Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Born in Fife in 1676, the story of Alexander Selkirk inspired Daniel Dafoe’s novel ‘Robinson Crusoe.’
After choosing to be marooned on a desert island, Selkirk endured solitude, enemy privateers and a round the world trip before landing back on home soil.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Alchemy is a historical practice that attempts to transmute base metals into gold. Through the influence of the Muslim world, the knowledge of alchemy spread through Europe with the help of travelling scholars like Michael Scot.
Scot was a polyglot mathematician, alchemist, apothecary and academic born in Scotland. He worked with like-minded intellectuals like Leonardo Fibonacci to translate many influential texts that spurred the Renaissance. Despite his many accolades, his legacy as a magician and wizard was cemented in popular culture with his appearance in Dante Alighieri's epic poem, Inferno.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Edinburgh Vaults are a series of underground chambers located inside the South Bridge's enclosed arches. Originally used as storerooms, the poor conditions led to them becoming a place of squalor, crime, and possibly body snatching.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Milk White Doo is a well known Scottish tale from times when stories were passed down from generations through word of mouth. Like most fairy tales, this story is meant to teach children about the realities of death and losing a close family member.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Greyfriars Kirkyard in Edinburgh is home to one of the world's most prolific and violent poltergeists in the world. It has been the subject of numerous investigations and paranormal sightings, with reports of objects being thrown and even people being levitated. The graveyard is believed to be haunted by the spirits of Covenanters who died under Bluidy George Mackenzie's prosecution.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In Shetland folklore, the wulver, or wullver, is a wolf-like humanoid creature. Unlike traditional werewolf legends, the wulver is gentle, rarely harming humans. Some believe that it is a guardian of the sick and the poor. In modern times, the origins of this legend have been disputed.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The conclusion of our series on the legendary William Wallace. Having led the Scots to a strategic victory over English forces at Stirling Bridge, he suffered a humiliating loss at Falkirk. After time on the run, Wallace returned only to be betrayed to the English. Regardless of defeat, his legacy has endured for centuries, inspiring and motivating generations of Scots and others to fight for freedom.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
An introduction to the obscure, contradictory and legendary tale of Scotland's national hero William Wallace. His story starts with the death of King Alexander III and 'The Great Cause' of finding Scotland a new monarch, the events which would shape his life, death and Scotland's fight for freedom.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Theatre superstition has it that if the name of Shakespeare's tragedy Macbeth is spoken aloud in a theatre outside of when required in performance, calamity will ensue. Is the curse of the Scottish play the work or witches or merely a myth?
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Assipattle and the Mester Stoor Worm is a classic creation myth from Orkney relating to the battle between an unlikely hero and gigantic sea serpent.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The secret of Glamis Castle occupied elite society of Europe in the late 1800s but what exactly was it? Was it an heir hidden away by their cruel family, gossip or a tale fabricated by the Bowes-Lyon Family. We discuss this classic Scottish mystery and some other haunts in our 40th episode!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Am Fear Liath Mòr or the Big Grey Man is a spirit or cryptid said to haunt the second-highest peak in the British Isles, Ben Macdui. Is this creature Scotland's answer to Big Foot or Yeti legends? Or, is this simply the forces of nature playing tricks on seasoned mountain climbers?
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In the 1700s, Edinburgh was at the forefront of advancements in medicine. As the demand for cadavers to study increased, the macabre trade of body snatching began... In this episode, Liam and Rebecca tell the story of Edinburgh's first convicted and executed resurrectionists, Helen Torrance and Jean Waldie.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Liam and Rebecca discuss the last witch trial held in Scotland that resulted in an execution. Janet Horne was another innocent victim of the fear of witchcraft and prejudice when she was executed in Dornoch in 1727.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Liam and Rebecca tell the story of the infamous fraudulent medium, Helen Duncan and her notorious World War II predictions.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We're back to talking about our favourite monarch, Mary, Queen of Scots. In our first-ever update episode, we discuss the breaking news story of a group of cryptographers who decoded 57 unseen letters written by Mary during her years in imprisonment in England.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Liam and Rebecca discuss the life of the infamous Scottish privateer turned pirate, Captain William Kidd.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Liam and Rebecca discuss the lore behind one of the most famous creatures from Orcadian mythology, the selkie.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
