Salem The Podcast

From award-winning playwright Kimberly Bellflower comes a modern reimagining of Arthur Miller's The Crucible. Set in rural Georgia in 2018; what does high school feminism, mixed with the #MeToo movement, and studying the Salem Witch Trials look like? Join Sarah and Jeffrey, your favorite Salem tour guides, as they read through and reflect on this modern, feminist response to Arthur Miller's interp...

John Proctor was hanged on August 19, 1692. His wife Elizabeth, while found guilty, received a stay of execution because of her pregnancy. We have covered accusations, arrests, jail time, family ties, but we're not done yet. Join Jeffrey and Sarah, your favorite Salem tour guides, as they focus on what happened to Elizabeth Proctor and the struggles she faced after the trials. Let's wrap up the Pr...

Nestled under the shade of a copper beech, with its iconic spired fence and captivating gables, sits a rare gem of American history. The Pickering House is the oldest, continuously lived in home in the United States, with over 350 years of stories, it stands as a testimony to the enormity of Salem’s history. Join Sarah and Jeffrey, your favorite Salem tour guides, as they take a tour of this iconi...

We left off last time with the arrest of Elizabeth Proctor. So now our story continues with the accusations against her, which very quickly spread to her husband, John Proctor. It's no longer just women, it's no longer just Salem, the fear of the Devil has spread. Join Jeffrey and Sarah, your favorite Salem tour guides, as they recap testimony, petitions, and sift through accusations and evidence...

October may be over, but history persists! And we're getting back into the Salem Witch Trials. Executed on August 19th 1692, John Proctor may be one of the most famous names associated with Salem, but does he deserve the fame? Join your favorite Salem tour guides as they tackle the first part of this man's life. From his arrival to the Massachusetts Bay Colony at the age of three, to his life as a...

It's movie review time! Sarah learned about a new direct-to-streaming movie set in Salem. We looked at the premise, we watched the trailer, and we were EXCITED. That excitement didn’t last though because this movie was... something. Just how bad was it?? There's only one way to find out - watch it yourself. If already have, we're sorry! And if you haven't, you've been warned. But to save you from...

Hello from the busy streets of Witch City! Join Jeffrey and Sarah, your favorite Salem pumpkins, as they waddle their way around downtown to chat with visitors, workers, and street performers. Interested in Salem The Podcast Merch!?  CLICK HERE! Interested in supporting the Podcast? Looking for more Salem content? CLICK HERE! www.salemthepodcast.com NEW INSTAGRAM - @salemthepod Email - hello@salem...

Oh hello October. It's been BUSY here. We hope all of you are enjoying your spooky season! Join Sarah and Jeffrey, your favorite (exhausted) tour guides as they do a mid season check in. What's been happening on the streets? What wild tourists have they encountered? And just how long was the line for the Salem Night Faire?! This is only part 1 for the episode. Stay tuned for part 2 where we don ou...

What's spooky season without a bit of true crime? While sensational murders like that of Captain Joseph White in 1830 took Salem and the country by storm, there are countless more that have since been forgotten. But leave it to Sarah to dig through old newspapers and bring them back into our collective memory! Join Jeffrey and Sarah, your favorite Salem tour guides as they learn about some crimes...

For the third consecutive year, we're giving you a front-row seat to the annual Haunted Happenings Grand Parade! But this year, our commentary looks a little different! We teamed up with Salem Access TV and the Salem Chamber of Commerce to be the on-air hosts for the parade! We know some of you watched it live, and some of you have already seen it on youtube, but if you haven't... Join Sarah and J...

Who doesn't love a haunted house? Think Dracula's Castle, not the Merchant Hotel. Salem has a long (and somewhat sorted) history of haunts and for this episode we had to call in an expert: Erik Rodenhiser, Salem local and a fan favorite of the podcast. Erik has been building haunts in Salem for over 30 years and he agreed to give us all the juicy details and history! Join Jeffrey and Sarah, your f...

Let's keep exploring the history of Essex Street! We spent part one strolling from Collins Cove to the Hawthorne Hotel. Part two brings us up a little further to the East India fountain and we cover everything that's packed in between--Salem's layered history of maritime, architecture, literature, and cinema continues. Join Sarah and Jeffrey, your favorite Salem tour guides, for another walk down...

