Listener Stories: Vol. 106

Summary

Podcast Summary: "And That's Why We Drink"
Episode: Listener Stories: Vol. 106
Release Date: August 1, 2025
Hosts: Christine Schiefer & Em Schulz

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Introduction

In the "Listener Stories: Vol. 106" episode of And That's Why We Drink, hosts Christine Schiefer and Em Schulz delve into chilling tales submitted by their listeners, all centered around the mysterious and eerie region of Appalachia. This episode blends true crime with paranormal experiences, offering listeners gripping narratives that intertwine murder mysteries with supernatural folklore.

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Setting the Stage: Appalachian Lore

[02:50]
Em introduces the episode's focus on Appalachia, highlighting its rich tapestry of folklore and paranormal activity. He shares his personal connection to the region, mentioning his time spent in Harlan, Kentucky, a community deeply affected by the opioid crisis and steeped in mining history.

Christine adds her perspective as a Virginian, confirming that parts of Virginia and Tennessee are indeed considered Appalachia. Both hosts express their fascination with Appalachian legends, setting the tone for the listener-submitted stories to follow.

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Listener Story: Eva’s Encounter with a Mysterious Creature

[06:00]
Christine reads a story from a listener named Eva, who recounts a harrowing encounter in the Appalachian wilderness. While driving home late at night, Eva and her husband—Christine eight months pregnant with twins—spot a towering, beast-like creature in a usually empty field.

Notable Moment:

Christine: "It was covered in white fur, but it was kind of super skinny but muscly at the same time, if that makes sense. [08:31]"

The creature, described with three claw-like fingers and covered in blood, stares directly at them before disappearing. Upon returning to the location to verify the sighting, they find only three sets of massive eyes in the woods, intensifying the eerie experience.

Discussion: Em and Christine discuss the possibility of the creature being a "not deer"—a local Appalachian legend akin to Bigfoot—engaging in a lighthearted debate over its appearance and nature.

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Listener Story: Lauren’s Orbs in the Appalachian Mountains

[27:51]
Lauren, another listener, shares her experiences with mysterious orbs near Linville Gorge and the Brown Mountains. These ghostly lights have been reported since 1910 and remain unexplained despite various scientific theories.

Notable Moment:

Em: "These lights are most often reported as small star-like dots of light... I honestly don't believe any of these theories and don't know if they will be explainable with the technology currently available to us." [30:07]

Lauren describes witnessing orbs moving at incredible speeds, interacting with one another, and hovering ominously close before dissipating upon approach. Her tale underscores the mysterious nature of these Appalachian phenomena.

Discussion: Christine expresses skepticism about orbs, distinguishing between photographic artifacts and genuine sightings, while Em speculates on interdimensional or extraterrestrial origins.

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Listener Story: Liz’s Stepdad’s Close Call on the Appalachian Trail

[35:20]
Liz narrates a spine-tingling story about her stepdad Steve during the early 1980s on the Appalachian Trail. While hiking, Steve encounters a fellow hiker who requests assistance in driving her to a bus stop or withdrawing cash. Trusting his instincts, Steve declines, sensing something amiss.

Notable Moment:

Christine: "He thought the interaction was a little weird, but he was probably overreacting." [39:35]

Later, a news report reveals that the woman Steve declined helped perpetrate a gruesome crime involving the murder of her husband, highlighting the peril of trusting one's "vibe."

Discussion: Em and Christine commend Steve’s intuition, emphasizing the importance of heeding gut feelings in potentially dangerous situations.

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Listener Story: Chloe’s Appalachian Haunting and the Creek Field Woman

[47:10]
Chloe contributes a tale of the Creek Field Woman, a local Appalachian ghost story. The legend centers around Mrs. Creekfield, who haunts the valley at night, with variations suggesting she was murdered by soldiers during the Civil War for her hidden gold.

Notable Moment:

Steve: "Mrs. Creekfield was unfriendly and wary of the soldiers... Legend says those soldiers murdered Mrs. Creekfield when she would not give them what they wanted." [52:15]

Chloe recounts experiences of eerie noises, unexplained music from her Kindle, and her brother’s connection to the legend, weaving a narrative that blurs the lines between history and the supernatural.

Discussion: The hosts explore the plausibility of the legend, discussing similar folklore like the Bell Witch and the human tendency to create ghost stories from tragic events.

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Themes and Insights

Throughout the episode, Christine and Em emphasize the deep-rooted folklore of Appalachia, illustrating how the region's history and isolation contribute to its rich tapestry of mysterious tales. They explore the interplay between skepticism and belief, often marveling at the hosts’ ability to navigate these eerie stories with both humor and genuine intrigue.

Key Insights:

• Cultural Richness: Appalachia's unique blend of cultures fuels its abundant paranormal and true crime stories.
• Human Instincts: Trusting one's instincts, as shown in Steve's story, is crucial in life-threatening situations.
• Folklore and Modernity: Ancient legends like the Creek Field Woman coexist with modern mysteries, such as the Brown Mountain Lights, showcasing the region's ongoing allure for the curious and the courageous.

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Conclusion

In "Listener Stories: Vol. 106," And That's Why We Drink offers an engaging exploration of Appalachian legends and true crime tales. Through Eva’s encounter with a mysterious creature, Lauren’s sightings of ghostly orbs, Liz’s stepdad’s narrow escape from danger, and Chloe’s haunting experiences with the Creek Field Woman, Christine and Em provide listeners with a captivating blend of fear, fascination, and folklore. This episode underscores the enduring mystery of Appalachia, inviting both believers and skeptics to ponder the shadows that linger in its mountains.

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Notable Quotes:

• Christine on Eva's Encounter: "This was a... super skinny but muscly at the same time." [08:31]
• Em on the Brown Mountain Lights: "I honestly don't believe any of these theories..." [30:07]
• Steve on Creek Field Woman: "Mrs. Creekfield was unfriendly and wary of the soldiers..." [52:15]
• Christine on Trusting Instincts: "He thought the interaction was a little weird, but he was probably overreacting." [39:35]

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Note: Advertisements, sponsorship messages, and non-content sections have been excluded from this summary to maintain focus on the core stories and discussions of the episode.

Transcript

[Karina Beemersderfer]

Hi, I'm Karina Beemersderfer, host of Morning cup of Murder, your daily true crime podcast. Yes, you heard me right. Daily true crime. Every day, Morning cup of Murder tells you a straightforward short form story about murder, true crime, cold cases, disappearances, serial killers, cults and more. And I do that all in under 15 minutes. With over three years of stories and over 20 million downloads, the Morning cup of Murder podcast has become a staple of so many people's daily routines. So why not add it to yours? Stream Morning cup of Murder everywhere you listen to podcasts. And remember, stay safe.

[Steve]

August, September, October, November, December. I'm counting how many months are left in the year. There are five. Happy first day of August.

[Christine]

Happy first day of August, Christine.

[Steve]

Wow. It's Leo season, right?

[Christine]

I think so, yes. Yes. I like Leo season.

[Steve]

Yeah, I do too. It's a little intense for me sometimes. I will say, yesterday we had a new moon in Leo. And so, you know, I think I'm. I'm kind of sitting in that energy. This is not a. An astrological zodiac podcast, but sometimes I wish it were.

[Christine]

It does. It is a little sometimes, but it was between all the witches that listen, you know what I'm saying?

[Steve]

Like, come on, we used to do horror scopes.

[Christine]

Yeah, I missed those days.

[Steve]

Yeah, that was. We did geoscopes, man. I mean, we do those in the newsletter still if you're craving one of those. But you know, we kind of dabble in all sorts of paranormal and supernatural and spiritual hullabaloo.

[Christine]

Hoopla.

[Steve]

Yeah, hoopla.

[Christine]

You never hear hoopla anymore.

[Steve]

We should do a hoop and stick hoopla.

[Christine]

For those who aren't listen or aren't watching. My pupils just dilated.

