
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
| Publishes | Monthly | Episodes | 170 | Founded | 8 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | ArtsHistory | |||

This year, in the tradition of Halloween fortune-telling, we have an interactive divination game you can play at home. It comes from aa 19th-century book on cartomancy called, The oracle of human destiny: or, the unerring foreteller of future events... more
If you’ve been curious regarding Mr. Ridenour’s and Mrs. Karswell’s troubles with anomalous events in the house, this short episode should answer some of your questions as Dr. Bartusch and crew attempt to restore order.
(SPOILER ALERTt: Do not listen to this until you have heard Episode 146 “Urban Legend”.) This is a short postscript to our “Urban Legend” episode based on feedback from a listener. It has to do with a very curious grave in Chesterton, Indiana, which... more
A 1968 Halloween “Spook Show” in the Midwest left an unsettling heritage of urban legends possibly rooted in even more unsettling facts. What little is definitively known regarding this event comes from the newspaper archives of the Danville News-Ga... more
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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.
Scholarly, stylish, & grim in all the best ways. Brilliant stuff.
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.
This is by far my favorite podcast. I love it. Ridenour is a great writer and this show makes me laugh out loud sometimes. It’s super interesting and well worth the listen.
This is my all time favourite podcast.
It’s creepy and educational!
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #241 |
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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A unique exploration of historical folklore and horror topics is present throughout the episodes, characterized by a touch of acerbic humor and a scholarly approach. The discussions often draw upon historical texts which are dramatically recited by the co-host, Mrs. Karswell, enhancing the storytelling experience with rich soundscapes that merge music with sound effects. Themes such as the intertwining of folklore with various historical narratives are prevalent, with episodes adopting diverse formats, including dramatic readings of classic horror stories and lesser-known antiquarian texts. This engaging combination of humor, education, and sound design likely makes the content both entertaining and thought-provoking for listeners intereste... more
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These podcasts share a similar audience with Bone and Sickle:
1. MonsterTalk
2. The Midnight Library
3. Dark Histories
4. Loremen Podcast
5. Southern Gothic
Bone and Sickle launched 8 years ago and published 170 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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