The Folklore Podcast

John Billingsley: ​Soft Power: the emergence of modern apotropaics in Albania   In the traumatic political upheavals that followed the overthrow of Albania’s Communist state, Albanians found that traditional apotropaics may have had metaphysical efficacy, but couldn’t protect them from capitalist evils. The result was the creation of a new apotropaic device that cynically reflects capitalist dispo...

​Folklore Podcast creator and host Mark Norman presents a study of the serpent-like creature of UK folklore, The Lambton Worm, and its place in the wider lore of dragons and similar creatures. Featuring guest contributions and a look at a new audio drama featuring the beast. Folk singer Roly Veitch performs the traditional song associated with the worm ( click here to visit his website), Director...

​Folklore Podcast creator and host Mark Norman presents a study of the serpent-like creature of UK folklore, The Lambton Worm, and its place in the wider lore of dragons and similar creatures. Featuring guest contributions and a look at a new audio drama featuring the beast. Folk singer Roly Veitch performs the traditional song associated with the worm ( click here to visit his website), Director...

Author Edward Parnell joins The Folklore Podcast creator and host Mark Norman to discuss his book 'Ghostland', which examines the intersections between folklore, folk horror, the landscape and literature. Musical guests: The Last Inklings Support the Folklore Podcast on Patreon at www.patreon.com/thefolklorepodcast for exclusive extra content

Author Edward Parnell joins The Folklore Podcast creator and host Mark Norman to discuss his book 'Ghostland', which examines the intersections between folklore, folk horror, the landscape and literature. Musical guests: The Last Inklings Support the Folklore Podcast on Patreon at www.patreon.com/thefolklorepodcast for exclusive extra content

In this episode of The Folklore Podcast, we hear from author of dark historical fiction Anna Mazzola about her book 'The Story Keeper'... A dark tale of folklore and disappearances on the Isle of Skye. Audrey Hart travels to Skye and to the mansion of a reclusive folklorist to collect the folk and fairy tales of the local people. It is 1857, the Highland Clearances have left devastation and povert...

In this episode of The Folklore Podcast, we hear from author of dark historical fiction Anna Mazzola about her book 'The Story Keeper'... A dark tale of folklore and disappearances on the Isle of Skye. Audrey Hart travels to Skye and to the mansion of a reclusive folklorist to collect the folk and fairy tales of the local people. It is 1857, the Highland Clearances have left devastation and povert...

Released during National Storytelling Week 2020, this episode of The Folklore Podcast features guest interviewer Joana Varanda in discussion with British storytelling legend, and the first Storyteller Laureate Taffy Thomas MBE about his life and work. Taffy is the patron of the Society for Storytelling, has received the English Folk Dance and Song Society Gold Badge Award and his repertoire of aro...

Released during National Storytelling Week 2020, this episode of The Folklore Podcast features guest interviewer Joana Varanda in discussion with British storytelling legend, and the first Storyteller Laureate Taffy Thomas MBE about his life and work. Taffy is the patron of the Society for Storytelling, has received the English Folk Dance and Song Society Gold Badge Award and his repertoire of aro...

We present a recording of a performance by Bulgarian/English storytelling group 'A Spell in Time', recorded live in 2013 at the Folklore Society's Beasts in Legend and Tradition conference at Paignton Zoo. Storyteller Moni Sheehan and musician Ivor Davies discuss the Bulgarian dragon known as the Zmey. The episode is closed by special musical guest Polly Preacher. Folklore Podcast Patreon: www.pat...

We present a recording of a performance by Bulgarian/English storytelling group 'A Spell in Time', recorded live in 2013 at the Folklore Society's Beasts in Legend and Tradition conference at Paignton Zoo. Storyteller Moni Sheehan and musician Ivor Davies discuss the Bulgarian dragon known as the Zmey. The episode is closed by special musical guest Polly Preacher. Folklore Podcast Patreon: www.pat...

Season 5 of The Folklore Podcast kicks off with a special extended episode. Host Mark Norman is joined by author Morgan Daimler to discuss their book 'A New Dictionary of Fairies' which builds on the research done by eminent folklorist Katharine Briggs, focusing on fairies in the Celtic and Western European traditions. Support the Folklore Podcast on Patreon: www.patreon.com/thefolklorepodcast Vis...

Season 5 of The Folklore Podcast kicks off with a special extended episode. Host Mark Norman is joined by author Morgan Daimler to discuss their book 'A New Dictionary of Fairies' which builds on the research done by eminent folklorist Katharine Briggs, focusing on fairies in the Celtic and Western European traditions. Support the Folklore Podcast on Patreon: www.patreon.com/thefolklorepodcast Vis...

This special bonus episode of the Folklore Podcast, presented while the show is dark during December, gives listeners the chance to hear a talk on the folklore-rich Sherlock Holmes story "The Hound of the Baskervilles" by two very well-respected presenters. Recorded at the Gothic Horror festival Hell Tor in November 2019, screenwriter Stephen Volk (Ghostwatch, Gothic) and actor and film historian...

This special bonus episode of the Folklore Podcast, presented while the show is dark during December, gives listeners the chance to hear a talk on the folklore-rich Sherlock Holmes story "The Hound of the Baskervilles" by two very well-respected presenters. Recorded at the Gothic Horror festival Hell Tor in November 2019, screenwriter Stephen Volk (Ghostwatch, Gothic) and actor and film historian...

Compared to the amount of folklore surrounding death customs and beliefs, there is little discussion about the beginning of our timelines - the traditions relating to pregnancy and birth. Redressing the balance, on this episode of The Folklore Podcast host Mark Norman is joined by Jemma Nicholls, a doula who has recently begun developing workshops looking specifically at these traditions and custo...

Compared to the amount of folklore surrounding death customs and beliefs, there is little discussion about the beginning of our timelines - the traditions relating to pregnancy and birth. Redressing the balance, on this episode of The Folklore Podcast host Mark Norman is joined by Jemma Nicholls, a doula who has recently begun developing workshops looking specifically at these traditions and custo...

The rugged coastlines of the county of Cornwall, on the south-western tip of the UK, are etched with stories. Here you’ll find tales of powerful mermaids, spiteful witches, crafty smugglers and woeful ghosts. Up on the moors are mischievous creatures, huge giants and elusive beasts. Joining the creator of The Folklore Podcast Mark Norman on this episode of the podcast is Cornish folklore writer An...

The rugged coastlines of the county of Cornwall, on the south-western tip of the UK, are etched with stories. Here you’ll find tales of powerful mermaids, spiteful witches, crafty smugglers and woeful ghosts. Up on the moors are mischievous creatures, huge giants and elusive beasts. Joining the creator of The Folklore Podcast Mark Norman on this episode of the podcast is Cornish folklore writer An...

Russian hereditary witch,occultist and witchcraft scholar Natasha Helvin joins podcast host Mark Norman to discuss the beliefs, traditions and practices associated with witchcraft in the Slavic tradition. In what ways is this similar to other traditional witchcraft practices and how does it differ? To support the Folklore Podcast on Patreon, please visit www.patreon.com/thefolklorepodcast

Russian hereditary witch,occultist and witchcraft scholar Natasha Helvin joins podcast host Mark Norman to discuss the beliefs, traditions and practices associated with witchcraft in the Slavic tradition. In what ways is this similar to other traditional witchcraft practices and how does it differ? To support the Folklore Podcast on Patreon, please visit www.patreon.com/thefolklorepodcast

The Girl Who Speaks Bear is Sophie Anderson's second book based around traditional Russian folk tales. Despite having only been published for a short time, she has already been shortlisted for a whole raft of awards - the Carnegie Medal, Children's Fiction Book of the Year, the Waterstones prize and many more. On this episode of the podcast, host Mark Norman talks to Sophie about Russian folklore,...

The Girl Who Speaks Bear is Sophie Anderson's second book based around traditional Russian folk tales. Despite having only been published for a short time, she has already been shortlisted for a whole raft of awards - the Carnegie Medal, Children's Fiction Book of the Year, the Waterstones prize and many more. On this episode of the podcast, host Mark Norman talks to Sophie about Russian folklore,...

In 1977, a set of three childrens books were published which would go on to become a cult classic. Among the most borrowed (and probably most stolen) from school libraries across the country, these three titles made up the Usborne Mysteries of the Unknown series. Individually, they were the Worlds of the Unknown that looked at Ghosts, Monsters and UFOs. Recently, an internet petition and campaign...

In 1977, a set of three childrens books were published which would go on to become a cult classic. Among the most borrowed (and probably most stolen) from school libraries across the country, these three titles made up the Usborne Mysteries of the Unknown series. Individually, they were the Worlds of the Unknown that looked at Ghosts, Monsters and UFOs. Recently, an internet petition and campaign...