[Steve]

Yeah, I was afraid for a moment. Anyway, welcome to Nuts I Drink. This is the listeners episode, which means we read stories you submit this month. We are going strong with our Patreon suggested topics this week or this month. Alexis they them has selected the topic of Appalachia, which is one of my favorite topics in the world, especially now that I'm back in the Kentucky area. I just love that Balachian lore. And I have this very strong like, internal poll to Appalachia. I think it's like a, like a past life thing maybe, or. See, this is also a past life podcast, guys. So I don't know, like, how much we can touch on in one day.

[Christine]

It's everything but a finance podcast, right?

[Steve]

Everything but like hard, cold facts that are helpful to you, you know? Well, that's okay.

[Christine]

Correct me, is. Is Kentucky part of Appalachia. In my mind as a Virginian, I know, like the left part of Virginia is. And then Tennessee goes to Tennessee. Okay.

[Steve]

So I'm not in Appalachia where I am, but it is about. If I drive. And I'm very close to West Virginia as well, so it's sort of like a. Within like two hour drive, I would say. And then Tennessee below us also is part. So I'm close but not in it right now.

[Christine]

It's so weird to be. To have grown up in a state that is technically of that region, but, like, I have no attachment to it. I mean, I think it's really cool.

[Steve]

To me, we do. I actually do have like a this life attachment as well, because Blaze did a few rotations during his PA school and he did a rotation in Harlan, Kentucky. Harlan county, which is one of like the hardest hit with opioids and, you know, an old mining community. And he worked on this trailer and just, you know, people would come in and out and it was just. He really had a cool time there. And I just. Now that we're back in Kentucky, it's kind of a little. I just pretend I was there too. I wasn't. But he also had enough service when he was there. I remember I was like, he's just kind of out in the boonies for real.

[Christine]

Well, it sounds cool.

[Steve]

Yeah, it was. It was cool. It was very interesting. But anyway, so now we have Appalachia stories, thanks to Alexis. Yeah. Did we start this week? I feel like I started the last couple. Oh.

[Christine]

Yes.

[Steve]

Oh, got my beverage.

[Christine]

Look what is happening here.

[Steve]

Yeah, just another angry orchard. My mini fridge is stock. Stock a block full. Okay, I know.

[Christine]

I will. You know, I was gonna say, isn't it. It's. It's wild that this is. Hopefully it's not. Hopefully the last month. That is like this hot.

[Steve]

Oh, that would be. That would be really nice, wouldn't it?

[Christine]

Back in the day, children, I feel like August was always like the worst part of the summer. And then after that it started cooling off real quick.

[Steve]

And nowadays always chilled.

[Christine]

And now, no, it was always chilly. By October, September was that weird transition situation. And now I feel like the transition situation's like December sometimes.

[Steve]

So then on Halloween you're like, finally, at least it'll be warm on Halloween. And then it snows and you're like, cool. Never mind. I don't get anything nice anymore.

[Christine]

My first time doing anything like, wintry and Christmasy with Allison. It was also like my first official Christmas in. In LA or December in la. And I was like, oh, let's bundle up and go this place. And I wore like. I don't know why I really thought that it was going to be cold at this place because we were driving an hour away. It said there was like snow tubing and stuff. I was like, oh, we've got to bundle up. And it was all like indoor tubing and it was like 80 degrees. Yeah, I looked so stupid. The pictures of us look like we're real warm and cozy and it's because.

[Steve]

We were like ads to that place. I know that place. That's funny. I've never been there, but I know people who went. It's funny.

[Christine]

It was sweltering and at some point I was like, I have to put everything back.

[Steve]

Oh my God, that's funny.

[Christine]

Anyway, here's to hopefully it not being so miserable all the time. Always. So did you. You want me to do this. This story?

[Steve]

Okay, go. Go ahead.

[Christine]

Hi. Y. Y Christine. Okay, this one says it's. It's titled Eva and with exclamation points behind it. So let's see how this goes. Eva, this is Appalachia on the horn.

[Steve]

On the horn.

[Christine]

I love when people say on the horn. This is Jasmine who uses they. She love a double pronoun. And Jasmine says Eva, this is Appalachia on the horn. I can't speak for all of Appalachia, but I was born and raised here. My name is and I've lived in the Asheville area my whole life. When m had said people left their last bite for the Tommy Knockers, well, I was shocked. I don't remember saying that. Great. I'm glad you.

[Steve]

I was like, you said what now?

[Christine]

It was definitely when I called you Tommy Knockers.

[Steve]

I was also shocked. Everybody.

[Christine]

Okay, I'm still shocked at what I said. I had never heard of this before, but I also never eat the last bite. I guess cuz it's saved for the Tommy kn.

[Steve]

Oh, interesting.

[Christine]

This got me thinking. Was this some sort of ancestral habit to never eat the last bite? Well, it turns out that my family did in fact work in some coal mines. But the eat. But the eating the last part, well, it turns out that that's just another one of my autistic traits.

[Steve]

Oh, okay.

[Christine]

Well.

[Steve]

Well, I was about to say actually Blaze always leaves one bite unfinished.

[Christine]

Really?

[Steve]

Like. Well, maybe he. Ever since I met him now he kind of stops. But even growing up, his parents said he always left one bite on the plate, which is toaster. Maybe he has Appalachian past life history. He's probably listening to this. Like, christine, seriously, come on.

[Christine]

He's like, I'm Blaze. I just don't want to eat it.

[Steve]

Get it together.

[Christine]

He's just one of those people who can feel when he's full and then just stop eating when he's full.

[Steve]

Well, that's insane.

[Christine]

I just gorge myself until I. Until I'm gonna.

[Steve]

You know, Tommy Knockers are gonna show.

[Christine]

Up at your door now. I've experienced a lot of weird things, and, boy, do I mean a lot. But this one takes the cake. I used to live way out in very rural. In a very rural area deep in the mountains. There are lots of cow pastures and some empty fields every now and again. Well, my husband and I are driving home late at night, and as we come around a corner, our headlights shine right into a usually empty field. It most definitely was not empty that night. In the middle of this field was this giant beast looking thing. The thing was taller than a tractor. Oh, my God. But I was also. It was also hunched over, so this thing could have been taller. It was covered in white fur, but it was kind of super skinny but muscly at the same time, if that makes sense.

[Steve]

It's like sinewy.

[Christine]

Oh, Christine. With the words. It also had three fingers that were more like claws. And this mofo was chowing down on something because it was covered in blood.

[Steve]

Oh, my God. And it was white fur covered in blood. What the.

[Christine]

Then it looks straight at us, and we book it out of there around the next.

[Steve]

Claws.

[Christine]

Oh, my God. I was eight months pregnant with twins. Oh. And you'll wonder immediately if that thing can smell it, you know?

[Steve]

Yeah, it's like, oh, extra vulnerable person. Here I come with my three fingers.

[Christine]

Oh, I wanted to go home. But no, my husband wanted to make a loop and check it out again to confirm that's what he saw. But he finally convinces me to go back and we make a loop. The thing is gone, but there are these three sets of massive eyes up in the woods at a very weird height.

[Steve]

What?

[Christine]

Needless to say, I avoid that road at night now, and I'm pretty sure it was a not deer just because the vibe it gave me is the same as the not deer that I've experienced in the past.

[Steve]

I don't like that.

[Christine]

I just think this was a one not trying to hide from us. There is never a shortage of weird things around here, though. From my mom saying wisps, to my grandfather having a possible alien encounter, to voices following my husband in the woods. All I know. Is to never go in the woods at night and if you hear or see something. No, you didn't. At least not until you get home and can think about it. Yeah. Because that's all you're gonna do anyways. I hope this wasn't too long. You guys are amazing. And you guys really helped me through my postpartum, so.

[Steve]

Oh, good. With your twins that are, I'm sure, healthy and happy and safe.

[Christine]

Keep being amazing. From Jasmine, who's an Aries, by the way.

[Steve]

Oh, boy, oh, boy. Oh, wow. What a. That is terrible. Do you remember the not dear?

[Christine]

Yeah. I'm gonna look up a picture.

[Steve]

It's so scary. I'm gonna look it up too.

[Christine]

Okay. I mean, yeah, it looks like a kind of uncanny valley deer, but, like, big as. Right.

