Salem The Podcast

189. Salem History: Nathaniel Bowditch

15 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

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 shipmas...

188. Interview: The Good Witch of Salem

08 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Salem is certainly full of witches. Some, however, fly above the rest for their influence and impact on the community--Samantha Stevens, Laurie Cabot,...

187. Is Annabelle Coming to Salem?

02 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Salem has witches, pirates, merchants, and murderers, but soon, Salem may another to the list: Annabelle, one of the most haunted dolls in America. Th...

186. Salem History: Sarah Parker Remond

25 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Remonds are by far one of Salem's most famous families. But it may be the youngest daughter, Sarah Parker Remond, who left the greatest impact. Fo...

185. Salem History: The Remond Family (part 2)

18 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

While John and Nancy Remond served dignitaries and presidents at Hamilton Hall, their eldest son became an accomplished author and public speaker. Kno...

184. Salem History: The Remond Family (part 1)

11 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Of all the famous names that have made their imprint on Salem's history, there's perhaps none more renowned and wide-reaching than the Remonds. In fac...

183. Witch Trials: Alice Parker

04 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We return to 1692 Salem to talk about another victim of the Salem Witch Trials: Alice Parker. Details of her early life may be scant - maybe even none...

182. The Blizzard of '78 (revisited)

25 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Salem is buried in snow! Or rather - the whole New England region is. We thought it was the perfect time to dig up our Blizzard episode from last year...

181. Essex Street (part 4)

18 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Our journey down Essex Street comes to an end with a final stroll through the McIntire District. We leave behind the bustling downtown center with a h...

180: LIVE: Salem Love Nuggets Vol. IV

10 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to our fourth annual installment of Love Nuggets! This time, in front of a LIVE audience at Longboards Restaurant & Bar located on Pickeri...

179. Debunking the Tunnel Myth

28 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We're back for another round of tunnel hunting! Way back in Episode 10, we talked about the legend of smuggling tunnels under Salem and it has been so...

179. Debunking the Tunnel Myth

28 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

We're back for another round of tunnel hunting! Way back in Episode 10, we talked about the legend of smuggling tunnels under Salem and it has been so...

178. Salem's Tercentenary 1926 (part 3)

21 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

How do you wrap up a week-long celebration of 300 years of history? With more parades... obviously! Along with band concerts, street fairs, fireworks,...

178. Salem's Tercentenary 1926 (part 3)

21 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

How do you wrap up a week-long celebration of 300 years of history? With more parades... obviously! Along with band concerts, street fairs, fireworks,...

177. Salem's Tercentenary 1926 (part 2)

13 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A century ago Salem celebrated its 300th birthday. And they had a party like you would never believe! Last week we covered just the first day of festi...

176. Salem's Tercentenary 1926 (part 1)

06 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Happy Birthday Witch City! Salem was founded in 1626 by Roger Conant which means this year we celebrate 400+ years of history. So how is Salem The Pod...

175. Essex Street (part 3)

30 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Let's return to Essex Street! At the end of part 2, we stopped at the East India Square Fountain, so we will pick up there and wander all the way down...

174. Holiday House Tour 2025

24 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Salem doesn’t shut down after Halloween. Quite the opposite, in fact! During the winter months, Witch City plays host to so many fun holiday traditi...

173. Interview: Amber Newberry, Owner of Die With Your Boots On

16 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You know it, you love it, Salem's longest-standing goth style clothing, Die With Your Boots On! For almost a decade they have been “keeping Salem's ...

172. "John Proctor is the Villain" Review

10 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From award-winning playwright Kimberly Bellflower comes a modern reimagining of Arthur Miller's The Crucible. Set in rural Georgia in 2018; what does ...

171. Witch Trials: John Proctor (part 3)

03 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

John Proctor was hanged on August 19, 1692. His wife Elizabeth, while found guilty, received a stay of execution because of her pregnancy. We have cov...

170. Touring the Pickering House

26 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Nestled under the shade of a copper beech, with its iconic spired fence and captivating gables, sits a rare gem of American history. The Pickering Hou...

169. Witch Trials: John Proctor (part 2)

19 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We left off last time with the arrest of Elizabeth Proctor. So now our story continues with the accusations against her, which very quickly spread to ...

168. Witch Trials: John Proctor (part 1)

12 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

October may be over, but history persists! And we're getting back into the Salem Witch Trials. Executed on August 19th 1692, John Proctor may be one o...

167. Movie Review: The Salem Chronicles

06 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's movie review time! Sarah learned about a new direct-to-streaming movie set in Salem. We looked at the premise, we watched the trailer, and we wer...

