The Feral Folklorist

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Papa Gee

12 episodes

1 day ago

High in the Carpathian hills, the ruins of Cachtice Castle still whisper her name. In this episode, we descend into the history and legend of Elizabeth Bathory—the Hungarian countess accused of bathing in blood and condemned without a trial. You’ll hear what really happened inside those castle walls, what the records say, and what the folklore invented to fill the gaps. We’ll trace how a powerful noblewoman became Europe’s most enduring monster, how her story turned from scandal to symbol, an...

Documentary

Society & Culture

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Documentary

Society & Culture

Episodes (12/12)

The Feral Folklorist

11. Elizabeth Bathory: The Notorious Blood Countess

2 weeks ago

26 minutes

The Feral Folklorist

10. The Tomb of Marie Laveau – Voodoo, Graveyard Magic, and the Spirit of New Orleans

White-washed and sun-cracked, the tomb of Marie Laveau stands in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 like it’s still waiting for someone to knock. In this episode, we dig into the magic and myth surrounding the most famous Voodoo Queen of New Orleans—and the strange rituals that still cling to her grave. You’ll hear how this Creole healer became a living legend, why her tomb draws thousands each year, and what it means when people mark those triple Xs on the stone. We’ll talk about the real history of M...

4 weeks ago

30 minutes

The Feral Folklorist

9. The Hex Murder of York County: A True Crime Rooted in Pennsylvania Dutch Folk Magic

In 1928, a Pennsylvania folk healer named Nelson Rehmeyer was beaten and killed by three men who believed he’d hexed them. They weren’t strangers—they knew him, had sat at his kitchen table, and came armed with folk instructions: steal his spellbook, take a lock of hair, and destroy them to break the curse. When the fire they set didn’t catch, the legend began. This episode unpacks the true story behind what became known as the Hex Murder of York County—a case where powwow, the Pennsylvania D...

1 month ago

32 minutes

The Feral Folklorist

8. Where Haints Get Stuck: Bottle Trees to Trap Evil Spirits

Blue bottle trees aren’t just porch decorations—they’re spirit traps. In this episode, we dig into the Southern and African origins of this folk magic tradition, where glass bottles are used to confuse, trap, or drive off wandering spirits. You’ll learn how this practice came over from the Congo, how it changed in the American South, and why blue is the color most often used to keep bad energy away. We’ll talk about how bottle trees work, what kinds of spirits they’re meant to catch, and the ...

1 month ago

28 minutes

The Feral Folklorist

7. The Myrtles Plantation: The Mirror That Watches Back

Mirrors are supposed to show us the truth—but in folk magic, they do a whole lot more. In this episode, we’re heading to Louisiana’s most famously haunted home to unravel the legends behind the Myrtles Plantation and the mirror said to trap spirits inside its frame. We’ll walk the line between history and haunting, breaking down the folklore of Chloe, the footsteps that stop on the seventeenth stair, and the strange echoes of grief that linger in reflective glass. Then we’ll dive into the mag...

2 months ago

31 minutes

The Feral Folklorist

6. Omens in the Oven: Kitchen Magic and Household Warnings

For as long as there have been hearths, the kitchen has been more than a place to cook—it’s been the heart of household magic and the first line of defense against what doesn’t belong. In this episode, we delve into the world of culinary omens, protective recipes, and everyday tools imbued with meaning. From bread that rises—or refuses to—to iron pots hung for protection, from salt lines to spoon falls that predict a visitor, we’ll trace how food and fire have carried warnings and blessings a...

2 months ago

27 minutes

The Feral Folklorist

5. Sharp Magic: Ritual Knives, Iron Nails, and the Edge Between Blessing and Banishment

For generations, sharp tools have done more than carve wood or cut rope—they’ve drawn boundaries, ended spiritual ties, and held protection in place. In this episode, we’re digging into the world of ritual knives, iron nails, and other edged tools used in folk magic across cultures. From black-handled conjure blades to coffin nails pulled from grave dirt, we’ll break down how these objects are used to bind, banish, protect, and sever. You’ll hear the history, the magical logic, and the real r...

3 months ago

27 minutes

The Feral Folklorist

4. Death Knocks - The Coffin Was Screaming - Appalachian Death Omens

For centuries, people have whispered about the signs that death is coming—a knock at the window, a bird tapping on glass, a shadow in the shape of someone still breathing. From eerie sounds to black dogs and flying birds, this episode pulls back the veil on the chilling world of death omens: where they come from, how they’ve shaped family customs, and why they still creep into our dreams. We’ll trace the folklore, unpack the magical logic, and explore how these warnings can be worked with—or ...

3 months ago

26 minutes

The Feral Folklorist

1. The Devil at the Crossroads - Robert Johnson and the Power of Folk Pacts

Robert Johnson didn’t invent the story of making a deal with the Devil at the crossroads—but he sure made it sing. In this debut episode, we dig into the Southern folklore that shaped the myth, the deeper meaning behind crossroads in folk magic, and how these stories get tangled up with race, power, and fear. From Hoodoo conjure work to Delta blues to long-forgotten tales of midnight bargains, this episode pulls back the curtain on one of the most enduring legends in American folklore. Plus: ...

4 months ago

30 minutes

The Feral Folklorist

2. The Greenbrier Ghost Testified in Her Own Murder Trial

In 1897, a young woman died under mysterious circumstances in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. Her death might’ve gone unnoticed—until her mother claimed she returned from the grave with a shocking truth. This isn’t just a ghost story—it’s a legal case where spectral testimony helped convict a killer. We walk through the legend, the court records, and the folk beliefs that gave voice to the dead. This episode explores justice, grief, and what happens when the living aren’t the only ones spea...

4 months ago

25 minutes

The Feral Folklorist

3. Buried in Glass: Witch Bottles and Hidden Hexes

For centuries, people buried glass bottles under thresholds and hearths, stuffed with hair, nails, pins, and other nasty bits—desperate measures to trap evil or send it crawling back where it came from. In this episode, we dig into the history and folklore of witch bottles: where they come from, why they work, and how they show up in both archaeology and modern magic. You’ll also learn how to make (or safely dismantle) one yourself. It’s bottle magic with bite. Want more from The Feral Folklo...

4 months ago

31 minutes

The Feral Folklorist

The Feral Folklorist Trailer: Magic, Mystery, and Ghosts with Stories to Tell

The Feral Folklorist is a podcast about the eerie, the enchanted, and the stories we’ve been whispering for generations. From haunted objects to weather witches, buried charms to crossroads deals—it’s where folklore meets real history and a little bit of dirt-under-the-nails magic. The show launches June 30, 2025 with a three-episode drop, followed by new episodes every other Monday. If you’re into old superstitions, dark corners of folk belief, and true stories that send a chill down your sp...

4 months ago

1 minute