The Dark Side of Appalachia: Terrifying Cherokee Folklore

The Strange Tale of Professor Whiz

In this episode of Southern Ghost Stories, we dive into the bizarre true story of Professor Whiz, one of America’s most famous hypnotists during the twentieth century. From stage shows and radio broadcasts to fears of mind control and brainwashing, hypnosis became a national obsession during a time when Americans were fascinated—and terrified—by the hidden power of the subconscious mind. We explore the rise of Professor Whiz, the strange world of early hypnosis culture, and why so many people believed a voice over the radio might actually control human behavior. Be sure to like, subscribe and leave a review! Check out Allen's books on Amazon! https://amzn.to/3HEf2u9 Got a question or comment? Hit us up on our socials! Instagram https://www.instagram.com/southernghoststories/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/southernghoststoriesonline Follow Allen on X https://x.com/ATOAllen Use code SAVE10 for 10% off your order over at  https://monstercitymadhouse.com [http://monstercitymadhouse.com/]

The Dark Side of Appalachia: Terrifying Cherokee Folklore

Deep in the mist-covered valleys and dark hollows of the Appalachian Mountains, ancient Cherokee folklore still lingers like smoke through the trees. In this episode of Southern Ghost Stories, American Hauntstorian Allen Sircy strips away the campfire entertainment to explore the terrifying and fascinating entities that the Cherokee viewed as a reality of the natural world. From the deceptive, liver-eating Spearfinger and the soul-stealing Raven Mocker to the giant protector Tsul ’Kalu and the unseen spiritual rot of the U’lag’û, these legends served as vital warnings about morality, respect, and the thin veil between mankind and the supernatural. Centuries later, despite forced displacement and cultural upheaval, these stories endure because the ancient mountains themselves remain unchanged—leaving modern Appalachian locals still whispering about the dark shapes, hidden crystals, and tiny footsteps that haunt the woods after sunset. Be sure to like, subscribe and leave a review! Check out Allen's books on Amazon! https://amzn.to/3HEf2u9 Got a question or comment? Hit us up on our socials! Instagram https://www.instagram.com/southernghoststories/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/southernghoststoriesonline Follow Allen on X https://x.com/ATOAllen Use code SAVE10 for 10% off your order over at  https://monstercitymadhouse.com [http://monstercitymadhouse.com/]

Tennessee Tales Tuesday: The Fentress County Witch Trial

In this episode of Southern Ghost Stories: Tennessee Tales Tuesday, host Allen Sircy heads into the rugged hills of East Tennessee to uncover the state's only documented witch trial. Long before paved roads reached the Cumberland Plateau, the isolated 1835 frontier community of Jamestown became consumed by superstition and fear, culminating in the arrest of an elderly recluse named Joseph "Old Man Stout." Accused of being a warlock who could manipulate dark forces, transform into smoke, and bewitch a local girl, Stout was dragged from his cabin by an armed mob carrying silver bullets to stand trial in Tennessee's first and only witch trial. Dive into this fascinating piece of forgotten Appalachian history and Tennessee folklore, where real-world legal history meets enduring mountain legends of the supernatural. Be sure to like, subscribe and leave a review! Check out Allen's books on Amazon! https://amzn.to/3HEf2u9 Got a question or comment? Hit us up on our socials! Instagram https://www.instagram.com/southernghoststories/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/southernghoststoriesonline Follow Allen on X https://x.com/ATOAllen Use code SAVE10 for 10% off your order over at  https://monstercitymadhouse.com [http://monstercitymadhouse.com/]

The Brooklyn Theatre Fire: Graves, Greed, and Ghosts

In this episode of Southern Ghost Stories, host Allen Sircy heads north to uncover the haunted history of the 1876 Brooklyn Theatre fire, one of the deadliest disasters in American theater history and a cornerstone of New York true crime and folklore. Long before a tragic stage fire claimed nearly 300 lives, the grand venue was built directly over the forgotten St. John’s Burying Ground—sparking immediate rumors of a cemetery curse and terrifying New York ghost stories. From early reports of restless spirits wandering the halls to the grim discovery of disturbed gravestones beneath the charred rubble, the tragedy left a deep scar on Brooklyn's past. Decades later, urban legends and paranormal activity persisted at the site, with eyewitnesses reporting phantom actors reenacting the doomed final play. Dive into this dark chapter of historic New York hauntings, where real-world tragedy, desecrated graves, and eerie Brooklyn folklore collide. Be sure to like, subscribe and leave a review! Check out Allen's books on Amazon! https://amzn.to/3HEf2u9 Got a question or comment? Hit us up on our socials! Instagram https://www.instagram.com/southernghoststories/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/southernghoststoriesonline Follow Allen on X https://x.com/ATOAllen Use code SAVE10 for 10% off your order over at  https://monstercitymadhouse.com [http://monstercitymadhouse.com/]

Grieving Grave Robbers: Love Beyond the Grave

In this episode of Southern Ghost Stories, Allen Sircy explores the disturbing history of grieving grave robbers—individuals whose overwhelming heartbreak pushed them across the line from sorrow into madness. The episode details the notorious Florida case of Carl Tanzler, an eccentric radiologic technologist who stole the decomposing body of Maria Elena Milagro de Hoyos in 1933 and lived with her reconstructed remains for seven years. It also uncovers a lesser-known 1911 incident from Stanford, Kentucky, where a woman named Amanda Harrison became so obsessed with a deceased attorney that she attempted to exhume his body in the middle of the night under the delusion of a divine resurrection. It is a compelling, dark look at Southern folklore and real-life history where love, grief, and obsession collide in the cemetery after midnight. Be sure to like, subscribe and leave a review! Check out Allen's books on Amazon! https://amzn.to/3HEf2u9 Got a question or comment? Hit us up on our socials! Instagram https://www.instagram.com/southernghoststories/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/southernghoststoriesonline Follow Allen on X https://x.com/ATOAllen Use code SAVE10 for 10% off your order over at  https://monstercitymadhouse.com [http://monstercitymadhouse.com/]