History, Travel Tana Chastain History, Travel Tana Chastain

Episode 33 - 4 Morbid Must-see Memorials in Italy!

It's Memorial Day, so let's remember those who gave their lives for our freedom. Today we place flowers on the graves of those who fought for our country. Memorials are not exclusive to the United States, though. Today we take a look at some morbidly curious memorials that I visited on my tour of Italy: The Capuchin crypts with its chapels made of bones and miraculous incorruptible corpses , the Roman catacombs, where thousands of bodies rested beneath the cities, the Campo de Fiore where criminals were publicly executed and the ill-fated city of Pompeii.

Read More
History, Travel, Cursed Tana Chastain History, Travel, Cursed Tana Chastain

Episode 32 - America’s Most Cursed: The Hope Diamond

If Indiana Jones taught us anything, it's that you should never steal anything from a sacred temple! Too bad Indy wasn't around to school Jean-Baptist Tavernier on that, otherwise a beautiful blue terror might not have been unleashed into the world. Some believe that the curse of the Hope Diamond is just hooey, but after you hear all its been through over the last 350+ years, I think you'll disagree!

Read More
History, Travel, Hauntings, New Orleans, Voodoo, Religion Tana Chastain History, Travel, Hauntings, New Orleans, Voodoo, Religion Tana Chastain

Episode 31 - Voodoo and the Afterlife: The 7 Gates of Guinee

Y'all know we're all obsessed with what happens after we die, no matter what your faith. Followers of New Orleans Voodoo are in for a special treat, because when they die, they must pass through the 7 Gates of Guinee. There's a guard at each gate, and you better make them happy if you want to get through all 7 and onward to heaven! In this episode we discuss the personalities of each these guards and what loot you need to bring with you to get the job done, as well as some history around the Voodoo religion and how you might find the 7 gates.

Read More

Episode 30 - True Crime Haunting: The LaLaurie Mansion

On April 10, 1834, a fire broke out at the lavish French Quarter mansion of Delphine and Dr. Louis LaLaurie. What rescuers found behind the locked doors of the upstairs servant's wing shocked and enraged the people of New Orleans. What drove a spoiled socialite and a mild-mannered physician to such depravity? In this episode, we cover the background of the two, the events leading up to the tragedy, and what became of them and their victims in the aftermath, as well as hauntings at the LaLaurie mansion.

Read More
Travel, History, Presidents, Kennedys, JFK Tana Chastain Travel, History, Presidents, Kennedys, JFK Tana Chastain

Episode 19 - America’s Most Cursed: The Kennedys

Happy President's Day, Ya'll! In this episode we explore the family who would stop at nothing to get one of their own into the White House and the nonstop tragedy that pummeled them every step of the way. The Kennedy saga has been the subject of countless books, movies and documentaries and that's because their story is fascinatin'! Are they really cursed or just really bad at making decisions? Listen and decide!

Read More
Travel, Ghosts, History, Memphis, Food, Drink Tana Chastain Travel, Ghosts, History, Memphis, Food, Drink Tana Chastain

Episode 18 - Ghosts of Memphis, Vol II: Earnestine &Hazel’s

In their heyday, Earnestine Mitchell and Hazel Jones rubbed elbows with some of the biggest names in rock and soul history. Their juke joint was the go-to hangout for the after-show party crowd. After decades of decadence, 13 souls remain at the bar to party for eternity. From a haunted jukebox to a fire-haired phantom to a cheeseburger that'll make you wanna slap your, mama, Earnestine and Hazel's has got it all.

Read More
Food, Drink, Travel, Ghosts, History, Memphis, Tennessee Tana Chastain Food, Drink, Travel, Ghosts, History, Memphis, Tennessee Tana Chastain

Episode 16 - Ghosts of Memphis,Volume I: Pink Lizzie

In 1871, the city of Memphis, Tennessee was paralyzed with fear. Pink Lizzie had returned from the grave looking for a buried treasure...and revenge on the man who wronged her family.

Get ready to hear Memphis' oldest ghost story and to really hear my accent at it's absolute worst!

Read More
Food, Drink, Travel, Ghosts, History, St Louis, Beer Tana Chastain Food, Drink, Travel, Ghosts, History, St Louis, Beer Tana Chastain

Episode 15 - America’s Most Haunted: The Lemp Mansion, St Louis, MO

Beer and baseball, it's what St Louis is made of! But there's a dark side to the city, and in it a haunted mansion that was once home to a German beer baron who made it all possible. In this episode we cover the history of the Lemp family, the tragic circumstances that led to six of their deaths (four of which happened inside the mansion) and the hauntings that have been going on ever since the death of the final Lemp heir.

Read More
Food, Drink, Travel, New Orleans, Ghosts, History Tana Chastain Food, Drink, Travel, New Orleans, Ghosts, History Tana Chastain

Episode 14 - High Spirits: Haunted Bars & Restaurants in New Orleans

Food, drink and ghosts are a few of my favorite things (top 3, actually). In this episode, I present you with the haunted history of Muriel's, Lafitte's Blacksmith Tavern and The Court of Two Sisters, all located in the French Quarter, as well as food and drink recommendations at each.

Read More
Travel, Cursed, Hotels Tana Chastain Travel, Cursed, Hotels Tana Chastain

Episode 11 - America’s Most Haunted, probably: The Cecil Hotel

It's the 97th anniversary of the day that freakin' jerk named the Cecil Hotel opened and the mouth of Hell opened with it. She seemed so cool at first, but she turned into a psycho real fast. Just like me! Almost from the beginning, the Cecil drew in desperate souls and quickly became a vortex of misery, violence and despair. In this episode, I chronicle the dozens of deaths that occurred there (hundreds if you ask the former hotel manager) , as well as the violent murderers who called it home, leading up to the tragic and mysterious case of Elisa Lam.

Read More