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Fireside

Author: HeadStuff Podcasts

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Fireside is the Irish Storytelling Podcast. Kevin C. Olohan is your host and Fireside Bard. Every Wednesday, Kevin takes a story from Folklore or Mythology, gives it a fresh retelling, and discusses the story itself and the craft, culture and history of Storytelling. Whether you’re a folklore fanatic, or someone who just enjoys hearing a good yarn, you can always join Kevin by the Fireside.

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252 Episodes
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MacPhie's Black Dog

MacPhie's Black Dog

2025-11-1935:33

Episode 249 of Fireside, a folk tale from the Hebrides of a rogue named MacPhie who goes hunting with a myserious black hound, only discover that it is true when they say - every dog will have his day... Source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/64665323-celtic-weird Order Gardensea Paperback: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shop.headstuff.org/product/gardensea-by-fireside-host-k-c-olohan-preorder/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Order Gardensea Kindle: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Gardensea-Neo-Myth-K-C-Olohan-ebook/dp/B09M7T184P⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support Fireside: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://headstuffpodcasts.com/news Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Devil's Horse

The Devil's Horse

2025-11-1234:05

Episode 248 of Fireside - On the northside of the tiny Isle of Man, the locals endeavour to build a church, but when the would-be house of worship is repeatedly torn down, people start to wonder if the devil has other plans... Source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/64665323-celtic-weird Order Gardensea Paperback: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shop.headstuff.org/product/gardensea-by-fireside-host-k-c-olohan-preorder/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Order Gardensea Kindle: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Gardensea-Neo-Myth-K-C-Olohan-ebook/dp/B09M7T184P⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support Fireside: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://headstuffpodcasts.com/news Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 247 of Fireside - Gabriel has always been curious about the other side of the river, a place where no one ever goes...and when he hears that's because of werewolves that live there, he wonders, can that possibly be true? Source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/64665323-celtic-weird Order Gardensea Paperback: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://shop.headstuff.org/product/gardensea-by-fireside-host-k-c-olohan-preorder/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Order Gardensea Kindle: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Gardensea-Neo-Myth-K-C-Olohan-ebook/dp/B09M7T184P⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support Fireside: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://headstuffpodcasts.com/news Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Death Spancel

