Episode 94 This week I’m joined by Alexandra Hunt, a public health researcher, a girls’ soccer coach, an advocate for social, racial, economic, and environmental justice, and an organizer. She’s also running for Philadelphia City Controller. The City Controller is the chief auditor of the city of Philadelphia’s budget; they’re a watch dog, making sure … Continue reading "Alexandra Hunt – Candidate for City Controller"

Episode 93 In 1892, architect Willis G. Hale began construction on a lavish apartment building on Broad Street in north Philadelphia. What began as a turn of the century residential multi family structure evolved over the last 120 years into something so much more – the Divine Lorraine. This is the story of that evolution, … Continue reading "The Divine Lorraine"

Episode 92 Ona Maria Judge – better known as Oney – was born into slavery in 1774 at a familiar location in Virginia: Mount Vernon. Oney’s mother Betty was brought to Mount Vernon after George Washington married Martha in 1759. Betty, and her descendants, were considered the “property” of Martha Washington’s first husband, Daniel Custis, … Continue reading "The Story of Oney Judge"

Episode 91 – Originally released February 2020 Women in white, midnight Mary, lonely roads all over the US and other parts of the world have their own legends of a young woman in a pale dress, wandering in the middle of the night searching for someone to give them a ride. Sometimes they’re searching for … Continue reading "The Women in White"

Episode 90 – Originally released January 2020 Content warning: this episode contains discussions about sexual assault and murder. Listener discretion is advised. Between the summer of 1997 and August 1999, six women in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood in Center City, Philadelphia, were raped by a man known only as the Center City Rapist. One woman, … Continue reading "The Center City Rapist: Part 2"

 Episode 89 – Originally released January 2020 Content warning: this episode contains discussions about sexual assault and murder. Listener discretion is advised. Between the summer of 1997 and August 1999, six women in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood in Center City, Philadelphia, were raped by a man known only as the Center City Rapist. One woman, … Continue reading "The Center City Rapist: Part 1"

Episode 88 – Originally released December 2019 Last weekend I took the family to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, a town about 90 minutes north of Philadelphia and known all over the country as Christmas Town (or Christmas City depending on with whom you speak!) Even Travel and Leisure magazine called Bethlehem the “most festive city in the … Continue reading "Christmas Town: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania"

Episode 86 – Originally released November 2019 Content warning: this episode contains discussions about serial murder, family annihilators, and death of children.  Listener discretion is advised. Can we apply today’s true crime labels to centuries old murders?  Can a woman be considered a family annihilator?  Does murdering your family make you a serial killer?  How … Continue reading "Sarah Whiteling – the “Unnatural Mother”"

Episode 85 – Originally released November 2019 In West Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park sit several historic homes, some dating back to the late 1700s. Long ago this section of the city was nothing but farmland and forests, an area where Philadelphians built country homes far from the noise and congestion of the city. These properties are … Continue reading "Fairmount Charms: Strawberry Mansion and Lemon Hill"

Episode 84 – Originally Released October 2019 Pennsylvania is filled with folklore and ghost stories from all over the state: ghost stories, cryptids, haunted houses, and abandoned towns with misty forms wandering the forest.  These legends aren’t enough for me.  I always want to know the history behind the hauntings, what’s the real story that … Continue reading "The History Behind the Hauntings"

Episode 83 – Originally Released August 2019 Incorporated in 1855, Mount Moriah Cemetery sat high up on a hill next to Cobbs Creek at the edge of Southwest Philadelphia. Like Laurel Hill Cemetery in the 1830s, the location of Mount Moriah was chosen for it’s distance from the busy city, the pastoral setting and beautiful … Continue reading "Mount Moriah Cemetery"

Episode 82 – Originally Published August 2019 with special guest co-host Margo D., cohost of the Book vs. Movie podcast, Dorking Out and What a Creep podcasts Content warning: this episode includes discussions about addiction, assault, and death. Listener discretion is advised. Her faced graced the cover of vogue and cosmopolitan dozens of times.  She … Continue reading "The Story of Supermodel Gia Marie Carangi"

Episode 81 – Originally Released July 2019 Content warning: this episode includes discussions about emotional and physical abuse of children, unlawful incarceration, and death because of suicide. Listener discretion is advised. NOTE: If you have not yet listened to part 1, pause this episode and listen to part 1 first. Judge Mark Ciavarella sent thousands … Continue reading "The Luzerne County “Kids for Cash” Scandal: Part 2"

