Arcane Carolinas

A beautiful historic cemetery in a small town in the center of North Carolina has several graves said to be of pirates! Does it? And what other symbolism might we find on historic graves from other eras? Come along, me hearties, as Charlie searches for treasure (by which we mean history)! Upcoming Events & Appearances: 12/3: Ghosts of Winters Past (ONLINE)   (Michael & friends on ZOOM) 3/5/27-3/7/...

Over the winter and spring spanning late 1977 and early 1978, a North Charleston resident named Bill Hermann reported multiple UFO encounters of increasing intensity. But along the way to sharing those stories with others, he encountered a motley crew that reads like a summary of an entire season of The X-Files . Come along as Michael and Charlie deep-dive one of the Carolinas' most compelling--an...

Does a disapproving housemother haunt the auditorium where her boarding house once stood? Does the spirit of a little girl with no face intrude on rehearsals? And would a Revolutionary War ghost dance the can-can given the chance? Join Michael as he and friends of the show Tally Johnson and Gary Mitchel tackle these and other tricky questions live at Con-Gregate in Greensboro, NC! Upcoming Events...

Charlie had the chance to spend a weekend with the crew from Lost Monster Files a few weeks ago, and when the paranormal investigation gadgetry came out, so did the strange phenomena! Join Charlie and Michael for a discussion of Charlie's wild weekend of spirit shenanigans and free-form discussion of what such things might (or might not) mean! Upcoming Events & Appearances: 10/9 & 10/10: SplatterF...

What would you do if you arrived in a new land only to find it already haunted by cities long-abandoned? What would you do if you spotted a ghostly figure trying--yet again--to find her way back to her new groom on the way to work each morning? Join Michael at Ret-Con 2026 as he welcomes Tally Johnson and Gary Mitchel back to the mics as special guest co-hosts to talk about haunted highways, why o...

Does a specific bridge in Rutherford County, NC, serve as the eternal meandering site of two long-dead sisters? Or of a woman murdered under mysterious circumstances? Or a kid on a bicycle? Or a woman whose buggy went over the bridge at the turn of the 20th century? Is Rutherford County home to a glowing green banshee bent on revenge? A ghost car? A ghost train ? And what secrets might it hold abo...

DON'T STAND ON RAILROAD TRACKS, OKAY? Join friend of the show Tally Johnson as he and Michael have a fun and friendly discussion about ghost lights in the Carolinas, what they might be, and why we love them! Links for this Episode: North Carolina Ghost Lights & Legends   (Amazon) Tally's books on Amazon Spooky Season Kickoff FREE Tickets: Arcane Carolinas Spooky Season Kickoff on 10/1  (FREE ticke...

Welcome to Spooky Season 2026! Join Charlie and Michael as they warm up the ol' microphones and talk about one of our favorite and most-requested topics: big cats in the Carolinas! Charlie's built a very cool site for folks, and we spend some time talking about sightings, theories, and maybe a future project... Links for this Episode: Arcane Carolinas BIG CAT TRACKER! (external site) Charlie's big...

Join Charlie and Michael for the long-delayed second half of the 2025 Spooky Season Kickoff, recorded live at Arcana Durham in front of an enormously enthusiastic crowd of friends and community members! And for real, put down the Boglin already. Links: Arcane Carolinas Vol. 3  (Charlie's newest entry in our series of nonfiction volumes!) Children of Solitude  (Michael's latest horror novel!) Micha...

Join Charlie and Michael for the first half of the 2025 Spooky Season Kickoff, recorded live at Arcana Durham in front of an enormously enthusiastic crowd of friends and community members! Links: Arcane Carolinas Vol. 3  (Charlie's newest entry in our series of nonfiction volumes!) Children of Solitude  (Michael's latest horror novel!) Sea and Land (referenced in the episode)   Upcoming Live Appea...

Happy Halloween! Join Charlie and Michael around Charlie's kitchen table to celebrate what we love about this season and tell a couple of spooky stories! Links: Arcane Carolinas Vol. 3  (Charlie's newest entry in our series of nonfiction volumes!) Children of Solitude  (Michael's latest horror novel!)   Upcoming Live Appearances: Book Ferret  (Winston-Salem, NC -  November 13 ) -  Michael solo  (h...

