PODCAST · society
Arcane Carolinas
by Arcane Carolinas
From mountaintops to sand dunes, the Carolinas' backroads and byroads hold legends and lore behind every hill and around every curve. From cryptids to cursed earth to people whose passions will surprise you, North and South Carolina are chock full of surprises. Join Charlie and Michael as they discuss them all!
Episodes
-
AC 00149 - Campus Ghosts of Greensboro - Live from Con-Gregate 2026
Does a disapproving housemother haunt the auditorium where her boarding house once stood? Does the spirit of a little girl with no face intrude on rehearsals? And would a Revolutionary War ghost dance the can-can given the chance? Join Michael as he and friends of the show Tally Johnson and Gary...
-
AC 00148 - The Ghost and Mr. Mewshaw
Charlie had the chance to spend a weekend with the crew from Lost Monster Files a few weeks ago, and when the paranormal investigation gadgetry came out, so did the strange phenomena! Join Charlie and Michael for a discussion of Charlie's wild weekend of spirit shenanigans and free-form…
more -
AC 00147 - Haunted Highways and Spectral Speculations with Tally Johnson and Gary Mitchel - Live from Ret-Con 2026
What would you do if you arrived in a new land only to find it already haunted by cities long-abandoned? What would you do if you spotted a ghostly figure trying--yet again--to find her way back to her new groom on the way to work each morning? Join Michael at Ret-Con 2026 as he welcomes Tally...
-
AC 00146 - Ghost Stories and Conspiracy Lore of Rutherford County NC
Does a specific bridge in Rutherford County, NC, serve as the eternal meandering site of two long-dead sisters? Or of a woman murdered under mysterious circumstances? Or a kid on a bicycle? Or a woman whose buggy went over the bridge at the turn of the 20th century? Is Rutherford County home to a...
-
AC 00145 - Ghost Lights with Tally Johnson - Live from Ret-Con 2026
DON'T STAND ON RAILROAD TRACKS, OKAY? Join friend of the show Tally Johnson as he and Michael have a fun and friendly discussion about ghost lights in the Carolinas, what they might be, and why we love them! Links for this Episode: North Carolina Ghost Lights & Legends (Amazon) Tally's books on...
-
AC 00144 - Big Cats!
Welcome to Spooky Season 2026! Join Charlie and Michael as they warm up the ol' microphones and talk about one of our favorite and most-requested topics: big cats in the Carolinas! Charlie's built a very cool site for folks, and we spend some time talking about sightings, theories, and maybe a...
-
AC 00143 - 2025 Spooky Season Kickoff - Part Two - Live from Arcana Durham
Join Charlie and Michael for the long-delayed second half of the 2025 Spooky Season Kickoff, recorded live at Arcana Durham in front of an enormously enthusiastic crowd of friends and community members! And for real, put down the Boglin already. Links: Arcane Carolinas Vol. 3 (Charlie's newest...
-
AC 00142 - 2025 Spooky Season Kickoff - Part One - Live from Arcana Durham
Join Charlie and Michael for the first half of the 2025 Spooky Season Kickoff, recorded live at Arcana Durham in front of an enormously enthusiastic crowd of friends and community members! Links: Arcane Carolinas Vol. 3 (Charlie's newest entry in our series of nonfiction volumes!) Children of...
-
AC 00141 - Halloween Hangout 2025
Happy Halloween! Join Charlie and Michael around Charlie's kitchen table to celebrate what we love about this season and tell a couple of spooky stories! Links: Arcane Carolinas Vol. 3 (Charlie's newest entry in our series of nonfiction volumes!) Children of Solitude (Michael's latest horror...
-
AC 00139-00140 - Laurel Hill's Legislative Lycanthrope & Live from Ret-Con 2025: Fairy Stones
Just in time for Halloween, did you know the North Carolina legislature once included an accused werewolf? Join Michael and Charlie on a historical deep-dive into one of the more surprising political history stories in the state! And, as a bonus minisode, join Charlie, Michael, and Tally Johnson…
more -
AC 00138 - Gravity Hill
One of the Carolinas' most interesting phenomena--and most easily experienced for one's self--is that of Gravity Hill. Ride along with Charlie and Michael as we take a roundabout route to discussing this fascinating legend! Links: Arcane Carolinas Vol. 3 (Charlie's newest entry in our series of...
-
AC 00137 - The Ghost of Old Station Number Four
Have you ever walked into a room and smelled a phantom's cigar? Join Charlie and Michael for the true and tragic history--and subsequent haunting--surrounding a fireman and a firehouse in Charlotte, NC! Links: Arcane Carolinas Vol. 3 (Charlie's newest entry in our series of nonfiction volumes!)...
