The Three Ravens Podcast

Three Ravens

Three Ravens is an English myth and folklore podcast hosted by Eleanor Conlon and Martin Vaux. In each weekly episode, released on Mondays, we explore a historic county, digging into the history, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Across our first six series we ventured around England's 39 historic counties twice, taking turns to tell a new version of a legend from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it may have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past. Our Bonus Episodes are then released on Thursdays (Magic and Medicines about folk remedies and arcane spells, Three Ravens Bestiary about cryptids and mythical creatures, Forgotten Melodies about folk song types with original performances from us, and Magus, which is about the lives of the most famous witches and wizards in history). On Saturdays, we then release episodes of our interview series Local Legends, with each episode featuring a chat between us and an acclaimed folklorist, author, podcaster or historian, deepening discussions about that week's county. In between series, since March 2025 we have also launched our Lang Fairy Tale Project, for which we are recording and releasing the 700+ stories collected by English academics and authors Nora and Andrew Lang, published in over a dozen volumes from the end of the 19th century and changing children's literature forever. With entire other Bonus Series to enjoy, including our comic retelling of the legend of Gawain and the Green Knight, original narratives such as our upcoming series Dog Days about the supernatural adventures of young playwright Christopher Marlowe in Elizabethan London, and our annual Haunting Season every October, there's tonnes of fun to be had in our back catalogue of over 300 episodes. In addition to which, we also release a range of exclusive content on Patreon, where supporters also enjoy ad-free listening, including monthly 'One Off' episodes covering a range of folky topics, editions of the Three Ravens Newsletter, and over two-dozen episodes of the Three Ravens Film Club, through which we discuss folk horror films from across the decades, and more. For a guide of where to start, click here - but our advice is to just pick an episode that sounds interesting, then hit 'Play' and join us around the campfire to listen in... Three Ravens Series 7 launched in September 2025, and is all about the heritage and legends of the 13 historic counties of Wales. For press or collaboration inquiries or learn more about our book, published in hardback by The History Press, and the podcast in general, visit our website. Join our Patreon here, and find links to our social media channels and sponsor Three Spirit Drinks here. Use Voucher Code THREERAVENS for a 15% discount. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Forgotten Melodies #8: Love Songs

    46M AGO

    Forgotten Melodies #8: Love Songs

    What's your favourite Love Song? On this month's episode of Forgotten Melodies, to cap off February, we're chatting about our own, and digging into and performing three iconic folk songs about love. These new arrangements are of Cupid the Pretty Plough Boy, Green Bushes and No John No, including our friend Katie Sommers singing soprano parts, plus Martin, Ben and Eleanor chatting about the history and context of each tune. From the roots of the Love Ballad in the Middle East and north Africa via Renaissance poetry and the blooming of comic opera, the Love Songs of today have been on a long journey of evolution. And yet, has the nature of love really changed so much across the centuries? Have we lost things in the mission to make some of these songs 'Drawing Room Safe?' And can Ben ever explain the Dorian Mode in a way Martin will understand?! We hope you enjoy listening to us chewing over these questions and much more beside - and this clutch of brighter songs as the weather brightens into spring. Speak to you again on Saturday, with this week's Local Legends interview with David Rowe, and again on Sunday for our March Update episode! The Three Ravens is a Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon. Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on a historic county, exploring the heritage, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly, the pair take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past... Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays plus Local Legends episodes on Saturdays - interviews with acclaimed authors, folklorists, podcasters and historians with unique perspectives on that week's county. With a range of exclusive content on Patreon too, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, and monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, why not join us around the campfire and listen in? Learn more at www.threeravenspodcast.com, join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/threeravenspodcast, and find links to our social media channels here: https://linktr.ee/threeravenspodcast REGISTER FOR THE TALES OF SOUTHERN ENGLAND TOUR Visit our website Join our Patreon Social media channels and sponsors Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 5m
  2. Series 7 Episode 10: Flintshire

