Arcane Carolinas

Did you know a sprawling network of anti-Confederate organizers formed in the Piedmont of NC at the outset of the US Civil War? Join Michael and Charlie for a history deep-dive into a little-discussed corner of the reality of political organizing in the south during that era! Note: the sound is different on this one because we got to use an  awesome  podcasting studio and record face to face! Don'...

From the Devil's Tramping Ground to ghost chickens in the US Capitol, what are our paranormal bucket list items? And what makes any given paranormal hotspot such a focal point for the strange in the first place? Join Michael and special guest co-hosts Gary Mitchel and Tally Johnson for the rest of our ConGregate 2024 conversation! And don't forget, Arcane Carolinas: Volume 2 is out now!   Upcoming...

We've all heard of Route 66, but have you heard of Route  6 66? Did you know a phantom hotrod terrorizes a two-lane highway through South Carolina and North Carolina by night? Or have you seen the ghostly merchant in downtown Winston-Salem? Join Michael at ConGregate 2024 with special guest co-hosts Tally Johnson and Gary Mitchel to discuss these and other stories! And don't forget, Arcane Carolin...

As the episode title says, and as we say in the episode,  DO NOT GO TO THIS PLACE. IT IS ILLEGAL AND IT IS VERY EASY TO DIE THERE. PLEASE DO NOT DO THAT. Goat-human hybrids: science gone wrong? Or magic  gone wrong? Join Charlie and Michael for a lively and hilarious discussion of a unique (or perhaps not so unique!) legend from Kentucky of a deadly railroad trestle and the mutant who stalks those...

On a spring-like December morning in 1954, dozens of school children, their teacher, and one  exceptionally brave janitor had an encounter with what came to be known as The Monkey-Dog. Join Charlie and Michael for a discussion of one of the more obscure and fascinating stories out of Robeson County, NC, and a larger conversation about the distinction between a myth and a cryptid! And don't forget,...

Y'all, this story has it all: country music, 19th century sightings, the Brown Mountain Lights, electoral politics, multiple varieties of entrepreneurship, UFOs, aliens, illegal construction on federal land, trailbreaking, John Keel, curiosity shops, and traffic jams. We don't even know what else to say! Join Michael and special guest co-host Michelle at the Black Mountain Library in May, 2024, as...

Lake Norman is sometimes referred to as North Carolina's only inland sea, and a review of its size and dimensions definitely back that up. But it's also a place where strange things are seen in, around, and sometimes  over  the water! Join Charlie and Michael for a chat about the upcoming spooky season and a discussion of Lake Norman as a locus of the strange! Out today:  Arcane Carolinas: Volume...

Do you love spooky tales such as the Boo Hag or the classic legend of The Rattlesnake Honeymoon? Do you love comic books and sequential art produced by folks right here in the Carolinas? Then check out this Arcane Carolinas Case Files episode where Michael interviews Fiona W. Dunn, co-creator and illustrator of Tarheel Tales of Terror !   And, don't forget, we've got  Arcane Carolinas, Volume 2 co...

Michael here! I have no idea how to introduce this episode, honestly, because every time we say anything even remotely snarky about this episode's subject some piece of technology fails us: we had microphones go out in the middle of recording, our hosting provider ate the episode when it was supposed to go out, and even so small a thing as trying to add episode artwork caused me to lose the draft...

Hitch up your waders and fetch your log-pokin' stick, as ride along as Charlie and Michael talk about Alabama's Bear Creek Swamp! Do you like ghosts? Do you like creepy dolls? Do you like finding horrible things? Then this is the place for you! Bear Creek Swamp has anything you could want, and plenty you might not! Tally Johnson's Books: Ghosts of the South Carolina Midlands Creek Walking Ghosts o...

Grab your stakes and garlic necklaces and come along as Michael and Charlie dig into the history and lore of a Charlotte neighborhood where it was said for many years a particular place only came alive at night! Upcoming Live Appearances: Black Mountain Public Library - Michael solo (May 8th - Black Mountain, NC) Carolina Fear Fest - Michael solo (May 24th-26th - Raleigh, NC) ConGregate 10 - Micha...

Join Michael and Charlie as they take a deep dive into a pivotal battle of the Revolutionary War and the restless riding spirit who lingers from it still! Upcoming Live Appearances: Black Mountain Public Library - Michael solo (May 8th - Black Mountain, NC) Carolina Fear Fest - Michael solo (May 24th-26th - Raleigh, NC) ConGregate 10 - Michael solo (July 12-14, 2024 - Winston-Salem, NC) SAGA Profe...

Join Charlie and two very special guests to hear tales of Bigfoot encounters in the Piedmont and learn about the Museum of the Bizarre in Wilmington, NC, from Eric Odditorium! Upcoming Live Appearances: HWA NC Book Reading - Quail Ridge Books   (March 26th - Raleigh, NC) Black Mountain Public Library (May 8th - Black Mountain, NC) Carolina Fear Fest   (May 24th-26th - Raleigh, NC) ConGregate 10 (J...

