Forgotten American Folklore

Not all witch trials took place in Massachussetts; today we look at Goody Cole, a woman who's attitude and (maybe) grouchiness landed her in jail for witchcraft in 1656.  She would be made famous in two poems by John Greanleaf Whittier.

Don't plant your potatoes when the signs are in the feet!  Plant carrots when the moon is waning!  These are things farmers in Appalachia have known for generations- today we look at how the signs of the zodiac and the phase of the moon can affect your farm.
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The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde
Suicide Sal
Two Outlaws: Billy the Kid and Clyde Barrow

Some see them as a poor, doomed couple trying to scrape by during the Great Depression, some as a pair of vicious bank robbers only out for themselves.  Today we ride with Bonnie and Clyde as they tear through the Midwest on a crime spree that only lasted about two year, but left an indelible mark on America.
 
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In the Cibola episode I spoke about another island near Antilla called The Island of Satan's Hand.  This is the story involving the island.  It starts in Ireland and moves to Spain, but the best parts happen near America.

Cibola was one of the lost cities of silver and gold, like Aztlan or El Dorado.  Coronado would set off to find the city, led by the stories of a lost explorer and a delusional monk.  On the way they'll see buffalo, the Great Plains, and the Grand Canyon.
fafolklore@gmail.com if you know of a lost city of your own- send us a map!

Black God creates the constellations for the people- each one has a separate and important meaning, then along comes Coyote to throw a little chaos into everything.

Another unknown creature stalking the woods of West Virginia- this is the Flatwoods Monster from 1952.
 
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Edgar Allen Poe was one of the originators of the true crime genre, as well as the detective story.  Today, two stories that launched his career in true crime; Mary Rogers and Polly Bodine.
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I used to do a Georgia history podcast called Moving through Georgia- I found some stories in my old notes about the practice of cunjure- kinda like hoodoo or folk magic- from Georgia.
 
We would love to hear your questions or comments: fafolklore@gmail.com
 
If you enjoy the podcast, maybe you’d like to make a contribution.  You can use:
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