All February long, I will be focusing on folklore and folk horror. For all my Folk Horror February posts, click here.
I’ve selected some fun and interesting episodes from different podcasts discussing various folklore from around the world. Definitely check out each of the podcasts other episodes!
Spirit Box: The 13 Types of Jinn
Spirit Box is the podcast that got me into podcasts. I had previously had difficulty finding a show I could enjoy listening to. But something about host Darragh Mason’s calming voice and demeanor pulled me in. I also like that the podcast is a conversation between only him and that episode’s guest. I find the energy level on the show to be just right for me. This particular episode is a good introduction to jinn, which Mason discusses quite frequently on his show. I didn’t know much about jinn before listening to his podcast, and I definitely didn’t know there were so many different types.
Fabulous Folklore with Icy: Bean Nighe
I follow Icy Sedgwick on Twitter and always enjoy her contributions to Folklore Thursday. What I love about her podcast is that the episodes are short, entertaining, and to the point. They’re all around 15 minutes or so, which is great for someone like me who doesn’t have the best attention span. I picked this podcast episode for the list because I had never heard of Bean Nighe, a kind of Scottish banshee, before.
Bone & Sickle: Werewolves in France
This episode was my first introduction to the podcast, and it’s definitely one I’ll go back to. It’s informative and humorous, and very dark. I am a sucker for werewolf lore, and this covers the fascinating but sad history between the early 16th century to the 17th century. In this period, thousands of people were accused of being werewolves and executed. The episode is well-researched and presented in a clear and engaging manner.
Monstras: El Cadejo
Monstras is a fun podcast that focuses on Latin American folklore. I chose their episode El Cadejo to feature here because I’m fascinated by black dog folklore and thought it was cool that black dog folklore can be found in different parts of the world. This particular mythological creature is said to exist in Central America, and the episode focuses on El Salvador.
Uncanny Japan: Guest Room Child
As someone who has experienced more sleep paralysis than they would like, I was immediately intrigued by the premise of the Guest Room Child episode. The Guest Room Child is an entity who may present itself as crawling on you during a bout of sleep paralysis, or maybe heard in your room. It seems creepy as hell, but actually it’s not, which you will learn as you listen to the episode. The host of Uncanny Japan has a really soothing voice and her episodes are short and sweet, so I highly recommend you check out the other episodes.
Folklore Podcast: Midsummer through Midsommar
Since it is folk horror month, I feel that I should include a podcast episode discussing a popular folk horror film. In this episode, Folklore Podcast presents an interesting and fresh analysis to Ari Aster’s film Midsommar, using the Major Arcana of the Tarot to dissect the narrative and character arcs. I had never considered this approach to the film, and found the discussion to be highly persuasive!