Salem The Podcast

Sarah Black & Jeffrey Lilley
  • 4.8 (297)
  • Places & Travel
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to Salem, Massachusetts! Join tour guides Jeffrey Lilley and Sarah Black as they talk all things Witch City. Learn its history, meet its people, and discover the magic.

  1. 14h ago

    195. The Gloucester Sea Serpent

    In August 1817, a large serpentine creature was spotted off the coast of Gloucester by dozens, if not hundreds, of residents. Sure you've heard of Bigfoot and Nessie, perhaps even the Chupacabra and the Jersey Devil. But have you heard the famous Gloucester Sea Serpent? YES, the North Shore has its very own Nessie and it is perhaps the most well-documented and most-sighted cryptid of American legends. Join Jeffrey and Sarah, your favorite Salem tour guides, as they discover the mysteries and the truths about what was seen in Gloucester Harbor over 200 years ago. How big was this thing? How valid were the reports? Did the serpent come to Salem? What exactly was it that visited Gloucester that fateful summer of 1817? Dr Vitka's Myths Legends & Lore. 2025. “The Gloucester Sea Serpent What Was It? Myth or Monster?” YouTube. January 9, 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Qe9FBBJ1EA. Landrigan, Leslie. 2014. “The Great New England Sea Serpents.” New England Historical Society. April 3, 2014. https://newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/great-new-england-sea-serpents/. “Report of a Committee of the Linnaean Society of New England, Relative to a Large Marine Animal, Supposed to Be a Serpent, Seen near Cape Ann, Massachusetts, in August 1817 : Linnaean Society of New England : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive.” 2026. Internet Archive. 2026. https://archive.org/details/b22333393/mode/2up. Soini, Wayne. 2010. Gloucester’s Sea Serpent. Arcadia Publishing. Bentley, William. The Diary of William Bentley, D.D., Pastor of the East Church, Salem, Massachusetts. Vol. 4, 1811–1819. Salem, MA: Essex Institute, 1905. Nickell, Joe. “Gloucester Sea-Serpent Mystery: Solved after Two Centuries.” Skeptical Inquirer, September 26, 2019. LINK “Here There Be Monsters, OR The Gloucester Serpent!” Readex. November 8, 2012. LINK.   Interested in Salem The Podcast Merch!?  CLICK HERE! Interested in supporting the Podcast? Looking for more Salem content? CLICK HERE! www.salemthepodcast.com NEW INSTAGRAM - @salemthepod Email - hello@salemthepodcast.com   Book a tour with Sarah at Bewitched Historical Tours   www.bewitchedtours.com Book a tour with Jeffrey at Salem Uncovered Tours  www.salemuncoveredtours.com    Intro/Outro Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/unfamiliar-faces License code: NGSBY7LA1HTVAUJE

    1h 14m

  2. 6d ago

    UPDATE: Summer Vacation!

    Hello! Hello! The summer season is upon us! Schools are letting out, folks are taking their vacations, and we’re going to be taking a little time off as well. But don't fret - we have two more episodes dropping before our little break so stay tuned! After a little R&R, Salem the Pod will return in July. Just in time for Salem's Heritage Days and our spooky fall season! Keep your eyes peeled for a LIVE SHOW announcement (date and location to be announced soon)!   Salem events to catch this summer/fall: https://www.salemartsfestival.com/ https://www.salem400.org/salem-400-heritage-day-parade/ https://vampfangs.com/pages/boston-vampire-ball https://www.reddeathmasquerade.com/ Interested in Salem The Podcast Merch!?  CLICK HERE! Interested in supporting the Podcast? Looking for more Salem content? CLICK HERE! www.salemthepodcast.com NEW INSTAGRAM - @salemthepod Email - hello@salemthepodcast.com   Book a tour with Jeffrey at Salem Uncovered Tours  www.salemuncoveredtours.com  Book a tour with Sarah at Bewitched Historical Tours   www.bewitchedtours.com   Intro/Outro Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/unfamiliar-faces License code: NGSBY7LA1HTVAUJE

    13 min

  3. May 20

    194. Witch Trials: George Jacobs (part 2)

    George Jacobs was executed on August 19th 1692, but his story doesn't end there. What happens after his execution is almost more important that what led him to the gallows. Join Jeffrey and Sarah, your favorite Salem tour guides, as they explore why George Jacobs’ legacy after his death is arguably more historically important than how, and why, he died. We examine his altered will, the return of his son, the recanted accusations of his granddaughter, and petitions to the courts. But we also have his remains. George Jacobs is the only victim in the Salem Witch Trials whose burial site is known, and it's not even his first burial site! https://www.reddeathmasquerade.com/ “Case Files Referencing George Jacobs Sr.” Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription Project. Accessed May 13, 2026. (salem.lib.virginia.edu) Charles Wentworth Upham, Salem Witchcraft, vol. 2 (Boston: Wiggin and Lunt, 1867), 427. Emerson W. Baker, A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience (New York: Oxford University Press, 2015), 148. “Examination of George Jacobs Sr.,” in Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt, ed. Bernard Rosenthal (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009), 251–52. Frances Hill, A Delusion of Satan: The Full Story of the Salem Witch Trials (New York: Da Capo Press, 1997), 203. “George Jacobs Sr. and the Salem Witch Trials.” History of Massachusetts Blog. Accessed May 13, 2026. History of Massachusetts. “George Jacobs Sr. Home Site.” Salem Witch Museum. Accessed May 13, 2026. Salem Witch Museum.   Interested in Salem The Podcast Merch!?  CLICK HERE! Interested in supporting the Podcast? Looking for more Salem content? CLICK HERE! www.salemthepodcast.com NEW INSTAGRAM - @salemthepod Email - hello@salemthepodcast.com   Book a tour with Sarah at Bewitched Historical Tours   www.bewitchedtours.com Book a tour with Jeffrey at Salem Uncovered Tours  www.salemuncoveredtours.com    Intro/Outro Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/unfamiliar-faces License code: NGSBY7LA1HTVAUJE