The Death Spancel

2025-10-3137:48

In episode 246 of Fireside is the Irish tale of a lustful landlord, a dark eyed woman, and a terrible curse that would bind them together forever... Source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/64665323-celtic-weird Order Gardensea Paperback: ⁠⁠⁠https://shop.headstuff.org/product/gardensea-by-fireside-host-k-c-olohan-preorder/⁠⁠⁠ Order Gardensea Kindle: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Gardensea-Neo-Myth-K-C-Olohan-ebook/dp/B09M7T184P⁠⁠⁠ Support Fireside: ⁠⁠⁠https://headstuffpodcasts.com/news Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In episode 245 of Fireside, we have the final adaptation from Bram Stoker's collection Under the Sunset: A brother and sister go on a quest to learn where babies come from - they voyage across the endless sea to a strange island of parsley, dragons and a child who may or may not be an angel... Order Gardensea Paperback: ⁠⁠https://shop.headstuff.org/product/gardensea-by-fireside-host-k-c-olohan-preorder/⁠⁠ Order Gardensea Kindle: ⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/Gardensea-Neo-Myth-K-C-Olohan-ebook/dp/B09M7T184P⁠⁠ Support Fireside: ⁠⁠https://headstuffpodcasts.com/news Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In episode 244 of Fireside, A poet is separated from the love of his life, and goes on an impossible journey to reunite with her. He must journey through the Valley of Darkness, hear the Music of the Spheres, and make his way to the castle of the King of Death. Order Gardensea Paperback: ⁠https://shop.headstuff.org/product/gardensea-by-fireside-host-k-c-olohan-preorder/⁠ Order Gardensea Kindle: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/Gardensea-Neo-Myth-K-C-Olohan-ebook/dp/B09M7T184P⁠ Support Fireside: ⁠https://headstuffpodcasts.com/news Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
An audiodrama for fans of Fireside! The Greatest Matter is a new gothic crime tale set in Victorian Dublin, about a criminologist who arrives in the city and gets caught up in a murder investigation with occult connections. It's a full-cast audiodrama, with a cast of great Irish actors, immersive sound design and original music. Have a listen to Ep 1 here, and all 12 episodes are available to listen to in full right now - just type The Greatest Matter into whatever player you're using now, or go to HeadStuffPodcasts.com. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In episode 243 of Fireside, A young girl learns of the Beautiful City where people go to live when they can no longer dwell Under the Sunset. A place where all are welcome except those who love lies. And the girl should take care, because she is being watched over by the foot soldier of the King of Death... Order Gardensea Paperback: https://shop.headstuff.org/product/gardensea-by-fireside-host-k-c-olohan-preorder/ Order Gardensea Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Gardensea-Neo-Myth-K-C-Olohan-ebook/dp/B09M7T184P Support Fireside: https://headstuffpodcasts.com/news Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In episode 242 of Fireside, Kevin adapts the Bram Stoker tale of a young boy and his magical pet raven Mr. Daw. When the boy is having trouble with a math problem, he wishes that the number 7 never existed: But as always, be careful what you wish for... Order Gardensea Paperback: https://shop.headstuff.org/product/gardensea-by-fireside-host-k-c-olohan-preorder/ Order Gardensea Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Gardensea-Neo-Myth-K-C-Olohan-ebook/dp/B09M7T184P Support Fireside: https://headstuffpodcasts.com/news Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In episode 241 of Fireside, Kevin tells the tale of The Shadow Builder, who rules over the Procession of the Dead Past - where all things that have happened go, before melting into the Gates of Dread. But every so often even the Shadow Builder becomes invested in the stories of mortals. And it is a mother and child that capture his attention. Order Gardensea Paperback: https://shop.headstuff.org/product/gardensea-by-fireside-host-k-c-olohan-preorder/ Order Gardensea Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Gardensea-Neo-Myth-K-C-Olohan-ebook/dp/B09M7T184P Support Fireside: https://headstuffpodcasts.com/news Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In episode 240 of Fireside, Kevin continues his adaptations of Under the Sunset by Bram Stoker. The giants are gone. The giants have been gone for so long, that some doubt that they ever existed at all. But just because you cannot see something, doesn't mean that it isn't there. Order Gardensea Paperback: https://shop.headstuff.org/product/gardensea-by-fireside-host-k-c-olohan-preorder/ Order Gardensea Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Gardensea-Neo-Myth-K-C-Olohan-ebook/dp/B09M7T184P Support Fireside: https://headstuffpodcasts.com/news Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In episode 239 of Fireside, we continue the Stoker saga, with an adaptation of The Rose Prince from Under the Sunset. King Mago is the ruler of the land Under the Sunset, but when a horde of giants destroy a neighbouring kingdom, it will fall to the son of the king to face the gigantic foe. Order Gardensea Paperback: https://shop.headstuff.org/product/gardensea-by-fireside-host-k-c-olohan-preorder/ Order Gardensea Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Gardensea-Neo-Myth-K-C-Olohan-ebook/dp/B09M7T184P Support Fireside: https://headstuffpodcasts.com/news Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In the return of Fireside, Kevin becomes a new series of adaptations from Bram Stoker's book of original fairytales: Under the Sunset. in the title story, we meet a world much like our own, that can only be visited in dreams. But this is a world that once was perfect, until the hearts of mortals grew greedy as they inevitably will... Order Gardensea Paperback: https://shop.headstuff.org/product/gardensea-by-fireside-host-k-c-olohan-preorder/ Order Gardensea Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Gardensea-Neo-Myth-K-C-Olohan-ebook/dp/B09M7T184P Support Fireside: https://headstuffpodcasts.com/news Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Frog Prince

The Frog Prince

2024-02-2929:29

In episode 238 of Fireside, Kevin adapts the Grimm Tale of The Frog Prince, a spoiled princess loses her precious golden ball, but when a mysterious frog offers to get it back for her, the princess may get more than she bargained for... Order Gardensea Paperback: https://shop.headstuff.org/product/gardensea-by-fireside-host-k-c-olohan-preorder/ Order Gardensea Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Gardensea-Neo-Myth-K-C-Olohan-ebook/dp/B09M7T184P Support Fireside: https://headstuffpodcasts.com/news Source: 0141442220 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In episode 237 of Fireside, Kevin adapts the Grimm Tale of Briar Rose, better known as The Sleeping Beauty. A king and queen are desperate to have a child, but when their blessing arrives, one uninvited guest could threaten to take it all away Order Gardensea Paperback: https://shop.headstuff.org/product/gardensea-by-fireside-host-k-c-olohan-preorder/ Order Gardensea Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Gardensea-Neo-Myth-K-C-Olohan-ebook/dp/B09M7T184P Support Fireside: https://headstuffpodcasts.com/news Source: 0141442220 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Cinderella

