Champagne and Murder, Please

Brittany
  • 4.0 (8)
  • TRUE CRIME
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to Champagne and Murder Please, the podcast where the eerie, the unexplained, and the downright terrifying come to life. Each episode, we dive into true crime cases, from infamous murders to unsolved mysteries, explore the dark history of witches and occult practices, and venture into the world of the paranormal—where ghosts, hauntings, and curses lurk in the shadows. Plus, we investigate cryptids like Bigfoot, the Mothman, and other legendary creatures that blur the line between myth and reality. If you love all things spooky, sinister, and strange, you’ve found your new obsession.

  1. 18H AGO

    Goats, Ghosts & Girls Who Bite Back

    This week, we’re stepping into the kind of folklore that feels like it was whispered through a candle flame at 2 a.m. First, we unravel the story of Tatterhood, the strange and feral heroine from Scandinavian folklore who rides through the night on a goat with a wooden spoon in hand, fighting off curses, trolls, and the general inconvenience of being the only competent person in the kingdom. She’s messy, loud, unapologetic, and honestly? A bit of an icon. Then we travel into darker territory with the story of Ashtabai, where legend and fear begin bleeding together. A tale wrapped in whispers, unease, and the kind of haunting energy that lingers long after the story ends. Some stories feel polished over time. This one still has teeth. So pour yourself something bubbly, lock the doors that creak for no reason, and settle in for an episode filled with folklore, feminine rage, unsettling legends, and the ancient realization that maybe the “weird girl” was right the whole time. Champagne & Murder, Please is open for business. 🍾✨ Sources & Further Reading:• Tatterhood Folktale Archive Version• Tatterhood Background & Analysis• Ashtabai Discussion & Folklore References  https://sites.pitt.edu/~dash/type0711.html https://www.worldoftales.com/European_folktales/Norwegian_folktale_12.html https://folklorethursday.com/folktales/tatterhood-the-wild-princess-of-norway/ https://www.britannica.com/biography/Peter-Christen-Asbjornsen https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jorgen-Engebretsen-Moe https://www.norwegianamerican.com/norwegian-folktales-live-on/ https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2012/oct/15/fairy-tales-tatterhood https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1168&context=honorstheses https://www.pookpress.co.uk/project/tatterhood-norwegian-fairy-tale/https://www.speakingtree.in/allslides/mysterious-ghosts-and-spirits-of-india https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/most-haunted-places-in-india/as67346079.cms https://www.indiatimes.com/trending/social-relevance/real-life-horror-stories-from-india-353841.html https://www.reddit.com/r/Paranormal/ https://www.jstor.org/ (search: chudail, South Asian female spirits folklore) https://www.britannica.com/topic/folklore

    44 min

  2. MAY 14

    One Bad Harvest Away from a Witch Trial

    This week on Champagne and Murder, Please... we’re heading back to the muddy marshes and whispered grudges of colonial Grace Sherwood. A woman who knew herbs. A neighbor feud that spiraled like smoke through chimney cracks. A trial that involved ducking, gossip, livestock accusations, and an entire town practically foaming at the mouth over butter, curses, and bad luck. Because apparently in the early 1700s, if your crops died and your ale tasted weird, it was definitely your hot independent neighbor’s fault. But beneath the legend of “The Witch of Pungo” is something far darker and far more human: fear, isolation, survival, and the terrifying power of being labeled different. We’re unpacking the folklore, the facts, the petty colonial drama, and the story of the only woman in Virginia ever convicted of witchcraft. So pour yourself something bubbly, light a candle that smells vaguely haunted, and settle in... because this episode feels like wet moss, candle soot, and accusations whispered through crooked teeth. Encyclopedia Virginia: Grace Sherwood Virginia Museum of History & Culture: Grace Sherwood City of Virginia Beach: Grace Sherwood History Smithsonian Magazine: America’s Last Convicted Witch

