Fab Figmentals

Each episode, we dive into the folklore and history of a different legendary creature and share a story about it, and this week, in honor of Thanksgiving, we’re taking inspiration from well-stocked tables and harvest bounty to look at a figure known to some North American indigenous agricultural tribes as being responsible for the origin of maize: the Corn Mother.

Today’s episode features a story that’s adapted from an Abenaki legend called “The First People and the First Corn.”

This episode was researched and written by Lindsey Morse. Niall Cooper assists with writing and editing. Our theme music was composed by Graeme Ronald.

Additional music: "Eastern Karma" by Purple Planet is licensed under CC BY 3.0 / A derivative from the original work

Finally, make sure to check out our sister show, Assassinations Podcast: www.assassinationspodcast.com.

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Today we’re going to be looking at a creature that’s always given me a mad case of the heebie jeebies— The Changeling. Picture this: your young child, who has always been happy and healthy, all of the sudden one day seems… different. Once content and carefree, the little one is now irritable and grouchy. As time passes, the poor youngster doesn’t seem to be growing at all, and instead looks weak and sickly. Could it be a disease? An undiagnosed disorder? Maybe. Or perhaps the fairies have swapped your healthy, vibrant child for one of their own, a changeling.

Today’s episode features a story from J. F. Campbell’s 1901 collection Popular Tales of the West Highlands, “The Smith and the Fairies.”

This episode was researched and written by Lindsey Morse. Niall Cooper assists with writing and editing. Our theme music was composed by Graeme Ronald.

Make sure to check out Spirits, a boozy podcast about mythology, legends, and folklore. Find out more about the show at https://spiritspodcast.com.

Additional music: "Introspection" by Purple Planet is licensed under CC BY 3.0 / A derivative from the original work and "Moonrise" by Purple Planet is licensed under CC BY 3.0 / A derivative from the original work

Finally, make sure to check out our sister show, Assassinations Podcast: www.assassinationspodcast.com.

Visit our website: www.fabfigmentals.com

Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/fabfigmentals

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The subject of our show today might just be the creepiest so far: jikininki. Unlike a lot of the monsters from legend, Japanese jikininki aren’t scary because of the danger they pose. If you come face to face with one, it’s likely to freeze with fear— the old saying, it’s more afraid of you than you are of it rings true in this case— and if you’re healthy and, well— alive— there’s nothing a jikininki wants from you. No, these spirits are not particularly dangerous; however, their sheer existence is a troubling reminder to live a selfless, altruistic life. Because if you’re greedy, you might one day become just like them.

Today’s episode features a story from Lafcadio Hearn’s Kwaidan: Stories and Studies of Strange Things.

This episode was researched and written by Lindsey Morse. Niall Cooper assists with writing and editing. Our theme music was composed by Graeme Ronald.

Additional music: "Samurai Warrior" by Purple Planet is licensed under CC BY 3.0 / A derivative from the original work

Finally, make sure to check out our sister show, Assassinations Podcast: www.assassinationspodcast.com.

Visit our website: www.fabfigmentals.com

Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/fabfigmentals

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/figmentals

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This week, we’re going to be looking at my favorite weaver from classical mythology, Arachne. Arachne was a mortal weaver, famous for her skill and innovation— she is credited with the invention of linen and nets. But Arachne was a proud woman, and boasted that her talent was greater than that of any other weaver, even Athena, goddess of wisdom and crafts. This— are we really surprised— got quickly back to Athena, who scoffed at the suggestion that she was second best at anything and quickly challenged Arachne to a weaving duel.

Today’s episode features a story from James Baldwin’s 1895 Old Greek Stories.

This episode was researched and written by Lindsey Morse. Niall Cooper assists with writing and editing. Our theme music was composed by Graeme Ronald.

If you enjoy creepy TRUE stories of murder, mystery, and the macabre, check out Fresh Hell Podcast. You’ll find a promo in this week’s episode, and you can learn more about the show on their website, https://freshhellpodcast.com.

Additional music: "The Rice Fields" by Purple Planet is licensed under CC BY 3.0 / A derivative from the original work

Finally, make sure to check out our sister show, Assassinations Podcast: www.assassinationspodcast.com.

Visit our website: www.fabfigmentals.com

Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/fabfigmentals

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/figmentals

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Over the course of the last several weeks, we’ve looked at Frankenstein’s Monster, the Headless Horseman, mummies, and werewolves, and today we’re rounding out our Halloween-themed episodes by looking at a monster that’s captivated audiences for over a hundred years— Count Dracula. Count Dracula is the invention of Bram Stoker, who featured the famous villain in his 1897 novel, Dracula, but vampires have existed— in some form— in nearly every culture throughout history. From Africa to Asia and Ancient Rome to Mesopotamia, pretty much everywhere you look you’ll find some form of vampiric creature, but Count Dracula, the Transylvanian count and undead, centuries old vampire, is really the grandfather of the creature we think of today.

Today’s episode features an excerpt from Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

This episode was researched and written by Lindsey Morse. Niall Cooper assists with writing and editing. Our theme music was composed by Graeme Ronald.

Today’s story was read by Verity Clayton, host of Scary Stories Podcast. Find Scary Stories Podcast on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.

Additional music: "Gothic Horror" by Purple Planet is licensed under CC BY 3.0 / A derivative from the original work

Finally, make sure to check out our sister show, Assassinations Podcast: www.assassinationspodcast.com.

