The Three Ravens Podcast

For this week's Haunting Season-themed Local Legends episode, the final of the four, Martin gathers round the Three Ravens campfire with folklorist Brice Stratford to chat all about his new book Halloween Folklore and Ghost Stories.This new collection is Brice’s third book, following his first collection, Anglo Saxon Folklore: The Struggle for the Saxon Kingdoms, and New Forest Myths and Folklore, both of which were published in 2022.A storyteller, historian, actor and theatre director, Brice writes on heritage, art and architectural history for Apollo Magazine, the Spectator, and various trade publications, and for 12 years he ran the award-winning Owle Schreame theatre company which is currently on hiatus.Born and raised in the New Forest, he started his journey into folklore in the New Forest area of Southern England, engaging in folklore collecting and plenty of deep-dive research – skills which he brought to bear for his new Halloween Folklore and Ghost Stories collection.In August of this year Brice also launched a podcast, Finding Folklore, a storytelling series through which Brice and his co-host James Carney explore the legends, fairytales, ghost stories, songs and traditions of old England, with each Finding Folklore podcast episode also coming with a companion video on YouTube which expands on the themes and ideas of the main podcast episode.For now though, settle in for a chat which encompasses Halloween's origins, 'Blood Month' traditions, pig-faced spectral brides, Charles Dickens, the stunning Sedlec Ossuary and much more.To learn more about Brice, do follow him on social media, we hope you enjoy the episode, and we'll be back on Monday with our first County Episode for a while, all about Cambridgeshire!The 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 (Magic and Medicines about folk remedies and arcane spells, Three Ravens Bestiary about cryptids and mythical creatures, Dying Arts about endangered heritage crafts, and Something Wicked about folkloric true crime from across history) 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 Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the Three Ravens 2024 Halloween Special we've pulled out all the stops and are talking about the most infamous serial killer in history, Jack The Ripper!Part of the "Something Wicked" series about true crimes with folkloric twists, we start by chatting through what London was like in 1888, including the boom in crime fiction that had culminated in the creation of Sherlock Holmes, the city's 58 daily newspapers, and the horrendous wealth divide between the Victorian rich and poor.Then it's onto the Whitechapel Murders themselves, including some extremely distressing details and fringe cases, such as the grisly deaths of Martha Tabram and Emma Smith which predated the so-called 'Canonical Five' Ripper victims.We also detail the lives of the women who were slain, as well as the awful ways in which they died, discussing what Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes and Mary Jane Kelly had in common, the escalating nature of their killer's crimes, and how exactly the police responded to the challenges the case presented.From the 'Dear Boss' and 'From Hell' letters to the methods Scotland Yard and the Metropolitan Police used to try and catch the killer, the case's links to antisemitism and the Freemasons, to details of the lead suspects and subsequent theories of the crimes which have developed across the 20th and 21st centuries, it's a wild and horrifying ride.At almost exactly two hours long, we've done our best in this episode to do the topic justice, and no doubt it is a dark and deeply disturbing journey. But, as Haunting Season 2024 winds to a close, it's hard to imagine a much murkier true crime to chronicle as we head into the dark of winter...The 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 (Magic and Medicines about folk remedies and arcane spells, Three Ravens Bestiary about cryptids and mythical creatures, Dying Arts about endangered heritage crafts, and Something Wicked about folkloric true crime from across history) 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 Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What lives in the dark? For each of us, the sun, waning as it is through days of autumn rain, weakening, becoming paler, more obscure – the sun is a lifeline. Yet, each night, that lifeline vanishes. The hours of darkness grow longer, the cold dominion of night stretching out, growing larger, growing stronger.And each of us has an opposite. A dark-craving beast of shade. We know they’re there, though don’t care to acknowledge them.As the veil between this world grows thin enough to disappear, and the night world claims equal status with our own, don’t pretend, just because you choose not see them, that those counterparts are not in the shadows even now, watching you.Because, it's Three Ravens Haunting Season, and in this episode we're staring right into that darkness, wondering if we're ever really alone at all...In this installment of the miniseries, Martin's playing with shadows, and Eleanor can only listen and watch in horror...As with each of this month's episodes, our opening pair of tales are both winning entries to this year's Three Ravens Ghost Story Writing Competition.The first comes from