Malice in the Mitten

This week on Round Robin, Tracy recaps an unforgettable day at Frankenfest — from the Malice in the Mitten booth and the people who stopped by, to meeting fellow podcasters, festival vendors, spooky creators, and listeners who made the day deeply meaningful.
#RoundRobinPodcast #Frankenfest #MaliceInTheMitten #SpookyCommunity #FestivalSeason
Hosted and Produced by Tracy Preston, featuring Christine & Nina Mulligan, and Todd Preston
Original music created exclusively for Round Robin by Tracy Preston
Original artwork by Todd Preston
Sound Effects from Uppbeat:  large-celebration-applause-and cheers-gfx-sounds-1-00-08.mp3

On this episode of F-Bomb Friday, we travel into one of the oldest and strangest pieces of Great Lakes folklore tied to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula: the Talking Head of Sault Ste. Marie.
Along the Saint Marys River, where fog settles low over the water and sound can lose all direction, stories once told of a severed head that continued to speak after death. Some versions connect the legend to French missionaries, fur traders, frontier violence, and the early colonial tensions surrounding one of the most important waterways in North America.
Hosted and produced by Tracy Preston, featuring Todd Preston
Story researched and written by Todd Preston
Original music created exclusively for F-Bomb by Tracy Preston
Original artwork by Todd Preston
But was there ever truly a talking head along the river? Or did fear, fog, isolation, and history create something that felt just real enough to survive?
#FBombFriday #MichiganFolklore #GreatLakesLegends #SaultSteMarie #MaliceInTheMitten
Sources:
“The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents.” The Jesuit Relations, Creighton University, moses.creighton.edu/kripke/jesuitrelations/. Accessed 30 June 2026.
“The French Lead the Way: c. 1500 to 1763.” Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/collections/pioneering-the-upper-midwest/articles-and-essays/history-of-the-upper-midwest-overview/french-lead-the-way/. Accessed 30 June 2026.
“Sault Sainte Marie.” Encyclopaedia Britannica, www.britannica.com/place/Sault-Sainte-Marie-Michigan. Accessed 30 June 2026.
“Fur Trade.” Virtual Museum of New France, Canadian Museum of History, www.historymuseum.ca/virtual-museum-of-new-france/economic-activities/fur-trade/. Accessed 30 June 2026.
“MSU Libraries.” Michigan State University Libraries, Michigan State University, lib.msu.edu/. Accessed 30 June 2026.
“Great Lakes Digital Library.” University of Michigan Digital Collections, University of Michigan, quod.lib.umich.edu/g/glrr. Accessed 30 June 2026.

In April 1943, America was at war. Headlines were filled with Allied advances, Nazi atrocities, rationing, rubber shortages, war bonds, casualty lists, and young men being called into service. But inside one Bay City, Michigan home, the pressure of the outside world reportedly became part of a family argument with devastating consequences.
Special thank you to our anonymous listener in Bay City, Michigan, for sending us the original article that led us to this story. Because of you, we were able to look beyond one old headline and bring Vivian, Kathleen, Geraldine, Bernice, Josephine, and Cecil Jr. back into the light with the care they deserved.
#MaliceInTheMitten #MichiganTrueCrime #BayCityMichigan #TrueCrimePodcast #VictimCenteredTrueCrime
Hosted and produced by Tracy Preston, featuring Christine Mulligan
Story researched and written by Tracy Preston
Original music created exclusively for Malice in the Mitten by Tracy Preston
Original artwork by Todd Preston

What did history actually smell like? In this episode of Round Robin, Tracy and the panel take a strange, funny, and surprisingly emotional trip through history using one forgotten sense: smell. From the ancient Olympics and the signing of the Declaration of Independence to Waterloo, Queen Victoria’s wedding, the Wright Brothers’ first flight, Woodstock, old malls, carnivals, and childhood memories, this conversation asks what was really in the air when history happened. Inspired by a History Facts article, this episode blends weird history, sensory memory, laughter, and a few smells we may never recover from.
#RoundRobinPodcast #WeirdHistory #HistoryFacts #SensoryMemory #PodcastEpisode
Hosted and produced by Tracy Preston, featuring Christine Mulligan, Nina Mulligan, Angela Hoefler and Todd Preston
Original music created exclusively for Round Robin by Tracy Preston
Original artwork by Todd Preston

