We’re back for series 4! We open the series with a poor family starving to death and the Virgin Mary abducting their daughter. Years later, the Virgin goes off on a work trip and forbids the girl from opening a certain door. When the inevitable happens, the child is banished from heaven and things get weirder from there. Join us once more round the fire for “Our Lady’s Child” (aka “Mary’s Child”), where we meet an unlikely assortment of characters including the 12 Apostles, James Bond, Cousin It...
Oct 17, 2021•58 min
Another mini-special before the new series. This time we shamelessly plug our Patreon! We explain how you can support the podcast through our Patreon platform, then we announce some exciting new things we've got coming up for our patrons - including a Q&A episode and the release of The Pied-Piper. We then play a clip from our patron-only podcast Grimm Fables, before finally giving some patron shout-outs. Check out our patreon . Buy our episode The Pied-Piper at payhip.com (available from 26th Se...
Sep 19, 2021•36 min
Greetings from a grim meadow! Massive constitutional changes are afoot in this special episode as we share our roundup of the winners and losers of series 3 for the first time for non-Patrons. We then share a piece of deleted audio from our Little Snow White recording - the incredible connection between Snow White and the siege of Troy. Finally we're pleased to announce our new Grimm Reading Spotify playlists: Series 1 Grimm Reading Soundtrack Series 2 Grimm Reading Soundtrack Series 3 Grimm Rea...
Sep 05, 2021•43 min
It’s the series 3 finale so it’s time for a big one - settle in for an epic adventure as we read Little Snow White! Filicide, attempted cannibalism, talking mirrors, seven little helpers, a very poisonous apple - it’s the story you know and love but even more unpleasant and violent. Chatting with her mirror, a queen learns that her step-daughter has grown more beautiful than she is. So she decides to kill her and eat the girl's heart. But Little Snow White escapes and finds shelter in a strange ...
Jun 13, 2021•1 hr 13 min
In Hans Married, Hans’s uncle decides to take matters into his own hands and get his nephew a wife. With his cunning, fool-proof method for securing a bride, Hans miraculously gets engaged to a rich peasant’s daughter. How does he do it? And will it all end happily ever after? Find out in the final installment of the Hans Saga, our penultimate episode of Series 3. It’s a quick, punchy story this week so we also read out lots of listeners messages, and take the opportunity to choose the opening s...
May 30, 2021•54 min
Hans is back! In his first starring role since the pilot episode, we follow Hans as he attempts to woo Gretel by demanding presents from her. Will Hans get the girl of his dreams? Or will it all end with some livestock losing their eyes? And how is this story related to quantum physics? Find out all this and more, as we slip into a the nightmare groundhog day that is Clever Hans by the Brothers Grimm. After the story, we try and piece together the shaky Grimm Reading cinematic universe, hear a 1...
May 23, 2021•53 min
Welcome to Extra Grimm, where we delve a little deeper into the world of the Brothers Grimm for the curious. In this episode, we talk to Brothers Grimm expert Jack Zipes. The conversation centers around a particular folk tale type, that of ATU 325 “The Magician And His Apprentice”. The interview starts with Jack recalling how his journey into this tale type all started with wondering why the Harry Potter series has achieved such phenomenal success. Eventually, he concluded that it’s because it’s...
May 09, 2021•1 hr 5 min
While out on his daily rounds, a poor fisherman nets an enchanted fish prince. When his wife hears how he let the fish go, she demands he return and ask the fish to give them a cottage. Things then escalate fast, as the fisherman's wife gets a taste for the property market and chases a career in politics. Will they be content with their lot, or will greed see them fall to their ruin? Find out all this and more in the absolutely massive tale, The Fisherman and His Wife. After the story we discuss...
Apr 25, 2021•1 hr 5 min
As a penniless woodcutter’s health fades, he leaves his three sons the only things he has in the world - a cat and scythe and a cock. To find fortune, he instructs them to seek out a country in which these things are unknown. One by one the sons head out into the wide world with their gifts. But, when the final son finds himself on an island plagued by mice and rats, the inhabitants get more than they bargained for. Will they make their fortune? And can you use a cannon for everything? Find out ...
Apr 11, 2021•51 min
When the family cook plots to kill a foundling boy, his adoptive sister comes to the rescue and the two take flight, shapeshifting their way out of danger. The cook deploys her henchmen to hunt them down but when they fail, she waddles after them herself for a final showdown. Who will emerge victorious? Find out in this week’s tale, Fundevogel (aka Fledgling)! After the story, we talk similarities to other tales, shapeshifting Jesus news, and then squeeze in an extra Russian fairy tale where at ...