    20 min

  3. MAY 7

    Where the Path Splits: April Millsap & Lynn Messer

    Some paths are meant to be safe. Some stories are meant to be simple. This week, neither one is. We begin with April Millsap — a life full of light, cut short in a place that should have protected her. But from that darkness, something powerful grew: awareness, advocacy, and a community that refused to forget her name. Then we follow the winding, shadowed road of Lynn Messer’s disappearance — a case tangled in silence, shifting narratives, and questions that still linger like fog. Two women. Two very different stories. And the unsettling space where truth and uncertainty meet. We always encourage you to read, research, and form your own opinions.Because these stories deserve more than just being listened to… they deserve to be understood.This episode draws from a combination of local reporting, national news coverage, and long-form case analysis. As with many cases, especially Lynn Messer’s, some details remain disputed or unclear, and we’ve done our best to separate confirmed facts from speculation. https://abcnews.go.com/US/police-search-home-connection-murder-teen-phone-text/story?id=24779407https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/2014/08/18/april-millsaps-cellphone-may-help-solve-mystery-surrounding-murder/https://www.wxyz.com/news/jury-reaches-verdict-in-april-millsap-murder-casehttps://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/court-conviction-stands-in-april-millsap-murder/https://www.frontpagedetectives.com/crime-archives/fitness-tracking-app-on-michigan-teenagers-phone-helped-police-get-a-breakthrough-on-her-murderhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/national/making-a-murder-case-how-a-prosecutor-won-a-conviction-with-an-absence-of-evidence/2016/02/09/9b48ff68-abb5-416b-9656-49b7a11e4567_story.htmlhttps://morbidology.com/morbidology-the-podcast-84-april-millsap/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Lynn_Messerhttps://www.ky3.com/content/news/Family-of-Lynn-Messer-speaks-out-after-investigation-closed-512889471.htmlhttps://www.news-leader.com/story/news/local/ozarks/2014/11/13/lynn-messer-case-timeline/18961083/https://www.fox2now.com/news/missouri/mystery-surrounds-death-of-lynn-messer-in-missourihttps://www.kmov.com/news/lincoln-county-death-still-a-mystery-years-later/article_0d9d6f9e-8f7c-5c69-b2b4-7c1c2dbe6f3b.html

    1h 5m

  4. APR 30

    An April Fools Afterparty

    The April Fools/200th episode may be fashionably late, but chaos has impeccable timing. This week, we’re diving into two stories where nothing is quite what it seems. First, a moment of large-scale confusion that proves some jokes go way further than expected. Then, we head into darker territory with a chilling encounter that still lingers years later. One story is fueled by prankster energy. The other feels like footsteps behind you when no one’s there. Pour something bubbly, lock the doors, and join us for an episode full of confusion, curiosity, and our usual questionable commentary.

    25 min

  5. APR 23

    Missing at Dawn: What Happened to Johnny Gosch?

    This week, we’re sitting with a case that has never really let go of the people who know it… or the ones hearing it for the first time. In the early hours of a quiet Sunday morning in 1982, 12-year-old Johnny Gosch set out on his paper route in Des Moines, Iowa. It was routine. Familiar. The kind of ordinary that feels safe… until it isn’t. Somewhere between front porches and folded newspapers, Johnny vanished without a trace. What followed wasn’t just a search—it was the beginning of a national shift in how we talk about missing children. Johnny’s case would go on to spark fear, activism, and questions that still don’t have clear answers decades later. In this episode, I’m walking through who Johnny was, that morning in detail, and the investigation that unraveled in ways both frustrating and deeply unsettling. We’ll also talk about the impact his disappearance had—not just on his family, but on the way America began to understand cases like his. This is one of those stories that lingers. The kind that makes you look twice at quiet streets and early mornings… and wonder what we might have missed. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Johnny_Gosch https://www.thetruecrimedatabase.com/case_file/johnny-gosch/ https://info.porterchester.edu/inf/the-tragic-disappearance-of-johnny-gosch-a-child-abduction-case-that-shook-the-nation

    32 min

  6. APR 16

    No, Tiffany, I Don't Think We're Alone Now...

