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 the Carolinas as Charlie tells the tale of the Catawba River Runner!

If you're looking for a way to help people affected by Hurricane Helene in the Carolinas and beyond, consider donating to the American Red Cross' Hurricane Helene efforts. If you see this on Facebook, there's a link in the show notes for this episode. We hope everyone is safe and we're thinking of them all the time. Michael will also donate all royalties from Arcane Carolinas: Volume 2 for the rest of 2024.

Another reminder: the deadlines to register to vote are looming. Please check the links below if you need any information on voting, especially if you need to vote absentee or if you're unsure what to bring with you when you vote. Hurricane Helene has disrupted many people's lives, including displacing people, so if you're not sure what the status of services and travel in your community will be a month from now (a very real possibility) and voting is a priority for you, start planning now.

Link:

• American Red Cross' Hurricane Helene Efforts

Register & Vote:

• North Carolina voter registration
• North Carolina "One-Stop" voter registration
• North Carolina "One-Stop" early voting
• North Carolina voting by mail
• South Carolina voter registration
• South Carolina early voting
• South Carolina voting by mail
• Voting information for all states

Upcoming Live Appearances:

• "Writing Through the Dark" in Pittssboro, NC - Michael solo (October 20, 2024)
• South Carolina State Library in Columbia, SC - Michael solo (December 12, 2024)
• Ret-Con 2024 - Charlie & Michael together (February 21-23, 2025)

Links:

• Michaelgwilliamsbooks.com
• Lost Monster Files press release

Follow us!

• Arcane Carolinas on Patreon
• Arcane Carolinas on Facebook
• Arcane Carolinas on Instagram
• Arcane Carolinas on Tumblr

Contact us!

[email protected]

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 killer app! But is there any truth behind this story? There just might be!

If you're looking for a way to help people affected by Hurricane Helene in the Carolinas and beyond, consider donating to the American Red Cross' Hurricane Helene efforts. If you see this on Facebook, there's a link in the show notes for this episode. We hope everyone is safe and we're thinking of them all the time. Michael will also donate all royalties from Arcane Carolinas: Volume 2 for the rest of 2024.

Another reminder: the deadlines to register to vote are looming. Please check the links below if you need any information on voting, especially if you need to vote absentee or if you're unsure what to bring with you when you vote. Hurricane Helene has disrupted many people's lives, including displacing people, so if you're not sure what the status of services and travel in your community will be a month from now (a very real possibility) and voting is a priority for you, start planning now.

Link:

• American Red Cross' Hurricane Helene Efforts

Register & Vote:

• North Carolina voter registration
• North Carolina "One-Stop" voter registration
• North Carolina "One-Stop" early voting
• North Carolina voting by mail
• South Carolina voter registration
• South Carolina early voting
• South Carolina voting by mail
• Voting information for all states

Upcoming Live Appearances:

• South Carolina State Library in Columbia, SC - Michael solo (December 12, 2024)
• Ret-Con 2024 - Charlie & Michael together (February 21-23, 2025)

Links:

• "The Heroes of America in Civil War North Carolina"
• Civil War in the North Carolina Quaker Belt
• "William W. Holden and 'Disloyalty' in the Civil War"
• "Heroes of America" (NCpedia)

Follow us!

• Arcane Carolinas on Patreon
• Arcane Carolinas on Facebook
• Arcane Carolinas on Instagram
• Arcane Carolinas on Tumblr

Contact us!

[email protected]

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 American Red Cross' Hurricane Helene efforts. If you see this on Facebook, there's a link in the show notes for this episode. We hope everyone is safe and we're thinking of them all the time. Michael will also donate all royalties from Arcane Carolinas: Volume 2 for the rest of 2024.

Another reminder: the deadlines to register to vote are looming. Please check the links below if you need any information on voting, especially if you need to vote absentee or if you're unsure what to bring with you when you vote. Hurricane Helene has disrupted many people's lives, including displacing people, so if you're not sure what the status of services and travel in your community will be a month from now (a very real possibility) and voting is a priority for you, start planning now.

Link:

• American Red Cross' Hurricane Helene Efforts

Register & Vote:

• North Carolina voter registration
• North Carolina "One-Stop" voter registration
• North Carolina "One-Stop" early voting
• North Carolina voting by mail
• South Carolina voter registration
• South Carolina early voting
• South Carolina voting by mail
• Voting information for all states

Upcoming Live Appearances:

• SPOOKY SEASON KICKOFF @ ARCANA DURHAM - Michael and Charlie (September 26th - Durham, NC)
• South Carolina State Library in Columbia, SC - Michael solo (December 12, 2024)

Links:

• "The Heroes of America in Civil War North Carolina"
• Civil War in the North Carolina Quaker Belt
• "William W. Holden and 'Disloyalty' in the Civil War"
• "Heroes of America" (NCpedia)

Follow us!

• Arcane Carolinas on Patreon
• Arcane Carolinas on Facebook
• Arcane Carolinas on Instagram
• Arcane Carolinas on Tumblr

Contact us!

[email protected]

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 different on this one because we got to use an awesome podcasting studio and record face to face!

Don't forget, Arcane Carolinas: Volume 2 is out now!

Register & Vote:

• North Carolina voter registration
• North Carolina "One-Stop" voter registration
• North Carolina "One-Stop" early voting
• North Carolina voting by mail
• South Carolina voter registration
• South Carolina early voting
• South Carolina voting by mail
• Voting information for all states

Upcoming Live Appearances:

• SPOOKY SEASON KICKOFF @ ARCANA DURHAM - Michael and Charlie (September 26th - Durham, NC)
• South Carolina State Library in Columbia, SC - Michael solo (December 12, 2024)

Links:

• "The Heroes of America in Civil War North Carolina"
• Civil War in the North Carolina Quaker Belt
• "William W. Holden and 'Disloyalty' in the Civil War"
• "Heroes of America" (NCpedia)

Follow us!

