Podcast

My Victorian Nightmare

History

Here you’ll find mysterious deaths, morbid fascinations, disturbing stories, and otherwise spooky events from the Victorian Era. For ad-free listening, witchy content, Victorian True Crime Extras and Dark Poetry, join The Patreon!

And check out my new podcast series, The Death of Edgar Allan Poe!

History chart
#90
Episodes
126
Releases
Weekly
Typical length
42 min
On air since
2024
Latest episode
1 day ago

Episodes

126 episodes, newest first

  1. Ep. 119 - The Georgia Murderess

    Show notes

    In this episode, Genevieve will discuss the most insane true crime story from the Victorian era – that you never heard of. This is the murder and trial of the Georgia Murderess, Kate Southern.

    Thank you to today’s sponsor!

    Try skincare from Alloy. Visit https://www.myalloy.com/ and use code VICTORIAN for 20% off your first order!

    Subscribe to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for ad-free listening!

    The Death of Edgar Allan Poe on⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Death of Edgar Allan Poe Collection⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Subscribe to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

    Today's ⁠Instagram Post⁠

    Help yourself to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MVN merch⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

    Genevieve’s book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Where to Begin – Eclectic Witchcraft for Beginners

    42 min
  2. Ep. 118 - The Vampire Panic of Highgate Cemetery & Victorian Devil Sightings

    Show notes

    Thank you to today’s sponsor!

    Spoiler: you can feel amazing in menopause. Visit https://myalloy.com and use code VICTORIAN for 20% off your first order!

    Subscribe to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for ad-free listening!

    The Death of Edgar Allan Poe on⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠⁠⁠and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠

    ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Death of Edgar Allan Poe Collection⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Subscribe to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠!

    Today's Instagram Post

    My ⁠⁠⁠Halloween Party Playlist⁠⁠⁠

    Help yourself to ⁠⁠⁠⁠MVN merch⁠⁠⁠⁠!

    Genevieve’s book, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Where to Begin – Eclectic Witchcraft for Beginners

    42 min
  3. Introducing | The Death of Edgar Allan Poe

    Show notes

    This is the first episode of The Death of Edgar Allan Poe.

    You can find all episodes on⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠, Amazon Music, and ad-free on Patreon.⁠⁠⁠

    This is a chilling five-part narrative podcast, written and narrated by My Victorian Nightmare’s Genevieve Manion and starring multiple award winning voice actor, MacLeod Andrews. The series follows Poe through his turbulent life and career as he is relentlessly haunted by the spirits of the dead—victims who demand that he write their stories.

    28 min
  4. Ep. 117 - A Victorian Witch Killing & The History of Witch Hunting

    Show notes

    In this episode, Genevieve will share the history of witch hunting in England, and the murder case of a man in Victorian England suspected of witchcraft. The disturbing murder of Old Dummy in 1863.

    Thank you to today’s sponsor!

    Try skincare from Alloy. Visit https://www.myalloy.com/ and use code VICTORIAN for 20% off your first order!

    Subscribe to the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠ for ad-free listening!

    The Death of Edgar Allan Poe on⁠⁠⁠ Spotify ⁠⁠⁠and ⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠

    ⁠⁠⁠The Death of Edgar Allan Poe Collection⁠⁠⁠

    Subscribe to the ⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠⁠!

    My ⁠⁠Halloween Party Playlist⁠⁠

    Help yourself to ⁠⁠⁠MVN merch⁠⁠⁠!

    Genevieve’s book, ⁠⁠⁠Where to Begin – Eclectic Witchcraft for Beginners

    44 min
  5. Ep. 116 - Scientifically Studied Victorian Ghost Stories

    Show notes

    In this episode, Genevieve will share a number of Victorian ghost encounters recorded by The Society for Psychical Research: the ghostly women in black, mysterious reflections of deceased fathers, smiling dead sisters at the foot of the bed and much, much more.

    Thank you to today’s sponsors!

    Alloy is the only menopause platform with a scalp-to-lash hair care solution. Visit https://myalloy.com/ and use code VICTORIAN for 20% off your first order!

    AquaOmega: One of the highest-dose omega-3 supplements per serving, no fish burps, and for every bottle sold, removes 1 lb. of plastic and debris from the ocean and coastlines. Use code VICTORIAN for 20% off at https://myaquaomega.com/victorian.

