Podcasts by The Folklore Podcast

Episode 146 - AMERICA'S FEMALE GHOSTS from 2023-12-07T16:04:26

It seems strange that there have been very few quality studies undertaken of female ghosts in America. On this episode of the podcast, we meet two researchers who have happily redressed this bal...

Episode 145 - THREE RAVENS from 2023-11-27T11:42:45

In a crossover episode, The Folklore Podcast creator and host Mark Norman is joined by Eleanor Conlon and Martin Vaux, the creators and presenters of The Three Ravens podcast.

Betwe...

Episode 144 - THE ELEMENTS from 2023-11-15T11:43:24

We explore the concept of the elements - Earth, Air, Fire and Water - with our guest, author and Wiccan practitioner and teacher Deborah Lipp. Her book on the subject, The Way of Four, was updat...

Episode 143 - IN CONVERSATION WITH PETER LAWS from 2023-11-08T14:34:46

In one of our occasional 'In Conversation' episodes, where we have no set theme but just chat with a fascinating guest from the world of folklore, we welcome Rev Peter Laws.

Peter i...

Episode 142 - AN INTERVIEW WITH CHUCK TINGLE from 2023-10-25T15:58:17

We get the rare opportunity to host an actual urban legend, as we welcome the mysterious Chuck Tingle onto The Folklore Podcast.

In an interview which we think we surprise many, Chu...

Episode 141 - REBEL FOLKLORE from 2023-10-14T16:32:39

Rebels come in many flavours. Cultures around the world have their own examples of rebellious characters embedded within their folk tales. Some help others, some help themselves. Some you would ...

Episode 140 - FOLKLORE AND FICTION from 2023-09-24T05:57:45

Tolkein, Pratchett, Gaiman ... there have been many great writers who use folklore to underpin their narratives.

In this episode of The Folklore Podcast, author, musician and poet C...

FOLKLORE IN THE FIELD - Gunnella Thorgeirsdottir and Tommy Kuusela from 2023-09-17T09:29

In this second of three bonus mini episodes recorded live at the International Society for Contemporary Legend Research 40th anniversary conference in Sheffield, Perry Carpenter (Digital Folklor...

Episode 139 - THE EXORCIST LEGACY from 2023-09-06T05:55:59

It is now 50 years since the infamous horror film 'The Exorcist' made its way into cinemas, creating a rapid reputation which would go on to see it become a cult classic in the genre as well as ...

Episode 138 - THE AMAZING CRISWELL from 2023-08-18T06:29:28

On the anniversary of his birth, we delve into the life of the cult American pop culture 'psychic' with a knack for failing to make accurate predictions, The Amazing Criswell. Leading us on this...

Episode 137 - THE BEAUTY WITCH from 2023-08-01T15:14:19

We explore the ways in which folklore can sit behind some of the everyday rituals that we perform at home with guest Alise Marie, author of 'The Beauty Witch's Secrets'. Following a pagan path i...

Episode 136 - SCARLET from 2023-07-14T16:13:30

Literary correspondent Hilary Wilson chats with Genevieve Cogman, author of the 'Invisible Library' series, about the first book in a new trilogy. 'Scarlet' is a new take on the story of the Sca...

FOLKLORE IN THE FIELD - Diane Rodgers from 2023-07-12T09:56:11

In a new occasional strand of The Folklore Podcast, 'Folklore in the Field', we will be presenting interviews and other items of folklore interest which we have captured on location.

Episode 135 - AFRICAN FOLKLORE from 2023-07-03T11:36:36

We shine a spotlight on some of the folklore and tales of importance in African culture. Guiding us on this path is Helen Nde, writer, artist and the curator of Mythological Africans. She is in ...

Episode 134 - VERGE from 2023-06-09T16:38:55

The day that Rowena Murray was born, two-hundred-and-fifty starlings dropped dead out of the sky. Or so her mother says. Ever since, she has been marked by Death. First came the visions; then he...

BONUS FEATURE: Lauren McMenemy from 2023-06-01T12:08:23

In this last of three interviews recorded live at the UK Ghost Story Festival in Derby, podcast host Mark Norman chats with author Lauren McMenemy, who was also one of the people helping with th...

Episode 133: DEATH FOLKLORE IN 19th CENTURY ENGLAND from 2023-05-27T16:48:15

Following on from our last episode looking at execution ballads, we stick with the subject of the folklore of death. This time, we focus our attention on England in the 19th century. Discussing ...

Episode 132: EXECUTION BALLADS from 2023-05-17T12:05:04

On her website, Execution Ballads, Dr Una McIlvenna writes:

"Across Europe, from the sixteenth century unti...

Episode 131: THE OTHER PATH from 2023-05-10T12:45:05

Odyssey Theatre is Ottowa's premiere professional theatre company, specialising in the old tradition of masked performance. So what happened when the world when into lockdown and theatre became,...

Episode 130: HOODENING from 2023-05-02T09:59:37

The Folklore Podcast presents a recording of a panel discussion hosted at Maidstone Museum on the subject of the Kentish tradition of Hoodening and the Hooden hobby horse. This panel was present...

Episode 129: INTO THE FOREST from 2023-04-24T04:34:22

We explore the figure of the Slavic forest witch Baba Yaga in this episode of The Folklore Podcast, through the lens of a new women in horror anthology called 'Into the Forest'. Amongst the 23 s...

Episode 128: WILD from 2023-04-11T16:09:36

We welcome Dr Amy Jeffs back to The Folklore Podcast. After the much-lauded success of her first book, 'Storyland' we chat about Amy's new book 'Wild', published by Quercus, which examines tales...

BONUS FEATURE: Camilla Bruce from 2023-04-03T16:48:37

In another interview recorded live at the 2023 UK Ghost Story Festival at the Museum of Making in Derby, Folklore Podcast host Mark Norman chats with Norwegian author Camilla Bruce about the fol...

Episode 127: RACHEL ANN HARDING from 2023-03-19T16:15:28

In the next in our occasional series of episodes looking at American storytellers, theatre and film correspondent Tracy Nicholas meets teller Rachel Ann Harding.

To support the Folk...

BONUS FEATURE: Stephen Volk from 2023-03-11T16:01:31

A Folklore Podcast Bonus Feature.

