The Three Ravens Podcast

In their final Advent 2023 mini-episode, Martin and Eleanor come up against a problem: partridges don't have much of a place in folklore! They make a valiant effort, discussing how Perdix was transformed into a partridge in Ancient Greek mythology, and recount a literally apocryphal tale of John The Evangelist stroking his partridge - and they chat about pears, too, and their associations with Her...

In their penultimate Advent 2023 mini-episode, Eleanor and Martin talk Two Turtle Doves - which aren't white! Who knew?! In addition to chewing over the slightly unnerving roles doves traditionally played in Candlemas and Imbolc celebrations, they dig into some dovey deities, including the Ancient Mesopotamian goddess Inanna and the Celtic god Aengus, and retell some dove-related folktales includi...

In this Bonus Episode, Eleanor and Martin discuss traditional Christmas crafts. Part of the "Dying Arts" series, they start of chatting about Midwinter, Yule Logs, and the Ashen Faggot, then discuss the history of the Christingle, old recipes for Christmas pudding, the tradition of the 'Kissing Ball' and 'Kissing Bough' as well as Christmas Trees, Advent Calendars, and Walnut Gilding. As you might...

In their tenth Advent 2023 mini-episode, Martin and Eleanor discuss French Hens, which are a genuine, actual thing! Aside from Eleanor performing the St Crispian Day speech from Henry V (yes, the whole thing) they also chat about Bresse Gauloise chickens, Brythonic history, and England's slightly tetchy relationship with the French, along with discussing poultry-based folktales including Henny Pen...

In their ninth Advent 2023 mini-episode, Eleanor and Martin are talking Four Colley Birds, and not 'Calling Birds' at all! From 'Sing a Song of Sixpence,' which dates back to the Renaissance, to Celtic myths like The Tale of Branwen and The Three Birds of Rhiannon, they discuss how the blackbird occupies a very strange position in folklore. Not least in two really strange tales, one of which sees...

For their eighth Advent 2023 mini-episode, Martin and Eleanor are facing down eternity to talk Five Gold Rings! They begin talking about the special properties of gold and the symbolism of rings from Ancient Egypt to today, including the significance of the gifts made in the story of Jesus' birth. Then, before long, they're discussing the mythical Ouroboros, the Ring of Gyges, Norse and Anglo-Saxo...

In their seventh Advent 2023 mini-episode, Eleanor and Martin are talking Six Geese A-Laying. They start off chatting about whether geese are really just big ducks (and remain split on the matter) all before they set to honking and a-hollering about some famous examples of geese in mythology and folklore, such as The Golden Goose, The Goose That Laid The Golden Eggs. the Ugly Duckling, Icarus' doo...

On this week's episode, Eleanor and Martin are off to Buckinghamshire, one of England's 'Home Counties.' With no particular Saints Days to mark they get cracking quickly and set about unearthing the history and folklore of Buckinghamshire, from the many stately homes owned by the Rothschild family and others, such as Waddesdon Manor, Mentmore Towers, and Bletchley Park, to tales of Little Witches,...

In their sixth Advent 2023 mini-episode, Eleanor and Martin are talking Seven Swans A-Swimming! They start off chatting about swans and their many associations, including in Medieval cookery, then dip their bills into some of the very many appearances of swans in myth and folklore, from the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice to The Children of Lir, Derbforgaill's love for Cú Chulainn to Leda and the Swa...

In their fifth Advent 2023 mini-episode, Martin and Eleanor take those udders in hand and talk Eight Maids A-Milking! They start off discussing the Maiden archetype and concept of the Triple Goddess, then moo-ve on to talking about the Maiden's lactose-free role in some specific folktales such as Red Riding Hood, Goldilocks, and Bluebeard. Then it's time to chew the cud about the strange role milk...

In their fourth Advent 2023 mini-episode, Eleanor and Martin are marching to the beat of Nine Drummers Drumming. After a brief chat about the earliest drums yet found by archaeologists (which, to Eleanor's alarm, involved alligators...) they strike up a rhythm and discuss drumming in the animal kingdom, stone age spiritualism, and the ways drums in early societies were used to carry messages over...

In their third Advent 2023 mini-episode, Martin and Eleanor add a honk to their gronk and make a ruckus with Ten Pipers Piping! After discussing how pipes predate writing, with the earliest known example carved from a bear's thigh over 60,000 years ago, they dig into the links between shepherds, pipes, and lyric poetry, discuss the Medieval shawm and the innovations it brought to early music, and...

