Salem The Podcast

Salem The Podcast

Welcome to Salem, Massachusetts! Join tour guides Jeffrey Lilley and Sarah Black as they talk all things Witch City. Learn its history, meet its people, and discover the magic.

Episodes

March 4, 2026 59 mins

We return to 1692 Salem to talk about another victim of the Salem Witch Trials: Alice Parker. Details of her early life may be scant - maybe even nonexistent - but those superstitious puritans left behind plenty of vivid examinations and testimony for us to sift through. Join Sarah and Jeffrey, your favorite Salem tour guides, for a look at Alice Parker's story.

  • Roach, Marilynne K. The Salem Witch ...
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Salem is buried in snow! Or rather - the whole New England region is. We thought it was the perfect time to dig up our Blizzard episode from last year. Stay warm!

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New England is known for its unpredictable and unforgiving winter weather. We've seen everything from ice storms to a Snowpocalypse, but few storms have had the impact as the Northeastern Blizzard of 1978. Hurricane force winds, extreme tidal flooding, and over two ...

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February 18, 2026 78 mins

Our journey down Essex Street comes to an end with a final stroll through the McIntire District. We leave behind the bustling downtown center with a history of commerce, theaters, and banks, to venture into a quieter, residential stretch. From the Witch House to the intersection at Boston Street, let's walk the last .6 miles of our Salem's main drag. Join Jeffrey and Sarah, your favorite Salem tour guides, for one final exploration...

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February 10, 2026 88 mins

Welcome to our fourth annual installment of Love Nuggets! This time, in front of a LIVE audience at Longboards Restaurant & Bar located on Pickering Wharf. If you didn't make it out during the untimely blizzard and parking ban, fret not, you can listen now. It was Salem's So Sweet weekend and we found some sweet and shocking history for you - not to mention our lovely listener contributions. Join Sarah and Jeffrey, your favorit...

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January 28, 2026 77 mins

We're back for another round of tunnel hunting! Way back in Episode 10, we talked about the legend of smuggling tunnels under Salem and it has been somewhat of a running joke on the Pod ever since. But it's time to revisit these rumors, because historically, there was no network of secret hidden tunnels in Salem. Join Jeffrey and Sarah, your favorite Salem tour guides, as they debunk the persistent claims about these so-called smug...

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January 21, 2026 89 mins

How do you wrap up a week-long celebration of 300 years of history? With more parades... obviously! Along with band concerts, street fairs, fireworks, a grand ball, and even a firemen's muster. Our coverage of Salem's 300th birthday may be coming to a close, but we still have a lot to get through on the event line-up. Join Sarah and Jeffrey, your favorite Salem tour guides, as they reach their conclusion on the celebrations of a ce...

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January 13, 2026 81 mins

A century ago Salem celebrated its 300th birthday. And they had a party like you would never believe! Last week we covered just the first day of festivities, so let's see what the next few days have in store! Join Jeffrey and Sarah, your favorite Salem tour guides, as they take another look back at Salem's Tercentenary celebration. Prepare for parades, parachutes, and presidents galore!

Tickets to our next LIVE SHOW on February 7th

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    January 6, 2026 86 mins

    Happy Birthday Witch City! Salem was founded in 1626 by Roger Conant which means this year we celebrate 400+ years of history. So how is Salem The Podcast gonna kick off the celebration? Let's turn back the clock by 100 years and see how the people of Salem were celebrating back in 1926! Join Sarah and Jeffrey, your favorite Salem tour guides, as they dive into the monumental week-long extravaganza that was Salem 300. It all kicked...

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    December 30, 2025 75 mins

    Let's return to Essex Street! At the end of part 2, we stopped at the East India Square Fountain, so we will pick up there and wander all the way down to North Street. Today, you'd walk past apartments, Professor Spindlewinks, Count Orlok's, and Rockafellas. But if we could turn the (Almy's) clock back, we would see Almy's department store, flanked by banks, banks, and more banks! Join Jeffrey and Sarah, your favorite Salem tour gu...

