The Folklore Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 108: STORYLAND Feb 16, 2022

Show notes

Dr Amy Jeffs is the author of the book "Storyland: A New Mythology of Britain" which sees Amy retelling some of the well known and more obscure mythological tales of the British Isles, along with expert analysis on their themes and content. The title has been phenomenally well received and has been shortlisted for the Waterstones Book of the Year prize.

In this episode, hosted by the creator of The Folklore Podcast, Mark Norman, Amy discusses her research, themes of British mythology and some of the sources for it, and we get to listen to the Prologue of the audiobook version of Storyland.

To visit Amy's website, please click here

To support the work of the Folklore Podcast and Folklore Network in collecting and preserving folklore materials for the future, please visit our support pages

BOOK CLUB 21: The Wheel Feb 13, 2022

Show notes

This episode of the Folklore Podcast Book Club discusses the book “The Wheel: A Witch’s Path Back to the Ancient Self” written by Jennifer Lane and published by September Publishing.

The book follows Jennifer on her year-long journey via the Pagan calendar, through the seasons, as she explores how the ancient wisdom of witchcraft and paganism has profound resonance in our increasingly frenetic and detached modern world. Paganism gave Jennifer the rootedness that she was lacking in her busy and stressful life and allowed her to restore her relationship with time and the natural cycle that had previously been lost.

Book reviewer Carly Tremayne discusses the book with Jennifer, and together they explore the themes that it brings up.

Find the review for this and many other folklore book titles on the Folklore Podcast website here

The support the work of the Folklore Podcast and Folklore Network in collecting and preserving folklore materials for the future, please visit our support pages.

Episode 107: FOLKLORE 101 Jan 30, 2022

Show notes

Mark Norman, creator and host of The Folklore Podcast, welcomes folklorist Dr Jeana Jorgensen onto the show to discuss the study of folklore, why it is important and the types of approaches which could be used. Acting as a springboard for the discussion is Jeana's book 'Folklore 101' which is one of the liveliest and most accessible introductions to the subject which anyone could hope to read.

Follow Jeana on Twitter here

Click here for Jeana's blog on Only Sky.

Please help to support the work of the Folklore Podcast and its other projects in collecting and preserving folklore materials for the future. Visit our support pages to learn more.

Episode 106: THE LAST WITCHES OF ENGLAND Jan 11, 2022

Show notes

Season 7 of The Folklore Podcast begins with an examination of the case of the Bideford Witches - three poor women from a port town in Devon in the South West of the UK who are notable for the fact that they were the last three women accused of witchcraft to be hanged in England. But exactly how much of their story has anything to do with witchcraft, and how much is a commentary on the social and physical conditions of those living in poverty in our past?

Dr John Callow discusses his research into the case, which forms the backbone of his new book on the women.

Visit John's website at www.johncallow.co.uk

To support the Folklore Podcast and its work collecting and preserving folklore for the future, please visit the support pages on our website.

Episode 105: CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 2021 Dec 30, 2021

Show notes

We round off Season 6 with a special feature length episode. Broadcaster and comedian Robin Ince is in conversation with podcast creator and host Mark Norman in this live recording, made as part of Robin's 100 Bookshops tour in 2021, supporting his book "The Importance of Being Interested". The discussion covers science, folklore, storytelling and the intersection of all three things in an free-form conversation.

This episode is closed in traditional fashion by the talented music duo Lunatraktors, with a unique performance of "The Holly and the Ivy" using reconstructed pre-Christian themes of the song.

To support the Folklore Podcast in its aim to collect and preserve folklore materials for the future, please visit our Patreon page or make a small donation via our website.

Visit The Cosmic Shambles Network for more of Robin's work, and the Lunatraktors website to learn more about them.

BOOK CLUB 20: The Piano Room Dec 18, 2021

Show notes

In the final episode of The Folklore Podcast Book Club for 2021, guest reviewer Bethan Briggs-Miller (Eerie Essex podcast) speaks with author Clio Velentza about her modern reworking of the Faust story, "The Piano Room", published by Fairlight Books.

The Folklore Podcast Book Club is part of The Folklore Network. To support our work preserving folklore for the future, please visit our Patreon page.

BOOK CLUB 19: Weep Woman Weep Dec 04, 2021

Show notes

Guest reviewer Hilary Wilson speaks with Dr Maria DeBlassie about her book "Weep Woman Weep" which centres around the Mexican legend of La Llorona. The discussion takes in a diverse range of topics from urban legend to New Mexico folk medicine via the decolonisation of the diet and more.

Visit Maria's website here

To support our work saving and preserving folklore for the future, please visit our Patreon page.

BOOK CLUB 18: A Girl Made of Air / The Island Child Nov 23, 2021

Show notes

Hearing stories. Telling stories. Adapting stories. The power of stories...

We speak with Nydia Hetherington, author of "A Girl Made of Air" and Molly Aitken, author of "The Island Child" about their use of folklore and story in their novels. For Nydia, these stories are drawn from Manx folklore which Molly's book is firmly rooted in Irish lore.

The Folklore Podcast Book Club is part of the Folklore Network; committed to collect, preserve and make available folklore material in all forms for the future. To support our work, please visit our Patreon page or visit our website here where you can learn more and make a one-off donation.

Episode 104: MOCKERY MANOR Nov 08, 2021

Show notes

Lindsay Sharman and Laurence Owen of Long Cat Media, the creators of fiction podcast Mockery Manor, discuss working with themes of folklore and fairy tale in the construction of their popular show. We examine some of the folklore which has found its way into Mockery Manor as well as a wider discussion of this way of telling stories.

Visit Long Cat Media on the web here

To support our work at The Folklore Network in collecting and preserving folklore in all forms for the future, please visit our Patreon page here or visit our website to learn more

BOOK CLUB 17: Blodeuwedd Nov 03, 2021

Show notes

In this episode of The Folklore Podcast Book Club, Jhenah Telyndru joins us to discuss her book examining the Welsh Goddess character Blodeuwedd, whose complexity makes her much misunderstood. Jhenah hold an MA in Celtic Studies from the University of Wales and approaches the subject both from the academic angle and also from her own spiritual side, bringing a unique perspective to the subject.

Blodeuwedd is published by Moon Books, whose website is here

Visit Jhenah's website here

The Folklore Podcast Book Club is part of the Folklore Network, striving to collect and preserve folklore for the future. You can support us on Patreon or click here for more information.

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