From History to Haunting: Charleston’s Pleasing Terrors Ghost Tour
Charleston doesn't just tell its history - it haunts it. From the site of the first shots of the Civil War at Fort Sumter to the cobblestone streets lined with historic homes, the Holy City is a lively glimpse into days gone by and the spooky stories that refuse to stay buried. Charleston native and local historian Mike Brown, host of the Pleasing Terrors Podcast and tour, is fully committed to preserving the city’s history through storytelling.
Fittingly recorded in a centuries-old house in the heart of Charleston, SC, James and Mike sit down to discuss the evolution of the hit podcast, his research approach, some personal encounters with the paranormal, and his approach to blending performance with accuracy.
From Navy Blues to Paranormal Pursuits
Charleston’s roots in Civil War history first took hold of Mike Brown when he was serving in the Navy, leading to a lifelong love of research and being a good steward of history. This interest led to the creation of the Pleasing Terrors podcast, which just started a new series after more than two years dedicated to research.
Recording has followed an asynchronous schedule in order to do the deep dive that he believes each story deserves. This is especially true when the story is rooted in dark history that may have been deliberately covered up, which is the case with The Mermaid Returns, a three-part series about an enslaved woman which was suppressed by a salacious, fictional narrative in order to protect Charleston’s reputation.
Mike also cites how much he appreciates the space to explore a story’s nuance through podcasting because it allows more time to get into the details. From well-known folklore like the multi-level story of Lavinia Fisher, who is sometimes referred to as the States’ first female serial killer, to lesser-known stories rooted in history, Mike’s show covers each story intentionally, seeking a fresh perspective.
Encounters with the Unexplained: Charleston’s Best Ghost Stories
Mike doesn’t want to have to choose between telling ghost stories and simply telling the historical facts, so he blends curiosity and craft rooted in truth and myth. Often relying on help from unsettling photographs and Charleston’s own Edgar Allen Poe’s concept of “Unity of Effect” - starting the story with the ending to keep the story together - the twice nightly 90-minute Pleasing Terrors ghost tour is a hit for all ages that blends authenticity with entertainment.
The atmosphere of the tour is not without some input from the Other Side, however. Mike shares that from 2013 to 2021, 64 people passed out in front of the Unitarian Cemetery gate, citing a certain “heaviness” that suddenly overcame them. He’s also fond of visiting Philadelphia Alley, a site that is rumored to have seen duels and has produced some eerie photographs, when the timing allows.
He’s experienced the paranormal himself. While on a small tour in 2017 at the Old Jail House, someone got attacked at the bottom of a staircase, receiving the same three cuts in a row as countless other visitors to the historic site. That night he stayed completely alone and heard voices on the second floor and creaky, old metal doors opening and closing on their own. This is also where Lavinia Fisher has been reported wandering the halls in a white dress. He notes that the existing ghost tour is relegated to the first floor, with the second converted to rental offices and the third, perhaps strangely, converted into a wedding venue.
Charleston’s Best Ghost Tours
For Mike Brown, storytelling is less about fear than it is fidelity: every ghost deserves its truth told to the best of his ability. Through both the podcast and hosting nightly ghost tours downtown, Mike’s mission remains the same: to honor the people behind the legends and the history that created the folklore.
Listen to the full conversation on the Retire Southern Podcast to hear how Charleston’s spooky tour guide keeps the past alive, one honest haunting at a time.