Mar 28, 2021•50 min
Talking dead fingers, aggressive domestic appliances, and a devil under a duvet - prepare yourself for the madness that is the Brothers Grimm's "The Godfather". In this utterly bizarre story we have essentially a mashup of two Grimm stories we've heard before, namely - Godfather Death and The Strange Feast. Is this hybrid version better than the originals or a step too far? Twitter Facebook Instagram Patreon [email protected] Hear Matt's recital of The Godfather Theme . Theme music: ...
Mar 14, 2021•37 min
Finding himself alone in a forest, a musician decides to play his fiddle and entice a human friend. Before long, several animals approach and ask for music lessons. On gaining their trust, the musician cruelly entraps them and wanders on. Eventually the animals escape and together plot revenge. Will they have their justice? And where exactly does this musician get off? Find out in this week’s episode, The Wonderful Musician (aka The Strange Musician). Twitter Facebook Instagram Patreon grimmread...
Feb 28, 2021•41 min
In Clever Gretel, a free-wheeling cook throws a party for herself at her master's expense. After she’s eaten all his chicken and drunk all his wine, Gretel’s master returns home ready for dinner… But our clever heroine plays those above her like a fiddle, and easily gets herself out of trouble. Join us as we try to dissect the mayhem and enjoy a story from The One Thousand and One Nights (aka The Arabian Nights). Twitter Facebook Instagram Patreon [email protected] Theme music: Bicyc...
Feb 14, 2021•41 min
When the King decides to celebrate the birth of his daughter by sentencing his twelve sons to death, the boys flee to live a feral life in the woods where they vow to kill any maiden they meet. A decade later, the Princess vows the rescue her brothers and she heads out into the forest. But things take a turn for the worse when she accidentally turns them all into birds and a foreign king carries her off to another land... Will she ever rescue her brothers? Why does she have a golden star on her ...
Feb 06, 2021•44 min
Happy Grimm new year! We’re kicking things off with a surprise story – the one and only Puss in Boots. When the family cat suddenly demands a pair of boots, a poor young miller spends his last few coins granting the cat's wish. A idiotic whim or the investment of a lifetime? Join us on the classic adventure of Puss in Boots, where we see our furry hero outsmarting, outwitting and outdressing everyone who comes in his path! We then hear about the many guises of puss in boots from the global oral ...
Jan 17, 2021•56 min
Join us for the third annual Grimm Reading Christmas Party! We've got gifts, port, cracker jokes and festive fare for all, before Adam reads us the truly epic Irish fairy tale 'The Christmas Cuckoo'. And finally, we reveal the winner of our competition and some plans for next year. Thank you so much to everyone for listening, messaging, and supporting us in various ways - especially our wonderful patrons. And thanks to Pook Press for collaborating with us for the 2020 competition. You can join u...
Dec 20, 2020•1 hr 42 min
A magic well, a prickly spindle, talking bread, and snowy beds - this week’s tale is our latest patron story poll winner, Mother Holle (Frau Holle)! An evil step-mother and wicked step-sister force a young maiden into a parallel universe. When she reaches an enchanting cottage, she finds a scary old lady waiting. Will she pass the test of Mother Holle? And what will her nasty family do if she returns? After this festive tale, we hear from German listeners about what Mother Holle means to them to...
Nov 29, 2020•49 min
In Jorinda and Joringel, young love is cruelly interrupted when an evil witch kidnaps Jorinda, forcing Joringel into a lonely shepherding career. But will a prophetic dream provide him with the means to rescue his beloved from the witch's castle, or is Jorinda doomed forever? Join us as we tumble down rabbit holes, exploring ancient myths, sad birds, and vampires. Our competition is still in full swing too! Let us know which story you think deserves a different score and you could win some aweso...
Nov 22, 2020•48 min
In Fitcher's Bird (aka Fowler's Fowl), we join an evil wizard as he kidnaps pretty girls, takes them to his fancy pad, and puts them to the test. But this sick sorcerer get's more than he bargained for with our plucky, clucky, and crafty heroine. We talk serial killing folklore, egg metaphors, and finally dip our toes into the creepy world of the infamous Bluebeard! This episode is certified Grimm and may not be suitable for all listeners. Our competition is still in full swing too! Let us know ...
Oct 31, 2020•49 min
A long time in the making, we are delighted to present our super special biography of the Brothers Grimm! From humble beginnings to super professor stardom, we follow the brothers as they traipse across Germany in a tumultuous time of war and instability. Please don your history hats and settle by the fire as we embark on our biggest adventure yet, somehow starting in ancient Rome and landing squarely in 21st century. Chapter index: Once Upon a Time (04:08) University and the Magic Horn (14:24) ...