James Davies-Jones, whose story "Alone" speaks to that feeling most of us know, when we move into a new home and think something about it might be off. The second comes from Libby Justice, whose story "The Pipsqueak" follows a young Victorian heir on a day spent with his father, all while the children in the trees encourage him to join them...Lastly, Martin rounds out Haunting Season 2024 with his chilling tale "Edwin's Catterall's Shadow," a slice of good ol' fashioned Victorian Gothic epistolary fiction, after which your perceptions of darkness might just be changed forever,,,We'll be back on Thursday - Halloween itself - with a new Something Wicked bonus episode about Jack The Ripper, and, if you're a Patreon supporter, our new Three Ravens Film Club episode about John Carpenter's Halloween, so speak to you again then!The 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 (Magic and Medicines about folk remedies and arcane spells, Three Ravens Bestiary about cryptids and mythical creatures, Dying Arts about endangered heritage crafts, and Something Wicked about folkloric true crime from across history) 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 Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this week's Haunting Season-themed Local Legends episode, Martin gathers round the Three Ravens campfire with writer, paranormal psychologist, and all-round super-cool spooky person Evelyn Hollow.It's likely you will have already heard of Evelyn, who is probably most famous for her work on Uncanny and various Danny Robins-hosted series such as The Battersea Poltergeist and The Witch Farm. You might have also seen her on the Warner Bros TV shows Spooked Scotland and Spooked Ireland which stream on Discovery Channel+. And there's perhaps a prevailing perception of her as "That Ghost Lady from The Programmes" but, as this interview goes to demonstrate, there's a heck of a lot more to Evelyn than such a persona might imply.She holds a Master of Research degree in Paranormal Psychology, is a former psychology lecturer, is tremendously nerdy about things you might not expect - not just maths but quantum physics, for example - and she has had a super-interesting career: In 2015 she was the recipient of the Lonely Planet Travel Writing Scholarship, she was a resident author at Esoterica for several years, the occult columnist for Corvid Culture, and has written numerous articles for Haunted magazine. She has taught writing classes at all sorts of places too, from universities to arts festivals, and her first book, The Atlas of Paranormal Places, was published in September.And the above is just the tip of the iceberg really. In fact, Evelyn's role on Uncanny, as the representative of 'Team Believer,' belies a wealth of hard work, rigorous research, and an awful lot of hard science.As such, settle in for a chat which folds in all sorts of fascinating concepts, from the history of Planck's Constant and the fiercely brilliant fiction of writers like Shirley Jackson to the awesomeness of dictionaries and the reality of what's actually involved in being a parapsychologist. Which, as Evelyn explains, is not what many people think it is...To learn more about Evelyn do visit her website at https://evelynhollow.com/, we hope you enjoy the episode, and we'll be back on Monday with our final trio of original ghost stories for Haunting Season 2024!The 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 (Magic and Medicines about folk remedies and arcane spells, Three Ravens Bestiary about cryptids and mythical creatures, Dying Arts about endangered heritage crafts, and Something Wicked about folkloric true crime from across history) 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 Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite some admitted squeamishness, for this week's Haunting Season-themed bonus episode, we're exploring the uncanny history and craft of Taxidermy.Part of the "Dying Arts" series, we begin by chatting through distinctions between Ancient Egyptian mummification and the modern practice of taxidermy - a term which only came into usage in the 19th century, despite Renaissance-era apothecaries having stuffed crocodiles hanging from their ceilings. Let alone 18th century exotic trophy hunting becoming an increasingly popular pastime.The processes we detail as used in the past are pretty wild, including toxic corpse enemas, the boiling of animals, and large-scale gassing of dozens if not hundreds of creatures to create of displays intended for public and private amusement. But what are the ethics of taxidermy, and why have our attitudes towards it changed so much across the last century?Also encompassing modern techniques such as freeze drying specimens, the new tradition of 'Rogue Taxidermy', and the pioneering works of practitioners like Gunther Von Hagen, it's an episode in which we try to keep an open mind - although while Eleanor's research has hardened her and normalised a lot of what we discuss, along the way Martin reveals himself to be more squeamish than anyone might expect...As such, it's a pretty wild ride, and one which folds in squirrels in boxing rings, flesh-eating beetles, misleading dodo mounts, and much more, so settle in for a good one.Though possibly not if you're planning on eating at the same time...The 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 (Magic and Medicines about folk remedies and arcane spells, Three Ravens Bestiary about cryptids and mythical creatures, Dying Arts about endangered heritage crafts, and Something Wicked about folkloric true crime from across history) 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 Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The last traces of blue have given way to a black, black sky, and a chill wind whistles down the narrow alleyway you’ve taken as a shortcut and are starting to wish you hadn’t. Was that the dry rustle of dead leaves under your feet, or something else? It’s pitch black, no moon, no stars, but you can just make out marks on the walls either side of you - marks which look like words, or furious scratches. A sound behind you makes you turn, and for just a moment you see the shape of something behind you, something which wants nothing more than to follow. It is old, and it is bored, and it has teeth...The signs are unmistakable: it's Three Ravens Haunting Season, and in this episode we're journeying into ghostly dreams - and nightmares!In this installment of the miniseries, Eleanor stands over Martin with a syringe, saying it'll all get better soon...As with last week, our opening pair of tales are both winning entries to this year's Three Ravens Ghost Story Writing Competition.The first comes from Erin Edwards, whose story "An Old Love" tells of a rare thing - a positive haunting - and the second comes from Dominic Bailey, whose story "The Warrior's Watch" fuses historical re-enactment with ancient horror, to deeply unsettling effect!Lastly, Eleanor shares her second new ghost story for Haunting Season 2024, "The Millennium Centre." A contemporary tale, it mixes influenza with Doomsday Cults, ghosts, and the dread of poverty, and might make you think twice about examining that shadow in the corner of your room.We'll be back on Thursday with a new Dying Arts bonus episode about Taxidermy, so speak to you again then!The 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 (Magic and Medicines about folk remedies and arcane spells, Three Ravens Bestiary about cryptids and mythical creatures, Dying Arts about endangered heritage crafts, and Something Wicked about folkloric true crime from across history) 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 Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's Haunting Season-themed Local Legends episode, the second of four, Martin gathers round the Three Ravens campfire with the acclaimed actor, art historian, and expert in classic ghost stories Robert Lloyd Parry.In case you've not heard of him, since 2005 Rob has been engaged in "The M.R. James Project," a set of performances where Rob, dressed and in character as 'The Father of the Modern Ghost Story,' performs James’ terrifying tales to much acclaim, including from the likes of The Times and Sunday Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, The Fortean Times, The Spectator, and The New Yorker, who said of the M.R. James Project, “Lloyd Parry’s mastery of the role is itself an act of possession.”That’s not to say Rob is a one trick pony – far from it. He read Classics at Oxford, completed his MA in Greek and Roman Art History at The University of London’s Courtauld Institute of Art, and, as an art historian and museum interpreter, he researches and writes websites, audio and multimedia guides, apps, books, and guides for leading museums, galleries and heritage sites including the likes of The British Museum, Tate Britain, The National Gallery, The Fitzwilliam Museum, Royal Academy, and many, many more. In this interview, we focus in on M.R. James and classic ghost stories, discussing writers like Algernon Blackwood, H.G. Wells, H.P. Lovecraft, Charles Dickens, Arthur Conan Doyle, Oscar Wilde, and many others. What makes them so brilliant, and which of their tales would Rob recommend? Moreover, what made M.R. James such a special, singular writer whose influence on weird fiction is probably greater than any writer of the last 200 years?Gather close around the Three Ravens campfire as we get into it, and if you would like to see Rob live (an experience which highly recommend) do visit his theatre company's website and check his upcoming dates at https://www.nunkie.co.uk/scheduleOtherwise, we'll be back on Monday with our third trio of Haunting Season original ghost stories for 2024. So, see you then. We'll be the ones hiding in the shadows... The 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 (Magic and Medicines about folk remedies and arcane spells, Three Ravens Bestiary about cryptids and mythical creatures, Dying Arts about endangered heritage crafts, and Something Wicked about folkloric true crime from across history) 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 Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sharpen your stakes and have your garlic handy, as for this week's Haunting Season-themed bonus episode we're opening up some deliciously rich veins of history to explore the history and folklore of Vampires!Part of the "Three Ravens Bestiary" series, we start by discussing how the creation of the vampire as a figure in popular culture has its roots in the 19th century, all before digging back into the past to unearth the origins of vampire legend. This includes the story of how European anatomists