By Cashmere Morley
For many, ghost stories belong solely to the crisp nights of October. But for Crysta K. Coburn and Kay Gray, the minds behind the Haunted Mitten Podcast, the eerie history of the Great Lakes State is a year-round passion. Having recently wrapped up their seventh successful season, the duo has spent years transforming dusty library archives, maritime tragedies, and local folklore into a gripping, highly successful narrative podcast.
The origins of the Haunted Mitten Podcast date back to 2019 sparking from a casual coffee shop conversation and a convergence of creative opportunities. Gray had been managing a casual paranormal blog called American Haunts while Coburn’s husband had recently launched his own film podcast, Cinema Guano, leaving a trail of recording equipment around the house. When Gray suggested pivoting from the written blog to audio, the pieces clicked into place perfectly. Coburn, then working for the Ann Arbor District Library, had access to a brand-new recording studio looking for staff testers.
“It was like a perfect storm,” Coburn recalled. “When Kay suggested doing a paranormal podcast instead of the blog, it just felt like, yeah, we totally should.”
For Gray, the medium offered immediate freedom. “The setup is easier than a manuscript. Publishing is way easier and free if you play your cards right. Getting started required almost nothing from us, unlike publishing a book, which had no guarantee of happening.”
To fuel a year-round show dedicated entirely to regional mysteries, the co-hosts dive deep into research frequently leaning on the Michigan e-Library Catalog (MeLCat) system to pull rare texts from all corners of the state. Their sources range from widely published folklore to obscure regional books existing only in a single library branch in the Upper Peninsula.
This meticulous research allows them to challenge prevailing urban legends and bring forgotten histories to light. Coburn notes a particular case in Bay City involving a legendary haunting. While locals attribute the activity to a fictionalized 19th-century crime, Coburn’s deep dive uncovered the real, forgotten story of Dolores Vallecita, a world-renowned leopard trainer who tragically died there after an animal attack. “Dolly was real, and I like telling her story,” Coburn said.
Each host’s background balances the duo: Coburn holds a BA in creative writing while Gray brings years of narrative prose writing and professional theater experience to structure each episode. While Gray focuses heavily on the paranormal elements and precise details, Coburn applies a sharp journalistic eye to vet sources and verify facts ensuring the narratives remain grounded in real history.
Michigan’s distinct geography plays an undeniable role in its abundance of folklore. Surrounded by the Great Lakes, the state’s history is inextricably tied to shipping, trade, and maritime travel—elements that naturally breed ghostly encounters.
“Before automobiles and trains, water was the way you got around,” Coburn said, pointing out the inherent dangers that accompanied early transit. Gray agreed, adding that the deep-seated connection to the water spans centuries. “Long before any Europeans got here, the Indigenous folks had legends associated with the lakes... Being surrounded as we are, we couldn’t really help but intertwine them into our lives thoroughly.”
Over seven seasons, this deep dive into regional history has garnered a dedicated community of listeners affectionately dubbed the “Michighouls.” Transitioning from recording in isolation during the pandemic to meeting listeners at regional events like FrankenFest has been a surreal shift for both hosts. The duo has expanded their brand into print with the book Ypsilanti Ghosts and Legends and is currently working on an upcoming second book.
Catch up with the Haunted Mitten podcast online at patreon.com/hauntedmitten to listen to episodes and subscribe to their free monthly newsletter or find them on YouTube @hauntedmittenpodcast. You can follow the show’s official updates on Bluesky, Tumblr, Facebook, and Instagram @HauntedMitten.
To connect with the hosts individually, follow Crysta K. Coburn on Bluesky, Facebook, and Instagram @crystakcoburn, or find Kay Gray’s creative writing updates on Facebook and Instagram @kgraywrites.
To experience the history in person, join the Downtown Ann Arbor Ghost Tour which kicks off right in front of Crazy Wisdom. Check the Ann Arbor Rec and Ed website for upcoming seasonal schedules and registration information. You can also dive into more cosmic mysteries by tuning into Kay’s new podcast all about Ufology, Alien 2 Me, or on Instagram @Alien2Me.
Read Related Articles:
For many, ghost stories belong solely to the crisp nights of October. But for Crysta K. Coburn and Kay Gray, the minds behind the Haunted Mitten Podcast, the eerie history of the Great Lakes State is a year-round passion. Having recently wrapped up their seventh successful season, the duo has spent years transforming dusty library archives, maritime tragedies, and local folklore into a gripping, highly successful narrative podcast.