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    December 24, 2025 61 mins

    Salem doesn’t shut down after Halloween. Quite the opposite, in fact! During the winter months, Witch City plays host to so many fun holiday traditions, markets, events, and celebrations. But few compare to “Christmas in Salem.” On the first weekend of every December, Historic Salem Inc. presents a unique experience where we get to tour historic homes decorated for the holiday season. Join Sarah and Jeffrey, your favorite Salem tou...

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    You know it, you love it, Salem's longest-standing goth style clothing, Die With Your Boots On! For almost a decade they have been “keeping Salem's dark subcultures in clothing as black as their hearts.” So let's meet the mastermind behind the brand: the writer, the poet, the musician, the fashionista herself, Amber Newberry. Join Jeffrey and Sarah, your favorite Salem tour guides, for a sit-down with Amber. Learn how a girl from s...

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    December 10, 2025 108 mins

    From award-winning playwright Kimberly Bellflower comes a modern reimagining of Arthur Miller's The Crucible. Set in rural Georgia in 2018; what does high school feminism, mixed with the #MeToo movement, and studying the Salem Witch Trials look like? Join Sarah and Jeffrey, your favorite Salem tour guides, as they read through and reflect on this modern, feminist response to Arthur Miller's interpretation. We found it to be a maste...

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    December 3, 2025 80 mins

    John Proctor was hanged on August 19, 1692. His wife Elizabeth, while found guilty, received a stay of execution because of her pregnancy. We have covered accusations, arrests, jail time, family ties, but we're not done yet. Join Jeffrey and Sarah, your favorite Salem tour guides, as they focus on what happened to Elizabeth Proctor and the struggles she faced after the trials. Let's wrap up the Proctor story.

     

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    November 26, 2025 131 mins

    Nestled under the shade of a copper beech, with its iconic spired fence and captivating gables, sits a rare gem of American history. The Pickering House is the oldest, continuously lived in home in the United States, with over 350 years of stories, it stands as a testimony to the enormity of Salem’s history. Join Sarah and Jeffrey, your favorite Salem tour guides, as they take a tour of this iconic landmark led by the current caret...

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    November 19, 2025 104 mins

    We left off last time with the arrest of Elizabeth Proctor. So now our story continues with the accusations against her, which very quickly spread to her husband, John Proctor. It's no longer just women, it's no longer just Salem, the fear of the Devil has spread. Join Jeffrey and Sarah, your favorite Salem tour guides, as they recap testimony, petitions, and sift through accusations and evidence surrounding the Proctor family. Wha...

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    November 12, 2025 69 mins

    October may be over, but history persists! And we're getting back into the Salem Witch Trials. Executed on August 19th 1692, John Proctor may be one of the most famous names associated with Salem, but does he deserve the fame? Join your favorite Salem tour guides as they tackle the first part of this man's life. From his arrival to the Massachusetts Bay Colony at the age of three, to his life as a father, farmer, and tavern owner. 

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    November 6, 2025 95 mins

    It's movie review time! Sarah learned about a new direct-to-streaming movie set in Salem. We looked at the premise, we watched the trailer, and we were EXCITED. That excitement didn’t last though because this movie was... something. Just how bad was it?? There's only one way to find out - watch it yourself. If already have, we're sorry! And if you haven't, you've been warned. But to save you from that horror we've done a full revie...

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    October 28, 2025 43 mins

    Hello from the busy streets of Witch City! Join Jeffrey and Sarah, your favorite Salem pumpkins, as they waddle their way around downtown to chat with visitors, workers, and street performers.

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    October 24, 2025 53 mins

    Oh hello October. It's been BUSY here. We hope all of you are enjoying your spooky season! Join Sarah and Jeffrey, your favorite (exhausted) tour guides as they do a mid season check in. What's been happening on the streets? What wild tourists have they encountered? And just how long was the line for the Salem Night Faire?! This is only part 1 for the episode. Stay tuned for part 2 where we don our blow-up pumpkin costumes and hit ...

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    October 17, 2025 83 mins

    What's spooky season without a bit of true crime? While sensational murders like that of Captain Joseph White in 1830 took Salem and the country by storm, there are countless more that have since been forgotten. But leave it to Sarah to dig through old newspapers and bring them back into our collective memory! Join Jeffrey and Sarah, your favorite Salem tour guides as they learn about some crimes of Salem's past. What about the dog...

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