Recorded live at the UK Ghost Story Festival 2023 at the Museum of Making in Derby, host Mark Norman chats with screenwriter and novelist Stephen V...

Episode 126: THE TRICKSTER from 2023-03-03T15:39:54

The idea of the trickster is a strong archetype in mythology and folklore in different cultures around the world. Whether a deity, a human or something more anthropomorphic, the trickster uses t...

Episode 125: GIRLS' CARNIVAL MORRIS from 2023-02-22T06:40:58

We shine a spotlight on an often overlooked and misunderstood part of the English folk dance tradition as we welcome special guest Lucy Wright to discuss Girls' Carnival Morris tradition. One of...

Episode 124: SOUL OF A RAVEN from 2023-02-07T16:22:17

Guest interviewer, writer Beth O'Brien (the founder of Disabled Tales) meets with author Catherine Bloor to discuss her novel 'Soul of a Raven', a genre-defying mix of magic, folklore and myster...

Episode 123: PETRIFIED from 2023-01-29T05:51:16

We meet writer/director Peter Dunne and actress Margaret McAuliffe from the celebrated Irish horror podcast 'Petrified' to discuss dark folklore from Ireland, how the horror genre and folklore u...

Episode 122: COOPER BRAUN from 2023-01-11T12:21:17

In the first of a short series of episodes profiling American storytellers, we meet Cooper Braun who reminds us that folk and fairy tales are not just for children. An accomplished and prize-win...

Episode 121: ENGLISH FOLKTALES from 2023-01-01T09:54:19

Season 8 of The Folklore Podcast kicks off with an exploration of the subject of the English folk tale, with guest Neil Philip. Neil, who originally published the Penguin Book of English Folktal...

Episode 120: TERRORS OF THE SEA from 2022-12-18T05:46:18

In the final show of Season 7, we welcome back film director George Popov to discuss the second in his 'Sideworld' series of documentaries. This time, George explores folklore and legend connect...

Episode 119: REWRITING HISTORY from 2022-11-30T07:51:53

The stories in our culture are vital to our identity. But, what happens when our history and the stories associated with it are rewritten? How has folklore been used in the past to convey hidden...

Episode 118: BELLA IN THE WYCH ELM from 2022-11-16T14:48:56

In 1943, a group of boys wandering the woodlands near Hagley Hall, in Worcestershire in the West Midlands of England, discovered the remains of an unknown woman stuffed inside a hollowed Wych El...

BOOK CLUB 28: Bohemian Magick from 2022-11-07T07:14:05

The Folklore Podcast's literary correspondent Hilary Wilson speaks with Veronica Varlow on the subject of Bohemian Magick, also the title of the author's most recent book.

Veronica ...

BONUS CONTENT: Divination from 2022-10-17T16:56:04

A bonus episode of The Folklore Podcast exploring the different types of divination found in cultures around the world, and looking at how these can be used through storytelling mechanisms for p...

Episode 117: POLARI from 2022-10-12T06:21:23

We look into the crossover between the fields of linguistics, social history and folklore with an examination of the secret language Polari. Coming from 16th century roots, Polari is generally k...

Episode 116: ARCHAEOLOGICAL STORYTELLING from 2022-09-25T07:12:21

Storytelling is not just about entertainment. Now, and especially in the past, the purpose of story has also been to educate, to inform, and to place us within our own culture, time, place and l...

Episode 115: SELKIES from 2022-09-14T08:35:36

The legend of the Selkie, a woman or man who comes ashore as a seal before shedding their skin to turn human, is common in the Scottish Islands, but has parallels in other cultures. In this epis...

Episode 114: THE SPIRIT ENGINEER from 2022-08-23T15:07:05

The investigation of alleged physical medium Kathleen Goligher by the engineer William Jackson Crawford is both fascinating and strangely tragic, but remained until recently a 'lost case' of Edw...

BOOK CLUB 27: The Body Fantastic from 2022-08-14T05:29

Hilary Wilson talks to the eminent Professor Frank Gonzalez-Crussi about his book 'The Body Fantastic' which explores some of the surprising folklore and mystery surrounding the human body.

Episode 113: FOLKLORE AND DR WHO from 2022-08-01T15:41:09

We travel through both time and space to discuss the representation of folklore in the long-running British science fiction TV show "Doctor Who". Host of the Folklore Podcast Mark Norman is join...

BOOK CLUB 26: Her Dark Wings from 2022-07-17T10:24:48

We are joined by three-time Carnegie shortlisted author Melinda Salisbury to discuss her new retelling of the myth of Persephone in the Young Adult novel "Her Dark Wings", published by David Fic...

Episode 112: HAUNTED FORESTS OF ENGLAND from 2022-07-09T16:05:03

We turn our attention to the medium of film in this episode of The Folklore Podcast. Host Mark Norman is joined by film director and presented George Popov to talk about his new documentary feat...

BOOK CLUB 25: Calling the Spirits from 2022-06-20T12:00:15

In this episode, we examine the history and development of the seance, and our fascination with trying to communicate with the dead, from ancient Greek necromancy through to the Victorian parlou...

Episode 111: A GOTHIC COOKBOOK from 2022-06-05T15:23:07

Mark Norman, creator of 'The Folklore Podcast' is joined by guest Dr Alessandra Pino to discuss the importance of food in gothic literature; what it can signify, how it can an important mechanic...

BOOK CLUB 24: Parallel Hells from 2022-05-16T16:50:08

In this episode of The Folklore Podcast Book Club, guest reviewer Carly Tremayne chats with author Leon Craig about her collection of queer gothic horror stories 'Parallel Hells', which was publ...

Episode 110: REBECCA SONNENSHINE from 2022-05-02T16:29:49

In the first of a new occasional series of 'In Conversation' episodes of the podcast, we speak with TV writer and producer Rebecca Sonnenshine about her career, which includes writing for shows...

BOOK CLUB 23: Pan - The Great God's Modern Return from 2022-04-18T13:54:29

Folklore Podcast book reviewer Hilary Wilson speaks with author Paul Robichaud about his book "Pan: The Great God's Modern Return" published by Reaktion Books. In his research for the book, Paul...

