In this haunting Halloween episode, Robert digs into Newfoundland’s eerie world of death omens — the strange signs and superstitions that once foretold disaster, sickness… and death.
From flickering corpse candles and spectral fetches to howling dogs and loaves of bread that spelled doom, these stories offer a chilling glimpse into how Newfoundlanders once understood death — and how they tried to see it coming.
The episode begins with an original retelling of an old Burin Peninsula legend — The Tale of Jacob and the Corpse Candle — a ghostly light that drifts from the graveyard to claim the living.
So dim the lights, pour yourself a strong cup of tea, and listen close…
Because in Newfoundland, the signs of your own demise might be closer than you think.
As discussed in the episode Tom Dawe’s An Old Man’s Winter Night is available from Running the Goat Books & Broadsides.
Some stories rise from the sea and never quite settle again.
The Charles Haskell was a New England schooner, built to survive the brutal waters of the North Atlantic. But after a terrible storm on George’s Bank in 1869, she gained a reputation no ship would ever want.
Sailors claimed that in the years that followed, the dead returned — climbing from the sea to finish the work they’d started in life.
More than a century later, her story is still told along our coastlines — from Massachusetts to Nova Scotia, and right here in Newfoundland. It’s been told as a legend, a ghost story, and even a folk song. But the line between fact and folklore remains as foggy as the Banks themselves.
So pour a cup of tea, turn down the lights, and listen close as we climb aboard the Charles Haskell — the schooner that couldn’t quite leave her ghosts behind.
Episode page: The Ghostly Fishermen
This Halloween, we’re unlocking the doors of one of St. John’s most infamous ghost stories — the haunting of J.W. Foran’s Atlantic Hotel. A mysterious knocking echoed through its halls in the 1880s, leading to whispers of restless spirits… and one unexplained death.
Then, we turn from ghostly fiction to real-life horror — the true tragedy of William Shea, a porter whose final night at the hotel ended in heartbreak.
Part One: The Sinking of the SS Caribou
A ferry packed with families, soldiers, and crew. A midnight crossing through enemy waters. And a German U-boat waiting in the darkness.
On October 14, 1942, the SS Caribou was torpedoed in the North Atlantic, sinking in just minutes. What followed was a desperate fight for survival in freezing waters—and an unforgettable story of bravery, tragedy, and resilience.
Join us as we uncover the night the Caribou went down.
Part Two: A Chat With Tyler Humby
Tyler Humby is a rising folk musician bringing Newfoundland’s history to life through song. His latest work, The Caribou, blends fact and fiction to tell the story of two lovers aboard the SS Caribou on the night of its tragic sinking. On October 14, 1942, the passenger ferry was torpedoed by a German U-boat while travelling between Sydney and Port aux Basques. More than 130 people were lost.
With The Caribou, Tyler puts a human face on history, reminding us that every life lost was more than just a name—each had a story, a family, and dreams of their own.
Since launching his career in 2023, Tyler has made a name for himself on Newfoundland’s music scene. He placed 2nd in the 2024 Newfound Talent Contest and is currently performing regularly at venues across the eastern half of the province.
Tyler joins Strange Truths and Tall Tales to talk about The Caribou and his musical journey.
For more info visit productofnewfoundland.ca
Newfoundland’s Valentine’s traditions range from playful greetings to daring card deliveries, but love on the island isn’t always lighthearted.
The story of Fanny Goff, said to be the most beautiful woman in Newfoundland, is one of romance and tragedy, proving that love can be as fleeting as winter frost.
And sometimes, love isn’t just for people but for place—like the deep connection Newfoundlanders have to the sea. But that love comes with loss, as seen in the Ocean Ranger disaster, a tragedy forever tied to Valentine’s Day, reminding us that love and sorrow often go hand in hand.
For episode details, credits and a playlist of Atlantic Blue, visit the Mar Falten, Fanny Goff! episode page at Product of Newfoundland.
In this episode I’ve got all kinds of Candlemas lore from Newfoundland -- everything from weather predictions to bear stories and card games it’s pleasant distraction from the winter weather. (PS... I'm not old enough to have read a newspaper in 1902, no matter what I say.)
I also share the story of The Little Candlemas Bear. On Candlemas Day, Little Bear wakes to find his shadow missing. His search leads to a warm home, a wise Grandmother, and a wintery secret.
