Nestled in the rolling hills of north Georgia, the ruins of a once-grand estate lie hidden among towering boxwoods and overgrown brick paths—what remains of Barnsley Gardens. But this crumbling mansion isn't just a relic of the antebellum South… it’s the site of a legend. A place some say was cursed from the moment the first tree was felled.

In this episode, we uncover the tragic story of Godfrey Barnsley, a wealthy cotton merchant who sought to build a dream home for his beloved wife Julia. But from the moment he set foot on the land—land taken from the Cherokee following their forced removal—misfortune took root.

From ghostly visions in the gardens to generations of untimely deaths, the tale of Barnsley Gardens is one of devotion, loss, and the weight of a legacy that refused to let go. Was it truly cursed? Or was it simply haunted by grief?

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In the shadows of the French Quarter, where history and legend often blur, one of New Orleans' most enduring mysteries still lingers behind bright red doors on Royal Street.

It begins in 1728, with the arrival of pale, fragile young women sent by the French crown to populate the colony—women who came with heavy wooden trunks and left behind whispers of vampirism. Known in local lore as the Casket Girls, their legacy set the stage for the city’s enduring obsession with the undead.

But nearly two centuries later, a new figure stepped into the city’s night: Jacque St. Germain, a wealthy, elegant man with a love for lavish parties and a peculiar habit—he never touched the food. When a woman leapt from his balcony in terror, claiming he tried to drink her blood, the legend took root.

In this episode, we explore the haunting tale of Jacque St. Germain, the mysterious aristocrat believed by some to be a vampire—and by others to be the immortal Comte St. Germain, a real-life 18th-century alchemist rumored to have conquered death itself.

From the lore of the Ursuline Convent to the bricked-up windows of 1041 Royal Street, join us as we unravel the chilling origins of New Orleans’ vampire mythology—and ask: what truth might lie behind the legends?

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On April 27, 1865, just weeks after the Civil War ended and the country reeled from the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, a deadly explosion on the Mississippi River became the worst maritime disaster in U.S. history—and most Americans have never heard of it.

The Sultana, a Civil War-era steamboat built to carry a few hundred passengers, was pushed far beyond its limits with more than 2,100 souls crammed aboard—mostly Union soldiers who had survived Confederate prison camps like Andersonville and Cahaba. But just north of Memphis, Tennessee, the Sultana’s patched boiler exploded in the dead of night, setting off a catastrophic chain of events that would leave over a thousand men dead, their bodies scattered across the dark Mississippi waters.

In this episode, we tell the chilling, little-known story of greed, corruption, and human tragedy that led to this horrific event. You’ll hear firsthand survivor accounts, the murky decisions that caused the explosion, and how the legacy of the Sultana has been buried—both by history and by the river itself.

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Moored in the quiet waters of Mobile Bay, the USS Alabama stands as a monument to American strength, sacrifice, and—some say—something far more ghostly. Known as "The Lucky A," this legendary battleship earned nine battle stars and never lost a single crewman to enemy fire. But not all wounds come from the enemy.

In this episode, we trace the history of the Alabama, from Arctic convoy duty in the deadly North Atlantic to brutal island campaigns in the Pacific theater, including the devastating friendly fire tragedy that still haunts her steel hull. Then, we descend into the shadows of the ship itself, exploring the ghostly encounters reported in her narrow passageways—phantom footsteps, vanishing voices, and an eerie presence that lingers near Mount 5.

Is it just the echo of history? Or does something still stand watch aboard the Lucky A?

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In honor of our upcoming Friday the 13th Ghost Tour next week, we bring you a special episode of Southern Gothic, featuring a live recording from our October 2024 event at InDo Nashville. Accompanied by the haunting guitar melodies of Alexandra Mann from The Mann Sisters, Brandon delves into four chilling tales from the American South:

Samuel Jocelyn Jr. – A Wilmington man buried alive in 1810, whose restless spirit is said to haunt St. James Episcopal Parish Cemetery.

Julia Brown of Manchac Swamp – A voodoo priestess whose ominous prophecy allegedly brought about a devastating hurricane on the day of her funeral in 1915.

Leah Smock, the Battletown Witch – A young Kentucky woman accused of witchcraft and tragically burned alive in 1840, her story now commemorated in local folklore.

Julia Legare of Edisto Island – A South Carolina woman mistakenly buried alive, whose spirit is believed to keep the door of her mausoleum perpetually open.

Join us for THIRTEEN, a haunted history walking tour in Franklin, Tennessee, on Friday the 13th. This intimate experience is limited to 13 guests and promises an evening of spine-tingling tales and historical intrigue. Secure your spot at SouthernGothicMedia.com/thirteen.

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In the early morning hours of December 31, 1862, Union Colonel Julius Peter Garesché was decapitated by a Confederate cannonball during the Battle of Stones River. His violent death—foretold in ominous warnings and eerie family prophecies—would soon echo in more ways than one. For in the decades since, visitors to the battlefield in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, have claimed to see a headless figure in blue silently riding the mist-covered glades near the site of his fall.

But who was Colonel Garesché? And how did his tragic story become entwined with one of America’s oldest ghost story archetypes—the Headless Horseman?

In this episode, we explore the origins of Washington Irving’s Legend of Sleepy Hollow, the centuries-old folklore that inspired it, and the chilling real-life legend that grew out of the blood-soaked fields of Middle Tennessee. From Garesché’s Catholic faith and battlefield premonitions to the enduring tale of a spectral rider haunting Stones River, this is a story where American history and haunting legend collide.

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The village of Middleway, West Virginia, is a community with a population of less than 500 people. Though the area was first settled back in the early 18th century, it has its place in history because as the home of legend that dates back to the late 1700s when a local farmer and his family became the victim of poltergeist-like activity.

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For more than a century, the Brown Mountain Lights have baffled scientists, inspired ghost stories, and drawn curious travelers to the rugged wilderness of western North Carolina. Nestled within the Linville Gorge Wilderness Area of Pisgah National Forest, Brown Mountain has become ground zero for one of America’s most enduring paranormal mysteries.

Eyewitnesses describe glowing orbs—white, red, even blue—rising from the mountain, flickering like lanterns, and vanishing into the night sky. Some believe these lights are the restless spirits of Cherokee warriors killed in an ancient battle. Others claim they’re tied to long-lost lovers, murdered wives, or even extraterrestrial visitors.

In this episode of Southern Gothic, we uncover the tangled roots of the Brown Mountain Lights legend. From 18th-century accounts and ghostly Appalachian folklore to Cold War UFO sightings and government investigations by the U.S. Geological Survey, we’ll explore how science, superstition, and storytelling have shaped one of North Carolina’s greatest unsolved mysteries.

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Y'all join us as we explore ⁠Macabrium⁠, a podcast that explores the secrets of the past-- true crime, dark history, lore, and legends. Join Megan on Tuesdays for true crime & dark history, and Derek on Sundays for lore & legends. 

This Lore & Legends episode is titled "“The Murder Hole Room: Hauntings at Leap Castle, Part 1”

⁠Listen to Macabrium today on your favorite podcasting apps!⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Y'all join us as we explore Macabrium, a podcast that explores the secrets of the past-- true crime, dark history, lore, and legends. Join Megan on Tuesdays for true crime & dark history, and Derek on Sundays for lore & legends. 

This True Crime & Dark History episode is titled "Villain By Nature: The Cannibal Boone Helm."

Listen to Macabrium today on your favorite podcasting apps!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices