Southern Gothic

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Southern Gothic

Southern Gothic Media LLC

34 minutes 58 seconds

The Spy Who Still Haunts Franklin w/ Alicia King Marshall | Interview
In the quiet town of Franklin, Tennessee, one woman’s loyalty to the Confederacy earned her a place in history—and perhaps something more permanent.

Sally Carter was just a young woman when the Civil War arrived at her doorstep. Defiant and devoted, she made her allegiance known by raising the first Confederate flag over Franklin’s square, a bold act that would define her wartime role as a spy. But unlike many women who took on covert duties during the conflict, Sally was celebrated by her community—beloved enough to help erect the town’s Confederate monument and remembered as a heroine long after the war ended.

Yet her story doesn’t end with peace.

Today, the house where Sally once lived is said to echo with footsteps no one can explain. Guests report strange sounds, cold spots, and a presence that lingers long after the tour ends. Could it be that Sally Carter—so fiercely tied to Franklin in life—refused to leave in death?

In this bonus interview, we speak with Alicia King Marshall of Franklin Walking Tours to explore the life, legend, and lingering spirit of one of Tennessee’s most enduring figures.

Book a Tour with Franklin Walking Tours Today!

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17 April 2025, 7:00 am
51 minutes 2 seconds

The Most Hated Woman in Virginia
Perched high on Church Hill above the James River once stood one of Richmond’s grandest homes—a mansion of wealth, refinement, and Southern prestige. But behind its stately white columns and sweeping staircases, something far more dangerous was unfolding.

For it was here, in the heart of the Confederate capital, that Elizabeth Van Lew—an elite Southern woman raised among Virginia’s most powerful families—launched a covert campaign to undermine the rebellion from within. Though she moved through society’s upper circles, Van Lew secretly loathed the Confederacy and used her privilege to orchestrate one of the most daring spy operations of the Civil War.

Her network included formerly enslaved individuals, Union sympathizers, and even a woman who posed as a servant inside the Confederate White House. And while her intelligence helped shape the Union’s military strategy and even aided in the escape of more than 100 Union officers from Libby Prison, her actions made her a pariah in the city she once called home.

By war’s end, Elizabeth Van Lew wasn’t hailed as a hero—she was vilified as a traitor. Branded “Crazy Bet,” her legacy was twisted, her sacrifices forgotten, and her name all but erased from Southern memory. Yet beneath the folklore lies the true story of a woman who risked everything for the Union—and helped change the course of history.

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14 April 2025, 7:00 am
56 minutes 46 seconds

Spirits in the Stone of the Castillo de San Marcos
Along the western shore of Matanzas Bay stands the Castillo de San Marcos. Constructed from rough, seashell-laced coquina stone, this star-shaped fortress has loomed over St. Augustine for more than three centuries—an enduring symbol of Spanish colonial ambition in what would become the oldest city in the continental United States.

Built in the wake of a violent pirate raid, the Castillo was designed to be impenetrable—and history has proven it to be just that. It has never fallen to an enemy force. Yet the fort’s legacy is not merely one of military strength. Over the years, it has served as a prison, a staging ground for colonial conflict, and later, a site of Indigenous captivity and forced assimilation.

And according to legend, those centuries of violence, betrayal, and loss have left behind something more than just scars. Some say the Castillo de San Marcos is haunted—its walls echoing with the scent of a vanished woman, the footfalls of forgotten soldiers, and even the drifting head of a once-proud Seminole warrior.

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7 April 2025, 7:00 am
34 minutes 14 seconds

The Legends of Reelfoot Lake
Along the northwestern edge of Tennessee sits Reelfoot Lake. The only natural lake in the state, it's a flooded cypress forest that has more in common with the bayous of the deep south than other more open and expansive lakes of the surrounding area.
Yet this lake dates back only two centuries and owes its creation to the massive New Madrid earthquakes that rocked the area in 1811-1812 and caused the Mississippi River to temporarily flow backward. Yet according to local legend the cause of those earthly upheavals was more than simply nature. Legend says that the origins of Reelfoot Lake can be traced back to the actions of a Chief of the Chickasaw people who once inhabited the now submerged land.

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31 March 2025, 7:00 am
30 minutes 12 seconds

The Boo Hag of Gullah Culture
This episode of Southern Gothic originally aired in April 2023.

