Southern Gothic

• The Southern Gothic Oracle w/ Stacey Williams-Ng

  This week, we’re taking a brief detour from our usual haunted history to explore the deeper symbolism behind the stories we so often tell. Brandon sits down with artist and folklorist Stacey Williams-Ng, creator of The Southern Gothic Oracle, a richly illustrated divination deck that draws upon the archetypes, landscapes, and traditions of the American South. In this conversation, Stacey shares the inspiration behind her work, from the hurricane lamp to the sassafras root, and discusses how these everyday objects become powerful symbols of Southern identity, memory, and myth. We also delve into her latest project, HAUNTS, an upcoming oracle deck featuring ghosts, cryptids, cursed places, and poisonous plants—all drawn from regional folklore. Launching soon via Kickstarter, HAUNTS builds on the success of Stacey’s previous decks, The Southern Gothic Oracle and The Southern Botanic Oracle, and continues her mission of preserving Southern folklore through art and storytelling. Stay tuned until the end of the episode for a special reading from Stacey using her original deck. Links to check out: The Kickstarter for the Southern Gothic Trilogy starts April 29, 2025 - don't forget to pledge on the first day for a special bonus! Purchase more of Stacey's work, including her Rhythm & Blue Tarot deck, at La Panthère Studio. Follow Stacey on Instagram: @Southern_Gothic_Oracle Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Hilton Head Island's Haunted Lighthouse | Encore Episode

  Hidden among the pines of Hilton Head Island, the skeletal remains of the Leamington Lighthouse stand as a relic of the past—and a vessel for something far more haunting. Local legend tells of Caroline Fripp, a dutiful daughter who braved a deadly storm to save her father, the lighthouse keeper, only to lose her life in the process. But did she ever exist? And why do locals still see a woman in blue when storms roll in off the Atlantic? This is the tale of Hilton Head’s haunted lighthouse and the enduring ghost said to guard it. Want to Listen to Southern Gothic Ad-Free? Patreon: Ad-Free Episodes, Premium Releases, Bonus Content & More  Southern Gothic Premium on Spotify Southern Gothic Premium on Apple Podcasts Into History: History Without Interruption Connect with Southern Gothic Media: Website: SouthernGothicMedia.com Merch Store: https://www.southerngothicmedia.com/merch Pinterest: @SouthernGothicMedia Facebook: @SouthernGothicMedia Instagram: @SouthernGothicMedia X: @SoGoPodcast Advertise on this podcast: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• The Spy Who Still Haunts Franklin w/ Alicia King Marshall | Interview

  In the quiet town of Franklin, Tennessee, one woman’s loyalty to the Confederacy earned her a place in history—and perhaps something more permanent. Sally Carter was just a young woman when the Civil War arrived at her doorstep. Defiant and devoted, she made her allegiance known by raising the first Confederate flag over Franklin’s square, a bold act that would define her wartime role as a spy. But unlike many women who took on covert duties during the conflict, Sally was celebrated by her community—beloved enough to help erect the town’s Confederate monument and remembered as a heroine long after the war ended. Yet her story doesn’t end with peace. Today, the house where Sally once lived is said to echo with footsteps no one can explain. Guests report strange sounds, cold spots, and a presence that lingers long after the tour ends. Could it be that Sally Carter—so fiercely tied to Franklin in life—refused to leave in death? In this bonus interview, we speak with Alicia King Marshall of Franklin Walking Tours to explore the life, legend, and lingering spirit of one of Tennessee’s most enduring figures. Book a Tour with Franklin Walking Tours Today! Want to Listen to Southern Gothic Ad-Free? Patreon: Ad-Free Episodes, Premium Releases, Bonus Content & More  Southern Gothic Premium on Spotify Southern Gothic Premium on Apple Podcasts Into History: History Without Interruption Connect with Southern Gothic Media: Website: SouthernGothicMedia.com Merch Store: https://www.southerngothicmedia.com/merch Pinterest: @SouthernGothicMedia Facebook: @SouthernGothicMedia Instagram: @SouthernGothicMedia X: @SoGoPodcast Advertise on this podcast: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• The Most Hated Woman in Virginia

  Perched high on Church Hill above the James River once stood one of Richmond’s grandest homes—a mansion of wealth, refinement, and Southern prestige. But behind its stately white columns and sweeping staircases, something far more dangerous was unfolding. For it was here, in the heart of the Confederate capital, that Elizabeth Van Lew—an elite Southern woman raised among Virginia’s most powerful families—launched a covert campaign to undermine the rebellion from within. Though she moved through society’s upper circles, Van Lew secretly loathed the Confederacy and used her privilege to orchestrate one of the most daring spy operations of the Civil War. Her network included formerly enslaved individuals, Union sympathizers, and even a woman who posed as a servant inside the Confederate White House. And while her intelligence helped shape the Union’s military strategy and even aided in the escape of more than 100 Union officers from Libby Prison, her actions made her a pariah in the city she once called home. By war’s end, Elizabeth Van Lew wasn’t hailed as a hero—she was vilified as a traitor. Branded “Crazy Bet,” her legacy was twisted, her sacrifices forgotten, and her name all but erased from Southern memory. Yet beneath the folklore lies the true story of a woman who risked everything for the Union—and helped change the course of history. Want to Listen to Southern Gothic Ad-Free? Patreon: Ad-Free Episodes, Premium Releases, Bonus Content & More  Southern Gothic Premium on Spotify Southern Gothic Premium on Apple Podcasts Into History: History Without Interruption Connect with Southern Gothic Media: Website: SouthernGothicMedia.com Merch Store: https://www.southerngothicmedia.com/merch Pinterest: @SouthernGothicMedia Facebook: @SouthernGothicMedia Instagram: @SouthernGothicMedia X: @SoGoPodcast Advertise on this podcast: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Spirits in the Stone of the Castillo de San Marcos

  Along the western shore of Matanzas Bay stands the Castillo de San Marcos. Constructed from rough, seashell-laced coquina stone, this star-shaped fortress has loomed over St. Augustine for more than three centuries—an enduring symbol of Spanish colonial ambition in what would become the oldest city in the continental United States. Built in the wake of a violent pirate raid, the Castillo was designed to be impenetrable—and history has proven it to be just that. It has never fallen to an enemy force. Yet the fort’s legacy is not merely one of military strength. Over the years, it has served as a prison, a staging ground for colonial conflict, and later, a site of Indigenous captivity and forced assimilation. And according to legend, those centuries of violence, betrayal, and loss have left behind something more than just scars. Some say the Castillo de San Marcos is haunted—its walls echoing with the scent of a vanished woman, the footfalls of forgotten soldiers, and even the drifting head of a once-proud Seminole warrior. Want to Listen to Southern Gothic Ad-Free? Patreon: Ad-Free Episodes, Premium Releases, Bonus Content & More  Southern Gothic Premium on Spotify Southern Gothic Premium on Apple Podcasts Into History: History Without Interruption Connect with Southern Gothic Media: Website: SouthernGothicMedia.com Merch Store: https://www.southerngothicmedia.com/merch Pinterest: @SouthernGothicMedia Facebook: @SouthernGothicMedia Instagram: @SouthernGothicMedia X: @SoGoPodcast Advertise on this podcast: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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