-
AC 00136 - Live from Durham South Regional Library - Mermaids of the Cape Fear and the Santer of Statesville
Did you know the Cape Fear River has a centuries-old mermaid legend--and it kinda-sorta ties to our favorite Revolutionary War villain? And have you heard the vicious tale of the Santer? Join Charlie and Michael live from Durham's beautiful South Regional Library as they dive deep into the waters...
-
AC 00135 - Restless Spirits Aboard Battleship North Carolina
Battleship North Carolina has a distinguished history as part of the Allied victory in World War Two, and for decades has served as a living museum and monument to that effort and to the technological innovations in its design. But it's also one of the most haunted places in the Carolinas! Come...
-
AC 00134 - Live from Ret-Con 2025 - The Phantom Steed of Cary
What's that sound racing down the road outside at night? Could it be the ghost of a horse in search of its fallen rider? Join Michael, Charlie, and special guest Tally Johnson for a deep dive into the history behind a local legend, a couple of quick companion stories from Tally, and a surprise...
-
AC 00133 - The Other Grey Lady of South Carolina
We've discussed the Grey Man of Pawley's Island, SC, and the other Grey Man of Pawley's Island, SC, and we've discussed Theodosia Burr, the Grey Lady of South Carolina, so now it's time to talk about the other Grey Lady of South Carolina! Join Michael and Charlie on a deep-dive into the multiple...
-
AC 00132 - Live from Ret-Con 2025 - Devil's Rock
Behold the return of an old "friend"! Recorded live at Ret-Con 2025 Links: Arcane Carolinas Vol. 3 (Charlie's newest entry in our series of nonfiction volumes!) Children of Solitude (Michael's latest horror novel!) Upcoming Live Appearances: Killer Pride (Williamsburg, VA - September 26-28, 2025)…
more -
AC 00131 - Live from Ret-Con - Killer Monkeys from Mars!
Join Charlie and Michael on a deep-dive into the bizarre world of primate agression, recorded live at Ret-Con 2025! OUT NOW: Arcane Carolinas Volume 3 by Charlie Mewshaw! Foreword by Jason Tapp of SpookyCLT! Links: Arcane Carolinas Vol. 3 (Charlie's newest entry in our series of nonfiction...
-
AC 00130 - Live from Ret-Con 2025 - The Grafton Monster
What's big, weird, and extremely niche? The Grafton Monster, that's what! Join us for the first of a THREE-PART live episode recorded at Ret-Con 2025! Also, a couple of tickets got returned by some folks who can't make it on Thursday, September 11, for the Arcane Carolinas Spooky Season Kickoff…
more -
2025 Spooky Season Kickoff Reminder
Just a quick reminder for folks who may not see the Facebook posts: our Spooky Season Kickoff is at Arcana in Durham, NC, on September 11! Tickets are free, and there are only a handful left. It'll also be a launch party for Arcane Carolinas Volume 3! Get your Spooky Season Kickoff tickets here!
-
AC 00129 - Stay Humble Out There
We know plenty of legends based on and built around real people, from the Hunter of Purgatory Mountain to Lavinia Fisher to Hezekiah Jones. But how often do we see a legend spring up around a person as events unfold? Join Charlie and Michael for the summer road trip episode about a notorious…
more -
AC 00128 - Arcane Carolinas Case Files for April 2025
Join Charlie for two AC Case Files interviews regarding strange experiences, one on the coast of North Carolina and one on the streets of Pittsburgh, PA! Links: Children of Solitude (Michael's new horror novel!) Grafton Monster Fest Upcoming Live Appearances: PBO Pride (maybe? - Michael solo…
more -
AC 00127 - Do Not Trespass at Salem Black River Church
Salem Black River Church near Maysville, SC, is one of the oldest churches in South Carolina and has a rich history as a place of worship and community. From it sprang many other local institutions and activists of tremendous importance also. But the Internet holds that today it is a place of...
-
AC 00126 - The Ill-Tempered Ghost of Bertie County NC
Bertie County, NC, is a place of rural beauty--and possibly of an angry ghost engaged in some questionable parenting from beyond the grave! Join Michael and Charlie for a deep dive into the history of one of the state's oldest counties, a fun spooky legend, and the many ways this legend connects…
more -
AC 00125 - Lydia's Bridge
Late on a rainy, foggy night, as you drive through the early settlement of Jamestown, NC, a young woman may flag you down in hopes of refuge from the weather and a ride to her home. This is a familiar legend in the Carolinas, but it isn't unique. Is there real history behind this instance of the...
-
AC 00124 - Let's Sidebar This Item of Drone Business
Look, up there in the sky! It's a drone! It's an alien! It's... live-action folklore in the making! Join Charlie and Michael for a quick, informal chat about the wave of "drone"/UFO/UAP sightings being reported (and sometimes recorded, and maybe sometimes manufactured) nationwide! Originally this...
