Revenants on the Redway with Dr Steph Lay

Folklore and Storytelling: A Narrative Match Made in Heaven

Storytelling is something we all do on a daily basis, whether we’re aware of it or not. Maybe we’re telling a funny anecdote about something that happened on the way to work. Perhaps we’re recounting how we first met the bride during a wedding speech. Or how about retelling our favourite folk tale to help soothe a child to sleep? Storytelling and folklore are not synonyms. Folklore is a body of knowledge created primarily by the people for transmission between themselves. Folk tales are the stories told by these same people, though the definition of a folk tale varies. Yet storytelling can be the bridge between the two, enabling the ongoing transmission of folklore from a teller to a group of avid listeners. The English and Welsh storytelling revival began in the early 1980s, and we can thank its success for the plethora of storytelling events, books, and podcasts now available. So let’s look at how storytelling links with folklore in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore! See the episode contributors here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/episode-contributors/ [https://www.icysedgwick.com/episode-contributors/] Find the blog post with all the images and references here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/folklore-and-storytelling/ [https://www.icysedgwick.com/folklore-and-storytelling/] Check out Dawn Nelson's Little History of Storytelling: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/12992/9781803996745 [https://uk.bookshop.org/a/12992/9781803996745] Amanda's talk at the Folklore Centre: https://www.folkloremythmagic.com/product-page/amanda-edmiston-traveller-tales-and-healing-herbs-talk [https://www.folkloremythmagic.com/product-page/amanda-edmiston-traveller-tales-and-healing-herbs-talk] Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/ [https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/] Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595 [https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595] Get weekly articles and bonus content at Substack: https://fabulousfolklore.substack.com/ [https://fabulousfolklore.substack.com/] Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick [https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick] Find the Fabulous Folklore Bookshop, Icy's social media links, and other useful bits at: http://icysedgwick.com/start-here [http://icysedgwick.com/start-here]

Revenants on the Redway with Dr Steph Lay

Dr Steph Lay is a folk horror writer, psychologist and researcher, gathering and sharing local stories of the unexplained for a project investigating whether the new city of Milton Keynes might be more haunted than anyone realises. Behind the scenes, she works with Peter Laws on the popular YouTube channel Into the Fog, curating the true experiences sent in by viewers and creating atmospheric artwork to bring the stories to life. Overall, her work brings together stories, psychology and the paranormal, exploring not only why strange experiences unsettle us, but why they matter. In this chat, we talk about Steph's Revenants on the Redway project, the beauty of collecting supernatural experiences, why places don't need to be old to be haunted, and the attraction of parapsychology. Find Steph's blog: https://cityofsecrets.blog/ [https://cityofsecrets.blog/] Check out Dr Ciarán O'Keeffe's parapsychology school: https://theschoolofparapsychology.company.site/ [https://theschoolofparapsychology.company.site/] Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/ [https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/] Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595 [https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595] Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick [https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick] Find the Fabulous Folklore Bookshop, Icy's social media links, and other useful bits at: http://icysedgwick.com/start-here [http://icysedgwick.com/start-here]

Folklore and Cinema: The Trick Films of Georges Méliès

Visionary film director and stage magician Georges Méliès is perhaps the earliest filmmaker who saw the visual potential of folklore. Among others, mermaids, sirens, ghosts, devils, and sorcerers are plentiful in his films. True, many of these figures become important for their centrality to the ‘tricks’ his films became famous for. Meanwhile, his films became important for the fantasy genres that would include later depictions of such folkloric beings! So how did Méliès include elements from folklore in his trick films? Let’s find out in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore! Find the blog post with all the images and references here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/georges-melies/ [https://www.icysedgwick.com/georges-melies/] Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/ [https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/] Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595 [https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595] Get weekly articles and bonus content at Substack: https://fabulousfolklore.substack.com/ [https://fabulousfolklore.substack.com/] Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick [https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick] Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore [https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore] Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop [https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop] Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7 [https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7] Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick [https://instagram.com/icysedgwick] Find Icy on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/icysedgwick.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/icysedgwick.bsky.social] 'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/ [https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/]

The Folklore of Stringed Musical Instruments: The Viola, Irish Harp, Violin, and Guitar

Musical instruments appear scattered throughout various folktales. A drum lies at the centre of the Tedworth Drummer story. Pipers and drummers try to follow underground tunnels, only to mysteriously vanish. But what of the instruments themselves? What folklore or stories swirl around the physical items?  A listener requested the folklore of musical instruments some time ago. Now we’re looking at Folklore and the Arts, it seemed like the ideal time to go looking! Let's explore some folk tales and legends featuring a handful of stringed musical instruments in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore! Listen to Jon O'Sullivan talk about the harp of An Dagda: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-J4OuYyjw4 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-J4OuYyjw4] Find the blog post with all the images and references here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/stringed-musical-instruments/ [https://www.icysedgwick.com/stringed-musical-instruments/] Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/ [https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/] Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595 [https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595] Get weekly articles and bonus content at Substack: https://fabulousfolklore.substack.com/ [https://fabulousfolklore.substack.com/] Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick [https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick] Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore [https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore] Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop [https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop] Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7 [https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7] Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick [https://instagram.com/icysedgwick] Find Icy on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/icysedgwick.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/icysedgwick.bsky.social] 'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/ [https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/]

Theatre Superstitions: Whistling, the Ghost Light, and Macbeth

Going to the theatre can often feel like a magical experience. You sit in the dark, watching a story unfold in front of you, with your imagination filling in the gaps between the sets. It’s unsurprising that theatre superstitions would be so plentiful. Intended to bring good luck or ward off bad luck, some of these superstitions have made their way into life outside the theatre. Look at how many people know it’s bad luck to name Macbeth. I’ve grouped these theatre superstitions according to which part of the theatre or performance they refer to. I'm thrilled to also have a special guest for this theatre-based episode, so a big welcome to actor, musician and folklore writer, and contender for one of the loveliest people I know, Mateo Oxley! Let's explore the strange world of theatre superstitions in this week's episode of Fabulous Folklore! Find Mateo Oxley on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mateooxley/ [https://www.instagram.com/mateooxley/] Find the blog post with all the images and references here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/theatre-superstitions/ [https://www.icysedgwick.com/theatre-superstitions/] Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/ [https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/] Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595 [https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595] Get weekly articles and bonus content at Substack: https://fabulousfolklore.substack.com/ [https://fabulousfolklore.substack.com/] Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick [https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick] Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore [https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore] Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop [https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop] Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7 [https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7] Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick [https://instagram.com/icysedgwick] Find Icy on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/icysedgwick.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/icysedgwick.bsky.social] 'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/ [https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/]