[Steve]

And it's like this kind of like creepily, like. Like, it.

[Christine]

I don't know, it looks like a moose deer.

[Steve]

It looks like it's like, pretending to be a deer. Like, it has, like, weird crooked antlers.

[Christine]

I don't know. Oh, yuck. Yeah, it looks like it's kind of like contorted out of branches or something.

[Steve]

Yeah. Like it's. Oh. And then some of them stand hind legs. I don't like that.

[Christine]

Just. Absolutely. And then by this.

[Steve]

So scary. I'm looking at these scary pictures.

[Christine]

It almost looks like I'm just like Kelly.

[Steve]

And that's why we drink group chat to everybody, including Jack and Megan and everybody.

[Christine]

It kind of reminds me of like, when the black eyed kids were trying to act human. It's like an alien trying to act like an animal, but it doesn't know how to totally create a deer.

[Steve]

It's like, oh, you know me. I'm just one of thousands of these deer things in your yard.

[Christine]

Like, it's like a rough draft of a deer.

[Steve]

Yeah. Yeah. Look at this picture. I just sent the entire group with no comment.

[Christine]

They have to be used to us by now. Oh, for God's sake.

[Steve]

It's like a trail cam image.

[Christine]

Can you. Can you write in just saying hi.

[Steve]

I almost was gonna say hello, and then I was like, howdy.

[Christine]

Oh, my God, that's terrifying. And also, I like that your husband had to turn around to confirm it when it's like, he's looking right at you. Both of you can be like, we.

[Steve]

Saw that for sure view. And the twins were like, we saw that shit too.

[Christine]

Yeah, yeah.

[Steve]

They were like, get us out of here, dude. Dad. Bad idea, dad.

[Christine]

Back it up. Yeah, well, kind of like I just.

[Steve]

Had a smiley Face emoticon. Oh, Megan said like, what the fuck? Okay, well, look up, you guys look up. Appalachian, not deer. And then, you know, you'll get into a rabbit hole. Well, I guess a not rabbit hole, but anyway.

[Christine]

Well, yeah, we'll learn more about not deers eventually.

[Steve]

Okay, listen, I have been finally being a little more social nowadays now that Leona's in like a longer school day and I have some more evenings off and I always bring a bottle of wine with me. It's a nice thing to do, but it also ensures that I'll have wine wherever I arrive. You know what I mean? Like, I'll show up and I'll be like, oh, I brought this wine. Sure, I'll open it, you know, and it's like, Naked Wines is one of my favorites. We have. I've used them for years. It's, it's been a while, but I'm back to using them. They are awesome. Uh, if you use our code drink, by the way, for both the code and [e-mail] you get six bottles for just $39.99. It's a very good deal. And then when I show up, I have this beautiful, like hand selected wine. Yeah.

[Christine]

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[Steve]

Now is the time to join the Naked Wines community. Head to nakedwines.com drink, click enter voucher and put in our code drink for both the code and password for 6 bottles of wine for just 39.99 with shipping included.

[Christine]

That's a hundred dollars off your first six bottles. @nakedwines.com Drink and use the code and password Drink for six bottles of wine for 39.99. As someone who has become just an avid dog walker in my community, in your community, in your home. And not only that, but in the heat of summer, I have never realized how thirsty one person can truly be. We found Cure the plant based hydrating electrolyte drink mix with no added sugar. And it's a natural, delicious and convenient way to keep you and your whole family hydrated without the artificial stuff.

[Steve]

I have a water bottle that like is for my cure and I shake it up and it's like perfect. And the Other day, I went to, like, put some cure in it, and then I was like, why does this smell like lemon lime? That's blaze. And I was like, have you been using my bottle? He's like, that's my bottle. And I was like, this actually is not gonna. What are we gonna do? We're at an impasse. But that's how. That's how in demand these things are. Cure is an oral rehydration solution that follows a formula developed by the WHO which was proven to hydrate as effectively as an IV drip.

[Christine]

Every single flavor is. Is a 10 out of 10. For me, hydration goes beyond just drinking water. It's about replenishing the electrolytes we lose through sweat, sleep, alcohol, and daily activities. And water alone is do the job. That's why you need to try cure, the electrolyte drink mix that tastes as amazing as it makes you feel.

[Steve]

Fern. That's why we drink, listeners. Cure is offering 20 off your first order. Stay hydrated and feel your best by visiting cure hydration.com drink and using promo code drink at checkout. That's cure hydration.com drink use code drink for 20 off your first order. Oh, good. Here's the next story. More not a deer. Are you serious right now? I literally just opened it. I hadn't seen the subject. This is from Anna. She They. The subject is More not a deer. Hello. I've been listening to you lovely people for. Oh, Anna, She They. Did I say that already? Thank you.

[Christine]

Also, we're really blazing past, like, the synchronicity of that. That's crazy.

[Steve]

Well, I think Eva probably put them together.

[Christine]

Oh, I see.

[Steve]

Because it's an Appalachian legend, like, I think.

[Christine]

I guess so. Just what are the odds? I mean, it was very weird. I can't wait to learn more about it.

[Steve]

No, the timing was very weird, actually. I will say, for a second, I thought it was the same sender sending another story. No, serious. So I thought, like, oh, more not dear. So I thought, like, oh, maybe it's just Jasmine again. But it's a different person. Very weird. With also a double pronoun. Okay, this is what's going on. I don't know. Maybe. Are you an Aries too? Anna, what's happening?

[Christine]

Maybe not dear. Are attracted to the. The. The non binary.

[Steve]

Oh, that's not good for you, my friend.

[Christine]

I know, but there's something. Maybe there's something, like, about my energy where they're like, oh, you're fucking weird like us.

[Steve]

So you're taking this as a Compliment like, oh, yeah, yeah, I'm vibing with these.

[Christine]

It's like how the gays have. Have taken in Mothman. It's like maybe the not deer taken the non binaries.

[Steve]

Sure, sure, sure, sure can have them. I'll take Mothman. You take that. All right. You take not deer. Good luck. Hello. I've been listening to you lovely people for years now, and I really wanted to put my 2 cents in about knotted deers. I've lived in Appalachia for almost my whole life. I lived in Louisiana when I wasn't a mountain dweller. Still spooky, Just a different type of spooky. And anyway, I can only speak for my little section of paradise. I know the original Not a deer writer was from Texas. Not a deer is something we all know is out there, but we don't talk about it. And yet, until now. And Em and Christine are just idiots on a microphone, publicly on air, just non stop. Not a deer is something we all know is out there, but we don't talk about it. And yes, it's always deer, quote, unquote. It's never a squirrel or possum, just a deer.

[Christine]

Interesting.

[Steve]

I have chill. I have goose cam. Yeah, it looks like a deer until you really and truly look at it. Then you suddenly realize you aren't looking at Bambi. It is, from my limited understanding, a wood spirit that shape shifts when people are near.

[Christine]

Interesting. Well, I said they look contorted, like they're made of branches.

[Steve]

Yeah. Oh, you did. You did. And their branches aren't. They're branches. They're. They're. The antlers look almost like, angular, like branches too. That's weird.

[Christine]

Weird.

[Steve]

Ooh, creepy. Oh, gosh. I'm proving myself out now. Okay. I am a practicing satanic witch, and I have very little. I don't fuck with. But when it comes to the things living in these mountains, I don't fuck with them. Okay. If a satanic witch is telling me, hey, let's not talk about these things. And here I am going on and on.

[Christine]

If someone's saying, maybe I don't know what you actually do, but satanic witch, the first thing in my mind is that you just regularly say hail Satan. But if you're.

[Steve]

That's true.

[Christine]

And you're still like, I'm not going in those.

[Steve]

Yeah, exactly. Exactly.

[Christine]

I'm gonna sit with you on the couch. Whatever you want to do.

[Steve]

I'm asking you about these things. Some things we just aren't meant to understand. Parentheses or make eye contact with. I Am not a good writer. Well, I beg to differ. Anna, I hope you understand what I'm trying to say. Don't with not a deer or anything else in the woods here. End of email. Jesus.

[Christine]

Noted.