Charleston, SC, has a reputation as a haunted city with a long and complex past. But what about newer, more contemporary sites? Can't they have ghosts, too? Pull a chair up to the table and join Charlie, Michael, and friend of the show Kevin as we dig in to the history and lore around one of the city's most famous restaurants! Don't forget to pick up Arcane Carolinas: Volume 1 , out now! Upcoming...

The Bell Witch of Adams, Tennessee, is one of the most adapted, sprawling, and elaborated upon legends in the entire catalogue of paranormal events in United States history. But which parts of it are verifiably real, and which parts of it are simply too much to believe? Go spelunking with Charlie and Michael as they argue with the disembodied voice of history to find out more about this world-famo...

Join Michael and Charlie for a discussion of everything from dowsing for water to plugging a tree as they dive into Appalachian folk magic and traditional remedies!  Don't forget to pick up Arcane Carolinas: Volume 1 , out now! Upcoming Live Appearances: Ret-Con 2024   (March 1-3, 2024 - Cary, NC) Links: The Lumberton Report   (arcanecarolinas.com) American Society of Dowsers   (dowsers.org) Appal...

Join Charlie, Michael, and a bunch of awesome people at Arcana in Durham, NC, for three tales: a ghost taunting the living on a stormy night; a rail project unearthing ancient history; and the death and resurrection of a rural community's resident witch!  Published early by request, this live recording was the 2023 Spooky Season Kickoff from September, 2023. Have a safe, happy, and spooky holiday...

Ease into the post-Halloween season by joining Charlie and Michael for a casual discussion of various types of ghosts and past episodes we've done about some of them! Links: Ghosts of the South Carolina Upcountry (Amazon.com) Sea Island Spirits (YouTube) WRAL Voters' Choice Awards   (wral.com) Upcoming Live Appearances: Ret-Con 2024   (March 1-3, 2024 - Cary, NC) Follow us! Arcane Carolinas on Pat...

Woohoo! An even 100 episodes! Join Charlie and Michael as they give updates on some previous episodes, their spouses join them for listener Q&A, and we hear some voicemails from friends. Now on to the next 100! Links: Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS)   (external site) Tally Johnson's books & info   (Amazon) Alexandra Christian's books & info (Amazon) Strange Animals Podcast   (external site) Upcomin...

Did you know George Washington received a personal tour of Old Salem during his second term--and that doing so was politically controversial? Even more controversial is the possibility he encountered supernatural doom while there! PLUS, Michael and Charlie run a bracket to see who's the winner of Reasonable Ghosts! This episode was recorded live at ConGregate in July, 2023! Upcoming Live Appearanc...

UFOs have been in headlines this year, but it certainly isn't the first time. Join us for a deep-dive discussion of a major UFO flap in Robeson County, NC, nearly a half-century ago! Upcoming Live Appearances: Ret-Con 2024   (March 1-3, 2024 - Cary, NC) Follow us! Arcane Carolinas on Patreon Arcane Carolinas on Facebook Arcane Carolinas on Instagram Arcane Carolinas on Tumblr Contact us! arcanecar...

Join us for a trio of tales! First, sit down with us live at GalaxyCon Richmond from spring of 2023 and hear the story of Richmond's most famous undead. Then, we have a talk with friend of the show Jerry Chandler as he tells us spooky stories about the Virginia State Capitol complex and surrounding areas. Then we cap off this super-sized episode with a second recording from GalaxyCon talking about...

Lees-McRae College is an institution of higher learning in the highest-elevation county seat in the eastern United States. Join Charlie and Michael for a look at the ghost (or ghosts) haunting their dorms, archives, and graveyard! EXTRA SPECIAL: don't forget to pick up Arcane Carolinas: Volume 1 , out now! AWARD NOMINATIONS: WRAL Voter's Choice Award Nominations (open through October 8) Go to http...

Join Charlie as he chats with show guests, vendors, and attendees at Carolina Fear Fest about their favorite local legends and spooky stories! Links to Wild Animal Encounters, The Spooky Twins, and Acme Comics below! EXTRA SPECIAL: don't forget to pick up Arcane Carolinas: Volume 1 , out now! AWARD NOMINATIONS: WRAL Voter's Choice Award Nominations (open through October 8) Go to https://bit.ly/WRA...

In past Spooky Seasons we've talked about two different versions of the Grey Man in South Carolina, but what about the Grey Lady ? And is she the Grey Lady of South Carolina or of North Carolina? Or Virginia? Or New York? Join Charlie and Michael for a historical deep dive that turns into a series of ghostly legends and haunting tales, with everything from tragedy to political scandal to pirates o...