Strange Truths & Tall Tales
Podcast
Strange Truths & Tall Tales celebrates the storytelling tradition of Newfoundland, Canada. From true-life feats of bravery to eerie tales of sea monsters and the folklore of mummers, we explore the stories that make this place what it is. Along the way we talk to modern storytellers, artists, and contributors from the world of pop culture to hear their perspectives and the tales that matter to them.
The show is hosted by Robert, a longtime blogger from Gander, NL, who writes about Newfoundland’s culture. He records the podcast from home, with occasional “input” from his two Labrador retrievers, who keep him grounded (well, more often, distracted).
Whether you’re a Newfoundlander yourself or simply curious about the stories of this remarkable place, we invite you to join us. Together, we’ll unravel “the yarns that knit ya” and discover what makes Newfoundland’s tales so powerful, so moving, and so unforgettable.
Have a story to share? Reach out: robert@productofnewfoundland.ca.
S4.E2: The Ghostly Fishermen
In this episode hear the story of the Charles Haskell — a banks schooner that couldn’t quite leave her ghosts behind. The tale has been told for over a century and even inspired a folk song.
S4.E1: A Haunted Hotel in St. John’s
A ghostly knocking. An unexplained death. And a real tragedy in the dead of night. This Halloween, step inside the haunted halls of Foran’s Atlantic Hotel.
S3.E6: Sinking of the SS Caribou (feat. Tyler Humby)
The story of the wartime sinking of the Newfoundland ferry — SS Caribou, and a chat with rising NL folk musician Tyler Humby about his new song — The Caribou.
S3.E5: Mar Falten, Fanny Goff!
From playful Valentine’s traditions to heartbreaking loss, love in Newfoundland is never simple. Some stories fade, but others like ‘Fanny Goff’ — the story of Newfoundland’s most beautiful woman — endure.
S3.E1: Newfoundland Confederation and CODCO (feat. Greg Malone)
In the season 3 premiere of Strange Truths and Tall Tales we look at the day Newfoundland started driving on the right-hand side of the road and chat with Newfoundland legend Greg Malone about CODCO and his upcoming docu-series Don’t Tell the Newfoundlanders.
S2.E9: Restless Corpses (Halloween Special Pt. 3)
In this special Halloween episode of Strange Truths and Tall Tales we explore two tales of corpses who wouldn’t quite rest in peace.
S2.E1: Bell Island & History’s Most Haunted
The season 2 opener features the story of a 12 year-old boy who fended off a giant squid, an interview with paranormal experts Corine Carey, Leanne Sallenback and Kelly Ireland of T+E’s series History’s Most Haunted, and an old sea serpent account from Fortune Harbour.
S1.E8: Lightning Over Lumsden
The story of a horrific thunder and lightning storm over eastern Newfoundland in 1930.
S1.E7: Black Bart in Newfoundland
The story of infamous pirate (and tacky dresser?) Black Bart and his exploits in Trepassey.
S1.E6: Newfoundland’s Madonna Iceberg
The story of a weird — maybe miraculous —iceberg that appeared off St. John’s in 1905