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Artwork for Bone and Sickle

Bone and Sickle

Al Ridenour
Halloween
Folklore
Patreon
Christmas
Eaton Wildfire
Ventriloquism
Death
Ghost Stories
Edgar Allan Poe
Banshee
German Carnival
Young Goodman Brown
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Salem Village
Witchcraft
Vlad the Impaler
Trick-Or-Treat By Mail
U.S. Postal Service
Egypt
Demonic Possession

BONE AND SICKLE explores historical topics related to folklore and horror. With acerbic wit and a scholarly penchant for the grotesque, rogue folklorist Al Ridenour delves into a wide but carefully curated range of topics illustrated by stories from historical texts. Narratives are given dramatic readings by “Mrs. Karswell” (Sarah Chavez) backed by richly produced soundscapes blending original mus... more

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes184Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsHistory

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Artwork for Bone and Sickle

Latest Episodes

Robert the Devil is a supernatural medieval legend that inspired a 19th-century French opera, which incorporates key elements from a seminal Gothic novel. The opera and legend are substantially different but both interesting.

We begin with Giacomo ... more

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Trolls, as presented in medieval literature, are vastly different from the creatures we encountered in our last episode’s collection of 19th-century Norwegian folktales. These Viking Age trolls are more vividly and gruesomely described, and the “trol... more

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Trolls in Scandinavian folklore can be a little different from what’s imagined in the rest of the world. We begin our show with a montage of clips from recent movies, Trollhunter (2010), Troll (2022), and Troll 2 (2025) — the latter two being Netflix... more

YouTube

Gammer Gurton’s Garland, published in 1784, is one of the earliest collections of English nursery rhymes, and contains verses both familiar and alarmingly unsettling.

Intended to be read to toddlers (i.e., “children who can neither read nor run,” a... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Tom Chalmar
Excellent voice actor
Episode: Halloween Fortune-Telling Party

Hosts

Al Ridenour
Host and rogue folklorist; co-host and creator of Bone and Sickle; engages in scholarly storytelling with acerbic wit.
Sarah Chavez
Co-host; performs dramatic readings as Mrs. Karswell and contributes reading voice and insights; partners with Al for historical narrative.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 540 ratings
  • Quite Enjoyable

    The topics are excellent. The style in which they are presented is fun and gives it an old time kind of feel. The chemistry between the characters is enjoyable and adds a lot to the show. Great scripts.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TheVelvetAnt
    Canada6 months ago
  • Delve, won't you, into the mysteries of folklore? Join our jolly circle

    Podcast Addict
    5
    teh_b00tnabian
    7 months ago
  • Great Readings

    If you’re a fgan of The Midnight Library and the style where the narrator gives a reading on topic, then you will like Bone and Sickle. The stories are unusual and macabre, well read, researched presented in narration format.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CCart616
    United Statesa year ago
  • 5 stars

    Scholarly, stylish, & grim in all the best ways. Brilliant stuff.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Jonbiscoe
    United States2 years ago
  • Bone and Sickle presents individual topic episodes about the intersection of folklore and horror. Mr. Ridenour is deeply erudite (he wrote a book on the Krampus) and it shows in each episode. These are dry, academic episodes though, with each presented with humor and excellent soundscaping.

    Podchaser
    5
    cmarkmurrah
    2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many note the high quality of research and vocal performances.
Listeners praise the show for its scholarly depth and atmospheric production.
Fans highlight the witty, dry humor and strong host chemistry.

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Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Bone and Sickle

What is Bone and Sickle about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Historical folklore and horror are explored through scholarly narration, dramatic readings, and lush soundscapes. Episodes thread together archival sources, classical tales, and obscure legends with commentary that blends rigorous research with dry wit and theatrical flair. Listeners likely enjoy deep dives into myth, creepy folklore, and the cultural contexts that shaped folk horror, often returning for the meticulous sourcing, atmospheric production, and banter between hosts. A notable strength is the seamless fusion of authoritative narration with entertaining, character-driven interludes and a distinctive, vintage-meets-gothic aesthetic that sets this show apart from more straightforward history podcasts.

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How many listeners does Bone and Sickle get?

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How many subscribers and views does Bone and Sickle have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Bone and Sickle?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Bone and Sickle:

1. MonsterTalk
2. Uncanny Japan
3. The Midnight Library
4. The Purple Stuff Podcast
5. Skeptoid

How many episodes of Bone and Sickle are there?

Bone and Sickle launched 8 years ago and published 184 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Bone and Sickle?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Bone and Sickle?

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What guests have appeared on Bone and Sickle?

Recent guests on Bone and Sickle include:

1. Tom Chalmar

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