Episodes
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the Folklore of the Salem Witch Trials
The first snow fall of the year has brought with it the chilling winds and dark nights. Do you hear that sound? It seemed to be an extra spiritual chanting from the house next door. In Salem Mass. that was enough to get your neighbor put on trial as a witch, but what really happened at the Salem...
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the Folklore of Cicada 3301
When the internet comes a-calling with a challenge, it takes the world's greatest cyber hackers to sum out the clues and join the infamous organization Cicada 3301. But who is this shadowy organization that has turned to hackers and sleuths to join their ranks? What ends do they hope to achieve…
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the Folklore of the Headless Horseman
Jack and Sam are back at it again with a discussion of the headless horseman. While Ichabod Crane's name stands from and center in the legends regarding headless horsemen, it is by no means the first story of a horseman who has lost their head. Join Jack and Sam as they share the folklore of the...
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the Folklore of Vampires
The boys are back in town, and this time they're dishing up all of the folklore that surrounds your favorite blood suckers. Vampires existed long before Bram Stoker introduced Dracula, but did you know that people believed their relatives were becoming vampires as late as the mid 19th century?…
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the Folklore of Struwwelpeter
Yes, children's books can be pretty silly. Who would give a pig a pancake, or a moose a muffin? Only a Monster would do such a thing. But what about a tailor who cuts off your thumbs if you put them in your mouth? Or what about a story of a boy who starves to death because he doesn't want his…
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the Folklore of Ghost Trains
Choo Choo! It's coming down the tracks and it's going to scare you to death. This week's topic is Ghost Trains, and boy are there many different types of these things. Whether it's Nazis, Canada, or Abraham Lincoln, there's a Ghost Train for everyone. Join Jack and Sam as they explore the…
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the Folklore of Trick or Treating
Whether you're prompting someone to smell your feet, or declaring that you should receive something good to eat, it is never a good idea to pull down someone's underwear. Whether you care or not! That's right, this is an episode about trick-or-treating and we're covering all the bases to tell you...
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the Folklore of Mummies and King Tut's Tomb
Groaning deep within the great pyramids of egypt rest the silent watchers of the Pharaohs. Wrapped in their bandages, prepared to assist in the journey to the afterlife, mummies have stood the test of time. But, are all mummies created equally? And what is it about mummies that makes them such...
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the Folklore of Haunted Indiana
It's back by popular demand, we're talking about haunted places in the United States. This time around, we talk about some famous haunted places in the state of Indiana. We're talking the likes of Central State Hospital, the Lady in Grey of Williard Library, the Blue Lady, and Fox Hollow Farm.…
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the Folklore of Forrest Fenn's Treasure
It is often the prize of brave explorers, the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, the secret of el dorado. We're talking about treasure! This real-life treasure hunt has been going on now for over seven years and has cost a few brave souls their life. Does the treasure exist? Where is it? What...
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the Folklore of Portland's Shanghai Tunnels
Weaving underneath the streets of Portland, hidden below the ground with many trap doors, is a network of tunnels that may or may not have lead thousands of men into forced servitude. The Shanghai Tunnels are believed to have a long and storied history underneath the streets of Portland, Oregon,...
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the Hairy Hand
Everyone knows someone who has those giant hairy knuckles, the kind of nightmares. But what if there was a real disembodied hand that grabbed you in your sleep, and it had those same hairy knuckles that only the devil could possibly have. This is the legend of La Mano Peluda, or the Hairy Hand....
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the Folklore of the Man in the Moon
Nomatter where you live, you are likely to be able to see the moon above your head at night. Have you ever seen a face on the moon? If so, you are one of the nearly 100% of people who have seen the face of the man in the moon. Who is he? What about the rabbit in the moon? Join Jack and Sam as…
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the Folklore of Br'er Rabbit
One of America's first favorite folk characters, Br'er Rabbit and the rest of the Br'er gang have been around longer than television and radio. The stories of Br'er rabbit have insinuated their way into iconic American history. If you'e been on Splash Mountain, you've experienced the Br'er…
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the Folklore of La Llorona
She wanders the shores of rivers across north America looking for children to bring into the waters for their final swim. She is known for her white dress and her wailing, but did you know of her Mexican origins? La Llorona has been around for hundreds of years, and she may be just down the road...
