Folkitory: Spooky folklore, strange history and the paranormal

Jenny Lewis

Spooky folklore, strange history, stories that have been passed down through generations and the truth behind them! Join Jenny for weekly short episodes and take a dive into the strange, spooky or monstrous, from using sigils to summon angels, things that lurk in the deep, and places the Devil has left his mark to fairies, what's hiding among the trees and the end of the world. We're just getting started. Come listen and hit follow. See you on the other side. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 4d ago

    13 - The Edinburgh Vaults (Halloween Special!)

    How apt that the Halloween special is Folkitory's 13th episode! We visit the gorgeous city of Edinburgh and the Vaults, filled with poor souls, poltergeists, demons and groups of tourists. 0:51: Intro 2:20: The History of the Edinburgh 3:35: The History of South Bridge 10:36: The Rediscovery of the Vaults 11:08: My Own Vaults Experience 13:12: The Witch Temple 15:12: Gentle Spirits Inside the Vaults 17:15: My Favourite Vault Ghost Story 19:28: The Poltergeist in the Vaults 23:15: Who is the Poltergeist? Theme music: The Nightingale by Ceridwen McCooey Sound effects from Pixabay. Cover art by moi, Jenny. Find out more at folkitory.co.uk. Sources and transcript: https://folkitory.co.uk/2026/10/26/edinburgh-vaults/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    13 - The Edinburgh Vaults (Halloween Special!)

  2. Oct 20 ·  Bonus

    12 - BONUS: Bristol Ghost Stories (Halloween poll runner-up)

    In this runner-up topic from the Halloween special poll, we visit a couple of haunted sites in the city of Bristol: the Llandoger Trow pub and beautiful Christmas Steps where spirits order drinks and screams echo. Theme music: The Nightingale by Ceridwen McCooey Sound effects from Pixabay. Cover art by moi, Jenny. Find out more at folkitory.co.uk. Sources: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/articles/2004/07/12/christmas_steps_feature.shtml https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/history/history-christmas-steps-bristol-surprising-827407 https://secretbristol.com/haunted-places-bristol/ https://everything.explained.today/Llandoger_Trow/#google_vignette https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llandoger_Trow https://thelittlehouseofhorrors.com/llandoger-trow/ https://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/hauntings/the-llandoger-trow-bristol/ https://gosouthwestengland.co.uk/haunted-bristol-alley/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    12 - BONUS: Bristol Ghost Stories (Halloween poll runner-up)

  3. Oct 13 ·  Bonus

    11 - BONUS: A Surprise About The Ancient Aztec Empire

    In this first bonus episode there's a historic fact that blew Jenny's mind about the connection between ancient Aztec Empire and horrible Henry VIII. Theme music: The Nightingale by Ceridwen McCooey Sound effects from Pixabay. Cover art by moi, Jenny. Find out more at folkitory.co.uk. Sources: https://www.britannica.com/summary/Aztec https://www.countryfile.com/people/royals/how-many-henry-viii-kill https://historycrunch.com/aztec-human-sacrifice/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tudor_period Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    11 - BONUS: A Surprise About The Ancient Aztec Empire

  4. Oct 6

    10 - Doppelgangers and Mimics: When Old Meets New Folklore

    Doppelgängers, as souls, spirits and omens of impending death, have existed in folklore across cultures for thousands of years. Mimics, however, have not. Let's take a look at doppelgänger experiences and how new folklore comes into existence, bending with and borrowing from the old, until maybe it becomes real. 0:30: Intro 1:29: History of doppelgängers (ka, vardøger, fetch, karin) 5:13: Experiences of doppelgängers 8:56: Scientific explanations of the doppelgänger 9:27: Mimics and doppelgängers 12:48: The science of mimics 14:36: The origins of new folklore Theme music: The Nightingale by Ceridwen McCooey Sound effects from Pixabay. Cover art by moi, Jenny. Find out more at folkitory.co.uk. Transcript and Sources for this episode: https://folkitory.co.uk/2026/10/01/doppelgangers/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    10 - Doppelgangers and Mimics: When Old Meets New Folklore

  5. Sep 29

    9 - Crossroads - Burials, Magic and Guitars

    The magic of the crossroads, where roads and paths meet, has long been a part of human culture, from trickster gods, vampire lore, unconsecrated burials, the queen of the ghosts and making deals with the Devil. Watch where you step, it could cost your soul. 0:43: Intro to this episode 2:39: Crossroads across centuries 8:44: Burials at the crossroads (including suicide burials) 14:13: Making a deal with the Devil 16:54: Faustus and the Devil 19:10: Musicians at the crossroads 20:15: Last Words Check out the No Masters Or Kings series And check out Bedevilling! Inspired by making deals with the Devil at the crossroads. Join the free Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/Folkitory Theme music: The Nightingale by Ceridwen McCooey Sound effects from Pixabay. Cover art by moi, Jenny. Find out more at folkitory.co.uk. Transcript and Sources for this episode: https://folkitory.co.uk/2026/09/27/crossroads/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    9 - Crossroads - Burials, Magic and Guitars

  6. Sep 22

    8 - Mirrors: Spirits, Summonings and Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary, Blo...

