Marie Laveau: The Voodoo Queen of New Orleans (and a Slavery Disclaimer)

Sara opens with a disclaimer apologizing for sarcastic remarks about slavery in the episode, clarifying she condemns slavery as violent, unethical, and immoral and wants the history taught. Sara and Gina share podcast updates (86 downloads as of Aug. 30, roughly top 25% of new podcasts), ask listeners for five-star reviews to boost visibility and attract advertisers, and thank several listeners by name. They then discuss Marie Laveau’s background through her maternal lineage from Senegal to New Orleans, the complexities of slavery and racial caste terms like “mulatto” and “quadroon,” and Laveau’s upbringing in a matriarchal, Catholic-yet-African-ritual tradition. Marie becomes a renowned hairdresser, counselor, midwife, nurse, and voodoo leader, blending Catholicism with voodoo, leading St. John’s Eve celebrations, aiding prisoners and the sick, and guarding secrets. They cover her relationships, children, death in 1881, tomb pilgrimage traditions, and legends of Marie II and modern sightings, then list sources and explain they are banking episodes due to a busy work season.

00:00 Content Warning Disclaimer

02:39 Podcast Milestones Update

04:25 Reviews and Listener Shoutouts

05:52 Meet Marie Laveau

07:11 Roots in Slavery Era

08:29 New Orleans Changing Laws

10:34 Rita and Marie Birth

11:56 Derogatory Terms Explained

14:11 Matriarchal Upbringing

16:51 Hairdresser to Power Broker

19:55 Marriage and Caste Labels

21:03 Widowhood and New Partner

22:37 Money Myths and Hard Times

23:12 Midwife to Voodoo Leader

24:28 St Johns Eve Rituals

25:10 Legacy Death and Tomb

27:08 Marie II and Immortality Rumors

29:07 Why Men Feared Her

30:34 Sources and Research Notes

32:07 Podcast Scheduling Update

33:08 Life Updates and Farm Event

36:09 Wrap Up and Contact Info

hystericalhysteria.com

hystericalsaragina@gmail.com

Sources

You tube, "Marie LaVeaux-The Real Life of New Orleans Legendary Voodoo Queen" by Darkest Lives, a Bing Video

You Tube, "Marie LaVeaux: The New Orleans Voodoo Queen" by Legends of History

cemeteryneworleans.com "The Real Marie LaVeaux: Truths Behind Her Tomb in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1" 11/1/2025

64parished.org "Marie LaVeaux" by Carolyn Morrow Long, 10/12/2017, updated on 2/9/2021

Britannica