Read: The Little Candlemas Bear , Product of Newfoundland
Credits and more on the episode page.
If you’re from Newfoundland, you probably already know that Tibb’s Eve means December 23rd. It’s the unofficial start of Christmas—when the holiday buzz really kicks in and everyone’s back home, ready to reconnect with old friends. But Tibb’s Eve didn’t always mean celebration.
Once upon a time, it was actually known as a day that would never come—a day ‘neither before nor after Christmas,’ in other words, it was never supposed to happen at all.
Now, how did it land on December 23rd? Well, that’s a bit of a mystery. No one really knows, but somehow, it did. And now, we get to enjoy it—a day that was never meant to be, has become an early start to holiday celebrations. It’s a day of friends and fun.
This episode’s story is set on Tibb’s Eve, in the picturesque and historic town of Trinity (a place that’s especially cozy and charming at Christmas). In the story Tibb’s Eve becomes a night when time doesn’t quite follow the usual rules.
So, grab a hot drink, settle in, and join Clara as she finds herself in a Tibb’s Eve evening she’ll never forget.
Credits, Sources & Further Reading at:
https://www.productofnewfoundland.ca/podcast/tibbs-eve-trinity
Part One: Jailhouse Jannies
In this episode, we’re diving into the spirit — and mischief — of Christmas in Newfoundland.
First, I’ve got an old story from Trinity, where one group of mummers wound up in jail… but that was far from the worst thing to happen to them. I call the story Jannies in the Jailhouse.
I’ve come across this tale a number of times in my travels but I based my retelling on a version shared in the Daily News’ ‘Trinity Notes’ section on January 3, 1955.
Part Two: Tyler Humber of Kitchinparti
I’m excited to welcome Tyler Humber of Kitchinparti, the ECMA-nominated family trio known for their high-energy performances, harmonies, and dedication to keeping Newfoundland’s musical traditions alive. Made up of Tyler (vocals, guitar), his sister Terri Lynn Hickey (vocals, tin whistle), and brother-in-law Justin Hickey (vocals, bass), Kitchinparti embodies the spirit of a true Newfoundland kitchen party—which is to say they bring people atogether with music, laughter, and stories.
Since forming about four years ago, Kitchinparti has been adding their own original songs to Newfoundland’s musical catalog while reimagining traditional favorites. They’re currently working on their third album with producer Matt Dines, set to release in the summer of 2025.
This holiday season, the band is celebrating the tradition of mummering with their new single, Plank’er Down.
Written by Charlie Payne and made famous by Uncle Harry’s Bar Band, the ‘Plank’er Down’ captures the fun energy of mummers as they visit homes late into the night.
I’m thrilled to chat with Tyler about Plank’er Down, the band’s roots, and classic Newfoundland hors d’ouvers.
Part Three: Martha’s Dance With The Mummer
Finally a brand new story; a ghostly tale from Bonavista Bay about a woman’s last dance with a mummer. It’s a story of love and loss, and maybe even the fulfillment of a Christmas promise from long ago… the whole town wants to get a glimpse behind the mummer’s mask, instead the get a glimpse beyond the veil.
Credits, Sources & Further Reading at
https://www.productofnewfoundland.ca/podcast/mummers-kitchinparti
Part One: Newfoundland Adopts Right-Hand Drive
On January 2, 1947, Newfoundland made a switch that had everyone—drivers, pedestrians, and even horses—feeling a bit jittery.
Just past midnight, the colony's roads transformed as Newfoundlanders were suddenly required to drive on the right side of the road, leaving behind decades of left-side driving.
The change symbolized a shift away from British ties and toward a North American alignment. In retrospect, it was the harbinger of a bigger changes to come.
Read more: The Day Newfoundland Started Driving on the Right
Part Two: Don't Tell the Newfoundlanders
Greg Malone is a Newfoundland legend.
As a member of the Wonderful Grand Band and CODCO, Malone became a fixture in living rooms not only across Newfoundland and Labrador, but across the country. He served-up wickedly funny satire and his celebrity impersonations (ranging from Queen Elizabeth II to Jean Chrétien to Barbara Frum) remain legendary.
Malone’s talents go well beyond television; he’s appeared in films (including The Adventure of Faustus Bidgood, HeyDay! Rare Birds,) directed a docudrama on suffragists in Newfoundland and championed important political causes.
