The Devil You Don't
A history podcast about The Jersey Devil. Sort of.
Discover the surprising origins and intersections of the mythical creature who's crossed paths with some of the most fascinating people, debates, and scandals over 300 years of American history. Quakers, almanac-writers, dreamers, monstrous scientists, and maverick filmmakers all link up in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, as a one-of-a-kind cryptid helps us to understand the birth of the modern world.
Written and narrated by Dylan Ferguson, with Sean O'Rourke, and original music by Rob What.
The Devil You Don't
Part Two: A Star-Bespangled Pond in Some Silent Recess
Welcome to the Pine Barrens in the 1800's. Here, the mysterious creature known as the Leeds Devil will make its earliest recorded appearances. Join us as we peruse an entertaining travelogue from 1859, and discover how this region of New Jersey became one of the most unique and delightful lost corners of the American republic. We'll learn how Pines residents lived in the 19th century, how they were seen by the rest of the country, and how this contributed to a legend. As America expands and urbanizes, an increasing fascination with wilderness will expose a contradiction that feeds the growth of a monster.
Written and narrated by Dylan Ferguson, featuring Sean O'Rourke. Original music is by Rob What.
Some of the main sources for this episode include:
The Atlantic Monthly, May 1859 issue
John McPhee, The Pine Barrens (1967)
Henry Charlton Beck, Forgotten Towns of Southern New Jersey (1936)
Pekka Hämäläinen, Indigenous Continent (2022)
James F. McCloy & Ray Miller, The Jersey Devil (1976)
Find Dylan at: dylan@bravooustsider.com
Find more of Rob's music at: robwhat.bandcamp.com