Woo Woo with Rachel Dratch
Episode: Cynthia Rowley: The Woman in the Gray Veil
Host: Rachel Dratch
Guests: Cynthia Rowley (fashion designer), Irene Bremis (co-host)
Release Date: September 3, 2025
Episode Overview
In this episode of "Woo Woo with Rachel Dratch," Rachel and co-host Irene Bremis welcome renowned fashion designer Cynthia Rowley for a lively, eerie, and genuinely compelling conversation about real-life ghost stories, psychic moments, and intuition. Cynthia shares her extraordinary haunted house experience involving the infamous "Woman in the Gray Veil," brush-ins with spirits in Marfa, Texas, séances gone awry, and her beliefs about intuition and the power of being open to “woo woo” possibilities. The episode glides between true-life chills, laughter, and heartfelt moments about love, loss, and serendipity.
Key Discussion Points
Cynthia Rowley: Creativity & "Witchy" Reputation
[03:32]
- Cynthia admits friends and colleagues call her "the witch" because of frequent psychic phenomena in her life.
- “People at work and friends of mine do call me the witch. Only because I have a lot of psychic phenomenon occasions that happen to me and really sometimes really kind of freaky.” (Cynthia Rowley, 03:32)
- Discusses growing up in a small town, relying on her imagination, openness, and visualization as formative traits for both creativity and “woo woo” experiences.
The Haunted House & The Woman in the Gray Veil
Cynthia’s Ghost Story
[05:28 – 17:22]
- Cynthia describes moving to an old house in upstate New York built by “the heiress to the diamond match fortune,” a woman badly burned and disfigured in a factory fire, who subsequently lived in seclusion.
- During the first few weeks, Cynthia experiences a terrifying fire:
- “I light the candle. I watch the flame jump straight across up to the wreath. The wreath goes into a giant, like, ring of fire.” (Cynthia Rowley, 08:28)
- The fire department is matter-of-fact:
- "Well, we're not surprised about this because this house was built by the heiress to the diamond match fortune..." (Cynthia relaying fireman’s words, 10:51)
- Strange occurrences escalate: lights popping, unexplained touches, both she and her husband seemingly seeing a “woman in a gray veil.”
- “I would walk down that hall, and I would feel something, like, brush my arm, like I was passing someone.” (Cynthia Rowley, 13:23)
- Confirms ghostly activity with the fire department, who recall the woman was never seen without her veil.
- “The only time we ever got a glimpse of her, she had a gray veil on...” (Fire department story relayed by Cynthia, 16:01)
- Story corroborated by a letter from the woman’s real-life niece after Cynthia recounted it on TV.
Memorable Quotes
- “That’s 100% true story. And I actually told this story on the Biography Channel. Ghost Stories. And I got a letter from this woman’s niece… So it’s real and she still lives there.” (Cynthia Rowley, 16:51)
Other Paranormal Experiences
Ghosts in Marfa, Texas
[27:39 – 31:00]
- In Marfa, Cynthia visits a historic museum house, encounters unexplained banging, and is told by the staff, “oh, that’s our ghost.”
- Introduces the idea of ghosts attaching themselves to objects, particularly antique beds brought from Europe.
Tabletop Séance Gone Wrong
[22:13 – 24:29]
- Cynthia recounts participating in a DIY Ouija-style séance:
- Correct, personal answers from the glass, then it flies across the room after provoking the spirit.
- “The glass goes flying across the table and smashes into the wall. We gathered up all the letters and numbers and like ran out of the house and left.” (Cynthia Rowley, 24:00)
Notable Quotes
- “Apparently ghosts can travel in furniture. Yes, yes. Especially beds. And so I guess this woman kept experiencing this, like, feeling that someone was on top of her in her bed. And I was kind of like, could I get one of those beds? Because it's been a while for me.” (Cynthia Rowley, 30:02)
Intuition, Psychic Phenomena, and Signs
[34:29 – 39:41]
- Cynthia describes herself as “extra intuitive” and discusses her belief in signs, especially after the loss of her first husband.
- “I made a pact. I said, I'm going to live my life for both of us. And he said, I'm going to watch out for you. And I feel like I have a guardian angel.” (Cynthia Rowley, 35:13)
- The significance of a red cardinal frequently visiting her backyard is discussed as a possible sign from her late husband, matched by her mother's research on the symbolism.
- Rachel and Irene discuss the philosophy that being open to signs attracts more positivity, and that “looking for what’s right” shifts perspective.
Astrology Guessing Game
[39:46 – 41:54]
- Irene and Rachel attempt to guess Cynthia’s zodiac sign, cycling humorously through nearly the entire zodiac before she reveals she's a Leo.
Closing Ritual: The Pendulum
[42:39 – 44:56]
- Rachel and Irene perform their show-closing “pendulum reading,” with Cynthia playfully testing the pendulum’s accuracy with questions she knows the answers to.
- Cynthia avoids answering a final, more personal question, escaping when Rachel’s dog disrupts the session.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “The first one was about being honored. Okay, well, you are going to be on my industry.” (Cynthia Rowley, 44:44)
- “I think if you see a ton of ghosts, that kind of wrecks your credibility a little. So the one ghost per customer is probably good.” (Rachel Dratch, 27:13)
- “I'm a pathological optimist, I would say.” (Cynthia Rowley, 39:41)
Timestamps for Main Segments
- 03:32 – Cynthia’s early life, reputation for intuition
- 05:28 – 17:22 – Haunted house story: The woman in the gray veil
- 22:13 – 24:29 – Tabletop séance with flying glass
- 27:39 – 31:00 – Ghostly encounter in Marfa, Texas and haunted furniture
- 34:29 – 39:41 – Intuitive moments, guardian angel stories, sign from red cardinal
- 39:46 – 41:54 – The great Leo reveal: astrological guessing game
- 42:39 – 44:56 – The pendulum reading (show finale, playful closure)
Tone and Style
- Light, conversational, witty, and self-deprecating, even during the scariest stories.
- Genuine curiosity blended with humor as befits both Rachel Dratch and Cynthia Rowley’s personalities.
- Includes heartfelt reflections on love, loss, resilience, and gratitude, as well as zippy comic banter and playful skepticism about psychic phenomena.
For Listeners Who Missed the Episode
If you’re interested in chilling yet charming tales of the unexplained, amusing failed astrology, or want to hear one of fashion’s most creative minds recount her brush with a legendary ghost, this episode is for you. Cynthia Rowley is candid, funny, and offers just the right mix of spooky and sweet. The interview not only entertains but also explores the power of staying open—to the uncanny, to intuition, and to life’s wondrous unpredictabilities.