Malone has written two books — a memoir titled You Better Watch Out and piece of historical non-fiction titled Don't Tell the Newfoundlanders.
Don't Tell the Newfoundlanders shares the untold story of Newfoundland and Labrador's entry into Confederation with Canada. Based on official documents and supported with personal interviews, Malone paints a dramatic scene of per-confederation Newfoundland filled with intriguing characters vying for control of the islands resources. Malone’s fresh perspective casts new light on an often misunderstood chapter of Newfoundland and Labrador’s history.
The book forms the basis of a new six-part docu-series set to premiere on Bell’s FibeTV.
On this episode of the podcast Malone discusses his work and the journey from CODCO to Don’t Tell The Newfoundlanders
Part Three: Monstrous Things
As per usual, the episode ends with Monstrous Things — a short segment that recounts sea monster sightings that were reported in the mainstream media.
This edition takes us off Cape Freels where, in 1953 an enormous sea monster was seen by fisherman near Cabot Islands.
Platforms
You can listen to the episode here or on your favourite platform.
Credits, Sources & Further Reading:
https://www.productofnewfoundland.ca/podcast/confederation-codco-greg-malone
When nights grow long and familiar paths suddenly lead you astray; when fog shrouds the coast in deathly gloom and strange lights flicker in empty bogs, that’s the time when ghosts and ghouls explore this new found land.
Welcome to part three of the Strange Truths & Tall Tales Halloween Special.
The Restless Corpse of La Poile
This episode features an old story concerning a corpse in La Poile that seemed to have trouble realizing it was dead. It’s a strange that makes my blood run cold… and warms my heart. It’s based on a story written by ‘R’ and published in the Public Ledger newspaper in 1831.
Nancy Coyle & The Corpse
After La Poile, I’ll move onto St. John’s and the story of Nancy Coyle — a woman who spent her life with the dead and, perhaps, her death with the living.
Coyle provided mortuary care in St. John’s in the 1800s, and was rumoured to have resurrected the dead. While she appears to have been a real, historical figure, she is more famous these days as a ghost story.
Nancy Coyle is rumored to haunt the graveyards of old St. John’s.
Credits, Sources & Further Reading
https://www.productofnewfoundland.ca/podcast/newfoundland-halloween-story-corpses
Halloween is getting closer and Newfoundland has no shortage of seasonally appropriate stories.
This instalment features an old folktale set near St. Bride’s, NL. It concerns a strange black Stag seen on the roadside and a series of unexplained deaths that plagues a family soon afterward.
Continuing on with the theme, I share some legends of other ghostly creatures from Newfoundland, starting with the headless ghost dog of Elliston.
You can the background info and sources on the episode page at productofnewfoundland.ca
It’s October and the nights are getting noticeably longer. As darkness takes a hold. I’ve decided to embrace the ‘spooky season’ for some short Halloween episodes drawn fromNewfoundland history and folklore.
This instalment is a true story from the small town of Elliston (once known as Bird Island Cove).
It’s the story of an unwelcome visitor who turned up some 200 years ago.
Get the full story (and sources) at Night of the Thunder Growl on productofnewfoundland.ca
Part One: Mildred Baxter
Legend has it that folk-hero Mildred Baxter came to Harbour Breton in the mid-1840s to settle a score with her cheating fiance.
In order to make the trip from her home in England, she adopted a secret identity. She disguised herself as a man and took up life in Harbour Breton alongside her fiance and his new bride.
It’s a fascinating tale of love, lies and revenge that stretches the limits of credibility.
Read: The Love and Lies of Mildred Baxter and Paul Langstone
Part Two: Rosemary Lawton Talks Jackets and Trousers
Rosemary Lawton is an award-winning singer-songwriter with a keen interest in Newfoundland music. She is a classically trained violinist, educator and writer. She has recorded traditional Newfoundland music (Fierce and Untamed), original compositions (Canvas) and published the book, Resilience: A Collection of Empowering Songs of Newfoundland and Labrador Women.
Rosemary joins me on Strange Truths and Tall Tales to discuss Mildred Taylor, the tradition of ‘Jacket and Trouser’ songs, and her own songwriting.