[Steve]

I'm in trouble.

[Christine]

That wasn't even a story. That was just a quick psa. I think maybe as a. An Appalachian witch tell that we were about to talk about the self.

[Steve]

You knew what Eva knew. Eva knew we would go, what's an added deer Again? And then she was like, I guess I should find an email explaining to the two of them. Yeah. So thank you, Eva. That was actually a good foresight. And even though we thought it was a synchronicity, it was just you prepping us for the next thing, so.

[Christine]

Perfect. Perfect. All right, before I open this, you want to. What are the odds that this is another double pronoun?

[Steve]

Oh, I already looked at it.

[Christine]

Oh, did you? Okay.

[Steve]

Yeah, I opened it and then I glanced at it, and then I tried to forget it, and I couldn't.

[Christine]

So I'm going to say there's no way there's a three for three. I'm going to say no. Okay.

[Steve]

Right.

[Christine]

I am. Ah. One of those single pronouns. Damn them. This is from Nikki, who's a she. Her pronouns. Thank you for normalizing pronouns. And the subject line is just Appalachian spookiness. Love it. Okay. Nikki says, hey, y'. All. I've been listening for years. I've waited for a topic to send in. To send in. I've waited for a topic to send in something. And when I heard M tell the stories of haunted coal mines and mention that they were thinking of doing an Appalachian based story, I thought, now's my time. I know y' all have heard of not a deer. Girl, what's happening here?

[Steve]

Okay, okay. We must have, like. Okay, these were all. Yeah, but, like, puzzling this out because these were all sent in, like, fall of 2022. So I assume we did some. Some. I know we did some episode about. I remember the story. Remember it was a person playing hide and seek in Texas in the woods, and then that thing kind of like, stood up on its hind legs, and it was like, it scared the out of us. And then we were like, what's not a deer? And then we went into this spiral. So I think people started sending in stories then. This is just when someone suggested the topic. Eva searched and, like, a bunch of them probably were from that time period. Does that make sense?

[Christine]

This is the Appalachian.

[Steve]

This is me trying not to scare myself. I'm home. Alone. I don't want these not deer after me.

[Christine]

Appalachian Redemption Episode the not a deer.

[Steve]

I'm so close to Appalachia sidebar.

[Christine]

Can I tell you that? Do you know what just came out? Speaking of deer or not a deer, have you heard of the puniverse? No. Okay, so I'm just gonna educate you something.

[Steve]

Oh, is this the thing with the horror movie with the vagina with teeth?

[Christine]

You were half right, but the vagina is not correct. That movie's called Teeth, by the way, and it's an excellent watch. There's no there. It is a horror movie. That's so odd that you kind of half guessed it. No, the Pooniverse is. And if I'm butchering this. Sorry, everybody, but according to what my stepbrother has told me, this is the one thing we bond over. This is all we've got. He really likes horror movies. I really like horror movies. And so we'll watch them together. I only watch, like, really, like, gaudy, campy ones. And he was like, I know just the thing, I guess. Recently, Winnie the Pooh.

[Steve]

Oh, yes.

[Christine]

Lost its rights and so now there's a horror movie. There were two you told.

[Steve]

Guess who told me about this.

[Christine]

Me.

[Steve]

M. Schultz. On air.

[Christine]

Yeah. So there's two Winnie the Pooh themed horror movies called Winnie the Pooh Blood and Honey, and then Winnie the Pooh Blood and Honey too.

[Steve]

I. I seem to remember saying I never want to speak of this again.

[Christine]

Cool. So now they're coming out with a universe which they're calling the Pooniverse. Whereas different characters lose their rights, they're incorporating them into this, like, old nostalgia based, crazy childhood movies or toys or TV show horror universe. And so the most recent one that came out in theaters, by the way, Bambi the Reckoning and Apparent. Please, just look it up. I want you to Google Bambi.

[Steve]

To be fair, Bambi deserves some vengeance.

[Christine]

I'm pretty sure he's just going to be going after the hunter's family the whole.

[Steve]

Oh, my Christ. Okay, I don't like horror movies.

[Christine]

And this is why I will tell you. It is the campiest. Like, there's nothing scary about it. It's just awful. Really?

[Steve]

I'm already scared.

[Christine]

No, that's such a funny. If you ever need to, like, get high and like, dare yourself to watch a horror movie, watch Winnie the Pooh Blood and Honey.

[Steve]

Oh, oh, oh. You've already seen it. But I like, I like, love Winnie the Pooh. I feel like I'm gonna get, like, disturbed, like my childhood self. Is gonna get disturbed. I feel like I should watch one that hasn't already, like, kind of traumatized me.

[Christine]

Bambi the Reckoning.

[Steve]

Well, that one's. That one.

[Christine]

There's a Peter Pan one also. I'm just.

[Steve]

Okay, well, that's a bunch of kids. Yeah, I'll look at the IMDb actually, I'll watch Grace and Frankie. Okay. Does that work?

[Christine]

Anyway, I'm very excited when I. When I go home next, my step brother and I have Bambi the Reckoning on. On our.

[Steve]

My God. I actually. I am actually curious to hear how that goes.

[Christine]

And that's the closest to a not.

[Steve]

I never want to hear about blood and honey again. So as long as we move on from that, I'm good.

[Christine]

I got a feeling Bambi will have his reckoning. That's all I'm gonna say.

[Steve]

Oh, my God.

[Christine]

Okay. Anyway, back to this. Not deer.

[Steve]

I was gonna say, are we on your still or mine?

[Christine]

Mine. We haven't even started mine.

[Steve]

I don't even know where I am.

[Christine]

I know y' all have heard of not a deer and other stories of creepy things that go bump in the night in these hills. It's kind of a well known thing here that if you hear screaming or your name being called a night in the woods, you ignore it, Old timer.

[Steve]

Oh, good. Yeah, that's what I do. I mean, when I. If I hear my name in the night, I'm like.

[Christine]

I would imagine it's like a mimic or something, right?

[Steve]

Or like one of those wood spirits trying to lure you into the woods. A fairy.

[Christine]

I hate it. I hate it.

[Steve]

I don't hear anything.

[Christine]

Old timers swear there are panthers in the mountains like the big black ones you see on Animal Planet. There's never been proof, but I don't advise telling the old man up the holler because he'll tell you he's seen it with his own eyes and he's stubborn as a mule.

[Steve]

I believe him. Right. Now, I tell you what.

[Christine]

I remember a time specifically when all my family was down at my granny's house One evening. My dad and his brother heard what they said. Sounded like something being hurt bad just over the hill. It was apparently a sound that made your blood run cold. And they were hell bent on investigating. My granny looked up from whatever she was doing at the time and said, leave it alone. And my dad is a big softy, and he said he couldn't bear to think of something being hurt. But still, Granny said, johnny, leave it be. To make a long story short, they went to find it anyway. And found nothing. I remember being scared to death when they walked away. Until they came back, they seemed baffled because the sound they heard was right there. Granny just shook her head like she knew they wouldn't find anything. My granny was a true Appalachian in every sense of the world of the word. She ingrained certain things in me as a kid. Such as? Don't walk over someone's grave. Don't play with fire or you'll piss the bed.

[Steve]

I didn't know that was a corollary. Okay, me either.

[Christine]

And to get thicker hair, you cut it with the signs? Among other things. With the signs about that.

[Steve]

Zodiac signs.

[Christine]

That's what I'm thinking. Like I cut it with a scorpio. I don't know. She always seemed to know things that she shouldn't know, she definitely shouldn't know. As a child, I swore she was psychic. And maybe she was. But the things she taught me never seemed like anything out of the ordinary for her. Appalachian folk magic or not. It was how she lived. And nothing special to her. She died when I was 15, but I feel her in my life all the time. She was a hellcat of a woman. That's what I want to be described as, A hellcat.

[Steve]

Hellcat. That's beautiful.

[Christine]

And I hope to be half the woman she was. Panther in those a hell not, dear.

[Steve]

Yeah.

[Christine]

But if you want to hear the story of how my skeptic father swears he got paranormal confirmation that granny and grandpa were reunited, let me know. That's very sweet.