Just in time for Halloween, did you know the North Carolina legislature once included an accused werewolf? Join Michael and Charlie on a historical deep-dive into one of the more surprising political history stories in the state! And, as a bonus minisode, join Charlie, Michael, and Tally Johnson as they talk about Fairy Stones from the Blue Ridge Mountains! Links: Arcane Carolinas Vol. 3  (Charlie...

One of the Carolinas' most interesting phenomena--and most easily experienced for one's self--is that of Gravity Hill. Ride along with Charlie and Michael as we take a roundabout route to discussing this fascinating legend! Links: Arcane Carolinas Vol. 3  (Charlie's newest entry in our series of nonfiction volumes!) Children of Solitude  (Michael's latest horror novel!) Upcoming Live Appearances:...

Have you ever walked into a room and smelled a phantom's cigar? Join Charlie and Michael for the true and tragic history--and subsequent haunting--surrounding a fireman and a firehouse in Charlotte, NC! Links: Arcane Carolinas Vol. 3  (Charlie's newest entry in our series of nonfiction volumes!) Children of Solitude  (Michael's latest horror novel!) Upcoming Live Appearances: SplatterFlix Film Ser...

Did you know the Cape Fear River has a centuries-old mermaid legend--and it kinda-sorta ties to our favorite Revolutionary War villain? And have you heard the vicious tale of the Santer? Join Charlie and Michael live from Durham's beautiful South Regional Library as they dive deep into the waters of myth, folklore, and newspaper archives! Links: Arcane Carolinas Vol. 3  (Charlie's newest entry in...

Battleship North Carolina has a distinguished history as part of the Allied victory in World War Two, and for decades has served as a living museum and monument to that effort and to the technological innovations in its design. But it's also one of the most haunted places in the Carolinas! Come aboard for a deep dive discussion with Charlie and Michael about one of the Carolinas' most iconic locat...

What's that sound racing down the road outside at night? Could it be the ghost of a horse in search of its fallen rider? Join Michael, Charlie, and special guest Tally Johnson for a deep dive into the history behind a local legend, a couple of quick companion stories from Tally, and a surprise eye-witness account from the convention audience! Links: Arcane Carolinas Vol. 3  (Charlie's newest entry...

We've discussed the Grey Man of Pawley's Island, SC, and the other Grey Man of Pawley's Island, SC, and we've discussed Theodosia Burr, the Grey Lady of South Carolina, so now it's time to talk about the other Grey Lady of South Carolina! Join Michael and Charlie on a deep-dive into the multiple histories funneling into one of the Palmetto State's more obscure legends! Links: Arcane Carolinas Vol....

Behold the return of an old "friend"! Recorded live at Ret-Con 2025 Links: Arcane Carolinas Vol. 3  (Charlie's newest entry in our series of nonfiction volumes!) Children of Solitude  (Michael's latest horror novel!) Upcoming Live Appearances: Killer Pride  (Williamsburg, VA - September 26-28, 2025)  - Michael solo  (he'll be on panels and in the vendor room selling books) SplatterFlix Film Series...

Join Charlie and Michael on a deep-dive into the bizarre world of primate agression, recorded live at Ret-Con 2025! OUT NOW: Arcane Carolinas Volume 3 by Charlie Mewshaw! Foreword by Jason Tapp of SpookyCLT! Links: Arcane Carolinas Vol. 3  (Charlie's newest entry in our series of nonfiction volumes!) Children of Solitude  (Michael's latest horror novel!) Upcoming Live Appearances: Spooky Season Ki...

What's big, weird, and extremely niche? The Grafton Monster, that's what! Join us for the first of a THREE-PART live episode recorded at Ret-Con 2025! Also, a couple of tickets got returned by some folks who can't make it on Thursday, September 11, for the Arcane Carolinas Spooky Season Kickoff, so grab 'em while you can if you want to go! OUT NOW: Arcane Carolinas Volume 3 by Charlie Mewshaw! For...

Just a quick reminder for folks who may not see the Facebook posts: our Spooky Season Kickoff is at Arcana in Durham, NC, on September 11! Tickets are free, and there are only a handful left. It'll also be a launch party for  Arcane Carolinas Volume 3 ! Get your Spooky Season Kickoff tickets here!

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: Children of Solitude (Michael's new horror novel!)...

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: Children of Solitude (Michael's new horror novel!) Grafton Monster Fest Upcoming Live Appearances: PBO Pride  (maybe? - Michael solo - June 6 & 7, 2025) Grafton Monster Festival   (Charlie Solo - June 13 & 14, 2025) ConGregate   (Michael s...

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...