According to Gullah folklore, the swamps of the Lowcountry are home to a mythical creature who is said to sneak into the homes of its victims while they sleep and then suck the life force from their breath. The creature, known as the Boo Hag, is described as a large, hideous creature with no skin and glowing red eyes. It is said to be able to change its shape, making it difficult to track or identify. The Boo Hag is also said to be very strong and can easily overpower its victims. Join us as we explore this infamous creature, the culture that spawned it, and, of course, the ways you can protect yourself from it!

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24 March 2025, 7:00 am
43 minutes 15 seconds

The Political Rise & Controversial Murder of the Kingfish, Part Two
On the night of September 8, 1935, Senator Huey P. Long was gunned down inside the Louisiana State Capitol. Officially, the shooter was Dr. Carl Weiss, the son-in-law of a judge Long had politically targeted. But from the moment the Kingfish fell, questions have lingered about what really happened in that marble corridor. In Part Two, we examine the chaotic shooting, the immediate aftermath, and the decades of speculation that followed. Was Weiss truly an assassin, or an innocent man caught in the crossfire? And could Long’s death have been the result of a tragic mistake covered up by those closest to him? This episode looks at the evidence, the missing records, and the theories that continue to cast a shadow over one of Louisiana’s most defining moments.
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17 March 2025, 7:00 am
1 hour 9 minutes

Introducing: Hometown Ghost Stories

Hometown Ghost Stories dives into the history of haunted locations and investigates why and how these places earned their terrifying reputation. Rob, Dave and Jesse go live every Tuesday night, after a 15-20 minute uninterrupted, documentary-style breakdown on the case. You can even join the show - as many do, during the live broadcasts on YouTube, Tuesday nights at 9pm EST, as we talk ghosts, demons, poltergeists, and the horrifying true tales that led to these hauntings.

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13 March 2025, 7:00 am
45 minutes 43 seconds

The Political Rise & Controversial Murder of the Kingfish, Part One
Huey P. Long was one of the most powerful and polarizing figures in Louisiana’s history—a fiery populist whose ambition and influence reshaped the state. In this first installment of our very first two-parter here on Southern Gothic, we trace Long’s meteoric rise from a small-town lawyer to Louisiana’s governor and U.S. senator, exploring how his bold policies and ruthless political tactics earned him both devoted followers and dangerous enemies. As he consolidated power, whispers of conspiracy and corruption grew louder, setting the stage for the fateful night in 1935 when he was gunned down in the halls of the Louisiana State Capitol. But was his assassination truly the act of a lone gunman, or was there something more sinister at play?
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10 March 2025, 7:00 am
36 minutes 57 seconds

The Curse of Julia Brown
On September 30, 1915, a vicious hurricane made its way through Southeastern Louisiana leaving almost 375 people dead and entire communities destroyed. One such town was the small farming community of Frenier, where a legend has since entered local lore with the claim that this particularly gruesome storm was brought on by the curse of a local Voodoo priestess named Julia Brown.
This episode of Southern Gothic revisits a topic previously released on the podcast. To hear the original episode "The Lost City of Frenier" join us on Patreon for access to our archives!
Additional resources from this episode: The Day Time Stood Still: The Hurricane of 1915 by Wayne Norwood
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3 March 2025, 8:00 am
15 minutes 30 seconds

Reclaiming Nat Turner's Skull | Minisode
On November 11, 1831, Nat Turner was hanged for his role in leading the bloodiest slave rebellion in United States history; however, his story did not end there. In the aftermath of his execution, Turner’s body was taken by local doctors, dissected, and his remains scattered, fueling centuries of speculation about their whereabouts-- particularly, the fate of his skull.
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27 February 2025, 8:00 am
1 hour 4 minutes

The Nat Turner Rebellion
In August 1831, Nat Turner, an enslaved preacher from Southampton County, Virginia, led one of the most infamous rebellions in American history. Guided by what he claimed were divine visions, Turner and his followers unleashed a violent uprising that sent shockwaves through the South, challenging the very foundation of slavery. But while the revolt lasted only two days, its consequences would echo for decades, fueling deep-seated fears and tightening the grip of oppression. Join us as we explore the chilling history of Nat Turner's Rebellion and its lasting legacy.
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24 February 2025, 8:00 am
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