The Preservation Society of Newport County (Newport Mansions) has announced that critically acclaimed podcaster and best-selling author Aaron Mahnke will offer a lecture titled “Exhumed: Exploring the Roots of the New England Vampire Panic” on Thursday, Oct. 15, 6-7 p.m. at Rosecliff. (Newport Mansions)

Aaron Mahnke, creator of the podcast “Lore” and author of “Exhumed: Unearthing the History of the American Vampire,” will give a lecture at Rosecliff on Thursday, Oct. 15, from 6 to 7 p.m.

The talk traces how folklore, medical belief, religion and pseudoscience produced the New England vampire panic, which culminated in the exhumation of Mercy Brown in Exeter in 1892. A reception, book sales and signing follow.

The Preservation Society is also streaming the lecture on Zoom. Members get discounted in-person tickets and free access to virtual programming.

Guests are invited to come in vampire costume. Prop weapons and pointed objects are not allowed.

“Lore” won iTunes’ Best of 2015 and Best of 2016 and was named best history podcast of 2016 by the Academy of Podcasters.

Tickets are at newportmansions.org/events.

Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020). He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide. Ryan...