The Folklore Podcast

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' or 'imagined', but rather the role that the phenomenon and the stories associated with it play within our cultures. What is certainly the case is that there have, through history, been people who claimed mediumistic powers when they had none. In this episode of The Folklore Podcast, host Mark Norman examines some of the cases of séance room fraud through history, why people did it, how they did it and how the law brought them to book.

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 hounds. Monster Talk is an official podcast of Sceptic Magazine and takes a critical, but open minded look at fields of the paranormal, cryptozoology and folklore. The show also goes more deeply into oral traditions and the use of the motif within folklore. This podcast is simultaneously released by Monster Talk and it is suggested that you listen to their version of the show too, as the edits will contain different material.

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, about the ways in which fantasy authors use the folklore of the real world as a basis to form their own fictitious worlds. Also, how the fictitious folklore then begins to bleed back into our own lore. Using authors such as Tolkein, Terry Pratchett and Jim Butcher, as well as examples from her own Africaans and other cultures, Carin explores many well known books as well as drawing upon her own writing. An episode supplement for this episode is available to download at www.thefolklorepodcast.com

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 relating to the witch trials, to the sexual aspects of the incubus and succubus demonic motifs ... and a look at the role of cheese in nightmares! Following on from this, we are proud to present a special guest interview with pagan rock band Inkubus Sukkubus, who draw their name from this lore and who use much folklore in their songwriting. To support this podcast, please visit our website at www.thefolklorepodcast.com and click on support. To download the e-magazine supplement for this episode visit the supplement pages on the website.

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 Cowdell. In what you might like to consider as a kind of 'Folklore 101', Paul goes back into history to examine the emergence of both the word Folklore and the discipline itself and traces them through to the modern day. What exactly was, and is, 'Folklore' and what do we study as 'Folklorists'? A full transcript of this valuable academic discussion on the nature of the subject with suggested reading is available from the website at www.thefolklorepodcast.com Patrons of the podcast receive this and all of the emagazine supplements as they come out. To become a patron for as little as $1 a month please visit www.patreon.com/thefolklorepodcast

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 with sleep paralysis, often referred to these days even in medical circles as Old Hag Syndrome. The name derives from the hallucinatory aspect where people often report a hag sitting on their chest preventing them from moving. In medieval folklore the demonic Incubus and Succubus were to be blamed for this condition. This is the first of a two part examination of Old Hag Syndrome and the theme was suggested by one of our listeners to the Folklore Podcast. The second part of this episode will be in two episodes time and will feature some very special guests. To download the e-magazine supplement for this episode please visit www.thefolklorepodcast.com Patrons receive all of our supplements free. To become a patron please visit www.patreon.com/thefolklorepodcast

Delving into the witch trials of the 16th and 17th century, this podcast explores the fascinating connection between accused witches and fairies. It discusses original documentation, explores fairy elements in Shakespeare's work, and examines the motif of fairy worship in witch trials. The episode also highlights the multifaceted nature of living faith in witchcraft and emphasizes the importance of embracing diversity in religions.

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 penny or half-penny, members of the public of any class with the ability to read suddenly had access to a wealth of information (of varying degrees of accuracy) and stories of adventure and morality through these publications. Although looked down on by the higher classes of the time, and indeed by scholars of today, the Chapbooks and Bluebooks are a wonderful repository of folklore which can tell us much about the beliefs and traditions of the people of the time. In this edition of The Folklore Podcast, the first of Season 2, creator and host Mark Norman examines some of the folklore presented in the old Chapbooks and how it was used to teach lessons to others.  An e-magazine supplement supports this episode, featuring some of the illustrative covers from old Chapbooks being discussed. You can get this from our website at www.thefolklorepodcast.com. Patrons of the podcast at any level from $1 per month receive all of our supplements via our Patreon page. More details at www.patreon.com/thefolklorepodcast

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 of stories. In this episode of The Folklore Podcast, host Mark Norman introduces a guest lecture from Paul Michael Donovan of Federation University, Australia on the indiginous legends surrounding the cryptid known as the Bunyip. An e-magazine supplement for this episode with further reading suggested by Paul is available to download from The Folklore Podcast website at www.thefolklorepodcast.com

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 will be more generally known. Other symbols and motifs occur frequently and are either timeless or have been changed and appropriated in other ways over the years.In this edition of The Folklore Podcast, creator and host Mark Norman examines some of the customs, traditions and beliefs surrounding the festivities of Christmas, Yule and/or the Winter Solstice (to name but three variations). From candles to trees, reindeer to mistletoe and Santa to Krampus, learn some of the ancient roots and origins of the imagery that endures to this day. You may be surprised by some of the history of your favourite Christmas symbols.