Part Three: Kyle Callahan’s Monsters
Kyle Callahan is a visual artist from Mount Pearl, NL. He’s sometimes called ‘The Godzilla Guy’ owing to his popular artwork featuring classic movie monsters (like Godzilla) exploring Newfoundland. His artwork has recently been featured in the new Engen publication The Fairies of Foggy Island.
Kyle discusses his work and explains how Godzilla discovered St. John’s harbour.
Part Four: Monstrous Things
The season, I’ve been capping off each episode with a segment I call Monstrous Things. It features tales of a Newfoundland sea monster sightings reported in the mainstream media.
This edition takes us back to 1888 on Newfoundland’s Grand Banks, when an enormous sea monster was seen by fisherman aboard the Schooner Augusta. The sighting was described in the Evening Telegram on August 25th, 1888.
Credits, Sources & Further Reading
Part One: Mummers & Murder
Newfoundland has a lot of interesting traditions but few are as celebrated as mummering.
Mummering is a Christmas tradition that dates back hundreds of years. It came to Newfoundland from England and Ireland with the first settlers. In it’s best known form, it involves costumed people visiting house-to-house during the 12 days of Christmas. Once invited inside, the host tries to guess the mummer's identity. Refreshments are served and fun is had by all.
This sort of mummering is entertainment, but it wasn’t always fun for everyone. For some people, especially children, mummers were scary. They looked odd and behaved strangely. Mostly, the fear was unwaranted.
In the 1800s mummering was altogether different. Mummers used to celebrate outdoors and could be found roaming the streets. There are many instances of mummers taking advantage of their anonymity to settle scores.
In one instance, there was a murder.
In the 1800s mummering was altogether different. Mummers used to celebrate outdoors and could be found roaming the streets. There are many instances of mummers taking advantage of their anonymity to settle scores.
In one instance, there was a murder.
Read: Mummers, Murder and Mayhem.
Part Two: Twas The Night After Christmas
In this segment we take a look at the lighter side of mummering with the Newfoundland Mummer Story Twas The Night After Christmas.
It tells the story of a grandmother who is *usually* very good at guessing the identity of mummers until one fateful Boxing Day night when she meets her match.
Read the Twas The Night After Christmas
Part Three: A Chat With Carolina East
Carolina East has made a name for herself across the country, not only as as an impressive singer but as talented songwriter. She’s making music inspired by an eclectic tapestry of influences; from soul, to country, to pop.
She competed in the Sirius XM Top of the Country competition as one of eight semi-finalists. In July 2021, Carolina released a full-length album Soaked in Whisky. It’s a polished collection of songs about love, happiness, and loss.
Her songs are honest, vulnerable, and. always relatable.
Carolina joined me to talk about making music, her Christmas album Home for the Holidays, and how covering Journey’s ‘Don’t Stop Believin’’ changed her life.
We also talked about her upcoming work with producer Russell Broom (well known for his work with Jann Arden).
Message Carolina to get your copy of her Christmas album Home For The Holidays.
Part Four: Monstrous Things
The season, I’ve been capping off each episode with a segment I call Monstrous Things. It features tales of a Newfoundland sea monster sightings reported in the mainstream media.
This episode offers the story of a ‘monster’ seen in the Codroy Valley area around Christmas, 1951. The sighting was described in the January 5th, 1952 edition of the Evening Telegram under the headline “Report Monster Destroying Nets.”
What do you think it was?
Visit: productofnewfoundland.ca
Episode Guide for Credits, Further Reading and Links:
Part One: What is Tibb’s Eve?
For me, and a lot of other Newfoundlanders, the 23rd of December is Tibb’s Eve. It is Christmas Eve Eve and the unofficial start of the holiday season.
For some people, Tibb’s Eve has become synonymous with a good time, full of partying and alcohol. The connection with drinking is so strong that, for some people the day is known as Tipsy (Tip’s) Eve.
In this episode we did into it a little and chat about Tibb’s Eve customs. To help me out, The Duds (Melanie O’Brien and Philip Goodridge) discuss their connection to the day and what lead them to record their holiday track ‘Before the Night (Tibb’s Eve’).
Part Two: Newfoundland Christmas Slush
I’ve celebrated 40+ Christmases in Newfoundland and, until surprisingly recently, I had no idea ‘Newfoundland Christmas slush’ — a fruity, frozen cocktail — was a thing.
