Loremen Podcast

James Shakeshaft plays against type by offering up a story that's very nearly historically accurate. The legend of the Vegetable Lamb of Tartary or 'Barometz' seemed so plausible. It was a grazing lamb that grew on a bush; it seemed like it HAD to be real. The stories were so convincing a series of extraordinarily named men launched expeditions to find it. They didn't find it. It's not a real thin...

We've decided not to put out an episode of Loremen this week. Half our listeners come from the USA, and the black lives matter protests should matter to everyone, everywhere.   Stay safe. Love people.   https://blacklivesmatter.com/about/ https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ms_blm_homepage_2019   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Swedish comedian Evelyn Mok brings us a selection of Scandinavian stories about nymphs. This episode is like a delicious selection of small, tasty treats. If only there were an appropriate Swedish word for that...   Nope, can't think of one.   Prepare for an abundance of naked nymphs and some phallus-y fallacies, all from Sweden's SECOND best city - Gothenburg. Learn more about your ad choices. Vi...

Jenny Collier returns! Again! This episode answers the age-old question, "how many is too many plagues?" We discover that finding the dead centre of Britain is surprisingly controversial. And we ask hard-hitting questions about 1980s TV star and evil puppet, Pob. Questions such as, "you don't remember Pob?" and, "how can you not remember Pob?!" We also dive into the Welsh myth of Lludd and Llefely...

The 16th century was a dangerous place, kids. Con artists, knaves and robbers roamed the land, causing mischief. If the pamphlets Alasdair has uncovered are to be believed, there was a vast underground crime network with its own secret language. It was a lot a lot like the John Wick franchise. And, like the John Wick franchise, it's a load of old nonsense. Still, bit of fun, innit?   @loremenpod w...

The Loremen meet old Mister Crump in this listener-suggested tale of Gloucestershire oddities. (Thanks for sending it in, Emily!) What begins as an exploration of spectral phenomena quickly devolves into a cabin fever-dream. We discuss of bees, bones, back doors and boozy ghosts. It's another lockdown episode and things are getting weird... Enjoy! @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.faceb...

Alasdair takes a deep dive into an epic, extraordinary year! 1816 was a real shocker, by all accounts. The world seemed to have been turned upside down. Holidays were ruined. Worst of all, people moped around indoors writing POETRY. Maybe life two centuries ago wasn't so different after all... Hmmm? (Puts on sunglasses.) (Takes sunglasses off because of the lack of summer.) @loremenpod www.instagr...

FLORIDA MAN RECORDS PODCAST! The Loremen are joined by indie game auteur Francisco González - a genuine American! He gives us the lowdown on Florida's creepiest life-size, melty-faced, doll-boy, Robert the Doll. This bumper episode also investigates Florida's OTHER claim to paranormal fame: the Skunk Ape of the everglades. (He's basically a stinky bigfoot.) Plus, if you enjoyed the world's oldest...

Award-winning comedian Harriet Braine steps up to the Loremen plate and tries to convince us that Surbiton is an interesting place, actually. We meet modern folk legends in the form of a goat-headed cheesemaker, a dead giant and the world's oldest paper boy. However, we do end up talking about the train station a lot. Such is the overwhelming blandness of Surbiton: "The city suburb that always sle...

Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Chris Cantrill (The Delightful Sausage) gives us the lowdown on Yorkshire's biggest pigs. This boy knows his pork and porcine lore! Meanwhile, James embarrasses himself and insults the North. (Neither for the first time.) We also learn why a Bradfordian should always carry a tongue and how Chris is handling lockdown with his in-laws.  @loremenpod www.instagram.com/lo...

A Mancunian tale of the macabre. Two hauntings, one terrible clock, several pronunciations of M. Night Shyamalan and a twist we're sure you won't see coming. (The twist isn't that there is no twist. Come on.) This episode is another coronavirus lockdown edition, so please listen from a safe distance of 2 metres (6' 6").  @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesSh...

Bath comedian Sunil Patel ( BBC Asian Network) dons the mantle of Deputy Loreperson in this Covid-19 Lockdown Special. Sequestered in our separate garrets, sheds and jazz lounges, we learn the story of King Bladud. Bladud was a daredevil, a leper, an assistant pig farmer and founder of the city of Bath. Now that's a portfolio career. Who petrified the Keynsham snakes? Is it possible to fly from Ba...

The Loremen are joined by the delightful half of award-winning double-act The Delightful Sausage - Amy Gledhill. We chat about the Hull Werewolf, also known as "Old Stinker". With bonus coverage of an underwater witch, a beheaded boy and, of course, the Pig-man. Plus we hear some of the funniest place names in all of Yorkshire. Warning - This episode may cause you to question the very nature of re...

Award winning comedian Sooz Kempner (Mystery On The Rocks Podcast) joins the Loremen with stories of airborne gremlins. Not to be confused with the film Gremlins (1984), these impish critters* outfoxed RAF pilots in World War 2. As always**, the Loremen shine the searing light of scrutiny on our guest's tall tales. But will we finish recording the episode before the gremlins attack? *not to be con...

James brings in an extraordinary tale of betrayal, backstabbing and the Devil himself. He also lobs a bunch of civil war stories directly into your ears. Which musical instruments can Satan play? Why does Warwick market stink? How big is TOO big for a shoe? Please write in to tell us your favourite devilish pseudonyms. Old Scratch? Old Nick? Old Scratchy Nick? Let us know on the socials. Ayoade Wa...

Comedian and podcaster Michael Legge (you know - off Do The Right Thing) joins the Loremen to tell us about the Irish legend of Fionn mac Cumhail - aka - Finn McCool.    We learn why it is big and clever to act like a massive baby, which is useful. Plus who was the more famous 7Up logo, Fido Dido or Cool Spot? AND which character from the extended Back To The Future universe James's wife thinks he...

Like all great tales, this episode begins with a riddle and ends with a warning... The Roaring Bull of Bagbury is certainly a unique story that sparks off some sinister memories from James' past. And poses a few of life's bigger questions - What are the Mooies? What size is a small pineapple? How big is too big a bull? MOOIE WARNING - contains talk of Mooies. Should have warned you earlier, soz.  ...

Jenny Collier returns! After last year's Welsh Valentine's hilarity (pimp out of pimp across the board) we brought our favourite Welsh comedian back into the studio to give us the lowdown on an actual epic. We cover book two of The Mabinogion (Mabinogion 2: The Legend of Curly's Gold). The Mabinogion is a 12th Century text recounting ancient Welsh myths and legends. As you can imagine, it scores h...

Alasdair brings an "account" of how to open your third eye. And it's squirm-inducing stuff! Meanwhile, James can't get over the fact that Tibetan lama sounds a lot like Tibetan llama. For a whole episode. There's also a man whose name is Tuesday Lobsang Rampa. Really what more could you want... A portentous owl? You got it. A  Yeti cameo? You got that too. A cat with a surname? You got that three....

This is a spooky one! Get a toasty body warmer on because your spine is about to be chilled. You'll need a gilet at least. We'd love to hear your 'Cuthbert Shields' names! When you've listened to the episode, leave your new name as a comment on iTunes and we'll read out our favourites on the show. Did you ever make a time capsule? What on earth did you put in it? Tell us on Twitter and we will jud...

Who starts flame wars wherever he goes? Who clearly has a problem with male midwives? Who won't let it lie? Even beyond the grave, with his own son, no less. Thicknesse. You're damn right. We delve deep into the peculiar life of Captain Thicknesse, 1719-1792, an English author, eccentric and piece of work. The Thicknesse first showed up in series 2 episode 10 The London Monster. @loremenpod www.in...

A triptych of stories about an actual thing in a church this week. Be it the work of human, faerie or (as usual) the devil? Thanks to listener Simon Martin for suggesting these nuggets of Surrey lore. @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is very much a Strong Five. Alasdair takes us back to Victorian London where phoney doctors (faux-sicians) sold cures for all known ills... and plenty of unknown ones too. @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ho, ho, etcetera! A very special festive edition of Loremen featuring exclusively Xmas-themed lore. What BEES do of a Christmas eve? How can YOU use a sheep to find your way home? ARE mummers plays definitely racist? All these questions and more* will be answered in this Christmas Loremen. *Only one more answer, actually. About why an old gag is actually quite funny. Actually. @loremenpod www.inst...

The Loremen ride again. Again! Series 3 kicks off with a bang as Pierre Novellie joins the Loremen to impart his Manx wisdom. Pierre's home, the Isle of Man, once played host to Gef the Talking Mongoose. In the 1930s, Gef was an infamous mischief-maker and an extremely cocky mammal. His tale is as perplexing as Manx cats' tails are non-existent, and Alasdair and James are left bamboozled by what m...