The Three Ravens Podcast

In this month's update episode we're chatting all about Imbolc - otherwise known as the start of Spring! In addition to speaking about the Celtic deity Brige, Candlemas traditions, Candle Magic, and a bunch of our news, we have included the opening chunks of January's Patreon Exclusive episodes. These include our episode about Havelock The Dane , and part of Martin's telling of this largely forgot...

To cap off the end of our release of the stories from The Blue Fairy Book, in this episode we look back at who Leonora and Andrew Lang were, why anybody should care, and then we go back and trace the provenance of these tales. Beyond just identifying where they seem to have come from, we also explore how the Lang fairy stories work a little like a kaleidoscope, with the same pieces of coloured gla...

So, turns out we somehow forgot one: The Story of Pretty Goldilocks! And this one is really good - it gives Martin plenty of excuses to do silly animal voices, Charming is a better version of Trusty John, and there's not a bear in sight - let alone three! We hope you enjoy, and do check out today's other release, which is a discussion between Eleanor and Martin about all the stories in The Blue Fa...

To conclude our readings from the Blue Fairy Book, we warmly present the second part of a trilogy of episodes retelling 'A Voyage to Lilliput. Adapted from the first book o f Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift, in this one Gulliver goes to war, stealing fifty war ships in a single afternoon of swimming - but trouble soon starts to rear its head. Because Gulliver, unwilling to enslave the Blefusc...

To conclude our readings from the Blue Fairy Book, we warmly present the second part of a trilogy of episodes retelling 'A Voyage to Lilliput. Adapted from the first book of Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift, in this one Gulliver is searched and measured by servants of the Lilliputian Emperor, all before it is concluded that he may do this strange nation service. Specifically, as a war machine...

To conclude our readings from the Blue Fairy Book, we warmly present the first part of a trilogy of episodes retelling 'A Voyage to Lilliput. Adapted from the first book of Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift, in this one, we travel with young surgeon Lemuel Gulliver from England, by sea, to somewhere beyond Van Diemen's Land. There he encounters a race of people that appear, to Gulliver, only si...

Brace yourself for one of the Lang's dialect stories from north of Hadrian's Wall: The Red Etin! Though the Etin itself is Irish, strangely. Still, thank goodness for another Youngest Son who isn't a total fool. Also, fix your buckets everybody! If you are unfamiliar with the Lang Fairy Tales, these seminal collections were assembled between 1889 and 1913 by a married couple, folklorists and trans...

A take on the East of the Sun and West of Moon tale type from north of the border. When the Black Bull of Norroway turns up to whisk the youngest daughter off to seek her fortune, she'd better not move a hand or a foot when the air turns blue... This story is written in dialect, so in the spirit intended by the Langs, we have narrated it in dialect, with apologies to our Scottish friends. If you a...

We have one of the most famous English fairy tales of them all for you today: Jack The Giant Killer! Does make you wonder though whether Jack is really a good guy, or a big game hunter. For further discussion of the topic, perhaps listen to Local Legends #3 about Cornwall with Mike O'Connor. Stream it here or simply search for it on your podcast app! If you are unfamiliar with the Lang Fairy Tales...

In the next part of Prince Ahmed's story, his blissful time with the Fairy Paribanou is interrupted by the machinations of the Sultan's scheming advisers... If you are unfamiliar with the Lang Fairy Tales, these seminal collections were assembled between 1889 and 1913 by a married couple, folklorists and translators Nora and Andrew Lang, with most of the work done to compile them completed by Nora...

When three princes all fall in love with the same princess, their father sends them out into the world to find the most wonderful curiosities... An adventure that keeps unfolding, Prince Ahmed's tale is probably the longest in the Blue Fairy Book - so we've split it into two. Part 2 will be out on Thursday! If you are unfamiliar with the Lang Fairy Tales, these seminal collections were assembled b...

If you have ever wondered what would happen if Cinderella was a story about a boy, well, we warmly present The Princess on the Glass Hill! A pleasing example of the Youngest Son doing things his elder brothers can't, the real question the story asks is, would marrying this particular princess be a route to happiness? Because... who is she, really?! If you are unfamiliar with the Lang Fairy Tales,...

Follow the adventures of the brave little tailor as he tricks his way to ultimate success, on the strength of a misunderstanding of the meaning of 'seven at a blow...' With dim-witted giants, a daft unicorn and a king almost as tricksy as our questionable hero, it's a jolly reminder that guts can come in any size. If you are unfamiliar with the Lang Fairy Tales, these seminal collections were asse...