    The Death of Edgar Allan Poe on⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠and ⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠

    ⁠⁠The Death of Edgar Allan Poe Collection⁠⁠

    Subscribe to the ⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠!

    Subscribe to the ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ for ad-free listening!

    My ⁠Halloween Party Playlist⁠

    Help yourself to ⁠⁠MVN merch⁠⁠!

    Genevieve’s book, ⁠⁠Where to Begin – Eclectic Witchcraft for Beginners

    References:

    https://iapsop.com/archive/materials/spr_proceedings/

    https://chestofbooks.com.stason.org/new-age/paranormal/Death-Survival/Appendix-Phantasms-Of-The-Dead-Part-28.html

    https://www.spr.ac.uk/node/6070

    https://thescolefiles.blogspot.com/p/the-society-for-psychical-research-spr.html

    43 min
  6. Ep. 115 - Lizzie Borden: Monster or Maligned?

    Show notes

    In this episode, Genevieve will discuss the facts of the Lizzie Borden axe murder case — what we know to be true, what the Netflix series Monster got wrong, what it got right, and exactly why this particular axe murder case, versus so many others, caught fire when it did.

    Thank you to today’s sponsors!

    AquaOmega: One of the highest-dose omega-3 supplements per serving, no fish burps, and for every bottle sold, removes 1 lb. of plastic and debris from the ocean and coastlines. Use code VICTORIAN for 20% off at https://myaquaomega.com/Victorian.

    Alloy is the only menopause platform with a scalp-to-lash hair care solution. Visit ⁠myalloy.com⁠ and use code VICTORIAN for 20% off your first order!

    The Death of Edgar Allan Poe on⁠ Spotify ⁠and ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠

    ⁠The Death of Edgar Allan Poe Collection⁠

    Subscribe to the ⁠Newsletter⁠!

    Subscribe to the ⁠Patreon⁠ for ad-free listening!

    My Halloween Party Playlist

    Help yourself to ⁠MVN merch⁠!

    Genevieve’s book, ⁠Where to Begin – Eclectic Witchcraft for Beginners

    Today’s Instagram Post

    References:

    https://crimearchives.net/1893_borden/html/1892-08-11_borden_news_new-york-times.htm

    https://lizzieandrewborden.com/hatchetonline/ones-idea-of-cordiality-lizzie-borden-on-the-stand

    https://crimearchives.net/1893_borden/html/1893-06-07_borden_trial_testimony_sullivan.html

    https://www.scribd.com/document/682040038/Testimony-of-Bridget-Sullivan-in-the-Trial-of-Lizzie-Borden

    https://people.com/andrew-abby-borden-murder-suspects-12145774

    https://www.biography.com/crime/a69168135/was-aileen-wuornos-the-first-female-serial-killer

    https://time.com/7329607/aileen-wuornos-netflix-documentary

    https://www.biography.com/crime/a71038230/lizzie-borden-isolated-life-after-murder-trial

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lizzie_Borden

    https://newengland.com/yankee/history/long-silence-lizzie-borden

    46 min
  7. Ep. 114 - The Souls Behind the Stones

    Show notes

    In this episode, Genevieve will discuss the sudden deaths, shattered dreams, haunting tales, gothic obsessions, mysteries and answers – the true stories behind 3 of the most intriguing graves in Greenwood, Evergreen and Père Lachaise cemeteries. The Graves of Charlotte Canda, George Rodenbach and “Midnight Mary,” Mary E. Hart.

    Thank you to today’s sponsor!

    Alloy is the only menopause platform with a scalp-to-lash hair care solution. Visit https://myalloy.com/ and use code VICTORIAN for 20% off your first order!

    The Death of Edgar Allan Poe onSpotifyand Apple Podcasts

    The Death of Edgar Allan Poe Collection

    Subscribe to the Newsletter!

    Subscribe to the Patreon for ad-free listening!

    Help yourself to MVN merch!

