Forgotten American Folklore

There's more to New Jersey than The Sopranos!  Today we look at the mystery of the mysterious creature that lurks among the Pine Barrens- the Jersey Devil.   This podcast is written and researched with no help from AI- I don't want my podcast to be the reason they build a data center in your neighborhood.  I know that some AI is unavoidable, like Google searches, but when I can avoid it I will.  ...

The stories of three woman accused of consorting with the Devil in Salem; Elizabeth Howe, Sussanna Martin, and an enslaved woman named Candy. We would love to hear your questions or comments: fafolklore@gmail.com   If you enjoy the podcast, maybe you’d like to make a contribution.  You can use: Venmo or Cashapp

Are black dogs lovable pets or are they spectral visitors from evil realms?  Today we'll hear some folklore about black dogs including their mention in the Salem Witch Trials. We would love to hear your questions or comments: fafolklore@gmail.com   If you enjoy the podcast, maybe you’d like to make a contribution.  You can use: Venmo or Cashapp

To celebrate the start of October, this is a rebroadcast of an episode from my last podcast- Moving though Georgia.  It's the story of the Haunted Pillar of Augusta. For more Georgia history, check out Moving through Georgia . We would love to hear your questions or comments: fafolklore@gmail.com   If you enjoy the podcast, maybe you’d like to make a contribution.  You can use: Venmo or Cashapp

Today we look at the idea of the 'Third Place'- a place you go to frequently that isn't your job or your home.  Not too long ago, that third place might be the Elks Lodge, or the Moose, or something a little more secretive.  Today we look at the Masons, the Knights of Pythias, and Skull and Bones. We would love to hear your questions or comments: fafolklore@gmail.com   If you enjoy the podcast, ma...

This is an extra episode to tie in with a scarecrow I made for my town's fall festival.  It's the story of Spearfinger, an old woman from Chrokee legend who you would not want to meet out in the woods.  This is a little scarier than most, but it's also to get us in the mood for spooky season.   Questions?  Fafolklore@gmail.com

The idea of a changeling- a child that has been taken by a supernatural creature and replaced with a creature- is a staple of European folklore.  Today we look at the idea of the changeling through a porm by American poet John Greenleaf Whittier. We would love to hear your questions or comments: fafolklore@gmail.com   If you enjoy the podcast, maybe you’d like to make a contribution.  You can use:...

Today is Talk Like a Pirate Day, so here are a few songs that would have been sung while working on board. The BEST pirate song ever is called 'The Worst Pirate', and you can hear it here . A good 'Talk Like a Pirate Day' song here .  

Not all witch trials took place in Massachussetts; today we look at Goody Cole, a woman who's attitude and (maybe) grouchiness landed her in jail for witchcraft in 1656.  She would be made famous in two poems by John Greanleaf Whittier.

Don't plant your potatoes when the signs are in the feet!  Plant carrots when the moon is waning!  These are things farmers in Appalachia have known for generations- today we look at how the signs of the zodiac and the phase of the moon can affect your farm. We would love to hear your questions or comments: fafolklore@gmail.com   If you enjoy the podcast, maybe you’d like to make a contribution. ...

The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde Suicide Sal Two Outlaws: Billy the Kid and Clyde Barrow

Some see them as a poor, doomed couple trying to scrape by during the Great Depression, some as a pair of vicious bank robbers only out for themselves.  Today we ride with Bonnie and Clyde as they tear through the Midwest on a crime spree that only lasted about two year, but left an indelible mark on America.   fafolklore@gmail.com  

In the Cibola episode I spoke about another island near Antilla called The Island of Satan's Hand.  This is the story involving the island.  It starts in Ireland and moves to Spain, but the best parts happen near America.

Cibola was one of the lost cities of silver and gold, like Aztlan or El Dorado.  Coronado would set off to find the city, led by the stories of a lost explorer and a delusional monk.  On the way they'll see buffalo, the Great Plains, and the Grand Canyon. fafolklore@gmail.com if you know of a lost city of your own- send us a map!

Black God creates the constellations for the people- each one has a separate and important meaning, then along comes Coyote to throw a little chaos into everything.

Another unknown creature stalking the woods of West Virginia- this is the Flatwoods Monster from 1952.   Questions?  Comments?  fafolklore@gmail.com  

Edgar Allen Poe was one of the originators of the true crime genre, as well as the detective story.  Today, two stories that launched his career in true crime; Mary Rogers and Polly Bodine. We would love to hear your questions or comments: fafolklore@gmail.com   If you enjoy the podcast, maybe you’d like to make a contribution.  You can use: Venmo or Cashapp

I used to do a Georgia history podcast called Moving through Georgia - I found some stories in my old notes about the practice of cunjure- kinda like hoodoo or folk magic- from Georgia.   We would love to hear your questions or comments: fafolklore@gmail.com   If you enjoy the podcast, maybe you’d like to make a contribution.  You can use: Venmo or Cashapp

A quick history of bank robbery, and a few tips.  Butch Cassidy, the Lamm Technique, safe crackers, and a bank robbery gone wrong in 1972.  Did you know practically nobody robs banks on Tuesday or Wednesday? We would love to hear your questions or comments: fafolklore@gmail.com   If you enjoy the podcast, maybe you’d like to make a contribution.  You can use: Venmo or Cashapp

The rise and fall of John Dillinger and the rise of the FBI. We would love to hear your questions or comments: fafolklore@gmail.com   If you enjoy the podcast, maybe you’d like to make a contribution.  You can use: Venmo or Cashapp  

This is an Americanized version of the Bluebeard story, it could take place pretty much anywhere in the Midwest. We would love to hear your questions or comments: fafolklore@gmail.com   If you enjoy the podcast, maybe you’d like to make a contribution.  You can use: Venmo or Cashapp

In 1925 the city of Nome faced an outbreak of a deadly disease.  The only way to have medicine brought in was by dogsled, and a relay of mushers and dogs would eventually bring hope back to Nome. We would love to hear your questions or comments: fafolklore@gmail.com   If you enjoy the podcast, maybe you’d like to make a contribution.  You can use: Venmo or Cashapp

Charles Boles, known as Black Bart, committed 28 stagecoach robberies and built a reputation as a bandit... and a poet. We would love to hear your questions or comments: fafolklore@gmail.com   If you enjoy the podcast, maybe you’d like to make a contribution.  You can use: Venmo or Cashapp

A story told in constellations from the northern Micmac people. We would love to hear your questions or comments: fafolklore@gmail.com   If you enjoy the podcast, maybe you’d like to make a contribution.  You can use: Venmo or Cashapp

So many Western folk heroes were involved in stagecoach robberies, let's take a few minutes and plan one of our own! We would love to hear your questions or comments: fafolklore@gmail.com   If you enjoy the podcast, maybe you’d like to make a contribution.  You can use: Venmo or Cashapp