Shows / Wyrd Folk
Wyrd Folk
A duelling storytelling podcast in which the best re-telling of a folktale wins. Come with us to explore the strangest, darkest, oddest tales from British folklore. Write wyrd. Listen now.
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Episodes
Wyrd FolkWyrd Folk Book Club: The Bloody Branch by Brigid Lowe
For the first episode of the Wyrd Folk Book Club we are talking to author Brigid Lowe about her fierce retelling of the fourth branch of the Mabinogion from…
Wyrd FolkHalloween Campfire Tales
Join us for our two year anniversary special as Sam and /I try to scare each other with our best campfire tales in a fright swap of horrible urban legends…
Wyrd FolkBloody Bones
This week we have two gruesome stories for you for Halloween. Have you ever felt a presence under your bed or under the stairs, or even down the cellar? Every…
Wyrd FolkRabbit Trap with Bryn Chainey
If you haven't seen Rabbit Trap then you are missing out on a folk-fantasy treat of a film. We love it and we think you will too. Listen this week as Sam talks…
Wyrd FolkBlack Annis
This week we look at Leicester's own hag, Black Annis. Said to live in a bower decorated with the skins of all the children she'd devoured, Black Annis is the…
Wyrd FolkWyrd Folk Book Club
This week we'd like to take you a bit deeper into two of our favourite folklore books of all time. Join us for a chat about George MacDonald's classic…
Wyrd FolkCutty Dyer
Content Warning: as always, this episode contains two deliciously compelling folklore retellings. However, this week the focus is the murderous Cutty Dyer and…
Wyrd FolkThe Devil and Meon Hill (Wyrd Folk Festival Special)
Dare you defy the devil of Meon Hill? Listen in this week for the two stories of devilish terror we wrote for the live podcast performed at The Wyrd Folk…
Wyrd FolkSummer Writing Competition Winners Show
The results are in and there can be only two! congratulations to Catherine Cuypers and Kelly Long for their wonderful stories. Listen in to this week's show to…
Wyrd FolkMother Shipton
This week, Sam and I discuss our favourite Yorkshire witch, Mother Shipton. Prophetess and cunning woman Ursula Shipton lived in turbulent times but managed to…
Wyrd FolkThe King of Cats
Who is the king of cats? This week, we look at the old story of the cat who would be king! Join us for two stories which link the tale of the hidden king of…
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Blodeuwedd
In this episode, Sam and Nikki look at the classic Welsh myth of Blodeuwedd, the maid of the flowers, who was brought forth by magic to be the perfect wife…
Wyrd FolkMidsummer Stories
In this episodes we look at the different rituals of midsummer, both personal and mystical. What does midsummer mean to us? How do we celebrate it in this…
Wyrd FolkJenny Greenteeth
What lurks in the deeps? It's a question which has troubled humanity forever. In the north-west of England people have traditionally warned their children away…
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Slueths Special
In this special episode Sam answers questions about her debut novel 'Slueths' which will be published this Thursday by Avon Books. Harriet, who was our first…
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Wistman's Wood
The twisted branches and moss covered rocks of Wistman's Wood on Dartmoor are so evocatively eldrich that it is no surprise strange stories have grown in…
Wyrd FolkWild Folk with Jackie Morris and Tamsin Abbott
This week, we are lucky to be joined by magic makers Jackie Morris and Tamsin Abbott to talk about the creative process behind their book of stories, poems and…
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Maiden Bower Hillfort
There is a story told about the earthworks at Maiden Bower in Bedfordshire. It is a story of challenge and cunning and an ox hide which must stretch to…
Wyrd FolkFolklore Creators: Hwaet!zine Interview
Hwaet! to our interview with the fabulous folklore creators behind Hwaet!zine. This week, we ask George Parr and Bunty May Marshall about the inspirations…
Wyrd FolkOssary Werewolves
The ancient Irish kingdom of Ossary is awash with werewolf stories. Here, your soul can transform into a wolf in your sleep and marauding war bands are wolves…
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Folklore Creators: The Three Ravens Interview
For the first episode in our series of interviews with successful folklore writers and creators, we were lucky enough to be able to sit down with Martin and…
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Meg of Meldon
In the far north west of Northumberland, there is a village where a wicked witch once lived: a wicked witch who hoarded her money and blighted her neighbours'…
Wyrd FolkLady Isabel and the Elf Knight
This Valentine's Day, we say beware the elf knight! Rather than lean in to the romance, we're taking a look at how seemingly romantic encounters can end up…
Wyrd FolkKit's Coty House
This week, we travel to Kent, where Kits Coty House sits on Bluebell Hill in the beautiful Medway Valley. This ancient megalith is all that remains of a…
Wyrd FolkJack the Giant Slayer
To kick off our new season, we've gone for a classic English tale of giants, plucky heroes and clever escapes. Jack is an everyman who travels the country…
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The Holly and the Ivy
The Holly and the Ivy is the beautiful traditional carol which themes our 2025 Christmas special. Full of mid-winter imagery, the carol showcases the symbolism…
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The Hedley Kow
The Hedley Kow is a devilish sprite, keen to play tricks on the unwary and the trusting. A shapeshifter, the kow can often be found duping the unsuspecting…
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Mither of the Sea
On the Orkney Islands, they tell the story of the changing seasons through the eternal battle between the goddess Mither and her counterpart- the terrible…
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Spring-heeled Jack
On the lonely lanes of early Victorian London, a fiend lurks in the shadows to frighten young maidens. This hellish figure is reported to have metallic claws…
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Halloween Special: The Ghosts of the Lygon Arms
For our one-year anniversary episode, we are delving into the ghostly happenings at a luxury country hotel in the Cotswolds. The beautiful Lygon Arms, with its…
