Fabric of Folklore

Do you believe the Tasmanian tiger is still alive today? In episode 57 we chat with Daisy Ahlstone, a folklorist, cryptozoologist (legend scholar), eco-philosopher, and mycologist about their research on the Tasmanian tiger (thylacine) as a folk legend after it had been declared extinct since 1986. We discuss the cultural and ecological significance of the Tasmanian tiger and its unique status in...

What impact can folktales have on children? In episode 56, Bill Gordh, an award-winning banjo player and storyteller, shares his journey from skepticism about theater's importance to recognizing its profound impact through his work with children and folktales. This episode delves into his multicultural folktale books and the transformative power of live storytelling for children. We also disc...

Have you ever heard of the classic fairy tale, Donkey Skin by Charles Perrault? In episode 8 of Fairy Tale Flip  @donnaleefields and Vanessa Y Rogers dive deep into the context of this French fairy tale found in some versions Tales of Mother Goose and discuss the famous author Charles Perrault. We explore why he wrote the first books meant for children, as well as the origins of the tale and conne...

What traditions did your father pass on to you? What traditions will you continue? In episode 55 for our Father's Day episode, we speak with Dr. Tyrie (TJ) Smith a folklorist, educator and nonprofit executive working in the areas of social and environmental justice, and traditional arts conservation about how folklore works within families with a focus on fathers and their traditions. TJ shar...

Have you ever visited a museum dedicated to myths? In episode 54, Fiona Boyle, the spokesperson for Mythstories Museum of Myth and Fable, walks us through this amazing online resource. Founded over 20 years ago by Dez and Ali Quarréll the physical museum amassed a wide collection of paintings, artifacts and educational resources to help make intangible stories tangible. Over the years, Mythstories...

How can storytelling help a city create community? In episode 53 Elizabeth Coffee, the Director of Storytelling of the Know Your Neighbor Program in San Antonio, Texas, talks to us about how this organization is using storytelling as a tool to inspire, create empathy and dialogue across the city. The program which is a part of with The H. E. Butt Foundation, aims to answer an age-old question: “Wh...

What do you know about the evil Baba Yaga, the most famous of the Russian fairy tales? Baba Yaga is one of the complex characters, and therefore one of the most fun and fascinating to discuss. In episode 7 of Fairy Tale Flip, Donna Lee Fields and Vanessa Y Rogers discuss the deeper meaning of this ambiguous child-eating witch who lives in a hut with chicken legs. We discuss the significances of he...

How can storytelling be used to heal? In episode 52 with Jazmine, a Lebanese-Australian a bilingual storyteller, we discuss the benefits of storytelling craft for both for the immigrant experience, but also as a medical tool. The daughter of a multilingual and multi-faith family, Jazmine is a domestic violence worker, writer, educator and oral bilingual storyteller and performer studying creative...

Happy Mother's Day to all the mamas. The work you do is important. Mothers make the world go round! Episode 51, we're celebrating American Revolutionary Mothers and their accomplishments with historian, author, playwright, actress and storyteller Darci Tucker. She is the author of a one-woman play, Revolutionary Women, and the book ‘Embodying the Story through Character Interpretation&ap...

Why does the Welsh flag have a dragon on it? In episode 50 with fairy tale author Claire Fayers, we explore this and more Welsh folklore mysteries. In our discussion, Claire, author of 'Welsh Fairy Tales, Myths and Legends', gives us insights into Welsh language revival efforts and the resurgence of interest in Celtic traditions. Claire was born and brought up in South Wales and has buil...

What musical traditions do you enjoy? In our conversation with Juan Dies the Co-Founder & Executive Director the two-time GRAMMY Nominated Sones de Mexico Ensemble in episode 49, we discuss the importance of folklore in reflecting society's values and how music can be a tool to discover and embrace one's heritage. Raised in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, Juan first developed a passion for...

Do you know what the oldest fairy tale known to modern times is? If you don't now, you will soon! The Smith and the Devil is a fairy tale found all over the world throughout countless cultures. But why? Why has that fairy tale been maintained through the not hundreds of years but thousands? What is the connection with blacksmiths and devils? Is the devil a bad guy in the story? In this fascin...