Episode 80 – Originally Released July 2019 Content warning: this episode includes discussions about emotional and physical abuse of children, unlawful incarceration, and death because of suicide. Listener discretion is advised. In January 1996, attorney Mark Ciavarella was appointed a Luzerne County judge in Wilkes Barre, PA.  Less than a year later he was made … Continue reading "The Luzerne County “Kids for Cash” Scandal: Part 1"

Episode 79 – Originally Released June 2019 On Sunday, June 9, 2019, the city of Philadelphia celebrated pride month with our annual Pride Parade and Festival hosted by Philly Pride Presents. If you follow me on social media, you’ve seen some of the photos of that amazing event. This annual celebration takes considerable effort on … Continue reading "PRIDE in the City of Brotherly Love"

Episode 78 – Originally Released May 2019 The Germantown section of Philadelphia is filled with historic homes, many dating back to the 1700s, and the homestead of one is even older.  If you wander a little further along Germantown Avenue, past Grumblethorpe, you’ll come to rather imposing Georgian home called Cliveden Mansion, built by Pennsylvania … Continue reading "Cliveden: Germantown Haunted History Part 2"

Episode 77 – Originally Released May 2019 Germantown is a section of Philadelphia bordering the northwest suburbs of the city. Within Germantown is tiny little area called Wister.  That’s a name you’ll hear quite a bit as we spend our time together today because of a very famous old house along Germantown Avenue, built by … Continue reading "Grumblethorpe: Germantown Haunted History Part 1"

Episode 76 – Originally Released April 2019 Content warning: This episode contains adult subject matter including the brutal beating and subsequent death of a child. Listener discretion is advised. On Friday night, November 11, 1994, 16 year old Eddie Polec and his younger brother Billy planned on spending a typical evening with their friends in the … Continue reading "The Story of Eddie Polec"

Episode 75 – Originally Released April 2019 On April 13, 2019, I had the opportunity to visit Pennhurst State School and Hospital to interview the Operations Manager, Jim. Jim and I walked the grounds for a time before sitting down to record together. During our tour Jim shared his thoughts with me about Pennhurst’s history, … Continue reading "Preservation at Pennhurst – Interview with Pennhurst Operations Manager: Part 3"

Episode 74 – Originally Released March 2019 In Part 2 of our series about Pennhurst State School and Hospital I’m joined by Jerry and Tracy Paulley, hosts of the Hillbilly Horror Stories podcast, to discuss paranormal activity at Pennhurst. Jerry and Tracy listen as I share tales of paranormal investigations at Pennhurst, my visit to … Continue reading "Paranormal Stories from Pennhurst State School and Hospital: Part 2"

Episode 73 – Originally Released March 2019 Content warning: This episode contains adult subject matter including discussions about physical and intellectual disabilities, patient abuse, and eugenics.  Listener discretion is advised. Pennhurst State School and Hospital was once called the Shame of Pennsylvania.  It sat only about 25 miles outside of Philadelphia, yet it may have … Continue reading "“The Shame of Pennsylvania” – Pennhurst State School and Hospital: Part 1"

Episode 72 – Originally Published February 2019 Content warning: This episode contains adult subject matter including discussions about missing persons, and murder, which may be upsetting to some listeners.  Listener discretion is advised. Between the summer of 1985 and fall 1990, eight women were brutally murdered in the Frankford section of Philadelphia.  Police already had … Continue reading "The Frankford Slasher"

Episode 71 – Originally Published January 2019 Content warning: This episode contains adult subject matter including discussions about missing persons, sexual assault, and murder, which may be upsetting to some listeners.  Listener discretion is advised. In September 2017, I shared a story on Patreon about Temple University student Jenna Burleigh.  Jenna was a transfer student … Continue reading "The Story of Jenna Burleigh"

Episode 70 – Originally Published January 2019 Content warning: this episode contains discussions about drug use and addiction. Listener discretion is advised. One night in October 2017, a young woman from New Jersey drove along route 95, a major highway on the east coast.   Her story went something like this: she was on her way … Continue reading "“Go Fund Me Scammers” – The Best and Worst in Philly: Part 2"