166. 2025 October Check-In (part 2)

28 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Hello from the busy streets of Witch City! Join Jeffrey and Sarah, your favorite Salem pumpkins, as they waddle their way around downtown to chat with...

165. 2025 October Check-In (part 1)

24 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Oh hello October. It's been BUSY here. We hope all of you are enjoying your spooky season! Join Sarah and Jeffrey, your favorite (exhausted) tour guid...

164. Salem History: Forgotten Murders

17 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What's spooky season without a bit of true crime? While sensational murders like that of Captain Joseph White in 1830 took Salem and the country by st...

163. Haunted Happenings Parade 2025

07 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For the third consecutive year, we're giving you a front-row seat to the annual Haunted Happenings Grand Parade! But this year, our commentary looks a...

162. Salem History: Haunted Houses

30 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Who doesn't love a haunted house? Think Dracula's Castle, not the Merchant Hotel. Salem has a long (and somewhat sorted) history of haunts and for thi...

161. Essex Street (part 2)

23 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Let's keep exploring the history of Essex Street! We spent part one strolling from Collins Cove to the Hawthorne Hotel. Part two brings us up a little...

160. Essex Street (part 1)

17 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Let’s take a walk down Essex Street, Salem’s oldest and perhaps most iconic street, it didn't always play host to millions of visitors in October....

159. LIVE At the Hawthorne Hotel

09 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Thank you to everyone who was able to join us at the Hawthorne Hotel on September 2nd for our LIVE show. It was wonderful to see you all! For those wh...

158. Interview: Mary Bingham, Descendant of Sarah Wildes

26 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When we talk about the Salem Witch Trials, we spend most of our time focused on 1692, give or take a half-century. Rarely do we bring it all the way t...

157. Salem Islands (part 2)

19 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Fall may be approaching, but we're still living the island life! Salem Sound has so much to offer and Misery and Bakers were just the tip of the... is...

156. Salem Islands (part 1)

13 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When you think Salem, you probably envision Essex Street or the Common, perhaps the Willows or Derby Street. But what about islands in Salem Sound? Wa...

155. Witch Trials: Elizabeth Howe (part 2)

05 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In our last episode, we covered Elizabeth Howe's life leading up to 1692, her journey from Yorkshire to Rowley, and the whispers of witchcraft that fo...

154. Witch Trials: Elizabeth Howe (part 1)

29 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We're back from break! And what better way to return than with an episode about a victim from the Salem Witch Trials. Elizabeth Howe is the only perso...

2025 Update!

22 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Hello hello! We've missed you all. We've got some updates for you and a full witch trial episode dropping next week. Get ready for more witches, new t...

153. Winters of New England's Past

06 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A few weeks ago, we covered the Blizzard of 1978. But what about the Blizzard of '88... 1888 that is? What about centuries before that? Snow storms ar...

152. Interview: Georgia Wrenn

28 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Who is the most famous artist in Salem? Some would say that title goes to 13-year-old Georgia Wrenn, the talent behind “Georgia Made This.” You've...

151. Salem in 1892

20 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Some of you may remember the 300th year anniversary of the Salem Witch Trials. Perhaps you watched as the memorials were dedicated. Or you followed La...

150. Witch Trials: Sarah Wildes (part 2)

14 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join Jeffrey and Sarah, your favorite Salem tour guides, as they round out the life of Sarah Wildes. What lasting repercussions did her quick betrotha...

149. Witch Trials: Sarah Wildes (part 1)

07 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

333 years ago, fear was starting to stir in seventeenth-century Salem as a few young girls claimed to be afflicted by unseen forces. Over the next yea...

148. Interview: Diane Wolf, Chef and Restaurateur

27 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What does the Lobster Shanty, Wolf Next Door Coffee, and Front Street Coffeehouse have in common? These local eateries are all owned and operated by D...

147. Love Nuggets Vol. III

21 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's that time of year again and love is in the air! Red roses... dead roses... either way... Salem sees love stories all year long! Join Jeffrey and ...

146. The Blizzard of '78

13 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

New England is known for its unpredictable and unforgiving winter weather. We've seen everything from ice storms to a Snowpocalypse, but few storms ha...

145. Salem History: Leslie's Retreat (revisited)

06 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Hide the cannons! Grab your muskets! It's the 250th anniversary of Leslie's Retreat and Salem's annual reenactment of this underrated Revolutionary Wa...

144. Laurie Cabot (part 4)

28 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Four parts! Our last and final episode on Laurie Cabot, the Official Witch of Salem. Someone who, by her very presence and actions, has changed the fa...

143. Laurie Cabot (part 3)

23 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

And we're back to talk about Laurie Cabot, Salem's *unofficial* Official Witch for the last time (maybe)! We've got her sensational mayoral run to cov...