    1h 20m

  4. May 14

    193. Witch Trials: George Jacobs (part 1)

    On August 19, 1692, Salem witnessed the executions of five innocent victims found guilty of Sundry Acts of Witchcraft. We've done deep dives into four of those five victims' stories. And today, we tackle the one remaining: George Jacobs. He was the oldest victim of the Salem Witch Trials and probably had the sharpest tongue. In comparison to other accused, little is known about Jacobs. He seemed to be a law-abiding man who avoided gossip and controversy. Join Sarah and Jeffrey, your favorite Salem tour guides, as they learn what about this man made him such a target. “Case Files Referencing George Jacobs Sr.” Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription Project. Accessed May 13, 2026. (salem.lib.virginia.edu) Charles Wentworth Upham, Salem Witchcraft, vol. 2 (Boston: Wiggin and Lunt, 1867), 427. Emerson W. Baker, A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience (New York: Oxford University Press, 2015), 148. “Examination of George Jacobs Sr.,” in Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt, ed. Bernard Rosenthal (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009), 251–52. Frances Hill, A Delusion of Satan: The Full Story of the Salem Witch Trials (New York: Da Capo Press, 1997), 203. “George Jacobs Sr. and the Salem Witch Trials.” History of Massachusetts Blog. Accessed May 13, 2026. History of Massachusetts. “George Jacobs Sr. Home Site.” Salem Witch Museum. Accessed May 13, 2026. Salem Witch Museum.   Interested in Salem The Podcast Merch!?  CLICK HERE! Interested in supporting the Podcast? Looking for more Salem content? CLICK HERE! www.salemthepodcast.com NEW INSTAGRAM - @salemthepod Email - hello@salemthepodcast.com   Book a tour with Jeffrey at Salem Uncovered Tours  www.salemuncoveredtours.com  Book a tour with Sarah at Bewitched Historical Tours   www.bewitchedtours.com   Intro/Outro Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/unfamiliar-faces License code: NGSBY7LA1HTVAUJE

    1h 8m

  5. May 7

    192. Jeff's Salem-centric England Trip

    The threads of Salem's history stretch around the world to build Salem's stories; from Hawaii, to Mauritius, to Japan, and of course to the United Kingdom. And Jeffrey was just recently in the UK and explored some cool Salem connections! Join Jeffrey and Sarah, your favorite Salem tour guides, as Jeffrey recounts his adventures and what he found. In episode 185 where Sarah talked about Sarah Remond's studies in England at the University College London, and from episode 172, when we discussed the play John Proctor is the Villain, Jeffrey found where she lived and saw the play! And what about Salem's founder, Roger Conant, he's from England too, a little village called East Budleigh down in Devon, Jeffrey had to check it out!   https://www.ucl.ac.uk/racism-racialisation/about-us/sarah-parker-remond-plaque-unveiling https://www.ucl.ac.uk/racism-racialisation/sarah-parker-remond-centre https://royalcourttheatre.com/events/john-proctor-is-the-villain/ https://www.eastbudleigh.org.uk/out-and-about.html   Interested in Salem The Podcast Merch!?  CLICK HERE! Interested in supporting the Podcast? Looking for more Salem content? CLICK HERE! www.salemthepodcast.com NEW INSTAGRAM - @salemthepod Email - hello@salemthepodcast.com   Book a tour with Sarah at Bewitched Historical Tours   www.bewitchedtours.com Book a tour with Jeffrey at Salem Uncovered Tours  www.salemuncoveredtours.com    Intro/Outro Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/unfamiliar-faces License code: NGSBY7LA1HTVAUJE