It is though. For a lot of Newfoundlanders the holiday season would not be complete without this batch-made cocktail.
I reached out to food blogger/instagrammer Jeremy Whey (aka @stuffthatinyourgob) to discuss his history with Christmas slush. He shares his recipe and variations he’s tried. From there were drifted to dark/light Christmas cake, moose stew, salt cod and other Newfoundland food traditions.
You can follow Jeremy on Instagram at @stuffthatinyourgob.
Here’s his slush recipe, as shared in the episode:
Jeremy’s Newfoundland Christmas Slush
1 cup sugar
6 cups water
2 cans of frozen concentrated orange juice
2 cans of frozen concentrated lemonade
1 large can pineapple juice
1 flask of vodka
Boil the water, stir in the sugar. Add the remaining ingredients and freeze. To serve, scoop slush into a glass and top with as much 7-Up or Ginger Ale as you’d like.
You can find some recipes for alternate versions of Christmas slush here.
Jeremy and I confessed that some of our Christmas baking efforts have been less-than-successful. We used the word ‘dunch.’ It occurs to me that non-NL listeners may be less familiar with that word. Here’s a link to the definition in the Dictionary of Newfoundland English.
And here’s the recipe I mentioned for my mother’s dark Christmas fruitcake. I’ve had great success with this one — nothing dunch about it.
Check out the blog post to see, as ‘the murderous mummer’.
Part Three: Monstrous Things
Normally ‘Monstrous Things’ features tales of Newfoundland sea monsters that have been reported in the mainstream media. This episode, is taking a different tack and veering into the realm of full-on legend — with tales of boo-baggers, boo-darbies and a strange Christmas creature called Rockyfoot.
What do they have in common?
Like Krampus and Santa Claus, they’ve all been used to encourage good behaviour in children.
Read more here: Rockyfoot: Newfoundland’s Krampus
Part One: It Came From Outer Space
There's no shortage of Newfoundland and Labrador stories connected to outer space. There are Martian craters named for Gander, Nain and Nutak, local airports were alternate space shuttle landing sites for NASA, and there are plenty of unidentified flying object reports in the province including the much discussed 'Gander Incident' and the Random Island sighting that inspired a stamp from Canada Post.
My favourite Newfoundland space-ish story isn’t any of these.
It happened in October of 1936; a major meteor shower was seen on the southern and eastern portions of the island and it terrified people.
On the podcast we explore it in a story called “The Day The Sky Fell.”
Part Two: With Violet
With Violet is an alt-pop band from St. John’s, NL.
They are winning fans with catchy hooks, nuanced songwriting and an energy has to be heard to be believed.
In 2021 they released their debut album, Long Story Short, which included the popular track “With Money.’ They followed that up with two Christmas singles — ‘December Parade (Bow on Top)‘ and ‘Countdown (New Year’s Song)’— which, if you follow Product of Newfoundland playlists, you’ve definitely heard.
This year, they expanded their canon with two new EPs — Saturday Nights In and Your Sunday Best, the former of which gave us the track ‘Gravity’ and its dancing-astronaut filled video.
Band members Pete and Spencer FitzGerald are my guests on this episode. We chatted about Your Sunday Best and the ‘Gravity’ music video.
We also talked abut Addictions Anonymous (a book of poetry written by Pete and Spencer), and Pete’s solo music including his Halloween track ‘The Ghost Goes Boo’ (which you can hear right now on my Songs for a Spooky Season playlist).
Part Three: Monstrous Things
In the third instalment of ‘Monstrous Things’ we look at a hungry sea monster reported in Bonne Bay in 1943.
Was it a 'real' monster or a known creature? You decide!
Check out the episode page here for links, credits and further reading.
Part One: Newfoundland Devils
If you believe the tall tales, the devil has left his mark all over Newfoundland. There are hoof prints in the resettled community of Flat Islands, Bonavista Bay and more in Keels on the Bonavista Peninsula but, perhaps, his most celebrated scar is in Fortune Harbour where a rock supposedly bears his handprint.
Visit Product of Newfoundland to see pictures.
This episode presents the story ‘Mr. Kinchler and the Devil,’ a folktale that describes the night the Devil visited Fortune Harbour, tangled with a card prodigy and left his mark in stone.