    3D AGO

    Series 7 Episode 10: Flintshire

    On this week's episode of Three Ravens we're headed to a Welsh county with two separate sections - historic Flintshire! The county where Edward I began his conquest of Wales, the prehistory of Flintshire is just as interesting as what's happened more recently. And more recently the county was the place where the global price of lead was set - it is a major mover and shaker as counties go, with or without its 'Flintshire Detached' section! From the 3,500 year old Gold Cape of Mold to the country house home of four-time Prime Minister of Great Britain William Gladstone, the last stone castle built by the Welsh to a site of pilgrimage that has been in use for 1,300 years, there's tonnes to talk about! Plus, bolstered by some extracts of this week's Local Legends interview with author and Flintshire historian David Rowe, it turns out the county has heaps of folklore, too. From ghosts and giant legless frogs with bat wings to The Demon of Flint, some excellent examples of folk magic, and "The Stone of Lamentation" we revel in the strangeness of it all. Then though, it's time for Martin's story, "Deborah's Well," a story of a woman slain by her brother, but who walks on, and has done so for a very long time... We hope that you enjoy the episode, and will speak to you again on Thursday with a brand new episode of Forgotten Melodies all about Love Songs before the full interview with David comes out on Saturday! Three Ravens is a Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon. Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on a historic county, exploring the heritage, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly, we take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past... Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays plus Local Legends episodes on Saturdays - interviews with acclaimed authors, folklorists, podcasters and historians with unique perspectives on that week's county. With a range of exclusive content on Patreon too, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, and monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, why not join us around the campfire and listen in? Learn more at www.threeravenspodcast.com, join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/threeravenspodcast, and find links to our social media channels here: https://linktr.ee/threeravenspodcast REGISTER FOR THE TALES OF SOUTHERN ENGLAND TOUR Visit our website Join our Patreon Social media channels and sponsors Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    2h 10m
  3. Local Legends #55: Cath Little

    5D AGO

    Local Legends #55: Cath Little

    On this week's episode of Local Legends Eleanor is chatting with the brilliant author, storyteller, and champion of Cardiff, Cath Little! Cath is especially interested in re-imagining tales from The Mabinogion. She shares her stories all over the place: in libraries, museums, castles, cafes, fields and schools, not least because schools and education are very important to Cath. She was a secondary school English teacher, a teacher of English abroad in Italy and Egypt, and later a Steiner Waldorf Early Years teacher. Stories are the thread which run through her long and varied career, and she’s also the author of Glamorgan Folk Tales for Children, illustrated by Peter Stevenson.  Cath performs at festivals across Britain and Ireland, and somehow also finds time to run the Cardiff Storytelling Circle and their seasonal concerts Tales for the Turning Year, and tell stories at Oasis, a Cardiff-based charity for refugees and asylum seekers. Learn more about Cath and her work on her website, https://www.cathlittle.co.uk/ Otherwise, settle in for a lovely chat about favourite local tales, spots which inspire Cath, puppets, ghostly knights, children using skulls to play football, and so much more! We really hope you enjoy the episode, we will speak to you again on Monday for our next County Episode, all about the historic county of Flintshire! Three Ravens is an English Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon. Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on one of England's 39 historic counties, exploring the history, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly, the pair take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past... Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays plus Local Legends episodes on Saturdays - interviews with acclaimed authors, folklorists, podcasters and historians with unique perspectives on that week's county. With a range of exclusive content on Patreon, too, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, and monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, why not join us around the campfire and listen in? Learn more at www.threeravenspodcast.com, join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/threeravenspodcast, and find links to our social media channels here: https://linktr.ee/threeravenspodcast REGISTER FOR THE TALES OF SOUTHERN ENGLAND TOUR Visit our website Join our Patreon Social media channels and sponsors Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 2m
  4. Three Ravens Bestiary #21: Centaurs and Pegasus

    FEB 19

    Three Ravens Bestiary #21: Centaurs and Pegasus

    For our first episode of the Three Ravens Bestiary for 2026, we're talking all about Centaurs and Pegasus! We begin in Dark Age Greece, way back before Homer, when horse-riding cavalry suddenly became a factor in human life. Representations in art leave us in no doubt - the combination of a horse with a man makes for a terrifying foe, though that's only the start of the story. Starting with Homer, developed by Hesiod, expanded upon by Pindar, then reinterpreted by Ovid, Centaurs graduate from fearful, lusty, xenophobic savages to become something else - a version of human beings, though unable to restrain their animalistic urges. From Cheiron, the wise and noble mentor to many an Ancient Greek hero, on through to C.S. Lewis and J.K. Rowling, we are left in a place where now we have to wonder what ought a Centaur be a symbol for, if anything at all? Then we switch our focus to the primal flying wonder-horse and father of horsekind, Pegasus, who is born out of his mother's neck, has a non-identical twin brother we don't talk about, and who perhaps got a bit carried away himself during escapades with Bellerophon, Prince of Corinth. As always, expect lots of nerdy references to dead people and things, a few digressions to talk about, for example, whether horses are innately shifty, and plenty more besides - so bring your Golden Bridle and let's giddyup! Speak to you again on Saturday for Eleanor's Local Legends interview about Glamorganshire with author, folklorist and storyteller Cath Little! Three Ravens is an English Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon. Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on one of England's 39 historic counties, exploring the history, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly, the pair take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past... Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays plus Local Legends episodes on Saturdays - interviews with acclaimed authors, folklorists, podcasters and historians with unique perspectives on that week's county. With a range of exclusive content on Patreon, too, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, and monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, why not join us around the campfire and listen in? Learn more at www.threeravenspodcast.com, join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/threeravenspodcast, and find links to our social media channels here: https://linktr.ee/threeravenspodcast REGISTER FOR THE TALES OF SOUTHERN ENGLAND TOUR Visit our website Join our Patreon Social media channels and sponsors Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 24m
  5. Series 7 Episode 9: Glamorganshire

