
Welcome to Folk Files, a podcast hosted by Olivia Harding that seeks to uncover the mysteries of folk music throughout the ages and dive deep into the tangled history of murder ballads, sea shanties, rebel songs, and other music that has withstood the test of time!
| Publishes | Monthly | Episodes | 30 | Founded | 2 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Music HistoryMusic | |||

In this St. Patrick's Day episode, I ask the question: Is it actually Irish? We will explore over thirty songs that are performed in Irish contexts and see if they actually come from Irish sources. Along the way, we'll discuss the Rising of 1798, the... more
Is "The MTA Song" a conservative song or a communist song (or neither)? And why did record companies try to hide the origins of the tune of one of the most prolific early 20th century country songs? Find out in this episode of Folk Files, which discu... more
Welcome to the third season of Folk Files! We are starting off the year with a Robert Burns-themed episode to celebrate Burns Night on January 25th. Learn about the traditions associated with the Burns Night Supper and discover how Robert Burns was i... more
Happy Holidays! Coventry Carol is a lullaby to a "little tiny child"...but surprisingly, that child is not Jesus. Learn more about this Christmas carol that was almost lost to time, including the history of modern Western Theatre and the origins of t... more
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Well researched and presented, with lots of interesting details. Doesn’t get too academic, keeping folk music at a level that folks can connect with. As a music and history nerd, I love fun facts about the music I listen to, and the general tone and humor woven through, as well as clips from so many amazing performers, makes for a fun listen.
Bite-sized episodes backed by quality research on an endlessly fascinating topic.
As someone who is interested in and exploring the cultural history of my ancestors beyond what mainstream society has told us it is, I greatly enjoy how this podcast fills and creates those avenues of discovery.
Perfect length of episode, always educational and entertaining.
I have really enjoyed every podcast but my favorite was Trousers and Petticoats.
The research that you put into each episode is greatly appreciated. I have learned so many things about Folk Songs that I never knew. Thank you for sharing these and I hope there are more to come.
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Apple Podcasts | #202 | |
Apple Podcasts | #191 |
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Folk Files presents expert-curated explorations of folk music history, with a strong emphasis on murder ballads, sea shanties, and rebel songs across centuries. Across episodes, listeners encounter deep dives into song origins, lineage, and cultural impact, often tying tunes to social movements, labor history, and performance practices. The show balances scholarly context with engaging storytelling and guest performances, making complex topics accessible to both newcomers and hardcore folk enthusiasts. A notable strength is the host's ability to connect archival detail with contemporary relevance, while featuring a rotating cast of guests from academia and traditional folk circles.
Potential listeners will likely enjoy richly researched na... more
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These podcasts share a similar audience with Folk Files:
1. Folk on Foot
2. No Such Thing As A Fish
3. Song Exploder
4. Articles of Interest
5. Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond
Folk Files launched 2 years ago and published 30 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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Recent guests on Folk Files include:
1. Ruth Perry
2. Queen Caroline Hughes
3. Sam Lee
4. Carolyn Kendrick
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