On this episode of F-Bomb Friday, we travel to Old Scio Cemetery in Dexter, Michigan, where an eerie local legend has survived for generations: the story of Warlock Willie.
Hidden among weathered stones, tangled branches, and two thorn trees said to have grown around a lonely grave, the legend claims Willie was buried in a way meant to keep something trapped beneath the earth. But who was he really? A forgotten pioneer? A misunderstood outsider? A name shaped by oral tradition? Or was Warlock Willie never one man at all?
#FBombFriday #MichiganFolklore #WarlockWillie #DexterMichigan #MaliceInTheMitten
Check out Crossroads of Curosity's short film - The Possession Tape!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZnKoemd7qw
Hosted and Produced by Tracy Preston, featuring Todd Preston
Researched and written by Todd Preston
Original music created exclusively for F-Bomb by Tracy Preston
Original artwork by Todd Preston
Sources:
Robinson, John. “Warlock’s Grave: Warlock Willie Legend.” 99.1 WFMK, 2017.
“Old Graveyard in Dexter, Michigan.” WKFR.
“Scio Township History.” MIGenWeb Washtenaw County.
“Scio Township Historical Resources.” MIGenWeb Washtenaw County.
“Cemetery Records and Burial Research.” Find a Grave.
“Genealogical and Historical Records.” FamilySearch.
“Local History Collections.” Ann Arbor District Library.
This episode also draws from Michigan folklore, local oral tradition, cemetery research, genealogical records, and narrative interpretation surrounding the Warlock Willie legend. Some possible historical connections remain unverified and should be understood as folklore-based interpretation rather than confirmed fact.

In January 1974, 27-year-old Robert A. Woods left his Bay City home to wash his new car before reporting to work at General Motors in Saginaw. He never made it to his shift. His car was later found near City Auto Parts on Broadway, parked in a place his wife said did not fit the man she knew. Robert left behind his wife, Carol, two young daughters, Shelly and Kristy, unanswered questions, and a family forced to live inside the silence.
If you have information about Robert A. Woods or any missing person in Michigan, contact your local law enforcement agency, the Michigan State Police Missing Persons Coordination Unit, or submit information through NamUs, the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System.
And if this episode moved you, please follow Malice in the Mitten wherever you listen. It helps more people discover Michigan’s forgotten stories — and it helps us keep saying the names that deserve to be remembered.
#MaliceInTheMitten #RobertWoods #BayCityMichigan #MichiganMissing #TrueCrimePodcast
Hoted and produced by Tracy Preston, featuring Christine Mulligan
Researched and written by Tracy Preston
Original music created exclusively for Malice in the Mitten by Tracy Preston
Original artwork by Todd Preston
Sources:
“Robert A. Woods Missing Article.” The Bay City Times, 1974. Newspaper clipping provided by anonymous Bay City listener.
“Woods, Robert Arthur.” Bay City Times obituary, Legacy / MLive, 2003. The obituary listing confirms Robert Arthur Woods of Bay City died January 24, 1974, at age 27, and notes his GM Saginaw employment, Shrine Temple membership, and interest in automobiles, motorcycles, and snowmobiling.
“Missing Persons.” Michigan State Police, Michigan.gov.
“Missing Persons Coordination Unit.” Michigan State Police, Michigan.gov.
“NamUs: Home.” National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, National Institute of Justice.

What did people use before shampoo? Long before modern bottles filled our bathrooms, civilizations around the world developed ingenious ways to clean and care for their hair using nature. In this episode of Round Robin, we travel from India to Ancient Egypt, Indigenous North America, Japan, and beyond to discover the fascinating history of hair care. Learn how soapberries, shikakai, yucca root, rice water, camellia oil, black soap, herbs, and even kitchen ingredients helped people maintain healthy hair for thousands of years.
We also celebrate our Woman of the Week, Madam C. J. Walker, whose groundbreaking business transformed the beauty industry while creating unprecedented opportunities for Black women entrepreneurs and forever changing American business history.
Whether you love history, fascinating forgotten traditions, or discovering the surprising origins of everyday life, this episode proves that some of humanity's greatest innovations were growing in nature long before they were sitting on store shelves.
If you enjoyed today's episode, please follow Malice in the Mitten wherever you listen to podcasts. Following the show helps more people discover Michigan's forgotten stories and supports everything we do. Thank you for being part of the MALICE family!
#RoundRobinPodcast #History #HairHistory #MadamCJWalker #DidYouKnow
Hosted and produced by Tracy Preston, featuring Christine Mulligan, Nina Mullligan and Todd Preston
Original music created exclusively for Round Robin by Tracy Preston
Original artwork by Todd Preston
Sources:
A'Lelia Bundles. On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C. J. Walker. Scribner, 2001.
National Park Service. "Madam C. J. Walker: African American Millionaire, Philanthropist, Activist."
National Women's History Museum. "Madam C. J. Walker."
Guinness World Records. "Madam C. J. Walker."
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. "Madam C. J. Walker."
Encyclopaedia Britannica. "Madam C. J. Walker."
Library of Congress. African American History Collections.
National Park Service. "Native Plant Use" (Yucca and Soapweed traditions).
Encyclopaedia Britannica. "Shampoo."
Encyclopaedia Britannica. "Camellia."
Encyclopaedia Britannica. "Ancient Egypt."
Encyclopaedia Britannica. "Ancient Greece."
Encyclopaedia Britannica. "Ancient Rome."On Her Own Ground (Netflix adaptation source material).
Netflix. Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C. J. Walker.
 