142. Movie Review: "The Coming" (1981)

16 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

During our Laurie Cabot episodes, we learned that in 1981 she worked as “Technical Consultant” on a horror movie about witches that took place in....

141. Laurie Cabot (part 2)

09 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to the 1980’s! At least for this week's episode as we continue with the life and times of Laurie Cabot, "Official Witch of Salem.” Laurie ...

140. Laurie Cabot (part 1)

02 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

No, victims of the 1692 Salem Witch Trials were not actual witches. But fast forward three centuries and you'll find the city is home to more than 5,0...

139. Christmas in Salem

24 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Happy Holidays everyone!

138. Witch Trials: Samuel Wardwell (part 2)

18 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Last episode we talked about Samuel Wardwell's life leading up to 1692. Now we must move on to his confession and fate. Where did he receive his unhol...

137. Witch Trials: Samuel Wardwell (part 1)

11 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On September 22, 1692 the last eight individuals executed for the crime of witchcraft were hanged in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Among them was the ...

136. Salem History: Captain Richard More, Mayflower Passenger

05 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

First-Comer? Saint? Pilgrim? Old Planter? These were all names given to the original Mayflower passengers, only half survived the first winter and mad...

135. Interview: Tim McGuire, Owner of Salem Night Tour

27 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Some of us come to Salem willingly, some of us are drawn to the city magically. After talking to this week's guest, we can confidently put him in the ...

134. Moll Pitcher, Famed Fortune-Teller of Lynn

20 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

She could tell you how your ship would fare at sea. And details of your distant betrothed. She prophesied the outcome of the American Revolution and G...

133. Goodbye October 2024 (from the streets)

12 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hello November... again! Sarah and Jeffrey, your hosts and favorite Salem tour guides, aren't the only Salemites recovering from busy season. So we to...

132. Goodbye October 2024

05 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Welcome to October! We're already a full week into spooky season here in Salem and the crowds and candy rivers are flowinggg! Its time again to join J...

131. History of Halloween

30 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

130. Interview: PJ Maguire, Green Man of Salem

22 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

For the folks of 17th-century Salem, the word WITCH could mean a death sentence. Three centuries later, the city has become a safe haven for modern pa...

129. Salem History: The Murder of Henry McMahon

15 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Buckle up y'all because Sarah's taking us back to July 1922 for another true crime episode. Of all the Salem murders that we've covered, the brutal ki...

128. Happy Haunted Happenings

08 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Join us street-side for the 2024 Haunted Happenings Grand Parade! https://itsjustabunchahalloween.com/

127. Interview: George Schwartz, PEM's Curator-at-Large

01 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Do the spirits return? A question as old as the ages, and the focus of the new exhibit at the PEM, Conjuring the Spirit World: Art, Magic, and Mediums...

126. Witch Trials: Andover

24 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Did you know there are more people accused of witchcraft in Andover than in Salem during the 1692 trials? Join Jeffrey and Sarah, your favorite Salem ...

125. Interview: Dr. Kurt Steinberg, Chief Operating Officer of the PEM

17 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Peabody Essex Museum, or PEM, has stood as a pillar institution in Salem for 225 years. We were lucky enough to sit down and chat with Dr. Kurt St...

124. Witch Trials: Martha Carrier

10 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On August 19th, 1692 Salem saw its third round of executions. Four men and one woman were hanged that day -- a group so sensational that Cotton Mather...

123. Interview: Hope Hitchcock, Owner of Witch Pix

13 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Who doesn't love playing dress up? If you haven't been to Witch Pix, then you’re missing out on one of the best activities to do in the Witch City! ...

122. Salem History: Lafayette's Visit

06 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In 1824, Revolutionary War hero, Marquis de Lafayette visited Salem while making on grand tour of the United States. The streets were lined flower-cov...

121. PEM: New Salem Witch Trials Exhibit

30 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Long have we waited for a permanent exhibition on the Salem Witch Trials. After three temporary exhibits in as many years, the Peabody Essex Museum ha...

120. Witch Trials: Mary & Philip English (part 2)

23 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Last episode we left off with Phillip and Mary English fleeing the persecution of the Witch Trials to the safety of New York City. So what happens nex...

119. Witch Trials: Mary & Philip English

16 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When it comes to the Salem Witch Trials, no one was safe from accusations... even the richest people in town! A resident of Salem for more than twenty...

118. Salem History: The Ropes Mansion (part 2)

09 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Last week we chatted about the historic Ropes Mansion...but there's more to share! In part 2 we'll share some ghost stories, talk about the gardens, a...

117. Salem History: The Ropes Mansion

02 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The beautiful Ropes Mansion is one of the most famous buildings in Salem, likely because it was used as the exterior of Allison's House in Hocus Pocus...