[Steve]

Absolutely.

[Christine]

If you're ever in West Virginia, holler at me. I feel like it's a play on words, but maybe they just say holler in both ways.

[Steve]

Right?

[Christine]

There's so many spooky things to see and do here. And there's also a mountaintop. I'd love to. I'd love em to bring their ghost hunting equipment, too. You're saying mountaintop, and I want you.

[Steve]

To hear yourself on top of a mountain. Mountain.

[Christine]

How does. How does m get to the mountaintop, Nikki? That's what I want you to ask yourself.

[Steve]

Chairlift. And does explain yourself.

[Christine]

And Nikki, after you know that answer, I'm gonna ask you another question. Does them get to the mountaintop?

[Steve]

Yeah. Does them really bring their ghost hunting equipment or does Christine steal it in the night and bring it.

[Christine]

Em can hand the equipment off to somebody else and then they can go to the mountaintop. Especially after you just told me. Oh, in the mountaintop, there's screaming that nobody knows of. And maybe it's a black panther and.

[Steve]

My grandma said, don't go up there.

[Christine]

Yeah, Nikki, you've got a lot ideas. I think they're kind of bumping into each other, though.

[Steve]

I think you take after your grandpa or whoever was the one that went out to go look at the. If you would like.

[Christine]

If you'd like to give me equipment at the mountain bottom, I will. I'll do that. I'll give that to you for sure. I'll pass it on. Until then, watch for dear West Virginian. For West Virginian. Love for you, Nikki.

[Steve]

I love West Virginia. I know you're a Virginia person, but I don't really know much about Virginia, but I love Western. I just think it's like the. I don't know, there's just something so homey about it when I drive through it.

[Christine]

As a. Someone who has a bit of a loyalty to East Virginia.

[Steve]

Right.

[Christine]

Good for you.

[Steve]

Yeah, I get it. I get it. It's just so beautiful. Anyway, I mean, I'm sure Virginia is too. I just haven't spent as much time there. Okay, this one is from Lauren. They. She. What's going on with my Appalachians? I love this. Okay.

[Christine]

I love this.

[Steve]

See? Oops. I almost sent Lauren an email by accident. Whoops. What am I doing that? Hi. Whoopsie. The subject is orbs. All right. It says hello. I'm listening to what? It doesn't say that. It's okay. Christine, I'm Lauren, currently living in Asheville, North Carolina, practicing Reiki and tattooing.

[Christine]

Oh, cool.

[Steve]

I've been listening to you silly little people talk for literally. Literally since the beginning.

[Christine]

Love it.

[Steve]

I. You sound like Leona. I've been listening to you for literally since the beginning.

[Christine]

That's actually like since before Leona's beginning.

[Steve]

Right, Exactly.

[Christine]

Since I was just in there covering my damn ears.

[Steve]

Oh, my God. I don't blame you. I listened to your show through some really tough years of self healing, and having these episodes to listen to every week has been such a constant in my life. I went to see your live show with my little sister a few years ago in Charlotte for her birthday. I've always wanted to write in a story, and specifically this one, but had never gotten around to it. Or it never fit into a theme of yours for listener stories. Until now. When? In the last episode. So this is again September 2022.

[Christine]

Cool.

[Steve]

In the last episode. When? Can you believe that was almost three years ago?

[Christine]

I'm gonna throw up. Christine.

[Steve]

It's sick. Like, it's sick. Okay. Until now. When? In the last episode when you requested us to go crazy. I don't remember that. And talk about whatever we wanted. Okay. Okay. And we need to be more held accountable for what we say and do.

[Christine]

I feel like there should be like a. Like a running chart of like additional notes of what the hell happened.

[Steve]

Additional notes? What you did and what you said and what you.

[Christine]

My requests. Any requests.

[Steve]

Promise? Promises.

[Christine]

I make a lot of those.

[Steve]

We do make a lot of actually. I think for my mental health. Maybe let's not ever touch on those again. Okay. Yeah.

[Christine]

I can't promise anything.

[Steve]

We don't. We don't need to know. Christine, this one's for you. Since I know you love orbs. Do I? I guess I do back then I sure did. I must have have you ever heard of the Brown Mountain lights? I have. I've grown up, but I don't know much about them. I've grown up in North Carolina my entire life and had always heard inklings about them here and there growing up, but had never experienced them until maybe three or four years ago for the first time. These lights are called ghost lights and have been witnessed in and around the Linville Gorge and Brown Mountains since the year 1910, obviously well before drones, et cetera.

[Christine]

Perfect.

[Steve]

Some professors and students from my former college at Appalachian State University in the astronomy, sciences and geology departments have have even done studies on these lights saying the lights are most often reported as small star like dots of light of a brightness comparable to stars. Motion of lights has varied by reports from slow movements to almost fire firework type action. Some believe it is blue ghost fireflies, swamp methane flames, ball lightning, etc. I'm not sure what they are, but I honestly don't believe any of these theories and don't know if they will be explainable with the technology currently available to us.

[Christine]

Fair enough.

[Steve]

There was an episode about ghost lights on Unsolved Mysteries, but I don't know if it was specifically this one. It must have been the Brown Mountain lights. I'm not sure.

[Christine]

I don't know.

[Steve]

The most well known place to see them is at Wiseman's View which is surrounded by campgrounds that you can stay at any time of the year. I've camped and visited here maybe five to six times total and have seen the lights every time. Wow. I've seen these orbs move and interact with each other, fly high above the treetops and then dive down extremely steep cliffsides. What the. All while shining as bright as car headlights from hundreds of feet away across the Linville Gorge. Is that crazy? The most interesting time that I witnessed them was my first or second time visiting Wiseman's View, and I saw a red orb and a blue orb seem to chase each other in circles through the treetops at speeds that a person with a flashlight could not run at, especially given they were moving near a cliffside. The last time that I went to visit the ghost lights was August of 2021 with a group of my friends. One friend of mine that was on this trip with us is particularly communicative with different realms and energies, as am I. And was it the satanic witch? Because, yeah, you all in Appalachia have some gifts down there. One friend of mine was particularly communicative with the different realms and energies, as am I. And we had talked lots about energy, movement and such prior to camping. This night we had set up all of our tents and decided to walk up to where the lookout was right before it got dark so that we could see the lights and hang out up there. We eventually saw some flicker on and off and move pretty slowly that night. Nothing crazy until we started walking back toward our tents. My friend had to go pee and walked a bit off the trail behind the group of us as we kept walking. Just a few seconds later, they came running back to the group, out of breath, saying that they saw an orb in the woods. They described it as bright blue and glowing a few feet from them, hovering about a foot off the ground, and only when they took a step towards it is when it dissipated. We walked briskly back to our tents after that and went to sleep with no other disturbances from the orbs. Thanks for all you do. P. S. If you're ever in the area and want a tattoo, I'd love to tat you up. That'd be fun. All the best things your way, Lauren.

[Christine]

A tattoo of an orb. That'd be fun.

[Steve]

Well, I have been wanting to get a tattoo of a firefly, so that'd be really. That does actually kind of track for me.

[Christine]

I. You know, there's something really freaky to me about saying that it's as bright as a car headlight and then also for them to be getting as close as, like, a few feet away from you, because I'm always hundreds of feet away.

[Steve]

I was like, okay, but, like, in front of you in the woods, it's like, I don't like that, as many people are.

[Christine]

I'm very skeptical of orbs. But when it's almost like, so in your face, you can't deny it. I can't Explain that. I don't know.

[Steve]

I feel like orb also is kind of a misleading term because we say, like, oh, you see an orb in a picture, and a lot of times it's just a dust particle or something. But an orb in a picture is different than seeing an orb in your.

[Christine]

Like, a flying ball of light right.

[Steve]

In front of you. So I feel like they kind of get misnomer. It's like a misnomer. Yeah. That's interesting. I've never seen something like that.

[Christine]

Yeah. I can't even make a judgment call because in my mind, I want to be like, it's a firefly. But if it's, like, big, right?