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the Folklore of the Sandman
Whether you believe in him as the gentle old man who comes to send small children to sleep with pleasant dreams, or you believe he is a monster lurking under your bed just waiting to fill your sleep with nightmares, the sandman has been around for a long time. Armed with his magic sand, and in…
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the Devil's Pass
Nothing stinks like getting lost. But what would you say to getting lost with eight of your friends in the Ural mountains of Russia? You cannot escape the mountain of death, and neither could this friends as they went through the Devil's Pass. Join Jack and Sam as they explore the folklore of the...
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the Folklore of the Oak Island Money Pit
Who is to say that the value of buried treasure isn't greater than the sum of the pieces of the treasure? For over two centuries people have been searching for buried treasure on Oak Island, yet the money pit has never revealed what lies at it's deepest point. Could it be treasure, or perhaps...
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the Folklore of the Rougarou
There are many strange things that live in the woods, but the weirdest creatures live in the bayou. The Rougarou lurks in the murky shadows of the Louisiana bayou just north of New Orleans, and at the shed of blood a new Rougarou is made. Join Jack and Sam as they explore the folklore of the...
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Hawaiian Night Marchers
Across the pacific ocean is a small cluster of islands home to luaus, hula, countless coconuts, and the most terrifying procession of decomposing bodies that the world has ever seen. According to some, the ancient warriors of Hawaii march about the islands of Hawaii with their chief in order to…
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the Folklore of Geronimo
American's have been shouting "Geronimo" when they jump from high places for the last 75 years, but do you know why? He was a leader of the Apache and the last Native American to put up a great resistance to the white settlers. After his family was massacred he went on a revenge streak to seek...
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the Folklore of Pecos Bill
The Paul Bunyan of the American south-west, Pecos Bill is responsible for most of the geographical features that we see today. From being raised by coyotes to riding a mountain lion, to riding tornados, Pecos Bill gives cowboys a good name. Join Jack and Sam as they explore the folklore of Pecos...
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the Folklore of the Tengu
High up on the mountains of Japan live the Tengu. Some say that they look like a man and a bird had a baby, others say they are red faced monks with noses like Pinocchio. They have the ability to transform, become invisible, and most importantly they are the originators of the samurai tradition....
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the Folklore of Golems
Are they man, or are they muppet? The golem is both part man and part puppet. Originating from Jewish folklore, the golem has been known to be the protector of those who are being oppressed. Some people believe they are good, others believe that they are nothing but monsters. Join Jack and Sam as...
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the Folklore of Davy Jones's Locker
At the bottom of the ocean lies a place that no mortal man has ever visited and returned from. It is Davy Jones's Locker, and it is a terrible place to find yourself. Pirates have talked about this place for many moons, but what exactly is it? Has it always been a terrible place to end up, and is...
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the Folklore of Werewolves
The moon is high in the sky and there's an eerie fog blowing in from the woods. Your co-worker, Jim, seemed to be pretty off at work as he scratched at the collar of his shirt. He wanted to go out for steak at lunch and asked for it to be cooked as rare as possible. He might be a werewolf. Join...
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the folklore of the wampus
Hiding in the United States' Appalachian mountains is the mythical monster known for scaring all who see it. Fear overcomes its victims and drives them to madness. Black as the night and with bright yellow eyes, the campus stalks the mountainside protecting the land. Originating with the Cherokee...
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the Folklore of Mermaids
Whether they are having a splish-splashy time or causing sailors to plummet to their death in the depth of the ocean, mermaids have been a part of folklore for a looooooooong time. While Ariel may be our favorite mermaid, she is by no means the origin of what the world knows of mermaids. Just…
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the Folklore of St. Patrick's Day
If you have ever put on a green shirt on the 17th of March in order to prevent people from pinching you then you've celebrated St. Patrick's Day. With a day named after a guy, you'd think more people know why we celebrate. What does the holiday have to do with Ireland, leprechauns, and shamrocks?...
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the Folklore of Weeping Statues
You may find it difficult when other people cry around you. Their tears can seem to just flow continuously, but what if it's a statue crying instead of a human? It's happened before and it will happen again. Join Jack and Sam as they explore the folklore of Weeping Statues.