-
AC 00123 - Spooky Season Kickoff - Live from Arcana 2024
Now that Spooky Season for 2024 has drawn to a close, and Michael and Charlie have gotten a bit of a rest, let's... rewind time to the start of Spooky Season! Join Charlie, Michael, and an enthusiastic crowd as we talk about three fun and spooky stories and places from the Carolinas and beyond!...
-
AC 00122 - The Blue Lady of Hilton Head Island
On stormy nights the spectral figure of a woman in blue dashes through the darkness to climb the stairs of the old Rear Range Light on Hilton Head Island. Why is her mission so vitally important she continues it from beyond the grave? Join Michael and Charlie as they dig deep into folklore and...
-
AC 00121 - Reintroductions, The Catawba River Runner, & H-O-Ape-Man
It's been a little over four years, and Charlie's new show Lost Monster Files is about to premiere, so we think it's a good time to re-introduce ourselves to folks who might be new to the show. And while you're at it, take a dive into a legend shared by more than one of the indigenous peoples of...
-
AC 00120 - Killer Apps - Live from Ret-Con 2024
Did you hear the story of that video game that drove that kid mad? It happened just one town over! My cousin's friend told me he heard about it at summer camp! Join Charlie and Michael for a deep-dive into the history of an urban legend straight out of the arcade age: Polybius, the original…
more -
AC 00119 - The Heroes of America - Part Two of Two
This episode is the second half of our history deep dive into the Heroes of America, an anti-Confederate secret society that started in the "Quaker Belt" region of NC. If you're looking for a way to help people affected by Hurricane Helene in the Carolinas and beyond, consider donating to the...
-
AC 00118 - The Heroes of America - Part One of Two
Did you know a sprawling network of anti-Confederate organizers formed in the Piedmont of NC at the outset of the US Civil War? Join Michael and Charlie for a history deep-dive into a little-discussed corner of the reality of political organizing in the south during that era! Note: the sound is...
-
AC 00117 - Places of Power & Paranormal Bucket Lists - Live from ConGregate 2024
From the Devil's Tramping Ground to ghost chickens in the US Capitol, what are our paranormal bucket list items? And what makes any given paranormal hotspot such a focal point for the strange in the first place? Join Michael and special guest co-hosts Gary Mitchel and Tally Johnson for the rest…
more -
AC 00116 - Haunted Highways Near and Far - Live from ConGregate 2024
We've all heard of Route 66, but have you heard of Route 666? Did you know a phantom hotrod terrorizes a two-lane highway through South Carolina and North Carolina by night? Or have you seen the ghostly merchant in downtown Winston-Salem? Join Michael at ConGregate 2024 with special guest…
more -
AC 00115 - Kentucky Fried Goat-Man - Do Not Go to the Trestle of Death - Live from Ret-Con 2024
As the episode title says, and as we say in the episode, DO NOT GO TO THIS PLACE. IT IS ILLEGAL AND IT IS VERY EASY TO DIE THERE. PLEASE DO NOT DO THAT. Goat-human hybrids: science gone wrong? Or magic gone wrong? Join Charlie and Michael for a lively and hilarious discussion of a unique (or...
-
AC 00114 - The Monkey-Dog
On a spring-like December morning in 1954, dozens of school children, their teacher, and one exceptionally brave janitor had an encounter with what came to be known as The Monkey-Dog. Join Charlie and Michael for a discussion of one of the more obscure and fascinating stories out of Robeson…
more -
AC 00113 - Hope & Horror on Brown Mountain - Live from Black Mountain Public Library
Y'all, this story has it all: country music, 19th century sightings, the Brown Mountain Lights, electoral politics, multiple varieties of entrepreneurship, UFOs, aliens, illegal construction on federal land, trailbreaking, John Keel, curiosity shops, and traffic jams. We don't even know what else...
-
AC 00112 - UFOs over Lake Norman
Lake Norman is sometimes referred to as North Carolina's only inland sea, and a review of its size and dimensions definitely back that up. But it's also a place where strange things are seen in, around, and sometimes over the water! Join Charlie and Michael for a chat about the upcoming spooky...
-
AC 00111 - AC Case Files - Tarheel Tales of Terror Vol 1
Do you love spooky tales such as the Boo Hag or the classic legend of The Rattlesnake Honeymoon? Do you love comic books and sequential art produced by folks right here in the Carolinas? Then check out this Arcane Carolinas Case Files episode where Michael interviews Fiona W. Dunn, co-creator and...
