Folklore Fangirl

PODCAST · society

Folklore Fangirl

Before everything around us constantly demanded our attention, people explained the world through stories—stories about spirits in the house, things watching from the forest, and the feeling that something was always just out of sight. A lot of those beliefs never really went away, and I love exploring them. I’m Janae, and on Folklore Fangirl I bring one old-world folklore story to my husband, Jamison, each week. I tell the tale, and he reacts in real time. It’s part storytelling, part conversation, and a little bit of wondering what might still be lurking around us.

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    Episode 2.1 La Patasola

    Explore La Patasola, a rage filled forest spirit said to appear deep in the wild where the trees grow thick and the light fades. Travelers speak of a beautiful woman who should not be followed—because what waits beyond the path is never what it seems.I did warn you that things would get spooky, and because of that, I need to give a quick content warning: this episode discusses a malevolent creature that actively attacks its victims, and includes references to a dark origin involving murder, including the murder of children. These themes appear throughout, so listener discretion is advised.Additionally, some of the reference links included in this episode lead to websites that feature artwork depicting the creature, which may include nudity. Viewer discretion is advised when exploring those materials.Resources:https://www.jahernandez.com/posts/la-patasola-of-south-american-folklorehttps://forvo.com/word/patasola/#es Pronunciation Guide Linkhttps://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/monster-mythology-la-patasolahttps://folklore.usc.edu/la-patasola/https://ztevetevans.wordpress.com/tag/la-patasola/https://smalltownspanishteacher.com/2020/12/28/simple-stories-in-spanish-la-leyenda-de-la-patasola/https://www.mycolombianrecipes.com/bunuelos-colombianos-colombian-bunuelos/ Buñuelos Recipehttps://youtu.be/31QYLN0P4L8?si=NikSHMsMLDxLH1R8 Backpackology with Steve McDonaldInstagram: folklore.fangirlThanks for listening—it means so much to us! If you enjoyed the show, please consider leaving a rating and review. If this sounds like something a friend would enjoy, please pass it along. And as always, keep fangirling over folklore.“Dance Macabre-No Violin” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0⁠⁠⁠https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠Edited for use (volume adjusted, segments used for intro and outro)

  2. 12

    Bonus Episode! Side Story - The Knockers

    The Knocker is a small, unseen presence said to dwell deep within abandoned mines. Its faint tapping echoes through the stone—sometimes a warning, sometimes a lure. That depends on you.Resources:https://www.ancient-origins.net/folklore-myths-legends/knock-knock-mysterious-cornwall-knockers-0020981https://www.appalachianhistory.net/2020/10/tommy-knockers-mine-ghosts.htmlhttps://www.americanfolklore.net/tommy-knockers/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzNugUSsLLI Homemade Cornish PastiesInstagram: folklore.fangirlThanks for listening—it means so much to us! If you enjoyed the show, please consider leaving a rating and review. If this sounds like something a friend would enjoy, please pass it along. And as always, keep fangirling over folklore.“Dance Macabre-No Violin” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0⁠⁠⁠https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠Edited for use (volume adjusted, segments used for intro and outro)

  3. 11

    Episode 1.7 Brownies

    Take an imagination vacation with me to learn about the Brownie, a helpful household spirit from Scottish folklore believed to dwell quietly within the home. Known for completing chores at night, this shy being asks for little in return—but if offended or given gifts of clothing, it may vanish, sometimes taking the home’s good fortune with it.Resources:https://scotlands-stories.com/scottish-brownie/https://www.historicmysteries.com/myths-legends/brownie/30892/https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/brownie-folklorehttps://folklorescotland.com/the-boghall-brownie/https://forest-healing.co.uk/articles/uruisg-brownie-scottish-folklorehttps://theskaldscircle.com/scottish-folklore/the-brownie-scottish-folklore/https://folklorescotland.com/maggy-moulach/ Hairy MegInstagram: folklore.fangirlThanks for listening—we really appreciate you! If you enjoyed the show, please consider leaving a rating and review. If this sounds like something a friend would enjoy, please pass it along. And as always, keep fangirling over folklore.“Dance Macabre-No Violin” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0⁠⁠⁠https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠Edited for use (volume adjusted, segments used for intro and outro)

