Ep. 124-Pamela Colman Smith And The Art That Defined Modern Tarot

Ep. 124-Pamela Colman Smith And The Art That Defined Modern Tarot

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2444974/fan_mail/new] You probably know the images even if you’ve never learned the name. The Rider-Waite tarot deck is the visual backbone of modern tarot, and it didn’t become iconic because people memorized esoteric theory. It became iconic because the art tells the story at a glance. We’re diving into the life and legacy of Pamela Colman Smith, the illustrator who drew all 78 cards by hand and somehow still ended up as the “invisible” woman behind one of the most recognized occult objects in history.  We talk about how tarot works as symbolism and visual storytelling, from the major arcana everyone recognizes (yes, even the misunderstood Death card) to the minor arcana that can echo a standard deck of playing cards. Then we zoom out into the strange, dramatic world that shaped the deck: Victorian-era occultism, secret societies, and the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, where ritual, coded meaning, and theatrical vibes weren’t a costume, they were a lifestyle.  From there, we get specific about what makes Pamela’s work hit so hard. Her scenes feel like dreams staged on a theater set, emotionally alive without being overexplained. We break down why her women feel powerful across the deck, especially in cards like The High Priestess, and why that resonance lasts for generations of tarot readers. And we don’t dodge the frustrating part: the deck goes world famous while the artist’s credit fades into the background.  If you’ve ever owned a tarot deck, used a tarot app, or felt pulled toward tarot symbolism, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share the episode with a friend who loves tarot history, and leave a review so more people can find Pamela’s name. What’s the first tarot card image you remember?

STAD Ep. 8-Bad Bitch History: Marie Laveau Without The Hollywood Nonsense

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2444974/fan_mail/new] New Orleans loves a legend, but we’re not interested in the souvenir version. We’re talking about Marie Laveau as a real woman in 1800s Louisiana: a free woman of color navigating slavery, racism, class power, and public fear while building influence that people still whisper about today. If you’ve only heard “voodoo queen” and pictured Hollywood witchcraft, we pull that apart and put the history back where it belongs. We trace how New Orleans voodoo grows from survival and resistance, including the aftermath of the Haitian Revolution and the way enslaved communities used Catholic saints as a coded spiritual language. We also dig into the overlooked details that explain her reach: working as a hairdresser to the elite, hearing the secrets people spill when they think they’re safe, and understanding that perception can be its own kind of power. When yellow fever and failing systems leave the poor behind, Marie’s legacy shows up in care, remedies, and the kind of leadership that doesn’t need permission. Then we ask the uncomfortable question: what happens when society can’t explain a woman’s competence? Too often, it calls her supernatural, turns her into “other,” and sells the aesthetic while erasing the matriarch. If you care about Marie Laveau history, New Orleans culture, voodoo myths, and the politics of who gets labeled a witch, this one is for you. Listen, share with a friend who loves Southern Gothic history, and leave us a review. And send us your own story at Hold my sweet tea podcast at gmail.com.

EP. 123-Inside Ohio’s Strangest Crime Scene: The Leaf Killer

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2444974/fan_mail/new] A house stuffed with leaves sounds like a joke until SWAT opens the door and realizes the piles aren’t just weird, they’re dangerous. We travel to Mount Vernon, Ohio to unpack the Matthew Hoffman “Leaf Killer” case, a true crime story where a missing persons call turns into one of the strangest crime scenes we’ve ever covered. Bags of leaves stacked floor to ceiling, dead squirrels in the freezer, and a basement hiding a kidnapped 13-year-old girl bound on a literal bed of leaves.  We walk through how Tina Herrmann disappears, why her boss’s concern matters, and how a second look at the home reveals blood and clear signs of a struggle. From there, the timeline tightens: Tina, her friend Stephanie Sprang, and Tina’s children are suddenly missing, and investigators have to decide whether they’re dealing with a runaway, an accident, or something far worse. We also dig into the theory that Hoffman started as a burglar and then escalated when confronted, turning a break-in into murder and abduction.  Then we get into the investigative details that help police build the case fast: a Walmart bag with a tarp and heavy-duty trash bags, surveillance video, a Toyota Yaris that narrows the suspect pool, and an interview strategy that finally gets Hoffman talking. The ending is as haunting as the beginning, with a confession leading to bodies hidden inside a hollow tree and a sentence of life without parole. If you’re into Ohio true crime, kidnapping cases, and the real-world mechanics of solving murders, this one will stick with you. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves true crime podcasts, and leave us a review with your biggest question from the case.

Ep 122-A Horror Movie Come to Life: The Jonathan Gerlach Case

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2444974/fan_mail/new] 🚨 WARNING: This episode contains discussion of grave desecration, human remains, and disturbing crime scene details. Listener discretion is advised. When volunteers at Pennsylvania's historic Mount Moriah Cemetery began discovering broken mausoleums and disturbed burial vaults, they had no idea they were uncovering one of the most bizarre criminal investigations in recent memory. According to investigators, Jonathan Gerlach was caught inside the cemetery in January 2026 carrying human remains. What police allegedly discovered next shocked the nation: over 100 human skulls, bones, and mummified remains recovered from a home and storage unit, leading to more than 500 criminal charges. In this episode of Hold My Sweet Tea Podcast, we dive into the haunting history of Mount Moriah Cemetery, the investigation that police called "a horror movie come to life," and the heartbreaking task of identifying remains that may have been buried for more than 200 years. Was this a case of morbid obsession, illegal collecting, or something even darker? Grab your sweet tea and settle in as we unravel one of the strangest true crime cases to make headlines in 2026. courthousenews.com — March 2026 hearing update and charge information.  NBC10 Philadelphia nbcphiladelphia.com— Detailed reporting on the investigation, arrest, and search warrants.  NBC10 Philadelphia nbcphiladelphia.com — Updated court proceedings and charges.  NBC10 Philadelphia fox29.com — Court appearance and expanded charges.  fox29.com — Court appearance and expanded charges.  FOX 29 Philadelphia

STAD Ep. 7- Cryp-TOE Through The Honey Island Swamp With Us: Honey Island Swamp Monster

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2444974/fan_mail/new] Something about Honey Island Swamp makes a good story feel dangerously believable. Maybe it’s the miles of protected Louisiana marshland north of Lake Pontchartrain, maybe it’s the Pearl River cutting through cypress and shadow, or maybe it’s the simple fact that the bayou can hide you fast. We’re Pearl and Holly, and we’re going full cryptid today with the Honey Island Swamp Monster, also known as Louisiana’s Bigfoot and the Bayou Beast.  We start with the real place: where Honey Island Swamp sits, what “pristine” marshland looks like up close, and the everyday wildlife that already makes the area intense. Then we get into the folklore that keeps locals talking, from Cajun and Native American roots to the wilder origin theories, including the feral-child story and the circus train crash tale that somehow ends in an alligator and chimpanzee “offspring.”  The heart of the mystery is Harlan Ford’s 1963 account: a huge, foul-smelling, yellow-eyed creature and the decade-long obsession that follows. We walk through the alleged evidence, including a torn-up wild boar scene, massive three-toed webbed footprints cast in plaster, and LSU’s inability to match the tracks to a known animal. Finally, we talk about the 8mm film Ford kept hidden and how his granddaughter Dana Holyfield helped bring that piece back into the conversation.  If you love cryptids, Louisiana folklore, and weird local history, hit play, then subscribe, share with a friend who loves spooky stuff, and leave us a review so more listeners can find Sweet Tea After Dark.