From a Two-Room School to Storytelling Stages: Octavia's Origin Story

Kentucky Dirt Episode 4: Darkness & Light

In this candid episode of "What Dreamers Do," storyteller Octavia Sexton takes listeners into her evolution from someone who follows the darkness to someone who walks in light. Growing up in rural Kentucky, Octavia discovered mysterious gifts at a young age—gifts her friends were quick to notice but which she barely understood. Her curiosity led her to experiment with Ouija boards and spells, bringing her face-to-face with powerful and frightening forces she couldn't escape. Through deeply personal stories, Octavia recounts haunting childhood experiences: sinister rituals, encounters with unsettling spirits, and the heavy presence of dark energy on her family land. These somber memories are balanced by her ultimate turn toward the light—a transformative moment that altered her life forever. Octavia shares how embracing the light, using ancestral wisdom, and protecting her family became her new path, offering hope, redemption, and a warning about the seductive danger of darkness and what happens when we repress or stigmatize psychic gifts.

Kentucky Dirt Episode 3: Wise Woman

In this episode of What Dreamers Do, storyteller Octavia Sexton welcomes listeners into the mystical experiences she's known since childhood. Sharing candid stories from her own life, Octavia reflects on her role as a “wise woman”—a figure sometimes revered, sometimes misunderstood, and called by many different names: witch, medicine woman, granny woman. Through relating vivid personal experiences, she tells of powerful premonitions, encounters with messages from the spirit world, and remarkable moments of healing within her family. She recounts the dreams and visions that shaped her life, the burdens and blessings of her unique gifts, and the cultural legacy of women who know and sense what others cannot explain. With warmth and authenticity, she challenges the stigma around the “wise woman,” sharing not only tales of loss and warning, but also hope, faith, and freedom. Join Octavia for this riveting insight into her life and her particular brand of magic...and seemingly into the Kentucky Dirt itself.

How Jack Got to America

Come on an adventure with this classic character from many mountain tales, Jack. Originating from the British Isles, Jack tales have traveled across seas and generations, evolving into what is now known as the Appalachian Jack tales. In this "origin story" for Jack, he encounters a witch and through a series of wise and clever transformations, finds himself in America. We eventually learn about his triumphs over challenges, and how he ultimately brings his family to settle in Kentucky. Settle in with the whole family and prepare to be entertained!

From a Two-Room School to Storytelling Stages: Octavia's Origin Story

Welcome to the inaugural episode of "Kentucky Dirt," where we learn about the life and stories of Octavia Sexton, a seasoned storyteller hailing from Rockcastle County, Kentucky. In this first episode, Octavia invites us into her background, sharing vivid memories of her childhood, growing up in a two-room school with a storytelling tree, and challenging societal norms to carve her own path. From losing her father at a young age to defying gender expectations with a pocket full of marbles, Octavia's life reflects resilience and rebellion. As we learn about her educational journey and discovery of storytelling as a profession, Octavia sets the stage for the captivating tales she will share in future episodes—Appalachian folk tales, personal anecdotes, haint tales, and real stories of women’s triumphs and trials. Join Octavia on an emotional journey that's always REAL, through her authentic narratives that delve deep into "Kentucky Dirt."