and natural philosophers came to learn of the vampire bat, how they tried to fit it into their models of the 'scientific' universe, and how Gothic writers, not least Bram Stoker, exploited these ideas for dramatic effect.Before long though, we're whipping back to the first arrival of the word 'vampire' in English texts during the 1730s, exploring how and why tales of Eastern European vampirism and superstition made their ways to Great Britain, and drowning in the rich and bloody history of vampire-like creatures in ancient mythology.From the Ancient Mesopotamian Ekimmu to Lilith, Adam's Biblical first wife, Classical beliefs in the cannibalistic owl-witch hybrids "The Strix" to India's demonic vetala, we track through how forms of cultural imperialism - whether it be towards the ancient Scythians or Renaissance Catholics, or the entirety of Asia according to some sources - saw ideas of blood drinking and the vampiric exploited to dehumanise perceived enemies. How these ideas transformed into modern concepts of the vampire, via Robert Southey, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Lord Byron, and a host of other writers and cultural figures, we'll leave you to discover. But, suffice to say, it's a shadowy journey filled with magic, horror, and quite a lot of repressed sexuality...The 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 (Magic and Medicines about folk remedies and arcane spells, Three Ravens Bestiary about cryptids and mythical creatures, Dying Arts about endangered heritage crafts, and Something Wicked about folkloric true crime from across history) 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 Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The nights are drawing in, and the veil is lifting. In the chill, spiders cling to windowpanes, seeking the warmth within. Bats roost in chimney pots, foxes, rats and badgers settle down for their winter’s rest, while jackdaws pick at barren earth, pining for spring.When the wind blows, it bites, and on the breeze you think you hear the whispering of a song. Was that a voice you ask, or just a memory? And was that melody singing to you?You know what this all means: Three Ravens Haunting Season is in full effect, and the spook-factor it rising!In this second installment of our 2024 miniseries, Martin leads Eleanor deep underground, into a long forgotten cave where tales of horror await...As with last week, the opening pair are both winning entries to this year's Three Ravens Ghost Story Writing Competition.The first comes from Anthony Hope, whose story "Punkie Night" offers a glimpse into a Halloween in the Edwardian past, and the second comes from Viv Fraser, whose tale "The Miller of Hob Moor" makes a strong argument against recreational running, for fear of time-slips...Lastly, Martin shares his first new ghost story for Haunting Season 2024, "The Tarosvan." It's in Cornish dialect, and set down an historic tin mine...We'll be back on Thursday with a new Three Ravens Bestiary episode about the history of Vampires, so speak to you again then!The 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 (Magic and Medicines about folk remedies and arcane spells, Three Ravens Bestiary about cryptids and mythical creatures, Dying Arts about endangered heritage crafts, and Something Wicked about folkloric true crime from across history) 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 Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's Haunting Season-themed Local Legends episode, the first of four, Martin gathers round the Three Ravens campfire with the author, voice actor, and co-creator of hit podcasts The Magnus Archives and The Magnus Protocol Jonathan Sims.It's a conversation which ranges from Magnus' origins as prompted by long nights working night shifts to Jonny's school-age discovery of M.R. James and H.P. Lovecraft, to favourite haunted places, some recommended reading, what to take from writing advice, the impact of popular writers like Stephen King on perceptions of horror, and some big issues to do with the genre, not least taboo, plus much, much more. A juicy chat whether you're a fan of Magnus or have never given the series a listen - and big shout outs and love to all those classic horror anthology series out there!You can learn more about Jonathan's work on his website at https://jonathan-sims.com/ and otherwise we'll be back on Monday with our second trio of Haunting Season original ghost stories. See you there, if not before, as we reach out from beyond the veil... The 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 (Magic and Medicines about folk remedies and arcane spells, Three Ravens Bestiary about cryptids and mythical creatures, Dying Arts about endangered heritage crafts, and Something Wicked about folkloric true crime from across history) 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 Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special Haunting Season episode of Magic and Medicines, Eleanor dusts off her old grimoires and fetches up a severed head to guide us through the history of the arcane art of Necromancy!We start by discussing the modern conception of Necromancy, not least in video games, including summoning skeleton armies or raising the dead, and then jump back in time to explore how what was once considered a serious, sacred, and deeply