Episode 109: BOGGARTS from 2022-03-26T16:45:15

When most of us think of the term boggart, we probably first come up with the idea of a shapeshifting creature represented in the Harry Potter universe. But this is nothing like the actual folkl...

BOOK CLUB 22: Cunning Women from 2022-03-07T16:21:49

Author Elizabeth Lee discusses her book 'Cunning Women' with guest reviewer Hilary Wilson. Voted one of the best books of 2021 by readers of Grazia magazine, the novel is based around the events...

Episode 108: STORYLAND from 2022-02-16T09:13:48

Dr Amy Jeffs is the author of the book "Storyland: A New Mythology of Britain" which sees Amy retelling some of the well known and more obscure mythological tales of the British Isles, along wit...

BOOK CLUB 21: The Wheel from 2022-02-13T10:52:01

This episode of the Folklore Podcast Book Club discusses the book “The Wheel: A Witch’s Path Back to the Ancient Self” written by Jennifer Lane and published by September Publishing.

Episode 107: FOLKLORE 101 from 2022-01-30T16:14:56

Mark Norman, creator and host of The Folklore Podcast, welcomes folklorist Dr Jeana Jorgensen onto the show to discuss the study of folklore, why it is important and the types of approaches whic...

Episode 106: THE LAST WITCHES OF ENGLAND from 2022-01-11T15:32:24

Season 7 of The Folklore Podcast begins with an examination of the case of the Bideford Witches - three poor women from a port town in Devon in the South West of the UK who are notable for the f...

Episode 105: CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 2021 from 2021-12-30T15:37:43

We round off Season 6 with a special feature length episode. Broadcaster and comedian Robin Ince is in conversation with podcast creator and host Mark Norman in this live recording, made as part...

BOOK CLUB 20: The Piano Room from 2021-12-18T16:11:03

In the final episode of The Folklore Podcast Book Club for 2021, guest reviewer Bethan Briggs-Miller (Eerie Essex podcast) speaks with author Clio Velentza about her modern reworking of the Faus...

BOOK CLUB 19: Weep Woman Weep from 2021-12-04T16:39:22

Guest reviewer Hilary Wilson speaks with Dr Maria DeBlassie about her book "Weep Woman Weep" which centres around the Mexican legend of La Llorona. The discussion takes in a diverse range of top...

BOOK CLUB 18: A Girl Made of Air / The Island Child from 2021-11-23T16:32:49

Hearing stories. Telling stories. Adapting stories. The power of stories...

We speak with Nydia Hetherington, author of "A Girl Made of Air" and Molly Aitken, author of "The Island ...

Episode 104: MOCKERY MANOR from 2021-11-08T16:46:27

Lindsay Sharman and Laurence Owen of Long Cat Media, the creators of fiction podcast Mockery Manor, discuss working with themes of folklore and fairy tale in the construction of their popular sh...

BOOK CLUB 17: Blodeuwedd from 2021-11-03T11:04

In this episode of The Folklore Podcast Book Club, Jhenah Telyndru joins us to discuss her book examining the Welsh Goddess character Blodeuwedd, whose complexity makes her much misunderstood. J...

Episode 103: THE POOKA from 2021-10-22T16:00:56

Sculptor Aidan Harte joins podcast host Mark Norman to discuss the figure of the Pooka in Irish folklore, as well as the recent controversy surrounding the design for a statue of the beast which...

BOOK CLUB 16: The Good Neighbours from 2021-10-02T11:10:12

Host Mark Norman is joined by Nina Allan, author of 'The Dollmaker' to discuss her novel 'The Good Neighbours' which fuses crime investigation, the power of myth is shaping human narratives and ...

Episode 102: SLAVIC FOLKLORE from 2021-09-20T14:50:51

Folklore Podcast creator and host Mark Norman is joined by Gabriela Houston, author of the fantasy novel 'The Second Bell' to discuss the folklore of her native Poland. Gabriela uses various asp...

BOOK CLUB 15: The Island of Happiness from 2021-09-02T15:49:30

In an episode of The Folklore Podcast Book Club which is a continuation of our discussion with Prof. Jack Zipes on the main podcast, guest reviewer Hilary Wilson talks with artist Natalie Frank ...

Episode 101: LITERARY FAIRY TALES from 2021-08-11T15:28:15

When we think of tellers and recorders of fairy tales, our mind naturally turns to Hans Christian Andersen, Charles Perrault or, of course, the Grimm Brothers. And yet, the 17th centur...

BOOK CLUB 14: Smoke Hole from 2021-08-01T09:51:21

Guest interviewer Becky Jones meets Dr Martin Shaw, mythologist and storyteller and the author of the book 'Smoke Hole', published by Chelsea Green Publishing. 'Smoke Hole' uses traditional folk...

Episode 100: FOLKLORE IN THE LANDSCAPE from 2021-07-20T15:54:19

We celebrate the 100th episode of The Folklore Podcast with special guest Mary-Ann Ochota who joins us to discuss the theme of folklore in the landscape. We cover archaeology, anthropology, the ...

BOOK CLUB 13: Introducing the Medieval Dragon from 2021-07-13T16:01:04

Guest book reviewer Hilary Wilson speaks with Thomas Honegger, the author of the book 'Introducing the Medieval Dragon', published by University of Wales Press. The book explores the characteris...

Episode 99: CHARLOTTE SOPHIA BURNE from 2021-07-03T11:58:52

Charlotte Sophia Burne was a pioneering British Folklorist who was not only the first female president of The Folklore Society, but also undoubtedly the first female president of any learned soc...

BOOK CLUB 12: The Coven from 2021-06-28T05:23:12

On this episode of The Folklore Podcast Book Club we talk with author Lizzie Fry about her fiction title 'The Coven' published by Sphere Books. The book is a global thriller, set in a world wher...

BOOK CLUB 11: Church Curiosities from 2021-06-16T09:07:07

Guest reviewer for The Folklore Podcast Book Club, Hilary Wilson, interviews author David Castleton about his book 'Church Curiosities'.

To support us in creating free content across The ...

Episode 98: EROTIC MAGIC from 2021-06-12T06:01:17

We travel back to the 11th century to examine the use of erotic magic and the church's response to this in the form of penitential literature, with a particular focus on the writings of the bish...

