The Paranorm Girl

Death in Appalachia wasn’t distant, sanitized, or hidden away. It was intimate, communal, and deeply ritualized. Families washed and dressed their dead, kept vigil through the night, watched for omens, and followed tradition meant to protect both the living and the departed.In this episode of The Paranorm Girl Podcast, we explore Appalachian death culture and the beliefs, omens and rituals that shaped it — from sin eaters to death omens, black dogs, death doors, and funeral customs that took place inside of Appalachian’s homes.We’ll examine:The practice of Sin Eating in Appalachia and the OzarksWhy mirrors were covered, clocks stopped, and bodies never left aloneDeath omens like black dogs, birds, and innocent signs of approaching lossA strange connection between Appalachian death beliefs and Eastern European vampire loreWhy death doors existed — and whom they protectedHow Appalachian home funerals persisted before modern funerary practices changed folk’s relationship with deathDeath in the backwoods was a familiar face. One, which could be anticipated — its approach, recognizable by the signs. And if those failed, it was an inevitability treated with respect, reverence and care. A threshold upon which many worlds met — where communities gathered to participate in a final act of love before sending someone out their Death Door into the hereafter. Support the Show at:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/paranormgirlpodMerch Store: https://the-paranorm-girl-podcast-sto.myspreadshop.com/ Follow the Show @paranormgirlpod on:Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/paranormgirlpod/BlueSky Social: https://bsky.app/profile/paranormgirlpod.bsky.socialInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/paranormgirlpod/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@paranormgirlpodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@paranormgirlpodSOURCES: Backwoods Witchcraft: https://www.everand.com/read/406077222/Backwoods-Witchcraft-Conjure-Folk-Magic-from-AppalachiaWitches, Ghosts and Signs by Patrick Gainer: https://archive.org/details/witchesghostssig0000unse/page/140/mode/2up Death Superstitions and Traditions in Appalachia: https://blindpigandtheacorn.com/death-superstitions-and-traditions-in-appalachia/?utm_source=chatgpt.comAn Old Time Appalachian Burial: https://www.appalachianhistory.net/2023/07/an-old-time-appalachian-burial.html Foxfire 2; “Old Time Burials”: https://theswissbay.ch/pdf/Books/Survival/Farming, Animalraising,Homesteading/foxfirebooks/Foxfire-Book-2.pdf Death, Dying and Funeral Customs in Appalachia: https://shepherdcomm.wordpress.com/2022/04/26/death-dying-and-funeral-customs-in-appalachia/ Local Legends: Appalachian Death Rituals: https://highlandecho.com/local-legends-appalachian-death-rituals/  Sitting up with the Dead; a Cherished Appalachian Tradition: https://appalachianmemories.org/2024/12/12/sitting-up-with-the-dead-a-cherished-appalachian-tradition/ The Death Culture of Southern Appalachia: https://soar.wichita.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/87c8f977-2543-404b-9a16-83dcd2c2a049/content  Folklore and folk stories of Wales: https://archive.org/details/afl2317.0001.001.umich.edu/page/48/mode/1up Haunted Kentucky Facebook (Hellhound) Story: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hauntedhistoryofkentucky/posts/4170558262990045/  The Demon Dog Of Valle Crucis, North Carolina; Legends & Folklore of Appalachia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7lr76if7f8&t=68sDemon dog of Valle Crucis: https://northcarolinaghosts.com/mountains/the-demon-dog-of-valle-crucis/Reddit encounter story part 1 and 2 with the Demon Dog of Valle Crucis in Modern times: https://www.reddit.com/r/BackwoodsCreepy/comments/9rx8te/the_demon_dog_of_valle_crucis_pt_1/   |   https://www.reddit.com/r/BackwoodsCreepy/comments/9shysd/the_demon_dog_of_valle_crucis_pt_2/ Direct Link to be notified of upcoming Livestream on Beer, Boos & Boogeymen: https://www.youtube.com/live/BrARHi2MGS4?si=WqBOpXPeiRa3-RBfNext Airing: TBA 2026 | 5pm PST/7pm CSTTopic: TBAParanorm Girl Theme Music Created, Produced & Played by:Bear Cline Bandcamp: https://bearcline.bandcamp.