105. Lore & Legends | The Original Vampires of New Orleans: The Casket Girls
In 1728, the fledgling city of New Orleans welcomes the Casket Girls, young women sent from France to marry colonists, their pale faces and coffin-shaped chests sparking whispers of mystery. Among them is Marie-Claire de Laval, whose beauty hides a dangerous secret. As strange deaths plague the colony and shadows move in the night, Sister Agnes, a compassionate nun, and Lucien Dubois, a rugged trapper, are drawn into a web of intrigue at the Ursuline Convent. In a city where faith clashes with the supernatural, their choices will shape New Orleans’ future.
Macabrium is produced by Macabrium Creative and hosted by Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown, with writing and research by Chloë Kibbe, Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown.
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Sources & Further Reading
NewOrleans.com - The Casket Girls of New Orleans
Pelican State of Mind - Myth, Legend, and History
Ghost City Tours - Truth About the Casket Girls
New York Historical Society - The Casket Girls
Locations of Lore - The Casket Girls
New Orleans Legendary Walking Tours - The Casket Girls
Very Local - My Granny was a Vampire-Smuggling Casket Girl
NOLA.com - A Lot to Unpack
New Orleans Ghosts - The Casket Girls
Fodors - Unveiling New Orleans’ Vampire Legends
Horror Obsessive - 18th Century Mail Order Brides or Vampire Smugglers
Terrebonne Parish Library System - Vampires in the Deep South
New Orleans Legendary Walking Tours - Phantoms of the Ursuline Convent
Old Ursuline Convent Museum
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104. Lore & Legends | Death on Skid Row: The Infamous Cecil Hotel
In downtown Los Angeles stands the Cecil Hotel, a place where luxury once thrived but now echoes with tales of murder, suicide, and ghostly apparitions. Opened in 1924, this 14-story building has become synonymous with tragedy, linked to at least 16 deaths and countless eerie experiences. From the rumored presence of the Black Dahlia to the mysterious death of Elisa Lam, the Cecil’s dark history captivates true crime fans and paranormal enthusiasts alike.
Macabrium is produced by Macabrium Creative and hosted by Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown, with writing and research by Chloë Kibbe, Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown.
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Show Notes & Further Reading
How the Hotel Cecil Became One of LA’s Most Haunted Buildings
Inside The Cecil Hotel And Its Eerie History
Cecil Hotel: LA’s Most Haunted for Horrifying Reasons
Haunted Cecil Hotel - FrightFind
Living Opposite the Haunted Cecil Hotel
Inside Los Angeles’ Infamous Cecil Hotel
The Cecil Hotel: Where Dreams Go To Die
Cecil Hotel - Wikipedia
Cecil Hotel Reopens as Affordable Housing
Cecil Hotel Homeless Housing Problems
Cecil Hotel Put Up for Sale
Cecil Hotel Housing Issues
No Ghosts at the Cecil Hotel
Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel
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103. Burned: They Said She Was a Changeling
She was clever, headstrong, and quick with a needle. A woman of her time, and somehow, ahead of it. Bridget Cleary had her own sewing machine, a prized possession in rural Ireland. She wore stylish boots, sold eggs, and kept a fine house.
But in March of 1895, the people of Ballyvadlea watched smoke rise from the Cleary home. They said she’d gone missing. That she was sick. That she wasn’t herself. And then came the whispers… about fairies, about changelings, about the hollow hills.
By the time authorities arrived, Bridget’s body was already ash. What remained was a tangle of folklore and fear, a quiet village exposed under the harsh light of a trial. And still, more than a century later, the question lingers: What does it take for a husband, a family, a community, to believe a woman is no longer who she says she is?
Quick Note on Pronunciation:Hi guys! I do my best to get pronunciations right—especially for names and places with cultural or historical roots—but sometimes regional habits sneak in. Like Bourke: in Ireland, it’s usually pronounced “Berk,” but here in North America, you’ll often hear “Bork” (guilty!). Just a heads-up in case you notice any little differences. Appreciate you listening with curiosity and kindness.
