Spooked Podcast: "Girls and Ghosts" Episode Summary

Release Date: March 21, 2025
Host: Glynn Washington
Produced by: KQED and Snap Studios

Introduction

In the "Girls and Ghosts" episode of Spooked, host Glynn Washington delves into two haunting true-life supernatural stories that intertwine family secrets, cultural traditions, and unexplained phenomena. Each narrative explores the thin veil between the living and the dead, revealing how past actions and unresolved emotions can linger beyond death.

Roberta Simpson Brown: The Cursed Silver Dollar

Timestamp: [03:17]

Roberta Simpson Brown shares a chilling tale from her childhood on her family's farm near Lake Cumberland, Kentucky, during the 1930s and 1940s. The story centers around a cherished family heirloom—a silver dollar passed down from Roberta's grandfather, Uncle Tom.

Key Events:

• The Theft and the Sinkhole: Roberta recounts how her cousin, Lenzo, under pressure to contribute to a fireworks display, takes Uncle Tom's precious silver dollar to raise the needed funds. Unbeknownst to Lenzo, the silver dollar holds significant sentimental value. When confronted by their grandmother, the silver dollar mysteriously vanishes into a nearby sinkhole.

  "I held the quarter in my hand and asked to buy some candy but the old man must have heard it wrong cause he poured me a brandy." — [00:04] Note: This line appears to be a misattribution or unrelated content from the transcript.

• Lenzo's Promise and Untimely Death: Despite his efforts to replace the silver dollar, Lenzo fails to retrieve it. Struggling academically, he is ultimately hit and killed by a hit-and-run driver. The family is devastated, but the mystery deepens when, during the Fourth of July celebration, the silver dollar inexplicably resurfaces from the sinkhole.

  "And Grandma Simpson said, give what back?... He had to tell her." — [03:17]

• The Supernatural Intervention: On the night Lenzo dies, Glenda witnesses a mysterious light and a silhouetted figure—a woman dressed in bridal attire with a sickle—hovering over the sinkhole. This apparition retrieves the silver dollar, suggesting a supernatural resolution to Lenzo's promise to return the heirloom.

  "I saw the light disappear. And then I saw my dad bend down and look around the sinkhole... And he held out his hand and he showed us that silver dollar." — [15:03]

Insights:

Roberta's story intertwines themes of responsibility, familial duties, and the supernatural consequences of breaking trust. The return of the silver dollar symbolizes redemption and the enduring bonds within a family, even beyond death.

Sri Latha: The Attic Bride and the Family Curse

Timestamp: [26:48]

Sri Latha narrates her experiences growing up between Mumbai and her family's ancestral home in Sri Lanka. Her story explores cultural rites, gender expectations, and the haunting presence of a vengeful spirit tied to a longstanding family curse.

Key Events:

• Cultural Upbringing and Gender Roles: Sri Latha describes the vibrant yet strict environment of her family's ancestral home, emphasizing rituals involving the banana tree—a symbol of femininity and spiritual participation in family ceremonies.

  "The banana tree is considered female because it bears flower and fruit... women wear that on their forehead." — [28:27]

• Childhood Betrayal and Supernatural Encounter: During her adolescence, Sri Latha experiences bullying and strict gender-based restrictions. One night, while alone in the attic, she encounters a woman dressed as a bride wielding a sickle. The encounter leaves her physically unharmed but emotionally scarred, as her family dismisses her account as a bad dream.

  "I saw this woman, probably about six feet away... All of a sudden she takes her sickle and she slashes it towards me." — [32:03]

• Revelation of the Family Curse: The narrative delves into the history of Sri Latha's great grandfather, who became cursed after his wife, perceived as promiscuous, committed suicide. The curse doomed male members of the family to tragic ends until a penance involving the marriage to a banana tree was performed to lift it.

  "He decided to punish himself by living like a dead person... his younger brother... his great grandfather..." — [39:22]

• Lingering Presence and Acceptance: Sri Latha reflects on the possibility that the bride apparition was the very spirit that initiated the family's curse. She expresses a desire to honor the memory of the wronged woman and reject the cycle of mistreatment.

  "I believe that he [the ancestor] had her reasons... She was welcoming me into being a woman who knows she was treated very unjustly." — [41:00]

Insights:

Sri Latha's story highlights the intersection of cultural traditions and gender dynamics, illustrating how ancestral actions and curses can perpetuate suffering across generations. The ghostly bride serves as both a symbol of unresolved grief and a catalyst for breaking free from past injustices.

Reflections and Themes

Both narratives in "Girls and Ghosts" emphasize the profound impact of familial legacies and unresolved conflicts. The spectral elements—whether a cursed heirloom or a vengeful spirit—act as manifestations of deeper emotional and cultural tensions. These stories suggest that acknowledging and addressing past wrongs is essential for healing and breaking harmful cycles.

Notable Quotes:

• "We did. And I can't help but wonder if we can murder an entire lake, an entire ecosystem, by accident." — [03:17]

• "I think she is still a part of the family in a way... she deserves to be remembered." — [41:00]

Conclusion

In this episode of Spooked, Glynn Washington masterfully weaves together personal anecdotes and folklore to explore how ghosts can embody the lingering effects of human actions and cultural expectations. "Girls and Ghosts" serves as a reminder that the past is never truly gone and that understanding our histories is crucial in facing the unknown.

Call to Action

Glynn Washington invites listeners to share their own spooked stories for a chance to be featured on the upcoming Spook Live tour.

"Tell me spookednapjudgment.org because there's nothing better than a spooked story from a spooked listener." — [24:20], [40:42]

For more supernatural tales, tune into Spooked available on all major podcast platforms.