The Scottish Folklore Podcast - The Scottish Folklore Podcast

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53. The Sea Mither: The Battle for Spring and The Dreaded Nuckelavee Mar 22, 2026

Show notes

The Sea Mither is the Orcadian sea deity who brings the calm waters, warm weather, and bounty of spring and summer. But this is no easy feat, for first she must battle Teran, the fearsome winter god of the sea, for control of the waves.

Teran is not her only foe, however, as the dreaded Nuckelavee, surely Scotland’s most nightmarish creature, must also be banished.

Join Jenny to hear all about the Orcadian (and Shetlandic) lore of the Sea Mither, Teran, and a poor fellow named Tammie who was unlucky enough to meet the Nuckelavee on a dark, winter night.

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52. Will o’ the Wisps Mar 08, 2026

Show notes

Sometimes called Spunkies, other times Will o’ the Wisps, whatever the name, these fiery spirits are always up to no good. And by no good I mean straight up bog-induced murder! Will o’ the Wisps are fiery orbs that lure lost and weary travellers away from the path and out into the vast swampy moors, and in this episode Jenny tells a tale where the poor unsuspecting victim is none other than the moon herself!

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Visit the website and view this episode’s interactive map

Explore all the folklore covered in the podcast so far on the Folklore Map

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51. Corp Creadha: Scottish Voodoo Dolls and Black Magic Feb 22, 2026

Show notes

This episode sees Jenny exploring the mysterious and often malicious dark magic of Corp Creadha, or Clay Bodies. These are Scotland’s version of voodoo dolls, and although less well known than their famous counterparts, as the three tales in this episode tell, they are by no means any less powerful!

These stories are of a heartbroken man out on a Hebridean Island, a vengeful witch from Inverness and her vendetta against the Provost, and of Mac Ian Ghiorr, a notorious cattle thief from Ardnamurchan, who causes all sorts of trouble for the Maclean’s of Duart on Mull.

Each tale has a Clay Body at its heart, here’s just hoping there’s not a needle in there too!

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Support Jenny as she makes the show by joining the Patreon

Visit the website and view the Interactive Map

Explore all the folklore covered in the podcast so far on the Folklore Map

View the Survey of Scottish Witchcraft Interactive Map

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50. Waterfalls: Wailing Spirits, Weird Rituals, and Suspicious Whistles Feb 08, 2026

Show notes

The folktales are cascading in this episode as Jenny gets drenched under the waterfall lore of Scotland!

First she explores the strange and sad folklore of the wailing Caoineag, a water spirit that lives by waterfalls, and its ties to the Glen Coe Massacre of 1692. Next she looks into the healing powers of waterfalls and Saint Fillan's easing of suffering using magical stones near the village of Killin. Then it’s onto some very odd divination rituals in Trotternish, Skye, that have ancient roots in Irish culture, before ending with the tale of ‘The Silver Whistle’ which takes place in the mighty mountain of Beinn na Caillich on Skye, and sees a drover run in with the Fianna.

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49. Tam o’ Shanter Jan 25, 2026

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It’s Burns Night! On the 25th of January Scots all over the world come together to celebrate the life and works of the Bard himself, Rabbie Burns, and so in this episode Jenny recites his epic poem Tam o’ Shanter. This wild tale takes place in Alloway, Ayrshire, where Burns was from, and follows a farmer Tam, as he drinks late into the night before heading home on his trusty steed, Meg. Unfortunately a storm is raging all around him, but the weather is the least of his concerns, for when he reaches Auld Alloway Kirk he stumbles upon a wild party of warlocks, witches, and the Devil himself!

The poem is in Scots, but worry not if you don’t understand it, Jenny also recites an English translation!

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48. Omens: Good, Bad, Worse and BIRDS! Jan 11, 2026

Show notes

Learn how to tell the future the old fashioned way! The natural world is teeming with messages about things to come; from bats, to boats, to just about every bird there is, omens can be found throughout Scottish folklore. In this episode Jenny explores a whole host of different omens, what they mean, and in some cases, how you can avoid the grim fate they predict.

Amongst these harbingers of doom she tells two tales of terrible omens, one of Glengorm Castle on the Isle of Mull, and one from Closeburn Castle in Dumfries. You can view these locations on this interactive map.

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47. Christmas Time Tales Dec 21, 2025

Show notes

Yuletide is for feasting, festivities, and fireside stories! In this episode Jenny tells two traditional Christmas time tales, ‘Dancing in the Fairy Knoll’ from Glen Etive and Duncan Williamson’s ‘The Hare and The Scarecrow’.

Fairies flit in and out of both stories, but in very different ways, showing just how fickle and friendly they can be!

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Scottish Yuletide and Hogmanay Traditions [Re-Release] Dec 14, 2025

Show notes

Join Jenny as she explores some of the many Yuletide and Hogmanay traditions, customs, rituals, and rites that have been practised in Scotland over the millennia. From ancient burial cairns being aligned with the setting winter solstice sun, to different types of divination, cow-hides and clubs, and of course, first-footing, these traditions are part of the celebration of the darkest days of the year, and the rebirth into a new cycle of life.

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46. Assipattle and the Mester Stoorworm Dec 07, 2025

Show notes

This is one of Scotland’s greatest wonder tales - it is a story of gargantuan proportions, tremendous sacrifice, and unlikely heroes. It comes from Orkney in the far north and tells of Assipattle, a lazy layabout farm lad, and the arrival of the dreaded Mester Stoorworm, a ginormous sea-serpent that can wrap its body around the entire earth and kill everything on land with its terrible breath. But that’s all info you’re getting, as it’s best to just dive right in and enjoy!

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45. Origins of the Selkie Folk Nov 23, 2025

Show notes

Seals under the waves, humans upon the shore, selkies are some of Scotland’s most well loved folkloric beings, and for good reason too, for their beautiful eyes and gentle nature have captured our imaginations, and hearts, for centuries.

In this episode Jenny dives into the world of the seal-folk, their lives both above the surface and below, their many origin stories, and the story of MacCodrum of the Seals.

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Visit the website and view the interactive map

Support Jenny as she makes the show by joining the Patreon

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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