The Folklore Podcast
by Mark Norman
Folklore: Beliefs, traditions & culture of the people. Traditional folklore themes from around the world. An accessible podcast ranked in the top 0.5% of shows globally, bringing free access to many of the world's experts in folklore, authors, broadcasters and more.
Episodes
-
Episode 201 - SCREAMING SKULLS
In this episode of the Folklore Podcast, based on a talk written for the UK Ghost Story Festival, creator and host Mark Norman discusses some of the examples of Screaming Skulls from British Folklore. How many are there? What are their meaning? And do they actually scream? If you enjoy this and...
-
Episode 200 - THE WOMAN IN BLACK CAST REUNION
In this very special milestone episode of The Folklore Podcast, we reunite the key cast members from the 1989 Nigel Kneale TV adaptation of Susan Hill's classic ghost story, THE WOMAN IN BLACK to discuss the production and their memories of it. You'll hear from the two main actors - Adrian…
more -
Episode 199 - HOW TO CALM A RAIN BULL
This episode of The Folklore Podcast is sponsored by Moon and Bird Books. On the day of its release, we welcome author and illustrator Denise Gallagher onto The Folklore Podcast to discuss her new book of folk tales 'How to Calm a Rain Bull'. The book looks at stories from cultures all over the...
-
Episode 198 - THE ANCIENT WAYS
The Ancient Ways: A Year of Folklore, Traditions and Rituals to Reconnect with Nature is a debut book from second generation new-age traveller and hedgewitch Seren Hawley-Plows. In the book Seren explores how, in the past, humans' lives centred around the rhythms of the natural world and how…
more -
Episode 197 - CIRCUS FOLKLORE
We visit the circus in this episode of The Folklore Podcast. Specifically, we are guests of Paulo's Circus where, after watching a traditional circus performance, we interview Kenny Darnell, son of the current circus owner and part of a family with circus heritage going back many generations.…
more -
Episode 196 - APOTHECARY FOLKLORE
We explore folk medicine of two different historical periods, the tenth and the seventeenth century, in this episode of The Folklore Podcast. I am joined by special guest, author Danielle Giles, whose first two novels have this focus and provide our lens. 'Mere', set in the Norfolk marshes in the...
-
Episode 195 - FINDING ALBION
In this special episode of The Folklore Podcast, recorded live on location at The Bookery, a community-owned bookshop in Crediton, Devon, host Mark Norman talks with BBC Radio 6 Music's Zakia Sewell about her book Finding Albion. Longlisted for the Women's Prize for Non-Fiction, the book is an...
-
Episode 194 - BLODEUWEDD MEETS FRANKENSTEIN
In this episode of The Folklore Podcast, host Mark Norman is joined by special guest Bar Fridman-Tell about her debut novel 'Honeysuckle'. Part horror, part fantasy, part magic but completely engaging, the story in an unholy alliance between the flower woman of Welsh mythology and a creation of...
-
Episode 193 - TALKING GHOSTS PART 2
The second of two episodes featuring interviews recorded live at the UK Ghost Story Festival in Derby in February 2026. In this second part, host Mark Norman meets two more of the presenters from the event. You will hear: MELANIE ATKINSON: On horror and ghost story writing SUSANNAH WISE: On the...
-
Episode 192 - FAIRY IMAGERY
Folklorist and author Mark Norman, the creator of The Folklore Podcast, looks at the imagery of the fairy, in conversation with illustrator and folklore enthusiast Tamsin Rosewell. As well as chatting with Tamsin about her past, and her interest in folklore and the fairy world more generally, the...
-
Episode 191 - TALKING GHOSTS PART 1
The first of two episodes featuring interviews recorded live at the UK Ghost Story Festival in Derby in February 2026. In this first part, host Mark Norman meets four presenters from the festival to discuss their particular areas of interest. You will hear: DAN WEBBER discussing queer readings of...
-
Episode 190 - AND 'OTHER' STORIES
In this episode, recorded on location, host Mark Norman meets members of the Turning Tides Project to talk about their Arts Council funded project AND 'OTHER' STORIES which presents the work of a group of artists with and without 'learning disability' and 'autism' labels. And 'Other' Stories...