Mr. Kinchler and the Devil is a Newfoundland variant on a classic folktale.
Not all stories of Newfoundland's devil and demon stories are old — some of them are being created right now.
The Duds are a musical duo comprised of Melanie O’Brien and Philip Goodridge. They have been creating compelling pop music for ten years.
Part Two: The Duds
After touring Atlantic Canada in 2019 they released their debut album, These Words I Can’t Forget. The record, which was produced by award-winning singer-songwriter Ian Foster, combined a folk-tinged roots sound with bright pop beats. The Duds were subsequently nominated for two MusicNL awards including Bell Aliant Pop Artist of the Year.
Separately, Melanie and Philip have each built solo careers in the entertainment industry. O’Brien’s debut solo album Shining in The Blue earned her three MusicNL Award nominations and, as a vocal coach, she holds the 2017 MusicNL Award for Music Educator of the Year. Goodridge is a multi-faceted artist, writer and seasoned professional theatrical performer, who has been thrilling audiences in Newfoundland for over 20 years.
As The Duds they create playful-yet-confessional music with plentiful hooks and big emotion.
On October 1st, 2023 they are turning their attention to Halloween, as they release two brand new spooky tracks. ‘When He Danced With Me’ and “Your Dead Heart’ were written with Halloween in mind and are inspired by dancing with devils and falling for demons!
O’Brien and Goodridge were kind enough to agree to appear on the podcast and discuss their new tracks as well as their current roles in the Terra Bruce musical The Wild Rovers which is running at the newly-renovated Majestic Theatre in St. John’s from September 22nd to October 1st, 2023, and from October 14th to November 4th, 2023 at the Winter Garden Theatre in Toronto.
When he returns from Toronto, Goodridge is set to appear in the latest production of the Ladies Who Lunch Three Tales of Terror VII: The Curiosity Shop. It’s a show designed to transport the audience to the Golden Age of Radio by performing original audio dramas live on the theatrical stage. Philip discusses the show and some of his inspirations when writing his segment. The show hits the stage on November 24th and 25th at the Elks Club Lodge in St. John’s.
Part Three: Monstrous Things
In the second instalment of ‘Monstrous Things’ I present the strange case of a sea monster attack reported in Hawke’s Bay, on Newfoundland's Great Northern Peninsula, in 1903.
Was it a 'real' monster or a known creature? You decide!
For links, sources and further reading, visit the episode page.
Bell Island, in Newfoundland’s Conception Bay, is full of mystery. Once home to an immense iron ore mine, the community drew people from all over the world.
Over the years its been home to many strange sightings, happenings and unexplained events. It has even been called one of the most haunted islands in North America.
This episode scratches the surface of some of Bell Island’s lore starting with a giant squid attack off the island’s coast, then a conversation with some paranormal investigators — the people behind the new T+E series History’s Most Haunted — who recently visited Bell Island.
History's Most Haunted follows paranormal experts Corine Carey, Leanne Sallenback and Kelly Ireland as they travel across North America meeting with those who have come face-to-face with the unknown. The series features an episode dedicated to Bell Island including dramatizations of eyewitness accounts and local history provided by experts, historians and citizens of the island.
The series debuts on September 8, 2023, 11:30pm NT.
The episode closes with the segment ‘Monstrous Things’ exploring a sea monster sighting off Fortune Harbour in the late 19th century.
Visit the Product of Newfoundland for more details, sources and links.
The story of a horrific lightning and hail storm over Lumsden (and the entire east coast of Newfoundland) in 1930. It resulted in smashed windows, the destruction of property and the death of several people.
Read the blog post here: Frightening Lightning & Horrific Hail in Lumsden
It was June 21st, 1720 and the sun was just rising over Trepassey, Newfoundland. The fishermen listened to the songbirds and gentle surf on the rocks as they readied their boats. Everything indicated a beautiful day ahead.
Then the birds stopped singing.
In the distance, there was a rumble of canon fire. On the breeze came the sound of trumpets and drums. Everthing was about to change…
Black Bart, the dreaded pirate, had come to town.
This episode explores the strange truth and tall tales of pirate Bartholomew Roberts and his time in Newfoundland.
Check out the podcast page: Black Bart in Newfoundland
Read the blog post: When Black Bart Burned Trepassey