Deep in the forests surrounding White Cloud, Michigan, something is said to walk upright between the trees.
Witnesses and local storytellers describe a towering creature with the body of a man, the head of a wild boar, and dark, intelligent eyes that watch from beyond the reach of the firelight. Known as the Pig Man of White Cloud, this obscure Michigan cryptid has haunted the campfire stories of hunters, hikers, and thrill-seeking teenagers for generations.
But where did the legend begin?
Was the Pig Man once an angry farmer transformed by a horrific accident? Was the story created to keep children away from the dangerous swamps, creeks, and forests surrounding White Cloud? Or could something truly be hiding near the mysterious place locals call Pig Man Island?
#PigManOfWhiteCloud #MichiganFolklore #MichiganCryptids #FBombFriday #MaliceInTheMitten
Hosted and produced by Tracy Preston, featuring Todd Preston
Researched and written by Todd Preston
Original music created exclusively for F-Bomb by Tracy Preston
Original artwork by Todd Preston
Sources:
U.S. Forest Service. Huron-Manistee National Forests.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The White River.
University of Detroit Mercy. The James T. Callow Folklore Archive.
Strange & Unexplained. “Dirty Deeds in the Dudgeon Swamp.”

Jordan Wheeler did everything experts tell victims of domestic violence to do.
She left the relationship.  She filed for divorce.  She answered her frightened son's phone call.  She called 911.  She got her children to safety.
Yet on that October night in Clinton Township, Michigan, Jordan Wheeler was murdered inside the home she once shared with her husband, Steven Bryce Wheeler.
This is not a story about the man who took a life.
It is the story of the woman whose life mattered.
At Malice in the Mitten, we believe forgotten stories deserve to be remembered with dignity, compassion, and truth.
If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Malice in the Mitten. It helps more people discover Michigan's forgotten stories and ensures victims like Jordan Wheeler are never forgotten.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, confidential help is available 24 hours a day.
National Domestic Violence HotlineCall 800-799-SAFE (7233)Text START to 88788Visit:https://www.thehotline.org
#MaliceInTheMitten #JordanWheeler #MichiganTrueCrime #TrueCrimePodcast #DomesticViolenceAwareness
Hosted and produced by Tracy Preston, featuring Christine Mulligan
Story researched and written by Tracy Preston
Original music created exclusively for Malice in the Mitten by Tracy Preston
Original artwork by Todd Preston
Sound effect from Uppbeat: Gunshot-impacting-tin-can-pistol-fascinatedsound-4-4-00-01.mp3
Sources:
Clinton Township Police Department. Investigative reports and incident documentation.
Macomb County Prosecutor's Office. Court filings and prosecution records.
Macomb County Circuit Court. Trial proceedings, witness testimony, verdict, and sentencing.
Michigan Courts. Public court records and case information.
National Domestic Violence Hotline. Domestic violence safety resources and educational information.
Court TV. Coverage of the Steven Bryce Wheeler trial, including courtroom proceedings, admitted evidence, witness testimony, and publicly broadcast portions of the defendant's interview.
911 recording introduced during trial proceedings.
Police body-worn camera footage admitted during the investigation and court proceedings.
Witness testimony presented during the trial.
Forensic evidence and crime scene documentation presented in court.

What did we all used to do that would seem completely unbelievable today? What inventions did we expect to have by 2026? Which decade would you visit if time travel were possible?
This week on Round Robin, Tracy, Christine, and Nina take a hilarious trip through the past, present, and future. From riding in the back of pickup trucks and recording songs off the radio to debating flying cars, robot maids, and the one modern convenience we couldn't live without, this episode is packed with laughter, nostalgia, and unforgettable memories.
The ladies also celebrate Woman of the Week Josephine Cochrane, the inventor whose determination forever changed kitchens around the world with the first practical dishwasher.
#RoundRobinPodcast #Nostalgia #BackToTheFuture #JosephineCochrane #MichiganPodcasts
Hosted and Produced by Tracy Preston, featuring Christine and Nina Mulligan
Original music created exclusively for Round Robin by Tracy Preston
Original artwork by Todd Preston
Sources:
National Inventors Hall of Fame. Josephine Garis Cochrane. https://www.invent.org/inductees/josephine-garis-cochran
National Inventors Hall of Fame. The Story of the Dishwasher. https://www.invent.org/blog/inventors/dishwasher
Reuters. Canadian Wildfire Coverage and Smoke Impacts. July 20, 2026.
Netflix Tudum. Harlan Coben's I Will Find You. https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/harlan-coben-i-will-find-you