BOOK CLUB 10: HONEYCOMB from 2021-06-02T17:41:25

We are joined by author Joanne Harris, on her second visit to The Folklore Podcast network. Joanne discusses her latest book 'Honeycomb' - a collection of 100 stories set amongst the world of fa...

BOOK CLUB 09: Ironspark from 2021-05-24T06:43:09

We talk with American author CM McGuire about her debut Young Adult novel 'Ironspark' which takes as its central theme an ongoing battle between humans and the fae folk, through a family connect...

Episode 97: GHOST SHIPS from 2021-05-10T15:35:56

We speak with PhD researcher Karin Murray-Bergquist about her research into ghost ship stories off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, and her project which is plotting these onto a new digi...

BOOK CLUB 08: New Queer Horror Film and Television from 2021-05-03T17:08:16

Guest reviewer Howard David Ingham, from Room 207 Press, discusses the book 'New Queer Horror Film and Television', published by University of Wales Press.

This is an audio version of a F...

Episode 96: GORDON HIGGINSON - Psychic Medium...? from 2021-04-20T17:59:25

In a feature length episode, special guest Howard David Ingham takes an in-depth look at the life and career of the late Gordon Higginson - one of the most prolific psychic and physical mediums ...

BOOK CLUB 07: Tales of Witchcraft and Wonder from 2021-04-14T15:55:12

In this episode of the Folklore Podcast Book Club, originally made as a video release for YouTube, we discuss the book "Tales of Witchcraft and Wonder" with authors Candia and Tony McCormack, fo...

Bonus Content: The Atlas Mines Episode 3 from 2021-04-08T15:43:49

Our adventure in the Atlas Mines concludes as storyteller Matthew Dawkins brings our campaign in the folk horror world of Solemn Vale to a conclusion.

Please note that this episode is not...

Bonus Content: The Atlas Mines Episode 2 from 2021-04-01T14:27:35

Storyteller Matthew Dawkins leads us further into the Atlas Mines in the second episode of our roleplaying adventure set in the world of the new Folk Horror game Solemn Vale, designed by Dirty V...

Episode 95: GEISHA from 2021-03-30T07:50:17

We explore the history, arts and ritual practice of the artisan Japanese performers, the Geisha, with special guest Hachiko.

Hachiko is a westerner who follows a Geisha lifestyle, based i...

Bonus Content: The Atlas Mines Episode 1 from 2021-03-25T14:53:27

We join up once again with our friends at Red Moon Roleplaying for a return visit to the fictional town of Solemn Vale.

Our...

BOOK CLUB 06: The Folklore of Pagham on Sea from 2021-03-22T06:12:13

Guest book reviewer Charlie Farrow interviews with author C.M. Rosens about her book "The Folklore of Pagham on Sea" - a companion book to the paranormal novel "The Crows".

Support The Fo...

Episode 94: THE BATTERSEA POLTERGEIST from 2021-03-13T04:40:23

Writer and broadcaster Danny Robins talks about his investigative docu-drama "The Battersea Poltergeist" which examines in detail a major forgotten poltergeist case from 1950s Britain. The serie...

BOOK CLUB 05: Foxfire, Wolfskin and other stories of shapeshifting women from 2021-03-06T06:14:18

Audio version of the YouTube based Folklore Podcast Book Club.

Dr Sharon Blackie discusses her anthology collection, published by September Publishing. Foxfire, Wolfskin features positive...

Episode 93: BERNIE'S MITTENS from 2021-02-25T10:53:14

We take a deep dive into the world of urban legends, internet memes and more to try and make a case to legitimise the world of Digital Folklore. Does all folklore have to be old? What is digital...

BOOK CLUB 04: A Natural History of Ghosts from 2021-02-18T10:35:10

Episode 4 of the Folklore Podcast Book Club, originally made as a video for the podcast YouTube channel. Folklore Podcast creator Mark Norman speaks to author Roger Clarke about his classic book...

Episode 92: OLD NORSE MUSIC from 2021-02-08T10:02:54

Creator and host of The Folklore Podcast Mark Norman is joined by highly regarded musician Einar Selvik, founder of the band Wardruna, to discuss Old Norse music - how it was created and what it...

BOOK CLUB 03: Medieval Folk Tales for Children from 2021-01-28T15:14:18

Audio only version of the original You Tube interview for episode 3 of the Folklore Podcast Book Club.

Podcast host Mark Norman discusses the book 'Medieval Folk Tales for Children', publ...

Episode 91: CURSED BRITAIN from 2021-01-19T11:02:03

Season 6 of The Folklore Podcast kicks off with a special feature length interview.

Lecturer and historian Dr Thomas Waters discusses some of the research which comprises his book 'Cursed...

BOOK CLUB 02: Lanny from 2021-01-07T15:22:52

Tracey and Mark Norman discuss the book Lanny, by Max Porter, published by Faber and Faber. This is an audio version of an episode originally filmed for YouTube. To see the original please visit...

Episode 90: YEAR WALK from 2020-12-31T16:07:46

In the final episode of Season 5 of The Folklore Podcast, released on December 31st, 2020, we are joined by Swedish folklorist Tommy Kuusela to discuss the unique divinatory ritual of the Year W...

Episode 89: FOLK SONG (AND BAGPUSS TOO!) from 2020-12-21T16:05:02

Folk song holds a vital place within everybody's culture. From political songs to work songs, lyrics record our feelings, our traditions and, of course, our stories across the ages. In the episo...

BOOK CLUB 01: Forest Folk Tales for Children from 2020-12-11T15:36:20

Due to listener demand, we are releasing audio only versions of the Folklore Podcast Book Club, which is originally made for YouTube.

In this episode of The Folklore Podcast Book Club, au...

Episode 88: THE OXENHAM OMEN from 2020-11-30T18:08:27

Mark Norman, the creator of The Folklore Podcast presents an investigation into the legend of the White Bird of the Oxenhams - a death portent said to be attached to a family in Devon which span...

Episode 87: Working&Writing with Japanese Folklore from 2020-11-04T11:24:49

Japanese culture and folklore is very distinctive, but not always as dissimilar from our own as we might think in the West. Podcast creator and host Mark Norman is joined by bestselling author N...

