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The Folklore Podcast

Mark Norman
Folklore
Stories From the Hearth
The Three Ravens Podcast
British Isles
Folk and Fairy Tales
Norse Mythology
Children's Literature
Storytelling
Chuck Tingle
Mythology
Loki
Sisters Of the Lost Nation
Camp Damascus
The Two Sisters
Writing For Children
Native American Folklore
Folkloring
Autism
Urban Legends
Sexuality

Folklore: Beliefs, traditions & culture of the people. Traditional folklore themes from around the world. An accessible podcast ranked in the top 0.5% of shows globally, bringing free access to many of the world's experts in folklore, authors, broadcasters and more.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes266Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentarySociety & CultureHistory

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Latest Episodes

A very special feature length episode of The Folklore Podcast, with a panel consisting of the cream of those people associated with the classic children's title THE BOX OF DELIGHTS.

Podcast host Mark Norman discusses the enduring love for Box in all... more

In this episode we visit the 2025 UK Ghost Story Festival, which was held at the Museum of Making in Derby. Host Mark Norman meets some of the presenters from the festival and chats to them about ghost stories and their work.

Children's author ALEX ... more

Folklore Podcast host Mark Norman chats with special guest, broadcaster and author Jeff Belanger, about some of the ghosts, folklore and other legends found in New England, in the north-eastern corner of the United States.

Jeff is the host of 'New E... more

Mark Norman is joined by broadcaster, author and medievalist Dr Eleanor Janega to look at the role of the ghost in the medieval period.

What elements of the behaviour of the ghost might we still recognise today? What was the view and the role of the... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Alex Foulkes
Children's author known for 'Rules for Vampires' series
Simon & Schuster
Episode: Episode 188 - UK GHOST STORY FESTIVAL CHATS
Teika Marija Smits
Author and editor specializing in speculative fiction and poetry
Episode: Episode 188 - UK GHOST STORY FESTIVAL CHATS
Dr. Sam Hirst
Academic and host of 'Romancing the Gothic'
Shuffield University
Episode: Episode 188 - UK GHOST STORY FESTIVAL CHATS
Jeff Belanger
Folklorist and author, host of the Emmy-nominated series 'New England Legends' and co-host of a podcast with the same name.
New England Legends
Episode: Episode 187 - WICKED STRANGE: GHOSTS AND LEGENDS OF NEW ENGLAND
Dr. Eleanor Janega
Medieval historian and broadcaster, expert on the Holy Roman Empire, and co-host of the Gone Medieval Podcast
Gone Medieval Podcast
Episode: Episode 186 - MEDIEVAL GHOSTS
Amy Hopwood
Musician and singer with a new album called Gone To Flowers
Episode: Episode 185 - THE FOLKLORE OF PROVERBS
Jackie Oates
A prominent British folk singer with numerous awards and collaborations
Various, including The Imagined Village
Episode: Christmas Special 2025 - The Mistletoe Bride
Darren Simpson
Author and twice Carnegie Medal nominated writer, focusing on folk horror and older children's literature.
Pushkin Books
Episode: Episode 184 - THIRST: RIVERS AND FOLKLORE
Michelle Paver
Renowned author known for her ghost stories and children's books
Author of 'Rainforest' and the 'Wolf Brother' series
Episode: Episode 183 - GHOST STORIES WITH MICHELLE PAVER

Host

Mark Norman
Folklorist and author, host of The Folklore Podcast. A seasoned expert on folklore, Mark brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the podcast as its lead host, guiding discussions and engaging with guests on various folklore-related topics.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 603 ratings
  • Smart and well written

    Podcast Addict
    5
    @patrickjones
    a year ago
  • Fantastic!

    Saw this on Bluesky the other day and decided to take a listen- I was surprised that it’s been around for a while but now understand since it’s so well done.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MerryBross
    United Statesa year ago
  • Terrible reading.

    What a pity. I so wanted a podcast of classic tales but the readers are so bad that it’s like sitting in six grade again listening to my poor friends struggle flatly through sentence after sentence in English class.

    Absolutely pointless.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Going
    United States2 years ago
  • By far the best folklore podcast out there. I greatly enjoy how thoroughly researched everything is.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Squeeenie
    2 years ago
  • An Excellent Podcast

    I have been a Poddie since 2007. This is excellent.

    Ver informative and clearly spoken.

    No Whitney, nasal American accents.

    Great content.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Geoff the Welsh One
    Australia2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Engaging, informative & thought-provoking; listeners find themselves musing long after episodes finish.
Frequent mention of the podcast's significant contribution to understanding folklore, highlighting its cultural relevance.
High praise for audio quality and well-researched topics, encapsulating a sense of intimacy in storytelling.
Some reviewers expressed disappointment in certain episodes that veer towards interviews, preferring more focused exploratory content.
Thoughtful integration of folklore topics with expert guests lends the podcast an academic yet accessible quality.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#246
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#95
Norway/History
Apple Podcasts
#125
Philippines/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 187 - WICKED STRANGE: GHOSTS AND LEGENDS OF NEW ENGLAND
Q: Could you tell us a little bit more about this project and your collaboration with a photographer?
Jeff describes how he collaborated with photographer Frank Grace on a calendar of New England haunts that led to the creation of their book 'Wicked Strange'.
Episode 186 - MEDIEVAL GHOSTS
Q: How do medieval ghosts relate to the teachings of the Church?
Medieval ghosts are often related to moral and spiritual lessons, revealing societal beliefs and expectations, and sometimes illuminating social injustices.
Episode 186 - MEDIEVAL GHOSTS
Q: What was a ghost to the medievalists?
A ghost is viewed as a returned or possibly visiting spirit of a dead person, often linked to the beliefs about purgatory and unfinished business.
Episode 184 - THIRST: RIVERS AND FOLKLORE
Q: Did that prove to be difficult in terms of the writing versus the pushback from publishers going, you can't do that for kids?
When I do my first draft, I tend to aim to be as dark as I want, balanced with a bit of light and not just darkness for the sake of it.
Episode 184 - THIRST: RIVERS AND FOLKLORE
Q: How do you connect folklore with bigger themes like sacrifice and environmentalism through your book?
The ideas of rivers representing sacrifice and what we tolerate in nature resonate deeply through the stories we tell.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Folklore Podcast

What is The Folklore Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The content explores the diversity and richness of folklore, encompassing beliefs, traditions, and cultural stories from around the world. Each episode often features discussions with prominent experts in folklore, authors, and other creatives who delve into various themes such as ghost stories, proverbs, and the historical significance of folklore in contemporary culture. Unique formats include a mix of narrative storytelling and in-depth interviews, all presented in an engaging manner that appeals to both casual listeners and folklore enthusiasts alike. This podcast stands out for its commitment to making folklore accessible and educational, while drawing on a wide range of perspectives and scholarly insights.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Folklore Podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Folklore Podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Folklore Podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Folklore Podcast get?

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How many subscribers and views does The Folklore Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Folklore Podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Folklore Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Folklore Podcast:

1. Dark Histories
2. After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal
3. The Ancients
4. Gone Medieval
5. Myths and Legends

How many episodes of The Folklore Podcast are there?

The Folklore Podcast launched 10 years ago and published 266 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 The Folklore Podcast?

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 The Folklore Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on The Folklore Podcast?

Recent guests on The Folklore Podcast include:

1. Alex Foulkes
2. Teika Marija Smits
3. Dr. Sam Hirst
4. Jeff Belanger
5. Dr. Eleanor Janega
6. Amy Hopwood
7. Jackie Oates
8. Darren Simpson

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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