    Mirrors have long had folklore and spooky beliefs around them, since humans first spotted themselves in water and went on to polish some metal. In this episode, we take a look at mirrors and the dead, evil spirits, summoning demons, hauntings and the ritual of bringing forth Bloody Mary... 1:03: Intro 3:01: The Modern Mirror 4:55: Mirrors and the Dead 7:56: Mirrors and Spirits 12:17: Mirrors to Summon 12:54: Mirror of Floron 14:42: When a Mirror Breaks 17:27: Magic Mirrors 19:34: Bloody Mary 22:01: Last Words Last chance to help choose the Halloween special topic! Patreon: PLEASE TAKE THE QUICK SURVEY Don't want to join the Patreon? HERE'S A NEUTRAL SURVEY FOR YOU TO HAVE YOUR VOTE! Theme music: The Nightingale by Ceridwen McCooey Sound effects from Pixabay. Cover art by moi, Jenny. Find out more at folkitory.co.uk. Transcript and Sources for this episode: https://folkitory.co.uk/2026/09/18/mirrors/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    8 - Mirrors: Spirits, Summonings and Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary, Blo...

  7. Sep 15

    7 - Hobbits of Flores: When Archaeologists Unearth Folklore

    Some stories pass down through generations long enough to turn from legend to folklore, and the Hobbits of the island of Flores might be one of them. Could the unearthed remains of a new hominin be the Ebu Gogo of stories passed down by locals for centuries? This episode takes a look, so you can decide for yourself. Help choose the Halloween special topic! Patreon: PLEASE TAKE THE QUICK SURVEY Don't want to join the Patreon? HERE'S A NEUTRAL SURVEY FOR YOU TO HAVE YOUR VOTE! Theme music: The Nightingale by Ceridwen McCooey Sound effects from Pixabay. Cover art by moi, Jenny. Find out more at folkitory.co.uk. Transcript and Sources for this episode: https://folkitory.co.uk/2026/09/14/hobbits-of-flores/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    7 - Hobbits of Flores: When Archaeologists Unearth Folklore

  8. Sep 8

    6 - Mermaids (Part Two): In The Lakes, Rivers And On Boats

    Mermaids are the gift that keep on giving, so we're back for a part two. There are mermaids in lakes, rivers, climbing onto boats and across the world in Japan, including an amazing folk tale and incredible sightings, AND my favourite story. Donk! Patreon: PLEASE TAKE THE QUICK SURVEY Don't want to join the Patreon? HERE'S A NEUTRAL SURVEY FOR YOU TO HAVE YOUR VOTE! Help choose the Halloween special topic! Theme music: The Nightingale by Ceridwen McCooey Sound effects from Pixabay. Cover art by moi, Jenny. Find out more at folkitory.co.uk. Sources for this episode: https://www.laphamsquarterly.org/animals/miscellany/spotting-mermaid https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Whitbourne https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/A_description_of_the_mermaid_now_offered/HBJcAAAAQAAJ?q=Captain+Richard+Whitbourne+mermaid&gbpv=1#f=false https://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends-europe/mermaid-tales-0010783 https://britishfairies.wordpress.com/2018/07/01/mere-maids-freshwater-spirits-of-britain/ https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/bizarre-legend-mermaids-caught-killed-1931097 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mermaid https://www.academia.edu/88959025/Young_Mermaids_Mere_Maids_and_No_Maids_Mermaid_place_names_and_folklore_in_Britain https://ota.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/repository/xmlui/bitstream/handle/20.500.12024/B00064/B00064.html?sequence=5 https://www.library.wales/discover-learn/digital-exhibitions/books/history-books/monsterous-fish https://listverse.com/2019/01/15/10-totally-reliable-mostly-sane-people-who-have-seen-a-mermaid/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-13th-century-mermaid-bones-came-be-displayed-japanese-temple-180962209/ https://www.kcpinternational.com/2017/04/the-folklore-of-japanese-mermaids/ https://yorkblog.com/yorkspast/a-mermaid-in-the-susquehanna/ https://thedockyard.co.uk/news/what-do-figureheads-on-ships-represent/ https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/ship-figureheads-decoration https://www.stornowaygazette.co.uk/news/myth-of-the-mermaid-remains-an-enduring-fishy-tale-2129315 https://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/cryptozoology/isle-of-yell-mermaid/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    6 - Mermaids (Part Two): In The Lakes, Rivers And On Boats
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Spooky folklore, strange history, stories that have been passed down through generations and the truth behind them! Join Jenny for weekly short episodes and take a dive into the strange, spooky or monstrous, from using sigils to summon angels, things that lurk in the deep, and places the Devil has left his mark to fairies, what's hiding among the trees and the end of the world. We're just getting started. Come listen and hit follow. See you on the other side. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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