Bonus Episode: The Diary of Mr Poynter from 2020-10-31T07:20:25

A free ghost story for Halloween. "The Diary of Mr Poynter" by MR James. Performed by Circle of Spears Productions.

Learn more about the performers at Listen

Episode 86: JOANNE HARRIS: ORFEIA from 2020-10-21T15:42:20

Bestselling author Joanne Harris joins Mark Norman, the creator of The Folklore Podcast in a discussion of the importance of folklore, storytelling and her brand new book Orfeia - the third in a...

Episode 85: THE MAB from 2020-10-10T14:38

We talk to the Welsh Children's Laureate Eloise Williams and children's authors P.G. Bell and Matt Brown about a really important new project to bring out the first ever dual Welsh/English langu...

Episode 84: THE LOST SOUL ATLAS from 2020-09-30T17:23:30

Creator and host of The Folklore Podcast, Mark Norman, is joined by Carnegie shortlisted children's author Zana Fraillon, whose latest book 'The Lost Soul Atlas' deals with the folkloric trope o...

Episode 83: ALL ABOUT UFOs from 2020-09-21T10:42:28

One year on from the phenomenally popular re-release of the classic Usborne book 'All About Ghosts', we return to the stable as Usborne reprint the equally iconic 'All About UFOs' from their Wor...

Episode 82: GHOST DAYS from 2020-09-14T14:49:26

Journalist and author Asher Elbein and illustrator Tiffany Turrill join Folklore Podcast host Mark Norman to look at the folklore of the Appalachian regions of the United States. How did Cheroke...

Episode 81: FOLK-A-PA-LORE-ZA PART 2 from 2020-09-07T14:47

We present the second part of our mass recording session with 11 other folklore and mythology themed podcasts, trying to decide who has the best and most entertaining folklore tale. Last week yo...

Episode 80: FOLK-A-PA-LORE-ZA Part 1 from 2020-08-31T05:06:58

Folklore Podcast creator and host Mark Norman invites 11 more of the world's great folklore and history podcasts - from America, Australia and the UK - to join a mass recording session to discus...

Episode 79: THE HARP IN FOLKLORE from 2020-08-10T11:47:17

There can be little doubt that, of all the instruments in the orchestra, the harp is the most beautiful and ethereal sounding of them all. Its religious connections with the angelic host are wid...

Bonus Content 03: Folklore in Gaming from 2020-08-03T11:00:02

Following on from our foray into roleplaying games with bonus content adventures for the folk horror games of Solemn Vale and Shivering Circle, we explore the subject in more detail.

How ...

Episode 78: EXORCISM from 2020-07-20T17:11:27

Sensationalised by Hollywood, the reality behind the rituals and practices of exorcism is somewhat different. Historian Dr Francis Young joins podcast creator and host Mark Norman to discuss the...

Episode 77: MIDSUMMER THROUGH MIDSOMMAR from 2020-06-24T07:27:43

Released on Midsummer Day 2020, Folklore Podcast creator and host Mark Norman introduces a look at the festival through the lens of the folk horror film Midsommar. Mark discusses some aspects of...

The Austringer Episode 4 from 2020-06-16T07:30:21

Our adventure at The Shivering Circle concludes, and you get to hear what happened after the team left Hoddesham.

Storyteller: Howard David Ingham

Guest Players: Hjalmar Norden and...

The Austringer Episode 3 from 2020-06-09T08:54

The penultimate episode of our Folk Horror storytelling game, The Austringer. Eric Higginson, the presenter of 'World of the Strange' arrives to film his segments for the programme on The Shiver...

Episode 76 - VAESEN from 2020-06-08T15:23:27

All over the world, and throughout the ages, people have been convinced that we are not alone on this earth. That other creatures exist in our world, alongside humans and animals and that even t...

The Austringer Episode 2 from 2020-06-02T07:12:33

Our storytelling adventure 'The Austringer' continues. As this episode begins, Gareth the runner is heading to the vets to report the unfortunate accident which the team had on the road to Hodde...

The Austringer Episode 1 from 2020-05-26T10:27:16

We begin a new series of bonus content, with another roleplaying story which is rich in folklore. 'The Austringer' is set within the game 'The Shivering Circle' which was developed and written b...

Family Matters Episode 6 from 2020-05-19T09:28:47

Our folk horror adventure in the fictional village of Solemn Vale concludes. Will Graham and Linda Parker resolve their difficulties and get back to normal life...?

Produced in collaborat...

Episode 75 - RITUAL BUILDING PROTECTION from 2020-05-15T12:37:33

Folklore Podcast creator and host Mark Norman is joined by buildings archaeologist James Wright to explore the different ways in which both high status and the more common buildings were protect...

Family Matters Episode 5 from 2020-05-12T08:33:36

Having finished the tour of the house left to her by her late aunt Demelza, Linda Parker and her husband Graham return to the 'Bowler's Arm' pub in Solemn Vale for a hearty pint of Badger's Stum...

Family Matters Episode 4 from 2020-05-05T07:37:08

Our adventure in Solemn Vale continues (and continues to get stranger). Graham and Linda choose to avoid a suggestion that they might want to return to London and instead find lodgings at The Bo...

Episode 74 - THE WILD HUNT AND THE WITCHES from 2020-05-01T07:30

As we pass Walpurgis Night, the Folklore Podcast releases from its archives a public lecture given in 2017 by the eminent and popular historian Ronald Hutton. Written just before the publication...

Family Matters Episode 3 from 2020-04-28T06:51:16

This episode contains adult language and is not suitable for listeners under the age of 18.

Welco...

Family Matters Episode 2 from 2020-04-21T07:42

This episode contains sexual content and is not suitable for listeners under the age of 18.

Welcome to Epi...

Family Matters Episode 1 from 2020-04-14T07:49

Welcome to Episode 1 of “Family Matters” - a folk horror roleplaying adventure set in the fictional village of Solemn Vale....

Bonus Content 02: Easter Traditions in Europe from 2020-04-12T07:59:02

Folklore Podcast creator Mark Norman presents a series of short bonus articles looking at Easter traditions in various parts of Europe, researched and written by members of the podcast volunteer...