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the Folklore of Ragnarok
It's the end of the world as we know it, do you feel fine? Have you ever wondered what happens when the world comes to an end? According to the Norse tradition of Ragnarok, the end of the world will involve the gods fighting giants and a gigantic snake. While this is a key feature of Ragnarok…
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the Folklore of the Nazca Lines
What would you do if you found out that your favorite trail was actually a leg of a giant bird carved out of the ground two thousand years ago? The Nazca lines are the answer to that situation. Made by the Nazca people of Peru, these geometric shapes cover many square miles with images only…
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The Folklore of Garden Gnomes
You've seen them standing in your neighbor's garden. You've noticed they never blink, they never move, they don't even puff on the pipe sticking out of their mouths. But I bet you've never looked into the story behind why these little critters are standing in our gardens. Join Jack and Sam as…
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the Folklore of Paul Bunyan
A man as large as a mountain with his trusty companion Babe the blue ox, Paul Bunyan is known throughout the United States as the world's most prominent Lumberjack. He can knock down an entire forest in his sleep and straighten out the twists and turns of a river. Paul Bunyan is the epitome of…
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the Folklore of the Bermuda Triangle
Located in the Atlantic Ocean, the Bermuda Triangle has been the home to many strange occurrences to ships and planes. Is it the site of countless shipwrecks, the home to the watery graves of many airplanes, or is it just another stretch of ocean like all the others? Join Jack and Sam as they...
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the Folklore of Paul Is Dead
She came in through the bathroom window, and replaced Paul McCartney with a look-alike. The band is definitely the greatest band ever to walk the face of the Earth, but according to some Paul McCartney has been someone different since 1966. Did Paul die in a horrific car accident or is it all…
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the Folklore of Number Stations
There's nothing quite like finding a good radio station to tune in to while you drive across the country or settle into your comfy chair at home, but what if the radio began robotically reading out numbers, one after another, and then you heard a cartoon character yell at you? There are many…
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the Folklore of Amelia Earhart
Disappearing without a trace, Amelia Earhart bought her place in the hearts of millions as the first woman to complete a solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean. But in 1937 she and her navigator Fred Noonen disappeared over the Pacific Ocean. Many have theorized what happened to her, and that's…
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Bigfoot
Here ye, here ye. A new year hearkens and requires a big launch, so get your tiny feet ready for a podcast on the creature with the big feet. Stalking in the woods of the Pacific Northwest, Bigfoot has eluded hunters for hundreds of years. Whether he is gentle, or vicious, the Bigfoot holds a...
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the Folklore of the Tanuki
Imagine a raccoon creature that can transform into other things by putting a leaf on its head. If you imagined that, you just imagined a tanuki. A folk creature of Japan, the tanuki is now immortalized in statue that can be found outside many Japanese restaurants or bars. Join Jack and Sam as…
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'Twas the Night Before Christmas
A special holiday treat from your favorite Folk Brothers.
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the Folklore of the Yuletide Season
Whether you are one of those creeps who hands mistletoe in your home, or one of the people who enjoys burning a special log in your fireplace on a cold early winter night, the history of Yule and the Yuletide sums up why you do the things you do in the wintertime. If you enjoy sharing warm drinks...
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the Folklore of Krampus
You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout or else Krampus will hit you with birch sticks. He is the yin to St. Nicholas's Yang, and he is the reason that children have feared being naughty for hundreds of years, yet you probably didn't grow up hearing about him. Being part man...
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the Folklore of Saturnalia
HoHoHo! I'd place a Vegas bet that you'll eat some cookies this week, possibly listening to holiday music on the radio, and enjoying a delicious of egg nog. Did you know that these traditions actually find their root outside of Christmas and were absorbed by Christianity many centuries after the...
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the Folklore of the Thunderbird
It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's definitely a bird. The Thunderbird has been a part of American culture since before anyone called North America America. The legend of the Thunderbird actually spans the entire span of the United States with stories being told from the pacific northwest to the...
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The Folklore of Thanksgiving
Every year in the United States families sit down on the fourth Thursday of the month to celebrate football, eating way too much food, and getting into political debates; but have you ever wondered about the origins of the holiday? Join Jack and Sam as they explore the folklore of Thanksgiving.
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Orion and the Orion Correlation Theory
The stars in the sky looked down where we lay...We're kickin' off a new sporadic series on the constellations in the sky and the stories that people are telling about them. There's no better place to start than the constellation of Orion. You'll recognize the belt of Orion in a jiffy, but did you...
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the Folklore of Breaking the Curse of the Billy Goat
Go Cubs Go has been playing in our heads for the last week non-stop as we celebrate the victory of the Chicago Cubs. They've gone from the lovable losers to the lovable winners. Snapping the longest World Series draught of all time, the Chicago Cubs victory not only ended the folk-idea that the...
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Guy Fawkes Night
Wouldn't you just love to blow up someone that you don't get along with? Wouldn't you hate it if you failed and your failure was celebrated for over 500 years? Well, if you are the Ghost of Guy Fawkes you know that your least favorite day of the year is November 5th. If you don't know what we're...