The Folklore Podcast

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 published in 2022 by Sceptre Books. Leon discusses her inspirations, aspects of Jewish folklore in her writing and the ways in which some of her stories, written over a seven year period, tie together.To support the work of The Folklore Podcast in collecting and preserving our folkloric heritage for the future, please visit www.thefolklorepodcast.com/support where you can join our Patreon, make a one-off donation and find out more.

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 such as 'The Vampire Diaries' and 'Outcast' and, most recently, developing the Netflix series 'Archive 81' - based on the original podcast of the same name.To support the work of The Folklore Podcast and its other projects in collecting and preserving folklore materials for the future, please visit our Patreon page or the support pages of our website. Thank you.

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 explored how Pan has been imagined in mythology, art, literature, music, spirituality, and popular culture through the centuries.The Folklore Podcast is an independent podcast, part of The Folklore Network which is striving to collect and preserve folklore material in all forms for future generations. To support our work, and that of the Folklore Library and Archive please join our Patreon or make a small donation on our website. Full details at www.thefolklorepodcast.com/support

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 folkloric creature which the word actually refers to. Boggarts have not been studied in particularly great detail until recently – they are a supernatural being specific to the north of England but having much in common with other creatures from our folklore.Joining Folklore Podcast creator and host Mark Norman to discuss the subject is historian and author Simon Young. Simon disputes the traditional description put forward by Katharine Briggs that the Boggart was a goblin-like creature, but argues that instead it was a much more general term which encompassed aspects of most solitary supernatural creatures from mermaids to ghosts and all points in between. This approach goes a long way to demonstrate how the continual misrepresentation of the boggart by earlier folklorists led to the fantasy version of the creature that we know today.The Folklore Podcast is an independent podcast, part of The Folklore Network which is striving to collect and preserve folklore material in all forms for future generations. To support our work, and that of the Folklore Library and Archive please join our Patreon or make a small donation on our website. Full details at www.thefolklorepodcast.com/supportTo download The Boggart Sourcebook, referred to in this episode, free of charge please visit https://www.exeterpress.co.uk/en/Book/2114/The-Boggart-Sourcebook.html

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 of the Pendle Witch Trials and follows cunning woman Sarah Haworth as she searches to find love under the gaze of a new magistrate investigating a strange series of deaths in the village.

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 with expert analysis on their themes and content. The title has been phenomenally well received and has been shortlisted for the Waterstones Book of the Year prize.In this episode, hosted by the creator of The Folklore Podcast, Mark Norman, Amy discusses her research, themes of British mythology and some of the sources for it, and we get to listen to the Prologue of the audiobook version of Storyland.To visit Amy's website, please click hereTo support the work of the Folklore Podcast and Folklore Network in collecting and preserving folklore materials for the future, please visit our support pages

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.The book follows Jennifer on her year-long journey via the Pagan calendar, through the seasons, as she explores how the ancient wisdom of witchcraft and paganism has profound resonance in our increasingly frenetic and detached modern world. Paganism gave Jennifer the rootedness that she was lacking in her busy and stressful life and allowed her to restore her relationship with time and the natural cycle that had previously been lost. Book reviewer Carly Tremayne discusses the book with Jennifer, and together they explore the themes that it brings up. Find the review for this and many other folklore book titles on the Folklore Podcast website hereThe support the work of the Folklore Podcast and Folklore Network in collecting and preserving folklore materials for the future, please visit our support pages.

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 which could be used. Acting as a springboard for the discussion is Jeana's book 'Folklore 101' which is one of the liveliest and most accessible introductions to the subject which anyone could hope to read.Follow Jeana on Twitter hereClick here for Jeana's blog on Only Sky.Please help to support the work of the Folklore Podcast and its other projects in collecting and preserving folklore materials for the future. Visit our support pages to learn more.

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 fact that they were the last three women accused of witchcraft to be hanged in England. But exactly how much of their story has anything to do with witchcraft, and how much is a commentary on the social and physical conditions of those living in poverty in our past?Dr John Callow discusses his research into the case, which forms the backbone of his new book on the women.Visit John's website at www.johncallow.co.ukTo support the Folklore Podcast and its work collecting and preserving folklore for the future, please visit the support pages on our website.

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 of Robin's 100 Bookshops tour in 2021, supporting his book "The Importance of Being Interested". The discussion covers science, folklore, storytelling and the intersection of all three things in an free-form conversation.This episode is closed in traditional fashion by the talented music duo Lunatraktors, with a unique performance of "The Holly and the Ivy" using reconstructed pre-Christian themes of the song.To support the Folklore Podcast in its aim to collect and preserve folklore materials for the future, please visit our Patreon page or make a small donation via our website.Visit The Cosmic Shambles Network for more of Robin's work, and the Lunatraktors website to learn more about them.