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-paranorm-girl/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this replay of my recent livestream, we’re diving fang-first into the surprising, sometimes shocking truth behind vampire lore with author and folklorist A.P. Sylvia. If you think you know vampires—think again.A.P., author of Vampires of Lore: Traits and Modern Misconceptions, joins me to break down what real vampires looked like long before Hollywood turned them into seductive creatures of the night. We explore:• Why classic traits like fangs, invitations indoors, and neck bites aren’t part of historical lore • How fear, disease, and cultural anxiety shaped vampire myths across Europe, New England, and beyond • Wild-but-true historical vampire cases, including the infamous Mercy Brown incident • Global variations of vampiric entities and superstition—from Eastern Europe to Asia to Appalachia • How modern portrayals reflect fears about mortality, aging and identityIf you're fascinated by vampires, folklore and history, come lurk with us at the edge of myth vs reality.Learn about my guest:Vampires of Lore: Traits and Modern Misconceptions: https://schifferbooks.com/products/vampires-of-lore?srsltid=AfmBOoqrm9GowJrvmc3IA841OSPlgPca0otyd95MfgDH6DMXu2bz6j24 Website: LocationsOfLore.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/apsylviawrites/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apsylviaBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/locationsoflore.comTwitter: https://x.com/APSylviaWrites Support The Paranorm Girl at:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/paranormgirlpod Merch Store: https://the-paranorm-girl-podcast-sto.myspreadshop.com/allFollow @paranormgirlpod on:Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/paranormgirlpod/BlueSky Social: https://bsky.app/profile/paranormgirlpod.bsky.socialInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/paranormgirlpod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@paranormgirlpodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@paranormgirlpodTheme Music Created, Produced & Played by:Bear Cline Bandcamp: https://bearcline.bandcamp.comDirect Link to be notified of upcoming Livestream on Beer, Boos & Boogeymen: https://www.youtube.com/@BeerBoosandBoogeymen/streams Next Airing: TBA | 5pm PST/7pm CSTTopic: Digital Hauntings and PhenomenaSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-paranorm-girl/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Magic wasn’t a myth in early Appalachia—it was a way of life. In this episode, we uncover the powerful traditions that shaped Appalachian folk healing: Powwowing from the Pennsylvania Dutch, Hoodoo from African and Native lineages, and the homegrown mountain conjure known as Granny Magic. From wart cures and blood-charming rituals to herbal remedies, Bible-based spellwork, and the supernatural forces believed to influence daily life, we explore how faith, folklore, and necessity created one of America’s most fascinating magical systems.Discover how these practices blended cultures, helped isolated communities survive, and left behind a legacy of superstition, ritual, and old-world wisdom that still echoes through the mountains today.✨ Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review if you enjoy the show!🔮 Stay safe. Keep the nightlight on. And sleep with one eye open.#SpookyAppalachia #FolkMagic #GrannyWitch Support the Show at:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/paranormgirlpodMerch Store: https://the-paranorm-girl-podcast-sto.myspreadshop.com/ Follow the Show @paranormgirlpod on:Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/paranormgirlpod/BlueSky Social: https://bsky.app/profile/paranormgirlpod.bsky.socialInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/paranormgirlpod/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@paranormgirlpodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@paranormgirlpodSOURCES: Backwoods Witchcraft by Jake Richards: https://www.everand.com/read/406077222/Backwoods-Witchcraft-Conjure-Folk-Magic-from-AppalachiaPowwowing in Pennsylvania: https://www.scribd.com/document/790868511/Powwowing-in-PA?v=0.906Your PA Dutch Minute: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D4AMQISqzI The Long Lost Friend by John George Hohman (Johann Georg Hohman): https://archive.org/details/b33030467/page/40/mode/2upThe Akashic Garden Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheAkashicGardenHoodoo for Beginners by History Brought Alive: https://www.everand.com/read/625759363/Hoodoo-for-Beginners-Connect-To-The-Ancient-Spirit-World-of-Africa-Manifest-Success-With-Spells-Root-Magic-Conjuring-Herbs-Traditions-History  Mojo Workin The Old African American Hoodoo System: https://www.scribd.com/document/672979967/Mojo-Workin-the-Old-African-American-Hoodoo-System-pdf-Versao-1Granny’s Secret Conjury: https://www.scribd.com/document/711442215/Granny-ConjureThe Roots of healing; Archaeological and Historical Investigations of African-American herbal Medicine: https://trace.tennessee.