Salem The Podcast

Happy Valentine's Day friends! When people say Salem holds a special place in their hearts… they sure aren't kidding! While Witch City is a destination for spooky scary skeletons, it's also a destination for love. Romance in this small town has a way of bewitching the hearts of so many. Join your favorite Salem tour guides as they cover YOUR love stories--your first dates, your engagements, and ev...

Enslaved woman. Confessed witch. A catalyst of the Salem Witch Trials. Tituba is perhaps one of the most well-known figures of 1692 Salem. She is also one whose story is often misconstrued and misunderstood. Let's talk about where she comes from, her likely origins, her time in Barbados, and her role in the lives of young Betty and Abigail. We'll conclude Tituba's story in two weeks! **TW: In this...

Lifelong Salem resident and professional troublemaker Erik Rodenhiser is a man of many hats. He is the owner of Gallows Hill Theatre and Museum, the producer of the Salem Trolley Christmas Carol, the man behind Witch City's Grinch and Scrooge, AND the creator of Salem’s newest (and soon-to-be open) magical attraction: Professor Spindlewink’s World of Wizardry. Join your favorite Salem tour guides...

ARE YOU READY FOR ROUND TWO!? If you tuned in for part one, you’ll know all about influence and accusation tokens, arrests, our little puritan game pieces. Oh…and Fiji mermaids of course. The game Affliction: Salem 1692 has more adventures in store for these Salem tour guides. Join Sarah, Jeffrey, Mike, and Sebastian and find out how this wild story ends. Which faction will come out on top? Who wi...

Affliction: Salem 1692 is a 2-4 player board game that features historical figures from the Salem Witch Trials. The objective? Gain influence, create alliances, make accusations, and arrests. How could we resist? Jeffrey and Sarah invited two wonderful guests to join them on this adventure: Dr. Mike Vitka of Spellbound Tours and Mr. Sebastian Crane of the Salem Night Tour. Listen in as four season...

In this episode we return to 1991 Salem. Tom Maimoni had confessed...but not to murder. His story of the "rogue wave" couldn't be proven otherwise - that is until Martha Brailsford's body was found. As we shall see, this was no accident. Well cover the day of her discovery, Tom's escape to Maine, the subsequent Jury Trial, and even how the Official Witch of Salem lends a hand to investigators.  If...

True Crime: an increasingly popular genre in media. Whether it's books, Netflix specials, or podcasts, every town has its own dark story to tell. Salem is no different. Join your hosts Sarah and Jeffrey as they delve into the murder of Martha Brailsford, her last sailing voyage, and the web of lies her murderer spun. Not all history happened centuries ago, our lives are full of it. And the events...

Your favorite Salem tour guides need a quick rest and will be returning January 10th! Thank you for all the support throughout the year. This community means the world to us. In the meantime, check out new additions to the merch store and sign up for our new Patreon! See you in 2023 :)   Interested in Salem The Podcast Merch!? https://salemthepodcast.myshopify.com/   You know what to do:   www.sal...

Last week we spoke about Arthur Miller, the award-winning playwright and author of The Crucible. Now, let's dive into this iconic interpretation of Salem! The Crucible is how many people are introduced to the Salem Witch Trials, and one local historian saw this as an opportunity to connect with her audience. In this episode, Jeffrey and Sarah are joined by fellow tour guide Rebecca Johnson, owner...

NEW INSTAGRAM: @salemthepod Arguably the most influential playwright of the 20th century, Arthur Miller wrote Tony Award winning and critically acclaimed classics such as Death of a Salesman, All My Sons, and The Crucible. You know...you probably read it in high school! Join your favorite Salem tour guides Sarah and Jeffrey as they talk about the man behind this iconic play that serves as an intro...

Who is Krampus may you ask? And no this is not BORAH!'s third cousin..  You're likely familiar with the name. Maybe you've even dressed up as this mythical being for a traditional Krampusnacht or partaken in a Krampus Run. This devil-like companion to Saint Nicholas has scene a recent resurgence in many of our modern holiday traditions. Join your favorite Salem tour guides as they delve into the h...