In this Bonus Episode, Martin and Eleanor discuss Krampus, the demonic man-goat of Alpine legend. Part of the "Three Ravens Bestiary" bonus series, they start by offering an overview of his place in central European Yuletide tradition, then dig into ideas including the influence of Christianity on folk customs, some other surviving Alpine traditions and festivals, and connections between Norse myt...

For their second Advent 2023 mini-episode, Eleanor and Martin shake it on down with Eleven Ladies Dancing! They start by chatting about the earliest records we have of dancing, including in prehistoric cave art and Bronze Age sculpture, then skip ahead to early folk and 'circle' dances like the branle and the farandole. After discussing the birth of ballet, care of Catherine De Medici, it's then o...

For their first Advent 2023 mini-episode, Martin and Eleanor strap on their hose, gird their loins, and jump into the Yuletide fray with Twelve Lords A-Leaping! After a chat about patronage and feudal hierarchy, they discuss the various ways a lord could 'leap' rungs of the social ladder, including through war, diplomacy, commerce, chivalry, and marriage, then shake their tail-feathers to talk abo...

On this week's episode, Martin and Eleanor head to Gloucestershire, a county which really does have it all! After a chat about Old St Andrew's Day and the Boar's Head Feast, they clickety-clack down the Great Western Railway to explore the history and folklore of Gloucestershire - from the Wye Valley, Gloucester Cathedral, and Chedworth Roman Villa to the Brockweir Mermaids, Beast of Dean, the Wit...

In this Bonus Episode, Eleanor and Martin dig into the ancient history and modern past of the Druids. Part of the "Magic and Medicines" series, they chat about the Druids' interest in mistletoe, their alleged powers, practices, and unique status in Bronze and Iron Age life, leaf through the sources of this information, and hop to the 18th century when fraudster Iolo Morganwg (Edward Williams to hi...

Eleanor and Martin launch into Series 3 of Three Ravens with a visit to the historic county of Bedfordshire, one-time home of John Bunyan. After a brief chat about St Barbara, St Osmund and St Clement, they slosh down the Great Ouse basin and leap into the history and folklore of Bedfordshire - from the Five Knolls barrow cemetery and Someries Castle to the ghostly nun of Chicksands Priory, a bit...

Martin and Eleanor start Series 3 by looking both forward and backwards. In addition to chatting about some things they learned during Series 2, they chat about what's new for Three Ravens, what's worked, and some of what they're planning for the weeks ahead, mentioning some of the counties they will be exploring over the next 13 episodes and some of the stories they are excited to tell... The Thr...

In our second Listener Episode, we read seven stories and a poem sent in by members of the Three Ravens community. The stories include methods of protection from "The Evil Eye" and the doings of a mysterious 1,500 year-old midwife from Robert, tales of Irish werewolves from Sabrina, an account from Sam of her family's visit to the Rollright Stones, Kathryn's story of "The Nutshell Cat" from Bury S...

The last in a trio of bonus compilation episodes of the Three Ravens podcast, to plug the gap before Season 3 starts in December. We’ve entitled this episode Three Kisses because it contains three of our more romantic tales, including our Surrey story, "The Tale of Blanche Heriot," our Northumberland story, "The Fish and the Ring," and our Worcestershire story, "The Legend of the Swan." The Three...

The second of a trio of bonus compilation episodes of the Three Ravens podcast, to plug the gap before Season 3 starts in December. We’ve entitled this episode Three Hauntings because it contains three of our ghost stories, including our Hampshire story, "The Netley Abbey Phantoms," our Dorset story, "William Doggett the Vampire Ghost," and our Northamptonshire story, "The Hexham Heads." The Three...

The first of a trio of bonus compilation episodes of the Three Ravens podcast, to plug the gap before Season 3 starts in December. We’ve entitled this episode Three Mermaids because it contains three of our tales of semi-aquatic transformation and so-called monstrosity, including our Cornwall story, "The Mermaid of Zennor," our Suffolk story, "The Wild Man of Orford," and our Cheshire story, "The...

To cap off Haunting Season, Eleanor and Martin reach back through time to explore the ancient roots of Samhain, Halloween, and Allhallows. From Celtic megalithic tombs like Newgrange and the remnants of pagan rites discovered by archaeologists to widespread European traditions of guising, souling, 'need-fires', divination, demons and deities, they chat about everything from the early seasonal guid...

Is that just a shadow in the corner or is there something waiting in the dark? With the moon full and the stars out, it's hard to tell... either way, it's Haunting Season, so time to feel afraid! For their final weekly double-bill of original ghost stories this year, Eleanor and Martin tell The Five Minute Call , a theatrical tale of backstage haunting, and The Rotten House , a chronicle of loneli...