On this episode of Common Mystics, Jen and Jill journey into the breathtaking Driftless Region of the Midwest — a landscape untouched by glaciers and steeped in history. Their travels lead them to the quiet river town of Decorah, Iowa, where beauty and tragedy intertwine.

Here, a haunting mystery unfolds. In 1929, fourteen-year-old Romelda Casten died suddenly and mysteriously inside her family farmhouse while her parents were away. Was it a tragic accident… or something far more sinister? As the investigation deepens, shocking revelations emerge — and suspicion turns toward those closest to her. Tune in for a chilling and unforgettable story that still echoes through the ancient hills of northeast Iowa.

If you love uncovering hidden history and discovering the powerful stories woven into the places we explore, please consider supporting Common Mystics on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/commonmystics. Your support helps us keep traveling, researching, and giving voice to the forgotten stories that still linger in the shadows.

On this episode of Common Mystics, Jen and Jill explore the history of the Dakota people of the Upper Mississippi River Valley, specifically the Mdewakanton band and the leadership of Chief Wabasha III. They trace how early treaties and increasing American expansion reshaped Dakota homelands and set the stage for growing tension. Hunger, land loss, and broken promises contributed to the outbreak of the U.S.–Dakota War of 1862. The episode examines the war’s devastating aftermath, including exile and lasting cultural impact. Through the story of Wabasha III, listeners are invited to reflect on leadership, survival, and the memory carried in the land. Join us as we give voice to a powerful chapter of Midwestern history.

If you enjoy exploring hidden history and the stories behind the places we travel, please consider supporting the show through Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/commonmystics. Your support helps us continue giving voice to stories that might otherwise be forgotten.

On this episode of Common Mystics, Jen and Jill travel back to the earliest days of settlement along the northern Mississippi River, exploring how river towns took shape in the 17th and 18th centuries. Built alongside booming industry and filled with young men looking for fortune—and fun—these towns quickly developed a rough-and-tumble reputation.

Fast forward to 1879, when Winona, Minnesota boasts a thriving red-light district overflowing with liquor, gambling, and every variety of vice. One night, outside a notorious downtown saloon, a drunken argument erupts into gunfire. When the smoke clears, one man lies dead and another is sent to prison.

But the story doesn’t end there. Nearly 150 years later, the questions still linger—and the spirits connected to that fateful night may still be waiting for someone to tell their story.

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