Oct 18, 2020•1 hr 14 min
After a princess insults her suitors, her angry father forces her marry a singing fiddler and she's plunged into a life of poverty. But will their new crockery start-up save them from hunger and plight? And how many plot holes can a story have before it stops making sense? Find out in our latest tale King Thrushbeard, where we learn why princesses need to do what they're told, which bird has the most crooked beak, and what exactly Shakespeare and Henry VIII have to do with it all. Our competitio...
Oct 04, 2020•47 min
We’re back for series 3! When a petulant princess loses her golden ball, an overly friendly frog comes to the rescue. But when he tries to hop in her bed the princess has other ideas. Another classic story brought to you by Grimm Reading, but this is not the tale you think you know! Who is iron Henry? Why isn’t he the frog prince? And where is that famous froggy kiss? Discover the answers to all this and more, in our opening episode The Frog King. We’ve also launched a competition! Here’s our st...
Sep 27, 2020•50 min
Evil curses, dangerous spinning, long lie-ins, and daring princes – in our series two finale we tackle one of fiction’s most enduring stories: The Sleeping Beauty (or Briar Rose). A spurned wise woman puts a castle to sleep for a hundred years. Many princes have tried to breach its wall of thorns but none have ever succeeded. Has the time finally come for the right man to lift the curse? We discuss prudish victorians, fatalism, and creepy frogs, before finally venturing on an epic journey to tra...
Jun 14, 2020•59 min
Taboos abound in this week's episode, Thousandfurs, where things take a decidedly dark turn. On her deathbed, a queen makes an ill-judged demand of her husband, and he decides to marry his own daughter. Escaping into the woods, the princess is captured and put to work in a castle kitchen. But she sees the chance of salvation when the king of this castle throws an elaborate festival... After the story, we look into sparkly dresses and Germanic spinning courtship rituals, before turning our attent...
Jun 04, 2020•1 hr 1 min
Welcome to Extra Grimm, where we delve deeper into the world of the Brothers Grimm for the curious. In this episode, we chat to fairy tale expert Maria Tatar about all things Grimm. Maria is a Harvard professor specialising in folklore, myth and germanic literature, and she's the author of several books on fairy tales including her new book " The Fairest of Them All: Snow White and 21 Tales of Mothers and Daughters ". Topics covered include such classics as sexism in fairy tales, how to read the...
May 17, 2020•38 min
In The Three Languages, a Swiss boy narrowly escapes execution at the hands of his father. With nothing but an expanded linguist repertoire, he sets out to make his way in the world. Will he survive an angry pack of spectral dogs? And will he heed the call of a frog’s prophecy? After the story, things get intellectually rigorous as Adam is presented with three theories as to what’s going on: an historical interpretation of the tale, a Romantic interpretation, and a psychological one. Finally we ...
May 03, 2020•51 min
A magical fish, a boy dressed as a bear, and a nosy father in law all make an appearance in this week’s episode: The Gold Children. After the story, discover how this largely unknown tale is connected to a tale from the Neapolitan Pentamarone, as well as to a German marketing agency and a heavy metal band. Tw itter Facebook Instagram Patreon [email protected] Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko Other Music: Schubert's Violin Sonata in A major Op. 162 performed by Oliver Colb...
Apr 19, 2020•35 min
When two clumsy children fall down a well, a Water Nixie forces them to do unpleasant chores for her. Will they ever get out? And how will a hairbrush and slippery mirror come to their aid? Find out in the shortest story we’ve ever read: The Water Nixie. After the tale, we present a mental-somersault of a theory on what the story could mean, before being taken on a journey by Jacob Grimm into the history of Nix and Nixies. We then read out correspondence on sexism in fairy tales and our story Sw...
Apr 05, 2020•27 min
In The Dog And The Sparrow, a callous waggoner gets his comeuppance after he destroys a blossoming friendship between a dog and a sparrow. Learn why you should never mess with sparrows, how bad deeds don't go unpunished, and where Alfred Hitchcock got inspiration for his masterpiece 'The Birds'. We also hear what Shakespeare, the bible, and Chaucer have to say about these common little birds, and finish with the incredible Japanese story 'The Tongue-Cut Sparrow'. Tw itter Facebook Instagram Patr...
Mar 22, 2020•40 min
In The Thief and His Master, an unholy priest prank leads one boy on an unforgettable journey where he learns the dual arts of thievery and shapeshifting. However, things turn south when his master doesn't receive his desired pay. After the Story, we discuss thievery in fairy tales and explore two related stories: the original Venetian version by Straparola and the myth of the Welsh witch Ceridwen. Finally we choose the next three stories and reveal the winning tale from our Patreon poll! Tw itt...
Mar 08, 2020•41 min