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=6256&context=utk_graddissMountain Conjure and Southern Root Work: https://www.everand.com/read/582644442/Mountain-Conjure-and-Southern-Root-Work#u_search-menu_12730Appalachian Mimic TikTok @Morgshauntings: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgshauntings/video/7566759213783993631?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7145241069697254958 Direct Link to be notified of upcoming Livestream on Beer, Boos & Boogeymen: https://www.youtube.com/live/BrARHi2MGS4?si=WqBOpXPeiRa3-RBfNext Airing: Dec. 4, 2025 | 5pm PST/7pm CSTTopic: The Most Ridiculous Way You’ve Been InjuredParanorm Girl Theme Music Created, Produced & Played by:Bear Cline Bandcamp: https://bearcline.bandcamp.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-paranorm-girl/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Recently I was joined by two long-time investigators from The Searcher Group, Canada’s oldest paranormal research team (Est. 1979), Richard Palmisano (founder) and Peter J. Roe (assistant director). They have spent years exploring hauntings with discipline, documentation and a healthy dose of curiosity. Together, they’ve recently released The Complete Paranormal Investigation Handbook — a field guide for serious ghost hunters that will change how you approach the unexplained. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been chasing shadows for years, their insights blend professional methodology, new investigative theories and first-hand experiences that will challenge what you think you know about ghosts.This one’s for the investigators, the skeptics and the believers alike.Learn about my guests:The Complete Paranormal Investigation Handbook: https://www.llewellyn.com/product.php?ean=9780738777344&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17336220372&gbraid=0AAAAAD_dTghwXcrpvCEkGNiAWhSMEgfIC&gclid=CjwKCAiA2svIBhB-EiwARWDPjot5FCO4qWsqWi_n8eNbFakkX1oKetiTRdujE2SR_ghMVZeXBP-TtRoC_aUQAvD_BwE Website: https://thesearchergroup.ca/ Support The Paranorm Girl at:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/paranormgirlpod Merch Store: https://the-paranorm-girl-podcast-sto.myspreadshop.com/allFollow @paranormgirlpod on:Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/paranormgirlpod/BlueSky Social: https://bsky.app/profile/paranormgirlpod.bsky.socialInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/paranormgirlpod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@paranormgirlpodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@paranormgirlpodTheme Music Created, Produced & Played by:Bear Cline Bandcamp: https://bearcline.bandcamp.comDirect Link to be notified of upcoming Livestream on Beer, Boos & Boogeymen: https://www.youtube.com/@BeerBoosandBoogeymen/streams Next Airing: Dec. 4, 2025 | 6pm PST/8pm CSTTopic: The Most Ridiculous Way You’ve Ever Been InjuredSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-paranorm-girl/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The Cultures That Built AppalachiaBefore the ghost stories, before the haints, before the cryptids—there were the people who shaped Appalachia. In this episode, we trace the region’s foundations through four major influences: the Cherokee, the Scotch-Irish, the Germans, and African Americans.Today we dive into early ingredients and influence that culminated into what we now call Appalachian culture. And provides the lens through which we can study the high strangeness, cryptids, ghostly creatures and magic that has hailed from the region, ever since. From the farthest corners of Cherokee shapeshifters and German powwow to Scotch-Irish speech patterns and African bottle trees, this one lays the groundwork for everything Appalachian to come.#Appalachianfolklore #paranormal #Appalachia #witchcraft #ghosts #Mothman #cryptid #podcast #supernatural #monsters #mimic #shapeshifter #indigenous #westvirginiaSupport the Show at:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/paranormgirlpodMerch Store: https://the-paranorm-girl-podcast-sto.myspreadshop.com/ Follow the Show @paranormgirlpod on:Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/paranormgirlpod/BlueSky Social: https://bsky.app/profile/paranormgirlpod.bsky.socialInstagram: http://www.instagram.com/paranormgirlpod/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@paranormgirlpodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@paranormgirlpodDirect Link to be notified of upcoming Livestream on Beer, Boos & Boogeymen: https://www.youtube.com/live/BrARHi2MGS4?si=WqBOpXPeiRa3-RBfNext Airing: Dec. 4, 2025 | 6pm PST/8pm CSTTopic: The Most Ridiculous Way You’ve Been InjuredParanorm Girl Theme Music Created, Produced & Played by:Bear Cline Bandcamp: https://bearcline.bandcamp.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-paranorm-girl/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy