Hold My Sweet Tea
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Hold My Sweet Tea
Ep.33-Vampires Among Us: The Modern Communities Living in Plain Sight
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Ever wondered what happened to all those vampires that supposedly haunted New Orleans? They're still here—but they're not what you think.
Journey with us as we pull back the curtain on modern vampire communities thriving right under our noses. Maven Lore, the reluctant king of New Orleans' Vampire Court, and Merticus of the Atlanta Vampire Alliance reveal a world where garlic is welcome on pizza, coffins are replaced by comfortable beds, and acceptance is the highest value.
We explore the three fascinating types of modern vampires: sanguinarians who consume small amounts of blood from tested donors, tantric vampires who draw energy from physical touch, and psychic vampires who can absorb energy from something as simple as a stranger's smile. These communities exist worldwide, creating safe spaces where people from all backgrounds can find belonging without judgment.
Forget the Hollywood stereotypes—today's vampires are your neighbors, coworkers, and friends. They hold day jobs as graphic designers, DJs, and antique furniture experts. While they might don fangs for special events, their vampire identity is just one aspect of their multifaceted lives.
The episode takes a serious turn as we discuss real vampire hunters who terrorized the community in the 1990s, including a shocking stabbing incident. We also share information about the Unity Project, a new website connecting vampire communities nationwide. www.unityproject.life
Whether you're vampire-curious or simply fascinated by subcultures that challenge social norms, this episode offers a rare glimpse into a world where being different isn't just accepted—it's celebrated. Listen now to discover the true power of finding your tribe in unexpected places.
Source Material:
Varner, Grant, Oct 2022, Vampires in New Orleans, sink your teeth into this interview, https://www.whereyat.com/vampires-in-new-orleans
Andrew, Scottie, Oct 2022, Inside the world of real-life vampires in New Orleans and Atlanta, https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/29/us/real-vampires-new-orleans-atlanta-cec
Vampires in Modern New Orleans
Speaker 1We always hear the stories and lore of the vampires in New Orleans from the past, but what about now? Are they still lurking around the corner? This is Hold my Sweet Tea. So so it's a fang-tastic Thursday and I'm Pearl and I'm Holly.
Speaker 2Are you guys ready to sink your teeth into the next episode? Yes, that was our vampire punnies. Yeah, we're trying. Yeah, we gotta make you laugh and be a little scared at the same time, like what is wrong with those girls then?
Speaker 1they're not that funny we're chronically tired.
Speaker 2It's part of our personality. Now, right, it has become us. Oh hey, I'm Holly, I'm tired.
Speaker 1I'm just going to change my name. Next time it'll be like hi, I'm tired.
Speaker 2And I'm sleepy.
Speaker 1And this is I swear, I don't snore, I sleep on my side I was saying, like robin williams, good morning vietnam, yes, and but we're saying goodnight podcast listeners yes.
Speaker 2So you know, we have been creatures of the night for a really long time. Creatures of the night. Of the night Back in the early late 90s, early 2000s. Yeah, early late 90s, early 2000s, yeah, we, we partook in some of the uh vampire culture yeah, running around pretending to smoke clove cigarettes, literally not supposed to inhale those. So no, that's why I said that, yeah, and they taste like juicy fruit, they do. They taste like juicy fruit, they do.
Speaker 1They taste like juicy fruit gum. Yep, yeah, they smell pretty good too. They really do. Yeah, it's less offensive.
Speaker 2We dress all in black and smoke clove cigarettes, pretend yeah and hang out at vampire bars in New Orleans.
Speaker 1Yeah, and take pictures in cemeteries.
Speaker 2Oh my gosh, we have so many of those. Well, we had so many of those. We have a few of them now.
Speaker 1I miss my shoes. You had some awesome shoes, I did.
Speaker 2You really did. I had some great shoes.
Speaker 1I graduated in some really great shoes.
Types of Modern Vampires
Speaker 2You did. They were very high and I don't see how you walked across that football field with those shoes on, but I did it and I didn't fall down, you didn't.
Speaker 1I watched you it was very graceful and now you know it's funny, because I hardly ever wear anything that's got any sort of heel it's like flats right life.
Speaker 2You're like got my converse on today.
Speaker 1Yep, that's where I live, in those tennis shoes. Yeah, mostly.
Speaker 2So what little vampiric delights are you telling us today?
Speaker 1So we are actually going to use Thursday to talk about some current vampire culture. Ooh, I like it, and you would think that you know they'd want to keep it on the DL, but not really anymore. I feel like that's been a thing of the past to just be hush hush about it.
Speaker 2Right To hide it and not talk about it.
Speaker 1But now it's like but now, yeah, yeah, it's out there since about 2022.
Speaker 1it became the the thing to just just, you know, let everybody know, it's cool, it's fine. So, um, there's actually an interview, well, a article and then an interview. That I'm I took most of my stuff from. Okay, uh, cnn spoke with two what they call giants in the vampire communities. Uh, one is his name is Maven Lore of New Orleans and he's actually the king of the court of vampires in New Orleans, and another simply named Merticus, who co-founded the Atlanta Vampire Alliance. So we brought a little Georgia into it today. Oh, okay, those two spoke to CNN, but Maven did a separate interview with a publication in New Orleans called when Yat Like Liz's, where Yat Kind.
Speaker 1Like Liz's, where Yat Kind of Like Liz's when. Yat, I don't know what we're talking about, but yeah, it's a restaurant around here and they have really good yummy breakfast and stuff.
Speaker 2They have bananas, foster stuffed French toast.
Speaker 1They have really good breakfast bowls too Very good, so yeah, so they shared some insight on today's vampire community. For Maven it all started with a fang fitting. He was getting his very first pair of fangs when something just kind of changed in him. He says he told CNN that it was like an awakening, and he feels like that's kind of the best way to describe it. When other people come to him interested in joining that community, they've gone through some sort of awakening. He had moved from New York to orleans and he never left. So he like came to visit close to halloween, right, and then never went home. It sucks you in, it does. So he actually is now a crafter of bespoke acrylic fangs Nice and, like I said, he says he reluctantly accepted the role of the king of the Big Easy Vampire Court.
Speaker 1Nice Reluctantly, but he's like okay sure, fine, which I mean he's considered a peacekeeper. Usually if there's someone looking for advice and they kind of go to him like he's an elder, yeah, you know whatever. So yeah, obviously this court is about coming up together, sink or swim together. A victory for one is a victory for all type of community, so very interactive with one another. They are essentially a very large family. That's cool. I like that. Obviously, human vampires are not like what we see in Hollywood or on TV. Maven told where. Yet in reference to Hollywood vamps, it's all BS. I love the show true blood, but, come on, garlic tastes great on pizza. If you stab anything in the heart with a steak it'll die, and I'm sure anyone would opt for a king-size bed instead of a coffin.
Speaker 2Yes, but also a silver bullet's gonna kill anybody yeah same, like every little thing yeah, you know all the little things that kill whatever.
Speaker 1It's gonna kill other people too, and something we'll talk about, like at the end, is there were actually vampire hunters in the 90s Really yeah, so we'll circle back to that, though Interesting.
Speaker 2Yeah, that's very interesting.
Speaker 1So Maven explained that there are three types of modern vampire the actual blood drinkers, referred to as sanguinarians, like I said in your episode yes not sangria arians no, not sangria arians they do drink real human blood, but it's not. It's not like a lot, yeah, not like you think and it all comes from tested donors. It could be a co-worker, close friend or a friend of a friend. However, more often than not, it's like a romantic partner, right?
Speaker 2so typically, whoever they're with is the one there yeah, because I wouldn't see going to your co-worker be like, hey, would you like to go get tested? And, uh, give me a vial of your blood. Yeah, and then you were they come running going.
Speaker 1That's my stapler. Yes, exactly I'm sorry, sir, but that's an hr violation, yeah no, and bloodletting actually is illegal in new orleans, so anybody who does it yeah, it's very low-key obviously they don't. They're not gonna bring in a whole bunch of people or run around bleeding random strangers, right?
Speaker 1I mean, you don't want to catch diseases either so there's that the second type of human vampire would be tantric vampires that derive energy from physical touch like hugs, holding hands or sexual encounters. This is the category that Maven himself falls into, and I feel like so does Merticus yeah, they're both in that that group.
Speaker 1The third and final type is psychic vampires. These absorb energy from something as simple as a smile from a stranger in the distance. And it's important to say that these, like these all exist everywhere. It's not just in new orleans. Hundreds of communities exist in the united states, europe, south america, canada.
Breaking Vampire Misconceptions
Speaker 2It's just really everywhere well, I have met several people who apparently didn't know that they were vampires, because they will drain the energy out of you. Yeah, and you're like go away.
Speaker 1Emotional vampires, you're like I guess that would be part of the psychic vampire group yep, they just don't know that they're part of it, yeah like somebody forgot to tell you.
Speaker 2Yeah, you're psychotic, no, psychotic.
Speaker 1Those words are so close together I know, Today's vampires are from many different backgrounds, but all share the common goal of just wanting to belong. But all share the common goal of just wanting to belong. They have found a community with their fellow vampires and the lifestyle is a subversive choice, a proud rejection of the social norm. According to a professor of liberal arts in Savannah, john Edgar Browning, it is an empowering way to live. He has studied vampire communities in New Orleans for many years. He says human vampires make accessible the infinite potential that exists for exposing and unfixing the repressive and oppressive categories out of which marginalization is born. So, in a way, these vampires are therapeutic for us yeah he says that because, like literally, you think about it.
Speaker 1He says that because, like literally, you think about it, they all just want to get along and be loved. That's a reason to love the vampire community, right, which is why they gather together as a community, because not everybody feels that way.
Speaker 2So they're like, hey, we're gonna, yeah, form this group and yeah, this is a.
Speaker 1Support each other, correct, and they all say it doesn't matter what race, what gender you are, everyone's accepted, and that's like something you don't find in normal everyday Right.
Speaker 2Society. I was going to say that's how it should be.
Speaker 1It should be but it is not. It should be, but it is not. So Maven and Merticus spoke to CNN about the misconceptions and even the joys about life as a human vampire. Other than the sanguinarians who consume small amounts of human blood, many abstain and even condemn that practice. They find sustenance in sexual encounters and other experiences that they can draw on the energy of, and if asked by a stranger if they would drink their blood, maven has responded no, that's called murder.
Speaker 2Right, not going to do that at all. And some of them do wear the vials of their partners or someone's blood that's near and dear to them around their necks or something like that, and they don't necessarily drink it, they just keep it close to them.
Speaker 1It's just like a source of energy without actually having to consume it. Yeah, I mean, these vampires are people who often work day jobs. Duh, because they're still people. Right? Maven, like we said, does the f fangs. He's a graphic designer, a dj and a jeweler nice imagine that dj dj dracula I have no idea what his name is, but that's funny Cool. Verticus is an expert in antique furniture.
Speaker 2Nice.
Speaker 1Yeah, they were not drawn to this lifestyle because they had idolized Dracula or anything like that. In Browning's study he found that they were mostly drawn to each other for the social elements Right.
Speaker 2So again, just like Like-minded peers, yeah, and wanting to belong.
Speaker 1Right. So again, just like minded peers, yeah, and wanting to belong, browning said I wouldn't even call them vampire fans at all, merely people with a shared history from their adolescence, an innate need for blood or energy and a shared need to find others like themselves who are accepting. Oh yeah, circles back to. They just want a place where they're not being judged constantly and all of that. And I know, I'm sure they have some mega cool parties. Oh yeah, like really cool stuff.
Speaker 1All that I mean because they have the vampire ball in New Orleans. And that's not necessarily to do with this specific thing. It's like the Anne Rice thing.
Speaker 2And then remember it was not too long ago I think I had shared the TikTok with you of the girl who was unknowingly, and then after a while, once she moved to New Orleans from Australia, she was in a vampire cult. Oh yeah, she's on TikTok. Her name is Celeste Moth, it's all one word. But yeah, she was in a decade-long vampire cult and the leader said that he was the vampire Lestat and he had all of these people doing crazy stuff, like moving all the way from Australia to New Orleans, which she still lives in today. But yeah, her story is like crazy.
Speaker 1It's in a lot, lot of parts, but, like I listened to it, it's so weird, so run over there and listen.
Speaker 2Yeah, I'm sure it's not anything like what I'm describing here no, but like it's just you're thinking of it and you're like how does somebody get into a vampire cult? But it was a role-playing thing. Back in the late 90s, early 2000s, they had the whole like role-playing book and then he just like got totally power tripping, yeah, yeah like sucked into that world.
Speaker 2So yeah, and it's not like that what you're describing, because they're, they're a community and they support each other and I don't feel like these are delusional people. They're just yeah, they're not doing role play things and weird things.
The Vampire Hunter Incidents
Speaker 1Yeah, that's crazy. So yeah, I mean they must always clarify to those outside this community that they are not like the fictional, blood-sucking Hollywood vampires, while also explaining that many human vampires actually try to stay out of the public eye due to these misconceptions. Both Maven and Merticus work to educate young people about modern vampirism and the amalgamation of physical, mental and spiritual attributes that make up this society. Merticus explained that being a vampire is often associated with the occult and fictional vampires are known for engaging in human sacrifice among other grisly acts, and sacrifice among other grisly acts. The idea that the vampire subculture encourages or even condones such behavior is completely untrue.
Speaker 1For another, human vampire communities welcome members of all religious backgrounds, so it's not necessarily occultultish not at all both say that they try not to be recognized solely for their identifying as vampires. Murdicus says he does not wear fangs or golf clothes and maven says his nighttime attire for most of the parties and whatever else could be described as a mix of snazzy suit wear and 80s rock Snazzy.
Speaker 2Snazzy, I like it. I would still wear my things, though, because they're really cool, and if you use a little bit of denture cream, fix it in and put them in, they'll stay in really well. You can fix it in and forget it. You can and you can eat with them in.
Speaker 1Which then everybody's like why are you eating?
Speaker 2Because, I'm hungry Because this brownie is delicious.
Speaker 1Right, because this brownie is delicious, right? Merticus does say that how vampires are seen in Hollywood is starting to change. It is headed in a more multifaceted and positive direction, away from the blanch-skinned bloodsuckers. Yeah, both state that vampirism doesn't occupy their entire lives. Both are in committed relationships with non-vampires. Being a vampire is simply one part of who they are and not their only defining quality.
Speaker 2That. That was cool, though, is where that part ends at least.
Speaker 1So in the late 90s there were some extremely radical, semi-homicidal religious individuals that came to New Orleans with the intent to send the vampires back to where they came from.
Speaker 2Oh, wow.
Speaker 1So wow, so crazy. But, for instance, lady Kim, who was part of this vampire court, was literally stabbed in the chest with a stake. Are you kidding? Yeah, by some guy in a bar he's like vampire. Yeah, buy some guy in a bar he's like vampire, yeah. Fortunately, she's well endowed, yeah, and that's what basically saved her life that she had.
Speaker 2Yeah, he didn't get through Large bust. Yeah, he didn't get through. He didn't get through all the fat and the boobie. So yay boobies, Yay boobies, but poor thing Wow.
Speaker 1Yeah, she also proceeded to beat the guy. Pretty bad, oh, I would have too. But yeah, I mean, you just stabbed me in the titty with a steak.
Speaker 2Right, it's on. Exactly, you're going down.
Speaker 1I mean that's just one incident. There were so many like other little things that I saw that I just like it was basically the same stuff, like these people were literally running around stabbing people with stakes because they presented as a vampire.
Speaker 2And people present as vampires all over.
Speaker 1New Orleans, oh yeah, everywhere I mean, there are people and I feel like the people that are actually part of the lifestyle and stuff they like dress up like that for, like the balls and things like that.
Speaker 2Big events and whatever, but typically in the everyday stuff they're like in what we're wearing, right, they're not out there dressed in all black wearing fangs all day long, no it's not what they're doing, but then you're going to confuse, like somebody who dresses goth as a vampire, that they're not necessarily into vampirism so it's like that's what I say. You can't just assume everybody that wears black and has is a vampire.
Speaker 1No, it doesn't work that way either. Like no, literally. I guess we all need to wear signs. I am not a vampire, I'm not a vampire.
Speaker 2Don't stake me in the boob please don't snap me in my ta-tas.
Speaker 1Right.
Speaker 2Thanks, thanks, buffy.
The Unity Project Website
Speaker 1So something else really interesting before we end this episode. The New Orleans Court vampires are actually in the beta stages of a national website called the Unity Project, A direct site to help people find communities by region, house special interest, and they can also find upcoming events. Plus, you can contact the local community in New Orleans. Contact the local community in New Orleans and I'll include the link in the show notes, but it's unityprojectlife.
Speaker 2The power of the internet.
Speaker 1Yeah, they say it's in developmental stages so it's pretty bare, but there are good leads on where to find communities, especially in the south. And don't worry, if you're not a vampire, they won't bite unless you ask nicely, Unless you really really want them to. Ask nicely. Yeah, Bite me please. Probably would work out well.
Speaker 2Right, you just bite me right here would work out, right.
Speaker 1You just bite me right here but so that is today's vampires.
Speaker 2They're all nicey, nice, yeah. But my question is when you think of vampires and you know, you think of old country, old, you know, transylvania, romania, things like that and then it does trans out higher over to like new orleans. Have you ever heard of a vampire in like north dakota or anything like I?
Speaker 1know not connecticut vampire.
Speaker 2I mean, even atlanta makes sense, yeah because it's in the south, but i'm'm like so it is a southern thing, really, yeah.
Speaker 1I don't know. I mean it's probably southern for the United States.
Speaker 2Yeah, but like Canada's.
Speaker 1Like he said, Canada has them. I see it. Yeah, you know European countries and things like that, Like it makes sense over there too, Like Fargo. Oh, you want me to countries and things like that, Like it makes sense over there too, Like Fargo.
Speaker 2Oh, you want me to bite you in the neck? Eh, I got to go get your blood tested first. That was my best Fargo accent. I can't do it.
Speaker 1Well, they sound a lot like the Canadian ones in that case.
Speaker 2They're close.
Speaker 1They're close enough, right For sure. That's funny. I was just like thinking about the Idaho and potato vampire crew.
Speaker 2Oh my gosh.
Speaker 1I was like russet or red skin Right, Yellow gold.
Speaker 2We always eat ketchup, or is it on our french fries? We're goofy?
Speaker 1Yeah, no, but I really do think it's kind's. It's kind of like, you know, cool that they have a place that's accepting of you, no matter what.
Speaker 2yeah so that's cool. Yeah, so go to their website and join the unity project and find like-minded people in your community.
Speaker 1Yeah, and feel, feel like you belong absolutely and feel like you belong Absolutely.
Speaker 2I feel like I belong sometimes Somewhere I don't know.
Speaker 1You know what? I have spent my life trying to not belong Same. So, I mean, in that sense I'm kind of like I'm like I have to leave my house.
Speaker 2Why Right Like can I join the community of the ones that like stay home Right and don't talk to each other. Can we just like FaceTime each other occasionally? Send each other reels.
Speaker 1Right Some text messages. That's what we do anyway. That's what we do. I'm like oh, each other reels Right Some text messages.
Speaker 2That's what we do anyway, that's what we do. I'm like oh look, six reels, Let me watch them all.
Speaker 1Exactly that's what happens. I wake up in the morning and I'm like, oh, let me watch these 12 things, holy shit.
Speaker 2Right or same for you.
Speaker 1Same for me, absolutely Like our message threads are full of nothing but.
Speaker 2And this is Memorial Day weekend that we're getting ready to be on. So we're going to go out on a sandy beaches yeah, lake day and glitter like the vampires we are, because we're both very pale. We stay out of the sun, so we're going to be sparkling like Edward Cullen out there. Yeah, yep, yep, I think I might put some pre-tan on, though, just so I don't look so sparkly.
Speaker 1Not me. Going out there in all my blanched skin glory.
Speaker 2Blanched skin glory. Blanch skin glory. So you know, by Monday we'll probably be crispy.
Wrap-up and Show Information
Speaker 1I'm not going to tell you about how many people went blind from looking in my direction.
Speaker 2You're like why are these people all laying on the beach? They went blind, I'm probably blending with the sand.
Speaker 1Oh, I'm sorry, did I step on you Exactly? I'm sorry, ma'am, I didn't see you there. You're the same color as the sand.
Speaker 2Yeah, we're going to go have a little, you know, fun in the sun or slightly out of the sun and hang out. Yeah, the fam.
Speaker 1Yeah, the adopted fam.
Speaker 2Yep and our children, and you know.
Speaker 1Well, it's your fam.
Speaker 2Yeah, my fam, but still your fam Adopted fam for me. You've been around long enough. You're your family. I'm like god, dang it another one yep, I spend more time with you than my own fam, right that's true, even holidays.
Speaker 1Yep, we've spent with each other more often than our own families. It happens, we live close.
Speaker 2It's convenient. Absolutely, I'm not getting on a plane right now.
Speaker 1I don't want to drive to fight with my family. I could fight with you For free, for free, oh my goodness. But we don't.
Speaker 2We just there and like talk crap about other people that we don't like.
Speaker 1Yeah, or exchange lyrics and movie quotes all day long absolutely, and it never gets old no, it's crazy. Yeah, I actually uh was sitting there trying to think of something that would be cool to juge an introduction one day and it was like all I could think about was uh bring it on. When they were like introducing themselves in the beginning I was like maybe we should do that with your hair. You could be like and I'm big red exactly, I'm still big red.
Speaker 1Yes, yes, my orange hair and this is, and this is usually why other people like us even when we're not together because we say really ridiculous things, yep.
Speaker 1But on the non-ridiculous side, our theme music is by patty salzetta. Yes, yes, as if you have anything you'd like to share with us, please message us on social media. Send us an email steeped at holdmysweetteacom. If you have friends who don't use Spotify or any of the other places that you can listen, and they don't feel like downloading any of that stuff, they can always listen on our website. Yep, holdmysweetteacom Doesn't require you to sign in or anything. Just listen right there.
Speaker 2But who doesn't have like Spotify or Apple Music or Amazon? Your grandma I don't have a grandma living- their grandma, their grandma.
Speaker 1They still want to listen. Exactly, I mean, I say their grandma. But then you go. My mom, who's nearing 70. Yeah, and she's listening Yep On Pandora. So there you go. You have no excuses.
Speaker 2Pearl and she's listening Yep On Pandora. So there you go. You have no excuses. Pearl's mom's listening and she's so cute. We love her.
Speaker 1Yeah, she is cute and she loves me. That's probably why she's listening, Right? She's like y'all are ridiculous.
Speaker 2I have to listen to these girls. She enjoys it. I'm sure she laughs. She to listen to these girls.
Speaker 1She enjoys it. I'm sure she laughs. She does giggle. She tells me all the time funny. I was like thank you. I was like for real, or are you just telling me that?
Speaker 2Are you just telling me that because of your daughter, right?
Speaker 1So see, I shared a link with my mama.
Speaker 2You can share a link with yours, exactly, but Hold and share a link with yours Exactly, but Hold, my Sweet Tea is, as always, a Drunken Bee production. Y'all stay safe out there, and just because we're dipping doesn't mean you can't keep sipping Sanguinarian. Bye, bye, thank you.