Visit our website: www.fabfigmentals.com

Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/fabfigmentals

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/figmentals

Find us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/fabfigmentals

In this episode, we’re traveling to Egypt, land of the pyramids and the ancient stomping ground of the pharaohs, to look at a monster that’s perhaps more real than any creature we’ve explored so far on this show— the mummy. As early as 2800 bc, deliberate mummification became an integral part of Egyptian death rituals, and was a key aspect of religion. The Egyptians believed that preserving the body was necessary if one wished to ensure immortality, and the mummified body was buried with luxury goods and wealth that could be utilized by the deceased in the afterlife. Of course, these real world mummies are quite a departure from the idea of the “monster mummy”— the undead, bandaged, revenge-seeking creature that spooks in the shadows. This mummy is something else entirely, and a relatively modern creation.

Our story today is one of our original creations. It’s called “The Curator and the Curse of Cairo.”

This episode was researched and written by Lindsey Morse. Niall Cooper assists with writing and editing. Our theme music was composed by Graeme Ronald.

Additional music: "Paranoia" by Purple Planet is licensed under CC BY 3.0 / A derivative from the original work

Finally, make sure to check out our sister show, Assassinations Podcast: www.assassinationspodcast.com.

Visit our website: www.fabfigmentals.com

Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/fabfigmentals

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/figmentals

Find us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/fabfigmentals

This week, we’re taking inspiration from one of my favorite Halloween classics: Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” As you probably already know, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” follows the misadventures of Ichabod Crane, a superstitious schoolmaster who comes face-to-face with the Galloping Hessian of the Hollow— better known as the Headless Horseman— a specter that’s believed to haunt the area near the town of Sleepy Hollow in New York’s Hudson Valley. Like many great scary stories, this one has roots intertwined in both fiction and reality; and looking back, it’s now difficult to determine just how much of the legend was invented by Irving. Given the history of that part of New York, it’s pretty clear the story was inspired— at least in part— by real life events.

Our story today is an excerpt from “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”

This episode was researched and written by Lindsey Morse. Niall Cooper assists with writing and editing, and was also our guest storyteller for this episode. Our theme music was composed by Graeme Ronald.

Additional music: "Creepy Hollow" by Purple Planet is licensed under CC BY 3.0 / A derivative from the original work

Finally, make sure to check out our sister show, Assassinations Podcast: www.assassinationspodcast.com.

Visit our website: www.fabfigmentals.com

Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/fabfigmentals

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/figmentals

Find us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/fabfigmentals

Today, we’re going to talk about a shape-shifter whose widespread legend has captivated minds for centuries, the werewolf. It’s a story we all know well: an unlucky someone is bitten or cursed and becomes a slave to the lunar cycle. Every full moon, he transforms into a wolf and roams the night, hunting. Try as he might to avoid the inevitable transformation— perhaps by hiding from the moon’s bright glow, maybe locking himself away in an isolated place— there is only one true escape, a silver bullet to the heart.

Our story today is an adaptation of Eugene Field’s short story, “The Werewolf.”

This episode was researched and written by Lindsey Morse. Niall Cooper assists with writing and editing, and was also our guest storyteller for this episode. Our theme music was composed by Graeme Ronald.

Additional music: "House on the Hill" by Purple Planet is licensed under CC BY 3.0 / A derivative from the original work

Finally, make sure to check out our sister show, Assassinations Podcast: www.assassinationspodcast.com.

Visit our website: www.fabfigmentals.com

Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/fabfigmentals

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/figmentals

Find us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/fabfigmentals

We’re kicking off our Halloween-themed October episodes by looking at Frankenstein, or— more accurately— Dr. Frankenstein’s monster. If you took a random poll asking people what Frankenstein’s monster looks like, I’m certain most people would immediately start describing the large, green-hued creature with neck bolts and a flat-top black & white hairdo, that was made famous by the hit 1931 film. This is the Frankenstein that usually inspires Halloween costumes— can you really imagine a Frankenstein costume without green skin?— but the creature was originally envisioned rather differently.

Our story today is an excerpt from Chapter 5 of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus.

This episode was researched and written by Lindsey Morse. Niall Cooper assists with writing and editing, and was also our guest storyteller for this episode. Our theme music was composed by Graeme Ronald.

Additional music: "Sardonicus" by Purple Planet is licensed under CC BY 3.0 / A derivative from the original work

This week I’m moonlighting as a guest movie reviewer on One Movie Punch. I stepped in to review Scream, Wes Craven’s 1996 American slasher film. To check out what i had to say about this iconic scary movie, visit: http://onemoviepunch.com.

Finally, make sure to check out our sister show, Assassinations Podcast: www.assassinationspodcast.com.

Visit our website: www.fabfigmentals.com

Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/fabfigmentals

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/figmentals

Find us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/fabfigmentals

This week, we’re talking about the golem, a creature found in Jewish folklore that’s built out of inanimate material— often mud or dirt— and brought to life by magic. The golem can be traced all the way back to ancient times, and it even makes an appearance in the Old Testament. We are told that Adam’s first 12 hours of existence are spent as a golem— meaning “body without a soul.” It’s not until god breathes life into him that he becomes a man. This idea of the hollow vessel, not yet animated by the spark of life, births the idea of the golem made famous in folklore. Over time, stories emerged of men creating golems out of raw materials— like dirt, ash, mud, rock, or wood— and bringing these creatures to life to carry out their bidding.

This week’s episode features “The Rabbi’s Bogey-Man” by Gertrude Lana.

This episode was researched and written by Lindsey Morse. Niall Cooper assists with writing and editing. Our theme music was composed by Graeme Ronald.

Additional music: "Reiki Healing" by Purple Planet is licensed under CC BY 3.0 / A derivative from the original work

Finally, make sure to check out our sister show, Assassinations Podcast: www.assassinationspodcast.com.

Visit our website: www.fabfigmentals.com

Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/fabfigmentals

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/figmentals

Find us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/fabfigmentals