Lore Podcast — Special Announcement: Exhumed

Host: Aaron Mahnke
Date: January 9, 2026

Episode Overview

In this special announcement episode, Aaron Mahnke reflects on the origins of the Lore podcast and shares an exciting personal milestone: the upcoming release of his new book, Exhumed. The book explores the historical, cultural, and folkloric roots of the Mercy Brown story—the subject of Lore’s very first episode—and promises to shed new light on why such dark events happened in small-town America.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Origins of Lore and the Mercy Brown Story (00:01–03:00)

• Aaron reminisces about the uncertain beginnings of Lore, starting with a set of “weird historical essays” he intended for a different project.
• He credits his first essay—about Mercy Brown—as the genesis of Lore:

  “The very first one I wrote was also the one I picked for the first episode of Lore. It was the one that grabbed my attention the tightest and had me asking all sorts of questions.” (01:04)

• He retells the Mercy Brown legend:
  • Mercy, a teenager, died of illness in 1892 in rural Rhode Island, following the deaths of her mother and sister. Her brother was sick, and desperation led the townspeople to suspect supernatural causes.
  • Believing one of the deceased was preying on the living, the townsfolk exhumed the Brown family’s graves and, upon finding Mercy’s corpse in a state they deemed suspicious, they burned her heart in an effort to end the "curse".
  • Aaron expresses lifelong fascination with folklore, yet this story stands out as particularly haunting and thought-provoking.

2. Unraveling the "Why" Behind the Folklore (03:00–04:20)

• Aaron discusses his persistent intrigue surrounding not just what happened, but why such events occurred:

  “But mostly because it got my mental gears spinning. Why? Why in the world would people think that this sort of action, this sort of ritual, was acceptable and would work?” (02:24)

• Over a decade, he noticed connections between the Mercy Brown story and other topics featured in Lore.
• Sensing an untold story behind the Mercy Brown episode, Aaron began to investigate deeper cultural, historical, and social factors.

3. Announcing Exhumed: The Book (04:20–06:30)

• After years of research and writing, Aaron announces Exhumed, a book that explores the deeper reasons behind Mercy Brown’s exhumation—going beyond the familiar tale to examine:
  • Folklore
  • Social norms
  • Scientific beliefs
  • Cultural trends of the era
• He promises the book will be accessible (“easy for anyone, even non historians, to pick up and enjoy”) and filled with “wild, strange and incredible history.”
• Aaron emphasizes Exhumed is not just a retelling, but a richer, more connected account:

  “It takes a story that a lot of people think they know and unpacks it in a new way, giving it a lot more depth and texture than a simple retelling of her exhumation.” (05:15)

• The book is available for pre-order (hardcover, ebook, and audiobook—narrated by Aaron himself).
  • Release date: August 4, 2026

4. Closing Reflections & Call to Action (06:30–End)

• Aaron expresses gratitude to listeners for supporting his research and creative pursuit:

  “Thank you. Thank you for letting me dig and dig for a decade so that I could unearth these answers, these stories, and these connections.” (06:43)

• The episode ends on a lighthearted, signature note:

  “And it goes without saying, I think you’re gonna dig it.” (07:06)

• Strong encouragement for listeners to pre-order the book and “stay spooky.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Lore’s Origins:

  “If you’ve enjoyed Lore over the last decade, that’s where it all started. Me at home writing little historical essays about weird and creep[y] moments on the historical record.” (00:28)

• On the Mercy Brown Legend:

  “Desperate people, as we know, tend to do some pretty weird things…they began to wonder if something more supernatural might be at work.” (01:20)

• On Exploring Deeper Truths:

  “As far as I can tell, no one has tried to piece together before…what folklore, social norms, scientific beliefs and cultural trends contributed to the actions of that small Rhode Island farming community?” (04:00)

• On the New Book:

  “It’s written in a way that should be easy for anyone, even non historians, to pick up and enjoy…giving it a lot more depth and texture than a simple retelling of her exhumation.” (05:05)

• On Gratitude and Legacy:

  “I am incredibly proud of this book and I can’t wait for you to experience it for yourselves.” (06:55)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:01 – Aaron recounts the beginnings of Lore and introduction to the Mercy Brown story
• 01:10 – Detailed summary of the Mercy Brown vampire panic
• 02:24 – Reflection on the deeper questions: “Why did this happen?”
• 03:30 – Explanation of connections to broader historical and folkloric themes
• 04:20 – Announcement of Exhumed, new research, and book details
• 05:15 – Book’s unique approach and accessibility
• 06:43 – Gratitude to listeners and closing remarks

Summary

This special announcement is both a reflection on Lore’s roots and a teaser for Exhumed, Aaron Mahnke’s upcoming deep-dive into the Mercy Brown legend and its historical context. Fans are invited to join Aaron in uncovering not just the facts, but the tapestry of superstition, folklore, and social fear that led a small community to a dark and desperate act. Both newcomers and long-time listeners will find something to “dig” in this milestone project.