helpful form of spiritual practice developed the macabre connotations it has today. The journey takes us to some strange places, including ones where, it turns out, Pythagoras was a wizard, as was Jesus (who supposedly sported quite the range of funky tattoos) as well as examples of Necromancy from Ancient Babylon and famous texts like Homer's Odyssey. From there we dig into how anti-Christian propaganda and the preoccupations of particular witch-hunters and alchemists saw Necromancy morphing from an almost tender, if sometimes comic set of practices to become taboo and unholy. Along the way, we touch base with the likes of John Dee, James I, King Cleomenes I of Sparta, swing by some ruins of Oracles of the Dead, chew over some ideas repopularised by the Spiritualised movement, and much more besides...Martin will be back on Saturday for our Local Legends interview with Jonathan Sims, author and co-creator of The Magnus Archives and Magnus Protocol, and - aside from today's brand new, truly epic Patreon Exclusive mega-ghost story, we will then be back on Monday with our next installment of original tales for Haunting Season 2024.And hey, who's that standing behind you?The 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 (Magic and Medicines about folk remedies and arcane spells, Three Ravens Bestiary about cryptids and mythical creatures, Dying Arts about endangered heritage crafts, and Something Wicked about folkloric true crime from across history) 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 Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s a pinch of frost in the morning air, and the colours of the leaves are beginning to change from emerald to rust. The bracken is browning, and the mist which hovers above the ground smells of woodsmoke and apples. Just at the edge of your vision, a lonely figure in white hovers with an outstretched hand – but when you turn to look properly they’ve vanished.This can all mean just one thing: Three Ravens Haunting Season is back, and we're ready to get spooky!In this first installment of our 2024 miniseries, Eleanor grabs the spade while Martin holds the lantern, rousing three new original ghost stories from the cold, dark earth...The opening pair are both winning entries to this year's Three Ravens Ghost Story Writing Competition - we'll be sharing two more each Monday until Halloween! The first comes from Sophie Thompson, whose story "I Saw Meg on Eld Lane That Day" will breathe a cold blast of damp sea air down the back of your neck, and the second comes from Ian Tovey, whose tale "A Chapel in the Hills" is for anybody who has ever gone out on a walk on a beautiful day, only to see the sky darken above them and pull them into the gloom.Lastly, Eleanor shares her first new ghost story for Haunting Season 2024, "The Mauve Dress." Suffice to say, superior beauty comes only at a price...We'll be back on Thursday with a new Magic and Medicines episode about the history of Necromancy, and, if you're a Patreon supporter, our Patreon Exclusive episode for the month - a brand new Spenser & Associates adventure in which Finn introduces Oona to "The Ghosts of Glasshayes House."The 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 (Magic and Medicines about folk remedies and arcane spells, Three Ravens Bestiary about cryptids and mythical creatures, Dying Arts about endangered heritage crafts, and Something Wicked about folkloric true crime from across history) 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 Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To cap off Haunting Season, Eleanor and Martin reach back through time to explore the ancient roots of Samhain, Halloween, and Allhallows.From Celtic megalithic tombs like Newgrange and the remnants of pagan rites discovered by archaeologists to widespread European traditions of guising, souling, 'need-fires', divination, demons and deities, they chat about everything from the early seasonal guidance of Hywel Dda and decrees for seasonal worship passed down by the Roman senate, to Pope Gregory III's edicts about All Saints and All Souls, and much more besides - all before they tell their take on the old legend, "The Tale of Jack O' Lantern." The 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...With Bonus Episodes released on Thursdays (Magic and Medicines about folk remedies and arcane spells, Three Ravens Bestiary about cryptids and mythical creatures, Dying Arts about endangered heritage crafts, and Something Wicked about folkloric true crime from across history) plus a range of exclusive content on Patreon, 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 Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is that just a shadow in the corner or is there something waiting in the dark? With the moon full and the stars out, it's hard to tell... either way, it's Haunting Season, so time to feel afraid!For their final weekly double-bill of original ghost stories this year, Eleanor and Martin tell The Five Minute Call, a theatrical tale of backstage haunting, and The Rotten House, a chronicle of loneliness, poverty, and seeping dread, all before a brief chat about their inspirations at the end.The 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...With Bonus Episodes released on Thursdays (Magic and Medicines about folk remedies and arcane spells, Three Ravens Bestiary about cryptids and mythical creatures, Dying Arts about endangered heritage crafts, and Something Wicked about folkloric true crime from across history) plus a range of exclusive content on Patreon, 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 Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Haunting Season Bonus Episode, Martin and Eleanor chat about the life and crimes of Ronald O'Bryan, a.k.a. 