    There’s something in the woods… and it doesn’t walk like you do. This week’s solo episode drifts into the shadows of folklore and fear—where “flesh pedestrians” are whispered about in hushed tones, and Pukwudgies lurk just beyond the tree line, watching… waiting. Stories like these aren’t just urban legends. For many, they’re warnings. I’ll take you through what people have seen, what they’ve experienced—and why some say you should never answer if something calls your name from the dark. Also making his debut: Aries 🐾 my tiny co-host with a lot to say (you’ll hear him… he insists). Put your headphones in, lock your doors, and maybe… don’t listen alone. Navajo People Overview  https://www.britannica.com/topic/Navajo-people Diné (Navajo) Belief Systems & Spiritual Practiceshttps://www.arizona-leisure.com/navajo-religion.html Hózhó Concept Explainedhttps://navajotraditions.com/blogs/navajo-culture/hozho Navajo Witchcraft & Cultural Contexthttps://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/3629273 Clyde Kluckhohn – Navaho Witchcrafthttps://archive.org/details/navahowitchcraft00kluc University of New Mexico – Navajo Beliefs & Witchcraft Studieshttps://digitalrepository.unm.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1038&context=anth_fsp Smithsonian Magazine – Navajo Cultural Beliefs & Traditionshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/navajo-code-talkers-180967994/ Native-Languages.orghttp://www.native-languages.org/navajo-legends.htm Legends of America – Navajo Witchcraft Traditionshttps://www.legendsofamerica.com/navajo-skinwalkers/ Diné Cultural Education Resourceshttps://www.navajonationmuseum.org https://www.legendsofamerica.com/ma-pukwudgie/ https://www.native-languages.org/pukwudgie.htm https://www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/pukwudgies/ https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2014/10/19/pukwudgies/ https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/massachusetts/pukwudgie-ma/ https://www.mass.gov/locations/freetown-fall-river-state-forest https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/news/1998/10/31/legend-pukwudgies/50550562007/ https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2014/1031/Pukwudgies-The-creepy-legend-behind-Massachusetts-mischievous-creatures https://bridgewaterstateuniversity.edu/bridgewater-triangle

    38 min

  7. APR 8

    Birthday Bubbles & Brutal Truths: The Natalie McNally & Sativa Transue Cases

    This week, we’re popping whatever’s in our glasses and pulling up an extra chair… because it’s Teagan’s birthday, and she’s stepping in as guest host for a night that starts with celebration and slowly unravels into something far more chilling. We kick things off getting to know Teagan, the mind behind this week’s first case, before she leads us into the heartbreaking and haunting story of Natalie McNally… a case that feels as devastating as it is infuriating, wrapped in questions that still linger like smoke in the air. Then, as the night deepens and the candles burn lower, we shift into the case of Sativa Transue… a story layered with betrayal, control, and the kind of calculated darkness that reminds you not everything is as it seems behind closed doors. It’s a birthday episode, yes… but in true Champagne & Murder, Please fashion, we’re balancing celebration with truth, laughter with gravity, and a reminder that behind every case is a real person who deserved so much more. So pour a glass, settle in, and stay close… this one gets heavy. Resources for anyone dealing with domestic abuse: You are not alone. National Domestic Violence Hotlinehttps://www.thehotline.orgThe National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV) provides a wide range of free, comprehensive, and individualized technical assistance, training, and specialized resource materials and key initiatives designed to enhance current domestic violence intervention and prevention strategies. National Resource Center on Domestic Violence | National ...National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV)https://nrcdv.orgSOURCES: https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/natalie-mcnally-murder-trial-hears-psni-cyber-crime-officer-say-live-stream-alibi-was-pre-recorded-PAHNBRD4Q5CNZF7IKIDHQCH42Q/ https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/courts/2026/02/25/former-partner-of-natalie-mcnally-peddled-false-alibi-about-live-gaming-stream-court-hears/ https://www.thejournal.ie/stephen-mccullagh-trial-natalie-mcnally-belfast-crown-court-6966178-Feb2026/ https://www.irishnews.com/news/northern-ireland/natalie-mcnally-murder-trial-hears-defendant-told-psni-aggressive-ex-boyfriend-had-been-harassing-her-V7BONRGUNFHH5B42WHJ2JOFQA4/ https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/lisburn-family-psni-northern-ireland-rebecca-black-b2926727.html https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/dec/02/family-of-sativa-transue-who-was-found-dead-in-can/https://www.khq.com/news/please-get-help---family-of-cheney-woman-murdered-in-mexico-pleading-with-those/article_a763cc58-677a-11ec-9742-cfbe0ac6a0d7.htmlhttps://people.com/crime/washington-woman-found-dead-in-cancun-hotel-room-after-going-on-thanksgiving-vacation-with-boyfriend/https://people.com/crime/family-of-washington-woman-killed-in-cancun-allege-boyfriend-has-been-violent-before/https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/crime/sativa-transue-thanksgiving-hotel-death-b1968224.htmlhttps://www.cheneyfreepress.com/story/2021/12/16/news/cheney-woman-found-dead-in-cancun/29056.htmlhttps://www.latintimes.com/woman-found-beaten-bloody-pulp-swanky-cancun-hotel-after-trip-boyfriend-497185https://www.change.org/p/sativa-s-law