Today's Lang Fairy Tale is a strange one: Trusty John, in which the behaviour of all of the characters is questionable at best! For what would be nicer than marrying your kidnapper? And why not shoot a horse with a pistol? Or, indeed, smear a statue with the blood of your children?! If you are unfamiliar with the Lang Fairy Tales, these seminal collections were assembled between 1889 and 1913 by a...

Today's Lang Fairy Tale is the classic cautionary tale about too much curiosity - Blue Beard!  Of course, it's unfortunate our heroine married a murderer with a suspicious blue beard, but she certainly couldn't say that he didn't warn her not to go into the locked room... If you are unfamiliar with the Lang Fairy Tales, these seminal collections were assembled between 1889 and 1913 by a marri...

In this month's update episode we're welcoming in 2026 in style - ideally in the form of a dark-haired stranger... In addition to speaking about New Years traditions, and why they're confusing, as usual, the episode features Three Ravens news and updates from the last month, and the things we're looking forward to in the month ahead, along with excerpts from December's Patreon Exclusive episodes....

For the second Lang Fairy Tales episode of this 'between series break' we have a less well-known one for you - Prince Darling. It's a tale which reminds us that having a great father, phenomenal wealth, and the Fairy Truth on your side doesn't mean you will grow up to be a good person - and that sometimes being turned into a terrifying chimera is the only way to ensure your self-improvement! If yo...

For the first Lang Fairy Tales episode of this 'between series break' we have an absolute classic - The Goose Girl. If you like talking decapitated horse heads, cheeky goose boys and a good ol' fashioned tale of comeuppance, this one's definitely for you. If you are unfamiliar with the Lang Fairy Tales, these seminal collections were assembled between 1889 and 1913 by a married couple, folklorists...

It's just beginning to get dark at Three Ravens HQ, when a booming knock sounds on the front door. Who should be outside but Tony Walker, host of the Classic Ghost Stories podcast and author of Christmas Ghost Stories? Tony just can't seem to get himself warm, even by the roaring fire in the Great Hall, but he's certainly got a tale to tell, so cuddle close and don't peer too closely into the shad...

Our stomachs are groaning after all the tasty festive food we've consumed (with or without gravy), and we're ready for a little sit down and some stories with our second guest at the Three Ravens Christmas Feast, Taffy Thomas MBE. Taffy is the UK's first Storytelling Laureate, and a long time friend of Three Ravens. Join us now in the Haunted Conservatory for a lovely conversation, midwinter stori...

Welcome, friend, to the Three Ravens Christmas Feast! It's the big day itself, and we're starting with a cosy chat (after our festive breakfast buffet, of course) with Dr Sarah Clegg, author of The Dead of Winter: The Demons, Witches and Ghosts of Christmas. In this sparkling conversation, part of our six episode Yuletide binge, Martin and Sarah talk about lesser known Christmas traditions to mode...

Welcome back to the third day of the Three Ravens Christmas Feast, where we meet in the Raven Tower for an all-new festive tale of terror! Following in the tradition of M.R. James, E.F. Benson, and Charles Dickens, it feels only right to cozy up and listen to something scary on Christmas Eve. This year it's Martin's turn, with a contemporary story that finds supernatural investigators Finnegan Spe...

Good morrow, honoured guest! We hope you slept well, and weren't kept awake by too many bumps in the night? For on today's episode of the Three Ravens Christmas Feast we're convening in the Haunted Library with one of the most exciting British folk bands working today. Lunatraktors, a.k.a. Carli Jefferson and Clair Le Couteur, have been making music together for over half a decade, releasing four...

Welcome, friend, to the Three Ravens Christmas Feast - we're still at 'Meal Prep' stage, but come inside and warm up by the fire! To begin our six episode Yuletude binge in style we're going to head to the kitchens deep beneath Three Ravens HQ to have a chat with Dr Neil Buttery, the award-winning food historian and host of the British Food History Podcast. Because what should be included in a tra...

A new telling of a classic tale based on Slavic folklore, this special Three Ravens winter story is our bonus mini series for Advent 2025. Split into 21 parts, with one released every day up to Midwinter, the tale follows Vasilisa, a young girl who is uprooted from her life and thrown into adventures which carry her through the dark forest to find herself. Vasilisa reaches home at last... The Thre...