On this week's episode of Local Legends, Martin is joined by the hosts of the Eerie Essex podcast, Ailsa Clarke and Bethan Briggs-Miller!

Ailsa and Bethan have been at this here podcasting malarkey since the pandemic, and it’s highly likely that you are already familiar with Eerie Essex. If you’ve never had the pleasure to listening to them though, well, you’re in for a treat!

In this episode Ailsa, Bethan and Martin talk about everything from lasagne to garden centres to demonic possession, getting lost in underground caves, and Matthew Hopkins, Witch Finder General.

As you will hear, both Ailsa and Bethan have really interesting backgrounds and educational journeys to where they are today, but part of the reason we love Eerie Essex though is because of its warmth.

Yes, episodes frequently contain ideas that might make you soil your britches with fear.

And yes, the research Ailsa and Bethan engage in is really thorough.

But, more than anything, it's the cosy, generous, very funny tone of their podcast that we find to spellbinding.

If you want to know more about Eerie Essex and listen to the podcast, just search for Eerie Essex on your favoured podcast app and you’ll find it.

Alternatively, if you would like to know more about, and possibly visit, the East Anglian Folklore Centre, for which Bethan is serving as Co-Director, you can learn more about it at eastanglianfolklorecentre.co.uk

For now though, gather in close around the Three Ravens campfire for a conversation which ventures from caves full of smuggler’s treasure to a forest full of nightmares, from rural to urban, and from the Roman era right up to the modern day.

We really hope you enjoy it, and will be back on Monday with our brand new County Episode all about the history and folklore of Rutland!

Three Ravens is an English Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon.

Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on one of England's 39 historic counties, exploring the history, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly, the pair take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past...

Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays plus Local Legends episodes on Saturdays - interviews with acclaimed authors, folklorists, podcasters and historians with unique perspectives on that week's county.

With a range of exclusive content on Patreon, too, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, and monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, why not join us around the campfire and listen in?

Learn more at www.threeravenspodcast.com, join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/threeravenspodcast, and find links to our social media channels here: https://linktr.ee/threeravenspodcast

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