Wyrd Folk

This week, we begin to dip our toes into the deep waters that are Arthurian myths (or, in this case, myths that are King Arthur's adjacent). This week we are telling two stories based on the 9th-century tales of the monk Nennius and his quasi-historical writings about the dreadful tyrant Vortigern and his inability to get a castle to remain standing overnight. Cue entry for the man of the millennium- Merlin. Or is he? Is this really an Arthurian legend at all, or is this something older, based on the original Welsh myths of the Mabinogion? Is it Emrys or Ambrosius who reveals the secrets of the dragons to the king? Listen now to find out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's episode is a special short non-fiction exploring the background of the legend of The Vampire of Croglin Grange. The story is a Cumbrian classic packed full of all the usual gothic tropes: ancient graveyards, helpless maidens ravished in their beds and a bloodthirsty ghoul. But is this really a folktale? This week, we'll be asking ourselves what makes a folktale and examining whether the vampire stories around Croglin Grange are more than just Varney the Vampire fan fiction. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A tale of how a boy's decision to skip church to go fishing on a Sunday has monstrous consequences for his family for generations. Listen in for two stories about family, faith and the ties that binds us all. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

St. Michael's Mount is one of the most breathtaking sights in all of Cornwall. Part family home, part defensive fortress, it dominates the coastline east of Penzance. But where did the mount come from? Local legend tells of the giant Cormoran and his wife Cormelian and their dream of a home away from the rule of the Trojan invaders. This week we're going to look at that story two ways: the tale of how Cormoran's anger at his wife, and his own laziness left Chapel Rock halfway between the mount and the shore and a look at how the giants were pushed to the edges of the country by the Trojan conquest. Make sure to read the show notes on our website: www.wyrdfolkpod.com after listening to get more details on our sources. And vote on our poll on Instagram to decide this week's winner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.