-
AC 00110 - Arcane Destinations - Robert the Doll
Michael here! I have no idea how to introduce this episode, honestly, because every time we say anything even remotely snarky about this episode's subject some piece of technology fails us: we had microphones go out in the middle of recording, our hosting provider ate the episode when it was...
-
AC 00109 - Arcane Destinations - Alabama's Bear Creek Swamp
Hitch up your waders and fetch your log-pokin' stick, as ride along as Charlie and Michael talk about Alabama's Bear Creek Swamp! Do you like ghosts? Do you like creepy dolls? Do you like finding horrible things? Then this is the place for you! Bear Creek Swamp has anything you could want, and...
-
AC 00108 - A Vampire Nest in The Queen City
Grab your stakes and garlic necklaces and come along as Michael and Charlie dig into the history and lore of a Charlotte neighborhood where it was said for many years a particular place only came alive at night! Upcoming Live Appearances: Black Mountain Public Library - Michael solo (May 8th -...
-
AC 00107 - The Ghost Rider of Hopewell Presbyterian Church
Join Michael and Charlie as they take a deep dive into a pivotal battle of the Revolutionary War and the restless riding spirit who lingers from it still! Upcoming Live Appearances: Black Mountain Public Library - Michael solo (May 8th - Black Mountain, NC) Carolina Fear Fest - Michael solo (May...
-
AC 00106 - Bigfoot Sightings & Museum of the Bizarre - Case Files for March 2024
Join Charlie and two very special guests to hear tales of Bigfoot encounters in the Piedmont and learn about the Museum of the Bizarre in Wilmington, NC, from Eric Odditorium! Upcoming Live Appearances: HWA NC Book Reading - Quail Ridge Books (March 26th - Raleigh, NC) Black Mountain Public…
more -
AC 00105 - Poogan's Porch of Charleston SC
Charleston, SC, has a reputation as a haunted city with a long and complex past. But what about newer, more contemporary sites? Can't they have ghosts, too? Pull a chair up to the table and join Charlie, Michael, and friend of the show Kevin as we dig in to the history and lore around one of the...
-
AC 00104 - Arcane Destinations - The Bell Witch
The Bell Witch of Adams, Tennessee, is one of the most adapted, sprawling, and elaborated upon legends in the entire catalogue of paranormal events in United States history. But which parts of it are verifiably real, and which parts of it are simply too much to believe? Go spelunking with Charlie...
-
AC 00103 - Appalachian Folk Magic & Traditional Remedies
Join Michael and Charlie for a discussion of everything from dowsing for water to plugging a tree as they dive into Appalachian folk magic and traditional remedies! Don't forget to pick up Arcane Carolinas: Volume 1, out now! Upcoming Live Appearances: Ret-Con 2024 (March 1-3, 2024 - Cary, NC)...
-
AC 00102 - The Woman in White, Giant Bones, and Phoebe Ward, Witch - Live from Arcana 2023
Join Charlie, Michael, and a bunch of awesome people at Arcana in Durham, NC, for three tales: a ghost taunting the living on a stormy night; a rail project unearthing ancient history; and the death and resurrection of a rural community's resident witch! Published early by request, this live...
-
AC 00101 - Halloween Hangover - Charlie's Ghost Taxonomies 101
Ease into the post-Halloween season by joining Charlie and Michael for a casual discussion of various types of ghosts and past episodes we've done about some of them! Links: Ghosts of the South Carolina Upcountry (Amazon.com) Sea Island Spirits (YouTube) WRAL Voters' Choice Awards (wral.com)...
-
AC 00100 - Arcane Carolinas' 100th Episode Extravaganza!
Woohoo! An even 100 episodes! Join Charlie and Michael as they give updates on some previous episodes, their spouses join them for listener Q&A, and we hear some voicemails from friends. Now on to the next 100! Links: Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS) (external site) Tally Johnson's books & info...
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
From mountaintops to sand dunes, the Carolinas' backroads and byroads hold legends and lore behind every hill and around every curve. From cryptids to cursed earth to people whose passions will surprise you, North and South Carolina are chock full of surprises. Join Charlie and Michael as they discuss them all!
HOSTED BY
Arcane Carolinas
CATEGORIES
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Arcane Carolinas have?
Arcane Carolinas currently has 150 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Arcane Carolinas about?
From mountaintops to sand dunes, the Carolinas' backroads and byroads hold legends and lore behind every hill and around every curve. From cryptids to cursed earth to people whose passions will surprise you, North and South Carolina are chock full of surprises. Join Charlie and Michael as they...
How often does Arcane Carolinas release new episodes?
Arcane Carolinas publishes regularly with 150 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Arcane Carolinas?
You can listen to Arcane Carolinas on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Arcane Carolinas?
Arcane Carolinas is created and hosted by Arcane Carolinas.
URL copied to clipboard!