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    Episode 1.6 Lutins

    Quick content warning: part of today’s episode discusses animal cruelty. We’ll give you a heads-up before that segment so you can skip it if you’d like.Lurking in the quiet corners of homes and barns, the Lutin is a mischievous spirit from French-Canadian folklore. Small and quick, it delights in subtle chaos—hiding tools, tangling hair, or leaving behind just enough disturbance to be noticed. Though sometimes helpful, its favor is fickle, and a slight or neglect can quickly turn its playful tricks into persistent annoyance, making its unseen presence both curious and unsettling.Resources:https://confettipark.com/storytime-le-lutin/https://occult-world.com/lutin/https://mysteriesofcanada.com/quebec/les-lutins-the-goblins-by-louis-frechette-english-translation/https://spookysleuth.substack.com/p/lutins-frances-festive-hobgoblinshttps://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/lutinhttps://mysteriesofcanada.com/quebec/the-goblin-lore-of-french-canada-from-honore-beaugrands-new-studies-of-canadian-folklore-1904/https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/timeline/colonization-and-immigrationhttps://study.com/academy/lesson/french-canadian-culture-history.htmlhttps://ostrichpillow.com/products/original-napping-pillow - Ostrich PillowInstagram: folklore.fangirlThanks for listening—we really appreciate you! If you enjoyed the show, please consider leaving a rating and review. And as always, keep fangirling over folklore.“Dance Macabre-No Violin” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0⁠⁠⁠https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠Edited for use (volume adjusted, segments used for intro and outro)

  5. 9

    Bonus Episode! Origin Stories - Shrek!

    In this episode, we’re taking a look at Shrek and comparing the movie version most of us know with "Shrek!" the original children’s book by William Steig. We’ll talk about how the story changed from page to screen and some of the surprising differences between the book and the movie.Resources:Shrek! by William Steig Amazon LinkInstagram: folklore.fangirlThanks for listening — we really appreciate you! If you enjoyed the show, please consider leaving a rating or review. And keep fangirling over folklore. “Quinn's Song-The Dance Begins” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Edited for use (volume adjusted, segments used for intro and outro)

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    Episode 1.5 Kobolds

    Don’t be fooled by the silence—Kobolds are rarely far away. These playful German household spirits can help with chores or stir up trouble, leaving behind strange noises, misplaced objects, and just enough mischief to keep you guessing.Resources:https://www.britannica.com/topic/koboldhttps://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends/nature-and-dangers-legendary-kobold-002121https://germanyinusa.com/2018/10/26/word-of-the-week-kobold/https://sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/tfm/tfm086.htmhttps://deyerinstorytellers.com/kobold/https://godsandmonsters.info/kobold/https://furtivegoblingaming.blogspot.com/2019/02/goblin-watch-episode-3-mythology-2.html?m=1https://grognardia.blogspot.com/2024/06/a-very-partial-pictorial-history-of.html Pictorial Historyhttps://grammarist.com/spelling/mischievous-mischievious/ Article on the word “mischievous”https://greekmythologytours.com/blog/greek-mythology/dionysus-greek-god Dionysushttps://www.zashiki-warashi.co.jp/yoyaku.html Ryokufuso InnInstagram: folklore.fangirlThanks for listening — we really appreciate you! If you enjoyed the show, please consider leaving a rating or review. And keep fangirling over folklore.“Dance Macabre-No Violin” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0⁠⁠⁠https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠Edited for use (volume adjusted, segments used for intro and outro)

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    Episode 1.4 Zashiki Warashi

    Explore the Zashiki-warashi, a mischievous child spirit from Japanese folklore believed to live quietly within the home. Said to bring good fortune to the household it inhabits, this playful presence may leave small signs of its activity—footsteps, laughter, or moved objects—but if it ever leaves, the home’s luck is believed to leave with it.This segment discusses historical practices involving infanticide due to poverty, which listeners may find disturbing. A brief warning will be given before the discussion so you can skip ahead if you prefer.Resources:https://web-japan.org/kidsweb/folk/spooky/zashiki/zashiki02.html - this one has the picture of Shobuke Miya, the storyteller.https://uncannyjapan.com/podcast/guest-room-child-zashiki-warashi/https://japantoday.com/category/features/lifestyle/'zashiki-warashi'-the-mythical-children-who-look-after-your-househttps://fukusakikankou.jp/en/yokai-bench-en/zashikiwarashi-2/https://yokai.com/zashikiwarashi/?srsltid=AfmBOopnOuakYOi-AbMvchlPlBPW4_Pq6ftaf8Lf1jJyM1SOPTDFaetZ - First Picturehttps://yokaimania.com/zashiki-warashi/ - Second Picturehttps://matthewmeyer.net/blog/2009/10/03/a-yokai-a-day-zashiki-warashi/ - Third Picturehttps://www.instagram.com/p/C1Qjz2TsGQT/ - Fourth Picturehttps://www.zashiki-warashi.co.jp/yoyaku.html Ryokufuso InnInstagram: folklore.fangirlThanks for listening — we really appreciate you! If you enjoyed the show, please consider leaving a rating or review, and keep fangirling over folklore.“Dance Macabre-No Violin” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0⁠⁠⁠https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠Edited for use (volume adjusted, segments used for intro and outro)

