The Scottish Folklore Podcast

The Scottish Folklore Podcast

Author: The Scottish Folklore Podcast Language: English Episodes: 57
Step into the misty glens and ancient castles of Scotland with The Scottish Folklore Podcast. Your guide, Jenny Johnstone, has a voice made for storytelling, drawing you directly into the heart of each narrative she shares. This isn't just a recitation of old stories; it's an immersion into the landscapes and mindsets that created them. You'll hear tales of selkies shedding their skins on rocky shores, encounters with the otherworldly inhabitants of the sidhe, and the clever exploits of legendary heroes whose names echo through the Highlands. Each episode is a journey to a specific place, uncovering the local lore that has been whispered for generations. The podcast weaves together threads from history, culture, and pure imaginative fiction, revealing how these stories served as both entertainment and a way to explain the mysterious world. It’s about the feeling of a peat fire on a dark night and the sense that magic might just be lingering in the next valley over. By focusing on one tale at a time, Jenny gives each story the space to breathe, allowing listeners to fully appreciate the character, tension, and wonder embedded in these traditional narratives. For anyone curious about the roots of Scottish culture or simply in love with a well-told tale, this podcast offers a direct and captivating connection to a rich oral heritage.
Episodes
16. The Devil's in the Landscape [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:58
The Devil can be found in every nook and cranny of Scotland and in this episode Jenny crawls into these nooks and squeezes through the crannies in search of the stories that ‘Ol Sandy has left behind. From The Devil’s Pu…
15. Rashiecoat: Scotland's Cinderella [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:32
In this episode Jenny tells the classic Scottish folk tale of Rashiecoat. This is Scotland’s version of Cinderella, and while there are similarities, it is no Disney fairytale! Follow The Scottish Folklore Podcast on Ins…
14. Through the Mist [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:49
In Scottish folklore mist swirls in the liminal space between this world and the parallel Otherworld, where fairies, spirits, and monsters exist just beyond our boundaries of perception. But when the mist descends, for b…
13. Thieves: Tales of Cunning and Curses [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:52
Thieves play many roles in Scottish folklore, and while for the most part they are the worst of the worst, this isn’t always the case!In this episode Jenny tells the tales of two thieves, firstly, ‘The Troublesome Son’,…
12. Fin Folk: Tall, Dark, and Dangerous [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:39
The Fin Folk are a strange race of sea-people that live off the coasts of Orkney and Shetland. They are tall, dark, mysterious… and covered in big flappy fins. In this episode Jenny explores how the Fin Folk live, the va…
11. To a Mouse: Superstitions and Folklore Surrounding Mice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:07
Inspired by Robert Burns’ Poem ‘To a Mouse’ Jenny dives into the superstitions and folklore surrounding mice in Scotland. Read ‘To a Mouse’ hereRead ‘Drumming Tunes’, an article on Mice and Rat Satires hereFollow The Sco…
10. Tip to Toe: Stories from Scotland’s Farthest Reaches [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:27
Travel the length of Scotland with these folk tales from the very tippy-toppy of the country to the very tippy-toey.In the far north, Jenny tells the tale of two giants on Unst and how the tiny island of Out Stack, the m…
9. Folk Tales from the Forest [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:02
The forests of Scotland are filled with folklore and in this episode Jenny tells two tales from amongst the trees. The first is of the lonesome Ghillie Dhu, a gentle forest fairy and master of disguise. The second story…
8. Kelpies & Water Horses [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:42
Kelpies are some of the most dangerous creatures in all of Scottish folklore, and in this episode Jenny tells two tales that show just how malevolent they can be. The first, Tarbh na Leòid, is about a handsome and cunnin…
7. Wee Ghosties [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:57
Scotland is steeped in ghost stories, and in this episode Jenny tells two of these tales, The Searching Woman of Lewis and The Weeping Lass at the Dancing Place. Both have very sad women, but the ghosts could not be more…