The Folklore Podcast

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 fill out our micro survey which will inform a future episode on this subject. You will find a short form on this link:

https://forms.gle/RQ2C8KiX5XDpDAfz5

Thank you for giving us your views.

To support The Folklore Podcast and get extra exclusive content, please join our Patreon page. You can subscribe as a free member for some content, explore the site, and choose a paid tier if you want to see and hear more. Please visit:

https://www.patreon.com/thefolklorepodcast

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 FARREN BARBER answering the question 'What mkaes an effective ghost?'

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

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 heritage of traditional stories in a way that respects everyone, as equal.
Immerse yourself in multi-sensory approaches to storytelling.
Experience an approach to presenting information that gives everyone equal access to that information.

Mark discusses the project with facilitators Abi and Jane from Turning Tides, along with two of the participants.

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, including the RSC production

CHRIS CHAPMAN - BBC documentary maker and director of 'Time and Tide: Making the Box of Delights' for the BluRay edition

You can support the Folklore Podcast on Patreon and access even more content for free, or with a donation, at http://www.patreon.com/thefolklorepodcast

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 project Romancing the Gothic and the wide range of areas in which that particular genre can take you.

Learn more about the guests on their websites:

Alex: https://foulkeswrites.wordpress.com/
Teika: https://teikamarijasmits.com/
Sam: https://romancingthegothic.com/

Join The Folklore Podcast Patreon community at:
https://www.patreon.com/thefolklorepodcast
You can support the podcast with a small monthly donation, or elect to be a FREE member.