  8. 6

    Episode 1.3 Lares & Penates

    1.3 The Lares & PenatesExplore the household spirits of ancient Rome—Lares and Penates—who were believed to protect the home, family, and food stores. Honored with daily offerings, these guardians played a quiet but important role in Roman life.Resources:https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/lares-and-penates#:~:text=Another%20group%20of%20deities%2C%20the,the%20hearth%20or%20household%20fireplace.https://libraryforkids.com/roman-religion-from-greek-mythology-to-christianity/https://connectparanormal.net/2024/12/07/lares-and-penates-guardian-spirits-of-roman-homes/https://mythosanthology.com/lares/https://occult-world.com/lares/https://www.historyforkids.net/roman-mythology.htmlLares Compitales:https://dinosaursandbarbarians.com/2021/01/01/january-3-5-the-compitalia-ancient-romes-winter-street-fair/?utm_source=chatgpt.com Lararium Pictures:https://pompeii-79ad.blogspot.com/2015/06/pompeii-lararium.htmlhttps://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_temple_style_lararium_in_the_garden_of_the_House_of_the_Prince_of_Naples,_Pompeii,_Italy_2nd_century_BCE_-_1st_century_CE.jpgInstagram: folklore.fangirlThanks for listening — we really appreciate you! If you enjoyed the show, please consider leaving a rating and review. And keep fangirling over folklore.“Dance Macabre-No Violin” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0⁠⁠⁠https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠Edited for use (volume adjusted, segments used for intro and outro)

  9. 5

    Bonus Episode! Origin Stories - Snow White

    In this episode, we’re taking a look at Snow White and comparing the version most of us know with the much darker one first published in Grimms' Fairy Tales. We’ll talk about how the story has changed over time and some of the wild differences between the original tale and the modern versions.Resources:https://sites.pitt.edu/~dash/grimm053.htmlInstagram: folklore.fangirlThanks for listening — we really appreciate you! If you enjoyed the show, please consider leaving a rating and review. And keep fangirling over folklore.“Quinn's Song-The Dance Begins” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0⁠https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠Edited for use (volume adjusted, segments used for intro and outro)

  10. 4

    Episode 1.2 The Duppies

    1.2 Household & Domestic Spirits - The DuppiesTravel to the Caribbean as we explore the history of the Jamaican duppies—restless spirits of the dead said to linger among the living. Feared as hauntings yet sometimes summoned for protection, these ghosts reveal a haunting side of Jamaica’s folklore.Resources:https://medium.com/@feliciamlittle/duppies-5d61de51f880https://www.museumand.org/2020/11/09/caribbeanghoststory/https://amanninghogarth.com/2022/10/19/duppy-story-time/https://www.mushroom-appreciation.com/what-is-a-toadstool.htmlhttps://chloemaraj68104874.wordpress.com/home-3/page-1/men-in-folklore/duppy/ (this is the one with the picture we talked about in the episode)Instagram: folklore.fangirlThanks for listening — we really appreciate you! If you enjoyed the show, please consider leaving a rating and review. And keep fangirling over folklore. “Dance Macabre-No Violin” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0⁠⁠⁠https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠Edited for use (volume adjusted, segments used for intro and outro)

  11. 3

    Episode 1.1 The Domovoi

    1.1 The DomovoiExplore the mysterious domovoi, the protective house spirit of Slavic folklore. Believed to dwell behind the stove or within the walls, this unseen guardian was said to bless households that honored tradition — and stir up trouble in those that did not.Resources:Domovoi, House Spirit of Slavic MythologyDomovoy | Household Spirits, Folklore & Mythology | BritannicaDomovoy - the guardian spirit of the home and the family This is the one with the pictures we talked about on this episodeRussian Fairy Tales DomovoiInstagram: folklore.fangirlThanks for listening — we really appreciate you! If you enjoyed the show, please consider leaving a rating and review. And keep fangirling over folklore.“Dance Macabre-No Violin” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0⁠⁠https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠Edited for use (volume adjusted, segments used for intro and outro)

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Before everything around us constantly demanded our attention, people explained the world through stories—stories about spirits in the house, things watching from the forest, and the feeling that something was always just out of sight. A lot of those beliefs never really went away, and I love exploring them. I’m Janae, and on Folklore Fangirl I bring one old-world folklore story to my husband, Jamison, each week. I tell the tale, and he reacts in real time. It’s part storytelling, part conversation, and a little bit of wondering what might still be lurking around us.

HOSTED BY

Janae

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