• Arcane Carolinas on Patreon
• Arcane Carolinas on Facebook
• Arcane Carolinas on Instagram
• Arcane Carolinas on Tumblr

Contact us!

[email protected]

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 of our ConGregate 2024 conversation!

And don't forget, Arcane Carolinas: Volume 2 is out now!

Upcoming Live Appearances:

• SPOOKY SEASON KICKOFF @ ARCANA DURHAM - Michael and Charlie (September 26th - Durham, NC)
• South Carolina State Library in Columbia, SC - Michael solo (December 12, 2024)

Links:

• A Podcask of Amontillado
• Ret-Con
• Tally's books on Amazon
• DragonCon American Sci-Fi Classics Track on Facebook

Follow us!

• Arcane Carolinas on Patreon
• Arcane Carolinas on Facebook
• Arcane Carolinas on Instagram
• Arcane Carolinas on Tumblr

Contact us!

[email protected]

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 co-hosts Tally Johnson and Gary Mitchel to discuss these and other stories!

And don't forget, Arcane Carolinas: Volume 2 is out now!

Upcoming Live Appearances:

• SPOOKY SEASON KICKOFF @ ARCANA DURHAM - Michael and Charlie (September 26th - Durham, NC)
• Southern Gothic Festival in Camden, SC - Charlie solo (October 18-20, 2024)
• South Carolina State Library in Columbia, SC - Michael solo (December 12, 2024)

Links:

• A Podcask of Amontillado
• Ret-Con
• Tally's books on Amazon
• DragonCon American Sci-Fi Classics Track on Facebook

Follow us!

• Arcane Carolinas on Patreon
• Arcane Carolinas on Facebook
• Arcane Carolinas on Instagram
• Arcane Carolinas on Tumblr

Contact us!

[email protected]

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 perhaps not so unique!) legend from Kentucky of a deadly railroad trestle and the mutant who stalks those who foolishly visit it. This was recorded live at Ret-Con 2024!

And don't forget, Arcane Carolinas: Volume 2 is out now!

Upcoming Live Appearances:

• SPOOKY SEASON KICKOFF @ ARCANA DURHAM - Michael and Charlie (September 26th - Durham, NC)
• Southern Gothic Festival in Camden, SC - Charlie solo (October 18-20, 2024)
• South Carolina State Library in Columbia, SC - Michael solo (December 12, 2024)

Follow us!

• Arcane Carolinas on Patreon
• Arcane Carolinas on Facebook
• Arcane Carolinas on Instagram
• Arcane Carolinas on Tumblr

Contact us!

[email protected]

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 County, NC, and a larger conversation about the distinction between a myth and a cryptid!

And don't forget, Arcane Carolinas: Volume 2 is out now!

Upcoming Live Appearances:

• SPOOKY SEASON KICKOFF @ ARCANA DURHAM - Michael and Charlie (September 26th - Durham, NC)
• Southern Gothic Festival in Camden, SC - Charlie solo (October 18-20, 2024)
• South Carolina State Library in Columbia, SC - Michael solo (December 12, 2024)

Follow us!

• Arcane Carolinas on Patreon
• Arcane Carolinas on Facebook
• Arcane Carolinas on Instagram
• Arcane Carolinas on Tumblr

Contact us!

[email protected]

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 to say! Join Michael and special guest co-host Michelle at the Black Mountain Library in May, 2024, as they discuss a story of hope and horror on Brown Mountain and beyond!

Out now: Arcane Carolinas: Volume 2!

Upcoming Live Appearances:

• SPOOKY SEASON KICKOFF @ ARCANA DURHAM - Michael and Charlie (September 26th - Durham, NC)
• Southern Gothic Festival in Camden, SC - Charlie solo (October 18-20, 2024)
• South Carolina State Library in Columbia, SC - Michael solo (December 12, 2024)

Links:

If your local library doesn't have these books, ask them about interlibrary loan!

• Black Mountain Library
• Lulu Belle & Scotty's "Brown Mountain Light" - YouTube.com
• Ralph Lael's The Brown Mountain Lights - NC Cardinal (NC public libraries)
• Wade Edward Speer's The Brown Mountain Lights - NC Cardinal (NC public libraries)
• UFO Related Entries Catalog entry for Ralph Lael - ufologie.patrickgross.org

Follow us!

• Arcane Carolinas on Patreon
• Arcane Carolinas on Facebook
• Arcane Carolinas on Instagram
• Arcane Carolinas on Tumblr

Contact us!

[email protected]

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 season and a discussion of Lake Norman as a locus of the strange!

Out today: Arcane Carolinas: Volume 2! Pick it up now!

Upcoming Live Appearances:

• SPOOKY SEASON KICKOFF @ ARCANA DURHAM - Michael and Charlie (September 26th - Durham, NC)
• Southern Gothic Festival in Camden, SC - Charlie solo (October 18-20, 2024)
• South Carolina State Library in Columbia, SC - Michael solo (December 12, 2024)

Links:

• The original YouTube video - (EXTREMELY SHAKY)
• A later news story - USA Today

Follow us!

• Arcane Carolinas on Patreon
• Arcane Carolinas on Facebook
• Arcane Carolinas on Instagram
• Arcane Carolinas on Tumblr

Contact us!

[email protected]