

198: Nancy French: Ghosted by Her Own Tribe
Mar 3, 2025
Nancy French, a five-time New York Times bestselling ghostwriter and investigative journalist, shares her journey of truth-telling and personal betrayal in her memoir, "Ghosted: An American Story." She discusses the repercussions of opposing Donald Trump within her conservative community and her harrowing investigation into abuse at Kanakuk Camp. French addresses the struggle of maintaining faith amidst political turmoil, the complexities of identity shaped by trauma, and the necessity of kindness in bridging ideological divides.
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Rough and Ready Family
- Nancy French's family, self-identified hillbillies with Cherokee heritage, lived on Mont Eagle Mountain.
- Their lives were marked by both captivating traditions like Cherokee dances and psychic readings, and also violence.
Shadow of Violence
- While French loved her family's captivating side, their history also included violence.
- This ranged from physical assaults and shootings to a cousin shooting another cousin's arm off.
The Seer and the Ghosts
- French's aunt, a psychic, recognized her as a "seer" which resonated deeply with French.
- This "seer" quality manifested when a cousin visited and sensed the voices of Confederate soldiers, a phenomenon French couldn't perceive.