SC Public Radio Uncovers Local Legends and Investigates Reported Hauntings in New “South of Spooky” Podcast

Press Release

South Carolina ETV and SC Public Radio announced that episodes of the new podcast “South of Spooky,” will be available for streaming starting on October 7th. The weekly podcast is a lighthearted exploration of history and culture through the lens of local legends and their impact on communities across our region. “South of Spooky” will be available for streaming on the SC Public Radio website, YouTube channel and major podcast apps.

Stories such as the Gray Man of Pawleys Island, the unexplained hauntings at the historic Poinsette Bridge in Landrum, and even a trip to a reportedly haunted hospital in Tennessee will all be explored in the inaugural season of this limited series. Production funding for “South of Spooky” is provided by the ETV Endowment of South Carolina.

Hosts Gavin Jackson and A.T. Shire dig into the stories with paranormal experts, historians, authors and community members to see how these myths and ghost stories impact their community’s history, values and way of life.

“When I take off my official reporter jacket after a long day of covering the horrors of the modern news cycle, I enjoy covering a different kind of terror—the fictional kind that has a splash of history and a stir of humor,” Jackson said. “‘South of Spooky’ is meant to enlighten and entertain as well as provide a brief respite from the news.”

After working on the SC Public Radio productions Piano Jazz and Song Travels with Michael Feinstein, “South of Spooky” host A.T. Shire moved to Columbia, SC to join the SC Public Radio team. Host Gavin Jackson joined the South Carolina ETV and SC Public Radio team in 2017 and hosts the weekly public affairs show This Week in South Carolina and the South Carolina Lede news podcast.

“Whether it was being obsessed with horror movies or staring endlessly at Slayer and Metallica album covers as a child, I’ve always had a soft spot for the scarier things in life,” Shire said. “When moving to South Carolina from New Jersey, what struck me immediately was how numerous and entrenched ghost stories and urban legends are here in the Palmetto State. Meeting Gavin, I’ve found a kindred spirit (pun intended, not sorry) when it comes to interest in the paranormal and we cover it the only way we know how: we’re serious about having fun while we learn.

In Episode 1, “South of Spooky” investigates the story of the Gray Man of Pawleys Island, considered to be a sign of protection from hurricanes. The centuries-old leg­end is that of a love story. A young man dies on his way to ask for his fiancé’s hand in marriage. After his death, the young woman is warned about a storm by a cloaked gray man, and her home remains undam­aged. The Gray Man is said to roam the island in the days before a storm, still searching for his lover.

New episodes of “South of Spooky” will be released each week, with the final episode released on November 11.

Visit the SC Public Radio website for more information on “South of Spooky,” to listen to Episode 1 or to subscribe through your favorite podcast app.

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