'The Candy Man.'Part of the "Something Wicked" series about folkloric true crimes, they chew over the Satanic Panic, ideas of Halloween Sadism, the 'Mad Poisoner' trope and its roots in the Industrial Revolution, Urban Legends around food contamination and more, while also digging into the life, crimes, and media storm which surrounded O'Bryan himself, a wildly incompetent optician and murderer whose grisly acts on a rainy Halloween night saw him christened both 'The Candy Man' and 'The Man Who Killed Halloween.'The 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...With Bonus Episodes released on Thursdays (Magic and Medicines about folk remedies and arcane spells, Three Ravens Bestiary about cryptids and mythical creatures, Dying Arts about endangered heritage crafts, and Something Wicked about folkloric true crime from across history) plus a range of exclusive content on Patreon, 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 Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

These are nights of long shadows, where hollowed pumpkins watch with empty mouths and scarecrows stand lonely in the mist: it's Haunting Season, and time to feel afraid!For their third weekly double-bill of original ghost stories, Eleanor and Martin tell The Audience, a creeping chronicle of political horror, and The Coal Hole, a tale of fear real or imagined, told through a child's eyes, all before a brief chat about their inspirations at the end.The 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...With Bonus Episodes released on Thursdays (Magic and Medicines about folk remedies and arcane spells, Three Ravens Bestiary about cryptids and mythical creatures, Dying Arts about endangered heritage crafts, and Something Wicked about folkloric true crime from across history) plus a range of exclusive content on Patreon, 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 Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Bonus Episode, Eleanor and Martin explore the dying art of corn dolly making.Part of the "Dying Arts" series, they discuss the link between European beliefs around 'Harvest Maidens,' 'Corn Spirits,' and elaborately fashioned 'corn tokens,' including English regional variants such as the Worcester Crown and the Yorkshire Spiral, then dig into traditions recorded by James Frazer in his book The Golden Bough as well as techniques, methodology, and recent famous examples of Corn Dollies, such as the stunning straw work figures exhibited by Fred Mizen at The Festival of Britain.Learn more about The Three Ravens Podcast at www.threeravenspodcast.com and join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/threeravenspodcast. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The evenings are getting darker, and there's a spine-chilling tingle in the air, which can only mean one thing: it's Haunting Season!For their second weekly double-bill of original ghost stories, Martin and Eleanor step outside their comfort zones and tell Right Then, My Love, a twisted tale of old-aged terror, and The Blackberry Pickers, a Gothic romance where the sweetest fruit ferments into horror, all before a brief chat about their inspirations at the end.Learn more about The Three Ravens Podcast at www.threeravenspodcast.com and join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/threeravenspodcast. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Haunting Season Bonus Episode, Martin and Eleanor explore the arcane history of demons.Part of the "Three Ravens Bestiary" bonus series, they move through Ancient Greek and Roman concepts of the demonic, discussing primal forces such as Nemesis, Eros and Phobos, then reach back further, to Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, and demons such as Ammit, The Devourer of Corpses, Memy, a flint-knife wielding giraffe, and Pazazu, King of the South Wind. Then they leap ahead into the wild world of post-Abrahamic demons, from Lucifer and Satan to Asmodeus, the Dybbuk, the Mazzikin, Se'irim, and more...Learn more about The Three Ravens Podcast at www.threeravenspodcast.com and join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/threeravenspodcast. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grab yourself a mug of something warm, or maybe a glass of something stronger, wrap yourself in a blanket, close the curtains, and light some candles: it's Three Ravens Haunting Season and time to get spooky!For their first weekly double-bill of original ghost stories, Eleanor and Martin tell two 20th century tales, The Rosemary Branch, about a chilling encounter on a steam train, and Tomfoolery, an unsettling story of childhood pranks gone wrong, all before a brief chat about their inspirations at the end.Learn more about The Three Ravens Podcast at www.threeravenspodcast.com and join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/threeravenspodcast. Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.