[Steve]

And if you're someone who goes peeing in the woods regularly enough, like, you'd know if it's a firefly. Right. You know, that's what I'm like, these people know what they're seeing. That's why I feel like the Appalachian lore to me is so cool, because it's like, oh, they believe. Whether you care whether you believe it or not, it's like. They're like, nope, that's just how it is. You know?

[Christine]

Like, I am very, truly believe. Jealous. Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you. No, I was gonna say I am very jealous of Appalachian culture and that there really is a whole culture around just, like, mystic creatures and, like, just. Just getting to explore that. There's, like, so many other parts of the world where it's just shut off from reality.

[Steve]

I'm reading, like, Appalachian folklore. Is it Appalachian. Appalachian Witchcraft, I think, for Beginners is a book I'm reading on Kindle, and it's really good. It's really well done, and, like, very easy to absorb for, like, an outsider, you know? But it is true. Like, I feel like everything kind of connects, and I think it's cool because it's such a mishmash of cultures, and that's why it's so many different things, like, from. Pulled from different cultures that are all kind of melting pot into one, which is cool, too.

[Christine]

Yeah, that's super dope. I. I know nothing about it. I think that's also why it fascinates me, because it's just like, it's a whole world I'll never. Yeah, it's a mystical world that I know nothing about.

[Steve]

Right. It does feel, like kind of off the beaten path, you know?

[Christine]

Yeah. All right, let's see what's next. That was number four. So this is. This is my last one.

[Steve]

Okay.

[Christine]

So this is from Liz. She. Her. Thank you for normalizing pronouns. And the subject line is stepdad's close call on the Appalachian Trail.

[Steve]

Also, what do you think those orbs are? Aliens.

[Christine]

I was gonna say aliens because it feels.

[Steve]

Sorry, I didn't mean to, like, cut in, but, yeah, it feels a little.

[Christine]

Droney to me, doesn't it?

[Steve]

Like, the way they chase each other. I'm like, that feels like an intelligent something, either.

[Christine]

Like, I don't want to. I don't know.

[Steve]

Interdimensional something.

[Christine]

I don't know how on board other people in Appalachia would be with this assessment. Or maybe this is a common thing and I'm unaware of it, but part of me is like, it's either high technology from another world or high technology from our world. Like, maybe it's like a. A government thing. That's a good old conspiracy theory, but.

[Steve]

Since 1910, like, I feel like, wouldn't I have kind of moved on by now?

[Christine]

Yeah, you're right. I don't know. In my mind, it was like, just a new thing, because I would think, oh, well, it's in the woods. You can kind of get away with, like, some weird shit. Especially in a wood in an area where everyone already believes weird. I would say aliens.

[Steve]

They're probably like, this is a convenient spot for us to do a lot of testing. Because everyone's like, yep, there they are again.

[Christine]

I mean, if we found a planet and there was one little sub area that, like, was known to be weird and everyone just kind of, like, lived amongst it, it's like, well, yeah, that's where we're gonna go first.

[Steve]

Well, I think it's more. Well, I mean, maybe that's it. But I. My leaning was more that it's so rural, you barely see anybody. You know, it's so. It's like, so desolate. Like, it's just so empty and so. Just wild. I don't know.

[Christine]

Yeah, I would say aliens.

[Steve]

Me too.

[Christine]

Okay, cool. Okay. Stepdad's close call on the Appalachian Trail. Listening to the at episode. At episode.

[Steve]

Oh, I was gonna say Asashi Legends. And I went, nope, that's not it.

[Christine]

Listening to the episode remind me.

[Steve]

The last episode. I don't know.

[Christine]

Oh, yeah. Maybe it's a typo. Well, listening to an episode and reminded me of a story my stepdad told me some time ago. By the way, this is from Liz. Kiss. Don't say it. She told me that he told me some time ago, and I just now called him to double check the details. So here you go. Being the dirty hippie from rural Virginia. He is.

[Steve]

Hey.

[Christine]

My stepdad Steve has spent a lot of time wandering around, almost certainly stoned on the Virginia North Carolina portion. Oh my God, Christine. I'm such an idiot. At Appalachian Trail.

[Steve]

Oh, I was like a T W W D. I know.

[Christine]

I was like, did you forget a couple letters there, Liz?

[Steve]

Oh my lord. Okay.

[Christine]

I'm so. My. My ego needs to calm down. Okay.

[Steve]

My ego needs to calm down.

[Christine]

Being the dirty hippie from rural Virginia, Steve has spent a lot of time wandering on the Virginia North Carolina portion of the Appalachian Trail or at. At back in the early 80s. He was way back in the holler hiking when he was approached by a thru hiker coming the opposite way, presumably, presumably from one of the shelters.

[Steve]

Oh no.

[Christine]

They stopped and chatted for a little bit and she asked him if he would be willing to drive her.

[Steve]

No.

[Christine]

To the bus stop in town or withdraw cash from an ATM for her.

[Steve]

Okay.

[Christine]

I hope Steve said F and U. Don't go near that person.

[Steve]

He was. He was stoned, remember?

[Christine]

Well, it says Steve thought the vibe was off and lied to her.

[Steve]

The vibe. He was. His vibrator was working. Well, I love it.

[Christine]

Like you could. He's stoned, but he's locked.

[Steve]

I will say sometimes when I take a weed gummy I'm like my senses are heightened and then I drop a glass of wine and places like you're not. They're not. But sometimes it feels like they're heightened.

[Christine]

You know, maybe when you're stoned you're more like suspicious. You're like, you get it.

[Steve]

Well, you definitely get more paranoid. Paranoid, dude. So that. That actually made me tracks. He's just paranoid. He's like, what do you want?

[Christine]

Yeah.

[Steve]

So strong.

[Christine]

Steve told her that he had to. Telling her he had to pick up my. Oh then elementary aged step siblings from school. In retrospect, he thought the interaction was a little weird, but he was probably overreacting.

[Steve]

And she had elementary school children. This lady.

[Christine]

Sorry. No. Basically he said, oh, I can't do that for you. I'm gonna go pick up my kids.

[Steve]

He said that as like the reason he can't. Okay, got it.

[Christine]

Love that. By the way, when those kids get picked up from school like their dad walking the big old dusty trail, stoned as a kite. Like he's just like, what's going on?

[Steve]

First of all, I love stoned as a kite instead of high as a kite. That's really good. Stone is a kite. And he shows up at the elementary school and they're like, what in the. Where have you been? Just wandering the trail again.

[Christine]

You know, just being stoned as a kite. In retrospect, he thought the interaction was a little weird, but he was probably overreacting, and she was probably harmless. Wrong. He was watching the news a couple weeks later, and a special. Oh, and a special ran on a local woman who had girl fed her husband fiberglass in his dinner, what killed him, and then fled, and she still hadn't been found. At this point, they showed a picture, and lo and behold, it was Steve's friend from the trail. I don't know if they ever found her, but I know Steve sure was glad he didn't stick around to help. Thank you for all you do.

[Steve]

Holy.

[Christine]

I mean, to know that this girl was either he was going to give her money or she was going to rob him. And it sounds like she would have happily killed him on the trail.

[Steve]

I don't know. I mean, did she have fiberglass with her? But it's. At least he would have to be involved in some big crime case, right? Like if he. If he drove her somewhere, you know, he's suddenly implicated in all this.

[Christine]

Yeah.

[Steve]

Yeah. You know what? That's amazing. Steve is like a good vibe detector, you know?

[Christine]

All I'm hearing is, it's good to be stoned as a kite because now.

[Steve]

You'Re going to finally, you get it.

[Christine]

Whatever. Whatever strain he was on was the exact one you want where you're having a good time, but you have not lost your. Your grass.

[Steve]

Your wits are about you, your wigs are in, on, around and about you.

[Christine]

Thank you for all you do. I've been a loyal listener since episode two.

[Steve]

Oh, damn.

[Christine]

Not one. Okay, okay.

[Steve]

Here's the thing about that. I always wonder about episode two, because I'm like, we released. Do you remember we released the first three episodes at the same time. So I'm always like, yeah, what. What does that mean? Like, does that mean, like, you started at episode two instead of listening to number one? Or does that mean, like, the day maybe four came out that you were like, oh, they just released their next. I don't know.