He was known as "the Architect of Salem."   From the Federalist mansions on Chestnut Street to the commanding presence of the Gardner Pingree house, Samuel McIntire (1757-1811) is responsible for much of the beloved historic Salem you still see today. Join your favorite tour guides on a trip back to Salem's economic heyday, The Great Age of Sail. While merchants like Elias Hasket Derby made their...

History is complicated and messy, and we rarely have all the answers. The Salem Witch Trials are like a puzzle where we're missing half the pieces and for centuries, people have been trying to put that puzzle together. Join your favorite Salem tour guides Sarah and Jeffrey as they work through historical accounts, inaccuracies, and what many modern scholars believe were responsible for the atrocit...

While the Witch City may be best known for its 400 years of history, today it is a unique and vibrant city filled with hundreds of small businesses. Events such as festivals and markets fill the calendar each year. Join your favorite Salem tour guides Sarah and Jeffrey and special guest John Andrews, the founder of Creative Collective, one of the driving forces in shaping the creative workforce an...

Happy Halloween everyone!

‘Twas a dark and stormy night… Or perhaps just another day in the Witch City. Salem is full of spooky stories. From our sorted maritime trade, to the witch trials, to old mysterious burying grounds, you can hardly walk a block or two without encountering another twisted tale. Join your favorite Salem tour guides Sarah and Jeffrey for a quick ghost story or two to round out the spooky season. Happy...

It's October and the Halloween spirit is in full force here in Salem. The leaves are changing and pumpkins and skeletons can be seen all around! Join your favorite spooky tour guides Jeffrey and Sarah as they answer your questions. You asked how Salem was and we answered. We've got the latest scoop and the juicy details. Let's see how October is going!   This episode was brought to you by:   Curly...

So you like horror films? From classics like Nosferatu and Dracula to fan favorites like Freddy and Jason, this Salem gem has it all. Join your favorite tour guides Sarah and Jeffrey as they chat with James Lurgio, the proprietor of Count Orlok's Nightmare Gallery. Take a peek under the coffin and meet the man behind the monsters.         ** Jump to  24:55  to get straight to the interview. We beg...

Nearly three decades after Hocus Pocus was released, we FINALLY have a sequel to this beloved cult classic. In Hocus Pocus 2, the Sanderson Sisters find themselves resurrected once again by another black flame candle (and virgin). Their return to Salem could spell disaster. Join your favorite Salem tour guides Jeffrey and Sarah as they chat about some of their favorite (and least favorite) parts o...

Hi Friends! Enjoy a brief overview of our experience at this year's Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival. We also touch on some local controversy and provide some suggestions for visiting Salem in October. Happy Spooky Season! 

In Part 1, we talked about Salem representations in books, plays, TV shows, comics, and even a video game! Now let’s jump into Part 2 of our pop culture series as we cover some of the most iconic Salem movies: Lords of Salem, Hubie Halloween, Paranorman, and of course the beloved cult classic Hocus Pocus! Join local tour guides Sarah & Jeffrey as they talk about how Salem has featured on the big s...

Within the scope of the Salem Witch Trials, 19 innocent people were hanged and 1 was tortured to death – pressed over the course of two days. Giles Corey, an 81-year-old yeoman farmer known for his grumpy disposition was that one outlier. Join Salem tour guides Jeffrey & Sarah as they talk about Corey's tenuous relationship with his neighbors, with the church, and why he was so critical of what wa...

Join Sarah & Jeffrey for a true interview with a vampire. He is also a fangsmith, an author, and the Impresario of the Endless Night brand. You have heard us talk about the intimate Vampire Salons and the epic Vampire Balls, but let's see where it all started. We'll talk to the man behind the madness, the creature who created the world's largest vampire community, and what inspired this dark dream...

Everyone knows Salem! Maybe from the cult classic Hocus Pocus, perhaps the cat in Sabrina the Teenage Witch, or the The Crucible by Arthur Miller, just to name a few. There are countless other movies, TV shows, books, plays, comics, even video games! Join Salem locals as they chat about how our beloved Witch City has been woven into the fabric of our modern society.   This episode was brought to y...