Episode 73 - THE BARD OF CUMBERLAND from 2020-04-04T10:41:39

In the last episode of The Folklore Podcast to be recorded out of the confines of a house, before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, Hedge Druid Stephen G. Rae (known as The Bard of Cumberland) discusse...

Bonus Content 01 from 2020-03-26T17:21:54

John Billingsley: ​Soft Power: the emergence of modern apotropaics in Albania

Episode 72 - THE LAMBTON WORM from 2020-03-18T16:14:28

​Folklore Podcast creator and host Mark Norman presents a study of the serpent-like creature of UK folklore, The Lambton Worm, and its place in the wider lore of dragons and similar creatures. F...

Episode 71- GHOSTLAND from 2020-03-05T08:47:31

Author Edward Parnell joins The Folklore Podcast creator and host Mark Norman to discuss his book 'Ghostland', which examines the intersections between folklore, folk horror, the landscape and l...

Episode 70 - THE STORY KEEPER from 2020-02-18T16:32:10

In this episode of The Folklore Podcast, we hear from author of dark historical fiction Anna Mazzola about her book 'The Story Keeper'...

A dark tale of folklore and disappearances on the...

Episode 69 - TAFFY THOMAS MBE from 2020-02-05T15:03:01

Released during National Storytelling Week 2020, this episode of The Folklore Podcast features guest interviewer Joana Varanda in discussion with British storytelling legend, and the first Story...

Episode 68 - ZMEY from 2020-01-29T05:37

We present a recording of a performance by Bulgarian/English storytelling group 'A Spell in Time', recorded live in 2013 at the Folklore Society's Beasts in Legend and Tradition conference at Pa...

Episode 67 - CELTIC AND WESTERN EUROPEAN FAIRIES from 2020-01-10T16:14:26

Season 5 of The Folklore Podcast kicks off with a special extended episode. Host Mark Norman is joined by author Morgan Daimler to discuss their book 'A New Dictionary of Fairies' which builds o...

Episode 66 - BONUS: THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES from 2019-12-12T17:24:30

This special bonus episode of the Folklore Podcast, presented while the show is dark during December, gives listeners the chance to hear a talk on the folklore-rich Sherlock Holmes story "The Ho...

Episode 65 - CHARMS AND CHILDBIRTH from 2019-11-25T11:35:34

Compared to the amount of folklore surrounding death customs and beliefs, there is little discussion about the beginning of our timelines - the traditions relating to pregnancy and birth. Redres...

Episode 64 - CORNISH FOLK TALES OF PLACE from 2019-11-04T06:09:18

The rugged coastlines of the county of Cornwall, on the south-western tip of the UK, are etched with stories. Here you’ll find tales of powerful mermaids, spiteful witches, crafty smugglers and...

Episode 63 - SLAVIC WITCHCRAFT from 2019-10-11T06:00:22

Russian hereditary witch,occultist and witchcraft scholar Natasha Helvin joins podcast host Mark Norman to discuss the beliefs, traditions and practices associated with witchcraft in the Slavic ...

Episode 62 - THE GIRL WHO SPEAKS BEAR from 2019-09-17T13:03:16

The Girl Who Speaks Bear is Sophie Anderson's second book based around traditional Russian folk tales. Despite having only been published for a short time, she has already been shortlisted for a...

Episode 61 - WORLD OF THE UNKNOWN: GHOSTS from 2019-09-01T08:23:19

In 1977, a set of three childrens books were published whic...

Episode 60 - MAGICAL HOUSE PROTECTION from 2019-08-01T16:51:44

Belief in magic and particularly the power of witchcraft was once a deep and enduring presence in popular culture; people created and concealed many objects to protect themselves from harmful ma...

Episode 59 - THE GLASS WOMAN from 2019-06-30T18:58:51

1686, Iceland. A wild, isolated landscape that can swallow a man without so much as a volcanic gasp, where superstitious Icelanders are haunted by all-too-recent memories of witch trials.

Episode 58 - ICELANDIC FOLKLORE from 2019-05-30T16:19:18

The country of Iceland is both bleak and beautiful in equal measure, and is also home to some of the darker aspects of folklore and belief. In this first of two episodes of the podcast looking a...

Episode 57 - TALES OF BRITAIN from 2019-05-08T16:04:08

In this episode of the podcast, host Mark Norman is joined by comedian and author Jem Roberts to discuss his new book, 'Tales of Britain'. A number of years in the compiling and producing, Tales...

Episode 56 - REDISCOVERING RENAISSANCE WITCHCRAFT from 2019-04-17T15:25:56

The second of two interviews examining themes of witchcraft. Following on from the last episode of Cunning Folk, in this episode of the podcast Mark Norman is joined by Marion Gibson, Professor ...

Episode 55 - CUNNING FOLK from 2019-03-25T18:36:23

PhD researcher Tabitha Stanmore joins the Folklore Podcast creator and host Mark Norman, and historian Tracey Norman, to discuss her research into the role of the service magician in history. Sp...

Episode 54 - BOTANICAL FOLK TALES from 2019-03-03T17:00:30

The landscape that surrounds us is rich in folklore connected with the plants and flowers that dwell within it. Some of these are old and connect with the world of fairy. Some are more modern an...

Episode 53 - ROSES ARE RED from 2019-02-18T12:54

In this episode, Folklore Podcast creator and host Mark Norman takes a look at some of the old (and a few of the modern) customs and traditions associated with Valentine's Day. From the mediev...

Episode 52: GHOSTS IN CINEMA from 2019-02-05T15:03:35

Folklore Podcast creator and host Mark Norman is joined in this episode by folklore blogger and film academic Icy Sedgwick to discuss the genre of horror and supernatural in film. The discussi...

Episode 51 - HAPPY NEW YEAR from 2019-01-15T17:15:08

To kick off Season 4 of The Folklore Podcast, host Mark Norman examines traditional New Year customs and celebrations around the world, noting the many similarities in different cultures as well...

Episode 50 - PERCHTEN from 2018-12-29T07:54:40

The Krampus has become a big folkloric figure at Christmas time in recent years. But less discussed and of equal interest are the female figures of the Perchten from the alpine regions. On this,...

Episode 49 - IN COMES I ... from 2018-12-10T14:53:20

In the first of two episodes of the podcast examining festive folklore for December, Folklore Podcast creator and host Mark Norman looks at the history and origins of the Mummers Play and other ...