[Christine]

In my mind, I always assume. It's probably not right, but I always assume that they listened to episode one. They were like, it's all right, but I. I'm gonna give it another try. And on episode two, they go.

[Steve]

And they became a listener. Okay, maybe that's what that means. M. Okay. I never understood that. That is interesting.

[Christine]

It's. It's my guess, huh? Also, I like that Episode one needed. We needed a second.

[Steve]

Well, we all know that. I like. If there's anything I can promise, it's that please don't list. Episode one is like the end all. Be all quality wise. Or two for that matter, but whatever.

[Christine]

Well, Liz says there are plenty more stories about her cousin's haunted house in West Virginia and a number of paranormal stories at UVA and says love always, so. Thanks, Liz.

[Steve]

UVA's enrichment.

[Christine]

Yeah, it's in Charlottesville.

[Steve]

Excuse me? Oh, Charlottesville. Okay.

[Christine]

It's an hour further into the way I've always explained it is. It's an hour more rural away than Richmond. Richmond's like. It's big. Is like its big city after Charlottesville.

[Steve]

Got it. Okay. So it's like outside of the. Okay, gotcha.

[Christine]

It gets. It gets further into farmland.

[Steve]

Okay. Okay. Wowza. Wow. Wow. That's. That's what I did not expect. I should have, but I did not expect a true crime story in the mix.

[Christine]

Mix.

[Steve]

I know.

[Christine]

I loved it.

[Steve]

I know. And especially. Okay, here's the other thing about the vibe check is like, usually you'd hear it about a dude, right? Like, oh, a man's walking down the trail and, like, he seems suspicious, right? Because like. And I mean, most homicides, especially, like spousal homicide, is perpetrated by men. So to have this man walking down and a woman being like, hey, you know, can I pick? Can I take. Get a ride? It's like, you'd think that would be such a less threatening thing than like a random dude approaching a woman or a dude even approaching a dude. So I love that he was like, not today.

[Christine]

Not all men. I'm just saying.

[Steve]

Not all men. Right?

[Christine]

Not all men. Sometimes women. I'm just saying.

[Steve]

That's right. We can say that and you can't.

[Christine]

I want to throw up when I say it.

[Steve]

Not all men.

[Christine]

But no, that is. That's. That's a very astute point that, like, you would think you're. Especially as a guy who probably does not gauge his safety surroundings the way.

[Steve]

Right. Like, he doesn't have to necessarily. Exactly.

[Christine]

He would have probably only had a heightened moment if a man walked by. So he was really like a prime target.

[Steve]

It's almost like you'd be like, off your guard if, you know, typically if like a Just a lady walks up to you. Wow, that's wild. That's a good story. Okay, so this one. Is this the last one then?

[Christine]

It is.

[Steve]

Does that mean that. Okay.

[Christine]

Yeah. So we are very lucky that we have now Partnered with Magic Spoon and they had, they had one request from us when we during this and it was to go crazy.

[Steve]

And it says go crazy. What? I mean it says that. So that's what we're gonna do.

[Christine]

Magic spoon makes high protein zero sugar cereal and treats reinvented from your childhood, the nostalgia.

[Steve]

I mean we are big cereal people, you and I.

[Christine]

Just think of your, your childhood whimsy, your Saturday morning cereals and that expense got it covered.

[Steve]

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[Christine]

I brought them to the dog park and made everyone paste them with me.

[Steve]

Oh my God. You're like a real life influencer out in the wild.

[Christine]

People were very, very impressed with the treats. So good. My favorite is marshmallow. They also have chocolate peanut butter. They have dark chocolate. They had a blueberry one.

[Steve]

Yeah, I feel like they're good for on the go. Obviously pre or post workout, not relevant to me necessarily, but midnight snack, yes, I will be as soon as I think they just arrived on my door. I was telling em I just got a notification that something arrived at my door. So that'll be a post recording snack for me.

[Christine]

Great. Get $5 off your next order at magicspoon.com drink or look for magic spoon on Amazon or in your nearest grocery store. That's magicspoon.com drink for $5 off.

[Steve]

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[Christine]

When you go to the store and you make everyone with you go, you say touch that. Touch it. Touch it right now. Touch it.

[Steve]

Yep.

[Christine]

It's better than that.

[Steve]

We're going, guess what? It's machine washable. Okay. Perfect, perfect, perfect. Yeah.

[Christine]

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[Steve]

It elevates my body as I'm laying under it.

[Christine]

It's also our go to gift now it's personal, beautiful, something that people can use every day. It's literally called the number one blanket. The World's number one blanket. If you don't believe us, we're going to put pictures here of us actually snuggling up in them. Look how cozy and cute we are. We're so.

[Steve]

My God. Look how elevated we look. Elevate.

[Christine]

And you know you are missing out if you don't get yourself a Lola blanket. They also make weighted blankets for calming therapeutic vibes. I mean, there's just no reason not to have one.

[Steve]

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[Christine]

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[Steve]

This is from Chloe. That's a cute name. She her Love it. Subject is Appalachian Haunting Story parentheses. I love a long title. So does M. When they have to read pamphlets from the 1500s. Appalachian haunting story parentheses. The legend of the Creek Field woman got too personal. Okay. I was wondering if there'd be a bell witch because she's Tennessee. And I was like, oh, maybe the bell witch will come up. But instead we're doing Creekfield woman. I don't know who that is.

[Christine]

It feels like knockoff bell witch. It does.

[Steve]

It feels like, like her cousin or something.

[Christine]

Yeah, like, great value.

[Steve]

Don't fucking insult her until we find out who she is, dude. Like, she can come your way. Hello to the ATWD crew. I'm so excited. I'm Christine asked for Appalachian stories in 2022 because I've got one for y'. All. I grew up in a small. But that does. Does that not show you? Like, eventually we'll come to it because eventually Eva will be like, okay, you.

[Christine]

Just gotta commit to the bit.

[Steve]

Yeah, you just gotta commit, and then we'll show up eventually.

[Christine]

Hold on tight.

[Steve]

I grew up in a small community deep in a valley of the Appalachian mountains. The valley is well known for ghost sightings, and this made some people keep their distance. For example, I had a friend in high school that didn't like to visit my house because his dad said an invisible man screamed the word hey in his ear while he was hunting in the valley. So my friend was on edge whenever he would come over. Can you imagine hunting with your gun? And then someone's like, screams in your ear, like, what are they? Like that. That's a wood spirit. It's a wood nymph.

[Christine]

It's the moment your fingers on the trigger and you're so gentle with it. Then hey, boom.

[Steve]

And then it's like a not deer standing in front of you. Okay. I grew up hearing stories like this, and I had my own run in with an Appalachian legend as a kid. My older brother would always scare the out of me by telling me the legend of the Creek Field woman. For generations, people have said the creek filled woman haunts our little community and roams the valley at night. I don't like that she haunts your little community. I'd rather it be like a broad expanse, you know?

[Christine]

And roams the valley. Feels very lovely. And then all of a sudden I'm like, no, actually, it's almost like, too cutesy. Yeah, yeah. The wording is very floofy. It's like, oh, Rome's the valley. And then I'm like, oh, Rome's the valley.

[Steve]

Not in a spectral way. Thank you. Okay, let's see. She roams the valley at night.

[Christine]

Yeah.

[Steve]

Roaming at night.

[Christine]

No, I'm out.

[Steve]

They say she can be found on the creek bank. Also. No. Or walking up and down the trail where the railroad tracks used to be. Oh, I have goose cam. I spent many nights around a bonfire while people recounted their experiences with Mrs. Creek Field and other spirits. I'm getting, like, scared. I want to go to summer camp now.

[Christine]

Mrs. Creekfield sounds like the woman, like, the scary person in a goosebumps story. And yes, at the end, you find out she's been dead for 40 years.

[Steve]

Mask or something, you know?

[Christine]

Or the inverse is that all the kids are scared of her. And when they finally break into her house, they realize she's like, she just wants to give you candy.

