Episode 201 - SCREAMING SKULLS

Known for his prodigious and popular work on various aspects of paganism, witchcraft and early modern history, Professor Ronald Hutton turns his attention in his latest book to the goddesses associated with love and war.In this episode of the podcast, I chat with Ronald about the subject, what his research looked like, and how these goddesses have developed over time, both in the ancient world and in the pagan European aspects.Goddesses is published by Yale. You can find the book on their website here: https://yalebooks.co.uk/book/9780300290721/goddesses/To watch my interview with Ronald, and to access a variety of other exclusive extra content, please visit the Folklore Podcast Patreon page at www.patreon.com/thefolklorepodcast where you can join either as a free member or on a support tier.

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 other episodes of the podcast and you want to show your support, and unlock extra bonus content, please visit the Patreon support page at www.patreon.com/thefolklorepodcast. You can join for free, and then move to any of the paid tiers as and when you want to hear more.

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 Rawlins (Arthur Kidd) and Pauline Moran (The Woman) as well as Fiona Walker, who played Margaret Toovey and is the widow of the director Herbert Wise. They are joined by Susannah Wise (Herbert's daughter and an extra in the film at the age of 16) and TV and film historian Jon Dear.This is a special feature length episode to celebrate the 200th show. You can watch the video of this panel on YouTube at https://youtu.be/t0mJ4yNqCuATo book tickets for TudorCon, please use this link, and remember to use the code FOLKLORE at checkout for a discount: https://tudorcon.englandcast.com/tudorcon-from-home/?ref=folklorepodcastJoin The Folklore Podcast on Patreon for extra content and other rewards. You can join for free and upgrade to a paid support tier when you are ready. Just visit www.patreon.com/thefolklorepodcast

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 world that relate to the changing seasons, which Denise retells with the colour of those cultures at their heart. You can hear one of the stories exclusively recorded for this podcast, as well as Denise in conversation with British children's writer Jayne Kirkham.You can visit Denise online at https://www.denisegallagher.com/Interviewer Jayne Kirkham's website is at https://jaynekirkham.com/Moon and Bird Books are at https://moonandbirdbooks.com/To support The Folklore Podcast in what it does best, bringing high quality free folklore content to you each month, please visit the Patreon page to unlock extra content. It's at www.patreon.com/thefolklorepodcast

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 doing the same can help you to lead a more connected and fulfilled life. The Ancient Ways is structured around the seasons and pagan festivals and aims to be an empowering guide to reconnecting with the natural world through its mythology, folklore and ancient tradition.Seren is hugely popular on social media and in this exclusive publication day interview with the Folklore Podcast's host, Mark Norman, she discusses the book and her practical work and lifestyle behind the words.Follow Seren on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/hedgerow_healingThe Ancient Ways is published by Bluebird, an imprint of Pan Macmillan. Buy a copy online at:Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ancient-Ways-Folklore-Traditions-Reconnect/dp/1035065991/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.SZ-ziQ-GpA2jE8rc_KeNUw.26qOeLXCtcE9yzo73bozXYTYGrgErYTFrx3d02JW3GA&dib_tag=se&keywords=9781035065998&qid=1786366387&sr=8-1Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-ancient-ways/seren-hawley-plows/9781035065998Bookshop.org: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-ancient-ways-a-year-of-folklore-traditions-and-rituals-to-reconnect-with-nature-seren-hawley-plows/88809a335744a35c?ean=9781035065998&affiliate=73Support The Folklore Podcast on Patreon, either for free or with a small monthly donation, at www.patreon.com/thefolklorepodcast and access exclusive extra content.This episode of The Folklore Podcast is sponsored by Bluebird, part of Pan Macmillan.

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.Kenny talks about circus heritage, the importance of the art form in the modern world, and some of the myths and superstitions attached to the circus, its workers and performers. We also find out about an exciting new plan to bring a new addition to a very rare piece of circus history - the permanent indoor circus.You can visit Paulo's circus online at https://www.paulos.co.uk/Support The Folklore Podcast and enjoy extra exclusive content and other rewards on our Patreon page at https://www.patreon.com/thefolklorepodcast

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 10th century, explores the work of a convent infirmarian, and Danielle's new novel 'Gentle Things' is located around an apothecary's shop.We look at older pagan beliefs and practices and their adoption into the Christian church, some of the plants and healing techniques used, and pay more than passing service to the subject of medical cannibalism. This one is perhaps not teatime viewing!You can find Danielle on the web at https://www.daniellegileswriter.com/Find the 100 Ballads Project, which is referred to in this episode, online at https://www.100ballads.org/To support the Folklore Podcast in its goal of providing excellent free folklore content each month, please visit http://www.patreon.com/thefolklorepodcast

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 exploration of British identity, folk culture and myth and grew out of a documentary series Zakia made for BBC Radio 4.Find Zakia online at www.zakiasewell.co.ukSupport The Folklore Podcast and join a community of like-minded others at www.patreon.com/thefolklorepodcast where there is plenty more free and paid content available.

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 Victor Frankenstein!Bar talks about her inspirations, the treatment of the original story and the ways in which she combines real-world folklore with her own imagination. You can also hear a short extract from the audiobook, courtesy of the publisher.You can find Honeysuckle wherever books are sold, and visit Bar on the web at https://www.barfridmantell.com/To support The Folklore Podcast on Patreon (for free or for a small donation) and get access to extra content, please visit www.patreon.com/thefolklorepodcast

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 writingSUSANNAH WISE: On the tangential way that ghosts appear in her writing, and writing from screen as well as novels.Support the Folklore Podcast on Patreon and get free exclusive bonus material. Join as a free member or on a paid tier at www.patreon.com/thefolklorepodcast