The Mystery of Carolina Bays - Featuring Tom Poland

Talk of the Triangle

Explore the Carolina bays with South Carolina author Tom Poland, who takes a deep dive into this southern mystery. Plus, listen to his summary of a nonfiction article he wrote called "How a Mule Kick Killed 8 People."

Introduction:

• Tom Poland is a true Southern gentleman and writer.
• Tom's career is focused on telling stories about the South's people, culture and land.
• Tom has written 14 books and over 2,000 magazine features and columns.

Tom's Career:

• In 2018, S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster awarded Tom the Order of the Palmetto, the highest civilian honor in South Carolina.
• Tom's feature on the Carolina bays in Midtown and 5 West magazines is highlighted.
• There is discussion about the fascinating Carolina bays and the dinosaur step theory.

Father-Daughter Dynamic:

• Tom's important role as the father of Midtown/5 West/Triangle Family editor-in-chief Beth Shugg is mentioned.
• Beth discusses Tom's influence on her career path.

Childhood and Magazine Beginnings:

• Beth shares childhood memories of Tom writing for South Carolina Wildlife magazine.
• She discusses her and her sister's creation of their own childhood magazine, "The Scoop," and the creative covers they made.
• Tom and But discuss fun anecdotes about their early magazine-making experiences.

Tom's Writing Journey:

• Tom's interest in writing was sparked by winning a scriptwriting contest at the age of 9.
• His early writing experiences included covering the Carolina bays via documentaries and aerial photography.
• Tom explains the Carolina bays and the theory behind what created them.

Carolina Bays and Their Features:

• Tom clarifies the term "bays" and its relation to the bay tree species, not water.
• He discusses the sandy element and misconception of the bays being ancient beaches.
• He mentions the unique sand characteristics and variation in Carolina bays.

We also hear Tom's retelling of an article he wrote called "How a Mule Kick Killed Eight People."