Southern Fried Storytime

We've all heard of it, so why do we know so little about Voodoo?

Today I will kick off October with some of my favorite spooky stories that we have reviewed together as we prepare for the rest of this years spooky season. Please enjoy.

When something lives so much more life than we do, it holds onto memories we have long forgotten.

Today I pay tribute to Jimmy Buffett while still delivering a little chill at the end.

After 3 years as a southern transplant, what are my favorite places to haunt?

What happens if your funeral moves on before you do?

What is it about a Carnival that unnerves us so? And if you are looking at my hands in the episode photo... nope, that's not clown makeup. they really were that pale. lol.

How do you trust a man who calls himself "The Slippery Enchanter"

Today we discuss Pepsi. Not it's place in the Cola wars, but it's birth in lovely New Bern, North Carolina.

Time for a story within a story from right here in Charleston.

In light of recent events, perhaps now is a good time to mention the H.L. Hunley. The first submarine to sink an enemy vessel.

Today we visit the Sloo family of 209 Front Street.

A short message about some upcoming activities.

All legends are a mix between fantasy and reality. Sometimes when reality enters the picture it punctures a hole in the balloon of fantasy.

Legend has it that these sad southern ladies have yet to find rest. Perhaps they never will...

This beautiful bridge is one of the top 30 most haunted places in the U.S.

Why does every culture have to have a vampire?

Off the coast of South Carolina, lies a chain of barrier islands called "The Strand". Pawleys Island is one of the southernmost of these islands, right in between Charleston and Georgetown. If you live on the island, or in the surrounding areas, you may be familiar with a friendly spirit, who is always looking out for your safety.

This staple of the south was born of hard times and carried people through them.

Some of the most famous abolitionists to come out of Charleston.

Today we will explore the strange final chapter of one of America's finest heroes.

Yo Ho Ho and a bottle of rum!!!

Deals with the Devil never go well. If someone near you makes one, you had best make sure you are virtuous enough to withstand the storm.

This adaptation of the story that inspired Season 1 Episode 8 of The Twilight Zone has always left me with this haunting, ominous feeling that I could never quite pin down. Despite that, it has always remained a favorite.

When the "Stupid" member of the family outshines everyone else.

Literally "Red Dwarf" Perhaps this tiny, mysterious and malevolent figure may have brought a whole city to it's knees.

If you thought Gryla and the Yule Lads were creepy last year, you should see their kitty cat.

     While Germany is where most of our Christmas traditions come from, it also has a LOT of Christmas lore that involves severe punishment for bad behavior throughout the year. Would you pass Belsnickels' test? 

Also known as "Father Frost" This Russian folktale starts up the Christmas season with a reminder to mind our manners.

Thank you so much for spending the last few years with the show. I am so honored and grateful that you choose to put aside to spend time with me. This week, as I take time to celebrate with my family. I very much hope that you do the same, but I also wanted to leave you with one of my favorite episode series'. I hope that we will have a wonderful week as we get ready to wind up the year with our series of Christmas episodes starting next week.

The Legendary steel driving man.

While many people have heard of this larger than life character, who invented the cattle drive and shot so accurately that he could shoot off a mans trigger finger, very few know the sad undertones of this American tall tale.

Once you are aware of this common storytelling device, it becomes a little hard to ignore.

This American tall tale has left it's massive hobnailed boot print all over the mid-west, but where did Paul Bunyan come from?

This weeks story is not about a monster but is still a story you shouldn't miss.

This year we review all of the spooky stories from last year as a refresher before Fridays Halloween episode. Enjoy.

Edgar Allen Poe makes another appearance in our October lineup!

We take a spooky dive into Norse mythology.

What do you do in the face of the end of the world? Party of course!

A spooky entry from the Cheyenne tribe. Please enjoy.

My eyes are still itchy, but my voice seems to be back to it's full strength after some careful meal planning. Thanks so much for your patience. Next week we will continue Spooky Season as planned.

Spooky season continues with the classic story of a boy and his monster. 

This male counterpart to Baba Yaga may have inspired Lord Voldemort or even Sauron.

Looks can be deceiving... even deadly. More than anything, great beauty is often really just a deadly disguise.

One of America's greatest writers' most famous works. I talked about Poe a little on my episode about Annabel Lee, and I am so excited to revisit him. Please enjoy.

This is a native legend that we barely dare to speak of

When the Hunter becomes the hunted who knows what the rules are anymore?

What do we know about the Blood Countess? What's really true? Will we ever know?

The author of Treasure Islands commentary on the dual nature of all mankind.

We kick off spooky season with the oldest ghost story in Japan.

Remember what I said about much of Kiplings work displaying conflict over whether he is British or Indian, having never felt like he belongs in either place? We get a lot more of that symbolism here, through Mowgli.

He's not really a monster, but it's my favorite part of The Jungle Book. Short and sweet and full of snakes.

We try to tackle this story in a way that is chronological with the events of the story, rather than the order they happen in the book, so this episode contains some excerpts from the chapter "Mowgli's Brothers" and some of "Kaa's Hunting" Please enjoy. 

Brush up on your riddles, folks. 

*Scary Content Warning* This episode contains descriptions of allegations of violence in a historical context. Despite it's beauty, amazing music and indulgent food, New Orleans is considered the most haunted city in America for a reason. With this climactic episode, we conclude our local history series and return to our normal story segments next Friday. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I have.

Grief can lead to dark places

When your choir director asks you to be more explosive...

     This fantastical creature will trust and heal the innocent and judge and destroy the unworthy.

Let me steal your attention for a few minutes.

Could this monster push you to the brink of humanity? What could desperation and starvation push you to become?

Because nothing chills my spine like ghostly little children.

They're awesome, they're everywhere, they are finally on the show.

There's something spooky about this southern belle.

Sometimes our loved ones are someone else in disguise.

What famous pirate kept the Holy city prisoner for a whole week? What less famous pirate was hanged as a result? Buckle up! It's about to get criminal!

This ancient monster has moved from being an explanation for serial killers, to tragically cursed victims. 

When I look around the beautiful place I live, I can't help but understand why someone would never want to leave this palm tree paradise. With centuries of history in its' rear view mirror, including 2 major American wars, some never have...

Or Jack O' Lantern, Naga Fireballs, La Candileja, Puca, or Puckwudgie... wherever you go, there is some theory as to the origins of the infamous blue, bouncing fireballs that appear in The Princess Bride and Lord of the Rings. Ignus Fatuus exist all over the world with dozens of names and origin stories, but all of them agree on one thing... Never follow the flame.

Another piece from The Pentamerone! This one isn't as creepy as the Flayed Old Woman... lol. 

Some folklore from here in America and how it relates to Harry Potter.

Now that we have our cast of characters, do they make it to India? 

Savage or Sweetheart? Time for some truth about these mythological horse men.

An inspection of so called "Disney Adults" and how indoctrination from an early age can influence adult behaviors.

The Monk puts a team together for the journey and almost immediately the strength of that team is tested.

We cover the origins of the true protagonist of the story, a young monk with a tragic background. I hope you enjoy.

The Monkey King, Sun Wukong, The Great Sage Equal to Heaven... This guy sure likes to give himself pretentious names. 

When life gives you the boot, give those boots to a cat... I guess.

The Father of Greek Monsters

And 3 Blind Mice

A monster we all know, and yet we don't

But why?

The magician and the madman.