Notes From The Dead

Power Walk Entertainment

Notes From The Dead explores the strange stories hidden in New England's past—and what they reveal about America today. From ghost witnesses and vampire panics to health fads, utopian societies, and historical scandals, your host Rebecca uncovers the people, fears, and beliefs that shaped the country we still live in. Smart, funny, and deeply researched (while not taking itself too seriously), each episode connects an unforgettable story from the past to questions we're still wrestling with today. Show features solo podcasts and New England guests.

Episodes

  1. 3d ago

    The Snack Designed to Stop Masturbation | Ep 4

    Why were graham crackers invented? To stop masturbation. Really. In this episode of Notes From the Dead, we follow the bizarre story of 19th-century health reformer Sylvester Graham, the preacher who believed bland food could tame sinful urges and save America. Along the way we explore cholera outbreaks, anti-sex crusades, the birth of the fad diet, and why today's wellness influencers—from raw milk evangelists to the Liver King—might not be as different as we'd like to think. It turns out we've always been searching for the perfect diet. We've just changed the packaging. Stay connected to New England's funniest new podcast at notesfromthedead.com.

  2. Jul 19

    The Last Vampire of New England | Ep 3

    In 1892, the people of Exeter, Rhode Island, decided that 19-year-old Mercy Brown was a vampire. Mercy’s body was exhumed, her heart was burned, and the ashes were used in a desperate attempt to save her dying brother. But New England’s last vampire panic was not really about the supernatural. It was about tuberculosis, grief, misinformation, and what frightened people do when science cannot provide an answer. Rebecca digs into the true story of Mercy Brown—and why communities searching for someone to blame rarely leave the dead alone. Learn more at notesfromthedead.com.

  3. Jul 11

    The Ghost Testimony That Got a Man Hanged | Rebecca Cornell | Ep. 2

    One winter night in 1673, Rebecca Cornell was found dead in her home in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. Authorities ruled it an accident. Then Rebecca's brother claimed she appeared to him in a dream and insisted she had been murdered. What followed became one of the most extraordinary murder investigations in early American history. A body was exhumed. A son stood accused. And testimony from a ghost helped send a man to the gallows. In this episode of Notes From The Dead, we dig into the unsettling true story of Rebecca Cornell, the blurred line between superstition and justice in colonial New England, and why this 350-year-old case still raises uncomfortable questions about evidence, belief, and the stories we choose to trust. Most early stories about America start in DC. These start in graveyards. Learn more and subscribe at notesfromthedead.com.

  4. Jul 4

    Phineas Gage and the Art of Starting Over | Ep. 1

    Most people know the famous story of Phineas Gage—the railroad foreman who survived an iron tamping rod blasting through his skull and forever changed the way we understand the human brain. What most people don't know is that it happened in Cavendish, Vermont, where freight trains still roll past the site of one of history's most extraordinary accidents. But this isn't just the story of the day Gage almost died. It's the story of how he lived afterward. In the premiere episode of Notes From the Dead, host Rebecca Donohue travels back to the place where neuroscience changed forever and asks what Gage's remarkable second act can teach us about resilience, reinvention, and starting over. Along the way, she reflects on her own decision to leave city life behind and begin again in New England. Notes From the Dead is a comedy-history podcast that uncovers New England's strangest forgotten stories—and reveals what they still have to say about America today. If you enjoy history, true crime, dark humor, forgotten Americana, and stories that connect the past to the present, you're in the right cemetery. Explore the full story, bonus material, and every episode at notesfromthedead.com.

  5. Season 1 Trailer

    Introducing Notes From The Dead

    America is 250 years old, and we're still arguing about the same questions. Who belongs? What makes a good life? What happens when fear takes hold? Notes From The Dead explores New England's strangest stories—from ghost witnesses and vampire panics to forgotten scandals and unlikely heroes—and connects them to the debates still shaping America today. Hosted by comedian, writer, and newest New Englander, Rebecca Donohue. Premiering July 4, 2026.

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Notes From The Dead explores the strange stories hidden in New England's past—and what they reveal about America today. From ghost witnesses and vampire panics to health fads, utopian societies, and historical scandals, your host Rebecca uncovers the people, fears, and beliefs that shaped the country we still live in. Smart, funny, and deeply researched (while not taking itself too seriously), each episode connects an unforgettable story from the past to questions we're still wrestling with today. Show features solo podcasts and New England guests.

Information

  • Creator
    Power Walk Entertainment
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Power Walk Entertainment
  • Show Website
    Notes From The Dead