[Steve]

Gentle. Yeah. So what? Who loves children? What's the. What was that story? Do you remember the story where it was like, the teacher who came to school as a sub. As a kid's book, as a substitute teacher, but really it was her.

[Christine]

Wow, you just pulled that out of my.

[Steve]

I like, sometimes I spot that at the bookstore and I'm like. I have a very, like, visceral memory of that, but I can never remember what it's called. And I feel like.

[Christine]

Never remember that if you don't.

[Steve]

I feel like her name is Mrs. Creekfield. You know, like. Yeah, she's like a fake teacher that is teaching the kids a lesson.

[Christine]

Like Undercover Boss.

[Steve]

Yeah, Undercover boss style. Exactly. Mrs. Creekfield. Okay, so bonfire, by the way, stories around a bonfire. There is nothing, like, more wonderful and scary about that. Like, because it's like your back is to the dark. Oh, I love it. Okay. When I was in high school, a group of my friends and I went creek field woman hunting. Okay, girl, that's your first mistake. Creek field woman hunting. A couple different times.

[Christine]

You can just say it in different words and just say, we were asking for.

[Steve]

We were searching around. We sent out for mistakes. Mrs. Creek. How about that? We sent out for her. This mostly involved us getting high and walking the. You and Steve. This is. See, this is maybe this. Why Appalachia and I just get along. I'm like, this is my vibe. Okay. Getting high at the bonfire, wandering around scared out of your mind, looking for Mrs. Creekfield.

[Christine]

It's literally just like taking a hit and taking a stroll and that's it.

[Steve]

You know what, Em? That's beautiful.

[Christine]

Thank you, Appalachia.

[Steve]

Every now and then, a murderer comes along and I'm like, not today. Yeah, I'm not that stoned like a kite. This mostly involved us getting high and walking the creek bank at night. But unfortunately, we never had any run ins with Mrs. Creek. Feel this way. There are a couple different variations of the story, and you can find the other variations online and in books. Some say her husband killed her. Some say she killed her husband and children. Oh, maybe it's this fiberglass story again or like a repeat.

[Christine]

I don't know.

[Steve]

But this is the legend that I grew up hearing. During the Civil War, when a group of soldiers reached the mountains of Virginia. They came across a small cabin, the only inhabitant being one lady, Mrs. Creekfield, who was waiting for her husband to return from the war.

[Christine]

Classic.

[Steve]

This is Creek Field. Yeah, very classic. Mrs. Creekfield was unfriendly and wary of the soldiers since there were rumors of soldiers robbing homes during the war, angered by her stubbornness. Legend says that Those soldiers murdered Mrs. Creekfield when she would not give them what they wanted. Skip to the fall of 2013. And that's not even like an unreasonable story, you know, like with Bell Witch, you get such like, wild like. Like stories about, like, what could have happened in. In real life. But like, soldiers coming and killing an old lady is not like a shocking. Yeah, it's not like an unbelievable.

[Christine]

Unfortunately.

[Steve]

Unfortunately. Skip to the fall of 2013, where I'm living my life as a happy go lucky sophomore in high school. One night, I woke up to loud music playing in my bedroom. I frantically searched for the source of the music and was confused to see my Kindle was playing the song Gold on the Ceiling by the Black Key. I know that Song. This was odd to me because this was the first time I had learned that Kindles could even play music. I mean, this is the first I'm hearing of that. Although it was weird, I didn't think much of it. So I turned my Kindle off. And by the way, my kindle now in 2025 is like very basic. Like 2013, they like were the height of technology. Yeah, no, like they were very basic. Like they were like very simplistic. Like they were like you download. You couldn't even buy books on a Kindle. You had to like, like send them to your Kindle from the Internet. So it's like these things shouldn't be just like turning themselves on. You know what I mean?

[Christine]

I, I've never had a Kindle, so I, I never learned how it, what it looks like.

[Steve]

They're sort of like a tablet, but basically they're just made for most like, just books mostly. Especially in 2013. I was like, that was.

[Christine]

Well, I, I, I don't know if you were going to say this, but it reminds me a lot of Michael.

[Steve]

And yes, I was thinking that when my iPad, like open Apple Music, it was also had a cover on it played Apple Music. And I kept screaming at M who was on the toilet. I was like, help. And you were like, turn down the music. I was like, it's not me. And then the song was something creepy, like through the door. I don't know, something like really unsettling. That was also the first. I was like, I don't even have Apple Music. Like, I didn't buy that song. I don't know. It was weird. Okay.

[Christine]

That was a weird day.

[Steve]

It was weird.

[Christine]

Yuck.

[Steve]

Okay, so I turned my Kindle off and went back to bed. The next day I was telling my brother, the very same brother that used to torment me about the creek filled woman, about the this random Black key song playing in the middle of the night. Even though I hadn't downloaded a music app onto my Kindle, I explained that the song hadn't started from the beginning, but it actually started playing from the chorus, which goes, they want to get my gold on the ceiling. In absolute terror, my brother looked at me and said, are you with me? First of all, that is the scariest thing a person can say to you if you're telling them, hey, something weird happen.

[Christine]

Especially if it's your brother.

[Steve]

Especially if it's your brother. Are you with me? He then proceeded to remind me that Mrs. Creekfield was murdered less than a mile from her house when she refused to tell the soldiers where she had hidden her gold. People theorize it was in her ceiling.

[Christine]

Shut up.

[Steve]

Okay. Also, that was closed line, and it says tmtmtm. So this is like closed theory that it's hidden in the ceiling. I feel like it's a good theory, though.

[Christine]

It's a great theory.

[Steve]

I love the show and thank you for asking for Appalachian Stories. I'm so grateful to have grown up in one of the most beautiful regions of the world. No matter where life takes me, I carry those mountains in my soul. And I'm always happy to share my childhood experiences with anyone who asks. That's how I feel. And I'm not from there, so it's like I need to back. Back off. But I do feel this weird, like, home. I don't know. Pull to it. Yeah, it's just, like, so beautiful. I don't know. Something about that whole area. That's awesome. Coal mines and all that. That. Anyway, it's really. It's a hard place to live too.

[Christine]

That was our last one.

[Steve]

Yes. We did it. Thank you, everyone. Three years to get to Apple Legend stories.

[Christine]

What the hell did we request recently that we won't get to until 2028?

[Steve]

You know, amazing. Like, it'll be like, oh, dystopian tales from the future. Here we are sharing them.

[Christine]

If we can make a request now. Can you. Can you all reach out when the world is better and then say, we did it? That would be really nice.

[Steve]

Tell us, like, something heartwarming. Yeah, yeah.

[Christine]

When we get to the finish line of this hellscape we're in today. Other than that, thank everyone for all your stories and send them in all those years ago, but appreciate everyone who has stuck with us on Paratime and you finally get to hear your story told.

[Steve]

I know. And if that gives you any hope that we'll read it, I hope it does because eventually we do get to them and we search certain keywords or EVA does in the inbox to find stories. So even if you sent it in, you know, eight, seven, six, five years ago and or yesterday, who knows, you know, so it'll still have a chance of being on the show. If you do want to submit a store, you can go to and that's why you drink dot com and you can see all of our other fun stuff there and listen to us every.

[Christine]

Sunday and join us on Patreon if you would like to suggest a topic as well. And if you want yappy hour, more bonus content, things like that. Yeah. Thanks, everyone. Go see Christine live whenever you go back. Don't you go back in August?

[Steve]

Yes. Deep breath. But thankfully, it's driving distance because it's just Indianapolis and Detroit. Then I'm home. So cool. No more time changes. Well, one time change, but that's it.

[Christine]

Yay. Okay, well, everyone go see Christine. Read some reviews and.

[Steve]

And go see. I'm giving out.

[Christine]

Come to the dog park if you want to see me.

[Steve]

Em's just like, social butterfly of the dog park.

[Christine]

Now if you want to see me and the stupid dog yell at each other. It's a lot of him barking at me and me barking at him.

[Steve]

If only I could see it.

[Christine]

And that's why we drink.

[Steve]

Look out for nada deers.