-
Episode 189 - OPENING THE BOX OF DELIGHTS
A very special feature length episode of The Folklore Podcast, with a panel consisting of the cream of those people associated with the classic children's title THE BOX OF DELIGHTS. Podcast host Mark Norman discusses the enduring love for Box in all its forms with an amazing line-up of guests,...
-
Episode 188 - UK GHOST STORY FESTIVAL CHATS
In this episode we visit the 2025 UK Ghost Story Festival, which was held at the Museum of Making in Derby. Host Mark Norman meets some of the presenters from the festival and chats to them about ghost stories and their work. Children's author ALEX FOULKES discusses her middle-grade books, and...
-
Episode 187 - WICKED STRANGE: GHOSTS AND LEGENDS OF NEW ENGLAND
Folklore Podcast host Mark Norman chats with special guest, broadcaster and author Jeff Belanger, about some of the ghosts, folklore and other legends found in New England, in the north-eastern corner of the United States. Jeff is the host of 'New England Legends' on Amazon Prime Video, co-host…
more -
Episode 186 - MEDIEVAL GHOSTS
Mark Norman is joined by broadcaster, author and medievalist Dr Eleanor Janega to look at the role of the ghost in the medieval period. What elements of the behaviour of the ghost might we still recognise today? What was the view and the role of the church when it came to ghosts? Did people use...
-
Episode 185 - THE FOLKLORE OF PROVERBS
The Folklore Podcast returns to its original first principles for the first show of Season 11, with an episode written and presented by creator and host Mark Norman. The episode is a short exploration of the role of proverbs in folklore, and its writing was inspired by a new music track,...
-
Folklore Podcast 2026 announcement
Want to know what to expect from the show as we head to 2026, and where to find the content you enjoy? Listen to this short announcement from creator and host, Mark Norman.
-
Christmas Special 2025 - The Mistletoe Bride
Welcome to the 2025 Folklore Podcast Christmas Special. Folklorist Mark Norman, the creator and host of The Folklore Podcast for the last 10 years, relates the legend of the Mistletoe Bride and provides a rare look at a very obscure reference to what is probably the earliest version of the tale…
more -
Episode 184 - THIRST: RIVERS AND FOLKLORE
In this episode of the podcast, host Mark Norman discusses some points relating to the folklore of rivers, with a particular focus on their perceived need for sacrifice and to 'claim a heart' each year. This is followed by a discussion with writer Darren Simpson, the author of a new folk horror...
-
Episode 183 - GHOST STORIES WITH MICHELLE PAVER
I chat with author Michelle Paver about all things ghost story. What makes a good haunt? Which are her favourites and which doesn't she like? And what do ghosts mean to her? For the second part of the interview we take a look at Michelle's new novel 'Rainforest', a ghost story set in the Mexican...
-
Episode 182 - GATHERINGS
The British ritual year is full of fascinating public events, sports, games, processions and festivals. Whether long-running or modern, revival or continuous, there is something for everyone and a rich background of folklore and tradition behind them all. A new 6-part documentary series,...
-
Episode 181 - THE TRAITORS: WHIMSY OR WITCH-HUNT?
I gather together a gaggle of witchcraft historians to discuss the cult TV gameshow 'The Traitors'. To what extent do the machinations of the contestants in the show, whichever version that might be, draw parallels with the witch-hunts of the Early Modern Period? Joining me to debate this are:...
-
Episode 180 - EDITH NESBIT'S GHOST STORIES
While there are many famous names associated with the ghost story, some are less commonly linked, and even fewer are women. In the episode of the podcast we focus on one of those in particular, Edith Nesbit. Best known as a children's writer under the name E. Nesbit, Edith wrote some effective...
-
Episode 179 - WITCHCRAFT: A HISTORY IN 13 TRIALS
Returning guest to the podcast, witchcraft historian Professor Marion Gibson, discusses her book 'Witchcraft: A History in 13 Trials'. The book, and this interview, explores the history of witchcraft accusation and persecution through a number of key trials at different points in history - some...
