Lexicons Unbound: Where Folklore Meets Your Algorithm

In Faith, Folklore, and the Lessons They Left Us , Melanie reflects on the legacy of women healers often labeled “Granny Witches,” weaving personal memories of her grandmother with the broader folklore of women’s faith, care, and community wisdom. This conversation explores how practicality and learned expertise shaped their work—long before modern healthcare systems recognized such knowledge. Tog...

This October, Lexicons Unbound steps into the world of witches—not as broomstick caricatures, but as figures of power, resistance, and folklore. From Ozark “granny witches” to pop culture icons like Bedknobs and Broomsticks’ Eglantine Price and Bewitched’s Samantha, Melanie and Molly trace how the word witch has shifted from fear and persecution to reclamation and empowerment. Blending personal st...

Folklore, Fear, and the Viral “Man vs. Bear” Debate What do fairy tales, survival instincts, and a viral social media debate have in common? In this episode of Lexicons Unbound , we unpack the question that took over timelines: Would you rather be alone in the woods with a man or a bear? We explore the bear as a powerful symbol in folklore—protector, predator, and primal force—and examine how it c...

This short intro episode is your invitation into our world—a podcast where folklore meets your algorithm. We’re Melanie (writer, performer, and digital folklore translator) and Molly (researcher and professor specializing in storytelling and culture), two educators and lifelong story nerds who can’t stop asking: What old patterns hide in the stories we tell today? Why do viral memes feel like mode...

What do TikTok hauntings, monster memes, and bedtime stories have in common? They’re all part of the folklore that lives in our feeds. This is just the beginning—subscribe now and join us for stories that surprise, unsettle, and connect us.