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 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 pa...
May 19, 2026•27 min
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 takes a close look at the fairy in art, literature and culture. We also want your views! What are your early memories of fairy images? How do you think the fairy will change over time? Please fi...
May 10, 2026•1 hr 10 min
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 Dracula and theatrical adaptations of ghost stories TRACY FAHEY on Irish ghosts and the idea of ghost estates ANTHONY KERRIGAN talking about fairy folklore and its links to abduction cases RICHARD FARRE...
Apr 19, 2026•55 min
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 reworks fairy tales and folktales in different ways to challenge our ideas about disability. It invites you to: Consider the human tendency to exclude and create "Other". Look for ways we can value our rich ...
Mar 19, 2026•48 min
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, consisting of: PHIL ERRINGTON - John Masefield expert and author of 'Opening the Box of Delights' PIERS TORDAY - Children's author and playwright responsible for adapting the Box of Delights for the stage,...
Mar 06, 2026•1 hr 26 min
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 talks about writing vampires for children. Author and editor TEIKA MARIJA SMITS talks about the darker side of fairy stories and her own short ghost fiction Academic DR SAM HIRST tell us all about her proj...
Feb 19, 2026•53 min
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 of a podcast of the same name, and has written for and appeared on 'Ghost Adventures'. His book, 'Wicked Strange' provides a coffee-table collection of the stories covered on this episode and much more. T...
Feb 09, 2026•1 hr 1 min
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 ghosts for entertainment as we do now? You can find out more about Eleanor, her broadcasting and her writing on her website at https://eleanorjanega.com/ Support The Folklore Podcast on Patreon to get ext...
Jan 20, 2026•54 min
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, 'Breadcrumbs' by artist Amy Hopwood which you can hear at the end of the show. Watch a video version of this podcast on YouTube at https://youtu.be/Rn6R_FnqV-Y You can visit Amy's website and get links to her mu...
Jan 12, 2026•17 min
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.
Dec 29, 2025•5 min
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 in print, from 1809, placing the story in Germany and not England at all. The episode is rounded off with a performance of the song which popularised the legend, 'The Mistletoe Bough' given exclusively fo...
Dec 22, 2025•13 min
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 book for young adults, 'Thirst', which uses similar themes in its plot. And finally, the show is closed with a new single from folk duo Lunatraktors, 'Yarrow', based on a Child Ballad. You can find Darren...
Dec 15, 2025•53 min
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 rainforest. Having previously placed her ghosts in the isolation of the Arctic and high up a mountain, Michelle once again shows that you can have an effective haunt in an unexpected location. We explore...
Nov 29, 2025•1 hr 1 min
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, "Gatherings", shines a light on some of these, but in an unusual way. No presenter. No celebrity. No narrative. Gatherings presents the events as the onlookers would see them, along with interviews with organise...
Nov 12, 2025•41 min
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: Professor Marion Gibson Dr Tabitha Stanmore Tracey Norman All of whom are returning guests to the show. Support the Folklore Podcast on Patreon for extra content at http://www.patreon.com/thefolklorepodcas...
Oct 31, 2025•1 hr 12 min
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 spooky tales for adults. Many of these have not seen much light of day. A new one-woman theatre show - HAUNTED SHADOWS - performed by Claire Louise Amias and directed by Jonathan Rigby shines a light on Ed...
Oct 21, 2025•35 min
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 well known and some more obscure. You can visit Marion's website at https://mariongibson.co.uk/ Support the work of The Folklore Podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/thefolklorepodcast where you ...
Oct 14, 2025•1 hr 7 min
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 introduces children to the subjects of solitary witchcraft, seasonal workings, our relationship with nature and much more in a safe and meticulously researched way. In this episode, we chat about the ethos of th...
Sep 16, 2025•39 min
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 stories we tell about our environments reveal about ourselves? And how can our historical relationship with the land help us reconsider our connection to the natural world today? The panelists for this disc...
Sep 02, 2025•1 hr 12 min
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 discusses the history of this character from the mid-nineteenth century onwards, and looks and some of their practices and cures. The content of this episode is drawn from the book DEVON'S FORGOTTEN WITCHES, 186...
Aug 26, 2025•23 min
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 undertaken, before reflecting on the podcast as a whole and where it will go next. The Seven County Witch Hunt blog will continue to be updated with new articles even though the primary research stage is c...
Aug 19, 2025•44 min
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 herbalist legally dispensing herbal blends and other forms of herbalism, both current and historic. Find out all about Jenny and her work on her website at https://thedartmoorherbalist.wordpress.com/ Support ...
Aug 11, 2025•33 min
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 Hunt Project join folklorist and host Mark Norman once again. Topics include the influence of the weather, farming and crops and the coastal fishing trade and how all of these have a ...
Aug 04, 2025•33 min
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 the role of familiars - not necessarily the animal familiars which are more well recognized, but ghostly assistance provided from within the family and beyond, and the role of spectral evidence that emerg...
Jul 21, 2025•36 min
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 horror and hauntology. He is one of the editors of the Bloomsbury Academic series 'Spectres, Hauntings and Horrors'. To support the work of The Folklore Podcast and access extra content, please visit our Pa...
Jul 14, 2025•18 min
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? The Seven County Witch Hunt Project podcast series is produced by The Folklore Podcast, and host Mark Norman is in conversation with Professor Marion Gibson and Dr Tabitha Stanmore. The Seven County Witch...
Jul 08, 2025•39 min
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 other tensions within the community? We also dispel some myths about the witch hunters themselves, particularly Matthew Hopkins. The Seven County Witch Hunt Project podcast series is produced by The Folklor...
Jun 23, 2025•39 min
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 about the subject. Lyndsey often works with elements of Scottish lore, most recently that connected with the sea which she uses to good effect in a collection of short stories recently published under the t...
Jun 18, 2025•50 min
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 in English history was driven by the obsessive enthusiasm of two men: John Stearne and Matthew Hopkins, the self-appointed Witchfinder General. Much of the scholarship surrounding the so-called “Hopkins ...
Jun 09, 2025•38 min
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 plants in folk medicine, the approaches used and how valuable or otherwise volumes such as Culpeper's Herbal are in the modern world. Su discusses her techniques and dispels some of the myths about herbal tre...
Jun 03, 2025•1 hr 12 min