    FEB 16

    Series 7 Episode 9: Glamorganshire

    For today's episode, we're venturing to the south of Wales to historic Glamorganshire. We talk about the county's very ancient life, including the discovery of the oldest bones in Western Europe, and its development into industrial glory, and later, industrial depression. Glamorganshire is a real treasure trove of folklore, from extremely stabby fairies to helpful ghosts and suspiciously nice snakes. We dabble in a bit of local love magic, and go hunting with Mallt y Nos and her pack of hellhounds. Trundling in our rickety mine cart down into the copper works of the past, we stop off for Eleanor's story, "A Peculiar Thirst," a tale of a trip which takes an unexpected turn. We hope that you enjoy the episode, and will speak to you again on Thursday with a brand new episode of the Three Ravens Bestiary all about Centaurs! Three Ravens is a Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon. Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on a historic county, exploring the heritage, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly, we take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past... Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays plus Local Legends episodes on Saturdays - interviews with acclaimed authors, folklorists, podcasters and historians with unique perspectives on that week's county. With a range of exclusive content on Patreon too, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, and monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, why not join us around the campfire and listen in? Learn more at www.threeravenspodcast.com, join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/threeravenspodcast, and find links to our social media channels here: https://linktr.ee/threeravenspodcast REGISTER FOR THE TALES OF SOUTHERN ENGLAND TOUR Visit our website Join our Patreon Social media channels and sponsors Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    2h 6m
  6. Valentine's Magic

    FEB 14

    Valentine's Magic

    It's Valentine's Day, so it's the perfect time to try out a little love magic! That's why we invited Dr Icy Sedgwick, author of Bring Me Love: Finding and Keeping Love Using Divination and Folk Magic, to come and chat to us all about love spells, cunning folk and ways to dream about your destined lover. It's a great chat, involving magical subscription services, cheese-based romantic decision making, and the surprisingly shocking practice of gathering kale to predict the kind of relationship you might have. Icy is a writer, folklorist and host of the Fabulous Folklore podcast, and Bring Me Love is the latest in a series of great books including Rebel Folklore and Ghostlore. We're running a giveaway until the end of February to win a copy of the book, so don't forget to enter on social media! We will speak to you again on Monday, for a new episode all about the history and folklore of Glamorganshire! The Three Ravens is a Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon. Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on a historic county, exploring the heritage, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly, the pair take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past... Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays plus Local Legends episodes on Saturdays - interviews with acclaimed authors, folklorists, podcasters and historians with unique perspectives on that week's county. With a range of exclusive content on Patreon too, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, and monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, why not join us around the campfire and listen in? Learn more at www.threeravenspodcast.com, join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/threeravenspodcast, and find links to our social media channels here: https://linktr.ee/threeravenspodcast REGISTER FOR THE TALES OF SOUTHERN ENGLAND TOUR Visit our website Join our Patreon Social media channels and sponsors Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 6m
  7. Local Legends #54: Russ Williams

    FEB 14

    Local Legends #54: Russ Williams

    On this week's episode of Local Legends Martin's flagged over Griff, the trusty Ford Fiesta, belonging to travel writer and folklorist Russ Williams. Author of the WTF blog and Where The Folk: A Welsh Folklore Road Trip, Russ trained as a journalist, had a jaunt overseas in Australia, and felt hiraeth calling him. He's now based in Cardiff, but North Wales will forever be home. Which is very handy for us, as he doesn't just know Caernarfonshire's folk tales and character - he has been to these places, spoken to local people, and, in some cases, even washed dishes in haunted pubs. A charming conversationalist, Russ has armfuls of tales for you in this episode, plus we also talk about Welsh Nationalism, whether Caernarfon or Conwy castle is better, what the heck is going in in Bangor, a plenty more besides. Learn more about Russ and his work on his website, https://www.russwilliams.org/ We really hope you enjoy this episode, do check out our other release today - Eleanor's Valentine's Day-themed conversation with Dr Icy Sedgwick about Love Magic, and we will speak to you again on Monday for our next County Episode, all about the historic county of Glamorganshire! The Three Ravens is a Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon. Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on a historic county, exploring the heritage, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly, the pair take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past... Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays plus Local Legends episodes on Saturdays - interviews with acclaimed authors, folklorists, podcasters and historians with unique perspectives on that week's county. With a range of exclusive content on Patreon too, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, and monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, why not join us around the campfire and listen in? Learn more at www.threeravenspodcast.com, join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/threeravenspodcast, and find links to our social media channels here: https://linktr.ee/threeravenspodcast REGISTER FOR THE TALES OF SOUTHERN ENGLAND TOUR Visit our website Join our Patreon Social media channels and sponsors Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 17m
  8. Magic and Medicines #21: Spiritualism