    31 min

  8. MAR 18

    Stone Walls, Restless Souls: A Reboot of Franklin & Leap Castles

    We’re back… In this redo episode, both of your favorite hosts dive back into the chilling legends of Franklin Castle and Leap Castle with fresh eyes, sharper instincts, and a whole lot more questions. What’s folklore, what’s fact… and what still doesn’t sit right? From shadowy figures in Cleveland’s most infamous mansion to the violent, blood-soaked history lurking inside Ireland’s Leap Castle, we’re peeling back the layers and sitting with the stories a little longer this time. The kind of late-night, best-friends energy that makes even the darkest tales feel a little too real. Because sometimes… the second look is where things get truly unsettling. Wikipedia — Franklin Castle (Hannes Tiedemann House): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_Castle. Wikipedia Cleveland Historical — Tiedemann House (Franklin Castle): https://clevelandhistorical.org/items/show/531. Cleveland Historical WKYC local feature — rare tour through Ohio City Franklin Castle: https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/local/cleveland/a-rare-tour-through-ohio-city-franklin-castle/95-b057ce23-2617-460a-9857-291d13dbc22e. The Franklin Castle (official / tour info and history): https://thefranklincastle.com. The Franklin Castle AllThat'sInteresting — “The Tragic History Of Franklin Castle”: https://allthatsinteresting.com/franklin-castle. All That's Interesting Eventbrite / tour listings (sample of modern tours): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-franklin-castle-tour-tickets-1484749378359. Eventbrite https://www.mustseespots.com/ireland/articles/the-legends-and-lore-of-leap-castle-irelands-haunted-history/ https://paranormalcasefiles.com/p/the-haunting-of-leap-castle-irelands https://www.theirishpost.com/life-style/irelands-haunted-castle-174273 https://ghostwatch.com/paranormal-report/haunted-locations/ireland/leap-castle/ https://www.revisitinghistory.com/castles/ireland/leap-castle/ https://listverse.com/2016/03/21/10-tales-of-haunted-irish-castles/ https://spookyvalley.com/events/leap-castle-ireland/

    40 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Welcome to Champagne and Murder Please, the podcast where the eerie, the unexplained, and the downright terrifying come to life. Each episode, we dive into true crime cases, from infamous murders to unsolved mysteries, explore the dark history of witches and occult practices, and venture into the world of the paranormal—where ghosts, hauntings, and curses lurk in the shadows. Plus, we investigate cryptids like Bigfoot, the Mothman, and other legendary creatures that blur the line between myth and reality. If you love all things spooky, sinister, and strange, you’ve found your new obsession.

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