The Folklore Podcast

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 Vortex. Please note that this episode is not suitable for children. This episode was produced in association with Red Moon Roleplaying To support the Folklore Podcast on Patreon and help us to keep producing content, please sign up for our Patreon page,.  

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 in the Devon town of Totnes. To support the Folklore Podcast on Patreon and help us to keep producing content, please click here

We join up once again with our friends at Red Moon Roleplaying for a return visit to the fictional town of Solemn Vale. Our protagonists arrive in Solemn Vale to investigate the viability of reopening the tin mines buried beneath the town. Solemn Vale is a Folk Horror roleplaying game created by Dirty Vortex. For more information join the Solemn Vale Facebook Group. This episode is flagged as not suitable for children under the age of 15.

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 Folklore Podcast in its continued output of folklore-related content at www.patreon.com/thefolklorepodcast Watch the YouTube version of this episode at www.youtube.com/FolklorePodcast Author website: www.cmrosens.com

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 series, starring Dafne Keen and Toby Jones in the dramatised elements, and with Ciaran O'Keeffe and Evelyn Hollow representing the parapsychologists, was released via BBC Radio 4 and used original case materials as well as throwing up some new details.​To support all of the work of The Folklore Podcast in bringing world-class presenters and folklore resources to a global audience, please consider joining our Patreon page

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 and powerful reworkings of folk tales from around the world featuring shapeshifting women at their heart. Sharon's website: https://sharonblackie.net/​ September Publishing: http://www.septemberpublishing.org/​ Follow Sharon on Twitter @sharonblackie To support the Folklore Podcast please visit our Patreon page or make a small donation at www.thefolklorepodcast.com

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 folklore anyway? We explore the subject with assistant professor of folklore at Utah State University, and co-founder of the Digital Folklore Project, Dr Lynne McNeill. Content warning: Please be aware that this episode features discussion of suicide cult legends. Music guest: Helen Bell. Find her work at www.helenbell.co.uk Support the Folklore Podcast to help us keep making content on our Patreon page

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 'A Natural History of Ghosts'. Watch the original interview on our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/FolklorePodcast Support the preservation of folklore and creation of folklore content at www.patreon.com/thefolklorepodcast

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 meant to the people who played and listened. Einar is one of the world's leading experts in this field and his work is regularly accessed by scholars the world over. We also feature some music from the Wardruna back catalogue. To support all of the work of The Folklore Podcast in bringing world-class presenters and folklore resources to a global audience, please consider joining our Patreon page, or making a one-time donation via the Folklore Podcast website.

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', published by The History Press, with the author Dave Tonge. Dave also performs one of the tales from the book. To support The Folklore Podcast and keep us producing regular, free content, please either: Join our Patreon page: www.patreon.com/thefolklorepodcast Click the donate button: www.thefolklorepodcast.com

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 Britain - a history of witchcraft and black magic in modern times'. Having spent 12 years trawling the case records in order to write this book, Thomas discusses some fascinating aspects of witchcraft belief and accusation which took place far later in our history than we might at first think. The conversation also looks at some of the famous practitioners and researchers in the field and covers both tragic and positive events in our history. This episode carries a content warning for its discussion of modern day witchcraft and abuse cases. To support the Folklore Podcast on Patreon and access extra content, please click here

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 www.youtube.com/FolklorePodcast and choose the Book Club playlist. To support the Folklore Podcast on Patreon and access bonus content and discussion, please click here

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 Walk, which traditionally took place on this date. We also cover some of the Swedish forest spirits which may be encountered whilst undertaking the walk. To support the Folklore Podcast on Patreon and access bonus content, please click here

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 episode of the podcast, folk singers and writers Sandra Kerr and John Faulkner talk about their thoughts on the subject, developed over many years from their early careers being taught by such names as Lonnie Donegan and Peggy Seeger to university lecturing and 21st century performances. Plus, of course, we discuss the children's TV classic Bagpuss and its use of folk song and influence on culture even today - Sandra and John having written all the music and songs for this, as well as voicing Madeleine the Rag Doll and Gabriel the Toad. To support the Folklore Podcast on Patreon and access extra content, please click here.

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, author and storyteller Tom Phillips discusses his book 'Forest Folk Tales for Children'. Tom's Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TomtheTaleTeller Tom's Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/TaleTellerTom Tom's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj2-... Storytelling Cafe: https://worldstorytellingcafe.com/tom...

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 spanned many hundreds of years. This episode was written by Tracey and Mark Norman. Support the Folklore Podcast on Patreon to access extra exclusive content for supporters. Visit www.patreon.com/thefolklorepodcast

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 Natasha Pulley to discuss the culture represented in two of her books - The Watchmaker of Filigree Street and The Lost Future of Pepperharrow - and Japanese ritual and belief more generally. The episode is closed by a track from musical guests Foxtails Brigade, who took the internet by storm recently with their unique video for the track 'My Favourite Things'. Support the Folklore Podcast on Patreon for extra content and rewards.

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 www.circleofspears.com Support the Folklore Podcast on Patreon

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 series of folklore-rich novellas constructed as reworkings of some of the Child Ballads. At the end of the episode, as a bonus feature, Joanne herself reads the first chapter of Orfeia. To support the Folklore Podcast on Patreon and help us to keep producing content, please visit www.patreon.com/thefolklorepodcast where you can also access a whole catalogue of exclusive extra material.

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 language reworking of 'The Mabinogion' aimed specifically at children. The project, being realised through Unbound, will involve 11 of the best Welsh children's writers and will also include packages and teaching materials for schools. Musical guest: Sharron Kraus To support the project being discussed in this episode, please click here. To access exclusive bonus content and help keep The Folklore Podcast running, please click here.