted, sprawling, and elaborated upon legends in the entire catalogue of paranormal events in United States history. But which parts of it are verifiably real, and which parts of it are simply too much to believe? Go spelunking with Charlie and Michael as they argue with the disembodied voice of history to find out more about this world-famous case! Don't forget to pick up Arcane Carolinas: Volume 1, out now! Upcoming Live Appearances:
Research Partner: Links:
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| AC 00103 - Appalachian Folk Magic & Traditional Remedies | 03 Jan 2024 | 00:41:51 | |
Join Michael and Charlie for a discussion of everything from dowsing for water to plugging a tree as they dive into Appalachian folk magic and traditional remedies! Don't forget to pick up Arcane Carolinas: Volume 1, out now! Upcoming Live Appearances:
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