Cinderella

2023-11-1033:31

In episode 236 of Fireside, Kevin continues the celebration of the folklore behind Disney, with a story of dress making trees, three day festivals, and brutal self-mutilation...what else but Cinderella? Order Gardensea Paperback: https://shop.headstuff.org/product/gardensea-by-fireside-host-k-c-olohan-preorder/ Order Gardensea Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Gardensea-Neo-Myth-K-C-Olohan-ebook/dp/B09M7T184P Support Fireside: https://headstuffpodcasts.com/news Source: 0141442220 Describe the Night tickets: https://glassmasktheatre.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873652326/events/129505816 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Snow White

Snow White

2023-11-1036:06

In episode 235 of Fireside, Kevin begins a new chapter of the podcast, celebrating the one hundredth anniversary of Disney, by looking at the folklore origins of some of the company's most iconic movies. First up is the one that started it all - Hair black as ebony, lips red as blood, skin as white as snow...it's Snow White. Order Gardensea Paperback: https://shop.headstuff.org/product/gardensea-by-fireside-host-k-c-olohan-preorder/ Order Gardensea Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Gardensea-Neo-Myth-K-C-Olohan-ebook/dp/B09M7T184P Support Fireside: https://headstuffpodcasts.com/news Source: 0141442220 Describe the Night tickets: https://glassmasktheatre.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873652326/events/129505816 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Fireside of Horror V

Fireside of Horror V

2023-10-2653:21

In episode 234, It's the fifth annual Fireside Halloween Special! This year Kevin takes another look at the gothic masterpiece Dracula, reading a segment where Jonathan Harker begins to suspect something is suspicious about his mysterious host Count Dracula... In a second reading, Kevin compares Dracula with the earlier gothic work Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. Jane wakes in the middle of the night to sound of demonic laughter, she follows the sound into the room of her master Mr. Rochester. There Jane finds the room on fire, and with Mr. Rochester asleep in the bed! Order Gardensea Paperback: https://shop.headstuff.org/product/gardensea-by-fireside-host-k-c-olohan-preorder/ Order Gardensea Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Gardensea-Neo-Myth-K-C-Olohan-ebook/dp/B09M7T184P Support Fireside: https://headstuffpodcasts.com/news Source: https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~rgs/drac-3.html https://victorianweb.org/authors/bronte/cbronte/janeeyre/15.html Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Witches' Excursion

The Witches' Excursion

2023-10-2632:46

In episode 233 of Fireside, Kevin tells the whimsical tale of a man who wakes up in the middle of the night to discover a party being held in his kitchen. A party of witches, all gearing up for a hell of a night out.... Order Gardensea Paperback: https://shop.headstuff.org/product/gardensea-by-fireside-host-k-c-olohan-preorder/ Order Gardensea Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Gardensea-Neo-Myth-K-C-Olohan-ebook/dp/B09M7T184P Support Fireside: https://headstuffpodcasts.com/news Source: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fairy-Tales-Ireland-William-Butler/dp/0684829525 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In episode 232 of Fireside, Kevin tells the gruesome tale of a priest's long journey home - the farmer's complain that their cows give no milk...and the priest may have found out why - bringing about a horrific encounter that will make him question everything... Order Gardensea Paperback: https://shop.headstuff.org/product/gardensea-by-fireside-host-k-c-olohan-preorder/ Order Gardensea Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Gardensea-Neo-Myth-K-C-Olohan-ebook/dp/B09M7T184P Support Fireside: https://headstuffpodcasts.com/news Source: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fairy-Tales-Ireland-William-Butler/dp/0684829525 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Comments (7)

Omar Sharawy

Although I already know this story as an Egyptian, I enjoyed your special storytelling skills. keep it up.

Apr 18th
Reply

Omar Sharawy

Hello Kevin, I was trying to learn about the Irish culture recently as I am going to relocate to Cork city next month for work. I would like to say that I enjoyed your stories Kevin, you are the best.

Apr 16th
Reply

Tracey Walker

Really enjoying listening to Kevin, have lost myself in his delightful storytelling and explanations.

Nov 16th
Reply

Deirdre Bradway

so glad someone recommended this podcast to me. I often walk down the road grinning as I listen. probably appear to be the village idiot 😊

Dec 29th
Reply

twter

a fantastic podcast! the background noise is so soothing and the stories riveting. carry on keeping the legacy of Irish storytelling living!

Jun 5th
Reply

Cass

The beheading trial also resembles that in Gawaine and the Green Knight, which is interesting!

Apr 3rd
Reply

Jaymes

great podcast!

Aug 20th
Reply