Time Between Times Storytelling with Owen Staton

The Beast of Pontrhydyfen
Welcome back to the firepit at the heart of the forest, my friends.
Tonight’s story is a little different.
Because this is not simply a tale I found in an old book or discovered in some forgotten newspaper. This is a story that takes me back to my own childhood, to the village of Pontrhydyfen in the Afan Valley in the early 1980s.
I was at school there when rumours began to spread about something strange moving through the hills around Tonmawr and Pontrhydyfen.
A great cat.
Something wild.
Something that, according to the stories, had no business being there.
For us children, the creature quickly became the talk of the playground. We whispered about sightings, footprints and enormous cats hiding in the woods. And at times, we were even told not to play outside.
I remember the feeling of looking towards those dark Welsh hills and wondering what might be hiding amongst the trees.
Decades later, reports from the period would tell of large cats seen around Tonmawr, including a remarkable series of alleged photographs. Some witnesses believed they had seen a leopard or puma. Others suggested more ordinary explanations.
But perhaps the truth isn’t quite the point.
Because when you are a child, a mystery can become part of the landscape itself.
And sometimes, long after the story has faded from the playground, you can still look towards those hills and remember…
What if it really was there?
So tonight, draw a little closer to the fire.
Let the mist settle over the Afan Valley.
Listen for the river beneath the old bridge.
And keep your eyes on the dark hills above Pontrhydyfen…
Because somewhere out there, perhaps, something is still watching.
Welcome…
to the Time Between Times.
Nos da, my friends.
Owen x
www.welshstoryteller.com
www.ko-fi.com/owenstaton
www.patreon.com/owenstaton7

The Fairy Dance at Morlais Hill
There are places where the veil between worlds grows thin…
High above Merthyr Tydfil, the ruined walls of Morlais Castle have watched the centuries drift by. Yet local people have long whispered that, on certain midsummer nights, music can still be heard echoing among the ancient stones. A harp. A fiddle. Laughter carried upon the wind. They say those who follow the melody may find themselves welcomed into a dance unlike any other—a dance where joy is boundless, the night never seems to end… and time itself begins to lose all meaning.
In this haunting episode of Time Between Times, Welsh storyteller Owen Staton brings an old valley legend to life in his own rich and atmospheric style. Journey into a forgotten world of moonlit castles, the mysterious Tylwyth Teg, and a young collier whose single step into the fairy dance will change everything.
So, draw your chair a little closer to the fire, let the shadows gather, and listen carefully… for if, one summer evening, you should hear music drifting across a lonely Welsh hillside, remember this tale.
The Fair Folk are not always searching for victims.
Sometimes…
They are simply looking for one more dancer.

If you enjoy Time Between Times, you can support the podcast and help keep these old stories alive by visiting:
Website: https://www.welshstoryteller.com
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/owenstaton
Substack: https://owenstaton.substack.com
 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/owenstaton7
You can also follow Owen on social media by searching “Time Between Times Storytelling with Owen Staton” on Facebook and your favourite podcast platform.
Until next time…
Nos da… and don’t stray from the path.

High upon the lonely slopes of Mynydd y Drum lies an old Welsh legend that has haunted the valleys for generations. It tells of hidden treasure, forbidden magic, a bargain struck in desperation… and a single candle whose slow, mysterious disappearance marked the passing of a man’s life.
In this episode, Owen Staton retells the chilling tale of John Gethin and the Candle, one of Wales’ most unsettling folk legends. Journey into a world where ancient mountains guard terrible secrets, where courage is tested against supernatural terror, and where every bargain has its price.
Then, as the fire crackles at the heart of the forest, Owen is joined by the wonderful Eleanor Greenwood—performer, writer, mask maker and storyteller. Together they explore folklore, performance, the power of masks, and the timeless magic of stories that refuse to be forgotten.
You can discover more about Eleanor’s work here:🌿 https://www.eleanorgreenwood.co.uk
Eleanors Youtube channel is here
https://www.youtube.com/@Eleanor_r_Greenwood
Eleanor and Owen's Film - Morwyn llyn Y fan
https://youtu.be/j4akhjGQ65Y?si=ARnYg0prduGFTKOZ

Podcast thumbnail features one of Eleanors masked performances as featured on her webpage .

If you enjoy Time Between Times, please consider supporting the podcast and helping these stories continue to reach listeners around the world.
🌙 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/owenstaton7🔥 Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/owenstaton🌲 Website: https://www.welshstoryteller.com
Thank you, as always, for joining me beside the fire. Draw your chair a little closer, listen carefully to the wind, and remember…
Some treasures are best left unclaimed .
Take care

Owen

The White Rider of Maes Gwenllian
This week, gather with me beside the fire as we journey into one of the most inspiring and haunting stories in all of Welsh history.
Together, we travel back to the year 1136, when Wales stood on the brink of being overwhelmed by the Norman Marcher Lords. At the heart of that struggle was a remarkable woman—Princess Gwenllian ferch Gruffydd—who refused to wait behind castle walls. Instead, she mounted her horse, drew her sword, and led her people into battle in defence of her homeland.
But history is only the beginning…
For when the battle was over and Gwenllian fell upon the fields of Kidwelly, the people of Wales believed her story had not ended. Across the lonely marshes of Maes Gwenllian, where mist curls through the reeds and silence hangs heavy in the evening air, many have claimed to see a spectral rider upon a white horse. A noble figure searching endlessly through the twilight—not for revenge, but for her children, her people, and the Wales she gave everything to protect.
Tonight, we’ll explore both the history and the haunting, discovering how one woman’s extraordinary courage transformed her into one of the greatest heroines of Wales and one of its most enduring legends.
So settle beside the fire, let the flames warm your face, and listen for the distant thunder of ghostly hooves across the Welsh night.
Welcome… to Time Between Times.
If you enjoy these stories and would like to help support the podcast, you can do so here:
🌙 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/owenstaton7
☕ Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/owenstaton
🌿 Website: https://www.welshstoryteller.com
Tickets for the Ghost light performed by Owen Staton
https://pontardaweartscentre.com/shows/the-ghost-light-with-owen-staton/
You can also subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, leave a rating or review, and share the episode with anyone who loves folklore, history, myths, legends and ghost stories.
Until next time…
Nos da.

Owen x

n this enchanting episode of Time Between Times, Owen journeys to the rugged shores of Scotland to tell the haunting folkloric tale of The Selkie’s Skin — a story of love, longing, and the irresistible call of the sea. Beneath the glow of the moon and the whisper of the tide, this ancient legend unfolds with all the mystery and melancholy that has captivated listeners for generations.
Then, as the flames crackle at the firepit deep within the heart of the forest, Owen is joined by the remarkable Natalie Huber Rodriguez, an extraordinary storyteller from the Taíno Nation of America. Natalie shares the inspiration behind her acclaimed podcast, Monstress, and speaks passionately about the power of storytelling, heritage, and cultural memory.
To complete this unforgettable evening, Natalie honours us with a deeply moving tale from her tribal folklore — a story rich with wisdom, emotion, and ancestral spirit, reminding us that the oldest stories are often the ones that speak most powerfully to the human heart.
So settle beside the fire, listen to the wind through the trees, and step once more into the Time Between Times.
www.welshstoryteller.com
www.ko-fi.com/owenstaton
www.patreon.com/owenstaton7
Please find Monstress presented by Natalie on the link below
https://open.spotify.com/show/25ieyZR3Sb6KcZ6b6loB4h?si=097e5ce23f774c3a
Find Natalie on Instagram
@asihacuya