    Genevieve’s book, Where to Begin – Eclectic Witchcraft for Beginners

    Today’s Instagram Post

    References:

    https://boroughsofthedead.com/charlotte/

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_Canda

    https://differentvisions.org/the-grave-of-the-rose/

    https://www.rem.routledge.com/articles/rodenbach-georges-1855-1898

    https://www.larousse.fr/encyclopedie/litterature/Georges_Rodenbach/176547

    https://www.popmatters.com/109498-loren-connors-the-curse-of-midnight-mary-2496066706.html

    https://campuspress.yale.edu/yaleinscriptions/2024/11/10/midnight-mary

    https://newenglandfolklore.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-ghost-of-midnight-mary.html

    44 min
  8. Ep. 113 - The True Inspirations Behind Dracula & The Film’s Iconic Costumes

    Show notes

    In this episode, Genevieve will do a deep dive into Bram Stoker’s notes, interviews and musings about the inspiration behind his vampiric creation, Dracula, and then she will discuss the inspiration behind some of the most iconic costume designs in film history: Eiko Ishioka’s richly inspired, deeply symbolic costumes for Francis Ford Coppola’s film, Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

    Thank you to today’s sponsor!

    Try the original M4 skincare from Alloy. Visit https://myalloy.com/ and use code VICTORIAN for 20% off your first order!

    The Death of Edgar Allan Poe on Spotify and Apple Podcasts

    The Death of Edgar Allan Poe Patreon Collection

    Subscribe to the Newsletter!

    Subscribe to the Patreon or ad-free listening!

    Help yourself to MVN Merch!

    Genevieve’s book, Where to Begin – Eclectic Witchcraft for Beginners

    Today’s Instagram Post

    References:

    https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/whitby-abbey/history-and-stories/dracula/?source=science20.com

    https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/feb/08/dracula-was-not-from-exeter-insists-bram-stoker-descendant

    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/jun/06/bram-stokers-dracula-inspired-by-writings-of-maverick-scotswoman

    https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/21l-310-bestsellers-out-for-the-count-fall-2018/pages/readings/dracula-notes/

    https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/last-voyage-of-the-demeter-dracula-dmitry

    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36394788/

    https://www.supernaturalstudies.com/previous-journal-issues/vol-7-issue-1/cade

    ⁠https://archive.org/details/bramstokersnotes0000stok⁠

    https://www.mot-art-museum.jp/en/exhibitions/eiko-ishioka/

    https://www.gothickeatspress.com/dracula-essays/eiko-ishiokas-costume-design

    https://www.oscars.org/news/how-apocalypse-now-poster-led-oscar-winning-costumes-bram-stokers-dracula

    46 min
  9. Ep. 112 - Damnit, Mary Ann Cotton!

    Show notes

    In this episode, Genevieve will bring us back to the murder scenes, the time-slips, the haunted lunatic asylums and hotels of past episodes, and share the back stories to their creations.

    Thank you to today’s sponsors!

    Spoiler: you can feel amazing in menopause. Visit https://myalloy.com/ and use code VICTORIAN for 20% off your first order!

    AquaOmega: One of the highest-dose omega-3 supplements per serving, no fish burps, and for every bottle sold, removes 1 lb. of plastic and debris from the ocean and coastlines. Use code VICTORIAN for 20% off at myaquaomega.com/VICTORIAN.

    The Death of Edgar Allan Poe Collection

    Subscribe to the Newsletter!

    Subscribe to the Patreon free trial for ad-free listening!

    Help yourself to MVN merch!

    Genevieve’s book, Where to Begin – Eclectic Witchcraft for Beginners

    49 min
  10. Ep. 111 - The Tragically HAUNTED History of the Kreischer Family

    Show notes

    In this episode, Genevieve will discuss the tragic history of the Kreischer family, the many deaths, mob murders and truly creepy hauntings of the Kreischer family mansion that still stands to this very day. She will also discuss the recent discovery of a body that received a vampire burial in the 16th century and what other “deviant” and “anti-revenant” burial practices entailed.

    Thank you to today’s sponsors!

    AquaOmega: One of the highest-dose omega-3 supplements per serving, no fish burps, and for every bottle sold, removes 1 lb. of plastic and debris from the ocean and coastlines. Use code VICTORIAN for 20% off at myaquaomega.com/VICTORIAN.

    Alloy is the only menopause platform with a scalp-to-lash hair care solution. Visit myalloy.com and use code VICTORIAN for 20% off your first order!

    Subscribe to the Newsletter!

    Subscribe to the Patreon free trial for ad-free listening!

    Help Yourself to MVN Merch!

