In this episode of the podcast, we explore the use of folklore as an inspiration for the creation of music, with award-winning musician, composer and songwriter Kate Young.

At the time of release, Kate has just released her much-anticipated debut album, Umbelliferæ (pronounced ‘um-bell-ifer-aye’), a captivating record inspired by plantlore and the ancient medicinal uses of wildflowers from the British Isles. Drawing from world traditions, chamber music, and indie/pop influences with a stunning song-led string quintet collection, each track is a unique journey through soundscapes inspired by specific plants, which Kate has woven together with stories and melodies that capture the essence of their characteristics and historical uses.

You can find out more about Kate and her music, and get a copy of her album, from her website at https://kateyoungmusic.com/

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Folk tales have been important to us for centuries, but in the grand span of their existence we only started writing them down relatively recently. In this episode of the Folklore Podcast, we are joined by Scottish storyteller Allison Galbraith, who is one of those who not only tells in person, but also commits stories to print.

Amongst these is the tale Zombie Cow, which she performs as part of this episode and which we couldn't resist using as an episode title.

This episode is a rich investigation into the art of storytelling, the written word and much more.

Visit Allison's website at www.voiceandstory.com

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In one of our occasional Folklore in the Field episodes, recorded live at events, Folklore Podcast creator and host Mark Norman is joined by Bronte Schiltz for a discussion of representations of the ghost on television.

This interview was recorded at the UK Ghost Story Festival 2024 at the Museum of Making in Derby, UK.

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A quick interruption to your lives with some news about the podcast!

In another of our occasional series looking at the work of American storytellers, we meet the award winning Laura Packer.

Based in Minnesota, Laura has over 25 years of storytelling experience and was recently inducted into the United States National Storytelling Network’s Circle of Excellence - a select group of storytellers determined by their peers to be standard bearers of the art, and masters at the craft.

You can find Laura online at https://laurapacker.com/

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To coincide with his new book 'Zoinks - The Spooky Folklore Behind Scooby-Doo' going to pre-order, Folklore Podcast creator Mark Norman presents a special episode looking at the way that folklore and the paranormal are represented in Scooby-Doo through the lens of Shaggy and Scooby's favourite thing - food.

To pre-order a copy of Zoinks and receive an exclusive set of collector's cards with your order, please visit https://auk.direct/product/zoinks/

To support the Folklore Podcast on Patreon and receive extra content, please visit www.patreon.com/thefolklorepodcast

In terms of folklore, ghostly encounters are not about the proof of existence of the supernatural so much as they are about the meaning of the experience to the individual. Folklore is about examining the story, the meaning that it has for the witness, and the way in which that narrative is both transmitted and recorded.

We discuss the recording process of ghostly encounters, the 'writing of ghosts' with our guest Amelia Cotter, who has dome precisely this across different genres, including non fiction, fiction and poetry. Amelia is in conversation with correspondent Tracy Nicholas.

Visit Amelia online at www.ameliacotter.com

To support the work of the Folklore Podcast and to help us to keep making content, please visit our Patreon pages at www.patreon.com/thefolklorepodcast

An episode of 'Folklore in the Field' presenting interviews and discussions recorded live at events we attend.

This episode features a roundtable discussion on the topic of folklore and magical practice, recorded in association with Crossed Crow Books.

Folklore Podcast creator Mark Norman hosts guests:

Blake and Wycke Malliway - owners of Crossed Crow Books and Malliway Bros occult shop

Jac D Hawkins - author of Elemental Spirits

Albert Bjorn Shiell - author of Icelandic Plant Magic

This discussion was recorded in Reading, UK in March 2024.

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