-
Episode 178 - HETTIE NETTLE'S HANDBOOK FOR HEDGEWITCHES
Folklore Podcast creator Mark Norman once again meets up with children's author Claire Barker, this time to discuss the final version of her new book 'Hettie Nettle's Handbook for Hedgewitches'. Described in the episode as a groundbreaking book, and not without good reason, Hettie Nettle…
more -
Episode 177 - LORE OF THE LAND: BRITISH ACADEMY
In May of 2025, I was honoured to be asked by the British Academy to chair the final panel in their 'Folklore Reimagined' series, 'Lore of the Land'. This panel was titled 'Stories of wetlands, woods and weather'. How have landscapes been represented and perceived throughout time? What do the...
-
Episode 176 - THE WHITE WITCH OF EXETER
In this episode of the podcast, host Mark Norman takes an in-depth look at the White Witch of Exeter. Most times, when we speak of 'white witches' we are talking about a particular person, but in the case of the Devon city of Exeter, the White Witch was something a little different. Mark…
more -
Seven County Witch Hunts Ep.6 - ARCHIVE HIGHLIGHTS
The Seven County Witch Hunt Project podcast mini-series collaboration comes to a close. In this final episode, Professor Marion Gibson and Dr Tabitha Stanmore once again join folklorist and author Mark Norman to discuss some of their favourite stories from the three years of research they have...
-
Folklore in the Field - MEDICAL HERBALISM
Mark Norman is in conversation with medical herbalist Jenny Carden, who practices as The Dartmoor Herbalist. In an interview recorded live in Jenny's workshop in the courtyard of the Museum of Dartmoor Life in Okehampton, Devon, Jenny discusses her work and the differences between a medical...
-
Seven County Witch Hunts Ep.5 - ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE AND WITCH TRIALS
Our six part mini-series examining the seventeenth-century witch hunts across the eastern counties of England continues with a discussion looking at a topic not generally explored in this context: the environment. Professor Marion Gibson and Dr Tabitha Stanmore of the Leverhulme Foundation funded...
-
Seven County Witch Hunts Ep.4 - WITCH FAMILIES AND GHOST FAMILIARS
In this episode, Professor Marion Gibson and Dr Tabitha Stanmore turn their attention to the families involved in the witch hunts. Were all family members tarred with the same brush? How did dynamics work when families were accusing each other of witchcraft? Moving on from this, we also look at…
more -
Folklore in the Field - FOLK HORROR with Prof Bob Edgar
In this mini-episode of The Folklore Podcast, recorded live at the UK Ghost Story Festival 2025 in Derby, UK, I chat with Professor Bob Edgar about the theme of Folk Horror. With specialisms in scriptwriting, adaptation, music memoir and genre fiction, Bob has notably published widely on folk...
-
Seven County Witch Hunts Ep.3 - GENDER AND WITCHCRAFT
The third episode of our mini-series looking at the witch hunts headed up by Matthew Hopkins and John Stearne looks at the most stereotypical of subjects - that of gender. Just how many of the accused were women and how did gender figure in the hunts and the ways in which they were carried out?…
more -
Seven County Witch Hunts Ep.2 - WHAT WERE 'WITCHES' ACCUSED OF
In the second episode of the Seven County Witch Hunt Project podcast mini-series, we look at the accusations that were being levelled against people accused of witchcraft in the English witch hunts of the 17th century. Were these people in league with the Devil, or did the accusations reflect…
more -
Episode 175 - SCOTTISH FOLKLORE
Scotland has a broad mix of folklore. Some is found elsewhere, or has variations in other areas, and some is unique to the country. Some is well-known and some is much more obscure. In this episode of The Folklore Podcast, host Mark Norman is in conversation with Scottish writer Lyndsey Croal…
more -
Seven County Witch Hunts Ep.1 - METHODS AND STORIES
In the years 1645–1647, when England was embroiled in a traumatic and bloody Civil War, roughly three hundred people in the South East were accused of witchcraft. Received wisdom — and some shameless self-promotion on the part of the chief investigators — has dictated that the largest witch-hunt…
more -
Episode 174 - FOLKLORE AND HERBALISM
This episode of The Folklore Podcast is an interview of two halves, as host Mark Norman sits down to chat with herbalist and writer Su Bristow. In an interview recorded live at Su's dining table, the first half of the show explores her work as a herbalist. We chat about the history of using…
more -
A History of Paganism: Folklore Podcast Rewind with Liz Williams
Award winning author, historian and occultist Liz Williams discusses her book 'Miracles of our own Making: A History of Paganism', published by Reaktion Books. The interview takes in the history of paganism and Liz's work in Druidry as well as her writing. Read the review of the book on the...