    Genevieve’s book, Where to Begin – Eclectic Witchcraft for Beginners

    Today’s Instagram Post

    References:

    https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/21/science/vampire-burial-young-woman-poland

    https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7458347

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire_burial

    https://nyghosts.com/the-kreischer-house/

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kreischer_House

    https://medium.com/@cosmicseasstar/staten-islands-cursed-kreischer-mansion-saga-that-ended-in-fire-death-and-murder-24048f4c80be

    https://www.storiesofthesupernatural.info/kreischermansion.html

    https://historygoesbump.blogspot.com/2025/11/hgb-ep-613-kreischer-mansion.html

    https://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/nye/pr/2008/2008oct27.html

    https://abc7ny.com/archive/6445552/

    45 min
  11. Ep. 110 - Cannibal Cats and Ghosts with Guns

    Show notes

    In this episode, Genevieve will dive back into the Illustrated Police News, The 19th century’s worst newspaper. She will discuss horrifying murder attempts with hot pokers, deadly champagne suppers, the science of decapitation, men falling dead at funerals, ghosts with guns, cannibal cats and much, much more.

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    Today’s Instagram Post

    References:

    “The Science of Decapitation” – The Illustrated Police News, May 7th, 1872.

    “What Befel a New York Swell Who Persisted in Laughing at a “Dolly Varden” – The Illustrated Police News, May 7th, 1872.

    “A Woman in New York Thrusts a Red Hot Iron down Her Husband’s Throat” – The Illustrated Police News, May 7th, 1872.

    “Sewed in a Sheet—An Injured Wife’s Revenge on an Indolent Husband at Louisville, Ky.” – The Illustrated Police News, May 7th, 1872.

    “A CORPSE AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS” – The Illustrated Police News, May 7th, 1872.

    “How They Drink in England” – The Illustrated Police News, May 7th, 1872.

    “CURIOUS CASUALTIES” – The Illustrated Police News, Jan. 4th, 1879.

    “Cremated Alive—The Fatal Sequel of a Champagne Supper—Terrible Revenge of a Harlot” – The Illustrated Police News, Jan. 4th, 1879.

    “A Live Turkey Loose in a Drug Store” – The Illustrated Police News, Jan. 4th, 1879.

    “Crazed by the Blow of an Icicle—Remarkable Accident to an English Tourist Behind the Cataract of Niagara” – The Illustrated Police News, Jan. 4th, 1879.

    “A STRANGE SUICIDE”– The Illustrated Police News, Jan. 4th, 1879.

    “Cannibal Cats—How They Feasted Off the Corpse of a Dead Man” – The Illustrated Police News, Jan. 4th, 1879.

    “A Ghost With a Revolver” – The Illustrated Police News, Oct. 10th, 1885.

    42 min
  12. Ep. 109 - The Fascinating Funeral Industry of the 19th Century

    Show notes

    In this episode, Genevieve will discuss the funeral industry of the 19th century and a few of her favorite death-centered professions that are no longer in high demand today, but were positively fascinating: funeral cookie bakers, corpse-watchers, mutes and professional mourners.

    Thank you to today’s sponsor, Alloy!

    Try the original estrogen-powered M4 skincare from Alloy. Visit https://www.myalloy.com and use code VICTORIAN for $20 off your first order!

    Subscribeto the Newsletter!

    Subscribe to the Patreon free trial for ad-free listening!

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    Today’s Instagram Post

    My Problematic Award-Winning Video

    Welcome to Heaven

    References:

    https://funeral.com/blogs/the-journal/funeral-biscuits-in-the-1800s-what-they-were-why-they-were-served-and-how-to-make-them-today?srsltid=AfmBOorry4RZkCYT3pQ2iGryb0LGfYJ-xZYnlhN6e4pYP5dl7Jb_SHwo

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sin-eater

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleventh_edition_of_the_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica

    https://web.prm.ox.ac.uk/england/englishness-funeral-food.html

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funeral_biscuit

    https://www.victorianlondon.org/death/characteroffunerals.htm

    https://austins.co.uk/blog/the-history-of-the-victorian-mute/

    https://thevictorianbookofthedead.wordpress.com/tag/professional-mourners

    https://collections.britishart.yale.edu/catalog/alma%3A99127049613408651

    https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/15792/pg15792-images.html

    https://thevictorianbookofthedead.wordpress.com/category/buried-alive/

    “Prematurely Buried” - Kilmore Free Press, Jan. 18th 1883.

    “Narrowly Escaped Burial Alive” - The Clinton Independent, Thursday Feb. 18th, 1892.