Episode 48 - LORE OF THE LOCKS from 2018-11-14T15:39:44

Prejudices against people because of the colour of their skin are unacceptable. And yet, it is often socially accepted to make fun of people because of the colour of their hair. Why should this ...

Episode 47 - TALES OF THE LANTERN from 2018-10-22T17:51:36

As beautifully performed and presented as it was, there is far more to the concept of the 'genie' than Disney's manic blue singing version in Aladdin. The genie is the Westernised version of the...

Episode 46 - HUSH LITTLE BABY from 2018-09-26T15:41:27

The lullaby as a song type is found in cultures all over the world. Whilst the familiar interpretation is as a gentle song to lull a child to a restful sleep, in this episode podcast creator and...

Episode 45 - AN INTRODUCTION TO NORSE MYTHOLOGY from 2018-08-22T18:05:03

The mythology of the Norse peoples is a rich and varied one, but little is found in the archaeological record to tell us much for certain. Some things we speculate about, others we get from p...

Episode 44 - GRIND THE CORN from 2018-08-07T17:22

A guest lecture from the great British folklorist Jeremy Harte who examines the character of the miller in folklore. Recorded live at the Folklore Society Conference at the Museum of English Rur...

Episode 43 - WOMEN AND FAIRIES AT WORK from 2018-06-07T15:57:47

This episode features two guest speakers, recorded live at the flagship conference of The Folklore Society in 2018, held at the Museum of English Rural Life in Reading and examining aspects of r...

Episode 42 - A LIVERPOOL CUNNING MAN AND HIS MAGICAL MANUAL from 2018-05-16T15:56:13

This guest talk was recorded at the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic's Ritual Magic conference in May 2018.

William Dawson Bellhouse (1814-1870) was many things - magician, surgeon and galv...

Episode 41 - WITCH BOTTLES from 2018-05-01T15:31:11

This episode of the Folklore Podcast is the first featuring expert presentations from the Hidden Charms 2 conference in Salisbury - a conference organised by Brian Hoggard of the Apotropaios web...

Episode 40 - FOOTPRINTS IN THE SNOW from 2018-04-04T16:27:53

In the winter of 1855, after a heavy fall of snow, residents across a large area of the county of Devon, in the South West of the UK, awoke to find a mysterious trail of prints in the snow. Look...

Episode 39 - CRAVING SUPERNATURAL CREATURES from 2018-03-15T19:05:50

In this episode of the Folklore Podcast, creator and host Mark Norman is joined by guest Dr Claudia Schwabe, assistant professor of German at Utah State University. Amongst other things, Claudia...

Episode 38 - MIRROR MIRROR from 2018-03-01T15:54:58

Of all the objects in your house, the mirror probably has more superstitions attached to it than any other. It may be used for divination. It may be a portal to another dimension. And woe betide...

Episode 37 - ALIEN BIG CATS from 2018-02-21T17:38:08

This episode presents a recorded folklore talk from the archives of the podcast creator and host, Mark Norman.

Alien Big Cats was recorded in September 2013 at the Folklore Society confer...

Episode 36 - INVESTIGATING GHOSTS: THE ROLE OF FOLKLORE from 2018-02-01T04:19:38

There is no doubt that modern day ghost hunting is a big deal. From television programming to participatory events, the search for evidence of ghosts is more prevalent than ever. But how does fo...

Episode 35 - THE TRUTH ABOUT HANSEL AND GRETEL from 2018-01-15T16:15:16

Many fairy tales have their roots in a much darker past, but these origins are watered down to make the tales more wholesome or moral. But did the story of Hansel and Gretel really stem from a c...

Episode 34 - THE CURSE OF THE CRYING BOY from 2018-01-01T12:54:39

There is a piece of artwork which has been around for many years and has a long and involved narrative surrounding it. It may be found in thousands of homes in differing prints and is usually ...

Episode 33 - GEF! THE EXTRA SPECIAL TALKING MONGOOSE from 2017-12-15T12:13:38

The case of Gef, the alleged talking mongoose, which may or may not have been a poltergeist, or a ghost, or a hoax, or any one of a number of things, took place over a period of around 8 years o...

Episode 32 - SPINDLE, SHUTTLE AND NEEDLE from 2017-12-01T12:47:34

The skills of weaving, spinning and knitting were vital to clothe and keep warm members of every class, race, religion or social group from the poorest to the richest. And so, we find wool, yarn...

Episode 31 - OPERA WITCH from 2017-11-15T12:04:57

This episode of the Folklore Podcast examines the broad themes of witchcraft and the supernatural, but focuses down to look at how they were portrayed in the early modern period; specifically, h...

Episode 30 - VAMPIRES: A FOLKLORE PERSPECTIVE PART 2 from 2017-11-01T05:56:49

In the second part of this two-part examination of vampire from lore from around the world, Folklore Podcast creator and host Mark Norman moves on to discuss ways of ensuring that the recently d...

Episode 29: ONCE UPON A TIME from 2017-10-15T14:24:22

Many of the folk tales that inspire us, teach us or just intrigue us have been passed down through many generations. In some cases we can find a root for the story. In most, we cannot. But they ...

Episode 28 - VAMPIRES: A FOLKLORE PERSPECTIVE PART 1 from 2017-10-01T06:42:40

Most people are familiar with the story of 'Count Dracula' and have more than a good general knowledge of the typical vampire tropes of stage and screen; the fangs, the pale skin, the blood suck...

Episode 27 - THE GREAT FOLKLORISTS: HELEN CREIGHTON from 2017-09-15T04:24:15

Through the early to mid part of the 20th century there were a number of characters, often women, who would travel their parts of the world collecting folk songs, stories and superstitions and r...

Episode 26 - VOICES FROM THE DEEP from 2017-09-01T05:19:11

Returning from its month off for the summer, the Folklore Podcast takes to the water with an episode on the folklore of the mermaid. From Cornish folk tales to Slavic undead, from TV mockumentaries...

Episode 25 - WITCH from 2017-07-15T13:26:09

WITCH - Preserving Tradition and Folklore through Theatre. The special guest on this episode of The Folklore Podcast is Historian and Author Tracey Norman. Tracey is discussing her acclaimed play ...