Is fantasy just the next step of folklore? Folklore is often a core element of fantasy fiction. Rebecca Heidt, an LGBTQ+ writer of the fantasy fiction "Acceptance" series, talks to us about how she uses folklore in her writing, as well as anthropology, history, spirituality and nature. In episode 48, Rebecca chats with us about her award-winning series, and her research into world mythol...

Did you know there are over 400,000 Quinceañera's celebrated annually in the United States alone? In episode 47, Rachel V. González-Martin joins us to shed light on the evolution of Quinceañera over time and their connections to modern Latinx cultural values. Dr. Rachel Valentina González-Martin is an assistant professor of Mexican American and Latina/o studies at the University of Texas at A...

Have you heard of the Aztec Legend of Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl? At the heart of this Mexican Legend from Aztec Mythology are two volcanoes overlooking Mexico City.  A legend sometimes referred to as the Romeo and Juliet of Central America, this legend tells of a princess and a warrior whose love burns bright, but because of unfortunate circumstances, die of grief and are turned into the beaut...

When a language dies, why should we care? Don Kulick, a distinguished University Professor of Anthropology at Uppsala University and head of the ENGAGING VULNERABILITY research program talks to us in episode 46 about the death of languages. We delve into his book, A Death in the Rainforest: how a language and a way of life came to an end in Papua New Guinea, discusses his work in the tiny village...

What can we learn from Indian mythology? Sunita Pant Bansal, author of countless books of Indian mythology and children folk literature, helps us understand the life lessons mythology offers. In episode 45, author of best seller Krishna, The Management Guru and Everyday Gita, Sunita walks us through the concept of her newest book on boons and curses in Indian mythology. The discussion highlights h...

Have you heard of the Dybbuk of Jewish folklore? It is a malicious possessing spirit most well-known in Yiddish Theater, Between Two Worlds. The play was written by S. Ansky in 1914, a playwright and enthographer. The tale centers on a young woman possessed by a dybbuk- that of her deceased lover. The play became a canonical work of both Hebrew and Yiddish theatre, being further translated and per...

Is Rumpelstiltskin morally good or is he evil? Why does he want the queen's baby? What does nature and the natural world have to do this fairy tale? If you have ever read a fairy tale and wondered if there was a hidden meaning, if it had a message you just weren't catching, this is the podcast for you. Fairy Tale Flip is a monthly collaboration between Doorways to Leaning and Fabric of F...

How does one go from slavery to equality? That is the question African Americans grappled with after their emancipation in 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation released Blacks from their enslavement, but they continued to experience inequality in all phases of American life —social, cultural, political, and economic. In episode 43, Dr. Ronald L. Sharps, Associate Dean of College of the Arts at Mont...

Have you heard of The Hero with a Thousand Faces? What about the hero's journey? Joseph Campbell was an author, professor and global storyteller. A lecturer at Sarah Lawrence College in Yonkers, his work continues to have ripple effects across the globe today. His works, and influence in understanding mythology around the world, are the topic of today's incredible show. In episode 42, Br...

Have you ever wondered why humans are primed for stories? Once a story starts, its so hard to stop. In episode 41 Kendall Haven talks to us about the brain science behind why we are magnetically attracted to stories. His research, story coaching work, and two seminal books, STORY PROOF: The Science Behind the Startling Power of Story, and STORY SMART: Using the Science of Story to Persuade, Influe...

In Episode 3 "A Flowering Tree" Donna and Vanessa dive deep into this Indian fairy tale translated to English by A. K. Ramanujan to understand its significance, relevance and historical context. The story is a Kannada folklore that tells the tale of a young woman, Kumudha, who discovers that she has the magical ability to transform herself into a flowering tree. She uses this gift to sup...

Have you ever taken a journey that awakened your senses? In episode 40, we speak with Stina Gray, a professional storyteller, ethnologist and author with roots in Sweden and New Zealand. She talks to us about her heartwarming stories, performances and also her new book, When the Woods Sang: Returning to the Singing Earth. It is about her journey into the singing, weeping woods of her Motherland an...

How can mythology and folklore be a tool for healing? In episode 39, Sabrina Fletcher, a bereavement doula incorporates myth storytelling in her grief circles for pregnancy loss, drawing on ancient stories, myths, and archetypes to facilitate healing. These narratives can act as reminders that we are not alone in our experiences. Inspired by her own loss and the lack of community support, Sabrina...