    43 min
  13. 41 min
  14. 42 min
  15. Ep. 106 - The Lincoln Assassination & Its HORRIFIC Aftermath

    Show notes

    In this episode, Genevieve will discuss the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln and the shocking, little-known disasters and tragedies that began to unfold even before the smoke had cleared: the psychological unraveling of Mary Todd Lincoln, The Ford Theater collapse of 1893, the unthinkable murder/attempted suicide of the Rathbones and the numerous hauntings of the Ford Theater that still linger to this very day.

    Subscribe to the Newsletter!

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    Today’s Instagram Post

    References:

    https://ghostcitytours.com/washington-dc/haunted-washington-dc/fords-theatre/

    https://dcghosts.com/fords-theatre/

    https://www.nps.gov/foth/learn/historyculture/the-collapse-of-ford-s-theatre.htm

    https://www.thevintagenews.com/2018/06/07/henry-reed-rathbone/

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Abraham_Lincoln

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wilkes_Booth

    https://www.whitehousehistory.org/abraham-lincoln-funeral

    https://fords.org/an-african-american-hero-emerges-from-the-tragic-fords-theatre-collapse-of-1893/

    https://msmagazine.com/2012/12/05/mary-todd-lincoln-a-lunatic-or-just-grieving/

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Todd_Lincoln

    The_assassination_of_Abraham_Lincoln_%28IA_assassxxxxxx00linc%29.pdf

    https://www.americanheritage.com/haunted-major

    48 min
  16. Ep. 105 - The NOTORIOUS Case of Dr. Crippen

    Show notes

    In this episode, Genevieve will discuss the murder case of Dr. Hawley Crippen: one of the most sensational murder cases in English history. We’ll discuss The glitz and glamour, the torrid affairs, the astounding escape attempt by sea, and the modern scientific discoveries that have raised serious concerns that maybe, they got the wrong guy.

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    Today’s Instagram Post

    References:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawley_Harvey_Crippen

    https://prashganendran.com/the-notorious-dr-crippen-and-the-hilldrop-crescent-murder/

    https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-10802059

    https://thehistorypress.co.uk/article/the-notorious-case-of-dr-crippen/

    42 min
  17. Ep. 104 - Haunted Theaters and Their Tragic Histories

    Show notes

    In this episode, Genevieve will discuss two Victorian theater tragedies, the lives and deaths of illusionist Sigmund Neuberger, otherwise known as the Great Lafayette, and actor William Terriss, as well as their alleged hauntings of the theaters where they met their tragic ends; The Adelphi Theater in London, and the Festival Theater in Edinburgh.

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    Today’s Instagram post

    References:

    https://thelittlehouseofhorrors.com/the-great-lafayette/

    https://folkhorrorrevival.com/2017/01/08/the-great-lafayette

    https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/explore-the-uks-most-haunted-theatres-with-ghost-stories_1661281/

    https://sancass.medium.com/the-man-who-had-two-funerals-bf740ad6a0fe

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigmund_Neuberger

    https://www.victorianvoices.net/ARTICLES/STRAND/1893B/S1893B-DogCemetery.pdf

    “Lafayette’s Funeral - Great Gathering in Edinburgh” - Liverpool Daily Post, May 15th, 1911.

    https://london-beyond-time-and-place.com/william-terriss-the-ghost-of-a-murdered-actor/

    https://bowstreetmuseum.org.uk/adelphi-murder/

    https://www.thomaswhodgkinson.com/features/hello/

    https://www.haunted-britain.com/the-ghost-of-william-terriss.htm

    42 min
  18. Ep. 103 - MASSACRE on the Mary Russell

    Show notes

    In this episode, Genevieve will discuss one the 19th century’s most shocking maritime murder cases, the massacre on the Mary Russell in 1828: a story of the slow unraveling of a captain’s sanity, bloodshed, and survival against all odds on the open seas.

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    Today’s Instagram post:

    https://www.instagram.com/p/DaoAJhTDzc7/?img_index=1

    References:

    https://www.mentalfloss.com/crime/mary-russell-19th-century-massacre-legal-case

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Russell_murders

    https://historyireland.com/forced-from-this-world-massacre-on-the-mary-russell/

    https://whyhorror.blog/2022/11/18/why-mary-russell/

    https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4921892/4899086/5181471

    39 min
  19. 41 min
  20. 45 min