Episode 24 - EVERYONE NEEDS A HOBBY from 2017-07-01T18:19:35

Animal totems as symbols in folk rituals are common and go back probably further than any of us can track. By far the most prolific of these is the hobby horse. Often associated with calendar custo...

Episode 23 - THE PADDING HORROR from 2017-06-15T09:08:44

A deviation from the normal format of the podcast for this edition by way of a change. In this episode, host Mark Norman introduces a reading of a fiction story which he wrote using themes from his...

Episode 22 - DEVOURING THE SUN from 2017-06-01T05:43:42

Before naturally occurring events were understand by humans, they needed stories in order to explain them, much in the same way as we have seen with physical conditions such as the Old Hag phenomen...

Episode 21: TRACKING THE CHUPACABRA from 2017-05-15T05:37:29

Many people believe that the Chupacabra - the mysterious 'goatsucker' of New Mexico - is a folkloric creature of some age. Yet its origin cannot be traced earlier than 1995 and even then it has bee...

Episode 20: TRADITIONAL WITCHCRAFT NOW AND THEN from 2017-05-01T12:05:09

Creator and host of the Folklore Podcast, Mark Norman, examines the lore and practices of those who follow a Traditional pathway of Folk Magic: the Cunning Man, the Wise Woman, the pellar and the w...

Episode 19 - KNOCK ONCE FOR YES from 2017-04-15T09:42:21

The topics of spiritualism and mediumship have always been, and will always be, controversial. It is important to note that as folklorists, we should not be judging whether such things are 'real' o...

EPISODE 18: SPECTRAL HOUNDS: A Monster Talk Crossover from 2017-04-01T14:43:13

In this episode, host of The Folklore Podcast Mark Norman links up with Blake Smith and Dr Karen Stollznow of Monster Talk podcast in the US for a joint episode examining the field of spectral houn...

Episode 17 - FOLKLORE IN FANTASY FICTION from 2017-03-14T18:49:08

In this episode of The Folklore Podcast, host Mark Norman interviews special guest Carin Marais, a qualified language practitioner from South Africa and writer of specualtive and fantasy fiction, a...

Episode 16 - INCUBUS AND SUCCUBUS from 2017-03-01T17:19:13

This episode of The Folklore Podcast is the second part of our examination of the folklore surrounding sleep paralysis and Old Hag phenomena. This time we focus in on some aspects of the folklore r...

Episode 15 - FOLKLORE: MORE THAN JUST A WORD from 2017-02-15T00:00

MORE THAN JUST A WORD: "Folklore" : What It Meant and What Happened To It. On this episode of the Folklore Podcast, host Mark Norman is joined by fellow Folklore Society committee member Dr Paul C...

Episode 14 - OLD HAG SYNDROME from 2017-02-01T00:00

In the days before we had a good understanding of many medical conditions, folklore would generate around them in order to reconcile what was happening and provide explanations. Such is the case...

Episode 13 - FAIRY LORE AND THE WITCH TRIALS from 2017-01-15T00:00

The witch trials of the 16th and 17th century have many facets within the accusations of the women (and men) involved. One of the most intriguing is the links between accused parties and the fai...

Episode 12 - FOLKLORE IN GOTHIC CHAPBOOKS from 2017-01-01T00:00

Before the rise of the Gothic novel, faciliated by the development of cheap printing systems, the Chapbook and Bluebook were common forms of literature, particularly in the United Kingdom. For a...

Episode 11 - BUNYIP: DEVIL OF THE RIVERBED from 2016-12-15T00:00

Cryptozoology is an area of 'Fortean' study (or zoological study depending on your views) which can be of great interest to folklorists because of its reliance on anecdote and oral transmission ...

Episode 10 - YULE BE SURPRISED from 2016-12-01T02:47:20

No matter which was you cut it and no matter how you celebrate it, there is no doubt that Yule is a time of year steeped in tradition. Some of this will be unique to your own family and some ...

Episode 9 - MODERN FAIRY SIGHTINGS from 2016-11-15T02:56:16

Belief in fairies throughout the world is ancient and deep-rooted, and this means that there is much folklore and tradition surrounding fairy in all of its forms: elves, pixies, sprites, brownie...

Episode 8 - OUT OF THE ASHES from 2016-11-01T04:09:01

Fire can be a powerful and sometimes all consuming force. Helpful and dangerous in equal measure, the ability to use fire sets man apart from the animals. It should not be too surprising then th...

Episode 7 - GLITTER AND GRAVEDUST from 2016-10-15T00:00

Hallowe'en, Samhain or Allantide. However you view the time surrounding October 31st, it is an important part of our ritual year. It is traditionally a time when the veil between the worlds is t...

Episode 6 - APPLE OF YOUR EYE from 2016-10-01T00:00

The Autumn Equinox passes and as the Wheel of the Year turns we enter a state when the world is said to be in balance. This is a time of harvest and of appreciation for the fruits of the land. T...

Episode 5 - PLAYING THE GHOST from 2016-09-15T00:00

Dr David Waldron, lecturer at Federation University, Australia, and folklore researcher gives an exclusive talk to The Folklore Podcast on the phenomenon of ghost hoaxing and guising in Victoria...

Episode 4 - BLACK DOGS&THE WILD HUNT from 2016-09-01T00:00

Host of the Folklore Podcast, Mark Norman, is one of a few researchers specialising in the field of Black Dog ghosts and holds what is thought to be the UKs largest archive of sightings and trad...

Episode 3 - CONCEALED REVEALED from 2016-08-15T04:17:56

Cats ... shoes ... bottles ... coins. At first glance these objects don't seem to have much in common. But these, and many other objects, are all items which have been found concealed within the...

Episode 2 - COCKSTRIDES AND CARRIAGES from 2016-08-01T00:00

Ghosts are undoubtedly one of the most popular aspects of folklore stories. But in folklore there are two distinct types of ghost: the folk (or legendary) ghost or the haunting. In this episode ...

Episode 1 - SLENDER MAN from 2016-07-15T00:00

The inaugural episode of The Folklore Podcast examines the recent development of the Slender Man phenomenon, with folklorist and associate professor, Dr Andrea Kitta.

It is a rare event ...