Podcast Episodes
Back to SearchFriends from Venus, Theosophists in Space
The esoteric teachings of Theosophy, particularly those regarding Venus, were surprisingly influential on the tales told by flying saucer Contactees …
4 years, 7 months ago
Hex Murders and Madness in Old Pennsylvania
Cases of madness and even murder were associated with Hexerei, a form of witchcraft brought to Pennsylvania by German immigrants. Following up on ou…
4 years, 8 months ago
Witches, Healers, and Hex Cats in Old Pennsylvania
Stories of witchcraft and folk-healers in early Pennsylvania are surprisingly plentiful. In this episode, we examine the state’s German-American trad…
4 years, 8 months ago
Nero: Myth and Monster
Episode 68
Emperor Nero’s reputation for wickedness and depravity had already attained mythic status within a century of his death, making him a prototype for e…
4 years, 9 months ago
Marvelous and Rare 2
Episode 67
We’re doing something different this time out.
As we are celebrating Bone and Sickle’s third anniversary on April 30, we’re taking a week or two off …
4 years, 10 months ago
Mermen and more Marvels of the Northern Seas
Episode 66
In this episode, we continue our survey of supernatural sailors’ lore of the North with a look at mermen, Iceland’s “evil whales,” and sea-draugs.
Af…
4 years, 10 months ago
The Kraken and Other Marvels of the Northern Seas
Episode 65
The Kraken is only one of the monsters said to inhabit the storied northern seas of Scandinavia. This episode is the first of two that will examine f…
4 years, 11 months ago
Bees, Gods, Death, and Honey
Episode 64
The mythology of bees has been tied for centuries to notions of the otherworld and death. In this episode we trace some of that folklore along with …
4 years, 11 months ago
Medusa and the Gorgons
Episode 63
Medusa was one of the Gorgons, creatures originally considered quite monstrous, who over the centuries came to be humanized and even regarded as beau…
5 years ago
The Lover's Head
Episode 62
The motif of lovers retaining the head of a decapitated partner is surprisingly widespread. In this — our romantic Valentine’s Day episode — we have…
5 years ago