116. Ingersoll's Tavern

25 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In 1692, Salem Village (now modern day Danvers), was ground zero for what was to become the Salem Witch Trials. We have covered many locations in Danv...

115. Living History on the Wharf

18 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's the 250th anniversary of General Gage moving the capital of Massachusetts from Boston to Salem! To mark the occasion, there was a slew of reenact...

114. Movie Review: Love At Stake (1987)

11 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Somehow, someway, this magical treasure has flown under our radars...until now! Back in 1987, the world was blessed with a “Monty Python-esque” su...

113. Interview: Miz Diamond Wigfall

04 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Happy PRIDE! In celebration of this month, we sat down with Salem's most famous Drag Queen: Miz Diamond Wigfall, the famous mistress behind and (in fr...

112. Death in Salem: LIVE SHOW at Hallowed Ground

28 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We are LIVE! Or we were... last week! Our third LIVE show kicked off at Hallowed Ground in Salem where we talked about death. Specifically, how the Pu...

111: Witch Trials: Susannah Martin (part 2)

21 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In part one we covered Susannah Martin's life leading up to the Witch Trials. Now, let's take a close look at the evidence brought up against her and ...

110. Interview: Ryan and Matthew Murray of Black Veil Tattoo

14 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you been to the Black Veil Shoppe of Drear and Wonder? Perhaps you've been lucky enough to get tattooed by its famous proprietors? Either way, yo...

109. Witch Trials: Susannah Martin (part 1)

07 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's been a while since we talked about one of the innocent victims of the Salem Witch Trials, so let's get back to it, with Susannah Martin, part one...

108. The Murder of Frances Cochran

30 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Who loves true crime? You love true crime! And so does Sarah. This week, we head back to 1941 and discover what happened to Frances Cochran, a 19-year...

107. "Salem Witch Trials" 2003 Miniseries

23 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Look out Arthur Miller! You want historical accuracy? Cohesive storytelling? Solid early 2000’s made-for-TV acting? Did we mention the best depictio...

106. Elizabeth Lines, Titanic Survivor

16 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Yes, you read that right! Let's take a deep dive to the Titanic. This week Jeffrey and Sarah were joined by special guest L.A. Beadles, host of Unsink...

105. Witch Trials: Dropping 1692 Into History

10 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We are often wrapped in the cloak of Salem, its history, its architecture, its vibe. But 1962 stands as the consummate marker of our history. But what...

104. The Groton "Witch"

02 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Okay, but she wasn't actually accused of witchcraft, nor did she really accuse anyone of witchcraft. Was Elizabeth Knapp afflicted like Betty Paris an...

103. Witch Trials: The Judges (part 3)

26 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

More Judgment! We’ve covered the Chief Justice and some lesser-known names. Today we wrap up our series with our final five: John Hawthorne, Jonatha...

102. Interview: Salemopoly with Kim & Mike of Nocturne

19 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you heard of Salemopoly? How about Nocturne? If you haven’t and you love Salem...maybe you’ve been living under a rock. So let’s change tha...

101. Witch Trials: The Judges (part 2)

12 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Who else oversaw the Salem Witch Trials alongside Justice William Stoughton? There were in fact EIGHT other judges. So let's talk about them! This wee...

100. Interview: Sarah and Jeffrey, Salem the Podcast

05 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Happy Centenary Episode! That's 100 episodes chock full of Salem history! For this episode we decided to put ourselves in the hot seat and brought bac...

99. Witch Trials: Chief Justice William Stoughton

27 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When we talk about the Salem Witch Trials, we usually focus on the victims or the afflicted girls. But what about the JUDGES? So let's start our Judge...

98. Other Salems

20 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Salem. Salem? Salem! Salem… SALEM. We all know and love Salem (Massachusetts), and while we may be the most famous, we aren't the oldest, or the big...

97. Salem Love Nuggets Vol. II

13 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's that time of year again! We know so many of you love Salem, have found love in Salem, have gotten married here (or divorced here), found romance...

96. Salem History: Danvers State Hospital (part 3)

11 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Is this the last episode on Danvers State? Only time will tell! In this final(?) installment, we'll talk about exploring abandoned buildings, fires, a...

95. Salem History: Danvers State Hospital (part 2)

06 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Let's wander deeper into the halls of Danvers State Hospital with part two of our three-part series. Things get a bit darker this week as the history ...

94. Salem History: Danvers State Hospital (part 1)

30 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It’s 2024 and WE ARE BACK!  Buckle up friends because we're heading just outside of modern-day Salem and over to Danvers (old Salem Village). Speci...

Goodbye 2023

19 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas