In this episode of The Strange South, co-hosts Patrice, Marleah, & Courtney dive into three fascinating stories about demonic possession and exorcism in the American South, inspired by the television show "Evil." The episode begins with the hosts enjoying a unique "posh parmatini" - a sophisticated cocktail featuring parmesan-infused vodka, courtesy of their friend Mary.

The Archive of the Afterlife: A Skeptic's Tale

The first story centers around the Archive of the Afterlife Museum in Moundsville, West Virginia, where owner Steve Hummel houses various allegedly haunted objects. One particular item, a well-worn copy of Dr. Seuss's "The Foot Book," was claimed to be haunted after being connected to a quadruple homicide. However, when skeptical investigator Kenny Biddle looked into the case, he tracked down the book's original owner - a man named Kyle who had simply enjoyed the book as a child before his father sold it at a yard sale. While the book was indeed from near the location of a tragic murder, its direct connection to the crime was debunked.

The Modern-Day Demon Slayer

The second story profiles Greg Locke, a controversial fundamentalist preacher from Mount Joliet, Tennessee, who has branded himself as a "demon slayer." Through his Global Vision Bible Church, Locke conducts mass "deliverances," claiming to cast out demons of everything from video games to lactose intolerance. His 2023 movie "Come Out in Jesus Name" grossed $2.5 million in just three days. The hosts discuss how his tent revival-style events, complete with sawdust floors and no air conditioning, create an environment where mass hysteria and spiritual experiences flourish.

The Medical Mystery

The final and most compelling story follows Amy Stamatis, a med flight nurse in Little Rock, Arkansas, who experienced a sudden and inexplicable mental breakdown in 2006. After treating a burn victim, she began experiencing severe cognitive issues, hearing voices, and exhibiting erratic behavior. Despite numerous medical evaluations, no physical cause was found. The situation culminated in a tragic incident where she fell from a second-story window, leaving her paralyzed. The story takes an unexpected turn when a Pentecostal evangelist named Cindy Lawson performed an exorcism in her hospital room, after which Stamatis reportedly returned to mental wellness, though she remained physically paralyzed.

The hosts frame these stories through the lens of the three main characters from "Evil" - the scientist, the psychologist, and the priest - offering different perspectives on how such events might be interpreted through various lenses of understanding.

The Strange South podcast continues to explore the unusual, unexplained, and unconventional stories of the American South, blending humor, skepticism, and open-minded curiosity in their storytelling approach.

00:00 Introduction to The Strange South

00:32 Casual Conversations and Catching Up

01:40 The Posh Parmatini Recipe

06:46 Book Discussion: Blackwater by Michael McDowell

13:33 Exploring the Show 'Evil'

17:13 Exorcisms and Southern Evangelicalism

21:11 Story Time: Archive of the Afterlife Museum

22:46 The Haunted Children's Book

23:43 Investigating the Book's History

24:27 Debunking the Haunted Book Myth

28:50 The Serial Killer Sod Collection

30:25 The Demon Slayer Preacher

40:58 The Exorcism of Amy Stamatis

49:36 Concluding Thoughts and Farewell