MountainLore

Once upon a time, as some folks would say, a farmer had made the acquaintance of a woman and her young daughter. At the same time, wild animals were eating everything in his garden and he was determined to stop it. That's when things went terribly wrong. You can subscribe to the MountainLore podcast at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker, Audible or on your favorite podcast app. Thanks for listening...

Many years ago two men headed out to bring some shine to a friend of theirs that lived on a Kentucky mountain. They never made it there, thanks to the biggest, baddest-looking devil dog they had ever encountered. Today we tell that story. Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast so you don't miss any of our tales. Sweet dreams, y'all!

In 1888 a young schoolteacher named Lula came to a small community in the mountains of western Virginia. There she learns of a murder, a witch, and a certain muzzle loading rifle with a dark secret. Therein lies our tale for today. You can subscribe to the MountainLore podcast at Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Audible, PlayerFM, or on your favorite podcast app...be sure to do so, so you don't...

Many years ago a young man undertook a trip by foot through the mountains to visit relatives in a remote part of Appalachia. One night, after he had set up camp, he encountered more than he bargained for. Today we tell the tale of the Spirit Hog. Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast on your favorite podcast app so you don't miss any of our tales. Thanks for listening!

A young man was seeking solitude so, as many people have been doing the last few years, he began to search for some inexpensive real estate in Appalachia. He found his dream place, an old cabin high up in the mountains, away from the cares of the world. He also found death staring him, quite literally, in the face. Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast to make sure y'all get all our tal...

This week we have a true story about a West Virginia man tried for murdering an old woman who he claimed had "witched" him, forcing him to fly her to the moon, among other things. It's a fascinating look at the beliefs of the time about witches in that part or Appalachia. Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast on your favorite podcast app so you don't miss any of our stories. Sweet dream...

A man is murdered in the mountains of western North Carolina. The only clue to the killer is a mysterious path of dead vegetation that ends where the murdered man was found. You can subscribe to the MountainLore podcast on your favorite podcast app. Thanks so much for listening to our telling of these Appalachian tales. Til next time, sweet dreams, podcast listeners...

Many years ago in the mountains of North Carolina, it's said an old woman who lived by herself in a cabin had the power to turn herself into an evil black cat. Today we tell that tale. Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast at Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Audible, Goodpods, Stitcher or wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Thanks for listening to our tales. Sweet dreams, podcast...

Over 160 years ago the historic Rotherwood Mansion in Kingsport, Tennessee, was sold to Joshua Phipps. Phipps property used slave labor, which he cruelly abused. In the end, though, it's said he was paid back for all eternity for the abuse he gave out during his life. Today we tell that tale from Appalachia. Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast at Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Audible, Spo...

Many of the tales told in these parts involve the railroads that served to haul goods into and coal and timber out of Appalachia. Today we share two versions of one of those stories with you. Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast so you don't miss a single one of our tales. We're available wherever you get your podcasts. Sweet dreams, podcast listeners...

Around the turn of the 20th century three sisters became involved in a women's college in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Rumors soon spread about the three being witches or demons. They left Tennessee for another school in Christiansburg, Virginia, where things got much worse. Today we tell a tale that's part true crime story and part folklore... Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast wherever...

Tales of witches, ghosts and demons abound in Appalachia. Today we have a story that may have involved all three, and it's a true story to boot! Join us as we tell the true tale of Bertha Sybert from Lee County, Virginia, known in the 1930s as "Bouncing Bertha" for the nightly involuntary shake, rattle and roll of her bed caused, depending on who you asked, Bertha, a witch, a demon or a ghost. You...

Today's tale comes from Wise County, Virginia, by way of the Palatinate region of what's now Germany, from which the ancestors of many of today's Appalachian people came. It's an Appalachian retelling of the German story "Ashenputel," which was also the source for the story we all know as "Cinderella." Don't miss any of our stories by subscribing to the MountainLore podcast wherever you get your f...

