Podcast Episodes
Back to SearchThe Devil's Due, Musicians and Marksmen
Episode 22
In this episode we look at legends of musicians and marksmen said to have made Faustian deals with the Devil.
We begin with The Phantom of the Opera,…
6 years, 11 months ago
A Deal with the Devil
Episode 21
The legend of Faust is the archetypal deal with the Devil. This episode looks at the figure as represented in folklore, local legends, plays, puppet …
7 years ago
The Undead Come Courting
Episode 20
Vampire mythology first appears in the West in works as early Romantic authors meld themes from folk ballads of resurrected lovers with Balkan folklo…
7 years ago
Worm Songs and Beastly Sucklers
Episode 19
This episode examines the Lambton Worm, a dragon legend that inspired works by Bram Stoker and Ken Russel as well as well as the curious role of milk…
7 years, 1 month ago
Wild Men, Furry Saints, and Burning Dancers
Episode 18
This time round we look at the medieval myth of the Wild Man, its connection to seasonal folk traditions, peculiar influence on Church teachings, and…
7 years, 1 month ago
Christmas Ghosts
Episode 17
Traditionally Christmas was a time for ghost stories, and tonight we’re doing our part to bring back the custom. A bit of history on supernatural st…
7 years, 2 months ago
The Haunted Season
Episode 16
Historically, Christmastime in Central Europe was a season haunted by otherworldly spirits, werewolves, ghostly huntsmen, and wandering hordes of los…
7 years, 3 months ago
Saint, Devil, Sugar-bread and Whip
Episode 15
The Krampus and St. Nicholas represent a folkloric duality embodying a mode of childrearing the Germans call “sugar-bread and whip” — in English, “ca…
7 years, 3 months ago
Singing Bones and Scrumptious Children
Episode 14
This episode looks at some particularly gruesome fairy tales and folk ballads telling of murderers convicted of their crime through magical intervent…
7 years, 3 months ago
Ancient Necromancy
Episode 13
Finishing up with our October theme of “talking to the dead,” we examine necromancy in the ancient world in this episode. While the word has been ge…
7 years, 4 months ago