The Folklore Podcast

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Due to listener demand, we are releasing audio only versions of the Folklore Podcast Book Club, which is originally made for YouTube.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

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 of a passage through the afterlife. Zana also discusses her love of folklore generally and some of the Australian influences from her own culture in her writing. Support the Folklore Podcast on Patreon to help us to keep making new episodes.

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 World of the Unknown series. Joining host Mark Norman to discuss the topic are TV impressionist and astronomer Jon Culshaw (who wrote the foreword for the new printing) and returning guest Dr David Clarke, who was the official spokes-person when the Ministry of Defence declassified many of their UFO documents at the National Archives. Musical guest: Polly Preacher Support the Folklore Podcast on Patreon for extra material and to keep the show going.

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 Cherokee and incoming tales and beliefs combine to forge the stories that we find in this area of the world? As a springboard for this discussion, we use Asher and Tiffany's book 'Ghost Days'. The stories of protagonist Anna O'Brien are set in the region and feature many of the characters and creatures from Appalachian lore. Tiffany's website: www.tiffanyturrill.com Asher's website: www.asherelbein.com To support the Folklore Podcast on Patreon and keep the free episodes coming, please click here.

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 you heard the stories. This week ... it's the free-for-all discussion and voting. Who will come out on top? Featuring musical guests Strangefolk We are putting out an episode a week through September. If you would like to see more content coming out permanently, please consider helping us to reach our next support goal by signing up for our Patreon. You can access a whole back catalogue of exclusive extra content there too. www.patreon.com/thefolklorepodcast to keep us free and viable!

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 discuss their favourite folklore stories. In this episode you will hear stories from all 12 of the podcasts. Some of the tales are well known. Others far more obscure. But which one is the ultimate folklore story? In the next episode, you will get to hear the discussion and see which story was voted into the top slot. During September, the Folklore Podcast will be releasing an episode every week. If you would like to see more content as a permanent fixture, please help us to reach our next Patreon support goal. Visit www.patreon.com/thefolklorepodcast to sign up and receive extra content and rewards.

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 widely known, but not discussed as often are its appearances in folklore. On this episode of the podcast, recorded in the open-air, host Mark Norman talks with professional harpist Elizabeth-Jane Baldry, the world's only silent movie harp accompanist and a composer whose unique research into fairy harp music led to a West End play with Simon Callow and a performance at Prince Charles's unveiling of the Elfin Oak in Kensington Gardens. To support the Folklore Podcast on Patreon and keep the project viable, please visit www.patreon.com/thefolklorepodcast To hear Elizabeth-Jane's radio interview on Fairy Harp music, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeQoIO7uyc0

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 is folklore represented in the tabletop gaming environment? Is it all monsters and creatures, or are there other approaches which look more into our social history? What makes for a strong narrative dynamic and do these techniques draw on the oral storytelling which transmitted folklore in the first place? In an interview recorded for the 2020 Archaeogaming Convention hosted by the Archaeological Fantasies podcast, we are joined by game developer Matthew Dawkins and GM storyteller Tom Murr to examine this area. To support the Folklore Podcast on Patreon and get uncut access to video versions of our interviews as well as much more extra content, please visit www.patreon.com/thefolklorepodcast

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 approach taken in medieval times, representations of the rituals in folklore and more. Francis also offers the following book recommendations for further reading: A History of Exorcism in Catholic Christianity, and A History of Anglican Exorcism (by himself) The Devil Within (Brian P. Levack) The Haunted: A Social History of Ghosts (Owen Davies) Support the Folklore Podcast on Patreon to keep the show free and to allow us to create more content: www.patreon.com/thefolklorepodcast  

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 festival and presents two pieces by volunteer researchers Joana Varanda and Pola Schiavone. The first of these discusses a theory that the narrative construction relates to the cards presented in the Major Arcana of the Tarot. In the second, the role of food as a ritual within both the film and the festival is examined. Support the Folklore Podcast on Patreon and receive the transcript of this episode and other exclusive content and rewards. Click here to visit the Patreon page.

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 Jenny Bremberg Produced in collaboration with Red Moon Roleplaying Music written and performed by Kai Engel. Used under a Creative Commons Licence from freemusicarchive.org Support the Folklore Podcast on Patreon to keep our content free and the show viable. www.patreon.com/thefolklorepodcast

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 Shivering Circle. And things continue do, indeed, get strange. Please note that this content is not suitable for children. Storyteller: Howard David Ingham Produced in collaboration with Red Moon Roleplaying Music by Kai Engel, under a Creative Commons License from freemusicarchive.org  

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 though they may resemble us, they are entirely different beings, neither human nor divine but representing something else. They have been known by many names and take many forms. So begins the Introduction to the book 'Vaesen', by Swedish author and illustrator Johan Egerkrans. On this episode of The Folklore Podcast, Johan joins podcast creator and host Mark Norman to discuss his research into the Swedish creatures of myth and folklore known as the Vaesen. To support the Folklore Podcast on Patreon and keep new content coming out ad-free, please click here.