Tales are told of headless horsemen across the mountains of West Virginia. Today we combine a few of those tales for this weeks ghostly episode. Be sure to subscribe to the MountainLore podcast at Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Spotify, Audible, Goodpods, PlayerFM, or on your favorite podcast app. Sweet dreams, podcast listeners...

The Cherokee once told of a monstrous creature that was part man and part hornet. This being, named Ulagu, would swoop in and feast on the children of the tribe, then go back to its nest in the gorge of the Nantahala River in North Carolina. Today we tell the story of how the Cherokee defeated Ulagu, saving their children from it. You can subscribe to the MountainLore podcast at Spotify, Apple Pod...

What happens when you mix jealousy, resentment, and the dark arts? Tragedy for an innocent soul. Today we tell a story that's been told in parts of eastern Kentucky for many years, a story about a woman scorned and her use of witchcraft and signs to exact her revenge. You can subscribe to the MountainLore podcast at Spreaker, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible, Goodpods, or wherever you get your pod...

The Reed Gold Mine was opened during the first gold rush, in Western North Carolina, back in the first part of the 19th century. And the mine needed workers, one of whom was Eugene Mills, whose wife, Eleanor, was more enthusiastic about his working there than he was. And that led to some really bad trouble, which we'll tell you about on today's episode. You can subscribe to MountainLore at Apple P...

Once upon a time, folks here in Appalachia couldn't run down to the Dollar Store or the Dollar Tree or the Dollar Whatchamajig to buy those everyday things they needed. They relied on the peddler, who came into a community a few times a year selling everything from pots and pans to hammers and nails. Today we tell of a couple who encountered one of those peddlers...after he had made an untimely an...

We have a Jack Tale for you today. Once upon a time old Jack decided to hit the road to find some easy work. This he did, and in the process he encountered a witch and her coven. To find out what happened next, just hit that start button on this podcast episode! You can subscribe to the MountainLore podcast wherever you download your favorite podcasts. Sweet dreams, y'all...

In the latter part of the 19th century feuds were common across remote parts of Appalachia, the most well-known of which was the feud between the Hatfields and the McCoys. They weren't the only feudists, though. In Rowan County, Kentucky at that time two families, the Martins and the Tollivers, were engaged in a bloody feud of their own. Today we tell a tale that sprang from the fighting there, on...

Today we tell a Jack tale about Jack and his most unusual true love, who he found during one of his countless adventures in Appalachia. Thanks for listening and for sharing our podcast worldwide! Be sure to subscribe to MountainLore wherever you get your podcasts... As always, sweet dreams, podcast listeners...

A sailor retired to the Bull Run Mountains, part of the Blue Ridge, in Virginia. With him, the sailor brought many exotic and unusual things and people from far-distant parts of the world. He also, it was said, brought some unusual and odd beliefs as well. What happened to this sailor after his life on this earth was done is our tale today. You can subscribe to the MountainLore podcast at Spreaker...

We are back from Christmas break with a new bit of folklore for you! If you're in the Asheville, North Carolina, area when it snows, look up at nearby Mr. Pisgah. There you'll see what looks like the image of a man and a woman, known locally as the bride and the groom. That name comes from an old folklore told in that part of North Carolina for years; today, we'll share that tale with you. You can...

Today we tell about the legend of Spearfinger, or U'tlun'ta, the Cherokee witch whose diet included something very, very bad. The MountainLore podcast is available on RadioPublic, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher or on your favorite podcatcher. We're on Facebook and Twitter @myappalachia and on Mastodon @MountainLore@podcasts.social Thanks for listening!

What happens if that bargain you got at a yard sale turns out to be occupied by the ghost of a person who happens to be experiencing the horrors it saw right before death? That's our tale today. You can subscribe to the MountainLore podcast at Apple Podcasts, Spreaker, Audible, Spotify or on your own favorite podcast app. Sweet dreams, podcast listeners.