Salem The Podcast

Who doesn't love playing dress up? If you haven't been to Witch Pix, then you’re missing out on one of the best activities to do in the Witch City! Join your favorite Salem tour guides for a chat with Hope Hitchcock, the ingenious mind behind WitchPix. Transform into a witch, wizard, pirate, or fur-clad viking and get your picture taken in one of several immersive sets. Bring your friends, bring y...

In 1824, Revolutionary War hero, Marquis de Lafayette visited Salem while making on grand tour of the United States. The streets were lined flower-covered arches and thousands of people eager to catch a glimpse of the the famed frenchman. Join Jeffery and Sarah, your favorite Salem tour guides, as they cover some of Lafayette's backstory his extravagant trip to Witch City. https://www.mountvernon....

Long have we waited for a permanent exhibition on the Salem Witch Trials. After three temporary exhibits in as many years, the Peabody Essex Museum has answered. So we went to check it out! Join Sarah and Jeffrey, your favorite Salem tour guides, as they chat about this "new" exhibit. P.S. does anyone have a Nick Cage connection? https://www.pem.org/exhibitions/the-salem-witch-trials-1692 Vampire...

Last episode we left off with Phillip and Mary English fleeing the persecution of the Witch Trials to the safety of New York City. So what happens next? Well they come back to Salem, once the trials are over of course. Join Jeffrey and Sarah, your favorite Salem tour guides as they round out the rest of the English's lives. How does Mary die? Does Phillip regain his fortune? What's the story, the...

When it comes to the Salem Witch Trials, no one was safe from accusations... even the richest people in town! A resident of Salem for more than twenty years, Philip English was still very much an outsider in their eyes. He was an immigrant, a merchant, an Anglican, and by 1692, this native French speaker was dripping in wealth and opulence. Join Sarah and Jeffrey, your favorite Salem tour guides,...

Last week we chatted about the historic Ropes Mansion...but there's more to share! In part 2 we'll share some ghost stories, talk about the gardens, and highlight fun details from when we visited the property! Join Jeffrey and Sarah, your favorite Salem tour guides, as they keep exploring the Ropes Mansion. Listen closely to learn about ghostly fires, a Hocus Pocus easter egg, and what inspired Sa...

The beautiful Ropes Mansion is one of the most famous buildings in Salem, likely because it was used as the exterior of Allison's House in Hocus Pocus. But don't be fooled by Hollywood, it easily stands on its own with its beautiful Georgian Colonial architecture and iconic white fence. Join Jeffrey and Sarah, your favorite Salem tour guides, as they chat about this wonderful historic house. Let's...

In 1692, Salem Village (now modern day Danvers), was ground zero for what was to become the Salem Witch Trials. We have covered many locations in Danvers, but have yet to talk about Ingersoll's Ordinary, so let's change that. Learn who Nathaniel Ingersoll was and why his Ordinary was and still is important! We also chat which of the accused were held and questioned there, who's specters were seen,...

It's the 250th anniversary of General Gage moving the capital of Massachusetts from Boston to Salem! To mark the occasion, there was a slew of reenactors down on Derby Wharf so went to chat with some of them! Join Sarah and Jeffrey, your favorite Salem tour guides, as they talk to people from 1774 about the situation in Salem. You'll hear from soldiers about their uniforms, from a milliner about h...

Somehow, someway, this magical treasure has flown under our radars...until now! Back in 1987, the world was blessed with a “Monty Python-esque” surreal comedy about the Salem Witch Trials. Well, sort of. Join Sarah and Jeffrey, your favorite Salem tour guides, as they watch and review this absolute gem. You want slap-stick? Edible chastity belts? Erotic baked goods? Adultery? Political intrigue? M...

Happy PRIDE! In celebration of this month, we sat down with Salem's most famous Drag Queen: Miz Diamond Wigfall, the famous mistress behind and (in front of) the Salem Drag scene. Join Jeffrey, Sarah, and Miz Diamond as they talk origin stories, the importance of Drag as art, and what kind of inspiration goes into a Lisa-Frank-dumpster-fire!   @mizdiamondwingfall https://linktr.ee/Mizdiamondwigfal...

We are LIVE! Or we were... last week! Our third LIVE show kicked off at Hallowed Ground in Salem where we talked about death. Specifically, how the Puritans experienced and viewed the "debt that all men pay."  Join us for our dive into strange post-mortem colonial rituals and learn what the word "de-skeletonization" means! A big thank you to  Hallowed Ground  for hosting! You can catch a splendid...

In part one we covered Susannah Martin's life leading up to the Witch Trials. Now, let's take a close look at the evidence brought up against her and the legacy she left behind. We've got so much to cover here... her apparent distain towards cattle, the sheer number of witnesses, nightly visits, and a whole lot of puppies. Buckle up for some of the most outrageous testimonies we've covered! "Susan...