    1h 8m

  6. Apr 28

    191. Interview: Allie Del Franco, Founder of Witch City Comedy

    Ever done stand-up comedy? If you’re coming to Salem, now might be the opportune time to test your skills in a booming comedy scene. Each week, roughly half a dozen comedy shows take place at various venues throughout the city. But it wasn't always like that... not until Allie Del Franco came to town. Over the last few years, this New York transplant has single-handedly transformed the comedic landscape of Salem. What started as a weekly open mic night at Witch's Brew Cafe, has now blossomed into a coalition of 500 comics who just last year alone performed 250 shows. Allie dubs her army of laughter: Witch City Comedy. She is also the creator, writer, director, producer, inspiration, and star of her own television show, "Witch City." After winning multiple awards at the NYC TV Festival, the show will make its Salem premier at Cinema Salem on May 7th. The entire pilot was filmed in Salem and is full of Salem locals including our very own Sarah Black! So join Sarah and Jeffrey, your favorite Salem tour guides, for a chat with one of our funniest guests yet!   "Witch City" Pilot Premier at Cinema Salem https://ticketing.useast.veezi.com/purchase/38099?siteToken=mz33me119qs1fn6sympyf41n2w Instagram @witchcitycomedy / @delfrancoyaknow    Interested in Salem The Podcast Merch!?  CLICK HERE! Interested in supporting the Podcast? Looking for more Salem content? CLICK HERE! www.salemthepodcast.com NEW INSTAGRAM - @salemthepod Email - hello@salemthepodcast.com   Book a tour with Jeffrey at Salem Uncovered Tours  www.salemuncoveredtours.com  Book a tour with Sarah at Bewitched Historical Tours   www.bewitchedtours.com   Intro/Outro Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/unfamiliar-faces License code: NGSBY7LA1HTVAUJE

    1h 1m

  7. Apr 21

    190. Shipwrecks in Salem Sound

    The ocean is beautiful. But it is also unforgiving. Just beyond Salem’s shoreline, hidden ledges, shifting fog, and unpredictable weather have claimed ships and their passengers for centuries. Some wrecks ended in tragedy. Others in relief. And at least one left Salem awash with bananas. Join Jeffrey and Sarah, your favorite Salem tour guides, for a look at three shipwrecks from a curious book Sarah uncovered during an eBay deep dive: Shipwrecks North of Boston by Raymond H. Bates Jr. From an 18th-century pleasure cruise that became one of Salem Bay’s deadliest maritime disasters, to a Fourth of July excursion steamer caught in a violent squall, these stories reveal just how unforgiving Salem Sound can be. And then there’s the Ethelwold—a fogbound banana steamer that ran aground in 1901, prompting the crew to toss thousands of stems overboard… only for them to wash ashore for days along Salem and Marblehead. Bates, Raymond H., Jr. Shipwrecks North of Boston Vol I: Salem Bay. Commonwealth Editions, 2000.   Interested in Salem The Podcast Merch!?  CLICK HERE! Interested in supporting the Podcast? Looking for more Salem content? CLICK HERE! www.salemthepodcast.com NEW INSTAGRAM - @salemthepod Email - hello@salemthepodcast.com   Book a tour with Sarah at Bewitched Historical Tours   www.bewitchedtours.com Book a tour with Jeffrey at Salem Uncovered Tours  www.salemuncoveredtours.com    Intro/Outro Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/unfamiliar-faces License code: NGSBY7LA1HTVAUJE

    49 min

  8. Apr 15

    189. Salem History: Nathaniel Bowditch

    He was a man of numbers, perhaps THE man of numbers! Nathaniel Bowditch was a math super-genius, an astrologer, a bookkeeper, a finance bro, a shipmaster, a sailor, and by any and every account, a very practical navigator. Join Sarah and Jeffrey, your favorite Salem tour guides, as they learn who exactly this son of a copper turned finance guy really is. We know him as a shipmaster and navigator, but what other innovations can we credit this math wiz with? And is his famous book “The New Practical Navigator” still in use on every US vessel today? Bowditch, Nathaniel. The New American Practical Navigator. Various editions. Bowditch, Nathaniel. The American Practical Navigator. Maritime Safety Innovation Lab. PDF.  https://maritimesafetyinnovationlab.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/bowditch.pdf. “Nathaniel Bowditch, LL.D.: Mathematician, Navigator, Astronomer, 1773–1838.” U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, January 1937.  https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1937/january/nathaniel-bowditch-lld-mathematician-navigator-astronomer-1773. “Nathaniel Bowditch.” The Sailing Museum & National Sailing Hall of Fame.  https://thesailingmuseum.org/inductee/bowditch-nathaniel/. “Nathaniel Bowditch.” Historic Salem, Inc.  https://historicsalem.org/learn/nathaniel-bowditch/.   Interested in Salem The Podcast Merch!?  CLICK HERE! Interested in supporting the Podcast? Looking for more Salem content? CLICK HERE! www.salemthepodcast.com NEW INSTAGRAM - @salemthepod Email - hello@salemthepodcast.com   Book a tour with Jeffrey at Salem Uncovered Tours  www.salemuncoveredtours.com  Book a tour with Sarah at Bewitched Historical Tours   www.bewitchedtours.com   Intro/Outro Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/unfamiliar-faces License code: NGSBY7LA1HTVAUJE

    58 min
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4.8
out of 5
297 Ratings

About

Welcome to Salem, Massachusetts! Join tour guides Jeffrey Lilley and Sarah Black as they talk all things Witch City. Learn its history, meet its people, and discover the magic.

Information

  • Creator
    Sarah Black & Jeffrey Lilley
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    200
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2022 Salem The Podcast
  • Show Website
    Salem The Podcast

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