-
Episode 173 - BROKEN FOLK
Folklore Podcast creator and host Mark Norman delves into the topic of folk music and performance with special guests Lunatraktors. The duo, formed in 2017 and made up of Carli Jefferson and Dr Clair Le Couteur aim to strip folk back to the bare essentials of rhythm and voice, and use in-depth...
-
Meet the Author: Kailey Tedesco
In this 'Meet the Author' bonus episode of The Folklore Podcast, creator and host Mark Norman introduces a conversation between literary correspondent Hilary Wilson and university lecturer and poet Kailey Tedesco. Kailey discusses her poetry collection 'Motherdevil' which takes the story of the...
-
Episode 172 - DRACULA AND THE WESTCOUNTRY
Folklore Podcast creator and host, Mark Norman, explores the rumours that the author of 'Dracula', Bram Stoker, found inspiration for his famous count in the rural backwaters of the county of Devon, in the South-West of the United Kingdom. Could there by any truth to the ideas that Count Dracula...
-
Folklore in the Field - RONNIE TURNER
Folklore Podcast creator and host Mark Norman meets with Ronnie Turner. author of the gothic and folk horror novel 'Small Fires' in this episode of the podcast, recorded on location during Ronnie's recent book signing tour. To support The Folklore Podcast on Patreon, please visit...
-
Special Edition - CYNTHIA PELAYO
We chat with Bram Stoker and International Latino Award Winning horror author Cynthia Pelayo as her latest book, 'Vanishing Children' is released. Cynthia's writing intersects with the world of fairy tales, with Charles Perrault's story of Sleeping Beauty providing inspiration for 'Vanishing...
-
Bonus Episode: FOLK HORROR IN GAMING - GAST
Folklore Podcast creator and host Mark Norman chats with Kat the Lore Mistress about using folklore and folk horror themes in tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs). In particular, we look at a new Zine based folk horror game called GAST for which Kat is part of the development team. To find out…
more -
Episode 171 - NORDIC FOLK
We welcome back onto The Folklore Podcast musician and composer Einar Selvik, founder of the band Wardruna and expert in Old Norse music and culture. Einar discusses his beliefs and connections with nature, the way he goes about composing his music through the use of old Norse runes, and his…
more -
Meet the Author: Alexandra Beaumont
We meet British fantasy author Alexandra Beaumont, who specializes in utilizing folklore and the gothic in her writing. She discusses themes of Cornish folklore and her novel 'Dissonance of Bird Song' which was voted the Independent Press Award Distinguished Favourite for 2025. Visit Alexandra...
-
Episode 170 - SCOTT COHEN
RETURN TO 10th KINGDOM: We chat with actor Scott Cohen, who played Wolf in the mini-series 'The 10th Kingdom' about possible plans for a sequel, his thoughts on the show and its characters and genre fiction more broadly, as well as discussing his career as an actor and theatre producer. Visit our...
-
Bonus Episode: THE MAIDEN AND THE DRAGON
In this bonus episode of The Folklore Podcast we shine a light on another fantastic folklore audio project as we meet Charlie Dobres, the writer and creator of audio drama The Maiden and the Dragon. This 6-part production takes a well-known folk tale that we have covered on this show before, The...
-
Episode 169 - SLAVIC VAMPIRES
We return to the subject of vampires on The Folklore Podcast, a subject which we last covered in detail way back in Season 2 with a two-part investigation into the folkloric vampire. This time, we focus on the vampire as it is found in the Slavic regions, with our guest Sam Grant. Sam, who...
About this show
Folklore: Beliefs, traditions & culture of the people. Traditional folklore themes from around the world. An accessible podcast ranked in the top 0.5% of shows globally, bringing free access to many of the world's experts in folklore, authors, broadcasters and more.
Hosted by
Mark Norman
Categories