Have you been to the Black Veil Shoppe of Drear and Wonder? Perhaps you've been lucky enough to get tattooed by its famous proprietors? Either way, you probably know of Salem's favorite and most elusive identical twins: Ryan and Matthew Murray. Join Sarah and Jeffrey as they get to know the Murray brothers on their first ever podcast appearance to talk art, inspiration, the Night Faire, and fond c...

It's been a while since we talked about one of the innocent victims of the Salem Witch Trials, so let's get back to it, with Susannah Martin, part one. Join Jeffrey and Sarah, your favorite Salem tour guide as they walk the life of the 71 year old widow from Amsbury. Lets chat about her accusations of a witch nearly two decades before 1962, how her step-mother was the primary receivership of her f...

Who loves true crime? You love true crime! And so does Sarah. This week, we head back to 1941 and discover what happened to Frances Cochran, a 19-year-old girl of Lynn, Massachusetts. Join Sarah and Jeffrey, your favorite Salem tour guides, as Sarah takes us through this true crime mystery. We don't want to give anything away, but this one falls squarely in the unsolved mysteries category. "The Mu...

Look out Arthur Miller! You want historical accuracy? Cohesive storytelling? Solid early 2000’s made-for-TV acting? Did we mention the best depiction of the Salem Witch Trials in a visual media we've ever seen? Join Jeffrey and Sarah, your favorite Salem tour guides, as they review this gem of an interpretation! Perhaps inspired by the pardons issued in 2001, this depiction of the trials is a real...

Yes, you read that right! Let's take a deep dive to the Titanic. This week Jeffrey and Sarah were joined by special guest L.A. Beadles, host of Unsinkable, the Titanic Podcast. Both our subjects sit at the crossroads of dark history and collective tragedy. But the real question you're probably wondering is, "how on earth could Salem and the Titanic be linked?! https://www.unsinkablepod.com/ @unsin...

We are often wrapped in the cloak of Salem, its history, its architecture, its vibe. But 1962 stands as the consummate marker of our history. But what else was going in the world at that time? What names might the puritans in Salem have heard? So join Jeffrey and Sarah, your favorite Salem tour guides as they talk 1692. Do you think Increase Mather ever saw a Shakespeare play? Did the judges have...

Okay, but she wasn't actually accused of witchcraft, nor did she really accuse anyone of witchcraft. Was Elizabeth Knapp afflicted like Betty Paris and Abigail Williams? Absolutely. But why didn't her strange behavior lead to a witch hunt like the Puritan's would see in Salem twenty years later. Join Sarah and Jeffrey, your favorite Salem tour guides, as they talk about the so-called Groton “witch...

More Judgment! We’ve covered the Chief Justice and some lesser-known names. Today we wrap up our series with our final five: John Hawthorne, Jonathan Corwin, Waitstill Winthrop, Bartholomew Gedney, and Thomas Danforth. Join Jeffrey and Sarah, your favorite Salem tour guides, as they once again judge the judges.     Interested in Salem The Podcast Merch!?  CLICK HERE! Interested in supporting the P...

Have you heard of Salemopoly? How about Nocturne? If you haven’t and you love Salem...maybe you’ve been living under a rock. So let’s change that! Join Sarah and Jeffrey as they sit down for a round of Salemopoly with Mike and Kim of Nocturne. We'll learn about how they met, what brought them to Salem, and some of the cool antiques they've found along the way. Oh gods, buckle up! We’ve got so much...

Who else oversaw the Salem Witch Trials alongside Justice William Stoughton? There were in fact EIGHT other judges. So let's talk about them! This week we’re covering Samuel Seawall, Nathaniel Saltonstall, Peter Sargent, and John Richards. Join Jeffrey and Sarah, your favorite Salem tour guides, as they judge the judges. Where were they even from? How did they end up in these positions of power? D...

Happy Centenary Episode! That's 100 episodes chock full of Salem history! For this episode we decided to put ourselves in the hot seat and brought back a fan favorite to take over the interviewing duties: Erik Rodenhiser (Owner of Gallows Hill Museum & Professor Spindlewink's World of Wizardry). Join Erik, your favorite Salem Grinch, for an interview with your favorite Salem tour guides. How d...

When we talk about the Salem Witch Trials, we usually focus on the victims or the afflicted girls. But what about the JUDGES? So let's start our Judge Series at the top, with the Lieutenant Governor himself: William Stoughton. Join Sarah and Jeffrey, your favorite Salem tour guides, as they hash out the workings of Chief Justice Stoughton, how he landed the job, where he came from, and if he was a...