Let’s take a walk down Essex Street, Salem’s oldest and perhaps most iconic street, it didn't always play host to millions of visitors in October. It is lined with over 400 years of history: architecture, maritime, farming, industry, banking, murder, and so much more. Join Jeffrey and Sarah, your favorite Salem tour guides, for a stroll down Witch City’s main drag, recounting buildings and people...

Thank you to everyone who was able to join us at the Hawthorne Hotel on September 2nd for our LIVE show. It was wonderful to see you all! For those who couldn't make it this time, we have for you now, Salem The Podcast LIVE at the Hawthorne. Join Sarah and Jeffrey, your favorite Salem tour guides, as we take a deep dive into the history of Salem’s favorite hotel. From the land it sits on to the bu...

When we talk about the Salem Witch Trials, we spend most of our time focused on 1692, give or take a half-century. Rarely do we bring it all the way to modern day. But many of those involved in the trials had descendants and we finally got the chance to interview one. Just as the stories of innocent victims are woven into our city's history, Sarah Wildes, has woven her way into Mary Bingham's life...

Fall may be approaching, but we're still living the island life! Salem Sound has so much to offer and Misery and Bakers were just the tip of the... island? In part two, we'll venture to Children's (or Cat) Island and hear about how it went from small pox to summer camp. Sarah reads us the long lost tale: “The Desperado of Cat Island.” And we've got a Spanish ship wreck at Tinkers! Join Jeffrey and...

When you think Salem, you probably envision Essex Street or the Common, perhaps the Willows or Derby Street. But what about islands in Salem Sound? Wait - Salem has islands?! You bet! And quite a few at that. Join Jeffrey and Sarah, your favorite Salem tour guides, as they explore what lies beyond Salem's shores. We'll cover just two of Salem’s many Islands in our first installment: Baker's Island...

In our last episode, we covered Elizabeth Howe's life leading up to 1692, her journey from Yorkshire to Rowley, and the whispers of witchcraft that followed her before any afflicted girls in Salem cried out her name. In part two, we dive into her examination, subsequent testimonies, and trial aftermath. There's even a few research gems at the end. Join Sarah and Jeffrey, your favorite Salem tour g...

We're back from break! And what better way to return than with an episode about a victim from the Salem Witch Trials. Elizabeth Howe is the only person we have yet to cover from the July 19th executions. She was also the only person executed from the town of Ipswich, even being referred to as the Witch of Ipswich. Join Jeffrey and Sarah, your favorite Salem tour guides, as they cover the first par...

Hello hello! We've missed you all. We've got some updates for you and a full witch trial episode dropping next week. Get ready for more witches, new topics, and an upcoming LIVE show! Thank you to all our listeners for your never-ending support. We could not do this without you. TICKETS TO THE LIVE SHOW

A few weeks ago, we covered the Blizzard of 1978. But what about the Blizzard of '88... 1888 that is? What about centuries before that? Snow storms are destructive enough in the modern era, but how did Puritans in colonial New England deal with them? We'll also jump 150 years forward to the Great White Hurricane of March 1888. Join Sarah and Jeffrey, your favorite Salem tour guides as they talk ab...

Who is the most famous artist in Salem? Some would say that title goes to 13-year-old Georgia Wrenn, the talent behind “Georgia Made This.” You've probably seen her selling Salem-inspired merchandise at the Salem Arts Festival, or perhaps at the Haunted Happenings Marketplace in October. You can also find her products in Moons Gift Shop and at the Peabody Essex Museum Store! And we know several of...

Some of you may remember the 300th year anniversary of the Salem Witch Trials. Perhaps you watched as the memorials were dedicated. Or you followed Laurie Cabot and her fellow witches up to Gallows Hill. But surely none of you were around in 1892! Nearly a century and a half ago, Salem was commemorating the bicentenary of the Salem Witch Trials... or were they? What exactly did Salem look like and...

Join Jeffrey and Sarah, your favorite Salem tour guides, as they round out the life of Sarah Wildes. What lasting repercussions did her quick betrothal have on her life? Is that why Mary Reddington slandered her for decades? Was the scythe cursed or were they just a bunch of teenagers? It all comes together in the end.   Endless Night Salem Vampire Salon : discount code SALEMTHEPOD https://www.eve...

333 years ago, fear was starting to stir in seventeenth-century Salem as a few young girls claimed to be afflicted by unseen forces. Over the next year, superstition, fear, and a broken legal system would ultimately lead to the wrongful convictions and executions of 19 people. But what exactly was so scandalous or threatening about Sarah Wildes? Join Jeffrey and Sarah, your favorite Salem tour gui...