Macabrium is produced by Macabrium Creative and hosted by Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown, with writing and research by Chloë Kibbe, Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown.
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Visit us at www.macabriumpod.com to learn more!
Show Notes & Further Reading
The Burning of Bridget Cleary: A True Story – Angela BourkeThe Cooper’s Wife is Missing – Joan Hoff and Marian Yeates
Strange Death Near Clonmel – Freeman’s JournalNot Witches, But Fairies – The New York TimesBurning Bridget – The Irish Times
The Haunting True Story of Bridget Cleary’s ‘Changeling’ MurderBehind the Scenes: The Murder of Bridget ClearyBridget Cleary Burned to DeathThe Horrific Murder of Bridget Cleary, the Irish ‘Fairy Wife’The Burning of Bridget Cleary: A True Story – ReviewThe Story of the Last ‘Witch’ Burned Alive in Ireland
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102. Lore & Legends | Australia's Most Haunted House: Monte Cristo Homestead
The story of Monte Cristo Homestead traces the history of a Victorian manor in Junee, New South Wales, from its construction in 1885 to its closure in 2025. It begins with the arrival of the Great Southern Railway in 1878, which sparks the rise of a family who builds the grand homestead, establishing it as a social hub.
A series of tragic events mark the house, including deaths and misfortunes that fuel its haunted reputation. Decades later, in 1963, a new family purchases the dilapidated manor, restoring it into a museum and tourist attraction while encountering eerie phenomena.
Macabrium is produced by Macabrium Creative and hosted by Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown, with writing and research by Chloë Kibbe, Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown.
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Episode Reference Material
Monte Cristo Homestead - Wikipedia
History - The Monte Cristo Documentary
The Wiradjuri People - The Monte Cristo Documentary
Paranormal - The Monte Cristo Documentary
Australia’s Most Haunted House – Monte Cristo Homestead | Traces Magazine
Monte Cristo Homestead in Junee, New South Wales, Australia | Into Horror History
Riverina Rewind: Remembering Junee’s Olive Ryan and Life in Australia’s ‘Most Haunted House’
Monte Cristo Homestead - The Little House of Horrors
Growing up in Junee’s Monte Cristo Homestead Owner Lawrence Ryan
Episode 105: The Monte Cristo Homestead and the Hat Man
Strange but True: The Mystery of Monte Cristo Homestead | BBC Science Focus
People Don’t Make It Through the Night: Inside Monte Cristo | Mamamia
Bed and Breakfast and Boos? A Night at Monte Cristo | HerCanberra
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101. Ashes & Lye: A Murder at Mayfield Cottage
On a fog-soaked evening in March 1879, the quiet streets of Richmond hid a secret. A lone woman stepped out of church and vanished into the mist. Days later, her ivy-draped cottage stirred with odd signs—a stranger wearing her clothes, selling her belongings, and tending a fire that burned far too long. Acrid smoke curled into the sky as whispers spread and the river yielded a grim discovery. Something terrible had happened behind those walls, and the truth was just beginning to surface.
Macabrium is produced by Macabrium Creative and hosted by Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown, with writing and research by Chloë Kibbe, Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown.
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Visit us at www.macabriumpod.com to learn more!
Episode Reference Material
Old Bailey Proceedings Online: Kate Webster
British Newspaper Archive: The Illustrated Police News
The Guardian: Human Skull Found in David Attenborough’s Garden
Murderpedia: Kate Webster
The Richmond Murderess: The True Story of Kate Webster, Leonard Low
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Welcome to Macabrium.
Step inside our candlelit study, where towering bookshelves hold the secrets of the past—true crime, dark history, lore, and legends waiting to be uncovered. Hosted by Megan Alda and Derek Stephen Brown, Macabrium is an immersive journey into the eerie and enigmatic.
From chilling crimes to forgotten folklore, we unravel the stories that linger in the dark. Some are tragic, some are terrifying, and all are unforgettable.
Join Megan on Tuesdays for true crime & dark history, and Derek on Sundays for lore & legends.
To learn more visit www.macabriumpod.com
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.patreon.com/c/macabriumpod