Malice in the Mitten

In this episode of Round Robin, we pay homage to comedy icon Catherine O’Hara before diving into the kinds of conversations that only happen when you slow down and get curious. We talk about the things in life that shouldn’t work — but somehow do. The episode closes with a thoughtful question: if you could experience one extraordinary moment just once, what would it be? 
#RoundRobinPodcast #CatherineOHara #PopCultureConversations #CuriousMinds
Hosted and Produced by Tracy Preston 
Featuring Christine Mulligan, Nina Mullligan and Todd Preston
Original artwork by Todd Preston
Original music created for Round Robin by Tracy Preston
 

Michigan true crime, told with care.Malice in the Mitten explores criminal cases from across Michigan with restraint, accountability, and respect for victims and communities.

Deep underground, long before safety regulations or daylight reached the mines, workers spoke of something else down there with them.
In this episode of F-Bomb Friday, we explore the legend of the Tommy Knockers—small, unseen beings said to live inside the walls of mines, warning some workers of collapse while driving others toward paranoia, obsession, and madness.
Are the knockers protectors… or something far older and more dangerous?
This story sits at the crossroads of folklore, labor history, and psychological horror—where exhaustion, isolation, and belief blur into something terrifyingly real. From whispered warnings to relentless tapping no one could explain, the Tommy Knockers became part of mining culture in Michigan.
This is not a monster story.It’s a story about what happens when the earth watches back.
#FBombFriday #TommyKnockers #FolklorePodcast #DarkFolklore #FolkHorror
Hosted and Produced by Tracy Preston
Featuring Todd Preston
Story researched and written by Todd Preston
Music created for F-Bomb by Tracy Preston
Sources:
https://www.legendsofamerica.com/gh-tommyknockers/
https://www.rockngem.com/tommyknockers-mining-folklore-legends/
https://magazine.cim.org/en/in-search/knock-knock-whos-there/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knocker_(folklore)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliff_mine
https://mythlok.com/knockers/
https://www.wheninyourstate.com/michigan/9-michigan-pasty-facts-every-yooper-should-know/
https://www.cousinjacksemporium.com/cousin-jacks-blog/cornish-knockers

On Halloween afternoon in 1981, eleven-year-old Karl Heikell left his home in Calumet, Michigan — and never returned.
What followed was a search filled with conflicting sightings, unanswered questions, and rumors that spread through a small Upper Peninsula community desperate for answers. From abandoned mine shafts to the discovery of Karl’s belongings and remains nearly a year later, investigators struggled to determine what truly happened.This episode examines the known facts, the documented theories, and the haunting uncertainties surrounding the disappearance of Karl Heikell — a case that remains unsolved more than forty years later.
Told with care and restraint, this story honors Karl and the family still seeking answers.
#MaliceInTheMitten #MichiganTrueCrime #UnsolvedCase
Researched and written by Rebecca Hiers
Hosted and Produced by Tracy Preston
Featuring Christine Mulligan
Original artwork by Todd Preston
Original music created for Malice in the Mitten by Tracy Preston
Sources:
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/62bf1e95c67a302bc68441b6/t/65638054ae435d45ec379d2d/1701019733931/petitiontodeterminecauseanddateofdeathindisaster-220409163513-rotated.pdf
https://amwfans.com/thread/13064/unknown-karl-heikell-killer-michigan
https://www.miroadtrip.com/locations/tamarack-mine
https://www.halloween1981.com/archive
https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/michigan-librarian-dedicated-41-year-old-halloween-cold-case-n1300369
 

In this episode of Round Robin, the conversation spans the globe and lands squarely in Michigan. We talk about world population trends and what it means to live on a planet of more than eight billion people, then pivot to some of the weirdest and most wonderful buildings in the Great Lakes State — from mushroom houses to pickle-shaped landmarks.
We also celebrate Michigan firsts that helped shape the world, and spotlight incredible local creators and community builders in Lansing!  
#RoundRobinPodcast #MichiganPodcasts #LocalVoices #CommunityStories
#GreatLakesState #MidwestPodcasts
Hosted & Produced by Tracy Preston - Featuring Christine Mulligan, Nina Mulligan, Angela Hoefer and Todd Preston
Original Artwork by Todd Presston
Original music created for Round Robin by Tracy Preston

In 1914, the Holy Cross Orphanage in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula became the center of disturbing allegations — cruelty, punishment, and children who never seemed to leave.
Locals have long whispered about laughter in empty halls… crying behind locked doors… and shadowed figures in the upper windows of the abandoned building.
In this episode of F-Bomb (Fables, Fiction, Folklore & Frights), we explore the reported history of the Holy Cross Orphanage, allegations of mistreatment, and the lingering stories of hauntings tied to the children who once lived — and possibly suffered — there. Is it folklore? Is it residual energy? Or is something still hiding in the walls?
#FBombPodcast #MichiganFolklore #HauntedMichigan #UpperPeninsula#GhostStories
Hosted and produced by Tracy Preston
Story researched and written by Todd Preston
Original artwork by Todd Preston
Original music created for F-Bomb by Tracy Preston
Sources:
Holy Family Orphanage – Wikipedia (history & facts)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Family_Orphanage
Holy Family Orphanage on Roadtrippers (history + haunted lore)https://maps.roadtrippers.com/us/marquette-mi/points-of-interest/holy-family-orphanage
The 10 Scariest Ghosts That Haunt Michigan’s Shores (includes Holy Cross Orphanage)https://www.wanderingeducators.com/best/top-10/10-scariest-ghosts-haunt-michigans-shores
Haunted Places in Michigan — Holy Family Orphanage includedhttps://otenews.com/haunted-places-in-michigan/
Abandoned, Haunted Orphanage Now Apartments (KalamazooCountry.com)https://kalamazoocountry.com/abandoned-haunted-orphanage-in-marquette-is-now-an-apartment-building/
From Tragedies to Triumph – Holy Family Orphanage History & Storieshttps://witl.com/ixp/691/p/from-tragedies-to-triumph-the-holy-family-orphanage-marquette-michigan/