    FEB 12

    Magic and Medicines #21: Spiritualism

    Magic and Medicines is BACK - just like the ooky-spooky ghosts summoned up by believers in this episode's topic - Spiritualism! As we discuss, philosophically speaking 'Spiritualism' is a big old tradition, involving any belief system rooted in concepts of souls, spirits, or supernatural forces. In the 19th century however, during the Second Great Awakening in upstate New York, Spiritualist ideas from a range of Revivalist traditions combined to make something new. Exploding in popularity following America's Civil War, then booming again in Britain after the Great War, new generations of 'Mediums' had come forth, channeling ghosts and cosmic forces in ways that would have been recognisable in Prophets, Holy Maids and Cunning Folk from the Ancient, Medieval and Renaissance eras. Which is to say, Necromancy was back after a rebrand - and so were its enemies, in the forms of debunkers, prosecutors, and many a Society of Psychical Research. From rapping tables to sudden splurges of ectoplasm, Spiritualist manifestos to Harry Houdini hunting severed hands hidden in delicate places, this one has it all. So, turn off the lights, light some candles, and let's all hold hands... Is there anybody there?! Three Ravens is an English Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon. Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on one of England's 39 historic counties, exploring the history, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly, the pair take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past... Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays plus Local Legends episodes on Saturdays - interviews with acclaimed authors, folklorists, podcasters and historians with unique perspectives on that week's county. With a range of exclusive content on Patreon, too, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, and monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, why not join us around the campfire and listen in? REGISTER FOR THE TALES OF SOUTHERN ENGLAND TOUR Visit our website Join our Patreon Social media channels and sponsors Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 39m
4.9
out of 5
89 Ratings

About

Three Ravens is an English myth and folklore podcast hosted by Eleanor Conlon and Martin Vaux. In each weekly episode, released on Mondays, we explore a historic county, digging into the history, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Across our first six series we ventured around England's 39 historic counties twice, taking turns to tell a new version of a legend from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it may have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past. Our Bonus Episodes are then released on Thursdays (Magic and Medicines about folk remedies and arcane spells, Three Ravens Bestiary about cryptids and mythical creatures, Forgotten Melodies about folk song types with original performances from us, and Magus, which is about the lives of the most famous witches and wizards in history). On Saturdays, we then release episodes of our interview series Local Legends, with each episode featuring a chat between us and an acclaimed folklorist, author, podcaster or historian, deepening discussions about that week's county. In between series, since March 2025 we have also launched our Lang Fairy Tale Project, for which we are recording and releasing the 700+ stories collected by English academics and authors Nora and Andrew Lang, published in over a dozen volumes from the end of the 19th century and changing children's literature forever. With entire other Bonus Series to enjoy, including our comic retelling of the legend of Gawain and the Green Knight, original narratives such as our upcoming series Dog Days about the supernatural adventures of young playwright Christopher Marlowe in Elizabethan London, and our annual Haunting Season every October, there's tonnes of fun to be had in our back catalogue of over 300 episodes. In addition to which, we also release a range of exclusive content on Patreon, where supporters also enjoy ad-free listening, including monthly 'One Off' episodes covering a range of folky topics, editions of the Three Ravens Newsletter, and over two-dozen episodes of the Three Ravens Film Club, through which we discuss folk horror films from across the decades, and more. For a guide of where to start, click here - but our advice is to just pick an episode that sounds interesting, then hit 'Play' and join us around the campfire to listen in... Three Ravens Series 7 launched in September 2025, and is all about the heritage and legends of the 13 historic counties of Wales. For press or collaboration inquiries or learn more about our book, published in hardback by The History Press, and the podcast in general, visit our website. Join our Patreon here, and find links to our social media channels and sponsor Three Spirit Drinks here. Use Voucher Code THREERAVENS for a 15% discount. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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