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Spooky Short: The Cauld Lad
This spooky short was originally written for Season 2 Episode 2: The Cauld Lad of Hylton. Now a ruin, Hylton Castle is known in local legend for the brutal…
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Mester Stoor Worm
On the Orkney Islands, they tell of a sea serpent so enormous that it could devour whole villages in a single bite and kill entire communities with one puff of…
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Spooky Shorts: A Hand in the Darkness
This week's spooky short for Halloween is taken from our series two episode on The Hairy Hands of Dartmoor. A stretch of the B3212 road outside Postbridge on…
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Spooky Shorts: The Unwilling Guest- a Leap Castle Story
Gather round the fireside for a story of terror from Leap Castle. The Unwilling Guest first appeared in the second episode of season 1 of the podcast. This…
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The Highgate Vampire
Does a vampire walk in Highgate? This week, we take a look at the vampire story, which became the urban folk horror sensation of the early 70s. The setting…
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Old Songs with Amy Jeffs, Gwen Burns and Natalie Brice
This week, we have the absolute privilege of sitting down for a chat with writer Amy Jeffs, illustrator Gwen Burns and musician Natalie Brice to talk about…
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Borley Rectory
The infamous haunting at Borley Rectory in Essex has fascinated ghost hunters and horror aficionados alike for over a century. But Borley isn't just a ghost…
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The Beaumont Tree
This week, we take a trip to Bedfordshire to visit the site of the Beaumont Tree. This legendary elm supposedly grew from the staked heart of a notorious…
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The Dun Cow with Willerby
This week, we want to introduce you to our favourite village in the Midlands: Willerby. This charming little village has more going on than meets the eye…
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The Ballad of Tam Lin
Often called the first Scottish folktale, the romantic story of the handsome Tam Lin and his lover Janet has captivated audiences for centuries. The original…
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In Search of Camelot
On this week's non-fiction episode, we pay tribute to our wonderful father, who passed away last week, by looking at the ideal of Camelot. If Camelot were…
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The Devil's Nutting Day
The devil waits to tempt us all on the 21st September, otherwise known as The Devil's Nutting Day. Folk legend has it that Old Nick lies in wait to tempt…
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May Festivals
This week, we take a little look at the traditional festivals of May. Both Sam and I have chosen a local festival as our inspiration to write a little short…
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Taliesin and Ceridwen with Lucy Holland
This week, we are doing our first-ever author interview. Lucy Holland will be sharing with us how she takes inspiration from Welsh and British folklore…
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The Wizards of Alderly Edge
Whether you are an Alan Garner nerd or not, come along with us as we tell two tales of The Wizards of Alderley Edge, the Cheshire folktale which inspired the…
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Season 2 Results Show
We've duelled our way through romances, comedies, dark tragedies and ghost stories. Now it is time to discover which of us has the most votes for each episode…
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The Devil and the Blacksmith
Join us and special guest Mark Norman of The Folklore podcast as we discuss the ancient story of The Devil and The Blacksmith. This universal tale can be seen…
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The Mystery of the London Stone
In this minisode Nikki takes a look at the mysterious London Stone. This irregular block of oolitic limestone has stood on Cannon Street in London since before…
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The Mackenzie Poltergeist
The tomb of Sir George Mackenzie in Greyfriar's Kirkyard in Edinburgh is one of the most haunted sites in Scotland. Since the tomb was disturbed in the late…
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The Cerne Abbas Giant
On the hillside overlooking the peaceful village of Cerne Abbas is one of the most iconic images of the English countryside, that of the Cerne Abbas Giant…
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Jennet Device and the Pendle Witches
In this minisode, we do a quick sweep through the sad tale of Jennet Device, the nine-year-old beggar girl whose testimony condemned her mother, sister…
Wyrd FolkThe Hairy Hands of Dartmoor
The B3212 outside Postbridge in Dartmoor has a chilling reputation. It is the scene of numerous car crashes that have been attributed to a pair of ghostly…
Wyrd FolkThe Mermaid of Blakemere
Blakemere in the Peak District is a place of dark fables and terrible tragedies. The site of a famous local murder is also said to harbour a vengeful mermaid…
Wyrd FolkWho Put Bella in the Wych Elm
For the first season 2 short, Sam takes a look at the details behind the famous urban legend of 'Who Put Bella in the Wych Elm?'. Who is LaBella? And how did…
Wyrd FolkThe Cauld Lad of Hylton
This week, we dive into a ghostly tale from Sunderland, the Cauld Lad of Hilton Castle. Is this Cauld Lad the innocent victim of a terrible murder, or is it a…
Wyrd FolkSabrina of the Severn
Princess, goddess, saviour. Who is Sabrina? And why does she lend her name to Britain's longest river? Join us this week for a look at the tragic, romantic…
Wyrd FolkA Carol for Yuletide
One of the best things about Christmas, after the presents and the roast potatoes, is the carols. These deeply traditional little songs are often tales in…
Wyrd FolkHarry ca Nab and the Halesowen Wild Hunt
It is said that on wild nights in the Clent Hills, a diabolical huntsman rides with his pack of bloodthirsty hounds. His steed is a great black bull, his eyes…
Wyrd FolkThe Dragons of Dinas Emrys
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…
Wyrd FolkWyrd Short: The Vampire of Croglin Grange
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…